First of all… How bad of a blogger am I? The new year started and i just haven’t had a chance to stop. Quick catch up … I am IN LOVE with my new iPhone. I mean. Love. Also work started back this week for me and I’m already swamped so I have a ton of blogs to read and sooo many posts to catch up on. I can’t wait to sit and read them all. All will be done this week.
But first, the book review for the book club!
If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favourite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME: TWELVE HOLIDAY STORIES by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins.
This is a very different review since this book was a series of short stories. I love Stephanie Perkins and her writing so the fact that she edited this book was a big plus for me! This was a feel good book for me. It almost got this scrooge into the holiday spirit! I love anthologies, probably because I have written many short stories and poems in my time, some of which will never see the light of day. There’s just something about a collection of stories that I love. It’s like reading several books all captured in one cover! This anthology did not disappoint. There were many authors but Stephanie Perkins did well in making it flow and keeping it cohesive. I won’t go into detail into the stories because this would turn into the blog post that never ends and because I do reviews and not spoilers … but I’ll tell you those I loved and those which were a little more “meh”.
The stories were:
“Midnights” by Rainbow Rowell – this was 22 pages of pure awesome and my favourite story by far! The tale of two friends and their New Years Eve tradition. Romance, great writing, good characters. Check, check and check.
“The Lady and the Fox” by Kelly Link– I was not in love with this story. Well written but supernatural stuff just aint for me. Next
“Angels in the Snow” by Matt De La Peña – Loved this one!! I have not read this author previously, but now I want to. This was a true feel good Christmas story told from the point of view of a boy named Shy who was in Brookyln over Christmas cat-sitting no less… broke and away from family. It was a sweet story.
“Polaris is Where You’ll Find Me” by Jenny Han – This was the story of a girl who was been adopted by Santa … (I’ll let that sit for a sec) … so yup she lives at the North Pole with the other elves one of which she has her eyes on. I kid you not. Cute story but Weird story.
“It’s a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown” by Stephanie Perkins – I adored this story. This story felt like a Christmas movie. A girl who is an animator goes to a Christmas tree lot every single day. Said Girl is captivated by the voice of one of theboys who work there and wants him to voice one of her animated characters. Girl, boy, Christmas trees, Christmas spirit. Winning!
“Your Temporary Santa” by David Levithan -Cute story aboutjewish boy who dressed as Santa. More Christmas feel-goodness
“Krampuslauf” by Holly Black – Meh … Not in love.
“What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth?” by Gayle Forman -Another feel good story and one of my favourites!!! It’s a story is about a girl from Brooklyn who goes to college in a small town … obviously a culture shock. You know how it goes. Girl meets boy … but I loved it! Thumbs up.
“Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus” by Myra McEntire – One of the funnier stories in the book! You wouldn’t think it would be since it’s about a boy who accidentally lights a church on fire … don’t worry the the pastor of the church steps in to save him from imprisonment. It was funny at least to me. Loved it.
“Welcome to Christmas, CA” by Kiersten White – I loved this one although I don’t know how to summarize it without totally giving it away! Cute story and of course there was a little romance.
“Star of Bethlehem” by Ally Carter – I really enjoyed this story. Two girls at an airport trade tickets. It’s a story of escape (or an attempt to escape one’s life) and of finding your place and belonging. Loved it.
“The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer” by Laini Taylor – The story of a girl on an island who did not want to marry any of the boys/men on the island as was customary. Typical nonsensical “island” stereotypes aside … I did like it.
All in all, it was a good book with a good mix of stories. In my opinion there was something for everyone, the fantasy lover, the romance lover, adventure, suspense, drama. It’s one downfall is that this isn’t a “during the year” read. It’s definitely has a holiday theme throughout the text and it makes it very specific reading, but its a good book none the less.
It amazes me how many people don’t know that Orange is the New black is based on the actual autobiographical work of Piper Kerman. So this is up next!!! For all you Orange is the New black lovers, take a read of the book for the next book club review on February 3rd! 🙂
If you’ve read and reviewed My True love gave to me link it up below!! And I can’t wait for you all to read Orange is the new black!
