YA Spotlight | Review

YA, or Young Adult, is a burgeoning genre in contemporary fiction that is only gaining momentum. Supposedly, YA is written, published, and marketed for adolescents under the age of 18. Yet here I am, a 23 year-old woman with a voracious YA appetite! 

There has been a lot of smack lately regarding YA. If you haven't heard, Slate published a nasty article called Against YA, undermining the genre and discouraging adults to read YA. The article subtitle says it all. "Read whatever you want. But you should feel embarrassed when what you're reading was written for children." 

This blog series is a response to not only this article, but also to literary dictators with black and white perceptions of what constitutes literature. I believe those perceptions to be wrong and I pity the fool who dictates what readers should and shouldn't read! Most importantly, this blog series is for readers like me who absolutely love YA and are eager for more. 

**Please note, the order of the books presented is based on the order I read/finished each book. It has nothing to do with my personal preference as I absolutely loved BOTH books equally! 

Enjoy!

Discovered: Books On The Nightstand Podcast
Status: Read
Purchased: Barnes & Noble Retailer
Mode: Hardcover

Word on the street is that We Were Liars is the YA book of the summer. It was published on May 13, 2014 by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Publishing. Most recently, it was on Amazon's  list of Best Teen & Young Adult Books of 2014 So Far. The book's position on not only Amazon's list, but also many others, is most deserving. The plot is quite simple. It's about the Sinclair family, spending their summers on their private island off of Cape Cod. Like most YA novels, We Were Liars is a coming-of-age story narrated by Cadence, aka Cady, as she tries to unlock the mystery of an accident that caused her to lose parts of her memory.

[Warning, mild spoilers]

When I first heard the synopsis of We Were Liars, I was turned off by the old American grandeur of the setting. A private island off Cape Cod? I sensed another Great Gatsby/Gossip Girl YA, romanticizing the lives of east coast gentry. And yes, E. Lockhart does exactly that. She romanticizes the shining Sinclair family, a close-knit brood of blonde-haired and blue-eyed Americans, beautiful in the eyes of their beholders. But she also breaks them down. Despite their glamor and beauty, the Sinclairs are isolated just like their island. And amid the money, material, and influence, they are broken by greed, prejudice, and denial. For every vice is a kindling added to the Sinclair woodpile of material illusions. And Cadence and her cousins/friend become victims of that woodpile finally catching fire.

Sounds grim, huh?

Don't be discouraged, We Were Liars is also poignantly breathtaking. So much so that it struck a cord below my ribs (cue my never ending Jane Eyre references). It portrays greed and material obsession in a broken family, but it also shows forgiveness and self-healing. And despite Cady's broken psyche, her strength and maturity were beautiful. We Were Liars is bitter, but it is also soothing for its closure. If you're looking for a book, in which the characters are jumping into the sea just as you are this summer, I urge you to to pick up We Were Liars.

Discovered: Barnes & Noble / Books On The Nightstand Podcast
Status: Read
Purchased: Barnes & Noble Online
Mode: Exclusive Collector's Edition Hardcover :)

Oh gad, where to start with this book. Eleanor & Park is one of the few books I still think of even after moving onto other books. Another big YA summer hit, Eleanor & Park was published on February 26, 2013 by St. Martin's Press, an imprint of Macmillan. The title is pretty self-explanatory. Eleanor & Park is about Eleanor and Park... finding friendship and love, amid domestic abuse, neglect, bullying, and poverty.

I found this book at my local Barnes & Noble retailer under the section "Young Adult Fiction Most Resembling Real Life," which made me chuckle because it shows that many people, at least those in my neighborhood, are unclear of what constitutes YA. I guess the popular perception of YA is molded by paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi elements that are often inflated by popular culture and media. But YA goes beyond the limited "safe zone" of vampires, werewolves, and dystopias; it touches real aspects of our waking lives. It relates to all the shit we go through with our family members, friends, and classmates. It tackles issues such as sexuality, body image, divorce, and racism, we grow up with. This is YA.

