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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
veryinvisible has commented on (17) products
Shiver Trilogy Paperback Boxed Set
by
Maggie Stiefvater
veryinvisible
, September 11, 2014
Shiver started out strong. Maggie's idea of "werewolves" was a very interesting and unique take on the mythical creatures. The idea that temperature affects when they shift intrigued me and I loved how the temperature was indicated at the beginning of each chapter. Having that additional knowledge while reading the book added to the overall feeling and anticipation of the story. Sam and Grace and their whole relationship, however, is what really made this book great. From their first encounter to the last page of the book, you could not help but root for them. There was not a moment I felt they didn't belong together. Individually though, they are very interesting characters. Sam has a very tragic backstory while Grace had a very negligent upbringing by her parents. From start to finish I was very invested in Sam and Grace's relationship. Linger introduces the beloved Cole St. Clare, as well as the additional character point of view of Isabel. Isabel definitely plays a larger role in the story than in Shiver. Like Sam and Grace, Cole and Isabel have very distinctive and strong personalities, however what you see isn't always what's really underneath. This makes their relationship a complete opposite from Sam and Grace. This was also the point in the trilogy when every adult becomes the worst parental figure in town. Forever is the last in the trilogy, and by this point I didn't feel like there was any big build up for this last book. The antagonists are much more apparent as the story comes to a climax, and at the end for the big finale, but the threat didn't feel as serious as it should have been. We get to see a lot of character development from our main four. We see them coming to terms with all the things they were faced within the last two books, however somethings were't quite as resolved in the end. As a result, the ending is left very open, which isn't a bad thing considering there is a companion novel, Sinner (knowing who it is about is bit of a spoiler if you haven't finished the trilogy yet). Although I did enjoy the books, the series overall wasn't as satisfying as I wanted it to be. Not much happened until the end of the books, and I felt it was only okay for the first book since it was revolved mostly around Sam and Grace's relationship. Once they moved past that development, the story became more about the scientific aspect of the werewolves. It was only until the end of Forever, where we truly faced the antagonists of the story. Isabel and Cole were the stars of the story and the main reasons I enjoyed the trilogy as much as I did. In the end, it was a good read and I am glad I gave the books a chance.
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Wolves of Mercy Falls 04 Sinner
by
Maggie Stiefvater
veryinvisible
, September 11, 2014
Sinner is for three different types of people: the people who loved the Shiver Trilogy, the people who didn't like the Shiver trilogy but love Isabel and Cole, and anyone else who doesn't know what the Shiver trilogy is about because you really don't need to know (though you do appreciate it more with that background information). Regardless, Sinner is a standalone companion that was definitely needed. It was in no way one of those spin off books authors write to just keep writing about the world they created. Sinner exceeded any expectations I had for it and blew me away. It has been a while after the events of Forever, the last installment of the Shiver trilogy, and Cole St. Clair is ready to jump back into his music career and win the heart of Isabel Culpeper. This time around, Cole and Isabel's personalities are stronger and more defined. The story is more about their self discovery than about werewolves. The situations dealt with in Sinner were much more deeper and serious than in Shiver. Cole still feels suffocated by his past even when he's trying to escape, while Isabel is torn between what she feels and what she thinks she knows. The story had such a different feel from Shiver that it felt like its own book, which I suppose it is. The little references from the trilogy were a very nice addition that made me feel nostalgic for Sam and Grace. Knowing their back story really made me love Isabel and Cole a lot more. The writing of Sinner was fantastic. I could feel Cole and Isabel come out of the pages and seep into reality. They're such vivid characters, which made it hard not to become so invested in this story. There was not dry moment in the book. I just wanted to keep on reading and never have the story stop, even long after I finished the book. Maggie did a wonderful job on capturing these two and the journey they go on. Cole and Isabel learned so much about themselves and each other that it made me really think about my own life and learn a bit about myself as well. Their story will definitely stay with me as one of my favorites and highly recommend companion novel.
