Feature Friday - "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell

Last week I began listening to an audiobook version of Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. I fell in love immediately. An unexpected pleasure was that there were two very good narrators, a female for Eleanor's sections and a male for Park's. I admit that I really enjoyed this because sometimes I'm a speedy reader, especially if I'm reading solely for enjoyment, and I am no stranger to missed visual cues, so they saved me that trouble. Now, onto the story itself! Click here for info on Amazon.

The story is set in 1986, and Eleanor is the new girl at school. Park lets her sit with him on the bus that first day, and over time they develop a relationship that is unlike anything either of them have ever known. It starts by them sharing the bus seat. Then Park realizes Eleanor is reading his comics. Then they start to share music, and things continue to build from there. Eleanor is scared to let Park know just how bad things are at home, but she comes to rely on him, on the memory of him, to get her through the nights filled with the cries of her mother and days filled with bullying at school.

What I loved:

• Both Eleanor and Park had a unique voice, their own lens with which they viewed the world. This made for interesting moments when the view switched back and forth quickly, to see what they were thinking or how they were feeling, and what was different between the two. This also made it very distinct who was thinking what. I also just absolutely loved them both!
• Their wit!
• The story felt so genuine, I was sucked in immediately and it was hard to come back from. 
• The supporting characters felt just as real as Eleanor and Park did.
• Eleanor's reference to Dicey Tillerman (Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt).
• THE FEELS!

What I didn't like:

• I can't think of anything that I didn't really like. There were elements of the story that I wish weren't a part of this world in general, but they are, and they were presented really well.

Other:

• While the language didn't bother me, a family member is a middle school librarian, so I keep that in mind when reading YA. Probably not acceptable for a middle-school library, in case you were wondering.
• I think that someone who was a teenager in this time would probably like the references to the music, but I have to admit that I'm a failure in terms of pop-culture, so I had to take them at the value presented in the book.

Should you read this? Yes, but you need a certain amount of "emotional bandwidth" (as S. would say) available.

Until next time,

Julia

Feature Friday - Jamberry Nail Wraps!

Ok, if you follow me on Twitter you probably know by now of my newest fascination: Jamberry Nail Wraps. You heat them up, stick them on, and have beautiful nails forever! (Ok, so I've been too impatient to let them go longer than about 11 or so days...they're still going strong when I take them off.) Here are some pics of mine so far:

Current: KaBoom, in honor of July 4!

Digiscan

Swept Away

I didn't know how popular these are because I live under a rock, but I bet someone you know either is or has a consultant. Totally worth a try!

Feature Friday - "Defining Love" by Elizabeth Reyes

I'll be honest, I feel like I'm cheating a bit here because I published this review on Goodreads and Amazon a couple of weeks ago. But I really enjoyed the read and so here is what I thought of Defining Love by Elizabeth Reyes. This review is for all three volumes together, since I read almost all of them in one night (and finished one hour the next).

I picked up "Defining Love" with my Kindle Unlimited, and I'm glad I did. I've read many of the 5th Street and Moreno Brothers' stories, and I just keep coming back. I would say that in comparison to those which are related to each other, these are not (yet--will they be?) tied into other stories. That was a little bit refreshing for me. Also, while I still felt Aaron would be considered "alpha," it seemed played down a bit, which worked well with the story. Along those lines, most of the "sexy" scenes are closer to the end, and a bit played down as well. I think these were good things for Henri and Aaron's story, as their's was such an emotional journey.

I really enjoyed Henri's resiliency, and I think that made her moments of weakness so much more poignant. There's one particular scene where she is explaining to Aaron what is wrong with her and as a reader it was so emotional and even visceral to watch her deal with her demons.

I think really one of my favorite things about this story is how the characters know one thing but act like another. It reminds me of real life, when you know one thing in your head but you keep holding out hope in your heart that what your head knows just isn't true. I know this was a source of conflict for the characters, and it was done really well. I think too often we get to see the "noble" character who always uses their head and nips any problems right when they arise. But here, it is the combination of hope and fear that keeps the characters from taking action, and like I said, this was really well done and as such, one of my favorite components of the story because hey--those characters aren't perfect and noble.

