“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” ― Cicero

Another book, 
Another rainy day. 
Perfect weather for the end of...

No Place Like Oz By Danielle Paige

What an ending!! I found myself shocked at Dorothy, I never thought I would say that. I assumed that her side of the story would be about how sweet little Dorothy Gale found her way back to Oz and befriended the Princess Ozma and boy was I wrong. Sure she was a tyrant in Dorothy Must Die but I went into this book with an open mind. She was seriously a spoiled brat!! I mean it. 

After Aunt Em made her a new dress for her 16th birthday her serious greed was obvious. She wanted more and more and would not stop until she got it. After receiving a mysterious gift from Glinda, the good witch, she was brought back to Oz along with both Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Dorothy, who was more self centered than I previous imagined, never thought of her aunt and uncle. They wanted to go back to Kansas to their lives but Dorothy wanted to stay in Oz forever. 

After learning that Glinda was missing she enlisted the help of the scarecrow. He told her to become somewhat friends with Ozma but to lie to her about her true reason, to find Glinda. Dorothy began to mess with magic... bad idea. She became someone who was never satisfied, always wanting more. After everything Ozma tried to do for her and her family, Dorothy continue to lie to her. After Ozma planned a "do-over" birthday party Dorothy snapped. She was no longer the scared girl who wanted nothing more then to go home in the movie/book, she was a monster. A power hungry monster. 

I don't want to give too much away about the plot but seriously this was a much needed, satisfying prequel to Dorothy Must Die. I would love to see Ozma's story as well. The characters in both books were superb. Although I of course didn't like Dorothy I seen her torment when her aunt and uncle refused to give Oz a fighting chance. Over all I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for more. (NOVEMBER!!)

4.5/5 stars just because Dorothy is a brat. 

First impressions: 

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer By Michelle Hodkin

After see this book on a YouTube video i was intrigued. I really liked the cover and the book-tuber really seemed to enjoy it. I am always looking for a book to make me think and to really mess with my head and from what I can tell this will be good. 

The book starts with 3 girls using a Ouija board asking how the one friend would die. It started on the M, and past the U and continued to spell out Mara, the girls name.

What an entrance! 

I was sucked in right away. I really like the cover as well, its almost creepy and romantic. 

That is all for now. As always if you have any recommendations for me feel free to message me on twitter or Facebook!!

Toodles xox 

Jess

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” ― Dr. Seuss

What a feeling.
Finishing something.
Be it a book,
A special project,
A fantastic meal.
anything.

I just finished an amazing book. I enjoyed it so much I read it twice. It may very well tie Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children as one of my favorite books.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige.

What can I say? i loved it and at the same time hated it, you know the typical emotions when reading an amazing book. You love the story and characters so much that by the end you hate it because its over. I wanted more and more as I continued to read. THAT ENDING!!!!! I now can not wait until the second novel comes out. 

Danielle's writing was phenomenal. Her words flowed and made the book thoroughly enjoyable. The characters were well executed and Dorothy was not only herself, as we know her in the movie and the original books, but you grew to be disgusted at her acts as the reigning "Princess". The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly (not so much) lion and the Scarecrow were characters like none others, creating both an understandable anguish and sheer terror for the main characters. The main character, Amy, was sneaky and charming. Her will to help others that needed it as well as her friendships forged throughout the story made her one to root for. When Amy was scared for Jellia, the head maid I was genuinely upset for her, she was a true friend. 

I really enjoyed the interaction with the main character with the secondary characters as well. I felt what I like to describe as make believe friendships with them. For example Nox, the stoic yet somehow sweet trainer. He trained Amy to fight and the kiss... woah. I knew that there had to be some romance in the novel and to be honest I was expecting it to be Pete, who turns out wasn't who I thought he/she was. (SPOILER!) 

Overall I really liked the book and I cannot wait until the second in the series comes out. I will for sure get it when it is out. 

