Book Blog #209: Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

Title: Monsters of Men
Author: Patrick Ness
# of Pages: 603 (paperback)
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: Three armies march on New Prentisstown, each one intent on destroying the others. Todd and Viola are caught in the middle, with no chance of escape. As the battles commence, how can they hope to stop the fighting? How can there ever be peace when they're so hopelessly outnumbered?
Review: This is yet another book I meant to read three to four years ago but never got the chance to.

In the midst of my reading frenzy to finish the books on my to-read shelf I bought but no longer have a strong interest in, I was trying to put off this book as much as possible. It's the third book of a series I haven't read in years,  and I could remember the book that preceded it was lack-luster. To top it off, the book is relatively longer than the rest of the books on my to-read shelf. With these factors in mind, I knew this read would take around a week (it ended up only taking 5-6 days), and I wasn't sure if this book was worth my time.

But I decided to stop putting it off; the sooner I read it and got it over with the better off I would be. Grudgingly, I began reading this over 600 page book...

Which presents us with the first problem with Monsters of Men; it's unnecessarily long. Part of the book's lengthiness comes from the point-of-view switching, an aspect of the book that has carried over from the second book. Although there are some authors who can tell a story from different first person perspectives effectively, Ness makes each point of view overlap with one another which means the reader has to hear about each event at least twice.

Sure, some may say the POV switching is as important in this book as it is in Allegiant (Divergent #3). Yes, some events in the book may depend appear to rely on a POV switch to be able to be told at all. But both Monsters of Men and Allegiant could have been told from one perspective and still include all the important parts of the plot; it is up to the author to figure out how it can be done. To me, first person POV switching is a sign of sloppy writing and immediately weakens the immersion into the story.

The struggle between war and peace is central to the plot but the constant back-and-forth between the two drags on for way too long. Ness takes his time developing relationships and resolving conflicts between different characters which just drags the book on even longer. Not to mention how the book comes to an end, only for there to be an "additional side story!" that goes on for another 40 pages from yet ANOTHER perspective.

However, there are still some good themes in this book.

I almost didn’t want to read the Snowscape side story. I had finished reading Todd’s story; I don’t carry about the secondary characters. But Ness wrote this additional story to make his revenge theme even clearer. Dawson felt “the act of firing the middle” did not compensate for the loss of her husband” (p.641).

“But then, revenge never does, does it? Because everything you buy has a price that someone, somewhere has to pay” -p.642

Like in the book The Revenant, Monsters of Men reveals the negative aspects of revenge. However, while The Revenant focused on the damaging effects in the pursuit of revenge, MoM concentrated on displaying the effect during and after the revenge (not only shown during the side story but also through 1017 and his ongoing desire for revenge against Todd).

In the main part of the book, when Viola is pondering whether people’s Noise should be opened to everyone or closed within individuals, she suddenly thinks:

“Why can’t we learn to live with how we are? And whatever anybody chooses is okay by the rest of us?” -p.590

Viola’s thought applies to those beyond the New World. From his series consisting of both inner and outer species conflict and homosexual relationships such as 1017 with his one and Ben with Cillian in raising Todd, Ness’s message is clear: despite people’s differences, everyone should be able to live their lives as they truly are, not by how others believe lives should be led.

If you are okay with POV switching (which I clearly am not) and have already enjoyed the first two books, you will probably enjoy this book. However, although I cannot remember much of the first two books, Monsters of Men seems to be the weakest book in the trilogy.

Book Blog #208: The Revenant by Michael Punke

Title: The Revenant
Author: Michael Punke
# of Pages: 262 (paperback)
Genre: Fiction, Adventure, Historical Fiction
Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis: The year is 1823, and the trappers of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company live a brutal frontier life. Trapping beaver, they contend daily with the threat of Indian tribes turned warlike over the white men’s encroachment on their land, and other prairie foes—like the unforgiving landscape and its creatures. Hugh Glass is among the Company’s finest men, an experienced frontiersman and an expert tracker. But when a scouting mission puts him face-to-face with a grizzly bear, he is viciously mauled and not expected to survive. The Company’s captain dispatches two of his men to stay behind and tend to Glass before he dies, and to give him the respect of a proper burial. When the two men abandon him instead, taking his only means of protecting himself—including his precious gun and hatchet— with them, Glass is driven to survive by one desire: revenge. With shocking grit and determination, Glass sets out crawling inch by inch across more than three thousand miles of uncharted American frontier, negotiating predators both human and not, the threat of starvation, and the agony of his horrific wounds. In Michael Punke’s hauntingly spare and gripping prose, The Revenant is a remarkable tale of obsession, the human will stretched to its limits, and the lengths that one man will go to for retribution.
Review: This is not my type of book.

