Cress

by Marissa Meyer
5/5 stars
Feiwel and Friends, 2014
550 pages
YA Science-Fiction Fairy Tale

Source: Library

Though Cinder did not impress me the way I had hoped it would, Scarlet completely changed the way I felt about this series, bringing me to the point of rabid fandom. Though I knew I wanted to check out third book Cress, I was also nervous. Meyer seemed to be adding new characters in every go-around and I worried it would feel too packed and some would end up overlooked. Happily that was not the case for me because I thoroughly enjoyed this third installment and am eagerly anticipating Winter's release next year.

*SPOILERS FROM THE FIRST TWO BOOKS*

As in the previous books, this one weaves in a new fairy tale, this time "Rapunzel" as you might be able to guess from the cover. Our titular character is Cress, who is an ostracized Lunar girl, raised in captivity and considered valuable for her technological skills. Our intrepid crew of Cinder, Scarlet, Wolf, and Thorne have grabbed her attention and despite her mistress's demand to find them, Cress has instead protected them. A chance communication leads to a bungled rescue mission with the five scattered: Cinder and Wolf crash land and reunite with Dr. Erland, Cress and a now blind Thorne crash in the Sahara, and Scarlet is captured by the Lunars. Meanwhile Kai is desperately trying to protect his people as his marriage to the evil Lunar Queen draws near. So basically there's a lot going on.

I really fell for Cress in this book. She's so innocent and naive, a total dreamer and I could fully sympathize with her longing for a hero as she decides Thorne fits the bill. But don't underestimate her! She's got the brains and nerve to play a big role in Cinder's plan to thwart Kai's marriage and I anticipate her being very important in book three. Of course, with the emphasis of Cress we spend a lot less time with the other characters particularly Scarlet who is completely separated from the characters we know. However I continue to be impressed with how Meyer skillfully weaves threads and ties everything together. I look forward to seeing the grand finale in Winter.

On the one hand, this book did seem a little long. Have you seen it in person? It's a veritable doorstop. And I'm not always sure that each scene furthered the main plot. But on the other hand, there are so many character scenes especially between Thorne and Cress that add to the richness of the world. I just want to hang out with them and follow all of their little adventures that contribute to the overarching plot. Did anyway else feel this push and pull while reading?

Overall: You should read this BUT only if you've read the first two books as I'm not sure how much sense it makes otherwise. Then you can join the rest of us in counting down the days until the conclusion arrives!

ARC Review: Faking Normal

by Courtney C Stevens
5/5 stars
HarperCollins Children's Books, 2014
336 pages
YA Contemporary Issues
Scheduled to release February 25

Source: Received an e-ARC from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I actually almost skipped over this book while reviewing upcoming titles because it didn't seem flashy or strong enough to hook my attention. But I'm a die-hard contemporary fan so I decided I would give it a try anyway, picking it up as the expiration date approached.

And at first it seemed like a pretty basic contemporary. Over the previous summer, something happened to Lexi, something that torments her, that robs her of sleep, and leads to her furiously scratching her skin in the middle of the night. Though outwardly Lexi seems to be the same, the trauma of the past summer is taking its toll. Complicating her life is the new boarder in her family's house, Bodee Lennox whose father murdered his mother, leaving him orphaned and warmly welcomed by Lexi's family. His silent strength is a safe refuge for Lexi as tries to confront the past and stop faking normality.

From the writing, it soon becomes apparent that Lexi was raped but that she struggles to use that word because she didn't say no. This absolutely broke my heart. From my readings around the internet, I've seen this offered as a defense against rape. Because the word "no" was not uttered, it is suggested that it was not rape. But it definitely is and it makes me all the more passionate about supporting yes means yes and the idea of affirmative consent (visit here for a starting point). Her rapist is a pretty big part of her life (see SPOILER DISCUSSION below for a few more thoughts) and Lexi is genuinely concerned about ruining his future prospects with her words. I've read more than a few YA books about rape but I don't remember one where the young lady was forced into such close continual contact with her rapist and that relationship had such an emotional impact on me. Though it crept up on me, the emotions of the book really built and hit hard near the end.

While this secret hangs over the entirety of the book, there are other important moments and relationships. The abuse of Bodee's mom by his dad and the horror of living in that household are something unraveled through Bodee's closeness to Lexi. Female friendship plays an important role with Lexi and her two friends wading through the difficult moments of humanity. Lexi's often annoying older sister is also important with a shining moment of heroism at the end; you know I can't resist a sister-sister relationship.

Overall: An incredibly emotional read that is a strong example of writing in YA contemporary. I am so glad I gave this book a chance!

SPOILER DISCUSSION:
Stevens totally faked me out. Though I initially suspected Craig, the writing soon led me to Collie just like Bodee before swinging back with Lex's confession. I couldn't believe how long Lexi held it together before finally sharing and was completely swept up in her emotions. I also can't believe the coldness of Craig to put her through that. Even if she had been enthusiastic, he's a teacher who's a good decade older than her and who professes to be in love with her sister. What a sick twisted man!
END SPOILER

ARC Review: Five Came Back

by Mark Harris
5/5 stars
The Penguin Press, 2014
444 pages
Adult Non-Fiction Cinema History
Scheduled to release February 27

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

Some years ago I spotted an interesting sounding book in Entertainment Weekly and promptly put it on hold. When it came in at the library, I devoured it and got my parents to read it as well with them both loving it as well. What book was this? Well as you might have guessed, it was by Mr Mark Harris called Pictures at a Revolution about the five Best Picture nominees of 1967 and it inspired me to attempt to watch all five (still haven't managed as some are boring *ahemdoctordoolittle*) as well as sparking an interest in classic Hollywood. Thus it was a no-brainer to request his next book about cinematic history. While I recognized the five director's names (John Ford, George Stevens, John Huston, William Wyler, and Frank Capra) that are the focus of this book, I didn't know that much about any of them and certainly next to nothing about their experiences during World War II.

