the-bookie-monster-ph

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Synopsis:

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Review:

I was scared to pick up The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo initially. The book was so hyped, with everyone loving it so passionately that I simply left it alone. I wasn’t ready for the emotional turmoil I knew Taylor Jenkins Reid was going to wreck on me. When I picked this book up, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ruined me, as I knew it would.

Everything you have previously heard about this book is true, for Taylor Jenkins Reid is a phenomenal writer; perhaps even one of the best of our times. Romantic to their very core, Reid’s novels are hard-hitting contemporaries that threaten to strike at the heart of the reader. Through her characters and their stories, Reid asks the reader to reevaluate their own lives, perspectives, prejudices and preconceived notions about others. She forces us to explore our human psyches, tearing apart our base desires, fears and even our dreams, usually without us aware that we are doing so until we are forced to confront and accept the very things that matter most. Love. Acceptance.

Told through dual timeline and perspective, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one hell of a book. With Monique’s naivety and Evelyn’s hard-won wisdom, the two teach each other about life, love, and what it means to be happy, in the most unexpected of ways. Each character’s voice was strong and unique, and I was transported between the two timelines (New York in the 1950s and 60s compared to now) with so much finesse and ease that it was like there was a movie playing out before me. Or better yet, I was witnessing a private conversation between friends. It felt illicit and dangerous, as though I was eavesdropping and hearing all the nitty-gritty details that made Hugo who she was.

By approaching Evelyn Hugo through the eyes of Monique, a young journalist facing life’s crossroads, Reid positions the reader to deep dive behind the ritz and glitz of the world of Hollywood’s most elite via the perspective of an ‘everyday person’. Much like Monique, after hearing of her fame and success, the reader will have their preconceived expectations of what Evelyn Hugo’s life will have been like, which positions Reid perfectly to explore her key themes of identity, power, sexuality, acceptance, family, love, race, gender and what it means to be human. Reid deep dives through life’s toughest decisions, allowing the reader to react and face their own choices, expectations and realities at their own pace.

While I adored Monique and Evelyn Hugo’s interactions and characterization, the real strength of this story comes from its supporting characters – Evelyn’s seven husbands, and to a lesser extent, Monique’s husband and both women’s families – for its through them, that we begin to see how these characters have been shaped by their acquaintances and life experiences. Evelyn’s great loves are a defining part of her personality, character growth and identity.

The queer and color representation in this book was dynamic with many sexualities and identities explored on the page. Evelyn Hugo herself spent the majority of the book demanding that her bisexuality not be overlooked, mislabeled or reduced in any shape or form, while also explaining the lengths she went to shed her heritage and ‘white pass’ to get her to the top. Celia was steadfast in her identity as a lesbian, resenting to the very core that she needed to pass as a cis woman in a heterosexual relationship to be taken seriously. Harry hid his feelings for men publicly, knowing that it would destroy his career standing, but found comfort in his private life and behind closed doors.

I really can’t say too much about this book without giving away the story, but I implore you to pick up a copy of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo if you haven’t already done so, ASAP. It’s a wild, passionate and fraught ride that will leave you desperate for more, and longing to hug your loved ones close.

I highly recommend The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

#the seven husbands of evelyn hugo #taylor jenkins reid

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

Carry On, Simon Snow 1, Rainbow Rowell

Synopsis:

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters.

Review:

I wanted to try to collect my thoughts before writing up this review but then we might be waiting weeks because I don’t think I’ll be able to calm down for another month at least. I honestly have no idea why I loved this book so much but it had so many great elements that I loved, including a swoon-worthy romance. MY HEART. BE STILL. This will probably just be a fangirly rant more than a review.

Carry On is Rainbow Rowell’s take on the Simon Snow series that was introduced in Fangirl. It’s important to note that this isn’t Cath’s Simon Snow fanfiction and it’s also not the ‘canon’ Simon Snow either, so you absolutely don’t need to read Fangirl before reading Carry On! I have to admit that the Simon Snow sections in Fangirl were actually my least favorite bits in that novel and I only skimmed quickly through those parts, because I wanted to get back to Cath and Levi’s story. But even though I didn’t love Simon and Baz (or didn’t read enough to love them) in Fangirl, I’m a total convert and they might even be my OTP of the year. And I’m probably now going to reread Cath’s SnowBaz fanfiction because I need more!

This is a fantasy story that almost reads like a contemporary. It’s set in our modern world and there are lots of pop culture references and things that I could relate to. It just felt like a very contemporary and fresh take on fantasy. There are lots of great messages about diversity right from the beginning and I really appreciated that.

I absolutely loved the world in this book. Initially, I drew lots of Harry Potter parallels but I soon started forgetting about Harry Potter because the Simon Snow world is so different and fascinating. I also didn’t mind its similarities to Harry Potter either, because it gave me something to latch on to at the beginning when the story was a little bit slow. Most of the world building happens during the first section of the book and even though nothing much happens plotwise, I had a great time learning about the world and the magic system. I thought the concept behind the magic system was wonderful – that the words they use are so important. I absolutely loved the magic spells that they used and that they can create new spells by putting conviction and magic into random phrases.

My favorite aspect of Carry On were definitely the characters. I’ve read all of Rainbow’s books, except Eleanor and Park, and I’m always astounded by how wonderful and relatable her characters are. I was obsessed with Baz from pretty much the very first mention of him. It’s no secret that Draco Malfoy is my favorite Harry Potter character and Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch is the rich, snobby, sneering Simon Snow equivalent. I loved him so, so much and he didn’t even make an appearance until Part 2 of the novel! I feel like I spent the first part of the book waiting for Baz and when he did finally appear, it was glorious.

