This Song Will Save Your Life

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes people think they know you. They know a few facts about you, and they piece you together in a way that makes sense to them. And if you don't know yourself very well, you might even believe that they are right. But the truth is, that isn't you. That isn't you at all.

I found this book because I found a quote about music a few weeks ago in Tumblr that made me search for the author. This is one of those books that I would take as light reading and one would either love it or hate it depending on how you can relate to Elise, the main protagonist.

This book ended up surprising me with its witty characters, funny lines and inspiring quotations. There are lines when I feel like the author got a thought or two from my brain and wrote them on this book. The story is easy-flowing, like reading someone else's diary and relating to this person in a lot of levels. I think I wanted a music-infused, fairy tale kind of teenage experience that's why I like this book.

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More Than This

More Than This by Patrick Ness
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking series. Like those books, "More Than This" is twisty, confusing, mysterious, intriguing with a dash of adrenaline rush in between.

I love the characters (Tomasz!) and their musings and conversations about life.

No, life didn't always go how you thought it might.
Sometimes it didn't make any sense at all.
You've just got to find a way to live there anyway...

I can't help but compare this to the previous Ness books I have read. Maybe I am not such a big fan of sci-fi-ish plots. Sometimes, I got bored with the way the story kept me in suspense and then end up with something a bit bland. Well, maybe I expected more than this.

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The Golem and the Jinni

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of the reasons why I am a fan of fantasy.

It is a tale about a golem and a jinni who found themselves in New York, an ocean away from their place of origin. They pretend to be a part of the community (as a baker and as a metalsmith) until such time wherein they cannot hide their true natures from each other and from other people.

I am shipping Chava (the golem) and Ahmad (the jinni). Take note, this is not a love story. It happened during the 19th century. Usually, stories set during this time will require me to have easy access to a dictionary or a thesaurus. This story is different. This is a smooth read and I couldn't help but turn the pages to see what happens next. The last few chapters of the books can be perfectly described by my sister when she said, "There are surprises in every corner". Indeed, there were. I was a bit sad when book ended. I did not want to let it go.

I remember this quote about weirdness-- finding someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours and falling into a mutual satisfying weirdness called true love. Yes, I really wanted it to be a love story (too much reading of YA romances). This novel is intriguing, beautifully written, delightful and captivating. I can't wait to read more of Helene Wecker's books.



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