Rating: 5/5 

First Impressions:

No Place Like Oz by Danielle Paige

I literally can't get enough of Oz. First Dorothy Must Die and now this. This novella takes place 2 years after Dorothy returns from Oz. She was a wonder when she came back but now that the attention has worn off her large ego is shrinking. She no longer has friends in Kansas, aunt Em thinks shes crazy and even her chicken is acting weird. Its her 16th birthday and all the people who don't like her show up and do nothing but all they do is ignore her. 

I'm not to sure about this one yet. I am only a little bit in and to be honest Dorothy is a major pain. I rooted for Amy to kill her because her ego and her attitude made me cringe. You know those girls in high school who are always primping, always looking for a way to make people feel bad, like Regina George from Mean Girls, that is what Dorothy reminds me of. Sometimes I just want to reach into the book and tell her to shut up.  But I think that is the feeling Danielle was going for. Make the evil character something relate-able yet someone to hate. 

That's all for now :) 

If you have a book recommendation for me just message me on Facebook or Twitter. 

Toodles xoxo

Jess 

I like real problems, the human condition - twisted, darker stuff.- Drea De Matteo

What is it about twists on old classics that pulls us in?
Is it the comfort in knowing how it will end?
Or who the characters truly are?
What if they weren't who you thought they were?
What if evil was good and good was evil?
What if it all went to hell after the story ends?

I like to think that I am an avid reader, sometimes I don't read enough other times I can't stop. I enjoy classic stories, ones full of whimsical creatures and crazy adventures.Ones with a forbidden romance and a happy ending. but I also like the idea of a story after the original ends. 

I often find myself thinking about the stories afterwards. 

Like what if Alice never actually left Wonderland and was stuck in a never ending cycle of complete madness? Maybe the mad hatter slowly became a nightmare, getting increasingly crazier and slowly transformed into something evil. Maybe the caterpillar was indeed a complete stoner who smoked himself insane. His paranoia slowly consuming him until he snapped. 
That is one twisted Wonderland, but if it was once peaceful would it ever return? Was Alice just in a coma being kept alive by strange drugs? was she just on a bad trip? 

What if Dorothy was led astray by the wizard and was tricked into some nasty evil experiments? What if whatever she did in Oz was just for the sole purpose of the wizards creepy fantasy? What if the Wicked Witch was just trying to warn her about the wizard? Or maybe it was her sick twisted fantasy after all she always did say "I'll get you my pretty". 
Was it all really just a dream from being knocked around in a tornado or was auntie em just as messed up as the witch herself? Or maybe she was actually the witch all along? 

What if Winnie the Pooh suddenly decided that his friend Christopher Robin looked a lot like a delicious treat? What if he went on a killing spree and murdered everyone within a 100 acre radius of the Hundred Acre Wood? Would guilt consume him or would he be too full on roasted rabbit with honey? 

What if?

What if we twisted all of our old favorite children stories to become new ones, for our own adult amusement. Would we be considered crazy? insane? devoid of feeling? genius? 

Next time you read an old favorite try to imagine the effects the story will have after all the characters have moved on. Imagine the opposite of the characters. What would you do if it was twisted beyond recognition?

I know I'd enjoy it.

From one twisted mind to another, 

toodles xoxo 
Jess

“So many books, so little time.” ― Frank Zappa

Let's try something new here :)

As many people know I love to read. I carry either my Kobo mini or an actual book with me no matter where I go. I tend to read some strange books, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children being my favorite. Recently I discovered an idea for a TBR Jar, or a To Be Read Jar. Its a genius idea really. So I went to my local dollar and picked up a wooden box (all of the jars were too small) and some gorgeous decorative paper and made my self one. I filled it with slips of paper with all of the books I own on them. I just recently finished an amazing book that has actually been on my Kobo for almost a year and I found that I REALLY enjoyed it. 

Room by Emma Donoghue

Room is a heart breaking story told through the eyes of 5 year old Jack. His bravery and innocent curiosity makes the book quite the ride. The writing in this novel is quite amazing, its told from Jack's perspective but it is far from childish. He is an incredibly smart and observant child, and amazingly brave as well. I thoroughly immersed myself in this novel reading it almost non-stop for a few days. 

