The Symptoms of My Insanity

The Symptoms of My Insanity by Mindy Raf
4/5 stars
Dial Books, 2013
374 pages
YA Contemporary

Source: Library

I hadn't seen much about this book around the blogosphere but I read a really funny interview with the author at Badass Bookie, which made me think this might be a good book for me as I'm always up for comedy especially over the drama and serious books that sometimes seem to get coverage around the blogosphere. That impression was right as this book definitely had its humorous moments albeit balanced against serious moments as well.

The basic plot centers on Izzy whose life is chaos-she's a hypochondriac, her mother is recovering from a rare cancer, her best friend seems to have changed personalities, her ex-best friend is all of a sudden friendly again, and her long-time crush actually seems to be interested in her. Not too mention her older sister's nitpicking, her best friend's suddenly cute older brother, and her extracurricular commitments like an art portfolio for a trip to Italy. Not so basic after all, I guess and that was my big complaint about this book. There's just so much stuffed in here and I wish a few subplots had been taken out as I felt overwhelmed. I know it's fitting for the book because that's what Izzy comes to realize but I don't think it's the best feeling for a reader to have.

However within that multitude of subplots are some real winners. Of particular interest to me were two. One was the relationships between women. Izzy has many important women in her life: her mother, her older sister, her best friend, her ex-best friend, her mom's best friend, and her art teacher being some of the most important. These relationships have their ups and downs but they do show the wonderful world of female friendship and family that I feel is sometimes missing from YA. Nobody is perfect or always right, mistakes are sadly made that fray the bonds, but in the end, they are there for each other. Relatedly is my second point of interest: a bit of an "I am Spartacus" moment when the girls at school bond together to protect Izzy against a potential punishment. Now I'm a bit upset that the boy who is actually responsible received no explicit punishment; rather it is implied that the poor company he keeps and the bad decisions he makes will earn him his just reward.

Overall: A pretty funny and moving story-I hope it starts to get more attention among contemporary fans! It just felt very smart and down to earth, real and touching in the best ways.

Other Opinions:
Badass Bookie
Cuddlebuggery Book Blog
Ex Libris
Paper Riot

The Friday Society

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress
4.5/5 stars
Dial Books, 2012
437 pages
YA Historical Steampunk

Source: Library

I was so excited to see that my library had purchased this but I ended up mad at myself because I had the opportunity to buy a signed copy and missed out. I loved the sassy poses on the front and the tease of steampunk, a sub-genre I just adore. I also read some positive early reviews (see Jen Ryland's and Liviania from In Bed With Books)

The overwhelming impression I received from this book was one of fun! We have three distinct personalities comprising our heroic trio and they are serious about their work but not above having fun at the opportune moment. Each girl is introduced with an explosion that uniquely relates to her situation. Cora (in the center) is an assistant to Lord White, an inventor. She has been rescued from the streets and has proven to have a keen mind but she bristles when she discovers that Lord White has hired another (male) assistant. Nellie (the blonde on the left) is magician's assistant to the Great Raheem. She uses her beauty as a distraction for their magic while her agility aids in her contortions. Last to be introduced is Michiako (Japanese girl on the right) who studied to be a samurai but never took the final exam due to her master's belief that women could not be samurai. Instead she went to England and now serves as an assistant to a weapons instructor of low character. The girls meet by accident when the men they serve are all at the same function and they keep running into each other before having the brilliant idea of teaming up to solve a crisis, knowing their gender causes no impediment to their brains.

That crisis is of someone threatening to destroy London to the terror and bewilderment of most. A second more personal crisis is the mysterious deaths of poor flower girls throughout the city including an old friend of Cora's. Over the course of the book, the trio crack both cases and the scene is set for future adventures as they dub themselves the Friday Society.

As I said, I loved this book! I found it so much fun and I loved each of the main characters. Each is strong with her own personality and witty comments. The book is told in shifting third-person and every time it changed, I decided I liked that character the most-I could not make up my mind.  I also liked the supporting characters (including one I pegged as bad news) especially the suitor for Nellie who was so cute. There was a bit of romance but it is in no way overwhelming and it always takes a backseat to the more important work of the mysteries.  A main theme of the book is females facing prejudice against males, a particular favorite of mine, so that also certainly aided in my delight.

My one problem was that the book was maybe a bit on the long side? There's a lot of set-up before the big crisis of London being threatened. A few smaller incidents lead up to that as well as fleshing out the main characters but it seemed a bit much. I think it's just because it's the first book and we need to learn those things. I hope the second book (please please please let there be a second book) is more tightly paced.

I've Got Your Number

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
The Dial Press, 2012
433 pages
Fiction
4.5/5 stars

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine.

I know Kinsella is best known for her Shopaholic series but I never really clicked with them; however I love her standalones like Can You Keep a Secret? and Remember Me? so I had high expectations for this. They were met as I was immediately sucked in to Poppy Wyatt's world.

The book starts in the middle of a crisis as Poppy has lost her engagement ring shortly before she is about to meet up with her judgy in-laws and mere days before the wedding. Then her cell is snatched, leaving her no way to be contacted by the hotel where the ring was lost. Coincidentally she finds a phone discarded in the trash and starts using that, putting her in touch with Sam, the boss of the lady who threw away the phone.