The book opens in 1938 following the five men in their Hollywood careers, some at the height of their popularity while others were just beginning their career until the United States entered the war and all five joined up, bringing their knowledge of film making to aid in the production of films about the war for both a military and civilian audience. Harris skillfully weaves in a discussion of propaganda and the impact of war while tracing the activities of the men.

As I shared, I didn't know much about the personal lives of these men so everything in this book was revelatory. My personal favorite sections did relate to actual movies I knew (such as a look at the excellent postwar film The Best Years of Our Lives) bringing back my enjoyment of Harris' previous book but I liked all of the other sections too. The five men had such experiences journeying to the Pacific and the European theaters and serving in different branches. But they also knew each other and were united by a Hollywood background and similar challenges while in the military that help keep the thread of the story moving.

Overall: I just click with his writing-now I want him to explore the anti-Communist movement in Hollywood during the fifties as we get hints of that in this book!

ARC Review: Heartbeat

by Elizabeth Scott
5/5 stars
Harlequin Teen, 2014
233 pages
YA Contemporary
Scheduled to release January 28, 2014

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read and loved every Elizabeth Scott novel that has been released so far so it was hard for me that this book was pushed back from an earlier 2013 release. Luckily I managed to score an early copy and sneak it in to my reading schedule before the official release.

Going in, I didn't really know what to expect other than that it is a contemporary. I had decided to treat myself by reading just a few pages as a teaser but soon myself through 20% of the book. I had to charge my e-reader then but quickly returned to finish this book. It was a struggle because despite this book's brevity, it packs quite an emotional punch.

Main character Emma visits her mother every day in the hospital accompanying her stepfather Dan in these tragic circumstances. These are made more so by the fact that her mother is essentially dead and is being kept alive in order to preserve the life of the baby inside her, a decision that Emma believes Dan made solely to beget his progeny and in complete defiance of what Emma's mother would have wanted. The loss of her mother has sent Emma deep into herself; the girl formerly on track for valedictorian is now failing all of her classes, speaks just to her best friend Olivia, and cannot fathom forgiving Dan for his egregious betrayal. However bad boy Caleb starts to catch her eye as she realizes that he is also sinking in grief. Together these two broken people may be able to continue to face the day.

Sadly I don't really have the words to sum up the experience of reading this other than to start with "intense." Emma is so sad and so angry and it is painful to read much of the time. I've been very blessed in this arena and don't have any experiences to compare but just reading about her pain was emotionally difficult. I thought Scott did an excellent job of varying the descriptors and bringing out all the facets of Emma's emotions-she's never just sad or angry or regretful but all of these and so much more over the course of the book.

One element that made me especially happy was Emma's commitment to being a good friend to Olivia and to celebrate her normality like when the boy Olivia likes likes her back! This is explicitly represented in the book and it made me happy as I've read in the blogosphere and observed myself in books how sometimes the main character just completely shuts out her best friend or doesn't even have them before being brought into a supernatural world by the hero. This book defies that stereotype.

Though there is a dreamy boy (Caleb is definitely a ten!), his emotional presence plays the biggest role for Emma here. He has also experienced death and the pall grief casts over a family so he is able to fully empathize with Emma here and be a suitable partner. Though I prefer Will in Perfect You, Caleb is a perfect match for Emma.

Overall: A heartwrenching novel about an incredibly difficult period in one's life; beautifully written.

Be sure to come back in January as I will be hosting a giveaway to coincide with the release date!

In the Age of Love and Chocolate

by Gabrielle Zevin
5/5 stars
Farrar Straus Giroux, 2013
286 pages
YA Speculative Fiction

Source: Library

No surprise that I highly anticipated this novel. First book All These Things I've Done and sequel Because It Is My Blood have been among my favorite books I've read for the blog. I know not everyone has clicked with the writing style which is done in the style of a memoir with an older Anya narrating her life; however that tends to remind me of my beloved epistolary style so I clicked easily. I also admire Anya's steadfast devotion to family and protective nature as well as having a huge crush on her (ex-)boyfriend Win. When I picked up this book, I figured that my enjoyment would hinge largely on whether or not the pair reconciled.

But it is not as if romance is the only or even the primary focus of this novel. Anya has many concerns such as her younger sister's newly rebellious self, her best friend Scarlet and her child, and most importantly her ambition to go legit with a cacao nightclub that skirts the edge of the law but will finally allow Anya out of the illegal chocolate game when it proves a success. So much happens over the rest of the book (despite its relatively short length) and we cover several years bringing Anya out of her teenage years as she continues her push to overturn the ban on chocolate.

It's pretty hard to talk about this book in too much detail without getting in to spoilers (so I do have a spoiler section below) but suffice it to say that I loved it. Well, I guess you knew that because you saw the five star rating I bestowed on it but I wanted to say that again. I love the writing style, I love prickly Anya and all who surround her, I love the way this ended. I feel like this is especially a trilogy to value and reread. I can't wait to pick up my own copy to complete my collection!

SPOILER:
So what about Win? At one point, he says the cruelest things to Anya, making me despair that the two could ever return to their partnership. Anya is of a despondent nature anyway often choosing the pessimistic view so she certainly thinks their high school romance can't last. But dang if Zevin didn't treat us to some beautifully romantic moments before bringing the two back together. Win is one loyal boy and he gets to say some great things that I just want to read over and over again.
END SPOILER

Other Opinions:
Good Books and Good Wine
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
Lisa Loves Literature

The Rosie Project

by Graeme Simsion
5/5 stars
Simon & Schuster, 2013
292 pages
Adult Contemporary Romance

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

I saw this book and kind of skipped over it as pleasant but not necessarily must-read. Then I saw a review comparing the feelings it evokes to those elicited by Rainbow Rowell's fabulous Attachments, immediately sending this book to the top of my to-read list. And I'm so glad because it worked out very well for me!

