Shelf Indulgence

Hi, my name is Bethany (she/her) and I really love to talk about books :)

[ancientsstudies]

What was stolen by the city, nature restores.

ig credit: jameslloydcole.

[ancientsstudies]

Oxford, Oxfordshire.

[shelfindulgence]

The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Genre: YA post-apocalyptic science fiction Rating: 2/5

CWs: Murder, death, violence and gore, human and animal peril Complete list: [here]

Summary:

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown, a town where every man’s thoughts are broadcast outwards for anyone to hear in one cacophonous Noise. One month away from “becoming a man,” Todd knows that something in this town is wrong. So he flees with his dog, leaving behind all the lies he’s ever known and inciting Prentisstown’s army to hunt him down.

Review:

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me.

What I will say is that I was interested in the wider mystery/mythology that was being withheld from us. I appreciated that it was kept from us for most of the book so that we could try to piece it all together the same way that Todd was. The world made me want to know more, but at the same time, I had to really fight through everything else to get the answers.

My major issue was that I had a very hard time getting past the main character’s narration and general unlikability, and it did impact my ability to care really at all about what was going on.

But I also found myself pretty frustrated by the somewhat unbelievability of the situation as a whole? The conflict just felt...kind of impossible. The bad guys were a pretty one-dimensional monolith, weren’t around long enough to present any potential shortcomings, and legitimately just seemed impossible to beat. I had no hope the ending would be a happy one.

And the ridiculous death in the middle of the book was too much for me. Usually I don’t mind a well-placed loss, but this one just really set me off. I physically had to walk away from my book.

I don’t really have lots to say except I was relieved when it was over and I will not be continuing on with this series.

Recommend for:

Sci-fi readers who don’t mind unlikable/annoying narrators, lots of violence and a bit of suspended disbelief.

[ancientsstudies]

Hertford College, Oxford.

[shelfindulgence]

Concrete Rose

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Genre: YA contemporary Rating: 4.5/5 Representation: entirely Black cast, bisexual major supporting character

CWs: death, grief, gang violence, undetailed sex, teenage pregnancy and minor drug use Complete list: [here]

Summary:

In this prequel to The Hate U Give, Concrete Rose tells the story of seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter in Garden Heights. Between loving his incredible girlfriend Lisa and selling drugs for the King Lords to help his mom pay the bills, he’s got life under control. That is, until he finds out he’s a father and he loses someone he loves.

Review:

This was just as incredible as I’d hoped it would be.

Maverick was my favorite character in The Hate U Give, and it was a pleasure to have his backstory and really see him in his own right. He was just as charismatic, hard-working and full of love as I remember, and there’s something special and comforting about spending time with a younger version of a character we’ve seen as an adult, when life is a little more reliable.

Beyond her wonderful protagonists, Angie Thomas also has this incredible ability to make supporting characters so rich and unique. She juggled a full cast, some of whom we’d met before and many others we hadn’t, and they all added to the story and made me even more engaged in this Garden Heights. I felt equally as mentored by Mr. Wyatt as Maverick, just as loved by his Ma, just as in love with Lisa, just as supported by Dre and just as enthralled by baby Seven. The entire cast was just so well done.

Naturally, because every character was so captivating, their struggles were so heart wrenching, from the first few chapters when Mav’s life is turned upside-down, to the major heartbreak that comes later, to the (unsurprising if you’ve read its sequel) second baby that interrupts Mav’s (and Lisa’s) life yet again. There wasn’t a single moment I wasn’t invested in their lives and hoped that things would start going their way.

And despite my vigilant investment in this story, it masterfully pulled off a plot reveal that shook me to my core and legitimately left my jaw open.

The only reason I docked any points from my ranking is because the ending of the book felt just a little bit rushed and a little bit unresolved. Since this is a prequel, I expected a bit of a smoother landing into the territory that would become The Hate U Give, but somehow it just felt a little like some missing holes. However, this book was still phenomenal and worth every single moment and more.

Plus, look at that gorgeous cover!

Recommend for:

Anyone who’s read The Hate U Give, and honestly, anyone who hasn’t too.

[ancientsstudies]

Cockburn Street, Edinburgh.

[ancientsstudies]

Time will tell, I suppose, or at least, these pages will.

[shelfindulgence]

American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Genre: YA graphic novel Rating: 4/5 Representation: Asian-American main and supporting characters

CWs: racism in multiple forms and brief fantasy peril and violence Complete list: [here]

Summary:

A “modern fable,” told in three parts: Jin Wang, a Chinese-American boy, moves and attends a new school, but struggles to make friends amongst bullying. The Monkey King decides that he wants to be more than just the Monkey King. And Danny’s cousin Chin-Kee comes to visit and begins to ruin Danny’s reputation at school by personifying negative Chinese stereotypes.

