Review: Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher

Opening Sentence: "'Sir?' she repeats."
Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon

Clay Jensen doesn't want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead, he reasons. Her secrets should be buried with her.
Then Hannah's voice tells Clay that his name is on her tapes--and that he is, in some way, responsible for her death.
All through the night, Clay keeps listening. He follows Hannah's recorded words throughout his small town…
…and what he discovers changes his life forever.

I’ve been hearing and continue to hear wonderful things about Thirteen Reasons Why. One of the reasons it took me so long to finally read it is because I was concerned with the hype being greater than the book. I don’t think the book lived up to the image I conjured for it (based on what people were telling me), but I enjoyed reading it none-the-less.

One of my favorite things about the whole book was how much of it was Hannah talking on the tapes. I figured there would be more Clay and less Hannah and that sort of turned me off (because it’s her story, after all), so I was stoked to find out it’s actually the other way around. That’s not to mention how awesome of an idea this book was in general. Hannah’s tapes are so descriptive and unforgiving… and long that I sometimes forgot listening to them all took place inside just one day for Clay. So much in his life changed in less than twenty-four hours.

Speaking of Clay, am I the only one that was sort of bothered by him? I liked him and then I didn’t like him… and then I did… so on and so forth. Clay is so passive it’s annoying. It’s irritating to see from his point of view sometimes, but that’s what makes him a good character. He wouldn’t be just fine, understanding, and a little sad… the bitterness and anger are what make humans human. While it grinded my gears I really need to applaud Jay Asher on not selling out to one type of stereotypical reaction when it came to Clay listening to the tapes. He did come off as somewhat too much of a “nice guy”, though.

The biggest thing I liked about this book was Hannah’s voice. From the first words she said—Hello, boys and girls. Hannah Baker here. Live and in stereo. —I felt like her voice was just… there. She’s sarcastic and angry… and hurt though she covers it well with her usually calm demeanor. I loved that she was willing to admit that she did things wrong too and that she isn’t just a victim. If her tapes had been filled with “woe is me!” statements I don’t think I would have finished this book.

Apparently there’s a collection of YouTube videos with Hannah’s tapes on the Thirteen Reasons Why website. I haven’t checked them out yet, but I’m seriously hoping they’re similar to how I picture Hannah’s voice. (Edit: They aren’t and I won’t continue listening to them.)

For the most part this was an interesting book. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. The events are sad, but I wasn’t emotionally invested in the book at all and I’m sure that’s one of the reasons it’s only getting a three star rating from me.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Seven Authors I'm Thankful For

I noticed that people participating in the Top Ten Tuesday meme are making lists of authors and books they're thankful for in honor of Thanksgiving this year. While I'm currently not participating in the meme* I thought it was a good idea. So, without further ado, Authors I'm Thankful For:

Sarah Dessen: She’s one of my favorite authors and was one of the big forces that got me into the Young Adult genre while I was in middle school. I love her books and will continue reading them until she stops writing them.

Stephenie Meyer: I know what some people are probably thinking as they read this. I do like The Twilight Saga, but it’s not the reason Stephenie Meyer is on the list. For some reason while I was reading the series for the first time I had an overwhelming urge to write, something I had been lacking motivation to do. It still makes me want to write therefore I’m still thankful for it and her.

Mark Twain: Mark Twain wrote a wonderful essay called The Lowest Animal and I absolutely adore it. That alone is the reason he is on this right now. Never mind all of his highly acclaimed novels.

William Shakespeare: Call me pretentious, but I love Shakespeare. He was the first author (technically playwright) I read who showed me that you can make anything sound good if you choose the right combination of words.

Stephanie Perkins: When I read Anna and the French Kiss I quickly fell in love with it. Reading it also helped me get through an unwanted trip I was on, which is why I’m grateful for Stephanie Perkins.

Sylvia Plath: I’m not the hugest fan of poetry, even Sylvia Plath, though there are a select few. Those select few poems and her book (The Bell Jar) win her a spot on my thankful list. I wish she had written more.

Judy Blume: My first favorite book EVER was The Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume. As if that’s not a good enough reason for her to be on this list there’s also the books she wrote for growing girls that tackle tender and difficult topics that may be difficult to talk about. Also, Superfudge.

*I'm thinking about getting started up with the Top Ten Tuesday meme.

Review: Burn for Burn - Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Opening Sentence: "The morning fog has painted everything white."
Author Website (Han and Vivian) | Goodreads | Amazon

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...
THEY GET EVEN.

Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.

Kat is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.
Lillia has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.
Mary is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.

None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible.
With an unlikely alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.

I’m glad this is a series, because I have no freaking idea what’s going on. I forgot it was a series, so the abrupt ending almost caused a completely different tone in this review. Luckily, I remembered.

I’m a believer in karma; therefore I’ve never had as strong of a hunger for revenge by my hands as these girls do. (I.e. I don’t want to ruin anyone’s life… really.) I think this may be the reason I can’t help but shake my head at Kat, Mary, and Lillia. I understand they’re angry and want to shove back at the people who hurt them, but… it’s kind of crazy. Then again a lot of the things humans do are.

As much as I want to say this makes the story unrealistic, and therefore irrelevant, I can’t, because things like this happen all the time. I think as far as realism is concerned this is a pretty accurate rendition of life. The things I consider extreme may be nothing to some people and vice versa.