Don is a professor of genetics who has reached the age of thirty-nine without meeting a suitable partner. He decides to tackle this lack by creating a questionnaire for what he dubs The Wife Project. Soon after he meets Rosie who he deems completely unsuitable but something about her interests him and he begins to help her with her own quest to find her father, discovering that not everything can be quantified on paper including but especially love.

It is suggested by the text that Don has Asperger's or is at least on some part of the autism spectrum evincing many of the symptoms of that diagnosis though it is never explicitly stated. He has a rigid schedule and is upset when it's disrupted, he is compulsively orderly, and he struggles with social cues, maintaining only a handful of friends. However his time with Rosie disrupts his well-ordered days and introduces him to a wide variety of new acquaintances who actually appreciate his ability to consume information such as a barman who is impressed with Don's knowledge of cocktails or the baseball fan who discusses stats with Don. I loved seeing Don's world open up and how his skills were appreciated rather than looked down upon.

The book reads very cinematically, appropriate as it is my understanding that it began as a script and it falls within the framework of a screwball/romantic comedy, made even clearer toward the end when Don studies various romcoms to win Rosie. I don't want to go in to too much detail but there are so many funny moments as I previously hinted at above.

But for the most part, it's just the way this book made me feel. I know that's not very descriptive to you, a potential reader of this book, yet that's the way it is. I would love to provide concrete examples of why this book worked for me but it's the total package that pleased me and has me singing its praises. This will definitely make my faves list of 2013 and will be pushed on various persons of my acquaintance in the hope that it brings them as much pleasure as it did me.

Overall: Simply an excellent feel-good read. Left me feeling all sweet and fuzzy. I definitely second the Rainbow Rowell comparison as well as Tara Catogge's comparison to the fantastic A Confederacy of Dunces with its bold, not the norm hero.

Dare

by Becky Blalock
5/5 stars
Jossey-Bass, 2013
216 pages
Adult Non-Fiction Leadership

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

As I've previously mentioned on my blog, one of my goals for 2014 was to read more business/leadership books and to see how I could implement them in my own career for my professional development. Well, no time like the present so I grabbed this book when I saw it and eagerly ate it up.

The title really grabbed me as it brought to mind Brene Brown's Daring Greatly and its allusion to that excellent Theodore Roosevelt quote "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” I want to be a leader in the business world and I was very inspired by the insight shared in this book.

On the one hand, I don't normally think of myself as a big daredevil (and I work in compliance so that's not really the most desirable trait anyway in my opinion). On the other hand, I'm at the beginning of my career, I want to lean in, and I want to really grow and nurture my career. I definitely need advice and as a reader, books are an important component of that for me. After reading this, I felt that I have made some good decisions so far but am also reminded of my weak spots. There are a couple of points I intend to try out and explore in real life to see what impact I can make.

Besides Blalock's advice, there are additional words from other powerful businesswomen. All of this combines to produce an incredibly uplifting and inspirational book. It made me think about the women who have paved the path for me, making my own journey just that much easier in addition to reminding me that there are people who will root for me (sometimes I struggle with knowing that.) It's a very generous book; Blalock recognizes her blessings and wants to give back and she encourages the reader to do the same.

One thing I would have liked would have been a clearer picture of Blalock's career trajectory (as well as that for some of the other women who so graciously shared). She shares about several key positions and what she learned from them but I'm still a bit confused on how she exactly made each move to reach where she is now and how long that took.

Overall: Incredibly inspiring-definitely a fave read of the year and one I plan to go through at least one more time this year as I make plans and goals for 2014.

ARC Review: Fangirl

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
5/5 stars
St. Martin's Press, 2013
433 pages
YA/NA Contemporary

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After adoring Rowell's Eleanor and Park and Attachments, I was both thrilled and nervous to hear about her third novel. Thrilled because of course I crave more of Rowell's writing; nervous because this is the last Rowell novel until she has another one published-how am I going to handle the wait???

I guess I could embark on some fanfiction as the protagonist of this book does. Cather is writing one of the most popular Simon Snow (kind of like HP) fanfics around and finds solace in this world even to the exclusion of our real world. Her first year at college challenges that safety, with her twin sister Wren deciding that they shouldn't be roommates, an intimidating upperclassman and her awfully friendly ever present guy friend, and a writing professor who encourages Cath to come up with her own characters, in addition to parental difficulties like their father's maniac episodes and their estranged mother's attempts to reenter their lives.

There is so much going on in this book and it would be impossible for me to cover everything so you should probably plan on reading this for yourself. What really stood out for me was the examination of fan culture particularly through fanfiction (I wrote a few chapters of Wicked fic years ago-never finished it and I read a lot of musical fanfiction around that time too) and the writing process. Cath is filled with words and has a distinct style with an especially keen eye for characterization. I wonder if authors would have a richer experience in this book. While I think of myself as a writer thanks to the writing I do for this blog, I don't aspire to write a novel nor do I write the way Cath is compelled.

But the element I loved most was the romance, which begins very slowly and progresses fitfully with each making their share of mistakes and Cath especially loath to reveal her vulnerabilities. I think Rowell writes amazing non-cliche love scenes and there are more great examples in this novel to prove my point :)

Also as a sister who totally wanted an identical twin as an adolescent, I was fascinated with the sister-sister relationship, which gets very splintered over their first semester as Wren parties with a vengeance and Cath withdraws within herself. Luckily the sisters move toward patching up their relationship and Cath's roommate Reagan is hilariously bold and blunt, being an excellent secondary character.

