if you were here, sitting next to me, i'd induce you into crouching down, froggie style, with your arms between your thighs, and reveal to you gently if you were here, sitting next to me, i'd induce you into crouching down, froggie style, with your arms between your thighs, and reveal to you gently that this is going to be one hell of a crappy review. but you aren't. well, tough luck, kids!
let's say you have fossilized poo- don't question, just go with it- then what do you do? do you touch it? or do you not touch it? some will say that the poo is fossilized, so it's not really gross and it's sometimes pretty as well(look at dino poop), while others will undoubtedly argue that poo is poo, covered or not, and it's the principle of things, not the grossness. think about it and then continue.
sufficiently sickened your mind? read on.
shooting stars, you see, is the complete opposite of fossilized poo and of course, i couldn't really tell you all that until you'd observed the book's anathema in its own domain. know your enemy and all that jazz. the cover of shooting stars is as dark and fantastic and all things that make your dreams, and the inside is just as, if not more, mind-blowing.
in this second installment, karina halle has done nasty, nasty things with shame and guilt. while sins & needles, the first book, played with shame and sex in much the same way as a chef with those cherry tomatoes with a caesarian salad order on the line. one reveled in that whereas in shooting stars, it's depraved and fun. it's way darker and ms halle tunes it to very fine points.
in fact, it's completely different from its predecessor, on the whole. the hard and fast excitement of sins & needles is missing, albeit the pace is faster here. that may be one of the few reasons i still prefer the first book. another would be the lack of tracks and melodies that seemed to be playing through the whole of the first book; there were song references but my ears weren't detecting anything and that's a bit of a shame.
that reminds me, while i was reading the book, at some points i thought this one would be quite the song for it.
i hope someone else finds the right song for me! i don't seem to be up for the job. :(
this book has alternate chapters from camden's perspective and damn, karina, you nailed it.
standing ovation
see, the author has grasped camden's disgrace into bad and worse just goddamn perfectly. i loved observing as he showed teeth behind his barks; all his commitment to ellie and talks of doing abso-fucking-lutely anything wasn't just talk. he does it and he does it good. it was scary! even better was the transformation that comes over him when he and ellie are together(oh shut up, not a spoiler), and he isn't the desperate, wanton bastard anymore. ellie was scarier still, with her sadness and falling back into habits of old. there were moments i felt like ripping out my head for her, but face it- most of the colorful characters make you feel so. i think this is where shooting stars stands out against sins & needles the shiniest. in the latter, the ellie was bad and camden dysfunctional, but now both are nasty and sinking lower.
javier and camden, the triangle we've been anticipating. and the twists and turns and perilous rides! this is why camden's pov was a brilliant and genius move on the author's part, imo. because as camden sinks lower still, javier, while still remaining the villain who did bad things, inches higher bit by bit and this is truly one of those not-a-minffuck-but-generally-fucks-with-mind. for perceptions are altered and everyone is just darker and darker shades of gray now. except maybe ellie, who is genuinely trying. sometimes. when she isn't distracted, if you know what i mean.
but as i sing praises for camden, i have to include that it was a fucking slog to go through in the beginning and i was genuinely surprised when it got good. o me of little faith!
the most engrossing thing about these books is the layers and faces karina halle keeps on adding to her characters and yet ensuring they don't cross over to the good side. how much can you paint in before it overflows? but i don't think that will be a problem.
shooting stars was a bittersweet book, so very worth it and i'm glad it doesn't suffer from the middlebook syndrome. i can't wait for the next book what with the ending that's sure to keep me on my toes, and has me tearing my hair out. i can't wait to see what the oct, 2013(a few weeks after my exams end, yay!) brings for camden and ellie. and javier, maybe.
[image] suck it, peter capaldi
Merged review:
if you were here, sitting next to me, i'd induce you into crouching down, froggie style, with your arms between your thighs, and reveal to you gently that this is going to be one hell of a crappy review. but you aren't. well, tough luck, kids!
let's say you have fossilized poo- don't question, just go with it- then what do you do? do you touch it? or do you not touch it? some will say that the poo is fossilized, so it's not really gross and it's sometimes pretty as well(look at dino poop), while others will undoubtedly argue that poo is poo, covered or not, and it's the principle of things, not the grossness. think about it and then continue.
sufficiently sickened your mind? read on.
shooting stars, you see, is the complete opposite of fossilized poo and of course, i couldn't really tell you all that until you'd observed the book's anathema in its own domain. know your enemy and all that jazz. the cover of shooting stars is as dark and fantastic and all things that make your dreams, and the inside is just as, if not more, mind-blowing.
