Lifestyle – Page 21 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Lifestyle

5 Ways to Save Money on Etsy | #PlanWithPolishland

Posted on July 11, 2015July 1, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Welcome back to another #PlanWithPolishland post! Thank you for all the support on my Erin Condren Life Planner Unboxing & Review (see it HERE if you missed it). Today I wanted to share some helpful tips on how to save money on Etsy. When I first joined the nail polish community, I was amazed with all of the indie nail polish makers. Now, as I explore the planner world, I am blown away by the stickers that are specifically made for the Erin Condren Life Planner (hereinafter “ECLP”). One of the reasons I wanted an ECLP was because I wanted to make my planner a hobby – I wanted it to be functional and helpful, but also a creative outlet. Stickers are a great way to dress up your planner, so I did a ton of research to decide which shops I was going to place orders with right off the bat. The only issue is, stickers can get really expensive, especially when buying from Etsy shops. I didn’t want to give up such cute stickers, so I came up with a plan to make this new sticker habit both fabulous and affordable!

1. Earn Cash Back on Ebates

If you’re a longtime Adventures in Polishland reader, you’ll know that I am a huge fan of the website Ebates. Ebates is a reputable website that allows you to earn cash back on many of the purchases you make online. All you have to do is sign up, log in to Ebates, and click on the store from which you’d like to purchase. Then Ebates tracks your order and gives you money! Etsy was recently added to Ebates, and you can earn 1% cash back on all Etsy orders. While 1% may not seem like a lot, it’s still money back in your pocket. I highly recommend signing up for Ebates, and if you use my referral link by clicking on the Ebates banner above, I get credit for you!

2. Always Use a Coupon Code

Etsy sticker shops are really great with coupon codes. There is almost always an active code available, and it’s really easy to find them! Make sure you are following Etsy shops on social media, specifically Instagram. Many shops have an Instagram specific coupon code listed on their profile. In addition, a lot of shops have Facebook groups that keep you informed of upcoming releases and sales. I highly recommend joining those groups. Not only will you get money-saving coupons, but you’ll get to know the shop owner and other planner lovers. If you’re not personally on social media, you can still visit a shop’s Instagram page through your web browser or do a classic Google search. Those few extra minutes of looking online could save you a few dollars!

3. Buy More Less Often

An added expense to shopping online is always shipping. This is especially true if you are located in a different country than the store from which you are purchasing. Thus, plan out your purchases and buy more stickers less often. This will ensure you pay the lowest shipping price, and you will get enough stickers to last you a long time. To keep track of the stickers you want to buy, keep a Pinterest Board or add stickers to your Etsy cart for later purchase. Focus on buying a large order from one shop at a time, and make use of those stickers before buying anything else.

4. Only Buy What You Will Use

This sounds very straightforward, but sometimes this is not an easy rule to follow. There are so many cute stickers on Etsy, and I would love to buy them all. However, I have no need for stickers that are purely decorative. Sure, it would be fun to have macarons or princesses all over my planner, but I focus on buying stickers that are functional. That’s my personal planning style right now. How many times have you heard someone say, “I have no idea when I’ll use this, but I just had to have it!” Don’t be that person! We’re on a budget here! If you want those princess stickers make sure you have a use for them, even if it’s just to decorate. Be honest with yourself and realize that once you click that purchase button you can’t get that money back.

5. Get a Planner Buddy

Last but not least, find a friend with similar interests! I highly recommend having a planner buddy who is local. This will allow you to split shipping costs with her, and you can also split sticker sheets. For example, some shops have sampler sheets with a variety of different stickers, but you might only want to use half of them. See if your planner buddy will use the other half. If so, you just saved 50% on your purchase! A planner buddy will also hold you accountable for your purchases, and is someone who can share your hobby with you.