Saying that, this was my least favorite of Rowell's novels. I don't know if it was that my expectations were higher or if Cather was a bit more on the difficult side (I love her I do and I identified in a lot of ways with her personality quirks but I think some characters you can easily instantly fall in love with and Cather was not one of those for me.) I also thought the style was a bit clunky, possibly because of the integration of sections from the Simon Snow books and Cath's fanfiction.

Overall: Definitely a must-read, though I admitted it wasn't completely to my taste. I still devoured it in less than 24 hours, alternating it with the dark Rose Under Fire to help me keep my equilibrium.

Other Opinions:
Book Labyrinth 
Ladybug Storytime
Supernatural Snark
The Midnight Garden
Young Adult Book Haven

ARC Review: Rose Under Fire

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
360 pages
YA Historical
Scheduled to release September 10

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I adored Code Name Verity, which became my favorite read of 2012. I encouarged others to read it and of course they loved it. Thus I was thrilled to discover that Wein had written a companion novel of sorts, again set during World War II but focusing on new characters. However I tried to temper my expectations because Code Name Verity was so amazing, how could anything else live up to that?

Well, this book didn't quite match my experience with CNV being a rather different tale though there are several superficial similarities. For example, both are set during WWII, focusing on young women pilots. There are even a few overlapping characters that led me to suggest you should definitely read CNV first. Both are told in journal/letters tracing an intense experience of confronting villainy up close. And both are based on real plausibilities even if not every event is exactly true.

But whereas CNV had a killer twist about halfway through that left me dying to reread the book, I don't think I could ever read Rose Under Fire again. It was such an intense read covering Rose's experience at Ravensbrück, a German concentration camp; the story of the "Rabbits", young Polish women who were experimented on by Nazis; and a peek into the Nuremberg trials with their intricate examination of how to assign blame and punishment in an attempt to get justice. I mean, I'm drained just thinking back on this book and I am a bit more nervous about recommending it, just trying to make sure the reader is careful when s/he embarks on the journey because it will wring you out.

I don't want to go to in depth about plot but there are some general themes I'd love to touch on briefly. Memory is one of the main themes explored.  One of the things about genocide is that we don't really know how many people were killed. How many people were taken from their everyday life and just killed as if that life meant nothing, as if they didn't have parents, siblings, lovers, friends, coworkers, etc. who wondered where they were and will never have an answer. Maybe the person did manage to survive but chose not to return to her original home and you will never know. Or, more probably, the person did die and the date and cause of death won't ever be known by loved ones but they will instead live forever hoping against hope that the person somehow did escape the horror. It's just heartbreaking to me especially thinking of today's current events-why can't we learn? So many lives just thrown away. I'm going to move on before I'm emotionally destroyed AGAIN.

A second element is friendship and bonding in the most horrific circumstances. Rose is taken in by the Rabbits basically without question and they share their meager resources with her just as she does what she can for them. It gave me such hope that people could still care about each other even when in situations designed to completely dehumanize them. They sacrifice so much for each other and dare too to get their names and their stories out there so the world will know. I'm not trying to go back to the memory part but I'm thinking about how every generation gets more and more removed from the Holocaust and WWII-will our children understand what happened? Or will it be something they see as happening just in the old days? Something abstract, kind of like my view of the Black Plague so many centuries ago?

I think my review kind of went off the rails...I really don't know what to say and am trying not to ramble. So for you I have included links for a few reviews below and I strongly urge you to consider giving this book a read, even if you don't tend to read historical fiction. Even if you don't usually read YA. Just give this a shot and then come talk it out with me.

Other Opinions:
A Reader of Fictions
Bananas for Books
Blood, Sweat and Books
Feminist Fiction 
Good Books and Good Wine
The Overflowing Library

ARC Review: This Song Will Save Your Life

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
5/5 stars
Farrar, Straus and Giroux BFYR, 2013
274 pages
YA Contemporary
Scheduled to release September 17

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had seen a lot of rave reviews of this book before I picked it up for myself but I hadn't read them too closely, to preserve some surprises for myself and to hopefully avoid having it become overhyped for me. At the least I figured I'd enjoy it because I liked Sales' previous books, Mostly Good Girls and Past Perfect, in particular because of their portrayal of female friendships over romance. Well, way to go instincts. Though it took a few chapters, I ended up being completely captivated by this book and experiencing a very powerful emotional connection to it.

Main character Elise has never seemed to fit in-being too precocious, too consumed with topics her peers didn't care about, too something. While she studies the magazines and pop culture that are popular, her attempts to reach out and make friends are continually stymied. This one-hundred percent resonated with me. I was fortunately never bullied and I had a small circle of friends but I spent so much time in middle school, high school, and even college wondering if there had been some class about how to socialize that I missed somehow (the fact that I thought there would be a class to teach some skills may explain the problem somewhat.) I so bought into her isolation and pain, making this sometimes a difficult read when I over-identified but also a powerful one as I worked through some lingering feelings from that period.

Back to the story, which honestly won't seem like much as I summarize it. When Elise suffers another humiliating day at high school, she hits on the idea of killing herself. That is thwarted and her divorced parents watch over her as closely as they can to prevent a reoccurrence. But life has not improved for Elise who spends her nights wandering aimlessly before stumbling upon Start, the hottest warehouse party around and meets Vicky, Pippa, and Char; the latter introduces her to DJ-ing, exploiting her vast knowledge of music and filling Elise's life with something she unabashedly adores and excels at. He is also the love interest but true to Sales' style (as I've observed), he does not take over the entire book or Elise's world; he is more an object of physical attraction, a brief stopping point in her life as Elise goes on to bigger and better.