Although I like historical fiction (especially those with a stronger emphasis on the historical and less on the fiction), I have no interest in reading about people venturing through the American frontier. Learning about people "roughing it" is about as appealing as the idea of venturing out into the wilderness myself.

However, in 2015, the movie adaptation came out, and the action-packed trailer convinced me to watch it in theaters. I enjoyed it well enough, but I was grossed out by what Glass had to do to survive. The book was no different, except action scenes are less enjoyable and more chaotic than they are in the movies.

I also realized the movie had swerved away from the plot Punke created to make the movie more interesting to the general public. This is to be expected, but the climax and the fate of Fitzgerald, our antagonist, was completely altered to the point where the message against revenge is weakened. In the movie, Glass is told "revenge is in the Creator's hands" which later influences his actions in regards to achieving his revenge. In the book, Glass has a conversation with Kiowa, who says:

"'Why did you come to the frontier? To track down a common thief? To revel in a moment's revenge? I thought there was more to you than that'" -p.248

 The book is clearly against pursuing revenge (many of Glass's life-or-death struggles are folly as he ventures out for revenge instead of exploration) while the movie seems to support it. Although the movie may be more exciting, the book has the better message.

I rated this book four stars because it is well-written, not because I enjoyed it as much as other four star books. However, if you enjoy this kind of topic, I would recommend this book to you.

Book Blog #207: Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Title: Frostbite
Author: Richelle Mead
# of Pages: 327 (paperback)
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose... It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory. But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price.

Review: It amuses me how much the synopsis gives away. If you end up reading this book, I recommend rereading it after you finish.

The story is your typical YA paranormal-romance. Most of my thoughts on this book are the same as the first, with the biggest complaint being how unlikable Rose is as a protagonist. She is incredibly conceited and will not stop talking about how much better she looks than her mother.

“I might have my mom’s curvy figure and pretty face - though I could smugly say mine was much prettier than her nowadays....” (p.82)

“I wore a C-cup and had a body much covered in a school where most girls were supermodel slim. And as I’d noted earlier, my face was pretty to. On a typical day, I was a nine around here - ten on a very good one” (p.98).

By making a physically attractive main character, Mead neglects to make her personable. 

Despite this fatal flaw, this book was good enough to make me consider reading the next book. No, there is nothing mentally stimulating about this book, but it's an easy read and makes me intrigued about what will happen with the Rose, Dimitri, Lissa, and the rest (although it is fairly predictable from book 1). If you enjoyed the first book, you will enjoy the second just as much.

Book Blog #206: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Title: Turtle All the Way Down
Author: John Green
# of Pages: 286 (hardcover)
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Fiction
Rating:  ★★★★★
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis. Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.
Review: This is one of the best books I've read in a long time.

I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for John Green to publish a book following the big success he had with The Fault in Our Stars. Although I feared the book would not live up to my expectations, these worries were probably nothing compared to his own.

Luckily, Turtles All the Way Down far from disappoints.

“I can no more choose my thoughts than choose my name” - Aza, p.59

Green had me at page one. At first, I was skeptical of his writing style. The opening chapter included a long-winded account of her thoughts which came off as messy and unfocused. However, I soon realized that was the EXACTLY what Green was aiming for. Aza's struggle in dealing with invasive thoughts and anxiety reveals how difficult living a "normal" life can be with mental health issues. Her pain becomes the reader's pain; as Aza falls down into the spiral of her own thoughts, so will the reader.

My good lines are always stolen” Davis, p.145

Unlike Davis, Green's best lines are his own. Although not everyone will be able to relate to Aza, Green writes various philosophical ideas into the characters' dialogue that are beautifully, yet modernly worded. His writing style is an art form; it's captivating.

“The worst part of being truly alone is you think about all the times you wished that everyone would just leave you be. Then they do, and you are left being, and you turn out to be terrible company” (186).

The conflict Daisy has with Aza can be related to many different relationships other than theirs. Daisy knows Aza’s value as a friend, but struggles to deal with her friend’s anxiety and the impact it has on the normality of their friendship. The complexity of their relationship reflects difficulties people have with their own; both parties have blame to share. Daisy tries her best to be a supportive best friend but vents about Aza through her fan-fiction, which Aza sees as a betrayal. Although Aza should not be blamed for her anxiety and the various symptoms that come with it, it hurts Daisy that Aza can’t look out for her as much as she would like. Neither character is evil nor do they have evil intent in their unfavorable actions, but both are human and have their share of faults. This is part of what makes me love this book; the characters are REAL.

