The Marvels by Brian Selznick

Summary from Goodreads:

Caldecott Award winner and bookmaking trailblazer Brian Selznick once again plays with the form he invented and takes readers on a voyage!

Two seemingly unrelated stories--one in words, the other in pictures--come together. The illustrated story begins in 1766 with Billy Marvel, the lone survivor of a shipwreck, and charts the adventures of his family of actors over five generations. The prose story opens in 1990 and follows Joseph, who has run away from school to an estranged uncle's puzzling house in London, where he, along with the reader, must piece together many mysteries.

Review:

I picked up an advanced copy of this at BEA. The finished book comes out in September. I’ve wanted it since I heard of it, and I was so unbelievably happy to get my hand on this so early. It’s one of the first books I read from BEA. I physically could not sit in the same room as this book at not read it. And well, this may be my favorite Selznick book yet.

This author is so good from switching back and forth between narrative prose and illustration. Telling the first half of this story in illustration though was new. There is no prose until the second half of the book! Technically, there are words. There are tidbits from newspaper articles, signs, and advertisements. But, I’ve never read anything like this. I had to put things together on my own because only so much can be revealed through pictures. I loved this. I loved that it wasn’t linear or easy. And oh, man, the artwork in here. It’s what you’d expect from a master like Selznick.

This book is not for everyone. It’s not the standard graphic novel you can hand to a reluctant reader. This is a book for readers who love to read. And there were some complexities in it that I’m not sure I would have fully grasped had I not read it as an adult. That being said, everything this book accomplishes in its complex webs of stories, actors, relatives, and uniqueness is just plain brilliant.

I read the whole 650 page volume in one day (granted, half of it is in picture). The story moved fast because you are trying so hard to fit all the pieces together and then to connect the two different stories. Selznick accomplishes here what David Wiesner does with picture books like Flotsam; he is able to tell so much just through images. And the other author I kept finding connections to here was the adult author, David Mitchell. The layers to all the stories and worlds and characters reminded me a lot of Cloud Atlas (my favorite adult book besides the works of Austen).

There’s all the good stuff that makes up a good middle grade book too: family drama, a theme of coming of age, an attempt at running away, making new friends, and acceptance. There’s a nice LGTQ element as well. And there’s also sadness, mental illness, and grief. I wasn’t the biggest fan of all the aspects of the ending, if anything, because I’m not really sure what it all did for the story at large, but that’s okay. I still whole-heartedly loved this book.

I have never read anything like this. This book accomplishes so much with so few words (in the beginning). The layers to the story, the fascinating characters, and the artwork really make this a unique book. I can’t wait to read more reviews for this once it is published. I give it a 10/10.

A Good Week in Books (111)

I had a nice, little book week. I received to new pretties for review. Don’t they all look so pretty this week? Thank you, Macmillan and Hachette. And don’t judge me, but I also pre-ordered the newest Fifty Shades of Grey book: Grey. They are kind of a guilty pleasure for me. I’m so excited to dig into some good books tonight.

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
Tangled Webs by Lee Bross
Grey by E.L. James

How was your book week?

Re-Read 2015: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan and read by Jesse Bernstein

Summary from Goodreads:

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows.

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

Review:

I’ve changed my mind. Sorry, book 3. This is my favorite Percy Jackson book. I thought the other ones were hard to put down/stop listening to. This was the worst. It was literally non-stop action. The whole book was one attack by the Titans after another.

On top of the Titans V. Olympians war taking over Manhattan, there is also more trips to the underworld, humongous risks, prophecies being fulfilled, kisses that transpire, meetings with the Gods, the return of all your favorite mythological creature friends, the getting to know the old Luke, prophets, family drama, the worst of all monsters (that take all of the Greek gods to kill), and death.

I was impressed by Percy’s bravery. He went all out to be able help win this war. I was actually blown away by the bravery of all the side characters too.  Clarisse just owned the town with her fighting skills. Grover went all out too. Even Thalia comes back, along with the hunters, and shows off her mad skills. Also, surprising, were Percy’s mother and stepfather. I was blown away by their help. And I can’t forget about how brave Rachel Elizabeth Dare is either.

