Tag: review

• Book Review: “Ghostly Echoes” by William Ritter (ARC)

  Posted at 5:20 am by Laura, on August 19, 2016

  Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter 

  Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
  Publishing Date: August 23
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, historical fiction, gothic
  ISBN: 9781616205799
  Rating: ★★★★

  Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the investigative services of her fellow residents to solve a decade-old murder—her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, Detective R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all, and her killer may be far more dangerous than they suspected.

  Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.

  Jenny and Abigail are working on a decade-old murder case that, after recent events, is more urgent than ever to solve. The hitch? It’s Jenny’s case on her death, and she is having trouble accessing her memories. Just as Jackaby is about to call off their efforts, another gruesome, eerily familiar murder hits New Fiddleham. Abigail, Jenny, and Jackaby race against time, science, and mythology to solve the two seemingly-intertwined cases before it’s too late.

  This is quite possibly the most heart-pounding book in the series yet. Jenny takes the center stage in this novel, just as Abigail did the last. Her case connects to multiple murders thanks to the Moriarty figure from the previous books. And, since she’s ghost and has not passed on to the other side, the characters are thrust into a different kind of mythology: the after life (complete with Charon and everything!).

  My favorite part about this book is that it also relies heavily on science, revolution, and the industrial age. When Jenny was alive, her fiance was an inventor, a creator, a fascinated scientist eager to thrust New Fiddleham into the new age. He was recruited and befriended by like-minded individuals, all who met their untimely deaths as well. Fantasy and science collide, and a touch of insanity drives Abigail, Jackaby, and Jenny to the brink.

  I’m eager for the fourth book, which will no doubt cover Jackaby’s personal and mysterious history. Once again, Ritter delivers an excellent installment to a series, one that links the previous mysteries to the current one, with the current mystery adding a whole new layer to what will be a promising and explosive conclusion. I am so happy I fell in love with this Whovian, Sherlockian, genre-bending series! It’s so unique and thrilling to read.

  Thank you, Algonquin, for providing this book at BEA for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, genre: young adult, review

• Mini Reviews VIII

  Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on August 15, 2016

  The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi Durrow

  Publisher: Algonquin
  Published: February 2010
  Genre: adult, fiction
  Rating: ★★★
  Summary: Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a black G.I., becomes the sole survivor of a family tragedy. With her strict African-American grandmother as her new guardian, Rachel moves to a mostly black community, where her light brown skin, blue eyes, and beauty bring mixed attention her way. Growing up in the 1980s, she learns to swallow her overwhelming grief and confronts her identity as a biracial young woman in a world that wants to see her as either black or white.

  Mini Review: Durrow skillfully created a character who walks the fine line of diversity in 1980s Oregon. Rachel struggles to understand what it means to be biracial after having grown up in a home where race was never discussed. Mixed in with Rachel’s bildungsroman is a mystery regarding the death of her mother, and the ways the community came together for Rachel and her family across the years. Touching and eye-opening, this is a portrait of a young girl and society’s views of race, gender, economic standing, and physical beauty.

  The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

  Publisher: Europa Editions
  Published: September 2008
  Genre: adult, fiction
  Rating: ★★★ 
  Summary: In the center of Paris, in an elegant apartment building inhabited by bourgeois families, Renée, the concierge, is witness to the lavish but vacuous lives of her numerous employers. Outwardly she conforms to every stereotype of the concierge: fat, cantankerous, addicted to television. Then there’s Paloma, a twelve-year-old genius. She is the daughter of a tedious parliamentarian, a talented and startlingly lucid child who has decided to end her life on her thirteenth birthday. Paloma and Renée hide both their true talents and their finest qualities from a world they suspect cannot or will not appreciate them. They discover their kindred souls when a wealthy Japanese man named Ozu arrives in the building. Only he is able to gain Paloma’s trust and to see through Renée’s timeworn disguise to the secret that haunts her.