“Gravity differs from affection: Only one is constant” Davis, p.189

Since TFIOS did so well, I was expecting another love story. I was not entirely wrong, yet I was also not entirely right. Yes, a good portion of the book is concentrated around Davis and Aza's relationship. However, an almost equally large portion is focused on Aza and Daisy's friendship and the difficulties they have working out their differences. Life is not all about love, as many contemporary romance YA books like people to believe. There are many types of relationships that are complex in different ways: ones with friends, parents (or lack there of), siblings, etc. Green story explores many of these, making the story feel more real and meaningful.

“The madness of wealth. Sometimes you think you’re spending money, but all along the money’s spending you. But only if you worship it. You serve whatever you worship” (269).

Davis's father had immense wealth, which made it only natural for the topic of money and its influence. I recently wrote a paper for a project addressing a very similar topic: how money affects happiness. Green's message rings true; obsession with money can control you in the worst way possible. However, being wealthy does not automatically make a person greedy and misguided as long as the person does not let the money take over their lives.

“In real life, some things get better and some things get worse. And then eventually you die” p.276

Turtles All the Way Down is not entirely different from The Fault in Our Stars. The deromanticization of life is theme that can be seen in both books. In TFIOS, Green talks about how life ends abruptly, unlike stories that usually end with some closure of the chapter in the characters' lives. In Turtles All the Way Down, Green emphasizes how life before death is not like a typical story either; there may be ups and downs but there is no promised "happy ending," no guaranteed rising action, climax, and falling action. Life is just what happen before you die.

For John Green fans and non-John-Green fans alike: I recommend this book to you 100%.

Book Blog #205: Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz

Title: Snakehead
Author: Anthony Horowitz
# of Pages: 388 (paperback)
Genre: YA, Action, Adventure
Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis: When Alex Rider crash-lands off the coast of Australia, the Australian Secret Service recruits him to infiltrate one of the ruthless gangs operating across Southeast Asia. Known as snakeheads, the gangs smuggle drugs, weapons, and worst of all, people. Alex accepts the assignment, in part for the chance to work with his godfather and learn more about his parents. What he uncovers, however, is a secret that will make this his darkest and most dangerous mission yet . . . and the knowledge that his old nemesis, Scorpia, is anything but out of his life.
Review: Alex Rider books never fail to follow the basic plot Horowitz created: Alex receives some cool gadgets, gets incredibly lucky in defeating the enemy, and returns home to try to return to his normal life. This book is no different. Sorry, I just spoiled the book for you.

Although lacking in originality from the preceding books, it was exactly what I expected from Snakehead; those who enjoyed the first six books will also enjoy this one.

Book Blog #204: Reborn by C.C. Hunter

Title: Reborn
Author: C.C. Hunter
# of Pages: 400 (paperback)
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: For Della Tsang, Shadow Falls isn't just a camp: it's home. As a vampire who's never fit in with her human family, it's the one place she can truly be herself. But when a mysterious new guy arrives at camp, Della’s whole world is thrown into turmoil. Chase is a vampire with secrets, who knows more than he’s telling. But the more time she spends with him, the more she begins to trust this attractive stranger—and feel drawn to him. But romance is the last thing she wants—as she keeps telling Steve, the hunky shapeshifter who won’t stop trying to win her heart. And if Della isn't careful, he just might succeed.　 When a new case puts everyone she cares about in danger, Della’s determined to do everything she can to save them . . . even if it means teaming up with Steve and Chase, who leave her more confused than ever. With their lives on the line, will Della and her friends survive—with their hearts intact?
Review: This is one of those books where I know I should give it a lower rating. Why am I such a sucker for paranormal-romance?

It's been years since I read and fell in love with the Shadow Falls series. I purchased this book right around when I finished the main series because I loved Kylie's story and couldn't get enough of the characters. However, Reborn, along with many other books I purchased around the same time, have been sitting on my shelf for too long and my taste in books has changed. After just reading the Savage Drift and not enjoying it, I was concerned I would have a similar experience with Reborn.

