Since yesterday was Memorial Day, I took the day off and spent it with friends.
Hence the review being moved to today.
Shiver enchanted me. As you know, I don't usually read romance (at least, not willingly). But Shiver is a romance, a fantasy romance at that. With werewolves.
But it's not what you're thinking. It doesn't read like a contemporary romance (say, like Twilight). It's magical. Mysterious. Much more akin to a Grimm fairytale than a modern story. It was beautiful.
Haunting -- that's the word for this story. A young girl was bitten by wolves and saved by a wolf. She remembers, and every year waits for the one who saved her, the one with yellow eyes. There's a draw she can't explain. Something calls to her.
And then she meets him. The wolf-who-is-a-boy. Sam Roth is only a boy when it's warm. The two have been in love for quite some time, and when they finally meet when both are humans, the love deepens, irrevocably.
They're sweet. Innocent. Charming. Sam and Grace are unique, each struggling with family, identity, and destiny.
What will happen to them when it gets cold? Sam only has so many years he can change. After that...he'll be a wolf forever.
I thought the development of the werewolf mythology in this book was particularly original. I won't spoil it but there is more going on than a simple fairytale. There's something else just on the edge, a blend of science and magic that's almost tangible.
There are certain authors who have ways of stringing words together that create effortless landscapes, feelings, smells, sounds...Maggie is one of them. She really does write magically well. If I was dropped in the little town where Grace and Sam live, I could find my way to the bookstore, Beck's house, and Grace's. I could spot the school, the candy store, and Grace's car, and all of it is tinged with that "once upon a time" aura.
There's an eerie feel throughout the book, almost as if you're being swallowed up in the story. You become part of it. You become just as fascinated as Grace by the wolves.
I thought it would be a one shot, but the ending was so abrupt that I ached for more. I needed resolution. And then I found out it was a series. I still think the writing could have been less abrupt, but I'm thrilled to see we're getting more stories from The Wolves of Mercy Falls.
It isn't summer reading, so maybe once Autumn arrives, pick this one up and enjoy.
Showing posts with label YA Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YA Fiction. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Croak by Gina Damico
I do apologize for the last two weeks -- amidst Finals Week here at uni, two weddings, birthday and graduation parties and art/writing projects...I've done some reading but haven't done any blogging!
So I'm going to share a review today and then put up a link to a review I did for CultureMass.com when it's published!
Gina Damico's Croak is one of my new favorite books. If you can tolerate a little language, and you love goth, punk, motorcycles, adrenaline, fantasy, wit/sarcasm, word humor, or badassery, then you need to read this book.
It was the word humor that got me from the very beginning, when Lexington and Concord Bartleby, the twins, were introduced. Their mom's kind of into American History. Just a wee bit.
I cackled even harder when I realized where Ms. Damico was going with the word humor, but I won't ruin the surprise for you.
Lex is sixteen, a troublemaker, and her parents are over it. She's sent away to live with her crazy uncle for the summer, presumably to work on a farm. Lex's uncle definitely does NOT own a farm, but is rather the mayor of a small town comprised of Grim Reapers. And he's going to train Lex as one.
What follows is Lex's understandable shock that people have this job, and her horror as the town is targeted by a wild Grim Reaper who's on an unsanctioned killing spree. Can Lex and the other Junior Reapers solve the mystery? What happens when they do?
I laughed through most of the book, although there are some really sad scenes (that I did not laugh at). Lex is quite believable as a rebel without a cause (a little bit like John Bender from The Breakfast Club, which meant I loved her immediately), and I am dying (oh dear) to read Scorch, the next book in the Croak trilogy.
I even went around in a black hoodie the other day to pretend I was Lex.
That's how much I freaking loved this book.
Go read it now so we can talk about it!
So I'm going to share a review today and then put up a link to a review I did for CultureMass.com when it's published!
Gina Damico's Croak is one of my new favorite books. If you can tolerate a little language, and you love goth, punk, motorcycles, adrenaline, fantasy, wit/sarcasm, word humor, or badassery, then you need to read this book.
It was the word humor that got me from the very beginning, when Lexington and Concord Bartleby, the twins, were introduced. Their mom's kind of into American History. Just a wee bit.
I cackled even harder when I realized where Ms. Damico was going with the word humor, but I won't ruin the surprise for you.
