Book Review: GONE SERIES by Michael Grant

Michael Grant's six-part Young Adult series follows a beach-side community that find themselves in an impossible situation. Everyone aged fifteen and over simply disappear. No spectacular disappearance, no poof. Just gone. Perdido Beach and the surrounding area is now a strange town stuck in a large sphere where only the young roam, looking for food, looking for attention and looking for answers. The six novels follow the array of problems these children eventually face. The initial disruption; the hunger that eventually follows their limited supply of food; conflict and political strife that falls upon the children; illness and plagues; and eventually what happens when the barrier comes down. And if there weren't enough problems, their community is evolving in a rapid way. Animals and nature are changing. Humans are developing paranormal abilities. Nothing is the same. In particular, Grant explores the dynamics between and within these youths on the cusp of adolescence as they try to make sense of a world without adults, and more importantly, without rules.

I picked up the first book on a whim. I saw these books around my local library for ages, with the first instalment having been published in 2008 and I recently heard a bit of a buzz around them so I finally decided to give this series a go. I am so glad that I did. Grant has entertained me, moved me and captivated me throughout the journey that is this series and there was such a large spectrum of wonderful elements to delve into.

Readathons: Bout of Books Wrap Up

This week, I decided to take part in the Bout of Books 10 Readathon to get a good chunk of my TBR pile finished. Luckily the weather has been fabulous this week, so in celebration, here are some sunny photos to go alongside some small reviews of my initial thoughts after finishing them:

1. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

I've heard many good recommendations about Ender's Game which made me rather excited to pick it up. I had already started and read about half of this book before the readathon started, but had only been reading it in small chapter increments so wanted to get it finished. Normally, I'm not really a fan of sci-fi and I feel as if I were more engaged in that genre, I may have enjoyed this novel more. Saying that, the characters were very well developed and the interesting perspective from such a young but mature mind was engaging to read. However, I did find that certain areas of  the plot dragged a little and the book didn't stay with me for long after I had finished.

2. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

I watched the film starring Saoirse Ronan a few months ago and really liked the gritty and yet intimate style of the plot. Being faithful to the books of movie adaptations, I felt obliged to read this novel. I hadn't had a very tight history with reading Rosoff as I've never fallen in love with the other books of hers I have read. However, there was a real profoundness in this one which I can't really explain. I think a lot of its appeal has to do with the "stream of consciousness" narrative style which heightened the reliability of the protagonist and realism of the events. How I Live Now felt like a very realistic telling of a hypothetical war that didn't sugar-coat or gloss over much. It  was what I believed a teenager would think and react to something like that. It was paced well, the characters were solid and I really enjoyed the discreet but haunting themes of materialism and societal dishonesty in the background.

3. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

I didn't know what I expecting from this book before I picked it up but the result was tremendous. The book is a short one, divided by beautiful illustrations and equally beautiful prose. Reading it in one sitting, I was moved through plenty of emotions as this book took me on a mental journey through the eyes of a 13-year-old boy. The narrative was impeccably paced and cleverly metaphorical; it really reminded me of Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Although the writing itself is simple, the resonance and weight whilst reading definitely wasn't. In a way, the themes were mature and innocent at the same time which just made this amazing piece of fiction even more compelling. Definitely one of my new favourites.

4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

This has been a long time coming. Loads of my friends and book bloggers/youtubers recommend Jane Eyre as one of the best Victorian Romantic Classics around and arguably the best Brontë novel. I started this one nearly half a year ago and thought that this readathon would be a good time to finally finish it. The plot did start off very slowly. I languidly forced myself through the entirety of the boarding school section. However, once the plot started to pick up, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Victorian Literature isn't my favourite genre so I didn't think it was exceptional, but it is definitely one of the better ones. Namely, this is because it isn't as tragically depressing as others of this era (I'm looking at you Tess of the d'Urbervilles) but the characters were rich and I really liked the ending.