Far more intriguing is Vicky, a musician whose friendship and cheering on of Elise were excellent to read. Elise also does manage to make two friends at school who, yes, are genuine friends she realizes as the story progresses. Sally and Chava receive a lot of scorn from Elise at the start but they stick by her and I appreciated that they were good people at the core.

Overall: I just adored this book. Though I might quibble with Elise's high and mighty opinion about what constitutes good music (I suspect she'd turn her nose up in disgust at my playlists and I do resent music snobs), I am in mad love with this book and plan to push it on several other people in the hopes that they experience the magic I felt.

Other Opinions:
Good Books and Good Wine
I Swim For Oceans
Inspiring Insomnia
Paranormal Indulgence
Reading Teen
The Flyleaf Review-features playlists!

ARC Review: The Lotus Palace

The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin
5/5 stars
Harlequin, 2013
378 pages
Adult Historical Romance
Scheduled to release August 27

Source: Received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I really don't read much romance lately, having chosen to focus largely on YA lit but a new Jeannie Lin always causes me to clear room in my schedule. Therefore when I received this for review, I made sure to get it on my reading calendar. I was a little frightened after reading the author's note where she talks about how many classic Chinese love stories following a scholar and a courtesan have a tragic ending but I put my trust in Lin to weave another enchanting tale that gave me an appropriate ending-I don't read romance novels to have them end in death or separation!

As expected, Lin created two very strong characters in the persons of Yue-ying, maidservant to the beautiful courtesan in the district, and Bai Huang, aristocratic playboy with undiscovered depths. The big change-up this time is how the pair are investigating a murder mystery. Though Lin's books have touched on political conspiracies, this was the first one to have a mystery take such prominence although as may be expected, the romantic tension was the part I most enjoyed reading. Bai Huang plays the fool, the charming man who everyone loves to have around and I'm kind of a sucker for such a guy especially when he looks past the obvious physical charms of some women to see the real treasure that is Yue-ying.

However my favorite parts were definitely any mention of the restricted roles of women such as how courtesans might remain silent about a crime because the men in power don't listen to them or how women navigate the tricky narrow roles they do have in society. These are sprinkled sporadically throughout the novel but I eagerly ate up everyone and loved the picture they painted of society. You can try to keep women down but they're humans with agency and they'll fight back any way they can.

Overall: I'm a total Lin fangirl-I just adore her historical romances and her incredibly strong main characters. This is another winner!

ARC Review: The Bitter Kingdom

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson
5/5 stars
Greenwillow Books, 2013
448 pages
YA Fantasy
Scheduled to release August 27

Source: Received an e-ARC from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I liked The Girl of Fire and Thorns and The Crown of Embers well enough but I wasn't as passionate about this series as other bloggers had been. Still I hoped to end the series strong so I was pleased to receive an early copy of this conclusion to the trilogy. Well, if you looked at my rating, you will see that I was well-rewarded by taking that chance because this book blew me away! I'm going to share a few non-spoiler points as well as a marked spoiler at the very bottom to hopefully explain how this book won me over.

Though most of the narrative is told from Elisa's perspective, as occurred in the first books, this one also brings in a few chapters narrated from Hector's point of view. I adore dual narration and really loved it here. Because my e-copy showed which chapters he narrated in the index, I could easily access how long it would be until the next entry and looked forward to each and every one. Which is not to say that I don't like Elisa's narration; I just happen to like the variety provided by Hector.

Another plot element I actually liked was the journey-Elisa and her crew have to travel a lot in this book and though that is not ordinarily the kind of story I like, it really pleased me here. Especially exciting was when they were caught in a snowstorm and decide to seek safer passage through mines (it was so Fellowship of the Ring). There was just so much action and it kept me glued to the pages.

But I guess what I liked the most was Elisa's confidence, which has been growing rapidly since her introduction as a shy mousy thing. She knows her rightful place as ruler and that she has the capacity to conceive and execute fantastic daring plans. She can fight, she can love (I promise you Hector fans some good things!), she can strategize-it's amazing! Right after Elisa comes spunky new character Mula, a little girl whose heartbreaking past will be only a dark memory as she gets to embark on an amazingly bright new future.

Overall: An excellent conclusion to this fantasy series. Usually my favorite book in a trilogy is the first but in my opinion, this finale demonstrates such tremendous growth on the part of its characters while also amping up the tension to almost unbearable stakes throughout the course of the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope you'll be finishing this series!

SPOILER:

So near the end Elisa's godstone falls out because she has fulfilled her purpose. First I loved that she didn't die because she had friends to share the burden-so many other Chosen had lived in isolation and couldn't finish but she built those relationships and invested in them and was rewarded. Then second she has to try to face her enemy without that power. But then it turns out she doesn't need it because she is anything but ordinary even without the stone. Oh, I just loved it!

END SPOILER:

Other Opinions:
Book Labyrinth
Paranormal Indulgence
Pure Imagination

The Sword Dancer

The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin
5/5 stars
Harlequin, 2013
281 pages
Adult Historical Romance

Source: Received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I've read several of Lin's historical romances before including the amazing My Fair Concubine last year, which completely blew me away. I was thus excited to return to historical China and meet some new amazing characters.

As expected, the hero and heroine were fantastic, each strong, powerful characters with tremendous physicality in addition to their growth as characters to confront the emotionally scarring moments of their past. My favorite part though is probably the way I read hero Han: a man who was attracted to the independence and agency of Li Feng. Though he wanted to take care of her and protect her, he also knew that she could take care of herself and he was attracted to her spirit. I just...I can't even fully describe how incredible I found their relationship to be.