I also loved Simon and his voice really carried through and affected me a lot. He was so sassy and snarky. I loved him! He’s been given this massive burden and he just wants to help, but most of the time he just ends up destroying everything in his vicinity. He’s a bit of a disaster but he’s the most adorable and funny disaster ever. I loved his relationship with Baz (of course) and I wish we’d gotten to see them together a lot sooner because I need so much more SnowBaz. Every single moment they were together, my heart was being squeezed in my chest and I was flailing around on my bed. I felt like I was falling in love right there with them. I also really enjoyed Simon’s relationship with his best friend, Penny. She was very supportive of him and always had his back and I loved reading about their friendship. The only character that I did not like at all was Agatha and I wished that she wasn’t in the book at all. But we can’t always have what we want, and we’ve been given so much SnowBaz that I really can’t complain. Except I want another SnowBaz novel… it doesn’t even need to have a plot. I just want to fangirl over them a little bit more.

I thought the plot of the book was amazing. Carry On kept me theorizing about what was going to happen next throughout the whole book. There are definitely some things that we’ve seen before in fantasy novels but everything worked so well together that I didn’t mind at all. Plus there were so many surprising and hilarious moments and I loved every single one of those. This book just blew my mind and exceeded all of my expectations. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

#carry on #simon snow #rainbow rowell

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

It's Kind of a Funny Story, Ned Vizzini

Synopsis:

Ambitious New York City teenager Craig Gilner is determined to succeed at life - which means getting into the right high school to get into the right job. But once Craig aces his way into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School, the pressure becomes unbearable. He stops eating and sleeping until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness.

Review:

So as a matter of fact I tend to read quite a few novels written in the genre commonly referred to as “Young Adult”. There’s been quite a wave of those in recent years, with some of those novels clogging up the bestseller lists, including, very prominently, John Green’s sentimental exercises in mediocrity. With a few exceptions, the non-science fictional YA books tend to be a bit underwhelming. I am a fan of children’s fiction, but YA often replaces the linguistic openness and epistemological wonder of children’s fiction with a dour and moralistic realism. Writers like Green are better creators of plot than they are writers of prose. It’s mainly the age of his protagonists and the audience of his books that distinguishes Green from novelists serving the adult audience like Nicholas Sparks. Part of the reason for this are the simple, sentimental plots. It takes the talent of writers like Rainbow Rowell to imbue these simple plots with some resonance, both linguistically as well as in the way these writers locate urgency and impetus in their books. Rowell’s breakthrough effort Eleanor & Park engages questions of body image and poverty, without having to mine them for sobs. A surprising (or not) amount of non-science-fictional YA novels go for the emotional jugular by presenting us with the Big Topics. Green tackled topics like cancer and suicide, other popular options include abuse, bullying or the Shoah. It’s a cheap and easy shorthand that manages to both lock into the angst of the target audience, as well as present a topic that is already moving as it is. In this context, Ned Vizzini’s novel It’s Kind of a Funny Story, which looks at suicide, depression and high school pressure, could be seen as one of many more or less uniform books using suicide as a hook for its prospective teenage readers. However, it’s much better than that, I think. There is no doubt that it’s flawed, and that it could have used a very stern editor, as it sprawls over 400 pages, mainly because this writer apparently has difficulties saying no to himself. But the core of it is extremely well realized, and Vizzini manages to give us a story about depression and hope that has room to breathe, that does not hit us in the face with the sad plot and that has room for digressions. He has interesting ideas that go beyond the cold/cheap utilitarian logic of the common YA book. Even the undisciplined length and structure has a charm. Plus, suicide is always a hoot.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story was Ned Vizzini’s third book and second overall novel, and he retained the teenager focus of his earlier work, even though the book’s setting was inspired (according to the afterword) by events in Vizzini’s own life a mere two years prior. It’s hard to comment on the book’s structure because there isn’t a lot, apart from the chronological movement of the plot. But there are three distinct phases of the book, all three easily distinguishable. Vizzini’s character, 15 year old Craig Gilner, is a gifted child (the single most overused YA trope) who lives with his mother. The double pressure of being a teenage boy, with crushes and insecurities and the obscure land of sex and booze just out of reach, combines with the new pressures of being in a high stakes, high expectation environment now.

I know I am not making the book sound terrifically appealing right now, but hear me out. Because Vizzini has written a novel clearly reliant on and cognizant of a wide array of literary traditions, first of all. One of these is the phenomenon of the precocious child who has to cope with school pressure. I skimmed some reviews of the novel before sitting down to write this and there’s an awful lot that discuss how Vizzini looks at a modern phenomenon here.

Additionally, these texts only cover the first two sections of It’s Kind of a Funny Story. The second half, set in the psychiatric hospital, probably feeds off the much more American tradition of psychiatric hospital books. But Vizzini doesn’t care much for the difficulties of social pressures on less than privileged groups. Among the many things Vizzini throws at his readers in his rambling, associative narrative, is the fact that Craig Gilner is an artist and has one particular artistic obsession. It’s so central that it made it onto the book cover: he loves drawing maps. Not maps of real places as much as imaginary maps, of personalized cityscapes. He makes this intricate and inscrutable kind of art for people, creating portraits of them in the hard, straight and angular lines of maps. More than just an oblique reference to Korzybski’s dictum, the project thus is a kind of inverted psychogeography if that makes sense. The multifaceted theories of psychogeography grapple with the fact of architecture, with the way it suggests meaning and structure, and offers ways of drifting, of playfully destabilizing that structure and meaning. In a way, Vizzini’s character re-imposes structure. He creates meaning through maps, using a visual language that we all identify with order and clarity.

