Book Review: Ouf Of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys

4 out of 5 hearts

I was introduced to this book by my Goodreads friends who gave it great reviews.  Aside from that, I am obsessed with all things NOLA - New Orleans, Louisiana - or as some folks say:  "Nawlins".  So, I had to read it and I'm glad I did.  

Set in the 1950's New Orleans,  Josie Moraine is an intelligent bookworm.  But most noticeably, she is the daughter of a brothel prostitute.  How could the life of a prostitute's child be?  Josie knows the life to well and even though she is nothing like her mother, who is the most selfish person on the earth, the stigma of her upbringing haunts her every day of her life.  If her mother's profession wasn't enough to hinder Josie's future, it seems that her mother tries to do everything in her power to ruin Josie's life.

While working in the bookstore one day, which also houses her apartment, see meets a successful and handsome man from Memphis.  Josie has never met her father and this man is the epitome of her perfect father figure.  He opens the doors to New Orleans high society and a new college friend for Josie.  She is caught in the fine line between two worlds, the privileged and the underworld.  The Memphis man's sudden murder crashes down on her and she is tangled in the investigation to find his murderers.  Willie, the brothel madam, is her only chance for survival in the tough streets of the French Quarter.  Will Josie ever make it out?

I found the very first line of this book to be enticing!  It reads:  "My mother's a prostitute."  Doesn't that make you want to find out what happens next?  It did for me.  Even though this is set in the underworld of the French Quarters with prostitutes and gangsters, it focuses more on how Josie is dealing with it and how much it has affected her.  She is nothing like the people that surround her but their actions have great consequences that affect her.  She just wants to be a regular college girl and has the intellect to get in.  But she is the type of person that always puts other ahead of her, even if they don't deserve it.  This is a story about bravery, innocence, and dreams for a better life and what she has to do to get there.

I really enjoyed this book.  One of my favorite characters was Willie, the madam.  Although the story is based around Josie, there are other little sub-stories through out the book that make it even more interesting.  I haven't read Between Shades of Gray yet, but trust me, its on my TBR list for sure!

-Mariela

“Sometimes we set off down a road thinkin' we're goin' one place and we end up another. But that's okay. The important thing is to start.” - Ruta Sepetys, Out of the Easy

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Hardcover, 346 pages

Published February 12th 2013 by Philomel Books

ISBN 039925692X (ISBN13: 9780399256929)

Edition language:  English

Book Review: Shadow And Bone by Leigh Bardugo

4 out of 5 hearts

After reading this book, I feel like such a buffoon because I have been following Bardogo on Twitter and did not connect this greatness of a book to her.  I read it because a few people that I follow in Goodreads read it recently and gave it great reviews.  And I am totally on that wagon!

Alina and Mal were two orphans that grew up in a Duke's compassionate home.  They share no blood relation, but their unfortunate childhoods have bonded them.   However, Alina sees Mal in a different way and would rather bite back her feelings than risk the chance of loosing him. They join the military - Mal is a tracker and Alina is a map-maker.  Their troop is on the way to the Shadow Fold, a stretch of land that is encased in a dense, opaque blackness that hides flocks of volka.  Volkas are blind, flesh-eating birds that fear light only, not even the Darkling's power can overcome them.  As they struggle to cross the Fold, they are attacked by the Volkas.  Just as Alina holds Mal in her arms awaiting her death, her power reveals itself and they survive.  

However, after her revelation, she is unable to speak with Mal.  Even though she did save his life, she remembers in great detail the look on his face when he saw her display her power once more in the presence of the Darkling.  After her reveal, the Darkling, the most powerful Grisha (kind of like a witch) takes her under his wing to help Alina train and learn to control her gift.  Since he works for the King and the Grishas help the military, Alina becomes his most prized possession and weapon against the Shadow Fold. Mal stays behind with the military and Alina moves to the Little Palace, where she is surrounded by Grishas and the noble.  She has left her simple life behind her to absorb one of grandeur but at the cost of the person she loves the most.  The Darkling vows to nurture and protect her, but can he fill the emptiness Mal left and does he have a hidden agenda?

