As a pacifist, I did not expect to love The Things They Carried - a book comprised of short stories centered on the Vietnam War. However, Tim O'Brien'...moreAs a pacifist, I did not expect to love The Things They Carried - a book comprised of short stories centered on the Vietnam War. However, Tim O'Brien's magnificent writing won me over quicker than I could say "callipygous." This book isn't just about the brutality of war, it's about the human condition, the emotions that entrench us in times of desperation and loss. There isn't much more I can contribute concerning the book that hasn't been said so here are a few of my favorite passages from it.
"Even in the deep bush, where you could die any number of ways, the war was nakedly and aggressively boring. But it was a strange boredom. It was boredom with a twist, the kind of boredom that caused stomach disorders. You'd be sitting at the top of a high hill, the flat paddies stretching out below, and the day would be calm and utterly vacant, and you'd feel the boredom dripping inside of you like a faucet, except it wasn't water, it was a sort of acid, and with each little droplet you'd feel the stuff eating away at important organs. You'd try to relax. You'd uncurl your fists and let your thoughts go. Well, you'd think, this isn't so bad. And right then you'd hear gunfire behind you and your nuts would fly up into your throat and you'd be squealing pig squeals. That kind of boredom." (O'Brien, p 34)
"Courage, I seemed to think, comes to us in finite quantities, like an inheritance, and by being frugal and stashing it away and letting it earn interest, we steadily increase our moral capital in preparation for that day when the account must be drawn down. It was a comforting theory. It dispensed with all those bothersome little acts of daily courage; it offered hope and grace to the repetitive coward; it justified the past while amortizing the future." (O'Brien, p 40)
"For Mary Anne Bell, it seemed, Vietnam had the effect of a powerful drug: that mix of unnamed terror and unnamed pleasure that comes as the needle slips in and you know you're risking something. The endorphins start to flow, and the adrenaline, and you hold your breath and creep quietly through the moonlight nightscapes; you become intimate with danger; you're in touch with the far side of yourself, as though it's another hemisphere, and you want to string it out and go wherever the trip takes you and be host to all the possibilities inside yourself." (O'Brien, p 144)
A lot of the literature I've read for school this year has disappointed me. It's great that we got to read and watch The Glass Menagerie as part of my...moreA lot of the literature I've read for school this year has disappointed me. It's great that we got to read and watch The Glass Menagerie as part of my AP Lit class, because I reclaimed my title as extremely obsessive fanboy extraordinaire.
There's just so much to love in this play. Williams' writing is exquisite and his utilization of symbols leaves myriad room for analysis. His deep and damaged characters call for discussion: Amanda Wingfield, the ambitious and heady mother of Laura and Tom, Laura, the painfully shy girl with a penchant for glass, Tom, the trapped adventurer who yearns for excitement, and Jim, the gentleman caller who represents optimism and progress in society. The themes of disillusionment, quiet disaster, and the death of the American dream intertwine with the fragmented family and lead to a tragedy of epic proportions.
But I must admit my bias regarding the The Glass Menagerie - 1) I love the word "menagerie" and 2) I've experienced family issues like the ones portrayed in this play. However, not all stories that strike home succeed; this one hit the mark in its bittersweet portrayal of a mother who pushes her children in the wrong direction and a son and a daughter who fight back.
Highly recommended, especially for those who can watch the film version directed by Paul Newman.
I don't curse. When I finished The Storyteller, I couldn't craft a coherent sentence. I just sat and thought to myself: damn.
Sage Singer bakes bread. It's therapy for her, in addition to the grief support group she attends after losing her mother in a car crash. One day she befriends Josef Weber, a fellow support group goer and an elderly man who is a cherished member of their small town community. Sage soon realizes that Josef doesn't just want her bread: he wants her to kill him. She learns that Josef has committed a terrible crime against humanity and that someone in her own family has suffered at the hands of the Nazis. With this connection in mind Sage struggles to make the right choice. Is it her to duty to deliver him from his wicked past, or would she bringing herself down to his level by doing so? Why is it so hard to find out what's right, when faced with someone who's done so much wrong?
Jodi Picoult is a master storyteller. For me, the most salient part of The Storyteller was when Minka, Sage's grandmother, shared her story about surviving Auschwitz and the other horrors she endured during the Holocaust. Picoult's writing is so welcoming, beautiful, and piercing that you feel your heart break into another piece every time you flip a page. There's no doubt that what happened to the Jews was horrifying and a testament to the monstrous side of mankind, but when you read Picoult's work, you don't just think "wow, this is horrible" - you feel it, and you remember it, and you resolve that such crimes should never be allowed to happen again.
I feel like a lot of the criticism Picoult receives from the literary community stems from the argument that she takes controversial topics and uses repetitive plot structures to exploit them and sell bestsellers. I also feel that The Storyteller is the perfect book to counter that argument, because even though Picoult does use a somewhat similar formula in her novels (family issues, court cases, etc.) she is in no way exploitative, especially with this book. Like she does in her other novels, in The Storyteller she takes difficult topics like forgiveness, trauma, and justice, and makes you feel every blow through her three-dimensional characters. From Sage's scar-induced reticence to Josef's incisive inner turmoil, I rode a gamut of emotions expansive enough to cover an ocean.
The Storyteller is Picoult at her prime. She puts a human face on the Holocaust, a tragic, beastly, and horrendous event. She deftly delves into the human psyche and makes you think about what it means to be a survivor, a storyteller, a human.
Are you looking for a whimsical romance filled with love songs and fiery kisses? Are you searching for a story with constant adventure, brimming with...moreAre you looking for a whimsical romance filled with love songs and fiery kisses? Are you searching for a story with constant adventure, brimming with beauty and overflowing with passion?
If so, stop. Just One Day is not one of those books. It is not shallow. It is not like Anna and the French Kiss. It is beautiful, but in a bittersweet, lyrical, and oftentimes melancholy way. This is a book for people who have ever felt lost, for those who know what it feels like to be unsure of who they are, or of who they want to be.
After her senior year of high school, good girl Allyson Healey embarks on a journey to Europe. Except it’s not really a journey at all, or even a trip – just a boring tour with her blond best friend Melanie. That is until she sees a magical performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and one of the actors flips her coin. By chance she encounters this actor – Willem – again on a train, but their relationship turns an entirely different direction when she decides to spend a day with him in Paris. There she becomes Lulu, an adventurous soul with no reservations, and she discovers a side of herself with Willem she comes to love in less than 24 hours. But the next day she wakes up and Willem is gone. Allyson spends the next year struggling to find herself, who she thought she was, and who she’s turning out to be.