That brings us to the end of this #PlanWithPolishland post! I hope you found these tips helpful. The best part is, all five of these tips can be combined to save you the most amount of money possible. I’ll admit I’ve already made a few Etsy sticker purchases, but I’ve followed these steps and feel like each purchase is justified. I am uploading all of my sticker hauls on my YouTube channel, so make sure to SUBSCRIBE to know when those videos go live. My first haul will be embedded in this video below for your convenience!

Do you shop on Etsy? How do you save money? What are your favorite shops? Tell me in the comments!

Welcome to #PlanWithPolishland! | Erin Condren Life Planner Ready to Ship Rose Gold Horizontal Unboxing & Review

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I am beyond excited to share a new adventure in my life with all of you. About a year ago, I first heard of the Erin Condren Life Planner. It seemed great, but when I visited Erin Condren’s website, I couldn’t believe how expensive the planners were. I put them out of my mind until a few months ago when Elle Fowler of AllThatGlitters21 created a new planner-based Instagram. After seeing her posts, I started to do some heavy research on the Erin Condren Life Planner. I watched Plan With Me videos, browsed tons of Etsy shops, and thought of how I would incorporate the planner into my life. I finally decided that it was 100% worth the investment for me to get this amazing planner, especially considering that I will be using it for the next 18 months of my life. Thus, #PlanWithPolishland was born, and today I’m showing you everything I purchased during the Erin Condren launch this month, and how I plan to use it.

Let’s begin with a quick overview of what I purchased. I filmed an unboxing video so you could see the items in depth, but I will include photos in this post, too.

Ready to Ship Life Planner in Rose Gold – Horizontal Layout $75 (+$5 for extra 6 months) [LINK]
Life Planner Launch Bundle $25 [LINK]

As you might have noticed in my video, I was very nervous upon opening the box. I joined a Facebook group of Erin Condren fans, and as people began to receive their planners a plethora of issues came up. Some planners arrived with small issues such as a sheet missing or a scratched cover, while others had a messed up coil that wouldn’t allow the planner to lay flat. Worst of all, some people were receiving completely wrong orders or missing items. I am very thankful that my purchase arrived unscathed! Everything is in perfect working order, and I’m happy to report the quality is amazing.

Another thing I wanted to mention is that “Ready to Ship” does not actually mean ready to ship. Erin Condren’s website allows you to see every step of your order process, which I found really helpful. However, I got to see my planner being printed. It took six days for my planner to actually be ready to ship, and another four days for me to receive it. If you are interested in the Ready to Ship design, know that it will be printed especially for you, and factor that time into the process.

The last gripe I have with my first Erin Condren experience is that I paid an extra $5 for the 18 month planner in contrast with the standard 12 months. Many people who ordered the regular 12 month planner got the 18 month free of charge. That was really frustrating for me, but unfortunately that’s not something I can complain to customer service about. I just feel like I got ripped off by paying the extra $5 when it seems those who didn’t still got an 18 month planner. This is definitely nitpicking my otherwise amazing experience, but I wanted to share all of my thoughts on this process with you!

PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHS

Life Planner – Horizontal Layout

The Rose Gold Ready to Ship comes with this beautiful rose gold coil, and a lilac purple cover with rose gold lettering. I love that Erin Condren’s theme is adventure. It goes perfectly with my blog, and also with my goal to make every day an adventure even when things aren’t going so well.
I wanted to show you an example of a monthly layout. The first page of each month includes a lined notebook paper and then a quoted page with a stunning geode print in the month’s colors.
Then there is a monthly calendar with decent size boxes with plenty of room to add in events, birthdays, and anything else. There is also a section for your monthly goals, which you can certainly customize with stickers based on your needs.
Finally, the weekly layouts are very spacious, with a lot of room to right down your to do lists. There is a notes section at the bottom, which I’m going to use as a weekly to do list. I love the simplistic design, and the font is just stunning. Plus, the monthly colors are beautiful. I could not be happier with the quality of the planner or its stunning look!

Life Planner Launch Bundle

Because this is my first planner purchase, I wanted to start out with some stickers. Erin Condren offered this Launch Bundle for $25, which includes the Designer Clutch, Sticker Book, and Party Pops Markers. This is a $37 value, so I figured it was worth it. I know I will be using this sticker book! Let me show you a few of the different sticker designs inside. These are just a few of the sticker pages inside. They can be used in your planner, in cards, as gift labels, etc. I love the colors and messages, and these stickers are really high quality. I highly recommend this book if you are new to planning and want some stickers to begin your journey.

HOW I PLAN TO USE MY LIFE PLANNER – #PlanWithPolishland

Now that my Life Planner is here I couldn’t be more excited to start my planning journey. I’ve never been successful at keeping a planner in the past. In fact, I stopped buying planners in college because I never used them. However, as I type this blog post, I look around my desk and see five different to do lists. They are disorganized, and they aren’t very helpful. I’m hoping that if I set the time aside to plan my weeks, I will be more organized and put together. Plus, I think this will help me become more creative and also act as a journaling exercise. I hope you are excited to join my journey with my new #PlanWithPolishland series!

Speaking of which, my plans for #PlanWishPolishland are still a bit up in the air, and I want your suggestions. Right now I am thinking about doing blog posts here 3-4 times per month, and Plan With Me videos whenever I get the chance. I also wanted to ask if you wanted a separate Instagram page for my planning journey. Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions in the comments!

SAVE $10 AT ERINCONDREN.COM!

Investing in an Erin Condren Life Planner was definitely a hard choice for me, and I know it can be for anyone who is on a tight budget. I justified my purchase by knowing that this is something I can use for a full 18 months, and it will hopefully help me improve my life a great deal. I also used a $10 off coupon, and you guys can, too! If you sign up with my referral link HERE you will get a $10 coupon code emailed to you, and I will earn $10 as well. Every bit of savings is a huge help!

Are you a planner? Let me know in the comments!

Firmoo Hipster Glasses Review + Work Outfit

Posted on June 11, 2015June 11, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have a fashion post for all of you – something I don’t do all that often, but is definitely fun once in a while. I got the opportunity to review another pair of glasses from the fabulous and affordable brand Firmoo. I’ve tested prescription sunglasses from this brand in the past (see those reviews HERE and HERE), but this is the first time I got regular glasses. I’ve always wanted hipster glasses, so I figured now was the perfect opportunity to try them!

Here I am in my hipster glasses! I absolutely love them! The design number of these frames is F043. They are a big frame in a dark brown color, with silver accents on either side. I’m really impressed with the quality of these glasses. They are very sturdy, and the lenses clean very easily. Each pair of glasses comes with both a hard and soft case, a cleansing cloth, and a mini screwdriver. I love that everything you need comes with the glasses!

This past semester I was working at a fashion company, so I liked to dress business casual. My Firmoo glasses were absolutely perfect – there is no brand name listed on the outside, so I didn’t have to worry about wearing a competitor label! The brown color also goes with any outfit. I always felt professional, yet young and vibrant at the same time. Plus, I felt more like a New Yorker in these glasses – everyone here is so hip!

Here are my outfit details:

Sweater – William Rast [BRAND]
Jeans – BDG [BUY]
Flats – DSW [SIMILAR]

All in all, I’m so glad I got the opportunity to test out these glasses! It is so much fun to be able to switch up my glasses depending on my mood. Firmoo is the perfect online shop, too. The customer service is excellent, the products are well made, and the prices are low! The exact frames I’m wearing in this post are now sold out, but there are other similar designs, such as THIS ONE for just $39.00. I highly recommend Firmoo, and hope you all will check it out!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Posted on June 8, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger

Published by Poppy on September 7, 2010

Genres: Young Adult, New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: eARC

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

REVIEW

I went into The DUFF not knowing what to expect. Reviews from my Goodreads friends are all over the map, but when I got the opportunity to review the book in celebration of the movie being released, I was excited to dive right in. Unfortunately, while The DUFF was a quick and easy read for me, it is not one that I enjoyed much at all. I have a lot to discuss, so let’s begin with my thoughts on Bianca, the book’s first-person narrator.

