Scarlett by Marissa Meyer

 

No picture this time, sorry :(

Why I read this book?

This is the second book in the Lunar Chronicles of Marissa Meyer. I really enjoyed the first one, Cinder and decided to continue with the series. It also makes part of my sequel challenge.

What's the book about?

As it was the case with Cinder, this is a re telling of a children story, in this case Little Red Riding Hood. The story follows Scarlet and Cinder in different parts of the world to finally merge towards the end. On her side, Scarlett's grandmother has gone missing and she is sure it's abduction. While trying to find her grandmother she will meet some interesting people along the way.

What was the thing I liked the most? 

Although you know how the story goes for LRRH this re telling takes a few twists that make the book interesting. I enjoyed the way the characters are written. 

What about the main character?

As you probably guessed by now the main character here is Scarlett Benoît, and she is inspired on LRRH, she even wears a red hoodie! Once again, as in Cinder, they have glimpses of the original story, but they are both very strong young women, albeit they are still teen agers and as such they will sometimes take rush decision marked by a pretty pair of eyes, if you know what I mean. In the case of Scarlett, she is also an orphan, even though her father is still alive, but he pretty much walked on her, so its her grandma who brought her up. She is a bit ill tempered, but mostly because she has had to deal with a lot.

Final thoughts

I'm really getting into this series, Meyer takes the fairy tale background, including the origin of the story (in this case France) and incorporates them into the whole tale while adding a bit of futuristic elements without pushing it into sci-fi necessarily. The characters are not dull, although sometimes is a bit predictable what their reaction will be, but never mind that, the books are very enjoyable. 

TSS: Back once again

Hello everybody!

OMG, it's been such a long time since I did a TSS post! Maybe I mentioned, maybe I didn't but I had a huge exam recently...long story short if you don't pass this exam you are not allowed to graduate from your PhD. I passed!!. You can only imagine how happy I am, how relieved and how relaxed I am right now. 

My reading life was not in a pause however, I was a good girl and kept on reading...ok, it had nothing to do with being a good girl, but mostly needing to do something different than studying every night. So I did finish 8 books since my last TSS post. 

However, as you may have noticed I did not post the reviews for the last 6 :S. But I'm catching up, yesterday I posted the reviews for Gone Girl, The Buddha in the Attic and Wool. Hopefully during this week I will be able to post the other 3; I'm lucky to have a long week-end all for myself and work on this.

Other than that everything is going fine. Weather is not very summery yet, but I will change my banner soon, just the window image. Maybe that will hint mother nature that is time to summer things up?

Anyway, have a wonderful week, and fingers crossed you will be able to drop by and actually find new stuff in the site. I'm a bit behind updating my lists of challenges and books reviewed, but I will get to it soon enough.

Wool by Hugh Howey

Why did I read this book?

This book was the May selection of the Sword and Laser book club.

What's the book about?

Something happened to Earth years ago and what is left of humanity leaves now in a Silo, separated in different levels, providing everything people may need. Thinking about going outside is forbidden, although ironically enough talking about it might get you outside, into a toxic, lethal environment. Not surprisingly, rules are questioned and methods are not agreed upon. Are this rules really there to protect us or to contain us?

What was the thing I liked the most? 

I have to say, I had a bit of a trouble getting into this book, but once you pass the first section where the main characters are introduced, you start seeing the big picture of the Silo. I liked the way (for me, please keep in mind this reviews are ALWAYS according to me) the institution and more specifically the rule are criticised yet reinforced. The lives of everyone are controlled by sets of rules established long ago, rules that no one explains and very few understand. 

What about the main character?

For me the main character was Juliette. I liked her as a strong woman character. In general in this book I was fond of the fact that most of the women were doers, not waddling around waiting for things to happen. In the case of Juliette, although there are moments were I did not agree with her, she was always moving, she is resourceful and she is smart. Most of all, she cares and she wants to understand why everything is like it is in the Silo. 

Final thoughts

I like the book...but it wasn't great. Some of the things, specially the end turned out to be a bit predictable in a non exciting way. I know that Howey gives more details on how the Earth was "damaged" in the follow up of Wool...but with the explanation given I don't feel compelled to go and read it; I actually rolled my eyes a bit every time Bernard talked about the "real way humans are" Not that I do not agree, but he was too pushy with his view, too black and white, and I just don't like that. I like my characters a bit more gray. 

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

No picture this time sorry, I forgot :(

Why did I read this book?

I heard beautiful things said about this book at Bookrageous. The premise was short and full of sentiment and it completely delivered.

What's the book about?

This is the story of Japanese women who came into the States right before WWII as "picture brides". They traveled the ocean to meet their husband, whom they only met before through pictures. They arrived with the American dream and nightmare at the same time. We hear multiple voices speaking as one and see how their life changed after that boat trip.

What was the thing I liked the most? 

Otsuka has a powerful way of transferring feelings by word. The happiness, the pride, the pain felt by all these women is palpable in the book. Sometimes the situations are so full of meaning that I had to put the book down and just breathe. It was a beautiful, complete research and it shows how deep into the subject she went. I also really liked the fact that the book was written in first person plural, which made all the different event merge into a big life full of everything there is to feel.

What about the main character?

As I mentioned is panoply of voices altogether. But I think the main character is being foreign. Not knowing what is ahead, adapting to a new culture, new way of living without losing our ways, what makes us who we are. 

Final thoughts

It's been quite a while since I read something this short yet so full of everything. It was beautiful to read, touching, eloquent, sweet and sad. I felt the need to share it with someone the moment I finished it, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do so. It was a perfect transition to Gone Girl, since they do not resemble in any way. By reading this tiny book I can't help but to want to read Otsuka's debut novel When the Emperor Was Divine, and it has been added to my TBR pile. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Why did I read this book?

This is the last book from Gillian Flynn. I really enjoyed her other 2 books, Sharp Objects and Dark Places, and I heard great things about this last book, so I was very excited to finally read it.

What's the book about?

The book is the story of a marriage...not a happy marriage mind you. The story is told in 2 voices, that of Amy, the wife and that of Nick the husband. Amy has disappeared and all the clues seem to point to a murder and what is more, Nick gets more and more incriminated as we advance in the book, although he will insist on his innocence. We learn about their relationship and the story behind Amy's weird disappearance. 

What was the thing I liked the most? 

If you haven't grown to like Flynn's books don't come near this book. This is the epitome of unlikeable characters, twisted relationships and f*&^%$ up psyches. Interestingly enough that's what I enjoyed the most, the characters. I know I just said they are not likeable but the way they are written keeps pushing you to want to know more about them even though you grow disgusted of their behaviour.

What about the main character?

There are 2 main characters as I mentioned, Amy, a very smart woman, single child...a bit used on getting her way. On the other hand we have Nick, a twin, but the younger one and hence, he is used for people to run for him (this is the book talking, not me). They met in New York, both of them writers, both of them smart. But faith had it that Nick's mom fell sick and he had to go back to his hometown in Missouri. This scenario change will make things harder on their already not so perfect marriage. But as we dig deeper and deeper in their relationship we find more and more eery things about this "picture perfect" couple.

Final thoughts

It was very hard to write this review without giving away the punch. But look, there is always a thing that comes to my head when I finish Flynn's book: I don't know what exactly happened in her life to make her able to write such characters...but I do NOT want to know.  Flynn somehow manages to build this very sick, very damaged characters, everyone more broken than the other, and yet...and yet you want more of them. You don't want to change them; you just want to know more about them. You certainly hope not to find anyone during your life remotely similar to them, but man are they involving when you read them.