Yanery's bookshelf: read

Champion
That Summer
The Goddess Inheritance
Eleanor & Park
Prodigy
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
The List
The Maze Runner
NW
The Rosie Project
The Dead House
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Code
Seizure
Virals
Crash
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The Selection
Goddess Interrupted
One Little White Lie


Yanery's favorite books »

Friday 27 June 2014

Review of the Juliette Chronicles by Tahereh Mafi

I finished the Juliette Chronicles by Tahereh Mafi. This was one of those series that I liked as a whole experience rather than its individual parts. The fluency of the series including its novellas read extremely well and I highly recommend it.




The basic premise of the first book Shatter Me is that a girl called Juliette is in an asylum after the Revolution. Due to radioactive activity in the new world, she has developed the power to inflict pain on anyone in contact with her skin. Badass right? Wrong. Juliette starts off as a wimp, she is terrified of herself and of accidentally touching anyone. She sits on the ground the whole day and counts cracks in the wall or her breathing. This changes when she gets a roommate in her cell called Adam who so happens to have gone to her old school. Adam is a soldier sent in by sector 45's commander, Warner, on recon to see if the reestablishment by can use Julliette as a torture, if she is so far gone as to become part of Warner's army. Warner, the head of sector 45 as the privileged son of the country's commander, pushes Juliette to her emotional limits and finds her more intriguing than just another experiment.

I can't tell you anymore of the first book without spoilery but I can tell you that the plot and the world building skills were out of this world. The saving grace of the whole series was the complex and incredible character arc of these three characters. 


The novellas

I have high praise of how Tahereh Mafi used the novella structure to her advantage. I've found that in most series novellas have been used as little "extras" ie. non essential character background to the story. Both of these novellas are overwhelmingly powerful as they connect readers to characters we hadn't previously formed a huge connection with. Adam's story brought us closer to understanding his priorities so much so that I immediately knew he would not be the winning bachelor. Warner's story was so interesting and enlightening. He was unashamedly honest - a refreshing change. I empathised with both boys a whole lot more. 

The series as a whole
(Some spoilers included)

Adam remains the least developed of all three characters. His priority is keeping his brother safe. This is understandable and mature. His behaviour though was another story. As soon as he felt his relationship with Juliette weakening (bound to happen) he clung on to her like a life vest he didn't even need. I was so ready to be rid of him by the middle of book 3.

Warner is very interesting. He and Juliette are completely messed up but in a way that weirdly complement each others' flaws. I like how brave he is to say what he wants and express his feelings to Juliette. For instance the speech in Ignite me where he says, "I have been forced to do terrible things in my life, love, and I am seeking neither your forgiveness nor your approval." I was so proud! You tell her Warner! It was so refreshing to see how all the information in his novella plaid a HUGE part in the third book. He was perfect for Juliette. Now she just had to accept it.

Juliette was very Bella Cullen at the beginning of the series and I am SO PROUD of her finally growing into her own skin. The fact that by the end the sentences were far less rambly and crossed out allowed readers to see obvious change. Although I found it unlikely that she become a successful political leader, I was past the point of caring; in the end, I was just too excited for the moment when she would realise she and Warner were perfect. And the moment came. And it was beautiful and heartwrenching. I loved that she came to it on her own terms. Her elated talk with Kenji and him saying "Do what you gotta do" was so so.... it just made me really happy. And when her revelation made Warner so happy.... I was grinning like an idiot for ages. 


Favourite quote (Ignite me)

I've tripped over a planet and I don't know anything anymore - Juliette.

Needless to say her progression as a character was remarkable and incredibly natural. The author did a fantastic job at developing not only the protagonist but also the love interest. This was particularly important in light of the character's emotional and mental difficulties coming to terms with their past and with themselves. I would recommend this series to fans of character driven novels and to see some awesome romance and drama. 


Let me know what I should read next. Ciao!





Thursday 26 June 2014

Teaser quote #1


"I'm beyond rational thought. Beyond words, beyond comprehensible ideas. Seconds are merging into minutes and hearts are collapsing and hands are grasping and I've tripped over a planet and I don't know anything anymore..."

Tomorrow's review will be on the series from which this quote originated. If anyone guesses it right in the comments you win a thousand book points ;) Happy reading. 


Tuesday 17 June 2014

When writing explains what I can't explain

I guarantee that this has happened to you too.

Before
Your first exam/speech/big thing you've been worried about, this is true...
"Sometimes I feel like there is so much to be afraid of"

After
It happens. You are so tired, you have been battered and beaten on the ground and you stay down or rise up, this is your last thought of fear...
"And sometimes I feel like there is nothing left to fear." Veronica Roth.


Got any good quotes to share? Leave it in the comments.

Thursday 5 June 2014

The Fault in Our Stars Movie Review

WE MADE IT!!!! THE FAULT IN OUR STARS IS HERE!
I went to a pre-screening yesterday with another big fan of the book and let me just tell you, you want to see this movie.



1. The acting was on point. Perfecto. Flawless. Ansel Elgort was Gus. Shailene Woodley was Hazel. Everyone was amazing. The relationships, the easy banter was all there.

2. It was so faithful to the book. You know how defensive I get when Hollywood wants to make my favourite books Hollywood. It was obviously John Green's Hazel walking and talking and yelling at her lungs off and saying "douchepants". It was obviously John Green's Gus limping and staring at Hazel and loving her.

3. The soundtrack. It was amazing. Hazel was crying and Birdy was singing her to sleep. At the end, Ed Sheeran sung us out of the cinema, weepy but still alive and ready to face the world again.

4. The impressively seemless book dialogue to character dialogue. The book is written in quite pompous prose at the start to reflect the tragic romantic genre. Actually hearing written words aloud though can sound clunky and strange. The balance between the prose's beauty and the way a real life Hazel would speak was really well done.

5. It was funny. They made a real effort to make the first have as enjoyable, ridiculous and cute as possible. We knew the lines, but the screenwriters mixed it up a bit so even fans were pleasantly surprised. For instance when Hazel's mum pulls up after support group and says "You ready for Top Model?" and Augustus raises his eyebrows, awkward.

6. It was sad. I cried 4 times, all at the same places that I cried in the book. Tfios makes you feel feelings. Hearing the sniffles and sobs around the cinema, I was reminded how one story can mean different things to different people. I was crying for the characters. I was crying for not appreciating every second I get in this world. I was crying for my friend's mum who suffered from breast cancer. I was crying for Esther Earl.

7. It was beautiful. It's crazy how something so broken and awful can be beautiful.

I came away from the movie feeling like I'd cried everything out of me.

I felt light.

Wednesday 4 June 2014

The Fault in Our Stars Pre-Screening

I just saw the Fault in Our Stars. It was funny and beautiful and sad, all the things that I as a fan of the book and Nerdfighter could hope for. More coherent thoughts tomorrow...

Sweet dreams.