My December Wrap-Up
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Happy New Year to all you wonderful people! x
The end of December, the end of another year. I could have called this a few weeks ago but yeah, no, I didn't complete my Goodreads goal of reading 100 books in 2015. I tried my hardest - I really did - but I fell short by three. I know. I know. Three. But exams are in less than two weeks and so it was impossible to read those remaining books in the space of three days (any other time of year and I could have done it but as it stands, I haven't). Still, 97 books, I am pretty damn happy with that number. It's been a year of some fab reads, and other God-awful ones that I picked up, and here I am rounding it off with the final wrap-up of 2015.
Also, you can see my year in books here where Goodreads have created a beautiful snapshot of the pretty book covers I opened this year and their respective ratings - enjoy!
Winter: The Lunar Chronicles #4
- by Marissa Meyer
5.0/5.0 stars
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Ladies and gentlemen, THIS is how you write an epic finale to a show-stopping series. Marissa Meyer has delivered a flawless and sensational end to her best-selling quartet of books, The Lunar Chronicles and in 824 pages, ticked every damn literary box to perfection. It is nothing short of a masterpiece.
The Lunar Chronicles is made up of four books - Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter - each spinning a futuristic twist on a classic fairy tale that intertwine with one another to build a bigger story line that couldn't be further away from the childhood favourites upon which these books are loosely based. Crafting a science-fiction re-telling of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White, Marissa Meyer throws us into a world where humans, cyborgs, and androids all co-exist; where Earth, led by Prince Kaito, is in an intergalactic battle with its moon Luna, and its Lunar inhabitants who are ruled by the ruthless Queen Levana; and where a deadly plague is threatening to destroy human existence.
Cinder, is a cyborg and a mechanic living in New Beijing under the roof of her wicked stepmother and all she's ever known is the social injustice she has faced as a result of being half human, half machine, slamming her as a second-class citizen. But then her life is doused with confusion, secrets, and politics as she gets tangled up in the world of Prince Kai and finds herself at the centre of a rebellion against Queen Levana. As the story flows into book two, Cinder finds herself up against enemies that she desperately needs to shake off, whilst halfway across the world, Scarlet Benoit, a spaceship pilot, is on the search for her missing grandmother. As she hunts for clues, she encounters Wolf, a dangerous but magnetic street-fighter who may hold the answers that Scarlet is looking for. Reluctantly putting her trust in him, they strike up a partnership that leads to them uncovering more than they bargained for, even more so when they clash with Cinder. Forging an alliance, they battle to stay one step ahead of Queen Levana and plot to overthrow her with the help of Cress, a computer hacker who's been held a prisoner of Queen Levana for as long as she can remember. As Cinder and her crew rescue her from Levana's clutches, they find themselves in a dangerous mission to save not only the Lunar Kingdom from a ruthless monarchy, but the world from a disastrous fate. Pulling it off involves their united force, together with the charm and grace of Princess Winter - the step-daughter of Queen Levana - gathering support from sectors across Earth and Luna, and launching a revolution that could save Winter's kingdom and end a war that has raged on for far too long.
These books, man. I mean, it takes a while to wrap your head around this whole new world that Marissa Meyer has skilfully created but once you do, you are well and truly sucked in. I'm not a fan of science-fiction but I was pleasantly surprised because it's written so well that it's not heavy at all; it's easy to follow, fascinating, and naturally got the geeky vibes going. The world-building is fantastic - it's actually some of the best world-building I've read in fiction. The attention to detail is immaculate and the author's shown such a talent in the way she weaves together the plot threads across all the books to show the adventures of the four girls, although they each face very different challenges. And the way she pulls it all together in Winter to execute the plot to perfection is quite honestly, astounding.
It's over 800 pages for God's sake but not once does she stem the flow of action; the pacing is intense and it's a freaking page-turner throughout. Her shift in third-person perspectives keeps it moving, gives us a new angle of this extraordinary story line with each twist and turn it takes, and she nails the balance between tense sequences, romance, and plot development. This lady doesn't do overkill. And the humour and outright sass in this book, ohmyword, it is unbelievable. Injecting wit and sarcastic quips into such a fast-paced story line that is quite literally a war zone is a bloody difficult thing to do but boy does Marissa Mayer pull it off. I'm usually so composed when reading a book but Winter had me nearly laughing-out-loud; I think it's safe to say that the train journeys I spent reading Winter were the most entertaining. The dialogue, the perfectly scripted moments, the characters...I haven't loved a bunch of characters this much in so long, I'd forgotten what it feels like. They are each so cleverly distinct in their personalities and the different dynamics within the friendships and romances actually make this book. I just...I'm lost for words. Easily one of the stand-out books I've read this year.