Look, I’m probably going to veer a bit off course here, so I apologize in advance. You can stop reading now, you know what I think of the book. And here’s another caveat: I know there’s always a danger of reading books autobiographically, and God knows I have a bunch of angry footnotes on that topic in my Bishop chapter. Scores of excellent scholars have pointed out, for example, that The Bell Jar should be read as fiction and not as veiled autobiography, but here’s the thing. It’s Kind of a Funny Story itself makes the connection to Vizzini’s own life by pointing out that the story was inspired by a brief stay of Vizzini’s in a hospital in his early 20s. It’s hard, then, to disconnect the loud wishful thinking at the end of the book from Vizzini’s attitude towards his own mental well being. Vizzini killed himself in 2013 by jumping off the roof of his parents’ home. After Vizzini died, I reread the last paragraph of the novel and it sounds much more desperate, much more like a sad, fervent hope rather than a projection of personal happiness. Between Vizzini’s own stay at the hospital and his final suicide attempt were 9 years. Getting released from a hospital after a mental health breakdown is not like getting released after breaking a foot.

Meanwhile, It’s Kind of a Funny Story is absolutely worth reading. You have to give it room, it lacks the tautness and discipline we tend to get from the YA genre, but it’s absolutely a worthy entry to a genre that now has a long and sad tradition. Vizzini captures the voice of his protagonist perfectly and the rambling narrative is part and parcel of that. And you know what, despite my leery comments on the hope at the end of the book and my grumbling about feel-good commentary, Vizzini himself, as far as I know, recommended what I call the charlatans of hope to his readers and fans, and while they clearly did not help him long term, 9 years are nothing to sneeze at and he helped many of his fans with similar struggles.

#it's kind of a funny story #ned vizzini

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

All the Bright Places, Jennifer Niven

Synopsis:

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.

Review:

I want to begin by clearing the air: I have very conflicting feelings about this book, in that I love parts of it, and others not so much. Also, this is going to be—and it is—a lengthy article. So if you’re not exactly up to that, you can read the next paragraph and just jump straight to the second-to-the-last one.

All the Bright Places is a thoughtful, provocative tale about mental illness and teenagers, speckled with bons mots. And though it has off-putting turns, it is poignant all the same. Jennifer Niven has written people. Not just mere characters but actual people, with actual emotions, actual stories, actual battles. So painfully real it left me in a trance after closing the last page.

The novel switches between perspectives from Finch and Violet. And if you do anything, do not attempt to find out what Finch’s problem is before diving in. I made this mistake (I didn’t research; I was listening to a podcast and bam!) and it marked a substantial difference. Because I imagine it would’ve been more excruciatingly gripping to guess what’s the matter with him. See, Theodore Finch is interesting. He’s compulsive and at times reckless but funny and endearing, to boot. He slips into momentary pretentiousness but that only renders him more charming. Early on, it’s apparent there’s something amiss. And with each passing chapter, the tension only accumulates. I’ve often hear people describe a character as someone who “jumps off the page/screen” and this is a spot-on description for Theodore Finch. Then there’s Violet Markey who—this is not a spoiler—suffers from PTSD. She’s using her sister’s death as a wall around her. I’ve read quite a few books about depression to gather that while for outsiders it looks easy—get out more, talk to someone, get over yourself—it’s really hard to move past the black slug. And this is the main thing about Violet; she acknowledges the world outside her wall but she’s waist-deep the black slug.

Another thing that sets All the Bright Places apart is the nuanced backstories. The bad guy isn’t just a bad guy and the good guy isn’t just a good guy. Plus, the parents are present. There’s something to be said of parental roles in young adult fiction and Niven captures the two sides of the spectrum with an informed tone. There is this one harrowing scene, which I hope no one has to experience ever, that sent a sick punch in my guts. And then you get to the author’s note and it’s a whole new level of visceral reaction.

I have issues with the romance department. And I don’t want to be the person who argues that love isn’t necessary in this one but I’m gonna be that person. Because and especially because it has a beginning I do not buy. It felt like it was somehow forced coming from Finch’s viewpoint. I also think the later parts drag. Of course I want closure but I think it still could’ve been achieved a few pages shorter. Albeit, I’m being highly subjective in here. I’m not saying Niven did wrong. It’s her novel. It’s Finch and Violet’s story. The author has every right.

For fans of John Green (yes, the blurb got this one right), you want to read this one. All the Bright Places does a great service to this ever shifting and vibrant community by talking about a topic that most people would much rather prefer not to talk about and it’s for this reason that I’m grateful Jennifer Niven had her YA debut.

#all the bright places #jennifer niven

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

The Nerdy and the Dirty, B.T. Gottfred

Synopsis:

Pen Lupo is sick and tired of hiding who she is. On the outside, Pen is popular, quiet, and deferential to her boyfriend. On the inside, however, Pen is honest, opinionated—and not quite sure that she's like other girls. Do they have urges like she does?