The central conflict for them is that she is technically an outlaw with a soft touch for those in need while he is a thief catcher with a rigid sense of right and wrong that does not allow for leniency. They have several great conversations about their respective point of views and how they can move toward each other on the spectrum of what constitutes justice. In addition, I appreciated that they took a while to give into their physical urges-I like a slow burn.

As for the non-romance aspects, I ended up getting a little confused by the political conspiring going on. As Han and Li Feng discover, there is a salt smuggling ring going on (salt being a very valuable commodity at the time) in addition . But the last few chapters describing the new direction of Han's career with an official position in the government; there's another worker with a generous sense of right and wrong who was great to learn about.

Overall: Another great romance from Ms. Lin-definitely one to check out!

Attachments

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
5/5 stars
Dutton, 2011
323 pages
Adult Fiction

Source: Library

After loving Eleanor and Park, I was intrigued to discover that Rowell had previously written an adult novel that was at least partially in epistolary and featured a romance. Although I doubted it could be as good as Eleanor and Park, I decided to check it out.

Shows what I know: this book was fabulous! While reading it at work, I was laughing and then crying and then bitter that I had to work instead of getting to finish this delightful book. Then I went home and finished it. As in Eleanor and Park, I didn't want the story to end and when it did, I again hugged the book to me. Rowell just seems to write in a style that is exactly what I like to read.

The plot is a bit odd: the year is 1999 and a newspaper is begrudgingly installing computers, internet, and email. Lincoln has been hired to monitor the email exchanges of the employees and he finds himself drawn to the conversation of two women in particular whose email keeps getting flagged. Jennifer is anxious about maybe starting a family with her husband while Beth craves a marriage proposal from her musician boyfriend. Through these emails Lincoln starts to fall for Beth while also following his own journey of growing up and separating from his mother.

I really liked the format of this book. It opens with an email exchange between Beth and Jennifer and then jumps into following Lincoln's life. Every couple of chapters, we get another exchange to punctuate Lincoln's story. I love epistolary novels and female narration so of course I ate up the emails especially because there were many very funny exchanges (literally laughed out loud at a couple of points.) But Lincoln's story is good too as this shy guy really blossoms just by making a few small decisions and following them through. I guess I read this book at the perfect time and I highly recommend it to fans of Rowell's writing!

Eleanor and Park

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
5/5 stars
St. Martin's Griffin, 2013
325 pages
YA Historical Realistic

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It is still blowing my mind that this is technically a historical fiction novel since it is set in 1986 (I wasn't even alive then!) But that is mostly because I am struggling to put down in words just how much I loved this book.

On the surface, not much happens. Eleanor meets Park under less than auspicious circumstances: she's a new student on the bus and doesn't have a seat. He begrudgingly moves over. Soon they're bonding over comics and music and falling in love. But Eleanor's home life is a mess and the course of true love never did run smooth.

Just as Eleanor and Park are not immediately friends, this book and I did not immediately click. I was just very skeptical despite having seen several glowing reviews. But both Park and I were soon won over by Eleanor-her frankness, her kindness, her commitment to being herself. Soon we the reader get more insight into Eleanor's crappy home (her divorced mother married an abusive alcoholic man and Eleanor was estranged from them for a year after upsetting the husband; she also has four younger siblings making for a chaotic house. Meanwhile her father is incredibly selfish and thoughtless.) Park seems to have the perfect life with two parents who are still madly in love and a younger brother but deals with his own burdens: a father who doesn't think he's masculine enough and racism as he is half-Korean and looks it.

There's a lot of ground to cover and I thought Rowell handled the pacing well. The narration alternates between Park and Eleanor, which allowed me to bond with each of them as I journeyed through their story.  I was particularly interested in the music described and I bet this book would be a kick for anyone who was a teenager then, bringing back some fond memories.

The parts that I thought were exceptionally well-done were the descriptions of the physical interactions between Eleanor and Park. I've read a good amount of romance and other adult books as well as pretty extensively in the YA category and no book in recent memory has done such a good job of evoking the feelings and sensations of first love/young love. Just holding hands sends the pair waxing rhapsodic and had me frantically flipping the pages for more.

I know I gave this book a perfect 5 and I stand by that rating but my one complaint would be that the ending is a bit ambiguous for my taste. I'm sure some readers really appreciated that since it is realistic and thus fitting for the genre but I like all the little pieces tied up in the bow and one important piece was not as resolved as I wanted although it is leaning in that direction.

As I wrote this, I ended up hugging my nook because it held the e-copy of this book. I can't wait to have an actual hard copy to hold. Highly recommended!

Other Opinions:
Beauty and the Bookshelf 
From the TBR Pile
Pure Imagination
Rather Be Reading
The Flyleaf Review

ARC Review: Out of the Easy

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
5/5 stars
Philomel Books, 2013
346 pages
YA Historical
Scheduled for February 13

Source: Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

So I knew this was set in New Orleans but I didn't realize it was historical, set in 1950. Other surprises included the setting of a brothel and menacing mobsters. Our heroine is Josie Moraine, daughter of a prostitute, who has pulled away from her mother, earning an honest living at a bookstore and dreaming about a college education away from the town where everyone knows she's a prostitute's daughter. But she also cleans the rooms of the brothel and is deeply reluctantly attached to the madam, the canny Willie and the other women in the house.

When a visiting prominent Tennessean businessman is killed in the French Quarter, Josie mourns, having met the sweet guy at the bookstore. What she doesn't expect is the role that her mother may have played in his murder nor the crooked people who are involved nor the actions it may force her to take.

