Hello, y'all! Remember how I said that I would catch up on reviews? Well, here they are!
![]()
The Queen of the Tearling - Erika Johansen | Goodreads
On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.
Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.
But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend…if she can survive.
The Queen of the Tearling introduces readers to a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games, with characters as vivid and intriguing as those of The Game of Thrones, and a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns, it is a magnificent debut from the talented Erika Johansen.
This book is important for the author's perspective on heroines: yes, it is good to have heroines all shapes and sizes. I thought that Kelsea being plain, and her subsequent vanity in evaluating others, men and women alike, was a good flaw to round out her character. It is true that a lot of fellow readers seem to have had issue with her characterization (see: various Goodreads reviews), but it also felt realistic for Kelsea to struggle with what I would perceive as something younger, like looking at people and not seeing them yet as a queen might, but as a teenager with little exposure to the world. It's one step in Kelsea's character growth, toward her not becoming like her mother and becoming the leader the Tearling needs. She's a realistic version of a nineteen-year-old bookworm raised to rule a queendom.
The Queen of the Tearling is a high fantasy that does not read as such: it is so smooth and easy to read that despite not being entirely engaged in the story, I continued to read until the very end. Though the Medieval x The Future world-building sometimes confused me, I am intrigued by the hints Johansen has dropped as to the Crossing and other elements being explored in future novels. The magic reminded me a bit of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and the premise itself a bit too. I had a slight nitpick throughout the novel: if her caretakers took an oath to her mother not to reveal Elyssa's worst side, why would they volunteer to be Kelsea's caretakers? Let someone else who's unbound do the job! How can she be expected to rule well when they then are forced to keep her ignorant? I was very, very frustrated by this element of the plot / that decision of various side characters, so I guess I bonded more deeply to Kelsea than others might have. A promising start to a new high fantasy series with plenty of crossover appeal.
P.S. - Ask me in the comments about the comparison titles if you're curious.
Quiet - Susan Cain | Goodreads
This extraordinary book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how introverts see themselves.
A good way of knowing whether you'd be interested in this book is if you like Susan Cain's TED talk. I loved it, but I'd already known that I was going to read this book because of a three hour conversation that I'd had with a fellow introvert neuroscience major on The Extraversion Ideal in the U.S. For some reason, though, Quiet wasn't as empowering as I thought it would be - perhaps because I'd first started it in college and stopped because I'd grown too emotional to continue reading. Then, of course, me being me, I didn't get back to reading - this time listening to - the book until over two years later. Regardless, though, this was an interesting book. The section on flow was golden, as was the end on Alice in Wonderland. There were several moments when I was scrabbling for a pen to write post-its with jumbled thoughts and inspiration from what Cain had said. I would definitely recommend Quiet to struggling introverts or people interested in psychology (as one of my coworkers said, "Quiet's fucking awesome!"). The audiobook, too, was especially a joy because the narrator speaks with this soft voice that's just perfect for a book about introversion and "speaking softly." It didn't at all feel like a lecture; it kept my attention throughout train rides and little jobs at work, and was a complete joy to listen to even if I hadn't completely liked everything that was discussed... and isn't that the mark of a good book?
*Note: I don't normally review nonfiction, but Quiet's a nice book and maybe some of you are interested in its premise. I thought I'd at least mention this gem.
![]()
Scarlet March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.
Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?
In my opinion, a great way of knowing whether or not you'll like the book is whether you like the synopsis. It seems very much like a book that delivers exactly what it promises (read the synopsis carefully, though, so you don't get angry at me ha!), and has a good balance of action and romance. The audio is a great option if you are interested because the narrators perfectly reflect the characters's individual personalities and I never once forgot whether it was Rosie or Scarlet narrating. Plus the great Southern twang added an extra layer of atmosphere to the bit that Jackson Pearce had already established. And for all you Maggie Stiefvater fans, I think Jackson Pearce is one of her friends, and somehow while reading the romance, I was reminded of one of Maggie's; there's a quirky, almost atmospheric element (?) - I'm not entirely sure how to describe it, only that I suspect MS romance fans would like the SR romance. Rosie/Silas is also a good pair for people who ship (I don't ship in the normal way, so...). Pick this one up for a good dose of romance and the Red Riding Hood hunting wolves blend.
![]()
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.
In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.
Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.
For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .
Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.
