I waited forever for The Help to come out on DVD and then come through Netflix. I kept hearing great things about it, and it was so highly in demand on Netflix that I waited for months with it at the top of my list. Finally, finally, it came, and it exceeded expectations and was definitely worth the wait (though I could have picked up a copy much sooner at my local DVD rental store, but it's not like I'm bored at home with two kids and I do pay for Netflix, so I waited).
I am probably the last of you all to see it, but just in case I'm not, get down to your rental store and pick this one up! It definitely deserved the Oscar nods and wins, and it's highly entertaining, to boot! (Those don't always go hand in hand.)
Being a story about a small Mississippi neighborhood in the Civil Rights era, this movie (based on a fictional book, by Kathryn Stockett) is a little piece of history, though this particular story itself is fabricated. I'm not typically into historical pieces. But it's the characters (I'm always about character!) that make this story, and it's the actors who make this movie!
The girls in Jackson, Mississippi, are raised by black maids, and when they are old enough, they become wives and mothers of their own, their highest ambitions to be the head of that society or this or to have the best-kept lawns. You know those old pictures from the 50's and 60's, advertising cleaning products, with super happy women in bobbed hair? The white women in this movie are just like that. That or The Stepford Wives.
But one young woman in Jackson sees a different future for herself. Returning from four years of college to find all her old friends married and having babies, Skeeter doesn't fit in. She wants to be a writer and gladly takes a position at the newspaper, writing the cleaning column. Since she herself knows nothing about cleaning, she goes to one of her friends' maids, a black woman named Aibileen (played by Viola Davis). But when Skeeter sees the way her friends speak condescendingly about their maids and how they segregate them by building separate bathrooms for them, she realizes there might be a story there to write. The only problem is that writing anything that points out the mistreatment of blacks is illegal in Mississippi, and the maids are afraid to talk.
But given courage by the start of the Civil Rights movement and just plain tired of the ill treatment, the maids do begin to talk, sharing both the good and the ugly, sharing about their love for the little girls they raise only to have those little girls trample them down when they are grown up. And you will love how they ensure their safety when the book Skeeter and Aibileen write is finally done and published and all those white women are reading their own appalling histories!
Viola Davis (Oscar nominee) and Octavia Spencer (Best Supporting Actress winner) are amazing in their roles as oppressed maids but fierce, determined, loving individuals. Emma Stone plays a loveable Skeeter, and other actresses such as Bryce Dallas Howard (the villainous Hilly!), Allison Janney (Skeeter's mother), and Jessica Chastain (Celia Foote, a wealthy white woman ostracized by her own, who becomes close friends with Octavia's character, Minny. I loved Celia!) have memorable roles. It's a cast of strong women. The men almost don't factor into the story.
The Help is sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart-wrenching, but altogether, it's a beautiful look at the heart of a person, what makes us human despite wealth or skin color.
It's a long movie at two hours and twenty-six minutes, but it doesn't feel like it. It's rated PG-13 for thematic material only. Besides the obvious one, the mistreatment of blacks, there is a scene where a woman is bleeding all over the floor during a miscarriage.
This is a movie to see, for sure, maybe even to own. I haven't read the book (shame, I know), but I didn't feel like the movie lacked anything. I was very pleased. I can only imagine the book provides an even richer experience.
Five stars. Really.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Before I Go To Sleep
This book has been out for a little while already. It's regular fiction, not a young adult novel, but the premise intrigued me as usually only young adult fiction does. In Before I Go To Sleep, by S. J. Watson, Christine forgets the last 20 years or more of her life every time she falls asleep. She remembers being young and wakes up to find herself in a differently proportioned body lying next to a stranger. As her day progresses, she discovers pieces of her world: the husband she married, the doctor she's seeing secretly (who has to call her and convince her he's who he says he is), the accident that caused her amnesia.
Her husband, Ben, says he loves her, but Christine doesn't know how to love him in return. She has no memories of him. When Dr. Nash asks her to keep a journal (and calls her daily to tell her of its existence and where to find it), she slowly begins to rebuild her world. And as she writes more and more, she begins to remember a little here and there. But details are off. Informed that she used to be paranoid in the early stages of her condition, she isn't sure what's real and what's fabricated. When her memories don't match up with what she's being told, she discovers that, indeed, her husband has been keeping the whole truth from her. It makes sense that he wouldn't daily reveal details that are greatly upsetting, but Christine wishes he would just be honest with her. As she grows to understand and love her husband more through her own written words, Christine knows that she will eventually have to trust him with her journal. But sometimes things don't feel right, and Christine can't figure out how much of that is cause for concern and how much is just the imaginings of a damaged mind. Everyone seems to be lying to her. And can she trust her own journal?
One day, she wakes up in bed with a stranger as always, gets a call from a Dr. Nash she's supposed to know but doesn't, and receives a journal already full of her words, including an addition at the front, which says, "Don't trust Ben." And she begins to read about the person she's become.
For the reader (and for Christine, really), the story starts there. As you can imagine, it gets a little repetitive. Every morning, Christine discovers that she's married, that she sees a doctor secretly, and that she has a secret journal. But considering the difficulty of presenting her story realistically without boring the reader, I think the author does a pretty decent job. The idea reminded me of the movie 50 First Dates, except that this story is not comedy or romance. It's more of a psychological thriller. As we read Christine's journal and crawl into her mind, we find ourselves at as much of a loss as she is. We wonder, along with her, if she's crazy. We wonder why things don't feel right but have no proof that anything's wrong. As more details come together, things start to make sense from a certain point of view. You want her to tell Ben about the journal. And when she doesn't, you wonder if Christine will sabotage herself with her doubts or if there is real reason for her to be careful. You'll be guessing until the end.
Because this is adult fiction, there is adult content, nothing terribly graphic, more factual than anything. The author could have left it more to the imagination, but I can see why she wanted to explore it. It is an interesting moral dilemma: if you're married, sex is totally okay, more than okay, but what if only one of two partners remembers the past 20 years? What if the other knows only today? For one, sex is almost mundane, part of being married to a person so long. For the other, sex is the furthest thing from the mind, coming right after catching up on 20 years of life. The idea wasn't a bad one to address, I suppose, and it makes sense in the context of the story. But it's a little crude at times. Just a warning. Enough said.
