Silver Linings Playbook

by Matthew Quick
published: Sarah Crichton, 2008
pages: 289

Pat Peeples believes that life is actually a movie produced and directed by God and when bad things happen to him, he knows that God is punishing him.  However, silver linings are what he lives for and the silver lining to his life is that God will provide Pat's happy ending and all he needs to do is get physically fit and emotionally literate so that his wife, Nikki, will love him again.  Now after several years in a mental facility, he has returned home to his parents and begins to build his life once more, but is he ready for the stress and is involved the real world.

This story tracks Pat who has a pretty serious mental illness, which includes amnesia of the incident that required him to go to "the bad place".  There is quite a lot of insight into the mind of someone who has a mental illness because we see everything from Pat's point of view.  He's got a fixation with Nikki and making himself better for her.  Pat's way of thinking is skewed, which makes for a very interesting and unintentionally funny read.  At the beginning, it feels as though a 10-year-old boy is telling the story, but as we get to see more of Pat, there's an understanding of how he thinks about and copes with the world.

The relationships between the characters in this novel are key to understand them.   Each character in this book tells their own story, we see them from Pat's point of view.  He tends to categorize people by their marriages and how he perceives them.  For instance, Ronnie and Veronica's marriage seems to be okay, except for the fact that Veronica controls Ronnie all the time.   And his parents have a dysfunctional relationship, but he sees everything because he lives with them.  Pat's entire goal in life is to be a better husband, so he looks at the marriages around him for examples of how to or how not to act.   He works hard at being kind, not right and he's practicing on the people in his life so when "apart time" ends he will be an expert for Nikki.

There is a chapter in this book called "My Movie Montage" and it's quite possibly my favorite chapter of the entire book.  As the title suggests, it's a movie montage but in written form: enough said.

Matthew Quick proves again to be an excellent story teller, crafting intriguing characters and following them on a journey of self-discovery.  I am eager read more his work in the future.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"Matthew Quick has created quite the heartbreaker of a novel in The Silver Linings Playbook."
      --Kirkus Review

"You don't have to be a Philadelphia Eagles' fan to appreciate talented newcomer Matthew Quick's page-turning paean to the power of hope over experience - the belief that this will all work out somehow, despite the long odds that life deals us.  Tender, soulful, hilarious, and true, The Silver Linings Playbook is a wonderful debut."
     --Justin Cronin, PEN/Hemingway Award-winning author of Mary and O'Neil

Eclectic Reader Challenge 2014 book.

The Summer We Read Gatsby

by Danielle Ganek
published: Viking, 2010
pages: 304

When Aunt Lydia dies and leaves her beautiful old house in the Hamptons to her two nieces, they must decide what to do with the house.  These women have nothing in common other than a shared father; Cassie grew up traveling in Europe and Peck grew up in New York.  Now, their Aunt is forcing them to spend time together in the place where they shared their summers growing up.

This book was entertaining and engaging but the writing itself felt very immature.  The women in this book are in their late 20s, early 30s but the writing felt more they were much younger than that or much older.  Either way they are traipsing around as if they have nothing more to do than talk trash about people and spending money they don't have.  The biggest plot twist in this book should have been common sense.  I definitely saw it coming and I thought it was crazy that they didn't suggest it to begin with.

The characters personalities were entertaining, especially, Peck. Her ostentatious personality and over the top certainty was quite annoying but slowly became endearing through out the story.  I found myself enjoying her less than witty banter and her dedication to her friends and family.  However, my favorite character Hamilton.  

Danielle Ganek had plenty of potential with this book, but it just didn't translate well as I wished it would.  The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books and I love the idea of using the book as a center piece but the parallels just weren't my cup of tea.

Stars: 2/5

Praise:

"What a charming book!  Danielle Ganek's The Summer We Read Gatsby is a fully engrossing page turner filled with delightful characters and sumptuous details about one perfect July in the Hamptons.  Like summer itself, this bewitching novel will leave you half in love and yearning for more."
     --Elin Hilderbrand, author of Barefoot

"Even though many of the novel's revelations can be seen a mile away, getting there is a fun, witty, and surprisingly moving trip."
     --Publisher's Weekly

An Eclectic Reader 2014 Challenge book. 

