The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Volume II, by M. T. Anderson

I started reading this a while ago, but then I got a bunch of books from the library so I set it down for a few weeks. It took me multiple hours, but I finished it today because it's overdue, I'll be gone for most of next week, and I didn't want to return it and have to wait to finish it later. Oh, and because it was good, and stuff.

Novel: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume II, The Kingdom on the Waves, written by M. T. Anderson

Because it isn't a good book title unless you are out of breath after saying it. :)

It's Like: I don't read historical fiction often (though I enjoy it!), so I cannot think of another novel or novels to compare it to. It's a lot like the first volume, obviously, but I suppose that doesn't help if you haven't read the first one.

Summary: Volume II starts off exactly where the previous one left off, Octavian escaping with Dr. Trefusis to Boston. Together they fend for themselves: Octavian finding a job as a violinist while Dr. Trefusis slowly recovers from various ailments. After a rebel attack on Boston, the two set out for Lord Dunmore and his promise to free any slaves that will fight for the British side. The rest of the novel is Octavian documenting his life as a soldier for the British army.

Notes: To be honest, I really only have one note. I talked a lot about M. T. Anderson's writing style in my post about Volume I and everything I said there applies to Volume II as well. What I'd like to focus on in this post is the base idea of the story. As an American, I learned about the Revolutionary War from the point of the colonists and how their bravery, determination, and love of liberty led to their victory over the British. Of course, we know a lot of "rebels," as they are referred to in this novel, were hypocrites, crying for freedom and liberty while disregarding the humanity of slaves. It is still very eye-opening, though, to hear what African Americans thought of the rebels and White people in general during this time and some horrible things the Americans did during the Revolutionary War. It's a lot to think about while reading. The contradictory nature of both the Americans and the British is discussed well in the Author's Note (which is why I read everything in the book, including acknowledgments, and this practice is something I'm going to devote a whole post to). I found one of the last paragraphs helpful in figuring out what I wanted to say:

"Yes, our Revolutionary forefathers espoused a vexed and even contradictory view of liberty. But it is easy to condemn the dead for their mistakes. Hindsight is cheap, and the dead can't argue. It is harder to examine our own actions and to ask what abuses we commit, what conspicuous cruelties we allow to afford our luxuries, which of our deeds will be condemned by our children's children when they look back upon us. We, too, are making decisions. We, too, have our hypocrisies, our systems of shame."

It's easy to find fault with people on both sides of the fight, the Americans and the British, the African Americans and the White people, but we cannot do anything about the past. As John Green loves to point out, novels are written to imagine other people more complexly, and in the process, ourselves. I found by analyzing the past and its players, I was able to understand myself better.

Recommendation: As you may have realized by reading my above note, you are going to have to do a lot of thinking while reading this novel, and not just because its written in ye olde English. If you have made it to the end of this post and are not dozing off from boredom, then you will probably enjoy this novel. But make sure you read Volume I first! :)

Geektastic, edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci

Warning: The following post contains high levels of nerdiness. If you are not a self-proclaimed geek/nerd (yes I know there is a difference, but I don't feel like going into it in this blog post), or you have no interest in becoming one, then this book is not for you and you might as well just stop reading now.

Novel: Geektastic, edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castelluci

This is actually an anthology of short stories and comics. I picked this up because one of the short stories was written by John Green, and then I noticed that other authors I really like--M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Garth Nix, and Scott Westerfeld--also contributed. The rest of the stories are written by the editors of Geektastic as well as: Cassandra Clare, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Tracy Lynn, Wendy Mass, Cythia & Greg Leitich Smith, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr. The comics are drawn by Bryan Lee O'Malley and Hope Larson.

It's Like: This doesn't really work for an anthology... But like everything you could possibly consider geeky under one roof.

Summary: This also doesn't work for an anthology... My blog post structure is falling apart :(

Notes:

• I thought it might be a good idea to write a few sentences on each short story because it would be hard to review Geektastic as a whole.
• "Once You're a Jedi, You're a Jedi All the Way" (Holly Black & Cecil Castelluci): I found this short story really amusing and a good way to start off the anthology; plus, it was the story that started the creation of Geektastic, so.... I liked the changing perspectives because both main characters were so different. I suppose third person could have worked as well, but I don't think it would have conveyed the emotion and thoughts behind their actions as well as changing perspectives did. Also, I now have a burning desire to go to Comic-Con.
• "One of Us" (Tracy Lynn): This one was one of my favorites, and a good story to start with if you are interested in becoming a nerd/geek. The plot might have been a little predictable, but it was still cute and fun.
• "Definitional Chaos" (Scott Westerfeld): I usually like Scott Westerfeld's writing, but I found this story confusing and without direction. I could see what Westerfeld was trying to do, set up a story that explained all sections of the alignment matrix, but he didn't execute it very well. It ended up being a lot of discussion without much explanation.
• "I Never" (Cassandra Clare): I've been told I NEED to read Cassandra Clare's books, and I guess it's a good start that I liked this story. I'm not sure that an online multiplayer game like the Game exists, but it sounds fascinating! I found it hard to like Jane until the end of the story, but I like how Clare chose to write in the perspective of a non-geek discovering geek culture. Also, it mirrored Cyrano de Bergerac quite well.
• "The King of Pelinesse" (M.T. Anderson): I wasn't really sure how to feel about this story. I found that I liked the writing, though sometimes it seemed inconsistent. It was interesting but really odd.
• "The Wrath of Dawn" (Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith): This story was cute and had a predictable ending, but I enjoyed it, probably for those reasons. I also need to watch Buffy apparently.
• "Quiz Bowl Antichrist" (David Levithan): I have read Will Grayson, Will Grayson, so I know Levithan's writing. It was smart and witty and another story written from an outsider's perspective. My favorite character was probably Wes because he's quiet but observant and therefore insightful. I was also impressed by the vast knowledge Quiz Bowlers must have in order to succeed.
• "The Quiet Knight" (Garth Nix): I've only read Nix's Abhorsen Trilogy (which I love), so it was somewhat odd to read a story of his that did not take place in a fantasy world. It was still brilliant, of course, and I would love to read a full-length novel with Tony as the main character. You've got to love a gentle giant :)
• "Everyone but You" (Lisa Yee): This story reminded me that there are more definitions of being a geek than just the classic ones (Trekkers, Comic books lovers, etc.) It was odd to read a YA story with such a peppy main character, because the majority of YA novel main characters that are nerdy are also cynical and quiet. I found the time jump near the end somewhat off putting, but otherwise I liked the story.
• "Secret Identity" (Kelly Link): My opinion towards this story is similar to my opinion of M.T. Anderson's: it was odd but interesting. The idea of superheros being real in the story's universe was cool, but ultimately you figure out the symbolism behind it. Ultimately, I think I would have appreciated a story just about superheros more than a lost 15-year-old, though.
• "Freak the Geek" (John Green!!): John Green has a different writing style that you have to get used to, but I enjoy it and I loved this story. It was short but it did a very good job encompassing what it means to be a geek/nerd.
• "The Truth About Dyno Girl" (Barry Lyga): I really like characters that have something they are insanely passionate about and know from a young age they want to pursue. I didn't really like the end though; I'd like to think that nerds/geeks are above revenge, even revenge for the greater good.
• "This is My Audition Monologue" (Sara Zarr): Theater geek alert! I found this story interesting, possibly because it sounded like what a teenage girl in Rachel's position would say. There are tangents and some exaggeration, really capturing the teenage voice. It also made me really appreciate my high school drama director. :)
• "The Stars at the Finish Line" (Wendy Mass): This one was my favorite because it was so dang cute and it involved astronomy. That is all.
• "It's Just a Jump to the Left" (Libba Bray): A story that goes into the apparent awesomeness that is Rocky Horror Picture Show, making me once again have the need to see it. I didn't particularly like the main character, Leta, and the plot was somewhat confusing because it consisted of so many separate, spaced out events, but I think that was the point.

On a scale...: from 1 to 10, even though I wouldn't give top marks to every individual story, Geektastic is a 10 overall.

Recommendation: If you are a geek/nerd, read it. Otherwise, it probably won't interest you.

I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov

If you are wondering why there are so many new posts in a row (you probably aren't, but I'll explain myself anyway) it's not because I just read a bunch of books in one day. My grandmother was visiting and I was determined to finish watching the entirety of HankGames by the end of July (I missed it by an hour) so I kind of stopped writing posts. Sorry!

Novel: I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov

Side note: This is really embarrassing, and I'm ashamed to admit it, but I accidentally thought Isaac Asimov  was Kurt Vonnegut. I was trying to tell my sister that I was reading a book by a guy that wrote a few of the short stories we had to read junior year and then I realized that they weren't the same person...

It's Like: I'm going to go with "nothing I've ever read before." As much as I say I love sci-fi, I have not actually read very much of it. Asimov is the king of sci-fi, or so I've been told, so I figured I should probably start with him. Also, I randomly saw I, Robot in the classics section of the library and decided to get it.

Summary: I, Robot is actually a collection of short stories as told by Dr. Susan Calvin to a reporter who wishes to know Calvin's background in robotics and robots in general. The overall story line is how robots start to integrate into society (this is supposedly in the 90s, making our lack of robots in the real world upsetting) and the transition from nannies and slaves to The Machines that basically run Earth.

Notes:

• I wish to read all of Asimov's writing after this. So intelligent and thoughtful and fascinating!
• My favorite story is probably the first one, "Robbie," because it's so adorable. It becomes the most important story after reading the entire book, though. In "Robbie," Gloria is very dependent on Robbie for her happiness because he is her only friend. This is a cute children's story, but it parallels the final story where humanity has become equally dependent on The Machines.
• Another way to view the story is that robots and humans will always rely on each other. Robbie does seem equally dependent on Gloria because his entire reason for existing is to be with her. The rest of the stories (minus the last one) are humans suppressing robots and robots fighting back. But in the end, when The Machines are so complex that no one knows how they work, there are still things that cannot be quantified by robots and only humans can accomplish. They still need each other.
• The Three Laws are brilliant. They are specific enough to keep the robots in line, but general enough that they can be twisted to suit the needs of each short story.
• I kind of feel like it's unnecessary to discuss the characters, because the stories aren't focused on the characters. They are focused on ideas and plot. I didn't really feel connected to any character but it worked well for this novel, which was a new experience for me.

On a scale...: from :) to :) :) :) :) :) , it was a resounding :) :) :) :) :) + 

Recommendation: It might be a little to sci-fi-y for some people; it's not exactly complicated, but it does take a little effort to get through the book and understand everything completely, especially in the last story. I think the majority of people will enjoy it though!

This is What Happy Looks Like, by Jennifer E. Smith

You are allowed to judge a book by its cover this one time.

Isn't it adorable? I only read it because of the cover. Just kidding! I've heard a lot of good things about it, as well as Jennifer E. Smith's book The Statistical Probability of Love, so I decided to read it.

Novel: This is What Happy Looks Like, by Jennifer E. Smith

It's Like: A modern, YA version of Once Upon A Marigold

Summary: This is going to sound like a lame summary, but This is What Happy Looks Like is about two teenagers, Graham Larkin and Ellie O'Neill, who accidentally start e-mailing each other, their meeting and the problems that come with attempting to start a relationship. Sounds cliche and straightforward, but it's not!

