Sunday, July 31, 2011

Buying Aussie books: For International readers!



Revolutionary, Nomes is. Rather than try to emulate what she's already expressed, let me zip you on over to her blog post.


As well as Nomes' Aussie YA suggestions, you might want to have a browse through these lists to see if there's anything that catches your eye. ;) 



In My Mailbox (42-43): Two weeks of mail!


In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren, and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie! Participants are required to tell all about what they've received in the mail--anything bookish!

~~~~~

I remembered to take a group shot! Everyone, step in line . . .

As promised, a fortnightly IMM post. This is a bit late, because I didn't get to take photos until Sunday morning. Some great titles that I can't wait to read!

Ahem.

Continue! :D

30 Day Book Meme: Day 4

"Memes are fun! Well, some of them are at least."
Hosted by Arielle (Chimneys and Magic)!
Day 4: Favourite book of your favourite series


Yesterday I concluded with HARRY POTTER as my favourite series. Now I haven't finished any series yet (which possibly drives home my preference for standalones), HP included. Hey, I made it to the 5th book! I remember they were all going through a portal or something, haha it was all so long ago, but that's ALL I remember of Order of the Phoenix.

My favourite (so far, and to my recollection) is Goblet of Fire (I absorbed the whole thing, no contest my fave), with Prisoner of Azkaban (SIRIUS BLACK & Remis Lupin! *ahem* I don't actually remember the plot though XD) in 2nd place.



What is the favourite book of your favourite series?


Saturday, July 30, 2011

30 Day Book Meme: Day 3

"Memes are fun! Well, some of them are at least."
Hosted by Arielle (Chimneys and Magic)!

Day 3: Your Favourite Series


I can tell you I am not much of a series person.
I have only read a couple SECOND books of a series, even!

There's Where She Went, the sequel to If I Stay. I love that series, but I think since then the magic of the books has been a bit lost.

Pretty Little Liars I've made it up to the 6th book, which I finished but after that I didn't feel like reading any more. If it was just books 1-4 that would be my favourite series.

I'm going to have to say Harry Potter, at least, right now. I'm planning on reading the series from book 1, from August 2011 to February 2012. Fingers crossed I love it even more afterwards!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What is your favourite series?


Friday, July 29, 2011

30 Day Book Meme: Day 2 & Life

"Memes are fun! Well, some of them are at least."
Hosted by Arielle (Chimneys and Magic)!

Day 2: A book that you’ve read more than 3 times


I have not read a YA more than 3 times, though I'm sure that I've read some of my childhood books more than 3 times before.

Specifically, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. I was a HUGE fan, and was really saddened to hear that he'd passed away (and I didn't know about it until recently).

I used to be a pretty big manga reader in the past too, and would read series again and again.

Sorry. Nothing too interesting today. Check back tomorrow for my next answer!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What books have you read more than 3 times?


As my blog isn't a particularly personal one, I don't normally talk about my life in much detail. But my mission for these holidays was a success! What my mission was you ask?

To get my P1 Driver Licence!

Now I won't be sharing my photo, but rest assured I'm now a proud owner of a brand spankin' new licence. I'm going to miss my Learner's licence, mostly because I was smiling and now I look like an incorrigible drug addict.

Sadly enough I'm still the first among my friend circle to get my Ps, though I think I just beat one of my friends, as she's supposed to be going for her test next week...

I also passed all my first semester courses! :DD

I'm hoping to go travel somewhere with a bunch of friends for the summer holidays. Don't know where, it's possible now that we can road trip it, as more will have their Ps by then I'm sure. Any suggestions (NSW)?

[Review] Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Title: Starcrossed {goodreads}
Authors: Josephine Angelini
Publication (dd/mm/yy): 03/06/11 (UK/AU)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
RRP: $16.99
Source: Publisher for review
Age:
Pages: 530
My Rating:

Summary:
Destiny brought them together. The Gods will keep them apart.

When shy, awkward Helen Hamilton sees Lucas Delos for the first time she thinks two things. The first: that he is the most ridiculously beautiful boy she has seen in her life. The second: that she wants to kill him with her bare hands.

With an ancient curse making them loathe one another, Lucas and Helen have to keep their distance. But sometimes love is stronger than hate, and not even the gods themselves can prevent what will happen...
My thoughts: 

COVERS

US: I really love this cover. The finished copy has this colourful sheen to it, as well as a stunning cover image and text.

AU: The cover focuses on the romantic aspect of the book, but also does implicate quite strongly that there is a Greek mythological twist to this story. The lightning also goes really well with the book, which becomes apparent when you read it.
~~~