Bianca is one of the most unlikeable characters I’ve ever encountered. While I can understand that she is going through a lot in her teenage life, with her parents’ relationship failing and with her being labeled the DUFF by one of the most popular guys in school, her negative attitude really got to me. It was horrible for Wesley to call Bianca the DUFF, but Bianca bullies him just as much, if not more. She’s constantly telling him how despicable he is and saying how much she hates him. This negativity was annoying to me as a reader, and didn’t make me want to root for Bianca. Instead, I wished she would just grow up and stop being so horrible to everyone around her. The fact that Bianca constantly lied to everyone around her, including her best friends and family, only made me despise her even more.

Moreover, even getting past the protagonist’s many faults, the writing of The DUFF was lackluster as well. I found the dialogue to be quite awkward, with characters speaking long passages to each other. It was unrealistic, and really hyped up the teenage melodrama I felt while reading.

Similarly, this is one of those novels where all of the serious issues discussed throughout the story somehow wrapped up nicely with a big bow to tie everything together. In order to avoid spoilers I will not explain this critique much more. However, as an example, Bianca’s father relapses in an addiction he has struggled with for years, and seemingly gets over it instantaneously. Not only did this scene in particular rub me the wrong way (it gives young readers the idea that addiction is just a quick sickness that can be overcome in a day), but when I put it together with all the other aspects of this book that worked out perfectly in the end, it was quite damaging to the book’s credibility.

I was also very shocked with the content of this book. The DUFF is labeled as young adult, but it is definitely new adult. There is obscene language in the entirety of the book (I think the F word is Keplinger’s favorite), and there are several explicit sex scenes. While there was nothing wrong with the subject matter of the novel per se, I felt very uncomfortable thinking that so many young people have read this book and loved it. This book takes place in a high school with a protagonist who is only 17-years-old. I would feel much differently if the story played out between adults, and not between young people who are on the borderline of being able to legally consent.

In the same way, while I appreciate that The DUFF is taking on a “girl power” attitude, the feminism portrayed in the novel was quite unsettling. I whole heartedly agree that women should not be called sluts and whores, but while this book celebrates womanhood, it does so at the expense of bashing men. Male gender roles are completely upheld (in fact, there is a line commenting on how all teenage boys are obsessed with sex), and the author suggests that it’s okay to call Wesley a manwhore. This double standard was very aggravating, and not what I would want today’s youth to read. This is true with The DUFF’s moral, if you will, at the end of the story, though I will hold off on critiquing that in the interest of not spoiling the ending.

Finally, I want to quickly mention some of the serious issues brushed over in this novel that are clearly present yet not flushed-out. First, Bianca is clearly going through some mental anguish and needs to talk about her issues with a professional. Her obsessive clothes-folding routine and several comments regarding how “messed up” she is leads the reader to the conclusion that there is something wrong that needs to be addressed in ways other than casual sex. Unfortunately, we never see Bianca reach out for that help. In addition, I was very disappointed with the flippant comments marginalizing suicide in this book. Suicide is a serious issue that should never be used as a joke.

Overall, I’m not sure that I would recommend The DUFF to anyone, as I find it inappropriate for its target, young adult audience, and anyone older would probably not enjoy it. If you’re a contemporary lover who doesn’t mind some teenage angst and friends-with-benefits relationships, perhaps you’ll give The DUFF a try. Otherwise, it’s fine to go without reading this popular book. I don’t think you need to worry about missing out on anything!

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When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordon (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2)

Posted on June 6, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #2) by Rick Riordon

Published by Disney Hyperion on January 1, 2006

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Adventure

Format: Paperback

Source: Giveaway

Goodreads:★★★★

The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan’s amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a “half blood” whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan’s series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book’s drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

REVIEW

After completing The Lightning Thief, I decided to continue on with the Percy Jackson series right away and picked up The Sea of Monsters. If you’ve read my review of The Lightning Thief (LINK), you’ll know that my main issue with the book was how closely it paralleled my beloved Harry Potter. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the characters and the adventure, so I hoped the series would adopt more of its own voice as the story continued.