This was definitely the best book of the series so far in my opinion. It had the best balance of romance and action and the dual points of view was a good dynamic to explore Adrian and Sydney's individual character arcs as well as the rapidly expanding plot. I can't remember many of the details from the other novels, but I could definitely understand having two PoVs here - and they really highlighted, for me, what I'd already known about their already well established chemistry (their character arcs are similar in scope, but different in situational events and how they react based on what each one gets from their relationship). Sydney's character growth is absolutely phenomenal . Whenever I pictured Sydney in Reeducation, I pictured her actually regressing to the point where she flinches from Adrian and the others, but Richelle Mead threw me a new one. Sydney grows so much more than Rose; and as much as I loved Rose, Sydney is probably one of my all-time favorite heroines. There are some interesting developments related to the politics of the world, and The Ruby Circle... well, it may very well be the best book of the series. Certainly has that promise. I'm very much looking forward to TRC, and if you haven't read this series yet but are a fan of VA, what are you waiting for?
![]()
The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.
Now, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.
FEED is the electrifying and critically acclaimed novel of a world a half-step from our own---a novel of geeks, zombies, politics and social media.
I've lost count of how many times this book has been recommended to me by bloggers over the years. As such I think my expectations were a bit higher than normal, but this book still surprised me. I have a few issues with this book: a.) there are a lot of info dumps about the world; b.) because of a, the fact that there was less action seemed to stand out more; and c.) the villains needed a bit more development. Zombies are not my favorite creatures because they're inherently uninteresting opponents (if they can't think, what's the point? At least vampires are often cruel and cunning), but the zombies were not the major villains and those who were needed to be more... interesting. However, in the end, none of those took away my ultimate enjoyment of the novel.
First off, I would DEFINITELY recommend reading this book on audio if you have the chance. I think that I might've liked this less in print, but the audio narrator was FANTASTIC. She brought Georgia's snark to life and the emotional moments were heart-breaking. I nearly ugly cried while on the train. The narrator took what was a good story and made it absolutely amazing entertainment. Those info dumps were much more entertaining coming from her than if I'd read them alone. As for the plot, well, I'd read so many Goodreads reviews about unpredictable twists and ohmygosh, the ending and etc. etc., and I'd been quite arrogant, thinking: pfft, what are they talking about? Heh. This book threw me a new one. I was not prepared in the least, especially for the emotion. You might not expect that gut impact from a book on zombies, but this book isn't really about the zombies. They're incidental. They create a scary future where you're always watching your back when you're out and about, but cliché as it is to say this, they're not the worst enemy; sometimes the threat is much closer to home. As envisioned here, especially in the political sphere. Feed, to me, was also more about the bond between Georgia and Shaun (one of the best brother/sister relationships out there -- definitely reminded me of a mix of mine with all three of my brothers), the dynamic between the team of journalists/bloggers that they employ, and the future of journalism and social media as envisioned by Mira Grant. An interesting and unusual lens on a post-apocalyptic future; and a novel that I can see many bloggers liking because of their identification with Grant's vision for their future.
![]()
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
Do not read this audiobook. It's not that Jim Dale is a bad reader, but it's almost like hearing that it's from Jim Dale might raise your expectations in the way that it raised mine. I expected more from him. He’s like that grandfather telling you a tale by the campfire, but the grandfather doesn’t try to imitate other voices because he's used to telling stories his own way. Dale changes his tone slightly, but it’s not enough that I always knew who was speaking. He's particularly good with the voices of children and older men, but I... wanted more, I guess. Plus the story, I think, is a little less suited to an audiobook because it’s SUCH a detail oriented story.
When I listen to audiobooks, I'm about 90% engaged; I'm generally multi-tasking, but the audio still has a significant portion of my attention, enough that I've never really had a problem with my method until I read this novel. If you’re a reader who likes descriptions, this is your book. I thought I was that reader, but listening to the audiobook meant that I missed a lot of descriptions. I’d be working on something and then there it was, another element that I’d missed somewhere and it turned out that that element would be crucial to Cecilia and Marco's conversation. The story also takes a little bit to get started, so my attention wandered even before we got into the fine details. The magical element is quite something though, especially when considered beside these strange characters, quirky and accepted as they are, a la Maggie Stiefvater. I could see it as a particularly fun website or game, some sort of unusual adaptation to bring this magical circus to life, and all the wonders it contains. I didn’t fall for the book as hard as I wanted to, but I suspect that I would if it were brought to life somehow. Also I can't tell how much of my experience was due to the audiobook or the actual story, so maybe I'll reread my hardcover when I visit home. Still quite magical though.
![]()
Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Septys | Goodreads
Release Date: July 8, 2014
Published by: HarperCollins
On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.
Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.
But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend…if she can survive.
The Queen of the Tearling introduces readers to a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games, with characters as vivid and intriguing as those of The Game of Thrones, and a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns, it is a magnificent debut from the talented Erika Johansen.
