Reviews – Page 34 – BookBunnies

Marshmallow reviews The Illustrated Happiness Trap by Russ Harris and Bev Aisbett

Today Marshmallow wanted to talk to Sprinkles about The Illustrated Happiness Trap by Russ Harris and Bev Ausbett, first published in 2014.

Sprinkles: So Marshmallow this time you chose a book that is not really intended for a young audience.

Marshmallow: Yeah, I suppose.

S: This book is apparently an illustrated and abbreviated version of a more normal-sized book which could be considered a self-help book. And we have not really gone into the self-help book genre here much.

M: True. I did review a book about confidence, a book about time management for teenagers, and two books about how to be a good student. But we do not typically review self-help books, you are right.

S: But I think the title and the cover page of this book are both very intriguing, aren’t they?

M: Yes, I like how it has a Pac-Man style half-split smiley face.

S: Yes, it is quite striking how the smiley who could represent authentic happiness, but also a fake version of it, is somehow split open with the title.

M: Yeah.

S: So I had only read a little bit of the book before you took it from me and I know you have finished reading it quite fast. I understand it is about happiness?

M: Yes, kind of. It is basically about how we should not be going after happiness as our goal in life.

S: Hmm, this reminds me of a very interesting young person in one of my classes who had said that they did not necessarily want happiness for their child. They wanted them to find purpose.

M: Yeah, it is kind of like that. The main goal of the book is to dispel the myth that happiness is the right goal for one’s life. The goal should instead be to figure out your values and live your life accordingly. Once you know your values, the goals you set for yourself should reflect those values and be feasible. And along the way, you are likely to be unhappy at times, and that is not a disaster.

S: I see. So the title is basically saying that the idea that you should always be happy is flawed.

M: Yes, and that pursuing the goal of living a life where you are always to be happy and have no negative feelings leads to only unhappiness.

S: I see. That makes sense to me. I also saw that the book mentions explicitly four myths. Can you tell us what they are?

M: Okay. So the first one is “Happiness is the natural state for human beings.” The second is “If you are not happy, you are defective.” The third is “To create a better life, we must get rid of negative feelings.” And the fourth one is “You should be able to control what you think and feel.”

S: I can see how the first three are wrong, if we accept the main thrust of the book. And I already did not believe some of them myself. Like there are sometimes very good reasons not to be happy. But the fourth one is hard for me to accept. It feels kind of disempowering.

M: I agree with you. But I think the idea behind their stance, which they call Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, is that basically you should accept your feelings and decide what to do with them in a productive manner. As you learn to do this better and more effectively, your emotional state can change, too, and improve, but that is not the main goal.

Marshmallow is reading The Illustrated Happiness Trap by Russ Harris and Bev Aisbett. — Marshmallow is reading *The Illustrated Happiness Trap* by Russ Harris and Bev Aisbett.

S: So Marshmallow, I think these are all rather hefty thoughts and a bit heavier than some of the things we read and talk about here in this blog.

M: True, but we have talked about all sorts of other heavy things like war and slavery and so on. So talking about mental health challenges should not be totally out of bounds, I think.

S: Oh I agree.

M: And we have talked about mindfulness before. Actually you and Caramel talked about a book about how breathing could be helpful. And then there were those two books about dragons and anger management.

S: True. And the topic is actually quite relevant to a lot of bunnies.

M: Yes,. sure, this is not really quite meant for little bunnies, but maybe a bunny around my age would be perfectly fine with it. And I think they could learn from it.

S: I am glad you found the book helpful.

M: I did. I found it resonating a bit with the Getting Things Done book I reviewed before. Both books say that figuring out your values and building your life around them is a good idea.

S: I can see how that could be helpful for teenagers who are looking to build their lives, preparing to grow up into adult bunnies. So if you were to rate the book then, what would you rate it?

M: I’d rate it 95%. I especially liked the illustrations and how they made the book so much easier and quicker to read. Because it is kind of stressful to read a book about mindfulness sometimes. I feel like I am losing time, but this book is so quick and you learn a lot.

S: Great! I will now take it from your paws then and finally get the chance to finish it myself. What would you like to tell our readers as we wrap up this review?

M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!

Marshmallow rates The Illustrated Happiness Trap by Russ Harris and Bev Aisbett 95%. — Marshmallow rates *The Illustrated Happiness Trap* by Russ Harris and Bev Aisbett 95%.

Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia

Caramel has already reviewed the first two books of Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong series: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky and Tristan Strong Destroys the World. (In case you are curious, he also reviewed the graphic novel adaptation of the first book.) Today he talks to Sprinkles about the third and last book in this trilogy: Tristan Strong Keeps Punching, published first in 2021.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, this is the third book about Tristan Strong.

Caramel: Well, actually it is the fourth one I read. I did read the graphic novel version of the first book, too, remember?