Unfortunately, The Sea of Monsters started off on the wrong foot. There was a syntax error in the first few pages, and a scene at the beginning that closely mirrored the Knight Bus in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I couldn’t believe the similarities, but kept powering through, and I’m so glad I did!

The Sea of Monsters introduces readers to a new character named Tyson, who is a young cyclops. In Percy’s world, cyclopes are very dangerous and thus mistreated by half bloods. I absolutely loved the role Tyson plays in the story, and am impressed with Rick Riordon’s decision to include him. Percy’s journey with Tyson is so touching. It teachers readers about acceptance, and how someone who is a bit different is not necessarily bad. I think it’s amazing that children who read this book will get to see how important it is to be kind and understanding of everyone.

Moreover, The Sea of Monsters is a fast-paced and exciting read. This second book jumps right into the action from the start, and readers are along for the ride without hesitation. While I do wish there was a bit more set-up at the beginning, once I adjusted to the new storyline I was fully invested. Percy is such a great narrator, and his voice makes the book so much fun to read.

Finally, I loved the cliffhanger at the end of The Sea of Monsters. It was a bit predictable, but it was still exciting, and made me want to pick up the next book in the series right away. I was surprised at how short The Sea of Monsters was, but I enjoyed it a great deal, and it was a definite improvement over the first book in the series. I’m excited to continue on and see where Percy’s adventures take him and his friends next!

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Book Review | Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Posted on May 22, 2015August 11, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Published by Delacorte on September 1, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Pages: 240

Format: eARC

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★★

This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

REVIEW

Everything, Everything is the story of Madeline, an 18-year-old girl who has lived in the bubble of her home since infancy because she has a disease called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (aka “SCID”) that requires a sterile environment at all times. At the beginning of the novel, a new family moves next door, and Madeline is immediately drawn to Olly, a good-looking guy whose bedroom is directly across from hers. The two quickly begin an online friendship, and Madeline wants more than anything for their relationship to exist in reality as well. What follows is an emotional and thought-provoking novel about young love, family relationships, and health, both physical and emotional.

I thoroughly enjoyed Everything, Everything, but definitely have some critiques. First and foremost is the language used in the book. For the most part, the story flowed well and Madeline’s first-person narration was easy to read. However, every once in a while the word choice was very awkward and disrupted the rhythm of the story. For instance, in a scene where Madeline was talking about her body, she uses the word “derriere,” which seemed extremely out-of-character. This small interruption in the reading flow occurred every so often, and while the incidents were alone quite small, they amounted to a regular, noticeable pattern in the book. Similarly, religion did not play a role in the novel, but there was one, odd sentence about God that seemed out of place. I reread the line several times, but couldn’t figure out its purpose.

Moreover, Everything, Everything was a novel that tried to do too much in too few pages. In other words, the author discussed many serious topics in this short book. While some of them were well-developed and made a substantial contribution to the story, others felt forced, and as if they were thrown in just to score points with readers. For example, a side character who only appears in one scene mentions he is gay and struggling with whether or not he should come out to his parents. Though it is admirable that the author chose to include such diverse characters in Everything, Everything, I wish she stuck to the core themes of the novel instead of trying to include everything (pun intended).

Finally, Everything, Everything does include instalove, a trope which has truly come to annoy me as a young adult contemporary reader. I won’t go into details regarding the romance in this book so as to avoid spoilers, but instalove is definitely at the forefront of the novel, and I found it quite uncomfortable at times. I also want to mention that the romance in this book does include an explicit scene that may not be appropriate for younger readers, which is something you may want to take into consideration before purchasing this book for yourself or your child.

