Delirium

Hm.
I'm conflicted.
On the one hand, I was always eager to pick this book up while I had it. I stopped reading anything else I had. So, that says something about the writing & narrative.
But, I felt (like I do with so many YA works) that it was offbalance. I couldn't put a finger on why, but I read a few reviews of the title on goodreads which helped me. The world itself and the reasoning for the "cure" did not make sense. They ban love, but see the point in maintaining other remnants of society? Why have a family unit? It seems absurd.
Also, like so many other YA novels, I felt like there was far too much romance and not enough substance. Now, I understand that love was a huge part of the plot, but I want more! I want to know the character without her love. However, the parts with Alex were well-written and believable.
Will I read the rest of the books in this series? Nope. The ending was so predictable and maddening that I won't bother.

___

I'm reading Hourglass now, and while the narrator is witty and engaging, she's far too focused on her love interest! Now, I will admit to feeling how she feels when placed by a certain person, but my head isn't a novel that's supposed to appeal to an audience! I hope that there's more to this book than, "omgggg this Michael guy is a qt."
We'll see!

Mini

Just a little mini-review for each to get me in the swing of things again.


Death of a Salesman: The end was somehow ruined for me just days before I picked this up, but I still felt that this was essential reading. I found myself overwhelmingly sympathetic to the main character, despite his numerous faults. He was an injured ~spirit and I just wanted to pick him up and bring him back to reality. I didn't care so much for the rest of the cast. I feel like plays leave a greater impression me than books; yet I don't know how to express that impression nor do I even enjoy plays that much. This piece, though its themes could definitely apply now, is more of a period one in that it deals with the American Dream and the consequences of pursuing that lofty ideal. Miller juxtaposes the successful yuppies with the aging, unlucky men of yesterday. We see the ones that are left behind in our rapidly-advancing era. And that is what makes this still a work worth reading.


An Abundance of Katherines- Second read by Green. Did not find as enjoyable as the first, but still a good way to waste my time. The premise was intriguing, but the execution could have been better. I identified with Lindsey and adored Hassan (even though I usually detest people who glorify obesity) and found the residents of Gutshot to be charming. The math didn't even put me off! Green's trademark nerd humour was abundant and effective. However, I felt that the story at some points was lopsided and could have been edited better. I have one more novel by the same author to read, so we'll see if Paper Towns is still my favourite!


My Name is Memory- I'd heard so much about this romance that I had to pick it up. While at the library this weekend, a librarian gushed over it and inspired me to bring it to the forefront. It did not take me that long to read, and it wasn't a waste of my time, per se. But I do have mixed thoughts on it. Regarding the historical anecdotes that were interspersed within the text: I adored them! They showed just the right amount of attention to detail and emotion. Daniel was an excellent narrator. He was subtle and three-dimensional; his stories never bored me. He was likable as a young, wayward teen and as a heartbroken, debilitated solider. On the other hand, I was bored by Lucy, though not so much with her previous incarnations. She was the typical young woman and not remarkable. I didn't see how she was worth all of his pain! Nor did I see the link between the couple. Perhaps I was just supposed to suspend belief? Anyway, the rest of the story was so-so to me. It started off well but dragged on. I knew one part of the ending (guess I attract spoilers?) but was misled in one big way that I won't disclose. I'm not sure if there is to be a sequel to this book, but I don't see why there would be. What else can you say? These people are obviously soulmates and will end up together. We get it.

Paper Towns

So I'm obviously behind right now, but I wanted to write this because I've just finished this and I want to review it while it's relatively fresh in my head. I don't read many YA novels anymore, which I see as a good thing, but I'd heard lots of good things about this book from various hangouts on the internet/spots I frequent. I saw it at the library and figured why the hell not.
I started it sometime around 6 yesterday, and read on and off throughout the night, taking time off for some Napoleon Dynamite viewing, hell yeah. I finished around 2 am, happy with the book, and remembering what it was like to have just been starting it. That innocence that I didn't want back, that primordial me. The plot was much different than I expected (I'd been expecting some fantasy elements), yet it was deeper and better than I thought it'd be, and I laughed at some of the passages like I did when I watch the office. The characters were lovable and realistic and reminded me of people I almost knew; of ideas that I used to say hi to. This book made me realize that exactly--that people are just ideas. It reminds me of what my freshman english teacher had told us, about no one ever knowing someone else's heart, think that came from hawthorne.
This is a book to read if you're unsure of your path, if you're contemplating making a clean getaway (heheheh) or thinking about someoen you used to know. The prose (I detest that word) was very easy to get through, but not oversimplified. I didn't *feel* like I was reading a YA novel, and that's what I loved.
You know throughout the book that the journey of introspection is ultimately going to be the more important trip, but you're still hooked, staying in that minimall with Quentin, dreading rats and breathing in Margo.
I adored the literary references, or at least the ones that were made obvious to me (haven't had time to do any kind of deeper analysis here), like Walt Whitman, whom I read in my senior English class years ago. was this what you could call an "i-novel"? I'll look it up.
I'd recommend this to Kerouac fans (though I still haven't finished on the road...) and those who expect a little bit more of their bildungsroman. Green apparently has more works, so I'm going to check them out and read them in between my frenzied 1001 whateverthatwordisicantthinkofrightnow. I'm not going to put up quotes anymore unless I really want to, and maybe I will for this one. Not sure yet. I wasn't especially in love with Margo, but maybe because I see the other side of her, that a "guy" wouldn't see? The not spontaneous and beautiful parts, the quiet parts when you're alone and no one knows you and wouldn't dare call your soul by its name. She's like a sister that I've known all along, and just don't get how people are still drawn to her, but she's my sister so I somehow just *get it*.
The almost running into cows and crying and giving up was poignant.

--jaja, I wrote that around 3 am. I fixed some mistakes, but I'm sure I missed some, and I'm going to just use this because the phrases I used make me laugh.