Notes:

• One thing that startled me was that the majority of the book does not take place with Graham and Ellie e-mailing. The entire book, minus a few pages, is about Graham and Ellie meeting and figuring out what to do once they meet. Most books with similar summaries are about the e-mail messages and how the messages shape each character individually. I really appreciated how This is What Happy Looks Like kept the idea but changed the execution.
• I found Jennifer E. Smith's writing similar to Sarah Dessen's. This might be because both This is What Happy Looks Like and The Moon and More are summer romance novels. I definitely liked Smith's writing more because she captured the teenage voice better than Dessen did.
• While we are on the topic of Dessen, I like Ellie so much more than Emaline (if you don't know what I'm talking about, check out my review for The Moon And More in June). They seem to have similar personalities, but I find the traits much more endearing in Ellie. Ellie is also level headed when it comes to romance and relationships, and that was something that Emmaline lacked.
• I appreciated how both Graham's and Ellie's perspectives were shown; it's not always something I like in a book, but it worked well in this one.

On a Scale...*: from 1 to 10, I'd give it a 9. Points deducted for plot tangents.

Recommendation: Yes, read it! It's more of a "chick book" I guess, or a longer-than-usual beach read, but definitely worthwhile. 

*Oh hey, yeah, this is new. I decided just now to do it. You're welcome. :)

Coraline, by Neil Gaiman

I have heard so many good things about Neil Gaiman, making me determined to read a few of his books. I picked this first because I found it at the library while looking for another book (not a great reason, but you know). It was in the YA section, though it seems more like a children's story. I think it is considered YA because it's creepy, though less creepy than I expected because people emphasized how creepy it was. Anyway...

Novel: Coraline, by Neil Gaiman

It's Like: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, if Narnia was an alternate world that was horrible.

Summary: Coraline's family has recently moved into an old house split into four flats; Miss Spink and Miss Forcible live on the first floor, Mr. Bobo lives in the attic with his mouse circus, and the fourth flat is empty. On a rainy day when Coraline cannot explore outside like she usually does, she finds a door in the parlor that opens to a brick wall. Later, though, when her parents aren't home, she opens the door and finds a hallway instead...

Notes:

• It has the feel of a children's chapter book, especially because it includes a picture at the beginning of each chapter, which reminds me of Roald Dahl books. This makes me question why it is considered a YA novel (or novella, but I'm going to stick with novel for this review). My initial thought was that it's because of the creepy aspect, but in reality it's not that scary. So this leads to questions like: "Is Coraline trying to say something about children's books?" , "Should children's novels be taken as seriously as YA and adult novels?", and "Am I thinking it too much about this?"
• The answer to the third question is probably "yes."
• The writing is very interesting because even though Coraline is in the voice of an eight-year-old, there is intelligence behind the voice. The author doesn't talk down to the reader, making me again question who the audience for this novel is supposed to be.
• Coraline is the only likable character in the book, but I think that is the point. It's the view of a child, so when the adults don't want to play with her or they act different from what is considered "normal," Coraline is not going to think too highly of them.
• The plot was odd but unique, which is something I think most authors strive for (being unique, not being odd, but I guess it's okay to be both). 

Recommendation: I'm going to say that it's a good book for anyone to read. I'm not sure if I should have read Coraline as my first Neil Gaiman novel because I don't know what his writing style for longer, more developed novels is like. His writing in Coraline worked well with the story, but I don't think it would suit many other stories. Which is why I need to read more of his work! So overall, read it, as long as you don't have an extremely low horror tolerance. It's quick and while not exactly fun, it's still enjoyable. :)

The Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan

I decided to read Sea of Monsters in honor of the movie coming out on August 7, even though I know the movie will be just as bad as the movie for Lightning Thief. In order to read Sea of Monsters, of course I had to read Lightning Thief, because you obviously cannot read the second book by itself. I'll be reading the rest of the series soon! Just have a few more books to get out of the way first :)

Novel: The Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan

It's Like: Basically what I said about Lightning Thief: Greek Myths taking form in a Harry Potter-esque way.

Summary: This summary probably will not make much sense without reading  The Lightning Thief, or at least a summary for The Lightning Thief, so fair warning.

Percy Jackson made it through almost the entire year of school without getting expelled, but of course, something goes wrong and he has to return to Camp Half Blood a little earlier than expected. When he gets there, he finds out that the tree that protects the camp was poisoned, no longer making camp a safe place for demigods. Percy, with his friend Annabeth and his half-brother Tyson sets out to find the Golden Fleece and save the camp, and at the same time figuring out where Grover is and if they can save him.

Notes:

• For one thing, and this is something that my sister (who is also rereading the books) noticed as well, Tyson is a lot shorter than I remember. He's 6 foot 3 inches, which is abnormally tall for a seventh grader, but I always pictured him as being Andre the Giant sized.
• Of course the plot is incredible with a brilliant twist ending.
• I love how the ancient Greek myths are weaved through this story, as well as in The Lightning Thief. You see Percy's story mirroring the stories of old, changed to suit the needs of the overall plot, but keeping the arc recognizable. It's a not-so-subtle way of showing Percy as hero material even when he has no idea what is going on. 
• I hate to say anything bad about this book, but Clarisse's only role seemed to be as a deus ex machina. She is used multiple times as a way to help Percy and his gang when they are stuck, but I suppose it's as good of a way to fix the problem as any other way.

Recommendation: Read Lightning Thief. Then read Sea of Monsters. Then watch the movie on August 7!

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan

So the next two posts will be books I've already read, because they are both from the Percy Jackson series, one of my favorite children's series ever. Actually, one of my favorite series, period :) Actually, the majority of my favorite series are children's series... Hmmmm... Anyways!

Novel: The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan

It's Like: If awesome took the form of a novel! Seriously though, its kind of like Harry Potter but with demigod abilities and Greek Myths thrown in here and there.