This book is important for the author's perspective on heroines: yes, it is good to have heroines all shapes and sizes. I thought that Kelsea being plain, and her subsequent vanity in evaluating others, men and women alike, was a good flaw to round out her character. It is true that a lot of fellow readers seem to have had issue with her characterization (see: various Goodreads reviews), but it also felt realistic for Kelsea to struggle with what I would perceive as something younger, like looking at people and not seeing them yet as a queen might, but as a teenager with little exposure to the world. It's one step in Kelsea's character growth, toward her not becoming like her mother and becoming the leader the Tearling needs. She's a realistic version of a nineteen-year-old bookworm raised to rule a queendom.
The Queen of the Tearling is a high fantasy that does not read as such: it is so smooth and easy to read that despite not being entirely engaged in the story, I continued to read until the very end. Though the Medieval x The Future world-building sometimes confused me, I am intrigued by the hints Johansen has dropped as to the Crossing and other elements being explored in future novels. The magic reminded me a bit of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and the premise itself a bit too. I had a slight nitpick throughout the novel: if her caretakers took an oath to her mother not to reveal Elyssa's worst side, why would they volunteer to be Kelsea's caretakers? Let someone else who's unbound do the job! How can she be expected to rule well when they then are forced to keep her ignorant? I was very, very frustrated by this element of the plot / that decision of various side characters, so I guess I bonded more deeply to Kelsea than others might have. A promising start to a new high fantasy series with plenty of crossover appeal.
P.S. - Ask me in the comments about the comparison titles if you're curious.
Quiet - Susan Cain | Goodreads
Release Date: January 24, 2012
Published by: Crown
At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society--from van Gogh’s sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer.
Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. Taking the reader on a journey from Dale Carnegie’s birthplace to Harvard Business School, from a Tony Robbins seminar to an evangelical megachurch, Susan Cain charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the twentieth century and explores its far-reaching effects. She talks to Asian-American students who feel alienated from the brash, backslapping atmosphere of American schools. She questions the dominant values of American business culture, where forced collaboration can stand in the way of innovation, and where the leadership potential of introverts is often overlooked. And she draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to reveal the surprising differences between extroverts and introverts.
Perhaps most inspiring, she introduces us to successful introverts--from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Finally, she offers invaluable advice on everything from how to better negotiate differences in introvert-extrovert relationships to how to empower an introverted child to when it makes sense to be a "pretend extrovert."
This extraordinary book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how introverts see themselves.
A good way of knowing whether you'd be interested in this book is if you like Susan Cain's TED talk. I loved it, but I'd already known that I was going to read this book because of a three hour conversation that I'd had with a fellow introvert neuroscience major on The Extraversion Ideal in the U.S. For some reason, though, Quiet wasn't as empowering as I thought it would be - perhaps because I'd first started it in college and stopped because I'd grown too emotional to continue reading. Then, of course, me being me, I didn't get back to reading - this time listening to - the book until over two years later. Regardless, though, this was an interesting book. The section on flow was golden, as was the end on Alice in Wonderland. There were several moments when I was scrabbling for a pen to write post-its with jumbled thoughts and inspiration from what Cain had said. I would definitely recommend Quiet to struggling introverts or people interested in psychology (as one of my coworkers said, "Quiet's fucking awesome!"). The audiobook, too, was especially a joy because the narrator speaks with this soft voice that's just perfect for a book about introversion and "speaking softly." It didn't at all feel like a lecture; it kept my attention throughout train rides and little jobs at work, and was a complete joy to listen to even if I hadn't completely liked everything that was discussed... and isn't that the mark of a good book?
*Note: I don't normally review nonfiction, but Quiet's a nice book and maybe some of you are interested in its premise. I thought I'd at least mention this gem.
Sisters Red - Jackson Pearce | Goodreads
Release Date: June 7, 2010
Published by: Little, Brown
Scarlet March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.
Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?
In my opinion, a great way of knowing whether or not you'll like the book is whether you like the synopsis. It seems very much like a book that delivers exactly what it promises (read the synopsis carefully, though, so you don't get angry at me ha!), and has a good balance of action and romance. The audio is a great option if you are interested because the narrators perfectly reflect the characters's individual personalities and I never once forgot whether it was Rosie or Scarlet narrating. Plus the great Southern twang added an extra layer of atmosphere to the bit that Jackson Pearce had already established. And for all you Maggie Stiefvater fans, I think Jackson Pearce is one of her friends, and somehow while reading the romance, I was reminded of one of Maggie's; there's a quirky, almost atmospheric element (?) - I'm not entirely sure how to describe it, only that I suspect MS romance fans would like the SR romance. Rosie/Silas is also a good pair for people who ship (I don't ship in the normal way, so...). Pick this one up for a good dose of romance and the Red Riding Hood hunting wolves blend.
