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13 Reasons Why

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Book: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Book Info: Published by Razorbill; 170 pages

Source: an e-book via the library

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Find Out More: Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon~Jay Asher

Goodreads Summary: Clay Jenkins returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers 13 cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

I wanted to like this book, I really did.  But I couldn’t.  I found myself getting more irritated as the book went on.

I get feeling like suicide is your only way out, and normally, I’m really sympathetic towards characters who struggle with depression and suicide.  But I couldn’t muster up any sympathy for Hannah.  When she’s narrating her reasons why, she comes across as really angry and intent on blaming everyone around her.  So instead of sympathizing with her and feeling her desperation and pain, I felt like she had this whole “look at what you made me do” attitude.

Her reasons why seemed so simplistic, and I don’t blame people for thinking she had no reason to.  Everyone has their own breaking point, and this just happened to be Hannah’s.  Yeah, stuff happens, like rumors and bullying, but it doesn’t mean it’s okay to spread rumors or anything.

But anyway, Asher made it seem so simple and easy when most of time, it’s not as simple as 13 reasons.  There wasn’t enough context, and had the entire book focused on Hannah, instead of her narrating her reasons and Clay’s thoughts on the tapes, I think we might have gotten more insight into Hannah’s life.  All you get is 13 reasons, and nothing else.  I can’t help but wonder if there is a bigger picture, because I want to believe there is.

I did like the idea of her recording different memories, and the idea of the tapes being passed along.  I try not to be all nit-picky, but where on earth did she find tapes?  And where are a bunch of teenagers going to find a Walkman?  I guess it’s going to be dated in a year or two anyway, no matter what technology is being used.

But Clay’s reaction to Hannah’s narration didn’t work for me, especially when you learn that he didn’t actually do anything to hurt her.  And poor Mr. Porter, who ended up on the list because Hannah didn’t actually tell him what she was really thinking.  She pretty much baited him into giving her the answer she wanted to hear.

Even with all of my complaints about the book, there were a couple things I liked.  One, you never know how your actions and words can affect others.  Yes, you may be joking, but the other person might not see it that way.  And two, if it seems like someone is suicidal, talk to them.  Or tell someone who can help them.

Overall, I give it a 1 out of 5.  So much of the book didn’t work for me, and it can  something that’s already stigmatized much more so.

10 Most Vivid Worlds And Settings In Books

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Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, people from all over post their own lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find past Top 10 Tuesday’s here.

Top 10 Most Vivid Worlds And Settings In Books

One thing I love about reading is the setting.  I love being transported to a completely different world that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.  I want to immerse myself in a place that is real and full of interesting characters and places.

  1. Hogwarts from Harry Potter.  Hogwarts is one of the first places that came to mind, because who wouldn’t want to go to Hogwarts?  I feel like I knew the castle so well, partly because of Harry’s wanderings and the Marauder’s map, but also because of the details.  The suits of armor, the ghosts, the talking portraits…what’s not to love?
  2. The Seven Kingdoms from Graceling.  This is actually the first book I thought of when I saw the topic.  I just love the 7 Kingdoms and how different they are.  And I love that each book in the series focuses on a different kingdom, instead of the same one.  I think Monsea is the one that stands out, and I love the historical feel of the setting.
  3. Avalon From Wings.  I know I’ve mentioned Wings several times reccently, but I can’t help but love Pike’s version of Avalon.  It’s a shame we didn’t see it very much in the series, but I still loved Avalon.  It felt pretty and full of life and energy.
  4. The nevernever from The Iron Fey.  I promise, I’ll stop talking about the Iron Fey at some point.  But we spent so much time in the Iron Kingdom and in the Seelie and Unseelie Courts that I so want to go there.  I love how our memories and stories play a huge part in keeping the nevernever around.
  5. Narnia.  When I was little, I hoped that my closet would lead to Narnia, or some other equally magical world.  I loved how getting to Narnia was so magical and so random.  You ended up there when you least expected it, and that is why it stands out.
  6. Middle Earth from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.  Middle Earth is so vivid because of all the work Tolkien put into creating it.  With actual languages, different lands, and a super-detailed history of Middle Earth, it’s no wonder it feels real.
  7. The Realms from the Gemma Doyle series.  This one is on my mind because I just finished Rebel Angels.  But I love that the Realms are more complex than I ever imagined.  It seems like a beautiful, carefree place, and yet there is a darkness there.
  8. A Wrinkle Time series.  Honestly, it’s the house and the town that Meg lives in that is so memorable.  Her home is so warm and inviting, and I’d love to be friends with her just to be able to go to her house.
  9. The Island Of The Blue Dolphins.  I felt like I knew every inch of this island, because we spent so much time following Karana’s life as the only person living there.  I’d love to know a place that well.
  10. The Night Circus.  I wanted to go the circus after finishing The Night Circus.  And not just any circus, but one as magical as the one in the book.

