Paper Towns
John Green
320 pages
3/5 paws
This one is going to be pretty quick, because for some reason today, or for some reason despite reading this book - I just really don't have too much to say about it.
Margo and Q, high school seniors, go on an adventure- but what happens when the adventure is over? Margo and Q go back to their lives as usual - Q, an exceptional high school student, and Margo, a high school girl who is compelled to disappear leaving behind hints to her location. So, Margo disappears after their adventure together and Q spends the rest of the book, with his group of friends, trying to find her.
I liked this book, I really did, but I had this weird kind of unsettling vision in my head the whole time I was reading it. Since the production of the movie has been announced, it was also announced that Nat Wolff would be playing the role of Q, which I definitely approve of. He is great! But what is weird, and slightly unsettling, is to read a book and be able to imagine a specific face or a specific person for one character and then have kind of a hazy outline of the rest. So, internet void, help me out- any guesses on the rest of the cast?
Favorite quote: " And then he seemed to forget about Cassie and me both, as if the idea of kissing Cassie Hiney felt better than actually kissing her ever could."
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Monday, June 30, 2014
the good luck of right now - matthew quick // review
the good luck of right now
matthew quick
4/5 paws
OH SO GOOD! This is by far one of the best books I have read in a while.
The novel is written as letters to Richard Gere after the main character, Batholomew, finds a "Free Tibet" letter from Gere in his deceased mother's underwear drawer. Through the letters Richard Gere, or the idea of him and their oneness, becomes a confidante for Batholomew.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book, is that it sucks you in enough that you can understand where the main character is coming from. Yes, he writes letters to Richard Gere and feels a singularity with him, but the book also keeps you distant enough that you feel and see the realities too. You are sympathetic to the main character's plight the entire novel, and just rooting for him to figure his life out. Which is almost uncomfortable, but in a good way?
There is so much meaning and feeling inside the story, especially the title. Assuming people rarely deserve the horrible and amazing things that happen in their lives, how does this luck work? Is there a sense of symbiosis between the good things and the bad things. If a good thing happens to you, is a bad thing happening to someone somewhere else - or is this bullshit. Partof me wants to call bullshit...
If, like me, you have ever felt the presence of " the little woman in her stomach that yelled at her and called her names" (pg 133.) then you too will be able to relate to the flawed, at times mentally ill, but always relateable characters in this book.
favorite quote (that doesn't give away a major plot point )" he was that type of a person - the kind who could make you want to believe in lies, the kind who makes you feel stupid and ugly and too tongue- tied to express your own ideas, no matter how sure you are that you are right and he is wrong."
matthew quick
4/5 paws
OH SO GOOD! This is by far one of the best books I have read in a while.
The novel is written as letters to Richard Gere after the main character, Batholomew, finds a "Free Tibet" letter from Gere in his deceased mother's underwear drawer. Through the letters Richard Gere, or the idea of him and their oneness, becomes a confidante for Batholomew.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book, is that it sucks you in enough that you can understand where the main character is coming from. Yes, he writes letters to Richard Gere and feels a singularity with him, but the book also keeps you distant enough that you feel and see the realities too. You are sympathetic to the main character's plight the entire novel, and just rooting for him to figure his life out. Which is almost uncomfortable, but in a good way?
There is so much meaning and feeling inside the story, especially the title. Assuming people rarely deserve the horrible and amazing things that happen in their lives, how does this luck work? Is there a sense of symbiosis between the good things and the bad things. If a good thing happens to you, is a bad thing happening to someone somewhere else - or is this bullshit. Partof me wants to call bullshit...
If, like me, you have ever felt the presence of " the little woman in her stomach that yelled at her and called her names" (pg 133.) then you too will be able to relate to the flawed, at times mentally ill, but always relateable characters in this book.
favorite quote (that doesn't give away a major plot point )" he was that type of a person - the kind who could make you want to believe in lies, the kind who makes you feel stupid and ugly and too tongue- tied to express your own ideas, no matter how sure you are that you are right and he is wrong."
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
we were liars - e.lockhart // review
We Were Liars
E.Lockhart
240 pages
3/5 paws
I literally judged this book by its cover...
I don't typically read YA, unless I have a ringing endorsement. And the cover of E. Lockhart's, We Were Liars came with one - John Green's.
We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair, a member of the 1% who has a mysterious summer at her family's private island off the coast of Massachusetts. As snobby and elitist as that all sounds, Cadence's character is able to keep the story grounded. For example, she begins to give away all of her personal belongings she deems unnecessary, but then again she also doesn't know the names of the small group of people/staff who work for her family on the island. Since her mysterious 15th summer, Cadence has suffered from debilitating headaches, depression, and memory loss. After spending a few summers away from the private island and her family friends, "the liars", Cadence returns for her 17th summer with the hope of filling in the blanks from the hazy summer 2 years ago.
Besides those details, the story is far too twisty, turn-y, and full of lies and secrets to say much more without giving away the kind of details that are only fun if you discover them while reading...
I gave Were Were Liars 3/5 paws - good, not great for me. I think a big part of this is due to the way the "twist ending" is revealed. What do you think internet void, did the ending kind of sort of maybe bother you too?
The Wall Street Journal had this to say - "Haunting, sophisticated . . . a novel so twisty and well-told that it will appeal to older readers as well as to adolescents." I wholeheartedly agree. I have read a considerably greater amount of YA lit this last year, probably due to my admiration for the aforementioned front pager reviewer. I am definitely more selective when I decide to read a YA book, though - because I am looking for that element The WSJ speaks of in their review. In my opinion, a good YA book appeals to the adolescent and adult reader because it is a good story and it is told well, period. We Were Liars certainly meets this criteria.
