[Review] How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

Title: How to Say Goodbye in Robot [Debut Novel]

Author: Natalie Standiford

Publication: December 2010 (PB)

Publisher: Scholastic

Source: Bought
Age:12+

Pages: 288

My Rating:

Blurb:

From bestselling author Natalie Standiford, an amazing, touching story of two friends navigating the dark waters of their senior year.

New to town, Beatrice is expecting her new best friend to be one of the girls she meets on the first day. But instead, the alphabet conspires to seat her next to Jonah, aka Ghost Boy, a quiet loner who hasn't made a new friend since third grade. Something about him, though, gets to Bea, and soon they form an unexpected friendship. It's not romance, exactly - but it's definitely love. Still, Bea can't quite dispel Jonah's gloom and doom - and as she finds out his family history, she understands why. Can Bea help Jonah? Or is he destined to vanish?

My Thoughts:
Warning: Another long review!

The Story:

The book begins with Bea’s narrative about a gerbil she once found. After a trip to the pet store for some supplies, she and her mum discover gerbil "Goebbels" (to Bea)/"Peaches" (to her mum) dead. Her mum is reduced to tears, while Bea remains almost unfazed by the incident.

“‘Where did my sweet little daughter go? And who is this hard-hearted robot?’”

Bea will be moving yet again for her last year of high school. Due to her rough and complicated family situation, she has never been able to settle in one place for long.

“I’d been the new girl before; I didn’t care what the Canton kids would think of me. One year and I was out of there forever. I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t care what they think.” (p.10)

However, she can't help getting intrigued by Ghost Boy, who scored his name by having deathly pale skin and his seeming inability to make friends with anyone at Canton High. He leaves her a note, directing her to a radio station which plays Midnight Lights, a cozy community-radio station hot-line for insomniacs. Eventually the two are bound by forces undeniably strong as the two talk, fight, hang out, discover, explore. They're not lovers, but they're way more than friends or even best friends. But secrets have a way of not quite being right, and people end up paying the price for their lies.

My Review:

How to Say Goodbye in Robot -- what a beautiful title, and what a simple but playful cover. It's bold, and appeals to me in the same way that Stargirl appealed to me.

The book is written in that "isn't going anwhere" way--just many tiny fragments and memories pieced together in sequence. However, when the big picture is taken, a whole different perspective is found, and it is then that the novel goes from good or okay to something that actually makes one feel. Because every little memory was significant in character building (to who we find at the start), in character development (to who we finish with), and when that last page is read, I just sat back and thought, Wow.

Bea was unsure, withdrawn, but tried her hardest to see things through and get by. And that's why I found myself able to relate to her. She has family issues which unravel as the pages pass by, she can never stay in one place for long, she's never found true happiness: in other words, she's not perfect, nor is her life. Let us all rejoice in protagonists that have problems! "Ghost Boy" Jonah is seen as an enigmatic figure at the beginning, but he grew on me alongside Bea's growing connection towards him. He is the basis of all "misunderstood kids" out there. He's never had it easy. His mother and twin brother both died in a car accident when he was young, and his father just doesn't get it. The kids are school only communicate to him in the form of ridicules and to poke fun at his ghostly demeanour.

In the coming together of these two, I really saw the true strength that friendship can provide individuals. The ending was just amazing. It's one of those books that just haunted me even after I'd finished the last page and put the book down. The writing style is flawless, seamlessly flowing from page to page.

It is so very rare to come across a YA novel that portrays a relationship between boy and a girl as just friends, and nothing more, but Standiford achieves this with gusto in her debut novel, How to Say Goodbye in Robot. This novel exceeded any preceding expectations I could have held for it. Robot was funny, Robot was sad and depressing, Robot was bittersweet, memorable, provocative, and is so cleverly written that I could not help but fall right into its pages.

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: --

Learn more about How to Say Goodbye in Robot and read more reviews at Goodreads! 

Waiting on Wednesday (20): Double YA Edition!

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

This one isn't a new title, as is evident in release date noted. However, it is a title that I'm very excited about and wish others could pick it up and read it too.

Title: What I Saw and How I Lied {goodreads}
Author: Judy Blundell
Release Date: November 1st 2008
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Why am I waiting on this?

