This series is insane(ly good). Truly. You could use adjectives like warped, twisted, and f***ed-up to describe this series just as easily as you coul...moreThis series is insane(ly good). Truly. You could use adjectives like warped, twisted, and f***ed-up to describe this series just as easily as you could use ones like provocative, thrilling, and erotic. All six would be appropriate, and all equally so. The good, the bad, the ugly . . . it is all here. And it is perfect.
(view spoiler)[ CAPTION: There are a LOT of really, really good quotes in this series. I had to make some tough decisions and leave out several favorites. Here's the ones that made the cut.
Vadim looked at the judge. It didn’t matter. The sentence was set, and there was no use fighting, but that lie couldn’t remain in the room. “I did . . . have sex with him. But it was not . . . a disgrace.”
“My intentions? For him to know before he dies that I still love him, always will, and I am alive and will continue to fight for him as long as there is anything to fight for. I would do anything.” Dan swallowed. “Anything at all for him.” For he is all I have. My home, my life, my sanity. Without him, I merely function, kept in check by a dangerous job and a woman’s authority. Nothing beyond duties. No life, just existing, but you wouldn’t understand how empty I am inside.
Dan lifted one hand to shield his eyes, using the helmet for shade and froze. Tall. Broad. Short-shaved blond hair. Arms crossed on a massive chest. Legs braced. Fuck.
I want you back, Dan. I want you back for the memories. I want you back because every yard of distance right now hurts.
“I . . .” He looked up, then shook his head. “Shouldn’t make this mistake. I shouldn’t. I should fucking . . . keep things . . . civil. Normal, but . . . I can’t,” muttering under his breath, while Dan looked at him, alarmed. Yet Vadim’s thoughts went straight to his tongue. “You’re the only thing I . . . miss, the . . . one thing that makes sense. If you . . . can’t . . . can’t stand me anymore, that’s . . . alright. If all you want to do is fuck, that’s alright. If all you want to do is talk, yes, but . . . more difficult. You call the shots. You call all the shots. Your decision. Your call.”
“If I touched you, that’d be it.” Dan shook his head, “Damn, how the fuck am I going to make you understand?” Pleading, almost. “You are everything, don’t you get it? You are the Afghan mountains, the damned red dust, the endless sky. You were my home, and more often than not, also my reason. You are unlike all the others, unlike anyone I shag, because when I touch you, it’s not just a touch, it’s eleven years of heaven and hell.”
“Some men want to win a gold medal, some want a family, some want to be rich, some want to be free, some want to kill other men, and some men want to do the right thing. Me, I only want you.”
“What will you do when you retire from active duty? Which side will you be on, Mr Krasnorada?” The doctor smiled. “When I retire . . . all I want is to be able to read again. I want to go to New Zealand, and read. I want good, fresh food, and I want to learn about wine and go hunting. I want to sleep without screaming. I don’t want to wear camo again, unless I’m painting a wall or moving furniture.” (look up in mercs 1)
“You do see us sitting together on a porch looking out on the mountains, holding hands when we’re old, don’t you?”
“What’s your size?” “I have no fucking clue.” Dan stood stunned like a nun in front of a nudist club.
“Two fucked up men.” Dan murmured, “I haven’t given up on them yet.”(hide spoiler)](less)
By all rights, this story — this romance — shouldn't work. It is convoluted, dysfunctional, and highly improbable in its commencement. But unmindful o...moreBy all rights, this story — this romance — shouldn't work. It is convoluted, dysfunctional, and highly improbable in its commencement. But unmindful of any of its faults, it soars until it miraculously achieves perfection at its culmination. It is utterly addictive and enthralling.
I'm so, so glad I decided to give King another try despite my mixed feelings over her Printz Honor, Please Ignore Vera Dietz. Everybody Sees the Ants...moreI'm so, so glad I decided to give King another try despite my mixed feelings over her Printz Honor, Please Ignore Vera Dietz. Everybody Sees the Ants is an astonishingly wonderful gift to young-adult literature, one that I feel extremely fortunate to have read.
Since the age of seven, Lucky Linderman has been having dreams in which he visits his grandfather in the prison camp where he's resided since being listed as MIA in the Vietnam War back in 1972. When his grandmother died, she asked Lucky to get her husband back, and the dreams started that very night. Coincidentally, this was also the same day Lucky began being bullied by Nader McMillan. So are these dreams really a way to get his grandfather back and hopefully heal the wound Lucky's father's always had from having never met his own father, or are they just a way to escape the harsh reality that is Lucky's life? Another escape comes in the form of a summer vacation with his mother in Tempe, Arizona. There, Lucky bonds with his Uncle Dave, dodges an unnecessary intervention orchestrated by his pill-popping Aunt Jodi, and meets a beautiful older girl who shows him another side of life. Everybody Sees the Ants is a masterpiece that should not be overlooked by anyone who enjoy its genre.
If every story I read and its characters were as original and appealing as Everybody Sees the Ants and its characters are, I dare I say I'd get nothing done save for reading. Although all of the characters are unique and serve their purpose to make the story what it is — an amazing, inspiring example of human life and its struggles — one character in particular stood out. I've not fallen nor cared for a character as much as Lucky in a long, long time. With each sentence, word, action — he stole my heart and made me root for him more and more with the turn of each page. He is a young, bullied kid who's not even had his first kiss yet. He's a boy with an impossible mission to save his grandfather. He's a little insecure, a proud mama's boy, and an awesome cook. He's an incredible character and all I wanted was to give him a big hug and smooch on the noggin, if such a thing were possible. I dare you not to fall for Lucky Linderman.
Upon finishing this little gem, I felt an overwhelming since of gratification and elation. It's hard to find a book that makes you feel like turning back to the first page and starting all over again, but I felt just that when I reached the end of Everybody Sees the Ants. I didn't feel ready to leave these characters, their story and lives. Although I wasn't completely sold after reading Please Ignore Vera Dietz, I could tell that King was capable of greatness and she proved my instinct right when she wrote this story. This just shows that you shouldn't judge an author by the first book of theirs you read.
This is a book I'll cherish and reread many times in future, always enjoying it more each time. Highly, highly recommended. 4.5 stars(less)
My Life Next Door is the kind of story that hits you where you least expect it to: in all the right places. Or at least, it certainly did for me. I ex...moreMy Life Next Door is the kind of story that hits you where you least expect it to: in all the right places. Or at least, it certainly did for me. I expected this book to be very fluffy: little rich girl falls for the boy next door; gets a whole new perspective on life through the eyes of a financially-strained, but very happy — unlike her own — family; and learns something big about herself over the course of one short summer. In a lot of ways, that is what this book is about. But, in truth, it is about so much more.
Samantha Reed's character is, I think, one of the best — probably in the top ten, actually — YA heroines I've ever come across since I began reading YA fiction back in 2008. She stands up for herself and the people she cares about when it counts most, she thinks independently from her main influence in life — in this case, her mother — in a way that is smart and not just teenage rebellion. She is smart about sex choices, doesn't just jump into bed with the first boyfriend she gets — or even the third without some smart-shopping for Trojans (loved that scene!) — and is a generally well-rounded, intelligent young woman. I found being in Sam's head a very pleasant, refreshing, and, often times, spontaneously hilarious experience when compared to many of the female narrators of her genre. If Fitzpatrick's future heroines turn out to be even a tenth as good as Sam was, I'm in for a real treat. And Jase . . . he is the kind of boy you'd want your daughter to marry. Truly. He's down to earth, loves his family, loves his animals (he's something of a zoo-keeper), and treats his girlfriend like gold. What's not to love? I think YA paranormal authors should take notes from Huntley Fitzpatrick on how to write a good male protagonist. And Tim . . . I can't believe a debut author made me fall for a drug addict. Seriously. If the author decided to write a companion novel about Tim (maybe like Marchetta did with Thomas after Saving Francesca) and, hopefully, Alice, I'd be forever grateful to the Powers That Be.