Lex is sixteen, a troublemaker, and her parents are over it. She's sent away to live with her crazy uncle for the summer, presumably to work on a farm. Lex's uncle definitely does NOT own a farm, but is rather the mayor of a small town comprised of Grim Reapers. And he's going to train Lex as one.
What follows is Lex's understandable shock that people have this job, and her horror as the town is targeted by a wild Grim Reaper who's on an unsanctioned killing spree. Can Lex and the other Junior Reapers solve the mystery? What happens when they do?
I laughed through most of the book, although there are some really sad scenes (that I did not laugh at). Lex is quite believable as a rebel without a cause (a little bit like John Bender from The Breakfast Club, which meant I loved her immediately), and I am dying (oh dear) to read Scorch, the next book in the Croak trilogy.
I even went around in a black hoodie the other day to pretend I was Lex.
That's how much I freaking loved this book.
Go read it now so we can talk about it!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Butter by Erin Jade Lange
A few years ago, a friend who shares my book tastes (almost exactly) told me I should read this book. I dutifully noted the title, but since it hadn't come out yet (he'd read an ARC), it got shuffled down in by TBR pile.
Last week I was browsing at the library and was delighted to finally see a copy! I checked it out, along with about twenty other books, and brought it home.
I finally started reading it last night and I almost didn't go to bed. I wanted to read the entire thing in one sitting. I finished it this morning and my emotions are all in a jumble. It feels personal, somehow.
Butter is a book you won't soon forget.
The main character, Marshall, is nicknamed "Butter" after a cruel incident involving an entire stick of butter. Butter is overweight, plagued by a silent father, a loving yet hopelessly ineffective mother, and a highschool full of unfriendly kids. His professor and doctor try to help, but Butter is convinced that no one cares about him.
So he creates ButtersLastMeal.com, a grotesque suicide mission with live streaming. What happens next is not what he expected: he becomes popular. People love the idea, it's novel, daring, and life-threatening. As Butter's popularity increases, so does his resolve to carry out his original plan. He spirals out of control and no one, the naysayers nor his adoring public, are ready for what follows.
The characters, while regular teens, are fully realized, three dimensional, making them all memorable. Butter's a musician, a brilliant saxophone player; the girl of his dreams, Anna, is a fake blond who secretly hates shopping. Jeremy, Butter's nemesis, is a semi-rich kid unliked by even his friends.
I loved Marshall (Butter)'s voice -- he is the kind of guy I'd love to spend time with. He's funny, charming, sweet, and incredibly smart and talented. It pained me to see his emotional journey, and it brought to mind some of my own darkest moments.
Butter is a deep, tragic glimpse into the life of someone who has suffered emotional, physical and mental damage at his own hands as well as everyone else's, driving his actions. It's a reminder to me to look beneath the surface when I meet someone. There's more to us than even we know.
Have you read Butter? If so, what did you think?
Last week I was browsing at the library and was delighted to finally see a copy! I checked it out, along with about twenty other books, and brought it home.
I finally started reading it last night and I almost didn't go to bed. I wanted to read the entire thing in one sitting. I finished it this morning and my emotions are all in a jumble. It feels personal, somehow.
Butter is a book you won't soon forget.
The main character, Marshall, is nicknamed "Butter" after a cruel incident involving an entire stick of butter. Butter is overweight, plagued by a silent father, a loving yet hopelessly ineffective mother, and a highschool full of unfriendly kids. His professor and doctor try to help, but Butter is convinced that no one cares about him.
So he creates ButtersLastMeal.com, a grotesque suicide mission with live streaming. What happens next is not what he expected: he becomes popular. People love the idea, it's novel, daring, and life-threatening. As Butter's popularity increases, so does his resolve to carry out his original plan. He spirals out of control and no one, the naysayers nor his adoring public, are ready for what follows.
The characters, while regular teens, are fully realized, three dimensional, making them all memorable. Butter's a musician, a brilliant saxophone player; the girl of his dreams, Anna, is a fake blond who secretly hates shopping. Jeremy, Butter's nemesis, is a semi-rich kid unliked by even his friends.
I loved Marshall (Butter)'s voice -- he is the kind of guy I'd love to spend time with. He's funny, charming, sweet, and incredibly smart and talented. It pained me to see his emotional journey, and it brought to mind some of my own darkest moments.
Butter is a deep, tragic glimpse into the life of someone who has suffered emotional, physical and mental damage at his own hands as well as everyone else's, driving his actions. It's a reminder to me to look beneath the surface when I meet someone. There's more to us than even we know.