I don't want to influence what you think happens in this book in case you want to read it yourself, but I think I was influenced just by reading the book cover. It influences you even just to hear that it's a thriller. Honestly, most of the book doesn't feel like a thriller. There's some mystery, but just that of a woman trying to piece together her life, nothing remarkable: does she have kids, friends, accomplishments? The fact that it was said to be a thriller clued me in that there was more beneath the surface of this story. But whether it's paranoia or something else, I'll leave for you to discover.
I was mostly satisfied but not as surprised as I wanted to be by the end. I think the book was too built up by its own cover. It spoiled itself. Weird to say, but true, for me.
Three stars. Hard to put down sometimes, but might leave you asking, "Was it worth the time?"
Her husband, Ben, says he loves her, but Christine doesn't know how to love him in return. She has no memories of him. When Dr. Nash asks her to keep a journal (and calls her daily to tell her of its existence and where to find it), she slowly begins to rebuild her world. And as she writes more and more, she begins to remember a little here and there. But details are off. Informed that she used to be paranoid in the early stages of her condition, she isn't sure what's real and what's fabricated. When her memories don't match up with what she's being told, she discovers that, indeed, her husband has been keeping the whole truth from her. It makes sense that he wouldn't daily reveal details that are greatly upsetting, but Christine wishes he would just be honest with her. As she grows to understand and love her husband more through her own written words, Christine knows that she will eventually have to trust him with her journal. But sometimes things don't feel right, and Christine can't figure out how much of that is cause for concern and how much is just the imaginings of a damaged mind. Everyone seems to be lying to her. And can she trust her own journal?
One day, she wakes up in bed with a stranger as always, gets a call from a Dr. Nash she's supposed to know but doesn't, and receives a journal already full of her words, including an addition at the front, which says, "Don't trust Ben." And she begins to read about the person she's become.
For the reader (and for Christine, really), the story starts there. As you can imagine, it gets a little repetitive. Every morning, Christine discovers that she's married, that she sees a doctor secretly, and that she has a secret journal. But considering the difficulty of presenting her story realistically without boring the reader, I think the author does a pretty decent job. The idea reminded me of the movie 50 First Dates, except that this story is not comedy or romance. It's more of a psychological thriller. As we read Christine's journal and crawl into her mind, we find ourselves at as much of a loss as she is. We wonder, along with her, if she's crazy. We wonder why things don't feel right but have no proof that anything's wrong. As more details come together, things start to make sense from a certain point of view. You want her to tell Ben about the journal. And when she doesn't, you wonder if Christine will sabotage herself with her doubts or if there is real reason for her to be careful. You'll be guessing until the end.
Because this is adult fiction, there is adult content, nothing terribly graphic, more factual than anything. The author could have left it more to the imagination, but I can see why she wanted to explore it. It is an interesting moral dilemma: if you're married, sex is totally okay, more than okay, but what if only one of two partners remembers the past 20 years? What if the other knows only today? For one, sex is almost mundane, part of being married to a person so long. For the other, sex is the furthest thing from the mind, coming right after catching up on 20 years of life. The idea wasn't a bad one to address, I suppose, and it makes sense in the context of the story. But it's a little crude at times. Just a warning. Enough said.
I don't want to influence what you think happens in this book in case you want to read it yourself, but I think I was influenced just by reading the book cover. It influences you even just to hear that it's a thriller. Honestly, most of the book doesn't feel like a thriller. There's some mystery, but just that of a woman trying to piece together her life, nothing remarkable: does she have kids, friends, accomplishments? The fact that it was said to be a thriller clued me in that there was more beneath the surface of this story. But whether it's paranoia or something else, I'll leave for you to discover.
I was mostly satisfied but not as surprised as I wanted to be by the end. I think the book was too built up by its own cover. It spoiled itself. Weird to say, but true, for me.
Three stars. Hard to put down sometimes, but might leave you asking, "Was it worth the time?"
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Hunger Games in Theaters Today
Yes. I'm one of the crazy fans who went to the midnight showing. And if you are a fan of the books but couldn't make it last night, skip this review for now and see the movie yourself without another's biased opinion to raise or lower your expectations. If I was on your end, that's what I'd do. But then again, I'm not on your end because I can't stand to have things spoiled for me, whether it be the last page of a book or the interpretation of a beloved book on the movie screen. So, I went to the first showing I could. And except for the previews, which I couldn't hear at all, my audience of teens and tweens behaved very well and silently, and I am extremely grateful.
I think it helped that the movie started out rather non-conventionally for this type of film. After the previews, it went abruptly to words on a black screen and no music. Then, continuing with no music, it went straight to an interview between the TV host/MC of the games and the Head Game Maker. It was obviously, almost eerily, silent, setting up a somber mood that arrested our attention and fit the story well.
Briefly, if you haven't read the books, here is the plot premise. Katniss lives in District 12, one of the poorest of 12 districts ruled by those in the capitol. Years ago, the districts rebelled, and in order to keep them in check, the Hunger Games were invented. Each year, one boy and one girl from each district either volunteer (Districts 1 and 2) or are selected by drawing (all the others) to fight to the death in a televised spectacle. Katniss becomes the female tribute for her district and is thrust into a society that pampers and beautifies her in preparation for the TV event of her life, literally. Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images. This is a book and movie for teens, not kids. Let your tweens read/watch at your own discretion.
Now, I haven't read the books in years. And I haven't read the first one since before it was published (you know, those advance reader's copies I get?). Since I was going into the movie without a lot of fresh details, I think this review will more accurately reflect the movie by itself and not just as a comparison to the book. But I will say that the movie made me want to read the books again. The wealth of detail provided by the author just can't be made to fit onto the screen. As someone familiar with the story, you have a fuller understanding of what's going on, for instance, in the scene with the mutts. If you haven't read the book, that part will not seem nearly as creepy in the movie, though it's still intense.
But though the movie is stripped down from the book, I don't think it's lacking. Though I didn't remember details from the book, I was impressed by how closely the movie followed the major plotline. Very small details were changed here and there, but I hardly noticed them.
As I have already mentioned, music (or the lack of it in places) really set the mood, and that probably struck me the most at first. Second to that, my attention was arrested most by Katniss herself. I'd seen Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone (read my review here), and though I hated that movie, she did a fine job and I knew she would fit Katniss because the characters are somewhat similar. Gale was in the movie for such a short time that all I can say about him is that he fits the role of "good-looking best buddy who could be more if circumstances were different." As for Peeta, I wasn't sure before I saw the movie. He seemed too short, and he doesn't have a typical screen face. At the same time, he does have the face of a baker, certainly not chubby but kind of soft. He grew on me. But I don't think two hours was enough time to really get to like him. You have to read the book for that. Effie and Haymitch were brilliant, and Cinna was sweet and perfect. President Snow was not quite what I'd expected at first (he seemed too old), but he pulled off the creepy character who will emerge more in the following movies.
