Binti by Nnedi Okorafor... a Review

I'm not really a Sci-Fi kind of girl, but while reading about the 2015 Nebula awards which were recently handed out, I came across this title, Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, and it struck me as interesting. It is a novella and the kindle price practically gave it away, so why not? What I found was truly a gift! A space adventure, lead by a great female character named Binti, with fantastic "alien" cultures, with writing that made me feel I was right there in the thick of things.

Binti is about a young girl who risks everything, including her relationship with her family, to attend the most prestigious university in the galaxy, Oomza University. Binti will be the first of her people to  be accepted at the University... if she survives getting threre. You see, the part of the galaxy she'll be traveling to is at war, and no one is safe.  On top of that, Binti has never been outside her home and at home her people, although highly intelligent, have been looked down on by other cultures, so she braces herself for rejection. What Binti finds though, are easy friendships, interesting food and... terrifying danger.

The world Nnedi Okorafor has created is fantastic, mesmerizing, interesting. The characters are wonderful, beautifully different. The subplot of alien cultures needing to find common ground in order to survive is typical, but the way the author attains that is so interesting! The writing is soothing with each line seeming to be perfectly painted on the page. And the storyline is both terrifying and exhilerating at the same time. No wonder this won a Nebula!

Great characters, wonderfully imaginitive world and cultures, with a beautifully written story all bundled in about 100 pages, makes this a MUST read in my book. Like Science Fiction? Read this. Not so sure about science fiction, but like the idea of young girl adventurer? Give this a try! Five stars from this non-scifi girl. And I can't wait to read more about Binti as Nnedi Okorafor decided that Binti's story wasn't done!

Circling the Sun by Paua McLain… A Review

A sweeping novel that brings the beauty of the African plains to life and shines a light on a woman many have never heard of... 

This book was so wonderful! It was one of those books you just never want to end because you just love being there. The writing was captivating , the story was amazing and her painting of Africa in the most beautiful hues made you feel you were hiding in the tall grass, an actual spectator to all that was going on.

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain tells the epic story of Beryl Markham, the first woman racehorse trainer in Kenya and first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west. Brought up in Africa, by her father, Beryl grows into an adventurous woman, who cares more for the beauty around her, the wild untamed country she calls home, then for the delicacies of being a girl. Horses become her destiny, tragedy befalls her, but she has the heart of a lion and continues on. I have to say that, though it tells the story of Beryl and how she came to be a racehorse trainer and made that solo flight across the Atlantic, it's more of a story of a girl, abandoned by her mother, learning to find herself and her place in the world. Learning how to love and be loved. READ this book!  Love, jealousy, betrayal, an unforgettable landscape and unforgettable characters, a story that will capture your interest and your heart, all make this book an unforgettable read. This would make a great book club selection! And this was one of my favorite books of 2015! I could not put this book down!

The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen... A Review

The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen...There’s a meteor headed for Earth, and there is only one way to survive. It’s the final days of earth, and sixteen-year-old Char is right where she belongs: in prison. With her criminal record, she doesn’t qualify for a place on an Ark, one of the five massive bioships designed to protect earth’s survivors during the meteor strike that looks set to destroy the planet. Only a select few will be saved – like her mom, dad, and brother – all of whom have long since turned their backs on Char. If she ever wants to redeem herself, Char must use all the tricks of the trade to swindle her way into outer space, where she hopes to reunite with her family, regardless of whether they actually ever want to see her again, or not . . .


The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen is Smart and fresh, with writing that will capture your imagination and a protagonist that will wrap herself around your heart. I was on a sci-fi binge for a while and The Ark fit right in. I also love dystopian novels and again The Ark fits that category too. The story centers on Charlotte or Char, and her escape from the planet that will be destroyed without question. It's also a story of redemption, family, and survival as Char aims to escape from her prison and reunite with her family, even though her family has virtually abandoned her since she became a petty thief and delinquent. Will her well earned "skills" help her survive and find peace? You'll have to read The Ark to find out! I enjoyed it and read it as part of The Ark Book Tour sponsored by Pump Up Your Book! If you enjoy Dystopian and YA Sci-fi/fantasy with a strong female protagonist, you should enjoy it too!

Want to read the first Chapter?! Here's a link!

About Laura Liddell Nolen... Laura grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she spent an excellent childhood playing make-believe with her two younger brothers. The Ark is the direct result of those stories and a lifelong devotion to space-themed television. It received a Work in Progress Grant from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Laura has a degree in French and a license to practice law, but both are frozen in carbonite at present. She lives in Texas with her family.

Read more about Laura Liddell Nolen at her website, www.lauraliddellnolen.com

212 By Alafair Burke... TLC Book Tour and Review!

212 by Alafair Burke...

When New York University sophomore Megan Gunther finds personal threats posted to a Web site specializing in campus gossip, she's taken aback by their menacing tone. Someone knows her daily routine down to the minute and is watching her — but thanks to the anonymity provided by the Internet, the police tell her there's nothing they can do. Her friends are sure it's someone's idea of a joke, but when Megan is murdered in a vicious attack, NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher is convinced that the online threats are more than just empty words.

With smooth, straight-talking partner J. J. Rogan at her side, Ellie tries to identify Megan's enemies, but she begins to wonder if the coed's murder was more than just the culmination of a cyber obsession. Phone records reveal a link between Megan and a murdered real estate agent who was living a dangerous double life. The detectives also learn that the dead real estate agent shared a secret connection to a celebrity mogul whose bodyguard was mysteriously killed a few months earlier. And when Megan's roommate suddenly disappears, they know they have to find her before another young woman dies.

What did I think? How can a girl complain about crime fiction that stars a smart, young and good female homicide detective? What's even better than a great protagonist is the great writing! I enjoy good writing and, although I haven't read any crime fiction in a while, Alafair Burke simply invited me into the story with a peek at what is to come, and I was hooked! Once I started reading I was turning those pages pretty fast. The setting is New York City, and the modern day approach by using twitter and google, make this piece of crime fiction fresh. She develops her characters well and that along with a good story pace kept my attention. I also liked the short chapters that allowed me to read this in short spurts. Alafair Burke's background as a prosecutor makes this authentic too! So, if you enjoy crime fiction, a great female protagonist, and great writing that will have you turning those pages at a rapid rate, 212 is a book you will enjoy!

About the Author... Alafair Burke is the author of what the Sun-Sentinal has hailed as "two power house series" featuring NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher and Portland Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid. Alafair's novels grow out of her love for writing, her experience as a prosecutor in America's police precincts and criminal courtrooms, and her ability to create strong, believable, and eminently likable female characters. According to Entertainment Weekly, Alafair "is a terrific web spinner" who "knows when and how to drop clues to keep readers at her mercy."

Alafair Burke is Virtually Touring with her book 212 with TLC Book Tours! You can read more about her at the author's website, and you can find 212 by Alafair Burke at your local bookstore right now! Thanks Trish of TLC Book Tours for sending this along! Loved it!

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