Have you read Butter? If so, what did you think?
Monday, April 15, 2013
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
Has anyone read Brenna Yovanoff's book The Replacement? It's a spooky, weird, dark little fairytale about a boy who doesn't fit in -- not in this world, and not in the fae world he visits. It's a fascinating book but quite dark -- Paper Valentine continues that tradition.
Paper Valentine is unsettling. It ends unresolved, in some ways. It discusses a disturbing issue. And it's a really, really interesting psychological story.
I liked it.
Not in the "This-is-my-favorite-book-of-all-time" kind of way (like Blink & Caution or Shadow & Bone were) but "This-is-a-very-unique-book-and-wow-I'm-so-glad-I-got-to-read-this" kind of way.
Paper Valentine focuses on a girl, Hannah, who lives in a small town. It's summertime. And her best friend's ghost is following her around. Also...she might be attracted to Finney Boone, the guy who scrubbed her face with snow in elementary school.
As the plot thickens, dead girls begin cropping up, surrounded by plastic toys and childish paraphernalia. And a single valentine cut out of paper. Hannah catches glimpses of the gruesome scenes while working for her cousin, who develops the photos at her shop for the police.
Hannah's dead friend becomes obsessed with the murders, dragging Hannah along for the ride. Will Hannah be able to unravel this mystery, or will it be the end of her?
So: Hannah's dealing with her best friend's ghost, a constant reminder of the way she died (it is hinted that she died from complications due to bulimia or anorexia); a family who's freaked out by the serial killer (which means she's cooped up with her friend's ghost -- not a pleasant way to spend the summer); Finney Boone, who starts showing a gentle side; and her own guilt and feelings when it comes to her friend's death, the way she treated Finney in elementary school, and her friend's need to find the killer.
Paper Valentine weaves complex psychological elements into the characters early, but doesn't start pulling threads until you've made up your mind about the characters.
Do you like Hannah? Well, she's in a clique of mean girls who made fun of Finney when they were younger. She's never been able to get away from their influence. She's living in her head more than she's living in real life.
Do you like Finney? Well, we don't know much about him. He could even be the serial killer. Aren't they supposed to turn on the charm when they meet a potential victim?
It goes on like this for a while, beckoning you this way and that, tantalizingly giving you one piece of information at a time, never enough to put it all together until the very end.
While I didn't completely buy the ending, it has started to make sense now that I've had a few days to think about it. What I really loved is that it's a character that runs true to form for a serial killer. It's someone you know. You trust him. You don't even give him a second thought, since you've been in his house before. But once you really see him, you wonder why it never occurred to you why his eyes are so lifeless.
(And the only reason I didn't buy the ending was that we never got much time with that character. There wasn't as much of a build up as there needed to be.)
I loved that Hannah wasn't a reliable narrator. The more you learn about her and Finney you realize she's looked at him wrong her whole life. He's a hooligan and he steals from the gas station, but that doesn't mean he can't also be a sweet, gentle guy. And it doesn't mean he should be automatically pointed to as the main suspect.
Paper Valentine is full of mystery. It's creepy, scary, dark, and contains some thematic elements not for the younger crowd (there's a oujia board used for a seance at least twice, and there's a few romantic moments, although nothing graphic). It's a lot of psychology. It's about grief, anger, and hopelessness.
But the rays of hope emanated by Hannah and Finney's relationship are beautiful to behold. In the midst of this nightmare, they find each other and gently, kindly lead each other to a better understanding of each other.
Finney's the type of character I always gravitate toward -- the misunderstood antihero. He reminds me of a slightly younger John Bender (from The Breakfast Club) -- a guy who's got it rough and pretends that he's rough, while on the inside, he's actually sweet; he's a person yearning for love.
If you enjoy ghost stories, psychological thrillers, mysteries, or paranormal stories, you would probably like this book.
I'll be reviewing Cinder by Marissa Meyer next week. Stay tuned!
Paper Valentine is unsettling. It ends unresolved, in some ways. It discusses a disturbing issue. And it's a really, really interesting psychological story.
I liked it.
Not in the "This-is-my-favorite-book-of-all-time" kind of way (like Blink & Caution or Shadow & Bone were) but "This-is-a-very-unique-book-and-wow-I'm-so-glad-I-got-to-read-this" kind of way.
Paper Valentine focuses on a girl, Hannah, who lives in a small town. It's summertime. And her best friend's ghost is following her around. Also...she might be attracted to Finney Boone, the guy who scrubbed her face with snow in elementary school.