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Silver Shadows
by
Mead, Richelle
veryinvisible
, September 11, 2014
The Fiery Heart left me crumpled on the ground and in tears, so naturally I expected a lot out of Silver Shadows. Richelle Mead has a way with story telling in which you know what is going to happen, but not how it happens, and that is what keeps you on the edge. Silver Shadows did not disappoint. I flew through this book, practically inhaling it. It was just that good. After months of trying to hide her true feelings toward the Moroi and Dhampirs, let alone falling in love with a Moroi, Sydney has finally been discovered and taken by the Alchemists. With Sydney surrounded by a group of people who want to change her and Adrian drowned by the effects of spirit and losing Sydney, both Sydney and Adrian must work towards keeping true to themselves and finding their way back to each other again. Silver Shadows is probably the darkest book in the series, and with good reason. The struggles both Sydney and Adrian face are not ones to be taken lightly. They both go through dark times in each others absence, literally and figuratively. We see them really step up and take a stance on what they believe in. Their strength and character growth really show in this book, setting up to what they will eventually face in book six. Richelle has written another wonderful installment to the series. The ending has been built up for what will be an epic finale in The Ruby Circle. Stakes are getting higher and higher, and it will take a lot for Sydney and Adrian to finally be together, but I have hope that Richelle will write us a perfect ending.
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The Rule of Thirds: A Pippa Greene Novel
by
Chantel Guertin
veryinvisible
, September 11, 2014
Being a photographer is what really drew me to The Rule of Thirds. How could I not be considering I use the actual rule of thirds? I've never read about a character who loves photography and I loved the idea of actually getting a chance too. Pippa Greene is a photographer getting ready to compete in the biggest photography competition, Vantage Point, where she could win the chance to attend a camp at Tisch, her dream school. Naturally, she is the president of the photo club and the photo editor for the school news paper. She spends most of her time behind the lens, photographing anything and everything. However, Pippa is suddenly forced to face her past, as she continues to cope with everything that has happened in the past year. What I was really impressed with was Pippa's back story. Since I went to this book blind, I was pleasantly surprised in the take Guertin took on Pippa's photography personality: hiding behind the camera, but also to help ease her anxiety that seems to mostly stem from her past. I really wasn't expecting there to be any really deep life changing back story to Pippa and that made me appreciate the story a bit more. Also, the way Guertin wrote with Pippa's thoughts right on the page, so that you could feel her anxiety and nervousness with her rapid thinking in her head, was a nice touch and gave the book a bit more points for that. The thing that really put me off about this book was how the overall story didn't really seem very substantial, even though it had the potential to be a great story. All the elements were there: intriguing characters, decent back story, compelling plot. But the way the story was written and the actual events that took place, or lack thereof, made it fall short. The pacing was decent, but I felt like nothing really happened. There was some character development but not enough in that short amount of time to be believable or significant. I felt like I didn't grow with the characters and I definitely wasn't compelled to be invested in the story. I mostly thought of the book as a summary of what Pippa went through in the few weeks leading up to Vantage Point and, as a result, I didn't enjoy the book as much as I would have liked. In the end I was disappointed with the story but I still enjoyed it, nonetheless. I am not sure I am motivated enough to read the sequel, considering the ending didn't really do it for me either. But if you're looking for a nice, quick, light read, with a hint of deep, meaningful topics, then I would definitely suggest this book!
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Everyday Angel 02 Second Chances
by
Victoria Schwab
veryinvisible
, September 11, 2014
Victoria Schwab has done it again. With the second installment to her new middle grade series, Everyday Angel, Victoria has shown us the trials of bulling and seventh grade life. Aria finds herself being the guardian angel of Caroline Mason, a seventh grader being bullied at her all-girls' prep school, Westgate, by none other than her former best friend, Lily Pierce. Caroline is being constantly tormented by Lily and her friends everyday to the point where she has secluded her self from everyone. With Aria's help Caroline starts to figure out what's important to her and whether or not she wants to go back to the way it was or move on forward. Victoria did a wonderful job on capturing the victim of a bully, but also life as a seventh grade girl. At that age, almost everyone just wants to fit in. No one likes to be casted away or to stand up to a bully, especially one that is your former best friend. It is so important to show young girls that its okay to be different, even if that means being yourself, because that's the best thing anyone can be. I loved how well she handled the situation between Caroline and Lily. Everything from Caroline's reaction to the bullying to Lily's behavior was very realistic and relatable. This story shows there is a lot more than meets the eye and maybe sometimes people do things for reasons unknown to you. But most importantly, Victoria shows you how to deal with a bully, as well as the importance of friendship and communication. As long as you can talk to someone about what you are going through, then you can overcome anything with their support. I am seriously impressed with where Victoria is taking this series. This is a series every young girl should read (I even got my younger sister to read this series and she loves it!). I adored the first book and loved this second one, so I am very excited for the next and final one coming out on January 6, 2015.