If New Adult becomes a tangible genre in the realm of fiction, this is what it needs to be like. Just One Day is not a sexual love story. Depending on how you define the concept, it might not even be a love story at all. It encompasses all of the emotions associated with coming of age, going back and forth between growth, angst, hope, and sadness.
Reading Just One Day reminded me why I loved Gayle Forman’s first book, If I Stay. Like I’ve tried to repeat in this review, it’s not your typical love story where the protagonists meet, slowly fall in love, have a falling out, get back together, and live happily ever after. It’s far from that. Allyson thinks she comes close to finding herself after one day with Willem, but breaks apart once he’s gone. Her character screams of vulnerability, insecurity, and nuance, but has that spark of relatability and that whisper of strength that urges you to cheer her on. The other characters in the book: Allyson’s helicopter mom, her well-meaning yet lacking best friend, the shape-shifting black student she meets at college, etc. are all finely developed and feel strikingly real.
Forman’s writing blew me away too. She described France, Holland, and each and every one of Allyson’s experiences richly and completely. Her attention to subtle details within her characters’ dialogue and actions as well as her pacing of the story did more than satisfy me. While this isn’t a dark, dangerous action-adventure novel its progression through Allyson’s bildungsroman backed by its sheer emotional maturity makes it one of the best realistic fiction books I’ve read.
There are numerous themes that come together to form Just One Day. But my favorite has to be that of identity and discovering the truth about oneself. By the end of this book Allyson hasn’t just found herself after that one tragic day. She’s created herself, and I can’t wait to see where Forman takes her and Willem next.
1. Obtain a copy of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
2. Read the book.
3. Fall in love. Fall in lo...more3 STEPS TO BECOME ME, THOMAS:
1. Obtain a copy of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
2. Read the book.
3. Fall in love. Fall in love with the writing, the characters, everything. Read past midnight, read in school, read everywhere and all the time. Slam the book shut and whisper-scream oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. At the end of the book, allow a single tear to run down your right cheek and say a silent prayer of thanks for the fact that you are able to read at all.
Perhaps I’m making this book seem more dramatic than it actually is. It’s not dramatic at all, in the typical sense. There are no overtly sentimental Nicholas Sparks plot twists, no super sexy erotica Fifty Shades of Grey style, not even an ardent declaration of love via Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This book is about two Mexican-American teens trying to find their way in the world, but before they do that, they find each other – Aristotle and Dante, the former a self-doubting silent guy, the latter an expressive, fair skinned swimmer. We experience the story from Ari’s perspective, from the first time he met Dante at his local swimming pool.
I’d never really been very close to other people. I was pretty much a loner. I’d played basketball and baseball and done the Cub Scout thing, tried the Boy Scout thing – but I always kept my distance from the other boys. I never felt like I was a part of their world.
Throughout the book, Aristotle and Dante are exposed and layered, continually growing more complex but also becoming more bare. Their coming of age story is shown beautifully. What seems like a simple story about friendship is a simple story about friendship, but there are profound themes woven in and the quality of the characterization is simply breathtaking. Dante, a lover of poetry and a passionate crier, reminded me of myself so much it hurt, while every ounce of Aristotle’s emotions – his confusion, his longing, his hate – resonated with me.
I sometimes think that I don’t let myself know what I’m really thinking about. That doesn’t make much sense but it makes sense to me. I have this idea that the reason we have dreams is that we’re thinking about things we don’t know we’re thinking about – and those things, well, they sneak out of us in our dreams. Maybe we’re like tires with too much air in them. The air has to leak out. That’s what dreams are.
Benjamin Alire Saenz has poetic prose. There aren’t many compound sentences or large SAT words in this book, but every word impacted me. Sometimes the shortest sentence flooded me with feeling. Every description of Dante’s laugh, every time the boys would call each other weird, every moment they spent together – it felt like I was there, experiencing their friendship and their bond.
Have you ever heard that saying, if there’s a book you want to read but it’s not published, write it yourself? I won’t stop writing, but Saenz has accomplished that for me here. Saenz dedicates this book “to all the boys who’ve had to learn to play by different rules.” As a homosexual Asian-American living in Virginia, I’ve had to learn to play by the rules of my parents, my society, and most importantly, myself. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe will speak to Mexican-Americans, homosexuals, tom-girls, book nerds, loners, etc. Essentially, it will appeal to everyone who’s ever felt different, who’s ever felt like they weren’t sure of who they were. Highly recommended for all.(less)
As someone possibly striving to become a teacher, I appreciated How Children Succeed. Paul Tough variegates his writing style enough to keep the book...moreAs someone possibly striving to become a teacher, I appreciated How Children Succeed. Paul Tough variegates his writing style enough to keep the book entertaining without losing track of the message he puts forth - one way he does this is by including various anecdotes. He does not just share stories about kids who have suffered in the current education system, but he reveals parts of his own journey, such as when he dropped out of Columbia University.
Tough connects these tales to psychology too, by examining several pertinent ideas like character, conscientiousness, and what it truly takes to succeed in an academic environment. It's not enough to tell kids "okay, be a good little malleable mushroom" - other ideas must be implemented to develop children's attitudes and personalities. He incorporates how external motivation affects intelligence, which impressed me as a Psychology nerd. One experiment I found shocking was when kids who each took a test scored differently (these aren't the exact ranges, but let's pretend they were "good", "okay", and "bad".) When these same children who scored in the "bad" range were given M&Ms, an external motivator, they scored almost as well as the "okay" kids did. This has large implications as to how extrinsic motivation can be used in education both for good and bad, and it speaks to the shaky nature of what we perceive as intelligence.
My favorite aspect of How Children Succeed was Tough's evaluation of privilege, failure, and how many factors can affect a child's success. He touched upon a trend I've noticed: many children and teens who are raised in wealthy households and go on to attend privileged private schools and Ivy League institutions never develop a mechanism for coping with failure, and some of them do not attain any actual fulfillment in terms of transcending monetary gain. While this obviously is not representative of every member of that demographic, it does provide food for thought - how do we get these kids to learn for the love of learning? How do we allow them to experience and overcome failure when their parents are paying out of pocket for them to get A's? Tough discusses all of these ideas and I found myself nodding along and sighing in the "finally, someone who understands" kind of way while reading his book.
Overall, I would highly recommend How Children Succeed to anyone interested in education, psychology, and children. One of the best works of nonfiction I've read!
I love reading on Friday nights, writing on Saturday afternoons, and having quiet get-togethers on Sunday. But I also enjoy giving presentations at sc...moreI love reading on Friday nights, writing on Saturday afternoons, and having quiet get-togethers on Sunday. But I also enjoy giving presentations at school, tutoring peers in writing, and interacting with various people online and in real life. I'd describe myself as an introvert (and my Meyers-Briggs personality type agrees), though both introverts and extroverts would enjoy this fascinating book by Susan Cain. She provides an intriguing, in-depth perspective on introversion, its connotation in contrasting cultures, and the psychology behind it.
