April Wrap-up and May TBR

The links to all the books mentioned in this video can be found (at the bookdepository.com ) on the links below:

READ IN APRIL:
Clockwork Princess: http://www.bookdepository.com/Clockwork-Princess-Cassandra-Clare/9781406330397
Mort: http://www.bookdepository.com/Mort-Terry-Pratchett/9780552131063
The Tales of Beedle the Bard: http://www.bookdepository.com/Tales-Beedle-Bard-Rowling/9780747599876
Intertwined: http://www.bookdepository.com/Intertwined-Gena-Showalter/9780373210121
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: http://www.bookdepository.com/Boy-Striped-Pyjamas-John-Boyne/9781849920438

TO BE READ:
Anna Dressed in Blood: http://www.bookdepository.com/Anna-Dressed-Blood-Kendare-Blake/9780765328670
The Basic Eight: http://www.bookdepository.com/Basic-Eight-Daniel-Handler/9780060733865
One Step Too Far: http://www.bookdepository.com/One-Step-Too-Far-Tina-Seskis/9780957544321
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: http://www.bookdepository.com/Alices-Adventures-Wonderland-Through-Looking-Glass-Lewis-Carroll/9780099512073

5 Facts About Me

Every You, Every Me, David Levithan

As posted on my Goodreads


Every you, Every me is photographic fiction following the story of Evan as he is faced with the severe mental illness of his best friend, Ariel and the guilt surrounding his part in what happened to her, which is magnified by the accusing and very mysterious photographs that he is being led to find. The novel is written in addressing Ariel, and with the same pacing as his mind, jumping from thought as he does and some sentences have strokes through them (but more on that later) all of which combine to argue what I found to be the main theme of the book: Imagining people complexly. 

I feel like I read this at the perfect time in my life to enjoy it as much as I did. Many negative reviews criticise this book for being one full of teen angst, I feel like it was not out of place and it served a greater purpose to the over all novel. It wasn't until after I had completed the novel and read through a couple of reviews that 'angst' was even the word that came to mind. To me, Evan was a character that was suffering from a form of depression, becoming somewhat of a reflection of the Ariel that he knew. Angst feels too much like a typical teenage stereotype and I feel like Evan's feelings ran deeper than this temporary teenage angst. Levithan captured the mindset and symptoms of depression fairly well, even though he occasionally fell into the usual metaphors of "sinking" or "drowning". Though it seems they are so often used because they work so well when addressing the subject. Many dark, and complex themes are displayed throughout the novel mainly in the area of mental health. 

Once I got into the book I couldn't put it down. I feel like the pacing of this book was perfect, with enough mystery and tension to pull it through. It can easily be described as eccentric and odd. I really loved the photographs, they were odd, eerie and beautiful. With many photographic novels (see Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children) the images can feel random, forced and very out of place. I did not find that to be true with this story. I feel like it flowed in ways that others did not. 

I found the strikethroughs quite annoying at first as I could see very little sense or pattern in the words that were struck. It wasn't until further into the novel that I saw it as Evan's innermost thoughts, which he may not have been completely willing to share with Ariel, and it made more sense. While I found it interesting, I feel like there may have been a better way to convey this (italics maybe) although I do see the reasoning. 

Ariel is one of the main character's though we never really get tosee her and her character feels almost one dimensional. To me this is the whole point of the book. The only aspects we get to see of Ariel is through the eyes of another character and as Ariel points out in her "I will never get to see every you, and you will never know every me" speech, they do not view her as fully dimensional character, because in her they see a reflection of who they want her to be, or an aspect of themselves. And are therefore unable to imagine or see her in her entirety, or complexly. 

I feel like the major let down in this book was the ending. I feel like there was no big reveal (view spoiler). The end felt a little bit monotone and disappointing and did not carry the tone put forward in the rest of the novel. Which is why I was really torn in my rating for the novel. It will remain on my shelf amongst my favourites, but I am hesitant to give it five out of five stars. So I am settling for a *4.5*, and as that is not possible on Goodreads, it will be displayed as a five. 

I do recommend this book, and will be passing it on. Levithan uses the images well and brings up many thought provoking ideas. I feel like it would be better appreciated by someone who has experienced depression, and it is important to draw that line between depression and angst.

Water - Geoff Havel

This was a book that had sat on my shelf for years before I finally picked it up to read it, and when I finally did I wish I had have read it earlier.
Not because it was a good book, but because it might not have been such a chore to read in the days before I had read much more than Twilight and Roald Dahl.

Tully had always lived my her father's strict rules: 'stay away from strangers', 'don't stay home alone' and 'never, ever go in the water' until a mysterious stranger arrives at her door and Tully discovers the secrets her father has been keeping from her. The novel promises to be a "gripping, heart-stopping thriller".