I have no idea what to say about this book. It was really, really good. I think I did let the hype heighten my expectations to unrealistic levels though and for that I ended up perhaps hoping for something a bit more groundbreaking. Well let's just say that I hoped for tears. Not just out of the characters' eyes, but mine. And while I loved the characters I just didn't shed a tear even when tragedy struck.

I was really able to escape with STARCROSSED. Angelini was just really good at creating the settings and the characters and the whole Scions family in a way that engrossed me completely.

For 500 pages, I'm sure any normal (I use this term loosely, given how 'normal' a bookie is, haha) YA reader would find that pretty intimidating. However, once you really get into the book, it's really easy to see why Angelini has written so many words.

The prose has that easy-to-read quality that YA generally pertains to, but the amount of detail that Angelini put into it allowed me to see the scene unfold before me.

As said earlier, the characters as a whole were well developed so that I liked them. I think that the character who did face tragedy (who was supposed to draw upon great emotion to the reader) just wasn't known enough for me to really care about them.

Helen was a great protagonist. While I did find her stubborn and immature at times, I don't think those moments were really unwarranted. She has had to go over a lot over the course of this book. What I did like was that when she made a decision she stuck to it to the end. She was also PRO equality in a relationship, always good to see.

Speaking of her relationship (with Lucas), I think with the AU cover, people will go into the book expecting a lot of romance. It really did take a backseat, or at least in my mind. I liked that the pair thought rationally, that given the forbidden-ness of the relationship they didn't just go full-out and screw everyone over to be with each other.

The actual plot of this book would be really hard to summarise, because it goes all over the place. First the story arc is this, and then that gets solved or is developed further, and so on. Every aspect of Helen's life is explored - her family and school life, her future, her past, her gifts and training and heritage. Her new family, the situation at hand, and so on.

STARCROSSED is a great start to a new supernatural series that throws Greek mythology into modern day. The ending strongly leads up to the next book that I will not hesitate to pick up when it does release itself into the wild. I implore anyone who is interested in Greek mythology, supernatural powers and/or epic romances to check this one out.




Buy:

* cheapest Australian e-store price ($10.51)

AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS

INTERNATIONAL READERS

Amazon | Book Depository

All links from Booko, because I'm too lazy to search each individual store anymore.



I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.

Challenge: Debut Challenge 2011

Thursday, July 28, 2011

30 Day Book Meme: Day 1

"Memes are fun! Well, some of them are at least."
Hosted by Arielle (Chimneys and Magic)!
I may be a bit late with this meme, but it just sounded so much fun that I couldn't resist! Plus I've been a bit slow on reading lately, which will become apparent in the near future haha (since I prepare reviews a bit in advance and haven't been doing that).

I didn't participate in Nome's (inkcrush) "Faves on 2011 (so far)" so hopefully this will give you all a bit of an idea how my year has been going.


Day 1: The Best Book I Read in 2010

As lots of you know, I pretty much started my book craze last year in May and since then I've encountered some great gems.


No contest, it has to be Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.


Why?


First off, there's the French-ness of it all. I've always wanted to go to France - this book just enabled that desire even more. The characters are diverse, imaginative, fleshed out, relatable, likeable, realistic, fantastic. Especially Anna, with her tell-it-all perspective voice. Ooh, and St. Clair is totally swoon-worthy especially for his flaws. Her father is memorable, as he's a spin-off or a mock of Nicholas Sparks. The main romance in the book develops slowly but surely, with a really satisfying feeling when things work out. :)) Perfect rainy day read, contemporary at its best.

I cannot wait for Lola and the Boy Next Door, the companion novel to Anna, to release. I've heard so many great things so there's no way I'll be disappointed. People are saying it's BETTER than Anna!


Runners up: If I Stay by Gayle Forman and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher





WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What is the best book you read last year?

