I respect Jodi Picoult for tackling racism in her book. However, I think the characters were just so stereotypical. I constantly felt the urge to rollI respect Jodi Picoult for tackling racism in her book. However, I think the characters were just so stereotypical. I constantly felt the urge to roll my eyes.
Ruth: the black female who is successful despite all the obstacles because she worked really hard.
Adisa: the black female character who is unsuccessful and; therefore, behave in a stereotypical ghetto manner and constantly spends her time blaming white people.
Turk Bauer: The white racist who only became racist cause his brother got killed in car accident caused by a black guy (The majority of racists hate another race simply because they look different from them or just cause they're 'the other'. There's nothing more to it). I don't understand why the character has to be personally wronged. Jewish people never once personally wronged Hitler yet he absolutely hated them. I think it would been less stereotypical if she looked at the psychology behind racism (the 'other') rather than simply pinning racism on something personal.
Kennedy: The stereotypical non-racist white person who doesn't 'see colour' (until she realises she does of course). Even the book mentions that's she a stereotypical white saviour character.
I enjoyed the courtroom part. I listened to it on an audiobook and it was really tense and had me glued. The book wasn't boring at all, but it wasn't memorable or different in the message it was trying to deliver.
If you want a good book that discusses racism in America without being so stereotypical then I would suggest The Street by Ann Petry. I don't think small great things was a bad book at all (I really liked the writing), but the characters were flat and banal and that ruined the story....more
The book is essentially about a girl named Alice who is revealed to have leukemia. She creates a bucket list of things she needs to complete before heThe book is essentially about a girl named Alice who is revealed to have leukemia. She creates a bucket list of things she needs to complete before her death. Forming a close relationship with Harvey is one of them. They were buddies during their younger years before fate took them to different directions
“Then we’d drifted. High school did that to you, turned you into pieces of driftwood. And the parts of you that you’d tried to keep in one piece became the property of the wind and water, sending those dear pieces you were not.”
After a while their relationship begins to blossom again. Once Alice is certain her expiry date will come soon, her doctor exposes she’s on remission.
Well, this is when the story went downhill for me. Alice could not simply be happy about the revelation. No she can’t. Well, if she was then we would have to chop off 250 pages. So, we make her somehow upset about her remission. It’s not stated clearly why she is - only it makes her saddened for reasons too important to specify very clearly.
“I had Harvey, and I had him for good. Hadn’t that been all I wanted? To make those perfect moments last? But now I felt trapped, like a homeless person who’d been given their dream home only to suffer from intense wanderlust because we always wanted something until we have it.”
Nice simile.
But..
still not helping because you won’t distinctively tell me which part of getting better upsets you. I must have misread the book. Alice says, she’s unhappy about the remission because now she can be with Harvey. I don't understand. Is she upset about that since her cancer will always be a shadow upon her life? Does it concern her that she will live in fear with Harvey knowing any minute she could lose him, therefore, she has lost that comforting certainty of when her death was already set?
Might be.
The relationship between Harvey and Alice is quite dysfunctional. Harvey genuinely loves Alice and demonstrates this more than enough. Alice feels the same way but she complicates their relationship, and it’s not because of her health, it’s her utter confusing attitude. I frequently felt as if the book was primarily about Harvey's unrequited love for Alice. I would have liked to apprehend the motivation behind Alice's actions, but the book failed in this instance.
Don't give one sentences like: “I knew how to die. It was living that scared me,” and then expect me to completely understand the character. You need to dive deeper and express more in order for me to connect with the character's emotional state.
For instance, after her remission, she attends school but becomes irritated by her classmate’s questions about her leukemia. After school that day, she meets a guy and begins chatting him up. Harvey finds her outside and says he should quickly drive her home, considering it’s cold. She ignores him and continues to chat to the guy while Harvey stands there waiting for her.
It seems this bitchy attitude can be excused because she has cancer. But why? It’s not like cancer strips away your morals. Apparently, this must be it. Maybe that was the whole point of the story. Cancer or more specifically remission makes you a bitch, but you have to redeem yourself... Okay, that doesn't make sense. The story doesn’t have much of a purpose which explains the lack of making sense.
Sometimes, I had thought Alice and Harvey were cute. I could almost see why they were so drawn to each other.
