I'm Back

I'm back and I'm going to continue writing a review about every book I read. However, even though I am about six months behind I intend to review them all in order of how I read them. It might take me a few months to catch up, maybe I never will.
But I read 80 incredibly good books this year, and I think they deserve to be written about. Enjoy!

Perks of Being a Wallflower

Title: Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky

Publication date: 1999

Book's setting: 1991

Random facts: Percy Jackson and Hermione Granger are leading in the movie, out next year.

Plot summary: Middle-class suburban Charlie starts high school, and needs a way to vent his emotions, fears, and secrets if he's going to survive. Instead of a diary, he writes letters to an anonymous friend whose name the reader is never given. These letters make up the book. Charlie accidentally finds himself on the fringes of a crowd of amazingly cool seniors. The book deals with issues all teens face with sincerity and grace.

Favorite aspects: Oh, was it perhaps a bit too fraught with emotion? A tad too sincere? Yeah. But somehow that excess of incredible emotion was what made it so relate-able and real and sorrowful. Charlie himself was such a sympathetic character. He was a bit much at times... but the surprising ending made sense of that. Actually I think the characters in general made it so strong. Anyone can write a book about dysfunctional teenagers- substance abuse, drunken riots, closeted homosexuals, pregnancy scares, college application terrors. Not everyone can make you care that these kids are experiencing any of this stuff. I even genuinely cared for Sam, who is the stereotypical crazy beautiful bitch. however, is characters are the strongest point of the book, the characters I was most drawn to were Mary Elizabeth and Brad. Bravo, Chbosky. It takes a lot for me to love a teenager.

Least favorite aspects: I was (and still am) a bit confused as to how writing the novel in letter form helped the structure. I don't know if it symbolizes something I'm missing... or if it's just a clever way making it autobiographical without being a diary... But it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I often caught myself wondering more about what the hell was going on on the other side of the correspondence than about Charlie's own life. If someone was writing me letters like Charlie's, I'd want to respond and help. Maybe no one was receiving the letters. I'm not sure.

Other works it reminded me of: Criss-Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins.

Sadie's merciless break-down: It's one of those really famous books, so I was hesitant. It's a hipster classic right up there with The Bell Jar, On the Road, and Oscar Wao. So I was hesitant. But it was one of those books that really deserve the excessive hype they get. To be quite honest, I think it unfortunate that it fell into the hands of the hip booklisters and ended up on the shelves in Urban Outfitters next to Dirty Italian and The Quoteable Stoner. It doesn't belong there. Was it the best book ever? No, probably not. But it was a beautiful, heartfelt, and sincere book that deserves more than its overly ironic fanbase of the grown-up teen scene of the 90's. As excited as I am for the movie, and as excellent as the casting is, I once again don't know if it's actually going to do the novel any favors. Oh well. At least people are reading it.

Recommendation rate: It's a teen book. It's about teenage problems. If you're okay with that, it's one of the best teen books I've read.

Hard to Admit and Harder to Escape

Title: Hard to Admit and Harder to Escape

Author: Sarah Manguso

Publication date: 2007

Book's setting: Modern America

Random facts: This book is one in a set of three short stories call One-Hundred and Forty-Five Stories in a Small Box.

Plot summary: This is a collection of eighty-one short stories. Really short stories. Each one is limited to the length of a page, some are ever smaller. Although many of them stand alone, if you read them carefully enough you'll find that many of them seems to be about the same people, or child. Many of them sound incredible real, perhaps even autobiographical.

Favorite aspects: I cried over some of these, they were so delicate and perfect. Manguso's writing is so seamless and easy to sink into. It's a tiny little book, only eighty-one pages, and you could totally read it in a single sitting. But that's one of the coolest things about it. It's an experience to read. It's theatrical. It's spell-bounding. You want to read it all at once.

Least favorite aspects: You can only buy it in a set of three books, for about $27. I choked and bought it... so what? Money is meant to be spent.

Other works it reminded me of: No One Belongs Here More than You by Miranda July.