in this second installment, karina halle has done nasty, nasty things with shame and guilt. while sins & needles, the first book, played with shame and sex in much the same way as a chef with those cherry tomatoes with a caesarian salad order on the line. one reveled in that whereas in shooting stars, it's depraved and fun. it's way darker and ms halle tunes it to very fine points.
in fact, it's completely different from its predecessor, on the whole. the hard and fast excitement of sins & needles is missing, albeit the pace is faster here. that may be one of the few reasons i still prefer the first book. another would be the lack of tracks and melodies that seemed to be playing through the whole of the first book; there were song references but my ears weren't detecting anything and that's a bit of a shame.
that reminds me, while i was reading the book, at some points i thought this one would be quite the song for it.
i hope someone else finds the right song for me! i don't seem to be up for the job. :(
this book has alternate chapters from camden's perspective and damn, karina, you nailed it.
standing ovation
see, the author has grasped camden's disgrace into bad and worse just goddamn perfectly. i loved observing as he showed teeth behind his barks; all his commitment to ellie and talks of doing abso-fucking-lutely anything wasn't just talk. he does it and he does it good. it was scary! even better was the transformation that comes over him when he and ellie are together(oh shut up, not a spoiler), and he isn't the desperate, wanton bastard anymore. ellie was scarier still, with her sadness and falling back into habits of old. there were moments i felt like ripping out my head for her, but face it- most of the colorful characters make you feel so. i think this is where shooting stars stands out against sins & needles the shiniest. in the latter, the ellie was bad and camden dysfunctional, but now both are nasty and sinking lower.
javier and camden, the triangle we've been anticipating. and the twists and turns and perilous rides! this is why camden's pov was a brilliant and genius move on the author's part, imo. because as camden sinks lower still, javier, while still remaining the villain who did bad things, inches higher bit by bit and this is truly one of those not-a-minffuck-but-generally-fucks-with-mind. for perceptions are altered and everyone is just darker and darker shades of gray now. except maybe ellie, who is genuinely trying. sometimes. when she isn't distracted, if you know what i mean.
but as i sing praises for camden, i have to include that it was a fucking slog to go through in the beginning and i was genuinely surprised when it got good. o me of little faith!
the most engrossing thing about these books is the layers and faces karina halle keeps on adding to her characters and yet ensuring they don't cross over to the good side. how much can you paint in before it overflows? but i don't think that will be a problem.
shooting stars was a bittersweet book, so very worth it and i'm glad it doesn't suffer from the middlebook syndrome. i can't wait for the next book what with the ending that's sure to keep me on my toes, and has me tearing my hair out. i can't wait to see what the oct, 2013(a few weeks after my exams end, yay!) brings for camden and ellie. and javier, maybe.
More would be a-coming but I feel like I've already wasted time enough on this novel, to last me a lifewildly reckless recklessly wild wild and reckless
More would be a-coming but I feel like I've already wasted time enough on this novel, to last me a lifetime....more
Move on. Just scroll the fuck on. Nothing to see here. Your time on earth is, well I don't know about precious but it surely must be limited. Try BollMove on. Just scroll the fuck on. Nothing to see here. Your time on earth is, well I don't know about precious but it surely must be limited. Try Bollywood movies if you want to waste time. ...more
Jan 2016 is the period of my life I'll forever remember for hooker red lipstick, hooker red stilletos, boy obsession and trashy books. Do you see a coJan 2016 is the period of my life I'll forever remember for hooker red lipstick, hooker red stilletos, boy obsession and trashy books. Do you see a common thread here? I do. Basically, I'm enjoying wasting life, and wasting it in the most boring fashion. But what am I to do? Study. Nahhh it is not like some of the most important days of my academic life, and hence life, are coming up.
Nahhhh I'll spend it griping over a series no one is forcing me to read. Even the sex isn't fun! I swear, it is some of the most boring sex ever. Sure there are toys and ropes sometimes, but I prefer the conversations. See? I can't even have some guilty pleasure.
Then comes the problem that I don't even hate this series. I just feel jaded. Because bimbos galore? Eh. Because right-left, west, down under, all the offhanded mentions of pussy, not of the catty disposition, being shoved at the Bristol boy? Eh.
Guess considering the infinite possibilities of parallel worlds, it isn't that long a shot to imagine such a world.
Eh. There's sex in this book. Lots of it. LOTS AND LOTS of it. For once, I minded. Hey is that a verb? Does it work like that????? But the book is an improvement over the previous one. I really liked Dean and Allie. I just wish they were more flamboyant. Come on! She is a drama major and he likes being caught doing the nasty.