Summary: You poor, poor soul if you have not read and/or seen the movie (though the movie is completely different from the book... But we kind of still love it). There are people out there that have not read/watched it though, so I suppose a summary is in order.

Percy Jackson is a relatively normal 12-year-old, though he tends to get expelled from every school he goes to because of weird circumstances that Percy can never explain. When he is attacked on a field trip by a fury, he is brought to Camp Half-Blood, a camp for demigods, those that have one mortal parent and one immortal one. Here, Percy not only has to come to terms with his new identity, but he has solve an argument between Zeus and Poseidon that could lead to World War III if he doesn't figure it out in time.

Notes:

• To be honest, I'm not really sure what to talk about because this is my second time reading it and I have watched the movie multiple times, and I love it. It's kind of hard to critique about something you already love. I'll try my best though!
• All of the main characters are lovable and easy to relate to, even if their situation is very different.
• Obviously the writing is not on par with some of the other authors I have reviewed, but to be fair it is a children's book. Riordan doesn't write down to the reader, though; he has a style that any age reader can appreciate.
• The plot is wonderful and amazing and perfect!
• I don't think I did a good job critiquing this book...

Recommendation: Everyone should read The Lightning Thief! It a quick and easy read, perfect for the summer. I would consider it realistic fantasy because it takes place here and now, instead of a made-up land, making it the kind of fantasy novel that anyone can enjoy.

Scarlet, by Marissa Meyer

This is the sequel to the novel Cinder, which I have not written a review of, so I'll just say that it's really good and you should go read it before reading Scarlet. Also I decided to change the layout a little bit because, well, I can. :)

Novel: Scarlet, by Marissa Meyer, the second novel in the Lunar Chronicles

It's Like: Little Red Riding Hood, but a lot cooler since it takes place in the future with robots and cyborgs and spaceships and awesomeness. Also has the feel of Once Upon A Time because it is a twisted fairy tale.

Summary: It's hard to explain the plot of Scarlet if you don't know the plot of Cinder, but I'll try my best!

Scarlet's grandmother, Michelle, is missing, and she is the only one worried. In order to find her, she has help from a man named Wolf, who gives her every reason not to trust him. As Scarlet looks for her, Cinder is heading her way too, trying to find Michelle but for a completely different reason; to figure out where she came from and if she really is the Lunar princess.

Notes: (This is the part that I'm changing, if you didn't notice)

• Meyer's twists on the original Red Riding Hood is as good as her version of Cinderella, keeping the story similar enough so that you'll know what the outcome will be without knowing the specifics or what might be tweaked to fit the plot line. 
• I wish there was a little bit more about Cinder, because I felt that there wasn't enough going on about the overall plot with Queen Levana and slowing down the coming war. The plague was only mentioned once too, even though it was extremely important in Cinder and still seems to be a major part of society.
• Carswell Thorne is a lot like Finnick from Hunger Games, though slightly more annoying, but still very endearing. 
• I liked Scarlet for the most part, though she did have the tendency to not be able to think properly around Wolf, especially at the end. I find this trait quite annoying in female characters, when they are normally intelligent and strong willed but lose all reason whenever they get near the guy they like. I mention this in my review of Suite Scarlett, which makes me wonder if all Scarlets are like that...

Recommendation: You definitely should not read this book if you haven't read Cinder, because you will be horribly confused for the majority of the novel. But please, read Cinder! Especially if you like fairy tales or sci-fi/fantasy novels. Then you can read Scarlet, a sequel that, unlike most sequels, rival the first novel in its amazingness.

The Casual Vacancy, by J.K. Rowling

I would have called this the most recent J.K. Rowling book, but last week she revealed herself to be the author of The Cuckoo's Calling, so I can't wait to get my hands on that! I plan on rereading the entire Harry Potter series this summer too, because I have only read the series once. Shocking, I know, but I figured if I claim to be a Harry Potter fan, I need to read the series a few more times before I reach true fandom status. Anyways...

Novel: The Casual Vacancy, written by J.K. Rowling

It's Like: Hmmmm usually I have an easy time with this part, because I'm constantly comparing different books, movies, and TV shows to each other. I guess it's just too different from anything I've read before, or at least remember off the top of my head.

Summary: Someone (who shall remain nameless...) said that I should write the summaries instead of giving links, because apparently it is too much effort to click on a link while reading a blog post. To this person, I say fine, I shall write a summary, but it shan't be easy!

The novel starts with the death of Barry Fairbrother who is a Parish Councillor of Pagford. His death leaves a seat empty on the council, which is important because the council is currently evenly split on an important issue that has been hotly debated for over forty years: whether or not "The Fields" (a neighborhood consisting of mostly poor people who survive on welfare) should continue to be a part of Pagford or be taken over by Yarvil, the neighboring city. The novel follows not only the election of the next Councillor, but the lives of those that were directly and indirectly affected by Barry's death, showing how one event can change a whole town.

What I thought of....

• The Plot: I found the plot to be lacking, unfortunately. It really pains me to say anything bad about J.K. Rowling, but I'm going to have to through the rest of this review. The plot for the majority of the book was interesting and thought-provoking. It made me realize that one person's actions, even the small things, can help people and communities in large ways. The problem was that there didn't seem to be any direction. There was no final resolution; the focus of the novel kept changing and by the end I felt like there still was a lot left to be discussed, even though the book was almost 700 pages.
• The Characters: There were very few characters I actually liked, but it isn't necessary to like characters in order to like a book. I could sympathize with the majority of characters, which is more important to me anyways. It was certainly not like Harry Potter, where you can root for the main character, because there really was no main character. At times, especially at the beginning, it was difficult to keep track of them all. I think the changing character focus affected the plot's focus, which led to the poor ending resolution.
• The Style: Unlike the plot, I think the style improved as the novel progressed. The beginning writing was kind of awkward and involved a lot of repetitive description. I kept getting frustrated because she kept mentioning the crumbling monastery on a hill and I couldn't figure out why it was so important! Until a few chapters in when she flat out said that it represented the division between Pagford and Yarvil. *headdesk* Rowling, if you're going to say what a symbol means, at least say it at the beginning so the reader doesn't have to wonder why you keep bringing it up! What was even weirder was that once she explained it she didn't really ever mention the monastery again...

