The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein | Little Book Review

I haven't read it when I was a kid and this is my first read.

This story made me feel sad, because no matter how many years ago it was written, it still stays true up to this day.
People often don't appreciate what they have and keep asking too much. And the ones who love us can sacrifice everything to make us happy.
I think we need to give back and not only take-take-take whatever we want. It might be hard, but we need to try, because our own Giving Tree can become a stump, or in worse case - empty space...

It's truly amazing how sometimes children's books can give us more food for thoughts than some of the adult ones. Hm.

Sad story that made me think...


(1st photo source, 2nd photo source)

I'm sure lots of you have read. What do you think about this little, but not less profound children's picture book?

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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber | Audiobook & Short Story Review

 I'll post here both first thoughts (below) and thoughts after listening to an audiobook version, because they're really different.=)

PLEASE, if you're in any way like me, LISTEN TO THIS SHORT STORY AS AN AUDIOBOOK (it's only 15 min long, guys)!!! Ben Stiller rocks!

IT'S FREE on audible.com (at least now).

Update from February, 19, 2014:
 Hm, now, after listening to an audiobook narrated by Ben Stiller (brilliant narration, btw) I changed my mind about this short story completely and will be increasing my rating to 3,5, maybe even 4 stars (you'll see 4 stars anyway).
 Guess, this story has to be read to you, because whole picture appeared in front of my eyes while I was listening and story itself become understandable and I related to the main character, because who doesn't daydream entering some different worlds or situations, right?:)

 Maybe it's just me, but I don't usually change my rating if I didn't like the story (or just book in general) for the first time and most of the time I don't do a research if I didn't understand something in the book (maybe it's kinda lame, but oh well...), because I think books should be comprehensible for a readers of pretty much any intelligence (at least it suits my idea of books).

 But everything changed with this short story! Because when I was reading it myself almost all the voices sounded the same in my head, but Ben Stiller done an excellent job narrating this story and helped me to like it whole lot. Can't wait to watch the movie now.:)

First thoughts [Feb, 17, 2014]:
Aaarm, I got a feeling that I've missed something, because otherwise I just don't really understand what was that??? I like reading short stories with rich plot, but this one felt like stream of conciousness or throwing random facts in my face... Weird, tbh, because I haven't read anything like this for a loooong time.
Guess I need to re-read this short story someday, when I'm not sleepy or annoyed.::D . [gave it 2 stars back then]

Final rating:

* * * ,5-* * * * stars.

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers | Book Review

 Told in form of tiny notes on the fridge this book told story of mother and daugther living their simple suburban life until terrible news hit and change everything forever.

Such and amazing page-turner! I just couldn't stop reading and in the end - waterfall of tears...

This book just took my heart and smashed!smashed!smashed! it... And once again this book proved to me, that it doesn't have to be 500 pages long and have 1000 words per page to be close to a readers heart.

Stunning! Go and read it! It's unique!

[photo from www.harpercollins.com] 

Goodreads

Author's site

This book won the Grand Prix de Viarmes, the Livrentête Prize, the Redbridge Teenage Book Award in 2008 and the Saskatchewan First Book Award in 2007. [from Wiki article]

The See-Through Leopard by Sibel Hodge | Book Review

First posted here. I requested this e-book from author owing to Read to Review programme from YA Book Reviewers group in exchange for my honest review. And it will be honest indeed.

I had hard times with this book. After page 30 I've almost DNFed it, because it didn't grab my interest too much. It took me 3 weeks to finally finish it. And I leafed-through most of the book, reading here and there to understand what's going on. At first I've blamed myself (not in mood and stuff), but then I understood what was the reason.

While The See-Through Leopard was written with great purpose of turning our eyes on fighting against poaching and wild animals' protection, which, by the way were the best parts of this book, well-done and straight to the point, all the YA content were out of place...
Our main character Jazz, ordinary teenage girl dealing with horrible consequences of car crash, that took a life of her mother and left Jazz with awful scars. She's struggling, because she missed her mom sooo much, all her friend turned their back on her and lots of jerks in school started calling her bad names because of scars, and all that is really sad. You're starting to root for Jazz from the first page and thinking of how terrible are those who judge people only by their appearance. 
But then her father decides that it's time for some changes and he took her to Kenya (Jazz even have no choice, which I didn't understand at all. She has aunt! Why her aunt didn't want Jazz at her home? Ridiculous!). There, in Kenya, her dad will work as a vet, and she HAVE TO work as a maid... At first day some stupid rich girl insulted her and she ran away into the wild where she found a little newbourn leopard cub (aawww) and from this point this story really started to appeal to me, because reading all those sad parts made me deppressed.
But, also, here's where all the YA clichés sprang out... Of course, she'll fall in love with one a only freaking hot and super wise guy (he's like Make Yourself A Person+Be Strong self-improvement book), in perfectly fitting age (what a miracle!) and awesome in everything. She'll feel uncomfortable and worried around him but Asha the Leopard will help. Dang..I hoped that I'll avoid all those mooshy-gooshy parts, but no-no-no. Well, like a hopeless romantic I like romance in books, but sometimes there're too much of it. 
There're some more clichés, but I can't tell you abount them without spoilers, so I'll stop here...

As a HUGE animal lover I really enjoyed everything connected to them in this book and now I want to work in wildlife reserve even more. We can change something, it begins with small things. Animals need our help, care and protection, especially the wild ones. And people shouldn't forget the they leave marks by everythings they do, whether it good or bad.
But as for YA parts, they felt underworked: the endings of most of the chapters were just abruptly terminated, like you're reading, reading - *WALL!*, also there were too many love-me-kiss-me stuff and I even caught myself rolling eyes.
Overall, I gave this book 7/10 stars (wish Goodreads can allow that). Animal lovers and those, who search quick read will enjoy it. But for me it was just O.K.
I'll finish (my review is already humonguos) with amazing quote from this book:
"When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money."

P.S. At the end of the book you can find a lot of useful links, which will help you to know more about current situation in the world of animal protection.

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