A profusion of the nonfiction I've read has contained too much of something - too many random anecdotes, too much scientific jargon, too many unnecessary statistics or explanations. But Quiet has the perfect blend of personal anecdotes, interesting analysis, detailed explanations, and compelling statistics. Cain references various studies conducted by psychologists and discusses several aspects related to introversion, such as the extrovert ideal, how extroverts and introverts can compliment each other and work together, nature v. nature, etc. Here's one passage about sensitive people (who tend to be more introverted) that struck a chord with me:
"The other thing Aron found about sensitive people is that sometimes they're highly empathic. It's as if they have thinner boundaries separating them from other people's emotions and from the tragedies and cruelties of the world. They tend to have unusually strong consciences. They avoid violent movies and TV shows; they're acutely aware of the consequences of a lapse in their own behavior. In social settings they often focus on subjects like personal problems, which others consider 'too heavy'."
I guess I have an excuse for exposing so much of myself on my blog, huh? Anyway, Cain delves into other subjects that are intellectually stimulating too, such as the three things she thinks are important in identifying one's personal project. She even brings up the relationship between Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. as well as other famous historical figures.
Overall, highly recommended to everyone curious about their own temperaments and how to embrace their natural personalities. One of the best works of nonfiction I've read.
A beautiful, haunting book about a man who moves to Paris to find himself – only to fall in love with a man and lose himself even more. Giovanni’s Roo...moreA beautiful, haunting book about a man who moves to Paris to find himself – only to fall in love with a man and lose himself even more. Giovanni’s Room has great force in all areas: fantastic writing, endless passion, and several strongly developed themes. Our protagonist, David, is repressed by his sexuality and feels lost in his uncouth desires. We know from the beginning that things don’t end well, but that does not lessen the bittersweet heartbreak that unfolds. Even though this book takes place in the 1950s its message continues to play a prominent part in contemporary society. This will not be my last book by James Baldwin.
Have you ever watched a movie where you knew how it was going to end right from the beginning, but you still cried when the ending came anyway? That's...moreHave you ever watched a movie where you knew how it was going to end right from the beginning, but you still cried when the ending came anyway? That's what happened to me with Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend.
Budo is Max's imaginary friend. He looks more human than most imaginary friends, can pass through doors and windows, and he loves Max. The bad part is that if Max stops believing in him, Budo will disappear. Max's life moves as smoothly as it can for a child with a mental disability until one of his teachers does something that endangers his life. Now it's up to Budo to rescue him, even if the costs him his own existence.
The best part of Matthew Dicks' third novel was its voice. The writing style stayed fresh and consistent; it never felt fake or gimmicky. Dicks kept Budo in character and impressed me tremendously with the execution of this unique story.
What this book constantly made me think of was this quote from My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult: Kids think with their brains cracked wide open; becoming an adult, I've decided, is only a slow sewing shut. Children keep their minds wide open, and it's adults who force themselves into corners because they have to deal with the harshness of reality. Just an interesting thought that Dicks incorporated into the book.
Overall, I highly recommend Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend to those searching for a different story with a touch of magical realism. It'll make you question what you think about imaginary friends - perhaps I should get one of my own...
Sophie's Choice revolves around three characters and three story lines. The protagonist, Stingo, is an aspiring writer from the South who stumbles upo...moreSophie's Choice revolves around three characters and three story lines. The protagonist, Stingo, is an aspiring writer from the South who stumbles upon Sophie and Nathan when moving into his apartment in New York. Sophie serves as the beautiful and damaged love interest, a Polish woman and a survivor of Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration camp. Nathan, a handsome and successful biologist, brings both darkness and light into their lives. Stingo's journey as an individual and a writer, Sophie's troubled past, and Sophie and Nathan's tumultuous relationship all come together in a convoluted, intensely passionate triangle that will break readers' hearts.
This was my first time reading Styron. While his writing was not as superb in the literary sense as that of other authors, his prose conveyed all of the emotion essential to the story. Sophie's Choice reads like an addictive drama, sucking people in and slowly latching onto their hearts - and at the end, all heck breaks loose.
The development of the characters and the conflict amazed me as well. This book reminded me of Wuthering Heights, as Styron masterfully manipulated the narration and the timeline of events by using flashbacks. This allowed him to foreshadow certain occurrences and keep other revelations secret.
One minor issue I had while reading was the amount of sex. I understand that Styron included it to portray the mindset of a twenty-something-year-old man and to incorporate humor into his work, but at times it felt gratuitous. The book could have been more concise and effective if someone had eliminated some of Stingo's sexual thoughts and explorations.
However, I would recommend Sophie's Choice to everybody because of how beautifully and powerfully Styron tackled themes like oppression, mental illness, abusive relationships, etc. Get ready to cry, or at least feel serious heartbreak when you reach the end. It speaks to the evil mankind is capable of, for anyone to have to make anything similar to Sophie's choice.
I finished this in four hours. I read it in August, as a rising senior with college applications waiting to be started - what I can I say?
While I can...moreI finished this in four hours. I read it in August, as a rising senior with college applications waiting to be started - what I can I say?
While I can confidently say that I had a roughly accurate idea of how admissions worked, this book refined some of my beliefs and heightened others that I already held. The academic index and the finer details regarding parental involvement/guidance counselor/teacher recommendations were intriguing. It would help if all of those involved in the admissions process possessed a good grasp of the concepts presented in this guide.
I was worried that this book would focus too much on how to get high SAT or scores or how to superficially solidify my application. It touched on those things, because they are important, but to my great relief it did delve into the importance of learning for learning's sake. I found myself nodding along as the author stressed the importance of intellectual curiosity as well as reading and writing (my favorite things in the world)!
Here's a powerful excerpt from a passage about Asian-Americans and the admissions process:
"... but here's the part that should bother every Asian applicant: though Asians tend to have lower admissions rates to top colleges than any other ethnic group (including white students), which means, in effect, that they have to be better than the average white student to be admitted, the Ivies and top colleges count them in the minority when they refer to 'students of color.'
Stop and think about that. ... how can you can you count Asians in the 'of color' category? To me, that is outrageous as admissions officers are calling them, I suppose, yellow - what other color would they be talking about? if admissions offices want to be taken seriously, I believe they need to stop the double standard right away - you can't make it hard for Asians to get in on the one hand, but on the other hand count them in the minority numbers.
Asians of the world: Rise up and let your voice be heard. Let admissions offices know that you do not want to be counted as a minority unless you get a break in the admissions process."
