Emma Hearts LA - Keris Stainton

I won this book in a giveaway hosted by Jess from Jess Hearts Books (Thank You!) where I won  a triple of books set in the past, present and future. This was the book I received for the present.
I have to admit I was always just intrigued about Keris Stainton's writing after seeing various reviews for her books around the blogosphere. I was interesting in her books but I never wanted to actually buy the book (again my weird thing with buying books I'm not sure I'll enjoy...). So it's probably a good thing I won this.

After being in the magical, intense world of The Night Circus (review), I needed a light relief. Something to bring me back to the present and away from a world of magicians, dreams and plot twists. This seemed like a good choice to satisfy that.

Synopsis: When Emma is told by her mother that they will be moving to LA, Emma isn't too keen. However after Emma accompanies her younger sister, Bex on an audition, makes a chance meeting with teenage TV star, Alex Hall (think Justin Bieber) and is reunited with her childhood friend, Oscar, the LA lifestyle seems to be appealing to Emma. However, soon Emma is caught in a mix between two guys - old and new - and she needs to reconsider her future life in Los Angeles.

Review: This is the third YA book by Keris Stainton and a sort of sequel to Jess Hearts NYC. The link? Jess and Emma are best friends and a year before Emma moves to LA, Jess moved to New York. Jess' story is mentioned in this book but it is explained, making it unnecessary to have read Jess Hearts NYC, which is good. Jess does appear in this book, and vice versa. The next book in the series I have heard is Rebecca Hearts Paris - which I'm guessing is going to be about Emma's sister who has that name.

So I opened Emma Hearts LA, not really caring whether this was going to good or not. And actually I was quite pulled into the narrative.
I have to admit, this book is no Charles Dickens or Jane Austen, but it has some delightful moments and a narrative you don't have to think about in depth too much. I can see this as a perfect summer read, especially if you were in America. Or one to snuggle down with on a winter's day and forget about the rain for a while. I devoured this book within a few days (which is a slight record for me).

The characters I both liked and hated, especially Emma. Emma came across very whiny and snobby. Although, I can understand her reluctance. However, once they arrived in LA, Emma improved for me. I think she handles the situations well throughout the novel and her ultimate choice is rational and totally what I would have gone for.
I loved Oscar the most, as many people have agreed in other reviews. I loved his quirkiness, his comments and just overall, what he added to the story. He seems like someone I would get on with because of his cute dorkiness. I also liked Bex's determination and drive to get what she wanted even at such a young age.
Apart from those characters, the other main characters didn't really do much for me. I found some of the characters very fake at times as well as saying things that I was cringing at. This is one of those books where exclamation marks are USED. But that's what made it a fun read. I didn't have to think too hard!
The whole Alex/Oscar thing was probably the thing that left me reading to the end. I wanted to see Alex reveal himself as a total jerk and lovely little Oscar come out on top (yeah, I liked him okay...). For me, Emma handled the situation well, and not so well. I did feel for her, I have to admit.

One reason for me wanting to read this novel was because the setting was Los Angeles. I went to LA last year with a friend after finishing my GCSEs so I remember LA well. I could have done with some more detail into the iconic landmarks they visited as well as just more places that people that have visited LA would know.
Regardless, it was lovely to get Emma's view of Venice Beach (a place I disliked). The description of the changes from each end of the beach - weightlifting to henna stalls in a few steps - really worked and reminded me myself of when I visited there. There is also mentioned of Hollywood Boulevard and Santa Monica. This book will leave you either wanting to go back to LA or to visit there for the first time - whatever, I had serious nostalgia for LA reading this, making me want to jump of the next plane there.