I loved the costumes. The capitol was chaotic with color and style, as it should have been. Cinna's costumes for Katniss, though not quite what I'd pictured in the book, met expectations. Loved the fire outfits!
I loved the way the Reaping was filmed. No music. Hardly any sound, even with all the people there. Perfect. And the best part is still Katniss screaming, "I volunteer! I volunteer!" That always made me emotional when watching the preview, which I must say is one of the best previews I've ever seen. But maybe it was so emotional because I was familiar with the book.
It's hard to get across the sense that the Hunger Games arena is engineered and man-made. It just seems like a regular forest most of the time. I did love the glimpses into the Game Makers' room, watching them decide to change things and using the cool tech.
I think the only thing I didn't like about the movie was that parts of it are filmed Bourne-movie-style. You know what I mean? Jerky camera movements that don't let you focus on one thing at a time and make you dizzy. It happened quite a bit near the beginning of the movie, and I was worried that the whole thing was filmed that way. But it wasn't. And I don't think the parts that were, at least at the beginning, needed to be. I can see using that style a bit in the arena, and I understand why they did it at the beginning, to create a bigger sense that the world is off-kilter, but I find it a bit of a cheap tool.
When the movie was over, I could hardly comment on it. I loved it and wanted to see it again, but I had to let it sit and my feelings percolate through my expectations. My mind was full of images, and I wanted to just remember and remember. But if a movie makes you want to see it again as soon as you are done as well as read the books again, I'd say: success!
As a totally unrelated sidenote: the Breaking Dawn 2 preview supposed to be premiering on The Hunger Games can hardly be called a teaser, let alone a preview. Not a good reason to go see the movie if that's all you're interested in. Very disappointing.
Overall, I was impressed at my viewing. The movie has a weightiness to it. It takes itself seriously but also has these punchy little moments of humor. It didn't feel too long, but it didn't rush by either. See this one in theaters, and if you haven't read the books, do that first.
And for those of you who are interested but don't really understand the hype yet (you will!), here is the short review I wrote for the book long before it became popular: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.
I think it helped that the movie started out rather non-conventionally for this type of film. After the previews, it went abruptly to words on a black screen and no music. Then, continuing with no music, it went straight to an interview between the TV host/MC of the games and the Head Game Maker. It was obviously, almost eerily, silent, setting up a somber mood that arrested our attention and fit the story well.
Briefly, if you haven't read the books, here is the plot premise. Katniss lives in District 12, one of the poorest of 12 districts ruled by those in the capitol. Years ago, the districts rebelled, and in order to keep them in check, the Hunger Games were invented. Each year, one boy and one girl from each district either volunteer (Districts 1 and 2) or are selected by drawing (all the others) to fight to the death in a televised spectacle. Katniss becomes the female tribute for her district and is thrust into a society that pampers and beautifies her in preparation for the TV event of her life, literally. Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images. This is a book and movie for teens, not kids. Let your tweens read/watch at your own discretion.
Now, I haven't read the books in years. And I haven't read the first one since before it was published (you know, those advance reader's copies I get?). Since I was going into the movie without a lot of fresh details, I think this review will more accurately reflect the movie by itself and not just as a comparison to the book. But I will say that the movie made me want to read the books again. The wealth of detail provided by the author just can't be made to fit onto the screen. As someone familiar with the story, you have a fuller understanding of what's going on, for instance, in the scene with the mutts. If you haven't read the book, that part will not seem nearly as creepy in the movie, though it's still intense.
But though the movie is stripped down from the book, I don't think it's lacking. Though I didn't remember details from the book, I was impressed by how closely the movie followed the major plotline. Very small details were changed here and there, but I hardly noticed them.
As I have already mentioned, music (or the lack of it in places) really set the mood, and that probably struck me the most at first. Second to that, my attention was arrested most by Katniss herself. I'd seen Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone (read my review here), and though I hated that movie, she did a fine job and I knew she would fit Katniss because the characters are somewhat similar. Gale was in the movie for such a short time that all I can say about him is that he fits the role of "good-looking best buddy who could be more if circumstances were different." As for Peeta, I wasn't sure before I saw the movie. He seemed too short, and he doesn't have a typical screen face. At the same time, he does have the face of a baker, certainly not chubby but kind of soft. He grew on me. But I don't think two hours was enough time to really get to like him. You have to read the book for that. Effie and Haymitch were brilliant, and Cinna was sweet and perfect. President Snow was not quite what I'd expected at first (he seemed too old), but he pulled off the creepy character who will emerge more in the following movies.
I loved the costumes. The capitol was chaotic with color and style, as it should have been. Cinna's costumes for Katniss, though not quite what I'd pictured in the book, met expectations. Loved the fire outfits!
I loved the way the Reaping was filmed. No music. Hardly any sound, even with all the people there. Perfect. And the best part is still Katniss screaming, "I volunteer! I volunteer!" That always made me emotional when watching the preview, which I must say is one of the best previews I've ever seen. But maybe it was so emotional because I was familiar with the book.
It's hard to get across the sense that the Hunger Games arena is engineered and man-made. It just seems like a regular forest most of the time. I did love the glimpses into the Game Makers' room, watching them decide to change things and using the cool tech.
I think the only thing I didn't like about the movie was that parts of it are filmed Bourne-movie-style. You know what I mean? Jerky camera movements that don't let you focus on one thing at a time and make you dizzy. It happened quite a bit near the beginning of the movie, and I was worried that the whole thing was filmed that way. But it wasn't. And I don't think the parts that were, at least at the beginning, needed to be. I can see using that style a bit in the arena, and I understand why they did it at the beginning, to create a bigger sense that the world is off-kilter, but I find it a bit of a cheap tool.
When the movie was over, I could hardly comment on it. I loved it and wanted to see it again, but I had to let it sit and my feelings percolate through my expectations. My mind was full of images, and I wanted to just remember and remember. But if a movie makes you want to see it again as soon as you are done as well as read the books again, I'd say: success!