5. Plague by Michael Grant

I only managed to read half of this one before the week was over, by I'm enjoying it so much. It was so nice to jump back into the world of the FAYZ after so long, and I'm excited to reach the conclusion. Grant's writing is fully-commendable as he has this brilliant way of writing such realistic fiction that swaps between perspectives with ease. I really admire the fact that he doesn't shy away from violent or gruesome scenes in the name of realism. Can't wait to finish this.

All in all, the Readathon was very successful, although I could have used a few more hours here and there for reading whilst I was procrastinating. I'll definitely be doing more of these in the future. So watch this space.

Total number of books finished: 4

No. of pages read: 1023

Book Review: KNOTS by R.D. Laing

Knots is a short, simple but deeply profound book. It explores the core thoughts and emotions behind human interactions and succeeds at delivering a painfully truthful portrayal of what everybody thinks before they speak. It is considered "pyschology poetry" which I whole-heartedly agree with. The poems within this anthology are extremely repetitive and end up going around and around in seemingly pointless circles. However, these circles begin to show clarity. Within the repetition after repetition, everything becomes so blindingly clear. Laing has a spectacular way of explaining the unexplainable thoughts we hold about others and what we believe they are thinking. These states of mind and passing musings are always present in our minds but Knots is the first time I have managed to find them captured on paper.

First delving into this poetry book is difficult. The sentences and stanzas refuse to make sense unless they are read several times first. But once you get into the style and mind frame of the writer, everything suddenly clicks into place. The ridiculous and tenuous style of writing is made that  much more interesting because it is true. This is how we think. We mull over any and every possible iteration of a situation, whether consciously or unconsciously. As someone who often finds themselves lost deep in my thoughts, this book opened a door of realism and understanding where it was satisfying to finally find something that empathised with my mind. 

This book doesn't necessarily hold any moral outlook. It doesn't exactly hold a plot, a message or  a commentary. Nevertheless, the feeling I was left with after I finished was entirely rewarding by finding sense in this nonsense book. This is one of the most unconventional but mentally exciting poetry books I've ever read and has encouraged me to look at things from a different perspective. I can't recommend it enough.

Updates: Slumps, Exams and Readathons

If not accurately represented in my lack of new blog posts and entries to my 2014 Reads, I have been going through a bit of a reading slump recently. Coupled with exams coming up, and general end of year/end of school worries and things to organise, I've been preoccupied. But I really miss reading. I've only been able to get one or two pages of things here and there, and I miss that feeling of sitting down and dedicating an entire evening with a book and some tea.

So, coinciding with my last week of school, I'm taking part in the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon 10! I have a whole stack of books I borrowed from the library last month and are still sitting glumly, unmoved from my shelf since those 30 days ago.  I'm not going to give myself a list, as this will most likely intimidate the socks off of me, but I hope to work my way through that stack and will be hopefully making a wrap-up post when the week is over.

Whilst I clear remaining deadlines and metaphorically and literally tidy up my reading space, I'll be anxiously awaiting this reading week. If you want to get involved, the challenge starts on the week beginning May 12th.  More information from Bout of Books can be found here: http://boutofbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Film Review: DIVERGENT

(This review contains a few spoilers and direct references to scenes in the film)

I went into Divergent feeling relatively neutral, not particularly excited, and not expecting anything that great. The trailers were interesting, and I liked what I had seen so far cinematography-wise, but I didn't really know what to expect and how the director, Neil Burger, was going to interpret and develop his impression of Veronica Roth's fantastically fast-paced novel.

Even when the title sequence began rolling, I knew that there was going to be something a little special about this film. I couldn't have been more accurate. Divergent was unique in its stance on the YA novel turned film adaptation as it didn't compromise the visuals or screenplay and yet maintained a good, gripping pace. Although there were a few differences between book and movie, there were also a lot of positives about this adaptation. 