Although this book had some parts which I disliked, I did enjoy reading this book. It kept me engrossed in the story and this is the perfect book for a flight (to LA perhaps?), sitting in on a rainy afternoon or just to read in the summer when going on your holidays. I flipped through the pages and the ending is quite lovely for those that liked a certain person in this book...
Altogether a great little book where you don't have to think about much that left me wanting to get a plane to LA. Like, erm, now? *looks at rain outside*

I give this a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.keris-stainton.com/
Pages: 256
Publisher: Orchard
Challenges: BBC

Let's Talk about Banned Books

Adolf Hitler, Stephanie Meyer and J.K.Rowling are all part of this elite group. What group? I hear you say, and how can I join? Well, to be a part of it, you need to write a seriously controversial or taboo novel first. Yes, Mein Kampf, Twilight and Harry Potter are just some of the thousands of banned books.

Last year, I became all too acutely aware of the issue of banning books. It is a topic that people don't talk about often, even may not even know about, but it happens everyday. Every minute, to everyone. Even if you don't realise.

This weeks is Banned Books Week, a week long celebration of the freedom of literature and reading. It is held every year on the last week of September, hosted by the ALA (American Library Association). Although it is more of an American thing, this event is for the world to celebrate. Not only celebrate the freedom to read, but also just the idea of freedom.
While also celebrating books, this also raises awareness of recent problems of censorship of books that have been banned throughout the world. An issue that had and probably always be a problem.

So what did I mean by my first paragraph?
Well, last year, when I joined the college newspaper, I decided to write my first article on Banned Books Week. When researching the event for my article, I became aware of how many classic books are banned, what problems people find with them and just how often they are banned throughout the world, not just America, or England, or wherever.
Soon after writing this article, I got my current job at my local bookshop. Sometimes I work in the children's department, mostly cleaning up books that a little 5 year-old decided was a good frisbee (I have witnessed this with my own eyes). Repeatedly, I am asked to recommend books for their 12 year-old advanced reader or their 9 year-old who loves dinosaurs or once a 10 year-old whose grandmother thought he was gay so 'nothing too girly'. Every time I am in shock, in a way, of how some parents or adults are very dismissive of books I show them, perhaps because of the cover. A man brought a YA book back once, I think it was Gone by Michael Grant, because it mentioned on the back 'Lots of violence'.
Okay, so we're hardly banning books left right and centre, but I felt a little broken that people are THAT worried about what their child will see. As Patrick Ness once said, 'Children will find another way' (or something to that effect).

I've read many books that I think my mother would faint if she knew the content. Thankfully, my parents really don't care. They aren't readers, I obviously am. They're just happy that I'm cool with sitting reading a book. And I think that's the best kind of parent. One that lets YOU choose, not themselves choosing.
   I read Before I Die by Jenny Downham when I was in Year 7. So, 11 years-old. An innocent Year 7 kid. For those that don't know, the book is about a 16 year-old girl who is about to die, so writes a list of things to do before that time comes. One of those is...sex.
From what I can remember, the book doesn't hold back much. But because I didn't understand what was happening, I don't think I really enjoyed it because I didn't understand. There are so many re-reads from when I was a kid that I've read and enjoyed so much more! I think if a child reads a book that is far above it's reading age, then, they just don't enjoy it. They don't understand it.
So I came out reading many books like Before I Die, not being a freaky, sex-addict. I don't smoke or do drugs, like you see in many YA books. I drink, but I don't think I've ever got drunk, like many contemporary novels. I think by making banning books for issues such as that makes it even more of an issue that children are more inclined to go after that certain book. After reading some articles about Banned Books Week, I really want to read Catcher in the Rye!


Last year I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower for Banned Books Week (you can see my review here). This deals with sex, drugs, alcohol, suicide - lots of 'dodgy' topics. I was surprised how this was banned, yet many other books I have read that deal with sex even more are not. I've never read it but Just in Case by Meg Rosoff is an example. After a couple of my friends reading it and being so surprised by how that issue is not mentioned on the outside at all. At least, Perks gives you a slight warning.

This year, I read Alice in Wonderland - the movie tie-in edition (purchased unknowingly). The story line is changed slightly but the key issues for the banning of Alice in Wonderland is still there. So why was the lovely whimsical world of Wonderland banned? Because of references to sexual fantasies, the whole Caterpillar smoking thing and, wait for it, 'animals should not be allowed to use human language'. I hope I'm not the only one shaking their head in disbelief right now.