The story centers around Jack, Ma and Room. Everything in Room has its own personality, but not in an overpowering way. From Wardrobe to Bed to Skylight, everything Jack has ever known is there in Room. But Ma knows she cant keep lying to him forever. They are being held captive by the man they call "Old Nick". Ma was taken from the world she knew, her family, her education at the age of 19 and was held captive and treated in some inappropriate ways. She can't leave. After Jack's 5th birthday Ma creates a plan to escape, to rid their lives of Old Nick. Jack was to pretend to be sick. They took some rather unusual precautions to ensure that Old Nick fell for it. He didn't. At first. 

I don't want to give away too much of the book, but its for sure an amazing book. Its also semi-based on the very true story of Josef Fritzl who held his 18 year old daughter captive for 24 years as a sex slave. Scary stuff. Its truly a horrible idea, but reading it in Jack's perspective made this novel charming and took some of the terrifying factors away. 

Overall rating for me: I give it 4/5. Yes its an amazing books but the idea behind it sends shivers down my spine. And to think that that kind of thing is happening all over the world. Yikes!

Now for a first impression. 

Dorothy Must Die By Danielle Paige

Oh My gosh!!! I can not tell you how excited I am to read this. 

It is a new twist on the classic by L. Frank Baum. What if Dorothy found a way back to Oz? What if The Wicked Witch was actually the good guy?  What if Dorothy was the new Wicked one? 

So far the story is about the misunderstood Amy Gumm. Shes the misfit at school because she lives in the trailer park with her mother. Pink hair in all Amy is swept up in a tornado and transported to Oz. 

I am so excited for this read. Danielle Paige's writing style may just be the best part. The words flow and its just so... unexplainably good. 

I recommend them immensely, whether you are looking for an interesting read or looking for a twist on an old favorite. Check them out!

For now that is all I have. 

Toodles xox 

Jess

“Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up” ― Veronica Roth

I can't explain.

Fear

Its crippling,

Its heart wrenching. 

Its a rush. 

I love it. 

The anticipation of a scare. 

The building feeling 

Of something going to happen. 

The rush you feel when it happens. 

A picture. 

Dark, 

Creepy, 

Abandoned. 

It scares me to think about, 

and yet it makes me incredibly happy. 

What makes people scared?

Is it the tingles on the back of the neck?

The increased heart beat?

the music that plays in the movies?

Or even reality? 

What scares me,

clowns, being alone

and most of all,

my own mind. 

My ideas, 

my plans, 

my thoughts can scare me. 

its because i write

that i can get over it. 

but word of advice....

Don't Look Down.

Toodles xo

Jess

The people who influence you are the people who believe in you -Henry Drummond

Whether it be my writing, my life, everything, there are people who had an impact in my life.  They helped to shape me into who I am and who I strive to be.

My literary influences have to be the ones that have made me see that a story doesn't have to have a million different characters to have an impact. Also that writing what I like to read is very important because if I don't want to read it who will?

Molly McAdams:
She writes amazing yet sometimes heartbreaking stories. Those who have read her novels will know what I mean when I say I cried over Chase at least a dozen times. Her books are natural. They feel as if you are living the stories, living the relationships. She is by far one of my favorite authors and will be for a long time. 
Check her out  http://www.mollysmcadams.com/ 
I HIGHLY recommend reading Taking Chances.. to everyone!!

Ransom Riggs:
His style of writing and the stories what can I say other then amazing! He uses found pictures and strings a story to them. I mean its genius. As the author of Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children he influenced me to write on what I see, write a story so magical that it transports you. He is incredible as both an author and i film maker as i have seen many many times on youtube.
Check Him out   http://www.ransomriggs.com/

K.C Wayland: 
His scripts are genius!! He wrote the podcast We're Alive, a zombie podcast and also on of my biggest inspirations. The script is phenomenal and so realistic. He writes excellent stories and relatable characters, like Datu, the sarcastic yet lovable maintenance guy who happens to get himself in to trouble. Or Riley, a trained chef who is kick ass with a bow and arrow.Yes I realize its only a podcast so you cant really see anything but you get to know the characters and love them. I want my characters to be like that. 
Check out the Podcast http://www.zombiepodcast.com/

Get ready for sappy. My real life influences are another story. They helped me in every time of need and every time I was ever down on my luck. They really raise my spirits and help me get to where I want to be, who I want to be.

