**spoiler alert** Time for a rambly bullet point review brain dump... spoilers because it's easier to include spoilers
- This book was recommended to m**spoiler alert** Time for a rambly bullet point review brain dump... spoilers because it's easier to include spoilers
- This book was recommended to me by one of my friends since it's a prequel and can stand alone from Graceling. I still really want to read Graceling, too, since I've heard great things about it.
- I really loved the relationships explored, especially between Fire and Archer, and Fire and her father. I think the relationships and ways that characters relate to one another were one of the strongest parts of the book. I thought it was interesting that Archer and Fire's relationship showed a distinction between, romance, friendship, and sex. I think it was a good point that you can be attracted to someone physically, but that doesn't mean you're meant to be in a relationship.
- The plot was very politically driven, especially in the second half. The driving conflict was questioning spies and coming up with battlefield strategies to overcome the other kingdoms. This was really well done, but I was a bit bored with the subject matter.
- I cared about the characters, but I didn't feel fully invested in much of their lives. There were things added in that seemed arbitrary and unnecessary to include (Murgda living is an example. I don't understand the point, unless it was to show that Fire was jealous and sympathetic for the pregnant people around her... but I think this was illustrated well enough by the other two pregnancies.)
- This book was really long... to the point where I felt like it needed to be edited and streamlined in a few places.
- I think it's an interesting commentary that everyone thinks Fire should be flattered and ditzy when people fall prey to her monster looks, yet she continuously has to point out that pushing away attackers and fighting off rape is not glamorous. I think it's a message that's applicable to other victim blaming scenarios.
- The scene with the graceling Leck seemed... wasted. It was as if that entire plot point of having Fire captured and under his mind control fell flat. There seemed to be no point (unless it ties into the first book which I haven't read yet), and his demise comes way too quickly and easily for him to feel satisfying as a character.
Overall, I liked this book, though it was a bit hard to get through some parts because of the wordiness and politically driven plot. I would still recommend it, and I still plan to read the other books in the series, though! ...more
I loved the selection of photos. The captions/explanations were very entertaining, and some were even touching.O'Phylia bought me this for Christmas.
I loved the selection of photos. The captions/explanations were very entertaining, and some were even touching. Definitely read it if you get the chance! ...more
I got to the climax of the book and couldn't stop saying "OH MY GOSH!" out loud. After reading everyone else's reviews, I think the huge plot twist enI got to the climax of the book and couldn't stop saying "OH MY GOSH!" out loud. After reading everyone else's reviews, I think the huge plot twist ending went over everyone's head? No? Yes? I thought it was amazing. I was not expecting it to be as mysterious and unsettling as it was.
I was skeptical of the format at first, but I think that the story that was told lent itself well to the scrapbook/picture album format. If at first you don't enjoy it, keep "reading" and it pieces itself together. For a book with very few words, there is a ton of literary forethought put into names, pictures, icons, etc. The fact that Francisco and Glory refer to one another as F and G connects to the F & G notes in the song Chopsticks so perfectly was wonderful. This book was truly a concept book, and while that can sometimes toe a line between fantastic and kitschy, I think it was pulled off well.
The only real issue I had was that there are youtube links scattered throughout the book, and half of them are already taken down/made private. I think that if you're going to create a book that uses outside media you should definitely look into a way to control that media... ...more
This was one of the most creative ideas for a short story anthology. The stories themselves were written and published across Bradbury's career, but tThis was one of the most creative ideas for a short story anthology. The stories themselves were written and published across Bradbury's career, but they were all put together and almost seemed as if they'd been planned and written at the same time. There were a few themes that seemed redundant (how many invasions of Mars can you have?), but I really loved the stories despite that.
Highlights for me were The Veldt, The Long Rain, The Fire Balloons, The Fox and the Forest, and Marionettes, Inc.
I definitely recommend this book. Bradbury's style of writing goes wonderfully with the short story format. ...more
The pictures and source materials in this book were awesome. Getting to see studio photos, handwritten lyric drafts, and other pictures of the musicalThe pictures and source materials in this book were awesome. Getting to see studio photos, handwritten lyric drafts, and other pictures of the musical throughout its history was great.