The bulk of this novel is about Samantha getting to know — and fall for — both Jase and his family. But towards the end, as the publisher-provided synopsis says, there is a big obstacle that is dropped on Sam's and the Garrett's heads, an obstacle that is not overcome easily. I wish there could have been a bit more resolution at the end with it (view spoiler)[Last we hear of Mr. Garrett is that he's out of ICU, and Sam's mom is still checking to see how he's doing; I would have liked for there to have been a coming-home-from-the-hospital scene, or at least a mention of a full recovery (hide spoiler)], but as a whole I think the climax was handled well. And, on a side note, can I just say how utterly sexy some of this book is? I wasn't expecting that, either, but I love surprises.
Truly, I don't feel that my words can properly describe how much I loved this book, or how much I got out of it, or how much I wish more people would discover it and feel for it what I did. Does that mean this book was perfect? No, because no book is. But honestly, it was perfect for me. I'm extraordinarily pleased with it — so much so that I plan to reread it this summer — and will certainly be back for more from Fitzpatrick in future.(less)
It isn't often that I begin writing a review with trepidation and insecurities, thinking that my thoughts and feelings can't possibly do the book just...moreIt isn't often that I begin writing a review with trepidation and insecurities, thinking that my thoughts and feelings can't possibly do the book justice. This isn't because I have a great esteem for myself; no, it is because, while a lot of what I read I enjoy, I'm not fooling myself into thinking that the majority of it is what most would consider quality literature. It is with those kinds of books that I figure that whatever I type should suffice. But there are those times, like when I reviewed Emma and Jellicoe Road not so long ago, that I get nervous. This is another of those times.
I've always had a fascination with books and things set in this era. And I won't lie — that had a large influence in me loving this book. This is the kind of book that I can slip into like a warm fleece on a cold winter's night and feel cozy and comforted in. But I think most would agree that there is something special about this diamond in the rough.
The Raging Quiet is a true hidden gem. It snared my attention from the first chapter and surpassed any level of expectations I could've had going in. The characters are so rich and real and believable in their pain and love and loss and joy that I know I shall never forget them. I wept for Marnie, I was grateful for the priest's charity and kindness to two lost souls, and the boy without the blessing of sound stole my heart.
The subject of religion is handled perfectly IMO; it doesn't preach to non-believers, nor does it offend believers. Marnie is religious, but she has her struggles with God because of the terrible things she goes through in such a short time. The priest that helps Marnie and Raven isn't portrayed as a saint, but merely a spiritually faithful man with faults. And there isn't any explicit content, but the author doesn't refrain from dealing with tough subjects, either.
Sadly, this book doesn't seem to be receiving much recognition around these parts. But it is twelve years old and, although to me it is simple yet beautiful and fits the story perfectly, the cover is no longer in vogue; it is not flashy and bedazzled enough to catch the eye of most readers in today's market. It is my hope that I can bring this book at least a small portion of the attention it deserves.(less)
"I want to speak with many things and I won't leave this planet without knowing what I came to find, without resolving this matter, and people are not eno...more"I want to speak with many things and I won't leave this planet without knowing what I came to find, without resolving this matter, and people are not enough I have to go much farther and I have to get much closer." — a portion of "Bestiary", from Extravagaria
I truly believe that if every person viewed the world and its life the way Neruda did it would be a much better place.
I never would've dreamed that words could be so beautiful when used to describe what I thought were the most mundane of things: socks, onions, salt, etc. The tame, the wild, the sensual, the beauty of life, the rush of life, the air that gives us life — it is all covered in this collection. No stone is left unturned and reading this has truly opened my eyes to help me see how beautiful those stones are.
This is a collection of Neruda's later poems, written when he was in his fifties. The translator, Stephen Mitchell, says of his selections in the foreword, "These are the poems of a happy man, deeply fulfilled in his sexuality, at home in the world, in love with life and its infinite particular forms, overflowing with the joy of language." After reading them I can attest to that statement wholeheartedly. These poems are vibrant, magnificent, and entirely beautiful.
If I had to pick favorites, I would perhaps say "Ode to the Artichoke" or "Ode to the Seagull," as they were both particularly special for me. But in all truth, I think the one below was my most favorite. By the bye, I have searched for other translations and Mitchell's seems to be the best.
"Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.
This one time upon the earth, let's not speak any language, let's stop for one second, and not move our arms so much.
It would be a delicious moment, without hurry, without locomotives, all of us would be together in a sudden uneasiness.
The fishermen in the cold sea would do no harm to the whales and the peasant gathering salt would look at his torn hands.
Those who prepare green wars, wars of gas, wars of fire, victories without survivors, would put on clean clothing and would walk alongside their brothers in the shade, without doing a thing.
What I want shouldn't be confused with final inactivity: life alone is what matters, I want nothing to do with death.
If we weren't unanimous about keeping our lives so much in motion, if we could do nothing for once, perhaps a great silence would interrupt this sadness, this never understanding ourselves and threatening ourselves with death, perhaps the earth is teaching us when everything seems to be dead and then everything is alive.
Now I will count to twelve and you keep quiet and I'll go." — "Keeping Quiet", from Extragavaria
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when I finished reading that.(less)
Rebecca is a classic tale that weaves mystery, secrets, and romance into an intricate and stunning twine. It tells the story of a young girl who is sw...moreRebecca is a classic tale that weaves mystery, secrets, and romance into an intricate and stunning twine. It tells the story of a young girl who is swept off her feet by a much older man with money and possessions aplenty — and even more heartache in his recent past. Since his wife's tragic death eight months ago, Maxim de Winter has been doing everything he can to forget the horrific part of his past that has left him feeling bereft of happiness and aloof from others. But even with this kind of emotional baggage, the young heroine of the story — who's name is never revealed — still agrees to marry Mr. de Winter because she has already fallen in love with him. When our heroine moves into Manderley, the estate where Maxim lived not so long ago with his now deceased wife, Rebecca, she soon learns the story behind her new husband's late wife's death. She learns that Rebecca died by an accidental drowning while in a boat that capsized. As you can image, all of this is very disconcerting to such a young and naïve girl. And when she arrives at Manderley things are so very different from the life she had before: there's all the hustle and bustle of living in a mansion, and then there's Mrs. Danvers who doesn't like her simply because she's not Rebecca. Du Maurier's Rebecca deals with a lot of themes and raises a lot of questions, one of the most intriguing being, What happens when the woman that is haunting your husband begins haunting you, too?
For me, Rebecca was truly a delight. It is expertly crafted and beautifully written, and, while reading, I had one of those strange feelings you get when you think you're enjoying something too much, that you must be sinning because you simply can't remember the last time you enjoyed yourself so much.
What I'm about to say isn't going to juxtapose well with my earlier comment about this being a "delight," but I shall say it anyway: This book has just a little bit of a depressing atmosphere to it. This is mostly because the main character is often fixated on how she'll never live up to the standards which Rebecca set before her, but it didn't bother me in the least. No, no — in fact, it only made me want to wrap the heroine in a blanket and give a her cup of hot cocoa. Some may deem her weak for not simply standing up and being everything that she can be, but I saw her as worthy of so much and strong even in her cowardice. She starts out working for a nuisance of a woman, then all of a sudden she is married to a man much older than she and with a past for which she is unsure of all the details. I really loved the heroine in this; there were several times where my heart twisted for her character and for the situation she was in.