“You can play the cancer card forever, Alice.” “You’re right, just until I’m dead. Then I dub you the carrier of the card, which shall henceforth be known as the ‘my friend died of cancer’ card.”
Then again, overuse of angst in romance really makes you think twice. Alice continuously angers Harvey by trying to make him jealous, and when he attempts to get over her by dating someone else then she would become overly jealous. See my problem? God that was so annoying.
Her attitude after her remission is just intolerable. She treats Harvey, who is relentlessly by her side, like shit because she she can't handle her emotions. As suggested earlier, it would appear odious if I criticize the heroine’s bad behavior since she has cancer. I, on the other hand, am not that easy enough to hand her the cancer card, and let her attitude go unnoticed. She basically behaves as if the world owes her something due to her sickness. Alice must have been misinformed about how the world works if that's what she thinks.
[image] Not gonna work.
I could have liked Alice, and many times I did, but there was potential to build her character and provide reasonable and believable explanations as to why she chooses to act the way she does. It would have made the heroine's character development more thorough, instead of purely giving her an epiphany about her actions. (No, it was not a spoiler, in case you're thinking that.)
The non-linear structure of the book might be exasperating to readers. In my opinion, I thought it was done well and fit the book perfectly. The book switches from past to present. The past is the first year of her leukemia and when she is completing her bucket list. The present is set a year after which is throughout the duration of her remission. The POV is told from both Harvey and Alice. They have quite distinct voices. Harvey's tone sounds kinder and more caring, so you could easily identify it.
The book has its amusing and engaging moments, therefore it earns solely one star, plus an extra star for Harvey’s character. But I don’t find the book deserving of anymore. I initially finished the book with satisfaction until I really thought about the story, which then I found myself quite unsatisfied.
I’m sure some will enjoy this, but I find the book… pointless when it comes to realistic fiction.
------- Sorry. I noticed, I repeat myself quite a lot about how I disliked Alice's attitude. My repetition comes to show how much I really do though......more
(This is kind of a spoiler, if you can recall the ending of Shutter Island.)
Remember the movie or the book Shutter Island? Rem(view spoiler)[1.5 Stars
(This is kind of a spoiler, if you can recall the ending of Shutter Island.)
Remember the movie or the book Shutter Island? Remember the twist at the end? Well, this book basically has the same twist, except it's dumber. THE END.
------ Favourite quote: "I'm not saying he wants to be the guy who only likes white people," Gat went on. "He knows he's not supposed to be that guy. He's a Democrat, he voted for Obama." (hide spoiler)]...more
Thirteen Reasons Why is a real page turner, but not even that could override the shaky concept of the novel.
A girl named Hannah explains on a recordinThirteen Reasons Why is a real page turner, but not even that could override the shaky concept of the novel.
A girl named Hannah explains on a recording tap thirteen reasons why she was led to kill herself. After her death, the taps are sent to the people who have contributed to thirteen reasons, and if they are not passed to the next person on the list then the tapes will be released to the public.
Interesting, right? The book primarily revolves around the thirteen reasons that have had a tragic impact on her life. Truthfully, the reasons given can be 'cured' from some counselling, family advice and such. For instance, one of the reasons is when Hannah beats Jessica (her ex-best friend) on whose hot/not hot list. Jessica slaps her and leaves a scar on Hannah when she dig her nail into Hanna’s forehead. Okay, It basically sounds to me: bitchy teen drama. Another more serious one is that she saw Jessica get raped and did nothing about it. I think that’s ridiculous, because even after that incident she continued to gloat about her probelms, rather than help her friend deal with the rape. You know what would have been a better coping with suicide story? Her ex-best friend who got rapped and had to endure plus live with that.
Obviously, it sounded to me that she wrote those tapes out of vengeance, therefore the characters could always look back and live with the pain of what they have done: overlook her.
Honestly, committing suicide in order to make the people who caused her minor problems depressed is no less bad than what they did to her. She even tries to create more problems, so she can have a bigger excuse to commit suicide. Someone offers to help her but she declines, then she attempts to seek help once and quits straight after. Aside from less than two exceptionally appalling people on the thirteen reasons why list, the others mentioned seem like regular high schoolers - dumb, self-centered, have their own problems.