S: True. Anyways, this is the last book in the trilogy, right?

C: Yes.

S: So tell us a bit about it then.

C: It starts off with him burning. Spontaneously combusting!

S: Wait, those are big words! And who is burning? Tristan?

C: Yep.

S: Wait, how? Why?

C: Magic? I think it is magic.

S: Hmm, so you are not quite sure.

C: Okay, now that I think a bit more about it, I am pretty sure it is magic.

S: Okay…

C: Well, so I am exaggerating a bit. But anyways there is some flames coming from his knuckles.

S: Alright. So is the whole story about his inflamed knuckles?

C: No. It is again about him versus some baddies from the other world. There is a particular villain, named King Cotton, and we met him in the first book already.

S: You did not mention him back then.

C: Well, I probably should have. Anyways the guy is just evil, and he is the main villain in this book. Where is New Orleans?

S: It is in Louisiana. Why do you ask?

C: Because in this book, Tristan is not in Alabama but visiting New Orleans with his family.

S: New Orleans has a very unique history. So what happens in New Orleans?

C: Tristan figures out that King Cotton is back in the real world and causing mischief. And both Tristan and his friends are in danger.

S: I see. That means more excitement and adventure, I suppose.

C: Yes.

Caramel is reading Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia. — Caramel is reading *Tristan Strong Keeps Punching* by Kwame Mbalia.

S: Okay, so I think you read this book rather fast too.

C: I am a fast reader Sprinkles.

S: That is true. But this is again a big book. How many pages is it?

C: Let me see. 406 pages.

S: That is not bad! And I think you finished in a day or two at most.

C: I think it was one day.

S: School had not started yet then.

C: Yes. That is true.

S: Anyways, that is pretty impressive Caramel.

C: Well it is a good book, and it is very easy to read. You want to read it to know what’s going to happen next. And it is fast paced, and just fun to read.

S: I think that it is a good book for you then!

C: Yes, for me and for any other bunnies who like books about adventures in mythological lands!

S: That sounds almost like a book blurb, Caramel!

C: What’s a book blurb?

S: You know those sentences they have at the back cover of a book advertising it?

C: I see. Blurb is a funny word! Blurb! Blurb!

S: You are right, it is a funny word. Especially if you keep saying it like that.

C: Blurb.

S: Okay, I think you said it enough times.

C: Okay I will stop. Right after this: Blurb blurb blurb! Blurb.

S: Okay. Maybe this means we have come to the end of this review.

C: Maybe. And … blurb!

S: Alright. So let us wrap things up then. If you were to describe this whole series to someone, how would you do it?

C: Blurb!

S: Seriously!

C: Okay, seriously, here goes: magical adventures in and out of this world.

S: I like that!

C: Really? Do you think it would make a good-

S: Don’t say it!

C: -blurb?

S: Okay, I think I deserved that. Okay, let us wrap it up then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews! And that would make a good blurb!

Caramel enjoyed reading Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia and recommends the trilogy to other young bunnies who love to read mythological adventures. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Tristan Strong Keeps Punching* by Kwame Mbalia and recommends the trilogy to other young bunnies who love to read mythological adventures.

Marshmallow reviews Beowulf: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds

Today Marshmallow is talking to Sprinkles about Beowulf: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, written and illustrated by Gareth Hinds and first published in 2007.

Sprinkles: So Marshmallow, you read yet another graphic novel adaptation of yet another ancient story. Tell us a bit about this book.

Marshmallow: This book is about a hero named Beowulf. The story takes place within the world of Norse mythology. Beowulf is a strong warrior, who is the leader of a people called the Geats. There is a king named Hrothgar, who is the leader of the Danes, who decides to build a banquet hall that will be the greatest ever. Once this great hall is finished however, this monster from “an accursed race” called Grendel comes and eats everyone who is there at night. And then this happens for twelve winters.

S: Wait, so there is a monster who comes and eats the folks in the great hall at night. Then why don’t they leave the hall empty at night?

M: I do not really understand the logic there either. But that is what happens. So Grendel is a big threat to the Danes and their king. Until Beowulf comes and he says he will save them. And he fights Grendel and kills him.

S: So is that the whole story then?

M: No, this is only part one. Then Beowulf has to kill Grendel’s mother who is another monster, and then there is a dragon who comes, and Beowulf kills that too.

S: So the book is about three different heroic triumphs of Beowulf protecting or saving the Danes.

M: Almost but not quite. Those things kind of happen but there is more. Between the murder of Grendel’s mother and the dragon, Beowulf returns home and rules over his land for fifty years. And then the dragon comes and attacks the Geats. So Beowulf has to fight against the dragon. He manages to kill it but he is mortally wounded in the fight.

S: So he dies in the end?

M: Yes, but he seems quite at peace with it because he lived a long and valiant life and he saved his land and his people. And other people too.