His classmates may consider him a nerd, but Benedict Pendleton knows he's destined for great things. All he has to do is find a worthy girlfriend, and his social station will be secured. Sure, Benedict is different--but that's what he likes about himself.

When fate intervenes, both Pen and Benedict end up at the same vacation resort for winter break. Despite their differences, the two are drawn together. But is there such a thing as happily ever after for a nympho and a nerd?

Review:

The Nerdy and the Dirty by B.T. Gottfred follows two high schoolers who are tired of hiding their true identities. Penelope Lupo may seem agreeable and quiet, but on the inside, she is a bold and opinionated girl with perspectives on sex that she fears could alienate her from her friends and strict, heavily religious parents. Benedict Pendleton, on the other hand, is a “nerd” with a massive ego who desperately wishes to become popular. When Benedict and Pen end up at the same resort during winter vacation, they find themselves falling in love with each other, despite all of their differences, as they struggle between their genuine personalities and their long-held facades.

Have you ever read a book where you were waiting for a plot twist or some meaningful or exciting event to occur, until you reach the last page and realize that nothing really happened throughout the whole book? One of my biggest issues with The Nerdy and the Dirty was that it was lacking a plot. It felt more like a character study than a novel to me, and because characters are such an important part of any story, I typically wouldn’t have minded this. Unfortunately, Pen and Benedict were extremely bland characters. Much of their relationship felt forced, and as a high school student, I can confirm that most of their words and actions were absurdly exaggerated, but not in a comedic manner. It was clear to me that the author was trying to write a high school romance where seemingly archetypal characters defied their stereotypes and sought to uncover their true identities, but the characters and the plot kept falling into the same clichés.

I was told that this supposedly young adult novel was aimed at 14-18 year olds, but I would feel downright uncomfortable suggesting this book to any 14 year old. The book is completely full of references to drugs, abuse, and sex. It also features multiple scenes of Pen, a teenage girl, masturbating. Now, I understand that sex isn’t something that needs to be shunned completely from young adult novels. Some of the books that I read use sex and masturbation as vehicles by which to uncover societal truths or make crucial statements about characters and their developments. The scenes in The Nerdy and the Dirty failed to accomplish any of these, and so the book was left with several awkward, cringe worthy scenes of underage high schoolers having sex.

Though I hated this book, it’s worth mentioning that this high school drama/romantic comedy genre is a far cry from the thriller and horror novels that I usually read, so you may wish to take this review with a grain of salt. However, although I tried to be open minded, I could not get past the lacking plot, the absence of interesting characters, and the romanticization of underage sex and drug abuse that plagued this book.

#the nerdy and the dirty #b.t. gottfred

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

Patron Saints of Nothing, Randy Ribay

Synopsis:

A coming-of-age story about grief, guilt, and the risks a Filipino-American teenager takes to uncover the truth about his cousin's murder.

Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered as part of President Duterte's war on drugs, and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story.

Hoping to uncover more about Jun and the events that led to his death, Jay is forced to reckon with the many sides of his cousin before he can face the whole horrible truth -- and the part he played in it.

Review:

Upon reading the blurb of this book for the first time, I knew then I had to read it. It is very brave for the author to come up with such a controversial book and I wanted to be a part of it by reading and reviewing it. Patron Saints of Nothing is not your typical feel good YA book, it is not your average dose of self-discovery and coming of age, this book is monumental. This book is the perfect depiction of the lives of the Filipinos from outside looking in. It was honest and gritty, it was relevant and timely. It was everything a good book and then some.

Relevant and very timely.

Patron Saints of Nothing will take us to the nitty gritty details of Duterte’s war on drugs and how it was depicted in the media and what really lies beyond it. We are taken into Jay’s journey on finding out what happened to his cousin, Jun who was a victim of Duterte’s war on drugs and everything that happened in between it all. An own voices book that would transcend from pages to reality. It is with much joy to see it hit the international bookshelves and be read by many not only by Filipinos, in that alone I am beaming with pride.

Good sense of awakening whilst highlighting Filipino cultures taking the good ones with the bad.

Reading this book can be likened to watching a good Filipino Indie film, you get that sense of awakening that only good films/books can ever give. To my fellow Filipinos, think of On The Job and Buy Bust not as violent or as intense as those two films, but an ultimately softer and subtler version of it. I commend how this book presented the predicament and the status of the Philippine nation, that although we are known to be one of the happiest people we too have monsters we carry day in and day out. I love how things weren’t sugar-coated, how it was presented in both the good light and the bad one. How every country has its own flaws to deal with, how it isn’t perfect but ultimately human, vulnerable, fragile but resilient. This book also highlighted the stark contrast of how privileged Americans are as opposed to Filipinos or other race for that matter. It gave us a taste of what it is for Jay Reguero a Filipino-American to get to know his roots and be able to relate to it. I love how Jay’s character was equal parts curious and determined. His character for me wasn’t the most likable, honestly Jay frustrates me sometimes, but this was what made his character realistic. The book’s ability to give distinct characters was amazing in itself. We have Tito Maning, Jay’s father, Grace, Angel, Tita Ines, Tita Chato and Jun amongst all the others, characters that gave color on what it is like to be Filipinos. A true depiction, taken with everything else, the good and the bad.

