Book Review: Sway by Kat Spears

Quick Facts

My Rating: 5 stars

Date Read: August 9, 2014

Source: Review copy from Netgalley

Publication Date: September 16, 2014

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Genres: Young adult, contemporary

Summary (taken from Goodreads): In Kat Spears’s hilarious and often poignant debut, high school senior Jesse Alderman, or "Sway," as he’s known, could sell hell to a bishop. He also specializes in getting things people want---term papers, a date with the prom queen, fake IDs. He has few close friends and he never EVER lets emotions get in the way. For Jesse, life is simply a series of business transactions.

But when Ken Foster, captain of the football team, leading candidate for homecoming king, and all-around jerk, hires Jesse to help him win the heart of the angelic Bridget Smalley, Jesse finds himself feeling all sorts of things. While following Bridget and learning the intimate details of her life, he falls helplessly in love for the very first time. He also finds himself in an accidental friendship with Bridget’s belligerent and self-pitying younger brother who has cerebral palsy. Suddenly, Jesse is visiting old folks at a nursing home in order to run into Bridget, and offering his time to help the less fortunate, all the while developing a bond with this young man who idolizes him. Could the tin man really have a heart after all?

A Cyrano de Bergerac story with a modern twist, Sway is told from Jesse’s point of view with unapologetic truth and biting humor, his observations about the world around him untempered by empathy or compassion---until Bridget’s presence in his life forces him to confront his quiet devastation over a life-changing event a year earlier and maybe, just maybe, feel something again.

Review

From the very start, Jesse presented himself as an unlikable character. His thoughts were unfiltered and often mean, and his voice was blunt and unemotional. Still, I liked him. Of course he was a jerk, but I rooted for him all the same - to become better, to see the brighter side of things, just to get what he wanted.

It was so interesting to see things through his eyes. The thing that kept me going in this book was his voice, and the fact that I was interested in the story and what he had to say. Jesse struck me as very believable and realistic, and I loved that.

His relationships with others were also great. Mr. Dunkelman, Jesse's fake grandfather, and Pete, an unlikely friend, could be just as bad as Jesse. Their interactions made me smile, even though they were less than polite towards one another. Pete was also a nice way to bring in a character with disabilities, without putting too much emphasis on this or making him out to be the poor disabled kid. I liked that Jesse didn't take pity on him, because Pete took enough pity on himself - which was also good to see. He had flaws and was treated like an actual character, same as the rest.

Bridget brought some balance to the story. In the middle of these grumpy, somewhat unlikable people, there is this nice, seemingly perfect girl. The way she cared for Pete and the other kids she worked with was so touching.

Overall, I really love this book. The more I think about it, the more I love the entire story and all the characters. It's definitely a new favorite.

Update & Discussion: Blogging and Reading Slumps

For a long time I was reading and blogging like crazy, especially during my first months as a blogger. Everything was going so easily that I didn't consider what would happen if it stopped - if I no longer had inspiration to write blog posts.

I did consider reading slumps - it's why you're still seeing reviews. I have review posts scheduled until almost the end of September, which gives me quite a bit of time if I fall into slower reading periods.

The problem is, my recent reading and blogging slumps came around the same time. It's why I haven't been so active here, although I tried to keep it up for a bit. I needed a break, and I didn't have regular pots scheduled. I took my break anyway.

It was nice, I'll admit, but I'm ready to get back to blogging regularly now. I don't know if I'll be as active as I was in the beginning, but I will be posting daily and answering all comments still.

I had many great plans for this blog, and I haven't forgotten them. I just wanted to let anyone who was wondering know what was going on, and that I won't be quitting on you anytime soon.

Thank you so much if you've taken the time to read this all. And if you're a blogger as well, how do you stay active and out of slumps? Any tips?

Book Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Quick Facts

My Rating: 4 stars

Series: 2nd book of The Maze Runner

Date Read: August 25, 2014

Source: Purchased ebook

Publication Date: October 12, 2014

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genres: Young adult, dystopian

Summary (taken from Goodreads): Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end.

Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.

There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.

Review

This series continues to be crazy and complicated. I thought things would become more clear through the second book, but I was wrong. There are still so many questions.

These books are so fast-paced. This one was even better than the first, although I really just wanted everything to end for all the kids. They have been through so much already and still have to make it through a third book!

One thing I am getting sick of is that Thomas gets into enough trouble, but always gets out of it because he's special. I'm sure there's a reason, but it's still getting old. Towards the end it became boring when Thomas was faced with danger, because it was so clear that he would be fine.

Other than that, though, and a pretty repetitive writing style - things tended to be repeated again and again - I enjoyed it. The complexity of the plot really makes up for the faults in this series. I can't wait to read the next book.

Book Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Quick Facts

My Rating: 5 stars

Series: N/A

Date Read: August 25, 2014

Source: Purchased ebook

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genres: Young adult, contemporary

Summary (taken from Goodreads): It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just...disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night?
Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn?
Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger?
Um...

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she'll find?

Go skinny-dipping?
Wait...what?

Review

This book is so perfect and so inspiring. It's difficult to lose friends, especially in the way Emily lost Sloane - with no warning and no way of contacting her. She really pulls through and confronts her fears, though, and I admire her for that.

I enjoyed that Emily grew so much. I feel like she really grew into herself and found this place where she was a lot less dependent on others. She learned to be a lot less judgmental, although she never judged in an awful way - just in the way that so many of us do. She took what she saw and decided that she knew people who she didn't, and I like that the book showed how misleading that can be.