The problems with Reborn could also be applied to every book in the Shadow Falls series. I believe I failed to mention it in my reviews for Whispers at Moonrise and Chosen at Nightfall, but most of the characters like to censor themselves despite them all being in their late teens. I'm not saying that all teens curse (but let's be honest, a lot of them do), but it would be much more natural and age appropriate if the characters actually cussed instead of saying "B with an itch." Hunter may have avoided including a lot of cursing in her books to broaden her potential audience, however, not censoring words such as "damn" and "hell" is enough to deter readers who care about strong language from reading the book. If Hunter was uncomfortable with putting cursing or using the correct terminology for reproductive organs in her book, she could have omitted it completely, and the dialogue would have sound much more natural than it does now.

It is very important for the reader to have already read the Shadow Falls series; most of the supernatural concepts are better explained in the original series than in Reborn. This series definitely cannot stand alone. As far as originality, it does not seem that different from the typical paranormal-romance book; two guys who like one girl (Della). Cliché and predictable, Reborn was giving me every reason to rate it two stars. However, there's something about the way Hunter writes the romantic scenes that makes the book addictive (halfway through the book, I told myself there was no way I was going to continue reading this series, but by the time I finished, I found myself wanting to know more about Della's love life even though deep down I already know Della is going to end up with Chase). There are even times when Kylie, Miranda, and/or Della are giving relationship advice to each other that seem overly abstract and unrealistic, but despite those poorly written segments, I still found enjoyment in reading Della's story.

I would recommend this book to those in their early teens (I believe this is Hunter's target audience), and only to those who have already read the Shadow Falls series. At this current time, I don't think I will read the rest of the series but it's not entirely out of the question.

Book Blog #203: Savage Drift by Emmy Laybourne

Title: Savage Drift
Author: Emmy Laybourne
# of Pages: 305 (paperback)
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopian
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Synopsis: It's over. Dean, Alex, and the other survivors of the Monument 14 have escaped the disaster zone and made it to the safety of a Canadian refugee camp. Some of the kids have been reunited with their families, and everyone is making tentative plans for the future. And then, Niko learns that his lost love, Josie, has survived! Or is it? For Josie, separated from the group and presumed dead, life has gone from bad to worse. Trapped in a terrible prison camp with other exposed O’s and traumatized by her experiences, she has given up all hope of rescue. Meanwhile, scared by the government’s unusual interest in her pregnancy, Astrid—along with her two protectors, Dean and Jake—joins Niko on his desperate quest to be reunited with Josie.
Review: I read the first two books of the Monument 14 trilogy almost three years ago. In this time, not only have I forgotten most of the characters and the whole plot, but also my love, and the main stream audience's love, for dystopian science fiction has drastically dwindled. However, since I owned a copy of this book for some reason or another three years ago (I didn't like the preceding two book very much - what made me think this one would be any better?), I decided to read it regardless if I'd be able to follow the story or not.

What I do applaud Laybourne for is how quickly she was able to summarize the plot of Monument 14 and Sky on Fire. At the very beginning of the book, Laybourne includes Alex's letter to the editors of a newspaper which succinctly retells the story of how the survivors of the Monument 14 made it to the Canadian camp and conveniently lists all of the main and supporting characters' names and ages. While I would otherwise find this method irritatingly sloppy, I appreciated the refresher and how Laybourne craftily incorporated the letter into the plot.

More characters are introduced than were necessary, especially the younger children. Characters such as Chloe, Caroline, and Henry, the children who were part of the trilogy since book one could have easily been condensed into one character. The same could be said of Heather, Aiden, and Freddy; one child would have been sufficient in revealing Josie's cold yet protective nature. Developing so many different characters was overkill.

While every teenager mentally develops at their own pace, I expected more maturity from the older characters, especially Dean and Jake. Their constant bickering may have meant to come off as childish, but I was never sympathetic with either of them, only annoyed. I would rather have felt Dean's frustrations with having to deal with the loser baby father hanging around his girlfriend, but Laybourne made his narrative sound immature and even a little creepy (he wanted to play with Astrid's bellybutton? Seriously?).

Laybourne is constantly using labels to describe side characters: a Latino man, a Chinese nurse, a man with a "Jersey-gangster" accent. I've never been so aware of the race/ethnicity/origin of the characters in a book until now. Laybourne uses these stereotypes to shortcut her way through describing insignificant characters even though most of the time these labels are not even relevant to the character's development nor the story. It would be better if Laybourne left these details up for interpretation.

Most reader who have made it to the third book already like Laybourne's writing style. To these people, I would recommend this book to because from what I can tell, this story is just as enjoyable as the others. To those who are still on the fence, if you are interested in a low-level YA read that is short and shallow, this is your book.