My only critique is that the history at times was organized thematically instead of chronologically. So, there were times when the writers broke off into paragraphs of rambling and connections - most notably the two paragraph discussion of Gwen Stefani in the final chapter, and skipping from discussions of the stage play to Broadway play to the movie within the same paragraph. This is incredibly picky, of course, but it was notable and something that could have used slightly tighter editing.
Overall, this was a really interesting read. ...more
The characters in this were so enjoyable that I just wanted to keep reading and hear more from them, especially Juli's brothers and Bryce's granddad. The characters in this were so enjoyable that I just wanted to keep reading and hear more from them, especially Juli's brothers and Bryce's granddad. The author tackled a lot of serious family issues but with great tact and in a way that made them relatable. The whole story was really fluffy, but it had just the right dose of sap mixed into a plot that was very interesting.
I only wish that the ending wasn't so abrupt, because I really wanted to see more of Bryce and Juli and see what decisions they made. ...more
This was a very different read from the perspective of a 21 year old. The first time I read it, I was 13 and completely enamored by the thought of romThis was a very different read from the perspective of a 21 year old. The first time I read it, I was 13 and completely enamored by the thought of romance.
The story is told from the perspective of 15 year old Jane - hence the title - as she falls in love with the new boy in town Stan.
The story itself is a great representation of "traditional" romance considering it's set in the 1950s when chivalry reigned and people still said they were "going steady" and claimed one another with class rings or bracelets.
It may be because Jane is 15, or it may be because the story is set in this time frame, but I became a bit annoyed at how trepid and nervous Jane was as well as how manipulative and boastful all of the girls were. I guess it's not dissimilar to modern times, but there was something about Jane and her friend going to the soda shop and intentionally talking a bit too loudly about their dates that night that made me lose a bit of patience with the characters. Nonetheless, this is one of the best (and most memorable) love stories that I have read. It was almost as enjoyable at 21 as it was at 13, and the nostalgia and butterflies it brought to my stomach were appreciated. ...more
I really do wish that this was a longer story. It's liking getting one tantilizing chapter after another, but it was really entertaining. I liked the I really do wish that this was a longer story. It's liking getting one tantilizing chapter after another, but it was really entertaining. I liked the characters and wanted to see even more. ...more
I really loved this book. Although it's clearly written and targeted to a lower reading level, I think that the concepts and themes Palacio focuses onI really loved this book. Although it's clearly written and targeted to a lower reading level, I think that the concepts and themes Palacio focuses on are universal and were by no means less impacting because of age. The book outlines August's first year going to public school, which becomes complicated since he has a genetic condition that has led to facial deformities.
The characters were all very deep and unique, and the story was touching without being overly sappy or mopy. I was very inspired by August and his outlook on life. I would definitely recommend reading this, especially for middle schoolers.
I wasn't a big fan of the continuously changing narrator, but I think for this story it was helpful to see different sides, especially for characters that August wasn't directly interacting with all the time. ...more
I loved reading the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and this was a great continuation. I absolutely adore Douglas Adams's writing style, and it wasI loved reading the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and this was a great continuation. I absolutely adore Douglas Adams's writing style, and it was really enjoyable to read through this. The plot in this book seemed a little less focused than the first, but I'm definitely compelled to continue with the series. ...more
I recently remembered that I had impulsively downloaded this e-book a few weeks ago, so I thought I'd read the first few pages to see more of what it I recently remembered that I had impulsively downloaded this e-book a few weeks ago, so I thought I'd read the first few pages to see more of what it was about so I could read it after I finished some of the books I'm currently reading. I finished it in two days because I just couldn't put it down.
First, I didn't realize this was a memoir until I started reading, but I think it made it that much more powerful. Not only was the story itself gripping, but the writing was fantastic. The imagery was amazing, and I found myself again and again being blown away by the connection of different tangents to the story. In most books, I find authors that have those image-rich tangents to be boring and rambling, but Mik included the descriptions flawlessly and added allusions in a way that truly helped make the story even richer.
As an example (and of course this is a spoiler, though it doesn't really spoil the context of the book), I really loved the following passage not only because the imagery is captivating, but also because unlike most of books that I read that include random descriptions like this, I think the passage really adds something to the characterization and story.