She also conquered so many fears. I'm not at all sure that I would be so brave in her situation. Of course, it all starts off as a way of getting back to her safe place - being able to hide behind Sloane. To go back to being the best friend. Even so, it took courage on her part. And when she was finally checking off the list not for Sloane, but for herself, it felt like this major turning point.

The writing was great as well. It moved at a nice pace, and I was never bored. Everything had a purpose and it was fantastic. The entire book was fantastic. It did a great job of showing that things can change in an instant - and while that idea can be terrifying, it can also be hopeful and fun.

What is New Adult?

This subject has been on my mind lately. Of course I know about the New Adult genre, but I have also noticed that so many books about new adults are not classified as "New Adult books."

An example I always think of is Fangirl. This is about a girl who goes to college and finds herself. When you simplify it that much, it honestly sounds like your typical New Adult. But it's classified as YA. A couple others that I've read and wondered about are the Just One Day books. The characters are college-aged, but they're "Young Adult books."

I realize that there's a real blurry line between these two genres, especially because they're newer than others - and especially because the term genre is used so loosely to describe them. I have also heard that YA supposedly includes characters up to twenty years of age - although personally, I haven't read about main characters past eighteen that I have considered to be part of a young adult novel.

There's also the fact that these are basically just what I call "age group genres," and they are definitely a big part in the marketing of a book. Also, the two authors whose books I mentioned had previously written young adult - so perhaps it was thought hat their books would do better in that market, where they were already known.

Still, I have heard so many readers complain that New Adult shows the same stories again and again. It's like there's a formula to writing it, and nothing that's too different counts. I'm thinking that more people would enjoy the New Adult genre if it were a bit broader and included all new adult characters, rather than the ones who fit a certain frame.

What do you think about the New Adult genre? Are you a fan? Do you wish it had more variety? What are your favorite New Adult books (whether they're technically classified as NA or not)?

Top Ten Tuesday

Here is a link to the Top Ten Tuesday information from The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s theme is Top Ten Book Characters That Would Be Sitting At My Lunch Table.

 1. Samantha Reed from My Life Next Door

I really loved Samantha's character in this book. She made some really tough decisions and she proved herself to be so strong. I would like to think her bravery would rub off on me a bit. I also wouldn't mind if she brought along the Garretts!

 

2. Cath from Fangirl

I found myself relating to Cath so much while reading this, so of course I think we'd be best friends! We could write and be awkward and maybe she'd let me read her fanfiction. (Or we could eat. Because this is lunch.)

3. Levi from Fangirl

Obviously he's Cath's (I kind of love them together anyway), but he's still so sweet and I would love to have him at our lunch table.

4. Dinah from The Whole Stupid Way We Are

I really love Dinah. She's so sweet and even though she's misguided, she's always trying to help people. She's so childish, but caring.

5. Rose from Vampire Academy

Rose has actually annoyed me quite a bit in the series, but she's also loyal and a really good person at heart. I'd like to have her around, despite her flaws.

 

6. Mia from The Princess Diaries

Mia's voice really made these books stand out. She's so sweet and funny. I loved seeing her grow up, even though she could act immature at times. Also, we'd have a princess at the table!

7. Maddie from Awaken

Maddie is such a complex character, and I would love to get to know her even better than I could in three books. I also think she would be a great person to look up to, especially after reading Still Point.

8. Kim from If I Stay

Kim wasn't seen a whole lot through the book, but I remember her friendship really sticking out to me both times I read it. She was great to Mia and I would love a chance to be around her and see more of how wonderful she is.

I'm cutting it short at eight this week. Don't want our table to get too crowded!

Book Review: Dream On by M. Kircher

Quick Facts

My Rating: 2 stars

Series: N/A

Date Read: August 29, 2014

Source: Free review copy from author

Publication Date: April 22, 2014

Publisher: Astraea Press

Genres: Young adult, paranormal

Summary (taken from Goodreads): Seventeen-year-old dreamwalker, Em, might have to choose—leave her mother forever in the dreamworld or save the life of hot, rebel Gabe.

Emily Dal Monte and her mother, Lily, are special. They’re humans with a glitch in their genetic code that allows them to explore the fantastic, and often terrifying, world of their dreams for as long as they choose to remain asleep. But when Em’s father is killed in a tragic accident and her distraught mother loses herself more and more in the dreams of her crumbling mind, Em is forced to support the two of them the only way she knows how, by writing down her mother’s amazing dreams and selling them as books. Enter Gabriel Sobel, the punk newcomer at Em’s high school who realizes Em is the daughter of his favorite, reclusive author. Gabe can’t figure out why Em keeps brushing him off and makes it his mission to find out what’s really going on at the Dal Monte household. He stumbles upon their shocking family secret just as Lily takes a turn for the worse. It’s up to Em, Gabe, and one very nosy book editor to hop from one extraordinary dream to the next, to find Lily and convince her to wake up before she loses her mind…and before Em loses her first chance at love.

Review

This book wasn't for me. I have seen a number of positive reviews and the plot sounded super cool, so I went into this excited to begin. Unfortunately, it wasn't anything like I expected.

I think the main reason behind this was that I didn't like the protagonist, Emily. She had her good side - she was caring and very responsible - but that was overshadowed for me due to her constantly whining about her life and responsibilities. Many times, I felt she was feeling too sorry for herself. She also tended to be very repetitive.

This book is set in the future, which I didn't expect. However, I feel that the talk of new technology was so far from the point - Emily and her mother's ability - that it took from the story rather than added to it.

Overall, this book had so much potential, but I don't feel that it was reached. Maybe it's just me, and I was looking for something too different going into the story. It isn't a bad book, but I can't say I enjoyed reading it either.