Overall, I highly recommend this book for those who want to know more about the college admissions process. The author, a former admissions officer at Dartmouth College, is a credible and experienced source whose writing is clear and easy to follow. Perhaps I will update this review once I discover where I am admitted. If it is to be, it's up to me! Or you, if you're also applying to college.
Females! Young-adult females! And males, too, I suppose - drop what you're reading and check this series out. Or finish what you're reading and then c...moreFemales! Young-adult females! And males, too, I suppose - drop what you're reading and check this series out. Or finish what you're reading and then check it out, as Rae Carson has come into her own with The Crown of Embers. Similar to the Mortal Instruments trilogy, the first book in the Fire and Thorns trilogy (The Girl of Fire and Thorns) didn't win me over, but its sequel did. Boy, it did.
In The Crown of Embers Elisa continues her quest to fulfill the duty given to her by her Godstone. As queen of her kingdom, one might expect this to be easy - but it is anything other than that. Riots begin to break out as some are dissatisfied with her rule, enemies emerge from inside and outside of her palace, and her confidence wavers as even her allies seem to conspire against her. After a failed attempt on her life, Elisa decides to embark on a journey to redeem herself and revitalize her country - before it is too late.
Elisa has earned her spot amongst my favorite female protagonists. She's not a Mary Sue reincarnate, but she's not an unrealistically kick-butt heroine either. She learns from her mistakes and possesses a patriotism alongside her personal compassion that pushes her forward. As a seventeen-year-old, Elisa manages to act her age and exceed what's expected of her as well.
The plot entranced me enough to keep me reading for three hours straight instead of doing my government homework. The Crown of Embers blends political intrigue, palace politics, and good old high fantasy action and adventure to create a winning combination. Everything worked effectively and the cliffhanger made me internally scream in frustration.
I give the romance in this book 6/5 stars - I ship Hector and Elisa so hard. Finally, a young-adult romance that's not, "okay, we just met twenty pages ago, but I am already irrevocably in love with you." Elisa and Hector's relationship is built on respect, trust, and companionship. They didn't rush their feelings, which made it much more rewarding because every time they acted on their emotions I squealed. The cliffhanger only exacerbated my affection for them and I am almost dying to see whether they will make it or not.
Overall, I cannot wait for The Bitter Kingdom. This series has become an unexpected and unappreciated favorite. I hope more people decide to pick it up, because it is definitely worth it.
If there's one series that captures my teenage years, it's this one. I picked up Gone five years ago at the age of 13 maybe because Sam was cute, not...moreIf there's one series that captures my teenage years, it's this one. I picked up Gone five years ago at the age of 13 maybe because Sam was cute, not like I knew I was into guys at the time and five books later I've finished the series, now as an adult. I have so much history with this series, and I doubt any sleeping aid would give me back the hours I've spent reading it late into the night.
If you haven't read Light yet or the books preceding it, I'd recommend skipping this paragraph and catching up right now. Otherwise, the central story line of the last installment in Michael Grant's epic series revolves around Gaia and her (its?) plan to destroy all who inhabit the FAYZ... and eventually, all outside of it, too. Every character joins in for the fight no matter his or her previous wounds or scars. The question remains: will it be enough to defeat the darkness once and for all?
As always, Grant's plot grabbed me from the get go. The exposition of Light builds tension and suspense while the rest of the book brings it all out into the open with action scene after action scene. This must be my sixth time trying to describe Grant's storytelling ability, and it really hasn't changed that much. He captivates with every shot of light from Gaia or Sam's hands, every backstabbing piece of dialogue, and every little horrible detail that goes into the characters' deaths or near-fatal encounters.
Yes, characters die. Maybe more than you would expect, but if you're a pessimist, maybe less. Irrespective of their mortality characters reach their peak in Light, evaluating not only their actions but their religious beliefs, sexualities, abuses of power, family histories, etc. Grant has not only changed his characters from the somewhat flat archetypes they were at the very beginning to developed young adults with unique desires, he also incorporates a laudable amount of diversity. He delves into the essence of his characters and pushes them to the finale, an impressive feat with such a wide ensemble.
Of course this book - and this series as a whole - will not please everyone. The writing does not scream of sophistication even though it serves its purpose. Some of the philosophical implications of the characters' actions and the dystopian setting do not get that much attention due to the sheer size of the plot. A few of the events near the ending occur almost too easily or without explanation. However, none of these qualms come even close to detracting from the overall fabulous quality of this series. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a dark, thrilling story with strong characters and consistent writing.
When I finished this book, I felt overwhelmed. Like every bit of beautiful writing and bittersweet emotion had filled my heart and made it ready to bu...moreWhen I finished this book, I felt overwhelmed. Like every bit of beautiful writing and bittersweet emotion had filled my heart and made it ready to burst. There are some books that you finish and think "thank goodness I'm a reader" or "thank goodness I got to read this one." Tell The Wolves I'm Home is one of those books, and easily the best book I've read in 2012.
It's not like the story was a loud one. Our fourteen-year-old protagonist, June Elbus, enjoys spending time in solitude or with her uncle Finn instead of hanging out with kids her age. She gets B's in school and has no tremendous talent like her sister, Greta. But she offers some of the keenest and most honest observations I've ever read.
I wasn't interested in drinking beer or vodka or smoking cigarettes or doing all the other things Greta thinks I can't even imagine. I don't want to imagine those things. Anyone can imagine things like that. I want to imagine wrinkled time, and forests think with wolves, and bleak midnight moors. I dream about people who don't need to have sex to know they love each other. I dream about people who would only ever kiss you on the cheek.
The plot centers on June's struggle to cope with her uncle Finn's death, which was due to AIDS. After receiving a letter from a mysterious man who claims to have had a connection with Finn as well, June decides to meet this person - thus causing a waterfall of events that could hopefully lead her to heal.
Every character felt like a real person. I am not exaggerating. This is my 400th review on Goodreads, and out of the 400 books I've read and reviewed, Tell The Wolves I'm Home definitely places in the top 5% for its characters. Like I said, June is not a perfect protagonist. Some readers may even hate her. But all of her feelings - her loneliness, her jealousy, her melancholy - made me want to tell her it would be okay and cry alongside her. Greta, her mom, and her dad each possessed bad personality traits, but by the end, after looking at the full and finished portrait of each character, I came to empathize with all of them.