  Mini Review: The only proper way to describe this novel is “indulgent.” Renée and Paloma are both highly intelligent people, but while Renée sees the world with humor and wit, Paloma (yes, stereotypical) fails to see any beauty to make life worth living, and can sometimes be a pompous, pretentious bore (she’s precocious too (all the p-words!) but gosh…more pretentious than anything else). I enjoyed Renée’s observations of the world around her. When the Japanese man arrives, a plot appears and drives the book forward. But until then, sit back and people-watch with these two characters.

  These books qualify as books 7 and 8 of 10 library books in 2016. 

   

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 3 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, mini review, review

• Book Review: “My Lady Jane” by Hand, Ashton, & Meadows

  Posted at 5:15 am by Laura, on August 4, 2016

  My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brody Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

  Publisher: HarperTeen
  Published: June 2016
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780062391742
  Rating: ★★★

  Edward (long live the king) is the King of England. He’s also dying, which is inconvenient, as he’s only sixteen and he’d much rather be planning for his first kiss than considering who will inherit his crown…

  Jane (reads too many books) is Edward’s cousin, and far more interested in books than romance. Unfortunately for Jane, Edward has arranged to marry her off to secure the line of succession. And there’s something a little odd about her intended…

  Gifford (call him G) is a horse. That is, he’s an Eðian (eth-y-un, for the uninitiated). Every day at dawn he becomes a noble chestnut steed—but then he wakes at dusk with a mouthful of hay. It’s all very undignified.

  The plot thickens as Edward, Jane, and G are drawn into a dangerous conspiracy. With the fate of the kingdom at stake, our heroes will have to engage in some conspiring of their own. But can they pull off their plan before it’s off with their heads?

  Edward, King of England, is sixteen, dying, and just wants to be kissed, not sign a document stating who would take over the kingdom once he’s gone. But if anyone should rule it, of course it should be his cousin Jane! Jane, though, just wants to read books, not rule the country or be married off to a strange noble, Gifford, who acts quite suspiciously. Gifford has a reason to be odd: during the day, he turns into a horse! These three unfortunate souls are roped into a conspiracy for the throne, and for the destruction of Eðians (humans who transform into animals) for pure Verity (regular human) rule.

  Do you recall from your history lessons the jumbled mess that was the English monarchy after Edward, son of Henry VIII? A brief recap: Lady Jane Dudley (nee Grey) was queen for nine days, then beheaded, then Mary (daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon, also known as Bloody Mary) became queen, who later died and the crown went to Elizabeth (daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn). And what was the next hot topic in that time for these half-siblings and their reign? Religion. Will England be Protestant or Catholic?

  Well, turn religion into magical abilities! Will England live in a “pure” Verity state, purging all Eðians, or will it live in tolerance? While that’s the serious question at stake here, this book is chock-full of hilarity.

  I cannot tell you more than this, because about halfway through the book each character’s alternate history becomes even more alternate – a true deviation – and all sorts of fun adventures ensue. We encounter a Robin Hood-like band of characters, and one particularly “foxy” lady I’m just dying to have her own book. There are all sorts of pop culture references (Game of Thrones, The Princess Bride, Monty Python, and Shakespeare come to mind immediately) that add to the hilariousness of the book as well!

  But why three stars? I’m sure if I read this faster, if there were more hours in the day, if I wasn’t slammed with work, if I wasn’t bitten by summer’s tendency to lounge around, I would’ve given this a higher rating. It took me almost four weeks to read this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it every time I opened it up and read each chapter. But I personally drew out this long book, making the whole experience even longer. For that, and only that, I had to knock it down a star. A re-read (and a fast one!) is most certainly in order for this book!

  Can’t wait to see what these ladies create next!

  .

