Recent Reads -- 4 stars each

My Life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead

I first read Middlemarch when I was in college. I'd picked it up because I knew it was one of the "greats" and I felt like I had to read it sometime or other; I didn't suspect how much engaging it would be. A few months ago, I started listening to it while I ran. Thus, when I had a chance to read an early copy of My Life in Middlemarch, I jumped at the chance. To be honest, I was expecting more of a memoir than this biography/criticism/personal reflection, but I still loved reading about the layers of George Eliot's life, the construction of the massive, masterful novel, and the way books color and influence every reader's life.

4 stars

Warnings: Some thematic material and vague references to sensuality

A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle

I love Madeleine L'Engle. If, someday, I am a famous writer (I can dream, can't I?) and someone asks me who my greatest influence was, she will be at the top of the list. I actually read part of this memoir several years ago and I have no idea why I didn't finish it at the time, but several of the lines I highlighted have become so much a part of my own opinions that I had forgotten that I first read them in A Circle of Quiet. This memoir explores L'Engle's experiences with writing, living in a small community, spirituality, and family life. It is rambling but gorgeous, with many gems of wisdom. I am so excited that there are three more Crosswicks Journals for me to dive into.

4 stars

Warnings: A few instances of language, discussion of some heavy ideas

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Rowell is pure delight to read. Something about the way she frames emotions and experiences makes them both infinitely relatable and yet entertainingly unique. Landline is the story of Georgie McCool (which, really? what a name -- but it worked with the character once I got acquainted with her), a career woman and mother whose marriage is faltering. After she chooses work over family and her husband, Neil, takes their kids to see his family for Christmas without her, she tries to call them from her mother's landline -- only to find that it isn't present-day Neil but Neil from her past that answers. As she speaks with him, she evaluates her life, love, and relationship and tries to work her way back to her family. One of the things I loved about this book was that I could really empathize with Georgie in many ways. I am a working mother too -- I am going to have to be away from my family on Christmas too (although for me, it is not a choice, and my husband isn't mad at me about it, thank goodness). The pain she experienced reverberated with me, and as she went through the growing process I also felt like I learned some things about love. Rowell is an auto-read for me now.

4 stars

Warnings: Language, references to sex (no explicit scenes)

Paper Towns by John Green

I'm (very slowly) working my way through John Green's backlist. Paper Towns is about a guy whose name I've already forgotten whose childhood best friend goes missing -- but leaves some clues for him to find her. As he leaves on his wild goose chase he learns about love, friendship, and living. So here's the thing about John Green. Fault in Our Stars was amazing and moving. Looking for Alaska was pretty good, and unique from Fault in Our Stars. However, Paper Towns reads a lot like Looking for Alaska. Manic-pixie-dream-girl, much philosophizing about love, friendship, purpose, and death. It was a solidly good book, but definitely didn't veer from the prototype. I will say that I don't mind Green's hyper-intelligent protagonists, though -- I know people complain that teenagers don't talk like that or think like that and so on, but I disagree. Not all teenagers do. Maybe not even most. But some do, and I think they would definitely be the most interesting ones to read a book about. End of that rant. Basically, good book, good coming of age story, if you like John Green, here's a John Green book that sounds just like a John Green book.

4 stars

Warnings: Language, teen drug use and drinking, references to sexuality

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

If three's a charm, then Rainbow Rowell has charmed herself into an auto-read for me, because I have loved every word she has ever written (well, I could do without the swearing, I suppose). But seriously -- she has yet to disappoint me. Fangirl is a fitting title for the book I'm about to rave about.

Cath and her twin sister, Wren, have always been a package deal. But when they go to college, Wren wants to room with someone else and assert her independence. She no longer shows an interest in spending time with Cath or working on fanfiction with her (if you're unaware: fanfiction is basically spinoffs of published works, unpublished but posted on fanfiction sites). As Wren explores her new life, Cath retreats further and further into her own fanfiction world -- but her new life just might manage to pull her out.

So here's what I love about Rainbow Rowell's books: Everything. But seriously, her writing is incredible. She is able to convey emotions in a uniquely-colored but totally relatable way, making her language both delightful and clear. Also, she has a good balance of humor and real life. It's kind of funny that Cath took a popular series (similar to Harry Potter) and made the two main characters fall in love with each other, and it's really funny the way she wears t-shirts all the time and has commemorative busts of them in her dorm room (much to the chagrin of her edgy roommate). However, she also deals with severe social anxiety (think eating nothing but protein bars for a month to avoid going into the cafeteria alone) and has some family issues that require her to act like much more of an adult than she is.