The writing. Carol Rifka Brunt's writing possessed so much pulchritude, I don't think I can describe it. It wasn't bombastic or manipulative, rather, it was thoughtful and breathtaking. Read this:
I really wondered why people were always doing what they didn't like doing. It seemed like life was a sort of narrowing tunnel. Right when you were born, the tunnel was huge. You could be anything. Then, like, the absolute second after you were born, the tunnel narrowed down to about half that size. You were a boy, and already it was certain you wouldn't be a mother and it was likely you wouldn't become a manicurist or a kindergarten teacher. Then you started to grow up and everything you did closed the tunnel in some more. You broke your arm climbing a tree and you ruled out being a baseball pitcher. You failed every math test you ever took and you canceled any hope of being a scientist. Like that. On and on through the years until you were stuck. You'd become a baker or a librarian or a bartender. Or an accountant. And there you were. I figured that on the day you died, the tunnel would be so narrow, you'd have squeezed yourself in with so many choices, that you just got squashed.
This is one of the first books I'll reference when people doubt the power of realistic fiction. No vampires, no fallen angels, no magical realism - just a simple yet gargantuan story about a girl whose uncle died because of a horrid disease. Tell the Wolves I'm Home will whittle your heart down to nothing, and build it back up stronger than ever before.
"Oh my gosh," I sighed in frustration," why can't he just shoot him already? Just shoot him!"
My younger cousin, who had never heard a pacifist like me...more"Oh my gosh," I sighed in frustration," why can't he just shoot him already? Just shoot him!"
My younger cousin, who had never heard a pacifist like me say such a violent thing, looked up from her Etch-a-Sketch. I remember thinking - dang, if only all sequels were this good.
The Ask and the Answer is the second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy, and continues from the last line of The Knife of Never Letting Go. I won't post a plot synopsis in fear of spoiling it for people who haven't read the first book - if interested (which I hope you will be by the end of this review), here's the link to the Goodreads page.
Let's just say that the plot is crazy. It's all over the place, in the best possible way. The first book dealt with the right to kill and oppression. This book expanded upon that, including topics like dehumanization, rebellion, trust, and the politics of warfare. Some authors may not possess the ability to handle all of that, but Patrick Ness accomplished it almost perfectly.
The characters are even better. Though Todd and Viola are separated, their bond grows stronger. Their relationship exemplifies what YA relationships should be about - overcoming gargantuan obstacles, fighting for freedom, and staying alive as a superordinate goal. They both develop beautifully. Todd's struggle to silence his Noise and rein in his unruly emotions hurt him, and it hurt me as well. Viola's need to do the right thing and her vendetta for vengeance gripped me. The side characters, such as Davy, showed impressive dimensions too.
I highly recommend this series to fans of Neal Shusterman and other young-adult action/adventure/science-fiction authors. A tale of touching sensitivity and heart-pounding twists and turns, there are few that The Ask and the Answer will not please.
If you plan on purchasing a review book for AP Psychology, buy Barron's. I highly recommend it.
This book has everything. Beautifully concise yet all-e...moreIf you plan on purchasing a review book for AP Psychology, buy Barron's. I highly recommend it.
This book has everything. Beautifully concise yet all-encompassing reviews for each section of psychology, a diagnostic test and two more wonderful practice tests, multiple-choice questions to practice with after each section, practice essay prompts, and the names of important individuals you need to know. I'm pretty sure that if someone went through this book and studied it thoroughly, they could score a 5 on the AP Psychology exam without even enrolling in the actual course.
Also, this is the only AP book I'm keeping, out of the five I've utilized thus far. It is just so magnificently organized and contains a wealth of useful information. I'm sure I will reference it in the future as I continue to study psychology and discuss it with my friends.
For the sake of reader awareness, I scored a 5 on the AP exam. I contribute a hefty amount of my score to this book.
I used the 2006/2008 version of this review book, so the 2012 version may be more updated. This book has everything you need to garner a 5 on the AP E...moreI used the 2006/2008 version of this review book, so the 2012 version may be more updated. This book has everything you need to garner a 5 on the AP English Language and Composition exam - detailed test-taking and essay writing tips, practice exams and essay prompts, and a superb vocabulary section. The only thing issue I had with this book was that its MC grading scale had not been adjusted to fit the new one, but that is an easy thing to circumnavigate. AP English isn't an easy exam to prepare for, as it's somewhat a you got it or you don't type of thing, but with this book one may stand a better chance than without it.
For the sake of reader awareness, I scored a 5 on the AP English Language and Composition exam. I contribute a decent portion of my score to this book, especially its practice MC exams.
Such a helpful guide. I utilized this book throughout the year to prepare for quizzes, tests, and essays. It provides a to-the-point review of essenti...moreSuch a helpful guide. I utilized this book throughout the year to prepare for quizzes, tests, and essays. It provides a to-the-point review of essentially everything you need to know for the AP exam and the SAT subject test. The information is presented in several series of organized outlines, and in the back it has the quintessential people, movements, etc. you need to know. Although this book may not go into depth about every single subject, I highly recommend purchasing it to reference facts and to obtain solid overviews of time periods in history.
For the sake of consumer awareness, I scored a 5 on the AP exam and a 770 on the SAT Subject Test in United States History. I attribute a hefty amount of my success to this book.
In 23 days I'll be 18. That's part of the reason why I'm giving Clockwork Princess five stars, even if it may not deserve all of them.
There were defin...moreIn 23 days I'll be 18. That's part of the reason why I'm giving Clockwork Princess five stars, even if it may not deserve all of them.
There were definite imperfections within the finale of the Infernal Devices trilogy. Some of the plot twists could have been easily predicted ahead of time. The characters leaped out of their personalities for the sake of the plot, and there was a repetitiveness to the story structure I found irksome (how many times can you end a chapter with someone screaming?) Also, that epilogue was pure fan service - I almost found it insulting that Cassandra Clare chose to include it.
But, through pathos, the book hit all the right points. For the most part the characters stayed true to themselves and grew stronger throughout the book; there were exactly two scenes in which I cried, and those of you who know my favorite character can probably discern which ones. Clare included her characters' trademark humor and a multitude of literary references that I loved, especially the Jane Eyre ones. Her writing did not blow me away though it did flow well in terms of plot progression.
As I get older, I'm starting to see more of the "weaknesses" in the books I've come to know and love - and I'm not referring to any specific genre here. Maybe when I was 14 I wouldn't have noticed how Clare repeated quite a few phrases in Clockwork Princess or how Will blatantly broke character a couple of times. But, deep down, this entire trilogy and its characters resonated with me emotionally. It made me empathize with the injustices suffered by the characters, the relationships that were cut away and kindled, and the new abilities attained by each protagonist. Not my favorite series, but one I would highly recommend regardless.
I actually didn't read most of the material in this book, though after scanning through it I would recommend it to those taking the test. I used anoth...moreI actually didn't read most of the material in this book, though after scanning through it I would recommend it to those taking the test. I used another book to review, and felt that after taking the corresponding AP course for US History that I had sufficient knowledge already.