This is the book all the other ones lead up to. The moment of the prophecy is here. And It so easily could have been a major let-down. It wasn’t. It completely led up to all of my high expectations (both times)!

I remember being annoyed by some of the things it took Percy too long to figure out. Like, seriously, why was the next prophet a surprise? And the overall message of the prophecy wasn’t that confusting. This time reading/listening though, this didn’t bother me so much. Percy was never known for being the smartest or wisest. I liked that he wasn’t good at all things, and had to figure some of the important stuff out as he grew up.

I love the ending of the book too. What a fantastic ending. I kept thinking about what I would do if I were offered what Percy was offered. He clearly made the right decision, and I can’t wait to get into the next series (of which I have only read book 1 in the past…).  These books are fun, fast-paced, hilarious, adventure-filled, sentimental, and just plain good. I can’t believe I never re-read them until now. They combine Greek mythology with all the normal kid/teen stuff I read on a routine basis. Riordan does a fantastic job of mixing modern day NYC with ancient Greece. The characters are believable and fun. And I really can’t say anything bad here right now. This gets a 10/10.

Waiting on Wednesday (145)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly (10/27/15):

Description on Goodreads:

Set in gilded age New York, These Shallow Graves follows the story of Josephine Montfort, an American aristocrat. Jo lives a life of old-money ease. Not much is expected of her other than to look good and marry well. But when her father dies due to an accidental gunshot, the gilding on Jo’s world starts to tarnish. With the help of a handsome and brash reporter, and a young medical student who moonlights in the city morgue, Jo uncovers the truth behind her father’s death and learns that if you’re going to bury the past, you’d better bury it deep.

Why I’m Waiting:

I love this author. I loved her first two YA books. I also love her adult books. I have yet to start her mermaid series, but I have all of the books in it, that are out, sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. This sounds like an interesting enough story. It sounds like historical fiction, what Donnelly does best. And it also sounds like there could be a love triangle, and possibly grave robbing. I am so there! I also just know it will have some amazing, top notch writing too.

What are you waiting on this week?

Re-Read 2015: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling

Summary (from Goodreads):

The war against Voldemort is not going well; even Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.

And yet...
As in all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate — and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weasley twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort — and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.

Review:

This book is one of my favorites. You know a book is great when upon re-reading for possibly the 10^th or maybe the 15^th time, you still cry when a certain character dies. You still cry when it hits all of your favorite characters at the funeral. You still cry when Hagrid realizes the truth. And you still need at least a few minutes afterward to gather up your strength and deal with the loss.

I have said over and over again how impressed I am with Rowling’s ability to plan and prepare this extraordinarily complex and layered children’s fantasy story from the beginning. I loved re-reading and finding her not so obvious clues. I loved tying all the pieces together. But, what this book proves more than anything for me is how fantastic the characters are too. I cried with them. I laughed with them. I shipped them. I think I may be the only person alive who actually shipped the couples the way they were written. I screeched with Joy when Harry ran into Ginny’s arms for the first time. And every possibly sentimental moment between Ron and Hermione had me hoping (from book 4 on).

This book deals with so many things. It has been years since I’ve read this book and I what I find the most interesting is how I have changed between readings. I used to skip over a lot of the bits about Voldemort’s past, finding them to be slow and less fun than the rest of the story. But, this go-around, I loved those parts and focused in on every minute detail. I also remember being so mad at Harry’s friends for not listening to him and taking him seriously about his gut feelings for Malfoy. And this time, I found Harry’s obession, well, a little too obsessive. Those parts were the parts I wanted to skim over, but didn’t.

I also felt a lot more empathy for Draco in this reading. He made some seriously bad moves and some terrible choices, but man, I felt so bad for his situation. I remember always kind of hating him in the past. Also, I remember not loving the beginning before and wishing it just started with Harry immediately. This time, I loved the beginning. Rowling seriously knows how to set up a story.