Review:

This was a really creative and emotional journey.

What’s so impressive about this story is Yang’s ability to craft not one, not two, but three separate stories all tied together by their emotional core. They were so varied and different and yet each one had me invested and empathizing with the characters and their respective hardships.

This book depicted an experience I’ve been lucky enough to never live through, but it’s one that we should all understand because unfortunately, it is reality for so many people. Racism is awful, it’s insidious, and the way it impacts children is incredibly heartbreaking. It can be really easy to forget that children are sponges and will spread what that they hear, especially if it’s to put someone down because they’re different. This book does a really poignant, heartbreaking job of painting what it looks like to be on the other side, hearing all the racist remarks that are made by children who don’t understand and that can unfortunately become internalized if they are never addressed.

The format of the graphic novel really underlined the emphasis on the effect of racism on children as well, considering this is a genre so often associated with children. It’s a reminder that racism happens to children and that all children should be aware that this behavior is not okay. The artwork isn’t particularly intricate or eye-catching, but it’s simple and it’s real.

I could feel the similar themes and emotions pulling towards each other the whole time, but the reveal at the end of this story explaining why these stories are each being told was surprising and really cool. The only other place it loses some points is in its somewhat rushed conclusion. But, I still appreciated that the ending made me put the book down and think about where the novel had started.

Recommend for:

Everyone! Add this to your Asian/AAPI voices reading list.

[ancientsstudies]

The Secret Society of Literature Students.

[shelfindulgence]

Lore

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

Genre: YA fantasy Rating: 4.5/5 Representation: queer, Korean and Black supporting characters

CWs: heavy TV-14 level graphic fantasy violence, torture, murder, cancer and sexual assault Complete list: [here]

Summary:

Thousands of years ago, Zeus banished nine Olympians and cursed them with the Agon: every seven years, each of the banished is to become mortal for seven days. During this time, the descendants of famous Grecian heroes hunt down the gods in order to kill them and steal their powers and immortality. Lore, a descendent of Perseus, managed to escape this world at the end of the last Agon, but before she can flee New York City as the next begins, she finds herself drawn back in by an old friend she believed was dead and by Athena herself.

Review:

This book was such a whirlwind, and I loved every second of it.

As a huge Greek mythology fan, this world was just incredible to feel a part of. It really is basically like a modern-day Greek pantheon Hunger Games, and it was so cool to have sets of characters that are literal gods or descendents of famous heroes. Every couple of chapters I would just stop reading and think “wow, that’s Athena just chilling on the streets of New York City.”

That being said, I loved all of the characters, especially Athena’s. On the whole I tend to think of Athena as an overused character and I usually don’t find her particularly interesting, but she was so nuanced in this book while so true to her origins, it was incredible to read. Lore’s character was also really compelling because there aren’t a lot of physically powerful female characters that embrace and are empowered by their anger. And in addition to the two women, all of the main players had a set personality that really made them compelling, and they came together and worked as a squad so well.

I was also impressed by the way that the book kept me on my toes. It starts out at a point of anticipation, but once the ball gets rolling, it really doesn’t stop. And even though there are so many mysteries where you can tell that some critical, surprising information will be coming from, I found myself unsuspecting of the major plot twists that really left me shook. The whole story struck what I thought was a good balance of small character moments and big plot moments. We were constantly moving on multiple levels, and it really kept me eager for what would happen next.

The few criticisms I had were ironically criticisms I have towards the Greek mythos in general. There were a lot of characters right away, and it took me a while to keep them all sorted. Much like the never-ending Greek pantheon. In addition, I think the focus landed on gods that are really overutilized, which made it feel a little predictable, despite its successful, nuanced depictions.

And also, we have to talk about the feminism. It’s heavy-handed, sure. But it has to be. The Greek mythos is full of sexism, as well as many other issues. There’s no feasible world that can be created from this mythos that wouldn’t have some lingering remnants of these issues. So Bracken chooses to tackle it head on. Sometimes it’s a bit much, but it also provides for my favorite part of the entire book: the conversation between Lore and Athena where Lore confronts Athena about her role in punishing women and championing men. It’s so complicated and well done and it’s also really gratifying for a classics student who does find frustration in the way ancient women were treated (to say nothing of today’s issues).

This book definitely isn’t for everyone. There are A LOT of content warnings here. It’s definitely a dark YA. As someone quick to feel queasy, there were a few moments that made me a little nervous. It’s got war themes, so expect everything that comes with that. And it’s just a lot to remember. There’s always a lot of moving pieces.

But it’s become one of my favorite books that I’ve read in a while, and I was so happy I picked it up.

Recommend for:

Anyone who likes Greek mythology or The Hunger Games, but probably not for the faint of heart (check out all the CWs before you read!)

[philocalistmelomaniac]

Edinburgh, Scotland

[shelfindulgence]

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson

Genre: nonfiction, focus on racism in U.S. history Rating: 5/5

CWs: racism, in all of its forms and manifestations Complete list: [here]

Summary:

Taken from Goodreads: “From the Civil War to our combustible present, White Rage reframes our continuing conversation about race, chronicling the powerful forces opposed to black progress in America.”

Review:

This book is so incredibly necessary.

Within this past year, I have attempted to prioritize nonfiction books on racism, its history, and anti-racist work for today. I’ve learned so much and I’ve been able to have so many more informed, important conversations. This book really honed in on American history and its policies in a way that I had never been exposed to before.

As a relatively young person coming out of a public school system, there is so much history that was completely kept from me or tweaked to fit this perfect narrative created by biased history textbooks. It’s a shame that so much of this information was new to me.

Anderson really packs so much into this book. There are hundreds of years of racism, and though it would probably be impossible to document it all, there was so much knowledge here, especially focusing on the post-Civil War period. It’s so dense, in fact, that it really requires that you sit with it and spend more time going through it all. That being said, it’s probably not a “first anti-racist book” step, but it could easily be a third or a fourth.

This book is also incredibly infuriating. It’s so hard to read about everything that has been done, intentionally and systematically and systemically, to discriminate against Black Americans. But for someone who didn’t have to learn this history as a child in parental conversations in my living room and didn’t get to learn this history in the classes that should have taught it, it’s necessary to understand. The current state of the United States is no accident, and this book is an incredibly effective tool for those who may not understand why that may be.

Add this to your anti-racist TBR.

Recommend for:

Anyone looking for another anti-racist book to read, especially if you want a focus on post-Civil War periods and policies.

[bvkspine]

the amount of books you consume is not an appraisal of your worth as a reader nor should it be a criterion for any type of hierarchical separation among people who love reading

[bluereevesphotography]

Misty Edinburgh - 6/4/19

[shelfindulgence]

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise

Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise by Gene Luen Yang

Genre: YA fantasy graphic novel Rating: 5/5

CWs: PG level fantasy violence and post-imperialism/war conflict Complete list: [here]

Summary:

Picking up right where the television show leaves off, Aang and Zuko commit to fixing the consequences of the Hundred Years War. But after time passes, the Earth King and Firelord Zuko find themselves on the opposite side of a conflict, and Aang finds himself grappling with the promise he made to Zuko: that he would never let Zuko become his father.

Review:

This was incredible. It’s almost hard to find all the words to describe exactly how much I loved it.

The characterization of the Gaang we know and love is perfect. It’s a little surreal to see this continuation of the story, but there’s not a moment that feels like it wasn’t already a part of the story that the creators had in mind. The world itself developed in ways that felt so natural, and most wonderfully, the characters each still retained the exact same humor from the show, and the novel itself made me laugh out loud multiple times.

There is a definitely a sense that these characters have grown, and it’s apparent in little ways but also in the major promise that kicks off the conflict of the novel.  It’s perfectly done, giving us the familiarity of the characters and world, but with just enough older conflict and complications from those same aspects that it really feels like just as we have grown, they have too.

The only thing slightly not positive I could say is that the pacing is a little quick. There are some moments that felt like they could have been lingered on.  However, that's the way the cartoon was as well: focus on the emotion and the conflict and trust that in working through it, a resolution will follow. And the novel did linger on the emotional and vulnerable moments. The book never shies away from the emotional turmoil of the characters, and it makes them feel authentic and nostalgic.

I was really impressed with the way that the novel managed to juggle its whole cast of characters. There were so many cameos that I wasn’t expecting, and the main cast is already pretty large, but they managed to give all the characters moments that really reflected the core of who they are.

And the cliffhangers at the end! Impeccable. I will be picking up The Search immediately.

Recommend for:

Anyone who has seen the show.  Trust me.  It’s worth it.

[oldfarmhousefallfeatures]

http://www.instagram.com//dominomag

[vanillaicesblog]

¬ Edinburgh, Scotland