The inside flap of the book suggests that readers lie to others that ask them about the book's ending. I'm a horrible liar, frankly being a good liar requires a lot more creativity than I naturally have- and I'm far too lazy to lie/be creative right now. Also, who asks their friends how a book ends - that seems even lazier than my avoidance of creativity. Read the book and don't lie.
Favorite quote from the book: "I suffer migraines. I do not suffer fools."
E.Lockhart
240 pages
3/5 paws
I literally judged this book by its cover...
I don't typically read YA, unless I have a ringing endorsement. And the cover of E. Lockhart's, We Were Liars came with one - John Green's.
We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair, a member of the 1% who has a mysterious summer at her family's private island off the coast of Massachusetts. As snobby and elitist as that all sounds, Cadence's character is able to keep the story grounded. For example, she begins to give away all of her personal belongings she deems unnecessary, but then again she also doesn't know the names of the small group of people/staff who work for her family on the island. Since her mysterious 15th summer, Cadence has suffered from debilitating headaches, depression, and memory loss. After spending a few summers away from the private island and her family friends, "the liars", Cadence returns for her 17th summer with the hope of filling in the blanks from the hazy summer 2 years ago.
Besides those details, the story is far too twisty, turn-y, and full of lies and secrets to say much more without giving away the kind of details that are only fun if you discover them while reading...
I gave Were Were Liars 3/5 paws - good, not great for me. I think a big part of this is due to the way the "twist ending" is revealed. What do you think internet void, did the ending kind of sort of maybe bother you too?
The Wall Street Journal had this to say - "Haunting, sophisticated . . . a novel so twisty and well-told that it will appeal to older readers as well as to adolescents." I wholeheartedly agree. I have read a considerably greater amount of YA lit this last year, probably due to my admiration for the aforementioned front pager reviewer. I am definitely more selective when I decide to read a YA book, though - because I am looking for that element The WSJ speaks of in their review. In my opinion, a good YA book appeals to the adolescent and adult reader because it is a good story and it is told well, period. We Were Liars certainly meets this criteria.
The inside flap of the book suggests that readers lie to others that ask them about the book's ending. I'm a horrible liar, frankly being a good liar requires a lot more creativity than I naturally have- and I'm far too lazy to lie/be creative right now. Also, who asks their friends how a book ends - that seems even lazier than my avoidance of creativity. Read the book and don't lie.
Favorite quote from the book: "I suffer migraines. I do not suffer fools."
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Right Meow -- 6/24/14
Time // 10:44 am
Reading // we were liars by e.lockhart
Watching // I am trying as hard as possible to stretch out Season 2 of Orange is the New Black. I was a late joiner to the OITNB fan club, and watched Season 1 in late April, when June didn't seem so far away. The idea of not having a new OITNB episode for another year makes my heart hurt.
Listening // Sam Smith's version of Whitney Houston's 'How Will I Know'...chills. I love Whitney Houston covers, see also Ben Rector's version of 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'
Liking // the weather. not too hot, not too cold here in West TX, plus we have been getting way more rain than typical - so while my backyard and community usually resembles a PBS special about the Dust Bowl, right now it looks like a not so crappy place to breath and live.
Disliking // waking up. I have a ridiculously chill job, when i think about the fact i have to leave it in a month, a creeping chest pain/panic ensues. And for better or worse, I've gotten used to not having an actual time I have to be there. Initially, I always got there at 8am, then 8 became 830, 830 became 9...etc. And now I am a spoiled brat who thinks getting up at 830 is hard. And then it only becomes harder when I stop and think- hey brat, in a month when you have a different job, in a different city...you'll have probably been at work for a half an hour by this time...chest pain.
Wanting // slip on shoes that are not ugly and don't cost an arm and a leg. I saw the perfect pair at Old Navy the other day, but likely because they were on sale they didn't have gigantour ( size 10 ) in stock. ever since then I have been seeking out an identical pair that doesn't cost an arm and a leg...no success as of yet.
Reading // we were liars by e.lockhart
Watching // I am trying as hard as possible to stretch out Season 2 of Orange is the New Black. I was a late joiner to the OITNB fan club, and watched Season 1 in late April, when June didn't seem so far away. The idea of not having a new OITNB episode for another year makes my heart hurt.
Listening // Sam Smith's version of Whitney Houston's 'How Will I Know'...chills. I love Whitney Houston covers, see also Ben Rector's version of 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'
Liking // the weather. not too hot, not too cold here in West TX, plus we have been getting way more rain than typical - so while my backyard and community usually resembles a PBS special about the Dust Bowl, right now it looks like a not so crappy place to breath and live.
Disliking // waking up. I have a ridiculously chill job, when i think about the fact i have to leave it in a month, a creeping chest pain/panic ensues. And for better or worse, I've gotten used to not having an actual time I have to be there. Initially, I always got there at 8am, then 8 became 830, 830 became 9...etc. And now I am a spoiled brat who thinks getting up at 830 is hard. And then it only becomes harder when I stop and think- hey brat, in a month when you have a different job, in a different city...you'll have probably been at work for a half an hour by this time...chest pain.
Wanting // slip on shoes that are not ugly and don't cost an arm and a leg. I saw the perfect pair at Old Navy the other day, but likely because they were on sale they didn't have gigantour ( size 10 ) in stock. ever since then I have been seeking out an identical pair that doesn't cost an arm and a leg...no success as of yet.
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