That said and done, the book focussed more the relationship than it did on the characters. That's one thing romance books get wrong. You don't get the clapping sound if you don't have hands! The author should have focussed more on the characters. The only development they got was all behind the scenes, towards the end of the book and managed within a couple chapters.
So boo!
I am honestly confused about chemistry and what kinda magic it is right now. I don't know if the characters had it, but I do know they had their adorable moments. Like when he says the magic words and she gets wetter than the Niagara Falls? :') Just kidding. Or am I? Read the book to find out!!!
Ultimately, I didn't care about the relationship. I didn't care about the characters. They were good enough to pass the time with, but I have trouble remembering their names now. Honestly the storyline or the writing didn't so much as beckon me to care about the relationship as it progressed. He realizes he loves her? Mmph. Dinner is tasty tonight. Heartbreak? Who cares? I have gajar ka halwa! With raisins!
What is a romance novel if the reader doesn't care about the romance?
If you really want to read this series, read The Deal and stop there. That's the best this series gets. Or it has, so far. The same shit will be regurgitated. Guys, girl, sex, fun times, jealousy, sex, love, done. Granted this book had more sex. Loads more sex. What the hell?!?! Go for it! ...more
I don't understand why Logan was fixated with Grace, she was bland as white shite. Bland as can be. The idea of her is nice - butSo. Fucking. Boring.
I don't understand why Logan was fixated with Grace, she was bland as white shite. Bland as can be. The idea of her is nice - but I couldn't find a fuck to give about her or their relationship. If nothing else, I'd hoped some troubles in her life could be added to manipulate me into liking her. I wouldn't have minded that. But her life is just peachy.
Like almost every douche out there, I also happen to have a type. Or several of them. And one of them is hot guys named Logan. I have insta-love, except in this case, it turned into a well developed relationship of reciprocal lack of interest in the other person's life, what with him being fictional and me not giving two shits about him.
The first book couple was on an entirely different level, I swear. These two did have their moments but they were slightly more frequent than leap years sans equinoxes. Then there is the lack of chemistry. Seriously none. That's the one thing I DID appreciate about The Deal.
Basically the gist of the book: Greek society people (as in college type Greek) are stupid, vapid and horny. For the most part. Girls not friends with either of the main characters are jealous, dagger-eyed and lusting after status and dick. Guys may have some personality. If you are a Hockey dude and you live with your other Hockey dudes, you all are sure to a) be super hot, b) be in possession of dicks which have see interpersonal action, and c) have lives which will pan out so similarly it will be deemed formulaic by soul-wise-old-hags.
Oh and you may end up falling in love and having LOADS of awesome sex with a girl you couldn't have imagined even sleeping with in a hundred post-game comas. If you aren't the Hockey dude, you are the girl. Duh. Prepare for some hot nights (Unless you are the reader-girl.) with a guy you wouldn't have imagined sleeping become a reality in a hundred gummy-bear-induced comas.
I just find this book more unbelievable than I found the book where teenagers got hopped up on sugar and became pirates. Just no. ...more
The guy said bro, and the girl liked One Direction. At least they were some honest people and open as birds that shit in midflight.
There was some realThe guy said bro, and the girl liked One Direction. At least they were some honest people and open as birds that shit in midflight.
There was some real chemistry but not where I wanted it, as in the bedroom. I didn't much care for their romance, to be honest, but perhaps that was because my feet are being really cold to me, but there's only so much influence a pair of feet can exert over my cognition. I need some socks. Asap. Preferably 2 pairs.
The home stories of Hannah and Garrett really did bring emotions surging through me. Anger, relief, acceptance. It wasn't an entire survival guide or memoir, being inclined more towards romance, but it was all the better for it. It was a part of the story, not the story itself.
On the other hand, there was entirely too much thinking. SO. MUCH. THINKING. ABOUT. RELATIONSHIPS. And way too many hot people. Do these exist only in Ivy League Colleges? I mean, posses of people who happen to have some specific skill in common that has nothing to do with visual aesthetics, just happen to be all suited to be GQ models. To make a series out of the said posse, I suppose.
And the sorority girls! We meet them in thinking's only, but wheyyyyy I didn't get a good impression. But who am I to judge, having never met a sorority girl? Some of it was done right, however. What with this girl who wanted a relationship for status stuff - I liked that she felt guilty, not vexed.