  This qualifies as book 6 of 5 of the “Flights of Fantasy” Challenge, hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books and Rachel @ Hello, Chelly.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, flights of fantasy, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes

  Posted at 5:35 am by Laura, on July 21, 2016

  Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

  Publisher: Penguin Books
  Published: July 2013
  Genre: adult fiction, contemporary, women’s fiction
  ISBN: 9780143124542
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life-steady boyfriend, close family-who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life-big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel-and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

  Will is acerbic, moody, bossy-but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

  A love story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common-a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

  Louisa, an average girl from an average family living in an average English village, desperately needs a job to keep her family afloat. When she becomes the caretaker to Will Traynor, a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic man who used to take the world by storm, she begins to have second thoughts as to how desperately she needs employment. Will’s ever-changing moods soon become a welcoming challenge to Louisa, and their time together increases drastically. His carefully built walls fall, and she glimpses a bit of the man he used to be — and what he can still become. But Will has other plans for his life, and Louisa is torn between giving him exactly what he wants and showing him that life is still worth living.

  “Live boldly.” Those two words slayed me every time Will said them to Louisa. Here is a man hell-bent on ending his own life, advising a sheltered girl to take life by the horns and seize it at every opportunity. That, I think, is the heart of Louisa’s dilemma. Will isn’t being hypocritical. He’s reminding her that he once lived boldly, with no regrets, and would have continued to do so had he not been the victim of a terrible accident. Life in a wheelchair, after the way he’d lived, is far too debilitating to continue.

  From the very beginning you know how the book is going to end. Soon enough all the tension, the foreboding atmosphere, and racing against the clock builds up to such an emotional climax that by the time I reached the last fifty pages, I sobbed and sobbed and needed to take a break from reading to clear my eyes. It’s such an emotional release. This book sheds light on a remarkable dilemma. I’m not even sure I’d have Louisa’s strength by the end of this.

  Me Before You isn’t a full-blown romance. It’s about two individuals from very different worlds, experiencing life in very different ways, coming together and finding love in the most unlikely circumstances, and, belatedly, navigating the effects of that love and their diverging life plans. It’s not sudden and sweeping, but slow, heartbreaking, tense. The characters don’t even know what they’ve gotten into until it’s too late. I enjoy these books. It’s natural.

  While I’m aware there’s a sequel to this book, I don’t plan to read it. I enjoyed the book as is, I know where things stand, and I want to keep it that way. The characters live on powerfully enough in my mind and heart.

  .

  This book qualifies as book 12 of 12 of the “Rock My TBR” Challenge, hosted by Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler, in an effort to read more books off my overflowing TBR bookcase.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016, Rock My TBR | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: romance, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “The Lie Tree” by Francis Hardinge

  Posted at 4:15 am by Laura, on July 11, 2016

  The Lie Tree by Francis Hardinge

  Publisher: Amulet
  Published: April 2016
  Genre: young adult/adult, gothic, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781419718953
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Faith Sunderly leads a double life. To most people, she is modest and well mannered—a proper young lady who knows her place. But inside, Faith is burning with questions and curiosity. She keeps sharp watch of her surroundings and, therefore, knows secrets no one suspects her of knowing—like the real reason her family fled Kent to the close-knit island of Vane. And that her father’s death was no accident.

  In pursuit of revenge and justice for the father she idolizes, Faith hunts through his possessions, where she discovers a strange tree. A tree that only bears fruit when she whispers a lie to it. The fruit, in turn, delivers a hidden truth. The tree might hold the key to her father’s murder. Or, it might lure the murderer directly to Faith herself, for lies—like fires, wild and crackling—quickly take on a life of their own.

  Faith’s family was once a respectable family in Kent, thanks to her father’s station as a reverend and natural philosopher. But when his discovery at a dig receives criticism, and jeopardizes how humans place themselves relative to other creatures on the planet, the family flees for the remote island of Vane, where gossip, unfortunately, spreads like wildfire. Soon Faith’s father is found dead, and while the island is prepared to call it a suicide, Faith is certain it’s murder. Only one of his specimens, a tree that produces fruit of truth when told dark lies, holds the secret to uncovering a twisted plot; the bigger the lie, the greater the truth.

  Holy hell. When this book received the Costa award in the UK, I knew it was something I had to pick up. It sounds unique, dark, chilling, a perfect crossover. And it is. It’s everything and more.