That’s my list for this week!  What other settings/worlds stand out?

Author Playlists

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I got the idea for this post after discovering that Rachel Caine (one of my new favorite authors) wrote out a playlist of the music that got her through Undone.

I honestly don’t pay too much attention to what other authors listen to when writing.  Like, I like making playlists for all my NaNo novels.  And while authors might mention a band or two in the aknowledgements or something, it was the first time I had actually seen an author post a song by song list.  So when Unknown was available for download from the library, the first thing I did was check to see if she had a playlist at the end of the book.  She did, so I’ll have to check it out.

But for now, let’s focus on the Undone playlist.  What’s cool is that all of the songs I’ve heard fit the book really well.  Here are some of the songs, and my thoughts:

  • Life Is Beautiful by Sixx: A.M.  First, I love the name of the band (or what I assume to be the name of the band).  And it’s one of my new favorite songs.
  • Citizen/Soldier by 3 Doors Down.  It’s been forever since I’ve listened to them, but I just love how the song sounds.
  • Give It Up by LCD Soundsystem: This is such a fun song!  It makes me want to dance awkwardly.  And, for some bizarre reason, learn how to play the guitar.
  • Believe by The Bravery.  This is actually a good song to get lost in.  And relax to.
  • Tess Don’t Tell by Ivy.  I love how this song sounds, and I love having it on in the background.  I need to see if she has anything else available so I can check it out.
  • Everybody Got Their Something by Nikka Costa.  Another current favorite that makes me want to sing along.

And I really can’t want to check out some of the ones from Unknown.  I think I even have a few of them, but the thing I like the most is that I’ve discovered a lot of music I’ve never heard before.  And I’ll even have the chance to check out some people I’ve heard of but never actually listened to before.

I’m really fascinated with this, because it’s always interesting to see what music authors listen to, and what music gets them through their novel-writing process.  To see what inspires them or their novels.

I don’t think I’ll be looking for what music authors listen to, but I will be paying more attention to it…if I happen to come across it.  Especially because music and writing go so well together.

Stayed tuned for a Top 10 Tuesday post tomorrow!

The Name Of The Star

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Book: The Name Of The Star by Maureen Johnson

Book Info: Published by Penguin Group; 384 pages

Source: e-book via the public library

Genre: YA/Paranormal Mystery

Find Out More: Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon~Maureen Johnson

Goodreads.com Summary: The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn’t notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

The Name Of The Star surprised me.  I was expected a mystery, which you definitely get.  But apparently, I need to read the summaries, because I was surprised by the appearance of ghosts.  I love that this book is a paranormal mystery.

I was quite surprised to see ghosts, because they don’t seem very common in YA paranormal books.  Considering this story is dealing with Jack The Ripper, ghosts really aren’t that surprising.

I like the idea of a Jack The Ripper murder mystery, and I was surprised by the general spookiness.  I loved the facts scattered throughout the novel, and surprisingly, I wasn’t irritated by Rory going to boarding school in England.  It worked really well, because she clearly wasn’t very familiar with a lot of the slang and history over in London, so things were explained to her.  And thankfully, it wasn’t a massive info dump.

It was very suspenseful, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened.

There were a few things I didn’t like.  The story focused very much on Jack The Ripper, so the characters did seem to have the life or personality I expected.  The potential romances didn’t seem all that interesting.  There are hints that she and Jerome could end up together- if they aren’t already- but too much of that relationship happened off-screen, so it’s hard to care.  And I could see Rory and Stephen as a couple.  Either way, I’m sure it’ll be resolved at some point in the series.