There were few inaccuracies but maybe it is just me being critical since this is a book about my country and about my culture. All these didn’t affect the story, it was just something one can easily shrug off. But nearing towards the end, I just had a few issues with it. I don’t want to spoil the book, but let me give you a bit of a hint. I just didn’t like how the truth was presented to Jay. I am pretty sure that’s not how it works in Catholic teachings. I went to a Catholic school in college, thus I am very exposed to their teachings and ways. This specific instance how the truth was revealed to Jay didn’t sit well with me. I was a bit disappointed how it was played out. This was only the major issue I had, thus refraining me from giving it full five stars.

Patron Saints of Nothing gave us that sense of removing one’s self from the situation and see it in a bigger perspective or in another light. It made us ponder on the frailty of humans and how this doesn’t define what their fates should be or it shouldn’t define whether they are worthy or not. At the end of the day we always seek and believe in humanity and cry foul whenever this thin line had been crossed, and that’s what this book was trying to make us see, to see past the people’s moments of weakness and indecisions and rather value them much like everyone else. Goes without saying, I recommend this one.

#patron saints of nothing #randy ribay

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold

Synopsis:

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her -- her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, The Lovely Bones succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy.

Review:

Susie Salmon watches from the ‘In-between’, a special kind of ‘tailor-made’ heaven, only it’s not. The ‘In-between is more like heaven’s ‘waiting-room’, a purgatory of sorts, a resting place for lost souls to abide until they are ready to move on. It’s a place for those like Susie Salmon, who still cannot cut herself off from what she left behind. Here, in Susie’s personal paradise, the sun never sets, dogs run freely through fields and children from other heavens appear at will, visiting those who share the same dreams.

The ‘In-between’ is an endless abyss that morphs and shifts to accommodate the perpetual flow of the dead. What is a soul, if it is not pure memory? The sum of all our experiences? The sights, smells and sensations of its’ first life on Earth? So it is, and it is such that the ‘In-between’ (that vast network of collective thought) is nothing but a mirror for souls to cast upon the very memories that obsess them. For souls like Susie, it is not easy to accept death. Even if you do, you cannot forsake the living. So Susie watches from the ‘In-between’, through the days, months, years after her death, watching her family grieve, her friends grow-up and her murderer live to kill others. Susie tells her own story; the before and the after, the things that could have been and the things that could never be, and that is what makes this novel so intriguing.

I can’t recall many stories that begin with the crime already committed and the murderer’s identity revealed. I suppose I can’t, because it’s such a difficult perspective to write from. However, Alice Sebold’s bold ‘God’s-eye view’ has it’s advantages. For one, the reader feels like they are in on the action – there is a certain privilege that comes with knowing things that other characters don’t. Susie has taken us into her confidence, she offers us glimpses of the netherworld and the world she left behind which gives the narrative a delicate magic.

Who hasn’t wondered what heaven is really like, or whether our loved ones still watch us after their gone? For anyone who has lost a child to a violent death, these questions barely scratch the surface of their anguish. But Sebold demonstrates her sensitivity to this particular type of grief, and this is evident with the creation of the ‘In-between’. It shows she has taken the time to consider Susie from her parents’ perspective; the pain of the lost and those who lose. The concept of a personal paradise is by far the most exquisite part of the novel and offers readers a welcome retreat from the intensity of the ‘earthly’ moments where Susie’s killer still stalks the neighborhood, marking out his prey.

However, the novel does succumb to the dangers of an omniscient narrative. Having built up a wonderful momentum at the beginning of the novel (see opening paragraph at top), Sebold finds it difficult to maintain the ‘otherworldliness’ of her plot. Halfway through, I found myself losing attention, and often patience with some of the characters, but with the passing of time the characters are allowed to grow-up allowing more room for a different direction. This comes in the form of a yearning. Susie witnessing her life as it could have been, ceases to understand her now adolescent friends. She will never be older than fourteen, perpetually pre-pubescent, always a little girl. She wonders what love is like, a first kiss and begins to sense what was truly taken from her.

While all this is happening, Susie’s murder does not lie quietly in the past. Sebold shows us how it emerges every now and then, refusing to stay silent. Like a broken bone that juts out from under skin, Susie’s terrible memory also protrudes throughout time, reminding her murderer that nothing ever stays a secret.

I know many people have complained about Sebold’s writing and I admit, I wasn’t too keen on reading it either. I like my reads well-seasoned, time-honored, ‘vintage’ if you like. But I was wrong this time. ‘The Lovely Bones’ may not have the depth and density expected of a story like this, but there is still much to learn and enjoy.

A mixture of the mundane and the occult is what gives this story its disturbing edge. Sebold manages to keep two parallel worlds in check as she writes, and that is no mean feat. However, the best part of this book is the ending. I admire Sebold for turning a harrowing story about rape and murder into one of hope and peace. I think I’m right when I say you too will be surprised at the emotions you’ll go through when you read this.

#the lovely bones #alice sebold

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1), Pittacus Lore

Synopsis:

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books--but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

Review:

I'm writing this review a day after reading the book, going against my personal policy to review a book straight after I've read it. Why am I going against my personal policy, you may ask? Because I needed to collect my thoughts, try and be calm, try to stop crying after that heart-breaking ending! When I started I Am Number Four I really didn't know what to expect; I hadn't watched the movie, but I'd heard the book was quite good. I was just expecting this high action and adventure sci-fi novel that wouldn't hold any depth to it, I was so incredibly wrong. This book produced a bucket load of emotions that raged inside me. There was the heart-break of loss, the unfairness, the bitterness, the pain…I Am Number Four will have you sitting intensely on the edge of your seat, your eyes riveted to the book as you watch Four's fight of survival, and then just when you think everything is going to be a-okay, you're faced with another problem, or a heart-breaking discovery. I really underestimated I Am Number Four and boy, did it prove me wrong! If there was ever a book I thought I would dislike but loved, it would be this one.