Silver Shadows - Richelle Mead | Goodreads
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Published by: Razorbill
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.
In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.
Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.
For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .
Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.
This was definitely the best book of the series so far in my opinion. It had the best balance of romance and action and the dual points of view was a good dynamic to explore Adrian and Sydney's individual character arcs as well as the rapidly expanding plot. I can't remember many of the details from the other novels, but I could definitely understand having two PoVs here - and they really highlighted, for me, what I'd already known about their already well established chemistry (their character arcs are similar in scope, but different in situational events and how they react based on what each one gets from their relationship). Sydney's character growth is absolutely phenomenal . Whenever I pictured Sydney in Reeducation, I pictured her actually regressing to the point where she flinches from Adrian and the others, but Richelle Mead threw me a new one. Sydney grows so much more than Rose; and as much as I loved Rose, Sydney is probably one of my all-time favorite heroines. There are some interesting developments related to the politics of the world, and The Ruby Circle... well, it may very well be the best book of the series. Certainly has that promise. I'm very much looking forward to TRC, and if you haven't read this series yet but are a fan of VA, what are you waiting for?
Feed - Mira Grant | Goodreads
Release Date: May 1, 2010
Published by: OrbitThe year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.
Now, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.
FEED is the electrifying and critically acclaimed novel of a world a half-step from our own---a novel of geeks, zombies, politics and social media.
I've lost count of how many times this book has been recommended to me by bloggers over the years. As such I think my expectations were a bit higher than normal, but this book still surprised me. I have a few issues with this book: a.) there are a lot of info dumps about the world; b.) because of a, the fact that there was less action seemed to stand out more; and c.) the villains needed a bit more development. Zombies are not my favorite creatures because they're inherently uninteresting opponents (if they can't think, what's the point? At least vampires are often cruel and cunning), but the zombies were not the major villains and those who were needed to be more... interesting. However, in the end, none of those took away my ultimate enjoyment of the novel.
First off, I would DEFINITELY recommend reading this book on audio if you have the chance. I think that I might've liked this less in print, but the audio narrator was FANTASTIC. She brought Georgia's snark to life and the emotional moments were heart-breaking. I nearly ugly cried while on the train. The narrator took what was a good story and made it absolutely amazing entertainment. Those info dumps were much more entertaining coming from her than if I'd read them alone. As for the plot, well, I'd read so many Goodreads reviews about unpredictable twists and ohmygosh, the ending and etc. etc., and I'd been quite arrogant, thinking: pfft, what are they talking about? Heh. This book threw me a new one. I was not prepared in the least, especially for the emotion. You might not expect that gut impact from a book on zombies, but this book isn't really about the zombies. They're incidental. They create a scary future where you're always watching your back when you're out and about, but cliché as it is to say this, they're not the worst enemy; sometimes the threat is much closer to home. As envisioned here, especially in the political sphere. Feed, to me, was also more about the bond between Georgia and Shaun (one of the best brother/sister relationships out there -- definitely reminded me of a mix of mine with all three of my brothers), the dynamic between the team of journalists/bloggers that they employ, and the future of journalism and social media as envisioned by Mira Grant. An interesting and unusual lens on a post-apocalyptic future; and a novel that I can see many bloggers liking because of their identification with Grant's vision for their future.
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern | Goodreads
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Published by: Random HouseThe circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
Do not read this audiobook. It's not that Jim Dale is a bad reader, but it's almost like hearing that it's from Jim Dale might raise your expectations in the way that it raised mine. I expected more from him. He’s like that grandfather telling you a tale by the campfire, but the grandfather doesn’t try to imitate other voices because he's used to telling stories his own way. Dale changes his tone slightly, but it’s not enough that I always knew who was speaking. He's particularly good with the voices of children and older men, but I... wanted more, I guess. Plus the story, I think, is a little less suited to an audiobook because it’s SUCH a detail oriented story.
