Hollow City by Ransom Riggs (Book Review)

"We rowed out through the harbor, past bobbing boats weeping rust from their seams, past juries of silent seabirds roosting atop the barnacled remains of sunken docks, past fishermen who lowered their nets to stare frozenly as we slipped by, uncertain whether we were real or imagined; ten children and one bird in three small and unsteady boats, rowing with quiet intensity straight out to sea, the only safe harbor for miles receding quickly behind us, craggy and magical in the blue-gold light of dawn."

Review: When reading a sequel there are always a few things I look for to determine if; 1) it's good? and 2) it's worth reading the next book? Ransom Riggs does not disappoint me at all.

I could NOT put the book down! Well, I could, because I had to in order to sleep and work to make money to buy more books in hopes that they will turn out as good as his! But anyway, one of the first key things I look for is the story-line. It should be able to seamlessly pick up where the previous book left off. Not only that, but in case some time has passed, like more than 12 months, I shouldn't have to go back to the other book to refresh my memory. Any "back story" I need should be retold but not in a boring way. I was honestly thrilled at how well he was able to weave certain clues and instances from the first book into this one. I also appreciated the pictures of the "peculiar children" he gave in the beginning pages with their name and a short description of their peculiarity. It was helpful and I used it more than once.

Now onto the characters. As I expected (because it has been known to happen to me with almost all trilogies and series that I've read in the past) I already have grown sick and tired of the main characters of Jacob and Emma. I know they are the "love interest" of this trilogy as all Young Adult books seem to need in order to be considered good, I feel like this book would be just as great without it. But whatever, that's just my opinion.

I love the other characters. I'd have to say I'm torn between Millard (invisible boy), Enoch (animate the dead briefly) and Hugh (can control bees and other insects) as my favorite! I probably would go with Millard if I was forced to pick one because I love his sense of adventure, his intelligence, his compassion and his love of books. All traits I either see in myself or wish I had. Oh yeah, and the whole invisible thing is cool too I guess. But what you'll come to understand in this book with his character (as well as some of the others) his peculiar ability is not exactly something to be happy about. He does have a sense of loneliness that none of them could understand. Same goes for Hugh, especially when he helps them escape a sticky situation by using hundreds, if not thousands, of his friends (bees). 

I don't want to give away any spoilers but the first book was basically getting to know the peculiar children, how Jacob comes to be involved with them, what his peculiar ability is, and what evil forces they are facing. There are loops, and wights, and hollowgasts, and ymbrynes, and emu-raffes, and other things you will come to learn about as you read the book but they all play a part in their sequel mission, which is to say Miss Peregrine who has been turned into a bird (one of her many abilities) but cannot turn back. They must get her to another of her kind who can help her turn back before she remains forever a bird.

The ending actually has more of a cliff-hanger than the first book did! So I hope we won't have to wait nearly 2 years before the final book comes out. Actually, has it been confirmed that this is a trilogy? I'm not 100% sure about that. Either way, please Ransom, don't make us wait till 2016 for the next book!

Summary: This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerizing) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.

Hollow City
The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

396 pages

Quirk Books, 2014

young adult/suspense

Finished in 5 days

Rating: ★★★★★

Amazon | BN

 To learn more about Ransom Riggs, visit his site here.

Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get My Hands On

This should be a fairly easy list since I've been reading a lot of books that are planned to be more than just one. However, some of my choices won't be sequels but probably the 3rd in a trilogy as well. Now that I think about it, I might not have a full 10 but I shall try...

 

Cress by Marissa Meyer 

Okay, so it's not the sequel to the Lunar Chronicles, it's one of four books. But who ISN'T excited for this book to come out? Who seriously in the realm of Young Adult books won't be taking the day off from work JUST so they can be at the bookstore when it opens to purchase it then spend the entire day devouring every last word?

 

Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd
This IS a sequel to, I believe, a planned trilogy? Anywho, have you read The Madman's Daughter? Anyone who reads, or claims to read, Young Adult books has definitely come across this book and read it. If you have, you are just as excited as I am to find out what happens next and will we be going back to the island or will the island inhabitants be coming to us? You only get that if you've read the book.

 

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
No offense to the two books I previously mentioned but if there is a book I've been looking forward to the most, like two years, I think it's been two years now (??), it has GOT TO BE the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children! Brilliant book and so very imaginative. I'm glad he listened to his fandom and was able to squeeze out another book. Will there be a third? Look at me, I'm already looking for the next installment without having read this one yet. But I know it will be that damn good. I've got the Graphic Novel to tide me over till January.

The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore
Are you acquainted with Christopher Moore? If you aren't, then you need to go out right now (or go to Amazon.com and order) and pick up Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal then you can thank me after. His books are hysterical. I laugh till I cry with his books. So to be coming out with a sequel almost ten years later about a character everyone can love and love to hate is great.

Okay, so I only came up with 4 books, but it's almost 1am and I'm tired cause I've been working on my NaNoWriMo life right now! Be happy I remembered about Top Ten Tuesday enough to post this! lol

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm headed back to the world of novelists.

