Lullabies

Lullabies by Lang Leav
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are books that need to be experienced, not just read and reviewed.

There are books that affect me on a personal level that I had to pause and think after finishing a page.

There are random words that can be combined by an artist to create something meaningful.

"Lullabies" is Lang Leav's sophomore book. Like the first one "Love and Misadventure", it is "woeful and whimsical". This time, though, it included longer, deeper and more sensual poetry. You can either hate it or love it.

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Let It Snow

Let It Snow by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I always had this idea that you should never give up a happy middle in the hopes of a happy ending, because there is no such thing as a happy ending. Do you know what I mean? There is so much to lose.

This book has three interconnected stories focusing on three different plots. The stories are written by three authors.

Surprisingly, my favorite was the first one written by Maureen Johnson. The main character was funny, quirky and loveable. The second one is my second favorite, written by one of my favorite authors of all time, John Green. As expected, he wrote like he were stuck in his teenage years and that's a good thing. The story was fun and light. It has quotable quotes like I expected it to have. I had a love-hate feeling for third story by Lauren Myracle. At one point, I think I rolled my eyes, but the main character has her own redeeming factors.

The book succeeded in making me think of Christmas and love, but I don't think this is the perfect read if it was snowing outside and I had to curl up by a fireplace.

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Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

People need quality information, the leisure to digest it, and the freedom to act on what has been learned.

There's something about dystopian novels that attract me as a reader. I thought I had to adjust myself with the fact that this book was published in 1953 and it's describing today as a time where books are banned and burned. Oh horrors! Well, I need not adjust because most of what was written here stays true and still applies to current society, even symbolically speaking. Thus, we consider this a classic.

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Scheherazade

Scheherazade by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This short story is the perfect distraction. It's long enough to be interesting and short enough to leave something for my imagination. Albeit short, this story still contains the signature Murakami style of writing with intrigue, sex and hints of sadness. Every once in a while, when I need an escape from reality, I will read a short story by Haruki Murakami. :)

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Heart-Shaped Box

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was curious and I wanted to be scared out of my wits. The story started as creepy and ended up being different from what I expected. Other people may not like that, but the plot grew on me.

Judas Coyne is a rock star in the twilight of his years. He faced his greatest challenge when a ghost started haunting him. Was it for revenge brought about by his promiscuous lifestyle or was it something else? The story has unexpected twists and the characters' have their soft spots.

This is the first Joe Hill book I read and I must say, the style of writing reminded me of his father, Stephen King. I am planning to read a couple more of his books and I won't mind this story to be adapted into screenplay (just like "Horns"). :)

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To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It feels strange to have spent so much time wishing for something, for someone, and then one day,to just stop.

There are books that absorb me into a different world as soon as I read the first line or first paragraph. Every time I open this book, I got transported to the world of the Song sisters. It doesn't matter if I'm reading it while eating lunch or while I'm commuting home. I think this is because of the way Jenny Han writes. She's a good storyteller even if the story is as simple as writing letters to likeable boys and them finding out about it.

You'd rather make up a fantasy version of somebody in your head than be with a real person.

I would like to think of myself as a passionate person and throughout the years, I have had a lot of crushes and have fallen infatuated (or in love) with men and boys-pretending-to-be-men. I've been friendzoned or forgotten or probably laughed at because I used to write poetry or send trying-hard-to-be flirty messages. The main character of this book, Lara Jean, reminded me of that side of myself and my experiences while growing up.

This story is funny and focuses not just on the drama of teenage crushes, but also on the love between siblings that even developed more after their mother passed away. It was about taking responsibilities, making life-changing decisions and accepting the consequences even when they smack your right back in the face.

The ending was a bit abrupt for me. Maybe it was because I wanted to know more about what happened to Lara Jean and the boy she chose.

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Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wish every day could be Halloween. We could all wear masks all the time. Then we could walk around and get to know each other before we got to see what we looked like under the masks.

August "Auggie" Pullman started the fifth grade. This story is about his experience going "mainstream" after being home-schooled. This can be the usual YA/coming-of-age fiction except for the part that Auggie was born with a congenital defect that distorted his face, thus, earning him several rude nicknames from other kids. "Wonder" tells how Auggie faced (no pun intended) the challenges of meeting new people and learning (the hard way) who among those are true friends. We have all gone through that challenge at least once in our lives.

This book is well-written. There are chapters that show other characters' points of view. It's fun to read through them while keeping in mind the personalities of these characters. This story inspiring. Those who have been bullied or judged because of physical appearance can relate to Auggie's experiences. Surprisingly, I was touched by the ending. I didn't expect this book to make me cry, but I guess a little bit of kindness and a lesson on kindness can go a long way.