Man it's a bitter-sweet feeling reading books that make me dizzy with my love for it. Because now I have to own this beautiful series (have you seen these covers?! They're bloody stunning) and I can't afford it but, like, I have to own them. Now.
THE MARA DYER TRILOGY
- by Michelle Hodkin
3.5/5.0 stars
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Mara Dyer wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of how she got there. She has no knowledge of the accident that killed her friends, but left her unharmed. She has no memories of that night, no clue of where she was or how she got there, no idea that the truth is far beyond anything she could have imagined.
This book - or rather, trilogy - is batshit crazy. It is, quite literally, insane. Mara's life is turned upside down when she wakes up following the accident that she has no memory of; her family relocate, she starts a new school, and she tries to pick up the broken pieces of her life. But she has hallucinations. She sees her dead friends in mirrors, her classroom falls apart brick by brick on her first day, and she helplessly watches the deaths of those she loves the most. Then her memories return; fragmented and disjointed, her mind connects the events that led to the pivotal moment Mara's life inevitably changed and what her mind pieces together makes her world tilt on its axis. Then there's Noah. Cocky, arrogant, playboy Noah who seems to be the only one that sees into the depths of Mara's soul. The one who believes her. The one who impossibly, unbelievably, incredibly, understands. The listener, the helper, the answer. The bridge between reality and delusion.
Throughout the three books, we follow Mara and Noah's pursuit of answers; why did that building collapse on that fateful night, why has Mara's mind reached its breaking point, and why, why does no one believe that Mara's perspective is just as real, and holds just as much truth as anybody else's? It's a thoroughly gripping read. Truly an original story line with a plot as twisted and complex as nothing I've read. And it doesn't let you go from start to finish. Creepy, suspenseful and borderline scary, the paranoia that we're exposed to as we experience Mara's reality and hallucinations blur into one, is unlike any other. As she navigates her hallucinations and memories, filtering out what's fact and what's fiction, we're left to discern what the bloody hell is going on in this crazy world and let me tell you, whatever you think or theorise, you're wrong. The plot twists are something else. The revelations are shocking. And the truth is, again, batshit crazy.
The second book is my favourite; we have a little more insight into Mara's story and the hinting at the truth throughout is grossly fascinating. I also love the development of her relationship with Noah. In a world full of unknowns, he's her constant. And when no one else in her life believes the insanity that's happening to her, he does. Without question, without hesitation, he believes her. Fundamentally, time and time again, his faith and belief in her is unwavering. He keeps her sane and when shit hits the fan and the degree of insanity blows through the roof, he is unfaltering in his loyalty to her. Unhinged with her mind fraying at its seams, he deals with her crazy and he's honestly so patient and understanding and he loves her to absolute pieces. It's there in his words and it's there in his actions. And it's beautifully portrayed.
Despite its highlights though, this trilogy fell from its heights with the last book. The plot development just made zero sense. Mara takes crazy to a whole new level and it was brilliantly done, her psychotic episodes and murderous rages, but I mean, the explanations were poorly executed. Instead of answering questions, Michelle Hodkin brought out implausible plot devices that simply couldn't be explained so she brushed over them and the book just left a trail of loose ends in its wake. There were so many unanswered questions hovering over the epilogue and I'm sorry, I couldn't buy into the scientific explanations that made no sense. It was confusing and messy and it ruined a promising psychological thriller that I wish could have been done justice.