This book was left so tangled that I can’t help but sit here and brainstorm possible solutions to the whole matter. I’m not quite sure where the authors are going with the story. That, my friends, is how you get people to continue with your series. You make them hate it and think about it to the point of love. That isn’t to say I hate the book. On the contrary, I really enjoyed it and found it to be quite the page-turner… I’m just so bewildered. So, what now?

Of all the girls I really felt Mary was the shining star. Her story is what stuck out most to me and I feel like my empathy level with her was beyond strong. The other girls were wonderful too, with all three of them less secure than they appear and more ferocious than they plan to be. I really liked the characters because they were real enough to question what they were doing, but hurt enough to keep going, as I imagine many humans feel and act. No one is ever completely sure of everything they’re doing and I think that was shown subtly in most of the characters in the novel, not just the main three. Humans are fragile and you could see that in the friends, the parents, and et cetera.

I’m not sure when the next installment in the series is slated to come out, but I’ll be waiting patiently, scratching my head in hopes of some sort of explanation.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme started/hosted by The Story Siren in which bloggers share the books they buy, borrow, and receive. Click here to learn more!

Today I got Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs from the library and I'm pretty stoked to read it. I've had my eye on it for quite some time, but never picked it up... for some reason. I was originally pulled to it because it heightens the story with real vintage photographs and the like, which appeals to me, especially because I love old photos. I've heard mixed things about this book, though, so hopefully I'll like it.

Last week I got a copy of Where She Went by Gayle Forman, but I'm not completely sure I've even read If I Stay (sources lean to "no"), so I also got a copy of that on my kindle to read in the near future. I guess there is an accident or something and then...? I guess that confirms if I've read it or not, huh?

Also, I'm currently waiting for City of Bones to come for me at the library. I finished Clockwork Angel just a few days ago (and looooved it) and am extremely excited to read more. (I do know it's technically a different series. I'll explain myself later.)

Anyway, did you guys get anything good this week? I'd love to hear about it.

Review: Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare

Opening Sentence: "The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts."
Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

It was no big deal when I put Clockwork Angel on hold at my library. I had seen a lot of people who loved it and figured I’d read it too if it was so good. At the time I had no idea whatsoever that it was connected to the Mortal Instruments series. (I know, I know. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m working on it.) You may go ahead and color me happy, because I think this may be the beginning of a beautiful (but perhaps dangerous to some level) obsession.

I know a lot of people are in the business of comparing the two series (The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments) and judging on which they think is more interesting or better in general (usually mentioning how the author has grown). If the other books are as good as this one then I don’t see any reason to compare and contrast, because I loooved Clockwork Angel.

Plainly, I started to read it just because I thought it to be culturally important. I never thought I would find it so interesting or enticing, pulling me in. I messed up my entire sleeping routine for this book, and have no one regrets about it thus far.

I was surprised by how amazingly complex every single character was and how it never seemed like backstory was being thrown in my face. Things came naturally and I really appreciate that, especially because a lot of novels have problems with character development and backstory. It’s the mark of a masterful and very skilled writer when it appears easy.

The story itself had me foolishly thinking I was smarter than the author. One of the points I was going to bring up was how it seemed all the most important plot points were the ones that were the easiest to predict… until I got closer to the end and realized the things I thought were so important were completely overshadowed by things of significantly higher importance that I didn’t anticipate in the slightest. I’m usually somewhat perceptive, so this was an absolutely wonderful surprise.

There’s not much more I could have asked from this novel. It was mysterious when it needed to be and straightforward when called for. It was so in depth and by the time I read the last page I was hoping for the opportunity to read the next book, and I mean soon. I’m so excited to continue on with this series and The Mortal Instruments.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

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"'Whatever you are physically,' he said, 'male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy--all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. Whatever the color, the shape, the design of the shade that conceals it, the flame inside the lamp remains the same. You are that flame.'"

Review: Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry

Opening Sentence: "'Mother?'"
Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon

In her strongest work to date, Lois Lowry once again creates a mysterious but plausible future world. It is a society ruled by savagery and deceit that shuns and discards the weak. Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever.

The extent of my love/hate relationship with this book can’t be explained properly with words. I was excited to read it after I read The Giver because I loved that book. I figured the next book in the series would arouse the same love, but that’s not so, it would seem.

The first book in the series was slow, but still entirely interesting and I was very prepared for the same type of experience in the second. Gathering Blue is slow, that’s true, but when it comes to interestingness I felt like it went through phases of interesting and boring, hence the love/hate relationship. What do you say about a book you’re on the fence about?

For these reasons I’m confused as to what I should rate it, let alone how I should feel about it in the grand scheme of things. I’m thinking it may be one of those books that you have to read a second time to really appreciate and collect all the information. Obviously the story was interesting to some extent if I want to read the next book, but I’m currently wondering how exactly it’s all going to be tied together, and if I’ll enjoy it. Of course, that curiosity is what will propel me farther into the story (and the quartet of books).

In other news, I really liked the characters. They’re dynamic and all have their own reasons to be loved (or hated!). I loved that the main character wasn’t whiney but was still able to acknowledge that her life could be easier… and then when her life was made “easier” she had the very human reaction of homesickness. The other characters were wonderful too and I’m hoping they’re in the next book(s).

For the most part I don’t regret taking the time to read this book, but I’m seriously hoping I like the next book more than I did this one. Gathering Blue wasn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t capturing my attention the way I thought it would. Perhaps in the future I’ll give it another try and see if nothing has changed in the way I feel about it.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
(2.5 stars because I couldn't decide between two or three.)