The protagonist, who is mentioned as the good guy in the tapes, agrees that the people on the list deserve worst of the worst. So, really that’s all you need to know about him.
Overall, I will give the book three stars for being engaging. The message is to always be a saint and put people’s problems ahead of yours. Message learned. ...more
Stolen was a different and fresh read compared to the rest of YA genre. It kept my eyes attached frantically to the pages, but at the end I couldn’t hStolen was a different and fresh read compared to the rest of YA genre. It kept my eyes attached frantically to the pages, but at the end I couldn’t help but feel as if the story was rushed, therefore whatever message this novel was attempting to convey to the readers had been slightly lost, in my opinion.
Don’t get me wrong, stolen was an enjoyable read and to say the least that earns four stars solely, but it was simply lacking at compelling me about the main concept of the whole book: Stockholm syndrome.
“People love what they're used to, I guess." "No." You shook your head. "People should love what needs loving. That way they can save it."
I couldn’t make up my mind about Gemma and Ty. Did they really have a big connection? They both had family problems and that was one of the primary reason that made them see eye to eye. Gemma wasn’t close to her family, and continually felt as if she was emotionally abounded by her parents, because they never showed much interest about her daily life.
Ty on the other hand was literally abounded by his family. After sometime his mother signed him up to his dad and returned back to England. He grew up in the outback of Australia surrounded by local Aboriginals. His dad started working in the city and became less visible in Ty’s life after a while. His father transformed into an alcoholic and altered to a less caring person therefore Ty views the city as a sinful place full of people, who create themselves as someone else to fit in.
The plot wasn’t much complex. Yet, I couldn’t help but love the simplicity of it at the same time. It mainly involved Gemma attempting to run away from Ty, who kidnapped her after he gains a sudden obsession or infatuation with her. I really had a hard time believing he kidnapped her out of love because let’s face it, if he deeply understood and loved her – he would not have. (No he was not a lost soul in need of love!)
“How long will you keep me?" I asked. You shrugged. "Forever, of course.”.
I couldn’t help but release my body shivers at Ty’s creepiness. In the postive side, he was more normal if you were to compare him with other truly psychotic kidnappers. Half way through the book I softened up to him, but not completely. I wasn't able to.
“And it's hard to hate someone once you understand them.”
I suppose. But I don’t think being held captive could be fully justified once you attain Stockholm syndrome. I thought Gemma did a good job realizing that.
Basically with the whole lacking complication I felt with this book: Gemma hated Ty at first, understood him, and finally loved him. Is that a deep enough explanation for Stockholm syndrome?
Anyway I still admired this book because it was interesting and something entirely new, as well as, a bit bizarre in a good way.
Just to clarify that if you’re ever contemplating about visiting Australia, that you will not get kidnapped and held captive in the middle of nowhere – well hopefully not. This is kind of bad tourism for Australia.
"They call me Friday. It has been foretold that on Saturday I will drown..."
Friday Brown's mother has frequently told tales of their femal
"They call me Friday. It has been foretold that on Saturday I will drown..."
Friday Brown's mother has frequently told tales of their female ancestors, who each acquired the Brown family curse that tragically all ended their life. Friday and her mother travel from to town in the outback desert as they attempt to elude the family curse, however fate leaves Friday alone after her mother's abrupt death.
"I am nothing. I feel like nothing. I want my life to matter. What if one day I'm gone and Nobody ever I knew existed."
[image]
Seventeen year old Friday makes a decision to continue her past lifestyle of traveling, and meets the lonely boy named Silence at the train station. He introduces her to a group of street kids, who she is able to relate to and become dependent on. It is on the other hand the charismatic Arden - the group leader who will challenge Friday more than she would she like.
Friday Brown came nothing close to what I envisaged, especially the end which had left me stunned. The book was split into two parts. I view the first part as being fundamental in providing the reader simply with the backgrounds of each of the the street kids. The second parts unravels each character and shows their true nature and growth, or how some of the characters have come to disintegrate as a human, and the transformation of all the characters can evidently be displayed by the change of setting in the book, from the city in part 1 to a ghostown in the outback in part 2.