  I’ve been holding back on writing a review for the book because it’s so hard to describe. It’s difficult to put to words how perfect it is. The Lie Tree is more than a story about a girl avenging her father’s murder by using a fantastical tree. In fact, this book meant so much to me as a reader that my rusty, cobwebbed academic wheels began to spin. If you need a thought-provoking book for discussion, this is it.

  Beware. This “review” is essentially my 2014 graduate thesis in a nutshell. Are you ready for a novel?

  …Here we go!

  First, this is proper gothic literature. The muffled, dark atmosphere — a never-ending sense of foreboding, a constant feeling that one is being watched, hair-raising, spine-chilling — is all you need to develop the urgency in Faith’s quest, to really paint the unstable time in history and fluctuating dynamics of the household. While there’s a death, a creepy plant, and some bumps in the night, this isn’t blood and gore. This is proper horror, proper suspense, proper uncanny, and thus creates proper gothic.

  *steps down from pedestal*

  Next, we have the dualities that are so common in gothic literature. Dualities in literature make us question our beliefs, our morals, our values. They make us uncomfortable, but in a safe environment (“It’s only a book”). Faith’s father is a natural philosopher, meaning he dabbles in science and he sides with Darwin in most debates, even though he’s a reverend. He’s finding a way to combine science and religion (step one in making people at the time feel uncomfortable), but there’s another level he’s decided to tamper around. While the world is discovering dinosaurs and the expanding universe, Sunderly takes Darwin’s theory of evolution — humans come from apes — and shakes the world with his own “findings.” Ultimately, what is a human? And where are we on this ladder of life? If Earth is no longer the center of the universe, and man is no longer the center of God’s attention, who are we?

  Science versus religion, man versus angel versus animal. Okay, what else on dualities?

  How about gender roles and, within the female sphere, the two types of roles a woman could take on? There are some awful, pompous men in here that unfortunately reflect too many men today. Some of the mansplaining going on…! Poor Faith had to keep her mouth shut because a girl with an equal education and understanding to that of a man in his own field of study is shocking. (To the men, at least.) She’s supposed to boost his ego by eagerly hanging on to his every word, and attempting to comprehend his thoughts, views, and lessons. But Faith knows everything these “doctors” spout. She craves more — but she’s denied access because she’s 1) female and 2) barely of age.

  There are loads of women in this book as well. On the surface they seem to hold the two major roles Victorian women took on: Angel in the House, and Fallen Woman. There’s also the Invisible Woman, one who is left behind to take care of the family. But as you dive into the village life and get to know these various women, you find they, like Faith, lead double lives. In fact, I think two of them may be a lesbian couple…

  As I somewhat hinted, there’s another duality Faith must battle: the line between girl and woman. She’s fourteen in the novel, a gray age for Victorian females because she’s paraded in front of men but not quite formally out in society. She’s given responsibilities befitting a governess, and is sometimes trusted like a colleague instead of a daughter when she’s around her father. But something she says or does triggers the adult she’s conversing with to take a step back and mention her age. “You’re not old enough yet,” in a way. Still a child given to fancies.

  And finally, the supernatural element! Every good gothic novel needs one! I especially loved this tree. It’s the Tree of Knowledge, in some sick, twisted way. Not a bright and shining tree with golden fruit befitting Eden, but a dark, slimy one, with creeping branches and a desire for wicked lies. It shrinks when light shines upon it, and every dark secret it’s told give it the opportunity to bear fruit of truth. The only way the truth can be revealed is if it’s eaten — and the consumer falls into a drugged, opium-like state (another duality: addiction/insanity versus stable/sane). Oh, but the biology of it all; it feels so real! As if this tree could exist! Is it real? Or is it fiction? Uncanny…

  I could go on. I really could. Instead, I urge you to read this book.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, genre: sci-fi, genre: young adult, review

• Mini Review VII

  Posted at 5:30 am by Laura, on July 6, 2016

  13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

  Publisher: HarperTeen
  Published: December 2010
  Genre: contemporary, young adult
  Rating: ★★★
  Summary: Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket. In envelope 2 are directions to a specific London flat. The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist. Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/ bloke–about–town called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous–though utterly romantic–results. But will she ever see him again? Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it’s all because of the 13 little blue envelopes.