Bardugo possess great skill as a writer and world-builder that is is hard to not enjoy this book.  This is very important in Epic Fantasy books, such as this one and the likes of Lord of the Rings, because they have to create a world the reader can believe and follow.  The concept of this book is very refreshing, especially when there are plenty of paranormal and dystopian novels out there.  

One other thing I will point out is that this didn't read like the first book of a series.  Lately, I have been reading a lot of book ones that are mostly about setting up the scene for book two.  Shadow and Bone could very well read like a stand alone book, so I felt that it had a great story line of its own.  

Although this is a bit more mature YA because of the violence and kvas-drinking, it was not bothersome or overwhelming.  The second book Siege and Storm was released on June 4, 2013.  Additionally, Shadow and Bone is coming to film!  

-Mariela

“And there's nothing wrong with being a lizard either. Unless you were born to be a hawk.” - Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Hardcover, 356 pages

Published June 5th 2012 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (first published May 17th 2012)

ISBN 0805094598 (ISBN13: 9780805094596)

Edition language:  English

Book Review: ALTERED by Jennifer Rush

4.5 out of 5 hearts

Lately, I have been trying to keep up with the books that are mentioned all over the web.  This is one of those.  Let me just tell you, I didn't even have a chance to change my "currently reading" image on my blog because I read this so fast.  We're talking a day and a half.  

Anna's dad, Arthur, is a doctor/scientist that is working on a group of young men that are locked up in his secret lab in the basement.  These young men's biological compositions have been altered to create the next generation of super soldiers by the Branch, at the expense of their freedom and memories - all of them had their memories wiped clean.  Anna discovered them a few years ago, but until 8 months ago, was forbidden entrance to the lab.  Now, she helps her Dad with this studies and has developed feelings for them, especially for the leader Sam.  Unexpectedly, the Branch decides it is time to take the boys away and Sam is able to escape, liberating the other three boys and forcing Anna to escape with them.

Since their minds are wiped clean, none of the boys can remember life outside of the lab.  But Sam has left clues to his past, including markings on his body.  Together, they are on the run form the Branch and in a race against time to find the truth behind their alterations and Sam's past.  However, they discover that Anna is connected to them in more ways than their time in the lab.  She find out that her life was all a fraud and the Branch wants her, needs her.

I had no expectations for this book.  Really, I didn't know what it was about before I started to read it.  Like I stated, I read it because it was all over the web.  Rush came through and blew me away.  In the beginning, I assumed it was going to take a while to get into it, but no.  Rush made things happen immediately   I was clinging to the pages and flipped through them at the speed of light.  A lot happened, but the connections and transitions were extremely clear and carefully planned out of Rush.  

It truly was like watching an action movie on paper.  Rush even included some thrilling surprises.  And the romance is believably great.

Ready, set, GO!

-Mariela

"I'd always cared for him, loved him even, but risking your life for someone changes things.  It wasn't just love.  It was a million other things all woven together.  Emotions I couldn't even name." - Jennifer Rush, Altered

Altered by Jennifer Rush

Hardcover, First Edition, 323 pages
Published January 1st 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN 0316197084 (ISBN13: 9780316197083)

Book Review: CITY OF THIEVES by David Benioff

4.5 out of 5 hearts

Another random find at my local library.  I have been getting lucky with those.  I had never heard of this book or David Benioff.  Turns that he is an accomplished author (The 25th Hour) and he was a writer on the HBO adaptation Game of Thrones, which I love.  Not only that, he was also a screen writer for the movies Troy (2004) and The Kite Runner (2007).  City of Thieves is a NYT bestseller, holds an Alex Award, and is praised as an ALA Notable Book.  I understand why.

Lev Beniov is a starving, freezing 17 year old, half Jewish boy-man.  He lives in St. Petersburg or "Piter" during the 900 day Siege of Leningrad.  His poet father had been arrested and killed, and his mother and sister fled to Vyazma.  Lev stayed behind in the Kirov, his building of residence in Piter, serving as the proud commander of the Kirov Fifth-Floor Brigade.  One cold night, a German soldier fell from the sky and as he looted the frozen body, he was arrested for breaking curfew.  Normally, he would have been shot on the spot, but his life is spared and he is sent to the Crosses (jailhouse).  There, he meets Kolya who is a soldier arrested for deserting his troop.  The morning after their arrest, they are taken to meet the Commander and are sent on the impossible quest of finding a dozen of eggs during Russia's hungriest times for the Commander's daughter's wedding cake.