Rainbow Rowell also writes the most irresistible of leading men. Every one she's written about has been a "nice guy" that has warmed my heart, and Levi is no exception. Don't get me wrong -- none of them are perfect -- in fact, they all commit some actions that made me cringe -- but they are all redeemable.

Another element of Fangirl that I really enjoyed was that it was set in college. Over the last few years, there has been an outcry in the blogosphere for "New Adult" books -- books written about young adults in their late teens and early twenties, navigating the choices that come with college and early career. I've noticed that NetGalley has recently added a New Adult section, but every book I've seen there has basically been about sex. While sex is an important issue during those years, I don't think it is the complete focus of most young adults' lives -- there is more to write about. Fangirl deals with it, but it isn't what the book is about. I liked that it was a realistic book about a person in college.

Well, I think I've made my point. Excuse me while I go off to write fanfiction about Cath and Levi now. Ahem. (Oh, and one more side point -- I wish that I could read the Simon Snow books in real life. Even though they are basically making fun of the Harry Potter books with perhaps a smidge of Twilight thrown in -- I would enjoy them. Any fanfic writers want to put that together for me? Shoot me an email. :) )

5 stars

Warnings: Language, thematic issues (mental health, drinking)

Mini-Reviews: Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is kind of my catchall phrase for this post -- the only book that is traditional historical fiction is A Thunderous Whisper. However, all the books take place in different decades than this one, so it's working for me. 

A Thunderous Whisper by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

A Thunderous Whisper is the story of a friendless young girl who becomes wrapped up in the violence of the Spanish Civil War. As she participates in covert operations, she makes friends and realizes that she is not as alone as she had believed.

This book was interesting for me to read because I knew nothing about the Spanish Civil War. It's always nice to read a book in a new setting and a new era. I also loved the message of this book -- it is a message about the power of the individual and the fact that you can find love if you are willing to search for it. My quibble with A Thunderous Whisper is with the writing -- it seemed a little juvenile to me. Granted, this is a middle grade book, but it still left me with somewhat disappointed expectations. I do feel that the writing improves as the book progresses, and the final pages tie the entire story together very nicely.

3 stars

Warnings: Violence

The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls

I had high expectations for The Silver Star. The Glass Castle was a phenomenal work and I was very excited to see what Jeannette Walls produced. However, The Silver Star, despite perfectly acceptable writing, was lackluster for me. It read like a machine rather than a story -- I could see the gears working in the author's head to fit everything together. In the end, it did fit together, but the finished project was somewhat bland and beige. Also, it seemed like a watered-down version of Walls' own life story. Her fact so far seems to be more compelling than her fiction.

2.5 stars

Warnings: Non-explicit sensuality, violence, language

The Secret Sense of Wildflower by Susan Gabriel

The Secret Sense of Wildflower is about Louisa May, also known as Wildflower, a girl struggling to cope with her father's tragic death, her mother's absent affection, and the unwanted attention of the town wild hooligan. Oddly enough, this story shares several similarities with The Silver Star (the Southern setting, the pervy creeper situations, the girls with refrigerator mothers), but I found it somewhat more compelling. Gabriel's writing is affecting and tight, and I found Wildflower's voice to be powerful and distinct. The story itself did not completely engage me, but the book was well written.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Violence, sexual assault, some language

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

It's official. I'm a Rainbow Rowell fangirl. And if you are, too, you can see my clever pun on her next title (Fangirl. Pleeeease, NetGalley?). I just looked on her website to see if her Rainbow is her real name, and couldn't find that information, but I did find this fantastic quote: "She has two sons, and if God hears her prayers, they will grow up just as nerdy and true-hearted as the protagonists of her books." Amen, Rainbow. Amen. 

Anyway, Eleanor & Park is about a girl and a boy who sit next to each other on the bus. They are both sort of misfits -- the girl because she is overweight, has flaming red hair, and is extremely poor and the boy because he is one of the only Asian people in his school (but he actually is really well-accepted). At first they coexist because they are forced to, but gradually, through sharing of comic books and mix tapes and hand-holding, they fall in love. And the biggest barrier winds up not being the their outcast status, but Eleanor's horrifically hellish home life. 

I don't know how I can convey to you the adorable-ness of Eleanor & Park's relationship. Rainbow Rowell can, which is why I'm one of her Fangirls. (Ha, ha, ha). But seriously -- this book is able to induce pillow-screaming in equal measures of disgust and swoon. I won't lie -- I wasn't expecting how dark the book can be at times, especially as Rowell's first novel, Attachments, was pretty light-hearted, but it is beautifully balanced by the sweetness of the love story. I realize at this point this "mini-review" is not so "mini," so I'll wrap it up and just tell you to read it. 

4.5 stars

Warnings: Really a LOT of language. More than I usually tolerate before I put a book down. So be warned about that. Also innuendos.