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.