The ending was a surprise, and I wasn’t expecting it.  It was a cliffhanger, of course, but it just makes me want to read the next book in the series as fast as I can.

I give it a 4 out of 5 for being a spooky, mysterious Jack The Ripper re-telling.

Once Was Lost

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Book: Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

Book Info: Published by Little, Brown Books For Young Readers; 217 pages; hardcover

Source: borrowed from the library

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Find Out More: Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon~Sara Zarr

Goodreads.com Summary: Samara Taylor used to believe in miracles. She used to believe in a lot of things. As a pastor’s kid, it’s hard not to buy in to the idea of the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing grace. But lately, Sam has a lot of reason to doubt. Her mother lands in rehab after a DUI and her father seems more interested in his congregation than his family. When a young girl in her small town is kidnapped, the local tragedy overlaps with Sam’s personal one, and the already-worn thread of faith holding her together begins to unravel. 

In her third novel, acclaimed author Sara Zarr examines the coexistence of affliction and hope, and what happens when everything you thought you believed—about God, about your family, about yourself—is transformed.

I have mixed feelings about Once Was Lost.

I like that Sam’s personal problems are overlapping with the disappearance of a girl she knows from church.  I like the issues that come up, and that Zarr just presents them as they are.  You definitely get to come up with your own conclusions and thoughts about what happen.

But I felt like a personal tragedy overlapping with a larger one was forced, and it just didn’t work for me.  It felt like Zarr heavily relied on stereotypes, because the characters fell flat.  The pastor possibly having an affair with the youth group leader who helps out while Sam’s mother is in rehab after a DUI…the father, unable to communicate with his daughter…Sam having a couple friends, who act differently around her than they do everyone else…definitely predictable.

I think people can relate to Sam questioning her faith, but other than that, it was just hard to connect with any of the characters.  It also moved really slow, and not much happened.  Overall, it gets a 2 out of 5.

Let’s Talk About Pottermore!

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So, Chamber Of Secrets is officially open on Pottermore.  Kind of.  Technically, only the first 4 chapters are available, and according to the Pottermore blog, Chamber of Secrets is coming out in 3 installments.  I actually like that they’re releasing the book in sections.  I’m not sure why they are- it is possible remaining chapters are not ready to go- but I’m glad they are.  It’ll be a lot easier to go through it slowly, and maybe I’ll even have Chamber of Secrets in front of me while I’m going through Pottermore.

I was super-excited about Pottermore when I became a beta last summer.  I was really into it, and then got really bored, and pretty much forgot about it until I got the emails talking about the House Cup.  Honestly, once you got through Sorcerer’s Stone and made a few potions, there wasn’t anything to do.  Especially because duelling wasn’t up yet.  And because they kept extending the beta period.

They did add sound, which is a big improvement.  I think that was one of the biggest complaints from, well, everyone.  The artwork is still completely amazing.  The potions still take too long- anywhere from 30 minutes, up to 75 minutes (I think), depending on the potion.  But at least they shortened the times a little.  I hate that I can’t sell potions for galleons or something.  I don’t want to gift them, and if I’m going to spend an hour here and there brewing them, I’d like something besides house points.  I’m surprised they haven’t added more potions, but that could come later.

They added a noticeboard to all the common rooms, which is kinda cool, because it does have very general updates on what’s going on.  Like Chamber of Secrets being partially available, or when the house cup is ending.

Chamber Of Secrets, in 4 chapters, is a lot more interactive than (most of) Sorcerer’s Stone.  You get to de-gnome the garden, you get to use floo powder, and several other things, which is cool.  There is a fair amount of point-and-clicking, which is to be expected.  It’s very old-school J.K.R., but there does seem to be a better balance.

They did have an incentive for the House that won the House Cup- Slytherin got to see Chamber Of Secrets a full day before everyone else.  I like that they’re doing that, because it actually gives people a reason to participate and try to earn house points.

So far, the only new material is about the Malfoys.  I liked getting their backstory, and I’m sure we’ll get more as the series progresses.  I’m not going to spoil it for anyone, but it is pretty interesting.

There is something I’m wondering.  Like, the House Cup is cool and all, but what happens when all 7 books are out?  How are they going to keep it going when people have done everything they’ve wanted to?  More importantly, how are they going to keep people coming back?  As it is, there’s no reason for people to keep going back once they’ve gone through the books, and you can only brew so many potions and duel so many people.  I know I’m getting way ahead of myself here, but still.  What plans do they have for when Deathly Hallows is released?