I don't know how to properly explain my feelings about this book. I'll admit that I didn't enter it with the highest expectations. Yes, Sepetys had already scored with her excellently personal Between Shades of Grey but who thought she'd do it again with such a different story? Plus the South and the 1950s have never been among my favorite reading topics. But this book was absolutely amazing. I kept saying to myself, "I'll just read one more chapter..." until I reached the end and there was no more.

I think most of the credit goes to the delightfully sensitive Josie. Although she's been let down by her good-for-nothing selfish mother and essentially nonexistent father, she has acquired a family of her own including the aforementioned Willie, other workers at the brothel, her bookstore coworker Patrick, and local mechanic and hottie Jesse. I also admired Josie's ambition and drive--she's worked hard for everything she has in life, sometimes against impossible odds without losing her principles and sense of self.

Now I did receive an ARC, which may explain why the chronology of a few scenes felt off. Some pieces of information were explained after when they were actually need earlier. I will need to consult a finished copy to see if this was remedied.

Content warning: Well, it is partially set in a brothel but it's pretty clean actually.

Overall: You NEED to read this book-seriously!

ARC Review: Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff

Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff by Robert Paul Weston
5/5 stars
Razorbill, 2013
206 pages
Middle Grade Fantasy

Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, I probably would have never picked this book up if it hadn't been sent to me for review. Not because it looks uninteresting but because I don't read much middle-grade unless it's by authors who are established in YA already. But I am so very glad that I had the chance to read this because I absolutely adored it!

When I first started reading, I thought it seemed a little odd. That is because it is told in rhyme! Yes, the entire story is told in rhyming verses and although it felt a little forced sometimes (quince used because it rhymed with prince), it added a sprightliness to the storytelling. I think this would definitely be a fun nighttime story for families to read together, especially if someone has a good narrating voice. Also adding to the fun was the font as words like "sparkled" and "glitz" were swankified. There was an illustration or decoration of some kind on every page, making this a book to pore over and ensuring young readers have their eyes caught.

As for the story itself, there is the kingdom of Spiff where everyone loves fashion except for the princess who likes to wear pajamas and read (a girl after my own heart :) She is an embarrassment to her father. Meanwhile in the kingdom of Spud, they wear the most outrageous outfits and have recently designated Puggly as their prince. As Spiff's royal ball nears, the princess infuriates her father with her disinterest in clothes and Puggly ends up humiliated by a sneering couterier. The two leave in tears but team up to teach everyone a lesson.

Overall: A splendid time was had while reading this book-I chuckled and smiled throughout and ended by hugging the book close to me, a sure sign of a happy time spent reading!

The Irresistible Revolution

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne
5/5 stars
Zondervan, 2006
367 pages
Adult Christian Non-fiction

Source: B-day present :)

This is going to be a shorter review since it's Saturday, it's non-fiction, and it was just amazing so I don't have any nits to pick. My very good friend gifted this to me for my birthday since she knows what a reader I am but that I don't really read a lot of non-fiction. Claiborne is one of her favorite authors and I'm excited to have been introduced to him.

Favorite Quote: "I have pledged allegiance to a King who loved evildoers so much he died for them...teaching us that there is something worth dying for but nothing worth killing for." (pg 365)

Trying to decide where exactly to start is quite difficult as the book covers a lot of ground following Claiborne's life as a Christian, from his inauthentic conversion as a youth, accepting something he didn't fully understand and tracing his adult life searching for that authentic faith and disturbing his comfortable lifestyle for something Christlike. It's a history but it's also a calling to work and an inspiration for where to go. The overwhelming impression I have is of the fire in Shane as he reaches out to us, very personally, trying to shake us up especially good for me as I had become somewhat complacent in the waning days of 2012. Additionally I found his writing style just very smooth and engaging even when it made me uncomfortable, either because I knew he was calling me out in a way I needed to be challenged or because I didn't entirely agree with him.

The other theme I would like to touch on is the seeming contradiction in the subtitle "an ordinary radical." How do those seemingly opposite words fit together in Claiborne's vision? Well he traces the word "radical" back to its origins in "root" and sees it as utterly fitting that his lifestyle is now more in line with that of those in the early church. If it seems odd to contemporary Western Christians, then that's more a reflection of the culture in which we immerse ourselves; it would seem typical to disciples in the early church. There are lots of other educational passages in this book and all together it was an excellent read and very jolting.

Thank you very much Kim :)

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Believed to have been written 1601/2
110 pages
Play Comedy

Source: Own

This isn't going to be a proper review or anything because I lack the vocabulary and insight to really delve into Shakespeare but I have some things to share. I wanted to read this for a couple of reasons. First I have not read many plays; I believe I've only read four for school. As I am no longer in school, I will have to read them on my own in order to become more acquainted with this most great of English writers.

Second my understanding was that "twelfth night" has something to do with the Christmas season although I know that the twelfth night is actually January 5.

Lastly I adore the film "She's the Man" starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum in one of his first starring roles. My entire family finds that movie hilarious and I've always wondered about the source material for it. I also love the film "Shakespeare in Love," another funny flick, which ends with Shakespeare beginning to write this play after being inspired by his love.

When I did start reading this, I must say thank you to "She's the Man" because I really relied on it to follow the relationships for about half the play. However it was of no use for me for the other half, which is a plot to fool one uptight character and let anarchy and fun-loving reign. I did not really understand it but what I thought I understood seemed rather mean.

I suspect that I would have enjoyed this more if I was watching a staged version. As it was, I struggled to follow most of the action and I was left with so many questions regarding how characters ended up in their situations and what were their motivations in those situations. I'm used to longer wordier books with loads of character development and that just doesn't happen in this play.

Rating: Well I'm still giving it 5/5 because it's Shakespeare. This will not be my final experience with this play. I definitely would love to see it staged, whether live or a film adaptation-any recommendations?

