Looking Back : March 2011

This March, I read 15 books:

1. You Against Me By Jenny Downham
2. PopCo By Scarlett Thomas
3. The Ask And The Answer By Patrick Ness
4. Breakfast At Tiffany's By Truman Capote
5. If Nobody Speaks Of Remarkable Things By Jon McGregor
6. The Iron King By Julie Kagawa
7. The Shakespeare Secret By J. L. Carrell
8. Afterlife By Claudia Gray
9. The Prince Of Mist By Carlos Ruiz Zafon
10. Gone With The Wind By Margaret Mitchell
11. Intrinsical By Lani Woodland
12. Darkest Mercy By Melissa Marr
13. The Age Of Innocence By Edith Wharton
14. The Wizard Of Oz By L. Frank Baum
15. Nightshade By Andrea Cremer

- It's so strange, that the less time I have to spare to read the more books I seem to get through! My favourite book of March was definitely Gone With The Wind. An epic read! I also really enjoyed Nightshade, The Iron King and Breakfast At Tiffany's. I also finished the Evernight and Wicked Lovely series, both of which I liked even though I have had my ups and downs with the two.

Intrinsical By Lani Woodland

Sixteen-year-old Yara Silva has always known that ghosts walk alongside the living. Her Grandma, like the other women in her family, is a Waker, someone who can see and communicate with ghosts. Yara grew up watching her Grandmother taunted and scorned for this unusual ability and doesn't want that to be her future. She has been dreading the day when she too would see ghosts, and is relieved that the usually dominat Waker gene seems to have skipped her, letting her live a normal teenage life. However, all that changes for Yara on her first day at her elite boarding school when she discovers the gene was only lying dormant. She witnesses a dark mist attack Brent, a hansome fellow student, and rushes to his rescue. Her act of heroism draw's the mist's attention, and the dark spirit begins stalking her. Yara finds herself entrenched in a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening not only her life, but the lives of her closest friends as well. Yara soon realizes that the past she was trying to put behind her isn't going to go quietly.
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Intrinsical is a new and original story in the young-adult paranormal genre with plently of twists and turns that keep you reading.
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Yara is your normal teenage girl with one exception. She can see and communicate with ghosts. Her grandmother also has this gift and it seems to pass throughout the female line of her family. As soon as she starts attending Pendrell Boarding School her powers seem to activate and strange and chilling events start occuring.
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Right from the beginning of the book you are pulled right into the story and Yara's world. Literally as soon as you start reading Yara encounters her first experience with ghostly occurrences on campus. There is no build up, you are pulled head first into the novel which was quite exciting and grabbed your interest straightaway. Throughout the novel there were some real spooky moments like when Yara feels somebody is waching her or when she sees the sudden appearance of footprints on her floor.
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At first I wasn't sure what to make of Yara and Brent. I felt that they didn't have distinct personalities to begin with because I didn't feel like I was getting to know what sort of people they were which is probably because of the sudden introduction to them. However, I suppose that sort of fits in with their situation, since they are unsure of what will happen to them (you'll know what I mean if you've read it) and Yara doesn't know how to feel about her gifts after wishing for so long to never have them. Although over time I did start getting to know them and in the last third of the book I felt like I really understood them and they really came into their own. Yara was stronger and I loved how she came about and accepted her talents and gave up the self-consiousness of being seen as crazy.
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I also really enjoyed the witty banter between Brent and Yara. The romance in the story was realistic and you felt they really got to know each other and assess their own feelings before acknowledging them straight away. It wasn't rushed. Also, Yara's best friend Cherie was my favourite character. She was fun and hilarious at times with the quotes she came out with (page 256 was especially funny!).
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At times the story did move quite quickly, so sometimes I was a bit confused at what was happening but all the pieces did come together satisfyingly in the end. I would have loved to have learnt more about Pendrell aside from just it's curse and Yara's Grandmother and her family history in dealing with their unusual gifts, but this is just the first in a trilogy so I don't expect it all in just the first installment.
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The writing flowed easily so it was a quick read and was also full of great sensory descriptions that allow you to immerse yourself in Yara's world and get a feel for the atmosphere. Overall, a solid start to a promising series and I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a refreshing new paranormal series. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book, Indelible, when it is released (expected September).
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(P.S. isn't that cover gorgeous and as a bonus it is completley relevant to the story)
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.5
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Random Passage: Whatever history this room had, it made my skin crawl. It wasn't just the poor lighting, dusty air and debris-littered floor. Something horrible had happened here, and had left its residue behind. It seemed to rise from the bottom of the tiled pool and leak from the ceiling, clinging to the wall and binding itself like some parasite into any host it could ensnare. I imagined its cold fingers rooting inside me, spreading throughout, and leaving traces of itself embedded in my soul.

