Scream street #10 Rampage of the goblins

Although i'm not sure these are the kinds of boobytraps and curses laid for usual pyramids, they are creative and intriguing :)
Only Donbavand could have thought up "chloroworms"  or farting goblins using their gas for propulsion. Haha. Childish as it may seem, it likely brings laughter to kids and amazement from me. His series is still going strong, what can I say?

Starline by Kiyama Hiroto

I couldn't resist. This is one of my favourite and sweetest Japanese songs :)

Kiyama Hiroto
基山 ヒロト

Japanese

夜空に瞬く星たち強くはかなく輝き
大切な笑顔のために
希望を画く流星になれ

まだひとりぼっち頼りない光でも
まだ暗闇に消えそうな孤独でも

ああ見つけたんだ無絵にあるお日様
果たしたいと心から願う夢

夜空に瞬く星たち強くはかなく香川気
大切な笑顔のために
希望を画く流星になれ

操作一人ずつが集まってつながって
もっとこの空輪理想絵とキラめくよ

ああそれぞれが星座のひと巣部
ここにいて委員だねと思えるね

たとえ遥か離れてても悲しい絆だとしても
まぶしい光にもなれる
その存在でずっと輝け
キラキラ瞳に移してあげたい
答えて行くんだ三手て欲しいよずっと届け
夜空に瞬く星たち強くはかなく輝き
大切な笑顔のために
希望を画く流星になれ
たとえ遥か離れてても悲しい絆だとしても
まぶしい光二もなれる
その存在でずっと輝け

希望を画く流星になれ。。。

Romaji


yozora ni matataku hoshi-tachi tsuyoku hakanaku kagayaki
taisetsu na egao tame ni
kibou wo egaku ryuusei ni nare

mada hitoribocchi tayorinai hikari demo
mada kurayami ni kiesou na kodoku demo

aa mitsuketan da mune ni aru ohisama
hatashitai to kokoro kara negau yume

yozora ni matataku hoshi-tachi tsuyoku hakanaku kagayaki
taisetsu na egao no tame ni
kibou wo egaku ryuusei ni nare

sousa hitorizutsu ga atsumatte tsunagatte
motto kono sora wa risou e to KIRAmeku yo

aa sorezore ga seiza no hitosubu
koko ni ite iin da ne to omoeru ne

tatoe haruka hanaretetemo kanashii kizuna da to shitemo
mabushii hikari ni mo nareru
sono sonzai de zutto kageyake

KIRAKIRA hitomi ni utsushite agetai
kotaete ikun da mitete hoshii yo zutto todoke

yozora ni matataku hoshi-tachi tsuyoku hakanaku kagayaki
taisetsu na egao no tame ni
kibou wo egaku ryuusei ni nare

tatoe haruka hanaretetemo kanashii kizuna da to shitemo
mabushii hikari ni mo nareru
sono sonzai de zutto kagayake
kibou wo egaku ryuusei ni nare...


English Translation


The stars that twinkle in the night, with a strong flickering shine
For that precious smile
I'll draw out my hopes and become a falling star

Even if it's an unreliable lonely light
Even if it's loneliness that might disappear in the pure darkness

Ah, I found the sun in my chest
A dream from my heart I wish to be fulfilled

The stars that twinkle in the night, with a strong and flickering shine
For that precious smile
I’ll draw out my hopes and become a falling star

Yes, one by one they come together and connect
This sky will shine more and more towards an ideal

Ah, each one is part of a constellation
It lets us think that it’s fine for them to be here

Even if we’re separated far apart or if we’re bonded by woeful ties
they can become bright lights
And with that existence, shine forever

I want them to reflect in those bright, bright eyes
I’ll be responding, so I hope you’ll always watch and it reaches you

The stars that twinkle in the night, with a strong and flickering shine
For that precious smile
I’ll draw out my hopes and become a falling star

Even if we’re separated far apart or if we’re bonded by woeful ties
they can become bright lights
And with that existence, shine forever

I’ll draw out my hopes and become a falling star

Labyrinthus by FJ Collins - not completed

The Oracles of Léoht: Book One - Labyrinthus by FJ Collins

To not judge a book by its cover is a basic thing. Unfortunately for me, looking at Labyrinthus, it left much to be desired. I borrowed this book, so when I opened it to its first page and I see someone stuck a sticker there and that the face is "laughing", I couldn't help think: this is a sign. 

I do admit I probably didn't give it a fair chance but flipping through the book, and reading the dialogue no less, I didn't really want to. Usually I can find one thing captivating about the book, even if the description isn't great, the dialogue could be witty, or vice versa. Well this didn't happen. 

TRACES - Roll Call by Malcolm Rose

Roll call - Luke Harding


In the end, I guess, the killer thought that they were the victim and killing the Emily Wonders would be "poetic justice" (not really in those words, and as wrong as it is, I think I understand where she was coming from)

Hands-on History: Projects about Ancient Greece by Marian Broida

My friend and I were prowling the children's section of the library when I stumbled upon this book. It's a little odd for people our ages, I warrant that, but the point was that it was the only place in the library that even had books on Greek history. I wanted a book to find bits on the accessories and the clothing of the people in Greece, but I found this one instead. It was mostly on crafts but I wasn't thrown off. I love to learn about this country's myths. Plus, now I learned about how to create a Herakles Knot and a Spartan Shield. Even to write my name in Greek, sort of - the letters are
Ι (for j as well; this is Iota) Α (Alpha, A) Δ (Delta, D) Ε (Epsilon, E) It was informative, as a children's book can be, and had me realize that even as a picture in a book, the art of assortments, like pottery, were magnificent! I truly hope to venture to Greece some day

Enchantment Place - anthology - was not done

Image from Shelfari

The "Enchantment Place". To be honest, I did not... could not see the appealing factor. I merely flipped through the pages and it was then I thought of the book as nothing that was able to hold my attention at all. It was kind of dull in dialogue, and the stories here and there were no where near exciting. I found some of it so tiresome and lacking I just couldn't make myself read the entire book. It wasn't worth diving into. Even with the "benefit of the doubt" that some authors might have done the book a little justice, I'll never find out. It wasn't what I was hoping for in this book. I wanted pages - any or possibly all of them (as one would expect from any good book) - that would grab you and never let go. Sorely disappointed, I guess. There just wasn't enough.