  Mini Review: This was a good mix of Just One Day / Just One Year and PS I Love You. Following the letters of a dead loved one and backpacking through Europe, not knowing what may happen next, and making new friends in new cities (like Carrie and the Australian gang, the Knapp family, Richard, and Keith). I’ve traveled to Europe five times now and I still don’t think I could do what Ginny did: following letters blindly and managing to get by. Ginny managed her quest, and it’s full of art, self-discovery, and love. In a hippie, wanderlust sort of way, I enjoyed the light read. This book shows why it’s important for you to travel. It really changes you in a million different ways!

  Sing by Vivi Greene

  Publisher: HarperTeen
  Published: May 2016
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  Rating: ★★.5
  Summary: After getting her heart shattered, pop star Lily is taking herself out of the spotlight and heading to a small island in middle-of-nowhere Maine with her closest friends. She has three months until her fall tour starts to focus on herself, her music, and her new album. Anything but guys. That is until Lily meets down-to-earth local Noel Bradley. Suddenly, Lily’s “summer of me” takes an unexpected turn, and she finds herself falling deeper than ever before. But Noel isn’t interested in the limelight. Come August, Lily may be forced to choose between the boy and her music.

  Mini Review: It started off as a fun, cute, contemporary summer YA read. It was easy to imagine Lily as Taylor Swift, especially because Lily is thinking of changing up her music style and song topics. I was all for this sweet read, especially with her best friends Sammy and Tess — I even thought of this book as a lighter version of Emery Lord. But about halfway through the book it became too predictable. It’s a short read, so if I’m already feeling like the plot is unnecessarily drawn out, there’s a hitch somewhere. That’s when I noticed it had more telling than showing, and relied heavily on dialogue to keep the plot moving. It almost had me! Almost!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from HarperTeen for review.

  Scarlett Epstein Hates it Here by Anna Breslaw

  Publisher: Razorbill
  Published: April 2016
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  Rating: ★★
  Summary: When Scarlett’s beloved TV show is canceled and her longtime crush, Gideon, is sucked out of her orbit and into the dark and distant world of Populars, Scarlett turns to the fanfic message boards for comfort. This time, though, her subjects aren’t the swoon-worthy stars of her fave series—they’re the real-life kids from her high school. And if they ever find out what Scarlett truly thinks about them, she’ll be thrust into a situation far more dramatic than anything she’s ever seen on TV.

  Mini Review: I thought I was going to be reading a self-deprecating version of Cath from Fangirl — with all the uber nerdy internet lingo. In fact, I know some really funny people who are basically Scarlett in real life, with the same investment in stories and TV shows and sarcastic comebacks. But I didn’t find Scarlett funny. And to be honest, I didn’t see the point of the story. What was I supposed to get from that? I enjoyed her chat interactions with her internet friends, and I liked her relationship with Ruth, the old feminist neighbor across the highway. But when it came down to it, the writing and humor just weren’t my cup of tea.

   

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016, Rock My TBR | 0 Comments | Tagged books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, mini review, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow” by Katherine Woodfine

  Posted at 4:15 am by Laura, on June 27, 2016

  The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine
  

  Publisher: Egmont
  Published: June 2015
  Genre: middle grade, mystery, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781405276177
  Rating: ★★★★

  You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair’s department store!

  Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villians to justice…

  Sophie is thrilled to start her first job at what the newspapers are calling the finest department store in London, opening in just a few more days. On the night before the grand opening, a priceless jeweled clockwork sparrow is stolen from one of the exhibition rooms, and Sophie is the last person seen in that room. With evidence piling up against her, Sophie seeks help from porter Billy and model Lil to solve the mystery.

  I adore middle grade mysteries! They’re so much fun, and English authors know just how to write enjoyable detective fiction for the young and young-at-heart. I hope the US audience will get a chance to read Woodfine’s work, because it’s such a delight!