Do NOT read this spoiler if you've not read this book. It is the type of spoiler that will drastically take away from your enjoyment should you choose to ever read this. (view spoiler)[There is an exchange between our heroine and the resentful Mrs. Danvers about 2/3 of the way through the novel. During this discussion Mrs. Danvers informs our lead that while alive Rebecca had many male companions with whom she was physically intimate. Now, my first thought after reading that was, How, then, could Maxim mourn her to the degree that he does? How could he be so torn about her death if she cheated on him numerous times during their marriage? Well, it was because all was not what it seemed. When Maxim confesses to having killed Rebecca, I LITERALLY fell out of my seat. Granted, I let myself do so. But it was so shocking I just let myself go like a slinky. It was insane. The whole time I'm thinking that Maxim will never give up Rebecca even though she is dead, that Maxim and his new wife don't have any real chance of ever being happy because, apparently, Rebecca was just too wonderful! for anyone to compare to her. Ha! Ha! HAHAHA!! You can see that it has decreased my sanity a little. I just couldn't believe it! That revelation meant that every paling of the face on Maxim's part, every look of worry or dread was only because he had killed her, not because he was sick over her death. Gah! I shall never get over the brilliancy of this Epic Twist for as long as I live. Truly. (hide spoiler)]
The fact of the lead character's name never being revealed is just one of the peculiar things about this story. It is said early on that her name is often spelt incorrectly, making the reader think that it is perhaps a very unique name. My guess as to why this is is that, because the name Rebecca — and the person — is still so very dominant in the lives of the characters and in our heroine's mind, the author chose to leave out her name to add to the sense of inferiority the heroine feels towards Manderley's former mistress. Just a guess.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "I don't want you to bear this alone," I said. "I want to share it with you. I've grown up, Maxim, in twenty-four hours. I'll never be a child again."
Upon closing this review I want to be very clear about something: My enthusiasm and enjoyment of this novel doesn't necessarily mean that you, the reader of this review, will feel the same about this book. Rebecca is very dramatic and people that don't like classics may not find as much enjoyment in it as I have. I'll freely admit that I have a penchant for things/books like this, so I'm guessing that had a lot to do with my loving this so very much. But if you're interested in this in the least, if you think this may be something you'd like, please, give it a try.(less)
Although using this trite doesn't mean that the fact is any less true, it is still at the risk of sounding cliché when I say that Jane Austen's classi...moreAlthough using this trite doesn't mean that the fact is any less true, it is still at the risk of sounding cliché when I say that Jane Austen's classic, Emma, is like a breath of fresh air when juxtaposed to the miasmal novels in the publishing market today; especially for someone who has been on a YA binge of late. You see, the reason why I went for Emma as my first Austen read is because my mother has seen the latest movie adaptation, and she claims it to be her very favorite. Mind you, she hasn't read any thing of Austen's—but she loves the movie so very much that she kept pestering me to watch it (I suppose I'll have to pester her to read the book now, won't I?). To which I continually said that, no, no, I will not watch the movie until I've read the book; I positively hate to watch the movie adaptation before reading the book; it virtually cancels out any chance of me ever finding enough interest in reading the actual book to its completion. So, after picking up Emma at least ten times in the past year, reading the first few chapters, only to sit it back down again, I finally—the other day—decided I wanted to read something of quality and something that is truly written well. Well, that is definitely Emma.
Emma, herself, is, for me, just as stunning as she is flawed; I started out thinking her a walking vexation, but somewhere in the 400+ pages I began to warm to her like you would with any inevitably lovable—albeit, at times, antagonising—character. Emma's devotion to her father is also very admirable. And by the end, Emma seemed so much more humble and less meddling that I couldn't help but be very pleased with her character. My thoughts on Mr. Knightley are not as easily expressed; in the beginning I found him merely interesting, but somewhere in the middle he began to hold my interest as much as a mother would hold her infant (if that isn't too much of an odd metaphor); by the end he managed to surpass virtually all of the other male characters of which I've been exposed to. Granted, Mr. Knightley isn't in Emma nearly enough for my satisfaction—but when he is, the aforesaid is all too true. I can't quite place my finger on what it is, exactly, about him that made such an impression on me—other than that I've always had a strong fascination with a true gentleman, being as that sort of thing is practically extinct in this day and age; also, I've grown very jaded with the often monotonous male characters of today. And I do believe that my reaction to Mr. Knightley has left me at a wonder as to just want my reaction will be upon meeting the famous Mr. Darcy. I'll doubtlessly swoon just as countless other lasses have since P&P debuted in 1813.
I really think that my hesitation in reading this—as well as Austen's other works—has nothing to do with the writing, or the story, or the pacing; because, and I know this will sound strange, but, I've always loved a book that is just about people going about their daily lives and doing things—little trivial things, even—and simply living; people say that Emma doesn't have much story and is really just people planning balls and Emma interfering in peoples' lives—but I loved all of that! I'll take everyday living over complex plots any day. No, I think the reason for my waiting so long is that I psyched myself out of reading something like this; I kept thinking that it would be too long or too boring or too archaic or too something or another, but in reality this is the very type of thing that I love to read about. Regency, Victorian, etc. . . . I love to read about all of the historical periods, and I'm so very glad that I stopped procrastinating.
So, I enjoyed this a great deal and I've set a goal for myself to read all of Austen's works by this time next year (although I kindly ask you not you hold me to it ;)). I plan to continue with her other slightly lesser known titles, and finish with what appears to me to be the most well known and highly esteemed, Pride and Prejudice. In a summary, I plan to save the best—or what is often said to be the best—for last.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other."
Although I have many favorite quotes from this (the rest can be read below), that particular quote stood out the most because it is so very true. Expect to see it in my future reviews.
I highly recommend Emma to everyone; both lovers and reluctant readers of classics.(less)
I'm going to keep this brief since there isn't much to say that hasn't already been said. *clears throat* I think the reason I waited so long to read t...moreI'm going to keep this brief since there isn't much to say that hasn't already been said. *clears throat* I think the reason I waited so long to read this series is because I just couldn't imagine myself enjoying reading about an eleven-year-old boy and his adventures at a school of wizardry. I thought it would be too juvenile for my taste. I was wrong, of course. I can honestly say that I loved every minute of this. It's a spectacular little romp with funny, courageous, and endearing characters that you can't help but love. It has talking chess pieces, singing hats, a giant three-headed dog named Fluffy, a hilarious giant with a dragon fetish, a master wizard that's just a little bit crazy, mail carrier owls, goblins running a bank, unicorns, centaurs(!), trolls . . . and probably much more that I'm forgetting. And then there's the lead characters: Hermione, the young scholar who starts out prim and up-tight but soon becomes a true friend; Ron, the boy who has little money but who has an abundance of family and loyalty to his friends to make up for it; and then there's Harry, the boy who starts out sleeping in a closet and ends up being a hero. Harry is kind to those that deserve it, fearless when it counts the most, and wonderfully intelligent. What's not to love?
In regards to the ending: (view spoiler)[I feel silly saying this about a middle grade novel, but I didn't suspect Quirrell a bit! If there were hints that he was the true culprit and not Snape, I obviously missed them. (hide spoiler)]
FAVORITE QUOTE: "But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them."
There's a reason why books like Twilight don't receive those. They don't give those to just any book, and when you factor in excellence . . . well, a...more
There's a reason why books like Twilight don't receive those. They don't give those to just any book, and when you factor in excellence . . . well, a lot of titles just don't make the cut. But it is clear to me why Melina Marchetta's third tribute to YA literature received a Printz award back in 2009. It is because it is excellent, to the very meaning of the word.
If all YA contemporary writers wrote like Marchetta, I doubt I'd play in any other genre playground very often. She writes these beautifully inspirational, relatable, and emotionally-charged novels that seem to affect me in an undescribable way.
Some of the passages in Jellicoe Road seem to beat with their own heart:
"These people have history and I crave history. I crave someone knowing me so well that they can tell what I'm thinking."
"'What do you want from me?' he asks. What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him. More."
I've always believed that an exceptionally good writer can take you places emotionally that others can't, and, for me, Melina Marchetta is one of those writers.
I'm going to end this review here for two reasons: 1) I believe this is the type of book that should be experienced first hand, without much knowledge of the story going in. So, go read it and remember, the beginning is confusing, but plow through it and I promise you won't regret it; 2) I'm tearing up thinking about this story and its characters, so all you'll be getting from me is the aforesaid and this: I love this book and I'm anticipating the day when I can read it again. I highly recommend Jellicoe Road to everyone.