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


Thanks to Erica of The Book Cellar for featuring this book, otherwise I wouldn't have posted one at all this week.

~~~
 
(in order of release date)




Title: Take A Bow {goodreads}
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Release Date (dd/mm/yy): April 2012
Publisher: Scholastic (Point)

Why am I waiting on this?

I was not in love with The Lonely Hearts Club, though fans of The Beatles should be over the moon because of it. The real saver, for me, was Prom and Prejudice. Just an amazing read, and I'm hoping against hope that I enjoy this one too.

Look at that beautiful cover! I love that her covers have the same fonts and style. :)





Have you read any of Eulberg's books?
If not, are there any you'd like to?


Thanks for visiting my weekly (AHEM) WoW post. ♥

Comment with your WoW post and I'll check it out!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

[Review] Somebody Everybody Listens To by Suzanne Supplee

Title: Somebody Everybody Listens To {goodreads}
Authors: Suzanne Supplee
Publication (dd/mm/yy): 09/06/11 (US PB)
Publisher: Penguin (Speak)
RRP: $8.99 (US)
Source: Bought
Age: 12+ Clean
Pages: 280
My Rating:

Summary:
Retta Lee Jones is blessed with a beautiful voice and has big dreams of leaving her tiny Tennessee hometown. So with a beaten-down car, a pocketful of hard-earned waitressing money, and stars in her eyes, Retta sets out to make it big in Nashville. But the road to success isn't a smooth one, and a girl's gotta figure out who she can trust in a town full of showmen and scammers. Soon Retta begins to have doubts: Can she make her mark and still stay true to herself?
My thoughts: 

I have a fairly good feeling that if I had read this back in year 10, when dreams of my own endeavour were flying off the walls, I would have simply adored this book. SOMEBODY EVERYBODY LISTENS TO is about dreams, and how even in the face of personal/financial issues, those with the will and strength to power on will prevail, at the least to an extent.

Retta Jones has lived in her small town Starling in Tennesee her whole life. And ever since she could remember all she's ever wanted to do is sing. After she graduates high school, she's in such a mad rush to get out there to Nashville to live out her country music dreams. However, the road to stardom is much bumpier than it at first appeared. First she needs to find a way to get there, as in, a car. Then she needs to find a job to earn money in order to facilitate her ambitions. When things finally start looking up, she's needed back at home...

Retta has a genuine, great voice. She isn't overly confident or cocky about her singing, she knows how tough it would be to make it big in the music industry; her passion for singing shines through, as does her natural ability to string together the events going around her into these beautiful lines of poetic lyrics.

Supplee is evidently a huge country music fan and enthusiast, and it REALLY shows in her book. Retta's experiences are incredibly realistic and detailed, as well as humorous! I couldn't help but chuckle at the horrible situations that Retta got herself into.

The prose isn't all that special, but it did read pretty quickly. The thing that really stood out (which I shouldn't need to mention again but will, to prove a point) were those lyrics that Retta wrote.
"Home"

The pull of home will always be here.
Running fast or running slow.
It's the place to get away from, the place I long to go.
I can hear it in the treetops, feel it whispering against my skin.
It's the air I breathe, the way I am.
Home is my beginning and my end.

(p. 188)
The novel has a clear focus right from the beginning: Retta dreams of becoming a recognised country musician. But the world around Retta is shifting - at home and in Nashville. I love the connections that Retta makes with those around her at home. It all just felt so . . . genuine.

What some people may be wondering is ANY ROMANCE? Sadly, I have to tell you that there is hardly any. Retta has a crush on a guy, but there is never much development with it. Though I do wish there had been something more definitive with their relationship, I found the absence of a romance okay. Instead of having all the drama that a new relationship would involve, Supplee chose to let us focus most of her dreams. I felt that a romance may have gone one way or the other - flat (as in, just a happy ending fluff thing) or completely dramatic (which I would have not liked), so I guess this book is one exception where having no romance was perhaps good? Opinions?

Fans of country music will want to read this. Even as a part-time country music listener I enjoyed reading the little biographies of some of the BIG country music stars. A fun, quick read that may inspire people to follow their dreams; if things go wrong, imagine how interesting the story leading up your Big Break will be!




Buy:

* cheapest Australian e-store price

AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS

INTERNATIONAL READERS

Amazon | The Book Depository

All links from Booko, because I'm too lazy to search each individual store anymore.



I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.

Challenge: ---

Monday, July 25, 2011

[Review] Entangled by Cat Clarke

Title: Entangled {goodreads}
Authors: Cat Clarke
Publication (dd/mm/yy): 01/03/11 (AU)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
RRP: $16.99
Source: Publisher for review
Age: 16+
Pages: 370
My Rating:

Summary:
The same questions whirl round and round in my head:
What does he want from me?
How could I have let this happen?
AM I GOING TO DIE?

Seventeen-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with a table, pens and paper – and no clue how she got there.

As Grace pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget. There's falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unravelling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there's something missing. As hard as she's trying to remember, is there something she just can't see?

Grace must face the most important question of all. Why is she here?

A story of dangerous secrets, intense friendships and electrifying attraction.
My thoughts: 

ENTANGLED is quite an unusual book, and I admit that by the end of the book I became quite taken with Grace the main character. I was by no means accepting of her behaviour, but seeing all of the pieces fit together really gave me some perspective and the ability to understand how someone could come to the decision to end their life.

MY SYNOPSIS

On the night Grace Carlyle attempts to take her life she is kidnapped by Ethan. He's gorgeous, and there's something familiar about him. She finds herself in a white room, with a pen and paper, willed to writing about what's been going on in her life.

Grace Carlyle's life changes the moment she meets the two people who would come to be the most important people in her life - Nat and Sal. She's never cared about a guy before Nat, and she's never had a best friend before Sal. Entangled in a messed up web, things get complicated when secrets start bubbling to the surface. And her home life? Trash.



So why is she here? And who is this mysterious, but alluring, Ethan?