Also, for people who go to Ivy League, it is downright unacceptable for hordes of girls to try to raise their social upstanding by sleeping with a dude. I mean, original much? Godddd Ivy League females, I expect some intelligence and creativity when one is trying to climb the social ladder.
Let's apply some logic here: if Garrett sleeps with as many girls as the book claims he does, then why is it a big deal? Like most socially- disposed girls must be, been there, done him. How does it bring social welfare and growth in the college context? Basic economics. There is excess supply, price falls.
I might be rambling. Me feet are still cold.
Sooo... that averages us to 3 stars, I think. I'm feeling generous because I had fun typing this up.
Also, because I fucking hated MJ like I hate it when potato chips (not fries. CHIPS), upon mastication in an hour of extreme exhaustion, rub raw the insides of the cheeks of the ultimate chutiya. (Please feel free to Google the word if you don't know what it means. I'm decidated to abetting knowledge in its quest to journey from the rare dirty recesses of my language to your vocabulary.) The betrayal! From something so innocent. Even ex-best friends from American movies on High Schools can't top that....more
The prophecies which sought not to predict my experience but totally did so came true. The ride was downhill in a non-fun, non-ticklish-in-your-stomacThe prophecies which sought not to predict my experience but totally did so came true. The ride was downhill in a non-fun, non-ticklish-in-your-stomach way after return from Tahoe. But we will always have Tahoe, won't we?...more
But if God hadn't wanted me to be the way I am, He would have arranged to have me born a haddock instead of Flavia de Luce--wouldn't He?
Flavia happensBut if God hadn't wanted me to be the way I am, He would have arranged to have me born a haddock instead of Flavia de Luce--wouldn't He?
Flavia happens to be one of the greatest fictional detectives, mystery-solvers, trouble-enhancer I've happened to come across. It was my sincere hope that she would succeed as well at spying and assassinating but that is a prime example of me getting ahead of myself, Flavia and Alan Bradley, which is not advisable.
FdL mysteries, with the exception of book #6, have been so far, it's my belief upon having read only three of the previous six installments, winter reads--the kind of stories to provide satisfaction while snuggled up in a Harry Potter comforter (actually no can do: pretty as it is, it doesn't insulate from the cold THAT good). On the other hand, As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust was an exciting tale, the kind that impels one to bite off the nails of both pinkies, for lack of (in recalling) a better terminology.
ACSCtD is remarkable different, in other manners, from its predecessors. For one, Flavia has been banished to a boarding school in Canada, the same where her mother studied, which may or may not be a super-secret-spy-school.
Upon her arrival, she comes across--or rather, a dead body comes across her, demanding to be avenged. Because obviously. But now, it's not simply about bringing justice to the killer and the dead; her super-secret-might-be-for-spies school is enmeshed in it, and a big part of the book is comprised of deciding whether the school itself is a murderer,--which seems reasonable, with the ghost of three missing girls haunting Ouija boards and laundry rooms and might in turn jeopardize her stay here, THE ESTEEMED SCHOOL WHERE THE ESTEEMED HARRIET STUDIED.
Flavia has her trademark sarcastic wit and frank observation in firm grasp, making her the perfect vessel to tell the story. However, with backlash from the recent grave (pun in bad taste intended) circumstances still casting a pall over her, this estrangement from her family, all that she's known, in a strange country makes for a sad, lonely Flavia. But being who she is, she gets back on her feet with encouragement from the basic principles of chemistry.
The telling remains both serious and humorous, without going over the top one bit so that her voice is realistically portrayed. And so I wouldn't have a thing changed.
Who can say no to a personal matter? Even God is curious about such things, which is why He listens to our prayers.
But there was no point in feeling sorry for myself. It is always better, and far more rewarding, I have observed, to have someone else feel sorry for you than to do the job yourself.
Feigning stupidity was one of my specialities. If stupidity were theoretical physics, I would be Albert Einstein.
Would you?
If you aren't a FdL fan, either because you couldn't garner enough interest for the second book or you haven't read it, I suggest you read book #1, skip all in between, book #6, and then book #7.
WHY? Because, this book alone is worth it and Flavia throughout--if you can manage--is worth it.
Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell!...more
Do you remember me? I remember you. The fun times we had, and the turbulent ones, third parties, fourth, fifth, a hundred asses interrupting, trying tDo you remember me? I remember you. The fun times we had, and the turbulent ones, third parties, fourth, fifth, a hundred asses interrupting, trying to break us up. But after all that we survived, natural course butted in. However, I'm back to make this long-distance digital relationship work, folks. Hope you are still tuned in to my channel after all this while.