Book Blog #202: A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Title: A Clash of Kings
Author: George R.R. Martin
# of Pages: 969 (paperback)
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: A comet the colour of blood and flame cuts across the sky. And from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk at night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.
Review: If you want to get technical, it took me over a year to read this book.

The details are more revealing: I started this book in July but only made it about 300 pages in before putting it away because it was too tedious to read. I was able to read (on and off) remaining 600-700 pages in 3-4 months. It's probably one of the longest times I've spent reading a single book, and the thousand pages it is made up of is no excuse.

I found it is a lot easier for me to keep up with the numerous characters by watching the HBO series, although watching the story beyond the book made me less interested in reading the book, so be weary of that. Overall, A Clash of Kings is probably as good if not better than A Game of Thrones, but due to the extended amount of time I spent reading it, it is difficult for me to compare.

Everything I've said in my review for A Game of Thrones still applies; although each character has an interesting perspective on the main plot, the third person POV switching is disruptive as some narratives are more interesting than others. The writer's style, especially of the battle scenes, are often overly descriptive and make it difficult for me to follow and stay engaged with the story.

If you like the first book, you will like this one just  as much. If you did not like A Game of Thrones, I would advise you not read the second.

Book Blog #201: The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

Title: The Mayor of Casterbridge
Author: Thomas Hardy
# of Pages: 231 (PDF)
Genre: Classics, Fiction, Literature
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: In a fit of drunken anger, Michael Henchard sells his wife and baby daughter for five guineas at a country fair. Over the course of the following years, he manages to establish himself as a respected and prosperous pillar of the community of Casterbridge, but behind his success there always lurk the shameful secret of his past and a personality prone to self-destructive pride and temper. Subtitled ‘A Story of a Man of Character’, Hardy’s powerful and sympathetic study of the heroic but deeply flawed Henchard is also an intensely dramatic work, tragically played out against the vivid backdrop of a close-knit Dorsetshire town.
Review: This classic took me longer than usual to read, most likely because I didn't have the pressure of school deadlines to keep me reading. As far as Victorian classics go, The Mayor of Casterbridge is pretty standard - a mundane setting with the characters being interconnected and overdramatic plot-twists.

I became interested in reading this book because of an excerpt I read in an AP test; it decently easy to read and the conflict between father (Henchard) and daughter (Elizabeth-Jane) was strange; I wanted to know more about why this father rejected her daughter so cruelly. While the story was interesting, the ridiculousness of some of the characters' actions made the story less compelling than the excerpt seemed to portray. For its time period, it is a good read, and if it were to be written again with a more modern style, it would probably rival many well-written young adult novels.

For a classic, it is not as enlightening as others I have read; the themes of love, loyalty, and duty are all ones I've seen before. However, it is (or at least should be) a quick read and like all classics gives the reader a peek into the lifestyle of that time period. I would recommend reading this book if you're to-be-read shelf is a bit empty and you feel you have time to do some close reading.

Book Blog #200: The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

Title: The White Darkness
Author: Geraldine McCaughrean
# of Pages: 373
Genre: YA, Adventure, Fiction
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
Synopsis: Sym is not your average teenage girl. She is obsessed with the Antarctic and the brave, romantic figure of Captain Oates from Scott's doomed expedition to the South Pole. In fact, Oates is the secret confidant to whom she spills all her hopes and fears. But Sym's uncle Victor is even more obsessed—and when he takes her on a dream trip into the bleak Antarctic wilderness, it turns into a nightmarish struggle for survival that will challenge everything she knows and loves.
Review: When I found this book in the pile of books the LIBRARY was giving away for free, I knew I should have been suspicious. Obviously wasn't a big hit and for obvious reasons.

McCaughrean should go back to writing children's books because she can't seem to create a protagonist that would suite any reading level. Sym claims to be fourteen but has the mentality of an eight year old. When there are obvious red flags alerting her of something being off, she is easily distracted by her Uncle dangling the "going to Antartica" carrot in front of her face.

Almost every single character is a blubbering fool. Sure, I'd expect that of the characters McCaughrean hopes for the reader to dislike, but SYM is one of the greatest fools of them all. She falls for every trick in the book, and the reader is suppose to admire her when she gets out of the mess she helped get herself into? I don't think so.