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Trial by Fire
by
Josephine Angelini
veryinvisible
, September 11, 2014
Lily Proctor lives in Salem, Massachusetts with life threatening allergies that prohibit her from doing the simplest things, such as attending a high-school party. This doesn't stop her from going with her best friend, Tristan. Tristan has been Lily's best friend since they were little and she couldn't remember a time when he wasn't always there for her, especially when her allergies get really bad. However, a turn of events causes Lily to end up in a different Salem from the one she's always known. The main aspect that intrigued me the most about this story was the concept and the plot. The idea of alternate universes is obviously appealing, but the way Angelini's version of alternate universes was quite interesting. Angelini uses these alternate universes as a basis for the plot and is the driving force for many of the actions of the characters. The characters themselves are also very interesting to read and learn about, especially where the idea of alternate universes are concerned. My biggest concern with this book was the writing. I can't exactly pinpoint what it was about the writing that I wasn't too crazy about, but I knew it really bothered me. There were some points during the story when there would be a lot of information thrown in without any warning and I would constantly ask "why are you telling me this now?" I was just very aware when the story would shift to the side a little to tell this bit about the past, which always threw me off when it happened because it felt a bit too forced. The back story itself wasn't bad, just the detour it took for it to be told. What sets the magic of this story from magic in other stories is that it is intertwined with science. Since I am studying science in college, going into a health care profession, I have been constantly exposed to a lot of science, especially the ones dealt with in this type of magic. You don't have to be a science major to understand any of it, Angelini makes it all the concepts very clear in the story, which I suppose is why I didn't like it to begin with. The magic felt very technical, like science, which is supposed to be the opposite of magic. There was also science in the magical world too, which made it even more complicated than it should have been. I do think the idea behind the magic is interesting, however, I am just not a big fan. Overall, the story has captured my attention enough for me to want to read the next book, especially with how it ended. It is best going into this story knowing little of how the alternate universes work and everything about the world Lily ends up in. Going in blind allows you to get the full mystery the story is intended to have and enjoy it to its full potential.
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Iron Trial
by
Holly Black
veryinvisible
, September 11, 2014
Let me start of by saying that this book is nothing like Harry Potter. Nothing. At. All. With that being said, this is Cassie's first book outside of the Shadowhunter world, so, naturally, I was very interested in the kind of story Cassie has concocted with Holly. I haven't read any of Holly's work so a lot of my thoughts are based off what I know about Cassie. Callum Hunt is a twelve year old boy who doesn't want anything with magic, but has the power to wield it. For most of his life, his father has been constantly telling him that magic is bad, and he believed him. So when Call has to take the Iron Trial, he is determined to fail so he won't be admitted into the Magisterium, the school that teaches young potential magic wielders how to control and use their power. His plan fails, however, and he is sent to the school he had feared for so long. But while learning the tricks and trades of magic, he learns more about his past and the path to his uncertain future. The story, while intriguing, was not as captivating as I had hoped. The writing and pacing of the book felt very close to what I was familiar with while reading Cassie's work. The majority of the story seemed drawn out and trivial until the very end. Hints and clues were left here and there about the real threat Call faces, but not enough for me to be completely committed to the story. I have to say though, that the characters and the story line are what got me. The way magic is written in the book is pretty different from what I've ever read before, and the way the story was going had me guessing the plot twist, that was bound to happen, the whole way through. I knew going into this story that Cassie and Holly were going to write something crazy. When I thought I figured it all out, the story would take a different turn and make me reassess everything I've already read. The biggest appeal this book had for me was trying to find out what they were planning. In the end I was close, but not close enough. As always, Cassie has hooked me with her twist and turns in her storyline and I am sure Holly didn't make it any easier. I know I am definitely going to read the second book, because the way they left the ending, its hard not to want to. I will definitely read more of Holly's books before I do, so that I can fairly judge the series between the two of them.