Kolya is the complete opposite of Lev, tall, blond, handsome, and confident.  As they trek through the snow-piled Russia, keeping cover from enemy and friendly fire, they form a bond and become best friends.  Their main mission is to find a dozen of eggs and they come across some dreadful situations.  Along the way, they meet a group of partisans and finally get the ultimate chance to heroic patriotism...and the chance to attain the eggs.

As absurd as the plot sounds, with it being focused on a mission to find eggs, it was very believable.  It is set during WWII and European populations were starving.  There were a few scenes that made my stomach turn, but they added to the reality of the war and made this story more believable.  The entire story is told by Lev's point of view and his admiration for Kolya is mentioned often.  They become nonobvious heroes  not a pair that was admired or acknowledge, but normal individuals.  I think that also added to the reality of the war because regular people had to stand up to the Nazis to fight for their freedom.  This is the context of this story.

Another thing I really enjoyed at the end was the battle.  With this being set during WWII, you would think that the biggest battle would be bloody.  It turns out to be a game of chess.  There are some fight scenes that have guns and blood, but this particular game of chess had me hold my breath and on an edge.  In all, Benioff is very talented in making the small things mean a lot.

Please do us a favor and read it!

-Mariela

"...it was a bad morning, really; one of my worst - but I wanted to live.  I wanted to live and I knew I could not face execution with grace." - David Benioff, City of Thieves

City of Thieves by David Benioff
Hardcover, 258 pages
Published May 15th 2008 by Viking Adult
ISBN 0670018708 (ISBN13: 9780670018703)
Edition language:  English

Book Review: THE SOLITUDE OF PRIME NUMBERS by Paolo Giordano

4 out of 5 hearts

I read The Solitude of Prime Numbers because my good friend Valerie recommended it to me.  This is one book that was highly recommended and I did enjoy.  At the beginning, I was somewhat lost because it read like a collection of short stories.  Then as the plot developed, I found that I had a difficult time trying to make sense of it.  It was exceptionally well written, but it is a book you can not read with a personal perspective.  

Alice and Mattia both suffer from tragic cases of loneliness.  Alice suffered a skiing accident when she was younger, which resulted in a large scar around her hip area.  She developed extremely unhealthy self-image issues leading to a lifelong case of anorexia.  Mattia had a twin sister, Michela, who had down syndrome.  Her disability caused a great deal of embarrassment to Mattia, so he leaves her alone in a park on his way to a classmate's birthday party while he was in the third grade.  When he returns to the park for Michela, she is nowhere to be found and Mattia grows into adulthood with his guilt, inflicting his hands with cuts and burns to punish himself. 

Alice and Mattia become best friends in high school, ironically after they attend a malicious popular girl's party.  They fall in love with the other as their friendship stretches out.  Although they are best friends, there is a gap between them blocked by each one's internal turmoil.  Upon graduation from university, Mattia is offered a teaching job at a distant university.  Each is too afraid to tell the other how he feels and allow the moment to slip away.  Mattia moves away and does not come back until 9 years later.  Alice moves on to marry a doctor.  A coincidental series of events forces Alice to reconnect with Mattia, making him come back home, and a second chance presents itself.  Only one of them needs to rid himself of his inhibitions and say the words that have been boiling away for years.

As I wrote, I had a difficult time with this book in the beginning because I put myself Alice's and Mattia's shoes and know I would have acted differently.  However, when I let that go and read the book as it was written, I began to comprehend the direction of it better.  Giordano did not write this with the intention of making it a beautiful love story.  Instead, he highlights the consequences of our actions on ourselves and their effects on the people we love - whether it is solitary confinement, talking yourself out of something, holding back feelings, etc.  Most importantly, he flat out puts us on the spot for making ourselves lonely; we are social creatures and most of the times we are lonely, it is because we choose to be lonely, not because we want to.  And there is a difference between being lonely and alone.

