![]() Cassidy Serhienko I was sold on this book as soon I read the comparison to The Breakfast Club, a truly great movie despite what Meghan says (she has no taste clearly). The similarities begin and end with the fact that each kid is from a different social group but that’s really a blessing as it allows the book to feel more original. I’m always a little hesitant when I read teen mysteries or thrillers, they’re usually not my favourite but this book exceeded my expectations. Usually the mystery is the main point of these stories, but the characters are really where this one shines. Of course I love Nate and Bronwyn, but surprisingly Addy was my favourite. The set up for her wasn’t promising, she’s the “beauty” with the perfect boyfriend blah blah blah, boring right? No ma’am, watching her character progress from a weepy push-over to an all around badass was a treat. The big surprise wasn’t particularly shocking, I did guess the murderer before the big reveal but it wasn’t so obvious that it was lame. We Were Liars is sort of the poster child for Young Adult mystery but honestly I enjoyed this one more. The characters were more realistic and you were more invested in them. The book didn’t feel like it was trying too hard and is definitely worth all the hype.
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![]() Cassidy Serhienko This book completely killed me in the best way possible. I feel like I’ve had the absolute delight that is Monty reaching into my chest and squeezing my heart for the past two days. Everytime Monty called Percy “darling” I nearly combusted. This is without a doubt the best book I’ve read in a long time and I have impeccable taste (obviously), and if you don’t go read it immediately then I’m just not sure we can be friends. This book was a lot more intense then I had originally anticipated, I thought it was going to be a cute LGBT romp through europe but I was quite happily mistaken. Monty is a more than borderline alcoholic, his father has been beating the ever-living shit out of him for his entire life and he is hopelessly in love with his best friend who happens to be a lad, black and an epileptic (in a time where such an affliction meant you were possessed by the devil). It confronts race and homophobia in eighteenth century england, ableism, and women’s rights and just generally kicks ass. I could ramble on about Monty and Percy for days and never run out of material but I also need to acknowledge the iconic Felicity. She refuses to put up with anyone’s crap, and has basically taught herself how to be a doctor by sneakily reading medical texts inside the dust jackets of romance novels. If you still don’t think she’s an absolute legend then maybe this will pique your interest: she may or may not casually give herself stitches (with no anesthesia) like it’s no big deal. I really want to do the aforementioned rambling about Monty and Percy, but I am going to restrain myself and just say that Monty fangirling over Percy for basically the entire novel is what I now live for. Do yourself a favour and read this book IMMEDIATELY. ![]() Meghan Brehon I read Fangirl when it came out (about 5 years ago), and confession time: I didn’t like the snippets from the Simon Snow books. Shocking, I know. It seems like a lot of people who read Fangirl just loved those parts. That isn’t to say that I didn’t like Fangirl, it’s a great book, I really like Rainbow Rowell’s writing. But I was not overly eager to pick up a copy of Carry On when it came out in 2015. Cassidy read it. She told me it was great and recommended it. Despite this, I resisted (and thus she would tell me that I had to read it, etc. etc.), until a few weeks ago when I finally went out on a whim and ordered it. Holy guacamole, I had no idea what I was missing out on. I devoured this book, and now that I’ve finished it, I don’t know what to do with myself (and so I’m sitting here writing about it, go figure). (Just wanted to take this time to mention that when I told Cassidy that I had read it and it was everything and more she said: “What did I f***ing say?”) I had heard a lot of very positive reviews, so going in I knew deep down that there was probably something likeable about this book. But oh boy, I did not expect to be so fully taken. I was disappointed in the first section of the book at the lack of Simon-Baz interaction (because let’s be honest that’s what I came for), but nevertheless it caught me with the story alone. I had expected it to start from the beginning (in the first years of their schooling), and to go from there. Instead, it surprised me by taking place in their eighth year at Watford. I liked how that added a layer of mystery to the story. You missed out on seeing the characters and relationships (friend, romantic, enemy, and otherwise) develop from early on, but instead pieced things together as you went. Who are Simon’s parents? What happened to Baz’s mom? How does the Humdrum work? Are some of the questions that add that layer of mystery and suspense to the novel and help to keep you guessing. ***We are now entering the land of SPOILERS!! So if you haven’t read it, I recommend you go and do that, then we can resume our chat. K, pal?*** Just once more for emphasis… *****SPOILERS!