It's kind of a crazy premise-would she really be allowed to keep that company phone that has confidential information on it? But Poppy is so likable that I just went with it. Over the course of a few days, she becomes very involved in Sam's life, even interfering at times, sometimes beneficially, sometimes harmfully but always charmingly to this reader. Of course, it soon becomes obvious that Poppy's fiance is not as good a match as Sam even as they both try to fight their feelings.

There is actually a lot packed in to this story: family and friendship issues, Poppy's insecurities and inability to stand up for herself, corporate espionage, love and marriage. And it was all delivered in what I consider the signature Kinsella style and tone-light and breezy but not afraid of getting a little dark (seriously just a pinch of darkness to balance out the lightness).

I did think the book as a whole was a smidgen too long and I'm not a fan of the cursing although I completely respect the author's right to use whatever language she wants.

Overall: A fast, funny read that is sure to charm fans of Kinsella.

Chime

Chime by Franny Billingsley
Dial Books, 2011
361 pages
YA; Fantasy
3/5 stars

Source: Library

Although I had seen this book around, I didn't really pay attention to it until the Chime/Shine kerfuffle. Having already read Shine (and loved it), I wanted to compare this one. So I guess there is some positive here in that it made at least this reader want to be fully aware of what happens in each book.

I had seen a lot of positive reviews of this but I also saw reviews, saying it didn't get really good until 100 pages in; um, I don't want to read 1/3 of a book before it gets good! Although I do kind of agree with that assessment. The narration and writing is quite different from other YA with our main character Briony being unreliable and poisoned by lies that have imprinted themselves on the way she views herself and her world. I think it took at least 100 pages for me to adjust to the world and the writing.

For example, and I fully admit that maybe I was a little dumb, but Eldric is introduced as having a lion eyes and tawny mane, which made me think that he was part lion and perhaps the world included many people who were part animal. I'm fairly sure that Eldric is not part lion but that is how I continued to picture him. The world also seems to be set in an entirely alternate fantasy world but there are also mentions of modern objects such as cars. Additionally Briony would occasionally veer off course in her narrative, leaving me gaping and wondering how she had made that connection. See, it's confusing!

Still I pushed on, hoping to see what others had seen. Unfortunately I did not end up seeing it. I think this book would be well worth reading for those who enjoy the prose but I prefer something a little less complicated as well as more contemporary.

Babe in Boyland

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman
Dial, 2011
292 pages
YA; Contemporary
4/5 stars

Source: Library

I had originally avoided this for some reason, but after seeing Small Review's book review and being struck by the similarities to She's the Man, one of my family's favorite movies, I decided to give it a try, looking for something hilarious.

And this was a really funny book! Natalie writes a relationship advice column that ends up mocked by guys. She decides that she knows nothing about guys and decides to go undercover at the nearby boys' school in order to find out how guys really think.  She is aided by her two loyal best friends Darcy and Chloe.

Although this is a pretty ridiculous premise, it is actually a lot of fun with many very funny moments, like laugh out loud and earn weird looks from the people around me funny.  I read this in only a couple of hours because Natalie's voice was so clear, distinct, and funny. I was immediately able to root for her as she struggled to make sense of boys and relationships.

There were times when she seemed a little young and naive but she is a high school kid with no relationship experience. I think she could be very relateable to younger teens. However she was a bit of a snob; she was always popular so she had scorned the nerdier guys she meets at the new school. Luckily she has a change of heart, which made me happy because I usually like a nerdy awkward guy. 

Overall: A silly, fast-read that should leave you smiling.

The Sky Is Everywhere

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Dial Books, 2010
272 pages
YA; Contemporary; Grief
4/5 stars

Source: Library

Read for YA Overlooked Book Battle.

First things first: I could appreciate the writing as very lyrical and beautiful but it was not to my taste. Alas I am unable to describe how.  The writing was fitting for the setting of a hippie town in northern California and the lyricism helped explore the grief of everyone.

Then there's the plot.  Lennie's beloved older sister Bailey died suddenly of arrhythmia living her struggling with grief.  She seeks comfort in the arms of Bailey's boyfriend Toby as well as in new guy Joe in a complicated love triangle (although that's not really the focus).

Anyway who cares about Lennie because I have a new YA boy crush: Joe! He's amazing with long eyelashes and a smile that lights up the room. And he has two older brothers who look similar-there are three of them!  Of course, Joe is not perfect; he's very pigheaded and basically gave Lennie the silent treatment for way too long with no chance for her to apologize for her improper behavior.  However all ends right.

While I loved Joe, I didn't feel much for Lennie.  I mean, while I was reading I was caught up in the story (and I sped through it) but once I finished, she hadn't left much of an impression.  I feel for mourning the death of a beloved sister (I haven't had to do that but it would suck; I probably won't ever have to do that either as my younger sister will most likely outlive me).  I liked that she was a band geek, even though orchestra is SO much better.  But I don't feel like I understand her nor do I really care to try and understand her after the conclusion.

Overall: Really a 3.5 based on my enjoyment but bumped up to a 4 because of Joe *contentedsigh*