The Slow Burn of a Great Book

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

I began reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin after having seen it on Goodreads on a friends news feed.  I had a brief interaction with said friend where she told me verbatim "If you don't like this, I'll eat my hat."  I thought that was a rather unique way to tell me that I would love the book and had to read it.  So, I asked for it for my birthday and received it in due course.

I picked it up one day after work and read the first 40 or so pages.  I instantly fell in love with A.J. Fikry and his curmudgeonly ways.  How could you not?  He was a reader, bookstore owner, widower and overall lonely soul who was just going through the motions of his life.  And then, one day, everything changes for him.  His world spins out of control and he is set on a path that will change his life forever.  One that he initially fights against, but eventually gives into.  I decided on that first night that I would do my utmost to savor this story, a true rarity for someone like me who typically inhales my chosen books.  But AJ's story needed to be enjoyed like a bowl of rich creamy ice cream.  Slowly and holding each bite in your mouth until it melted away.  So I did just that.  Reading this 258 page book over the course of several weeks.  Allowing myself only a handful of chapters every few days.  The way I felt reading this brings to mind one of Bradbury's most famous (if not THE most famous) quotes

 "It was a pleasure to burn."

That is how I felt reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, it was a slow burn of pleasure from cover to cover.

There were so many moments about this pseudo memoir that I loved. The chapter openings, each highlighting a short story and how it connects to what will follow.  The supporting characters, every one of them adding a layer of depth and heart to the story that most authors wish they could reproduce.   The heartbreak.  The joy.  Even the tears I couldn't stop from crying.  Sentences so beautifully written that it felt like a gift to read it.  But, the highest compliment I can give to this gem of a book is that I forgot I was reading a book of fiction and felt like I was part of AJ's story.  As if, AJ really lived and I was experiencing the twists and turns of his life from inside the cozy confines of Island Books.  To borrow a line from the author:

“Every word the right one and exactly where it should be. That's basically the highest compliment I can give.”

Why We Broke Up: A Bittersweet Tale

My full review is up...here is an excerpt. 

"The biggest draw for me was the realism. The pangs of first love you could clearly hear in Min's retelling of their relationship and the demise of what was such a delicate thing to begin with. It reminded me of being young and in love. Of how it felt when that boy that wasn't supposed to like you because you belonged to different worlds kept furtively looking your way until one day he finally made a move."

To read the full review go to Examiner.com. 

Currently Reading - June and Summer Reading Challenge

I decided that TBR lists are really not for me...I always pick a few books and feel an unreasonable amount of pressure to read the books I have chosen.   I am a mood reader, so having the TBR pressure is counterproductive.  That being said, this month I decided to set one book goal for myself. 

I want to read Book 1 of A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.  I'm about 300 pages in so far, via audiobook and traditional book and am really enjoying it.  Even though I watch the show, I am finding that I absolutely love all the details in the books that HBO just doesn't have th time for.  My favorite example of this is Bran's storyline.  I can't get enough of it, and actually wish that they would have cut back on Ned's storyline somewhat to feature more of Bran's.  But 'tis life.

Despite having already picked up an epic fantasy whopper at 800+ pages I also decided that this would be the month that I read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon in anticipation for the Starz series of the same name that begins in August.  I must be insane because honestly both of these books are incredibly long and take your full attention.  But habing discovered how much I enjoy the audio/book combo I decided to employ the same technique for Outlander.  I am listening to it while I work and I read a couple chapters at night once I get home.  I have flown through this book.  I think it's taken me about a week and it should be finished later today.  I absolutely love it, though, I am not sure if I am going to continue on with the series...it's another heavy commitment a la Song of Ice Fire.  If I do decide to continue reading the other books I may do so later on.

Aside from those two massive reads, I've read about 6-7 other books/graphic novels.  Mostly light and fluffy YA's to balance out the seriousness of my heavy reads.  But, I also started the Grisha Series last night and plan to finish all three books before months ends.  Once I finish those, I want to wrap up reading The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead in anticipation of the release of Silver Shadows this summer.

So basically, I have lost my damn mind this month.  Instead of keeping it light I decided to be a sadist and read the craziest books I could get my hands on...and the month is only half way through. 