***** The book hardly started for me until Baz got back to school. As soon he walked through the cafeteria doors I couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off of my face. At first I was nervous that I was somehow misremembering from Fangirl, and actually had no idea what was going on and there wasn’t anything romantic between Simon and Baz. But we all know that is delightfully not so. Before Baz admitted to the reader that he was “hopelessly in love” with Simon (at which point my life became complete, totally fulfilled) I was beginning to question what the damn point of the book was without a Simon-Baz relationship. But then it happened, and it was everything I had hoped for and so. Much. More. When I had about 200 pages left, I thought to myself, “Oh no! This can’t possibly be it! There aren’t enough pages left! I. NEED. MORE.” In that moment my life outside of the book stopped, and here was only Simon and Baz. A quick google search let me know that there is a sequel (potentially) in the works for a 2020 release. I need that sequel (despite the fact that after that ending and epilogue, a sequel doesn’t make a ton of sense. But still. I neeeed it). If I was a writer I’d go full Cath and write some juicy fanfic (wouldn't that be the epitome of meta?). But alas, it is not my destiny. I feel the need to address that ending. Because, like, c’mon. I kind of thought that we were being set up for a happily ever after when it just so conveniently happened that both Simon and Baz didn’t hate each other, but in fact both just wanted to make out (happy cowinkydink (*coincidence) there). Of course in my land of rainbows and unicorns there was a way that Simon (or someone) could just somehow repair the holes in the magick-sphere, and get rid of the humdrum without anyone getting hurt. *Sigh*. But apparently that’s not how it works. Despite the fact it wasn’t a best case scenario ending, I’ll take it (like I have a choice). It’s hard not to compare Carry On to Harry Potter (maybe you shouldn’t, but you kind of have to). With that being said, I haven’t actually read Harry Potter (lol fight me about it, those books are boring (I’m imagining Cassidy getting flustered right now reading those words, but #sorrynotsorry babe)). I feel the need for a disclaimer at this point (give me a chance to defend myself): I have read the first 4 books in the Harry Potter series, but I found them to be kind of dry (they got better as they went along). This may be because the target audience is younger than I am. But I digress, this isn’t about Harry Potter. I love Harry Potter (because of the movies, which I saw before I read any of the books (once again #sorrynotsorry)), and the fact that Carry On centres around magicians going to a magic school qualifies it for the Harry Potter comparison. I fully appreciate that the spells in Carry On include things such as “Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you?” and the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody (as opposed to “alohomora”, “sectumsempra”, etc.). I understand what Rowell was getting at, as these are popular words, lots of people use them so they have power, whatever, but I thought it was kind of goofy (and therefore good). Okay. I think I conveyed that Simon and Baz are everything? Now excuse me while I go and feverishly reread Fangirl (this time fully appreciating the Simon Snow parts), and then Eleanor and Park. Then maybe read Rowell’s other books. Then probably reread Carry On (let’s be honest here). ![]() Meghan Brehon After watching hours’ worth of Ted Talks and interviews of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on YouTube, I figured it only made sense that I pick up one of her novels (kind of weird watching an interview where she’s talking about a book I haven’t read). Americanah was the novel featured in the book interviews I watched, so it made sense that this is where I started. It was a good 180 from the lighthearted YA that I had read in July and made me actually think a bit about the world around me while I read. The protagonist, Ifemelu, has a very different experience to my own. She is Nigerian and moves to the USA to go to university. The book follows her from her high school years, to university in Nigeria, university in America, her career in America, and her eventual return to Nigeria. (And of course, as we know from Adichie’s Ted Talk “The danger of a single story”, it is very important to branch out and have a variety of stories and ideas of a people or a place (etc.)). I appreciate how Adichie doesn’t sugar coat anything. Her book addresses mental illness and issues relating to gender, class, and race (all fairly difficult topics), in a way that feels very honest. She speaks with a certain frankness that isn’t as common as it should be. This doesn’t only apply to the aforementioned “difficult topics”, but to everything. She doesn’t beat around the bush to make a statement more comfortable, but rather calls it as she sees it. This no bullshit approach makes it much easier to step into the shoes of the main character, and is also refreshing in a novel (personally, I appreciate a great level of transparency, i.e. telling it like it is). I like how it’s written. The novel begins just before Ifemelu moves back to Nigeria from America and jumps both back in time and as well between Ifemelu and Obinze (her boyfriend from school). You still get to see all of the events in her life which shaped her decisions and her identity, but without lingering on unnecessary details. You go back to look at details that are relevant to a specific part of the narrative. I found that the transitions between current events to past to be smooth and worked quite well (I was never confused about where exactly we were on the story’s timeline). You slowly get to see the full picture, and really get to know Ifemelu and Obinze through these chapters which go back to earlier years. Adichie discusses topics that are very relevant in today’s world. Her novel offers commentary on race in America, and the impact this has on many things (including identity). She compares how race is treated in America to how things are in Nigeria. She explores gender roles, and the strains that this places on relationships. All in all, this novel isn’t quite the cross Atlantic romance story that I had thought it would be, but rather the story of a woman and her experiences. It offers insight into many aspects of living as a black woman in the USA. With the depth it carries, I wouldn’t call it a quick easy summer read. However, I would definitely say that it is worth the read for the commentary on race and identity. |
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