Miscellaneous: It was really, really, REALLY weird reading an adult book by J.K. Rowling. Because it's an adult book. With adult stuff. And sadly, no wizards. After writing seven books that all take place in the same universe that follow one story, it must have been weird to write about something completely different, and you can tell that it was strange for her.

Recommendation: If you're a huge Rowling fan, then read it. If you don't care when a plot has no direction, then read it. If your goal in life is to read every single book, then read it. But otherwise I wouldn't really suggest this book. And if you cannot handle "adult themes," then just forget it.

Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous

Warning: In order to fully discuss this novel, there are going to be a lot of spoilers. If you don't wish to read this book, or do not care about spoilers, then read on!

Novel: Go Ask Alice, written by Anonymous*

*There has been a lot of discussion about the author. It was originally published as the edited diary of a girl who committed suicide. Very soon after, however, a psychologist named Beatrice Sparks started presenting herself as the editor of the book. Currently, it is established that Sparks was the writer of Go Ask Alice, using a few actual stories/diary entries of one of her patients, but making up the majority of the novel. Therefore, I will treat the book as a novel while discussing it.

It's like: The style of Perks of Being a Wallflower with a plot similar to Thirteen Reasons Why, but ten times darker and drug-filled

Summary: I have absolutely no idea how to summarize this novel, so here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/go-ask-alice-anonymous/1100300729?ean=9781416914631

Though I would say it's more of a roller-coaster or cycle of ups and downs, rather than a spiral downward. 

What I thought of...

• The Plot: I would have to say that the plot was good. Did I like the plot? No, but it carried the story well and showed the horrors of drug addiction. I am honestly not sure how realistic the plot is; the novel was written in 1971, which was the era of hippies and drugs (or so I'm told, I was born in the 90s), but it seemed far fetched. The novel is partially based on someone's actual diary, however, so I suppose it must be a little accurate.
• The Characters: Go Ask Alice is certainly a plot driven story. The main character who is writing the diary entries never states her name, but critics speculate her name is Carla based on one line in the book. Most of the characters are not involved in her life for very long except for her family members, so it's hard to make a connection with them. It's hard to make a connection with any character really because you only ever see Carla's view of them, which isn't exactly unbiased. Even Carla's personality is constantly changing so it is difficult to make a connection with her too. I like novels where I can relate to the characters, and it was hard to do that with this novel.
• The Style: I did not like the writing style in this novel. Maybe I'm setting the bar too high, but Carla sounds ten rather than 15 when she writes. There are moments of pure brilliance and some of her diary entries sound more realistic than others, but they don't increase in maturity as she gets older; there is no growth in her writing though she certainly has changed. 

Miscellaneous: I MUST RANT ABOUT THE END. The summary on the back cover of the novel hints at her suicide, but the ending was so hopeful until the last few lines that I was denying the idea of suicide. It might have changed the history of the girl whose diary this was based on, but it would have been worth it! While the majority of the novel was heartbreak and pity for Carla, I think it should have been a story of hope. People need to be told that you can persevere through your problems and that your past does not need to define your future. Instead, the ending made a novel solely a story of the horrors of drug addictions and that many people suffer like Carla. Maybe I just like happier stories better, but I thought the book would have been more powerful with a hopeful ending.

Recommendation: I read this book because multiple people have recommended it to me, but it really is not my kind of book. Some people might like it, though, so if the description of the plot sounded intriguing and my rants seemed stupid, then go ahead and read it; I won't say that people shouldn't read it! I can see how some people would like it, but its definitely not the book for me!

Castle in the Air, by Diana Wynne Jones

I thought I would try a new approach to writing a blog post in honor of starting a blog on The Patch. I usually write the way I think; I always have a thousand different ideas clashing in my head at the same time and write the first one I can grasp on to, usually leaving out a bunch of things I was hoping to write and forgot about in the process.

I think it might be a good idea to have a blog post structure that I always use. I don't know, it might make all of the posts rather similar, but I think it will help organize my ideas and also be easier to compare books to each other. I'll at least try it a few times, and if it fails, it will be sent away, never to return.

On to the book!

Novel: Castle in the Air, the sequel to Howl's Moving Castle

It's like: Aladdin (The movie, not the one in One Thousand and One Nights) with the writing style of Howl's Moving Castle (Duh, same author).

Summary: To anyone who hasn't read one of my book reviews before: fair warning. I am horrible at summarizing, like, everything. It's a flaw I've had from a young age and one I have never been able to conquer... My fatal flaw, if you will. Castle in the Air is more of a loose sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, with no mention of Sophie or Howl until more than half way through. It follows Abdullah, a carpet salesman who dreams of a different life, a better life. Odd things begin happening that come straight from Abdullah's daydreams, turning an imagined life into a reality and bringing him on the adventures he always wanted.

If you want to know what actually happens in the book, please look up a summary on the internet. Here's one: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47520.Castle_in_the_Air. Now there's a good summary! Sigh...

What I thought of...