As the plot thickens, dead girls begin cropping up, surrounded by plastic toys and childish paraphernalia. And a single valentine cut out of paper. Hannah catches glimpses of the gruesome scenes while working for her cousin, who develops the photos at her shop for the police.
Hannah's dead friend becomes obsessed with the murders, dragging Hannah along for the ride. Will Hannah be able to unravel this mystery, or will it be the end of her?
So: Hannah's dealing with her best friend's ghost, a constant reminder of the way she died (it is hinted that she died from complications due to bulimia or anorexia); a family who's freaked out by the serial killer (which means she's cooped up with her friend's ghost -- not a pleasant way to spend the summer); Finney Boone, who starts showing a gentle side; and her own guilt and feelings when it comes to her friend's death, the way she treated Finney in elementary school, and her friend's need to find the killer.
Paper Valentine weaves complex psychological elements into the characters early, but doesn't start pulling threads until you've made up your mind about the characters.
Do you like Hannah? Well, she's in a clique of mean girls who made fun of Finney when they were younger. She's never been able to get away from their influence. She's living in her head more than she's living in real life.
Do you like Finney? Well, we don't know much about him. He could even be the serial killer. Aren't they supposed to turn on the charm when they meet a potential victim?
It goes on like this for a while, beckoning you this way and that, tantalizingly giving you one piece of information at a time, never enough to put it all together until the very end.
While I didn't completely buy the ending, it has started to make sense now that I've had a few days to think about it. What I really loved is that it's a character that runs true to form for a serial killer. It's someone you know. You trust him. You don't even give him a second thought, since you've been in his house before. But once you really see him, you wonder why it never occurred to you why his eyes are so lifeless.
(And the only reason I didn't buy the ending was that we never got much time with that character. There wasn't as much of a build up as there needed to be.)
I loved that Hannah wasn't a reliable narrator. The more you learn about her and Finney you realize she's looked at him wrong her whole life. He's a hooligan and he steals from the gas station, but that doesn't mean he can't also be a sweet, gentle guy. And it doesn't mean he should be automatically pointed to as the main suspect.
Paper Valentine is full of mystery. It's creepy, scary, dark, and contains some thematic elements not for the younger crowd (there's a oujia board used for a seance at least twice, and there's a few romantic moments, although nothing graphic). It's a lot of psychology. It's about grief, anger, and hopelessness.
But the rays of hope emanated by Hannah and Finney's relationship are beautiful to behold. In the midst of this nightmare, they find each other and gently, kindly lead each other to a better understanding of each other.
Finney's the type of character I always gravitate toward -- the misunderstood antihero. He reminds me of a slightly younger John Bender (from The Breakfast Club) -- a guy who's got it rough and pretends that he's rough, while on the inside, he's actually sweet; he's a person yearning for love.
If you enjoy ghost stories, psychological thrillers, mysteries, or paranormal stories, you would probably like this book.
I'll be reviewing Cinder by Marissa Meyer next week. Stay tuned!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Juniper Berry by M. P. Kozlowsky
(On Friday I posted a bit of the first page of Juniper Berry, so after you read this review you might want to check it out)
I was instantly drawn in by the first sentence of this middle-grade novel: "The house was a mansion, the lake was a pool, Kitty was a dog, and Juniper Berry was an eleven-year-old girl."
It's one of those magical first sentences that gives you the chills and envelops you in the world right from the start.
This is a story about the choices we make -- the choices that define us. It's about temptation to buy into being the same as everyone else, and it's about the terror of feeling alone.
Juniper Berry is an eleven year old with no friends and severely neglectful parents. The child of two movie stars, she spends her days distant -- from her parents and the world around her. With her dog, Kitty, and every kind of lense imaginable (monocular, binocular, telescope, periscope, etc.), she explores from afar and dreams of the day when her parents will notice her again.
She meets a strange boy named Giles whose parents are musicians, and together they solve the mystery behind their parents' meteoric rise to fame -- which includes a mysterious tree, a talking raven, and a handful of balloons.
This is a modern moral fable. It has a lot to say about the price of fame -- the changes, the loss of personal identity and privacy and the pressure of pleasing a constant audience.
It also speaks to the hardships one must endure to keep the essence of who they are, despite pressure to conform.