I am now officially a science fiction fan. I've never really been interested in those type of books but I think since reading I Am Number Four, I might just have found my new favourite genre. Quite a few of my close bloggy buddies know that I want to be an astronomer when I'm older, and I suppose reading about these alien planets, and their atmospheres and what might be happening in space, fascinates me. Its such an incredible thought thinking that there are all those planets, galaxies and solar systems out there and that maybe there are other life forms living on one of those planets. I Am Number Four is a great science fiction novel. The alien planets that Pittacus Lore creates are described in detail. I can imagine the lush, green, alive Lorien bursting with colors, and then turning into a barren wasteland. I can clearly see the Mogadorians soldiers with their translucent skin and empty black eyes. I can see the desperation that is reflected in both the aliens of Mogadore and Lorien, they're both fighting to survive, both trying to save the only homes they know.

The writing immediately drew me in. Pittacus Lore (collaboration of (James Frey and Jobie Hughes) creates sentences that have you constantly in suspense: sentences, words, paragraphs and chapters that are inviting and gripping. The way they write forces you to continue reading; there is always something mystifying happening, something that you always want to know ends well. But when things are going smoothly, another shell-shocker is dropped and you are left wanting to finish reading the book, just to know how everything turns out, hoping that Four will be safe and that the rest of the Garde will be protected.

I loved Four/John. It must have been extremely difficult for him and Henri, to constantly be on the look-out, constantly keeping to themselves, and when something suspicious does occur, to then uproot and leave without saying good-bye. I really admired Four. I would have most probably been caught and killed, after all the years of moving and changing identities, the strength would have evaporated from my bones. Thank goodness that wasn't the case for Four. When Number Three had been caught and killed in Kenya, Four knew that he was next in line to be slain by the Mogadorians. Four was extremely brave considering the circumstances, and he was never ready to give up. I honestly think he might be my new fictional crush, I mean, come on, his a hot alien, who is resistant to fire, can move things with his mind and he is super fast and strong.

I also absolutely adore Sam! His this cute, almost nerdy kid with an obsession with aliens. I loved reading the parts where Sam was watching Four training, he was so fascinated and I could just imagine the huge goofy grin drawn upon his face. His loyalty to Four and the aliens really made me feel happy; if my best friend told me she was an alien I'd fall about laughing, slap her on the back and say "Good one" and then when she proves it I'd probably pass out…so I was impressed by the way Sam handled it.

The romance in I Am Number Four was sweet; however, I will not permit my brain to believe that Four and Sarah's relationship will last forever. With Four constantly being on the run, and being an alien it's just not going to work. Whenever Four is with Sarah he is endangering her and I know he would be a wreck if anything hurt her, which forces him to stay away from her. Also, if he ever does move back to Lorien one day, Sarah won't be able to go with. And Henri states that one of the kids that came to Earth is destined to be with Four. So there's a lot of complications that I don't think they'll be able to get through. Which is a pity, as I think they make a cute couple.

The storyline is extremely unique. The idea of two alien planets fighting on earth, involving the humans. Nine aliens chosen to carry out the powers of the Elders. Gaining their Legacies and powers. The series is definitely a new favourite!

The fighting scenes are seriously just…awesome. You may laugh at me, but straight after finishing I Am Number Four, I was throwing karate kicks and punches around the house, pretending I was fighting aliens. Don't laugh…you'll be doing that too…or maybe its just me. But the fighting will have you biting your nails with intense worry - just a warning before you read the book.

I Am Number Four is a fantastic start to what I am sure is a phenomenal series. With an original story idea that will take your breath away, action that will have you biting your nails furiously, characters that will wrench your heart out and superpowers that will have you green with envy, I Am Number Four is a thrilling book that will have you greedily wanting to read more in this awesome series. With kick-butt characters, nefarious aliens, a sweet romance and a heart-breaking ending, you couldn't ask for more.

#i am number four #lorien legacies #pittacus lore

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

Geekerella, (Once Upon a Con #1), Ashley Poston

Synopsis:

Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale.

Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.

Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

Review:

I haven’t read a lot of YA books in my time that are explicitly romance focused, though most YA has a romantic aspect to it (one day I will write my platonic novel, one day). So I was expecting a very cliché fairy-tale retelling with lots of gazing into each other’s eyes and so on and so forth. I was, therefore, pleasantly surprised by how sweet this story was (without being sickly). I think levels of tolerance for romance is varied, so for some even this level may be unbearable, but for me, this felt like a good place to be.

This book has what I’ve referred to in my notes as ‘huge fanfiction vibes’ by which I mean you can see where the plot is going after about three chapters but you don’t mind because by that point you’re along for the ride. In part that is because this is a retelling (adding to the year of all the retellings) which obviously means you know how it will end, but I could see how Ashley Poston started writing through fanfiction. I know some people would take that as criticism, but personally, I believe some of the most passionate and engaging writers are those who write or have written fanfiction in the past. Overall, the effect this has on the book is that it’s a comforting and comfortable read, with a simple enough plot that the personalities of the individual characters can shine through. The ‘fanfiction’ feel also helps to cover the fact that the entire premise is not 100% realistic, something which some romantic novels just expect you to deal with. However, the way this book is written encourages you as a reader to suspend disbelief to a certain degree, to believe in fairy tales and in, if not the impossible then the improbable.