I also appreciated how, as I suspect is intended by the title, different types of "love" are realized, as well as the difference in loving someone and being in love with someone.

Feature Friday: "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" by Jenny Han

Sometime over the course of the past couple of weeks, I read To All the Boys I've Loved Before, by Jenny Han.

Image from http://www.dearjennyhan.com/teen.html

I thought the concept was interesting, and I guess I've been seeing it around since P.S. I Still Love You comes out in a few days. Also, it was available from my library on Overdrive.

As much as the title hints about being in love with boys, I found this story to be just as much about Lara Jean's relationships with herself and her family members. All of their lives are changing, Margot is leaving for Scotland to go to college, and she's been the rudder for the family since their mom died years ago. Lara Jean has to take the helm, and while perhaps she's not quite as organized as her older sister, things seem to work out. Perhaps the family relationships stick out to me because I related with Lara Jean more on the level of caring about her dad and missing her mom than anything to do with the boys. She's discovering how to think of things and do things for herself, without Margot to guide her, and I think Lara Jean is learning and acknowledging that. 

Honestly, I expected a little more humor from the love-letter situation. I didn't care much for Peter (I don't think you're supposed to), but I also wasn't over-the-moon for Josh. I think Han did a good job of capturing the conflicting emotions of teenage love (or at least teenage like), and Lara Jean is in an interesting position to experience an extra layer of conflict, because her relationship isn't real. Or is it? seems to be the question.

Overall I found this a mostly light and enjoyable read, and if I get a chance I'll probably pick up the next in the series just to see what happens.

Until next time!
Julia

Feature Friday - Empath by S. Usher Evans

In honor of next week's release, this week's Feature Friday features S. Usher Evans' Empath (follow link for description/pre-order).

Cover Image taken from Amazon.com

First of all I'm happy to say that I read this, being that I've kind of gotten into a reading slump for the past month or so, with other things going on. There are lots of things I want to read, but sometimes I just don't feel like I have the mental capacity to do so. If I'm stressed or anxious I can't concentrate and that seems like a waste of the author's talent. I'm very happy to report that I had no problem focusing with this book, and it may have been just the reading-medicine I've been needing.

Empath is about Lauren, a modern-day girl with dragon-sized heartbreak and anxiety, literally. When she hears a voice that offers to take away that pain, it is irresistible temptation. Transported from the hum-drum of her life and mind-numbing job, she finds herself in a world where mud can be magic, dragons terrorize the village, and washing machines are nowhere to be found. What starts out as simply a quest to get home becomes a quest to gain control of her thoughts, emotions, and fears, and ultimately find release from the hell she's been trapped in. The Anghenfil, the anxiety-dragon of lore, is with Lauren every step of the way, promising that oh-so-tempting easy way out. 

Evans' writing has your heart hurting right there with Lauren, and you want her to find happiness just as you would for a dear friend or even yourself. The depiction of depression and anxiety is accurate and done with much care, and while some very important issues are touched on, they are executed most thoughtfully and left me in tears more than once. 

The writing was beautiful, the adventure was fun to tag along with, and the feels were over the top. Definitely a recommended read.

S. Usher Evans' image

***THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS, written in white text on white background, click and highlight to read***

I really love how the stereotype of the post break-up love interest is broken here. Instead of happily ever-after, here is a young woman who eventually sees the situation for what it is, and acts on it.

Also, while I was very probably already--ok I totally was--crying, that last scene with Cassidy was just tops for me. One of the hardest things about anxiety/depression is being able to reach out for someone for help, and I think that we have to remember to let others know that we will listen.

