Book Review: What I Was

 

Meg Rosoff
★★★★★
Reading Level: High school and up
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Viking Adult (January 24, 2008)

　
What I Was is a reminiscence of an old man as he recounts a life changing experience during his sixteenth year. First, let me start by saying that I loved Meg Rosoff’s How I Live Now- just as it captivated me, so too has What I Was. I think it’s safe to say that I love Rosoff’s work. She writes in a voice that captivates you and damn near makes you want to jump in and swim among her words. This novel was hauntingly magical. Rosoff explores the relationship between H and Finn. H hungers for new experiences far from the bleak halls of St. Oswald boarding school, the glares of authority and the taunts of his roommates. One afternoon, after stopping for a drink of water while running along the coast, H meets the young Finn, a teenage boy who seems content to live a life like Robinson Crusoe. Self-sufficient and contented, Finn makes his living by hauling boxes at the market and he not only has no parents, but lives alone and doesn't go to school. According to the government, Finn doesn't actually exist. H becomes obsessed with Finn as he attempts to escape both day and night from the daily rituals of St Oswald's, endeavoring to spend time with his new friend. H stalks him at the local market, everything he knows about Finn eventually coming to him in fragments, tiny shards to number and label and fit together.

This isn't so much sexual attraction, although there is a great love, but its more a type of vicarious living- the sensation of living inside another person's life. Eventually ignoring the ever-harsher glares of authority and the taunts of his roommates, H becomes more of a risk taker, braving the school's curfew to spend even more time with Finn. The accusations however, begin in whispers with Reese and Barrat and Gibbon, his roommates.
I was enchanted by every word Rosoff wrote. What I Was is the story of a friendship that is so strange that it can only exist within the woods that the story takes place. I loved H’s obsession with an obsession of my own. It was interesting to see how he dealt with it. It made me wonder if that isn’t what love is- wanting to be that person more than wanting to be ourselves. The relationship was not strained or tainted. There is a childlike delight in their relationship and a twist I could really not have seen coming.

This book was just awesome. I couldn't put it down and then when I did I couldn't stop thinking about H and Finn. It makes me want to burst with excitmen,t I love this book so much!

Not in any way your average story, I would not be surprised if it becomes one among the classics. Short and simply delightful you will not want to put this book down. A must read!

Where you can find Meg Rosoff and her delightful books:
Twitter @MegRosoff
Amazon: Meg Rosoff Author Page
GoodReads: Author Page
Author WebSite

Book Review: Brilliant Prey

Brenda B Wallace
★★★★★

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 277 KB

Publisher: Wallace Publishing; 1 edition (July 17, 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Summary:

Even a genius can be played for a pawn by a cunning and deadly manipulator.
Lauren James is a former psychiatrist, still reeling from her husband’s suicide and the subsequent miscarriage that swept away her tidy life the year before. On the anniversary of his death, she opens what she hopes to be a "Welcome to Mensa" envelope and pulls out a threatening puzzle along with the identical suicide note she had burned the previous year. Unraveling the twisted clues, Lauren embarks on a harrowing journey drawn in by a child’s neglected grave, a professor from the island of St. Croix, and a U.S. Supreme Court nominee. When Lauren discovers the reason behind her husband’s shocking death, she must struggle with her deepest convictions and whether killing is acceptable if it saves more lives.
Just, wow. I originally didn’t have mush time to read this book. With everything I had going on I thought I’d perhaps find a few minutes to read. But I never expected to stop everything I was doing just to finish.
I really don’t want to give spoilers, this book was so fantastic I don’t wanna ruin it for anyone. Brenda Wallace write with a voice that has the essence of Dan Brown and even a little Stephen King, with a whole lot of her own. I’m not used to reading psychological thrillers for a reason: I just don’t like the mundane feel of them. But Brilliant Prey captured and held my attention. I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster that kept me guessing until the very end. The characters are believable and thrilling to read about.
A must read!

To find out more abou the author:
Website: http://brendawallace.com
Twitter: @BrendaBWallace
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brilliant-Prey-ebook/dp/B005F0YSZS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318021010&sr=1-1

Book Review: Blood Red Road

Moira Young

★★★★★★/5

(The Extra star for being the best book I've ever read)

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 464 pages

Publisher:Margaret K. McElderry (June 7, 2011)

At first, I did not think I would enjoy this book like I enjoyed The Hunger Games, which at the time was my leading book. The writing was defiantly not like other books with perfect grammar and quotation marks. It was a turn off for me at first. But it took only the first few pages before I was hooked. It turns out that the way it was written added to the glamour on the book. All I could think about were these characters and their journey.

Blood Red Road tells the story of Saba as she tries to get her brother back after he was kidnapped by strange men. I was a bit intrigued with the fact that this story wasn’t about forbidden love or whatever else the YA brand has been selling lately.

I’ve said this before, that some characters seem real to me. But it was unlike any I’ve ever read about before. Moira Young’s characters are smart, cunning, funny, and just plain awesome. Usually the main female lead is all love struck and a damsel in distress type. But Saba was a strong and fierce fighter who had one thing on her mind: getting back her brother. Some people would say that she went overboard with her obsession to finding him, but I felt that it gave her a sense of purpose and throughout the novel, that was her aim. She never let that stray. Jack was just delicious. He was funny and cocky and just plain sexy! (He actually reminded me of one of my characters in the novel I’m writing.) The Free Hawks were the bravest and most thrilling fighters. Ike was just hilarious and intriguing. Emmi was bold and daring. These characters were like real people. Each were dynamic and rounded characters that I instantly fell in love with.

The plot of the story was always held in front. This I especially like, because I hate when the main purpose of the story is pushed aside and then the character goes off on their little adventure to find themselves and then finish off the book in the last few pages with a bit of action and a happily ever after. This novel was not like that. The main purpose was always first and the characters grew from that. There was a bit of romance in here as well, but is didn’t get all twilight on us, which is just what I like.

Moira Young has defiantly written an amazing book! My favorite book. If I was ever so lucky to meet her I would bow at her feet. This books is just…perfect. A MUST MUST read!Now, all my life, I’ve never really found a book that was my favorite. There were defiantly those I treasure most and would read over and over, but never could I find one that was THE best. Until now. Blood Red Road is my perfect novel. It is a dystopian dream!