Saturday, August 9, 2014

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat Book Review

Since I'm horribly unorganized and forgetful, I missed a book review! Should have been publish before Book Haul but I got too exited. So sorry Emmy.


Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

By Lynne Jonell 

(I love the authur's name! Jonell, ohh la laa)

Formal Information

Pages- 346 pages
published- Henry Holt and Co in 2007

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW

Emmy's family suddenly inherits a ton of money when a distant relative dies. They suddenly decide move across town and Emmy gets a new house, a new school, and a new nanny: Ms. Barmy. Her parents also suddenly aren't home anymore and are always out on trips and with people they don't care about, and the children and teachers in Emmy's school act like she's invisible- literally. After a sudden act of defiance, Emmy discovers her Nanny's evil plans, why everyone is acting strange, and how the talking rat that she sit next to ties in to all these mysteries. 


NOW YOU KNOW YOU'LL WANT TO KNOW MORE

"-wishing you a good evening from Channel 82 , where we care about you, we share about you. we lay every detail bare about you"
This channel- oh this channel. I mean this channel. I read this quote and had to pause for a moment to let the words sink in and then felt this rush of thankfullnes for my normal, privacy-respectable, news channel.

The twists and turns! The SLY FORSHADOING and I love sly forshadoing. LOVE. and this book is full of that. This is a re-read and I've read the second book and noticed how Lynne included a lot of small, seeming insignificant, details that make a BIG DEAL in the second book. You know what? This whole book is just a collection of Lynne slyness.

But its not all sun shine.


The Villain: SHE'S A *****

Let me introduce you to  Mr. Barmy. A manipulate, evil, liying, horride person. She reminds me of the worst kind of teacher. The type that blames you for everything and celebrates nothing. I felt so bad for Emmy to have to deal with that- and ALONE, since he parents aren't there. As you read you see her little plans and words that are done and said to slowly crush Emmy's spirit and its horrible. But in a weird way I did like reading about her- in a 'I love to hate you' way.

Annddddd Emmy. I was wondering how I felt about her for a bit and figured it out: She has her priorities. She wants to save her friends but more than that she wants to save her parents. And that made me routing for her through out the book and- although it made me disappointed- I understood the moments where she wished someone else had to go through this and considered things that weren't the nicest. But in the end of the day she's loyal and she's kind and she tries her best.
'Emmy was a good girl. At least she tired very hard to be'
First sentence in the book sums up her character pretty well.

But surprisingly by the end of the book my favorite characters were the rats. These rats can easily steal the spot light from the other characters. Ratson, the main rat, has hilarious to read about. He acts very confident and haughty and at first I didn't like him very much. But he has too frequent moments where his over condifence leads to disaster and embarrasment. So when he finally had his moment to shine I was pretty happy and revealed (no more second hand embarrassment.) But there were many other furry characters- one that left me so envious that Emmy had him was Endear mouse. The most ADORABLE person er- rat I have ever met er- read....


Zee Art.

The hardcover is all nice and papery like sketchbook paper and I really love that texture. But. BUT. I removed the dust jacket to find- ahhhh! It's so pretty!!! Orange cover with  rat drawing embedded in blue and the book title bunched up and bending. I really liked it. and while reading you have a flip book illustration that runs all along the side of the pages and if you flip through them quickly the pictures move! *Giddly* I just really like it and after showing it to my little cousin- she never let me read in peace afterwards. I have to show her the animation-

9 times.

What I'm Trying to Say is

Read this story. It's entertaining, the characters are funny and adorable and fun to read about. The plot is surprising and with a lot of small foreshadow here and there that makes you smile- or frown in shock. The ending is the best part of the story- you'll see why.


Sincerely,
Nadine

READING BR-BR- BREAKE!?!

From Flickr 
I have put myself on an official re-re- AHEM- READING BREAK. Because I have neglected my duties as a book reviewer and I know- I know- I won't get anything done like this.

I've recently finished reading 'Well Witched' by Frances Hardinge (I.LOVE.HER.ITS OFFICIAL NOW), Before that I finished 'A Face Like Glass' by her also...and before that I read 'Behind the Bookcase' while I was in the middle of writing 'Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat' review. I also haven't even started writing any Book Talks; my notes are just sitting there...judging me.  

So, with the knowledge of having so much on my plate, what did I do today?

Picked up The Chaos King and read.

Then this happened:
"What are you doing Nadine my gosh- STOP reading- and start WRITING KISS ASS REVIEWS I SWEAR YOU HAVE NO SELF CONTROL" 
-Nadine's sadistic mind. 