• The Plot: I loved the plot! It's fast-paced (the book, or at least my copy of it, is less than 200 pages long), easy to follow (because there aren't really any side plots), and entertaining. A lot of the books I have read recently have had holes or odd extra parts that seem unnecessarily added, so that might be why I think so highly of Castle in the Air's plot.
• The Characters: It may just be me, but I don't find the characters in Jones's novels that likable. They are all very stubborn and over-the-top. I usually find it hard to like a book if the characters are hard to relate with or unpleasant, but Castle in the Air is an exception. I may not like the characters themselves, but they work well with the plot and are somewhat endearing in their own way. It's rather hard to explain unless you've read the book!
• The Style: Diana Wynne Jones's style is very different. And brilliant. She writes fantasy novels, very fairy-tale like and almost like a children's book, so her writing is simple and up-beat, but she adds intelligence and a little darkness in order to make her style perfect for the type of books she writes.

Miscellaneous: Usually there is something that sticks out to me in a novel that I really want to write about, but I cannot think of anything that was horribly bad or absolutely fantastic I wish to discuss. So ummmmm... moving on!

Recommendation: I highly recommend this book! It's not the kind of sequel where you have to read the first book. If you have read Howl's Moving Castle, you should definitely read Castle in the Air as well because it gives you the "Where are they now?" view of the main characters in Howl's Moving Castle. It might not be as enjoyable to a reader who does not like fantasy novels, though. 

But who am I kidding, everyone loves at least a little fantasy :) 

Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld

So I've been sitting here a while trying to figure out how to start this blog post. My last idea was, "Behemoth is a novel."

So obviously I'm having a little trouble.

I think it's because I'm not really sure what I think of this novel. I love the ideas of the novel, the setting, the writing, and for the most part, the characters. But there is something that makes me dislike the novel and I have absolutely no idea what it is. This should be one of my favorite novels! It's steampunk, taking place during World War I with the Darwinists, those that fabricate animals to use as machines (for example, the Leviathan is a whale airship), versus the Clankers, those that use actual machines. It's fascinating and rather brilliant, but after reading Leviathan and Behemoth, I didn't feel that great about either novel. Which is odd, because I've loved some of Westerfeld's other novels, like the Uglies series. 

It's just very frustrating that I cannot figure out what I dislike about this book!

If I had to choose something it would be the characters. Both Alek and Deryn, the main characters, do not seem to go through much, if any, character growth. Alek is still relatively whiny and sure he will always get his way, and Deryn stays her tough, soldier-y self. Both of them seem like they would be likable, however, but I have a hard time liking them. 

Some possible reasons.

• They have swapped gender roles, which is hard to get used to. Deryn ("Dylan") acts like the guy that Alek always wanted to be, but I think there is a similar gender role swap in The Hunger Games with Katniss and Peta that was not off-putting, so I don't think that's it.
• They're predictable. Deryn of course falls in love with Alek fairly quickly but is not going to tell him because, as in all novels/tv shows/movies, telling people would be too easy. Alek is a prince that wants to be "one of the guys" but is never going to achieve it because of his station in life. While this is a possibility, both characters are far from being boring or dull, so it seems less likely.
• I'm going crazy and the characters and everything is amazing. This is probably the answer.

I think Behemoth is a novel that anyone who likes YA fiction could enjoy, especially fans of steampunk. I don't know what my problem is; many people love this book and highly recommend it, so I will too. But start with Leviathan! You could read Behemoth on it's own, but I wouldn't suggest it. I know I will read the final novel, Goliath, for at least the plot, and hopefully to figure out what is wrong with me!

Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell

First off, I would just like to appreciate the book cover. It's so simple and adorable!

I love it :)

Now about the content of the book, I have decided to review the reviews on the back cover, because I figured that would be fun. Onward!

"Funny, hopeful, foulmouthed, sexy, and tear-jerking, this winning romance will captivate teen and adult readers alike." -Kirkus Reviews

There are too many adjectives in this sentence to take the review seriously. It also seems odd to say "this winning romance." What is the romance winning? Is it saying the actual book, Eleanor & Park, is winning awards? Or that it should? I give this review a meh.

"Eleanor & Park is a breathless, achingly good read about love and outsiders." -Stephanie Perkins

I love Stephanie Perkins (author of Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door, both books having painfully bad titles and astonishingly good writing) so automatically I like this review. But it's very accurate too. Your heart aches for both Eleanor and Park, wanting everything to go well for them and knowing that it will not. This review is shorter yet more accurate than the previous review.

"The pure, fear-laced, yet steadily maturing relationship Eleanor and Park develop is urgent and breathtaking and, of course, heartbreaking, too." -Booklist

This is the best review so far, and *spoilers* best out of all of the reviews. If I had to describe Eleanor and Park's relationship in 3 words, I would use "pure," "fear-laced," and "steadily maturing" too (let's pretend steadily maturing is one word. Okay? Okay.) Booklist also uses "breathtaking," similar to Perkins's "breathless," because not only is the writing fantastic, at the end off the book you are out of breath from reading so fast (it's that good).

"Sweet, gritty, and affecting... Rainbow Rowell has written an unforgettable story about two misfits in love. This debut will find its way into your heart and stay there." -Courtney Summers

First off, I would not call Eleanor & Park "sweet," because it isn't sweet. Also, the use of the word "affecting" is dumb (could I have thought of a better insult? Yes. Does dumb work just as well? Also yes). Of course it's affecting! Every book you read is going to affect you in some way; it's such an obvious statement, it's like saying, "Eleanor & Park had words that the reader understood." And the last sentence was super-cliche for a novel that is whatever the opposite of cliche is. So Ms. Summers, I do not like your review.

And... this was less fun than I thought it would be, so I'm going to skip the last two reviews (sorry Publisher's Weekly and Stewart Lewis, whoever you are).