As a totally unrelated sidenote: the Breaking Dawn 2 preview supposed to be premiering on The Hunger Games can hardly be called a teaser, let alone a preview. Not a good reason to go see the movie if that's all you're interested in. Very disappointing.
Overall, I was impressed at my viewing. The movie has a weightiness to it. It takes itself seriously but also has these punchy little moments of humor. It didn't feel too long, but it didn't rush by either. See this one in theaters, and if you haven't read the books, do that first.
And for those of you who are interested but don't really understand the hype yet (you will!), here is the short review I wrote for the book long before it became popular: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.
The Hunger Games
As an extra "treat" and for your reading pleasure, this is the old-school review I wrote for The Hunger Games in 2008 after I read my advance reader's copy, before all the hype and popularity. I loved it back then!
In The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, the stakes are high for Katniss Everdeen. Either way, she loses. If she doesn’t enter her name more than the required times in the lottery, her family may suffer hunger. But the more she enters her name, the higher her chances are of being selected for the unimaginable, a teenage gladiator-like fight-to-the-death in an arena for the television entertainment of the country. Only one can win in this brutal game. And though Katniss has the willpower to win, can she really kill another human?
This fast-paced young adult novel grips readers to the end. Because of violent content, this is not a book for young readers, and discretion is advised, but neither is the book extremely graphic. The author kept me guessing about the outcome, and she didn’t cheapen the conflict by pulling punches. This is a fascinating look at the psychology of survival. It will be interesting to see where the following books in this trilogy take us.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Shatter Me
Sometimes a book stands out for the way it is written. Though the plot of Tehereh Mafi's Shatter Me is interesting in itself, this young adult novel certainly wouldn't have the same feel written in any other style. Used once or twice, hyperbolic metaphors can be startling, providing you with an extreme picture of an otherwise mundane moment or emotion. But what if a person's thoughts were dominated by such metaphors and a book was narrated from that person's point of view? It might seem ridiculous at first, but as you continue to read and the style stays consistent, it becomes something part beautiful/part insane, which I think is what the author was going for with her main character.
Seventeen-year-old Juliette is a prisoner. She lives in isolation, abused, tormented by her past, by a murder she unwillingly committed. Juliette wonders if she might be crazy. She knows she's a monster. Her greatest desire in the world is to be touched, loved, but it's impossible. Even her parents abandoned her, a fact she tries greatly to forget. But Juliette can never forget what her own hands can do. With a mere brush of skin to skin, she can torture a person until they die, and she has no control over it.
From her cell, Juliette can see a little of the world outside, a world not much better than her own, a place where birds no longer fly, where food is scarce, where soldiers control the population, where radiation kills. It's a dystopia rising from post-apocalyptic ashes, but what Juliette doesn't know is that she could become a weapon and there are people looking for her for just that purpose. Imprisoned or "free," it seems Juliette has little choice over what she does with her own hands or life.
And then she discovers Adam, and her life will never be the same.
Although this novel contains elements that are dystopian and post-apocalyptic, with superhero and girl-power themes, it's primarily a romance. And a more steamy romance you'd be hard-pressed to find. The steam is mostly generated by the metaphors and by the sheer passion and intensity in Juliette's mind. She is a character who feels things deeply in her soul, having spent her whole life suffering from lack of touch. The author does an astounding job melding this dichotomy, making it logical in this character. You could almost say that the writing style is a manifestation of the state of Juliette's mind. A personal journal could not have captured her mind better.
(SPOILERS here.) I must say, however, that I was a little put off by the romance. Some of it is a little too much, more steam than substance. Occasionally, it makes the book begin to drag, which is all the more noticeable in a book that keeps its intensity on overdrive most of the time. Though the characters never actually have sex, it's not for want of doing so. It's more that they are interrupted. And while you could say that this keeps the book "clean," I felt like the author was just trying to create romantic tension and that she will get the sex into the story in later books, as this is the first in a series. It's kind of like in Twilight, where they don't have sex, but it's more because they are afraid of what could happen than any moral conviction. Shatter Me doesn't have any moral dilemma with the characters having sex, and in fact, if you aren't paying close attention, you might think they actually do, the descriptions of their kissing and touching being as intense as they are. But though the romance bugged me sometimes, the story wouldn't have been the same without the romantic aspect.
I was excited about where the book started going by the end, so I will definitely be checking out the sequel. But that may be awhile in coming; Shatter Me just came out in November of last year.
Four stars for a beautifully written, fast-paced (for the most part), engaging story.
Seventeen-year-old Juliette is a prisoner. She lives in isolation, abused, tormented by her past, by a murder she unwillingly committed. Juliette wonders if she might be crazy. She knows she's a monster. Her greatest desire in the world is to be touched, loved, but it's impossible. Even her parents abandoned her, a fact she tries greatly to forget. But Juliette can never forget what her own hands can do. With a mere brush of skin to skin, she can torture a person until they die, and she has no control over it.
From her cell, Juliette can see a little of the world outside, a world not much better than her own, a place where birds no longer fly, where food is scarce, where soldiers control the population, where radiation kills. It's a dystopia rising from post-apocalyptic ashes, but what Juliette doesn't know is that she could become a weapon and there are people looking for her for just that purpose. Imprisoned or "free," it seems Juliette has little choice over what she does with her own hands or life.
And then she discovers Adam, and her life will never be the same.
Although this novel contains elements that are dystopian and post-apocalyptic, with superhero and girl-power themes, it's primarily a romance. And a more steamy romance you'd be hard-pressed to find. The steam is mostly generated by the metaphors and by the sheer passion and intensity in Juliette's mind. She is a character who feels things deeply in her soul, having spent her whole life suffering from lack of touch. The author does an astounding job melding this dichotomy, making it logical in this character. You could almost say that the writing style is a manifestation of the state of Juliette's mind. A personal journal could not have captured her mind better.
(SPOILERS here.) I must say, however, that I was a little put off by the romance. Some of it is a little too much, more steam than substance. Occasionally, it makes the book begin to drag, which is all the more noticeable in a book that keeps its intensity on overdrive most of the time. Though the characters never actually have sex, it's not for want of doing so. It's more that they are interrupted. And while you could say that this keeps the book "clean," I felt like the author was just trying to create romantic tension and that she will get the sex into the story in later books, as this is the first in a series. It's kind of like in Twilight, where they don't have sex, but it's more because they are afraid of what could happen than any moral conviction. Shatter Me doesn't have any moral dilemma with the characters having sex, and in fact, if you aren't paying close attention, you might think they actually do, the descriptions of their kissing and touching being as intense as they are. But though the romance bugged me sometimes, the story wouldn't have been the same without the romantic aspect.