On another topic entirely...I decided that on top of my annual Reading Challenge (this year's goal is 100 books)  I wanted to try for a 50 book summer.  I am giving myself all of June, July and August to accomplish this goal.  I think it is entirely feasible if I continue at the rate I have been reading for the last few months (average of 20 books a month).  If I am being honest though, I am suffering from a bit of reading fatigue and have felt myself slowing down...and with the addition of my whopper reads I am not feeling too hopeful.  So cross your fingers that I can make it all happen!

'Tis all for now.  If you'd like to see what I read in May, check out my monthly wrap-up posted on YouTube and of course, stay tuned for this month's wrap up and review vids. 

Bye!

The Fault in our Stars...an incredibly late review.

via redbubble

This review originally appeared on Examiner.com 

As an avid reader, I have often been told to read John Green. As a Young Adult reader, I have been shamed multiple times for not being a fan. I tried once, in my eyes reading 70 pages of An Abundance of Katherines, was more than enough time to decide wether or not I liked his work. I'm sure it's quite obvious that I did not, in fact, enjoy An Abundance of Katherines (AAoK). For the next few years, anytime someone would mention John Green to me I would rage at them that I really didn't get what the fuss was all about. I would explain how I not only found AAoK uninteresting but just plain boring. I would always end the conversation the way I do when I discuss authors that don't interest me, "They aren't for me."

I have never been happier to be wrong. After dragging my feet for almost a year, I sat down late this summer to read The Fault in our Stars (TFioS). I knew the premise of the book going into it, honestly, a story about a teenager fighting cancer did not seem like something I wanted to subject myself to. But for some strange reason, I decided to read it on my birthday of all days. Aside from it being a hugely busy day for me, and one that would not allow for a ton of free time, I thought that being so overwhelmed with plans would prevent me from getting overwhelmed by the emotion of the book. And I was right. Thank the lord. 

I cannot imagine how incredibly sad I would have been had I sat down to read TFioS in one sitting. The story itself is not, in my opinion, meant to be sad. The tone of the story is more hopeful than doom and gloom. Hazel and Gus are full of life and love despite the harshness of the reality they live with. And somehow, despite how sad the story actually is, it leaves you feeling optimistic and in my case raring to take on the world. I think that with TFioS, John Green did the impossible, he wrote a cancer book that isn't actually about cancer, but about the joys of living your life despite it. A book, that I thoroughly recommend to all readers, not just the YA fans. And even though I am sure it goes without saying, I'm going to anyway: I am a John Green fan. DFTBA.

The statistical probability of a teen romance done right

I can only imagine the dreamy look in a 15 year old readers eyes as they pick up this gem of a book by Jennifer E. Smith. Genuine, sweet, and oh so romantic. This book frequently reminded me of Judy Blume's Forever. While the stories are completely different the innocence and wistfulness of first love is captured brilliantly by both. 

Hadley, our heroine, is traveling to London for the much dreaded wedding of her father to the woman he left his family for. In her dad's search to find happiness, he shatters Hadley and her mother's life and she carries that hurt and bitterness with her. While waiting at the airport for her plane she meets Oliver who is returning to London to visit his family. While Oliver's reasons for his return home is kept hidden until the story develops more you are immediately drawn in by his easy going sweetness and tenderness towards Hadley.  

Oliver and Hadley have an instant connection and even though the plot is slow to unravel every page is a treat.  I especially enjoyed their interactions while on their overnight transatlantic flight and found myself wishing that on my many solo flights I would have had an Oliver to keep me company.   Before I give away too much of the story I will just say that reading this book for me was a kin to being wrapped up in a warm blanket. 

This is the perfect book for anyone who wants to indulge in a great little book minus the drama. Appropriate for all ages, and a perfect gift for the girl or lady in your life who dreams of falling in love.

This review was originally published on: Examiner.com

A Journey to the Tunnels - Everbound an Everneath Novel

Released on January 22, 2013

The hardest part of reading a series is waiting for the next book to be released. Especially when the world is complex and an extended parting and excessive reading makes it difficult to keep it fresh in your mind. As much as I detest picking up a second or third book in a series and re-reading all the major plot points of the first, I must say for once, I was grateful.

Brodi Ashton revisited her first story Everneath just enough to fill in the gaps of what my memory had long misplaced. Once the story began in earnest it was as gripping, maybe a bit more so, than the first book. Based on a completely new interpretation of hell but heavily borrowing from Greek mythology (and not just the Persephone/Hades myth) Brodi Ashton fills in the gaps of the wide brush strokes she painted of the Everneath in part one. Not only does Becks, the main character, finally get to visit the Everneath, she spends a chunk of the book there giving the reader a wonderfully vivid picture of this other world.