Let's start with what I liked about the film:

The cinematography and appearance of the film was stunning. The attention to detail was fantastic and I really liked their artistic representation of this crumbling but surviving futuristic Chicago. There was a good combination of futurism and technology intermixed with the more simple and mechanical appearance I imagined from the book: for example, whilst the Erudite and Dauntless compounds had a very stylised newness about them, the trains that ran through the city still looked old and weathered. It was this juxtaposition alongside the eroding skyscrapers scattered through the city that really created an exciting visual effect.

The film was also shot in a very intimate manner in which the viewer feels very close to the main characters during the action. Specifically, I really enjoyed the visual choice to make frequent close-ups of Tris whilst the film progressed which allowed us to really notice the small changes in her disposition. My favourite element was the reoccurring motif of her reflection. After the viewer becomes familiar with the Abnegations' uneasiness with mirrors, the simulation where Tris becomes multiplied again and again into infinite copies of herself is a beautiful symbolic representation of her choice. Tris' reflection then follows her throughout the remainder of the film in moments of novelty or excitement, such as the zip-wire scene and the fear landscapes. She is forced to connect with herself.

One of the changes that, in my opinion, really benefited the plot of the film was the construction of Tris as a character. In the book, she does gain bravery and confidence immensely, but still holds something childlike and naive in her demeanour. However, Shailene Woodley's portrayal of Tris was more mature, hard hitting and wittier. Contrary to the dystopian genre, the film was full of light-hearted humorous lines which were timed effectively and because of this, I found it a lot easier to warm to Tris. I ended up preferring film-Tris to book-Tris just because I feel like the journey from girl to woman is a lot clearer in the film and there's something a lot harsher and more determined in Woodley's Tris. 

Furthermore, I enjoyed the beginning of the film a lot where we were able to get a sound and thorough introduction of all the factions and how they fit within the structures of the society. Moreover, it was interesting to see Tris slowly noticing more and more of the Dauntless until she becomes one. The scene where she climbs the bridge amongst the running Dauntless with music pounding and smile spreading across her face is magical: the viewer really experiences a certain exhilaration with her.

As for other changes that worked really well; I liked how the action was more serious, for example, the paintball activity in the novel changes to war games with fake bullets that feel like real ones. Suddenly, that omnipresent danger becomes all the more clearer even in the activities they consider "fun". The fighting, battle and action scenes were also very extensive and the stunts were very well crafted. I really valued this choreography and that they didn't minimise the action as Divergent is characteristically fast-paced and tense.

Similarly, I like how the fear landscapes were interpreted. Unlike the book, the Dauntless can only escape their fears by solving how to stop and escape it, much like a logic puzzle. This made the viewing experience a lot more satisfying and exciting however it didn't really make sense to show bravery by using puzzle solving skills which seem more suited to Erudite. I especially liked Tris and Four's journey into his landscape where he taught her the difference between Divergent actions and Dauntless actions. I felt this made more sense within the context of the tests as well as allowing a more plausible reason for Four to allow Tris into his mind.

Talking of Four, Theo James presented a version of him that was completely different to anything I had imagined, but worked surprisingly well. Theo's Four had such an intense masculinity about him whilst still retaining the tenderness and honesty so integral to his personality. Other characters which exceeded my expectations in a good way were Tori (Maggie Q), Christina (Zoe Kravitz) and Eric (Jai Courtney).

"I don't want to be just one thing. I can't be. I want to be brave, and I want to be selfless, intelligent, and honest and kind."

As for elements that didn't work as well: I really wanted more from the secondary characters. The movie was very focused on the main story-arc as I mentioned before, following Tris very closely. However, in choosing to do this, a lot of the thorough and rich subplots with the secondary characters were lost. The viewer wasn't able to see the romance blooming between Christina and Will; we weren't able to see the true extent of Peter's maliciousness; and we were unable to get introduced to any of the Dauntless-born initiates. It is fully understandable as to why these small details were cut, but the real appeal of Divergent was its set of characters, and it was a real shame that we couldn't get to know them all as well as we did in the book. This also meant that when certain characters did die, the impact was cushioned by the fact that we didn't get that intense connection.

