On the one hand I loved Clarke's writing. She uses a polite yet sarcastic style that is playful in its format and word choice. This mRating: 3.4 stars
On the one hand I loved Clarke's writing. She uses a polite yet sarcastic style that is playful in its format and word choice. This makes her prose engaging. Whoever, despite the entertaining writing, I felt let down by the actual stories: they were all too similar to each other, and, in all honesty, they weren't all that interesting. The characters and plot lacked the depth, they felt at odds with Clarke's style. ...more
But forgiveness…I’ll hold on that fragile slice of hope and keep it close, remembering that in each of us lie good and bad, light and d
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But forgiveness…I’ll hold on that fragile slice of hope and keep it close, remembering that in each of us lie good and bad, light and dark, art and pain, choice and regret, cruelty and sacrifice.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars •A gorgeous prose •A complex cast of characters •An eerie atmosphere •A rich and vivid setting
Story and Setting A Great and Terrible Beauty begins with our young heroine, Gemma Doyle, sixteenth birthday. After tragedy strikes she is sent off to Spence Academy, where she will –hopefully– grow into a proper lady. It’s a slow start, no getting round that. And, at first, the characters seemed cheesy stereotypes. The more I read the more I was proved wrong. The allure that is A Great and Terrible Beauty is found in the subtlety of it. There are furtive glances, secrets, dreams and desires. Through these the reader is swept into Gemma’s story, slowly and the all at once, soon I could not stop reading until the mystery unraveled. A Great and Terrible Beauty captures both the injustice and limitations that women endured at that time while also holding a deep sense of the forbidden which is found when venturing into the unknown. I eagerly read as Gemma learns what and why she is overcome by visions and what really happened to her mother. The eerie mood is accompanied by a lush and engrossing setting, which further pulled me into the story.
It’s strange how deliberate people are after a death. All the indecision suddenly vanishes into clear, defined moments–changing the lines, choosing a dress or a hymn, the washing up, the muttering of prayers. All the small, simple, conscious acts of living a sudden defense against the dying we do every day.
Characters While for the first part I found myself unimpressed by Gemma’s classmates and teachers, the more I read the more I realized that my first impression of Bray’s characters was intended not to be overly memorable. I could not pinpoint who was involved in what and what motivated them. As the story unfolds they show that they each have their own individual and complex personalities…
Gemma Doyle was a wonderfully sardonic and ambiguous protagonist. She is so much more than what we are initially led to believe. Like her friends she is juvenile, however, her strength of character and general authenticity made her into a truly remarkable protagonist. With both virtues and flaws she is a well rounded and believable young girl, who is restricted by her society and finds a means of escaping it and her own guilt.
We’re each our own chiaroscuro, our own bit of illusion fighting to emerge into something solid, something real. We’ve got to forgive ourselves for that. I must remember to forgive myself. Because there’s an awful lot of gray to work with. No one can live in the light all the time.
Felicity, Pippa and Ann are all very different from one another.However, they are all capable of wanting more, wishing for more…At times I loved them, while in other occasions I resented them. Like Gemma, their characters, throughout the book, show a lot of depth and even after I finished reading it, I can’t say I know what they will do next. The teachers, especially Miss Moore, were also intriguing and unique characters whom I hope to see again in Rebel Angels. Kartik is still a mystery, however, he is a definitely promising character.
Relationships I was glad to see that the focus of A Great and Terrible Beauty was Gemma’s relationship with her friends and family. Her friendship with Felicity, Ann and Pippa is passionate and tumultuous. They lie to each other, envy and are even deliberately cruel to one another. Through the book, their friendship blossoms and is sharpened by their circumstances and unusual discoveries. They all resent the roles in which their society has cast them and they yearn for freedom.
“We are all unkind from time to time. We all do things we desperately wish we could undo. These regrets just become part of who we are, along with everything else. To spend time trying to change that, well, it’s like chasing clouds.”