I used this book for its practice tests, which proved to be extremely helpful. I took the diagnostic test and all three of the practice ones, and went over each question I got wrong to make sure I understood the material. I should have went through all of the practice MC questions they supplied at the end of each chapter, but at the end of the school year I was too busy to do so.
The practice tests are a little harder than the real thing - I was scoring around a 720 or 730 on Kaplan's tests, but got a 770 on the actual exam. Like for the subject test in Literature, I attribute a large portion of my success to Kaplan.
As an English person, I still found the SAT subject test in literature extremely difficult.
I don't know whether it was because of how the passages, qu...moreAs an English person, I still found the SAT subject test in literature extremely difficult.
I don't know whether it was because of how the passages, questions, and answer choices could be interpreted in so many different ways, or if it's because I am mediocre at analyzing poetry, but this test proved way harder than the Critical Reading portion of the SAT I or the AP Language multiple choice section.
However, this book helped out quite a bit. I started out by taking the diagnostic test, in which I got around a 620, then took around four or five of the practice tests in the book later on (after reviewing the sections with strategies.) I wish I had planned my time better so that I could have taken all of the practice tests, but my score managed to gradually improve as I took each one.
The brief sections on how to deal with each type of passage that would show up on the test were concise and well-written. The practice MC questions and the practice tests were comparable to those that showed up on the actual exam.
Using this book, I got a 730 on the SAT subject test in literature. While not super happy about my score, I am content enough to not retake it. I definitely contribute some of my success to this book.
"Sometimes the hardest thing about the truth is putting down the misassumptions, falsehoods, and half-truths that stand between it and you....more4.5 stars.
"Sometimes the hardest thing about the truth is putting down the misassumptions, falsehoods, and half-truths that stand between it and you. Sometimes that's the last thing that anybody wants to do. And sometimes it's the only thing we can do." - Georgia Mason.
When I write book reviews, I usually save my recommendation of the book until the end. But Blackout, and the Newsflesh trilogy itself, should not be put off until the end. Feed, the first book in the series, is a novel that I would recommend to almost anybody - the book and the entire series encompasses zombies, blogging, politics, and a gamut of themes and morals. It's absolutely amazing. So, before I get into Blackout, I highly recommend that you check out Feed, if you haven't already. It will blow your mind.
Mira Grant does not lose any steam in this final installment of the Newsflesh trilogy. She continues the story seamlessly from the chilling ending of Deadline, and grabs readers all the way to the gripping finale. Her thickening of the plot and her masterful use of foreshadowing via cleverly-dropped hints does not disappoint, and made it difficult for me to resist picking up the book even when I had work to do.
Her characters were wonderful, as always. The reemergence of Georgia's cool and collected voice and the continuation of Shaun's somewhat crazy narration provided for an interesting mix, and the side characters were fleshed out to the point that I hesitate to even call them side characters. In most books there are certain characters who fade into tasteless black, but each of Grant's gave the story more spice and color.
Like Georgia, Grant's attention to detail amazed me. All of the minute intricacies and convoluted plot complications were handled and resolved deftly. The chilling cloning procedures and revolutionary scientific aspects of the story were rendered plausible, which, while scary, made the book even more believable.
The only reason I don't give Blackout a full five stars is because it did not entrench me as emotionally as I would have liked it to. I felt the tears approach once, but they did not actually arrive like they did when I read Feed. I did feel more of a connection than I did in Deadline, though, so it was a step-up from the second book in the series.
Once again, if the plot summary of the first book sounds even barely intriguing to you, I highly recommend you pick it up. This series is different than anything I've read before. And, like the Masons did, I'm only telling you the truth.
Such a helpful study guide. After reading this book and taking about five to seven practice tests out of the 11 practice tests in this book, I scored...moreSuch a helpful study guide. After reading this book and taking about five to seven practice tests out of the 11 practice tests in this book, I scored even higher than what I was originally aiming for. Once you know all of the information, including the vocab, the math tricks and formulas, etc. taking practice tests and reviewing every problem you get wrong is one of the best ways to study. This book provides pellucid explanations to every problem and the sheer amount of repetition should get you ready for what will appear on the actual exam. Highly recommended.
I think reviewing an SAT study guide is a good way to catch up on my 2012 book count.
To put it bluntly, I highly recommend Princeton Review for the SA...moreI think reviewing an SAT study guide is a good way to catch up on my 2012 book count.
To put it bluntly, I highly recommend Princeton Review for the SAT. I took no prep courses and barely any tests or practice questions outside of this book and its companion, and received above the score I was aiming for after my second attempt at the test.
Its section on Critical Reading contains myriad tips and tricks on how to tackle the passages, which I found helpful - not everyone has the same style for approaching this part of the test, but PR offers good advice. Furthermore, the "hit list" of SAT vocabulary is extremely effective. If one can memorize every word this book lists, they will have a good chance of knowing most of the words that will show up on the SAT - the more esoteric words one can find online or by using another source.
The section that focuses on math - my academic kryptonite - is wonderful as well. It not only contains all of the actual knowledge one needs to know, such as formulas, but methods and shortcuts that make the math section much easier than it looks. For example, the writers emphasize that one should "plug in" the answers to each question instead of attempting to answer each question by using algebra - this came in handy so many times when I took the SAT, and I give all the credit to Princeton Review.
The writing section provides plenty of grammar rules and good advice on how to write a high-scoring essay. I did not use this section as much, because my writing score did not need that much improvement, but for someone scoring lower than a 700, reading this section of PR could pull their score up a decent amount.
Once again, I highly recommend Princeton Review. If you or your son or daughter or whoever were to read and retain all of the information in this book and take a couple of practice tests, I can almost promise that you will get the score you want on the SAT. While one of the practice tests in my book lacked an answer key, this book's overall helpfulness has made that a non-issue.
Sometimes it's hard to describe your love for a book without sounding sycophantic. I can tell you that I'm the biggest Alec and Magnus shipper out the...moreSometimes it's hard to describe your love for a book without sounding sycophantic. I can tell you that I'm the biggest Alec and Magnus shipper out there (because I am) and that eight out of my past 11 tweets have been about City of Lost Souls, but I don't think I can properly convey my love for this series unless I talk about its characters.
I've never really understood how someone could love, or even like someone who makes many stupid mistakes. Perhaps I understood, but I never felt like I could do the same, until I read this book. This book taught me that sometimes, when you possess enough empathy and caring for someone - in this case, a fictional character - it's possible to forgive them and love them all the same.
And it's not even like the characters in this book make that many mistakes. Sure, they screw up sometimes, but in the end they are so well-written, masterfully-developed, human, and just worthy of forgiveness and all the cheers they get from their fans. No one is perfect, but by reading this book and connecting with all of the characters I've come to realize that perhaps people's imperfections are what makes them in a way that much closer to perfection.