When I listen to audiobooks, I'm about 90% engaged; I'm generally multi-tasking, but the audio still has a significant portion of my attention, enough that I've never really had a problem with my method until I read this novel. If you’re a reader who likes descriptions, this is your book. I thought I was that reader, but listening to the audiobook meant that I missed a lot of descriptions. I’d be working on something and then there it was, another element that I’d missed somewhere and it turned out that that element would be crucial to Cecilia and Marco's conversation. The story also takes a little bit to get started, so my attention wandered even before we got into the fine details. The magical element is quite something though, especially when considered beside these strange characters, quirky and accepted as they are, a la Maggie Stiefvater. I could see it as a particularly fun website or game, some sort of unusual adaptation to bring this magical circus to life, and all the wonders it contains. I didn’t fall for the book as hard as I wanted to, but I suspect that I would if it were brought to life somehow. Also I can't tell how much of my experience was due to the audiobook or the actual story, so maybe I'll reread my hardcover when I visit home. Still quite magical though.
Release Date: March 22, 2011
Published by: Philomel
Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.
Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously—and at great risk—documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives.
This is one of my favorite books of 2014. Between Shades of Gray takes a different approach from most young adult novels in that the mother is the true heroine of the story. Yes, Lina narrates. Yes, Lina has her own character growth, but to me Lina's mother was who really pulled me through the story. Also, I found that remarkably realistic of a book focused on the horrors of labor camp, because who else will be the hero? You'd probably look to your elders for some sort of guidance in this terrible new world, and Lina's mother is that compass. In the beginning, the narrator's vision of the mother annoyed me; so high pitched and innocent and good, and yet it worked after a while. I got used to her and her vision of all the other characters, who are memorable in their own right, like grumpy Mr. Stallis. Lina is not an Anne Frank, someone whose diaries we discover long in the future, not a character who's held to this pedestal of moral goodness from the author, but she is a remarkably realistic version of a teenage girl thrust into a horrifying situation and doing the best she can. The family unit, both by blood and created in difficult times, is the focus of the novel, a touching element that will keep your attention and adds a layer of patriotism and remarkable friendship to an otherwise very bleak atmosphere. As with Code Name Verity, the villains are not all cruel stock figures; Septys does humanize a few of the Soviets, so it's not entirely an us vs. them.
Ruta Septys's writing was beautiful in Out of the Easy and it's beautiful again here. When it comes to describing some of the more awful events, Septys also exerts restraint. There's still brutality, enough to understand the realism of the event, but enough that if you're particularly sensitive, you won't be too, too overwhelmed. Some of the most terrible things were not shown. I know nothing of the Soviet subjugation of Lithuania, so it also felt like I was learning from this novel without it being obnoxious about teaching me. It certainly felt very accurate and historical and Septys does not take the easy way out. You might expect happy ending, a miraculous rescue – the Lithuanians believe that Hitler’s Germany will save them. History tells another tale, as does Septys. A young adult historical well worth your time about the unshakable bonds of family, friendship, and survival.
Well, what do you think? Will you read any of these? Have you already read some?
Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously—and at great risk—documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives.
This is one of my favorite books of 2014. Between Shades of Gray takes a different approach from most young adult novels in that the mother is the true heroine of the story. Yes, Lina narrates. Yes, Lina has her own character growth, but to me Lina's mother was who really pulled me through the story. Also, I found that remarkably realistic of a book focused on the horrors of labor camp, because who else will be the hero? You'd probably look to your elders for some sort of guidance in this terrible new world, and Lina's mother is that compass. In the beginning, the narrator's vision of the mother annoyed me; so high pitched and innocent and good, and yet it worked after a while. I got used to her and her vision of all the other characters, who are memorable in their own right, like grumpy Mr. Stallis. Lina is not an Anne Frank, someone whose diaries we discover long in the future, not a character who's held to this pedestal of moral goodness from the author, but she is a remarkably realistic version of a teenage girl thrust into a horrifying situation and doing the best she can. The family unit, both by blood and created in difficult times, is the focus of the novel, a touching element that will keep your attention and adds a layer of patriotism and remarkable friendship to an otherwise very bleak atmosphere. As with Code Name Verity, the villains are not all cruel stock figures; Septys does humanize a few of the Soviets, so it's not entirely an us vs. them.
Ruta Septys's writing was beautiful in Out of the Easy and it's beautiful again here. When it comes to describing some of the more awful events, Septys also exerts restraint. There's still brutality, enough to understand the realism of the event, but enough that if you're particularly sensitive, you won't be too, too overwhelmed. Some of the most terrible things were not shown. I know nothing of the Soviet subjugation of Lithuania, so it also felt like I was learning from this novel without it being obnoxious about teaching me. It certainly felt very accurate and historical and Septys does not take the easy way out. You might expect happy ending, a miraculous rescue – the Lithuanians believe that Hitler’s Germany will save them. History tells another tale, as does Septys. A young adult historical well worth your time about the unshakable bonds of family, friendship, and survival.
Well, what do you think? Will you read any of these? Have you already read some?