Overall A slow start gives way to a wonderful and intense story filled by other-wordly undertones in a richly descriptive and enticing setting. ...more
Fancy a creepy story with an engaging protagonist and an eerie setting? Well, then this is your cup of tea. First off, I'll have to say wRating: 4 stars
Fancy a creepy story with an engaging protagonist and an eerie setting? Well, then this is your cup of tea. First off, I'll have to say write it: I love Victoria. Was she a kindhearted girl? No, definitely not. And maybe it's because of her strong personality that I was so keen to follow her in her 'investigations'. She is often is pretentious and a snob. She strives to be the best at everything, dedicating all of her time to study. Most importantly, whatever the purpose, Victoria is determined. Unlike most MG heroines, who are often sadly one-dimensional boring girls, Victoria was a fleshed out girl of twelve. Her sharp yet witty character perfectly fitted the spine-chilling mood of the book and although I initially thought that The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls would reminiscence Coraline, I was gladly proved wrong and I never knew what would Victoria discover next. Moreover, it wasn't just a creepy book. Victoria's search for Lawrence unravels the perfect facade of her town, parents, neighbours, and most importantly herself. A realistically flawed yet lovable protagonist and an array of unique secondary characters combined with a sinister story and captivating writing style The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls was a thrilling read. ...more
A perfectly fine example of a YA coming-of-age: lies, broken hearts, jealousy...confronting the past i| | blog | tumblr | ko-fi | |
Rating: 3.5 Stars
A perfectly fine example of a YA coming-of-age: lies, broken hearts, jealousy...confronting the past in order to have a better future. I would probably have enjoyed this more if I had read it as a teen and/or had not read many similar books. Still, Silvera's writing is well worth a read: his almost lyrical prose incorporates realistic dialogues and genuine scenarios. Griffin's voice is honest and relatable. A boy who is a bit adrift and confides in someone who is no longer there for him. His fears and feelings felt very sincere. Silvera clearly knows how to depict a character who is 'in' hard times. There is also a sense of foreboding while reading of Griffin's 'history'. We know things don't end well. Perhaps that is also why I actually preferred reading of his present, despite how difficult it was the protagonist himself. Themes of loss, friendship and heartbreak run throughout the book, making this ultimately a story of acceptance; that is for Griff to be able to live without his OCD limiting him and acknowledging that Theo is dead. Sometimes I did feel as if it was just a bit too angsty for my taste...but not so much that it made the story or characters less believable. I recommend this for teen readers or for people who are not accustomed with YA contemporaries....more
Karen Memory offers similar feelings as the ones experienced during a rollercoaster: it has its ups and downs| | blog | tumblr | ko-fi | |
3.5 Stars
Karen Memory offers similar feelings as the ones experienced during a rollercoaster: it has its ups and downs but overall it is a mostly enjoyable ride. The book is named after its protagonist, Karen Memory, who narrates her past adventures with a fresh and fun voice. Her vocabulary which is full of slangs and humorous expression give an unique approach to an otherwise predictable storyline. In fact, it is mostly due to Karen being such an engaging and amusing character that make you want to read more. Karen Memory mostly focuses on Karen's particularly witty storytelling: she addresses the reader, foreshadows future events and knowing the outcome of her own story she is also able to criticize and comment her own –as well as other characters– previous behaviours and actions. Karen's 'unpolished' prose narrates to the reader her very own story. It is then Karen’s own storytelling and her rather direct narrative style that make certain portions of Karen Memory particularly absorbing. The heroine of her own story, Karen, could be both incredibly stubborn and insecure. She knows her worth and is capable of recognizing wherever she has acted rashly or not. Her funny and clever commentary make her into an entertaining and likable character that is easy to root for. The other characters are mostly caricatures of the Old Western genre. However, despite this, the author was able to create an inclusive and likable cast of characters. Karen's interactions with them can be incredibly lively and funny. Karen’s romantic relationship with Priya, the young girl who sets in motion the chain of events that become Karen’s ‘adventure’ – is perhaps the most noteworthy: it offers something more heartfelt than just a simple easy-laugh.