It's probably fair to say that in all the years of Hitler's reign, no person was able to serve the Führer as loyally as me. A human doesn't have a hea...moreIt's probably fair to say that in all the years of Hitler's reign, no person was able to serve the Führer as loyally as me. A human doesn't have a heart like mine. The human heart is a line, whereas my own is a circle, and I have the endless ability to be in the right place at the right time. The consequence of this is that I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both. Still, they have one thing I envy. Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.
When you decide to write a book, you can never be sure how it will be received. Will people instantly be entraptured by the story your mind has conjured, or will they spit on the cover and rue the day they bought your work? Will any of your books make it on a bestseller list, say, the coveted New York Times? Or, will they end up on a dime store's shelf collecting dust for decades? And, perhaps most importantly, will the words you write touch someone's life at the moment they need it most? Will your story be the balm on a heart that has just been broken? Will a specific sentence from your conscious be the encouragement someone needs to make the toughest decision they've ever had to make? All dedicated readers know that books - stories - are a powerful thing. They're a relatable friend who'll always be there for you: to comfort, to encourage, to strengthen. This line of thought got me wondering if Markus Zusak had any idea of what a colossal impact his words would have on countless lives.
The Book Thief is the story of Liesel Meminger, a nine-year-old girl whom we shortly see earn her apt epithet. When her adoptive father, Hans Hubermann, begins teaching her how to read, she soon becomes entranced by words and their power. Over the course of several years, Liesel steals many books from the mayor's library as well as other daring locales. Although Liesel now spends her days trying to discourage Rudy Steiner's interest in kissing her and her nights reading with her papa and listening to him play the accordion, her life before Himmel St. wasn't an easy one. And soon The Book Thief's narrator, Death, lets the reader now that this isn't a story with a happy ending. But The Book Thief truly is a story of survival in a corrupt world, finding friends and family in unlikely places, and the eventual peace we all hope to find.
I can't imagine a better book to recommend, to give, to receive - than The Book Thief. Liesel's bravery and Hans' dedication to his daughter and Rudy's longing for just one kiss and Death's inner turmoil over the lives he's compelled to take. . . . I'l always remember these characters and their story. I laughed, I cried, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. And I even learned a little German! Mostly curse words, but still.
Equally devastating and unforgettable, The Book Thief is rightfully beloved by many and will be remembered long after my lifetime.(less)
Born with an ability that is more of a curse than a gift, Katsa's life hasn't been an easy one. Katsa is Graced with the ability to kill. And when an...moreBorn with an ability that is more of a curse than a gift, Katsa's life hasn't been an easy one. Katsa is Graced with the ability to kill. And when an accident causes her to kill a man at the age of eight, she soon realizes what her Grace really is. Upon finding out Katsa's true Grace, King Randa of the Middluns, Katsa's uncle, quickly decides to utilize her morbid abilities rather than kill her for them as most would. Wanting to harness her abilities and control them rather than be ruled by them as she's ruled by the King, Katsa begins to train and practice her skills. Over time she grows more and more in tune with her Grace and soon she becomes King Randa's greatest and most adept fighter. But will these skills do her any good when another, more corrupt king threatens all whom she cares for?
I found Katsa's strong character, independence, and fierce determination to be very admirable. Upon first being introduced to her character, I wasn't sure that I'd like her. But by the end of the novel she managed to become another favorite heroine of mine. (FYI, my list of favorite female characters is very short.) Katsa isn't your average damsel in distress and I was glad to see---for once---that the female was actually the stronger of the two in her relationship with Po. And that Po was more than fine with this fact. It's easy for the romance and relationships to become repetitive and even redundant when you've read 200+ books. But Ms. Cashore surprised me with her talent for writing and her ability to entertain and create fresh characters.
At first, I wasn't sure what to think of all the bling Po sports. I kept imagining something like this. (Except younger and with a lot less hair.) Finding out that it was the tradition of his people was a relief. The reason for all of his jewelry wearing ended up being very interesting, though. I found his people's customs and the origins of his jewelry quite intriguing. And the man himself SHOCKED ME. I say this with caps because, in the beginning, much like with Katsa, I wasn't sure I'd like him. At first, all of the jewelry he's described as wearing aside, he just didn't seem like a character I could foresee myself warming up to. It's safe to say I'm warm now. I don't know, it was like the more I read (listened), the more I liked him. Until, finally, I loved him. He's not like a lot of the other leading male characters being written in the YA genre today. He comes off as sort of simple, at first, and then, before you know it, he's found his way into your heart. (view spoiler)[I'm not ashamed to say that I cried when Katsa realized Po was blind. By that point, I was very attached and found of his character. Also, while, thankfully, I'm not blind, I've recently had problems with my eyes. I was kind of shocked that the author would write a development like that with a character so close to the end of the novel. But I commend Ms. Cashore for writing that. It was sad and unexpected but it worked. And it definitely struck a chord with me. (hide spoiler)] Po's special in a simplistic yet complex way. If that makes sense.
The revelations in this novel were all very surprising and well written. Besides the one mentioned in the spoiler above, there were several others that I didn't see coming. (view spoiler)[Katsa's true Grace? Yeah. Didn't foresee that one. I can only imagine how relieving it would be to find out your gift is Survival rather than something as horrible as Killing. (hide spoiler)]
King Leck of Monsea is easily one of the most malevolent, sadistic, and manipulative villains within the YA genre that I've ever come across. Although he's not actually in the story much, he plays a significant role as the villain and I thought he was well written.
Another thing I really liked about Graceling was the ending. It wasn't rushed like with most novels. (view spoiler)[I also liked that, when the time came and it needed to happen, Katsa killed Leck. A lot of authors seem to draw things out and make it so that the villain (if the story has one) is only defeated or killed at the very end. And by this point, obviously, the story is over and you're left with nothing but a rushed ending to an otherwise good story. I'm one of those readers that enjoys it when the author gives the reader a little time to enjoy the characters new found peace and happiness, rather than the ever popular and abrupt endings. (hide spoiler)]
Katsa's reluctent attraction to Po and her irritants and arguments with him were quite intriguing, also. And I loved it that their relationship wasn't rushed and overdone with the whole "soul mates" bit most authors are so found of using today.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "He sat against the tree, his knees bent and his head in his hands. His shoulders slumped. Tired, unhappy. Something tender caught in her breath at the sight of him. And then he raised his eyes and looked at her, and she saw what she had not seen before. She gasped. His eyes were beautiful. His face was beautiful to her in every way, and his shoulders and hands. And his arms that hung over his knees, and his chest that was not moving, because he held his breath as he watched her. And the heart in his chest. This friend. How had she not seen this before? How had she not seen him? She was blind. And then tears choked her eyes, for she had not asked for this. She had not asked for this beautiful man before her, with something hopeful in his eyes that she did not want."
Graceling is the perfect mix of action, suspense, sensuality, and it is one of the most of intriguing and fatastically written fantasy worlds I've ever had the pleasure of reading about----or, in this case, listening to.
Bottom line: If you've not yet read Graceling, I suggest you rectify that immediately. And if you have, please give the audio version a try. You won't be disappointed. (I'm talking to you, Flannery.)(less)
**spoiler alert** WARNING: This isn't a review so much as a hodgepodge of gushing and complaining. Also, this gushing and complaining fest is quite lo...more**spoiler alert** WARNING: This isn't a review so much as a hodgepodge of gushing and complaining. Also, this gushing and complaining fest is quite long. You've been warned.
"Although it may not seem like it, this isn't a story about darkness. It's about light. Kahlil Gibran says 'Your joy can fill you only as deeply your sorrow has carved you.' It you've never tasted bitterness, sweet is just another pleasant flavor on your tongue. One day I'm going to hold a lot of joy."----Bloodfever
Mac wasn't lying when she said that. This story really is ultimately about light and happiness.
