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Book Review | The Fashion Careers Guidebook (Julia Yates)

Chock-full of need-to-know information about careers in the world of style, The Fashion Careers Guidebook is a thoroughly useful book for those who may be interested in getting into a fashion-oriented job, but don't necessarily know which niche in the industry is the best fit.

What sets this guidebook apart from other books on the topic is that it is realistic. Where other books glamorize the world of fashion and gloss over details such as the intense amount of work involved or that it’s absurdly difficult to even get hired in an area, this guidebook doesn’t worry about potentially putting the reader off. Including both the perks and disadvantages, Julia Yates ensures that prospective designers, managers, technicians, etc. will have realistic expectations when pursuing their career.

Don’t let the small size of this book fool you either—it’s thorough. Beginning with a handy chart to help direct those who are unsure which of the many, many careers may be best for them, the introduction also includes techniques for the vital skills of building a résumé and portfolio, tips for interviews and job hunting, along with a plethora of other helpful tidbits about getting an education and work experience in the fashion industry. It then goes on to walk you through each career, complete with a brief description of what it entails, neatly bulleted pros and cons, essential skills and/or education needed prior to entering, the expected salary and entrance difficulty, websites for information, for finding jobs and internships, as well as case studies featuring real people in said career, offering advice and their own stories of their journey (and often success) in it.

Mikey Meter Rating...Meow!

Overall, an essential book for those planning to go into fashion, but who may be lacking in real-world details or who are unsure of which area is right for them. Double points for being short and sweet without leaving anything important out.

Book Review | Because It Is My Blood (Gabrielle Zevin)

Image from Alibris.com

Because I initially didn’t realize that this was a sequel (What can I say? The beautiful cover and title had me hooked from the start.), there were certain little things and characters’ relationships to the protagonist that I didn’t fully grasp in the beginning. Usually, this would lead to frustration where I would admit defeat and would either start over from book one or not bother with either. Fortunately, Gabrielle Zevin is a wonderful and brilliant writer who doesn't miss a beat, smoothly filling in the gaps for the reader, and making it possible to be read as a standalone novel. (Don't let this sway you, however--though no prior book is needed to enjoy this incredible story, I highly recommend checking out All These Things I've Done at the next library trip--it's also a great read!)

Because It Is My Blood comes in just as the protagonist, Anya Balanchine, is released from Liberty Children’s Facility, after being imprisoned for a crime that wasn’t really a crime. However, while Anya just wants a fresh start, the world doesn’t seem to want her to get back into a normal life like she desires. Her attempts to finish high school are thwarted when each and every school refuses to let her back in for her senior year, the boyfriend she broke the law to protect has snagged someone new while Anya was locked away, and—as the daughter and heir of a black market chocolatier (did I mention that chocolate is illegal in this world?!)—everyone in the underground is pressuring her to make a move.

Struggling to find her place within a world that wants her, but got her in her current situation, and a world that doesn't want her, but is her key to a safe life, Anya is soon forced to choose where she'll stand when both her and her loved ones are subject to a methodical string of attacks. The sacrifice she makes will be revealed...in Because It Is My Blood.

Mikey Meter Rating...Marvelous!

Five hearts multiplied by a hundred for a thoroughly entrancing story! Never a dull moment with this beautifully told story and characters you'll love.

Interested in Because It Is My Blood? Check out this sneak peek of the audio book! 

 

Book Review | Maximum Ride: Nevermore (James Patterson)

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 *WARNING**SPOILERS AHEAD**WARNING*

 I’ll admit that I was wary about the concluding book of the Maximum Ride series. James Patterson (though he probably is unaware), lost a lot of readers a couple books back, when he ripped Fang away from the flock and tried to replace him with Dylan, and then stole Angel, and then Nudge as well (not necessarily in that order). Fortunately, though, this last book makes a lot of things right, though I won’t disclose them all for the sake of those who haven’t read it yet.

 In a pleasant turn of events, Nevermore is successful in being one of the few “last-book-of-the-series” novels that actually answers a lot of questions instead of creating more and then trailing off into the end with them unanswered, such as who Max’s mysterious “Voice” is(!).

Some disappointments would be the fine line between Max’s feelings for Fang and Dylan, which remains in limbo the entire way till the end (though there is a vague attempt to scrub it away and pretend it never happened, as if Max was not completely comfortable/un-bothered/remorseless through the last however-many books about switching back and forth between boyfriends). I mean, yeah, Dylan was supposed to be intentionally created to be her “other half”, but come on: the first half of the book, she’s snuggling  Dylan without so much as a shred of guilt, and then the second half, she’s back to Fang, without so much as a shred of guilt. Ugh. Need I remind that, meanwhile, an uncountable amount of impressionable, young teenage girls are reading this series and wanting to be “just like Max”. Oh, yay. They’d be better off reading Twilight. (Okay, never mind—NO ONE is better off reading that crap).

Also, it took an absurdly long time for Max to get back around to being the character we all fell in love with at the beginning of the series. In this last book, she sort of floats around in a haze that blurs the lines between her bold, butt-kicking self and some unfamiliar, whiny, boring character of unknown origin (which, by the way, seems to be a common problem with protagonists of other series who have made it to the last book, see Scott Westerfeld’s The Extras).

A lot of betrayal goes on, and Max is shocked, as is expected, but triumphs. Lost loved ones returned and the flock returns as one for the apocalypse……which, was not as fascinating as the lead up to it, but I guess that’s to be expected of such a typical plot ending(?). I wouldn’t say it was a bad ending—it was certainly an actual conclusion, which is more than can be said for many other last books—but it wasn’t entirely satisfactory, either.

Overall reaction to Nevermore--not quite mediocre, but not quite as awesome as the rest of Maximum Ride. Regardless, it is still a must-read for those who have followed through the series, and while it won't disappoint, it may not leave you feeling how it probably should have (actually, in my opinion, the entire last half of the series kind of piddled off from "very interesting" to "sort of interesting"). Still, though--read! Enjoy your last cup of Maximum Ride tea!

Mikey Meter Rating...Mediocre.