~~~

I was expecting a pageturner, but it took a while to get into it. I think even a little part of that is due to the confronting nature of such a book as this. I am no stranger to the "deeper" topics discussed in YA, but it has been a while since I've read a book that addressed such things as suicide and sex and cutting and heavy drinking. At many times I just questioned and felt saddened that there are real teens out there who do parttake in these activities, usually as a way of compensating for something.

Grace for the most part was an annoying character, but she still managed to gain sympathy from me because of what she'd gone through. Despite her bitchy attitude. In some way, I was not able to connect with her character - nor did I want to - and it was better off that way. By the way that she was forced to look at her life objectively, she falls at the seams and the person behind all the facades and drinking was someone broken and empty.

Nat and Sal are fleshed out quite well. Through Grace's writing about her life, we see one side to the story and the other side is never really revealed to us. I was frustrated by how open the book ended. I really wanted to see whether things get patched up if Grace did wake up.

Ethan remained a mystery to me for the whole book, right up to the end. I really had no idea who - or what - he was, and so I had to do a Google search and felt like a fool afterwards. There were just so many clues all throughout, (view spoiler)[like when she felt as though his voice were emanating in her head. I actually thought that he was some supernatural being or something! (hide spoiler)]

The writing is really nothing too special. Some of it is VERY British (and being from Australia I was able to understand most of those little words and phrases) - some words that stood out in my mind are "knackered", "taking the piss out" and "knickers". Grace is an undisputed lover of books and reading and writing, so in her introspection she appears a tad more mature (than when she were to speak to others) as she uses large words. Despite that however, much of the writing in general is casual and "un-quoteable" for a contemporary book.

I did like how the book was structured though. The book moves along in chronological order to how many days she is held captive in that white room. Every "chapter" followed one day.

In retrospect, the book is really well thought out. Every single detail from her time in that white room, to her personality and behaviours in her past life in between the pages. The most insignificant of words said. Most of it related to or mattered towards unveiling something new.

Even now, the book is just buzzing in my brain so strongly that it's going to be difficult to get to sleep tonight. It's already 1:30 am as I fervently write this. It probably won't be re-read by me anytime soon, but it's a good debut and was just fleshed out really well. Say all you want about hating Grace to bits, it still remains that Clarke's ability to mesh everything together so effortlessly is admirable. I wish that the ending were more definitive, which is mostly why I can't let go of Grace's story just yet.

I'm glad I did get around to reading this book, and I will eagerly await her second book, TORN. To my knowledge (and this is a really crude accustation), much Brit YA Lit isn't as deep, or at least quite deep as this one. Clarke's debut is so startlingly realistic that I have a feeling that she's going to be like a British Courtney Summers. ;)



Trailer and Music:





So music played a very minor part in this book, but while I was reading I felt inspired to look through my music and here are just some songs that I think fit kind of well to the book.