Although this might seem a heady subject for middle-schoolers, I think it is a perfect opportunity for middle-grade readers to begin understanding the cost of living a false life. Juniper Berry is a genuine, honest, heartfelt individual who remains true to herself despite the agony of being an outsider and the temptations to 'live a perfect life' by living shallowly.
I needed this book. It came at a time when I was struggling through what Juniper deals with -- wondering if, perhaps, being ourselves is too difficult and if embracing a life in the shallow end wouldn't be easier. But as we see in this story, our own lives are worth living, no matter what pain we experience. We are who we are, and if we lie to ourselves about that, we aren't going to be happy, even if we receive everything we ask for.
This is the third book I've received from Walden Pond Press (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) and I am continually impressed with the caliber of their authors (and illustrators!). This one might be my favorite of the three for the way its author words things, the front cover, and the themes expressed throughout the story.
Definitely put this one on your Goodreads list, and if you've read it, let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Note: my new website is almost ready! I need two more photos and a few more words and I'm good to go. I'll link to it once it's complete. Remember, I'll still be doing book reviews on this site.
I was instantly drawn in by the first sentence of this middle-grade novel: "The house was a mansion, the lake was a pool, Kitty was a dog, and Juniper Berry was an eleven-year-old girl."
It's one of those magical first sentences that gives you the chills and envelops you in the world right from the start.
This is a story about the choices we make -- the choices that define us. It's about temptation to buy into being the same as everyone else, and it's about the terror of feeling alone.
Juniper Berry is an eleven year old with no friends and severely neglectful parents. The child of two movie stars, she spends her days distant -- from her parents and the world around her. With her dog, Kitty, and every kind of lense imaginable (monocular, binocular, telescope, periscope, etc.), she explores from afar and dreams of the day when her parents will notice her again.
She meets a strange boy named Giles whose parents are musicians, and together they solve the mystery behind their parents' meteoric rise to fame -- which includes a mysterious tree, a talking raven, and a handful of balloons.
This is a modern moral fable. It has a lot to say about the price of fame -- the changes, the loss of personal identity and privacy and the pressure of pleasing a constant audience.
It also speaks to the hardships one must endure to keep the essence of who they are, despite pressure to conform.
Although this might seem a heady subject for middle-schoolers, I think it is a perfect opportunity for middle-grade readers to begin understanding the cost of living a false life. Juniper Berry is a genuine, honest, heartfelt individual who remains true to herself despite the agony of being an outsider and the temptations to 'live a perfect life' by living shallowly.
I needed this book. It came at a time when I was struggling through what Juniper deals with -- wondering if, perhaps, being ourselves is too difficult and if embracing a life in the shallow end wouldn't be easier. But as we see in this story, our own lives are worth living, no matter what pain we experience. We are who we are, and if we lie to ourselves about that, we aren't going to be happy, even if we receive everything we ask for.
This is the third book I've received from Walden Pond Press (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) and I am continually impressed with the caliber of their authors (and illustrators!). This one might be my favorite of the three for the way its author words things, the front cover, and the themes expressed throughout the story.
Definitely put this one on your Goodreads list, and if you've read it, let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Note: my new website is almost ready! I need two more photos and a few more words and I'm good to go. I'll link to it once it's complete. Remember, I'll still be doing book reviews on this site.
Friday, March 1, 2013
First Line Friday No. 27
"In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees. He's around my age, in that space between child and man, maybe all of seventeen years old. I'm not sure how I know this. I can only see the back of his head, his dark hair curling damply against his neck. I feel the dry heat of the sun, so intense, drawing the life from everything. There's a strange orange light filing the eastern sky. There's the heavy smell of smoke. For a moment I'm filled with such a smothering grief that it's hard to breathe. I don't know why. I take a step toward the boy, open my mouth to call his name, only I don't know it. The ground crunches under my feet. He hears me. He starts to turn. one more second and I will see his face.
That's when the vision leaves me. I blink, and it's gone."
-- Unearthly, by Cynthia Hand
Reasons I kept reading:
1. Who is the boy?
2. Who is our narrator?
3. What will happen after the fire? (Will they escape?)
4. How is she having visions?
5. Can she stop the fire and save the boy?
I won this book during a giveaway hop and it piqued my interest because I haven't read a lot of stories about this particular type of paranormal/supernatural event or being(s). (I'll spare you the spoilers) While I don't typically read romance, I figured if it was YA and there were other things going on (family drama, identity crisis, visions, etc.,), I wouldn't be too icked out by the romance. I'm still a kid when it comes to mushy-gushy stuff. Yuck.