  This felt like a mixture of the quick wit in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and the glittering eye-candy of Mr. Selfridge and The Paradise. Sophie is a sweet character and determined to do well in the department store, but she’s met with opposition everywhere she turns. She used to live in a fine home, but circumstances have brought her down to the working class. She doesn’t mind, but she wishes the other shopgirls would treat her as an equal. When it came time to defend herself, Sophie was reasonably distraught, but the majority of the legwork in the mystery-solving was conducted by Billy (who is sweet on her and loves detective comics) and mannequin (model) Lil, who is very much like Phryne Fisher in how she goes about cracking cases! Even Joe, the homeless “lost boy” trying to escape a gang (which comes into play later, of course!) has clues to share to solve the mystery.

  I cannot write a review without mentioning the setting! Sinclair’s is a beautiful and fascinating department store. Pets, food, clothes, toys, trinkets, you name it and it’s there! Department stores aren’t quite like this anymore — a full-on experience and assault to the senses. It makes the mystery even more intriguing and electrifying when a tiny but important clockwork sparrow is stolen. Of all the sparkling items and expensive china and luxurious fabrics, this sparrow is what turns the department store upside down. In the author’s note, Woodfine suggest the store is a bit like the 6-story Waterstones in Piccadilly. Having been there twice now, I’d have to say that’s exactly how I picture Sinclair’s!

  If you get the chance, you need to get your hands on this adorable MG mystery. It’s a must-have for your detective collection.

  EDIT 10:45am: Just heard from Woodfine that the book will be published in the US!

  .

  This book qualifies as book 8 of 12 of the “Rock My TBR” Challenge, hosted by Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler, in an effort to read more books off my overflowing TBR bookcase.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016, Rock My TBR | 3 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, genre: mystery, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “Re Jane” by Patricia Park

  Posted at 5:15 am by Laura, on May 30, 2016

  Re Jane by Patricia Park

  Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
  Published: May 2015
  Genre: adult fiction, contemporary
  ISBN: 9780525427407
  Rating: ★★★★

  For Jane Re, half-Korean, half-American orphan, Flushing, Queens, is the place she’s been trying to escape from her whole life. Sardonic yet vulnerable, Jane toils, unappreciated, in her strict uncle’s grocery store and politely observes the traditional principle of nunchi (a combination of good manners, hierarchy, and obligation). Desperate for a new life, she’s thrilled to become the au pair for the Mazer-Farleys, two Brooklyn English professors and their adopted Chinese daughter. Inducted into the world of organic food co-ops, and nineteenth–century novels, Jane is the recipient of Beth Mazer’s feminist lectures and Ed Farley’s very male attention. But when a family death interrupts Jane and Ed’s blossoming affair, she flies off to Seoul, leaving New York far behind.

  Reconnecting with family, and struggling to learn the ways of modern-day Korea, Jane begins to wonder if Ed Farley is really the man for her. Jane returns to Queens, where she must find a balance between two cultures and accept who she really is.

  Jane Re has been told her entire life that she’s, essentially, not enough. She’s not Korean enough, American enough, intelligent enough, pretty enough. Desperate to escape her uncle oppressive household, she takes on a nannying position in Brooklyn for two English professors and their Chinese daughter. As the year rolls by, Jane begins to find a solid rooting with the family, but Ed, her boss’s husband, is beginning to cross the line. When her grandfather dies, Jane seizes the opportunity to fly to Seoul and attempt a new life there, immersing herself in modern-day Korean culture. Once again, circumstances change for her, and it’s time for her to decide how to continue her biracial, bicultural life and accept her wholly, complete self.

  I seem to be on a roll with finding great contemporary retellings of favorite classics. As I’ve said before, I’m very wary of retellings because many times they just rely too heavily on the original to be able to stand on their own. Since Jane Eyre is my favorite book, I am extra critical of all the retellings I’ve seen out there. But, like Eligible, Re Jane successfully stands on its own — and then some.

  The parallels between the two books are excellent, and the deviations from the classic are original, compelling, and authentic to this Jane’s story. I think my favorite aspect of the book was getting to experience Jane’s biracial, bicultural dilemma so intimately. The cultural awareness and sensitivity was spot on, and I hope to see more phenomenally written books like this in the market.