I hope I've made it clear that I am completely against the banning of books. We live in a world of free speech, which includes books. Books are a beautiful, creative vehicle that every child grows up with, be it on a Kindle or with a physical paperback book. Books should be celebrated and allowed by anyone to read. I just think by preventing a child from doing something, even if you feel it is for their own good, is wrong. They may not be able to speak for themselves, vote, drink, marry or be able to work. But they should at least have the freedom to read whatever they wish. Because for children, that is sometimes the only way to express themselves.

Some Books that have been Banned/Challenged:

1. Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen
Synopsis: A girl starts high school after being raped over the summer
Banned: soft pornography, immoral values, glorification of drinking, cursing and pre-marital sex

2. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
Synopsis: True diary of a young Jewish girl hiding in Nazi territory during WWII
Banned: too depressing, sexually offensive, thought as pro-Jewish propaganda, pornographic, homosexual 

3. The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
Synopsis: Nick Carraway moves to New York and adopts an opulent lifestyle
Banned: language and sexual references (interestingly, not banned from Tom's racist comments, the issue of infidelity or the amount of drinking included)

4. Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling
Synopsis: Series of books charting a young wizard's time at a Wizardry and Witches school, Hogwarts.
Banned: Goes against Bible teachings, too much death and an action of drinking animal's blood

5. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
Synopsis: Twelve girl and boy teenagers are sent every year to fight to the death
Banned: Anti-ethnic, anti-family, insensitive, offensive language, satanic violence, sexually explicit (erm, where?)


If you want to find out more, have a look here

Looking back on SEPTEMBER

Previous months: 
February
March
April
May
June
July
August

It's October already? This month has flown by along with the rest of the year!
September has been full of new things. I started back at college and although I've been there already for a year, I've had to cope with new classes, new timetable, new teachers and new people that I spent my day with. I hardly ever see some of my closest friends which is a bit upsetting as it's my last year before university. I just hope this year goes well.

Reviews:

Pushing the Limits - Katie McGarry

Extras - Scott Westerfeld

Why We Broke Up - Daniel Handler

After - Morris Gleitzman

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

It was so hard to choose a favourite book this month, there were so many! I think the huge surprise was The Night Circus. So good despite my apprehension. I also read Emma Hearts LA, but the review is still to be started completed. 

Memes:

On My Bookshelf (27)

On My Bookshelf (28)

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Make You Think

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I Haven't Finished

Other:

Update from over the Summer

Media Research Survey (I still need more!)

Top Ten Tuesday: Older Books that Shouldn't be Forgotten

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. 

This is a little bit of a quickie post, I've just got back from lunch and before that, this pointless assembly thing at college. Thankfully it only lasted over an hour instead of two. 
So I have a lot of work I want to get done. However, I couldn't ignore this topic for this week's Top Ten Tuesday. It's a real thinker and I am concerned at times that bloggers nowadays in the book blogging community only care about the future or present releases. I once saw a blogger moan about how many review boos they had and that they had no time to finish a series because they needed to stay recent. Maybe that's the key to a successful book blogger - I don't know.
Anyway, here are my top five books I hope will still be around when my niece (I WILL HAVE A NIECE SO I CAN BE THE COOL AUNT)/children are my age. 

1. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne - This book introduced me in a way to the world of Nazi Germany, a period of time I know a lot about now. I really hope these kind of books are still around in 2030. It's a classic. (review)

2. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - Merely because recently this has impacted my life a lot. Also, it makes my name a tad more interesting in my own opinion. Although I wasn't named after this book, it's nice to think it may have helped make my name popular of the 90's. And also, this is a great book. (review)

3. The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen - This series renewed my love for historical fiction, romance, the YA genre and reading more in general in like Year 8 before I started the blog. Just a great series that I think everyone I know who has read them enjoyed. (review for #4)

4. The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence - One reason for this. These books were my childhood books. I've read all them as I've grown up and loved them. And made a love for mythology and boy, did some of the facts I learnt from this series of books help me in last year's Classics exam. Also Lawrence is lovely too! (review for #17)

5. Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld - I feel this series helped shape modern dystopian writing as after reading this series, I keep noting similarities in more recent dystopian. And also this series is amazing, so well thought of, it would be a shame to be forgotten. (review for #1)

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

I have to admit, I never really intended to read this book.
My friend got given this book as a present and after reading it and loving it, gave the book to me after I must admit - it sounded pretty interesting.
However, once she gave me the book, it sat on top of my bookcase for months. And I'm serious about months.
The other day, it got too long. I needed to either give it back or just read it and hope for the best.
I opened this book, not expecting much. But I was pleasantly surprised!

What interested me about this was the whole circus thing. It made the circus sound beautiful and lovely, which most of the time - it is not. I hate the circus when it comes to town, I've never gone. And that's probably why I didn't want to read this book.
But this book offered an alternative perspective. A romantic perspective that made the circus an all together magical, astonishing and secretive place that really opened my eyes.

Synopsis: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. The black and white striped tents appear and give you breathtaking, enchanting experiences, that seem almost unreal. This is 'Le Cirque des Reves' - the Circus of Dreams. A sign hangs outside of main gated entrance - Opens at Nightfall, Closes at Dawn.
However, behind the glittering and magical façade of the circus, there is a dangerous competition - a duel between two young magicians  Celia and Marco set up by their guardians. Both have been trained from childhood to win. The circus holds the stage for this battle of imagination and skill. Soon, the pair fall in love. A kind of love that makes the candles flicker or the room grow warm whenever they are together. With such a dangerous and powerful link between the two of them, the fates of everyone, their friends and fellow circus performers, lay in their hands. The game must play out. Only one can win.

Review:
Like I said, this book wasn't a planned read for me. At all. I hate the circus and there are so many other books I wanted to read. Yet, somehow I felt bad giving this back to my friend unread - and I'm the one that's a book blogger.
Essentially, this novel is evolved around this circus, where you're never quite sure if the performances are real or staged. Oh and everything is either black, white or grey. The novel follows the creation of the circus and also the running of it, all experiences from a variety of different characters. From early on, it is clear that Marco and Celia are competing in a game against one another - basically to show who is the best magician  formed between Celia's father and Marco's mysterious guardian.

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Immensely in fact. Erin Morgenstern writes with preciseness and intricate detail that lets your imagination go wild, I could certainly picture the Circus by the end. Her own imagination has made something extraordinary and totally original. The different tents holding enchanting and interesting things, the Midnight Dinners (so want to go to one!), the characters. The imaginative descriptions make this book for me.
There are a whole cast of characters, and that's just the main ones. I can see that some people may get confused with that amount of characters, but I liked the variation. Sometimes it's refreshing to have the narrative based on more than two characters. Marco and Celia are the main two characters - but they're not the only ones that you remember fondly when closing the book.

The romance is also done perfectly. There are moments between Marco and Celia that leave you excited - I felt like I was with them, sharing that moment. The fact, as a reader, you know that they are against each other, there are heartbreaking moments and in a way, it makes their love and the romance within the book more and more real. Especially when you're debating whether the magic they are doing is real at the same time.

I'm not sure I can convey how much I loved this book, hence the rather short review. I don't review adult books that often but I felt this book needs to be highlighted much more than it is.
This is simply magical (no pun intended) written in a beautiful, vivid way that left me wanted so much more. Although I think many may have some trouble getting into the story, the pace is slow, I think any reader would be rewarded when they get to the thick of the narrative. The details, up to the costume, made the book so easy to imagine, the characters becoming personal to you and the circus becoming a place of dreams, magic and romance. The ending was perfect, utterly perfect.
This was just amazing. One of the best books I have ever had the pleasure to read. And completely changed my view of the circus. Just amazing.

