It's been a while since I last posted. Mostly because I haven't been in the mood to review. Also because I haven't really been reading review-worthy books. I've mostly been reading easy reads that take zero focus or stimulation. Those books (in my honest opinion) aren't worth writing full out reviews for because they all sound the same and they aren't as fun to write.
As I'm writing this, my summer is officially finished. Which means a couple things: No more reading all day with absolutely nothing else on my agenda, and required reading for school. I am one of those nerds who actually looks forward to required readings for school because it gives me an excuse for reading books that other people find boring and weird for a 20-year old to read for fun. During the summer, there were a few times where I was in desperate need of some in-depth analyzation and all I wanted was a paper prompt on a book or movie or even a simple song where I could hyper-analyze it and make it into some huge masterpiece. I craved that stimulation.
So I'm that person who is actually excited to start classes again because of the reading assignments and the papers.
The Diviners by Libba Bray
Started: July 15, 2015 4pm
Finished: July 16, 2015 4am
Stars: 5/5
I really loved this book. From the start I was on the edge of my seat in suspense, dying to know what was going to happen next. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I'm slightly on a book high after reading it.
The book takes you back to a time that, let's face it, everyone would love to experience. You picture every good thing the Jazz Era: the flappers, the feathers, the beads, the classiness of it all. You get a taste of the prohibition, the liberties people had then (17-year olds drinking in night clubs), the dancing, the gossip, and, of course, the city of opportunity, aka New York City.
But that's not all...
Bray also talks about the social topics of that time period! She talks about the black social situation, specifically Harlem! She touches on the homosexual taboo! She doesn't even narrow her focus on romance in the book. There are tropes and comments here and there, but that isn't even one of the top 3 plot lines. I found myself learning about the 1920s while I was swept into the supernatural of the book.
But enough about the social themes, it's a spooky read. There's talk about ghosts and cults and human beings acting out in evil even though they think it's action based on God's will. It's a smart book too. It references pop culture from the 1920s and talks about the popular cults and secret societies from this time. The brutality of the crimes give you a little bit of the hebee-geebees (spelling?? who knows), but all you wanna do is read m o r e.
I also read this book in 12 hours, if that tells you the degree to which I loved this book.
It was a funny read. No two characters were the same and she used a lot of them. They were each so diverse, each with their own tragic (or not too tragic) back story. But mostly tragic. She switched between perspectives seamlessly. I'll admit that Evie and a few of the other characters were a little annoying, but once you got a little annoyed by those characters, she switched perspective to a calmer character. By the time you got back to Evie (or other) you forgot why you were annoyed with her in the first place! The interactions between the characters were natural and realistic (I don't know how realistic for the 1920s, but for modern day it definitely was).
This book was a mystery/thriller/supernatural/historical/paranormal/aBEAUTIFUL READ.
I cannot wait for the next one. For Evie's stupidity, her banter with Sam, JERICHO, Memphis' consistent existential crises, Theta's "free" behavior, and the brother/sister relationship between Theta and Henry. But mostly Jericho cuz wow do I love that character.
[I'm trying to count this as my historical read for my 2015 Reading Challenge, but we'll see. I'll keep you updated.]
The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo
Started: July 19, 2015
Finished: July 26, 2015
Stars: 4/5
The reason it took me so long to read this book is not because I didn't like it or because I thought it was boring. I may have hit a small slump in the middle of reading and then I transitioned to trashy novels that (like I said earlier) took zero concentration or mental thought. But once I started to read it again, I couldn't put it down. Kudos Paulo. Kudos.
I really loved this book. It was philosophical and deep, but oh so simple at the same time. The meaning behind this book and the metaphors and symbols blew me away. The English major in me really wanted to annotate the book, but I read my mom's copy and she hates people writing in books so that analytical journey is an adventure for another day.
You could honestly read this book in a day. And I think it should be a required reading for everyone—regardless of age or gender. This book helps you open your eyes to the world around you and the meaning behind your own existence. It doesn't give you any answers to life or purpose for living, but it makes you aware that there might be those things living underneath your noses, you are only blind to them now.
Even though it is a non-fantastical book, it carries this magic to it. In the descriptions and the characters, you sense magic in it. How I interpreted it was as the magic of life. Life carries it's own magic even though it's not witchcraft or sorcery or anything beyond our everyday comprehension. It adds the idea that wonder and the extraordinary exist in our mundane lives. It just puts you in a happy, optimistic mood after you finish it. I guarantee it. If this book isn't a classic now, it will be very soon.
[this book was my "book originally in another language" for my 2015 Reading Challenge]
SOP: Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac