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Rites of Passage
by
Joy N Hensley
veryinvisible
, September 11, 2014
I have seen people compare Sam McKenna, our female lead, to Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games series. Since it is widely known how much of a "badass" Katniss is, that is a pretty serious acquisition. But Sam does not disappoint. While I would call Katniss the "badass" of the dystopian world, Sam is definitely the "badass" of the contemporary world. Sam McKenna never turns down a dare, which is why she ends up being one of the first females to attend Denmark Military Academy. As a result, Sam is faced with countless people who are determined to make her quit, one way or another. Growing up as a Military brat doesn't help either. With her father being Lieutenant Colonel and her brother being cadet colonel at DMA, Sam is an immediate target for being a McKenna. Regardless of being female or a McKenna, she is determined to prove herself and make it to the end of the school year. Rites of Passage was probably the only book I have ever read that made me truly outraged, even to the point where I had to put down the book because I couldn't help my anger, but then pick it right back up because of how good it was. Sam goes through intense hazing from those higher ups that want her gone and many of the scenes made me really feel for her. It was astounding how Sam took it all and pushed forward, especially since I would have had no restraint and punched them on the first day. Her resilience is very admirable and really made this story that much stronger. Not only does this story showcase Sam's strength in character, but also about serious topics of prejudice in the military, bullying, and life as a teenager. The things Sam goes through in this story just send out a strong messages for anyone, especially for female teens, that you don't have to do things alone, that it is okay to ask for help and to receive help in return. There are just so many important things this book covers that it is hard to pin point just one of them down. This is a debut you do not want to pass up on. For those Disney fans back in the day, the movie Cadet Kelly was always in the back of my mind while reading, a nice reminder of how much I loved that movie. Joy N. Hensley has created this amazing story and introduced me into the military world that I was never really exposed to. The story is real and raw and emotional. Not to mention the ending that wrapped everything up perfectly, but still left me wanting more. I don't know whether or not I should hold out for a sequel, it was just that good!
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Rift Part 01 Avatar The Last Airbender
by
Gene Luen Yang, Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko
veryinvisible
, March 19, 2014
The Rift Part 1 is filled with hints of things we have seen in Korra. The story starts to feel like the time period is really taking on revolutionary ideas, which makes sense as to why Korra's time is so advanced. Toph is also a big part of the story now and we get a little more insight to her past and maybe even her future. The only thing that bothered me is the dialogue. In The Search and The Promise, I was able to over look some of the redundant and overdramatic dialogue, but for the Rift it isn't so easy to do. Sokka's reoccurring joke is starting to become a bit too much, and though I do appreciate the effort, I think it is just unnecessary and not something I think Sokka would persistently do. The ending definitely takes on an interesting turn and I am looking forward to see where that will lead. Seeing all the revolutionary ideas come into play is also very exciting and maybe we can get to see Aang and Zuko actually build Republic City.
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Better Off Friends
by
Elizabeth Eulberg
veryinvisible
, March 13, 2014
“Better off Friends” should be renamed to “Better off Friends?”. The story revolves around the question, rather than the statement, of whether or not two best friends are really better off just being friends. That personally threw me off a little but, but that didn’t affect how much I enjoyed this book. I absolutely love the writing style of the story. Each chapter alternates between their point of view, telling their story from his or her own point of view. Between every chapter Levi and Macallan would have short conversations, commenting on what just happened in the last chapter, which I just absolutely adored. Right away you can feel how close they are with each other, and how they interact. It was as if Levi and Macallan were actually telling you a story about their friendship in real life. Which also makes me thing this would be an awesome audio book! I found myself laughing, tearing, and face palming as the story progressed. I was definitely rooting for them to get together, even before it crossed their minds. However, their friendship is so genuine that you start to wonder if they really are just better off friends. Especially because Macallan and Levi being just friends, and not in a relationship, is better than them not talking at all. The story touches upon more than just friendship or relationships. Issues of bullying people with disability, the desire to become popular, and the importance of family are all important aspects revolving around Macallan and Levi’s life. Eulberg handles the bullying situation in ways that make you think how you would act in those situations. She make you wonder is that really what happens when you strive for popularity and is it really worth it? And she also stresses the importance of family and makes you appreciative of your own.