- Big White Room by Jessie J (absolutely perfect for this book - even the voice!)
- Cut by Plumb (also really suited to this book)
- All Around You by Flyleaf
- Here I Am by Marion Raven (and most others by her!)


Buy:

* cheapest Australian e-store price

AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS


INTERNATIONAL READERS

Amazon | The Book Depository

All links from Booko, because I'm too lazy to search each individual store anymore.



I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.

Challenge: Debut Author Challenge 2011, Contemps Challenge 2011

Friday, July 22, 2011

Project Harry Potter (1): in which a shamed reader rights her wrongs

HP & Hogwarts Logos taken from Google

Because I live in Australia, I got to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 earlier than the rest of the world. I didn't take that into consideration, and so I was confused at how little the Blogosphere was buzzing about the end of an era. And then it happened.

And I feel as though I've missed out on the nostalgia, the memories that people have attached themselves to, the love of reading and fantasy - all thanks to this little series. It all started with Voldem--He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Sure, I eventually started to read the series, mostly because I was bored of reading the meagre amount of books I had stacked in my tiny bookshelf. My sister had the books (which I effectively ruined by the way - sorry sis!), and so began another venture out to discover The Boy Who Lived.

Anyway...

The point of it all is, I got into the game way too late. I was already in year 8 by then (2006), and the magic seemed lost on me. I stopped at book 5, and never could pick up the series again.

Until now.

AU covers :)

I will re-read books 1-4, and then continue onto the end of the series!
After that, I will watch all HP movies so as to refresh my memory. I'm hoping that watching the movies will take less time than reading those brick-of-a-book books.

Ahem. Because I have such a big TBR pile to adhere to, I will give myself, say, 1 year and a half from August 2011 to read all 1,085,170 words of the Harry Potter series, as well as watch the movies start to finish. So, I hope to be done with the series by February 2013, granted that the world doesn't end. :P


I have yet to decide what to do when I finish one book and move on to the next. Perhaps I will do a mini-wrap up so I know what has happened. Maybe my thoughts and a rating. Just to see how it's all going. :)

If there is anyone else who has not finished the series, do feel free to join in! This is really just a personal goal of mine, and it's been in my mind for a while now.
Change Project Harry Potter any way you want.

But I start in August.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

[Review] Avatar the Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures

Title: Avatar the Lost Airbender: The Lost Adventures {goodreads}
Authors: Aaron Ehasz, Josh Hamilton, Tim Hedrick, Dave Roman, J. Torres; Drawings by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Elsa Garagarza, Gurihiru, Corey Lewis, Johane Matte, Ethan Spaulding and other; Creators of Avatar: 
Publication (dd/mm/yy): 27/07/11
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Source: Netgalley
Age: 10+
Pages: 240
My Rating:

Summary:
One of America's hottest shows returns! For three years, millions of eager fans tuned in each week to watch Nickelodeon's hit animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. Ever since, fans have been hungry for more - and now their wait is finally over!

This volume collects the long-out-of-print, fan-favorite comics previously published in Nickelodeon Magazine and with the Airbender DVDs, plus over 70 brand-new comics pages. That's over 26 stories set in Airbender continuity, by a host of top-notch talent, many of whom worked on the original animated series itself.
My thoughts: 

A must have for fans of the much-loved animation series. As a huge fan myself, I simply adored every single page. The attention to detail, both visual and contextual, is just amazing.

The cover gives off an almost "fancomic" aura about it, so I was pleasantly surprised to see how "official" it all seemed, and that many of the comics were written by people who worked on the show. 

This fun-packed volume really helps to fill the void of the end of the series, as well as the less than stellar Shyamalan film. Each comic shows a different style of drawing each character, as well as a unique perspective that might otherwise not have been seen.

The humour is so familiar, which is and has been a welcoming feature to both comics and the Avatar animation show. Some comics are just plain silly, but others may make the reader think about the goings on between episodes.

I particularly liked the formatting of the book itself. The volume is sectioned off by the books/seasons of the animation show (Water, Earth, Fire). Featuring them all chronologically really does, if briefly, assist the reader through the series with each huge plot point (minus...well, some).