I'm having a very hard time putting into words what I think of this book, besides the fact that it is fantastic and everyone should read it. It is a love story, but it goes way beyond that. It's not what I would call a cute love story, or a sweet one, or one that I would want, because both characters endure tortures that no teenager, or anyone, should have to endure. The love between Eleanor and Park is something to strive for, though, and the growth of their relationship is amazing to watch unfold. It's both pure and complex, and while it is not easy to read, it is certainly worthwhile.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Volume I, written by M. T. Anderson

If you have read my other blog posts, you may have noticed that I focus on the plot and characters in a novel a lot more than I focus on the actual writing and writing style. If you haven't noticed, then it's okay, I forgive you. :) For me to enjoy a novel, it has to have a good overall plot and a likable main character. The writing style isn't as important; I'd rather read a book with a good plot and bad writing than one with a bad plot but good writing. I think this is why I did not enjoy Suite Scarlett and The Moon and More as much as other people. Both Maureen Johnson and Sarah Dessen are great writers (writing-style wise) and you can tell when reading their novels, but I cannot push myself to enjoy a book if the plot and main character/narrator are not equally as good.

That being said, the plot of The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Volume I (the length of the title being about the same length as the novel itself) could have been absolute crap and the writing would have made it all worth while.

"But Brianna," you say, while glaring into your computer screen, "that makes absolutely no sense! You just said that writing style doesn't mean anything to you!"

And to you, I say, "Stop talking to your computer; people are starting to think you are crazy."

Okay fine, I know this makes me a hypocrite, but this book is like reading poetry, if poetry always sounded beautiful and made sense (which is doesn't). I knew I would love the writing after reading the last line of the first chapter: "How doth all that seeks to rise burn itself to nothing." Isn't that amazing? I'm thinking it would make an awesome tattoo, but in the context of the book, it means that those that strive for greatness and power will eventually fall into nothingness. Which isn't exactly uplifting. But still beautiful, right?

You will have to read the book in order to fully appreciate how excited I am about the writing, but if you (like me) think that plot is way more important, than lucky you! The plot is weird and wonderful too! Though there are a few things I need to warn you about first.

This book includes:

• Ye olde fashion English, including a large amount of "thee"s, "thou"s, and "dost"s 
• Historical accuracy (and some inaccuracy, but I still love you M. T. Anderson)
• Philosophy

and a few other things that you probably aren't looking for in a book to read for fun. But the English used is not like Shakespearean English or even Arthur Miller English; it's pretty easy to read! And the book is about an African boy who grows up in the mid-18th century in a philosophical college as an experiment, and his life as an experiment and *SPOILERS* escape.

I don't know if I've convinced you to read this book or not, but if I have, then Yay! Go read it now! And if I haven't, then who cares! Go read it now anyways! Because you won't regret it. 

And if you do, then that sucks for you, cause I still got you to read it, so I win. :)

The Moon and More, written by Sarah Dessen

If you've finished Suite Scarlett and are looking for another beach read, here you go! Sarah Dessen's The Moon and More is almost the epitome of a beach read. I mean, look at the cover!

Of course, it takes place in a beach town during the summer, with romance and friendships and whatnot. But beware, because reading this will make you realize that you have done basically nothing this summer so far except read and watch vlogbrothers videos and will start questioning if you even have a social life....

Anyways... Though the whole "beach summer romance" thing sounds cliche, this novel actually had a lot more depth than I expected. Character development is prevalent and the plot line is unlike anything I've ever read. A lot of the novel is Emaline figuring out who she is and how she relates to her family and friends as those relationships change the summer before she goes to college. It's a character driven story, rather than plot driven, which actually works really well in summer books such as this (authors, this is where you start taking notes from Sarah Dessen).

There were a few problems I had with Dessen's writing though. Her writing style is engaging and shows she is talented, but there were some issues with her characters. I found the character development somewhat lacking. A lot of characters undergo a transition through the book, but the transition was usually awkward and poorly explained. One character that sticks out to me is Morris, who changes from lazy slacker to competent hard worker fairly quickly with no real explanation except that he decided he should. The only person that had a smooth transition was Emaline, but that's where my other problem comes in.

It's hard to relate to Emaline sometimes, and any issues relating to her are things that Dessen could have easily fixed. The first time I noticed this was a few chapters in when she calls Daisy "my best girlfriend." Only women over 40 call women who are their friends "girlfriends," so it sounded absolutely ridiculous coming from an 18-year-old. There were other questionable word-choices similar to this too. Another problem was Emaline's break-up with Luke; very few things about it seemed realistic. Emaline's actions and feelings were not really explained and therefore made the whole situation confusing at best. If these problems are ignored, though, then I really liked Emaline as a character.

In conclusion: It's not perfect, but The Moon and More is pretty good, especially if you are looking for something easy to read. It is more of a chick book, but well worth reading. It definitely made me want to check out Dessen's other novels, at least!

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Series #1), written by Leigh Bardugo

So I get a lot of my book recommendations from websites and sometimes there aren't full reviews of the novels; they are just highly rated. The first review of Shadow and Bone I read was on the front cover of the novel, which says, "Unlike anything I've ever read." Now there are two ways to take this. The first way is that it's very different from anything else and therefore absolutely phenomenal. The second way is that it is so horrible no one up to this point in the history of ever wrote something this bad. So I wasn't sure what to expect. But then I read it and out of the two choices, Shadow and Bone definitely follows the first definition at lot more than the second.

Was it very different from anything else and absolutely phenomenal? No, but it was pretty fantastic!

Unlike Suite Scarlett, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone. It is a more realistic fantasy novel, lacking mythical beasts and magic (though the "science" is basically magic with a vague explanation to why it is not) so I think it appeals to a wider audience than most fantasy novels. There is action, romance, and a plot that makes you stay up until 1 AM reading.

Not that I did that. Nope. Not at all. Because I have willpower. o__O

Anyways... Because I am a book critic (in my mind, obviously not in real life, because look at this writing; I most certainly am not a professional) I am obliged to critique Shadow and Bone and what prevented it from being "absolutely phenomenal."