The author would like the reader to think she's a nerdy, hipster teenage girl who just can't fit in with the regular high school crowd. Everyone loves an underdog, right? Except she's not misunderstood; it would be hard for ANYONE to fit into the stereotypical high school environment McCaughrean creates for her characters. The people Sym considers to be friends are shallow and extremely sex-driven, which makes me wonder why she's friends with them in the first place or why they are friends with her since her character seems to clash so much with theirs. If Sym's school is just as crappy as her Uncle describes, there is usually some sort of community outside of school that Sym could take solace in. Sym isn't even that different from the norm is respect to her intellect; sure she knows a lot more about the Antarctic than most, but she fails to be an independent thinker and can't read between the lines until the truth is practically spelled out in front of her.

Sometimes a book can win me over with a stellar ending, but McCaughrean only made my perception of her book even worse. Mike accidentally hitting on a fourteen year old girl (our protagonist) makes the whole situation uncomfortable for both the characters and the reader. Mike's claim that everyone wanted to ask her out makes it even worse; the whole crew seems to be full of pedophiles who are attracted by her "accomplishment" of surviving rather than her as a person. Sure, they can claim that she appears to be mature enough to be an adult, but this girl just brushed shoulders with death. She wouldn't be wearing any makeup to hide her age nor would she be well enough to look OLDER; if anything, her starved state would probably make her look frailer and younger. To top it off, I couldn't see any significant growth in mental maturity after her journey; she may have recognized how gullible she could be, but I bet she would fall for it again if it happened to her in the future.

Sym doesn't make matters any better by flirting with Mike and suggesting that they get together in a couple of years. I find it hard to believe that a girl who barley made it out of the South Pole alive would be in any condition to be expressing some sort of newfound sexual confidence. As this is the closer for the book, I'm not sure if the reader is suppose to feel proud of this girl for becoming just like her friends; flirty and shallow rather than humbled and wiser.

I could go on and on about this book's flaws (such as how the story claims to take place in the "present day" when references to the state of technology back in 2005 obviously date the book to NOT the present day. This could have easily been fixed by saying the book took place in 2005/2006; obviously the author did not predict the longevity of her book's shelf life), but I don't want to waste anymore of my time on this book. Under no circumstances would I recommend this book to anyone.

Book Blog #199: War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

Title: War Horse
Author: Michael Morpurgo
# of Pages: 165 (paperback)
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Animal
Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis: In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey's courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer's son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again?
Review: The Young Adult genre spans a great range of books, some being appropriate for those early in their elementary school years to those well into adulthood. There are a few tell-tale signs of a book border-lining the children's section; the size of the font (with the exception of the large print editions), the design of the cover/binding, the absence of graphic details of the war that is such a key part of setting the scene for this story, not to mention some of the questions on Goodreads asking for the answers for the AR quiz.

I've been avoiding children's books like the plague because many of them have predictable, simplistic plot with overused themes that I have no interest in. But War Horse has been sitting on my to-read shelf for too long, and I figured I might as well try to read it as I am a glutton for anything involving horses.

While I was correct that this book was written for the younger end of the Young Adult readers, the story had more maturity than other books of similar outward appearance to this one. I was surprised to find the story told through the perspective of a horse, which is incredibly refreshing as many stories told about animals would more easily by through a human. The only complaint is that the narration of the horse sounded a bit too human. Although I wouldn't know how horses perceive the world around them, it would have been more interesting if the horse more descriptively depicted his surroundings rather than using so much human terminology.

And while I did cry during several point of this book, I can't credit the story 100% for this. There were a few lines that reminded myself of my current situation and mental state which made me cry in empathy. But perhaps that since it did such a great job being relatable, I should credit it after all...?

Although it still is a children's book and reads similarly to a children's book, it has exceeded my expectations and was a touching, short read that I don't regret. I would recommend it, especially to those in late elementary school and middle school age.

Book Blog #198: Walking with Bilbo by Sarah Arthur

Title: Walking with Bilbo
Author: Sarah Arthur
# of Pages: 224 (paperback)
Genre: Nonfiction, Religious, Christian
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: The author of Walking with Frodo takes readers on an adventure of faith with this devotional that relates themes from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit to living the Christian life. Unlike the fateful quest Frodo was asked to carry out, Bilbo's journey came as an unexpected adventure. Readers will be reminded that God chooses us to be unlikely heroes in the adventure of life.
Review: I thought this was some sort of spin-off of The Hobbit. If I knew what Walking with Bilbo was really about, I would never have bought this book from that book fair.

I did buy it, without knowing anything about it, and it sat on my bookshelf for years. I was reluctant to read it as it's been a while since I read The Hobbit, but I figured I'd get it off my to-read shelf.

When I realized it was relating The Hobbit to the Christian life, I admit I was put-off immediately. I had no interest in reading about a religious book recreationally, especially since it was written for a Christian audience (the majestic plural irks me). I was ready to give the book away, but since I had already bought it, I cracked it open and gave the first chapter a shot.