I’ve touched on characters but let’s go into a little more detail. Our protagonist Elle is, understandably, the star of the piece. What I loved about Elle’s character was that she was so passionate about Starfield without excluding others. Rather than keeping her information about the show to herself she brings a new friend Sage into the community and shares her love of the show. I don’t want to go into too much detail about that dynamic, because I’m saving it for a blog post where I tear apart Ready Player One but suffice to say this was a well-written fangirl for sure.

Another thing I think this book does well is gradually developing the characters and friendships without feeling rushed or fake (for the most part). I think this is perhaps best shown in Darien’s character. This could have been a very flat, one-dimensional character (as Prince Charming is in the original fairy-tale let’s be honest) but instead, he has his own development and growth within the story, a lot of it happening outside of the knowledge of Elle. I liked that both characters were fully realized, it made it a more satisfying romance to have both sides of the story.

Even the side characters were interesting and had important moments within the story. Of course, I loved seamstress Sage, but I also enjoyed the two sisters and the stepmother, these are characters who have been approached by many an author in a plethora of different ways, yet in this book, they felt much more than just generic evil or nasty women. Good characters make for a good book (even when those characters aren’t morally good).

This is a comforting book, it’s simultaneously incredibly simple and profoundly detailed. I would describe it as the reading equivalent of watching a familiar film where nothing can go terribly wrong and even if it does, it’ll all be fine in the end (mine is Mamma Mia, what’s yours?). If you’re the kind of person who likes a retelling and a romance then this is the book for you.

#geekerella #once upon a con #ashley poston

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

Synopsis:

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption, and it is also about the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

The first Afghan novel to be written in English, The Kite Runner tells a sweeping story of family, love, and friendship against a backdrop of history that has not been told in fiction before, bringing to mind the large canvases of the Russian writers of the nineteenth century. But just as it is old-fashioned in its narration, it is contemporary in its subject—the devastating history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years. As emotionally gripping as it is tender, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful debut.

Review:

I can’t describe enough how I adore the writing. The subplots worked well to with the conclusion of the plot to complete the picture. When I was reading the book, I didn’t feel like I was just watching the characters. I felt like I was with them. I was with the people of Afghanistan during it’s glorious and peaceful days when it’s safe to roam the streets without the fear of hearing wails of women and children and seeing them die because of starvation or wounds or seeing burning houses or people being randomly killed in the streets, mingle with people without the fear that who you are talking to is a spy of the Taliban, laugh with the vendors without the fear of being shot in the head and eat kebab without the fear that it will probably be your last meal.

For me the author was very successful in portraying the beauty of Afghanistan not just by how descriptive his words were but also of made me feel the overflow of emotions that he wanted to convey to the readers through his words. It was like the author is painting using words and he’s using your mind as the canvass to convey what he wants the readers to know and understand. The book itself is an eye-opening for me in regards to Afghanistan, a country where I don’t know much about aside from what I see and read on the news. This is the first book I read about Afghanistan and how the author introduced me to his country is very natural that I felt the pain the Afghans felt when their country was torn. This book provided me a new prospective about how I should see Afghanistan. This book gave me a dose of Afghan history, gave me a look as to what Afghanistan look like, gave me Afghan language lessons and a glimpse who Afghans really are. This helped me understand a certain part of history integral to Afghans. It focused on Afghanistan and highlighted how the country started to fall. By how the author described pre-war Afghanistan on the first part of the book is really far from what we’re currently seeing on the news.

“For you a thousand times over.” After reading this line from the book, I can’t help but to stop for a while because of the emotions that came rushing through me. I felt how raw the emotions of the characters are. The author showed the unlikely friendship between Amir and Hassan. Friendship against all the odds and boundaries. Friendship tested through time. Friendship between two person with two different background and character, Amir coming from the rich ethnic group of Pashtuns and Hassan from a minority group called Hazaras who are deemed to be inferior in the country. One who acts without thinking then will torment himself afterwards with guilt and one who doesn’t seem to know what limitations of being good is. Hassan who considers Amir as a real brother while the Amir treats the Hassan inwardly without the latter knowing. How the book resolved itself like a puzzle and how the wrongs were fixed totally caught me off guard. This book talks about how fate worked with the two. Life is always marred with mistakes and decisions that we do. Life is not always on our side. But at the end of the day they serve their purposes. They serve as our best teacher. How we are always being given the choices and option and what we just need to do is to choose the right one. How we are are always given the opportunity to right our wrongs and what we just have to do is to grab it. This book will make you cry, laugh, love, dismay, horrified, care and most specially hope.

All the characters are not all likeable but that’s the strength of the book because it will make you think otherwise and it’ll serve it’s purpose midway reading it. After reading a couple of pages from the book I felt like all the characters are cliched. I felt like what I am just reading is another family saga torn by war then at the end to be reunited. I immediately judged the characters to being too good and predictable to be true. I despised the main protagonist, Amir, at first, for being so doubtful, coward and selfish towards other particularly to his friend Hassan. And Hassan for being too forgiving and understanding to the point that it already became so annoying. But then, as I push through reading the book, things have turned to a different direction. I began to connect with the characters. I began to feel the characters. I began to slowly understand what the author’s direction was. This is not just a family saga. What I am reading is not just a story of family but a story of a country. The author became very effective in connecting a family issue to a main turning point of a country’s history. It’s a story about redemption and freedom. Redemption and freedom on the part of the main protagonist and the ongoing struggle of the deeply-wounded Afghanistan towards redemption and freedom. Both having a troubled past and both wanting to make a closure for that past the continuously hurts them.