I was excited about where the book started going by the end, so I will definitely be checking out the sequel. But that may be awhile in coming; Shatter Me just came out in November of last year.
Four stars for a beautifully written, fast-paced (for the most part), engaging story.
Shatter Me
Sometimes a book stands out for the way it is written. Though the plot of Tehereh Mafi's Shatter Me is interesting in itself, this young adult novel certainly wouldn't have the same feel written in any other style. Used once or twice, hyperbolic metaphors can be startling, providing you with an extreme picture of an otherwise mundane moment or emotion. But what if a person's thoughts were dominated by such metaphors and a book was narrated from that person's point of view? It might seem ridiculous at first, but as you continue to read and the style stays consistent, it becomes something part beautiful/part insane, which I think is what the author was going for with her main character.
Seventeen-year-old Juliette is a prisoner. She lives in isolation, abused, tormented by her past, by a murder she unwillingly committed. Juliette wonders if she might be crazy. She knows she's a monster. Her greatest desire in the world is to be touched, loved, but it's impossible. Even her parents abandoned her, a fact she tries greatly to forget. But Juliette can never forget what her own hands can do. With a mere brush of skin to skin, she can torture a person until they die, and she has no control over it.
From her cell, Juliette can see a little of the world outside, a world not much better than her own, a place where birds no longer fly, where food is scarce, where soldiers control the population, where radiation kills. It's a dystopia rising from post-apocalyptic ashes, but what Juliette doesn't know is that she could become a weapon and there are people looking for her for just that purpose. Imprisoned or "free," it seems Juliette has little choice over what she does with her own hands or life.
And then she discovers Adam, and her life will never be the same.
Although this novel contains elements that are dystopian and post-apocalyptic, with superhero and girl-power themes, it's primarily a romance. And a more steamy romance you'd be hard-pressed to find. The steam is mostly generated by the metaphors and by the sheer passion and intensity in Juliette's mind. She is a character who feels things deeply in her soul, having spent her whole life suffering from lack of touch. The author does an astounding job melding this dichotomy, making it logical in this character. You could almost say that the writing style is a manifestation of the state of Juliette's mind. A personal journal could not have captured her mind better.
(SPOILERS here.) I must say, however, that I was a little put off by the romance. Some of it is a little too much, more steam than substance. Occasionally, it makes the book begin to drag, which is all the more noticeable in a book that keeps its intensity on overdrive most of the time. Though the characters never actually have sex, it's not for want of doing so. It's more that they are interrupted. And while you could say that this keeps the book "clean," I felt like the author was just trying to create romantic tension and that she will get the sex into the story in later books, as this is the first in a series. It's kind of like in Twilight, where they don't have sex, but it's more because they are afraid of what could happen than any moral conviction. Shatter Me doesn't have any moral dilemma with the characters having sex, and in fact, if you aren't paying close attention, you might think they actually do, the descriptions of their kissing and touching being as intense as they are. But though the romance bugged me sometimes, the story wouldn't have been the same without the romantic aspect.
I was excited about where the book started going by the end, so I will definitely be checking out the sequel. But that may be awhile in coming; Shatter Me just came out in November of last year.
Four stars for a beautifully written, fast-paced (for the most part), engaging story.
Seventeen-year-old Juliette is a prisoner. She lives in isolation, abused, tormented by her past, by a murder she unwillingly committed. Juliette wonders if she might be crazy. She knows she's a monster. Her greatest desire in the world is to be touched, loved, but it's impossible. Even her parents abandoned her, a fact she tries greatly to forget. But Juliette can never forget what her own hands can do. With a mere brush of skin to skin, she can torture a person until they die, and she has no control over it.
From her cell, Juliette can see a little of the world outside, a world not much better than her own, a place where birds no longer fly, where food is scarce, where soldiers control the population, where radiation kills. It's a dystopia rising from post-apocalyptic ashes, but what Juliette doesn't know is that she could become a weapon and there are people looking for her for just that purpose. Imprisoned or "free," it seems Juliette has little choice over what she does with her own hands or life.
And then she discovers Adam, and her life will never be the same.
Although this novel contains elements that are dystopian and post-apocalyptic, with superhero and girl-power themes, it's primarily a romance. And a more steamy romance you'd be hard-pressed to find. The steam is mostly generated by the metaphors and by the sheer passion and intensity in Juliette's mind. She is a character who feels things deeply in her soul, having spent her whole life suffering from lack of touch. The author does an astounding job melding this dichotomy, making it logical in this character. You could almost say that the writing style is a manifestation of the state of Juliette's mind. A personal journal could not have captured her mind better.
(SPOILERS here.) I must say, however, that I was a little put off by the romance. Some of it is a little too much, more steam than substance. Occasionally, it makes the book begin to drag, which is all the more noticeable in a book that keeps its intensity on overdrive most of the time. Though the characters never actually have sex, it's not for want of doing so. It's more that they are interrupted. And while you could say that this keeps the book "clean," I felt like the author was just trying to create romantic tension and that she will get the sex into the story in later books, as this is the first in a series. It's kind of like in Twilight, where they don't have sex, but it's more because they are afraid of what could happen than any moral conviction. Shatter Me doesn't have any moral dilemma with the characters having sex, and in fact, if you aren't paying close attention, you might think they actually do, the descriptions of their kissing and touching being as intense as they are. But though the romance bugged me sometimes, the story wouldn't have been the same without the romantic aspect.
I was excited about where the book started going by the end, so I will definitely be checking out the sequel. But that may be awhile in coming; Shatter Me just came out in November of last year.
Four stars for a beautifully written, fast-paced (for the most part), engaging story.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions
Paranormal is really big in teen fiction right now...and has been for quite awhile. It can be tiresome reading over and over again about vampires, angels, werewolves, and other creatures of the night. But put a new spin on it, and the subject comes to life again. I don't see this teen phenomenon coming to a close anytime soon, but if you want to see the subject in a new light (i.e. without all the romance), check out Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions, an anthology of short stories by sixteen different female authors, edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong.
