Going Bovine by Libba Bay

Title: Going Bovine

Author: Libba Bay

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Rating: 4 stars


"You've been assigned an identity since birth. Then you spend the rest of your life walking around in it to see if it really fits. You try all these different selves and abandon just as many. But really, it's about dismantling all that false armor, getting down to what's real."

Mad, crazy and hilarious. That's Going Bovine for you, dear bloggers. This book tells about Cameron, an average teenage boy diagnosed with mad cow disease and gone to a journey to find a cure under the guidance of a punk angel and accompanied by a dwarf and yard gnome. Yes, yard gnome.

It starts off a bit slow by telling how Cameron lives his life. He's pretty much an ignorant who doesn't care about most anything; his school, his family, and even himself. Then he is diagnosed with mad cow disease and finds out that his life is soon to be over. Then a punk angel named Dulcie shows up and tells him there's a cure and Cameron must undergo a journey (by following random signs) to find Dr. X who has the cure. Oh, and he has to take the dwarf as his wingman.

Like I said, it starts off a bit slow and I didn't really enjoy the first quarter part however the story picks up the pace and gets more interesting along the way. Especially after Cameron and Gonzo hit the road. Their road trip is crazy and hilarious; they meet a lot of bizarre people: drag queen, a supposedly dead jazz artist, teen pop star, snow globe employees, and many more. I can't say much except thumbs up for Libba Bay for creating this, she surely has a very wide and lively imagination.

However, even though it's funny and wacky, it's also quite deep. Despite all the craziness, I - as a reader - am constantly reminded with Cameron dying situation and how he realizes the things that important for him during the trip. How he - toward the end - values life and enjoys living more than before. The only thing I don't really like is the present tense use in this book, I like past tense more. But it doesn't prevent me from liking and enjoying this hilarious story.

It's an awesome book, just be patient in the beginning and you'll be rewarded.

Lynossa

Going Bovine by Libba Bay

What had happened to us?

So... in case you're wondering about where are we...

Well, I can't speak for Kay-c and Mithee, as far as I know they were (probably still are) busy with their study and recently there was a flood in Philippines and we haven't been in touch for awhile. I hope they're okay.
In my case, stuffs happened; I got loads of work I had to finish and then I got chickenpox! Can you imagine someone my age got chickenpox? Disaster! Anyway, I did read several books throughout December, I just didn't have the time to write review and now I've forgotten! But I have a week free so I'm going to write and post my reviews this week. To authors who had requested review, I'm sorry for neglecting you guys, if I have time I will reply and read your books but if not, I'm sorry.
By the way if you happen to join my classic reading challenge, don't worry I still remember. I will contact you soon!

Last but not least, Merry Christmas for those who celebrate it!

Lynossa

What had happened to us?

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Title: The Lost Hero
Series: Heroes of Olympus #1
Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Pages: Paperback 557 pages
Rating: 4.5 - Almost Perfect!

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Summary:

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper. His best friend is a kid named Leo, and they’re all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids”, as Leo puts it. What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea — except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. Her father, a famous actor, has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he’s in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn’t recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?

Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What’s troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper’s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all—including Leo—related to a god.

Review

I just recently found out that My favorite Mythology Author had another Percyish series…Well..since they said it’s a bit like that. And Since I looooove. Percy Jackson Series <333333 I will go beyond anything just to have this one (okay that’s exaggeration ;))

The first thing I thought when I read the title is “Percy? Is he lost or something?” well since we all know that percy is in RR’s last series. I was excited to meet the new characters...:]

Moving on to my review. I was a bit reluctant to accept the new heroes of the new series. It was hard for me to even accept that they got thicker books to read to! And We could to know their views! I know I sounded so bitter but I just love PJ series, you know!

But WHY?!! WHYY?! Why did you make it like this?? You made me love your other book instead of hate it! WHY?? MR RIORDAN!!!

Moving on.

I have to admit. Mr. Riordan isn’t the best novelist around. But he definitely has the most funniest humor in town! I can’t help but laugh so hard to his jokes. And my mom would wonder what had happened to me because awhile ago I was quietly reading the book then suddenly I burst out laughing and can’t seem to stop it.