For me, the beginning of Shadowfever was quite disappointing. I don't know what happened to Mac while she was traveling through those dimensions toward the end of Dreamfever, but something must have happened, because she's been more dense ever since. I always thought that Mac was rather smart for a blonde (no offense to any blondes reading this), but starting with her not picking up on the fact that Barrons was the beast, and ending with when she decided to suck face with the man she presumes to be her sister's murderer, she lost all sense that she seemed to possess in the earlier installments. I realize that she was overcome with grief, thinking that Barrons was dead, but, come on, it was like she just threw caution to the wind and gave herself over to the dark side. In one passage she states that she's planning to actually sleep with Darroc in order to obtain the information needed to take control of the book and use it to erase her mistakes and bring Barrons back from the dead. She calls kissing and associating with Darroc a sort of self-inflicted "punishment" for her killing Barrons. Riiiight. I'm with ya there, Mac. And then, when Barrons comes back on his own, like I knew he would (oh come on, it would've ruined the whole series), she quickly decides that she was too hasty in her grieving and that she shouldn't reveal her true feelings to him. And my thoughts were, How could you be bawling, lying down in the dirt, kiss-the-corpse distraught with grief, and then have the reason for your grief eradicated, the man you love come back to you, and deside to let everything go? She acted as if Barrons interest in her was infallible and would never cease. There's a passage I'd like to share with you where Barrons finally sets her straight on this little misconception and gives her an ultimatum. It's one of my favorite scenes:
"How much longer will you dissemble?" "Who uses words like dissemble?" He leaned back against the door and folded his arms. "I won't wait much longer. You're on your last chance with me."
Over the course of the series Mac accuses Barrons of evading and being closed up all of the time, but, as you've just read, she's more than guilty of doing so herself. As I mentioned in my review for Dreamfever, I think that Mac is just as much to blame for her and Barrons' relationship not moving forward earlier as Barrons is. If not more so IMHO.
And then there's V'lane. Or should I say, Cruce. That pompous, over used prick was never one for which I was a fan. (Please excuse the language, that's just how I feel.) From the very beginning I sensed something fishy with his character. And I was right.
I found Barrons' cohorts to be very . . . interesting. Barrons may be the man of this series, but I see a lot of potential in his fellow men. Ryodan, Lor, Kasteo, Fade . . . all of them. I'd love to see more of them and learn more of their back stories.
Another character that I see a lot of potential in: Dani. Her story is just sort of left off and you don't really know what'll happen to her next. Ms. Moning tries to tie up her story with a few short sentences on the very last page, but I think she could be a good heroine in her own story. Provided that she grows up and starts speaking a little differently, of course.
Which brings me to another fact: I can't believe who Alina's murderer ended up being! I mean, I can, but I didn't see it coming. Rowena was another character that I wasn't very found of, but I sure wouldn't have guessed her to be Alina's real murderer.
And that wasn't the only shocker. Barrons' son . . . that was very sad. However I do think that the conclusion to his story was maybe a little too rushed.
And now I believe it's time for the quote's portion:
"I had a secret. A terrible secret that had been eating me alive. What did you wear to your senior prom, Mac? That had been the last thing I'd heard, Pri-ya. Everything from that moment on had really happened. I'd faked. I'd lied to him and myself. I stayed. And it hadn't felt any different."
I was both elated and shocked by that one.
For those of you who've read this and may not remember, these next two quotes are extracted from a scene where Mac and Barrons are kissing and Mac gets into his head. She's trying to find out what his feelings and thoughts were while they were together intimately in the beginning of Dreamfever:
"Keep hoping to see the light in her eyes. Even knowing it'll mean she's saying good-bye."
"When you know who I am. Let me be your man."
Those two quotes, and, really, that entire scene, undid me. Seeing that Barrons feels that way was easily one of the most emotional parts of Shadowfever for me. And it certainly makes their time together in Dreamfever have more meaning.
"And here we go. She's bristling and my hackles go up. Bloody hell, I feel fangs coming on. Tell you what, Ms. Lane," he said softly, "anytime you want to have a conversation with me, leave the myriad issues you have with wanting to fuck me every time you look at me outside my cave, come on in, and see what you find. You might like it."
He sure does have a way with words.
"We cannot restore the walls without the Song," V'lane was saying. "Who says we need the walls back up?" Barrons demanded. "You're roaches, we're Raid. We'll get rid of you eventually."
And I'm pretty sure I busted a rib on that one.
"You're Mac," he says. "And I'm Jericho. And nothing else matters. Never will. You exist in a place that is beyond all rules for me. Do you understand that?" I do. Jericho Barrons just told me he loves me.
"I was happy. I knew why you'd lied." His dark gaze was ancient, inhuman, uncharacteristically gentle. Because you love me."
And, of course, my very favorite:
"Don't leave me, Rainbow Girl."
Now, the second and third to the last quote are all you really get as far as declarations of love go. But I wasn't expecting either one of them to drop to their knees and declare their undying love for one another. But they both know that they love each other. And that's enough for this reader. For me, their relationship turned out exactly how I wanted it to. I think that the way Ms. Moning wrote it was perfect and true to her characters and very satisfying. And am I mistaken or was the scene where they finally give in to their feelings just as much emotional as it was erotic? When Barrons is fighting to stay in his human skin and Mac takes his head and cradles it to her breast and tries to soothe him? Wow. Just . . . wow.
And although I wasn't very pleased with Mac in the beginning of Shadowfever, she ended up making the right decisions later on and therefore I still love her. And don't even get me started on Barrons. That man . . . there are no words. I bow to Ms. Moning's awesomeness in that she was even able to create a character such as him. He's very special to me and for that reason alone I'm sad to see this series end. (I hear there may be some sort of spin off series or something? If so, you can bet your petunia I'll be reading it. I'll read anything Ms. Moning decides to publish. Seriously, grocery lists, anything.)
After everything just said, I have to take the good with the not-so-good and say that I really, really enjoyed this series and that, ultimately, I'm very pleased. And that is why I'm giving this one five stars. As a whole, I'd give this series ten stars. Because I love the characters, faults and all, I love Ms. Moning's writing (I have found a new favorite author in her), and I have enjoyed MacKayla's story immensely.(less)
For those who don't have Facebook and didn't see this . . .
Moning posted a deleted scene from Dreamfever on her Facebook page on 4/21/13. Here it is i...moreFor those who don't have Facebook and didn't see this . . .
Moning posted a deleted scene from Dreamfever on her Facebook page on 4/21/13. Here it is in full, but be warned, it is spoilery unless you've read all of Dreamfever:
Deleted Scene/DREAMFEVER
“You’re not the only fucking one that got branded!” Barrons slammed his fist into the wall behind my head. Bits of plaster dusted my shoulders.
Oh, really? I wasn’t the only one walking around with a mark on me I didn’t want? Our gazes locked and I jerked. Was he letting me see this, or had intimacy given me a window into his soul. As if he had one. He deserved no less. He hadn’t done it to save me. He’d had sex with me because it was the only way he could continue using me. He’d had sex with me to steal my services back from his enemies at Camp Pri-ya.
And for the first time since the morning he’d gotten up and walked out, leaving me painfully, horrifically aware of both who I was and where I was—in Jericho Barron’s lust-drenched bed on the verge of begging him not to leave me while in full possession of my senses--I could see that it hadn’t left him nearly as untouched as I’d thought. As he’d led me to think.
I searched his face. Beneath his left eye, a tiny muscle contracted, smoothed, contracted again. That minute betrayal was Barron’s equivalent of a normal person having a full-blown hissy fit. Oh, no, far from untouched. Had he stood outside my door as I’d stood outside his, fists at his sides, lips drawn back? Did it have him as bad as it had me? Was it eating at him, gnawing at him with the same sharp vicious little teeth that wouldn’t let me sleep?
Yes, it was. I could see the rage of insatiable, uninvited lust in every line of that dark, stoic face that had once been too subtly etched for me to read. I wasn’t the only one lying awake at night, fevered with memories, tossing, turning, soaking my sheets, burning up--not for Fae sex, but him, damn it all to hell, him.