Gone With The Wind By Margaret Mitchell

Tomorrow is another day...
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Set against the dramatic backdrop of the American Civil War in 1860s Atlanta, Margaret Mitchell's magnificemt historical epic is an unforgettable story of love and loss, of a nation mortally divided and a people forever changed. Above all, it tells one of the most famous and enduring love stories of all time - between Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.
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I didn't want this book to end. I loved it!
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In a way I think it is slightly misadvertised as 'the most famous and enduring love story'. I felt it was more about the way people lived their lives during the civil war and how the times were changed because of it and how people adapted to them. In a way it is a love story in the way Wuthering Heights is a love story. The relationship between Rhett and Scarlett is definitely passionate but not always because of love but sometimes because of hate.
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Now, before I read this book I hardly knew anything about the American Civil War since it was never taught to me at school because it's not seen as such an important topic in the UK. So it was quite an eye opener to read about it in Gone With The Wind. To put it simplistically, the South are happy with the way life is but the North want change, therefore war ensues between the two. Basically the North say they want to free the slaves and give them the same rights as everybody else, including the right to vote and gain jobs on equal footing. Whereas the South think that there should be distinctive classes within society that depend on many parameters such as how rich you are or even right down to the colour of your skin. At times I felt it completely shocking to read about the racism in this book but I thought it gave a real insight into how it was an unrelentingly prevalent issue in this time period. I also found it completely ironic how a family treated their 'house' slaves with respect as if they were almost a part of the family and yet treated some random 'darkie' (as they are called in the book) as somebody to be avoided.
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Scarlett O'Hara is the main protagonist. At the start she is seen as the 'belle of the county' and is incredibly self-centred, selfish and manipulative. She uses her charms to get any 'beau' to lust after her even if it means stealing them from under the noses of the other local girls. She has never failed in snaring men except for Ashley, which makes her want him even more. Throughout the whole book she never gives up on her dream of making Ashley give up everything for her. Even though I disliked Scarlett, I still admired her determination to make herself known in the world. Overall, she is a survivor. She will do whatever it takes to survive even if it means lying, cheating and giving up her morals. Whereas the South clinged to their idea of the past, Scarlett pushes ahead and looks to the future and is willing to work like a man to get the money she craves so she will never go hungry again, which is why most of the Southerners end up disliking her because she is ready to give up the southern traditions and trade them with the changing times.
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Rhett Butler is a charming and dashing character and is the only person that can stand up to Scarlett and won't be manipulated by her (it doesn't stop her from trying though). He takes a pleasure in making her so angry that she ends up in a rage and yet he seems to be able to keep his cool and just laugh at her. I'm not sure I liked Rhett as a character either. There's no denying that he is charming and it is refreshing to have somebody that speaks his mind honestly and bluntly instead of just thinking it, but at the same time I think he is almost as selfish as Scarlett. He only does something if it will benefit himself in some way or another. Saying that I feel that he was probably hiding a vein of compassion under his sarcastic and nonchalant exterior. There is an intelligence about him but unfortunatetly he uses it to mock his neighbours and especially Scarlett (not that she doesn't deserve it half the time).