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Lunar Chronicles 01 Cinder
by
Marissa Meyer
veryinvisible
, February 01, 2014
Cinder is a cyborg mechanic version of the fairy tale, Cinderella. I absolutely love fairy tale retellings, but Cinderella is probably the most common fairy tale story Hollywood has retold. However, Marrisa Meyer turning Cinderella into a cyborg grabbed my attention from the start and left me wanting more. The story follows closely with the fairy tale in terms of living with a horrible step mother, Adri, and two step sisters, Pearl and Peony. Instead of a present day version of Cinderella, Cinder lives in New Beijing (what use to be Beijing) with androids, portscreens, hovers, and much more futuristic advancements. Instead of doing household chores, which are left to the androids, she works as a mechanic, bringing in most of the family income. Marissa Meyer has interwoven a classic fairy tale story into a dystopian world that is completely her own. The parallels between Cinder and Cinderella are done in a way that it wasn’t forced or cliche. The realistic relationship between the characters make the story feel more than just a Cinderella retelling, especially with the twists Meyer added along the way. Reading the story you can tell that Meyer’s world has been well thought out with a history of its own. The other iconic fairy tale characters included were also a very nice addition to the story, which we are sure to see more of in the next few books. I am very excited to be introduced to the other fairy tale stories and see how they connect with each other. I have no doubt that I am going to be just as amazed with the next books as I was with Cinder.
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Divergent 03 Allegiant
by
Veronica Roth
veryinvisible
, December 09, 2013
By outselling the Mockingjay pre order sales five to one on amazon, Allegiant was easily the most anticipated release of the year. Allegiant is the final installment to the Divergent Series by Veronica Roth. The story continues in both Tris and Four’s point of view, making me wonder why Roth included Four’s point of view (even though I had a pretty good idea why). If you haven’t read Divergent or Insurgent, you probably shouldn’t be reading this right now (unless you want really want to). The story centers on Tris, Four, and her friends leave beyond the gates that hold them captive in their deteriorating city. Outside the city they discover the truth and find safety in a new world they could possibly call home. However, problems arise that Tris and her friends cannot ignore and they work to uncover how serious the problems with their city and the outside world really are. The constant switching and not switching between Tris and Four’s point of view every chapter was quite confusing, especially since its written in first person. I would find myself thinking “why is Tris so against this” when really it was Four’s point of view. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just quite annoying having to make sure who’s point of view I was reading in without the help of the third person point of view. A big disappointment was constantly losing interest while I was reading. Divergent and Insurgent were fast pace enough that it held my attention even though not a lot of action may have happened. Since this book seems so big, the story felt dragged out. I found myself uninterested in the lives of Tris and Four, while only some parts sparked my interest. Things such as the new information of Tris’ family were the only things that kept me reading a little bit longer. Otherwise I didn’t really care for the interests of others as nothing major really seemed to be happening most of the time. However, I did like and appreciate the direction Roth seemed to be taking with the dystopian aspect of the world and the current state of the country. Even though I didn’t enjoy the journey of the story’s conclusion, I did enjoy the ending. I appreciate how Roth tied up the ending with the overall meaning the trilogy stood for. The things she had to do with the ending was necessary to carry this out. However, for a book so long, as well as being the conclusion of a trilogy, more things should have happened that would make the read worthwhile.