Anyway -- so far, no romance. Just mystery, identity, and paranormalcy (I'm 40 pages in). It's quite intriguing so far. I love delving into someone else's mythology and finding out about the rules of their universe. Ms. Hand does a great job at making her world seem very real.
Leave me a comment if this intrigues you, or if you've read Unearthly (and/or its sequel, Hallowed) and what you thought about it.
I'll be posting a review of The Fellowship for Alien Detection in a few days. Stay tuned!
That's when the vision leaves me. I blink, and it's gone."
-- Unearthly, by Cynthia Hand
Reasons I kept reading:
1. Who is the boy?
2. Who is our narrator?
3. What will happen after the fire? (Will they escape?)
4. How is she having visions?
5. Can she stop the fire and save the boy?
I won this book during a giveaway hop and it piqued my interest because I haven't read a lot of stories about this particular type of paranormal/supernatural event or being(s). (I'll spare you the spoilers) While I don't typically read romance, I figured if it was YA and there were other things going on (family drama, identity crisis, visions, etc.,), I wouldn't be too icked out by the romance. I'm still a kid when it comes to mushy-gushy stuff. Yuck.
Anyway -- so far, no romance. Just mystery, identity, and paranormalcy (I'm 40 pages in). It's quite intriguing so far. I love delving into someone else's mythology and finding out about the rules of their universe. Ms. Hand does a great job at making her world seem very real.
Leave me a comment if this intrigues you, or if you've read Unearthly (and/or its sequel, Hallowed) and what you thought about it.
I'll be posting a review of The Fellowship for Alien Detection in a few days. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
YA Giveaway Blog Hop
I'm blog hopping again today in hopes of winning more great books!
Last year I won:
Two signed Eli Monpress books (one was the Omnibus so I have 4 of the 5 books in the series!)
An audio book of Burn for Burn (which I am hoping to listen to ASAP)
A signed copy (with bookmarks!) of Hallowed by Cynthia Hand (which I am currently reading and intrigued by!)
So...here's hoping I win a few more good things this year.
Join me, if you like, by starting here: YA Giveaway Blog Hop
See you tomorrow for Write Wednesday!
Last year I won:
Two signed Eli Monpress books (one was the Omnibus so I have 4 of the 5 books in the series!)
An audio book of Burn for Burn (which I am hoping to listen to ASAP)
A signed copy (with bookmarks!) of Hallowed by Cynthia Hand (which I am currently reading and intrigued by!)
So...here's hoping I win a few more good things this year.
Join me, if you like, by starting here: YA Giveaway Blog Hop
See you tomorrow for Write Wednesday!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Who Could That Be At This Hour?
If you've never read A Series of Unfortunate Events, you're missing out. And this review might not make as much sense (as amidst the SQUEE-ing and EEK-ing there'll be a few minor spoilers or plot points only recognizable by those who've been keeping track of the V.F.D. and the whereabouts of the Baudelaires). So go to your local library and check them out!
Who Could That Be At This Hour? is Mr. Snicket's first book in his new series, All The Wrong Questions, which uncovers the beginning of Mr. Snicket's life for all of us who were wondering just how he got involved with the V.F.D. (and the Baudelaires).
First off, I love the writing style -- reminiscent of A Series of Unfortunate Events but more like...Lemony is developing his style (a quite clever 'beginning' in and of itself). He's quite young in this story (thirteen) and hasn't become the slightly embittered, sad older man, although he does have a prolific vocabulary and is already secretive.
Second, the surprises in the book (the truth about Lemony's parents, the reveal about who he was going to meet in the city, the mysterious question-mark creature -- an answer to a question from A Series of Unfortunate Events!) were brilliant -- most I didn't see coming but made sense (which is my favorite).
Third, I love the names he comes up with. Ellington Feint is a new favorite.
Fourth, of course Lemony would leave us with MORE questions rather than fewer. But I believe some of our questions in regards to A Series will be answered obliquely throughout this new series.
Fifth and last, His worldbuilding is fantastic. I feel as if I know the places, can see them, and that they are very close by...Lemony can create atmosphere in just a few words. I don't know many authors who are as capable.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the next book in this new series!
Also, if you haven't already done so, visit Mr. Snicket's site and sign up for the newsletter -- I've been receiving delightfully mysterious illustrated rhyming notes about the books. You can sign up HERE. (Exploring the site further will get you access to the first two chapters of Who Could That Be At This Hour?)