Despite these criticisms, I truly did find Everything, Everything to be a great read and a solid debut novel for Nicola Yoon. The characters felt real, and the world is extremely well-detailed. I loved how the reader gets to see instant message conversations between Madeline and Olly, as well as other documents such as medical charts and internet purchases. These additions help to make the book even more developed and quite believable.

Though I did predict the ending of the book, I was still affected by it nonetheless. I spent hours thinking about the outcome after finishing the novel. Everything, Everything is definitely a book I will remember for a long time, and one that I think is perfect to discuss with friends or book clubs. I recommend it for fans of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars and E. Lockart’s We Were Liars, and for fans of young adult contemporary more generally. Add this to your wish list now so you’ll be ready for it’s release this September!

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When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordon (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)

Posted on May 11, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan

Published by Disney Hyperion on July 1, 2005

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Adventure

Pages: 375

Format: Paperback

Source: Giveaway

Goodreads: ★★★

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends — one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena — Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

REVIEW

I was unfamiliar with Percy Jackson until last year, and was excited when I won a full set of the series in a giveaway. I don’t often read middle grade unless it is a reread, but I was interested to give this a try because it has such a huge fanbase. After reading the first book, I can definitely understand why this series is so loved, but I did have some issues with it.

First and foremost, I was beyond annoyed with the Harry Potter parallels in this story. Our protagonist Percy is a 12-year-old boy who has experienced strange occurrences throughout his childhood that he cannot explain. As it turns out, he’s a half-blood, which means he is the son of a human and a Greek god. Percy goes to Camp Half Blood in Long Island, New York (aka Hogwarts), where he learns more about his special powers and is trained to kill monsters.

Percy becomes part of a trio that goes out on an epic quest in order to prevent a war between the gods of Olympus. He is joined by Annabeth, a very bright young girl, and Grover, a satyr who is a bit of a doofus, but a great friend to Percy. Oh, and did I mention there is a security guard at Camp Half Blood named Argus? I mean, come on, this is truly inspired by Harry Potter, and with every detail that paralleled Harry’s story I wanted to throw the book across the room. I’m sure author Rick Riordon was influenced by Rowling’s work, but whether he intended the similarities or not, I couldn’t believe how replete they were throughout The Lightening Thief.

Moreover, another huge drawback in the story for me was the predictability. I understand this is a middle grade novel that I am reading as an adult, but I was easily able to figure out most of the action by the plethora of hints Riordon drops throughout the novel. With that being said, I was quite frustrated with the ending of the book because it did not flow logically from the story’s set-up. Instead, it felt like Riordon wanted to shock the readers, and he did so with an unexpected twist that was a bit disjointed. That definitely took away some credibility from the book.

Putting those issues aside, however, I really did enjoy The Lightning Thief. The writing style was very well done, and I really liked Percy as a first-person narrator. Percy was a very relatable character, as he was quite imperfect but still incredible at the same time. If I was reading this as a middle schooler, I’d definitely want to be friends with Percy and his gang.

In addition, I loved the road-trip adventure that Percy goes on in this book, and how he needs to fight a variety of monsters along the way. It was really fun how Riordon included Greek mythology in an American setting, and adapted the gods and monsters for the 21st Century. While it took me about 130 pages to really become invested in the world, once I was hooked I couldn’t put the book down and finished the remainder in one day. I’m really looking forward to continuing on in the series and seeing where Percy ends up next!

Thus, if you are looking for a fun, middle grade fantasy, I think Percy Jackson is a great place to start. I know that kids will really enjoy it, but adults who grew up with Harry Potter as I did will need to read this with a grain of salt. I’m hopeful that as the series continues the books will divulge from Harry Potter and take on its own unique identity.