Sadie's merciless break-down: Let me quote one of the stories to you:
"There's one girl in the nursery that I decide to love. I stare at her and try to think of what I should call her. I decide I will call her Benny, and I approach her. "Hi, Benny," I say. Another girl pipes up. "It's Becky, not Benny," she informs me. But what she doesn't know is that I got within one constanant of the girl's name just by looking at her."

Recommendation rate: A must-read. All Manguso is a must, must, must read.

Keturah and Lord Death

Title: Keturah and Lord Death

Author: Martine Leavitt

Publication date: 2006

Book's setting: Late medieval, somewhere.

Random facts: So I am rather behind on reviews. I'm still reading, I just haven't had time to review. Summer, whatchagonnado?

Plot summary: Keturah is a peasant girl, raised by loving grandparents in a small village. She sees her grandparents as a shining example of true love, and is dedicated to finding a True Love for herself. Her quiet life is disturbed the day she follows the legendary hart deep into the forest finds herself lost. After days of wandering aimlessly she knows that she is about to die, and Death comes. Except Death is a handsome Lord who she feels pity for. Desperate to live, Keturah challenges Death. She uses her storytelling skills to make him grant her a reprieve for one day. She tells a story of a love so pure that even Death cannot destroy her chances. He allows her to live another day on the condition that she come to him with an ending to the story and her true love. Can she find love in such a short time, and help her friends find their own? Can she continue to challenge Death when the plague reaches her beloved village?

Favorite aspects: This might sound dorky, but the message was really beautiful. I also really loved all the villagers. Leavitt creates such a real little world! In that way it reminded me of Shannon Hale's books, but I think that Leavitt's story was much more delicate and metaphorical and downright artistic than Hale's teenager fantasies.

Least favorite aspects: I found the incredibly old fashioned narrative to be rather hard to sink into... I don't know why. It's not like I am not accustom to reading older book, even incredibly old books. Actually my inability to really sink into the words worried me, because the novel I am working on has a very similar style, and now I am rethinking the entire style.

Other works it reminded me of: The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale; Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling; Beauty by Robin McKinley; Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier.

Sadie's merciless break-down: Truth timez! I didn't really enjoy this book much, mainly because I was not properly focused while reading it. It was beautiful, the story was gorgeous. The very concept makes my heart flutter. But I sort of just read the words dutifully.
I read it soon after arriving home from Germany, with a pile of seven books waiting for me. I had to get back to work, I had a couple of very overwhelming personal things to deal with. It was just the wrong time to read it. Keturah and Lord Death is exquisite. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. I'm looking forward to reading it again in a few months, or even years, and being able to give it the respect it deserves.

Recommendation rate: If you like fantasies and all that, then you've gotta try it. Sadly it is out of print already, but check the library.

The Rescuers

Title: The Rescuers

Author: Margery Sharp

Publication date: 1959

Book's setting: Sometime in the vague early 1900's.

Random facts: R-E-S-C-U-E RESCUE AID SOCIETY HANDS HELD HIGH TOUCH THE SKY YOU MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME.

Plot summary: So there is this massive society of mice. The Prisoners Aid Society. And their job is to comfort depressed prisoners around the world. There is this really sad poet who is imprisoned in the most terrifying prison of all time, in Norway. The only mouse who can get access to this prison is high class Miss Bianca. She's completely out of her depths in the dark and murky world of Norway's jails, but she's just brave enough. Besides, Barnard had asked her so nicely. Along with the help of Nils, a Norwegian sailor mouse, Miss Bianca fights cats and all manner of terrifying things, to save the sad poet.

Favorite aspects: I think that the illustrations were my favorite part of the book, which I know it actually cheating, but it's true. Either way, it was darling. I was very delicate and sweet and touching and careful and everything a good childrens book should be. I was actually very impressed, I wasn't anticipating liking it so much.

Least favorite aspects: I actually had a bit of a hard time falling into the writing. It was a bit old fashioned obviously, but I read tons of old(er) books and have always really enjoyed the stately language. This was probably more an error on my part, like I was really tired or something when I read it.

Other works it reminded me of: The Wonderful O by James Thurber.