There really isn't much to say about this volume. If you loved Avatar: The Last Airbender, it might be worth grabbing a copy because it is reminiscent of the humour, action (to a lesser extent) and adventure that the series is so highly acclaimed for. However, if you are looking for the story of Avatar, you probably won't find it here. This is, The Lost Adventures, after all. And nothing can really fill the void that the end of the show left us with, right?




Buy:

Live in Australia?
Fishpond * | Readings | Dymocks | Angus & Robertson | Borders | The Nile

Live elsewhere?
Amazon | The Book Depository



I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.

Challenge: ---

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (33): Wave of the FUTURE

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week:

DYSTOPIA!

Two big titles. Just in case you missed them the first time around. ;)

~~~
 
(in order of release date)




Title: Shatter Me {goodreads}
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Release Date (dd/mm/yy): 15/11/11
Publisher: Harper Teen

Why am I waiting on this?

I have not heard anything bad about this book, except perhaps that strange dress on the cover. Regardless, this has been high on my list along with many other people, I'm sure. And that trailer . . . I lost count how many times I've watched it. It's so effective! I'm really hoping I won't be disappointed, because I'm expecting big things.





Title: Incarnate {goodreads}
Author: Jodi Meadows
Release Date (dd/mm/yy): 31/01/12
Publisher: HarperCollins

Why am I waiting on this?

I would buy the book JUST for the cover. However, luckily the cover is coupled with a great, kick-ass sounding plot and I love books that involve reincarnation. I'm hoping this can live up to that incredibly beautiful cover.








What is your favourite Dystopian title?
I would love to know and maybe get some more recommendations. :)


Thanks for visiting my weekly (AHEM) WoW post. ♥

Comment with your WoW post and I'll check it out!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

[Review] The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

Title: The Day Before {goodreads}
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Publication (dd/mm/yy): 28/06/11
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab
Age: 14+
Pages: 320
My Rating:

Summary:
Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.


Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.


The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.
My thoughts: 

Powerful and beautiful, raw and heartfelt. This book reads like a dream.

Told in verse, THE DAY BEFORE is about two teenagers who by some twist of fate, meet on the day before the end of their lives. Both seek refuge at the beach, and they are JUST what the other needs, just for today...

What I usually have problems with with verse novels is connecting with characters. But considering there are, essentially, only two characters of focus throughout the whole book, it was very easy to understand them and like them and know them well. If all of Schroeder's books are like this, sign me up, because this was a beautiful contemporary YA novel! Reminiscent of One Night that Changes Everything and Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, among others, due to its 24-hour time-span.

And yet, over that one day, Schroeder interweaves the past and the future so that the gaps and histories of the two are filled in. Amber, the main character, recalls letters and conversations that she has over the last couple of years that led her to 'the day before'. At the beginning I was so confused, and I'm sure that we're meant to be. No details are mentioned, it's all very vague as to who these letters are from or what the issues being discussed are really referring to.

The actual circumstances revolving around Amber and Cade are unique to me - so far I actually haven't read where an author/character FOCUSES on the issues, and I thought that it was refreshing to gain some perspective. As I don't want to spoil anything, I can't discuss much further . . .

The verse is just beautiful.
The poetic qualities are MODERN, original and never boring:--
I like

the memories
because they remind me
I haven't always been
this girl,
constantly
mad or scared
or confused.

I don't like

the memories
because the tears
come easily,
and once again I break
my promise
to myself for this day.

It's a constant battle.

A war between
remembering and forgetting.

(p. 40)

The books ends definitively, but even so I can't help wanting to know more of what happens after that day.

THE DAY BEFORE was a quick read - as most verse novels tend to be - but despite its fair shortness, it came with a surprising level of depth to it. The verse is well planned out, witty and beautiful. Schroeder assumes a unique voice for Amber in her venture towards and through 'the day before', and in that Amber finds more than she ever hoped to. And it all started with jellyfish.



Quotes:

Favourites
"Hidden, there,
behind the face
of a beautiful boy,
I see you.

The real you.

...

                        I see you.

Because in you,
I see me.

(pp. 150-151, shortened)



Links:


Author Site




I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.


Challenge: ---

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