Book Review: So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld

 

Book: So Yesterday

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Genre: Young Adult, fiction

Rating: 4.5/5

Format: Paperback

Where I got the book: HPB. Picked up due to my love of SW.

Favorite Character: Jen.


This book was VERY Scott Westerfeld. As an author, Westerfeld explores the idea of language in his books and the use of language to influence ideas and stories. There also seems to always be the exploration of a youth subculture in his books. I really enjoyed this book. I love Westerfeld as an author and found this to be an interesting story. They characters were enjoyable and at times it was super anime-esk. Like, this would make an awesome anime.

Book Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andews

 

Book:Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Author: Jesse Andrews

Genre: Young Adult, fiction, humor

Rating: 4.5/5

Format: Paperback

Where I got the book: B&N

Favorite Character: None.


I had been meaning to read this book for a while. I kept seeing it everywhere and would pick it up, then for some reason set it down. Finally I bought it and ended up reading it one day. I then watched the movie. Overall, I enjoyed the book. I think it was humorous and I enjoyed Greg as a narrator. I appreciated that it didn't focus on some grand romantic teenage journey and seemed more realistic than most books like this.

However, I did like the ending to the movie better than the ending to the book. The ending in the book just seemed haphazard and all over the place, where as the movie was able to get the same point across in a cleaner way.

Good, quick read. Managed to not cry in the book, but did cry during the movie.

Book Review: Binge by Tyler Oakley

Book: Binge

Author: Tyler Oakley

Genre: Autobiography, lgbt, youtube

Rating: 5/5

Format: Hardcover

Where I got the book: Target, after going to three other stores trying to find an autographed copy.

Favorite Character: N/A.


Tyler is fabulous and I love him. This book was unapologetically raunchy and hilarious. I love that Tyler is not ashamed to himself and lays some pretty personal details out for the world to see, all while keeping an amazing sense of humor and wit. 

Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

 

 

Book: Carry On

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Genre: YA fiction, paranormal, vampire, chosen one, magic, LGBT, romance

Rating: 5/5

Format: Hardcover

Where I got the book: I have been waiting for this book to come out since finishing Fangirl.

Favorite Character: Baz.


So since reading Fangirl, I have been waiting for this book to come out. I find it kind of fantastic that it is a fan-fiction of a fiction novel from a fiction novel. I'm also all about the chosen-one-wizard-school thing. And adorable gay fan-fiction romances. SO all-in-all, I was incredibly excited about this book.

All in all I was pleased with this book. I did find the way they cast spells to be a little silly, and of course how can you not laugh at the name Insidious Humdrum. There were a lot of aspects influenced from Harry Potter, but also other 'chosen one' style books. Even when I was reading Fangirl, I could tell that Simon Snow was influenced by Harry Potter. In several ways I liked that, as it bade me feel a stronger connection to Cath and the world she loved.

(Spoilers)
So the one thing that I'm a little bit unsure about is the ending. There is a part of me that is bothered by the fact that the reader is the only one what knows the full story of Simon. Agatha had the picture, but she doesn't know what it means. Simon still thinks it was only Baz's mom that visited him. I just feel like there were so many lose ends and I want the characters to know what's going on. I don't know why is frustrates me, but it also leaves me wishing there was more. I mean, I kind of wish that anyway but still. I thought the whole concept that Simon was the Humdrum was interesting, and that he was sucking the magic out of the world every time he went off.

Overall, fun and adorable story. I wouldn't say it was a masterpiece, but still pretty good.