Bookish Academy Awards

I did just do a 2AM book awards, but I'm adapting the routine and from now on I'm thinking of posting on of these around the time of the Oscars. So, to refrain from being repetitive, I'm going to do an academy awards like the Oscars do it, including books of 2014 but also from the first two months of this year. Or else this will basically be a repeat. 


Best Actor-Best Male Protagonist:

This one is obvious. I was trying to think of one that wasn't going with default, but honestly there is no other like my Gansey. He's funny. He's nice but damaged and worrying and I just...gANSEY. Review here.

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

 “Birthdays were wretched, delicious things when you lived in Beau Rivage. The clock stuck midnight, and presents gave way to magic.

Curses bloomed.

Girls bit into sharp apples instead of birthday cake, chocked on the ruby-and-white slivers, and collapsed into enchanted sleep. Unconscious beneath cobweb canopies, frozen in coffins of glass, they waited for their princes to come. Or they tricked ogres, traded their voices for love, danced until their glass slippers cracked.

A prince would awaken, roused by the promise of true love, and find he had a witch to destroy. A heart to steal. To tear from the rib cage, where it was cushioned by bloody velvet, and deliver it to the queen who demanded the princess's death. 

Girls became victims and heroines.

Boys became lovers and murderers.

And sometimes... they became both.” 

This book, I actually read last year, but the long awaited sequel came out Tuesday, so I figured I would make a quick review. Because I love this book. Ish. I will try to write coherent thoughts. 

Stats:

Genre: Dark fairy tale retelling

Feelings: Some?

Happiness: Some snark and fun back and forth conversations.

Cuteness: I have mixed feelings about the romance. 

Fast pacing: Ish

Series: YES. And no. The new book, Tear You Apart, is a companion about Viv.

Read if you like: Once Upon a Time, and really dark fairy tales.

Content: Ehhhgggghhh. Some intense kissy stuff. Stupid romance thrown in. "Suggestive" comments. The most graphic it gets is the really annoying kissing with all the *BACK CLUTCHING* that makes me roll my eyes. 

In one sentence... A town where everyone gets a role in a fairy tale ending in death or sadness, and a girl on a mission for truth.

Thoughts: A apple, a blade, and dark flowers.

Overall:

Rating: 4.5/5

This review has LIGHT ROMANTIC SPOILERS in the negative section

The Lovely Bits:

I really like this book. When I say it's dark, I mean it. Fairy tale retellings can get old. But these are the types of fairy tales where Cinderella's stepsisters cut off bits of their feet. The dark kind. And it was glorious.

This is a very much concept driven book. After my first read, I did love the characters. I have given some thought and realized there's really more in it I didn't like that I thought. That being said, I still love the plot and story so much, it will remain a favorite.

The writing was lovely, thought simplistic. It was dark and weird, and very much pleasing. I ate up this whole book. Even the awful characters you kind of /like/.

I have so many mixed thoughts about Mira. She could be so obnoxious at times, but she was also realistic. She made terrible decisions but she was only 15. She was human. Wanting more. So I related with her. But there were times I wanted to smack that girl.

I feel like this is another case where I like the book so much that the little things in it that would normally disgust me don't bother me as much. I can understand why many people hate this book, but I loved it. 

The Less Lovely Bits

Before we get to the awful romantic square thing, I am going to talk about Mira. I did say she was relate-able, but she was also ridiculous. She complained about not being able to drive or go to parties. She said she could never date or watch R movies. I understand that Sarah Cross was trying to make it obvious that she is sheltered, but...she's 15. I'm 15. I am not allowed to go to wild parties or watch R movies and chance are I won't be dating for a long time. So instead of relate-able she came across of obnoxious.

Sarah Cross also I think made her a little too...mellow with things. She goes to this place and meets these weird people...including a girl who coughs up jewels and flowers...and calls it "weird".

What.

Okay. Now for the messed up romance. Before I say anything I'd just like to say that Blue, Felix, and Freddy...they're brothers. Yep.

Blue: The Bad Boy. The annoying teen with conveniently colored blue hair and sass. Least annoying out of all of them. But the forced tension with him and Mira was annoying. She's 15. Make this cute. Not weird.