The Girl Who Was on Fire

The Girl Who was on Fire edited by Leah Wilson
5/5 stars
Smart Pop, 2012
209 pages
YA Essays

Source: Received an e-copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I remember falling for The Hunger Games way back in 2010 (shortly before the release of Mockingjay) and being so pleased to have the rest of the world catch on to what us bookish folk already knew when the movie came out earlier this year. I feel like The Hunger Games is definitely one of the more thought-provoking YA series and was excited to check out this collection especially as some of my favorite authors contributed pieces. One thing these essays did a great job at is making me want to reread Mockingjay which I did not enjoy the first time around and which I have never read again. So kudos!

Why So Hungry for the Hunger Games by Sarah Rees Brennan: I enjoy Brennan's writing a lot as there are always some witty remarks; this one is no exception as she touches on the popularity of this series, including the fascinating issues that series brings up, the romantic wish-fulfillment angle, and the author's insight into reality and illusion.

Team Katniss by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: Another author I enjoy tackles the fan perception of the series as solely choosing between Team Peeta and Team Gale, making some great arguments for focusing on Katniss as a person herself who is so much more than the person she chooses to love. I especially loved the discussion of her love of Prim because Katniss' love for her sister is what drew me into the books (it reminded me of my love for my younger sister-I'd try to win the Hunger Games for her).

Your Heart Is a Weapon the Size of Your Fist by Mary Borsellino: This essay, from an unfamiliar author, looks at the power of love in The Hunger Games especially as compared to one of its inspirations Nineteen Eighty-Four. What does Katniss know about love and integrity that allows her to keep going and to ultimately carve out her (scarred but) happy ending?

Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth M. Rees: Looks at the realities and the illusions perpetrated by the Capitol and others throughout the series and how the main characters negotiated them.

Someone to Watch Over Me by Lili Wilkinson: This examines surveillance, drawing parallels from our own world where someone is pretty much almost always watched (or could be watched) and the balance of power in Katniss' world. There are the Watchers, the Watched, and the Engineers who must be balanced and the worst that happens when that delicate balance is disrupted.

Reality Hunger by Ned Vizzini: This essay looks at media training, the kind underwent by Katniss as well as Vizzini's real-life experiences doing promotion for his writing. Some humorous stories are included in this writing as it seems that Vizzini does not have the same heroic authenticity as Katniss.

Panem et Circenses by Carrie Ryan: Ryan draws some troubling connections from the series to our own world. Namely she looks at our (well your as I eschew reality television) willingness to watch reality tv but always needing an escalation of the stakes just as in the Reaping every year. This impulse to catch eyeballs also influences the narratives given to us (such as fake romances and how moments are edited together to present one story that we then buy as truth). Very thought-provoking and one of my favorite essays!

Not So Weird Science by Cara Lockwood: Did you think the muttations were terrifying and yet totally implausible? Maybe you were wrong about that second part as Lockwood looks at what our world has been doing with genetic engineering as well as our long and troubled history with creating things with the best intentions that are quickly turned against us.

Hunger Game Theory by Diana Peterfreund: This explores game theory, something I've heard about before but was not very familiar with. Using examples from the series as well as drawing from Harry Potter and Ender's Game, she helps to illuminate the theory as well as that the best results come from human cooperation, which tends to end in refusing to play the game at all (or in other words rebelling against the gamemakers.)

Crime of Fashion by Terri Clark: I love to read about the clothes in books (I blame Ann M. Martin and the BSC's outrageous fashion statements from Claudia) so this essay was of great interest to me. How do the clothes Cinna designs for Katniss help to spark revolution? What does each outfit say that is so needed to hear at that particular moment? Another fabulous essay on a topic near and dear to my heart!

Bent, Shattered, and Mended by Blythe Woolston: This one was a little more science-y than some of the other essays have been as it looks at the brain, memory, and PTSD symptoms. Clearly all of the tributes undergo significant mental trauma due to their forced participation in the games and Woolston draws out those feelings and memories.

Did the Third Book Suck? by Brent Hartinger: This provocatively title essay kind of aligns with my initial impression of Mockingjay-it just did not meet my expectations. However after mulling the book over for going on two years and especially after reading these essays, I am willing to reassess my thinking. I still think I prefer the first two books but I don't think I fully appreciated the differences in Mockingjay and the way Collins pursued her own idea for an ending instead of trying to meet reader expectations for a traditional conclusion.

The Politics of Mockingjay by Sarah Darer Littman: Another really awesome essay, especially to me who has been thinking about a lot of these issues in anticipation of the American presidential election. Collins obviously has seriously followed and thought about the War on Terror in contrast with many of us who prefer the circus to serious consideration.

Gale: Knight. Cowboy. Badass. by Jackson Pearce: There are some hilarious moments in this essay (note watch "Firefly" and "Serenity" beforehand as she will urge you to do so over the course of the writing) as well as an exploration of Gale as an archetype. I was always a Peeta fan so this essay helped to crystallize all the reasons why.

The Inevitable Decline of Decadence by Adrienne Kress:  Kress reveals our society's predisposition toward cycling through indulgence and self-denial until inevitably we fall and seek the other as a counterbalance. She cites ancient Rome and the French Revolution in particular as examples of decadence before destruction just as in the Capitol.

Community in the Face of Tyranny by Bree Despain: I loved the hook for this, which shows how President Snow thought he had everything under control but the tiny act of a boy giving a girl bread leads to community leads to Katniss rising, becoming the Mockingjay, and sparking rebellion. That one small action leads to so much upheaval. Great conclusion.

Overall: I loved it-I'm asking for a hardcopy for Christmas because I want to reread the whole series and then contend with these essays some more. Great for fans of the series!