**I received this novel courtesy of Penguin Publishing in exchange for my honest review** Synopsis: Nuala O’Connor’s enchanting American debut novel, Miss Emily, reimagines the private life of Emily Dickinson, one of America’s most beloved poets, through her own voice and through the eyes of her family’s Irish maid. Eighteen-year-old Ada Concannon has just been hired by the respected but eccentric Dickinson family of Amherst, Massachusetts. Despite their difference in age and the upstairs-downstairs divide, Ada strikes up a deep friendship with Miss Emily, the gifted elder daughter living a spinster’s life at home. But Emily’s passion for words begins to dominate her life. She will wear only white and avoids the world outside the Dickinson homestead. When Ada’s safety and reputation are threatened, however, Emily must face down her own demons in order to help her friend, with shocking consequences. Review: Miss Emily is a story both beautifully simplistic and plainly genuine. For a book that lacks in the epic action department, I found myself quite invested from the first page. The simple language in which it is written makes Miss Emily an easy read (for a story taking place in the 1800’s), and the shortness of it being 239 pages helps encourage binge reading. The alternating chapters written from Emily Dickenson’s point of view intrigued me the most. O’Connor did a beautiful job of recreating Emily Dickenson’s mind and bringing its innocence and marvel to life. Emily’s chapters look at the world in a very poetic way that I found fascinating to read about. Keeping in mind the fact that despite the many non-fictional characters, this is a fictional story, I loved how O’Connor was able to subtly display the inspirations for Emily’s poetry, and the mindset behind Emily’s choice to live secluded - among other seemingly queer decisions. I even found Emily to be very relatable to the point where I would pick up this book for consolation. On the other hand, we have alternating chapters written from the Irish maid, Ada’s perspective. Ada’s story of travelling to a new country and facing the hardships of starting a new foreign life decently balanced out Emily’s chapters of living in her own head. Now, I didn’t find Ada nearly as poetic to read about, but the slowly developing, mild action of her story kept me just interested enough to want to know where her story was headed. I only wish that the friendship connecting Emily and Ada was emphasized more, because I found that for a decent portion of the book, I was reading two completely different stories. The ending of Miss Emily was both satisfying and charming, but nothing extraordinary. This is the type of book where the journey is more important than the destination, and I was glad to have taken that journey. When reading this, don’t expect a lot of action (though there are a couple big events), but rather expect intriguing insight to the possible mindset of Emily Dickenson, friendship, romance, abuse, and even some poetry. Rating:
3.5/5 Stars
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Synopsis: Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself? Review: So, let’s be honest. Alexandra Bracken definitely knows how to mend half the heart while crumbling the other half. Learning this from The Darkest Minds had definitely prepared me for tragic events in this book, making me slightly less sensitive to them. So no, I did not enjoy this as much as the first book – but then again, that tends to happen a lot in trilogies. Going into this book, I was really excited for the continuing story from book one – to find out what happens with Ruby in the League. But I was slightly disappointed that we didn’t get to see Ruby’s initial time there. The story starts off with Ruby having been in the League for several months. And though I did love her newly combat trained, bad-ass self, I found that it took away from the excitement of the lingering danger everywhere. I mean, now everything is slightly less of a threat since she’s trained! I feel like I’m making this book sound boring – which it really isn’t! Though the book started off a little too slow for my liking, it picked up momentum as it went. I started to love the story again when the new characters met the old characters. The familiarity form the first book brought the story completely back on track and delivered with plot twists and more twisted minds. The new twister minds completely make this book! The bigger picture of America begins to unravel just enough for you to be begging for more. Rating:
4/5 Stars Synopsis: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control. Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living. Review: I loved this book! <<< That’s it, review over. The unpredictable story, loveable characters, and simple writing style were all on point here! Beginning with the characters: Ruby was a very likeable character who the audience is forced to sympathize with right from the beginning. Her life if revealed to us with the perfect combination of answers and tolerable mystery. As Ruby’s character evolves throughout the book, her mysterious past is slowly unraveled and presented to the audience, not only through narration but also during crucial plot turning points. Ruby was written in a way where she is easily understood and loved by the audience. There are also Ruby’s companions to consider, Liam (Lee), Chubs, and Suzume (Zu), who are all loveable in their own ways. These characters are split up to play certain roles: the leader, the brains, and the innocent powerhouse. These differences really made each character stand out from one another. I was surprised at how much I sympathized with and felt a strong connection with each of them – especially considering that they are not the main character. Though I fell in love with Liam and Suzume right away, I was even more impressed with how much my opinion of Chubs had evolved over the course of the book to make me love him too. Now, at a glance, the story itself seems very unoriginal: a teenage girl with special powers who is on the run from those who want to use her powers for evil. That sounds like every YA dystopian book I’ve ever read. BUT DON’T’ LET THAT DETER YOU, this story was made a lot more interesting with an epidemic thrown into a crumbling America, desperate bounty hunters, different powers, and (basically) concentration camps for “freak” children. I loved the story Alexandra Bracken created, and all the twists and turns that went with it. This is one of those books where you never really know what’s real or who to trust. For those of you who’ve read this story already: NONONONO THE ENDING. I COULD FEEL MY HEART CRUMBLE WITH EVERY WORD. WHYYYYY! Any book that can give me this much enjoyment and pain at the same time deserves a full 5 stars! Emotional, gripping, and unpredictable... Rating:
5/5 Stars |
WelcomeHey everyone, my name is Amy and this is my reading and writing blog. Look out for book reviews, hauls, recommendations and original writing! xo Archives
October 2016
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