Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters - Meredith Zeitlin

Published on 1st March 2012

There are times when I love being a girl where I can just sit back, relax, and read books such as these where I am SO glad I'm not in their situation. Such a nice feeling that while I'm reading, I'm not the only person to embarrass themselves severely in public.
A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. And after seeing this appear on a dozen other book blogs with positive reviews, I thought it was a book I could not refuse to review.
I like the cover of this book and it does give an idea of the contemporary and chick-lit aspects to it but I don't think it does it complete justice. What clinched it for me? The book trailer (scroll down to the bottom of the post to see it yourself!). That does do it justice.

Synopsis: In her 14 years, Kelsey Finkelstein is frustrated as her plans are always ruined with the intervention of her annoying parents and younger sister. But with the start of high-school coming up, with the help of her friends - Em, Cass and Jojo - Kelsey plans to make this year the best year. While things start out great - her enemy moving away and being on the soccer team - it soon goes pear shaped. With a junior looking for revenge and a mysterious photographer photographing every embarrassing moment - just to name a few disasters - Kelsey's plan for greatness seems far from reach.

Review: Wow - well, Kelsey's first year at high-school was a riot. This girl is one of those people we see frequently in books and TV shows where you are SO glad you are not them because of the continual bad luck they have.
For me, this book doesn't really have a well oiled detailed plot to it - but is more of an exploration of Kelsey's first year and looking all the potential situations and occurances that COULD happen. In a way, this is a survival guide for those entering this stage of adolescence. This actually works I think and makes it stand out for me against other books much like this one.

The main characters were all original yet are very identifiable and almost stereotypical for the first-day-at-big-school-with-big-group-of-friends novels, TV shows and films. You have the tomboy (Jojo), the dramatic one (Cass) and then the caring one (Em) which make this lovely group of friends even though they are all quite different from one another. These traits I felt weren't characterised straight away, as the beginning was the context and of us meeting and forming a bond with Kelsey, the protagonist. However, boy, their personalities shine through later on - in a good way.
Even the minor characters all have the conventional personalities such as Lexi as the popular, privileged one. I liked this recognisability and it felt nice just to read a book that is definitely going for the girls.

I have read some reviews where the reviewers were laughing out loud at Kelsey's misfortunes but honestly, for me, I wasn't laughing that much. I found them amusing but I was cringing for Kelsey more than laughing (although the beard scene did get a chuckle). There was definite humour there - just nothing that hilarious for me anyway.
My only other problem was that for me Kelsey seemed much older than 14. I know the whole point is she was trying to be older than she actually was. Maybe it's because I'm 17 now and it was only a few years ago I was that age, but I don't know - there were things I wouldn't have dreamt of doing. To me, she seemed around 15/16 - perhaps older.

Apart from my nick-picking, this book is great. The fast pace keeps you interesting in Kelsey and as a protagonist, she was interesting and not annoying (although her demands made me want to slap her a couple of times). She didn't whine excessively and I understood everything she felt and went through - and started feeling for her a bit. The ending is done nicely and when starting the book, I expected it but I think some readers may not. It is a nice round-off to the book.

Overall, apart from a few problems about this book, I found it a fun, quick read where Kelsey's voice kept me wanting more and more. Kelsey's antics keep coming throughout and made me want more and more as well as starting to ponder what ELSE would go wrong. She is a lovely protagonist that makes you interested and different from other, sometimes annoying, 14 year olds. Even though she did seem older than 14, I liked this as well, let's face it, name me a teenager that doesn't try to act older?!
If you ever wanted a book to cheer you up, I think you've just found it.


Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this in exchange for a review.

I give it 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.kelseyfinkelstein.com/
Pages: 288
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Challenges: None

Check out HERE the interview with Meredith Zeitlin herself as part of The 5 Questions feature. 

The Lover's Dictionary - David Levithan

I saw this when I was still working in the book store and thought it was an interesting idea. It is such a clever and original idea that I wondered why no other author had attempted something like this.
So when my friend mentioned she had a copy after I read her copy of Dash and Lily's Book of Dares (also by David Levithan with Rachel Cohn) I was quite intrigued to see what she thought and what the book itself was like.

