Review: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

I don't read horror. I've previously not been mad on zombies. I was sick of dystopians. BUT OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK. Originally intended as a stand-alone I believe Marion is writing a sequel and I can't frickin' wait!

Our male protagonist 'R' is witty, intelligent and thoughtful - not what you'd expect from a zombie. I was hooked by the opening paragraph, after, "My friend 'M' says the irony of being a zombie is that everything is funny, but you can't smile because your lips have rotted off." The writing is smooth, coherent and believable despite the whole undead thing.

The book begins as more apocalypse-type but gets more fantasy-ish towards the end, so catering to all readers really. Yes, those are technical descriptive words I just used. A1 in English would you believe.

The book isn't really gorey at all but I did make the mistake of eating spaghetti afterwards so maybe stick to something more like a beer or apple juice while you READ IT. (I tried to think of a food that couldn't, in the wrong setting, resemble bodily organs, but it's harder than I thought. Suggestions welcome.)

Review: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Ok so Elise, our leading lady from This Song Will Save Your Life starts off as that annoying precocious uncool girl in your class that you would have felt sorry for except that she wasn't very nice or humble so you actually didn't like her at all really. BUT THEN, before you know it, you're identifying with her, her thoughts and feelings, insecurities and inner pride. She has self-worth despite not liking herself, and I remember a time when I knew that even if no one else liked me, I liked me, I knew who I was when no one else did, and so does Elise. So yeah I REALLY liked her by the end too. Elise is different, yo'! (I'm so white it hurts sometimes)

But seriously, this is a really great book and I loved how Sales reveals how we believe people to be their projections but with the right lights, in the right pizza parlour, we can suddenly realise that for what it is: a hologram image that hides the fact we're all, in the end, human and vulnerable.

On a side note I am not a big fan of this cover. It's non-descript and unmotivating and does not make me want to pick the book up off the (virtual or otherwise) bookshelf. Make it personal for crying out loud. The story is personal, so why go generic on the cover. Also I'm not a huge fan of real images of people on covers. Like stock images ya know? Even if you can't make out features I just think it's a trapping of the contemporary YA scene. Ugh.

READ THIS BOOK, with pizza pockets. I've never had pizza pockets as they don't exist in Ireland but I imagine they would taste good with this book.

Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

FANGIRLING RIGHT NOW. (I couldn't help it)

I had been hearing a lot about Fangirl in the last couple of days on the interwebs and after some initial hesitation I purchased it from the good people of Amazon Kindle*.

Man, I am glad I did. Finally, finally, after so many disappointingly-ended contemporary YA novels, here is a book that is a) the right length, and b) deals with everything properly and resolves the romance without rushing through it and yeah, I AM CONTENT AND HAPPY.

As someone who dabbled in the world of online Harry Potter fanfiction for a few months age 14, I understood the world that Cath lives in. I also cringed a little because, even if some of the writing is awesome, it is still über nerd territory to write fanfic. Also, non-readers are weirded out by all the slash fiction but I think that's where the internet is at now and anyway, since Tumblr arrived on the scene even the mainstream has accepted it.

Levi is a quirky romantic lead and doesn't fit the regular physical description of the typical YA lead love interest, which was nicely refreshing.

ALSO, hello college!! And older teens!! God, why does no one write about college? Soooo many high school book settings, so few college ones. Let's hope this bucking of the trend continues with more authors! (I swear this is not just because I am beginning to forget what it was like to be 16 - which is a BABY btw. OMG how sad, I am old. Ugh.)

Anyway, READ IT, and with your favourite breakfast/protein bar. I like those Kellog's Elevenses, the baked ones. OMNOMNOM.


*I know Amazon is suppose to be the big bad wolf of the independent bookstore industry and while I do buy real books in real indie bookstores where possible, I live in the smallest room in my house and have zero to no space on my bookshelves and am forbidden from buying new physicals until I get rid of old ones (which I refuse to do so...). Also, I always seem to buy books and start books at like midnight and since Tesco is no longer 24 hours but the internet is... hello Amazon Kindle.

Recently Read #1

2014 February Resolutions*:

READ
WRITE
EAT
PASS MASTERS
BREATHE

So today in class someone actually initiated conversation with me. I could feel myself turning bright red the whole time we were talking even though a) this boy was not attractive (to me at least sorry if you're reading this which you most definitely aren't) and b) I wasn't intimidated, so why I was so awkward is a mystery but there you go. I'm 24 and still an awkward turtle. Smooth-talking lawyer? Not quite there yet clearly.

I have gotten back into my reading groove this month and devoured two quick contemporary YA novels: Being Friends With Boys and Going Vintage. Both were light fun reads but I was left a bit disappointed. I felt they both rushed the ending and hurried the romance between the couples, not giving the reader enough lovey-dovey/hot steaming sexual tension scenes. I particularly like Going Vintage so if you're looking for something short with a cute premise then go for it!

I had a wee look at my woefully neglected goodreads account and have noticed how much contemporary YA romance novels I read last year. Can't seem to get away from that genre though as I just bought Fangirl for my Kindle so... oops...


*Because January consisted of eating leftover Christmas chocolates and I wasn't in the mood.

Review: The Story of Us - Deb Caletti

The Story of Use by Deb Caletti plays around with many of the elements that feature prominently in contemporary YA fiction. Divorce, re-marriage, first boyfriends... The thing that makes this book stand out is that it's reversed the typical protagonists approach in dealing with these issues. Cricket, unlike so many other heroines of teen novels, is happy her Mom is remarrying and she wants to do everything in her power to make sure it all goes to plan.

And while she's so focused on the impending nuptials, making sure her future step-sisters keep their bitchy comments to themselves, she has the perfect excuse for not dealing with the sinking ship that is her relationship with Janssen.

This was well written, Caletti gives us flashes of Cricket and Janssens past relationship, teasing the reader into continuing to find out whether there's a life raft waiting for these two down the road. It's a grown up outlook on first love which I found refreshing after reading so many idealistic "and they lived happily ever after, The End." type books. Because let's face it, when you're in a relationship it's never the end, you're perpetually in the middle.

I enjoyed The Story of Us and I look forward to reading more of Caletti's work. However, I would have liked if there'd been a bit more down time between the lovely Ash and Cricket, with perhaps a bit more development or insight into his character.

3.5/4 out of 5