Freddy: The Nice Guy. Oh but he's so dedicated to her! And if she is to go through with her role as sleeping beauty, he's her true love!

Felix: The Mysterious Man. A freakin 21 year old who shares a bed with her and DOES WEIRD THINGS. Stop. She's 15. Stop. He's making her feel obligated to do something, even to the point where she gets a nightgown and all that. She's 15. Never dated. And yet suddenly bravery and experience. 

Oh no, of course when Blue offers her a place to stay it's a terrible idea! But a 21 year old? Psh. Much better.

Here, look. I made a diagram for this.

Yeah. The romance of this novel sucked majorly.

Overall, I still finished this book loving it. I managed to swallow my furious-ness about the romance enough to realize that this story had so much promise and I really thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Partly also because the other not-main characters. Tear You Apart, the new one, has so much promise because it's about Viv, who is awesome.

I would definitely recommend this to people who have the patience for a weird love square and really like dark fairy tales. It's worth it.

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

“He says that all that happens when you go far, far away is that you discover you've brought yourself along.”

Again, a book has been presented to me with a gorgeous cover, an amazing synopsis, and promise of a really great story. And I walk away very disappointed. 

Don't get me wrong...it wasn't bad. It just wasn't what I wanted it to be.

Stats:

Genre: Fantasy-ish paranormal wanabe

Feelings: No.

Happiness: No, not really.

Cuteness: I honestly could care less about the "romance".

Fast pacing: No

Series: No. 

Read if you like: Grimm fairy tales, light concepts, quick romance

Content: Nothing, other than a few kisses that aren't described and stuff. This could basically be a juvenile fiction book.

In one sentence... A troubled teen aged boy and a feisty redheaded girl try to piece together a mystery, all from the point of view of the ghost of one of the Brothers Grimm.
Thoughts:  A beautifully baked cake, guys. Cake.

Overall:

Rating: 3/5 

This review has NO MAJOR SPOILERS

The Lovely Bits:

Okay. You see that one sentence summary I wrote? It sounds pretty darn cool. The concept itself is awesome. Narrated by the ghost of one of the Grimm Brothers? Um,  yes! Sadly other than the concept there were few lovely things I was happy with.

The writing wasn't bad. There were some characters I actually really liked. I think the "problem" is that this is a modern day story advertised as an old fashioned fairy tale retelling. While that does go well with the voice of the narrator, it left me unsatisfied at the end, seeing as I had been expecting something dark.

Really, this is one of those books where I had a lot of things I disliked but those didn't make it a bad book. So the "Lovely Bits" section is quite short, but I still think other people can enjoy this book as long as they really know what it's about.

The Less Lovely Bits:

First off, as nice as the synopsis sounds, it really ticked me off after finishing the book. Let's take a look.

On goodreads, it tells you exactly what this story is about. The ghost, Jeremy, the girl, and the mystery. But on the book itself it says something along the lines of:

"Then Ginger takes a bite of cake that is said to make that person fall in love with the first person they see...and for her its Jeremy"

Okay. Interesting. And it did happen.

But was not brought up again basically the whole freaking book. What? 

I was told this book was dark and creepy. I like dark and creepy things. I was expecting at least a Kill Me Softly level of creepy. I didn't get it. There were subplots thrown in there that felt forced and contrived, and very out of place in a story that's supposed to be dark and about Grimm fairy tales.

This was such an amazing concept. I just wish they would have done better. I wish they would have made Ginger less of a stereotyped "wild feisty" redheaded girl. She was a fun character. But I felt like she was too much like every other feisty heroine out there. There was nothing that really made her stand out to me.

Overall, it wasn't a bad book. It wasn't a good book. It wasn't lovely or not lovely. I think people can enjoy this if they know that it's really more of a contemporary with some fairy tale stuff thrown in. 

It's just a book that won't be sticking with me personally.

The Giants House by Elizabeth McCracken

“My memories are not books. They are only stories that I have been over so many times in my head that I don't know from one day to the next what's remembered and what's made up. Like when you memorize a poem, and for one small unimportant part you supply your own words. The meaning's the same, the meter's identical. When you read the actual version you can never get it into your head that it's right and you're wrong.” 