TRACES Luke Harding Forensic Investigator : Lost Bullet by Malcolm Rose

Image from Shelfari

I actually have read his series before, but I decided to give it another gander. There's something about how well thought out the stories are.
Luke Harding is one of the more intriguing detectives that I've come across. He's already an expert at investigating death, only at sixteen. It's a feat!
This crime was something else. Like I said, the story would have to be thought through, if such a large factor, as a storm, would 'contaminate' the crime scene. A lot of the evidence could simply be washed away. It's plainly a grievance that most people grumble about.
But the obvious grace is that it gets you thinking. As a reader, it's cool to get a chance to ask questions and sooner or later find out what the answers are. Which is what I did throughout just the first few pages. It was a thrill. I liked guessing games when I was younger, especially if I know the clues and solutions as Soon as possible (permit me a laugh)
Of course, if you're not into over-thinking things, go with the flow of the book :)
I figured this book isn't one for those not interested in science-y ways of solving crimes, but the good author injected a little humor in it. For example, he wrote "..Malc replied dryly." See? :)
Thankfully Luke is also one with a sense of humor, though if you read the book you'll realize something about Malc and these jokes. Frustrating yet funny to see how they interact, as close to friendship as a robot could have (*may be spoiling for a book somewhere later to the end*)
Soon you'd start to realize the probable reasons for the deaths.
This book got me thinking a lot about religion and science, in total. And there's also discrimination by the Visionaries against the white community, as in general they believe the latter is an abomination. Only those incredibly indepth books can handle the prejudice. Look at Things Fall Apart, for instance.
And "Lost Bullet"'s idea of being a being without sin was to shave himself clean. To be a baby again. This book is descriptive, no one can dispute that. The scene after is uncomfortably vivid, however, as it brings about another murder.
Not only that, but there are definitely going to be complicated references to something so unmistakably mild, like a flavour chemical "2-furylmethanethiol" which is, surprisingly, "roasted coffee beans".
(No shocker here, the author Malcolm Rose studied Chemistry, and lectures on the subject.)
I could understand thoroughly about the differences between science and religion, but even Ethan did not see it as murder. All in all, it would come down to a test and if Lost Bullet fails or passes, you'll have to find out. Little hint: it was a befitting punishment (one way or another, people committing crime would pay, so not a giveaway exactly) totally and completely.. though unusual :-/
I truly enjoyed reading about the duo - Malc (Mobile Aid to Law and Crime) and Luke himself. It was technology with a human touch.

  

No Rest for the Wiccan by Madelyn Alt

Image from Shelfari

I'm so glad I love the idea and characters of this book otherwise I'd run in the other direction. It's not that the plot isn't well done, it is; I just loathe it when it has to once lead to a story about spirits and ghosts. I'm not the biggest fan of them, if you hadn't guessed from the making-a-break-for-it (and I can't even do that quick enough) analogy.
Madelyn Alt is actually one of the wonderfully elaborate authors I know of, and she could definitely evoke the fear from me, as well as the sympathy toward Maggie, as the key events started going down in Mel's 'humble abode' (that's the spoilt sister as anyone would find out).
To be honest this would be the fastest I've ever read a book. Not only could I not put it down, my eyes felt like they were the pendulum of a grandfather clock; never have I skimmed through paragraphs, especially for *cough* unsavoury bits, like that and manage to take it all in.
Then there was that ever-so-evident love-triangle. I kept wondering what Maggie would do about it, that maybe it'll happen in this book. This being drawn out, though does make for an interesting read, so I'm able to hold out for a little while longer to see what her choice might be. I'm expecting some big climax in the story for it as well as for the actual plot. I can't wait to find out :)

 

Young Bond: Blood Fever by Charlie Higson

Images from Shelfari

Higson definitely knows how to write a thriller and it's so unbelievably vivid that you could feel yourself being sucked in. The atmosphere he creates is amazing, I literally got the feelings you'd usually be getting from a chase (all good adventure-type books will have them), my heart wouldn't stop thudding. 
Zoltan, one of the characters from 'Bloodfever', said that even the toughest men call out for their "Mama..." before they die. Unfortunately, I never thought the 'experience' could hit me so soon :( 
There is a fine line between good and bad. I could hardly tell who was really who; but those who have sharper eyes could definitely figure it out, especially with the amount of detail Higson writes with. In a way that's a hint to the book, how someone nice couldn't be all That great a person, after all. 
The book also had me realizing how old Bond probably was when he started being a "lady's man" :-P

The Groovy Greeks and the Rotten Romans (Horrible Histories Collections) by Terry Deary

Image from Shelfari

Actually I was on a fence between 'liking it' and, well, the other hand. I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology but I decided to pick this up to try my hand and see if I was able to stay awake reading through the bit (actually Half) about Romans. 50-50. There are creative parts, like letters and short stories in the book, of course. Honestly, I understand this book is non-fiction so I have no hindrance about that (since it was oh-so-detailed), but it sometimes got a little dry (zzzZZZ). I guess it's my doing since I'm not one to jump at the chance to read factual stuff, nevertheless I truly did like reading this book and the series because another point is, obviously, it isn't wearying as a usual textbook. All in all, though, "I Liked It" - enough for the three stars on Shelfari :)