In a way this doesn't have a synopsis as if I told you the story within it, it would ruin the book so I'm going to dive straight in.

Review: The story within the book is told through a series of words that mean or relate to an event of a relationship between two people, who met on the internet. The words are done alphabetically so the whole story is mixed up. This is nice in a way as one page you'll have a romantic scene expressing their love for each other, and then the next, a bitter argument. I loved this juxtaposing which I think really defined a normal relationship - it can go from great to bad very quickly.

The book explores the pros and cons of love for everyone and as the characters are unnamed, it seems like this could happen to anyone. David Levithan has created a book where we all feel we can engage with the events in the story - even if we're not in a relationship right now. Not only does it explore the meaning of love, but also plays with the meanings of words.

So the major pro of this book? OH MY GOD IT IS SO SWEET.  The protagonist seems very much in love and when something terrible happens, you really feel for him.
My major con? A lot of the words were words I had never heard of before. Sad, but quite true. Seriously, I had no idea what they meant - they were words that are perhaps rarely used in the English language. This seems to be a recurring theme in David Levithan's writing, as Dash was a bit out there in his word choices in Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. I mean ZENITH? That is the last word used. I asked my friend who when we come to words, she is a queen at knowing the definitions AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT. I liked and understood most of them, but my advice would be to accompany this book with a proper dictionary. Sorry - rant over.

This book is easy to devour - such a quick read due to the small amount of writing on each page, sometimes just a sentence. I think would be relaxing and fun if you had an hour spare on a train journey or a Sunday afternoon. It is a special, cleverly crafted book that means something different to everyone, depending on their personal situations. Being only 17 and had only 2 relationships - both ending badly - I probably relate to little of the words in this book compared to someone older. But at it's length - everyone should read it at least once.

This could be seen as a story, although simple. It has a beginning, middle and end - just mixed up. I know the story of the relationship told but it is forgettable - not important for me. The part I'll remember for this book, and for others too, is the way it is written and the compassion and love spoken between the lines.
This is a new and quirky way of telling a story and I don't think should be discounted by anyone. Some people will hate this, but some people will adore it.

This is simply a modern couple's story told in a very modern and unique way. I commend you, David Levithan - well done.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.davidlevithan.com/
Pages: 211
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Challenges: None

Other books by David Levithan:
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

On My Bookshelf (14)

This meme is inspired by the similar meme, 'In My Mailbox' created by The Story Siren  (I don't have a Mailbox...)

So this week has passed by FAST sleeping and going to London mostly. However, it was my 17th birthday last week and as I'm apparently 'oh so hard to buy for' - guess what the majority of my presents were? BOOKS!

This week also marked the first hard copy book received by a publisher to be reviewed which I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT. Ironically, it arrived around my blogoversary which was on the 17th. Two whole years of Rebecca-Books - such a crazy thought.

Given (for my birthday):

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery - As my friend said: Because every child should read this book

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper - I've read this already - review

Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend by Cora Harrison - AHH, this is the sequel to the amazing first book of Cora Harrison, I was Jane Austen's Best Friend - here's my review

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan - Need I explain?

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson - I was talking to my friend about this book and said it looked interesting and I wanted to read it (me thinking of borrowing from library) but my friend had other plans and the next day, turned up with this for my birthday - no complains.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - you will not believe how irritating it is to be an English blogger sometimes. Seeing every single American book blogger I follow review this and rave on and on about it - quite annoying. Anyway, I slightly screamed when I saw this in my friend's book store where she works. However, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 3 FOR 2, I refrained from buying it and it turned up the next day with Amy & Roger. I love my friend (I assure you I did not buy it for you to get it - I merely was not sure about buying it and couldn't find a 3rd book...)

Borrowed: 

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan - I started this one a couple of days ago - SO sweet so far.

For Review:

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - this is the first hard copy from a publisher. I know I'm going on and on but I'm just pretty happy that this happened. I want to go into publishing eventually and with this happening and the blog being successful, it makes my dream job look more and more likely - hopefully.

Have a good week!

Author Interview: Mary Pauline Lowry

This is the first ever post on a new feature called 'The 5 Questions' where I ask authors 5 of the same questions about their new book.


Today, I have Mary Pauline Lowry, author of The Earthquake Machine, to answer a few questions about her new book. 

1) How did you come up with the idea for The Earthquake Machine?

Luckily for me, I have amazing and sweet parents who are nothing like Rhonda's parents in The Earthquake Machine. But my mom did take me to Mexico a lot when I was a little girl. Somehow just by writing, I came up with the idea of a 14 year old girl named Rhonda who runs away while on river rafting trip in Big Bend National Park. She swims across the Rio Grande River to Mexico and travels all the way to the state of Oaxaca. I wanted to write a novel about a brave and brazen young American girl experiencing Mexico for the first time.

2) What did you enjoy writing most about in the book?

In the book there is a group of Mexican women bandits who dress up like men in order to rob people. They know in a machismo culture they won’t be taken seriously as criminals unless people think they are men. It was really fun and delightful to write about female outlaws.

3) Describe the book in a sentence.

The book tells the story of an American girl who runs away to Mexico and “passes” as a Mexican boy while she searches for her family’s gardener who has been deported.

4) What advice would you give to future writers - both writing and publishing wise?

First I would urge writers to set a time to write every day. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time at first. Even 15 minutes will do. I would also encourage young writers to NEVER show their work to anyone they don’t trust completely to be encouraging. This is crucial in the early stages of writing.

The publishing industry is changing so rapidly—with the advent of ebooks and the success of self-published authors—that the advice I would give writers now regarding publication is TOTALLY different than the advice I would have given five years ago. I’ll have to quote the author SETH GODIN who says that now that it’s possible to self-publish and have your books widely accessible to readers through the internet, “only you can say no to yourself.”

Five or ten years ago, agents and editors could “say no” to an author and the author would have no other options. Those days are over now.

5) What are you working on next?

I have written another novel that hasn’t been released yet called THE GODS OF FIRE that is based on my personal experiences as a forest firefighter. The book has been optioned for film. I wrote the script and there is a director attached to the project. But I’m working on a small script revision so that the script can go out to actors. It’s super fun!


Thank you to Mary!


Bio:
Mary Pauline Lowry has worked as a forest firefighter, screenwriter, open water lifeguard, construction worker, and advocate in the movement to end violence against women. Due to no fault of her sweet parents, at 15 she ran away from home and made it all the way to Matamoros, Mexico. She believes girls should make art, have adventures, and read books that show them the way.

THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE is being published on 1st March 2012. 

Exciting News: The Five Questions

This blog has been going two years on Friday - scary stuff really especially as I'm two years older than my original 15 year old self that started Rebecca-Books (did I ever say sorry for the totally NOT original name?)

Anyway, to honour my two years in the blogosphere, I am started a new feature here on Rebecca-Books where authors will answer five of the same questions (they will change over time, I promise!) about their latest book.
WHY? Well, I get a lot of emails from authors/publishers asking to review their book and I want to help them, but well, at college, there is LITERALLY no time after school to read for myself, let alone someone relying on me to read and review. So this feature is for those authors which I'm interested in but I don't have enough time to read their book.

I hope you all enjoy these interviews. This is kind of a trial run to see what happens but I would love for this to be incredibly popular so let anyone know if you think they would be interested - you will be my best friend for life, I mean it.

Schedule:

16th February - Mary Lowry, author of THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE

23rd February - Meredith Zeitlin, author of Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters

3rd March - Amy Lignor, author of The Angel Chronicles

Notes to Self - Avery Sawyer

Sometimes when authors/publishers ask me to review a book of theirs, I find myself thinking that this is wrong. I guess it's because before blogging (and partly during blogging), I just a normal person reading constantly that HAD to wait for all the best, upcoming, great books to come out in England, instead of America. Which sucks.

But now, even though when I find myself saying 'Yeah sure!' to a review request, it feels still weird and slightly wrong. But then I get to find books that I probably would never have known about and it helps me to love blogging and what I do.
This is one of those books. I felt bad saying yes to this interesting sounding book but then, I start reading and I feel so glad I said yes.
Blogging rules sometimes.