To my surprise, this book wasn't some haughty proclamation of The Hobbit being a Christian allegory; the author's voice in the book was casual and merely discussed how the themes found in The Hobbit are similar to the themes found in the Bible.

Yes, Walking with Bilbo IS meant for a Christian audience, so if you are bothered for whatever reason of the discussion of Christianity, this is not the book for you. However, keep in mind that you can still read this with an atheist's mindset and still enjoy this book (after all, religion plays a key part in many respected pieces of literature, and one can find analysis related to religion interesting without actually believing in that religion).

If you are at all interested, YES read it. I don't regret reading it, but going back I would not buy this book because although it was interesting, it is not the type of book I am currently interested in (it's RELIGIOUS and NONFICTION for goodness sake). However, it exceeded expectations and gives you exactly what it says it will.

Book Blog #197: Half Bad by Sally Green

Title: Half Bad
Author: Sally Green
# of Pages: 394 (paperback)
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and sixteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his seventeenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?
Review: I received a lot of grief for reading this book. Everyone who found out I was reading it told me it was a bad book or thought that a story about witches was ridiculous.

It was interesting that Green decided to call these all of these magical beings, regardless of gender, "witches" as it is more common (somewhat more accepted by society) to call the males wizards. But to each their own. Despite the criticize my friends had for this book, it's not half bad (see what I did there?). Especially for an author's first book, the story was actually quite interesting for a book that I expected to be a cliche paranormal-romance.

What I liked the most about that book is, although there is an underlying romantic plot, the story is mostly driven by Nathan's bond he has with his family and the way he refuses to believe in social norms. His character is rough, snarky, yet likable and definitely well developed.

Half Bad is an easy, quick read (especially since I spent the past year only reading classics...). While it did exceed my expectations, it did not reach the level of depth I am searching for in a book. I can't think of comparable books right now (perhaps Amanda Hocking's books? or Shatter Me?), but if you are looking for a read that has a plot that is simple to understand, this is a good book for you. As for me, I don't plan on reading the rest of the series.

Book Blog #196: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Title: Death of a Salesman
Author: Arthur Miller
# of Pages: 139 (paperback)
Genre: Fiction, Plays, Classics
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: Willy Loman, the protagonist of "Death of a Salesman," has spent his life following the American way, living out his belief in salesmanship as a way to reinvent himself. But somehow the riches and respect he covets have eluded him. At age 63, he searches for the moment his life took a wrong turn, the moment of betrayal that undermined his relationship with his wife and destroyed his relationship with Biff, the son in whom he invested his faith. Willy lives in a fragile world of elaborate excuses and daydreams, conflating past and present in a desperate attempt to make sense of himself and of a world that once promised so much.
Review: I've been slacking on my reviews. Even though it's been less than a week since I finished reading this play, I'm already having difficulties recalling my immediate reaction after reading the ending.

The beginning of the script is difficult to read, mostly because it is setting the scene. Since I was traveling during the weekend when I was suppose to be reading this book, I had watched the first half of the movie before I read it (I know; I'm violating my own motto, but plays should be watched not read anyway). The movie really helped me get into the book, although I still haven't finished the movie because I'm waiting to watch it in class. Once you get passed the beginning part of the play, the story flows really well...but it's depressing (like most of the literature I've read for school this year).

It's so short, you could read it in one sitting. I would definitely recommend it!

Book Blog #195: As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

Title: As I Lay Dying
Author: William Faulkner
# of Pages: 267 (paperback)
Genre: Fiction, Classics
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis: As I Lay Dying is Faulkner's harrowing account of the Bundren family's odyssey across the Mississippi countryside to bury Addie, their wife and mother. Told in turns by each of the family members—including Addie herself—the novel ranges in mood from dark comedy to the deepest pathos.
Review: I'm definitely writing this review very, very late. Over a month late to be exact.

The worst part of this situation is that I don't remember how much I like/dislike this book. I know for sure that it wasn't my favorite; any book the changes POV isn't going to go over well with me. It wasn't terrible either, but I would never read it again.

From what I can remember, I didn't value the message of this book as I did other classics I've read recently. As someone who has such a different lifestyle from the Bundren family, it is very difficult for me to relate to the characters although this story has helped me learn of different type of life than my own. But the level of dysfunction in the Bundren family is disturbing.

I don't regret reading this book, but I don't think I would have been missing much if I didn't read it. Therefore, I don't recommend this book.

