Consumed by Books: April 2013

Monday, April 22, 2013

I'm Not Cool

So it occurs to me that even if it hasn’t been obvious, I have been attempting to be someone I’m not. I have been thinking a little too hard about the cliques that come along with blogging, and letting it bother me. Those days are over.

Before I started blogging, I became friends on GoodReads with a certain person who shall remain nameless. I thought she was so cool and when I saw her blog, I was totally inspired to start my own. She writes great reviews and is pretty funny. I used to think of her as one of my closest blogging friends. Now we still talk on Twitter every now and again, but we’ve obviously grown apart.

This person now associates with a handful of other bloggers whose blogs I enjoy reading. Their content is good and there’s a lot of individuality behind each blog. I’m referring to a group here that’s a fairly small size. While these girls are all friendly, it seems to me as though they largely associate with one another. I get it—when it comes to girlfriends, the ones who you can laugh with but who will also support you when you’re down are the best picks.

I tried to subtley insert myself into this group a few times. You know, join conversations on Twitter, perhaps casually drop a mention of hoping to meet them one day if we happened to be at the same event. It’s recently occurred to me that I’ll never be a part of this little group. Honestly? That’s completely fine with me. I still have blogging friends that I’m pretty tight with and those people know who they are.

So I’ve stopped trying and have decided to let it go. Unless it’s something I feel strongly about, I let the Tweets pass me by. I’ll be courteous and chat with one of these ladies if it’s something I’m super passionate, but why keep trying? Why put so much energy into something that’s just not going to happen?

Since getting a full-time job, I’m not on Twitter nearly as much. I often leave it open during work in case someone Tweets a link that’s useful to me in a professional sense, but after work I don’t spend much time online. I’m currently getting ready to do a sprint triathlon in June and I try to keep at lest somewhat busy on the weekends. I have friends in my personal life who constantly welcome me with open arms, and who are not only loving and supportive people, but just plain fun to be with. I’m in a healthy spot outside of blogging and I like it that way. It makes sitting at home trying to stimulate futile internet friendships look like an absurd endeavor.

Some of you may be thinking that I’m ditching Twitter entirely. That’s not true either. I will definitely be doing my best to respond to all Tweets that are directed at me personally, and I’m happy to make new friends.

I doubt I’m the only blogger who has wondered what exactly my place in this community is. Am I cool kid? Or just an outlier sitting in the background with a Coca-Cola, occasionally blurting out that random thoughts that pop into her head?

Clearly, I am the latter. I am an outlier. A weirdo. Truth be told, I always kind of have been. It feels nice to just admit it. I think writing this post will hold me accountable in regards to not stressing about cliques and other blogging drama.

Be friends with who you like, if they have 3,000 Twitter followers or 300. Don’t try to be something you aren’t. While I don’t think anyone will call you out on it, I do believe you’ll be happier.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Top Ten Authors On My Auto-Buy List

Today is a Top Ten Tuesday Rewind day! Today I'm tackling a list that I immediately regretted not posting as soon as I saw it on other people's blogs. Since I seem to be especially good at completing Top Ten Tuesday lists that revolve around buying books, I thought it was appropriate that I talk about all of the books I plan on buying in the future. I would also talk about the Beauty and the Beast sized library I plan on obtaining so I have a place to keep all of these books, but I'm still working out the details on that one.

At any rate, I've decided to include and link up to the author's upcoming book in each of these cases. If I don't know when his or her next book will be out then the link will lead you to the most recent release.

1.) Victoria Schwab

I fell in love with Victoria's writing and storytelling in The Near Witch. Her books are always haunting yet gorgeous.

2.) John Green

I know a lot of people think John Green is overhyped and overrated, but I genuinely love his books and had so many feels while reading The Fault In Our Stars. Considering how crazy my life has been lately, one passage in particular has resonated with me a lot over the past few months and made me think of how it applies to my own life. If an author can make me think and feel that much than his or her books definitely have a place in my life.

3.) Catherynne M. Valente

It took a chapter or two, but when I read Valente's The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making, I fell head over heels in love, and I enjoyed The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led The Revels There even more. Although Catherynne has some adult books out that I don't own, I hope to acquire them soon. Both the world and the writing in the Fairyland series is just totally magical.

4.) Stephanie Perkins

You know what happens when I read a Stephanie Perkins book? I essentially attach myself to the book and swoon until I've finished reading it. I know Perkins will be publishing books that are in different genres, but given how readable everything I've read from her is, I have a feeling that I will love them anyways.

5.) Diana Peterfreund

I admit, even though I like all of Diana's books, some of them have their weird moments for me (Killer Unicorns series, I am looking at you). However, their concepts are always so brilliant and her writing is lovely.

6.) Maggie Stiefvater

Every time I pick up a Maggie book there's a tiny piece of my brain that's dubious, but by the time I finish the book, I find I've only fallen harder in love.

7.) Neil Gaiman

I shouldn't have to explain this one. I mean, it's Neil Gaiman. COME ON. However, I will, because I like you guys. When I read Stardust, it basically felt like the ultimate fairy tale/fantasy for me. It's everything I want a fairy tale to be. Well done, Neil.