The Maze Runner

by James Dashner
Published: Delacorte Press, 2009
Pages: 375

When Thomas wakes up, he knows two things: his name and the fact that he can't remember anything else.  Now he is forced to make a home with the boys he meets in a place called the Glade.  They were sent here just as he was, the only difference being that things started going weird when Thomas showed up.  Thomas joins the effort to get out of this weird world that some of the boys have called home for two years.  The only possible way out is through the maze, but he'll have to gain the trust of those in charge to even begin to help.  The problem with that is there are several boys who believe that Thomas is the problem and not the solution.

Thomas is a curious character from the beginning, he knows as much about himself as the reader does.  It's easy to empathize with him because his lack of knowledge and language of the Glade is the same as ours.  The reader learns right along with Thomas.  This is a great writing tactic.

The plot moves along steadily leaving mystery after mystery to uncover.  There is always a tidbit of new information that keeps me reading, keeps me wanting more.  I sped through this book at a spectacular rate.  I just couldn't get enough information.  The characters were interesting and the more we learned about them, the more we learned about their surroundings.

As is the nature of any book beginning a series, it's hard to create a story within itself that's not purely setting the stage for the rest of the books.  I think this book did a very decent job at this, but the last chunk of the book felt very much like it was just a segue to the next book in the series.  Don't get me wrong, I think it sets up for the next book very well, there just seemed to be a little bit too much set up and tease.  Not enough questions were answered before more questions were revealed. (I'm all about questions being answered.  It's hard to be patient.)

Despite my frustration with the ending of this book, will definitely be continuing on with the series and hopefully I'll get some answers to my questions!  And I'm incredibly interested to see how the movie adaptation differs from the book.

4/5 Stars

Praise:

"Dashner knows how to spin a tale and make the unbelievable realistic.  Hard to put down.  This is clearly just a first installment and it will leave readers dying to find out what comes next."
     --Kirkus Review

"A fast-paced narrative.... Dashner's suspenseful adventure will keep readers guessing until the very end."
     --Publisher's Weekly

"The tantalizing hints of a ravaged world outside makes for gripping reading."
     --Booklist

An Eclectic Reader 2014 book. 

Never Let Me Go

by Kazuo Ishiguro
published: Vintage Books, 2005
pages: 288

Kathy, Ruth and Tommy grew up together in a prestigious boarding school called Hailsham where their guardians constantly reminded them that they were special.  It never occurred to them to question the rules or the mysterious behavior that some of the guardians showed.  Now Kathy looks back on their days together and begins to unravel the mystery of Ruth, Tommy and her special childhood and how that knowledge will shape the rest of their lives together.

This story stuck with me for days after I finished reading this book.  I find I still think about now, (it hasn't been all that long.)  I keep thinking about the characters, their lives and their whould'ves, could'ves, should'ves, knowing there really was no other way their story could go.  This is a story that will sit with you long after you've closed the book.  It'll make you wonder about the potential of humanity and the desperation of others.

The storytelling is hauntingly reminiscent and beautifully thought-provoking.  When Kathy speaks, it's as if we are having a conversation in which she is divulging her deepest secrets.  I may be a donor and she might be my carer.  There is a sadness in her storytelling that is evident while reading this book.  It's almost as if she's smiling through her sadness, like she's discussing her life unsentimentally.

Kazuo Ishirguro has been awarded for his writing in past books and I can see why.  He has a unique take on storytelling and the voices he shares with us.  I will most definitely be reading more of his work in the future.

4.5/5 Stars

Praise:

"A Gothic tour de force.... A tight, deftly controlled story.... Just as accomplished [as The Remains of the Day] and, in a very different way, just as melancholy and alarming."
     --The New York Times

"Elegiac, deceptively lovely....As always, Ishiguro pulls you under."
     --Newsweek

"Superbly unsettling, impeccably controlled...The Book's irresistible power come from Ishiguro's matchless ability to expose its dark heart in careful increments."
     --Entertainment Weekly

This is an Eclectic Reader 2014 Challenge Book!

