The Sin-Eater’s Confession by Ilsa J. Bick ★★☆☆☆ People in Merit, Wisconsin, always said Jimmy was … “you know.” But people said all sorts of stupid stuff. Nobody really knew anything. Nobody really knew Jimmy. I guess you could say I knew Jimmy as well as anyone (which was not very well). I knew what scared him. And I knew he had dreams-even if I didn’t understand them. Even if he nearly ruined my life to pursue them. Jimmy’s dead now, and I definitely know that better than anyone. I know about blood and bone and how bodies decompose. I know about shadows and stones and hatchets. I know what a last cry for help sounds like. I know what blood looks like on my own hands. What I don’t know is if I can trust my own eyes. I don’t know who threw the stone. Who swung the hatchet? Who are the shadows? What do the living owe the dead? The air of mystery around this book - the blood-spattered cover, the lack of description in the blurb - drew me in. And while I found the book interesting, I wasn’t really a fan of it. That air of mystery stayed throughout, but it no longer seemed like part of the story, if you know what I mean. It seemed more like Ben was confused and trying to give his confusion to the reader. In some parts, the book was homophobic and sexist. Which, okay, I get, it’s rural Wisconsin and that’s part of the story. But for Ben to go to the point of denying Jimmy’s sexuality was just a little too far. And then there was the whole thing with Ben questioning his sexuality because of a picture he hadn’t agreed to have taken. I didn’t like that Ben was so scared of being found guilty - of something he didn’t do - and his solution to that was to act guilty and withhold evidence, and then to go a little insane. I didn’t hate this book. Bick is extremely good at writing suspenseful scenes, and her descriptive language was awesome. But her book didn’t really end, there was no resolution, no tying of loose ends. Most of what it did was just confuse me.
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I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak ★★★★★ Meet Ed Kennedy—underage cabdriver, pathetic cardplayer, and useless at romance. He lives in a shack with his coffee-addicted dog, the Doorman, and he’s hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence, until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. That’s when the first Ace arrives. That’s when Ed becomes the messenger… . Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary), until only one question remains: Who’s behind Ed’s mission? This book drew me in from the first. I love the way Zusak portrays his characters and his setting. Every character is human in a way many authors often neglect. With every card Ed got in the mail, I was curious what it would be, and who it would be for. This book lays out the connections between humans, and why you should care. I found the ending slightly confusing but the rest of the book heartwarming and inspiring. I absolutely loved I am the Messenger, the ideas behind it, and Zusak’s wonderful execution of it. Room by Emma Donoghue ★★★★★ To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it’s where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it’s not enough…not for her or for him. This is one of the most amazing, heartbreaking, terrifying, thought-provoking books I have ever read. My heart ached for Ma and her plight and for Jack, who didn’t fully understand. Donoghue perfectly captures a chid’s innocence and a mother’s devotion. I could barely breathe through the climax of the book. I am blown away by how descriptive Donoghue was, using a five-year-old’s language. Every bit of this story was amazing to me, from the first page to the last. A must-read. Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield ★★★☆☆ Becca has always longed to break free from her small, backwater hometown. But the discovery of an unidentified dead girl on the side of a dirt road sends the town—and Becca—into a tailspin. Unable to make sense of the violence of the outside world creeping into her backyard, Becca finds herself retreating inward, paralyzed from moving forward for the first time in her life. The story is simple, the writing poetic, and the setting as alive as the characters. Rosenfield does a brilliant job telling not only Becca’s story, but Amelia’s. The first few chapters draw you in like a fish on a line. And while some of the chapters in the middle drag on a bit and seem to restate things previously said - detailing small town life, etc - most of them do hold at least one crucial bit of information. The ending, though, is what blew me away. As you realize Amelia’s life is about to end, and Becca is about to discover how and why, there’s no choice but to read with baited breath on the edge of your seat. This book is terrifying, and explored the good and evil in everyone. It makes you realize that you never know who you can really trust. Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone is a compelling, simple story told in a big, bold way. It’s worth a read if you’re looking for a good mystery. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon ★★★★★ Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow. This improbable story of Christopher’s quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years. I was totally blown away by this book. I read it for a school project, not expecting it to be that great, and I was so very, very wrong. Christopher’s voice was crazily real. I’ve worked with autistic kids, kids like Christopher, and he acted the same way they did. I couldn’t believe how well the author had captured their essence. And I loved how easy Christopher was to understand. Most people look at kids like Christopher and don’t get it; reading a book written from Christopher’s eyes puts everything in perspective. Christopher doesn’t like being touched and doesn’t understand human emotions well. But he’s also a mathematical genius, knowing all those prime numbers. He’s the kind of character you don’t just grow fond of and care about. You can’t wait to find out what’s next in store, can’t wait to see what’s going to happen, and you can’t help but hope it’s a good thing, because your character could really use a good thing. Christopher’s story is of the kind that you’ll read over and over, because it’s just too good not to. Shine by Lauren Myracle ★★★☆☆ When her best friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice. Against a backdrop of poverty, clannishness, drugs, and intolerance, Myracle has crafted a harrowing coming-of-age tale couched in a deeply intelligent mystery. Smart, fearless, and compassionate, this is an unforgettable work from a beloved author. To be honest, I’m not quite sure how I feel about this book. The only character I truly liked was Patrick, who was in a coma. Cat wasn’t a bad character at all, and I admired her bravery and spunk. But at the same time, Cat seemed to be a lot like everyone else in this story - homophobic. The whole premise of the story is that Patrick has been attacked because he’s gay, and in the religious southern town where he lives, that’s as much of a sin as attacking someone. Every. Single. Person. Is. Homophobic. It’s not like that's unrealistic. And I went into Shine fully expecting some of the people to be so. But even Cat, and Patrick’s other friends, even Patrick’s boyfriend, acted homophobic. I don’t want to make this into such a big deal, because it does fit with the story (even if it still infuriates me), and Shine is very well written. It just bothered me that the people supposedly closest to Patrick didn’t really accept him, just like everyone else in that town. That issue aside, Shine was written masterfully and the intricacies of its setting were obvious and thought-out. The Diviners by Libba Bray ★★★★☆ Do you believe there are ghosts and demons and Diviners among us? Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City - and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult. Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer. As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened… If that summary doesn’t give you chills, wait until you meet the villain of Evie’s world. The Diviners is full of creepy scenes featuring the killer, guaranteed to make your spine tingle. The imagination behind him and his background is astounding, like getting several stories in one. As Libba Bray spins her tale, she weaves the many stories into one perfectly. I love 1920s NYC. The speakeasies, flappers, the vernacular. The setting of The Diviners had all that and more, the pages filled with memorable characters and a thrilling plotline. From the moment I met her, I loved Evie, the bold, brash girl too big for Zenith, Ohio to handle. Evie seems like the kind of girl you could meet on the street and just tell there was something different about her. I love Libba Bray’s writing - I think she’s fantastic and she’s my second favorite author - and I lovedThe Diviners too. My only quip with this book is that it leaves so many loose ends. Usually I like a book that doesn’t tidy up after itself and tie all the bows. But with this one I almost feel like there’s too much left unsaid, like even though the book has ended, I have nearly as many questions as I did at the beginning. I can't wait for the sequel! The Diviners was a great book - well worth the 578 pages. There’s no doubt about it. - The Diviners is the cat’s pajamas. |
Once Upon a Time...As a longtime lover of stories and a believer in the power and magic of books, I've spent my life seeking out the best reads. This blog is dedicated to reviewing the books I read - good, bad, or magnificent - to help other readers find their next favorite books. Currently ReadingKing Zeno
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