3.5 stars I loved the author's debut WILD AWAKE, but this one felt a little scattered, particularly with so much stuff going on. Still, the narrative 3.5 stars I loved the author's debut WILD AWAKE, but this one felt a little scattered, particularly with so much stuff going on. Still, the narrative voice is immensely readable....more
I liked the narrative voice, and at first I was intrigued by the connections drawn to jellyfish. But there were a LOT of jellyfishy facts, and I kept I liked the narrative voice, and at first I was intrigued by the connections drawn to jellyfish. But there were a LOT of jellyfishy facts, and I kept wondering why I didn't feel anything for this story of a girl who's so traumatized by her former best friend's death that she will no longer speak.
Then I finished it, and found the author's note at the end, which says that the story was born from "failure:" because it started out as a nonfiction essay about her fascination with jellyfish. That made a lot of things click into place for me, because the alternating chapters with the actual story that told of Suzy's fractured friendship with Franny were much less emotional, which is a weird thing to experience.
I did like the realistic way that the author handled certain things, including the family (especially Suzy's relationship with her brother and his boyfriend), and the ending to her quest (view spoiler)[for once, the kid does not get to go on a big crazy trip by herself and is stopped by people in charge (hide spoiler)]. But this was not the touching, compelling read I thought it would be--though certainly proclamations of "a stunning novel about grief and wonder" can be hard to live up to.
Par for the course with me, though--I rarely seem to connect with the contemporary fiction titles that are the most popular/bestselling. I just read a bunch of rave reviews for this, and I guess I must have a heart of stone.
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for this review.
P.S. This is upper middle grade, though frankly I'm surprised that the character was presented as a seventh grader. Many of her actions, and the framework, made it seem like she was younger....more
I picked this up in a used bookstore because I remember reading this ages ago, when I first discovered romances thanks to a naughty aunt. This was preI picked this up in a used bookstore because I remember reading this ages ago, when I first discovered romances thanks to a naughty aunt. This was pretty dated and terrible, but it was fun to revisit for nostalgia's sake. ...more
This feels surprisingly dated with the plethora of exclamation points present in the narrative, but I still enjoyed it. I'd hoped it be a bit3.5 stars
This feels surprisingly dated with the plethora of exclamation points present in the narrative, but I still enjoyed it. I'd hoped it be a bit creepier, but there's no denying the appeal of the setting and set-up, even though as a whole the plot and characters felt a bit underdeveloped.
Also side-eying the fact that after Louisa is annoyed by sexist comments by the love interest when she first meets him, they're never referred to again after they fall in love, and he doesn't appear to have any change of heart. Boo....more
The physical book is gorgeous--just gorgeous. When you handle the clothbound hardback, it feels like a beautiful old edition of a children's classic tThe physical book is gorgeous--just gorgeous. When you handle the clothbound hardback, it feels like a beautiful old edition of a children's classic that has been handed down for generations. Its handsomeness befits the author, the art director who designed some of Penguin Classics' most iconic modern editions.
The illustrations within are pretty, and I liked the quiet story of a fox searching for a star that has always been his companion. But I'm not entirely sure that the book ended on as strong/emphatic/touching a note as I was expecting, so....I think 3.5 stars for me. This seems to happen with many artists who try their hands at writing for the first time, that style/artwork overshadow story. And no matter how lovely the illustrations or jacket design, it's still story that is king.
But man, is this book beautiful. I'm not sorry to have purchased it, though I wish I'd loved it as much as I was expecting to....more
INSANE ASYLUM FOR GIRLS. That's enough to get anyone's attention, but unlike many slick, cheap-thrills books that quickly bore me, The Dead G4.5 stars
INSANE ASYLUM FOR GIRLS. That's enough to get anyone's attention, but unlike many slick, cheap-thrills books that quickly bore me, The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall is one of the most well-crafted YA horror books I've read in ages. It's a short but surprisingly thoughtful book, with good creepiness and suspense and sadness, as well as the right balance of teenage snark and feeling. It's hard to juggle humor and darkness, but the author does a great job of that here.
Obviously I'm going to enjoy a book set in the 40s whose first chapter contains peppermint stick ice cream + a girl who furtively buys freckle cream bObviously I'm going to enjoy a book set in the 40s whose first chapter contains peppermint stick ice cream + a girl who furtively buys freckle cream because she has a crush on an unsuitable boy.
The writing and characters are a little overly earnest for my taste, but I hope that gets better as the series continues. I do love the setting and period details!...more
I'm apparently the crankiest person on earth, because this was my least favorite Potter book yet. (AZKABAN being my favorite!) It's mostly because:
1. I'm apparently the crankiest person on earth, because this was my least favorite Potter book yet. (AZKABAN being my favorite!) It's mostly because:
1. There is too much tournamenting for my taste. 2. I hate the house elves. :O 3. The word "quietly" is egregiously overused. It loses its effectiveness because it appears so often. 4. There are moments when Harry and Ron behave like stereotypical stupid boys (I know, I know, they're 14...doesn't mean I can't be annoyed with them.)
The book gets an extra star because the last 10 chapters were very good, though, and I loved:
1. that Hermione gets a makeover, but then matter-of-factly says it's too much trouble to straighten her hair every day. 2. the creepy thing in the blanket 3. Cedric! Poor brave boy. (view spoiler)[WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME. (hide spoiler)]
Wendy Darling
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