...Okay, when I start quoting the more obscure bits of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I know I've officially read too much. Going along with the Willy Wonka motif, if I read any more I might actually turn into a book.
But I can't help it--I love the library. I love books. I love reading, more than I can ever express. I hate to use the cliche describing books as other worlds, but it's true. When I open a new book, I'm not just a girl reading a new story. I'm an intrepid explorer studying a new landscape, learning a new language. Every author speaks with a different voice. Kerouac, the beauty-hunting soul-searcher, the voice of the weary. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the transcriber of 20's materialism and disintegration of morals, the voice of the cynical. J.K. Rowling, the triumphant woman who inspired a new generation of readers, the voice of hope. Suzanne Collins, the storyteller so skilled at weaving together horror and beauty to create a very possible dystopian future, the voice of determination. Eve Ensler, leader of a movement that refuses to allow women to be shamed for their bodies, the voice of unwavering strength.
So this is my book-review post--if you want to see some of my old ones, go look at my old blog, Alien Water Torture, I did like three or four book-centered, summer reading-type posts. I like new reading material, and I have to imagine I'm not the only ones. So if you, like me, have burned through the classics and are looking for something new to sink your teeth into, look no further--my list reviews are always comprehensive. ;)
IF YOU LIKED: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
CHECK OUT: Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
I was skeptical about this book, I'll admit. I wrote it off as a fad book, ignored the TV show, resisted the temptation to just peek into it and see what it was about. But once I actually gave into that temptation and started reading, I was hooked. Some of the characters may initially seem like caricatures--Arya is the tomboy princess who wishes she were a warrior; Daenerys is the token virgin married off in exchange for power; Jon is the misunderstood misfit with the heart of gold--but the plot is anything but typical. The sex and violence is plentiful--enough to satisfy a die-hard Clockwork Orange fan, for reference--but it's effective, especially within the context of a plot that has more twists than a Cedar Point roller coaster. If you're looking for princess daydream stories, don't look here--but if you want mystery and fantasy splashed with a dark streak of reality, I'd recommend it. I couldn't put it down.
IF YOU LIKED: A Separate Peace by John Knowles
CHECK OUT: Peace Breaks Out by John Knowles
It's not a direct sequel. It's not even an indirect sequel. It could, I suppose, qualify as a companion piece, but just barely: the events of A Separate Peace are only alluded to once, in context of a death, and the setting is the same...but not really. Devon School seems to be a hotbed of conflict whether in war or peace, and Knowles pulls no punches in his narrative. Yet this book is so underrated, especially in the shadow of A Separate Peace, that whenever I mention it in conversation, people look at me like "You meant A Separate Peace, right?" But Peace Breaks Out is a book with a mind of its own, and if you loved Phineas and Gene, you'll love bright-eyed Nick, devious Wexford, broken Pete, and cynical Eric--and in some cases, you'll love to hate them.
IF YOU LIKED: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling; Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
CHECK OUT: Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
This was another one I initially wrote off--a plucky adolescent who's thrown into a supernatural situation? Heard it! But I picked it up on a recommendation, and just the first few pages were enough to get me hooked. Like the HP gang's humor? You'll love Percy Jackson. (Faced with a scaly, lizard-like salesman who introduces himself by announcing, "Hi, I'm Crusty," Percy silently observes Yes, you are.) Sherlock Holmes himself would approve of this kid's razor wit and lightning-quick thinking. Think this book is too young for you if you're past high school? Think again--I'm a rising junior in college and I loved it. Mythology nerds will either love it or hate it. Personally, I think it kicked ass. Just don't read it in the library--you might get in trouble for laughing out loud.
IF YOU LIKED: The S.A.S.S. (Students Across the Seven Seas) series
CHECK OUT: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
If travel fiction's your thing, look no further. The lead character is funny and relatable--and far more three-dimensional than any character from the S.A.S.S. series--and the characters around her are equally fleshed-out and lovable, they're not just her "props." The love interest is a little too good to be true, but given that this is young adult fiction, that kind of flaw is to be expected and is largely forgivable in the greater context of the book. Best of all, every bit of info about France is 100% accurate. Stereotypes are addressed (like the one about the French wearing designer shoes 24/7) and landmarks are presented in an interesting, non-gimmicky way. Not that I'd use this as a guidebook for preparing for a trip to France--but if you're looking for culturally accurate travel fiction, this is the book I'd recommend.