Book Blog #194: The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin

Title: The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
# of Pages: 4 (pdf)
Genre: Short Stories, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis: In this short story, Le Guin describes the utopian city of Omelas during the Festival of Summer.
Review: "If the hypothesis were offered us of a world in which Messrs. Fourier's and Bellamy's and Morris's utopias should all be outdone, and millions kept permanently happy on the one simple condition that a certain lost soul on the far-off edge of things should lead a life of lonely torture, what except a specific and independent sort of emotion can it be which would make us immediately feel, even though an impulse arose within us to clutch at the happiness so offered, how hideous a thing would be its enjoyment when deliberately accepted as the fruit of such a bargain?" - William James

This question is what The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas is based upon.

(Since this book is so short, the whole review beyond this point will be a spoiler.)

Yet another book inexplicably recommended by BTS,  I was surprised to find this book significantly shorter than Demian. However, don't be fooled by its size; it is just as thought-provoking as many other books.

The narration is refreshing; I felt like I was sitting with a new acquaintance trying to convince me of the beauty and peacefulness of this unknown Omelas city. Not knowing at all what this short story was going to be about, I was perfectly willing to accept the fact that Omelas was the definition of perfection, but the narrator's insistence that my imagination was not doing this fictional city justice was amusing.

But my favorite part was the tonal shift when the narrator finally drops the strangely pushy positivity to reveal the city's sole imperfection; the lonely child who's suffering allows everyone else to live in their utopia. The fact that it is a child who seems to be forced to sacrifice "it's" (as it is referred to in story) happiness gave me chills up my spine. While Le Guin most likely uses the it pronoun to keep the child gender neutral, I found it interesting how dehumanizing is was. The child used to be able to talk, but its seclusion has degraded its speech to animalistic noises. This dehumanization of the child makes it easier for the Omelas to let go of their guilt and live happily.

This brings us back to the question of whether it is right to sacrifice one person's happiness for the greater good of others. The people who live in Omelas seem to think so, especially since the child is out of sight and out of mind. As a reader, this does not feel the right choice; if I were in the child's shoes, I would not want to be the one chosen to suffer while everyone else to live prosperously. Leaving the Omelas does not feel like the right choice either; while it lessens the person's guilt, it does not end the paradox. The best option would be never to agree to the conditions in the first place, assuming the people of the city would live similarly to how we are today. Yes, there would be a greater amount of suffering, but at least everyone would have free will (which opens up a different can of worms, but we won't get into that).

We can find that this situation exists in real life; the wealthy upper class is living the high life while the lower classes struggle and suffer for their benefit. The prosperous may visit the poor, but more often than not, nothing is done to fix their difference.

There's no clear right answer. It's been almost 24 hours since I read this story, and I'm still wrestling with the question is presents. I recommend you read the story for yourself and form your own opinion.

Book Blog #193: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Title: Frankenstein
Author: Mary Shelley
# of Pages: 273 (paperback)
Genre: Fiction, Classics, Horror
Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis: At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.
Review: I usually put the recommendation at the end, but I want to say this now: EVERYONE should read this book.


Frankenstein, as Frankenstein's monster is commonly mislabeled, is nothing like the costumes children wear during Halloween. Unlike other great works such as Romeo and Juliet, pop culture's version of the story has been warped beyond recognition.

Are there problems with living in solitude when people are social beings by nature? How much does appearance affect how accepted people are in society? What does revenge truly accomplish? These are only a few question this book has strove to answer.

I couldn't help but compare Frankenstein's monster with other "monsters" such as Wicked's Elphaba and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. Although the monster does not marry a beauty nor run away with a scarecrow, he faces the same rejection from society due to his unusual appearance just as Elphaba faces scorn from her classmates because of her green skin. Although the monster is compassionate, people are quick to shut him out of their lives because of his scary image similarly to how Glinda is loved over Elphaba despite Elphaba's "strange" appearance. With so many labelling the monster a "wretch" and "vile being," he needs someone to love him to prevent him convincing himself that he IS what people call him. The Beast is only "saved" when someone (Beauty) sees past his beastly looks to his true personality, and Frankenstein's monster REALLY needed to have at least one person on his side...

In the end, the reader can feel pity for both the monster and Victor Frankenstein, although perhaps for different reasons. Victor is incredibly self-centered yet his intentions were not innately evil which prevents the reader from completely hating him. Yet in the same turn neither character can be truly loved by the reader due to their actions/decisions.

A very interesting read and one of my favorite classics.