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Love Fortunes and Other Disasters
- by Kimberly Karalius
3.0/5.0 stars
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The Bollywood Bride
Set in the magical town of Grimbaud, Love Fortunes and Other Disasters tells the story of Fallon Dupree and her conquest to refute the love fortune that revealed she will never find love. Zita's Love Charm shop is renowned in Grimbaud for its 100% accuracy in telling the love fortunes of its people; sweethearts marry young, the blows of heartbreak are cushioned, and the unfortunate ones whose lives will hold no love become spinster and bachelor outcasts. Dupree has lived her whole life believing that Grimbaud's hand in love is foolproof but a glimpse into her own love life makes her wonder if she can take control of her own fate. And she's not the only one. Soon, she finds herself central to a rebellion fighting the love fortunes that dictate their lives, but she has to work together with notorious heartbreaker Sebastian and it's not long before she finds herself falling in love. But Sebastian's fortune is a dark secret that could threaten their romance and prove Fallon's love fortune right after all...
A quirky contemporary with a lovely cover, I had to give it a try, and I found myself really liking it! I may not go out of my way to recommend it, but there was nothing I could probably fault the book on. It is - as the synopsis suggests - a fluffy romance that, in one word, can be summed up as cute. It's aimed at a much younger audience than myself (hence the low-ish rating) but the premise was interesting and definitely original. I liked the take on "destiny", and how the society of Grimbaud succumb to passive acceptance before coming to the realisation that to some degree, you have control over your life. It's a balance with fate; you have to go out there and make things happen to create your own destiny and whether things go wonderfully right or horribly wrong is the mystery that is fate. Kimberly Karalius hit home hard with a deeper message in her light contemporary and together with her lovely writing and totally unique yet likeable characters, has written something that's a little whimsical, a little up there in the clouds, and a little too adorable.
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The Bollywood Bride
- by Sonali Dev
3.0/5.0 stars
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I was excited to read Sonali Dev's second novel because her debut novel, A Bollywood Affair, I absolutely fell in love with (review here). So maybe expectations were high and when they weren't met, I was disappointed.
The Bollywood Bride is about Ria, a Bollywood starlet who is dubbed the Ice Princess because of her cool and detached demeanor, her armour of ice protecting her from media scrutiny, scandal, and a tormented past. But a run-in with the paparazzi during a mistimed act of impulse threatens to force loose her secrets that Ria keeps tightly fisted and so when her cousin's wedding date draws nearer, it is her chance to fly out to Chicago to lose herself in the festivities and forget the media scandal that hangs over her head. Returning to the home where she spent her childhood summers brings back painful memories and it doesn't help that after ten years, she has to face Vikram - the guy who saved her when she was eight years old and needed saving the most, the guy who was her light in the darkness summer after summer, the guy whose heart she broke to chase fame and fortune. Vikram hasn't forgiven her and being thrown back into his life re-ignites his rage, hurt, and confusion at the events that transpired a decade before. But Ria can't let him know the truth, can't let him in on the secrets that underlie her murky past. Nor can she bear the unmistakable pull between them. Drawn to him like a magnet, and drawn to her like a moth to the flame, Ria and Vikram have to conquer secrets, lies, and hard truths, past, present and future, to write the happily-ever-after of their passionate love story.
Don't get me wrong, this book isn't bad. Sonali Dev writes really well with vivid descriptions, a seamless weaving of Indian and Western culture, and a deep insight into the thoughts of her characters. And the plot was solid; it wasn't a typical story where boy-hurts-girl, then years later they cross paths again, there is redemption for the heartbreaker, and they have a second chance at love. Sonali Dev's take on the stereotypical second-chance love story was a breath of fresh air and Ria's past that led to her walking away from the love of her life was dark, tragic, and heart-breakingly understandable. The imprints of a traumatic childhood and the cracks it left on her heart and mind ran deep into her relationship with Vikram and through her memories and thoughts, it's easy to see Ria's vulnerability, her fragile outlook on her bleak future that stems from a difficult past. My issues though were with the angsty romance; it dragged out for ages and there were moments where it got really frustrating to read. And I'm not quite sure why, but the hopeless romantic in me just couldn't click with Ria and Vikram's love story. I didn't find myself invested in them, I wasn't itching for them to get together, and I felt nothing when they finally did. So whilst Sonali Dev has written a conflicted tale that touches on difficult subject matters, and has done it well, her second novel paled in comparison to her debut. Because I freaking adored A Bollywood Affair.