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Now there is one character that is undeniably selfless in this book and that is the kind and considerate Melanie Wilkes. As the book is most of the time seen through the eyes of Scarlett, there were times when I thought Melly to be weak and naive but then I realised that Scarlett's voice was manipulating my judgement of her and in fact she is probably the most moral and courageous character in the book. She stands up for what she believes in and has a fierce loyalty to her family and friends and chooses to see the good in people first before anything else. Her husband Ashley, the man Scarlett believes herself to be in love with, is similar to Melanie in the way that he wants to have peace in his life and even in America. There is one quote that I loved that I think sums up his personality:
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'It's a curse - this not wanting to look on naked realities. Until the war, life was never more real to me than a shadow on a curtain. And I preferred it so. I do not like the outlines of things to be too sharp. I like them gently blurred, a little hazy.'
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He prefers to live in his dreams and books and the war has made him realise that life in reality is hard and unforgiving. However, unlike Melanie, it is clear that he is obviously lost in a world that is no longer recognisable to him and his inability to decide what he really wants or how to achieve that means that he is sort of in limbo and just trudging through life.
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One thing that I thought was so heartbreaking was how Mitchell depicted the suffering that the people had to go through with the war and even though deep down they knew there was no way they were going to win they still fought anyway. It takes immense bravery to stand up for what you believe in whilst knowing that you are fighting a losing battle. The details of the losses, illnesses and hunger caused by the war that swept the South were vivid. Even the rich lost everything and were forced to turn their hands to work since they no longer had any slaves and there was one quote that I thought particulary fitting to their situation:
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'Time's never change when there's a need for honest work to be done.'
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The one thing I did like about Scarlett was her love for her homeland, Tara. Whenever she lost sight of the reasons why she had given up the moral teachings of her mother she thought upon what would happen to her beloved home if she was not able to raise the money to support it. So even though she may have used several people (including her husbands) to get money quick she did it all so she could keep Tara alive. However, initially she did have to work hard and honestly to keep her family from starving in the middle of the war. With limited supplies of food she foraged for every last crumb and even laid her hands to cotton picking.
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This book is full of vibrant and passionate characters and even though I disliked Scarlett at times, I still admired her. So, this is probably the first book where the main character actually annoyed me on numerous occasions and yet loved it because of it. I recommend it to everyone; an epic read!
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[Sorry if my review is slightly long and meandering. It's so hard to write a review on a book you loved so much and yet want to do nothing but write and talk about it ]
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Random Passage: They loved their men, they believed in them, they trusted them to the last breaths of their bodies. How could disaster ever come to women such as they when their stalwart grey line stood between them and the Yankies? Had there ever been such men as these since the first dawn of the world, so heroic, so reckless, so gallant, so tender? How could anything but overwhelming victory come to a Cause as just and right as their? A Cause they loved as much as they loved their men, a Cause they served with their hands and their hearts, a Cause they talked about, thought about, dreamed about - a Cause to which they would sacrifice these men if need be, and bear their loss as proudly as the men bore their battle flags.

