Gods of Manhattan by Scott Mebus Review

Gods Of Manhattan by Scott Mebus

Look. What do you see? Sidewalks, skyscrapers, pigeons? But there’s more. More that only twelve-year-old Rory Hennessey can see. More that only Rory can reveal to others. So, look again. What do you see? Layered on our own New York is a spirit city inhabited by warrior cockroaches, malevolent subway trains, kung fu rodents, hungry gargoyles, and children made entirely of papier-mache. Built by history and legend, it’s ruled by the Gods of Manhattan, lions of New York like Peter Stuyvesant and Babe Ruth. Now everyone is racing to find Rory—the boy who can see. The boy who can change the destiny of New York.

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This is probably my favorite book series of all time. This book is what made me start reading, and I mean really read. After I read this book, it was impossible for me to put others down. So I give my big thanks to you, Scott Mebus!

Gods of Manhattan is a about a boy named Rory who is what's called a "light". A light is someone who can see the "spirit city" that overlays New York City. This "spirit city" is called Mannahatta. Despite how magical and amazing it may seem to be, there is a big problem going on in Mannahatta. The gods (who are famous New York figures such as Babe Ruth and Zelda Fitzgerald) are dying. Not to mention the fact that all the Munsee Indians are trapped in Central Park. The plot will definitely keep you turning the pages.

The characters in this book are unforgettable. The main character Rory is the perfect hero. His little sister Bridget is adorable. And then there's Hex, the mysterious magician who opens Rory's eyes to Mannahatta. The relationships between the characters are wonderful and in some cases, heartwarming. The personalities of the characters will have you laughing, gasping, and all around loving the book.

If you're a fan of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson or Suzanne Collins The Underland Chronicles, you'll love Gods of Manhattan. I highly recommend it. It's a great read.

I easily give this book a five out of five! I just love it too much to give it anything else!

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Paris, My Sweet by Amy Thomas Review

Paris, My Sweet by Amy Thomas

Forever a girl obsessed with all things French, sweet freak Amy Thomas landed a gig as rich as the purest dark chocolate: leave Manhattan for Paris to write ad copy for Louis Vuitton. Working on the Champs-Élysées, strolling the charming streets, and exploring the best patisseries and boulangeries, Amy marveled at the magnificence of the City of Light.

But does falling in love with one city mean turning your back on another? As much as Amy adored Paris, there was part of her that felt like a humble chocolate chip cookie in a sea of pristine macarons. PARIS, MY SWEET explores how the search for happiness can be as fleeting as a salted caramel souffle's rise, as intensely satisfying as molten chocolate cake, and about how the life you're meant to live doesn't always taste like the one you envisioned.

Part love letter to Paris, part love letter to New York, and total devotion to all things sweet, PARIS, MY SWEET is a treasure map for anyone with a hunger for life.

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This book will make you very hungry. I don't think I got through a page without craving something sweet. Amy Thomas is simply brilliant when it comes to describing delicious, tasty sweets. If this book doesn't make you want to move to New York or Paris just for the food, I don't know what will.

Like Amy, I am really obsessed with anything French (and in fact, that was the whole reason I bought this book). I can relate to her being a major Francophile. This book does a great job of detailing the average French life and all the differences between it and the average American life. There are a lot more differences than one would think, and, as Thomas says in her book, it's very hard to switch lifestyles. I really enjoyed reading this and I liked learning about French culture. It was also nice to be able to pick up a few new French words.

This book is a memoir, so there isn't really a set plot, but I still found myself unable to stop turning the pages. Although Amy's life does seem a little too amazing at times and makes you question how truthful this book really is, it's still a good read, provided you have plenty of chocolate on hand to satisfy the cravings you're sure to get.

I loved this book. It gets a 4 out of 5.

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