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Paperweight
- by Meg Haston
4.0/5.0 stars
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Paperweight is one of the hardest books I've ever read. Tackling the brutal reality of mental illness, it narrates one girl's battle with anorexia and the overpowering guilt over her brother's death. The Anniversary of the night she killed Josh is in twenty seven days - twenty seven days till Stevie takes her last breath. Trapped in an eating disorder treatment facility, she is watched around the clock and is under scrutiny every minute of every day. Her plan needs refining. Because nothing will stop her from taking her own life.
| “I will not take a single breath on the one-year-anniversary of the night I killed my brother.”
Meg Haston has done a fantastic job with this book. It gives an authentic insight into the horrors that underlie eating disorders and Stevie's narrative is raw, painful, and oh so compelling. It was fascinating but difficult to read her mind; to learn about what triggered her illness, how it consumes and becomes a constant companion, how it forces her to hate herself. She feels that she deserves to die. She has no self-worth and she justifies her illness to the point where she reveres it. She takes pride in being able to control her body weight by restricting her caloric intake and she is desperate to use it to control the timing of her death.
The complexities of anorexia unravel with each page, haunting as they are jarring. It is not just the obscene loss of weight; it is the heavy emotional load that spurs it on, the distortion the mind places on physical appearance, the sense of control that drives this illness. Haston explores the depths of anorexia, detailing the exhaustion and challenges that lie in finding the desire to live and she hits every emotion home - and whilst doing it, she breaks you as the girl on the page breaks.
There is so much that is so wonderfully done in this book but I can't even construct my thoughts into sentences so I'm just going to say read this book and go into it blind - it will shock you with saddening realities and it will cut you deep and it will make you wonder how in God's name an illness so cruel is talked about so little.
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| Source "If Girl A departs sanity around the time her mother abandons her, assuming she is travelling at full speed towards self-destruction, how long will it take to reach her dead brother?" - Stevie |
Thousand Words
- by Jennifer Brown
3.0/5.0 stars
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Ashleigh is worried that she doesn't mean as much to her boyfriend Kaleb, as he does to her. She feels that she always come second to everything else in his life and now that he's about to move away for college, she can't help but panic at the thought of their future. So when he doesn't join her at an end-of-summer pool party, she makes the impulsive decision to send him a picture - sans swimsuit - for him to remember her by. But when they go through a nasty break-up, her picture goes viral in the ultimate act of revenge. As her picture blows up the phones of her classmates and hits the internet, she becomes the latest scandal; she is arrested, taken to court, and served a community service punishment for the biggest mistake of her life, a mistake that has cost her her reputation, friendships, and relationship with her parents. But her hours in community service find her making friends with Mack - quiet and mysterious, he believes that she is more than her mistake, and he is determined for Ashleigh to believe in it too and reclaim her life that is now defined by a single act of stupidity.
It's a bit of a weird one this one; it's very well-written and whilst uncomfortable to read about, it's clear that Jennifer Brown touched on a relevant topic and dealt with it well. The writing style flows with the story we are being told and the narrative from Ashleigh's point of view clearly shows what she went through and how she develops throughout the whole ordeal. And I think she showed true strength at the end; as much as it ruined her life in an almost cruel way, she rises above it and reaches a point where she stops letting her mistake define who she is and lets it go. Mack's role in this is subtle, but meaningful. There's no romance and I like that Brown steered away from the concept that a guy can make everything better. It was refreshing to see the main character make a stand on her own and whilst he's no love interest, the friendship between Mack and Ashleigh is wonderfully done. Through him, she touches on the fact that some people out there truly are good. There's humanity to be found in the small things.
I might not recommend this book to anyone but for what the book's worth, the author did a good job in highlighting important messages that concern teens (and adults) in this world that is controlled by technology, social media, and the destructive nature of a judgmental society.
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The Piper's Son
- by Melina Marchetta
3.5/5.0 stars
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Thomas Mackee is a broken boy; after his favourite uncle was blown up in a terrorist attack in London, his family fell apart and his life shattered. He dropped out of uni, blocked out his friends, and pushed away the girl he can't stop thinking about. His father's an alcoholic and nowhere to be found, his mother and sister are living hundreds of miles away, and he survives by finding solace in substance abuse. But when he hits rock bottom, he finds himself living with his single, pregnant aunt and working at a pub where he is forced to confront the friends that he left behind. And beyond that, he is forced to confront the past and reconcile with the dysfunctional family that all need saving as much as Tom needs to be saved. But how can Tom even begin to mend the family that he loves so much it hurts, when he can't even fix himself?