My Mom:
We may argue, and bicker but in the end shes there. We have had some pretty rough patches in our lives with exes that cause more and more drama, to friends who I thought were going to be there. She stepped in and helped me cope. After my dad passed away almost 2 years ago she was my rock, she was strong. I wasn't. Through all of the heartaches and the pointless drama she has always told me to stay calm and it will all work out in the end. No matter how many rough spots life gives me I know I will always have her. Love you mom

My twin: 
Not my actual twin but she knows. Shes has seen me at my worst and I can trust her with my life. I think she knows me more then anyone ever has. She has influenced me to channel my inner nerd, to not be afraid to  be yourself. We have been best friends for a long time and I don't think that will change, even if we don't see each other a lot we are very close. I don't think shes just my best friend anymore shes my sister. Because of her I am confident in my own ideas. Thank you :) 

My Gramma:
This is a rough one. I lost my gramma 5 years ago and to this day its hard to talk about. She taught me to be strong, and fight for myself. She was my best friend and taught me a lot of life lessons. I remember calling her after a boy asked me out. I will always look at her as my angel, the reason I strive to live my dream. I want her to be proud of me. I want her to look over me as I write and be happy, to be proud that I am finally being myself. 

My dad:
He is  where I got my writing from. He wrote poems and stories and like myself doodled over everything. I miss him like crazy. He showed me my first horror movie and I've been hooked since. He showed me all of the classics like The Shining, It and Pet Sematary. I loved it. I wanted to write stories like that and I believe in my heart he knew that. I was an odd child always liking ghosts and being scared but he taught me to embrace it and write from my heart, no matter how weird. I think he'd be proud. 


Although there are many things in my life that made me who I am there are a few people that have impacted it. I am grateful everyday for them all. Even those I have never met. I can write and live how I want to because they taught me too. 

Love you All 
Toodles xoxo 
Jess

Do you believe in magic?

I am not strong, nor am I weak,
I can stand on my own two feet.
I cant be bought or sold in stores,
I imagine whats through those open doors.
He kept me hidden,
He kept me safe,
He did not know it was forbidden.

I was different,
I was new.
He can't see what I can do.
The sparks and flames shoot through my veins,
Like a wild horse without reins.
Next time i see him,
On a whim,
I'm frail, weak and very thin,
But I have power deep within.


From my mother and before her,
I was never certain, never sure.
Ancient history sure to repeat,
Another witch they'll never beat.
We are stronger,
For I will conjure,
My greatest strength,
I will go to any length.


I must hide for here he comes, 
My heart beats like a thousand drums. 
I jump to the corner and hide my head,
For he wont allow a single bed.
I am scared but it wont stop me. 
I must escape.
I must get free. 


He bursts in, 
The air gets thin. 
Hes much taller then I have ever been. 
He shouts my name, 
I will not say, 
I will not move.
He will go insane. 
He will feel the fire, 
See the sparks
I will never tire. 
The flames will burn, 
And he will turn,
Unnatural shades of auburn. 

His ashes fall to the floor in a pile
And I cant help but smile,
For I am free 
I can move 
I can finally make them see.
My life is much better in the pages of a fantasy. 

He not real, 
Or real to me, 
But I feel
Hes the bad one we all need to beat. 
Our angry captor 
Who keeps us locked. 
Our angry self
Who keeps us blocked. 
From being creative and being free, 
From being the me I always dreamt to be. 

He keeps me silent, 
He keeps me sane, 
For all these ideas are in my brain. 
I cant get them out 
Or dare to try, 
Because once I do
I will get too shy. 
What if someone hate it, 
What if some one cares, 
These are my words 
And my prayers. 
let someone hear them
Let someone see
I'm becoming the me 
I'm meant to be. 


toodles xox 
Jess