[Warning, spoilers]

Eleanor and Park face some of the many social stigmas present in high school. Eleanor is an eccentric new student at Park's high school, but she is an oddball. Her school mates think she's fat and call her "Big Red" and her sense of style is kooky. As if high school drama isn't enough for poor Eleanor, she is consumed by dysfunctional family drama. Everyday, she is forced to deal with poverty, neglect, and domestic abuse, all of which she is ashamed to speak of with Park. According to her, Park's family and living situation are most ideal. However, Park faces issues of his own, such as racism (due to his biracial parenting), femininity, and acceptance. These issues cause him to be understandably shallow. But Park is too hard on himself; he believes his shallow nature a flaw and a betrayal to Eleanor.

Despite the circumstances, Eleanor and Park heal and grow from each other's friendship and love. In the beginning, Eleanor lacks love. Sure, her parents love her as they naturally should, but that love is not enough to protect and nurture her. Her narrative is jaded for a girl in the prime of puberty, as if she already accepted her misfortune. But once Park enters her life, the burst of unfamiliar emotions freak her out. She's not used to many things such as love, friends, even food! So she tries to deny her love for Park and convinces herself that she doesn't need his love. But the friendship and love she finds on the back of the school bus are soothing wounds to this broken and beautiful girl. A lot of the stuff in her life still sucks, but at least she knows that the love given is hugely deserved. Park also grows from his relationship with Eleanor. As previously mentioned, Park is shallow. Eleanor actually pisses him off when they first meet because of her outrageous clothes and demeanor. He also admits to liking the idea that the most popular girl in school hasn't gotten over him because it grants him immunity for his peculiar ways. But after meeting Eleanor, he performs acts of altruism and selflessness. And at the end of the novel he performs the most selfless act of letting Eleanor go.

If you want to see two teens emerge beautiful and strong from all the horrible things they go through in high school, I urge you to pick up Eleanor & Park.

If you enjoyed this YA Spotlight, please stay tuned next month for another post!

Historicals From Across the Pond | Review

 

Discovered: Oyster
Status: Read
Purchased: Oyster
Mode: iPhone

Summons to Chateau D'Arc by Kay Cornelius was published on April 11, 2012 by indie publisher, Diversion Books. It was the first book I read and finished on Oyster. As stated in a previous post, one of the items I received in the Book Riot Quarterly Box was 2 months access to Oyster. And I must say, I'm very impressed with Oyster. I expected the app to be naturally text heavy, considering its a product for reading; however, it was very visual. Pictures of books, rather than words dominate the app and synopsis are not overly long. Oyster's great explore feature allowed me to find this marvel.

It is about Ellen Edmonds, who is "summoned" to a mysterious chateau in the French countryside after her mother passes away and she is left with no close relation in America. Once she arrives at the Chateau D'Arc, romance and family drama ensue as she attempts to unravel the mystery of her connection with the Marquis d'Arc and his family. If you love a story with a Chateau, endless wine, Parisian fashion, and boar hunting, this is the marvel for you!

Discovered: Barnes & Noble
Status: Read
Purchased: Barnes & Noble
Mode: Hardcover

The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill was on April 18, 2013 by Riverhead Books. I found this marvel last summer while browsing the new fiction shelves at my local Barnes & Noble retailer. Its about a headstrong astronomer, Hannah Gardner Price, who longs to become independent of the rigid Nantucket Quaker island she lived on all her life. Her single-minded passion is admirable as she attempts to find a comet, win a reputable award, and break out of her expected station as a woman. She also meets and falls in love with Isaac Martin, a dark-skinned whaler, who also longs to break out his expected station and expand his career.

I'm not overly familiar with astronomy, yet I was sucked into the early days of Nantucket and Harvard, and the pursuit of knowledge beyond the grasps of humanity and women. However, Hannah and Isaac break traditional notions of independent study and academia. Amy Brill's novel is richly narrated and quietly inspiring. Those looking for a summer read while gazing at the stars, I urge you to pick up The Movement of Stars.

Stay tuned next month for another post on Frontlist Favorites & Backlist Marvels!

The End of Always by Randi Davenport | Review

There are many themes in The End of Always and the most highlighted is domestic abuse. It also contains issues of sexual abuse, the role of women in the workplace, domesticity, coming-of-age, the immigrant experience in America, and the relationship of sisters. If you're looking for a happy love story, you won't find it in The End of Always. Instead, you'll find a story of endurance.