I love the combination of the magic world with the ordinary one. I loved seeing the prime minister interact with the minister of magic. I also loved how Harry stood against the minister. He did not fall into any traps there, and I am so glad.  There’s so much darkness in this book. There’s death, dark marks, curses, disappearances, and wrongful arrests. There’s also private lessons with Dumbledore, relationship drama, adventures to find horcruxes, inferi, quidditch, the Slug Club, and attacks on the school.

I love Professor Slughorn. He’s not the nicest or easiest professor in the lot, but I found his character to be fascinating. His whole concept of “collecting” students was believable. And I love how important he ended up being to the whole process of learning how to kill Voldemort.

All in all, this is one of my favorites. The characters are fantastic. The mixing of worlds is extraordinary. The new and old characters feel like people you know. The death is terribly sad. The adventures are at an all time maximum. And I cannot wait to start book 7 again. This is another 10/10 fur sure.

A Good Week in Books (110)

I had a nice, little book week. I received 3 new pretty books for review. Thank you Macmillan and Hachette. I have so many books that one of my book shelves recently broke (due to all the weight). The weird thing is it’s my solid oak bookcase…I have much cheaper ones made of plastic or even some IKEA types with cardboard backings that are still holding together. But, my solid one broke…and I sort of laid one of he shelves on the top of the bottom row of books, so I can still use it. Any way, I’m still super excited for these new ones.

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Glittering Shadows by Jaclyn Dolamore

How was your week in books?

The Golden Compass The Graphic Novel Volume 1 by Philip Pullman and adapted and illustrated by Stephane Melchior-Durand and Clement Oubrerie

Summary (from Goodreads):

The world of Philip Pullman’s internationally bestselling His Dark Materials saga is brought to visual life in book 1 of a three-volume graphic adaptation of The Golden Compass.

Lyra Belacqua is content to run wild among the scholars of Jordan College, with her dæmon familiar always by her side. But the arrival of her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, draws her to the heart of a terrible struggle—a struggle born of Gobblers and stolen children, and a mysterious substance known as Dust. As she hurtles toward danger in the cold far North, Lyra never suspects the shocking truth: she alone is destined to win—or to lose—this more-than-mortal battle.

The stunning full-color art offers both new and returning readers a chance to experience the story of Lyra, an ordinary girl with an extraordinary role to play in the fates of multiple worlds, in an entirely new way.

Review:

I picked up the ARC of this at BEA. It comes out 9/22/15. I started reading it at the conference. This is one of the books I wanted to pick up the most when I was there and I was beyond happy to just see it sitting there at the publisher’s booth, almost like it was waiting for me. My love for Philip Pullman’s books is borderline obsessive. I may have even dressed as The Amber Spyglass one year for Halloween…

I have re-read this series like I have re-read the Harry Potter books (over and over again). And they will always have a special place in my heart. Getting to see the story told in this format was beyond exciting for me. Seeing Lyra’s Oxford, the Gyptians, the daemons, the fantasy, and the suspense all over again was as close as I could get to reading this again for the first time.

The art is fantastic. It actually more closely resembles how I imagined things than the movie does. (Side note: why can’t they make the second and third ones into movies too?) So much goes down in book 1, that the makers of this have to turn book 1 into 3 volumes. So, this is only the first third of the story of the first book. I hope all the books will eventually be covered. I know the second and third volumes will come out one year apart (in 2016 and 2017). And it’s going to be a long wait for me. I already knows what happens, but it will sill seem like ages. That’s how good it was.

One of the things I found super interesting about this version, is what was revealed from the beginning. Certain things about Lyra’s daemon, about Lyra’s ultimate decision, and about the future in general were foreshadowed from the beginning. I’m not sure how I feel about all the hints for what’s to come, but I guess I won’t make up my mind about if officially until certain things come to pass. Though, it gives me high hopes for graphic novels of the other books hinted at.

This was a great graphic novel re-telling. The art was wonderful. The story was true to the original, minus a few more hints than there was before. Reading felt a bit like reading it again for the first time. I read it quickly and when it ended, I wanted more. I give it a 10/10.