I love under-appreciated titles like this one. I'd been waiting to win it from Secondhand Saturday at Kelsey Sutton's blog, but it seems she's pulled the plug on her feature, so I went ahead and finally bought myself a copy. I've been wanting to read this one for so long.

I imagine that this is going to be an intelligent read full of provocative characters that are well-developed and explored with extraordinary realism; thought-provoking, mysterious and addictive. It's set after WWII, so I'm sure there's going to be a lot of insight as to the after-effects, which always seem interesting to me.

Synopsis (Goodreads):

In 1947, with her jovial stepfather Joe back from the war and family life returning to normal, teenage Evie, smitten by the handsome young ex-GI who seems to have a secret hold on Joe, finds herself caught in a complicated web of lies whose devastating outcome change her life and that of her family forever.

Reviews:

On Goodreads

Misha rated it 4 stars:

"I don't understand why this book is not more known. What I saw and How I Lied is a very well-written book that lingered on my mind a long time after I had finished reading it. "

Heidi R. Kling, author of Sea, rated in 5 stars:

"Beautifully written and crafted, this historical mystery was as close to perfect as books come . . . not a word out of place."

On Blogs

Persnickety Snark [♥]

"...a thought provoking and compelling read."

Lorraine Zago Rosenthal, author of Other Words For Love [♥]

- "...a fantastic and unique YA novel—a beautifully written coming-of-age, glamorous, and engaging 1940s noir story."
- "There were so many things I loved about this novel that I could go on and on."
- "I highly recommend this novel."

Steph Su Reads [♥]

"...by no means perfect, but it’s a good read if you’re looking for a historical suspense coming-of-age story."

The Compulsive Reader [♥]

"...a gripping, galvanizing read that perfectly portrays one girl's struggles and insecurities amidst the post-war anxieties and hopes and the United States, and the glamour of the 1940'. Evie's character is intensely likable, and readers will be able to identify with her dreams, her crushes, and her impatience at being stifled by her beautiful and alluring mother. Blundell's writing is excellent; it is tight and descriptive, but moves briskly, making What I Saw and How I Lied very readable."

Links:

Judy Blundell's Official Site

I just saw the trailer for this one, and despite already really being excited about this one, I wanted to feature it.


Title: Clarity {goodreads}
Author: Kim Harrington
Release Date: March 1 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Point

Why is this in my top-wishlist?

Mysteries are so delicious! This one mixes paranormal elements with contemporary under a mystery/thriller twist. It's definitely going to be amazing, if all cards are played are correctly.

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When you cansee things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Thanks for visiting my weekly WoW post. ♥ Comment with your WoW post and I'll check it out. ;)

What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesday (12): The Dust of 100 Dogs

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Grab the book you are currently reading and randomly post a couple sentences.

I haven't done a meme in ages! Hope you enjoy.

"When the smoke cleared, Emer kicked him to make sure he was dead. Bent on one knee in the moonlight, holding his head with her left hand, she took a marlinspike and removed his right eyeball with relative ease." (pg 1: prologue)

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

Pages: 300

Release date: 2009

Genre: YA, contemporary, fantasy, historical, action, adventure, romance

Ages: 14+

Blurb (Goodreads):

In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with "the dust of one hundred dogs," dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body-with her memories intact.

Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.

 Hope you enjoy this week's Teaser Tuesday!

What are you reading?

[Review] Logic of Demons: The Quest for Nadine's Soul by H.A. Goodman

Title: Logic of Demons: The Quest for Nadine's Soul

Author: H.A. Goodman

Publication: 14 July 2010

Publisher: Authorhouse

Source: Author for review
Age: I'm not sure. The protagonist is in his 30s, but this book is full of the teenage tendencies and naiveties suitable for teens. Um...definitely 18+, though.