“One afternoon, I will lay Mona down for her nap. She will lay quietly in bed for a while, as she always does, and then when she thinks I am busy, she will get up and play with her toys. I won't mind. I will do the housework while she plays. I will be folding the laundry this day. I will be folding one of her shirts—it came out of the washing machine inside-out—and as I turn it rightside-out, the edge of my left index finger will rub across a seam. It will feel odd, not like a shirt you would put on a child, but like a doll-shirt. It will feel too thick, not of the same quality as a child's shirt. I will briefly consider that my daughter is only a doll, but I will dismiss the thought quickly. This is what will scare me. How easily I will dismiss a thought I deem to be unreasonable. It's a habit, something I do quite often. Something totally irrational enters my mind—You know those women who want a child so badly that they convince themselves that they have one? Sometimes they dress up a doll like a baby and carry it around? Sometimes they're such great pathological liars that they even convince people they know that they've been pregnant and have a child? What if I'm one of them?—and I think to myself, Nah, that's crazy. Status quo maintained. My life is a series of things of which I've convinced myself, regardless of whether or not they're true. I will want to call one of my friends and ask if I have a child, but I will be afraid that I've made up all my friends, too.”
That was just beautiful to me.
The memoir is mostly a long collection of disjointed memories and topics, but she masterfully twists things together and makes parallels and allusions that give everything a sense of connectedness that was perfect and made it feel smooth and flowing and not disjointed at all. Nothing in the book felt out of place or random. Everything flowed together incredibly well, and I felt that each new scene that was revealed truly added to the story.
I feel like I'm running out of adjectives, but I truly did love reading this book. I would recommend it to anyone, especially because the e-book is only $3 on amazon. It is beyond worth it. ...more
My heart hurts... (A quick note to avoid this book if you're triggered by depression/cutting/abuse/sadness.)
At one point while reading this book, I wMy heart hurts... (A quick note to avoid this book if you're triggered by depression/cutting/abuse/sadness.)
At one point while reading this book, I wasn't so sure that I could make it through. It took me about two months to finish The Casual Vacancy. Of course, college and lack of free time contributed to that, but it was also because this book and its subject matter were incredibly heavy.
Every section was written from a different character’s point a view (3rd person) so that you could understand and see their motives. You saw the worst of characters, the deception and lies they told, how things all connected. J.K. Rowling has a phenomenal ability to create characters that I feel like I know and settings that I feel like I've lived in after reading. They become real on the page. The characters were dark, depressed, visceral in a way that I didn't really want to be confronted with at first.
Looking back, I don't think the book was ever about trying to portray hope. There was no fast paced mission that kept the plot moving, there weren’t many comedic reliefs. There was an intentional droning pace that made me feel like I was stuck in the same small town rumor mill as all the other characters; I continued reading like one would continue watching a car hurtling off a cliff. There was a sense of dread and foreboding that never really lifted. It was realism that almost served as a warning. The storylines were clear examples of what comes about when there’s breakdown in communication, when you care about your own selfish desires before the needs of others, when you get caught up in a small town mentality that only tragedy can shake you out of. There was a sense of cycle and inevitability that could not be broken by even the most absurd and shocking of events. That’s what was such a turn off for me. I didn’t desire to read about characters that were vindictive, angry, hurt or even apathetic.
It took almost one hundred pages to accept that certain characters were going to make me unhappy and to accept that the plot would not be conventionally fast paced. It was written in a different way. After I started to care about characters, I was hooked. I really did start caring for certain characters as if they were people. I wanted to wrap them up in blankets and feed them soup while petting their hair after the things Jo put them through. So much of the book seemed unfair. It made me squirm. The viewpoints of certain characters and the absolute dejection they faced made me angry. Why did certain things have to be the way they were? Why were people so focused on themselves?
It was frustrating to see the decisions they were making, and though it completely depressed me, I think that’s what I loved about this book: its realism. So many books show caricatures and archetypes of people that could only exist in fictional stories. J.K. Rowling pulls off realism flawlessly, though. This book made me feel, and it made me care. It transported me to a different world (granted, one I didn’t really want to stay in for very long).
It was really interesting, and the writing was really good. It's one of those books that I feel awkward recommending just because of the amount of cursing, sex, abuse and depressing topics that were included, but I think some intention of the book all along was to make the reader feel uncomfortable and question things. I didn't think I would "like" it as much as I did. It was a long journey through it, but in the end it was a very satisfying read....more