Cress

By Marissa Meyer

Published: Feiwel and Friends

Pages: 550 

Cinder and the gang are still running from the law both on Earth and Luna. When they come in contact with a young lunar shell named Cress who has spent the last seven years cooped up in a satellite, they decide that she might make a valuable ally. However, when things don't go as planned in the rescue, it is up to Cinder to pull everyone back together. Meanwhile, Cress must come to terms with the idea that she might not live long enough to make a difference in the fight for good. 

The thing about this book is that the momentum never quits. There is never a moment in the book where I felt like it was a good place to put the book down for a while. I just wanted to keep reading the entire time. I needed to find out what happened next. It was time for events to converge and people to interact and butts to be kicked. This roller coaster of a book kept me guessing who would come out on top and at what costs.

I've said it before, but I'm going to say it again. I love fairy tale retellings and I find it particularly impressive when they are linked. Marissa Meyer has done it again.  She tells the story of Rapunzel in a unique and interesting way that has me thinking more complexly about the characters. She weaves this story seamlessly with the other stories in this genuinely incredible world she has created. 

The further we dig into this world, the more learn about it's crazy cast of characters.  Cinder is honing her gift and Thorne shows a more compassionate side. Wolf and Scarlet are as feisty as ever and Dr. Erland discovers more about the plague. Kai shows his true feelings about being engaged to the lunar queen. And we meet a lovely addition, Cress, who happens to be incredibly gifted with hacking and dismantling technology. All of these attributes are just the tip of the iceberg in the book. I'm in love. 

I really have no complaints about this book other than I have to wait for the conclusion! Bravo Marissa Meyer, you have me under your spell. I cannot wait to see what the finale holds.

Stars: 5/5 

Praise:

"Once again, Meyer  offers up a science fiction fantasy page-turner that salutes women's intelligence and empowerment...Old and new romance, unfinished story lines, and the prognostication of wartime horrors all pave the way for Meyer's much anticipated next installment."
     --Booklist

"This multilayered, action-packed page-turner is sure to please series fans."
     --The Horn Book

"Meyer continues to show off her storytelling prowess, keeping readers engaged in a wide cast of characters while unfolding a layered plot that involves warring governments and a fast-spreading plague.  The momentum Meyer built in the first two books continues to accelerate as the stakes grow higher for Cinder and her friends.  The next installment cannot come fast enough."
     --Publishers Weekly, starred review

This is a 2014 Eclectic Reader Challenge book!

A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel

by Madeleine L'Engle (adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson)
published: Margaret Ferguson Books
pages: 392

Meg and Charles Wallace Murry go on an extraordinary adventure to find their father.  With the help of their friend Calvin O'Keefe and the three crazy old ladies that live in the haunted house, they travel across time and space in order to find and help their father.  Along the way, they meet many being and face challenges that test their friendship and their love for one another.  And when all seems lost who will be the one to step up to attempt to solve the crisis and save the universe?

It's been a while since I last read this book and I can say for a fact that the graphic novel version of this story is an entirely different reading experience. Of course, the story is basically the same but having it come to life in the form of art is something delightful and engaging.  I really enjoyed the visual journey that I got to share with the characters in the story.  It felt intimate and strange at the same time.  It's not every day, one sees a childhood favorite turned into a graphic novel.

The art is beautiful, exemplifying certain aspect of the light and darkness in the story itself through the pictures only black and white, with a hint of blue.  All the art is entirely in shades of darkness, the contrast is stunning and brings a new light to the story itself.  Sometimes the art looked like it was carved out of black and other times it felt as though the scenes were carved from white.  I found myself looking at the artwork, caught up in it's simplicity and the care with which each image was crafted.

The only thing I wish I could have seen was more of the story.  Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed this adaptation but I would have loved to see more, or maybe that's me just itching to reread the book now.  Anyway, I am glad I stumbled across it.

Stars: 4/5

Praise:

"This adaptation is fabulous for presenting a fresh vision to those familiar with the original, but it's so true to the story's soul that even those who;ve never read it will come away with a a genuine understanding of L'Engle's ideas and heart."
     -- Booklist, starred review

"Larson has remained true to the sotry, preserving the original chapter format and retaining L'Engle's voice.  Black-and-white artwork is accented with blue, echoing the original cover color."
     -- School Library Journal

"Know somebody who hasn't met Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs Who or Mrs Which?  Larson's colorful panels bring Madeleine L'Engle's brilliant time-travel favorite to life in an exciting new way.  This is page-turning eye candy of the highest order."
     -- James Patterson

This is an Eclectic Read 2014 Challenge book!