BUY THE BOOK

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When you buy a book though the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, SunNeko Lee, Crystal S. Chan, & Stacy King

Posted on May 7, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, SunNeko Lee, Crystal S. Chan, & Stacy King

Published by Udon Entertainment on March 10, 2015

Genres: Fiction, Classic, Manga, Graphic Novel

Pages: 308

Format: eARC

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

A powerful tale of forbidden love, shame, and revenge comes to life in Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter. Faithfully adapted by Crystal Chan from the original novel, this new edition features stunning artwork by SunNeko Lee (Manga Classics: Les Miserables) which will give old and new readers alike a fresh insight into the Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tragic saga of Puritan America.

Manga Classics editions feature classic stories, faithfully adapted and illustrated in manga style, and available in both hardcover and softcover editions.

Proudly presented by UDON Entertainment and Morpheus Publishing.

REVIEW

Graphic novels are all the rage in the book community right now, and I decided to test out the genre for myself with this manga edition of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I’ll be completely honest here. I was assigned The Scarlet Letter during my junior year of high school, and never finished it. I remember the writing being a bit complex at the time, and I also pitied Dimmesdale when my classmates (and teachers!) completely bashed him. I put the book down and haven’t looked back.

The idea of the Manga Classics series is thus very intriguing. I was able to finally find out how The Scarlet Letter ends, and I saw the story depicted in pictures to help me visualize it even better. While I cannot say how accurate this adaptation is to the original novel, I can say that it made me want to pick up The Scarlet Letter and actually give it a second chance. This manga was a super quick read, but one that was emotional and intriguing. I couldn’t put it down until I was done!

I am no art critic, but I did find the art very interesting in this book. The artwork is done completely in black and white with the exception of the scarlet letter, which is shown in red throughout the book. I thought that was a very smart decision – it really makes the ‘A’ stand out on Hester’s chest, and draws the reader’s eye towards it in every scene. I did find that some of the imagery didn’t fit in with the story’s tone or time period, but overall it was very well done and certainly added a lot to the reading experience.

I also thought it was great that this book included a guide on reading manga at the beginning for newbies like me. It did take a few pages for me to get used to reading right to left, but I soon got the hang of it. I also liked how the book concludes with some passages about the original novel, and how the authors made choices in this adaptation based on The Scarlet Letter’s history. Unfortunately, I couldn’t read these passages on the eARC version of the book (the print was small and blurry), but they look like a solid addition from what I could see.

All in all, I really enjoyed Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter. I think it would make a great companion to anyone studying The Scarlet Letter in school, or to anyone who is interested in reading classic literature but has a difficult time understanding it. I am definitely interested in picking up the original novel now, and want to check out more Manga Classics in the future. I highly recommend checking out this series!

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Book Review | Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Posted on May 4, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Published by Aladdin on September 1, 2000

Genres: Middle Grade, Historial Fiction, Survival

Pages: 272

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Goodreads: ★★★★★

It’s late summer 1793, and the streets of Philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting. Now they include Polly, the serving girl at the Cook Coffeehouse. But fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook doesn’t get a moment to mourn the passing of her childhood playmate. New customers have overrun her family’s coffee shop, located far from the mosquito-infested river, and Mattie’s concerns of fever are all but overshadowed by dreams of growing her family’s small business into a thriving enterprise. But when the fever begins to strike closer to home, Mattie’s struggle to build a new life must give way to a new fight-the fight to stay alive.

REVIEW

Growing up I was a regular at my local library, and one book that I specifically remember checking out on more than one occasion is Fever 1793. It wasn’t until recent years that I discovered it is written by the same author of the acclaimed young adult contemporary Speak – a book I didn’t love despite the hype surrounding it. I’ve been wanting to reread Fever 1793 ever since that discovery, and when I found a used copy at the Strand for $1 I just had to pick it up.

Fever 1793 is the story of young Mattie Cook, a teenager growing up in Philadelphia and helping her widowed mother run a coffeehouse. The story opens with one of Mattie’s childhood friends suddenly dying from the yellow fever, which erupts into a full epidemic throughout her city. Readers follow Mattie as she attempts to escape the disease by leaving Philadelphia for the countryside with her beloved grandfather. Of course, things do not go as planned.