Short stories, yeah, I know. They get a bad rap because, well, they're short. But if that's a problem for you, Enthralled is different. Many of these short stories take place in worlds the authors have built in book series. In fact, I had my suspicions that some of the stories weren't standalones when I was reading at the beginning, but I knew it before I even looked up the authors' other books because I recognized characters from a young adult novel I'd read. So, if there's a story in this anthology that you really like, you can just look up the author and read more. You might even find a few new authors to try that you haven't before. And that's what this book is about for the authors, at least. It's a promotional tool, designed to spark your interest.
What I like about short stories is that they don't waste time. They have to get you interested immediately without a lot of set-up. They have to end quickly without a lot of time for frivolous details or drawn out romantic scenes. Romance is great, but paranormal romance tends to go off the deep end a lot of the time. There's only so many ways you can write about it, so many creatures you can use or make up. Have you been to a bookstore lately? What stands out first? That young adult section with covers of beautiful boys and girls, sometimes half naked, often with fangs or wings or colored smoke around them. You know what I'm talking about. Huge. Teen. Phenomenon.
Enthralled isn't about paranormal romance. When I picked it up, I thought it was, and I was more interested, at the time, in seeing if a book of young adult short stories could go off. The theme of the book, which holds all the stories together, is Journeys. In some way, each new set of characters has a journey to take. Often, to my surprise, the characters were siblings rather than romantic interests, though there were a few of those, too, the weaker stories, in my opinion.
Now, down to the nitpicking. The first half of the book is fascinating. Each new story is so different and not what I expected. In the latter half of the book, there are a far too many vampires and a few more romances. Plus, by then, I think I was getting tired of "starting over" with each new story, having to get into a whole new set of characters. Also, some of the stories were clearly from bigger worlds that the authors had written in other books. Part of that was cool. I liked having the sense that there was a bigger story, but sometimes, the short story didn't really have a satisfactory end. I guess that's where the promotional aspect of the book comes in. Like the story...buy the author's whole book. Great for the authors. Annoying for the readers unless you're looking for a bigger world to submerge in.
The theme of Journeys could have gotten old by story sixteen or even by story three, but it didn't. Each author approaches the subject very differently, and though a few road trips are actually taken in the stories, the paranormal aspect of it, in this case, is a plus, keeping the stories quite different from each other. The subtitle, Paranormal Diversions, describes this book perfectly. The title, Enthralled, not so much. I don't get it. Is the reader supposed to be enthralled? Are the characters enthralled with their own superhuman powers? Is anything paranormal supposed to be enthralling, simply because of what it is? I enjoyed the book, but I was hardly enthralled.
Three stars. If you are into paranormal teen fiction, check out this book to find new authors to read. The authors, alphabetically, are Kelley Armstrong, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Sarah Rees Brennan, Rachel Caine, Ally Condie, Kimberly Derting, Kami Garcia, Claudia Gray, Melissa Marr, Jackson Pearce, Mary E. Pearson, Carrie Ryan, Jeri Smith-Ready, Margaret Stohl, Jessica Verday, and Rachel Vincent.
Short stories, yeah, I know. They get a bad rap because, well, they're short. But if that's a problem for you, Enthralled is different. Many of these short stories take place in worlds the authors have built in book series. In fact, I had my suspicions that some of the stories weren't standalones when I was reading at the beginning, but I knew it before I even looked up the authors' other books because I recognized characters from a young adult novel I'd read. So, if there's a story in this anthology that you really like, you can just look up the author and read more. You might even find a few new authors to try that you haven't before. And that's what this book is about for the authors, at least. It's a promotional tool, designed to spark your interest.
What I like about short stories is that they don't waste time. They have to get you interested immediately without a lot of set-up. They have to end quickly without a lot of time for frivolous details or drawn out romantic scenes. Romance is great, but paranormal romance tends to go off the deep end a lot of the time. There's only so many ways you can write about it, so many creatures you can use or make up. Have you been to a bookstore lately? What stands out first? That young adult section with covers of beautiful boys and girls, sometimes half naked, often with fangs or wings or colored smoke around them. You know what I'm talking about. Huge. Teen. Phenomenon.
Enthralled isn't about paranormal romance. When I picked it up, I thought it was, and I was more interested, at the time, in seeing if a book of young adult short stories could go off. The theme of the book, which holds all the stories together, is Journeys. In some way, each new set of characters has a journey to take. Often, to my surprise, the characters were siblings rather than romantic interests, though there were a few of those, too, the weaker stories, in my opinion.
Now, down to the nitpicking. The first half of the book is fascinating. Each new story is so different and not what I expected. In the latter half of the book, there are a far too many vampires and a few more romances. Plus, by then, I think I was getting tired of "starting over" with each new story, having to get into a whole new set of characters. Also, some of the stories were clearly from bigger worlds that the authors had written in other books. Part of that was cool. I liked having the sense that there was a bigger story, but sometimes, the short story didn't really have a satisfactory end. I guess that's where the promotional aspect of the book comes in. Like the story...buy the author's whole book. Great for the authors. Annoying for the readers unless you're looking for a bigger world to submerge in.
The theme of Journeys could have gotten old by story sixteen or even by story three, but it didn't. Each author approaches the subject very differently, and though a few road trips are actually taken in the stories, the paranormal aspect of it, in this case, is a plus, keeping the stories quite different from each other. The subtitle, Paranormal Diversions, describes this book perfectly. The title, Enthralled, not so much. I don't get it. Is the reader supposed to be enthralled? Are the characters enthralled with their own superhuman powers? Is anything paranormal supposed to be enthralling, simply because of what it is? I enjoyed the book, but I was hardly enthralled.
Three stars. If you are into paranormal teen fiction, check out this book to find new authors to read. The authors, alphabetically, are Kelley Armstrong, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Sarah Rees Brennan, Rachel Caine, Ally Condie, Kimberly Derting, Kami Garcia, Claudia Gray, Melissa Marr, Jackson Pearce, Mary E. Pearson, Carrie Ryan, Jeri Smith-Ready, Margaret Stohl, Jessica Verday, and Rachel Vincent.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
John Carter in Theaters Now
I went to see John Carter yesterday, opening night. This movie is based on books (which I haven't read) by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the same fellow who wrote Tarzan, to give you an idea of what sort of story and from what era it is. Actually, it feels a little like Star Wars, as you will see as you read more here.