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Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer
by
Katie Alender
veryinvisible
, November 26, 2013
Marie Antoinette is a serial killer. That was enough to draw me in, however it also made me a bit hesitant with the title being so obvious. Either way, I still wanted to give it a try. Colette is introduced as a self absorbed, claustrophobic, American who lives with a seemingly selfless brother and mother, and just happens to have two typical, self absorbed, rich, best friends. Colette and her friends are going to Paris for nine days as part of a school trip and she is convinced it will change her life. When they all arrive in Paris it is everything Colette dreams of, until she finds out about the murders. Pushing that nagging feeling about the murders out of her mind, Colette discovers that her family has more to do with France than she ever imagined. With a title like Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer, it is pretty clear that the rest of this story is obvious. Marie Antoinette, who has been long dead, comes back to life to kill. The only mystery to this is why she came back to started beheading all these people and how Colette becomes involved. The story is predictable enough that it caught me off guard for a few instances, but not by much. Those little twists were, however, wasted on the predictability of the story. Announcing that Marie Antoinette is the serial killer right in the title, eliminates any chance of mystery the book had to offer. Having to figure out who the killer was would have made it a more intriguing read and probably just more enjoyable and less predictable. The characters seemed to be one dimensional, having little to no character development. The most character development came from Colette, but even that seemed forced. Her eventual revelation at the end was too quick and unnatural that it came off as both cliche and unbelievable. The story overall was anti climatic, even when Colette realized the serial killer is indeed the long deceased Marie Antoinette, which we all knew by reading the title of the book. Paris was the main pull for me to read this book and I was greatly disappointed in the portrayal of what Pairs felt like to Colette. Colette seems to be describing what she is seeing rather than how she is experiencing it. I didn’t feel like I was her in Paris but rather she was telling me what she saw structurally. There was little to none on what any one else living in Paris was doing, only what was directly in front of her. If anything this was the biggest let down of the book. Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer is a good book for a quick easy read with light mystery. Don’t expect too much from this book as it will surely let you down.
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Slated 01
by
Teri Terry
veryinvisible
, November 16, 2013
I was hooked on the story even before I started reading. The idea of criminals getting a second chance (as long as they are 16 years or younger) by erasing their memories, by being Slated, really intrigued me. Of course its not how it seems at all. It was obvious from the start there was something different about Kyla. You don't know what her past is, and neither does she, but its obvious she is different and on that idea alone made me want to know more. Soon Kyla starts school and meets a variety of people. There isn't a whole lot of romance in the story but that just keeps you on edge when ever there is a possible chance for it, which is a nice change from a lot of stories that are ruined because the romance is in your face all the time. When people start going missing is when it starts to get serious. Kyla begins to question where the missing people went, which is not something slaters do at all. Her curiosity catches on to her friend, Ben, who starts to think differently than before, and together they try to find out where the missing people have gone. In the end, all the pieces line up for Kyla leaving you wondering what she will do with this information.
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Just One Day
by
Gayle Forman
veryinvisible
, November 16, 2013
"What if the real question is not to be, but how to be?" Instead of a sappy love story of falling in love in "just one day," Allyson is trying to figure out who she really needs and wants to be, who just happens to meet a guy she may or may not fall in love with. If you have not read the description of the book or happen to forget all its details (in my case I forgot) then I suggest you don't. It gives a lot away and you end up figuring out what happens to Allyson. With out giving too much away, Allyson is a high school graduate on an European tour with her best friend. She goes through a series of events that make her wonder who she really is and makes a decision that will ultimately lead her to self discovery. Gayle Forman's writing is simply wonderful. When reading Allyson's journey you are immediately filled with the same thoughts and emotions as Allyson. Her experience becomes your own and you're left filled with wanderlust.
