Recent Reads

I'll Give You The Sun-Jandy Nelson ****
(find a synopsis here)
I love and kinda don't love this book. I haven't read piece of proper YA romance fiction in a long while so I guess it took some time to get into the right mind set but first things first, the writing style of this book is beautiful. Seriously, so metaphorical and descriptive-that, I loved. I also loved the first 2/3rds of it-the story covers some seriously deep and complex issues and you build a real relationships with both Jude and Noah, written in such an artistic way. I also love the way you are presented two juxtaposed characters at different stages in their lives and as the story is revealed you learn how it all changed.
But, and its a big but, I found it all a bit naive and cliched and just predictable. Not Noah's story, his tale was naive but in a relate able, cosy way-you wanted to protect him but I jut found the latter half of Jude's to be too unrealistic-like a lot of YA romance is-all a bit too sweet. I feel guilty saying this because the other issues she faces are really well presented its just her love life-it just feels like it wouldn't happen and it left me feeling a bit meh and thinking "if all relationships went as bloody smoothly as this the world would be a better place". Finally, I didn't like the way everything connected-once again-predictable. I would still give it 4 stars for the gorgeous writing and characters though.

The Lovely Bones-Alice Sebold ** (maybe 3)
I don't want to make this a negative review so I shall keep this one pretty short nd snappy but:
This book could have been done after the first 30 pages, that's where 90% of the action (except the bizarre bit at the end that left me like "what?") and it dragged and dragged, like she was trying to milk a good idea she once had-it wasnt awful-I mean I did finish it.  Make of it what you will but I just couldn't get my head around it.

All the Bright Places-Jennifer Niven ***** (actually 4.5 but I can't do a half star)
find synopsis here
Firstly, it was completely coincidental that all these books ended up being about dead relatives and the effects on the family, after completing them all I am craving something a little less morbid.
Nonetheless this was fab. "John Green meets Rainbow Rowell"-okay it is basically The Fault in Our Stars combined with Looking For Alaska and the synopsis/writing style could be perceived as copying BUT I think if thats the style she writes with, it can't be copying
ANYWAY
the characters are so beautifully developed and complex, the dual narration works a dream, I love the literary quotes and references and all the metaphors-its beautiful. Some say it glorifies depression and attempted suicide and I see where they are coming from but I also think it presents Finches emotions so clearly, you really begin to understand his mania. They're relationship is a bit forced at the start but becomes so precious as the story develops. I think it glorifies some topics quite heavily and there is more I would like to say on the subject but a) this is ridiculously long and b)it will totally ruin it but I urge you, if you like John Green-esque books read this.

So there you go, the past 3 books I have read. Next I think it will be Brave New World, something totally different from the YA romance.
What have you read recently?

Katie x
Currents: Listening: Stornoway-Bonxie//Reading: --//Loving: my shorter hair//Lusting: for these exams to be over and done with