If you haven't seen the previews, the basic premise is this: in the late 1800's, Captain John Carter, a fighter of a man with nothing left to live for after he loses home, wife, and child, stumbles into a sacred cave and ends up getting transported to the next planet over, Mars. Because of the gravitational difference, he is much more powerful on Mars than on Earth, and the smallest of movements sends him reeling into the air until he figures out how to control himself. He ends up as a pet of sorts in the city of a tall warrior alien race worthy of Star Wars.
Meanwhile, the scientist princess of the Redmen, a human-looking race, is engaged to be married to a brute of a man who wants to control the planet, and in her flight from her would-be husband, she is rescued by a man who can jump from the ground to the airborne ships they ride: John Carter.
What neither of them realize is that events on the planet of Mars are being orchestrated by an immortal race with a sinister agenda, and John Carter is not part of their equation.
The movie has quite a few plotlines going, but it's only confusing at the beginning when things are getting set up. Unfortunately for the movie, this long set-up as well as the many names and languages being thrown around and the difficulty of understanding everything said due to accents, language, or just volume might turn the audience off. But if you are willing to give the movie a chance to establish its world(s), the payoff is great.
The intertwining plots make the world seem fuller (it is based on a book, which would spend some time world-building, after all). The princess is intriguing, being a scientist, a warrior, and sometimes a lady in distress, too. John Carter's character is set up brilliantly and humorously, and in fact, there are moments of humor interspersed throughout the movie. But it doesn't feel like comedy. It's done so well that you might miss some of it if you blink or tune out: a short line of dialog here, a slap across the back of the head there. Then, some of the humor is more obvious. There's a loveable dog-like monstrous creature. And John Carter's attempts to adapt to the gravity on Mars, not to mention a surprising moment in an arena involving lots of blue blood, add lightness to a movie that could have made the mistake of taking itself too seriously. But it doesn't, perhaps coming across as a glorified B movie, to begin with, but wasn't that Star Wars, too?
As far as morality goes, again, compare to Star Wars. The gore is similar, and the princess wears some clothes that will remind you a bit of Princess Leia's slave get-up. It's rated PG-13.
Though I wasn't sure what to think of the movie at the start, and though the romance started out a little cheesy (yes, of course, there's romance with the princess), I really enjoyed this movie. It all leads up to a grand finale with awesome battles and a clever nod to the author of the book. Treat yourself to some fun and go see it, too!
If you haven't seen the previews, the basic premise is this: in the late 1800's, Captain John Carter, a fighter of a man with nothing left to live for after he loses home, wife, and child, stumbles into a sacred cave and ends up getting transported to the next planet over, Mars. Because of the gravitational difference, he is much more powerful on Mars than on Earth, and the smallest of movements sends him reeling into the air until he figures out how to control himself. He ends up as a pet of sorts in the city of a tall warrior alien race worthy of Star Wars.
Meanwhile, the scientist princess of the Redmen, a human-looking race, is engaged to be married to a brute of a man who wants to control the planet, and in her flight from her would-be husband, she is rescued by a man who can jump from the ground to the airborne ships they ride: John Carter.
What neither of them realize is that events on the planet of Mars are being orchestrated by an immortal race with a sinister agenda, and John Carter is not part of their equation.
The movie has quite a few plotlines going, but it's only confusing at the beginning when things are getting set up. Unfortunately for the movie, this long set-up as well as the many names and languages being thrown around and the difficulty of understanding everything said due to accents, language, or just volume might turn the audience off. But if you are willing to give the movie a chance to establish its world(s), the payoff is great.
The intertwining plots make the world seem fuller (it is based on a book, which would spend some time world-building, after all). The princess is intriguing, being a scientist, a warrior, and sometimes a lady in distress, too. John Carter's character is set up brilliantly and humorously, and in fact, there are moments of humor interspersed throughout the movie. But it doesn't feel like comedy. It's done so well that you might miss some of it if you blink or tune out: a short line of dialog here, a slap across the back of the head there. Then, some of the humor is more obvious. There's a loveable dog-like monstrous creature. And John Carter's attempts to adapt to the gravity on Mars, not to mention a surprising moment in an arena involving lots of blue blood, add lightness to a movie that could have made the mistake of taking itself too seriously. But it doesn't, perhaps coming across as a glorified B movie, to begin with, but wasn't that Star Wars, too?
As far as morality goes, again, compare to Star Wars. The gore is similar, and the princess wears some clothes that will remind you a bit of Princess Leia's slave get-up. It's rated PG-13.
Though I wasn't sure what to think of the movie at the start, and though the romance started out a little cheesy (yes, of course, there's romance with the princess), I really enjoyed this movie. It all leads up to a grand finale with awesome battles and a clever nod to the author of the book. Treat yourself to some fun and go see it, too!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Tuesdays at the Castle
When I picked up Tuesdays at the Castle last year before its release date in October, I thought it looked vaguely entertaining. It was about a princess, after all. But it didn't make it into my immediate next list because it was middle school fiction. As I've said in previous reviews, I'm not so fond of middle school fiction because about half of what I read in that age group is, plainly, boring. Jessica Day George's novel, however, is not. Instead, it's the perfect example of good middle school fiction, focusing on adventure rather than romantic interests.
Castle Glower is magical. It picks its own kings, and so far, the castle favors Prince Rolf, as shown by the fact that it moved his quarters right next to the throne room. But it's his sister Princess Celie that the castle seems to have a special connection with. Celie likes to draw blueprints of the castle, a task made more difficult when the castle adds new rooms on a whim, often on Tuesdays. But perhaps because of her interest, the castle responds to her wishes in ways it will not with anyone else.
When the king and queen are ambushed and appear to be dead, Celie's idyllic days of mapping rooms for fun are cut short. The princess and her siblings find themselves fighting for their place in the kingdom when two rival princes show up on their doorstep, the castle remaining mysteriously quiet as to what to do with them. As a sinister plot unfolds around them, they must believe in the castle's goodness and do what they can to help the castle oust the intruders before the intruders figure out how to silence the castle and its royal children for good.
It might sound a little hokey, but the story was honestly a lot of fun. It had great sibling interaction, a fascinating magical element, real danger, and loveable, well-imagined minor characters. Above all, in a clear battle of good versus evil, good wins (I'm not going to pretend that's a spoiler, because isn't that what we all want and expect?). And there's no angst-y teenagers or steamy romance threatening to overtake the plot. Though I love my young adult books, it's refreshing to take a break from all that every once in a while.