The pacing also felt extremely rushed due to the fact that they were trying to maintain most of the plot points. A lot of scenes were included, but they all seemed to happen briefly, especially during the Dauntless initiation which loses some of its apprehension and fatality. Again this lowered the viewer's investment in the plot and characters and I struggle to think what non-readers of the book would think of this film.

Overall, Divergent was a nice accompaniment to the book. I appreciated the artistic interpretation and creation of this wonderfully corrupt future. The visual design was fantastic and the acting very good although the rushed pacing made it quite difficult to grasp the scientific side of the narrative. A great, cinematic experience but not mind-blowing.

p.s. The actor who played Will (Ben Lloyd-Hughes) looked so much like Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend in this film. Scary.

(Screencaps from http://www.divergentlife.com/)

Film Review: THE SPECTACULAR NOW

(This is a spoiler-free review)

The Spectacular Now is a charming and organic story of Sutter Keely, a easygoing boy drawing to the end of his high school years. He lives by the philosophy of The Spectacular Now and concentrates solely on the the moments at hand. Despite his quick-wit and fast talk, Sutter is painfully confused and distant. Through his relationship with the sincere Aimee; acceptance of his unexpected breakup; and a reconciliation with his father, Sutter realises that the Now may not be as simple as he first thought. 

This isn't a bland or typical teenage romance. This isn't predictable or cheesy or simply heart-felt. Instead, The Spectacular Now succeeds at being a kaleidoscopic and shockingly honest record of this boy's journey. There are confusions and illusions within many levels of his life and there are no doubts of this film's ability to portray realism. Teenage life - especially one that is balancing on the cusp of adulthood - is not simple at all. It has its expectations and betrayals and understandings and lessons. This film manages to capture them all with a satisfying mixture of humour and candor.*

Sutter was such an interesting character to undergo this exploration with. The beginning of the film really did him no favours. I didn't particularly warm to him or respect his decisions. However, I began to really care for him due to this true kindness within his personality that was impossible to ignore. Sutter radiated this multi-faceted mix of effortless charm and distracted sensitivity. It was in the little unspoken gestures which really illicited this vulnerable side of him. For example, the way Sutter is extremely charismatic to the customers of the suit store he works for and then turns around to douse his fountain soda with whiskey from his hip flask. He sips out of one of these strawed drinks for the duration of the film until it becomes this omnipresent symbol of his childish exterior with a hidden maturity within.

Miles Teller does a fantastic job reflecting this character. Not having any previous knowledge of his acting, I was blown away by his performance. Likewise, Shailene Woodley's portrayal of Aimee was strong and there wasn't a moment when I didn't believe Aimee's kindness. 

I really liked the family arc for both Sutter and Aimee. Unlike a lot of teenage-centric film and literature, their backgrounds were addressed but weren't exaggerated. When Sutter finally meets his father, there is a simplicity in the way that it plays out. The same goes for the rest of the cinematography. It didn't need any outrageous dialogue or designer costume design or loud music. Every moment and every experience was stripped down and therefore felt all the more honest. This direction made the characters and their lives more believable. I think that's why Aimee and Sutter's on-screen relationship worked so well. It was effortless. The same goes for the ending which I think fit well within the format.

"But the real challenge of my life, the real hardship, is me. It's always been me."

I would highly recommend this film. It is a beautiful story of expectations, intentions and doubts. You never quite know what will happen next because that is ultimately what it is to be human. It's not about the relationship you have with your girlfriend or mother, father or boss. It's about the relationship you have with yourself. The one you never quite realise is there. A truly humbling viewing experience. 

*Ha-de-har. With Miles Teller acting as the Candor-born initiate Peter in the upcoming Divergent, it was too good to miss this pun.

(Images from imdb.com and grande-caps.livejournal.com)

Book Review: THE 5TH WAVE by Rick Yancey

This brutal alien invasion novel shows Earth in true apocalyptic hysteria. Foreign species are invading the planet. But not without destroying and annihilating the entire human race first. Filled with countless psychological plot twists and a clever interpretation of human extinction, Rick Yancey excels in 'The 5th Wave'. 