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead
published: Wendy Lamb Books, 2009
pages: 199

Miranda knows the streets of her Manhattan neighborhood even though she's only in sixth grade.  Her world is full of safe places and people to avoid, like the laughing man on the corner.  She has it all figured out, until one day her life starts to unravel.  Her best friend gets punched by a stranger and begins to shut her out.  She discovers a note written on a tiny piece of paper warning her and asking her for help.  The notes keep coming and Miranda starts to realize that whoever is leaving them knows all about her and actually needs her help.  She has to make a decision whether or not to help the mysterious letter writer, but what will she choose and will she make her choice too late.

Even though I guessed the plot-twist early on in the story, I enjoyed it no less than I would have otherwise.  I thought it was cute and interesting and very creative.  The fact that Miranda is narrating the letter she won't write to a mysterious person is also incredibly intriguing.  I really liked that everything about this story kept me wanting to know more, to understand where the story was going and why Miranda was telling the story in the first place and to who she was or wasn't telling the story.  I had all these questions and more, and they were all answered, but I had to wait patiently for the answers.

I also really enjoyed that the titles of each chapter were categories that could have shown up in Pyramid, the game show.  I thought it was a creative way to tie in a couple unlikely aspects of this book.

I loved learning about the characters from Miranda's point of view. She had a very clever way of describing people and explaining what thought was weird. For example, why Sal wouldn't talk to her anymore and why Colin started hanging out with her and another friend a lot.  All of her thoughts and feelings were very reminiscent of a twelve year old.  The aging of the characters was excellent, I really thought a twelve year old was talking to me.

It's no wonder that Rebecca Stead received the 2010 Newberry award for this book.  She knocked it out of the park.  I look forward to checking out more of her work, that's for sure.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"When all the side walk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say, "Wow...cool."
     -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Closing revelations are startling and satisfying but quietly made, their reverberations giving plenty of impetus for the reader to go back to the beginning and catch what was missed."
      --The Horn Book magazine, starred review

"This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers."
     --School Library Journal, starred review

This is an Eclectic Reader 2014 Challenge book!

Book Challenges 2014

Let's get right to it!  My book challenges for 2014.



The Eclectic Reader Challenge 2014 , hosted by Book'd Out.

RULES:
This challenge will run from January 1st to December 31st 2014.  Create a blog post committing to your participation.  You can choose your books as you go or create a list in advanced.  You have to read a book from each of the genres listed below.  You can read your chosen titles in any order, at any pace, just complete the challenge by December 31st 2014.  Each time you read and review a book as part of this challenge, make sure you identify it by adding either a direct statement or the challenge image badge to the post.

The Categories:

1. Award Winning - When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (Newberry)
2. True Crime (non-fiction) -
3. Romantic Comedy - The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick 
4. Alternate Historical Fiction - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
5. Graphic Novel - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle adapted by Hope Larson
6. Cosy Mystery Fiction - The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek
7. Gothic Fiction -
8. War/Military Fiction -
9. Anthology -
10. Medical Thriller Fiction - The Maze Runner by James Dashner (The trilogy really)
11. Travel (Non-fiction) -
12. Published in 2014 - Cress by Marissa Meyer

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The Book List Challenge 

I've been reading off a book list since 2007 and last year I read quite a few from the list.  This year I would like to continue to read more books off of it. There are over 450 books, so it shouldn't be a problem. It's the Teenreads Ultimate Reading List if you'd like to take a look.

My goal is 10 books off the list this year.

1. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
2. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
3. A Wrinkle in Time: Graphic Novel by Madeleine L'Engle adapted by Hope Larson
4. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
5. Cress by Marissa Meyer
6. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (reread)
7. Dare Me by Megan Abbott
8. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
9. Champion by Marie Lu
10. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
11. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
12. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
13. Messenger by Lois Lowry
14. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
15. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater
16. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
17. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
18. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
19. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
20. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
21. Every Day by David Levithan
22. The Death Cure by James Dashner
23. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black 
24. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King