S: You mean the Danes?

M: Right.

Marshmallow is reading Beowulf: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds. — Marshmallow is reading *Beowulf: A Graphic Novel Adaptation* by Gareth Hinds.

S: So the original Beowulf story is very old.

M: Yes, not as old as the Iliad or the Odyssey, but the first known manuscript of the story is more than a thousand years old. But this graphic novel looks like it would fit right in with the genre. Especially if you like graphic novels which are very graphic.

S: Can you open that up a bit?

M: I mean the fights are depicted very explicitly. It is rather violent. For example, Beowulf rips off Grendel’s arm and Grendel is shown eating people and ripping off other people’s limbs and so on. It is really violent. I would definitely not recommend the book for little bunnies.

S: I looked at the book a bit and did see a lot of action and violence.

M: Yes. But I think most teenagers can handle it. And if they are trying to get the sense of the historic text, this could be very helpful. It is a very fast read. There is very limited amount of text, and there are many pages where there is no text whatsoever.

S: Hmm, that sounds interesting. It does seem like you appreciated reading the book.

M: Yes. I’d even rate it 95%. Honestly when I first began to read it, I thought that maybe the font of the text was a bit too fancy and could make it hard to read, but then I got used to it and could read it easily. I’d definitely recommend this book to bunnies curious to know the story of Beowulf.

S: That makes sense.

M: Did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien, the writer of the Lord of The Rings trilogy and The Hobbit, was a scholar who wrote a bunch about the original story Beowulf? He worked on a translation of it from Old English and even wrote about translating it.

S: I knew he was a scholar of ancient literature but I think I did not know he worked with Beowulf specifically. That is very interesting Marshmallow.

M: I thought so too.

S: Okay, then; this is probably enough for this review. What would you like to tell our readers as we wrap it up?

M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!

Marshmallow rates Beowulf: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Gareth Hinds 95%. — Marshmallow rates *Beowulf: A Graphic Novel Adaptation* by Gareth Hinds 95%.

Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia

Earlier this year Caramel reviewed the graphic novel version of Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia. A few weeks later he sat down and read the original book and reviewed it for the book bunnies blog. Today he is talking about the second book in the series, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, first published in 2020. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, I remember you read and really enjoyed Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. This is a sequel of sorts, right? Can you tell us the main story?

Caramel: I can, yes; the question is: will I?

S: Okay, I can see you are going to be a bit cheeky today.

C: Yes.

S: Alright, cheeky is fine but we do have a review to post. So please tell me a bit about the book.

C: Okay. This book is about Tristan Strong, who was the main character in the first book. He is still in Alabama, living with his grandparents. In the first book he punched a hole in the sky and traveled into a world of magic and myth called Alke. In this book his grandma gets kidnapped in the real world. So Tristan goes to this other world to get help.

S: Is the kidnapping related to Tristan’s actions in this other world?

C: Yes. A bad creature from that other world is the one who kidnaps the grandma. So Tristan Strong asks for help from Gum Baby.

S: I remember you said Gum Baby was really annoying.

C: She is a little, yeah, but she is now a good friend to Tristan. So there is that.

S: I see. So do we meet any new mythological characters?

C: Yes, one particular one, but I can’t tell you.

S: Why? Because he is the villain?

C: I can neither confirm nor deny. I retain the right to remain silent.

S: Hmm, that sounds suspicious, but I will not push you further in this direction.

C: Don’t.

Caramel is reading Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia. — Caramel is reading *Tristan Strong Destroys the World* by Kwame Mbalia.

S: Okay, then. What else will you tell us about the book?

C: It is again a very long book. It has 390 pages!

S: That is a long book, especially for a little bunny like you!

C: But it is very exciting so I read it very fast.

S: Oh that sounds good!

C: Yes. I think the book is very good. I especially like Tristan Strong. He is funny. And he likes his grandma a lot. I like my grandmas a lot too. I have two!

S: Yes, you are lucky that way! So do we get to meet the grandma before or after she is kidnapped?

C: Both. But I won’t say too much more so I do not spoil things.

S: Well, I imagine Tristan Strong and Gum Baby will save the grandma, but maybe it is okay if you do not say it explicitly.

C: Thank you.

S: Alright. What else do you want to tell us?

C: I really liked the book. But it ends with a cliffhanger again! So now I have to read the third book.

S: I see. But is the main story of the book tied up well enough at least?

C: Yes.

S: So if you were to describe the book in three to five words, what would you say?

C: Fun, fast-paced read about an adventure full of myth and legend.

S: Hmm, I think that is quite a few words more than I asked for, but that is alright. So let us wrap up this review. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia and is curious about what Tristan will do next. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Tristan Strong Destroys the World* by Kwame Mbalia and is curious about what Tristan will do next.