April, The Wrap-Up

It was a busy month for me. I was in DC for a few days for one thing. But for another, I may have discovered the best book I've ever read in my life! Of course, I still have a lot more life to live where I'll be reading more books so that could change. But as of right now, this is the one. So, without further ado, here's how I did in April:

Books

• The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

• The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket

• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• The Sherlock Holmes Handbook by Ransom Riggs

Number of books read: 5*
Number of pages read: 1,404*

Number of books read YTD: 21
Number of pages read YTD: 5,922

Coming in May:

• The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket


• Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas


• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce


• The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood


• Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi


• The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

• Control by Glenn Beck


• Michael Vey 2: Rise of the Elgin by Richard Paul Evans

Now I know I've only been reading 5 books a month these last two months but I will continue to put down 6 or more in hopes that one time this month I will actually read that many. I have confidence in myself! Of course I am traveling again this month. This time I'm headed to Dallas, TX for a bloggers conference no less! It will be quiet an experience. I hope it doesn't take me away from reading since I'm sure I'll be doing a lot of writing.

*I’m using Daytum to keep track of my reading for the 2013 year. You can see my progress here.

The Sherlock Holmes Handbook by Ransom Riggs (Book Review)

The Sherlock Holmes Handbook

by Ransom Riggs

203 pages

Quirk Books, 2009

fiction

Read in 2 days

Another Review...

My Rating: ★★★

Amazon.com | BN.com

"The mere fact that you are holding this book allows one to make a number of elementary deductions concerning your disposition: that you nurture an interest in criminals and criminality; that you are at least passingly learned in the literary arts; and, like so many others, that you wish to cast a little light upon (and even emulate) Holmes's almost preternatural genius for reasoning backward from the thinnest of observed effects to uncannily accurate causes."

Review: Probably one of the most comprehensive books I've ever read on Sherlock Holmes. Granted it's the first I've ever read that was about him the character. I find his persona very intriguing, especially when coupled with the various ways he has been portrayed on television throughout the years. Just for fun (and because I'm sure Ransom Riggs wouldn't mind) here are a few photographic examples:

Jeremy Brett

Basil Rathbone

Benedict Cumberbatch (PBS)

Robert Downey Jr. (movie)

Now that I've introduced you briefly to some of the best known actors who've portrayed Sherlock Holmes at one time or another, let me get on with this book. It's not exactly one that needs to be read from cover to cover on the first go through. It's more of a "handbook" hence it's title.

As I said in the beginning, it's very comprehensive in it's details. If you've never read any of the Sherlock Holmes stories you will find yourself a bit lost because of the attention to detail. Ransom does lay out an exceptional blueprint to success. It's so detailed and factual I actually believed I could be Sherlock Holmes and solve crimes as easily as he does.

If you've ever wanted to know how he is able to deduce and decipher with such ease, then reading this book would be an excellent start. I'd almost say this book can be a reference that I'll find myself going back to whenever I venture to reread Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's tales of mystery and suspense.

Summary: “My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people don’t know.”

This reader’s companion to the casework of Sherlock Holmes explores the methodology of the world’s most famous consulting detective. From analyzing fingerprints and decoding ciphers to creating disguises and faking one’s own death, readers will learn how Holmes solved his most celebrated cases—plus an arsenal of modern techniques available to today’s armchair sleuths. Along the way, readers will discover a host of trivia about the master detective and his universe: Why did Holmes never marry? How was the real Scotland Yard organized? Was cocaine really legal back then? And why were the British so terrified of Australia? Full of fascinating how-to skills and evocative illustrations, The Sherlock Holmes Handbook will appeal to Baker Street Irregulars of all ages.

If you want to learn more about Ransom Riggs, please visit this site.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (Book Review)

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

352 pages

Quirk Books, June 2011

horror/mystery/fantasy/young adult

Read in 4 days

Another Review…

My Rating: ★★★★

Amazon.com or BN.com

My Review: Before I get into my review I must first explain I had no intention of actually finishing this book. Prior to picking it up, while waiting for a Molly Ringwald book signing, I never heard of it. My intention, at the time, was to read something to pass the 2 hour wait time. Little did I know I would end up purchasing the book because in that 2 hour time I read nearly 100 pages. I was unaware of its NY Times bestseller list appearance. All I knew was it had a rather interesting title and cover. It wasn’t until halfway through the book that I noticed it was published by Quirk, one of my favorite publishing houses which brought us bestsellers like “Pride & Prejudice & Zombies” and “Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer” to name a few. It is no wonder I found myself finishing this book in 4 days!

I did do some research on the author and some background on where this book would be headed. I did this because nowadays YA books are normally series of 3 or more books. This story is no exception, its set up to be at least a 3 book series. I’m anticipating the next two books only because of the photographs (real by the way) used in this book. Just the amount of hunting and research that had to go into incorporating such real and yet peculiar photos into a well plotted story like this impressed me greatly.

If you were to judge this book by its cover you might assume it’s scary or a thriller of some sort? I mean, the girl is levitating. While I grant there is mystery and the children are peculiar by all definitions, it’s not as scary as I expected it to be on paper. Perhaps the movie (purchased by 20th Century Fox) will take up where the book left much to ones imagination? Otherwise, if you are looking for escape to another time and another world entirely, this book will easily put you in the shoes of one such man who does just that. And the pictures shared along the way only serve to better move the story along.

Summary: As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man’s unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs—alive and well—despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole. Interspersed with photos throughout, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a truly atmospheric novel with plot twists, turns, and surprises that will delight readers of any age.