Thank you S., for putting yourselfLauren out there for us readers, and I'm so glad you were able to do this for yourself. I know that the care taken with these sensitive subjects comes from personal experience, and I just want you to know that it is deeply appreciated. <3

Until next time,
Julia

Feature Friday - Alliances by S. Usher Evans

My Feature Fridays have started to have more of a review tone to them because I thought that might help me understand why I liked what I did, as well as giving others an idea of whether or not they would like it.

This weeks Feature Friday is the second in the Razia Series, Alliances. The amazing S. Usher Evans has done it again, bringing readers an adventure that had me at times laughing, at times tearing up, and other times having all the feels for Razia that are some mix of compassion and empathy and IDon'tKnowWhatElse. If you have not yet read it, Double Life is Book 1 in the series, &&you need to get on that (below may contain some spoilers, you've been warned).

We catch up with Razia about a year after the ending of Double Life. No longer on pirate probation, she's been doing a commendable job bounty-hunting, but getting none of the commendations. She is just as stubborn and unwilling to hear anyone out when they are saying anything she doesn't want to hear. When another female shows up in her territory, it's ON! Despite the unlikelihood of Razia joining forces with anyone, her and Lizbeth begin uncovering an operation much larger than either of them expected, and what they find will send them for a loop. 

Pros:

• Duo of strong women characters with their own set of strengths and weaknesses, as well as readily-equipped with witty banter.
• Idea that being feminine doesn't equal being a whore. (Evans talks about this on her blog, too.)
• Along those same lines, it's nice to have a story whose main character is female and her main interest/concern/motivation is not romance.
• It's a fun/tense adventure!
• Said fun/tense adventure is not without an emotional journey of self-discovery and brutal truth-slaps.
• Nice comic relief.
• I like that we get the results of Razia's searches in tables, it makes it more immersive (probably even more effective when not read on a phone...).

Faux-Cons:

• I don't think I'm going to make it until October to read Book 3...
• There are times you want to reach out and slap Razia and tell her to listen.
• (Putting this here until I can test out my theory that this is device-specific) some of the tables used so that we can see what Razia sees were too wide for the page, not really a con, and not enough to really affect the experience.
• There is a geeky part of me who wishes to delve [even] further into the naming system for the planets, how the time system works, the science of the space travel, and other science-y things. This is good, because that means the story is interesting enough that I want to know more.

Cons:

• I didn't really have any "cons" about this book, but to each their own. :)

Feature Friday - The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, Book 1) by Julie Kagawa

I'm attending a YA book festival tomorrow, and I thought I might read at least one book by at least one author who would be there (the original plan was much more ambitious, but procrastination, you know?). So I got on my Overdrive/local library account and found The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa was available for electronic checkout, something I absolutely love. What I found was a world I could not leave until I was forced to by the need to sleep and the end of the book.

Picture from Amazon product page (link above)

I really loved this book, and am eager to begin the second (and third!). There were times when it reminded me of Hollowland by Amanda Hocking, which is another book that I enjoyed several years ago. (Typically my YA Paranormal readings are pretty spaced, I just love to read everything!) The protagonist, Allison Sekemoto, has been a survivor all her life, and her choices and way of thinking about her decisions show it. We know, however, the struggles between making some of those decisions and indulging her more emotional side. Those choices become even more difficult as she learns to make them as a vampire. As a vampire, she has to learn how to fit in--again--with humans as she tags along in search of the promised land.

Pros:

• In general, a well-written and entertaining read.
• Not all the characters were likable (really, I don't think most of them were. Sure, most had some endearing feature or another, but not enough to make you really like them).
• Though sometimes not likable, the characters remained interesting and maintained their own presence in the story.
• Interesting relationship between the vampires/humans for survival.
• I thought the Rabids were an interesting species.
• Touched on topics of peer family, morals, and identity.

Faux-Cons:

• There were a few places where a word or phrase felt almost-but-not-quite right. This isn't really a problem, just an observation. I've lost a lot of my grammar-snobbishness over the years in the realization that writing is not one-size-fits-all.