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Say What You Will

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

But it's possible to love someone for entirely selfless reasons, for all their flaws and weaknesses, and still not succeed in having them love you back. It's sad, perhaps, but not tragic, unless you dwell forever in the pursuit of their elusive affections.

Like many YA novels, this book has this coming-of-age and teenage-falling-in-love themes. What's unique about this story is that it revolves around two people who have physical and psychological disabilities. They struggle with their states of well-being and, at the same time, face the challenges of making big choices in life.

The first part of the book is very engaging. The characters are endearing with their own flaws that made me like them more. I was not hooked during the latter part of the book though. It felt like it was unnecessarily prolonged and the ending felt abrupt and forced. I was not as touched as I expected. For a book that's being compared to Rainbow Rowell's "Eleanor and Park" and John Green's "The Fault in our Stars", maybe I expected too much.

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Landline

Landline by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wasn't that the point of life? To find someone to share it with?
And if you got that part right, how far wrong could you go? If you were standing next to the person you loved more than everything else, wasn't everything else just scenery?

I think I've mentioned it before and I will mention it again-- I want to write like Rainbow Rowell. She has this style of incorporating current pop culture, geekiness and love into a story that makes me giddy and with characters that I can truly relate with.

"Landline", however, is not the typical Young Adult novel I am used to. The main characters are within my age bracket and there is a bit of supernatural mystery included in the plot. This is not Rainbow's best compared to the other books I've read so far, but there's something familiar and comforting about her storytelling that reminds me of a hot cup of chocolate, a warm blanket and a good book during rainy days.

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The Outsiders

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Sixteen years on the streets and you can learn a lot.
But all the wrong things, not the things you want to learn.
Sixteen years on the streets and you see a lot.
But all the wrong sights, not the sights you want to see."

Ponyboy Curtis reminds me a bit of Holden Caulfied (of "Catcher in the Rye"), but less cynical and more idealistic. The story revolves around Ponyboy's family and friends who belong to the "Greasers" part of society. They are from the lower class and their social stratum always clashes with the "Socs"-- the rich kids from the West Side. Ponyboy narrates this from a point of view of a 14-year-old kid who has seen too much, experienced too much and was forced to grow up fast. This is the same boy who loves books, clouds and sunsets.

I agree with Rainbow Rowell's review that the narration is just seamless. I can even hear their voices in my head including the accent and the twang.

I'm probably a few years late in reading this book, but I guess a story becomes a classic piece if it's socially-relevant at any given point in time. Big thanks to my friend who recommended this, among many other recommendations. My next step now is to watch the movie. :)

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The Lover's Dictionary

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There is something unique about this book that makes it interesting and refreshing to read. It is a love story between a nameless couple, but David Levithan searched for seemingly random words and alphabetized them like entries in the dictionary. Interspersed are moments or memories of the roller coaster ride that a romantic relationship can bring.

This quote from the book describes it best:
"Trying to write about love is ultimately like trying to have a dictionary represent life. No matter how many words there are, there will never be enough."

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The New World

The New World by Patrick Ness
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This short book is the prequel to the Chaos Walking series. It tells the story of Viola's bits and pieces of experiences before she landed in New World. I found it engaging and emotional and it kept me wanting more. I recommend this to those who are hesitant to read the series. It might help decide whether to continue or not.




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Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking, #3)

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It was a bad idea to finish reading this book in a public place. My loud sniffles attracted questioning looks, but I couldn't stop reading until the end.

This took me a really long time to finish. I was a bit bored during the first half of the book. I don't know why as I couldn't put the first two books down. The pace picked up during the second half. I appreciate 1017's point of view in the story. The familiar fast and stressful pace came back and this final book gave me the closure that I needed.

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The Ask and The Answer

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like any other second book of a three-book series, there is a palpable monotony in the plot during the first two-thirds of the story. It felt like everything has settled down and the characters have made their choices. There are a few more quotable quotes from the main characters. Then again, this is Chaos Walking. I expected more twists and I expected to be kept hanging at the end of it. I was not disappointed. Now, on to book three...