I can’t also help but also feel bad about percy not being part of this series. I JUST MISS HIM. But I am glad that some old characters remain in the series. But that just made it worse.

The New characters weren’t so bad. Infact they are funny. They are easy to like. But you know…someone who has grown reading percy’s adventure. I can’t help but compare the book.

The plot is intense. But the idea of Jason losing his memory does not give me any new feeling. Maybe because it’s my first time meeting him as well. So as he regain his lost memory that’s also the part where I am able to know him more. And also I help but hate him. His arrival in the series being so cool and powerful all of a sudden was “WOAH!” …but I can’t also help but wonder what his background is.

Piper and Leo were cool. Being so wise and good and techy stuff made me think that they are great group!

And being introduced to Roman camp was another good thing about this book. At least we get to know that camp half-blood is not the only existing camp for demigods but also there is a counterpart. Which made me even more curious.

The ENDING WAS SO..!!! not..COOL! SERIOUSLY?! PERCY?! AS IN?!! NOOOOOOOOOO!

Now it made me feel so anxious.

Kay-c

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Also Known as Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher

Title: Also Known as Rowan Pohi

Author: Ralph Fletcher

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Rating: 3 stars

Also Known as Rowan Pohi is a quite short, light and interesting reading about Bobby Steele, a boy who decides to trick his way into Whitestone, a prestigious school in Bobby’s town. It’s begun with a prank with his friends when they invented Rowan Pohi, a smart and talented boy who wanted to enter Whitestone. But when they received a letter telling them that Rowan is accepted, Bobby decided to take his place and be Rowan Pohi.

This is a light reading; it only took me about one and a half hour to finish it. The main character, Bobby Steele, hated his name due to its association with his father, Bobby Steele Senior, after a terrible event between his father and his mother. Thinking that his future is doomed due to the name and his low rank school, Bobby thinks Rowan Pohi is his getaway ticket to be what he always wanted to be.

I like Bobby, I can relate to him. For him Rowan Pohi is his mardi grass. He could be himself, or, not himself, depend on from which side you’re looking at. Being Rowan Pohi gives him a chance he couldn’t get as Bobby Steele, a chance for clean start and promising future. Other characters aren’t that interesting although I quite like his friends and their friendship.

Overall this is too short to make you feel deeply engaged but it’s still a nice reading, a book that fits for kids and those who like reading kids books like me.

Lynossa

Also Known as Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher

Review: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Title: The Thief
Author: Megan Whalen Tuner
Series: Attolia #1/ The Queen's Thief #1
Pages: 280 (Paperback)

Release date: October 31 1996
Published by: Greenwillow Books

Summary: (Goodreads)

"I can steal anything."

After Gen's bragging lands him in the king's prison, the chances of escape look slim. Then the king's scholar, the magus, needs the thief's skill for a seemingly impossible task - to steal a hidden treasure from another land.

To the magus, Gen is just a tool. But Gen is a trickster and a survivor with a plan of his own.

Review:

I’ve been seeing this Queen’s Thief/Attolia series in every fiction novel forum I go to. For a novel that was published in 1996 and still make people talk 15 years later, I thought that this has got to be a really good series. And now that I have read it, I am very happy to say that this did not disappoint. I may actually have a new series to obsess.

The first half of The Thief was really slow. It consisted of Gen (the thief), the magus, Sophos, Pol and Ambiades traveling from Sounis to a land in Attolia to steal the Hamiathes Gift as ordered by the king of Sounis, a bargain that will free Gen from the prison of the Sounis king for stealing from him. Nothing much happened, and it was quite boring but Gen's humor made up for the lack of interesting events.

At first, Gen was portrayed as a whiny, stupid, poor, good for nothing, gluttonous thief who doesn't particularly care about anything. But later, his true identity and intentions were revealed.  I was very surprised with the turn of events. He was a very good actor that I didn't question about who he really was. But then again, that's one of the things that made me love this book. Gen is an awesome character too, because even though he's always sleepy and hungry, he is very charming and clever. I just got the second book, and I really can't wait to start it!


Mithee

Review: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner