#SoRatherBeYoung: Spies & Tiger Eyes

#SoRatherBeYoung: Spies & Tiger Eyes

Feb 26, 2015

In December, Estelle and I previewed our new joint feature: "You Make Feel So Young." We decided to team up and celebrate the books that turned us into readers. Each quarter, we'll be highlighting three books: one joint read that we both loved growing up and then we'll each pick a book for one another (something we loved that the other one hasn't read yet). Today, it's finally time to share the results of our first challenge!

Talking about the books with Estelle reminded me of being in elementary school and having bookish conversations with my friends. From class trips to the library to the much-anticipated book fair, it was a time in my life where I was surrounded by people reading (even if they only read in school). It's like I went from passing notes about books to texting and tweeting about them! I always forget how much fun it is to read a book with someone else. And honestly, I'm so glad Estelle suggested this project. Now, let me tell you why...

Joint Pick: HARRIET THE SPY by Louise Fitzhugh | First Published: 1964

More Than You Know: Prior​ to writing Harriet the Spy, Louise Fitzhugh was the illustrator for a 1961 children's book that was a parody of Eloise. In a letter to another editor at Harper, Fitzhugh's editor Ursula Nordstrom wrote, “Anyhow, if you hadn’t called my attention to that Fitzhugh unpublishable picture book we would never have drawn Harriet the Spy out of Louise.” ​Apparently that editor showed Nordstrom​​ some sample pages from Fitzhugh, and the two editors persuaded Fitzhugh to expand it into what became the full-length book!*

  

Memories are Made of This: You know those books you're almost positive that you read as a kid but can't remember anything about them? That's Harriet the Spy for me. My strongest memory of it was just the knowledge that Harriet wrote about people in her notebook. I don't think I even owned a copy of this book! When I finished reading, I actually started questioning if I did actually read this growing up. Or was it just a book that it seemed like I would have read? It remains a mystery.

Second Time Around: While I can see why it's popularity has endured, it was an odd reading experience for me. This is one of those situations where I'm pretty sure I enjoyed the book more as a kid than I did as an adult. Harriet made me laugh several times, but ultimately I just felt sorry for her and disturbed by her behavior. I felt bad about the fact that almost all the adults in her life basically ignore her, but I was also horrified at her cruelty. She's selfish, nosy and mean! I kept waiting for there to be a redeeming moment where she learns a valuable lesson about compassion or apologizing when you've hurt someone, but nope. And while it made sense considering her family life, that didn't make it any less unpleasant to read.

You Can Take My Word for It, Baby: I feel bad saying this, but I don't see myself reading this to my future children. While I wouldn't necessarily prohibit them from reading it, it is a book that I'd want to discuss with them. Harriet's actions are the exact opposite of how I want my children to behave, and there's just really no character growth to counteract it. Honestly, it was a pretty depressing read!

Estelle's Pick for Me: TIGER EYES by Judy Blume | First Published: 1981

Do You Know Why? To say I was floored that Hannah hadn't read a Judy Blume book is an extreme understatement. I had to fix this and fast. Tiger Eyes is one of the most recent books I've read from Judy's backlist and there is a really beautiful movie to supplement the writing. In general, Judy has a way of expressing so much in a compact way. Hannah had to join the club! – from Estelle

Can't You Just See Yourself: There were a number of Judy Blume books that I wasn't allowed to read as a kid, but I somehow ended up never reading anything by her! While I wouldn't have picked this one up as a child because it's a little more mature, I think I would have enjoyed this one in high school. It's a simple story, but a great introduction to Blume's writing style.

I Give You My Word: Tiger Eyes definitely made me curious about reading more from Judy Blume! I loved how many things Blume packed into these few pages. While it deals with some pretty heavy topics (grief and alcoholism, for example), it never felt too heavy. It was a serious book, yes, but one that made me think and feel. Davey's grief and growth were enjoyable to read, and I even liked that the book has a bit of an open ending. I don't think I'd hand it to young children, but I could see my future kids reading it as teenagers.

Before the Music Ends: Although it's not Blume's most popular book, I'm glad I read Tiger Eyes first. If you haven't read anything by Blume yet, this isn't a bad introduction! And if you're a long-time Blume lover who has yet to pick this one up, give it a shot. Now, it's time for me to watch the movie...

Have you read either of these books? What do you remember?

Comment or join the conversation with #SoRatherBeYoung.

What's next? ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS!

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May I Have This Dance?

May I Have This Dance?

Feb 25, 2015

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Release Date: January 2007
Publisher: Random House | Knopf
Pages: 407 pages
Source & Format: Bought; Paperback
Series: Wildwood #1
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Summary from Goodreads

High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm. But their peace is shattered when Father falls ill and must go to the southern parts to recover, for that is when cousin Cezar arrives. Though he's there to help the girls survive the brutal winter, Jena suspects he has darker motives in store. Meanwhile, Jena's sister has fallen in love with a dangerous creature of the Other Kingdom--an impossible union it's up to Jena to stop.

When Cezar's grip of power begins to tighten, at stake is everything Jena loves: her home, her family, and the Other Kingdom she has come to cherish. To save her world, Jena will be tested in ways she can't imagine--tests of trust, strength, and true love.

Thoughts on Wildwood Dancing

After binging The Sevenwaters Series last year, Juliet Marillier became one of my favorite new-to-me authors. Thankfully, she has a huge backlist of books that I can now read! I started scoping out what I wanted to try next, and I ended up buying Wildwood Dancing and Cybele's Secret. These companion books focus on a group of five sisters and their father.

Wildwood Dancing is a loose retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, but with some Transylvanian folklore thrown in. The five sisters live at the castle Piscul Draculi - a foreboding and enchanted place. But the best part of their home? The secret portal that opens to them and allows them to access the Other Kingdom. It's a world where they can dance with fey creatures, experience an otherworldly magic and loose themselves in its secrets. But when their father leaves the castle to recover from a dreadful illness, the arrival of their cousin Cezar throws everything into question. Jena, the second eldest, must navigate his dreadful whims, protect the Other Kingdom and watch out for her sisters. In the process, she'll be pushed to her limits.

It took me a little bit to get hooked on Wildwood Dancing, though there is a lot to enjoy about this story. I always love stories focusing on sibling relationships, especially sisters, and that's a huge aspect in this book. You see them both fight with each other and fight for each other. While Tatiana and Jena get the most page time, I loved that each sister had her own personality and each was memorable in their own ways. In addition to their interactions with each other, there are a number of other important characters that play a role in the book. Some I loved (Gogu!) and some I loathed (Cezar!), but all were evidence of one of the biggest reasons I love Marillier - she writes character-driven stories.

But the characters aren't the only enjoyable part of Wildwood Dancing! The setting was so intriguing, and Marillier just made it come to life. From the crumbling warmth of Piscul Draculi to the magical beauty of the Other Kingdom, there's so much detail in this world! I loved the way magic and reality came together in this story, especially the village's fear and suspicion. For all its beauty, there's a darkness in Transylvania and the Other Kingdom that threatens all the girls hold dear.

The only thing I occasionally struggled with while reading Wildwood Dancing was the plot. It felt like it took a while for the story to capture my attention. I wanted a bit more action or momentum! I also wanted Jena to be more of a driving force in the book. It often felt like things were happening to her and she was simply reacting (rather than being more proactive). Not a huge complaint, but it did keep this one from becoming a favorite. While they aren't a main storyline, there are also two love stories in this book. I never understood one, which is a shame because it's the catalyst for much of the action. But the other love story? It was unexpected and so lovely. It was a great moment when this friendship became something more!

Wildwood Dancing wasn't my favorite Marillier so far, but it was an enjoyable read overall. I didn't feel as emotionally connected to the characters or as invested in their journey as I'd hoped I would, but I'd absolutely still recommend this read. Whether you're new to Marillier or have been a fan for years but haven't gotten to this one yet, give it a shot. This blend of history and mythology just might win you over!

So Quotable

“If a man has to say trust me, Gogu conveyed, it's a sure sign you cannot. Trust him, that is. Trust is a thing you know without words.”

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Leading Ladies I Love

Leading Ladies I Love

Feb 24, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week they post a new topic/top ten list and invite everyone to share their own answers. I'm so obsessed with lists - so it makes perfect sense that I'd love this feature!

Top Ten Favorite Heroines 

from Dystopian & Fantasy

1. Elisa from The Girl of Fire & Thorns Series

2. Katniss from The Hunger Games Series

3. Kelsea from The Queen of the Tearling Series

4. Celaena from The Throne of Glass Series

5. Quintana from The Lumatere Chronicles

6. Sorcha from Daughter of the Forest

7. Hermione from The Harry Potter Series

8. Kestrel from The Winner's Trilogy

9. Karou from Daughter of Smoke & Bone Series

10. Iolanthe from The Elemental Trilogy

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The Weight of Tales Untold

The Weight of Tales Untold

Feb 23, 2015

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Release Date: January 2006
Publisher: Simon & Schuster | Atria
Pages: 406 pages
Source & Format: Gifted; Paperback
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Summary (from Goodreads)

Biographer Margaret Lea returns one night to her apartment above her father’s antiquarian bookshop. On her steps she finds a letter. It is a hand-written request from one of Britain’s most prolific and well-loved novelists. Vida Winter, gravely ill, wants to recount her life story before it is too late, and she wants Margaret to be the one to capture her history. The request takes Margaret by surprise — she doesn’t know the author, nor has she read any of Miss Winter’s dozens of novels. 

Late one night while pondering whether to accept the task of recording Miss Winter’s personal story, Margaret begins to read her father’s rare copy of Miss Winter’s Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. She is spellbound by the stories and confused when she realizes the book only contains twelve stories. Where is the thirteenth tale? Intrigued, Margaret agrees to meet Miss Winter and act as her biographer.

As Vida Winter unfolds her story, she shares with Margaret the dark family secrets that she has long kept hidden as she remembers her days at Angelfield, the now burnt-out estate that was her childhood home. Margaret carefully records Miss Winter’s account and finds herself more and more deeply immersed in the strange and troubling story. Both women will have to confront their pasts and the weight of family secrets... and the ghosts that haunt them still.

Brief Thoughts on The Thirteenth Tale

Several years ago, I put The Thirteenth Tale on my Christmas wish list. I received it, and then I promptly put it on my bookcase. I'm not sure what happened, but somehow in the time between asking for it and owning it I just totally forgot why the book interested me in the first place. If you'd asked me what the book was about before I finally picked it up recently, I'm not sure I wouldn't have gotten any of the details correct.

I knew that The Thirteenth Tale was a Gothic mystery, and I think that's what initially attracted me to the book. Add in some rave reviews from friends and great rating on Goodreads, and I was intrigued. What finally convinced me to read it, however, was the reaction when the book was mentioned during the #IShall Twitter chat. I felt like I was so out of the loop!

I think my favorite thing about this book is the writing. Setterfield has a way with words, and she's written something that will certainly strike a chord with book lovers. I liked the Gothic elements of the story. There's something about a mystery with hints of the supernatural to keep you hooked! The writing communicates that dark, foreboding tone. I liked, too, that it feels as though you're being told a story. I could imagine this aging novelist retelling her life story!

But as much as I loved the writing, I found the story dragged at times. I wanted it to get to the point already! The story veered into melodrama, and I found Margaret to be quite annoying (as was her obsession with the person she lost - I won't say more for fear of spoilers). I think my biggest frustration, however, was the ending. It just seemed anticlimactic to me! While I enjoyed it overall, I never quite compared to how I felt about books like Jane Eyre or Rebecca. It's similar, but never totally delivered for me.

However, I'm glad I finally took this one off my shelf and spent some time with this tale! I absolutely think it's worth reading, and I can see why it's a favorite for so many. This was certainly a memorable read - though it was nothing like what I'd expected. I'm glad the hype led me to finally read it, even if it perhaps made my expectations a bit too high. But if you love Gothic reads, you've got to check this one out!

So Quotable

“There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic.”

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Bits and Pieces Made Beautiful

Bits and Pieces Made Beautiful

Feb 20, 2015

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Release Date: February 3, 2015
Publisher: Macmillan | Henry Holt BFYR
Pages: 400 pages
Source & Format: Asheley; ARC
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Summary (from Goodreads)

If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.

Thoughts on I'll Meet You There

I'll Meet You There wasn't on my radar initially. It sounded pretty good, but I wasn't rushing to read it. Then, the reviews started rolling in... Bloggers I trusted started raving about this read! When Asheley offered to send me a copy, I immediately took her up on the offer. I devoured this back in November and realized I wanted to re-read it before writing my review. And the best part? It was even better the second time around!

Skylar Evans wants more than a double-wide trailer and a dead-end job. To find it, she knows she has to leave Creek View behind. With graduation now behind her, she's supposed to spend the next three months working and preparing for college. But when her mom loses her jobs, everything begins to unravel. Josh Mitchell got out of Creek View, but he's returned home a changed man. Working at the Paradise (a quirky motel) brings Skylar and Josh together, but their unexpected friendship may become something so much more.

Skylar's going to college to pursue her love of art, and I wanted to honor this incredible part of her character with my review. My favorite quote from I'll Meet You There explains why Skylar loves collaging, and it's something that just stuck with me. If I were creating a collage of I'll Meet You There, here are the different bits and pieces I'd use to craft the whole:

College Acceptance Letter / SKYLAR

Skylar has so many dreams for her future, and she's always known she was meant for more than life in Creek View. Her college acceptance letter represents the future that's finally within her reach. All of her life, she's been defined by the ways she doesn't fit in and the things she can't have. I loved Skylar so much, and I ached for all the heartbreak she's experienced. Her inner strength, her unselfishness, her talent... She's incredible! Demetrios has written a memorable and admirable young woman right on the cusp of finally getting what she's worked so hard for and has always wanted.

Fabric from Marine Uniform / JOSH

Oh, Josh Mitchell. He's returned home from the Afghanistan to a life he never would have imagined. He hasn't just lost his leg, but also his sense of purpose. He was the cocky, confident, life of the party before he left. And now he's broken, lost, and grieving. Josh is a tricky character - the Josh from before is incredibly unlikeable, and the Josh after is still struggling to find his way. He says terrible things, makes even worse choices... but you can also see a goodness in him. At one point, Skylar talks about how it's like there are three versions of Josh, and it's a fitting observation. It's what makes you feel conflicted about him - because one side of him is so amazing, but there's also a part of him that's so off-putting. 

Postcard from Motel / SETTING

Oh, how I loved the setting in I'll Meet You There! Creek View felt like a real place to me. I could imagine the people who populated it and the poverty that defined it. From the diner to the bodega, I could picture it all in my mind! And it was easy to see why someone like Skylar would want to escape and how someone like Josh would feel a bit directionless there without the Marines. And as for the motel? I loved every second Skylar and Josh spent there! I loved that it's what initially brought them together, and I adored the way the pool, the rooms, and the motel owner played a huge role in their relationship as the book progressed.

Bills and Receipts / MONEY

Money, particularly the lack of it, plays an important part in the book. Skylar and her mom are barely making ends meet. They live in a trailer park, and it's not a given that Skylar will go to college. One wrong move, and everything comes crashing down around them. I found it refreshing to read about a character who has to work hard for everything she gets. Nothing is handed to her - she fights for it all.

Beer Bottle Label / ACTIONS

Alcohol is prevalent in this book. Characters drink to forget, to dull their pain, to loosen up... basically, for all the wrong reasons. But I didn't just include this item in my list because certain characters drink a lot and/or struggle with alcoholism. I actually felt like it needed a spot on the list because of the decisions characters make while drinking. There were a few times when this book was hard for me to read because I was so frustrated and upset by what characters were doing. But, at the same time, it shows how emotionally invested I was in the book. I just wanted them to put the bottle down and start thinking clearly!

Part of a Soap Box / LANGUAGE

I know you're probably wondering why I'm including a soap box in my collage. Well, have you ever had someone threaten to wash your mouth out with soap because of something you've said? Yep, that's the inspiration for this item! There is a lot of foul language and problematic statements in I'll Meet You There. It seemed realistic to me, so I didn't necessarily see it as a flaw in the book. But I think it's important to note because I think it will bother some readers.

Corner of a Map / IDENTITY

Finally, I think a map represents something at the heart of I'll Meet You There: identity. Skylar and Josh are still figuring out who they are and trying to find their way in the world. They feel isolated from the people around them. They dream of more than what they see in front of them. They want to belong and have a purpose. They want to be understood, to be known, and to be loved. And it's a desire that feels so honest and realistic. The world in this book is harsh, but it's hopeful, too. With longing palpable on every page, Demetrios has managed to pour her heart out in this story - and it absolutely shows.

So Quotable

"Nothing ever goes to waste with collaging... In my essay for San Fran, I'd written about how I'd always felt like there was something magical about taking bits and pieces of the world around me and creating something whole. It gave me hope: if you could make a beautiful piece of art from discarded newspapers and old matchbooks, then it meant everything had potential. And maybe people were like collages - no matter how broken or useless we felt, we were an essential part of the whole. We mattered."

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

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