Cons:

• I felt like more about Samurais should have been revealed to Allison, but it's very possible that she learns more in the following books (or maybe it is just for us readers to fully appreciate).

Feature Friday - Damsel Distressed by Kelsey Macke

This week's Feature is the YA novel Damsel Distressed by Kelsey Macke, and I was fortunate enough to be able to watch her participate in a forum at YAK fest this year.

Let me just say that while yes, I am an emotional reader, the level of sobbing I did while reading this book was unreal, and kept my son asking me if I was ok. I am, by the way.

First thing, let's look at the beautiful cover. Admire.

Now go to Amazon, and open up the sample. Look at the amazing inside title page.

But wait! Don't close that sample, scroll down to the powerful dedication. (I'm going to play it safe here and not reproduce anything from the book.)

We then find out that there is a soundtrack, with songs written specifically for the book and performed by the Mackes' band, Wedding Day Rain, available on the book's website. How very awesome is that?!

Here is the blurb from Amazon:

Hot girls get the fairy tales. No one cares about the stepsisters' story. Those girls don't get a sweet little ending; they get a lifetime of longing.

Imogen Keegen has never had a happily ever after-in fact, she doesn't think they are possible. Ever since her mother's death seven years ago, Imogen has pulled herself in and out of therapy. When Imogen's new stepsister, Ella Cinder, moves in down the hall, Imogen begins losing grip on the pieces she's been trying to hold together. The only things that gave her solace--the theatre, cheese fries, and her best friend, Grant--aren't enough to save her from her pain this time. While Imogen is enjoying her moment in the spotlight after the high school musical, the journal pages containing her darkest thoughts get put on display. Now, Imogen must resign herself to be crushed under the ever-increasing weight of her pain, or finally accept the starring role in her own life story. And maybe even find herself a happily ever after.

If you've looked at what I suggested, certainly you didn't miss the comedy/tragedy masks of drama, did you? Those aren't just random. The first thing encountered is Imogen exercising her love for dramatic flair, in the form of ranting about princesses and stepsisters to Therapist George. Imogen's voice is immediately distinct. Influenced by her love for musicals, it is silly, snarky, and at times brutally honest. While Imogen is overweight, and that does play a part in the story, it is not the main concern, as Imogen is clinically depressed and fighting to find some kind of light. Just when she thought things were getting better, Carmella, "Ella," her step-sister, moves in.

So, thoughts:

Pros:

• Imogen's unique voice/view of the world. You can definitely see the influence of the theater.
• Macke uses just enough dialect (fish-kick, for example) for the book.
• All of the character's were their own unique identity and had their own presence in the book.
• Just enough comic relief.
• Important issues treated with respect and care.
• Super emotionally moving!
• The perfect capturing of depression is what really turned the knob on my waterworks. For me it is Imogen's idea of the pendulum swing that rings so true. The exhausting swinging back and forth, thinking you have come out just to plunge back in. Maybe it's not a new idea, but it's the first time that I have been exposed to it, and it is so perfect that it hurts to realize how accurate the swing of the pendulum of emotions is.
• Part of my connection to Imogen is that I lost my mom at a similar age, so, bonus waterworks.
• In my experience as an English major, one of the things I found repeated was the idea that "serious" literature was re-readable for the underlying themes, images, ideas, etc., that once the story is read there is still something to merit by reading it again. In my Young Adult Literature class, some of these things that we looked at and were often found in our texts were: non-traditional/broken homes, peer family, and identity (personal, social, cultural, etc.), among other things. Damsel Distressed addresses all of these things with such realistic voice and emotion that it grabs onto your heartstrings and doesn't let go.

Faux-Cons:

• I want to know the story of all the other characters.
• Not a sunshine-happy read. (It is hopeful, though.)

Cons:

• I honestly have no cons about this book.

Thanks for reading, I hope you check this amazing book out!

Julia

(still working on the way I review)