See you all on Wednesday -- as well as Thursday for a Special Post (With Pictures)! Friday will still be First Lines.
Keep reading!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
This might be my favorite debut novel of the year.
Leigh Bardugo's alsokind of definitely my hero.
She's a makeup artist in Hollywood (!!!), she's glamorous and dramatic, she sings in a band (!!!) called Captain Automatic and she writes.
Can I have her life? Or at least something similar?
Anyway -- you really need to check out the first book of her Grisha trilogy.
It's sharp.
The font used reminds me of Joan Aiken's Wolves Chronicles (excellent font AND stories) and her style is reminiscient of older, Grimm fairytales. It feels like a story that fairytales came from.
The Russia-esque fantasy world Leigh's created is cold, biting, and desperate. The two main characters are tough survivors and I absolutely can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
I blazed through the book in two sittings because I couldn't wait to see what would happen -- and I'm very in awe of a) Leigh's writing and b) her editor because this book is pretty much flawless.
It has already been optioned for a movie (because it's so awesome) and I think with how they've been doing with The Hunger Games and Lord of the Rings, they just might be able to pull it off.
If you want to check out Leigh Bardugo or the Grisha trilogy (there's a free short story in the mix too, although it does have adult content -- be ye forwarned), click over to her site HERE.
See you tomorrow for Write Wednesday!
Leigh Bardugo's also
She's a makeup artist in Hollywood (!!!), she's glamorous and dramatic, she sings in a band (!!!) called Captain Automatic and she writes.
Can I have her life? Or at least something similar?
Anyway -- you really need to check out the first book of her Grisha trilogy.
It's sharp.
The font used reminds me of Joan Aiken's Wolves Chronicles (excellent font AND stories) and her style is reminiscient of older, Grimm fairytales. It feels like a story that fairytales came from.
The Russia-esque fantasy world Leigh's created is cold, biting, and desperate. The two main characters are tough survivors and I absolutely can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
I blazed through the book in two sittings because I couldn't wait to see what would happen -- and I'm very in awe of a) Leigh's writing and b) her editor because this book is pretty much flawless.
It has already been optioned for a movie (because it's so awesome) and I think with how they've been doing with The Hunger Games and Lord of the Rings, they just might be able to pull it off.
If you want to check out Leigh Bardugo or the Grisha trilogy (there's a free short story in the mix too, although it does have adult content -- be ye forwarned), click over to her site HERE.
See you tomorrow for Write Wednesday!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson
As a rule, I don't read much fiction if it isn't fantasy/sci-fi, for the simple reason that it bores me.
I love Madeleine L'Engle. But her stories about normal people? Don't interest me.
So I don't know why I picked up this book. Or continued reading it.
But I didn't dislike it.
Catalyst is a strong, well-written book about grief. Grief in different forms, and at different times. The process of grief, and how different a form it takes with different people.
It's a sad book. But it's a good book -- there is hope at the end. The hope that you can face your grief, live through it, and go on to do something with your life.
I also loved the fact that it showed people of different beliefs working together. In a world of cliques and religious factions, it's a breath of fresh air to read about people who help each other out no matter their skin tone, IQ level, salary, religious affiliations, or their inherited facial features.
It's not a cheesy-feel good story, either. There's real heartbreak, anger, and imperfect people. But the reminder that grief shared is halved and that life goes on is a great one.
What books have you read that reminded you of a truth you'd forgotten? Are there books that have remained in your memory a long time because of their message? What were they?
I love Madeleine L'Engle. But her stories about normal people? Don't interest me.
So I don't know why I picked up this book. Or continued reading it.
But I didn't dislike it.
Catalyst is a strong, well-written book about grief. Grief in different forms, and at different times. The process of grief, and how different a form it takes with different people.
It's a sad book. But it's a good book -- there is hope at the end. The hope that you can face your grief, live through it, and go on to do something with your life.
I also loved the fact that it showed people of different beliefs working together. In a world of cliques and religious factions, it's a breath of fresh air to read about people who help each other out no matter their skin tone, IQ level, salary, religious affiliations, or their inherited facial features.
It's not a cheesy-feel good story, either. There's real heartbreak, anger, and imperfect people. But the reminder that grief shared is halved and that life goes on is a great one.
What books have you read that reminded you of a truth you'd forgotten? Are there books that have remained in your memory a long time because of their message? What were they?
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