Remembering being too naked in body and soul, trembling with need. Backing to him, a wild animal. Later, straddling him, holding him down and demanding more and more because Jericho Barrons couldn‘t be depleted. Of anything. Whatever he was. He was without limit.
He hadn’t erased the Fae Princes’ marks--he’d burned his own into them until I could no longer discern the shape of the marks they‘d left. He‘d scarred their scars out of me with a bigger scar. The bastard. And if I’d managed to carve up some part of him in return—
“Good,” I said, hard and low. “Welcome to my world, Barrons. I hope it hurts like hell.”
His hand was on my throat and my back was to the wall. I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t need to. He was touching me. Two enormous magnets, repelling and attracting; a manifest of nature, not a matter of will at all. The air between us crackled with energy. Did I smell flesh burning?
“Good?” he said softly, and staring into those black eyes was like staring down the shadowy, demon-littered corridor of the Unseelie mirror in his study. “You think it’s good to have something like me obsessed with you? My dear, dear, bloody idiotic, suicidal Ms. Lane, you have no fucking idea what’s gotten the scent of you in its nostrils, what has the taste of you in its blood, or you’d run. You’d run for what little remains of what you think of as your life.”
He whirled, long black coat fluttering, was out the door, and gone.
I stared into the deepening twilight into which he’d disappeared. Nightfall was painting the stone walkway one of those new Fae shades that hadn’t existed before the walls had come crashing down around our ears; a dreamy silvery-violet, spider-webbed with moonbeams that was eerily beautiful. I shivered. I hated the new colors. They were….somehow just…wrong.
I shook it off.
Obsessed, Barrons had said.
I smiled. Good.
Okay, and this was deleted why?! It's fecking awesome and HOT!
Original review:
Behold, I give to you my reaction to the first 50 pages of Dreamfever: #*$@%*%@$@&$*(@!>?<#&WTF?*faints*#**&^@!$%^#%^7053 .........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More on that later.
Remember when I said in my review for Darkfever that I wasn't as batshit crazy over Barrons as most people but that I eventually would be? That day has come, my friend. With each book I've grown to love him more and more. I've slowly learned how he operates and slowly become used to his ways of doing things. And let me tell you, they're anything but conventional. Barrons isn't like any leading male character that you will encounter in any genre. Simply put, he's one of a kind. Barrons is the type of character where you have to stay very open minded upon meeting him else you'll be offended almost immediately. I almost was, myself. But patience and keeping an open mind will pay off. The thing about Barrons is, most of the time, he's rude, insensitive, stoic, and, at times, barbaric. But despite all of this he's become one of my very favorite male characters. If Ms. Moning ever chose to write a story solely about him, I'd be the first person at the bookstore to buy it.
Mac's character continues to surprise me and she'll always be a favorite of mine. The only idiotic err she made in this was at the end. How could she NOT know that he was the beast? I mean, come on! I started to figure that out in book 1! I thought that that was a simple 2 + 2 = 4 equation, but apparently I was wrong. I don't know what Mac was thinking.
Since reading Darkfever I've been thinking that it's Barrons keeping his and Mac's nonexistent relationship from ever becoming something more. I was wrong. Dreamfever shows you something else. In Dreamfever we see that while Barrons is often times aloof and hard for Mac to understand, he's been wanting Mac for quite some time. You see that if Mac would just take her foot out of her ass and take what she really wants (let's be honest with ourselves, she wants Barrons -- Who in their right mind doesn't, anyway?) she'd be a hell of a lot happier and less confused. Besides the beginning that I dare you to only read once, there're quite a few luscious little moments between these two that I really enjoyed. One of them was this:
"I'll snoop anywhere I damned well please, Ms. Lane. I'll snoop inside your skin if I feel like it." "You just try," I said, eyes narrowing. He moved forward in one swift, violent lunge but caught him- self and locked down hard. I mirrored the move, without conscious thought at all, as if our bodies were connected by puppet strings. Lunged forward, froze. Fisted my hands at my sides. They wanted to touch him. I looked down. His hands were fisted, too. I uncurled my hands and crossed my arms. He crossed his at exactly the same moment. We both practically flung them down at our sides. We stared at each other. The silence lengthened.
You could cut the sexual tension with a knife. I found that scene to be both adorable and frustrating.
Dreamfever is easily my favorite of the series thus far because even though it's not under the circumstances I would've liked, Barrons and Mac finally get intimate. And, all jokes aside, I cried during parts of those scenes. This is one of the parts that really got to me:
He touches my face. There is something different in his touch. It feels like he's saying good-bye, and I know a moment of panic. But my dream sky darkens and sleep's moon fills the horizon. "Don't leave me." I thrash in the sheets. "I'm not, Mac." I know I am dreaming then, because dreams are home to the absurd and what he says next is beyond absurd. "You're leaving me, Rainbow Girl."
If you've read this then you know what that is referring to and you know what it means for Barrons to say something like that. Yep, I'm a complete sap and I'm not afraid to admit it; I went from having totally inappropriate/appropriate feelings while reading that scene to crying to the point where I could no longer make out the words on the page. Any author that can make me feel such contrary emotions juxtaposing within the same scene is at the top tier in my opinion.
Bottom line, Dreamfever is fantastic, this whole series is fantastic, and Ms. Moning herself is one fantastic writer.
Here's to hoping that Shadowfever won't disappoint. Cheers, fellow Fever fans!(less)
CAUTION: This review contains minor spoilers and some spoilery quotes at the end.
More often times than not, sequels are either a hit or a miss, and I'...moreCAUTION: This review contains minor spoilers and some spoilery quotes at the end.
More often times than not, sequels are either a hit or a miss, and I'm happy to report that, for me, this one was a definite hit.
Bloodfever starts off slow and steady, letting you get back into the story of MacKayla Lane and the enigmatic Jericho Barrons, a man who's not only more mysterious than he is trustworthy, but who's Mac's mentor and only protector without an alterior motive (at least, not much of one). Over the course of the novel you learn a bit more about its characters, see a little more of there buried feelings for one another surface, both friendly and amorous. And, most of all, you get a lot more action and suspense, if that's possible.
Suspense because we still don't know who or what Barrons really is. Is he Fae? Or something else altogether? And if so, what? One thing's for sure, he's certainly not human. Somehow Barrons holds sway over people----both human and inhuman----no one else can stand a chance against. They back down to him and either ignore him altogether or even treat him as if they fear him. It's never revealed as to what exactly he is, and I'm unsure as to whether I want to know. I'm torn between chomping at the bits in anticipation for the moment when all is revealed, and wanting the suspense to never end because I find Barrons very intriguing and attractive. While I'm certain he would still have these qualities even if the readers and Mac learned of his secrets, he's quite enjoyable as he is (that's an understatement). A fair amount of Barrons' earlier stoicism and aloofness is missing in this installment. You see with much more certainty that he cares for Mac and isn't as impervious to her as he would have you believe.
And Mac's character is the same and yet not the same; she grows quite a bit in this one, albeit by force and brutal torture, but grow she does. But Mac kicks ass in this and doesn't fail me as a reader even once. That's not something I can say of many heroines.
Another thing that I really liked: You don't see a lot of V'lane in this one. I believe his character only makes two appearances throughout the entire duration of the novel, something I found very nice. It's safe to say I'm not a member of the V'lane fan club.
This installment literally had me gripping my couch cushions, bursting out laughing, and feeling other things that are too inappropriate to include in this review (hint: they had something to do with Barrons). And all I can say is that I'm very glad that I have Faefever on my nightstand.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
"I heard there are no male sidhe-seers." "Where did you hear that?" "Around." "And which one of those are you in doubt about, Ms. Lane?" "Which one of what?" "Whether I see the Fae, or whether I'm a man. I believe I've laid your mind to rest on the former; shall I relieve it on the latter?" He reached for his belt.