^^Okay, I suppose that wasn't really review but more of analysis of the story. The novel comprised of simple little meanings found throughout the story, that it was attempting to convey, for instance a significant one I noticed was: "Appearance can be deceiving." I particularly loved how the book pointed out that lies told by the people we trust come to make us vitally who we are.
The characters as mentioned before, show more of their true nature in the second half of the book. The street kids are presented as lost and completely alone on their own, but with the guide of each other they are able to live almost happily. They each had a troubled life that has brought them together. Friday comes to describe them as being identical to the "lost boys" in Peter Pan. Friday forms a deeply strong and beautiful bond with Silence - the boy who found her all alone in the train station.
Friday Brown finds comfort with the street kids when she struggles to belong anywhere else. Her character is fiercely loyal and intellectual, but is at the same time heavily flawed, with her lack of confidence and her to inability to shrug of her past in order for self-realization to finally happen.
The romance isn't substantial part of the book. It actually only makes a very tiny fragment of the story. So be warned, don't expect teen angst or even much romance.
I did give this book four stars instead of five, due to how gloomy the ending left me. It was a perfect ending, but I could not find myself to love it. I do highly recommend Friday Brown of course!
“Maybe that was the thing about beginnings - they always seemed better than middles or endings. And if only I ever had beginnings and my past was so perfect, then the future would never measure up. I didn't want to live like that.”
I’ve never read one or more accurately finished one. I should have at least picked up one Australian novel in my first year of book-readAussie novels.
I’ve never read one or more accurately finished one. I should have at least picked up one Australian novel in my first year of book-reading addiction, yet it took me five years to finally do so. Essentially, I ought to have by now given that I'm Australian. Yeah, it's strange that I haven't read many or any.
Okay, now the actual review.
"It happened on the Jellicoe Road. The prettiest road I’d ever seen, where trees made breezy canopies like a tunnel to Shangri-La."
On the Jellicoe road is about Taylor Lily Markham, who at the age of 11 was abandoned by her mother at the 7/11 on the Jellicoe road. Her only memory of her previous life is standing on her father’s shoulder. Hannah is her only guardian who lives in the unfinished house by the river, and writes stories about five kids who lived there back in the 1980s. Taylor is a part of territory war between the cadets (Sydney boys who come for training every six weeks a year) and the townies (kids from Jellicoe town).
The beginning was faintly confusing, but after 100 pages I finally put some of the pieces together. I won’t go into the minor confusion I had experienced in the book, because I believe on the Jellicoe road should be read without much information of the backstory. It will take some time until you start understanding what’s going on, nonetheless you will have an enjoyable time attempting to solve the mystery as you’re reading, right before you start crying at the end. After 200 pages the book does become immensely predictable, however it wasn’t any less entertaining.
I’m not certain if I liked Taylor. At times I despised her, and felt her i-don’t-give-a-shit attitude should not simply be excused considering her tough past. At the end I worked out my conflicted feelings with Taylor and saw her in a more of a positive light. The love interest - Jonah Griggs is the leader of the cadets, and is viewed frequently as the ‘dark and tortured’ type. Taylor and Jonah have this heartbreaking and complicated history. There was no insta-love or drooling over each other like crazy in their relationship, thankfully.
Anyway, I gladly recommend this book to everyone. ...more
The perks of being a wallflower is a coming of age novel, that’s been hyped to the point where it appears to be seen by teenagers as the bible. It sliThe perks of being a wallflower is a coming of age novel, that’s been hyped to the point where it appears to be seen by teenagers as the bible. It slightly covers ever adolescent issues that teenagers face every day.
But
Relating to this book was tough. I mean – come on, I’ve never done pot, smoked like a chimney, drank as much a liquor store, and still managed to get straight A’s. I mean is that even possible? Nor, have I met a boy who doesn’t know what masturbation is – I don’t care what people say, but the ending doesn’t explain it thoroughly.
There was numerous touching quotes which I loved from time to time. The characters were average. They were sometimes tedious, unfunny and just mah.
I primarily felt this book was provoking bad behaviour. I’m pretty sure not one person said anything about drugs affecting your health. Charlie got stoned numerous times, yet however he was still intelligent beyond his years. Apparently, not intelligent enough to say “no” to fucking drugs.