One of the complaints I had about the first book was that I didn't necessarily believe the love triangle. How can it be a triangle when only two people were actually in love? A majority of this story was dedicated to making you understand how Cole, the anti-hero, makes you feel about Becks. Having said that, it must be noted that readers should pick up Neverfall, the novella written in between books 1 and 2. It really fleshes out Cole in a way that didn't exist in Book 1. It definitely helps the reader understand him.

Overall, the book was an enjoyable read. The story is dark and filled with unexpected turns. 

Recommended for teens 15+.

Review originally published on: Examiner.com 

All Dystopian Society's are not created equal

I have given myself some off time from my blogs to adjust to everything going on in my life...but it doesn't mean I stopped reading.  My spring started with the Hunger Games trilogy and ended with the first two books in the Matched trilogy.  It has been interesting, I have to say I probably would have enjoyed the stories more had I not read so many dystopian teen fics back to back but I couldn't resist.  I was on some sort of crazy binge.  I am finally taking a break from it all and have moved on to adult erotica...oh yeah!

Lauren Oliver, Delirium

 For the life of me I cannot get through this book.  I keep starting and stopping.  Most reviews that I read speak so highly of the story and the characters...but I stalled about 150 pages in.  I am not connecting with the characters, I feel like I can predict  the entire plot.  This is fairly normal for me but I still enjoy experiencing how the author chooses to unfold the story.  Not in this case.  I think I am going to give it a tentative rating for now in hopes that I will pick it up again and finish it. 

Veronica Roth, Divergent

I loved this story, and completely connected with Beatrice.  The decision she is forced to make and the repercussions of the choice that will determine the rest of your life was a theme that for me, was so easy to relate to.  I would recommend this book to YA fans of all ages.  I am anxiously awaiting the follow up Insurgent coming out in a couple of weeks.



Ally Condie, Matched

Ally Condie, Crossed

The first book in this trilogy, Matched, sucked me in from page one...how to describe a book that you couldn't put down but still had a sense of dissapointment when you were finished reading.  The first book was a quick read, a constant battle within your head of who you should be pulling for...by the second book you feel like maybe just maybe Cassia made the wrong decision. At least I did.  The ending of the second book left something to be desired and I felt like this book may have had a bit too much build up for what it actually was but overall they were both enjoyable reads.  Not the best dystopian YA fic out there but good enough and entertaining enough that I would recommend them.  I will pick up the third and final (?) book in the series when it is released later this year.

 

Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games Trilogy

Hmmm, what to say that hasn't already been written.  That I enjoyed these books would be an understatement. I fought tooth and nail not to read them, when my friends and family were ravenously devouring the books I said I was too busy and wasn't interested and ignored their plea's that I should read them.  All three books were consumed over a 2.5 day period, a form of insanity that I haven't engaged in since the Harry Potter or Twilight series.  I just couldn't stop.  Gale, Peeta, Katniss even Haymitch had me thoroughly hooked.  The horrors of the first book, entering the arena for the first time, Rue's tragic scene, that tenderness of the cave scene are moments that stand out for me.  The second books who wouldv'e seen it coming twist, the frenzy of the last 70 pages.  The final books complete about face, from a world you felt you were familiar with to a world you no longer recognized.  The horrors of their new reality. 

These books became a gateway drug for me the first dystopian YA books that I picked up.  After the reading frenzy that ensued I wanted nothing more than to continue exploring this dark kind of messed up world that Ms. Collins introduced me to.  But, there was no more.  So I moved on to other stories, other worlds.  And to be honest nothing has lived up to the standards set by The Hunger Games.  

Books in the Pipeline

With school starting up for me sooner than I want to acknowledge I am making a mad dash to finish off the books I have waiting to be read and reviewed.  And can I just say there is quite a few.  A rather daunting task I am about to undertake.  But here goes nothing, wish me luck!

 The Raié Chaelia by Melissa Douthit

Oddfellow's Orphanage by Emily Winfield Martin

 Blood by K.J. Wignall

Changeless by Gail Carriger

The Iron Knight by Julia Kagawa

 Legacy by Cayla Kluver

 Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

 My Girlfriend's Boyfriend by Elodia Strain

To Touch a Sheikh by Olivia Gates

 The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen

Montana Sheriff by Marie Ferrarella

Fixing Cupid by Cristian Young Miller