"The only things you feel are greed, mockery, and occasionally you probably get a hard-on, but I bet it's not over a woman, it's over money or an artifact or a book. You're no different than any other player in this game. You're no different than V'lane. You're just a cold, mercenary---" His hand was on my throat, and he was crushing me back with his body into the cold steel beam behind me. "Yes, I have loved, Ms. Lane, and although it's none of your business, I have lost. Many things. And no, I am not like any other player in this game and I will never be like V'lane, and I get a hard-on a great deal more often than occasionally." He leaned fully against me and I gasped. "Sometimes it's over a spoiled little girl, not a woman at all."
(As you can see, Barrons is quite intriguing.)(less)
Often times, when an author is highly talented in their genre, they don't do as well when trying their hand at another. Especially when the two genres...moreOften times, when an author is highly talented in their genre, they don't do as well when trying their hand at another. Especially when the two genres in question are as dissimilar as realism and fantasy. Naturally, this sort of thing isn't a problem for an author like Melina Marchetta. As if being the fan proclaimed Queen of YA realistic fiction wasn't enough, she had to go and write Finnikin of the Rock and prove to her fans and critics alike that labels and genres mean nothing to her, that she's in the top tier no matter what the task calls for. Bravo, Marchetta. Bravo.
In the land of Skuldenore, there is a kingdom called Lumatere. Like all kingdoms, there is a King and Queen who rule over its people. These people and their rulers were happy until the day when a neighboring kingdom's rulers decided to use Lumatere as the means to eventually take over another kingdom, Belegonia. This leads to the slaughter of the King and Queen and their heirs, and soon after they are replaced by an imposter king and the majority of Lumatere's people become exiles. This is the ground work for what promises to be an epic fantasy saga.
I can't say that I expected anything less than a remarkable male lead from Marchetta (especially after recently meeting Jonah Griggs in another one of Marchetta's masterpieces, Jellicoe Road), but Finnikin still took me by surprise. I imagine it is very different and probably much more difficult to write a character in a fantasy world than in the real world, and for this reason I was curious to see how Finnikin would compare to Marchetta's other male characters. It turns out that he is just as brilliantly crafted as his competition. He feels envy, lust, and rage, just as any human does. But those emotions are equally matched by his level of compassion, endurance, and love for his father, his homeland, and one lucky lady. And what a lady Evanjalin is! She stirs the blood of the hopeless exiles and gets them on their feet and fighting. She carries a heavy burden, of which is unbeknownst to the reader for most of the novel, but she is resolute in her quest to restore the kingdom of Lumatere. I always appreciate characters who make you want to stand up and right the wrongs in the world, and Evanjalin's fierce determination did just that for me.
Because of her fabulous and utterly realistic portrayals of human life, Marchetta has garnered a legion of the most devoted fans an author could ask for. And I am proud to say that I'm among them. I'll be perilously balanced on the edge of my seat until the release of Froi of the Exiles.
P.S. If you'd like some snippets of info on Froi's book to tide you over until its release, check out this and this.(less)
As soon as I saw this video, I knew I had to read this novel. Between Shades of Gray isn't the type of book I'd normally read,...moreActual rating: 4.5 stars
As soon as I saw this video, I knew I had to read this novel. Between Shades of Gray isn't the type of book I'd normally read, but I'm extremely glad that I decided to read it.
Lina is a very strong and courageous character. Despite the situation Lina is placed in at the young age of fifteen, she audaciously chooses to write about the terrible cruelties the Soviets are doing to those around her as well as her family and herself. Lina is an artist, and she uses this talent to depict the ghastly scenes she's forces to witness on a daily basis. She then hides her drawings where the NKVD, hopefully, won't find them. In this she hopes that, one day, someone will find the proof of what really occurred, and make sure that it never happens again.
I'm going to warn you, a good deal of this book is very grim and Sepetys doesn't cover up the horrors that were committed against these innocent people with euphemisms. There are quite a few shocking, disturbing, and graphic scenes in this. You'll probably want to read something light and fluffy after finishing it. But much like the title of the book and the fledging plant sprouting up from the ice covered landscape on the book's cover signifies hope, the author does a wonderful job of incorporating snippets of hope even through the most grim of times for her characters.
Interspersed with Lina's time in the slavery camps, there are bittersweet flashbacks to Lina's life before her and her family were taken by the Soviets. I think they helped to break up the scenes of abuse and heartache, making the novel more palatable to the reader. There is also a light romance in this that is both sweet and a welcome addition to a story such as this.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "I shut the bathroom door and caught sight of my face in the mirror. I had no idea how quickly it was to change, to fade. If I had, I would have stared at my reflection, memorizing it. It was the last time I would look into a real mirror for more than a decade."
Ruta Sepetys' writing is erudite, yet simple, and it flows very well. I just hope that this isn't one of those one-hit-wonder cases where the author has one story to tell and never writes anything again. I'd really like to read more from Sepetys, whether it be more stories such as this, or something completely different.
On a side note, the finished, physical copy of this (I say it in this way because some people probably have an ARC or an ebook) is quite gorgeous. The jacket seems to be made of recycled paper, so it has a very natural, rustic look and feel to it. And it has deckled edges, my favorite. :)
I think this is one of those books that will be highly praised by some (like myself), and sadly overlooked by others. It's easy to be distracted by the deluge of YA paranormal novels with the pretty covers and the pomp and heavy promotion, but, I assure you, Between Shades of Gray is more than worth your reading time.
This book reminds me just how fortunate I am to be born in the era and country that I was, and I found it very humbling. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read it, and I highly recommend it.(less)
Note: This is a review for the audio version of Water for Elephants. So I'll be incorporating my thoughts on the novel itself as well as the quality o...moreNote: This is a review for the audio version of Water for Elephants. So I'll be incorporating my thoughts on the novel itself as well as the quality of the audio.
"I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful, one hundred percent."--- Theodor Seuss Geisel, Horton Hatches the Egg
That is the quote at the opening of Water for Elephants. And it couldn't be more fitting.
The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth may very well not have been what its name proclaimed it to be, but Water for Elephants has easily been one of the most spectacular novels I've read since I began reading regularly over two years ago. Water for Elephants is a pure pleasure from the prologue to the final chapter.
Gruen's writing is fabulously descriptive without ever becoming sluggish or superfluous. She always gives you just enough so that you can imagine the scene of which she's depicting perfectly. So much so that it's as if there's a little cinema in your head, and playing on the screen is a vastly engrossing story with characters you can't help but fall for. Especially the lead.
Jacob Jankowski is undeniably one of the most charming and compelling characters I've ever come across in any genre. He's so intrinsically innocent that I liked him almost instantaneously. I couldn't decided which version I liked more: the old Jacob or the young. And John Randolph Jones' narrative only adds to the appeal. His voice was absolutely perfect for the role as the ninety-something-year-old Jacob. David Ledoux does the voice of the younger Jacob, and I thought he did a wonderful job, also. He's one of those narrators that changes their voice when another character is talking so that it doesn't become confusing. And I like that.
I really liked the side characters, also. I have to say that I have a great amount of respect for Marlena's character. She married the wrong man, and now she has to live with the consequences. But I don't think that most women would be so upstanding or resistant to the temptation of having an affair if they were in her position. (view spoiler)[Marlena's basically in a mentally abusive relationship. One where she's scared to say or do the wrong thing; always fearing August will lose it at the slightest provocation. So I really admired her character for sticking it out for so long. (hide spoiler)] Walter (or Kinko, depending on if you're his friend or not), a dwarf, was an interesting addition to the story. He starts out as a sort of foe to Jacob, but eventually ends up being a dear friend. (view spoiler)[And it was too bad what happened to him and Camel. Makes you hate Uncle Al. But at least Uncle Al got what was coming to him, in the end. (hide spoiler)]
The behind-the-scenes look at circuses and how they really operate was probably one of my favorite parts of this novel. You get to see how things really are; everything from redlighting (throwing circus workers off the train while it's moving in order to avoid paying their wages or for some other ridiculous reason) to animal abuse. You see that it's not all fun and games behind-the-scenes.