Giordano is a talented writer and his words have a fluidity to them that it is easy to forget I was reading a translation of the original.  The POV switches from Alice to Mattia and the transitions are seamless.  In the end, it is surprising to realize the story is Alice's since Giordano incorporates Mattia's perspective.  Now that I think about it, it was a brilliant tactic since this is a story about solitude. 

It is not a happy read, per say, but the words are like liquid tears; you can almost feel them on your palms.

-Mariela

"They lived the slow and invisible interpenetration of their universes, like two stars gravitating around a common axis  in ever tighter orbits, whose clear destiny is to coalesce at some point in space and time." - Paolo Giordano, The Solitude of Prime Numbers

The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano

Hardcover, 271 pages

Published March 18th 2010 by Pamela Dorman Books (first published 2008)

ISBN 0670021482 (ISBN13: 9780670021482)

Edition Language:  English

Book Review: THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer

5 out of 5 hearts

This is one of the most creative stories I have read in a while.  I wonder, how did Farmer came up with the idea?  The best way for me to describe it in one sentence is that it is a science fiction-ish Mexican soap opera.  It has the sci-fi aspects, drama, love & hate, good & evil, & turning points that will have you on an edge.

Let me start with the back story.  Mateo Alacran (Matthew Scorpion in English) is an evil and powerful drug lord that rules over the country Opium, which is in between the US and Mexico border.  Drug trafficking had become such a problem, that Mateo (AKA "El Patron", which is The Boss in English) builds a partnership with the USA and Atzlan (current day Mexico) to attain the land at the border with the promise of keeping illegals out of both countries.  This led to the establishment of the country Opium, which excels in the grown and exportation of opium.

El Patron has lived 8 lives; he is almost 140 years old.  He has prolonged his life by harvesting his clones for their organs.  If one of his organs fails, he acquires the organ of one of his clones.  Due to international law restrictions, the brains of clones are purposely damaged upon birth because clones are classified as livestock, just like cattle and horses.  In one instance, the brain of one clone is spared and awards the clone the opportunity to grow up to be a healthy boy.  This clone's name is Matt.

Matt is the clone of Mateo Alacran , and this book focuses on his journey to self acceptance.  From the beginning of his life to the age of 6, Matt lives in seclusion in a little cottage nestled among the poppy fields of opium plants; he never leaves the house in daylight.  He is cared for by Celia, one of El Patron's housemaids, and she loves him like her own son.  Some children from El Patron's mansion discover Matt one day and he gets injured, forcing the children to take Matt into the mansion.  At that point, Matt discovers that he is a clone and is treated like an animal.  However, once El Patron finds out about this treatment, he forces all in the mansion to treat Matt with respect and takes him under his wing, even providing Matt with his personal bodyguard, Tim Lin.  Despite living a materialistically comfortable life, Matt finds it difficult to accept his humanity as everyone else around him is revolted by his existence.  He is astounded when he meets the few people that love him and treat him with kindness.

The day finally comes.  Matt is 14.  Subconsciously, he knew the day could come, but he loved El Patron for treating him like a human child and refused to believe it.  Memories flash back and he untangles secret messages that were told to him, containing clues that this day would come.  El Patron's heart is failing and it is time Matt's existence is put to work.  However love spurts courage and turns a new page in Matt's future.  Matt is put to the ultimate test of survival, relying only his memories of Celia and Tim Lin, whether it is about edible plants of the desert or a motivational comment.  Ironically, being a clone has its perks.  Ultimately, everything has an end - the fight, the journey, the lives, the evil, the rejection.

Okay, so that's a lengthy summary.  But a lot happens in its 380 pages.  This is page turner.  It is one of those books that you know what is going to happen at the end, but you have no idea how.  And when those "hows" are presented, you are left gasping because you didn't NOT see that coming.  Believe me.  This is an award winning book and you need to find out why.