Synopsis: One windy night at the end of summer in Florida, two teenage girls climb up a roller coaster. Two fall down. Only one wakes up.
That one person is Robin who after a traumatic brain injury, she tries relearn who she is and find out what happened that night in order to try and help Emily, her best friend, wake up.

Review: This is one short read, I can tell you. But boy, is it intense.
The book starts with just before the fall and much like Robin, the narrative jumps to when Robin wakes up. From then on, we, and Robin, are trying to find out her past and more importantly, the accident itself where something is nagging Robin that if she remembers, it will save Emily. This all happens in a series of flashbacks throughout the book which piece together all our questions ending in the ultimate and last flashback - the fall.

I liked how Sawyer didn't reveal everything straight away to us - it made it a much more interesting read. I would say this story is unique, because in some ways I think it is especially the way it is done. But there are a   lot of books out there that reminded me of this one while reading - Speak and If I Stay to name a few.

This book takes some time to break in. At first, while reading, I didn't like it at all - I got annoyed at Robin and I found the hospital scenes disturbing and uninteresting. Not a good mix, I assure you. But when Robin finally gets out of hospital and starts to try and find out what happened, the story suddenly lifts up. The thing about Robin is that she is someone I could relate to.
So I haven't broken anything, had concussion or hurt in any way part of my brain, I felt and understood what she was going through. For me, her point of view is written like a typical teenager and the problem of her not remembering anything was linked with other teenage 'tragedies' such as not sure if you like a guy and people being mean to you at school. Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick or I totally lost the whole point - but that's what I felt. I related to Robin because her injury was linked with things I have gone through in my teenagehood.

Robin, I thought was going to be annoying. I feel bad saying this but I get annoyed when something happens to the protagonist and they whine on and on about their problems. I would be the same, I know, but still. Surprisingly, Robin wasn't. She got on with her life and I liked the determination to find out what happened on that night. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that Robin was a great narrator and I liked her character and the way she just got on with everything after the accident.

The writing was easy to read and flowed really well. There are a lot of chapters for such a short book and almost act as episodes. Despite this, the narrative was never snappy or broken up, it all flowed into a wondering book very well. Because of the episodes, it became very visual in my head while reading and I can totally imagine this as a movie in the way it is written.
Although I thought the opening could have been better, the ending...well, let's say that some may expect it happening, I did not. I had already made my decision on what happened at the end but this was changed completely.

Now, my problems. Wow, Josie is a total bitch and the way the people treat Robin when she returns to school, wow, that is harsh. At times I felt that the story seemed a little...dramatised. Like the way people treated Robin at school - yes it happens but I don't think it would have been that bad especially as they know about her brain injury. Another example is Susan (I won't reveal why) but I was like 'Seriously? That's a bit too coincidental. It was like Sawyer wanted to get the mother out of the story so introduced her.

NOTES TO SELF tackles multiple issues that teenagers have to deal with as well as the ultimate and tragic problem of brain damage - something we all fear and hope will never happen to ourselves and those around us. Avery Sawyer has successful created a book where people can somehow relate to Robin, even though she is in a rare situation. The writing and characters craft this book into something that I think most people would enjoy at any age. With the length of this book, I think everyone should read this book - even if it isn't totally perfect.
Verdict: I would give it a go - but I don't think it is everyone's cup of tea.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.teashopgirls.com/
Pages: 107
Publisher: Self
Challenges: None

Don't worry, I'm here and now aged 17...

So I know I've been a bit silent for a while - not my own doing I assure you.
I've been incredibly busy with a lot of coursework, work and just generally doing things so I haven't had much time or thought to post, sorry...


The most important thing that's happened for me in my absence is my birthday last Monday.
It's weird because before then, 16 seemed like SUCH a young age, like I didn't feel 16 anymore. But now, I'm 17 and that just seems even weirder. I mean, I'M 17. I CAN DRIVE?! I'm 18 next year? I'm going to be more of an actual adult?!