"You're too disorganized to have a baby." "And you're too obsessional. Lucky I'm the one who's having it."
The consensus on The Rosie Effect is not good. Or rather, not as good as it had been for its predecessor. I'm here to get a word in edgewise. It's better. It doesn't live up to the number of LOL's The Rosie Project provoked, but it takes a more in-depth and personal look into Rosie and Don's relationship, and Don himself.
Rosie is pregnant. It is unscheduled. Gene is coming to live with them in New York. A professional opines that Don should never be a father.
It be chaos.
If I remember (somewhat incorrectly maybe) most of the humorous moments in TRP had been at Don's bumbling self, inability to function as an average human. I'm not taking the high road here: he was funny, if unintentionally. But where TRE differs is that it takes into account how harrowing it can be for someone like Don to be constantly expected to deal with fucking cling wrap.
Perhaps the main reason I like it is because I actually connected with Don, sided with him even when he was wrong because I myself couldn't perceive it the acceptable way sometimes. Much emotional distress ensued on his part and Rosie's.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. I visualized numbers, alternate sums of cubes behaving with predictable rationality, as they had before humans and emotions, and as they would for all time.
And there's situational humor in how absolutely ridiculously Don convoluted everything. It was funny!
Don himself receives more character development than he did in the first book, preparing himself to be a father and failing and trying to be the mother and pissing off Rosie and yada yada yada. We also get to see the troubled side of Rosie, on which part I have some misgivings because this aspect was dealt with hurriedly in short instances and Rosie herself seemed to not have grown at all.
But she's pregnant so what the hell. I haven't known many pregnant women. My aunt was a while back, but we only saw her occasionally during that time. And I'm sixteen. I'm so totally entitled to have warped opinions on grown-ups and their (responsible) thingies.
And eurgh. I am never getting a woman pregnant, guys. Not that I could if I wanted to since I'm not keen on a sex-change but I just wanted to put it out in the universe in case it had some dice-throwing scheduled for later on.
Back to the Rosie Effect! Rosie and Don (in particular) are given so many chances to sit down and discuss, resolve their issues, save their marriage (gasp! did I mention it was in trouble?) but those two are such nerds. They require spreadsheets.
There is development on the Gene-Rosie front as well. And on the sole-Gene front as well.
Another aspect I appreciated was that while he changed in subtle ways, felt emotions because of the tornado ripping through what had once been his perfect life, he didn't have a complete personality overhaul, as many other "different" characters are prone to do so (a major peeve in YA dystopian novels). His voice remained the same, its tone and everything.
So while you're out there wondering whether to give out long-term another go, here's some advice I can dispense at no cost: don't worry about that. Instead, go and buy The Rosie Effect. It was a pleasure to read and that sums up all I should've said.
"In the end it'll come down to persuading her you're... average enough to be a father."
Review copy provided free of cost and other services I'm not eager to provide. Thank you Simon & Schuster....more
I won't attempt to describe what this book is about lest I give away any spoilers. It's not a mystery, it's not a tragedy; it's dark but nowhere near I won't attempt to describe what this book is about lest I give away any spoilers. It's not a mystery, it's not a tragedy; it's dark but nowhere near grim. It's the kind of story you have to experience to love.
I love Hutchinson's writing style, which was very rich and lovely, while maintaining its simplicity and realism. There were shades of magical realism that shone through occasionally but they only served to characterize our protagonist's mental state. What I loved most remains that while the story deals with tough matter, its tone never overshadows the actual writing and voice of the character.
Andrew Brawley lives and works in a hospital. He's escaping Death, who roams around in a high ponytail with a clipboard.
The story has a diverse set of characters whose stories develop beside Andrew's, and the way the author managed to play out several themes like bullying, cancer, survival et cetra was admirable.
What I didn't actually discern was the progression of Rusty and Andrew's relationship. It was just there. JUST THERE. But whatever: I still ship them (a little). Magic of SH, I guess.
Another peeve: (view spoiler)[How did his trying to commit suicide (is it still suicide if you manage to live? huh. Do tell.) automatically result in solutions to his turmoils? I mean, he's under and whatnot, and then he wakes up boom! doesn't feel guilty anymore. What miracles happened while he was under? (hide spoiler)]
There's also a graphic novel in parts included in the story, and although I didn't exactly grasp its concept, I loved it, just like most aspects of this story, to which I'm not doing justice.
I know this eenie meenie review seems to be lacking in emotions but that's the way I can manage it right now. Sorry! One final time: I really, really, really liked this book.