The Prince Of Mist By Carlos Ruiz Zafon

It is 1943 and the winds of war are sweeping across Europe. Max Carver's father - an eccentric watchmaker and inventor - has decided to move his family away from the city to an old wooden house on the coast. But as soon as they cross the threshold, strange things begin to happen. Max discovers a garden filled with eerie statues; his sisters are plagued by unsettling dreams and voices; a box of old films opens a window into the past.

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Most unsettling of all are the rumours about the previous owners of the house and the mysterious disappearance of their son. As Max, his sister Alicia and their friend Roland delve into the past, they encounter the terrifying story of the Prince of Mist - a sinister shadow who emerges from night to settle old scores, then disappears with the first mists of dawn...

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Originally published in Spain in 1993 as a young adult novel, The Prince of Mist is a mesmerising tale of mystery, romance and adventure.

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This story is only just over 200 pages, so I wasn't surprised that when I had finished, it felt like I had just read a short story. However, even though it felt like it had the potential to become a longer more in depth story it still packed a punch.

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Max and his family have moved to a slightly dilapidated house on the coast to escape the dangerous confines of the city during wartime. What they didn't realise is that the wooden house and village have an eerie past. After discovering a collection of creepy statues in the garden, Max starts to realise that there is a disturbing and dangerous presence that is intent on collecting his debts.

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When I first picked up this book I didn't really know what it is was about, but I definitely didn't expect a fantastic 'chill down the spine' type of read. At times there was this cold element that really evoked a scary atmosphere. With the terrifying clown statue that appears to move when your back is turned, a cat that has eyes full of malice and the strange films left behind by Jacob, the boy that apparently drowned years ago, this story really does leave you looking over your shoulder.

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Max, his sister Alicia and their new friend Roland are all very likeable characters. Max is probably your average young boy, yet he has this braveness and loyalty towards the ones he cares for that makes him stand out. Alicia also seems to be your typical teenage girl on first appearances, but as the story progresses she has this underlying lonliness to her personality and I felt that there was more to discover about her character.

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This was a gripping story and a very quick and easy read, not just becasue it's short but because you get pulled right into the story with some very exciting and tense chapters. I would have loved it if it had been a longer novel with more back story because I felt there was so much more to be told. However, I still really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to anyone that enjoys a chilling tale.

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Random Passage: Never had Irina been so willing to help her mother, no matter what the task was that awaited her. She was about to leave the room when, suddenly, she felt an icy breeze on her face. It swept through the bedroom, slamming the door shut. Irina ran towards the door and struggled with the knob, which seemed to be stuck. As she was trying in vain to open it, she heard the key in the wardrobe door slowly turning behind her. Irina stood against the door of her room, too afraid to look. She closed her eyes tight, and her hands were shaking. The voices, which appeared to emanate from the very depths of the house, seemed much closer now. And this time they were laughing.

In My Mailbox (17)

In My Maibox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren
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I got two books this week:
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1. A Most Improper Magick By Stephanie Burgis

2. A Tangle Of Magicks By Stephanie Burgis

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I won both books from the wonderful Fluttering Butterflies. I initially only won A Most Improper Magick but the publisher also sent me the sequel too! I have yet to see them though because I had them sent to my home address and I'm an uni but my sister opened the package whilst on the phone to me. I haven't got a picture for the second book because I'm not sure what it looks like but I have seen a picture of the book on Stephanie Burgis' blog and I think it has still yet to be given a cover. I can't wait to break up for the Easter holidays so I can read them :)

(I believe A Most Improper Magick is published under a different title in the US, Kat, Incorrigible)

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from THe Story Siren

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Here are the books I got this week:

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1. Afterlife By Claudia Gray

2. Desires Of The Dead By Kimberly Derting

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3.Revolution By Jennifer Donnelly

4.Fixing Delilah By Sarah Ockler

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5.Unearthly By Cynthia Hand

6. Other Words For Love By Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

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7.Slice Of Cherry By Dia Reeves

8. Intrinsical By Lani Woodland

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9. The Elegance Of The Hedgehog By Muriel Barbery

10. Alone In Berlin By Hans Fallada

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Such pretty covers this week! I think I'm most looking forward to reading... oh I can't choose, they all sound great. Even so, I can't wait to see how the Evernight series ends with Afterlife and what happens to Violet in Desires Of The Dead. Twenty Boy Summer was amazing so I'm looking forward to reading Fixing Delilah.

