Review: Me and Earl and The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Title: Me and Earl and The Dying Girl                              

Author: Jesse Andrews

Publication: March 1st 2012, Harry N. Abrams

Format: Hardbound, 295 pages             

Source: Borrowed from Eriele of This Is Not Your Book Blog                       

Order it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | The Book Depository | Kobo | National Book Store / Fully Booked (PH)

SYNOPSIS:

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

Review:

Death is inevitable. That is what this book's about really and of course the aggressiveness of the voice in this novel that is Greg Gaines. Me and Earl and The Dying Girl is a fascinating read.

Review: Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

Title: Storm Dancer (The Lotus War, #1)
Author: Jay Kristoff
Publication: September 18th 2012, Thomas Dunne Books
Format: Hardcover, 313 pages
Source: Borrowed from Nicole of The Twins Read (THANKS BB!)
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | National Book Store / Fully Booked (PH)

SYNOPSIS:

A DYING LAND

The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST 

The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A HIDDEN GIFT 

Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Misfit Review:

I was talking a lot with Nicole of The Twins Read a couple of months ago about books and manga, anime and "boys" when I started asking her about their review rating at her blog. I noticed that she's not the type to give a high rating over a book so easily. But then she said that she gave at least a 4.5 on a certain book and told me it was Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff. I think I was at that stage where contemporary romances fed off my energy that I had no idea what Stormdancer was. Nicole said she'd be happy to lend me her Stormdancer and Kinslayer to live the amazingness of the novel. Thank you Nicole. It was amazing.

“Dying is easy. Anyone can throw themselves onto the pyre and rest a happy martyr. Enduring the suffering that comes with sacrifice is the real test.”

Stormdancer is the story of 16-year old Yukiko in the Shima Imperium, where the government has relinquished a life of comfort and riches while the citizens, Impure, are stuck in the hazardous environment, dealing with the Lotus Guild, the peacekeepers. It has been long since those days of rich culture and now, the streets are full of thieves, clockwork machinery, starving children, the sick and the dying. Part of the Fox clan, Yukiko serves the Shogun, with her father and they are tasked to bring back the legendary Arashitora, a half-eagle, half-tiger entity that brings luck and fortune. Though impossible, Yukiko and a band of other mercenaries, join them in their escapade to look for the Arashitora. But with their conquest, they are challenged with the reality of that of the shogunate, the people hiding from the viciousness of the Shima Imperium and how rebellion can start from a flicker of truth. 

Stormdancer for me was a slow start. It wasn't that I wasn't invested but the first few chapters were a little boring and Yukiko seemed a little too complicated for a 16 year old. But as the story progressed, so did my love for the book. The characters are not at all formulaic, although they might seem a bit traditional, being that they are in the Edo period of Japan. Affections and certain gestures might be different from what we are used to, but it was used to the strength of the novel.

“FEATHERS GROW BACK.... SISTERS DO NOT.”

I was honestly happy that I read this book without seeing a single review from anyone, even that of Nicole's. Though she did give me a rating, I never once peeked at it, and I'm glad I didn't. There's so much negativity that goes with this novel, but in a sense, I have to disagree. There's a lot of value that comes with this story, that could be improved further. I was incredibly fascinated as the story went on, with Buruu (the arashitora) and how his relationship with Yukiko is developed throughout.

“It's easy to lose yourself in the idea of a person and be blinded to their reality.”

As for Yukiko's relationship with Kin and Lord Hiro, I think it could be said that love is both in the physical and emotional aspect. As I've said, there is less factoring on how love is during those times, and maybe love can be realized in a spur of days, which was very apparent with Lord Hiro and Yukiko. Yukiko's crushing over Hiro was kinda distracting though coz, well, yeah, the girl fell in love with his eyes and stuff. But I don't care. Lord Hiro's character plays a more vital role as the story grows. Kin, on the other hand, has a special place in my heart and just the way that he speaks of Yukiko, Ah. Love.

The setting's been done in Japan, though there are controversies that it is very much resembled with China, so a lot of readers were kind of put-off, as for me, the settings were just fine. It was basically the characters' interaction that mattered to me.

“Each of you must decide where you stand. All we ask is that you refuse to kneel. You are the people. You have the power. Open your eyes. Open your minds. Then close the fingers on your hand.”

Jay Kristoff was able to pull it off I must say! His diverse characters, action-packed story line and a vengeful ending is what makes it in it's own, original! Guys, I have read Kinslayer, and it is 10 times better! I swear!

If you are looking for an enchanting, blood thirsty story, with political issues, sex, feminism and more, Stormdancer might satisfy your cravings. 