And so, after getting scolded by my brain (me? insane? nah.) I have put myself on a 'Book Reading Ban' until I get all (or most) of my planned posts written, proof read, and waiting to be published to pick up The Chaos King again.

Anyone else ever had to put themselves on Reading Bands? I can't be the only one with a sadistic mind.

My Life?

I've recently got my best friend, Noha, to get into Vocaloid (don't know what that is? Youtube. You're so welcome.) and have been sending her videos regularly (mostly of Rin and Len since I love them.) And she's getting her 2 friends into it and I'm here feeling proud and happy. 

After the latest episode of Tokyo Ghoul thoroughly broke my heart ( I KNEW it was coming but they made it so sad) I can only write sad stories- but today the new episode of Haikyuu is airing. Also! Durarara season 2 is airing in January!! My birthday month! 

Slowly getting more sucked into anime and manga. I'm not too worried, My heart has already been broken to a million pieces- I have little to lose.


Sincerely,
Nadine

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Forgetfullness. It's Not a Choice, its a CONDITON

and its been with me for as long as I can remember (pun intended- I'm not going to lie)

My memory works in mysterious ways. I can remember what my mother told my father to buy in the morning and can recite the list in the store, I can remember that character's name from that movie my cousin mentioned last week.

But I can't, for the LIFE of me, keep a pair of gloves for more than 3 days. I literally had to buy new ones everyday while in kindergarten I swear that closet had something in it and no one can tell me differently. I can't remember where I put my book bag or that I left the tab open for my bath so I now have a flooded living room.

I'm the WORST at remembering dates and assignments.

But, during these two years since I've moved to Egypt and now have my own official room with a classic desk, (my pride and joy and Nora's playground), I have developed a very 'Nadine' way of remembering things:

  1. Write
  2. Rip
  3. Stick
  4. Glare
  5. Remove

Now I know this in't a breakthrough in student behavior physiology or home decorating but I like to think my way is unique or just not said since there are those who care about reputation and neatness. Look at these pretty boards I found on Pinterest!



I feel like a completely different species

Ha, this isn't me nor will I ever have something like this. My method? THIS:


Who Doesn't Love A List?

  • School schedule? slap some rolled duck date on the back and stick it in the wall right in front of you- eye level is ideal (look at me making rules)
  • Assignments? Projects? Write them in the nearest notebook, 
  • tear it out, 
  • stick it.
  • JUST STICK IT


By the end of the term I had a collage of lined note paper on my wall- I stuck some quotes in the mix to liven up the party and give me a boost.

What makes this unique, other than the unceremonious technique, is the utter satisfaction I get when I finish something and get to rip it off the wall like a stain in my pretty star filled plaster.

I'm competitive and I'm a perfectionist, and I'm lazy.

Staring up and having that paper- that CHALLENGE- staring back at me makes me want to do it just to get it to shut up and OFF MY WALL. My mom didn't kick me out of the room for 2 days so the men could paint the ceiling and walls with pretty golden stars so that SCHOOL can come and RUIN it.

And since it's written in notebook paper and not, say, a fancy, pretty, card stock or pined to a pink cardboard, my eco-friendly side gets to shut up and I can savor the satisfying scrunch of the paper in my palms as I throw in the waste bin.

MUAHAHAH WORLD WAR 2 PROJECT? YOU HAVE NOTHING AGAINST MY RAGE. I'LL HAVE YOU DONE BY NOON YOU EYESORE.

Ahem.

Its me saying that its nothing and its a challenge I WON.

BEING A TOP STUDENT IS HARD, OKAY? ITS HARD WHEN YOUR NATURE IS TO PROCRASTINATE AND HAVE A BOOK PULLING AT YOU EVERY SECOND BUT AT THE SAME TIME I HAVE 3 ANNOYED TEAM MATES (a bit of threatening is needed in a leader) WHO ARE WAITING FOR ME TO SLIP UP AND THE TEACHERS WAVING THEIR SCARY RED PENS.

There are those who are disciplined and those who are insane.

I think its obvious which one I am.

Sincerely,
Nadine.

P.S

Tell me if you followed my instructions, 
I can't be the only one.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

DATE AT THE BOOKSTORE

I'm well aware that a 'dream date' typically consists of either candles, slow music, a violinist and a lot of staring at each others eyes, or a slow stroll on a beautiful beach during a sunset with doves flying. and, of course,  a violinist.

My dream date is a trip to the bookstore. waking between the shelves and seeing each other's choices. Then walking home carrying our bags with books and talking about stupid things and random thoughts. and, heck, lets throw in soft violin music playing in the background of barns and nobles so it could somewhat be traditional. 

honestly