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Also, thank you so much to Extreme Reader Book Reviews. Not only was I sent Intrinsical which I won in a giveaway, it came with a beautiful book-related necklace too :)

Breakfast At Tiffany's By Truman Capote

It's New York in the 1940s, where the martinis flow from cocktail hour till breakfast at Tiffany's. And nice girls don't, except, of course, Holly Golightly. Pursued by Mafia gangsters and playboy millionaires, Holly is a fragile eyeful of tawny hair and turned-up nose, a heart-breaker, a perplexer, a traveller, a tease. She is irrepressibly 'top banana in the shock department', and one of the shining flowers of American fiction.
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This edition also contains three stories: 'House of Flowers', 'A Diamond Guitar' and 'A Christmas Memory'.
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I'm sure everybody is familiar with the film Breakfast At Tiffany's with the iconic Audrey Hepburn but I wonder how many nowadays know it's also a novella, because I didn't. It wasn't until after I watched the movie (and enjoyed it) that I found out that it was originally a book. Even though it's been a while since I watched the film and there are some differences from the book, I still recognised the same atmosphere and feelings from the book that I connected with the film, even if the book is slightly darker and the film more light-hearted with a happy ending.
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Holly Golightly is a complex and very mysterious character and I never felt like I truly got to know her. Now I would normally say that this is a bad thing in almost all novels, but here I felt it was the making of the story. She has this blase exterior and has a very spontaneous character, she seems to do things on the whim of the moment and has no qualms about manipulating people to get what she wants. While she tries to portray a laid back attitude you get the feeling that she has a plethora of emotions just brewing under the surface and she is not a person to be crossed or taken advantage of.
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The story is told from the point of view of an unnamed (although Holly likes to call him Fred) man that has become captivated by the alluring Holly Golightly. He lives in the apartment above her and gets to know her ways of life and a few aspects of her character but never in depth because Holly does not let anybody close. It's as if we just scrape the surface of who she is. Anybody that shows any interest in her life is just ignored and pushed away.
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She is definitely an enigma and whilst she comes across as somebody that has detached herself from any kind of harsh reality, she is actually probably in the thick of it. She earns her money by using her charms with rich men and delivering messages from a criminals in prison. She has this facade that nothing phases her. The only time she seems to show true emotion is when it involves her brother Fred. However, she always to try and hide this aspect of her personality which makes you wonder what has happened to make her want to hide who she really is.
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Throughout the whole story she never lets anybody close, not even the reader and I also get the feeling that even Truman Capote was not allowed this privelege and never got to fully unravel her character. Which is why I think this works so well as a short story, it leaves you guessing at who this girl is and how she came to be and where she will go. She's sometimes deceptive and almost alway's selfish but there is an aura about her that makes her mesmerizing and fun which makes her hard to resist and absolutely makes for a great read. It leaves you wanting more and wanting to know whether Holly ever found the peace she craved and only ever seemed to feel in her beloved Tiffany's.
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Of the short stories that was also included with Breakfast At Tiffany's, my favourite was 'A Christmas Memory' and was almost definitely my favourite part of the whole book. Capote managed to capture a beautiful frienship between an old lady and a young boy and conjured up bittersweet memories of their Christmas together. The story has this wonderfully festive atmosphere but it also has an undertone of poverty that is tinged with loneliness and sadness. It somehow manages to be heart breaking and heart warming at the same time.
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Capote has a way of capturing the small details of peoples character and they really shine through in his stories and they keep you reading to the end. He seems to have this understanding of the human nature and is able to deliver this subtly in his stories. They are intimate, poignant and honest and very beautifully written. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.

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Random Passage: I pointed to a bowl of apples, at the same time asked her how and why she'd left home so young. She looked at me blankly, and rubbed her nose, as though it tickled: a gesture, seeing often repeated,I came to recognize as a signal that one was trespassing. Like many people with a bold fondness for volunteering intimate information, anything that suggested a direct question, a pinning-down, put her on guard. She took a bite of apple, and said: "Tell me something you've written.The story part."

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.
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I got five book this week:
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1. Across The Universe By Beth Revis
2. Delirium By Lauren Oliver
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3. The Hare With Amber Eyes By Edmund De Waal
4. Darkest Mercy By Melissa Marr
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5. Raised By Wolves By Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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I'm so excited for the books I got this week. Especially Raised By Wolves because it the first book I have ever won (from www.narrativelyspeaking.com).