For those who are in their late teens, you'll understand much more than those that aren't. I'm still getting used to the fact I have a choice to learn to drive or not.
For my birthday, I got the only thing I truly wanted...an iPhone. It was needed, my last phone was dying a painful death slowly and I was close to throwing it on the train tracks on my way to college.
With getting an iPhone (I now understand why people depend on their phones now) I got the essential apps for a teenager: Twitter and Facebook. So you followers will be seeing me tweeting pictures much much more. YAY :)

That's kind of it. I'm having a tea party tonight to celebrate my birthday and the start of my last year of being a true child. I'm here, don't worry.
Comment however and as much as you like, I read every single one and I check every day.

Patrick Ness Signing

Firstly, can I say that I love Foyles. Seriously have a passion for that bookstore.
I do have a special love for Waterstone's but wow. Foyles.


The Patrick Ness event was at Foyles in Central London and while browsing the shelves in the Fiction section beforehand, I kept finding all these books that I know about that I am desperate to read BUT CAN NEVER FIND. Like the whole Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, I want to read these American books but I don't have access to them here in England. But THEY'RE ALL IN FOYLES. That's where they keep them!
Sorry. Moving on. 


Anyway, I went to a signing with Patrick Ness and other authors in July 2010 and loved it as my first favour of a book signing (Click here for my post on that).
I know he does a lot of signings so I was keeping an eye out for any ones in London. I live on the outskirts of London so it only takes 20/30 minutes to get to the Central London. However, despite LIVING HERE, he does a lot of book events for festivals in places like Bath, Oxford and Edinburgh - not so close to London. 


So you can imagine my surprise and excitement when I found out he was launching the paperback of A Monster Calls at Foyles in...Central London. I reserved tickets within a day and was ready to go.


So on the 1st February, I went up to London after college and went to this event...with my dad (only person available to accompany me - he didn't mind - he found it entertaining). The event was incredibly interesting and it was great to find out about how Patrick Ness writes and thinks of his books. Jim Kay, the illustrator for A Monster Calls was also there and I found him equally interesting to hear what he had to say about his extraordinary drawings. 

The stage - the frames hold the drawings from the book by Jim Kay

After the interview and a few questions from the audience, Patrick Ness and Jim Kay started to sign the books from those in the audience. It's funny because in the queue when I was watching the people taking pictures, gushing over how much they love the book/drawings, I could tell which ones were bloggers, which ones just love books and especially Patrick Ness and those who would later write a story on the event. Exhibit A: the lady who was in front of me asked me to take a picture on her iPhone with both Patrick Ness and Jim Kay and I thought to myself as I pressed the shutter button 'I bet she's a blogger'. The next day whilst browsing Patrick Ness' Twitter, I found her photograph with him, followed the link to her own Twitter page and *dun dun dun* found her blog link. Off the subject but it was just funny to look at people and know what they're going to do afterwards. 

Anyway, back to the event. I am nervous when I am by myself talking to people I don't really know personally. So an author and illustrator aren't exactly the scariest people alive, it's still weird talking to them thinking 'They write/draw?' I don't know, authors to me don't look like authors. 

Patrick Ness asked me if I'd read the book (which I hadn't...yet) and I said no but that I'd read his other books and thought this was justification to come. So he replied he was glad I liked his other books and hope I enjoyed my evening. And that was it. 

I liked that he appreciated my appreciation for him. I really like it when authors are modest. 

Jim Kay had a equally thrilling conversation with me (I make my point that I don't know how to speak to authors/illustrators). He asked me how I was and excused his inky hands. I found them quite funny actually, the ink looked more like pen ink that print ink so it looked like he should be Patrick Ness...
His drawings are stunning I admit, I love a certain picture of a clock - it's just so detailed and looks to real on paper. 

So that was my signing with them. It was a great, funny evening. I really love books. And authors. And Foyles...

Please ignore my lovely red face - it was a bit hot in there &
had been awake since 6.30am

The paperback of A Monster Calls comes out the 2nd February 2012. 

Click here for Patrick Ness' website. 