I admit, I judge a book by its cover and the the beautiful cover of The End of Always drew me to pick it up and run my hands over it. The cover depicts a white-shingled house on a grassy landscape. Beyond the house is a lake and a bare tree with a herd of birds flying past. What's most striking is the beautiful fall season, tinging all the elements with hues of orange and yellow.

Like the cover, the narrative of The End of Always is beautiful yet simple. It has an almost stream of consciousness point-of-view, tied together with simple dialogues and folklore. It is about Marie, a seventeen year old girl, who yearns to escape the domestic abuse that had ensnared the women in her family for generations. She lives with her abusive father, mother, and two sisters. When her mother is mysteriously murdered by her husband's abuse, Marie starts to question her lot in life. She grows distant from her older sister, Martha, who does not share Marie's rebellious thoughts of her father and the role of women. When she meets and falls in love with a young carpenter named August, their whirlwind romance gives Marie hope that she could finally escape the fear and abuse that constantly shadowed her and her sisters. Unfortunately, their short-lived romance is is a broken mix of young love, lust, and abuse. The rest of the novel is about how Marie chooses the unconventional path toward freedom.

If you're searching for an intense narrative that delves deep into the psychological repercussions of abuse, you won't find it in The End of Always. Rather, you'll float through the narrative like the Wisconsin seasons that seemed to float by while Marie overcame her trials. Reading this book felt like I was flipping through my grandparents' old photo album. But I wasn't just looking at photos of happy times, I was also looking at photos that lay bear the raw realities of each own's life.

Some might find this type of narrative too whimsical or disjointed for a story that contains heavy themes such as domestic abuse; however I found it engaging. It fit with the surreal and disjointed state of Marie's narrative as her mind struggled to keep up with the hard realities of the immigrant family, young love, and abuse.

However, the lack of solidarity among women in the novel was frustrating. Marie, although softhearted of her younger sister Hattie, forms no close bonds with the other women of the novel. She is wary of her sister Martha, scornful of the women at the laundry mat, and distant from her neighbor Bertha. The struggle of not only Marie, but also her mother and grandmother is very isolated.

Nevertheless, The End of Always is a somber yet lovely book that took me to a time and place in American immigrant history that I've never delved into. It also brought light to the overlooked issue of domestic and gender violence in our communities.

I encourage you to pick up The End of Always at your local bookstore or purchase it through your e-reader device like I did!

My First Book Riot Quarterly Box | Unboxing

Last Saturday I received my first subscription package from Book Riot and Quarterly! For those not listening to the Book Riot podcast, I urge you to do so. It has made my Monday mornings much more enjoyable with book news, books recommendations and all things bookish.

I was hesitant to commit to anything recurring, but I realized I really wouldn't mind receiving mysterious books in my mail box every now and then. Actually, I would be ecstatic! So I took the leap to Quarterly and subscribed to the Book Riot Quarterly.

And without further ado... here are the books and bookies I received!

A letter from Book Riot explaining the theme of this quarter's box, along with blurbs of all the items. In celebration of summer and summer reading, this box included genres many readers were more hesitant to try, such as romance, science fiction/fantasy, and young adult. Personally, I read young adult novels and A LOT of romance fiction so this box was within the scope of my comfort zone. I actually didn't know many readers were hesitant to read some of my favorite genres. Anyways, I was very satisfied with this quarter's selection, but I hope next quarter would introduce me to books that are outside my comfort zone. 

The book that immediately caught my attention was The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin. I mean look at that cover! Its a fantasy set in the mythical land of Gujaareh . After reading a  few chapters, I was immediately sucked in Jemisin's own twist of dreams, magic, "ninja priests", and political scandal.

The second book is Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King. I think YA is underestimated in the literary world and many people think that the genre is exclusive to "young adults." But many YA books, like adolescents, delve headfirst into complex and, at times, grim moments in our lives. That is exactly what struck me when I dipped into Please Ignore Vera Dietz. After reading a few reviews on Goodreads I know this book will be raw and ethnically controversial. I am a bit hesitant to delve into this book, but I have a stack of happy and fluffy novels at hand to help me recover.