I'm annoyed with this book because I really really really wanted to love it. And in a sense, I kind of did. But its execution just didn't sit well with me.
This is a beautiful story. It truly is. Worlds away from romance and typical young adult contemporary, it's a tale about family, friendship, and forgiveness. Told from two alternating narratives in third person, we become an audience to Tom's grief over the loss of his uncle, and the pain of his aunt Georgie over the loss of her brother. Tom is such a complex character; he constantly battles with the memories of the past that make it difficult for him to forgive his father and at the same time, he's trying to make amends for the regrets that keep him in a choke hold. He's sarcastic and bitter, and at times he can be such an asshole, but there are moments upon moments where his vulnerability is exposed and it's evident that his love for his friends and family runs deep..and it's simply impossible to not like him. Georgie's narratives were some of my favourite; she tries so hard to fix her broken nephew but at the same time she's trying to work through her own struggles. She's just hurting so much and I felt for her so hard. And this is what the author does so brilliantly throughout - her writing of human emotions is so compelling and simplistic, yet they pierce like a knife point. Some of her writing is pure gold. Her character construction and development is also brilliant. I liked pretty much every character in Tom's story and I honestly wish I had friends like his because their friendship is unconditional. They give, and ask for nothing back. As do his family. And ultimately, her perfect illustration of family and friendship is the highlight of this book.
The writing style though is my issue. It's confusing and complicated and it took me so long to get into it and find the rhythm of the book. It made it that much harder to connect to the story and to the characters. There were times when I read something and either had to re-read it because I had no idea what the author was talking about, or I just had to skim past it because it was messing with my head. And I really did struggle connecting with Tom and Georgie. As much as I was reading their journey, there was a level of detachment that made it hard for me to feel anything with this otherwise poignant read. So I guess if it had been in first person, and written in a more simplistic manner, I would have fallen head over heels in love with this book.
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Love and Other Foreign Words
- by Erin McCahan
4.0/5.0 stars
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Sixteen year old Josie Sheridan is a girl genius; she is inquisitive, overly analytical, and has an IQ that almost matches that of Einstein. She is also fluent in the languages that ebb in and out of her life. She understands that different people, different social situations call for a different "language" and she's become an expert in breaking down communication. But she feels that her best friend Stu and her family are the only ones who truly speak her language. And sometimes wrapping her head around complex notions - like love - mess with her head. Because there's no mathematical formula she can derive, and no theory she can read, to give her the answers she seeks when it comes to matters of the heart. Then her sister Kate gets engaged to Geoff, to whom Josie takes an immediate dislike after his faux pas when he is introduced to the family. She is adamant that he is wrong for Kate and she is determined to do whatever it takes to put a stop to their wedding. So begins Josie's journey on the quest to understanding the language that baffles her mind and one that she needs to become fluent in - and fast.
Oh man, this book is undeniably brilliant. What a heroine Josie makes. Her narrative is blunt and quirky, and outright hilarious. It's up there with one of the funniest books I have ever read. It is impossible to read it without laughing out loud. Erin McCahan has created a character with such a unique voice and her ways of interpreting the world were so relatable. I, like Josie, sometimes feel like the world is speaking in a language that I'm not privy to. And then there's the family angle that is so wonderfully done. I love how Josie's parents completely and fully embrace her quirks - her wit and one-liners are met with deadpan responses that are fired back in the blink of an eye, and this unconditional acceptance of her being "different" (as well as their utter hilarity) were a joy to read. This stretches to Stu, her best friend who like her, is also a genius and is on the same wavelength as her. They speak the same language. The unspoken understanding between them is beautifully told (and their deadpan banter is some of the best I've read) and I think McCahan did a good job in delivering the message that someone out there, even if it's one person in 7 billion, will speak your language.
Read this without thinking about it - it will surprise you in the loveliest of ways. A light-hearted comedy with a good dose of family love and friendship, it will take you on the journey that defines love - and will make you chuckle out loud many many times as it does.
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