Geoff Havel's writing, in short is simplistic and dull. Particularly during the first few chapters (though it was scattered throughout) there was an overload of cliché imagery, which didn't flow with the rest of the work. Tully's mental voice was very repetitive, she only ever seemed to think the same things from chapter to chapter: "where is dad?" "why did he say that?" "what does bill want?" "it's not fair?" or some variation, also phrasing stupid questions "What did dad mean when he said I wouldn't drown?" She also frequently refreshed the readers memory about past events that happened as few as a few pages ago. She was not a particularly enjoyable character to read through.

The novel was very predictable and flat, lacking any plot twists or startling moments, which are generally required of "thrilling novels". The only part of the novel that even slightly resembled suspense was not until near the very end of the book (excluding Tully's 'great reveal', which was blatantly obvious, given the title and her father's 'rules') when Jack stifled "a gasp of horror" *end scene*.

Overall this was not a particularly enjoyable novel and the only reason I reached that last page was because I wanted to judge it fairly in this review. Premise wise it is not a horrible idea, but in this case it simply did not work. It's only saving grace is that it is targeted at a much younger age group than I (10-12), who may be more appreciative of the novel. It only get's 1/5, and probably wouldn't recommend this book to anyone over the age of, say, eight (though I have heard that it is required reading for some ESL students - I'm sorry).

My copy is going to the local book drive (for disadvantaged children) in hopes that someone will find joy within it's pages.

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

I first read this book when I was fourteen and was not particularly keen on reading. Up until that point my shelf consisted of 'The Twilight Saga', and Roald Dahl (not that there is anything wrong with that) and I ADORED it. Jace was exactly the kind of boy my younger self wanted and I was happy to live vicariously through the characters.

Fifteen year old Clary Fray stumbles onto the shadow world, when during one of her trips to the Pandemonium Club when she bears witness to the murder of a young boy. Then the boy disappears. Clary hurdles head first into her otherworldly destiny in her home of Brooklyn. Shadowhunters, Demons, Downworlders and the secrets her mother had been hiding from her all her live, revealed. And then there is Jace the darkly, sexy shadowhunter boy determined to sink Clary further into his world. Clary is a headstrong young woman (when she is not weak in the knees for Jace) hell-bent on a mission to save her mother from what she, herself had been protected from her whole life.

Eighteen year old me is still not quite willing to part with it. I love the fast paced plot, the variation of personalities within the novel (even though Clare seems to share Clary's infatuation with Jace), I love the way the character's grew over the first three books, although secondary characters are almost ignored in the first novel. One of the things I love most about this series, which a lot of young adult books get wrong is the depth of reasoning behind the villain's actions. Valentine is not simply evil for the sake of being so, but he has a purpose and genuinely thinks he is doing what is right for his world.

While Clary is not my favourite female lead, she is far from terrible. The actions of most of the characters are realistic and believable. City of Bones is an enjoyable read and belongs on the shelf of newbies and avid readers alike of the teen romance persuasion.

3* (Because I save higher scores for the books I really, really like)\

Find this book on goodreads 

NaNoWriMo

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and this is my first ever attempt at the challenge. The goal is to write 50 000 words in the single month of November, which I'm sure you can agree is no easy feat.

I have always been a girl who doesn't finish a thing. I have dozens of notebooks containing only the first chapter, or very first pages of a novel I know I will never finish. I don't believe I have ever filled a notebook in my life. I forever have ideas swirling around my head. I feed off of them, I plan the characters, I build fantasitcal worlds. I just have no plot to put them in, but I relish on it. This my friends is a phenomonon known as brain crack. And I am an adict.

For the first time I am determined to put myself in the line of fire, to finish something even if it's terrible; Even if something better comes along. I will finish this novel. And I love the challenge. Everyday when I hit that daily word goal I feel... (thrilled? exhilerated?) Only six days in this is already one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

If you are attempting the moth of literary abandon, I wish you luck and commend you for your dedication. And you can add me as a writing buddy here. If you are not (and perhaps have never heard of NaNoWriMo before) you can click here for more information.

From Shayla, 12068 words

Review: Jasper Jones- Craig Silvey

Craig Silvey's Jasper Jones follows the story of thirteen year old Charlie Bucktin and his interactions with infamous town disgrace Japer Jones. Set during the Australian Summer of 1965, Charlie must deal with immortality and the prejudice of town life while questioning the minds and motives of serial killers ad the extent of his own involvement in crime.

Town sweetheart Laura Wisheart is discovered missing and the two boys, (Charlie and Jasper) seem to be the only people who hold the key to uncover the mystery.

A story of young romance, secrets, justice, regret and betrayal Jasper Jones is a powerful Australian novel and can be rightly placed beside classics by Harper Lee and Mark Twain. Silvey is a witty, fast paced and skillful writer. Every motive, character and behaviour was explainable and plausible, and every chapter was laced with moral conviction, racism and hypocrisy. I found it extremely difficult to put down and feel like a better person for just having read it.

You can find it on Amazon.com here, or enquire at your local bookstore.
4.5/5