As far as City of Lost Souls goes, Cassandra Clare does her thing and adds another splendid addition to the Mortal Instruments series. I laughed out loud quite a few times, and as always I rapidly flipped pages to discover what was going to happen next. Everything flowed well, with Clare incorporating the right amount of rising action to create a mind-exploding climax. Once again, I must mention how much I loved the characters in this book. Jace regains his more of his snide and sexy side, Isabelle serves as the strong and scandalous sister and Shadowhunter, Simon continues to be his nerdy and adorable self, and even Clary impressed me with her cunning and quick-mindedness in this one.
On a side note, I cried for twenty minutes after finishing this book. I need to start a chart or a list or something, it would be interesting to see which books made me cry the longest. This one certainly deserves its place at the top.
Speaking of the top, you need to read this book if you are a fan of the Mortal Instruments series! If you haven't started the series, what are you waiting for? I exhort you to go to the library or the bookstore and borrow or buy a copy. You will not regret it. Go!
... and now that the more formal part of my review is over, I feel like I deserve to fanboy Alec and Magnus a little bit. Oh my gosh, I loved them in this book. The cover should have featured Alec and Magnus, because they played quite a prominent part in the development of the plot in City of Lost Souls. In my review of this book on my blog I've included a picture of all the Alec and Magnus moments I marked. It's wonderful. Now to discuss spoilers - do not click the button below if you haven't read the book! Also, please don't include spoilers in your comments without the proper spoiler tag. Message me instead. We can talk... and if you still haven't read City of Lost Souls, stop reading this and get it now!
(view spoiler)[Okay, that ending literally made me cry for twenty minutes. I guess Alec deserved it because when he was visiting Camille I was angry at him too, but that whole scene in the subway tunnel tore my heart into little pieces. I've reread it about twenty times. How Alec's hands shook so much he dropped the witch light, how they kissed one last time, how Magnus said that he stilled love Alec but that it wasn't enough... my heart will remain broken until 2014. She cannot end it like that. She simply can't. (hide spoiler)].
Monsters of Men is the third and final book in the Chaos Walking trilogy. It continues the story of Todd and Viola, two brave souls living in a war-to...moreMonsters of Men is the third and final book in the Chaos Walking trilogy. It continues the story of Todd and Viola, two brave souls living in a war-torn world where the thoughts of men are heard by everyone. The battle turns into a fight between three - the power-hungry Mayor, the rebellious and crafty Mistress Coyle, and the native Spackle. As Todd turns his own thoughts inward and Viola fights violently against her sickness, all sides attack one another in an attempt to finally bring peace to the planet.
This book's plot moved a little more slowly and had more of a philosophical pull to it than its predecessors. Before, readers only had access to Todd and Viola's perspectives, but in Monsters of Men they can see through the Spackles' eyes as well. The environment of the characters' comes to life and forces readers to feel for more than our two original protagonists.
Of course there was still a decent amount of action. The adrenaline-pumping quality of the first two books remained in this one, mixed in with betrayal and subterfuge and all of the necessary devices to create a cunning war. I read it on my Kindle and it definitely did not feel like 608 pages, even when it took me a week to finish because of school.
Overall, two things make this series a winner. The emotional investment one cannot help but put into Todd, Viola, and the other characters shows how great writing and masterful development can foster feelings beyond that of average sympathy. Also, Ness's incorporation and extension of several themes throughout the series - psychological relationships, what it takes to kill, the effects of war, etc. - was wonderful and made the books fit for both thinkers and feelers.
Highly recommended for fans of solid young-adult writing, dystopia, and reluctant male readers. Or for anyone looking for an unusual story with well-written characters. Basically, everyone.
Even though she's a lesbian, I probably wouldn't have wanted to be friends with Cameron Post in real life. Not like I give friendship preference to ho...moreEven though she's a lesbian, I probably wouldn't have wanted to be friends with Cameron Post in real life. Not like I give friendship preference to homosexuals, but seriously - she does weed and she shoplifts. Keep in mind that the thought of getting a tattoo scares me.
I sympathized with her quickly, though. When her parents die in a car accident, Cameron's first thought isn't horror, or denial, or anger. It's relief. Relief that they would never know she had just kissed a girl a few hours earlier. As a result of the accident Cam moves in with her conservative, super religious Aunt Ruth along with her grandmother. Life floats by smoothly enough in her small Southern town until Cam meets Coley Taylor, a fierce, beautiful, and supposedly straight cowgirl. Cam's friendship with Coley develops into something intense and unexpected, something that could leave room for more. But when Aunt Ruth finds out about Cam and her "homosexual tendencies", she sends her away and forces her to find out who she really is - and to confront the demons of her past and her future.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post is unlike any book I've read before. Yes, it's a coming-of-age story, but it's about a gay girl growing up in Montana (in the 90's). Emily Danforth describes the rural atmosphere perfectly, capturing the heat and the humidity as well as the cool night air. Her writing made this book work - she included several descriptions, similes, and metaphors that may have spun out of control if any other author had tried to write the book. There was one passage later on in the novel about those sticky-hand toys we all played with in the past; when I read that paragraph, I felt like Danforth somehow knew how I felt about those toys. Her writing elucidated a keen eye for detail and a control of that detail in her descriptions.
What made this book beautiful for me was its quality as a bildungsroman. Here's a part one of the many passages that I adored:
But I didn't have any of that faith, and I didn't know where to get it, how to get it, or even if I wanted it right then. I felt like it could be that God had made this happen, had killed my parents, because I was living my life so wrong that I had to be punished, that I had to be made to understand how I must change, and that Ruth was right, that I had to change through God. But I also thought, at the exact same time I was thinking the other stuff, that maybe what all this meant was that there was no God, but instead only fate and the chain of events that is, for each of us, predetermined.
Cameron's journey from a child to a young adult didn't feel preachy, pretentious, or too prolonged. She makes mistakes, contemplates life, falls in and out of love, and basically lives like a real yet somehow extraordinary human being. She's frank and sometimes feisty, but that voice won me over. There were themes that ran throughout the novel, but none of them took center stage over her development as a character.
My review can be summarized in two questions. Is Cameron Post a bad role model? Maybe. Is she an honest girl with a fighting heart who I wish teens would read about and emulate? Definitely.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Wonder is one of those books that just makes me want to say... Yes.
"I wish every day could be Halloween. We could all wear masks all th...moreYes. Yes. Yes. Wonder is one of those books that just makes me want to say... Yes.
"I wish every day could be Halloween. We could all wear masks all the time. Then we could walk around and get to know each other before we got to see what we looked like under the masks."