IF YOU LIKED: Science fiction, particularly of the contemporary variety (think Future Eden)
CHECK OUT: Adaptation by Malinda Lo
I can't even think of the right genre for this book...sci-fi paranormal lesbian coming of age political adventure? Okay, let me put it this way: I've never read anything like it before. It's like The Birds meets The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (which I'll cover later) meets The Day The Earth Stood Still. Birds are attacking all over the country, and theories of an alien conspiracy abound...and in the middle of all this, a teenage girl survives a deadly accident and falls in love with another girl who may or may not play a role in the bird attacks. The love story is a little random, but in the larger context of the book it's a welcome surprise--especially since it turns the whole girl-falls-for-boy-and-disaster-brings-them-together trope on its ear. The SF thread is interesting, especially since it turns another genre convention on its ear--I can't explain that one without spoiling the book, so you'll have to take my word for it. If you're into the classics (think Michael Creighton, Ray Bradbury, Douglas Adams) I can't make any promises that this will be your cup of tea...but give it a shot anyway; you might be happy you did.
IF YOU LIKED: Paranormal romance (think Impossible by Nancy Werlin, possibly Twilight--sorry, I haven't read much paranormal romance so I don't have much to compare it to)
CHECK OUT: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
DISCLAIMER: DO NOT READ THESE AT NIGHT. Unless, of course, you're interested in bad dreams, or the creepy sensation of someone watching you. This is not just paranormal romance. This is paranormal everything. When you first start to read the book it's like, well, this isn't so bad. But then keep reading...and once you figure out what Mara's power is, the shit really hits the fan. Just the thought of this power being in the hands of a teenage girl is enough to turn stomachs. When you figure out why she had to uncover that power in the first place, it's enough to make a person throw up. But you'll keep reading...because you just have to know what happens next. And oddly enough, of the three love/romance stories I've just listed, this one features the most believable love interest, despite being the most far-fetched of plots. But that's just what Michelle Hodkin does: she takes an unbelievable plot and makes it feel eerily real. Given that this is one of the most terrifying books I've ever read, in this context that's both a blessing and a curse.
IF YOU LIKED: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
CHECK OUT: Big Trouble by Dave Barry
J.K. Rowling's sense of humor, particularly dark humor, might be unbeatable...but isn't there a saying about if you can't beat 'em, join 'em? Dave Barry's humor is more pointed and frequent, to be sure, but he has the same knack for bringing out the light in a dark situation. And he's got the same talent for creating a plot that has more twists, turns, and surprises than a Cedar Point roller coaster. Comparing The Casual Vacancy to Big Trouble answers the age-old question: What's as awesome as a book about a bunch of British people trying to get their shit together after a huge upheaval? A book about a bunch of Floridians trying to keep their shit together in the middle of a huge upheaval! A variety of humor, sassy police officers, attractive divorcees, drunken security guards, Kias, goats, exasperated hitmen, and mysterious (and hilarious!) Russian bartenders...need I say more? (P.S. This book was made into a movie starring Tim Allen, Zooey Deschanel, Janeane Garofalo, Stanley Tucci, and the late, great Dennis Farina...if that doesn't make you want to read it I don't know what will.)
IF YOU LIKED: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult
CHECK OUT: A Quiet Storm by Rachel Howzell Hall
The first time I read this book I didn't cry. I didn't have nightmares. I didn't stop and question everything I'd ever thought I'd known. There was none of that. No dramatics. I didn't throw the book across the room at the ending, like I did when I first read A Separate Peace. I just looked off into space and wondered how and why things like this were allowed to happen. And before you say "But it's fiction!" think about this: Mental illness is a thing...as is the concept of ignoring mental illness for the sake of "looking normal." What made me think of My Sister's Keeper is the concept of two sisters, the older dependent on the younger, but the younger feeling less valued than the older for various reasons. The idea of an illness (in this case mental) tearing a family to pieces. The idea of a family bond stretched to its breaking point. If you're looking for a novel that will take you to the moon and back emotionally, this one will do it. And you will laugh. Hard. And you will cry. Hard. Maybe, like me, you won't cry the first time you read it--but once I understood the story well enough, I couldn't hold back the tears.
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