I am very impressed with how deep and emotional Fever 1793 is, especially for a middle grade novel. I grew to love each and every character, and found myself reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion. Mattie is an excellent first-person narrator, and while some of the dialogue in the book can be considered corny by today’s standards, the language stays true to the time period.

In the same way, it is clear the author did substantial research on yellow fever in order to write a historical fiction novel quite focused on the history. I really liked how each chapter opened with a quotation from primary source material, whether it be a book from the 18th century or a letter from a politician of the time. It added a lot of credibility to the story, and also made the fictional characters seem more real. I also thought it was smart that the novel concluded with a few pages describing the history of the yellow fever. It’s always nice to know precisely what parts of historical fiction are true to history versus created by the author.

All in all, I have nothing but praise for Fever 1793. While my opinion may be biased due to me loving this book as a child, I’m so happy I still enjoyed it as an adult. If you’re looking for a great historical fiction novel, I highly recommend this one. Whether you’re at the middle grade reading level or not, Fever 1793 is bound to be a great read for you.

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Broadway | Living on Love

Posted on May 1, 2015June 4, 2023 by Adventures in Polishland

Living on Love, A New Comedy with Music

Playing at Longacre Theatre

Musical or Play? Play

Rush? No

Best Place for Discount Tickets: Today Tix App (From $25)

Official Website: livingonlovebroadway.com

Renée Fleming makes her Broadway debut in the new comedy Living on Loveby two-time Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro, based on the play Peccadillo by Garson Kanin, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall.

World-renowned soprano Renée Fleming takes to the stage as celebrated diva Raquel De Angelis. When Vito, her larger-than-life maestro husband, becomes enamored with the lovely young lady hired to ghostwrite his largely fictional autobiography, Raquel retaliates by hiring her own handsome, young scribe to chronicle her life as an opera star. Sparks fly, silverware is thrown, and romance blossoms in the most unexpected ways in this brand new hilarious comedy.

REVIEW

I’m not usually a play person, but when I had the opportunity to go see Living on Love for a discounted price, I decided to take a chance. I’m so glad I did! This comedy is one-of-a-kind. First and foremost, it’s simple in that there is a very small cast of six characters, and the entirety of the show takes place in the same location – an upscale Manhattan apartment. Unlike other plays I’ve attended, Living on Love is also a short two hours (intermission included), which is quite manageable even for novice theatergoers.

Moreover, Living on Love is unique in that it is a comedy with music, as the tagline suggests. The storyline focuses on a famous married couple. Maestro Vito De Angelis is set to narrate his autobiography to a ghostwriter, who ended up taking the job simply to meet the Maestro’s wife, opera singer La Diva. Of course, things go wrong – the Maestro and La Diva’s marriage is falling apart and they’re running out of money. What follows is a hilarious family drama filled with ridiculousness, love, and opera. Yes, opera. Acclaimed opera singer Reneé Felming makes her Broadway debut as La Diva, and lends her voice to the show. It may sound weird, but it works.

I was definitely surprised with how much I enjoyed Living on Love. While the story is very predictable, it’s still laugh-out-loud funny. The cast works flawlessly together, and each has great comedic timing. I really loved the incorporation of music into the show, as it fit perfectly with the storyline. Plus, it helped drag a musical lover like me to a play, thus making Living on Love accessible to a wider audience.

I didn’t try for the Stage Door after Living on Love, but I remember from a past experience at the Longacre a few years ago that barricades weren’t set up until 10-15 minutes after the show. If you’re interested in meeting the stars, I recommend asking an usher for more information.

All in all, I’m glad I took the time to see Living on Love. I’m not sure that I would go see it a second time, but I do think it’s worth seeing, especially if you’re looking for a comedy. While the show is geared for adults, there is nothing inappropriate about it, and I would recommend it for families with children middle school age and up. If you’d like a light and quick Broadway experience, Living on Love is definitely the show to see.