I feel very empty inside. I really need to stop trusting my mother with books. Once again she has sent me a raw, harsh, and beautiful book. 

Stats:

Genre: Adult romance

Feelings: UM HECK YES.

Happiness: Yes. Excuse me while I weep.

Cuteness: Yes but then you cry. You catching on here? It's sad.

Fast pacing: No.

Series: No. 

Read if you like: Books, libraries, forbidden love so forbidden it's almost weird.

Content: Yes. It's an adult book, but nothing is explicit. One case of the f-bomb. The main character sleeps with another character at one point, but that's was for psychological issues almost and not told explicitly. A few discussions revolving around sex but again, nothing was dirty. Some light touchy feel-y stuff.

In one sentence... A lonely librarian and an oversized teenaged boy struggle with self-discovery and love. 

In other words: Emotional trauma ensues.
Thoughts: Libraries, and old books.

Overall:

Rating: 4.5/5 

This review has VERY LIGHT SPOILERS IN THE NEGATIVE SECTION OF POST. You can go ahead and read on if you are okay with knowing a few things.

The Lovely Bits:

I can't really put words together. I'm going to have to write this very logically or else this whole post will turn into a long ramble.

The emotions in this book were spot on. The whole scale of values and ideals in this book were clear. Loneliness, love, romantic and in the family sense. It captured many things perfectly. That feeling of wanting to be part of a family...to have a sense of real home. That feeling of wanting to really be loved, to be desired.

And being lonely. I am a teenager, I am not a thirty year old woman. I don't know the type of loneliness the author describes here. But everyone still has felt a heavy loneliness at some point in their life. And this book takes the little experience you have, and use it to make you feel the overwhelming loneliness Peggy feels in this book.

And the thing is...not once did she bluntly say that she was lonely and sad. It was told in actions, in thoughts. It was shown through everything Peggy did. And you felt every bit of remorse and hidden anger she felt. 

The characters were real. Each character you met you immediately had a sense for who they were. You loved, disliked, were endeared to character after character. When I put the book down (okay fine, it was more like throwing it down) I instantly missed them all. Those characters? I wanted them back.

The writing was superb. Not just because of the capture of emotion, but just the unique skill put into the prose. In paragraphs that normally would not paint a picture you could see this world in your mind. The way she uses metaphors is one of the best ways, I think. She uses the characters experiences and loves to make metaphors that seem real, and show the feelings.

This whole book is emotion and character driven. I think it would be challenging to read if you did not like the characters. Even so, as said earlier I think that even people who don't know much about heavy loneliness will enjoy this story.

The Less Lovely Bits:

As stated earlier, this is an adult book. There's a part where Peggy sleeps with a character. And while I can see why, it felt unneeded. It was a lovely show of her loneliness and need for love, and also a good breaking point. But I think all that could have been shown in a way that made me feel less comfortable.

It is more of a slow paced book. While Peggy's constant pause in narration to describe or talk about something is interesting, it makes for a book you can't just fly through. This is a book you need to take your time with.

Overall, it was a stunning book. When the reveal come early in the book, you will get upset but continue. And the end will warm your heart while simultaneously rip it to shreds. I think there will be very many people who don't like it, because of its almost controversial plot line, and other more peculiar literary things, but I hope you will give it a shot.

Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

“When you go out hunting wicked spirits, it's the simple things that matter most. The silvered point of your rapier flashing in the dark; the iron filings scattered on the floor; the sealed canisters of best Greek Fire, ready as a last resort... 
But tea bags, brown and fresh and plenty of them, and made (for preference) by Pitkin Brothers of Bond Street, are perhaps the simplest and best of all. 
OK, they may not save your life like a sword-tip or an iron circle can, and they haven't the protective power of a sudden wall of fire. But they do provide something just as vital. They help keep you sane.” 

It took me two days to get halfway through this book then for some reason it was another two months before I picked it up again. 

How? I have no idea. Because this book was stupendous.