Four stars for Tuesdays at the Castle. Give it to your middle schoolers to read. Read it yourself!
Castle Glower is magical. It picks its own kings, and so far, the castle favors Prince Rolf, as shown by the fact that it moved his quarters right next to the throne room. But it's his sister Princess Celie that the castle seems to have a special connection with. Celie likes to draw blueprints of the castle, a task made more difficult when the castle adds new rooms on a whim, often on Tuesdays. But perhaps because of her interest, the castle responds to her wishes in ways it will not with anyone else.
When the king and queen are ambushed and appear to be dead, Celie's idyllic days of mapping rooms for fun are cut short. The princess and her siblings find themselves fighting for their place in the kingdom when two rival princes show up on their doorstep, the castle remaining mysteriously quiet as to what to do with them. As a sinister plot unfolds around them, they must believe in the castle's goodness and do what they can to help the castle oust the intruders before the intruders figure out how to silence the castle and its royal children for good.
It might sound a little hokey, but the story was honestly a lot of fun. It had great sibling interaction, a fascinating magical element, real danger, and loveable, well-imagined minor characters. Above all, in a clear battle of good versus evil, good wins (I'm not going to pretend that's a spoiler, because isn't that what we all want and expect?). And there's no angst-y teenagers or steamy romance threatening to overtake the plot. Though I love my young adult books, it's refreshing to take a break from all that every once in a while.
Four stars for Tuesdays at the Castle. Give it to your middle schoolers to read. Read it yourself!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Eve
Eve has been sitting on my shelf for awhile, mostly forgotten, so when I dug it out and read the back cover, I was surprised I hadn't read it sooner. It's right up my alley, being something between a dystopia and post-apocalyptic science fiction for young adults. It recently came out in the fall of last year.
In Anna Carey's novel, a plague has wiped out civilization in North America. All that's left are empty houses in empty towns with no working utilities and a few people scattered across "New America." In the wake of the disaster, one man has set himself up as King in the City of Sand. Eve lives in an all-girls' school, preparing to graduate her twelfth year, spend four more years in specialized training, and then become a contributing member in the City of Sand. At least, that's what she believes. But the new Government has more sinister plans for Eve and the other orphan girls who attend her school, cut off from men, taught to fear and hate men, except for the King, of course. When Eve, whose name is heavily symbolic, learns the truth, she escapes into the wild, which she has not been trained for and where there are few supplies. Eve must face all her fears in order to survive. There are roaming gangs of men who are just like everything she's been taught. There's the boy, Caleb, who seems like he wants to help. And then there's the King, the one man Eve has not been taught to fear but who should be feared the most because he wants Eve for a very special purpose.
This book has all the elements of great post-apocalyptic fiction, going the route of disease rather than world war. It's believable, and really, there's little science fiction to it. The world is recently devastated so that there are a lot of recognizable pieces of present day reality in it, but it's seen through the eyes of children who grew up after the devastation, so there's this great mix of familiarity and foreignness. This is the first of a trilogy, and I look forward to seeing how the author will expand the world she's built. I don't expect it to be the next Hunger Games, which was far more complex. But it's a book with heart and carefully created characters who make you feel with them. Friendship grows out of misunderstanding. Romance blossoms where fear was once rooted. Minor characters play their roles so well that when they are gone, you feel the loss. Two little boys in the story took on the face of my son, and when that happens, bring me the tissue box! Happily, those boys don't die, but others in the story do. Bravo to the author for not pulling punches, even if we only knew the characters for a few pages. She caused me to care in just those few pages, and I felt deeply with Eve at the loss.
No bad language. No over-the-top graphic violence. No sex scenes, though Eve is rescued from attempted rape. The story, though it has serious thematic material, is more hopeful than gritty.
If I had to rate anything about the book negatively, I'd say the romance is, perhaps, a bit weak. It's fast and, therefore, loses some believability in light of the fact that Eve has been taught her whole life to fear men. The author tries to ease Eve into it and us into believing it. It works okay but not seamlessly.
Overall, this is a fun, good, fast read worth three and a half stars.
In Anna Carey's novel, a plague has wiped out civilization in North America. All that's left are empty houses in empty towns with no working utilities and a few people scattered across "New America." In the wake of the disaster, one man has set himself up as King in the City of Sand. Eve lives in an all-girls' school, preparing to graduate her twelfth year, spend four more years in specialized training, and then become a contributing member in the City of Sand. At least, that's what she believes. But the new Government has more sinister plans for Eve and the other orphan girls who attend her school, cut off from men, taught to fear and hate men, except for the King, of course. When Eve, whose name is heavily symbolic, learns the truth, she escapes into the wild, which she has not been trained for and where there are few supplies. Eve must face all her fears in order to survive. There are roaming gangs of men who are just like everything she's been taught. There's the boy, Caleb, who seems like he wants to help. And then there's the King, the one man Eve has not been taught to fear but who should be feared the most because he wants Eve for a very special purpose.
This book has all the elements of great post-apocalyptic fiction, going the route of disease rather than world war. It's believable, and really, there's little science fiction to it. The world is recently devastated so that there are a lot of recognizable pieces of present day reality in it, but it's seen through the eyes of children who grew up after the devastation, so there's this great mix of familiarity and foreignness. This is the first of a trilogy, and I look forward to seeing how the author will expand the world she's built. I don't expect it to be the next Hunger Games, which was far more complex. But it's a book with heart and carefully created characters who make you feel with them. Friendship grows out of misunderstanding. Romance blossoms where fear was once rooted. Minor characters play their roles so well that when they are gone, you feel the loss. Two little boys in the story took on the face of my son, and when that happens, bring me the tissue box! Happily, those boys don't die, but others in the story do. Bravo to the author for not pulling punches, even if we only knew the characters for a few pages. She caused me to care in just those few pages, and I felt deeply with Eve at the loss.
No bad language. No over-the-top graphic violence. No sex scenes, though Eve is rescued from attempted rape. The story, though it has serious thematic material, is more hopeful than gritty.
If I had to rate anything about the book negatively, I'd say the romance is, perhaps, a bit weak. It's fast and, therefore, loses some believability in light of the fact that Eve has been taught her whole life to fear men. The author tries to ease Eve into it and us into believing it. It works okay but not seamlessly.
Overall, this is a fun, good, fast read worth three and a half stars.
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