Click here for Jim Kay's website

Click below for the links to my reviews of the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness

    - A New World (#0.5)

  - The Ask and the Answer (#2)

  - Monsters of Men (#3) 

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

This is one of those books that English bloggers and readers have to deal with, book wise. I first saw the rave for this book last year when it was very BIG on the blogosphere. I read review upon review - all by American bloggers - and fell in love with the sound of this book. However, there are certain books in America that well, stay there. And living in England with all these great books not avaliable is a little annoying.
Considering this, imagine my excitement when I finally have access to a copy. My friend was reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, quite openly in my English class. When I go to sit next to her to talk, I see this book and gush about how much I loved John Green. After our ramble on how much we loved Paper Towns, my friend then said 'I also have this book too, it's very good' and puts out Dash & Lily's Book of Dares.
I'm not quite sure what or how I said it but I think it came out like 'OH MY GOD, I REALLY WANT TO READ THAT BOOK. PLEASE CAN I BORROW IT, PLEASE?!' Looking back, not the politest thing I could have said but I got my point across and she gave it to me, happily. Ah. I love her right now...

Synopsis: 'I’ve left some clues for you. 
If you want them, turn the page. 
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.'

Whilst browsing through his favourite book store, Dash comes across a red Moleskine notebook, and so begins the book of dares as Dash gets to know the girl behind the notebook. Lily places her red Moleskine notebook, waiting for the right guy to come along and find it and accept her dares. But is Dash the right guy? Will they just continually keep passing clues to places in New York City? And what will happen when they finally meet?  

Review: This book is one of those that is just a little different to anything else I have read. For starters, rarely do you see two authors of one book, like David Levithan and Rachel Cohn. Additionally, there are few books out there that contain dares that bring you, as a reader, to different parts of a major city, such as New York. And mainly, I hardly ever read books where at the end I'm like 'I wish these people were real'. This is such a realistic book, everything seems like it COULD happen and by the end, my friend and I agreed that we wished Dash and Lily were real people because...well, I'd want to know them.

As you can tell, I loved the characters of Lily and Dash - both I found interesting to read about, although for some unknown reason I preferred David Levithan's (Dash) chapters more. The other minor characters didn't just fade into the background after a while or were normal, boring people themselves. No, they were all very unique and different and all had an original spark so it never felt like they were two characters depicted the same way. My personal favourite was Boomer, as I'm sure many people would say. I just COULD NOT STOP LAUGHING. He was absolutely hilarious. Another favourite was Boris -  the dog. There's a scene where he runs off and, without revealing too much, ah, you'll be in stitches, I was laughing so much.

One of my only problems with this was the language, especially for David Levithan's (Dash) chapters. Dash has a lot of knowledge and loves words and books. To put it finely, I had no idea what he was talking about half the time and I'm surprised Lily did understand him. My advice: keep a dictionary with you for his chapters because I guess you might need it. 

Apart from that the language was vivid, especially in the key scenes in New York. I went to New York in October time when they were getting ready for Thanksgiving so I understand the craziness of Macy's and FAO Swartz. I can see the tourist traps in Central Park and Times Square. I can see the attraction of an unknown book store or pub. All of which visited in this book. The places are described incredibly well that even if you hadn't been there, anyone can get a feel for the atmosphere if you were there. I loved that about this book.

The romance could be a little bit more, personally. Conversely, I did feel that feeling where you want to shout at them 'KISS ALREADY!' which Dash and Lily both feel themselves. However, I think if there was this full-on romance, the book wouldn't haven been as good. The point is they meet under these strange and original circumstances where romance has to develop, you don't just feel this straight away. Being the age of Lily and Dash, I totally understood both their viewpoints on love and previous relationships. What they say may seem petty or 'too-grown-up' for them, but being a teenager, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have got it spot on - these are the feelings and thoughts teenagers have while in relationships. 

Overall, this book is wonderful. You get taken into the narrative straight away and keep this engagement with Lily and Dash and actually really get to know them and want them to get what they want. This book is incredibly original - one that cannot be copied. I would recommend this to anyone for the great writing, plot and characters. This is a book that will make you smile. 

Verdict: You'll love it  - but remember a dictionary. 