Stats:

Genre: Paranormal mystery

Feelings: Some?

Happiness: YES

Cuteness: Eh? George though.

Fast pacing: No

Series: Yes.

Read if you like: Ghosts, mysteries, quirky characters, old fashioned-esque writing

Content: None, though some bloody and ghosty stuff.

In one sentence... A group of teenage detectives in the unexplained investigate some ghost attacks in London
Thoughts: Freshly brewed tea, a locket, and old leather book spines

Overall:

Rating: 5/5 stars

This review is SPOILER FREE

The Lovely Bits:

There were many things I loved about this story.

Firstly, the characters. Lucy was a very plucky character, and much like Abigail Rook from Jackaby, she never once seemed the annoying kind of feisty. She trusted her instincts, even if she knew there was a chance she would fail. She wasn't blinded much by other outsides things, and it was nice to have a female character defined by her relationship to two differnt guys but not once thinking about romance. That being said I ship Lucewood hardcore and it better happen eventually or I will be upset. 

The writing was very lovely. It had an old fashioned feel to it. There was a touch of humor and quirk to every passage without being forced or contrived. When I finished the book I felt the need to re-read it and underline whole paragraphs.

The atmosphere was to die for. I loved the setting, and the original take on ghost detective stories. The way Stroud took our world and bent it around a bit was fascinating and made the book even more enjoyable to read. As I read I felt as though I was sitting there in a dark room with Lockwood, Lucy and George talking over case files, sipping tea and munching donuts, while being surrounded by the mysteries from past adventures. 

The Less Lovely Bits:

As I said, it did take me a while to really get into it. That is mainly because when i picked it up I was going through a huge reading slump. That being said, it goes to show that this isn't a book that is a thriller mystery. While it is hard to put down, it is not the best for one looking for a fast paced action filled story. It was a tad slow in certain areas, but I feel like that will improve now that the mystery is deepening.


Honestly, there is nothing else negative I have to say. I am very much looking forward to reading the second one in the coming weeks, and will definitely be anticipating the release of the third book.

I recommend this to lovers of mysteries and quirky detectives. Even if you don't like those things...go read it. Let the writing blow you away.

Also Lockwood. My heart has been stolen my Anthony Lockwood and his companions. 

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

“Every form of art is another way of seeing the world. Another perspective, another window. And science –that’s the most spectacular window of all. You can see the entire universe from there.” 

I really wanted desperately to like this story. As soon as I saw that cover I knew I needed it in my life. I had been anticipating its release for so long. And you know what? I went out and bought it. 

And now I'm just disappointed. I am pretty much going to rant in this review. I did like it...but there are many things I would like to complain about.

I tried so hard to like it, just as this book tried so hard to be good.

Stats:

Genre: Wanabe sci-fi. Romance.

Feelings: Sadly, no.

Happiness: A few bits I liked.

Cuteness: No, not for me even though this whole book is a romance.

Fast pacing: Eh.

Series: Yes.

Read if you like: Romance, super romantic lines, places all over the world.

Content: Swearing.  Some scenes and description that REALLY did not need to be there.

In one sentence... A romance between two teens criss-crossing alternate universes trying to solve a mystery. 
Thoughts: Russian buildings and silken gowns

Overall:

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

This review has VERY LIGHT SPOILERS. 

The Lovely Bits:

Obviously the cover is the best part of this book. I seriously think this is one of the most gorgeous covers of 2014. I love city-scapes on covers, as well as watercolors, so this cover really did it for me.

The changing settings and atmosphere was really very lovely. I loved the Russian setting, and the peek into different lives. I also appreciated the fact that this is one of the few books I have read that acknowledged real things, like girl stuff. Very few books actually have that as an event in a story.

Really... Meg was a fine character when you saw her with her family and friends. I like her little sass-offs with her siblings in the different universes. I liked watching her talk with her parents. I /liked/ her when she wasn't being defined by her relationship to Theo and Paul. 

The Less Lovely Bits:

The romance. Okay. I am a huge hopeless romantic. I love romance. A lot. I thought for sure I would like this. A romance taking places in different dimension? Yes!

No.