  I was caught in no-man’s land — the gulf between English and Korean
  felt wider than the East River and the Han combined. 

  In a non-spoilery nutshell, Jane experiences vastly different Otherness depending on her surroundings. In Flushing, Queens, she’s singled out as the “fake Korean” because her father was American. Her physical features are slightly different from the other Koreans in her neighborhood, and she’s treated as if she’s tainted or corrupt. When she works in Brooklyn, her boss Beth accidentally assumes Jane is Chinese, yet Jane and Devon (the girl she nannies) can easily see the racial differences between each other. (Devon also experiences Otherness with the other Chinese students at school, but that’s a piece of great dissection you can discover on your own!) However, when Jane jets off to Seoul, she may be teased for her archaic Korean speech, but her Otherness is praised. She carries many sought-after Western beauty features: height, nose, eyes, cheekbones. She’s been told her whole life that favoring one side of her identity is better than embracing both. Now, here she is in her mother’s homeland, being told that it’s better to be something other than fully Korean. What’s great about this is that Jane’s uncomfortable. It’s not a matter of deciding which part of her identity she should embrace over the other — it’s about understanding, loving, and combining both.

  That wasn’t so much a nutshell, but it is one aspect of the book that was deeply explored. For anyone who is following the We Need Diverse Books campaign, or #ownvoices, you need to read this book.

  This is not to say that it was condescending; instead he spoke with the weight of personal experience. More often than not, I was able to free-ride on the shorthand of his authority. […] But at times I wondered whether I relied too heavily on Ed’s account of things, rather than seeing for myself.

  It’s not possible to talk about any Jane Eyre retelling without some mention of the Mr Rochester figure. Ed was cool, I liked Ed, I could see Jane with Ed, and not once did I ever feel uncomfortable with the thought that Ed was roughly 10-15 years older/her employer/married. Many times retellings fall flat with the romance aspect because there’s too much emphasis on the age gap. In the 1840s, the age difference was not an issue. It’s the fact he was her employer, in the beginning at least. So why do so many retellings focus on the age?

  Well, thank goodness Park did not do that. She instead focused on certain aspects of age differences in relationships. Someone who is 10+ years older, who married, had a child, bought a first home, bought a first car, will definitely have more life experiences, and that’s bound to create communication issues. The drama in the relationship between Jane and Ed focused on that: how they spoke to one another, and how they interacted with other couples in their respective age groups. If you’ve read Re Jane, I love to hear your thoughts on this!

  This qualifies as book 6 of 10 library books in 2016. 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 7 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review

• Mini Reviews VI

  Posted at 5:30 am by Laura, on May 23, 2016

  The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

  Publisher: Anchor
  Published: March 2012
  Genre: adult, historical fiction
  Summary: A gorgeous novel that tells the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as “picture brides” nearly a century ago. The story traces the extraordinary lives of these women, from their arduous journeys by boat, to their arrival in San Francisco and their tremulous first nights as new wives; from their experiences raising children who would later reject their culture and language, to the arrival of war. This is a spellbinding novel about identity and loyalty, and what it means to be an American in uncertain times.

  Review: I’ve never come across a narration quite like this before. It was written in plural — “we” and “us” instead of “I” or “she.” (Grammar nerds, please tell me the correct name for it!) This narrative style is fitting, as this short book details the lives of Japanese “picture brides” coming to San Fransisco in 1917, working the lands, raising children, and disappearing during WWII. As a society that values the group over the individual — and told through the eyes of women — it makes sense for the structure to follow that narrative style, too. These poor women, these lost voices, were so hopeful in the beginning for a new and prosperous life, only to find their husbands were lies; they would continue to work the land; they might eventually work in laundries or great homes; they would raise their children as Japanese only to find their children shamed and rejecting their culture for an American one; they would wake up in the morning to an empty bed and no husband in sight; and they would, one by one, leave their homes and cross the Rockies, never to be seen or heard from again. Thought-provoking.