-Mariela

"No one can tell the difference between a clone and a human.  That's because there isn't any difference.  The idea of clones being inferior is a filthy lie." - Nancy Farmer, The House of the Scorpion

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Paperback, Alternate Cover Edition for ISBN 0689852231, 380 pages
Published by Simon Pulse (first published January 1st 2002)
Edition language:  English

Book Review: THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak

5 out of 5 hearts

Where to begin? This is a 550 page book and by page 30 I knew. I knew it would amaze me beyond normal limits and, at the same time, leave a gaping hole when I finished it. This book had been on my "to read" list for months; even before I picked up, it was magnetizing. I am compelled to read it again, and I have a feeling it would always feel like the first time.

It is set in Nazi Germany, and explores the innocence of kindness and the power of words.   Liesel Meminger is an orphan and is taken to live with a set of foster parents outside of Munich.  Rosa Hubermann, her foster mom, is the loudest, most creative curser in the world.  Hans Hubermann, her foster father, is an accordion player with kind eyes like liquid silver.  Rudy Steiner, a little boy obsessed with Jesse Owens, becomes her first friend and first love.  The entire story is narrated by Death, as he opens a window to Leisel's innocent soul as she tries to find love, happiness, and justice, whether by stealing books or leaving crumbs of bread behind for a parade of starving concentration camp prisoners.  

This is undoubtedly the best book I have ever read in my life.  As my friend Nikki (btw, her blog is hilarious) once said:  "I remember finishing it and then, just staring at the ceiling feeling lost."  I can agree, absolutely.  While reading it, it becomes apart of you.  Especially if you are a writer, with the numerous references to the power of words.  If there is ever a moment I think my writing completely sucks, I can find a quote in this book to boost my spirits.

I would like to thank Zusak for not writing this tragedy as a typical tragedy. Instead, I felt that he understood that the event itself was agonizing and he did not dwell on the sadness. He made those moments eerily beautiful. His use of metaphor, allusion, and imagery is exquisite to say the least.  

I can't explain how good The Book Thief is with the use of words.  You have experience it.    I am not afraid to admit that I cried at the end, both because of the turn of events and because I was about to finish this piece of printed majesty.  I can feel a knot forming in my throat as I relive the experience of reading this book. 

Just read it and you can thank me later.

-Mariela


The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Paperback, 550 pages
Published March 14th 2006 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN 0375831002 (ISBN13: 9780375831003)
Edition language:  English

Book Review: THE TIME KEEPER by Mitch Albom

4 out of 5 hearts

I checked this book out at my local library on a whim - no one I knew had read it or heard about it. I was intrigued by the synopsis on the back and decided to give it a chance. It turned out to be a "feel good" book. Reading it makes you take a step back and appreciate your life.

It is centered around Dor, who lived eons ago. Basically, he discovers numbers (how to count things) and time, but he was not given credit for it in modern day history. His wife dies and he vows to avenge her death by killing the gods. It just so happened that the ruler of his village built a tower to reach the heavens because the ruler wanted to kill the gods to gain their power. So, Dor has a chance. He makes it to the top of the tower with the full intention of killing the gods, but he does not succeed. Instead he is punished by being exiled to a cave and becomes Father Time. While in this cave, he has to listen to every plea on earth revolving around time. As time passes, he is able to notice that the earth's population is growing by the number of pleas he hears every second.

Not only are we reading about Dor, but we are introduced to Victor and Sarah. Victor is a billionaire, on the brink of death, trying to extend his life. Sarah is a depressed teenager about to commit suicide. As you read about Victor and Sarah, it is easy to identify and relate to our obsession with time.

Dor is able to finally leave the cave 6000 years later, only to embark on a mission. While he was prisoner, he did not age. He was ready to die and join his wife, but he had to complete the mission first. Until he shows Victor and Sarah the value of life and death, he his able to join his wife Alli in heaven.

I definitely recommend reading this book. Even though it is a feel good book, it is not cheesy by any means whatsoever nor does it try to preach. It merely illustrates a part of our society with poetic prose and relatable situations.  If you are under a lot of stress at the moment, this is a great read to boost your mood.

-Mariela

  

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

Hardcover, 224 pages

Published September 4th 2012 by Hyperion   

more details...ISBN:  1401322786 (ISBN13: 9781401322786)
Edition language:  English