I loved that its experience was different, that its telling was unique, that its characters were well-developed. But most of all, the first: it FELT distinct.
You want to know how much I liked this book? I liked it thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much.
"Some people aren't good at anything. Some people just really liYou want to know how much I liked this book? I liked it thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much.
"Some people aren't good at anything. Some people just really like donuts."
Lisa Graff always writes the best books ever. And they almost always fall into my lap just when I need them the most. She is my re-bound author but also so much more because the more you read her book, the better you like it, even if the wonder of first-time read her stories have isn't there. There's the wonder of revising an old, gold friend.
This was my first time reading Absolutely Almost, but I'm most certain it'll not be the last.
I like MG books as much as the next reader, maybe a bit more, but there are few authors I rrrrreally trust to make me believe in my characters without going the way of dark and depressing, at the end of whose destiny shine bright therapies I'm never getting to (I mean The Riverman anyone? REALLY MR STARMER???) Besides, Lisa Graff I can only think of Rebecca Stead (never an improper moment to mention that I love When You Reach Me more than you love your gallbladder).
But Absolutely Almost. Albie is not smart or particularly funny. His mum and dad aren't bad, but they're just trying to figure out how to be the best mum and dad, and sometimes they fail. He is definitely not good at math. And I like math. His name is Albin, not Albert after Einstein.
He's sad almost all the time. And I'm not selling this book right.
So basically before I ruin any slight possibility I had of convincing you, know this: this book is absolutely almost perfect, and while that may not be as good as perfect, I bet it's better than what you're doing now, which is reading this craptastic review. You really need to do something better with you life, people, and reading my reviews ain't it.
It's funny, sad, very very sad, thankfully no one dies, happy sometimes, and great. It is wholesome in a way that no meal or baseball ever could be. And it is the smartest book I've read in a long while even if it's the story of a not-so-smart kid and how life can be hard if you're a not-so-smart kid. It asks just the right questions.
"What do people do on sad days?"
And it knows the right sort of things.
"Everyone deserves a sad day once in a while," Calista told me. "Sometimes things are too big for cheering up. Sometimes the best way to make things better is just to let yourself be sad for a little bit."
Nice people didn't make other people yell-whisper instead of pee.
I love Lisa Graff creates these characters, little or grown-up, so starkly and clearly without bothering the reader too much build-up and no one is too nice or bad, even the best persons fall for stupid idiots they don't deserve to deal with, and it's never too little or too much. It's so much like real life but not overtly in a way that reality seems fake. It's the perfect balance of everything without trying or being obvious. I love love love love it.
I'm not even going to cry about where these books were when I was ten; I'm just glad they are here when I need them.
And Betsy said "trick or treat" twice with no stuttering. I heard her.
Absolutely Almost is full of these little things that make me smile a half-smile people do in books and movies; it makes me feel all kind of gooey and yay for a good day in a long while! inside.
Darissa taught us a new handball game called Butt's Up, which none of us were very good at, but we liked playing because it had the word butt in it.
I know you're probably very busy or maybe sad (who isn't?)(if you aren't so much yes) but lemme just extend a tiny hint to you: give this book a go.
Even smart people probably like to get a hint every once in a while.
Now, I won't keep you any longer or I'll fill up the entire tiny book in this review and then ruin your reading experience so bye! here I go back to probably-crappy books and you should think about this one. Later gators!
First book I've read and finished in a long while so I'm wholly, incorrigibly grateful to someone.
Unbecoming A Novel tries to get across as a novel oFirst book I've read and finished in a long while so I'm wholly, incorrigibly grateful to someone.
Unbecoming A Novel tries to get across as a novel of grandiose, I think, but inside is a story in complete contrast. The characters try to come off as players in the major leagues, but their dynamics are simpler, motivations clearer than you'd expect. There's a twisted sort of homeliness,- or longing for it - as opposed to mind-fucks and coziness, that worked for me. It's where the genius lies.
The story is split into two parts, past and present. For a greater part of the novel, 'present' sets up only the mental and physical surrounding of Julie as stories, backgrounds, histories and action opens up in the 'past' chapters in the life of Grace. There's a ring of contrariness that consecutive chapters set up because of the difference in what time of the same character - Julie actually being Grace - that actually mitigates any sort of disorientation that comes from reading stories written in such manner.
The first lie Grace ever told Hanna was her name.
Suspense builds up in one part while there's the lull of relatively normal life and unwarranted anticipation born of guilt that is a part of it. When we are finally done with the past and we get to what was behind the beginning of the story, the 'present' chapters come to the forefront and everything materializes.