The last book is A Rogue By Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean, which I've already read! I've already read her Love By Number series and my all-time favorite Sarah MacLean novel is Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake. Naturally, I moved onto The Rules of Scoundrels series, which starts with A Rogue By Any Other Name. I'm sure I enjoyed it, but I honestly forgot how the story goes because it wasn't as memorable as her other novels. I actually prefer the second installment to The Rules of Scoundrels, One Good Earl Deserves A Lover. 

Oh gad, I love this poster. If you're a romance reader like me you would nod after reading each reason. I began reading romance at an early age and I kept it a secret because of the stigma attached to the genre. I grew up wondering if I was reading a "real book" with romance novels. And I didn't tell my friends of all these great romance books I found because I thought they would devalue and trivialize them. But I learned to throw those notions aside because I can read whatever the heck I want! As Joyce Lamb states in the article, "Romance, gender, and the measure of a 'real book'", " the measure of a real book ought to be the extent to which it resonates with readers. Romance offers stories about arguably the most important things in life: love, relationships, and families. Readers identify with these issues".

The folks over at Book Riot love Oyster, as it is one of their main contributors, so they gave us 2 free months of subscription! Oyster already gives first time users 1 free month of subscription so the extra month for being a Book Rioter is pretty sweet. If you've never heard of Oyster, its basically "the Netflix for books." That's the major marketing motto they've been using and it pretty much fits. It offers unlimited access to 500,000 e-books for $9.95 a month. It doesn't have newly published fiction, but it has a great collection of back-list books. At first I was reluctant to use Oyster because of their lack of new fiction. However this drawback is not entirely a bad thing because it brings a light on many back-list books, which go off the radar after their first year or few months of publishing.

Ta-da! Book goodies! I was lucky enough to receive one of the Lottery Items: an "I Read YA" tote bag from Scholastic. My friend thought it said "I read yah" (LOL). Others include Literary Aces playing cards, "I Read YA" button, and a Library Card Pouch from Out of Print.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier | Review

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is one of a handful of books I've read that ensnared me on the first page and held me captive until the last word. I was amazed by how easily I was able to slip into the narrator's shoes, as if my slumbering mind decided to slip on her slippers before I began sleepwalking into the pages of Dapne du Maurier's masterpiece.

The story is told by an unnamed narrator, whose bland and hopeless life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Maxim de Winter in Monte Carlo. Our quiet and shy narrator is a paid companion to a Mrs. Van Hopper, an obnoxious American woman, to whom she is entirely dependent on. Strung along Mrs. Van Hopper's whim, she is forced to endure the gossipy trivialities of the bourgeoisie.

To her dismay, she is caught in Mrs. Van Hopper's lousy attempt to acquaint herself with Maxim de Winter, who has mysteriously arrived in Monte Carlo. Mrs. Van Hopper's embarrassing attempt to prod Maxim shame our narrator as Maxim clearly sees Mrs. Van Hopper as another vulgar and gossip mongering socialite. However, Maxim takes notice our little heroine.

There is no whirlwind romance, no declarations of love; however, their time together is a refreshing change to the lives they've lead before. For our Romantic narrator, Maxim is the father, brother and friend she's never had. We feel her excitement when she wakes up to meet Maxim, prepared for whatever outing he has planned. We are with her thoughts as Maxim whisks them around Monte Carlo in his convertible. For Maxim, we know he came to Monte Carlo to escape from whatever ghost that haunted him in Manderley. And our narrator provides the diversion he was hoping for. However, Maxim is a character shrouded in angst and mystery and whose actions are as unknown to us as to our little narrator.

In a short time the two of them elope, forming an unlikely couple. Our narrator is twenty-one years old, while the Maxim is forty-two years old, old enough to be her father. With no father, brother, or man in her life, our heroine easily falls in love, or convinces herself that she is in love with Maxim. The whole proposal is startling for its lack of romance. Rather than seduction there is dictation, a trait we see in the domineering Maxim.

The majority of the story is set in Manderley, which is portrayed as the ideal English manor. It is famous, not only for its beauty, but also for its lavish parties hosted by Rebecca. Yet, for our heroine, it is the home she's never had. Orphaned and well below the bourgeoisie class, Manderley is paradise, but also a challenge.