This book tried so freaking hard.

It tried to be funny. It tried to be cute. It tried to be epic sci-fi. It tried to have a strong willed main character. It tried to be eloquent and have lovely passages describing grief and pain. It tried...too hard. And I think after I've read so many more books that have beautifully described pain...this one did nothing to me. 

The prose was so lacking it made me want to cry and steal to cover away to give to a different book. But what made it worse is the prose was trying not to be lacking.

The romance was gag-worthy. They were the type of couple I really should like. But after so many attempts at little cute couple catch-phrases,,, I was done. They weren't real to me. I simply did not care about their relationship.

Meg. When she was talking about Theo and Paul, I was so done with her.

 To begin with she was so gullible. Barely halfway through the whole synopsis the book talked about was over and we find out that Paul IS NOT the killer. And Meg gets all "OMG good because I love you!"

Cringe. 

Meg was so cringe-worthy at times. Of course, yes, she is flat chested and -not like other girls-. What's wrong with other girls? Why must every character be categorized as odd duck to be liked? 

And I really wasn't buying her whole art thing. Her hobby should have been endearing but it was not. And all the scenes when she goes on about how guys are all over her and she thinks Paul or whoever are impressed? Ugh.

And certain scenes. The swearing. The objectifying of woman in certain scenes. The sex. The extent of the tongue-kissing descriptions. See, normally scenes don't bug me that much. It's annoying, but it's a thing that happened. Unless its explicit, it normally doesn't bug me. But in this book it did.

See, here is what happened. When I saw that cover, I went into the book expecting something whimsical and eloquent story. 

I didn't get it. 

In the end, I did like it. It was far from perfect, but I don't think I regret reading it. While I don't see myself recommending it to many people, I don't think I will be too upset over buying it. There were scenes and moments I loved, and the cover will look amazing on my shelf. 

And yes, I will be reading the next books. It is unlikely I will buy them, but I will hold on to the hope that the stories will get better. 

Either that, or I hope the covers get ugly so I don't feel so distraught at the waste.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

“Because he had been- and in many ways still was- such a brilliant man, he no doubt understood the nature of his memory problem. It wasn't pride that prevented him from asking for help but a deep aversion to causing more trouble than necessary for those of us who lived in the normal world.”

I honestly am having trouble putting words together. This was another book my mom told me to read, and once more I am sitting her wondering why my own mother would put me through such feelings.

Stats:

Genre: Adult fiction
Feelings: So many of many types
Happiness: YES
Cuteness: YES
Fast pacing: NO
Series: NO
Read if you like: Math baseball sad characters happy characters.
Content: Nothing.
In one sentence... The heartwarming story of a houskeeper, her son, and a man whose memory only lasts 60 minutes
Thoughts: Scribbled on note papers clipped to a suit

Overall:

Rating: 5/5 stars

This review is SPOILER FREE


The Lovely Bits:

Writing.

Characters.

It all was a completely lovely book. The writing was really well worded without being overly eloquent that caused many eye rolls. It was a out-there plot but didn't seem too contrived. Right away you meet these characters and you never quite fully get into their heads, and yet you care for them.

That is something I've noticed now that I am reading more adult fiction. They both take emotion differently. Many of the well written Young Adult novels I have read really get into the head of the characters. The adult novels I have read, tend to almost write from a distance, even if it's first person like this one was. As a result sometimes I find myself not being able to relate to the characters as much. That may also be because I am a teen and young adult books tend to have more emotions that I can relate to,

Still, adult books I have read manage to make you feel all sorts of feeling for characters you still don't get into the heads of.

That whole ramble aside, this book really managed to make you care about the characters. In a few slow paced pages you already felt wrapped up in the world.

The Less Lovely Bits:

The mathy bits got a little bit old after a while. I kinda skimmed all the descriptions of formals solely because I did not understand it.

The end was a tad rushed and there really was no climax. Still, it was pulled off well. I think there were a lot of concepts and writing things in this story that easily could have made the book less enjoyable, but they were all pulled off pretty well.


Overall I am very happy I read this book. Also sad because I am now sad. In a good way. A must read for lovers of math.