Anyway, I hope we get to brew polyjuice potion, because that would be awesome.  And I’m sure they have something up their sleeve for the end of the book, when Harry goes into the Chamber Of Secrets.  I bet the Cornish pixies will be interactive.  They have to be, right?

That’s all for Pottermore…at least until the next section is released.

The Sacrifice

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Book: The Sacrifice by Kathleen Benner Duble

Book Info: Published by Margaret K. McElderberry; 224 pages; hardcover

Source: Borrowed from the library

Genre: YA/Historical Fiction

Find out more: Goodreads~Barnes and Noble~Amazon~Kathleen Benner Duble

Goodreads.com Summary: In the year 1692, life changes forever for ten-year-old Abigail Faulkner and her family. In Salem, Massachusetts, witches have been found, and widespread fear and panic reign mere miles from Abigail’s home of Andover. When two girls are brought from Salem to identify witches in Andover, suspicion sweeps the town as well-respected members of the community are accused of witchcraft. It isn’t long before chaos consumes Andover, and the Faulkners find themselves in the center of it all when friend turns themselves in the center of it all when friend turns against friend, neighbor against neighbor, in a desperate fight for the truth. At the heart of this gripping story are Abigail and her sister, Dorothy, who together must find a way to persevere during a period marked by terror, adversity, and ignorance.

Told from Abigail’s point of view and based on actual events in the author’s own family histoy, “The Sacrifice” offers a unique perspective of the Salem witch trials by delving into the devestating effects the trials had not just in Salem but throughout Massachusetts.

This book was okay.  It seemed a little younger than I was expecting, but I still enjoyed it a little.

I think I loved the setting and the historical back-drop the most.  It did seem very real and I liked that it was based on the author’s own family tree.  I think I was really surprised by the fact that it was set in a town near Salem, and not in Salem itself.

Duble does a great job of showing just how widespread and crazy the witch trials were, and how limited your choices were if you were accused of witchcraft.  Some of the names seemed vaguely familiar for some reason, and I definitely want to read up on the Salem Witch trials.

Even though there were more than a few things about the novel I really liked, overall, I didn’t like it as much as I was expecting.  Duble only scratched the surface, and it didn’t go into a lot of depth, but it is a good introduction to what things might have been like.  I give it a 2 out of 5.

The Sky Is Everywhere

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Book: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Book Info: Published by Dial; 288 pages; hardcover

Source: borrowed from the library

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Find out more: Goodreads~Barnes And Noble~Amazon~Jandy Nelson

Goodreads.com Summary: Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transfer from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding. This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie’s struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.

I am so glad I read this book!  It made me laugh, but it also made me cry.  I even laughed through my tears.  It seems like I’ve come across several books dealing with grief over the last year or so, and I think this is one of my favorites.

I really related to Lennie, especially when she and her grandma were talking about how they didn’t know who they were after losing Bailey.  The way someone feels after losing someone close to them is so complex and varies so much from person to person, and I think Nelson captured this so well.  All of the characters have lost someone and are dealing with it in their own way.  While I didn’t always like the choices Lennie made, I still understood where she was coming from.

I especially loved the notes (written by Lennie) that are scattered throughout the book.  It’s a great look at who Bailey was and her relationship with Lennie.  It really made the book a lot more emotional.

And we have to talk about Joe!  I loved him, and it’s easy to see why.  Words cannot express how much I love him.

I just loved this book.  So much, in fact, that I shall give it a 5 out of 5.  And buy a copy for myself.  It’s such a beautiful book.

Top 10 Books For People Who Like The Iron Fey

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Top 10 Tuesday is hosted every week by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, people from all over post and share their own list based on the topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesday topics here.

Top 10 Books For People Who Like The Iron Fey

This week, we’re recommending books based on a certain book.  I decided to go with The Iron Fey series, because it’s one of my favorite series.  I love the characters, the settings and the fairie mythology.  And who doesn’t want recommendations that are full of the paranormal, mythology and fairy tales?