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First Phone Call from Heaven
by
Mitch Albom
veryinvisible
, November 15, 2013
"What happened next depends on how much you believe." After hearing of Mitch Albom’s latest novel, The First Phone Call From Heaven, I knew I had to read it. I’ve read his other novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, which I loved, so I was really looking forward to his view of heaven in his new book. Luckily I won this book on GoodReads and started reading as soon as I could. The people living in Coldwater, Michigan see a drastic change in the small town as news of heavenly phone calls reach the rest of the world. The story follows around the lives of many characters who all react to the phone calls in different ways. Tess lives alone in her mother’s house and works at a day care center. She receives a phone call from her deceased Mother, whom she moved in with when she became ill. Tess doesn’t seem to know what to do with this information and stays home from work in fear of missing her mother’s phone call, but eventually she comes to terms with what she believes god has given her. Katherine is very devoted to her church, which she attends on a regular basis. She lives alone in her house when she gets a phone call from her sister that she was once very close with. Due to her strong religious beliefs, Katherine thinks it’s her duty to spread the word about this miracle as god’s chosen messenger. Jack is the town police chief who lost his son in the war and later got divorced to his wife, Doreen, after his son’s death. Both of them get a phone call from their son, however Jack seems to keep it to himself therefore everyone thinks only Doreen got a call from her son. He becomes very busy, dealing with the influx of people as they visit Coldwater in hopes of getting a phone call themselves, which he isn’t too happy about. Sully has been recently released from prison for a crime that is later explained in the story. His wife has died, while he was in prison, and now his son thinks his mother will call him because of all the recent phone calls from heaven. He is very skeptical of the whole miracle and sets off to find proof to disprove the phone calls as heavenly. Amy is a small time reporter trying to make it big in the news industry. She is the first reporter to cover the heavenly phone calls in Coldwater and quickly befriends Katherine as she follows her around. However, Amy is a non believer despite being close with Katherine. Pastor Warren works for the baptist church who is friendly with Katherine. However, when Katherine reveals the phone call phenomenon to him, he is very skeptical and tries to discourage her from revealing anything to the church. You do not have to be a believer or non believer to enjoy this book. Albom’s writing is intriguing as you get to experience how each character deals with the phone calls. The idea of heaven being real is contemplated by every character even if they are a non believer. As you read, you yourself begin to question whether or not the phone calls are real.
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Fangirl
by
Rainbow Rowell
veryinvisible
, October 14, 2013
Fangirl is every fangirl's dream come true; A book about them. And it's not a book that just undermines the loyalty of any fandom, but it's one that totally gets them. Rowell's Fangirl is not only a true rendition of an actual fangirl in real life, it is a book we finally get that so many of us relate to (and it's actually good!). Cath is your typical fangirl; She hides out in her room - which is totally decked out in Simon Snow fandom merch - on the internet, writing fanfiction, or talking to her "internet friends". The way she describes the fandom, as well as her passion, immediately tips you off that Rainbow Rowell knows what she's talking about. Simon Snow is basically the Harry Potter of Cath's world (even though harry potter still exists in her world). So when college starts, Cath's world starts to shift as her twin sister, Wren, seems to detach herself from the "fandom" life, unlike Cath who is still crazy dedicated to Simon Snow and her fanfiction for the series, Carry On. So without Wren, who she did everything with together up until this point, Cath feels stranded in unfamiliar territory with, what seems to be, a mean roommate, Reagan, and her smiley boyfriend, Levi. And on top of that, Cath has social anxiety and is a bit insecure with herself. Her hesitation to explore campus, let alone fine the dining hall, further adds to her anxiety of the unknown. Rather than go out and party like most of the other students, she ends up in her room doing the usual: writing Carry On. Cath goes through events throughout her freshmen year that includes her family, friends, school, and of course Simon Snow, that may or may not end up in a total disaster. Rowell's writing made you feel like you were living as Cath despite it being told in the third person, however at times it felt like someone was also telling you the story, which isn't too far off with how I felt reading Rowell's other book, Eleanor and Park. She also includes excerpts from the Simon Snow novels and even Cath's fanfiction in-between chapters, so that you know enough of the series that you're never really lost if it comes up in Cath's conversations. Rainbow Rowell literally created a whole new universe within the one she is narrating, that has just the same amount of depth and personality as everyone in Cath's world that you end up being a fangirl of Simon Snow yourself, wishing it was an actual series. So what fangirl wouldn't like a book about a fangirl? Well Cath is just one type of fangirl. The fanfiction reading, slash fanfiction writing, marathon watching, room covered with fandom merch, and has her own fanbase based on a fandom kind of a fangirl. So unless you're no where close to that kind of a fangirl then maybe you wont feel as connected to Cath, however that wouldn't be enough not to read the book. Cath's journey through her college freshman year not only is relatable regardless of what kind of fangirl you are but also a story everyone should read for its authenticity.
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