8.) Tamora Pierce

I actually haven't read the past few books Tamora Pierce has released, mainly because of the size of my TBR pile. They just always get bumped. However, she was an author I adored during my formative years, and I'm happy to support her.

9.) Katja Millay

It may seem weird that I am adding Katja to my autobuy list when I've only read one book by her, but her writing is simply stunning.

10.) Patrick Rothfuss

Gorgeous writing and brilliant storytelling? If Patrick Rothfuss ever actually finishes writing I'll definitely buy it.

There you have it. A small sample of the books that will inevitably be added to my collection. Which authors are on your auto-buy lists?

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Review of If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

There are some things you can’t leave behind… A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

(Summary from GoodReads)

The summary of If You Find Me that I first looked at made me think it might be a thriller or suspense novel, but it’s actually closer to a contemporary or realistic novel. I actually thought this would be unlike anything I’ve read and while I was mostly write, it shared a few elements with the film . For the most part I enjoyed If You Find Me, even though parts of it were a bit melodramatic.

Carey and Jenessa’s story is a tough one to read: they’ve lived a life without a lot of modern amenities, and they don’t entirely realize that they deserve better. Their mother isn’t a great parent, and they have to go through a lot of rough transitions to get a better life. While some of these elements are enough to make a person’s stomach turn, they make Murdoch’s story feel all the more real.

Murdoch is skilled with prose, but I felt that her plot needed work. It became clear fairly quickly what the big twist in this book was. I wanted to feel compelled by it, yet the way it was executed lacked emotion towards me. When it was described, the amount of emotional distance that the narrator used didn't feel quite right to me. Some of the relationships in this book also felt contrived.

I read If You Find Me quite quickly, and for the most part, I found it satisfactory. Murdoch knew the setting where her story took place, and the atmosphere was great. Even though it didn’t totally satisfy me, she did enough things right that I’m hoping to pick up more books by Murdoch in the future.

Other reviews:

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

While You Wait (5): White Lines by Jennifer Banash

White Lines by Jennifer Banash

Release date: April 4, 2013

A gritty, atmospheric coming of age tale set in 1980s New York City.

Seventeen-year-old Cat is living every teenager’s dream: she has her own apartment on the Lower East Side and at night she’s club kid royalty, guarding the velvet rope at some of the hottest clubs in the city. The night with its crazy, frenetic, high-inducing energy—the pulsing beat of the music, the radiant, joyful people and those seductive white lines that can ease all pain—is when Cat truly lives. But her daytime, when real life occurs, is more nightmare than dream. Having spent years suffering her mother’s emotional and physical abuse, and abandoned by her father, Cat is terrified and alone—unable to connect to anyone or anything. But when someone comes along who makes her want to truly live, she’ll need to summon the courage to confront her demons and take control of a life already spinning dangerously out of control.

Both poignant and raw, White Lines is a gripping tale and the reader won’t want to look away.

Normally I try to get my While You Wait posts up farther in advance, but life happens. At any rate, if you're on a long hold list for White Lines at your library or want some read alikes, I'm hoping to help you out. Normally I try and give you guys four or five recommendations, but I could only think of three this time. For my first two picks, I decided to post more about teenagers who are kind of left to find for themselves.

Anna is mostly on her own, which sounds like a lot like the M.C. in White Lines. She's largely responsible for feeding and taking care of herself, and she doesn't always make the best decisions in terms of school or her career.

While Walls' memoir is non-fiction, it's a fast read that will appeal to Banash's audience. The sense of place throughout this novel is incredible and the descriptions are raw. It's almost physically painful to read about what happens to Jeannette and her siblings.

Okay, so the plot of this one doesn't sound quite as similar, however, I noticed that it's also set in the 80s, so I thought it'd have some appeal.

What other titles would you add to my list?

Monday, April 1, 2013

Review of The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

(Summary from GoodReads)

There are some books that I only recommend to certain people, typically because they were only okay for me and I’m not sure that I see their widespread appeal. However, I’m eager to push The Sea of Tranquility on all of you, which is precisely what Allison at did to me until I downloaded an egalley of this one and read it. The Sea of Tranquility is an exquisitely characterized, brilliantly written book that you need to read yesterday.

Millay’s novel will pull you in right from the start, but it’s a slow-burner. The plot of this novel isn’t fast-paced, and in some ways, it’s not insanely unique. It’s about people who have yet to figure out how to deal with their emotional baggage.

The characters and writing are what make this book exceptional. When I put this book down, I didn’t just know what Nastya and Josh went through during this story. I learned that Nastya is addicted to sugar and Josh can’t live without his wood working. Even though I couldn’t necessarily relate to what either of these characters had been through, I rooted for them and desperately wanted things to work out for them.

The prose in this novel is gorgeous. Millay knows how to explain how much emotion can be packed into seemingly mundane activities, yet she never becomes too loquacious. The prologue is particularly well done--it pulls the reader in right away and makes him or her long to know what happened.

I wish I could have a hardcover of The Sea of Tranquility for my shelves right now. Millay's novel is one of my favorites of 2012 and all time. I hope all of you pick this up, because I suspect you'll love it as much as I did.

Disclosure: I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.