The novel drops you into its world, so it took me a chapter or two to fully understand what was going on, but that's not terribly abnormal for fantasy novels. The vocabulary took longer, however, with words like kefta and oprichniki that were never outright defined; you have to use the context to understand the meaning. It's hard make a fair complaint against this though because it is a first person narrative and therefore it would be weird for the narrator, Alina, to randomly define words that are part of her every day vocabulary.

I don't have a definite stance on the romance in the novel either. Immediately after finishing the book I felt like there was too much romance. I wanted the author to focus on Alina and her world because the setting and history that was discussed throughout the novel was so fascinating. I wanted Alina to focus on what she had to accomplish and her character growth rather than worrying over her feelings about the Darkling and Mal. But after a little while I started thinking maybe there wasn't enough romance, or at least analysis of the romance involved. It does play an important part in the plot, but I don't think it's importance was emphasized enough. When the Darkling first kisses Alina, why is he doing that? To confuse her? To make her more loyal to him? The novel does not delve into the implications of the Darkling and even Mal's actions towards Alina for the first half of the novel, and I think it deserved discussion.

The novel was beautifully written. I liked the majority of the characters and it was very easy to relate to Alina, even though she's in a different situation in a different world. It was enjoyable and quick to read, which is how I like my books.

So, in summary: read this book. It's dark and not exactly a "beach read," but it is clever and fascinating and better than a lot of other books you could be reading (believe me, I know). I'm not saying that everyone who reads it will like it, but if you like some fantasy in your novels, then you will certainly enjoy this.

In terms of other books: think Howl's Moving Castle level fantasy with a meeker version of Tris from Divergent as the main character, the darkness of Abhorsen, and it all taking place in Russia. And if you haven't read any of those novels, read them next.

And now I'm off to see if I can obtain any and all books in the Grisha series. :)

What is this? Where am I?

While I doubt many people will be reading this, this is going to be a blog about books that I have read and my opinions about them. Usually my opinions can be taken with a grain of salt, especially because I will most likely recommend every book because I believe every book is worth reading. I hope that this will be useful for people who are looking for book recommendations though!

Thanks for reading! :)

Suite Scarlet, written by Maureen Johnson

As an avid vlogbrothers fan, I felt it was my duty to check out Maureen Johnson, a.k.a. the real John Green. She seems to be a very fun and amusing person in real life, and my hope was that this would transfer to her written work. The only other book I have read of hers is 13 Little Blue Envelopes, which I might review some day. Right now, however, I will review her novel Suite Scarlet, which I finished approximately five minutes ago.

Let's see, where to begin... I suppose a summary is in order. The novel is about Scarlett Martin, a 15-year-old who lives with her parents, two sisters, and brother in the Hopewell Hotel. The Hopewell Hotel is in New York City and is rather run down, slowly losing money, etc. when all of a sudden a very wealthy guest named Mrs. Amberson moves into the Empire Suite and their lives are turned upside-down!

Okay, honesty time: I am horrible at summarizing, especially if I'm not supposed to spoil anything. It would be a much better idea to just look up a summary somewhere online, because my above summary in no way reflects the actual plot to the novel. Let's move on to my personal opinion of the novel, which hopefully will make more sense than my summary.

I'm still not sure how to feel about Maureen Johnson's writing style. On one hand, I am determined to love her writing because John Green does and he has fantastic taste (for the most part). On the other hand, I've read better, which sounds kind of snotty and is also in no way a good reason to dislike a book. I suppose a pro/con list is in order.

Pros:

• The relationships between siblings was fantastic. While there were some romantic relationships, there was a focus on the family that I really appreciated, especially between Scarlett and Spencer. Their relationship made me want to have a brother, which I don't say too often.
• I really liked Spencer as a character. He's witty, charming, and someone that is determined to follow his dream of becoming an actor even after being constantly shut-down. He is Scarlett's rock and kept Scarlett relatively sane throughout all of the drama she goes through.
• Scarlett is also pretty awesome, and for me it is important to have a likable main character, or else I will not enjoy the novel (which kind of happened with 13 Little Blue Envelopes). She has Spencer's wit and handles everything that Mrs. Amberson throws at her with very little panicking. There are times where she's mopey and slightly frustrating, especially about Eric, but she is able to solve her problems as well as others. I appreciate that she is a flawed character, because those that are perfect are absolutely no fun to read about.

Cons:

• Marlene was a hard character to deal with. I know that she had cancer, but her personality afterwards did not seem likely. I found it hard to understand or empathize with her, but then again I've never liked the bratty younger sibling in books or TV shows (Megan in Drake and Josh, anyone?). 
• Eric was predictable. *SPOILERS!* I knew from the beginning that something was off. Authors do not describe their characters having flawless bodies if they also have amazing personalities. While I can somewhat understand where Eric was coming from, cheating on his girlfriend from home as well as leaving Scarlett in the dark made me upset with him. Scarlett's reaction to Eric's explanation, as well as her interaction with Eric as a whole, did not seem very Scarlett-y either, which was frustrating.
• The plot, which is kind of a big deal when discussing the overall value of the novel. I think the main problem I had with it was that the main conflict kept changing. I like my novels to have one main conflict that is resolved in the end, which side problems along the way, though I am notorious for changing my mind and therefore this statement may not apply to other novels. It just seemed that the book was a list of problems and once one problem was solved, another would appear. Even after the performance of Hamlet there were still problems and at that point I was ready to just walk into the book, explain everything to everybody, and make any lingering problems go away.

Final review: 4/5 stars

Overall, and this may be a shock to you, I would recommend this novel. While disliking the way the plot was set up cannot be ignored, it is my personal preference and therefore I'm sure many people can easily just ignore my critiques and enjoy the book. It's a fun summer read that is pretty easy to get through; definitely more for a day at the beach then a men's book club (this is more of a chick book I think, plus I doubt there are men's book clubs). I enjoyed it, and I think many other people will too.