Grace was a lonely, neglected girl (aren't they all?) when she fell in love with Riley. Riley opened the gate for her to his family - his mother, Mrs Graham. Slowly, this love evolves and changes and becomes confused. It's not love for Riley anymore but the sense of belonging and family that being with him brings about. She becomes the daughter Mrs Graham never had. Mrs Graham is the kind of mother Grace never had. And as this childhood love for Riley morphs, as she falls for another, the harder she tries to hold on, doing whatever to keep a hold of/on him. There is Alls, the biggest temptation. And she realizes that Mrs Graham may not be that mother at all.
Fast forward three years, Julie lives in Paris while the two main characters of her childhood - Riley, her husband, and his best friend, her lover, Alls - are finally let out on parole.
Grace goes through many changes during the course of her story, on the way to becoming Julie. There are precursors obvious enough but the changes are gradual processes that change her perception, what she sees and was unwilling to see before. Only one thing is constant, despite what may come: her longing to be Mrs Graham's, truly. And these transformations of characters were the bestest thing of all.
So... this is a basic love triangle kind of story, in a way since the kinds of love differ, which leads to disastrous consequences.
Yet for me, consequences and everything weren't the important part. There are three characters - Grace, Alls, Hanna - and the lengths one may go to fool oneself. There are nuances to them but they're still actually simple, and by that I don't mean lacking in anything. They're all different and as unhinged, fucked-up or psychotic at least the first two try to be, their motivations are easy to figure out and understand. Yet that causes intrigue all of its own.
Unbecoming A Novel is kind of psychological in its own way, but more than that, it's a character study. If you can get into Grace, you will enjoy this story, simple as that.
But there are other aspects to consider: Scherm's writing is grrrr-reat. I mean, it's totally palatable but maintains a kind of class and insight. It doesn't exactly resonate but comes close to it.
The only thing that miffed me a bit was the turn that the story took towards the end. It seemed too easy, too wonderful but comes along a conclusion rife with bitterness and want, ending it all on a purr-fect note. I'm still miffed, though.
But yay for this book! I'd LOVE it if you LOVE this book. It's a intriguing, fantastic book, just sizzling in anticipation of your readership. Ohh do read it! Even if you slightly like it, I won't hate you. Don't let that cover turn you off; it looks much better in reality.
As close to a three as it can get without actually being a three.
#1 Ambassadors are kind of like superheroes/heroines, eh? #2 I don't know anything aboAs close to a three as it can get without actually being a three.
#1 Ambassadors are kind of like superheroes/heroines, eh? #2 I don't know anything about being/living with an ambassador.
#3 Review Time!
Basically, All Fall Down is entertainment fodder with ambitions to develop into something less satisfying further on in the story. It's short, fast-paced with fun characters, sneaking and jumping and flipping authorities. Set in Embassy Row. In the fictional city of Adria, Valancia. There's a scarred killer amongst the tightrope walkers, peace promisers and other Very Important People.
Grace is a troubled narrator, and boy do I hate that word. Anyway, the entire world as she knows it considers her unreliable. Starting out and through the rest of this adventure, her narration pretty much revolves around the fact that she's not crazy and there's a killer out there. I got over that rrrrreally fast. Faster than Flash could sweep me off my feet and plant a kiss, I'd bet. How about it Flash??? I dare you. :D
It's a solid mystery set around characters with enough flesh, background and presence to carry on the story adequately. My definition of adequate being that I don't feel like I'm under a blanket, in a dark room for extra assurance. There's a bevy of beautiful people - another fact about ambassadors and their progeny I didn't know! They all set out to be models, but got sidetracked. However, despite my flaccid attempts at snark, I did like Noah, Rosie and Megan, our protagonist's compatriots in dank tunnels and trespasses.
There are only sparks of romance/crushing that crop up EVERY time Grace comes across, or spies on, her brother's best friend, a very Russian, very annoying, AND VERY UNSUITABLY NAMED Alexei. I mean, the left side of my brain sees: prat, shadow of characterization, no real personality, but the right side: RUSSIAN. HOT. NAMED ALEXEI. It brings on moments of cognitive dissonance, I tell you.
HOW IS A GIRL SUPPOSED TO COPE?
Putting hot Russians out of mind, for a moment, I'd like to make clear that there is only a smidgen of actual romance. Huzzah for us buzzkills and cynics and tired folks!
Carter's latest project requires you to suspend you belief in all things dangerous and 007 taught about efficiency of grownups like you'd drop your trousers in the loo when Ms Peepee has been banging on your bladder through an entire conference on lima beans.