About The Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Jay Kristoff is the award-winning author of THE LOTUS WAR trilogy, a Japanese-inspired steampunk fantasy published by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press & Tor UK. Part 3, ENDSINGER, will be released in November 2014. He's also co-author of the upcoming ILLUMINAE (with Amie Kaufman), a YA Sci-Fi... thing, to be released by Knopf/Random House in 2015.

Jay is 6’7 and has approximately 13520 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.

He does not believe in happy endings.

Review: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Attachments
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publication: March 27th 2012, Plume
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Own Copy from NBS
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | National Book Store / Fully Booked (PH)

SYNOPSIS:

"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . "

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?

Misfit Review:

I didn't really know when I'd pick up to read Attachments when I first got it out on a whim while impulsively shopping for books. I guess it happened after I got my first Rainbow Rowell book during Christmas and I knew deep, deep down that I needed another one. Attachments wasn't that book, but Eleanor and Park wasn't available, so I ditched that and got Attachments instead. It took months before I picked up the book. I regret thinking I wouldn't love it. I did. I loved it way too much.

“I’d know you in the dark,” he said. “From a thousand miles away. There’s nothing you could become that I haven’t already fallen in love with.”

So, it all starts with an email where Jennifer and her friend Beth are talking to each other about the most random of things. In the company that they work in, they are not allowed to use their company emails for personal chatting. When you are caught, you might get fired. The one who mans that job is Lincoln, who still lives with his Mom after graduating again from college and seems to be having a hard time moving on from his past relationship with cheerful Sam. Lincoln might not like his job so much, but he enjoys reading Jennifer and Beth's emails. And he's fallen in love with Beth in the process.

What I love about this novel is how the characters are each their own, especially Lincoln. He seems like a huge lump of negative energy, really and sometimes you can't help but be annoyed with him. But I honestly just found him to be very adorable. Beth and Jennifer are the two people in this world who you'd wish you could be friends with. They are such fun! Even though you only get to actually read their emails, you find yourselves curious with the lives they lead and it's actually quite cinematic! The characters are not at all lackluster because of their personalities and the conflicts that challenge their being, Lincoln especially.

“Things get better — hurt less — over time. If you let them.”

I never would guess that a male character could be this sensitive and thoughtful of so many things. And then his physical description doesn't actually match his thoughts and actions most of the time. I honestly had been imagining Channing Tatum while reading the book. Because we all know Channing Tatum is well, sensitive!

“Do you feel like he ignores you?"

"No. I feel like he doesn't see me.”

You find yourselves committed to the characters and the situations presented. Even a wedding could feel like such a huge deal to the reader, especially when the character isn't exactly a huge fan of the upcoming wedding. There were many vulnerable situations in the book, from Lincoln's past lovelife, his relationship with his Mom and sister and even with his friends, but that one moment with Jennifer losing her baby, that broke me. OH SO INSTANTLY! It wasn't such a huge shocker for the readers. We were kind of given subtle hints, but when you find out that it actually happened, you just... I put down the book for a while and just. Yeah. stay. I need to get my feels out.

“I know that people change. I thought ... I thought we're going to change together. I thought that's what it meant to be in love.”

Attachments, in my opinion, is Rainbow Rowell's most underrated and under appreciated book. Well, if you compare it to Fangirl and Eleanor and Park that is, mainly because it focuses more on adult relationships rather than teens, but it has become one of my favorite books of all time because of it's simplicity, allure of the protagonist, and a great plot line, that to some might be a bit complex or unappealing, but to me, it was genius! Kudos to Rainbow Rowell for making this wonderful story! 

So grab a copy of the book now for you will be left feeling attached! :)

About The Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Rainbow Rowell writes books. Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS and LANDLINE). Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK and FANGIRL). But she always writes about people who talk a lot. And people who feel like they're screwing up. And people who fall in love.

When she's not writing, Rainbow is reading comic books, planning Disney World trips and arguing about things that don't really matter in the big scheme of things.

She lives in Nebraska with her husband and two sons.

Book Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Title: Where She Went (If I Stay #2)

Author: Gayle Forman

Publication: April 17th 2012, Speak

Format: Trade Paperback, 274 pages

Source: Own Copy from NBS

Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | National Book Store / FullyBooked (PH)

SYNOPSIS:

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Misfit Review: 

I just knew from the moment that I read If I Stay that it could've been the end. Cliffhangers and all, but then Where She Went presented itself and I had the gut feeling that I should read it. And it was one of the best and worst decisions of my entire life. My feelings died, leaped, died again and leaped again at the same moments. Where She Went was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

She kissed me goodbye. She told me she loved me more than life itself. Then she stepped through security.

She never came back.

Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault In Our Stars
Author: John Green
Publication: January 10th 2012, Dutton Books
Format: Paperback, 313 pages
Source: Own Copy from NBS
Buy it on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Kobo | iBooks | Nat'l Book Store/Fully Booked (PH)

Synopsis:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.