  1. Wings by Aprilynne Pike.  I love this series and different the fairies are.  I can totally see fairies as being similar to plants, and I love the hierarchy of fairies.
  2. Need by Carrie Jones.  I love the pixies and her twist on mythology.  It’s also a lot funnier than I had ever expected.
  3. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter.  I really liked this adaptation of the Persephone myth and how Carter incorporated Greek mythology.  It stands out, because I haven’t read anything else like it.
  4. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.  The one thing that I love about this series is how funny it is.  I think that if you like the humor in The Iron Fey, then you’ll like the humor in Paranormalcy.  Plus, there are some really interesting relationships and alliances in both books that fans will appreciate.
  5. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand.  Unearthly is on the list because I love how Hand created her own angel mythology that’s believable and and interesting.  The characters are all so interesting and different.
  6. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier is an interesting re-telling of the 12 Dancing Princesses and The Frog Prince.  I love the combination of the two fairy tales and the setting is very detailed and memorable.
  7. Graceling by Kristin Cashore.  I loved the settings in both Graceling and The Iron Fey.  And if you like Meghan, you’ll love Katsa.
  8. Entwined by Heather Dixon.  I’ve gone back and forth on whether I wanted to recommend this book.  It is another 12 Dancing Princesses re-telling, but I decided to include it because I’m becoming a fan of fairy tale re-tellings.  And there is something magical about escaping into a different world to dance.
  9. Tiger’s Curse.  I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest fan of this book.  But I’m still recommending it because I loved the Indian mythology in it.  It’s definitely different, and the focus on Indian mythology is worth it!
  10. Anew by Chelsea Fine.  A girl with a curse that kills her and then brings her back to life?  You can’t go wrong with an idea like that.  Plus, there’s a very interesting take on the Fountain of Youth, which I liked a lot.

Are there any other books that fans of the Iron Fey will like?

Let’s Hit Shuffle, Shall We?

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I’m feeling in a particularly random mood, so I decided to hit shuffle and see what comes up.  Unless there’s a song from the last time I did this, in which case I shall skip over it.

  1. Mis Disarray by the Gin Blossoms.  Another Gin Blossoms song?  Cool!  I actually really like this song, and No Chocolate Cake really reminds me of New Miserable experience.  This song is no exception to that.
  2. No Reins by Rascal Flatts.  Country music!  I really like this song.  Actually, I just love pretty much everything they do.  It just speaks to me.
  3. Give It Up by Oliver Boyd And The Remembralls.  Words cannot express how much I LOVE Oliver Boyd And The Remembralls.  It took me a few listens to figure out that it was about Cedric.  Poor Cedric.  But I love how you sort of have to pay attention to the lyrics to get its connection to Harry Potter.
  4. Breath by Michelle Branch.  Maybe iTunes is telling me to listen to Michelle Branch more?  Because this is the second time she’s appeared on this list.  I love this song, and for some reason, I always want to cry when I listen to it.
  5. Hydra Lab from the Captain America: The First Avenger score.  Ignoring the fact that I have never seen Captain America, I really like the score.  While there a few songs that stand out, this isn’t one of them.  It’s still a cool song and all, and I’m slowly becoming a fan of Alan Silvestri.
  6. Me And Emily by Rachel Proctor.  I love this song, and it’s something I listen to every once in a while.  Mostly when I need some cheering up, and no, I have no clue why it does.  I think this is the song she’s most known for, because I have no clue what else she’s done.
  7. Everywhere by Moustache.  Love this song!  Seriously, it is a great song.  I think it’s the music that drew me in, but overall…it’s just amazing.
  8. Ordinary Day by Vanessa Carlton.  Add her to the list of people I had forgotten I even had.  I may have to listen to the 3 songs I have by her again, because it’s been a long time.  It’s definitely one of my favorites…when I remember I have it, of course.
  9. Just A Dream by Carrie Underwood.  Have I mentioned how much I love Carrie Underwood?  Because I do.  I love this song (like how I love pretty much every song on this list.  There’s something sad and yet dramatic about it.
  10. 23 Days by SHeDAISY.  Wow, lots of country music today!  I’m not complaining, mind you, but I kind of forgot I had SHeDAISY on my iPod.  I do like this song, but it’s not one of my favorites by them.

That’s all for today…tomorrow will be another exciting Top 10 Tuesday post!