The Great Gatsby – On Words and their Importance

It’s been a super busy month, which is why I needed to take a small siesta from blogging. But, last week I went to see The Great Gatsby and it filled me with the kind of confusion/rage/annoyance/I-really-don’t-know-how-I-felt-about-that I can only interpret through venting my views upon the rest of the world.

This is a book blog, so regular readers will have to forgive the following journey into movie territory but this movie was  adapted from a book (although what movie hasn’t been recently?) and I feel like that makes it fair game. Plus, in order to make sure my interpretation of the movie was correct, I re-read the book (I’ve been a little remiss in ‘what I’ve been reading’ posts lately, expect a blanket post to cover the last few books in the next few days).

The most famous cover image of the novel.

Now before I launch into this – some words of warning- If you have not read/seen The Great Gatsby, and would prefer the ending to remain a mystery, I would advise you to cease reading this post. Secondly, this will not be a review (yes, I know I tagged it as one, but there isn’t really a quick way of saying in depth analysis that focuses on the very nature of interpretation, is there?) as all my review-like feelings about the movie have already been said  here at Letters from a Patchwork Wizard (awesome blog run by equally awesome friend).

What I’m Reading: Just One Day

This came as a recommendation from the wonderful blog of Theodora Goss (which you should absolutely check out) and she wasn’t selling it short. The premise is a familiar one for romance novels. Girl meets strange and exotic boy, strange and exotic boy invites girl to magical city on spur of the moment romantic trip, previously sheltered girl’s eyes are opened to the beauty of the world and men… And so forth.

But Just One Day has a massive saving grace: it’s narrator Allyson (Lulu). The writing throughout the book is so authentic, and so genuine that even though the story feels like something I’ve read before, for the first time it feels like it’s happening to a real person. So far I am in complete agreement with every snigle word Gayle Forman has said about love and life. It’s beautiful and even though I kind of hate the love interest at the moment (I’m only half way through), it’s in the best possible way.

Just One Day is completely worth it, for much much longer than it’s title presumes.

 

What I’m Reading: Clockwork Princess

The title of this post is somewhat misleading, as I happen to have finished Cassandra Clare’s conclusion to her Infernal Devices  trilogy already, but I’ve yet to move on. For fans, you can take your hands off your ears, you won’t hear any spoilers here.

Cover of Clockwork Princess, my own pic to follow soon.

In Tessa’s final story we know she must choose between her doomed to die fiancée Jem and his best friend and ‘blood brother’ Will, the boy who told her he loved her minutes too late. Oh- and there’s also the simple matter of  defeating the criminal mastermind who’s set to kill her and destroy the Shadowhunters forever but what else is new? What fans of this story (some might even go so far as to say the superior one over the Mortal Instruments) want to hear about is the love triangle that well known fantasy author Holly Black dubbed ‘The Kobayashi Maru’ (Star Trek fans take note) and to be fair, Clare devotes a great deal of her time to resolving it. The fact that she does this without limiting the action shows real skill and  has met with almost universal praise since the book’s release. And even though I’ve had my disagreement’s with the voices in the story, I have to admit to thoroughly enjoying the adventure all the way through.

Although the ending surprised me, in the most pleasant of ways, with Clare proving that she can keep the fans happy and write a satisfactory conclusion as well. Although calling it a ‘conclusion’ feels like the incorrect term, it might be better to say that it feels as though she placed the story within the wider world of ‘The Mortal Instruments’ series so it can continue. Don’t get me wrong though – I still bawled  my way through the last 20 pages. That’s saying something. I would consider myself to be something of a stoic reader, and although I do believe Clare pulled a number of her punches with regard to outright killing of characters, she still packs a fair emotional wallop.

And here’s my pic as promised.

It’s no secret to fans that Tessa will endure beyond the final pages of this book and beyond the final pages of all those that follow but we were always led to believe that her story would end here. After finishing  Clockwork Princess I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Tessa were to turn up again. I think I would be very happy to see her.

Among Others: out of this world

It’s rare that I’ve found a book that speaks so directly to me it feels like it was written just for my eyes to see.

There have been many different takes on Jo Walton’s Among Others. But the most common phrase you will hear associated with this weighty little novel, is “love letter”. Although not a love letter of the romantic variety, Among Others is a love letter to the Sci-Fi genre, to the Welsh valleys, to books about boarding school, to libraries, librarians, to 1979, and to being a 15 year old who just doesn’t fit in. And it’s beautiful.