Sadie's merciless break-down: The Disney movie of the same name was one of the most important things in my childhood. No lie. As much as I loved this book, it wasn't the Disney movie. Actually, it was probably better than the Disney movie, but it was still incapable to affecting me the way the cartoon did when I was a kid. Obviously. That's not exactly surprising, just confusing. Much like Ronia, this is a book I wish I had ten years ago.

Recommendation rate: If you are a big children's lit fan, then check it out.

No One Belongs Here More Than You

Title: No One Belongs Here More Than You

Author: Miranda July

Publication date: 2007

Book's setting: Modern

Random facts: 200+ pages and I read it in a day, forsaking all else.

Plot summary: A collection of short stories written in that compelling and emotional voice that is ~modern~ literature. The stories are just little pictures of life- different lives and different heart break. Some of them are very odd, bordering upon metaphysical I'd almost say. Except it's not really the story itself that is otherworldly, it's just the way it's told.

Favorite aspects: All the emotions were sincear and they all felt so close to home... I even identified with the ones that I really had no reason to. I felt the character's pain in a way that is very rare, especially in short stories when none of the characters are actually fully developed. I have an easier time reviewing the books I didn't love. I loved this. I loved it. I think my favorite stories were The Swim Team, This Person, and How to Tell Stories to Children. The last one broke my heart in the most epic way of all time.

Least favorite aspects: I don't think I can think of anything... Sorry.

Other works it reminded me of: The Complete Short Stories of Evelyn Waugh by Evelyn Waugh; The Two Kinds of Decay by Sarah Manguso.

Sadie's merciless break-down: I'm in an incredibly vulnerable place in my life right now, so prehaps it isn't any wonder I cried. Even so, I don't cry often.
So there is this style of writing. It's called "modern." And I've realized I love it. I'm cautious with it because it can be easily abused, or at least I think it can be. I don't think it possible that all "modern" writing could possible be as meaningful as No One Belongs Here More Than You. It's like poetry in proses form. It has a new set of rules and it's rhythmic. I'm a bit afraid of modern literature because I think it's more emotionally powerful than older styles of writing. It can grab you and haunt you so easily. I think that's because emotion is the point of modern literature. Not theme or morals or social commentary- the point is conveying emotion and making the reader feel it too. So in that sence it's a bit frightening, but it can also be compelling and eye-opening and really, really exquisite.
Note: Because I don't know who reads this blog or what their personal standards are I just feel the need to note that this book has sex and cursing in it. You have been warned.

Recommendation rate: It's a pity you can't force someone to read because you should all be forced to read this.

Ronia the Robber’s Daughter

Title: Ronia the Robber’s Daughter

Author: Astrid Lindgren

Publication date: 1981

Book's setting: Medieval timesish

Random facts: It was turned into a film in Sweden, one that did incredibly well. And then it was turned into a stage play in Germany.

Plot summary: Ronia is the only daughter of Mattis, the chief of a band of thieves in the forest. Ronia grows up as the only child in a world of men until she meets Birk, the only son of Mattis' rival. The two bands of thieves have fought for years, but become forced to unite for their children's sake.

Favorite aspects: Childhood romances are my kryptonite!! Okay, so it was more like a friendship, but you know what I mean. Cute little playmate stories are my kryptonite. It was just a charming story. It's really short... I read it in an afternoon... but it's still worth reading if you like children's literature. It's by Lindgren, so you know it's hysterical as well as charming.

Least favorite aspects: It's funny, I think I am just a bit old for this book... Or rather, I enjoyed it because I knew I'd have loved it as a child. It's a book I'd love to give a little girl, more than actually read again for my own personal pleasure.

Other works it reminded me of: The Minstrel in the Tower by Gloria Skurzynski.

Sadie's merciless breakdown: I have a long list of book I want to give a little girl one day. Not even my own daughter necessarily, but any little girl. I want to give her Ransom for a Knight and The Minstrel in the Tower and The Maude Reed Tale... and I want to give her Ronia the Robber's Daughter. I'm sure eventually one of my sisters or friends will have a daughter... and when that happens I have a large stack waiting for her.

Recommendation rate: Buy it as a present for your niece.