The plot mostly relies on Karen's upbeat storytelling. With its 'Old West' vibe and the many references to the Western genre, Karen Memory is exactly what it claims to be: a lighthearted and playful adventure yarn. It is far from being a serious and intense read; it’s an action-adventure sort of Western with girls and guns and steam-powered trappings. The 'bad guys' are recognizable as being as such right at the very start of the story. Soon certain scenes seemed a bit repetitive and predictable. So much so that the whole book feels like a series of chase scenes. More problematic is that a lot of the action is just a ‘reaction’: there is nothing complicated about it, the main characters are simply retaliating to the bad guys. While Karen Memory succeeds in containing larger-than-life heroes, scheming villains, and gritty action it does not offer a complex narrative with difficult characters and provocative concepts. The author favours a fast-snapping plot over deep or poignant themes. Karen Memory does not have a thoughtful plot or multi-layered characters. The book did feel a bitflat and predictablebut in a way it is so because of its wanting to make homage to the 'Western' genre. While it does rely too much on the genres common tropes by having a young female protagonist who falls head over heels for a young Indian girl, it does also satirizes it. Steampunk elements also add a nice little touch to the setting, although at times descriptions of these 'elements' were a bit unclear. Overall,Karen Memoryreads a lot like a movie. It relies on its quirky storytelling and action scenes rather than including a unique setting or a complex story....more
Death on the Nile is one of Agatha Christie's most ingenious mysteries. While Christie has definitely penned more 'twis| | blog | tumblr | ko-fi | |
Death on the Nile is one of Agatha Christie's most ingenious mysteries. While Christie has definitely penned more 'twisty' whoddunits, the shifting dynamics between the book's various players make for a suspenseful story. With the exception of our wonderfully punctilious Poirot, Death on the Nile is almost entirely populated by unlikable characters (who are either blatantly racist or express misogynistic and classist sentiments). While Christie's characters are in essence stereotypes—the self-centred socialites, the oppressive mothers, the vociferous communist, the self-effacing plain-Jane, the vengeful scorned woman—to dismiss them as 'shallow' or 'caricatures' is rather unjustified. Through her sharp-wit, Christie observes how duplicitous her characters are, regardless of their class and gender. The murder victim is initially presented as heroine of sorts: admired for her beauty, wealth, and altruism. But, here and there, we see glimpses of her flippant and selfish nature. Throughout the course of the novel, Poirot, as per usual, demonstrates the power of his little grey cells. His denouement, however, wasn't as satisfying as it could have been. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed how enraged the suspects became once Poirot confronts them about their lies (I mean, they had it coming).
Traffick was yet another beautifully written novel by Hopkins. It picks up soon after Tricks and we follow our five protagonist as they struggle to ov Traffick was yet another beautifully written novel by Hopkins. It picks up soon after Tricks and we follow our five protagonist as they struggle to overcome the obstacles in their lives. It's not an easy read, Traffick was a slow and at times painful journey to a better place. I would suggest re-reading Tricks before delving into this sequel, however, I didn't, and soon I remembered each of the protagonists story. The personal development each of them undergoes in this novel was painfully realistic. Along the way some of them make new friends, while others are reunited with their families. The relationships are another strong aspect of this novel. I was pleased to read about how some of them helped other young people in similar situations, such as Ginger and Seth. Traffick was the much needed epilogue of Tricks, and although I did think that it was missing a little something to make it as memorable as its predecessor, I loved reading about Seth, Eden, Ginger, Cody and Whitney again. Hopkin's writing is as compelling and raw as I'd hoped it would be, and I can't wait to read her upcoming novel Chameleon
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Books:
4-good-reads
(373)