Overwhelmed by the shadow of Rebecca, our narrator struggles to unravel the mystery of Manderley's occupants, including her elusive husband. Her quiet and shy demeanor is no match against Mrs. Danvers, the cold-hearted housekeeper, and her staff. Rather than lady of the manor, she remains a guest tip-toeing across hallways and taking no ownership of the house. At times, the narrator's timidity is infuriating; equally infuriating is the lack of respect from Mrs. Danvers and her staff.

Yet her inexperience and shy narrative captivates not only Maxim but the readers as well. Her lamb-like personality is a refreshing change from the showy seductiveness of Rebecca. It is her subservience and blind faith that propels the the story. Furthermore, the gripping narrative touches upon themes of gender, justice, and social class.

The division of gender roles is highly defined in Rebecca. Maxim is an old fashioned man who desires and later needs a subservient wife. Our narrator is dog-like in her unbending loyalty. She even has the tendency to sit at Maxim's feet and lay her head on his knees. It is these aspects that make our narrator not only the perfect wife, but also the perfect accomplice to Maxim.

Gender division ties into the theme of justice. Has Maxim gone unpunished for his murder or is his exile and the destruction of Manderley adequate punishments? Was Rebecca's murder justice for her infidelities or a tragedy of a woman living in sexual liberation? And how does the narrator's innocence fit into all of this? Can innocence be preserved or will it always be bent and manipulated by external circumstances?

Finally social class is adequately portrayed in the narrator's inability to live up to the bourgeoisie standards of Manderley, Maxim, Rebecca, and Mrs. Danvers. Constantly, the narrator bemoans her inability to become the next Mrs. Maxim de Winter. Her marriage grants her many luxuries; however, she is solely dependent on her husband. Interestingly, Mrs. Danvers and the Manderley staff are the biggest critics of our narrator's social ineptitude. They are unsympathetic of challenges and; rather, they reinforce the prejudice of social hierarchy.

There are also many dichotomies within the novel. Most obviously is the contrast between our narrator and Rebecca. While our narrator is the shy young bride, Rebecca is the sexual and outlandish socialite. Such dichotomies are accurately portrayed in objects such as the east wing and the west wing. The east wing, which faces the rose garden, is Maxim and our narrator's new suite. The west wing, which faces the roaring sea, was previously inhabited by Rebecca.

There is also the dichotomy of the Happy Valley and the trail among the woods. The Happy Valley is Maxim and the narrator's sanctuary; a valley of flowers that is beautiful to the senses. The Happy Valley and the rose garden are predictable; they do not outgrow their limitations as long as they are tended by a caring hand. Contrarily, the trail among the woods is a labyrinth of dark corners and secrets. It is the setting of deceit and adultery. For instance, it is at the end of the trail on the sandy beaches where Rebecca held most of her illicit affairs. Also, its is within the trail where our narrator first encounters Jack Favell, or rather his sports car.

_

At first, I decided to read Rebecca because the summary and reviews sparked my Gothic romance radar. I am a sucker for Gothic and Victorian fiction and I'm an even a bigger sucker for love stories. However, Rebecca actually complicates the notion of true love and faith for the romance fiction lovers. As stated before, it delves into complicated notions of gender, justice, and social class. If you haven't read Rebecca yet, I urge you to pick it up and get ready to get lost in this spiraling tale. The abrupt ending will leave you gasping for more.

Introduction

You can imagine I started this blog because I always had a voracious appetite for books.

But for the longest time, I believed my reading life to be deep within the realms of my personal life. A blissful experience of isolation, hidden and unknown from the world outside my own reservations.

So you can also imagine how challenging it was to open a blog of books, my books. I suppose my reclusive nature stems from my desire to keep these stories to myself. I used to think, the less people who read this book means the more I have it to myself! It's selfish and it totally defeats a beautiful aspect of reading: sharing.

It's unhealthy to bury tales of romance, horror, and fiction deep within myself. And frankly, I would like to share this past-time I hold dear in the form of words and social media.

Thus, I formally announce my simple yet ambitious book blog. There will mostly be reviews of the variety of books I've read, as well as anything bookish.

Enjoy!