All the other characters are also all well-developed. They were not just there to extend the story. They were all there because each had integral parts to the story. They were given their own background and life in the book which made me even more appreciate the book. Relationships among the characters were very much developed making it easier to understand their actions adding emotional richness to the story.

I like the books genuine and honest storytelling. The author is very effective in providing powerful and painful illustrations using words. The book has its share of disturbing and haunting scenes. It did not veer away with the stories of violence, abuse and terrorism for that is the reality of what war is. This book talks about the ugly truth about war, how no one wins in a war.

Lastly, I should not forget to say that this is a love story. The love that binds fathers and sons, friends connected by heart and strangers connected by purpose. Their story depicts the reality of what love is and the complexities that comes with it.

Overall it’s moving, haunting and powerful novel. It is a wonderful, moving and well written book. It took a while for me to finish the book because I savored every page of it. I can’t recommend it enough. Go read it!

#the kite runner #khaled hosseini

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky

Synopsis:

"I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day...or wondering who did the heart breaking and wondering why."

Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Review:

The novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is about many things and while it has a theme, the book is more of an account of the experiences of the main character. The main character’s teacher says “Try to be a filter not a sponge” before assigning The Fountainhead. This quote applies to the reading of this book. The book has conflicts in which you may not agree with the main character Charlie and his friends. This aspect of the book allows the characters to feel real because in the real world most things aren't right or wrong but in a grey area where there are positives and negatives to almost everything.

The book follows Charlie, a freshman in high school. For the first few days of school, Charlie doesn't talk to anyone and he finds himself observing people more. This all changes when he meets two seniors named Patrick and Sam. Soon Charlie finds himself becoming friends with Patrick, Sam, and their group of friends. He attends a recreation of The Rocky Horror Picture show that Patrick, Sam, and company do. He attends parties with Patrick and Sam. He spends a copious amount of time with them and becomes close with both of them. Charlie lives out the dreams and nightmares of a teenager throughout the book.

I like this book for its portrayal of teenage life, complex characters, and thought-provoking commentary from Charlie. This book displays a wide range of emotions. It’s relatable and complex characters allow you to feel the same emotions the characters are feeling. The book’s use of journal entries to tell its story helps the reader connect to Charlie and it adds to the realism. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would read it again.

The book shows all the sides of being a teenager and isn’t afraid to cover mature themes. The book uses its more mature situations in order to relate to teenagers. Many teenagers have experienced these hardships either first hand or by hearing about them. The characters partake in activities that some may see as unwise. These are in the book however to add realism not to encourage or promote these acts. This book will most likely only be fully appreciated by older teenagers due to its unflinching depiction of teenage life. Before reading this book readers should know there are themes of sexual abuse and those that are sensitive to that topic should be cautious about reading this book. Despite all this, I would recommend this book to those who can handle its subject matter.

#the perks of being a wallflower #stephen chbosky

[the-bookie-monster-ph]

They Both Die at the End (Death-Cast #1), Adam Silvera

Synopsis:

On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today.

Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.

Review:

They Both Die at the End is a young adult novel that was written by Adam Silvera. The story follows two young boys named Mateo and Rufus, who both find out that on September 5th, their lives are going to end.

This book is divided into four parts: “Death-Cast”, ”The Last Friend”, ”The Beginning”, and ”The End”. At the beginning of the story, Mateo and Rufus receive a phone call from the Death-Cast service, which notifies them that they have only one day to live. These boys don’t know how or why this is happening, but it leads to them meeting through the Last Friends app.

From there on, these boys are known as “Deckers”. As they take on eventful adventures together, Mateo and Rufus also refer to each other as “my Last Friend”.

What I find unique about They Both Die at the End is that it is told within the span of a day. It starts off with the two boys receiving the calls at midnight, leaving them 24 hours to live their lives to the fullest.

Although Mateo and Rufus are the main characters of the story, Silvera also includes the perspective of other characters. Some of which, like celebrity Howie Maldonaldo, are also Deckers. Other characters just happen to have close ties with the two boys.

The pure connection between Mateo and Rufus is unforgettable. Even though they have only known each other for a few hours, they won’t leave one another’s side. This makes it seem that they have been friends for so long. As time goes on, the two boys also fall in love, and Rufus expresses that Mateo has “helped me find myself again” and “made me better”.

One criticism I have is that Silvera does not give a backstory on the idea of the Death Cast. The service is only mentioned mysteriously, and he does not explain why the characters only receive the notice 24 hours before they are gone. Also, why aren’t the Death Cast workers allowed to tell Deckers how they are going to die?

All in all, They Both Die at the End is a heart-wrenching story that left me wanting to know more. Silvera teaches us that life is short, and no matter how much we may fear death, it is a part of everyone’s lives. Especially at a time like this, living through a pandemic is tough. But it is also important for us to realize the value of life. Spend time with your loved ones or learn a new hobby. Keep moving forward and do the things that make your heart happy, before it is too late.

If you would like to know more about this story, don’t hesitate to grab a copy from a bookstore near you.

#they both die at the end #death cast #adam silvera