Overall, I'm simply not impressed with this over-hyped book.
As I read this book, I found myself on the edge of never ending boredom. Why does this book have a crazy rating of 4.47? Did I miss something? I truthAs I read this book, I found myself on the edge of never ending boredom. Why does this book have a crazy rating of 4.47? Did I miss something? I truthfully have never read a book with such a high rating that was this dreadfully bad. The New York Times, USA Today, and Wall street Journal bestselling blockbuster – but how is this witchcraft possible? It’s worse than – no I won say it. Maybe I should. No. Yes.
It was worse than…EVERMORE. Which until the day I completed The Edge Of Never, it held the position for the ‘Worst book I have EVER read.’
Anyway, a little blurb.
Camryn Bennett, a fourteen twenty year old, lives her life attached to the tiresome routine of society. That's until she decides to break free one random day, and go on an unexpected road trip. Suddenly, Andrew Parrish a thirteen twenty-five year old, who is outrageously hot gets on the same bus as her, and that’s when all the eye-rolling and face-slapping commences.
I contemplated what message 'The Edge Of Never' was conveying to readers that was so motivating and heart-wrenching. Is it about how society always hands down roles for everyone and expects us to follow them, but we should just break free and go on a road trip? The main characters mentioned how they hated to go to college because that’s what society is expecting from them. They instead want to travel around the world – experience something new (which I completely understand). Yet, they want to be identified as being better than other people because they have these 'differing values.' They want to be seen as special and better than those losers who try to make a living out of their career. (I actually felt that's what the characters thought, in my opinion).
This book is far from even good. Very, very far.
It merely revolves around a boy and a girl with major issues who do a lot of talking on a road trip. So throughout this road trip between Camryn and Andrew, I sat in the backseat (figuratively). I was basically the third wheel. I sat there for an insanely long time, hearing them discuss how sluty other people could be, and how aroused they got occasionally. They just kept chatting and chatting. Not to sound cold-hearted, but if I wanted to read a person ranting their problems to me, I would have went on facebook.
I don’t care about Andrew and Camryn and most significantly their problems or what they've went through. I hated them. The author was desperately asking you to feel pity for them. The fact that I would bother to waste my emotions on people like Andrew and Camryn – says, well…that I have a lot of energy to be wasted.
If you were to look through Camryn’s breath-taking beautiful appearance, you would see a touching and a philosophical person, who only wants to break free from her aggravating friends and family – I mean society. She knows how love feels like, so don’t underestimate her intelligence. After all when someone as philosophical and understanding of love like Camryn says something, you can only imagine how touching it’s going to be.
“Instead of sitting around dreaming up new sex positions....I dream about things that really matter...What the air in other countries feels like on my skin, how the ocean smells, why the sound of rain makes me gasp”
Anyway, Camryn has experienced loss. Her boyfriend Ian died in a tragic accident, and now she clings to the fact that she will never love anyone ever again. Basically when Camyrn told me her inability to never fall in love again, I immediately saw into the future and knew she would. Less than half-way through the book, she recoveries from Ian’s death so well that she even admits of never having loved him. Oh. you never loved him? Then why spend hundreds of pages moaning insanely about how much you do love him. I don’t understand…and I don’t want to.
Camryn has this rare beauty that captures everyone’s attention, and especially sadistic rapists (for some reason)– or maybe she turns everyone into an insanely sadistic rapist…who knows. Essentially, everyone wants to screw her - even two of her best friends (Damon and Natalie who are going out..awkward?). I really like how people always openly admit to Camryn that they would bang her.
On the other hand Andrew (love interest) really knows how to construct his feelings into words.
“I’m so hard right now my dick can cut diamonds.”
Anyway, Andrew also has his own baggage of problems. Andrew instantly got dull when the POV switched to his. He thought like a girl at times, but then curse words were thrown in to make him seem manly.
“I absolutely fucking melt when she looks up at me like that.”
I was unaware guys even used those types of phrases. It’s…unappealing. Andrew is also passionate about classical music. Same old, same old. Christian grey, Edward Cullen and Andrew Parrish should really host a party together and express their deep tedious feelings.
So, how did it all go down at the end?