FAVORITE QUOTES (The first two come from the older Jacob and the second two are from his younger days, obviously):
"Sometimes I think that if I had to choose between an ear of corn or making love to a woman, I'd choose the corn. Not that I wouldn't love to have a final roll in the hay---I am a man yet, and some things never die---but the thought of those sweet kernels bursting between my teeth sure sets my mouth to watering. It's fantasy, I know that. Neither will happen. I just like to weigh the options, as though I were standing in front of Solomon: a final roll in the hay or an ear of corn. What a wonderful dilemma."
"I close my eyes and reach for the far corners of my mind. They're no longer clearly defined. My brain is like a universe whose gases get thinner and thinner at the edges. But it doesn't dissolve into nothingness. I can sense something out there, just beyond my grasp, hovering, waiting---and God help me if I'm not skidding toward it again, mouth open wide."
"I open the orangutan's door and set a pan of fruits, vegetables, and nuts on the floor. As I close it, her long arm reaches through the bars. She points at an orange in another pan. "That? You want that?" She continues to point, blinking at me with close-set eyes. Her features are concave, her face a wide platter fringed with red hair. She's the most outrageous and beautiful thing I've ever seen. "Here," I say, handing her the orange. "You can have it." She takes it and sets it on the floor. Then she reaches out again. After several seconds of serious misgivings, I hold out my hand. She wraps her long fingers around it, then lets go. She sits on her haunches and peels her orange. I stare in amazement. She was thanking me."
"We lean against the wall in silence, still holding hands. After about an hour she falls asleep, sliding down until her head rests on my shoulder. I remain awake, every fiber of my body aware of her proximity."
The ending of this has to be one of the best endings I've ever read. It was absolutely perfect for this story.
I enjoyed Water for Elephants so much that I'll be reading it again in print sometime before the end of 2011. Most likely this summer.
Water for Elephants is a wonderfully entertaining and well-written story that I think everyone should read at least once. But if you're one who sometimes enjoys a good audiobook and you've already read this, please, try the audio version sometime.(less)
I absolutely, completely, utterly love this novel!
You say too many adverbs, I say enthusiasm!
This novel makes me question why I don't read YA contempo...moreI absolutely, completely, utterly love this novel!
You say too many adverbs, I say enthusiasm!
This novel makes me question why I don't read YA contemporary more often. I mean, it's not like I don't enjoy the genre, it's just that I don't seem to pick up a contemporary novel nearly as often as I do other genres. Anna and the French Kiss has definitely changed that! I'll be reading many more contemps this year, for sure.
Now, on to the good stuff: Etienne!Anna and the French Kiss has been floating around the blogosphere for quite some time, and I FINALLY decided to pick it up the other day. And boy am I glad I did! Let's just say that it lives up to its hype and then some.
Going into this, I had very high expectations, and I'm very happy to say that they were all not only met, but surpassed. Normally I don't like a lot of the heroines I read about, but Anna totally rocked. Sometimes she makes mistakes, sometimes she doesn't, but no matter what choices she made in any situation in this novel I loved her. That's not something I can say about many heroines I read about. She's fun, smart(er now because of Etienne;), and definitely the kind of girl I want to hang out with. And boy is she lucky!
Which brings me to my favorite part of this novel: Etienne! Gosh I don't even know if I should touch (haha, get you're mind of the gutter----there isn't enough room for the both of us on this subject. He's smart, short (by the way, I LOVED IT that the author didn't go with the usual 6 foot + that most authors use; I found that VERY refreshing), British (HELL YEAH!), and sexy as hell. Oh, and he's callipygian (you know what that means if you've read this *evil grin*). Yep, Etienne's all that and a Porsche.
And you can't review this novel without mentioning the other main character; and that, of course, is Paris. I loved reading about this beautiful city, and I don't think it would be too much to say that Paris stole some of the scenes in this novel.
All in all, this novel was fabuleux.
FAVORITE QUOTE: I accept the tissue. "I'm here." St. Claire is angry. "I'm just sorry I'm not there. With you. I wish there was something I could do." "Wanna come beat her up for me?" "I'm packing my throwing stars right now."
P.S. Sorry for the overzealous review; I'm just so pleased with this as I've never found chick lit this good.(less)
**spoiler alert** "It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you."---Taylor Swift, "Back to December"
It has been three years since Adam's girlfri...more**spoiler alert** "It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you."---Taylor Swift, "Back to December"
It has been three years since Adam's girlfriend, Mia, left their small Oregon town for a scholarship at Juilliard after a horrific car accident claimed the lives of her family and left her with both emotional and physical scars. Now, Adam, the lead singer in a hugely popular rock band, is still dealing with the grief of loosing the only girl whom he's ever loved. But just before he's set to leave New York and go on tour, he sees the one thing that would make him stay: Mia.
Where She Went has a very different feel than If I Stay did. While If I Stay is told from Mia's POV and is all about Mia making the choice to either live or die, Where She Went is Adam's turn in the front seat and is all about how Adam hasn't ever really gotten over Mia. Honestly, I was content with the way If I Stay ended. Some saw it as a sad ending, but I felt that it was implied that Mia had chosen to stay and would have to go through therapy like most would in her position, but that everything would be fine between her and Adam. I mean, other than the music, Adam was the reason she chose to stay, right? I sort of saw it as a fill-in-the-blank, semi-happy ending of which I was fine with. Still, when I heard there would be a sequel, I was pleased and Where She Went quickly became one of my most anticipated releases of 2011. And it certainly didn't disappoint.
You can practically feel Adam's desolation and grief - not only for loosing Mia, but her family that he was close to, as well - wafting off of the pages as you read. Forman is very good at tugging at her reader's heartstrings, and, while I really loved If I Stay, I think I liked Where She Went even more. Where She Went is emotional for an entirely different reason than its predecessor, and I found myself tearing up quite often while reading it. Plus, I have this littleteenytinyminuscule (read: huge) fetish for emo guys, and Adam is basically emo personified.
It was interesting to see Mia through Adam's eyes, and you get a much more in depth look at Adam's character in this, as well. Adam reminisces about a lot of the bittersweet memories from before the accident, when he and Mia and her family were happy together and Adam was sort of the third child. There's also a scene of which Adam recounts when he and Mia went camping together - it's very sweet and touching.
As far as I know, Forman didn't originally plan on writing a sequel to If I Stay. And that worried me a little because I know a lot of authors decide to write sequels and they end up, well . . . sucking. But I couldn't have asked for a better sequel to an amazing book like If I Stay. The ending of this is pretty perfect for Adam and Mia's situation, and I'm very glad that Forman chose to write a sequel.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "And I have to fight the urge to take her by the shoulders and slam her against a shuddered building until we feel the vibrations ringing through both of us. Because I suddenly want to hear her bones rattle. I want to feel the softness of her flesh give, to hear her gasp as my hip bone jams into her. I want to yank her head back until her head is exposed. I want to rip my hands through her hair until her breath is labored. I want to make her cry and then lick up the tears. And then I want to take my mouth to hers, to devour her alive, to transmit all of the things she can't understand."
"But I'd do it again. I know that know. I'd make that promise a thousand times over and lose her a thousand times over to have heard her play last night or to see her in the morning sunlight. Or even without that. Just to know that she's somewhere out there. Alive."
"You don't share me. You own me."
"We stand there for a moment, staring at each other, savoring it. And then all at once, we slam together. Mia's legs are off the ground, wrapped around my waist, her hands digging in my hair, my hands tangled in hers. And our lips. There isn't enough skin, enough spit, enough time, for the lost years that our lips are trying to make up for as they find each other. We kiss. The electric current switches to high. The lights throughout all of Brooklyn must be surging."
Wow.
At the end of the year, I'll be posting my personal favorites of 2011 on my profile. Where She Went will be on that list.(less)
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