Pages: 263

My Rating:

Blurb:

"What would you do if the love of your life was murdered by a deranged killer? Would you become a vigilante and seek retribution? And would this revenge affect those you care for in the afterlife? LOGIC OF DEMONS The Quest for Nadine's Soul takes you on a journey inside the psyches of men and women forced to deal with the spiritual consequences of their decisions. Through the lives of a demon, two Angels, and a mysterious teenage girl, a plethora of politically and socially relevant issues ranging from the roots of genocide and sex trafficking to child conscription and religious fundamentalism are addressed in this fantasy thriller. Life as well as the afterlife converge in this novel to explain certain peculiarities of the human condition. Whether you are God fearing individual or an atheist, LOGIC OF DEMONS The Quest for Nadine's Soul addresses moral and theological issues of interest for people of all backgrounds."

My thoughts: 

Slight spoilers. Read at your own risk!

Let me start by saying this wasn't a terrible book. It just wasn't for me, and it is my duty as a book reviewer to be completely honest in my opinions. I know there are many people out there who would deeply enjoy this novel, and I'll tell you why this didn't fit the bill for me. It goes without saying that this would appeal more to "adults" (whatever that means these days), say those in their late twenties onwards.

Logic of Demons begins when a steadfast man in his thirties is mulling over the recent murder of his late-wife. He goes to her funeral, and fights against his inner tendencies to strike back: he knows who did it, he has the motive, all he needs is the courage to go forward with such an idea. And he does. And in so doing, he scores himself a quick trip down to "The Office" (or Hell), after being 'accidentally' shot time and time again, before succumbing to his injuries. All that drives him forward is the will to see his wife again.

I could not relate to the protagonist, Devin, at all. He lives in a different world than I ever could have: he'd been married, then experienced horrific events; committed murder, and so on. His actions are also painfully naive considering all he's gone through. Perhaps this stems from my fatal inability to relate to him on even the most basic terms, but his mentally throughout the whole novel is "All I want is to be with my wife again!" It really annoyed me that he continually got screwed over time and time again by blindly trusting those who promised if he stuck by them they'd be able to lead him to his wife. This happened, sadly, to the point that I was shaking my head.

The writing style, and more specifically, just the basics of writing, are to be expected when dealing with a self-published novel. I can forgive that, but I can't forgive the blatantly obvious typos that popped up time and time again. Being a stickler for spelling and grammar, this also stifled my possible ability to enjoy the novel, even that little bit more than I did. Once more, the formatting of the novel as a whole was one that I was unaccustomed to. The chapters are long, especially when compared to many YA titles, resulting in my only reading one chapter in one sitting, most times. It took me more than a week to finish this book, and even by the end, I skimmed (I'm talking 60 pages, which is 20% of the novel!), just so I could read another book. At the beginning though, I was willing to give this one a shot, but it just wasn't meant to be.

However, the story when seen from a distance, is at its core, about the struggle between good and evil. Are the actions we, as humans, make purely our sole decisions? This novel deals with a chunk of issues that it's hard to list it. There's death, rape, love, trust, family, justice . . . Goodman actually addresses these pretty well, and I have no doubts that his next novels will prove to entertain and satisfy fans and loyal readers.

Buy:

Amazon | The Book Depository

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

Challenge: --

Learn more about Logic of Demons and read more reviews at Goodreads! 

100 Books in a Year Challenge 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I hope you're all safe and didn't party too hardy last night. (Australasia)

So I didn't do anything elaborate to celebrate the beginning of a new decade, but I did get to watch the fireworks from the safety of my living room, in my sleep gear, ready to sleep after watching the spectacle. While everyone actually at the city had to make their own ways home, or spend their night at someone else's backyard or whatever. Thinking about it like that, I kind of got off lucky. :P

I've taken the plunge--100 books in one year! Last year I got up to 59, starting from May, which is fabulous. I can't wait to read even more this year. I definitely have my doubts, considering I'm starting university, and no doubt there's going to be a lot of hard work involved in that, but I'm feeling a bit daring.

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

• Rules - Read 100 or more books in 2011

• All books can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• Only print books and ebooks count (no audiobooks).

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• At the beginning of Jan 2011, I will add a link so you can add your reviews but this is not obligatory.

• You don't have to have a blog to join in - for those without a blog just FILL IN THIS FORM and I will add you to the list - just join the discussion in the comments section to let us know when you've read a book and what you thought of it! :)

• You can also follow each other's progress and chat about the VC books you read on twitter too - just use #100BooksInAYear :)