“I want you goddammit!” I scream at him. “The thought of you leaving and never seeing you again tears-me-up-inside!” My throat burns like fire. “I can’t fucking breath without you!” “Say it! Son-of-a-bitch,” he says, exasperated, “Just say it!” “I want you to own me!”
*sniff*sniff* so romantic. I forget to mention there’s a plot twist (Kind of) at the last couple of chapters, because for 350 fucking pages nothing rarely happens. But don’t stress. Everything gets resolved so perfectly that when I realized there is a second book, I began to wonder. I mean why the need for a second book? Then it clicked.
A love triangle (probably), more problems and angst. And there we have it… another bestseller.
Screw this book.
Okay, sorry. I’m being cruel. Remember when you were a kid and your parents said “I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed” and that somehow was worse? Well, to this book I say:
“I’m not angry. I’m just disappointed.” (1 star…for the cover)...more
I'm not going to gather up the energy to do an actual review because I read this – truly, I can't remember when I picked this up. Anyway, this book isI'm not going to gather up the energy to do an actual review because I read this – truly, I can't remember when I picked this up. Anyway, this book is one of the explanations on why I'm not a big fan of contemporary YA romance books.
The basic story is: The book revolves around Kate who works with her father selling Vitamins in the mall. Her best friend has become popular and ever since that occurred, she acts as if Kate is invisible. And...other cliché teen drama crap, which I will not bother to list.
Okay, the novel does deal with significant challenges of being a teenager such as divorce and selfish parents.
But what irritated me to the point of insanity was the ending.
Nothing gets fixed. Nothing.
But one thing.
That one thing is her relationship with Will. The guy who, in my view, was a complete player. Kate wasn't any nicer to him either...I guess that makes it even.
“What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen -- but only if she lets them...”
Wait,WAIT!
But good things didn't ensue! I felt like I personally knew the message that the author was attempting to deliver in this book.
Everyone gather around for the compelling message.
It doesn't matter if your parents are getting divorced or your best friend basically ditched you, but as long as you have an amazing douchebag boyfriend then your life is complete.
“It's easy to talk about things we hate, but sometimes it's hard to explain exactly why we like something”
Does anyone else find this quote relatab
“It's easy to talk about things we hate, but sometimes it's hard to explain exactly why we like something”
Does anyone else find this quote relatable, epically when writing a review? When I immensely hate a book I absolutely spill my guts out with every imperfection, that I was able to spot in the dreadful book. However I’m lost for words when it comes to books I love. I may not have exactly loved this book but I still thought it was a cute, quick and fluffy read. I can't precisly elaborate on what made me like it though.
Was it better than Anna and the French kiss?
Sadly, I thought no. Although Anna and the French kiss was undoubtedly cliché, it still slightly felt more original than Lola and the boy next door. The title for the second book hasn’t drastically got any better on the other hand. It was nonetheless a decent romance novel. Like I said I can't exactly explain why I enjoyed this so much.
The heroine named Lola is different. She is branded bizarre and has no problem with the fact, and she prefers to fling the negatives views of her weird fashion style as well. Now that seemed pretty normal to me. I mean she is only wearing slightly odd things like colourful wigs and dresses made of sheets. She is not doing anything atrociously weird that can be considered a taboo.
However I was scrolling down and I was reading a couple of reviews about this book, and I read one that mentioned Lola did not behave accordingly to what people are expected to, therefore there must be something wrong with her, which to say the least upset me. I could literally give a whole lesson about socialisation which can be simply defined as adopting the ‘social norms’ to be full accepted member of society. Basically we pick social norms as we’re growing up, and we’re influenced to what’s wrong and right – what is found as suitable behaviour or not. Overall, my point is what’s wrong with a single character that decides to dress odd? Have people become this judgemental?
Anyway, sorry for the ranting.
I adored Lola. She was bothersome at times but I thought she was tough mentally. Her love interest Creicket – yeah I know the name. I wasn’t capable of erasing this off my mind:
[image]
On the other hand Cricket was a perfect gentlemen. Okay, a bit too perfect and over the top but I couldn’t help but like him.
I don’t really think I need to mention anything else about this book. I guess it’s better to go along reading the book with less knowledge of the story.
In conclusion
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I highly suggest this but don’t expect it to be better than Anna and the French kiss. ...more