springdellgirl

For Ramona


Remember when I used to write book reviews? It's been a long time. I have had a request for more reviews...so even though Ramona doesn't read my blog...she reads my Goodreads reviews (which are the same) and this is for her. Here are a few easy fun summer reads.


Graceling by Kristin Cashore


This was our book club pick for July. I don't read much YW fantasy...truth be told I don't really like Fantasy... but I was willing to give it a try. My friend, Janyse, described it in such a way that it piqued my interest.

From School Library Journal:

In Katsa's world, the "Graced," those gifted in a particular way, are marked by eyes that are different colors. Katsa's Grace is that she is a gifted fighter, and, as such, she is virtually invincible. She is in the service of her tyrannical uncle, king of one of the seven kingdoms, and she is forced to torture people for infractions against him. She has secretly formed the Council, which acts in the service of justice and fairness for those who have been accused and abused. Readers meet her as she is rescuing the father of the Lienid king, who has been abducted. The reasons for his capture are part of a tightening plot that Katsa unravels and resolves, with the help of Prince Po, the captive's grandson. He has his own particular Grace, and he becomes Katsa's lover and partner in what becomes a mortally dangerous mission.


I was drawn in from the start. I liked this tale of the seven kingdoms and "gracelings." I liked the world that Kristin Cashore created. I liked the action, adventure, danger and intrigue that Katsa and Po undertake. That said...I somewhat disliked the main character, Katsa. She was too bad-@##. Don't get me wrong...I like a strong female character...but Katsa was rough around the edges and I didn't ever really warm up to her. Plus her name is just a tad to close to "Katniss" and I felt like that was contrived. Also-- who names the hot male love interest "P0"? All that does is conjure images up images of a giant teletubby. Not sexy.

My main complaint is with the author's blatant feminist agenda. Marriage equals bondage. Children equal bondage. The anti-marriage attitude of the main character was too over the top and in your face. I have since read that the author said that she had no "agenda" and didn't intend for her book to be taken in that light. I have to say BOLOGNA!! Get real.

So even though I sound critical I did get lured into the Seven Kingdoms world and I actually enjoyed it. I would under no circumstances recommend this for a 13 year-old due to the anti-marriage/let's just be lovers attitude. But for an adult who has a bit more life experience and can read between the lines it's a fun summer read.

My rating: Good.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Graceling was Kristin Cashore's debut novel...this is her second novel...although it is a prequel to Graceling. My friend, Janyse, said that I would like this book even better than the first. She was correct. I did.

From School Library Journal:

"This fantasy, shot through with romance and suspense, is set in the same world as Graceling (Dial, 2008), but on the far side of the mountain barrier in the kingdom of the Dells. Here there are monsters, enhanced and exceptionally beautiful versions of various animal species. Fire is a human monster, so beautiful that she has to hide her hair for fear of attack by both raptor monsters and human men. She is able to enter other people's minds and exert power over them. It is a tumultuous time in the kingdom, as various lords are preparing to overthrow the king, and Fire is drawn into the fray."

I feel that in this book Cashore has grown as a writer. I felt that the writing, plot, character development, establishment of scene, all of it really, improved in her second book which had a more adult tone. I enjoyed the characters in this book much more than those in Graceling. The protagonist, Fire, has strength AND vulnerability which makes her a much more likeable character. This was a story with appealing characters (except for creepy Leck and Cansrel) and a compelling plot. When I started it I was unsure that I would like it and it took a bit to work my mind around Cashore's concept of "monsters" but once I did I was pulled in and enjoyed it.

This book still pushes an anti-marriage agenda but it is a bit more subtle. The pro-casual sex attitude of this book is blatant and, in my opinion, irresponsible. So once again I would not recommend it for it's YA teen audience. But like Graceling, I enjoyed it and will read the third in the trilogy.

My rating: Good...slightly better than Graceling.


The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart


I read about this book on my friend Lucy's blog. It sounded interesting so I checked it out from the library. This is more YA literature. Who knew I would be reading so much?

From Booklist:

"... In the summer between her freshman and sophomore years, Frankie Landau-Banks transforms from “a scrawny, awkward child” with frizzy hair to a curvy beauty, “all while sitting quietly in a suburban hammock, reading the short stories of Dorothy Parker and drinking lemonade.” On her return to Alabaster Prep, her elite boarding school, she attracts the attention of gorgeous Matthew, who draws her into his circle of popular seniors. Then Frankie learns that Matthew is a member of the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, an all-male Alabaster secret society to which Frankie’s dad had once belonged. Excluded from belonging to or even discussing the Bassets, Frankie engineers her own guerrilla membership by assuming a false online identity."

This was a fun, witty and smart read. I really enjoyed it. I like a YA book that makes you think...there are so few of them. Hello Twilight. Frankie Landau-Banks is a unique and fresh protagonist. What's more...she's smart!! While this book is a quick and easy read some of the themes would make for great discussion. Perfect book club choice. I love that the main character analyzes. She thinks deep thoughts. She actually READS. (You had me at P.G. Wodehouse.) Has Bella even heard of Wodehouse? Um...no. (I love it when authors allude to other works. It makes me happy. Thanks Mrs. Dunseth for making me write several papers about this in high school.)

This book asks questions about power, gender expectations, self-worth versus value assigned by society and female empowerment in a fun and fresh way. It had me analyzing my own behavior in high school. I loved the whole "should I wear my boyfriend's shirt or not" part. The "what does that say about me?" Does it mean that I am so fabulous that he wants everyone to see that he likes me or is he marking his territory or am I just his doll to dress up? Great writing.

(BTW-teenage Kristin wore Rex's shirt with PRIDE and bragged to all her friends. She never even batted an eye. To her it was proof of how much he liked her. Teenage Kristin was not deep. Sadly teenage Rex probably wasn't making a statement when he let teenage Kristin wear his shirt. It was just a shirt. But it is fun to talk about now. Did you wear your boyfriend's shirt?)

As for Frankie, I admired her for her passion but sometimes I didn't really like her. I thought she was too much. She took things too far. She became obsessed, made some bad choices that led her down some bad roads i.e. civil disobedience etc. but I understood where she was coming from and what led her there.

All in all, I found this to be a fun and thought-provoking book.

My rating: Good.