We've all been bullied before. Criticized or cast aside because of how we talk, what we wear, or who we hang out with. But I doubt that many of us have experienced anything like what August Pullman went through. Ten-year-old Auggie was born with a severe facial deformity, and despite his shining personality, is plunged into a world with people who cannot see past his appearance. Wonder details Auggie's journey into the fifth grade, and serves as a stark and honest portrayal of the problems with being different.
I wish every fifth grader read this book. After reading Wendy's wonderful review, I bought this book for my ten-year-old cousin as a birthday gift, before reading it myself. Wonder is probably the best gift I have given my cousin yet.
Auggie was an absolutely amazing protagonist. Palachio carves his character with the utmost precision, creating a sympathetic and strong ten-year-old who readers cannot help but cheer for. He has his whiny moments, like every little kid, but the ordeals he's forced to overcome grant him a giant heart, too. I wanted to give him and all of his friends hugs (which, coming from an adolescent male, may sound strange) and beat up give a stern talk to everyone who was mean to him.
The plot worked wonders as well. Though the story is mainly told through Auggie's point of view, there are also five other perspectives readers get to see the story through. Each voice contributed something superb to the development of the plot and to the fleshing out of Auggie's personality and life experiences. There was never a dull moment, and I always wanted to know what would happen next.
I cannot laud Wonder enough. There were several small things that made me love the book, like how Auggie's parents tried to provide him with the best life possible, and how his older sister, Olivia, was in a high school relationship that didn't involve drugs or sex. When I read Summer's perspective, I thought to myself, why can't every little girl be this spectacular? Mr. Browne's precepts, Jack Will, Miranda, Justin, Daisy, and even Julian, all played a part in making this book what it was.
I want to end my review by thanking R.J. Palacio for writing what will be my birthday gift to every little kid I see for a long time. This is a book I want my kids to read, my cousins to read, and even for my teachers' kids to read. Heck, everyone should read this. It is a life lesson about kindness, compassion, and human connection. It is a testament to the strength we all have within us, not only to withstand the pain of stinging words, but to take a stand for what we believe is right.
Before I begin my review of this book, I want to share the story of the first and last time I forced myself to throw up. While this doesn’t relate exa...moreBefore I begin my review of this book, I want to share the story of the first and last time I forced myself to throw up. While this doesn’t relate exactly to Unbearable Lightness, it sheds light on why I empathize so much with Portia De Rossi and what she went through. Skip down a few paragraphs if you wish.
In my first few years of adolescence, I always felt lost. I was born gay in a society where the word faggot is tossed around like footballs are thrown on Sunday, born homosexual in a world where my own mother prefers me dead than happy with a man. I couldn’t change any of this – all I thought I could do was struggle through school and maybe make a friend or two.
Couple that with the need to be above average. Getting good grades wasn’t satisfying enough, so I controlled and obsessed about the simplest, most natural thing: my body. Society couldn’t make a law about being too skinny or too fat. I was never dangerously underweight, but I loved to teeter at the edge. At the edge, I felt accomplished, not average. Here’s a quote from the book where she discusses “average”:
“Average. It was the worst, most disgusting word in the English language. Nothing meaningful or worthwhile ever came from that word. An average person doesn’t cure cancer, win Olympic medals, or become a movie star. What kind of a boring, uninspired life was I going to live if I was thought of as ‘average’ in any category? My brother could not have levied a greater insult than calling me average with the exception of ‘normal,’ ordinary,’ and ‘mediocre’.”
But I stopped. Like Portia, I found other ways to express my emotions and take control of my surroundings. Part of this was due to when I forced myself to throw up with two fingers down my throat. I don’t recall the circumstances of the incident too well, but I remember the horrid pain – the pounding sensation beating across my skull, and the feeling of acid burning in my mouth. Of course transition from unhealthy to healthy was a gradual process that involved much more self-discovery than just that, but that’s one moment I can clearly recall.
My struggle isn’t even an eighth of what De Rossi went through in Unbearable Lightness. In the book, she details her draining yo-yo diet, her multiple episodes of binging and bulimia, and how she nearly lost it all after whittling herself down to a mere 82 pounds. Her struggle to meet the expectations placed upon her by herself and her Hollywood circle was horrifying – thankfully, she also shares the story of her uplifting recovery, and her heartwarming romance with Ellen DeGeneres.
De Rossi’s writing wasn’t perfect. A better editor could have eliminated the few typos and unattractive sentences I saw. But none of that mattered, because her honesty and how she made her sickening struggle relatable won me over. I cringed, I sighed, and I nearly cried in the middle of a shoe store. She can actually write pretty well, as there are several powerful quotes I noted while reading. Here’s one that describes her insecurity and her distrust during her battle with anorexia:
“All the words Ann used were euphemisms for fat. Normal just meant that I was fat. Since when did anyone ever go to the doctor’s and feel good about being in the weight range that’s considered normal? A normal size for women in this country is a size 12. Models aren’t ‘normal.’ Actresses aren’t ‘normal.’ She may as well have told me that I’d just embarrassed myself in front of 15 million people.”
I suppose the real reason I love this book is because I can empathize with it so much. Ellen was right when she said that it would help a lot of people. No, I don’t know what it’s like to keep track of every calorie I eat or to starve myself to the point of collapse. But it’s wonderful to know that someone else – someone successful, gay, and happily married – survived it all and is still doing much more.
Feed fractured my heart, and then broke it - so, of course, it deserves to be my first five-star book of 2012. It is definitely not your typical zombi...moreFeed fractured my heart, and then broke it - so, of course, it deserves to be my first five-star book of 2012. It is definitely not your typical zombie story with sleazy action sequences and creepy cliches, but a wonderful mix of zombies, blogging, and politics.
The book takes place after the Rising of 2014, in which the cure to the common cold and the cure to cancer combined to form a virus that raised the dead. Several people were immediately infected and many more lost their lives during that initial outbreak. Now, twenty years later, Georgia and Shaun Mason are internet journalists devoted to seeking the truth at whatever the cost. When they are selected to follow the campaign of popular presidential candidate Peter Ryman, they may have their chance to do so as a twisted conspiracy threatens to take them under.
If not for school, I would have finished this book in a day. Feed has everything: strong world-building, convincing characters, shocking scandal, and a wild story that will hook you in and never let you go. I connected with the characters well, and the fact that I cried for half an hour after reading the ending serves as evidence as to how much the book affected me.
I am so glad I gave this book to one of my best friends as a Christmas present - she and I talk about zombies constantly now. We plan to become professional zombie slayers, though I doubt I would have the willpower to pull off such a feat. Anyway, if that random tangent hasn't assured you of the awesomeness of this book, you must go out and get it now!
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