  This qualifies as book 4 of 10 library books in 2016. 

  Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

  Publisher: W.W. Norton Company
  Published: November 1998 (first published in 1966)
  Genre: adult, historical fiction
  Summary: The novel is Rhys’s answer to Jane Eyre. Charlotte Brontë’s book had long haunted her, mostly for the story it did not tell–that of the madwoman in the attic, Rochester’s terrible secret. Antoinette is Rhys’s imagining of that locked-up woman, who in the end burns up the house and herself. Wide Sargasso Seafollows her voyage into the dark, both from her point of view and Rochester’s. It is a voyage charged with soul-destroying lust. “I watched her die many times,” observes the new husband. “In my way, not in hers. In sunlight, in shadow, by moonlight, by candlelight. In the long afternoons when the house was empty.”

  Review: The one reason I’m not giving this one star is because it’s an excellent example of colonialism and racism in the nineteenth century. The book’s saving grace is the academic fodder for discussion. Apart from that, I had a hard time caring about Bertha, or understanding the motivations and personalities of the characters. It’s not a compelling story, and I’m not sure it could stand on its own. It’s as if the only way this could be read is alongside or after reading Jane Eyre. Otherwise the writing feels disjointed, disconnected, and lost.

  This qualifies as book 5 of 10 library books in 2016. 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 6 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, mini review, review

• Book Review: “Eligible” by Curtis Sittenfeld

  Posted at 4:15 am by Laura, on May 18, 2016

  Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

  Publisher: Random House
  Published: April 2016
  Genre: adult fiction, contemporary
  ISBN: 9781400068326
  Rating: ★★★★

  This version of the Bennet family—and Mr. Darcy—is one that you have and haven’t met before: Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help—and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray.

  Youngest sisters Kitty and Lydia are too busy with their CrossFit workouts and Paleo diets to get jobs. Mary, the middle sister, is earning her third online master’s degree and barely leaves her room, except for those mysterious Tuesday-night outings she won’t discuss. And Mrs. Bennet has one thing on her mind: how to marry off her daughters, especially as Jane’s fortieth birthday fast approaches.

  Enter Chip Bingley, a handsome new-in-town doctor who recently appeared on the juggernaut reality TV dating show Eligible. At a Fourth of July barbecue, Chip takes an immediate interest in Jane, but Chip’s friend neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy reveals himself to Liz to be much less charming. . . .

  And yet, first impressions can be deceiving.

  Liz travels back with her sister Jane to Cincinnati after their dad, Mr. Bennet, suffers a heart attack. They say they’ll only stay as long as he needs them, but the sisters find the house is falling apart — and their younger sisters are in dire need of some life coaching. When cousin Willie comes to town and the Lucas family hosts a barbeque, Liz and Jane run into doctors Fitzwilliam Darcy and Chip Bingley. Little do they know, this dinner party changes the course of their lives.

  Of all the Jane Austen Project books so far, this one is the best. All the key characters and scenes are there — the bare bones of Pride & Prejudice — and Sittenfeld seamlessly uses those elements in a modern setting, rather than trying to squeeze modern life inside an Austen novel. The classic humor is there, the personalities of the characters, everything. Of course Mary would be the snarky, multi-degreed student holed away in her parents’ house. Of course Jane would be a calm yoga instructor. Of course Bingley would be on a reality show, and Mrs. Bennet a shopaholic, and Willie a Silicon Valley nerd. Social media plays a huge role in the novel as well, and it works.  This book was written so cleverly to properly match modern time, it didn’t feel like a forced retelling of Pride & Prejudice.

  While Eligible is a retelling of an Austen classic, it’s also a character study. Liz is a fantastic journalist, critiques her family and deeply loves them at the same time, and is (hilariously) clueless with men. She’s intelligent and confident, but her weaknesses are relatable as well. There are some parallels with the classic Elizabeth Bennet, but Liz can stand on her own.

  I’m sure you’ve read the reviews and seen the hype by now. Trust in it. Eligible is worth a read.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 9 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review

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• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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