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.rachelcohn.com/rachel-david/

Pages: 260 

Publisher: Ember - an imprint of Random House

Challenges: None

Vice & Virtue - Veronica Bennett

I first saw this book on a Goodreads newsletter and was drawn to the cover straight away, mostly because of the unusual title and tagline.
I have heard of Veronica Bennett before having read her book Cassandra's Sister many times from the library before.
So by finding out that she had released another book, I was intrigued. And again, so when I noticed a copy in my local library (they are real fans of Veronica Bennett aren't they?!), I snapped it up and ran over to join my friend.
I must admit, I was a little worried about this book. Example A: the cover - it was too pink for me and Example B: although I liked the story, Cassandra's Sister, it is far from being my favourite and the last time I read it, I didn't enjoy it THAT much.
So when starting this book, my expectations were hardly high - which is probably a good thing.

Synopsis: The year is 1700, London. A city so crowded and unregulated, it is easy to slip away and become someone else. Much like Aurora finds herself having to do. After the death of her father and being the oldest child, she has to marry for wealth. So when Edward Francis comes and proclaims his love for her with a great fortune - although in poor health - she cannot refuse. But that night, she finds out his secret to marrying her. Here she enters a world of deceit, lies, etiquette and murder.

Review: I'm not quite sure about this book. I cannot say I absolutely loved this book, because I didn't. But then I didn't completely detest this book either.

The concept is interesting. Aurora comes from a rather lower class family, who has only really made their money from her mother's business. She is the eldest daughter of 3 girls, so she needs to marry well in order to help her mother and younger sisters. However, Aurora is clever, witty and knows what is morally right so she isn't JUST going to marry anyone. Until really Edward comes along and she feels she is forced into marrying him because of a deathly illness. Great plan, right? She marries a man who, although she does not know him, is in love with her from afar and marrying him will please him, and then when he does die, she will have her own fortune and estate which she can live on for the rest of her life - sounds a good idea, even if she doesn't love him, right?
Well. I won't spoil it but basically, Edward marries Aurora, not only because he really does love her, but because he wants her to become someone else, 'Miss Drayton', get into the upper class society and become friendly with a certain family in order to find the truth out for him about his father's last deed. So, not such a great idea now.

I think it is the concept that drew me in, as well as knowing of this author before. The story itself is well thought out and becomes almost like a mystery that you desperately want to find out the truth of. However, once this novel gets started, it really starts to take shape. The beginning I found was lacking something, although I was intrigued, like Aurora, from the first sentence, I wasn't totally interested or wanting to know the whole story straight away.  It isn't really until Edward reveals his secret that I was like 'Whoa - where is this going?'. The story does go on to be better than the beginning and the ending really rounds the book off well.

The characters themselves are delightful and add to the treachery and deceit that fills this novel. Every single character in this novel has a secret or something in them that they mostly hide until the very end. For Aurora, this is her marriage to Edward - as an example. The characters of Celia and Joe were well...you, as a reader, kind of start wanting them to be your friends because they seem so perfect (although Celia is way too whiny and demanding at points). Joe, well, if you wanted a guy that every girl swooned over although he is a bad boy, this is your man. The way Bennett describes him is so vivid.
Aurora herself was a lovely voice to listen to. She was clever and not silly like Celia but she was also girly and as a female myself, I enjoyed her descriptions of the luxury and clothing. Edward, at the beginning, I was positioned not to like him that much but by the end, I got used to his nature.

Although, ultimately, this is a historical book, there is also hints of mystery and romance. The mystery is not THAT great really. Although I wanted to find out the truth, I wasn't put on edge constantly (although the culprit at the end is rather surprising, I must say, the person is found out halfway through so it's not very mystery near the end). The romance was underplayed and displayed nearer the end of the book, but because of the situation for it, it was done perfectly and subtly.

Now we come to why I'm not sure if I enjoyed it. I liked the characters, the concept, the romance and mystery but I didn't totally love this book. Why? Well, like I found Cassandra's Sister, this was just flat. I felt  no strong emotions, I did not have an attachment for Aurora nor did I feel on edge in the mystery or romance. I just didn't feel anything at all.
This book is good for the different aspects that make up most novels but ultimately, when it comes to the book as a whole, it is just flat. I would recommend this book to anyone will an interest in mystery/romance/history. You will enjoy it but it won't be your favourite.
Verdict: Good book but not one to be remembered.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.veronica-bennett.com/
Pages: 224
Publisher: Walker
Challenges: BBC, Historical Fiction