Not that I'm claiming to know anything about Ms Peepee, conferences on lima beans or lima beans, for that matter. I'm a Goddess, you see, of Something and Other; no need to bother with earthly stuff. (Besides them book, obv. And Nutella.)
BUT WHERE WAS I? Oh, trousers. Ha! Right I don't have any sort of problems with THAT only when I get some sort of subtle discourse acknowledging the fact that yes, what our characters manage is unbelievable and tough. There wasn't. These players sneak into a very dangerous, secure, and paranoid man's with barely so much as an oomph!
Now, it's making me worry about the Very, Very Important people currently out there in other, real countries.
However, this lack of attention to details also goes for when emotional upheavals are going on, relationships strengthened or crapped upon, perils are faced. It's all fast and most certainly not furious, making for a "I'm in a dimly lit room and can only identify few sundries" experience.
Very nebulous and devoid of actual investment w/r/t thought and feeling.
But besides all that, the story does get fun sometime later. Very Ninja-style! Jumping from balconies and kicking out mortar. There also be revelations that change the course of the story and what you expect. Whether that be a good thing or bad, I leave up to you.
#4 WRAP UP
I'm stupid. The story would be much better if it were: (a) refined (b) tighter (c) more descriptive (d) used the word conspiracy more (that ALWAYS works) I'm not sure if I'll be back for more. The FANTASTIC Gallagher Girls this is not.
As far my interest is concerned, it was captured and sustained solely for the slight resemblances that The Children Act bore to The Actual rating: 2.5
As far my interest is concerned, it was captured and sustained solely for the slight resemblances that The Children Act bore to The Good Wife, a show I have the occasional liking for; or more generally, for my proclivities to all things fictional and relating to a court of law.
While trying to relay an affecting story of a judge in the middle of a silently turbulent, deceptively simple hitch in her married life, with her husband wanting his very own affair with her consent, and a particularly provoking case of a minor and his parents, being Jehovah's Witnesses, refusing transfusion for the former, Ian McEwan ended up forming a pretentious, wayward novel whose attraction for me was simply the superficial.
Some books don't take a stand, and are all the more commendable for it. This is not one of them. It needed to take a stand, on anything! And it didn't. Fiona, our protagonist's own opinions, while we are being buried in the meaningless kind of the same, didn't seem of import or consequence; hell, when it mattered, or could have mattered, they simply didn't seem to exist.
Certain readers and critics have considered this latest work provocative, or at least controversial, and I have trouble discerning the basis for that. There are religious issues but like I said, neither the character nor the book takes a stand. In regards to other diminutive scandals that could have been, everything was dismal, disappointingly innocuous.
The story is rather straightforward, especially surprising in the face of all the meandering of thoughts and crap that goes on. The ending itself, while not predictable, wasn't as big a blow as perhaps the author expected to be.
But overlooking all that,-because I could have given not a fuck about all if only-what bugs me the most is the clinical sense of portrayal, the lack of nuances or realism in Ian McEwan's characters, maybe the dearth of any will to do so. As such, I myself was removed from the case playing on whilst I read it.
The book, I suppose, was contrived to be a character study but rather than focusing on Fiona, the author chose to instead go on and on, in a rather eloquent fashion, about the weather and classical music and what she thought of a boy's poetry and old cases-basically, the trivialities that don't make up the basis of her pain/life/resolution.
Yet I finished The Children Act and did not end up hating it. For that, I have a few vague, dispensable reasons. The writing style was not glaringly beautiful, but truly exceptional. It took a few pages to get into, and then it sucked one in, hard. Beyond that, the story itself wasn't fast, or didn't seem as such, but the pages sped by hastily.
One aspect I did like was the genuine, clean obsession that develops in Adam, the boy who refuses treatment. At times, I thought that his reactions, facets of personality were affected; but he happened to be the only character in whom I could actually feel at times, a treatment as a person on the part of the author.
And all this that came-all the gripes and else, were simply a result of the after, after the book was finished. The story itself kept me in a sort of oblivion, both a negative and positive. I couldn't seem to begin caring for the characters at all beyond a surface oh shit in the beginning, but neither was I given a pause to consider whether I liked the story or not.
Well, my first literary encounter with Ian McEwan didn't go as planned. If this is an indication of what other books hide within their covers, I can't decide whether to rejoice or despair, since I have indeed witnessed the effect of Atonement on the masses and can't figure out if I want the same for myself. Overall, though, The Children Act was an experiential failure/disappointment.
Review copy provided by Random House UK, Vintage Publishing....more
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