UK Paperback copy released March 21 2013

The 2012 recipient of both the Hugo and the Nebula awards (the Oscars of SF and Fantasy novels),  Among Others is a book for all those who grew up devouring novels and stories and for those who remember what that was like, to have books be the one refuge that they can return to. It also maintains a lovely fantasy story alongside, although ironically this is the weakest link in a very strong chain that holds Among Others together.

What I’m Reading: Scarlet

As you may have guessed about me, I have great difficulty in starting a book series and not continuing with it. But with Marissa Meyer’s Scarlet it’s a different story. I bought Cinder and the boyfriend bought Scarlet for me on the same day (he takes initiative well). As a sequel, it works well, continuing the fairy tale motif, this time red riding hood (my twitter namesake). It also shows the hallmarks of a more experienced writer, although it has come with an increased amount of  Han Solo/Princess Leia signataure “witty banter” exchanges, most of which I’m a little on the fence over (particularly because the majority of them ARE between a convict and an a princess on the run on a spaceship). There’s even a know-it-all android thrown in the mix. But Star Wars references (rip-offs?) aside, Scarlet is entertaining so far, and I will likely purchase it’s sequels – just to see if the proverbial fairy story will end with a ‘happy ever after’ for each of its characters.

What I’m Reading: Cinder

So, after a couple of weeks of diaries and classics both new and old, I’ve returned to my old reliable favourites- sci-fi -fantasy. And is there a better re-introduction to the genre than a sci-fi fairy tale where Cinderella is a cyborg mechanic and her fairy godmother is an android? I think not. So far the fairy tale elements in Marissa Meyer’s Cinder  have been gorgeous, an old pumpkin coloured car and a metal foot that has a tendacy to fall off on palace staircases. But the evil sci-fi plot is a tad predictable and feels clunky.  As a piece of fun fiction it’s different and enjoyable, just maybe needs the screws pulled a  little bit tighter.

What I’m Reading: An Abundance of Katherines

I fell so hard in love with John Green after The Fault in our Stars that as soon as I possibly could, I ran out to find another book by him. I discovered  An Abundance of Katherines which tells the woeful tale of prodigy Colin Singleton who has been dumped by 19 girls named Katherine in a row. While it lacks the poignant beauty of TFiOS the characters are just as vivid, the colours stick out like paint on a blank sheet of paper. I am particularly enamoured with Hassan, Colin’s foul mouthed best friend and so far it has the most amazing formulas and footnotes to every chapter. Any maths enthusiasts or quirky romantics would definitely eat Katherines up.

What I’m Reading: Bridget Jones’s Diary

Did you ever just get an urge to read something? Just a random urge that you wanted to re-read a book you haven’t gone near for about five years? Well that happened to me this weekend with Helen Fielding and the wonderful, perfectly normal and hilarious Bridget Jones. I just had a yen to read this modern Pride and Prejudice again and my train journeys all week have not been disappointed. Nobody is ever going to say that Bridget Jones is Shakespeare- but you know what? I’m delighted that she isn’t because she’s all the more fun for it.

What I’m Reading: The Fault in Our Stars

Well, it took long enough- numerous hints from everywhere on the internet, personal recommendations and loads of amazing reviews- but I finally discovered John Green. And rarely have I been so happy to find something new-  The Fault in Our Stars  –  is a revelation, taking a subject matter that is difficult and incredibly painful and handles it with grace (no pun intended) and a realism that avoids any sentimentality or trite feeling. There’s a sly humour throughout Hazel Grace’s lung cancer infected voice and it sings in every minute of her unconventional love story (any of the video game scenes were particular favourites). I’ve rarely been happier to discover such a beautiful book. John Green should be insanely proud of the wonderful people he has brought to life. I was certainly proud to meet them.

What I’m Reading: Chocolat

Lent is fast approaching and what better way to celebrate than a book that flies a flag in favour of chocolate and decadence instead of denying ourselves the simple pleasures in life. I have chosen a compromise – since a little break from chocolate could do me some good – to indulge in Joanne Harris’ beautiful descriptions of sweets instead and imagine myself living Vianne’s beautiful bohemian lifestyle and waking up to Johnny Depp’s ridiculously handsome face every day.