Nicole's Travel Guide to Korea: Jeju Day 4

We were getting to the end of our Jeju vacation, with only a day and a half left before we got back on the ferry to head back to the mainland. Our travel plans, by this point, had slowed down a bit- instead of hopping to a few different places for a few hours each, we were going to spend the whole day at one place. ( That place was called Hallim Park. )

Book Review: Ruby- V C Andrews

V C Andrews is one of my favourite authors. In fact, I own a good chunk of the books she’s written, including those written by the ghostwriter after her death. Unfortunately, most of her books cover some pretty taboo subjects that I understand will not be for everyone. That’s why I’m usually fairly hesitant to recommend her books (and always add a lot of trigger warnings when I do). I still really like them, so it makes me happy that
my favourite series isn’t as risqué, which makes me feel it’s not as much of a risk to recommend it to everyone.

Ruby is the first book in the Landry series. It takes us down to the Louisiana bayou, where Ruby lives with her conniving grandfather and kind grandmother. Her mother died giving birth to her, but there’s more to the story than Ruby has ever been told. On her deathbed, her grandmother tells Ruby that she has a twin sister. Their father was a married man who took one baby, while Ruby’s existence was kept a secret and she was left behind. When Ruby finds out another shocking secret concerning her boyfriend Paul, she goes to find her long lost father. The glitzy world that she finds herself in is nothing like she expected. Her stepmother hates her, he twin Giselle is cruel and hateful, especially when her boyfriend Beau begins to fall for Ruby.

Out of all of V C Andrew’s memorable characters, Ruby has always stood out to me. She is the most intriguing of them all (and V C Andrews has a lot of characters). You feel her whirlwind journey and it touches your heart. The setting itself, especially the bayou, is great. The culture of Louisiana, both the rich and the poor, is something we’re given a fine taste of. We also get a little bit of voodoo thrown in, and that’ll make any tale that much better. I’ll caution that the books does contain some pretty mature subject matter, thus is not for everyone. That said, if you’re feeling like a more adult book that touches on some heavy subjects and has an awesome storyline, then definitely look at getting your hands on a copy of Ruby.

Book Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty- Libba Bray

As you may have noticed by now, I have a love of historical fiction. I just can’t seem to gt enough of itsfdg, and Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty is one of my favourites.

Set in the Victorian era, the story begins in India, where Gemma Doyle, a young British woman, lives with her family. One terrible day, a man approaches Gemma’s mother and warns her that by day’s end she would be dead. With that, Gemma has her first vision. Gemma is shipped off to a finishing school in England (much to her delight) and it is there, along with her three new friends/frenemies that she discovers her newly developing powers. She discovered she can enter The Realms, a magical world full of mystery. Of course there are dangers lurking both inside and outside The Realms, one of them being Kartik, a young Indian boy who has followed her. He says that he knows the only way to protect her, but it’s obvious that he’s hiding things too.

Though the plot alone is enough reason to read this book, another reason the book is so good is the characterization (another thing I love- well written characters). The four main girls are complex: Pippa and Felicity are both popular snobs, yet insecure. Ann is a quiet outcast who has true talent and would give anything to change herself. Then there’s Gemma, who will not change herself to fit in and yet does risky things in order to prove herself. Along with all that we get an amazing look at the Victorian era, a historical period where morals were unbending and society rigid. We’re shown the pressures that the girls are under, how they’ve expected to conform to what society expects of them and how they’re supposed to give up their individuality. All in all this is one of my favourite books- historical, fantasy, suspense, and even a little forbidden romance all mixed into one beautifully told narrative that will keep you entranced until the very last word.

Book Review: Alanna: The First Adventure- Tamora Pierce

To call me a feminist just might be an understatement. I’m all about the strong female characters; Mulan is the best Disney girl and Eowyn is one of my fictional heroes (and not only because both those women kick butt. They have depths that are profound). So when I came across Tamora Pierce’s Alanna: The First Adventure, about a girl who wants to be a knight so disguises herself as a boy to do it, I knew it would be for me.

Alanna is the daughter of a wealthy noble in the magical land of Tortall, and despite what her father wants, does not go away and learn how to become a lady. Instead, she takes her brother’s (who wants to become a wizard, not a knight) place and heads off to knight training. Defying a genre trope, when Alanna arrives there, she isn’t the best page. One of the best parts of the story is that Alanna is far from the best. She’s small and understandably weaker physically, so that means that she both has to work harder and is a bully magnet. Yet she doesn’t give up, which is always a good lesson you want to teach. And what kind of adventure story would this be if there wasn’t some type of villain she has to go up against in the end?

This is one of those books that all girls should read (though it is geared towards a younger audience) should read to see just how kick butt female characters can be. Even more than that, it’s one all boys should read for the very same reason. It’s a book that can challenge stereotypes that society teaches all genders, and that’s important. Take it from me- that’s something there can never be enough of.

Different

When I tried to be me
You said I was a mistake,
When I tried to be different
You called me a fake.
I was all but insane
With the way you made me feel,
I always felt as though
I was never really real.
I know I can’t change
Not to suit you,
But I wish you’d accept me
When all of this is through.
I know that I’m different
Something’s won’t change,
To understand that now
Just might be out of your range

My Hero

When I was scared
You took away my fears,
When I was hurt
You dried up all my tears.
When I was sick
You'd stay up all night,
When my heart was broken
You said it'd be alright.
When I'd lost hope
In all of my dreams,
You'd bring them all back
No matter the means.
You've been there for my good times
And even my bad,
You love me no matter what
Though I often make you mad.
Someday I hope
I'll be a mother like you,
And my future children
Will love me that much too.
With you my dear Mother
I'm never a zero,
I love you so much
'Cuz you are my hero.