The Ocean at the End of the Lane - audiobook

Review:

Audience: Adult

Format: Audiobook/Owned

 

 

It was only a duck pond, out at the back of the farm.

- first sentence

 

Neil Gaiman's voice is amazing. I loved listening to him narrate this story. Basically this story is about growing up and how at seven years old, adults seem so big and important, yet disconnected from childhood. The narrator of the book is an adult who is remembering an event that occurred in his childhood (when it is so much easier to believe in magic and monsters).

 

I enjoyed the story and especially the narrator's childhood friend, Lettie Hempstock. It was a quick listen and had some creepy parts. It is interesting how much differently we see things as adults compared to how it seems to children. 

 

I read this for Booklikes-opoly Pandemic Edition, space #19 as a book whose cover is more than 50% blue.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2774263/the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane-audiobook

Last Firehawk Book #8 - The Silver Swamp

Review:

Audience: Early Elementary (1st-3rd)

Format: Ebook/Library Copy

 

Tag and Skyla stood in a dusty clearing and examined the magical map.

- first sentence

This is a cute story, with animal main characters who are on a quest. This is the first book of the series I read, but the kids at school love it. There is an introduction at the beginning of the book to remind kids what the characters are currently facing (the story continues from book to book).  The Branches books are a gentle bridge into chapter books for early readers. They still have pictures, but the stories are more complex and interesting. A great series for kids who like magical animals and adventure.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2774213/last-firehawk-book-8-the-silver-swamp

Booklikes-opoly 2020 Roll #3

On to my next roll...

 

Current Bank $20.00

 

 

This lands me on:

                                 

 

My read for this space is going to be The Ocean at the End of the Lane. The cover is mostly blue because it is underwater.

 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2737171/booklikes-opoly-2020-roll-3

Hunger Games Trilogy - reread (listen)

 

 

After reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I was inspired to reread the Hunger Games trilogy. I was amazed by how much I forgot or misremembered. Then again, my last exposure to this world was probably the movies. :)

 

I still love these books so much!!

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2737022/hunger-games-trilogy-reread-listen

The Passage by Justin Cronin

Review:

Audience: Adult

Format: eBook/Library Copy

 

Before she became the Girl from Nowhere -- the One Who Walked In, the First and Last and Only, who lived a thousand years -- she was just a little girl in Iowa, named Amy.

- opening sentence

 

 

This book is amazing. I bought it several years ago for some reason that I can't remember. Maybe it was the comparisons to Stephen King or maybe it was King's own words, "a trilogy that will stand as one of the great achievements in American fantasy fiction." Then, last year, a tv show called The Passage aired, starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Agent Wolgast. I enjoyed the show and when I saw The Passage on my kindle, I decided to read it.

 

The action in this story occurs all around the United States (in Philadelphia, Colorado, Oregon, California, Texas, etc.) and across a hundred years and I loved every minute of it. I couldn't put the book down and immediately started book 2 when I finished (at 897 pages that's saying something). A government agency scientist is exploring an ancient virus he discovered and using it on death row inmates. Of course, the government loses control, and the Virals (basically vampires) escape ending the world. We don't get to see too many details but later the book resumes after 100 years passes. I was surprised by the time jump, but it works and it ends up all tying together which was very satisfying.

 

Highly recommended! 

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/2732224/the-passage-by-justin-cronin