The novel initially follows heroine Cassie Sullivan, a sixteen-year-old survivor of the apocalypse, whilst she recalls the destruction that followed the first four waves: a worldwide powercut; devastating tidal waves, a deathly plague which causes bleeding from every orfice; and disguised killers that look just like humans which destroys the very concept of trust. These methods have killed all but several hundred thousand humans. The population is rapidly decreasing and it is becoming more and more likely that Cassie will be the last of humanity. The reader follows her journey alongside a parallel narrator as they try to make sense of how, why and what is exactly going on. However, the 5th wave is approaching and they are running out of time.

"Cruelty isn't a personality trait. Cruelty is a habit."

I have to congratulate Yancey here for orchestrating a well-paced and engaging action novel which kept me constantly guessing by maintaining high levels of paranoia. The most effective result of this technique was the inability to deduct who the real enemy was. With the characters, you are never certain who to trust and who is telling the truth. The uncertainty that underlies every page is therefore a captivating way of keeping the story fresh and interesting the whole way through. I found 'The 5th Wave' had a similar reading experience to Divergent where the gripping plot-driven narrative encouraged me to pick this book up at any given opportunity just so I could find out what was happening next.

(This review will contain spoilers from this point onward.)

The narrative style was also very effective and the choice of narrators were also very well considered. I have to admit that after reading the first chapter through Cassie's perspective, I did get a little irritated with her voice and wondered whether I could have read a whole book in that way. However, as soon as the perspective swapped to Ben Parish, I was immediately engaged. Getting a drastically opposing focalisation  to Cassie added insight as well as heightened the aforementioned uncertainty. Once the reader begins to familiarise themselves with Ben and view the events through his indoctrinated point of view, the aliens' manipulation feels that much more realistic. 

The dichotomy between Cassie and Ben was also so clever. At the beginning of the novel when Cassie spends many pages describing her obsession with her high-school crush, I sighed and wondered why there was such an emphasis on this frivolous and admittingly irritating detail. I was so relieved to discover his greater involvement in the novel. There is such a great presence of dramatic irony where Ben's bland and cliché high school jock archetype is both fuelled and subverted by his development into a soldier. He becomes a similarly faceless person in a completely different way - and yet through his narration - the reader gets to learn so much more about his background, adding layers and texture to his characterisation. It was so entertaining to read the climax where Ben's and Cassie's story lines collide and the two meet in this unbelievable, almost hyperbolic situation where the coincidence of them meeting again makes the ending so much more enjoyable to read. It also effectively emphasises the personal journeys the two have gone on:  from one high school student sought after another, to two emotionally broken survivors who have been to hell and back. The fact that Sammy is there as a conduit to link the two together even further is brilliant and their maternal/paternal instincts demonstrate how quickly they've had to grow up. 

In my opinion, I found Ben's character arc and journey more interesting to read and I think it was also written better. The tone was more psychologically thrilling to read I really liked the dynamic between all the other child-soldiers within his army squad. I found it important that Yancey wasn't afraid to use very young children and I subsequently found Teacup to be a very interesting character. Additionally, I think the romance between Ben and Ringer was done well as it never felt artificial or forced and didn't interrupt the high pressured plot. 

On the other hand, I didn't really warm to the relationship between Cassie and Evan. I found the first scene of their initial interaction unbelievable as there was that element of insta-love. I'm not sure whether it was just Evan who I never really connected with, or whether it was Cassie's presentation of Evan that didn't sit well. However, as the novel progressed, it got easier to accept the credibility of their relationship, especially when considering Evan's literal and mental division which would lead to foreign feelings and confusion.

I'm intrigued to read the sequel: The Infinite Sea and I cannot fathom what kind of mind-blowing events Yancey will bring to the story next. So watch this space.