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The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1)

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Darn this book for making me shed tears in a public place only after reading a few pages. Darn you Ben for always breaking my heart! When I get my pet dog, I shall name him Manchee. Thankful to a friend who recommended this series. Oh, why don't you just die, Aaron?! I can't stop reading and I have to read the next book. I have to. It is weird imagining a Western movie style setting in a dystopian world with two moons, full of adventure and fantasy and sci-fi and awesome heroics and action and coming-of-age stuff and drama and death. What if Noise is real? How will we cope? I'm sure there will still be a lot of lies and deception. I cried some more because some scenes hurt and touch, some make me frantic and stressed and scared. Oh Viola! That scene when she was reading the book to Todd was awesome. I love how fast-paced the book was because I find myself skipping some words, sometimes lines just to know what happens next. I wish I have another long weekend to finish the series..."

That's probably what (some of) my Noise would sound like while reading this book. :)

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Fangirl

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading Rainbow Rowell's "Eleanor & Park" and "Attachments", I know that, somehow, I have gotten used to her writing style. These two books have different plots, so I did not have any set expectations on "Fangirl". I just know I'd enjoy it. Well, I did and I am placing this book on the same level as "Eleanor & Park" when it comes to my books-I-adore list.

As a fangirl, this is my kind of story. Although I am not into fanfiction, I know how it feels to intertwine my love for the fictional world to my reality. There's a level of passion that some people will not understand and will find funny or weird. Cather is a typical fangirl whose college freshman life is told in this coming-of-age story. She goes through changes in life and love. Between her struggle to find herself, maintain her scholarship, make friends with her roommate, worry about her dad, think about her twin sister and fall in love, she writes her own version of a very popular series of books.

Interspersed with Cath's life is the story of Simon Snow who reminds me very much of Harry Potter. Think a story within a story. I would often find myself skipping through the Snow stories just to know what happens next in Cath's. That's a good thing -- her life is more interesting for me than what happens in her books.

Rowell has this tendency to write lines that melt my heart or make me want cuddle and kiss and fall in love again. I would like to believe that I can be jaded about love at times, but her books will completely reveal the heart on my sleeve. It's the thought of young love's innocence, the kindness of the characters and the way the story unfolds that make me want to get lost in them. The characters are flawed and the ending is not all perfect, but that's what makes the story relatable and effective.

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Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

[WARNING: SPOILER ALERT]

I love the movie and watching it compelled me to read the book. I did not really think of it as science fiction. I viewed it as one of those coming-of-age novels. It's a story of life, friendship and love in a setting so peculiar it would only come from someone with great imagination.

I think I expected too much romance in the story that I got disappointed. There are moments when I got bored because the story seemed monotonous and the pace unvaried. Maybe I was not used to the style of writing. There were times when I did not agree with the opinions and decisions of the main protagonist, Kathy, but I guess that's what made her real and... human. My favorite parts of the story were the last few pages. There is one scene in the book that I would have wanted to not be changed in the movie-- when Madame friend while watching Kathy dancing to the song "Never Let Me Go". It made the ending more emotional. This is one of those rare instances wherein I appreciate the movie more than the book... or maybe I am just biased because I adore Andrew Garfield as Tommy. :)



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The Spectacular Now

The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(WARNING: May contain spoilers)
I wanted to finish reading this book because I was curious. They made a movie adaptation of the book and I wonder how they're going to show this on the big screen. They would probably focus more on the romantic comedy part, but this is such a sad story.

The party does not start until Sutter Keely, God's own drunk, is in the house. He's charming and confident. He's a hero and a loser. He's smart and philosophical, but he can be stupid, annoying and selfish. He drowns his life in 7Up and whisky. He's someone I love to hate and I hate to love. He's my ultimate oxymoronic fictional character.

The story can be exhausting but there are unexpectedly funny parts. I was a bit disappointed with the ending. It felt abrupt. Yes, it was realistic but I guess I was really hoping for a happy, fairy tale ending for someone who held this machismo façade, but has really suffered so much.



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Why We Broke Up

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the longest break-up letter I have ever read.

The outcome was a bit expected. I found it unnecessarily fast-paced. It seemed like I needed to catch my breath every time I read Min's (Minerva Green) narration of what happened. When I remind myself Daniel Handler is Lemony Snicket and he is indeed "wordy", I continued reading. It might have helped if I were a fan of classic films because there were a lot of movie titles mentioned. On the other hand, I like the way Min's raw, honest and heart-wrenching confession of her feelings. The premise of this story is weird in an interesting way.

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Room

Room by Emma Donoghue
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like books written from a child's point of view such as "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close". Children see the world from a different perspective. There is innocence in the way the characters digest and share their life experiences. It was refreshing to read "Room" from a 5-year old's point of view, especially since it has a harrowing and dark theme. Jack's story is heartbreaking, but hopeful. Some may not appreciate or like the way it was written (I have to admit, there were dragging moments), but this is a story that would be unforgettable for me.


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