I give it a 5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://erinmorgenstern.com/
Pages: 387
Publisher: Doubleday
Challenges: Historical Fiction (set in the late 1800's/early 1900's)

Would really appreciate your help!

Another quickie post.
I'm in the middle of starting my Media coursework for my A-levels and for the essay I am required to write, I need to conduct some primary research.
If you have a spare 5-10 minutes, I would very much appreciate if you could fill in the survey below, which includes watching two adverts about a minute in length each.

All answers are anonymous and will only be used as reference by myself in my essay that will also be read by my teacher and an examiner. Please be as honest as possible and let me know YOUR thoughts. Thank you so much!

If you can't see the form below, click here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHRocEZ5WWZpMWw4MEdmdUFLNGtiQXc6MQ

Tuesday Top Ten: Series I haven't finished.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. 

(Quick message. I just realised I have 100 followers now! Thank you all so much for following the blog, however long its been. Keep commenting and let me know what you think!)

Every reader's had it. You start a series, knowingly or not, and then face the problem of choosing to hunt around bookstores or libraries to find the next in the series or wait until the book comes along. Like fate as such. I'm one of these people that I really have to dislike a book in order not to finish the series.
This week's topic is interesting and has made me realise the numerous possibilities (and faults on my part) why I haven't finished a series. Awaiting release, haven't got round to reading it yet, haven't got a copy - here are some of the series and their reasons why I haven't quite heard the last of them yet.

(I'm going to exclude books where the next book in the series hasn't been realised because I can't help that!)


1. Diving In - Kate Cann - I read the first book in this series out of curiosity. Never again. One of the worst books I have read. I think my review says it all (review)


2. The Hunger Games Series: Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins - I have a small problem with the fact I think 'Ooo pretty book' or in this case 'AH HUNGER GAMES' and buy it and then not read it for a while. I've got as far as book 2 - just need to get to book 3. Although I think I know what happens anyway :S (review for #1) (review for #2)


3. The Chemical Garden series: Fever by Lauren DeStefano - Same as #2. BUT THE BOOK IS SO PRETTY. Also, as a sidenote, Lauren DeStefano rocks. You know why? SHE POSTS SOME OF THE MOST CUTEST PICTURES OF HER CATS ON INSTAGRAM. Seriously, most of the pictures I like on Instagram is of her cats. It's an obsession okay... (review of Wither #1)


4. Jane Austen series: Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend by Cora Harrison - Oh, Rebecca let's just BYPASS THE SEQUEL TO 'I was Jane Austen's Best Friend' AND MOVE ONTO CORA HARRISON'S NEXT SERIES, 'Debutantes'. You know, that works. 
Oh why I haven't read this book? Similar to #2 & #3. But Cora Harrison doesn't post pictures of cats unfortunately. She's still great though... (review for #1) (review for Debutantes)


5. The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson - Maybe I'm just blind, maybe just it hasn't come out in the UK? Whatever the reason, I am yet to see a hard physical copy that I am able to pick up of this book. 
Equally, I thought the first book, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, was just alright, so I'm not exactly running around the libraries across London to get this book. (review for #1)


6. Delirium series: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver - I've only just caught the Lauren Oliver bug when I read Delirium, the first book. I'm definitely up for the sequel (and then the third book...) but I just haven't got a copy yet. That may be rectified at Christmas. (review for #1) (review for Before I Fall)


7. Bumped series: Thumped by Megan McCafferty - Urgh. Bumped. That was quite an interesting and enlightening read, I have to say, but let's just say I'm not crazy about it. Then, once I heard the second book was called Thumped, that sealed this series fate. BUMPED? THUMPED? Oh dear Mother of Squirrels. (review for Bumped)


8. Noughts and Crosses: Double Cross by Malorie Blackman - I read and loved the first three Noughts and Crosses books, and even met Malorie Blackman a year ago (so lovely!). But I got a copy of the last in the series for a Christmas years and years ago but just wasn't a fan anymore. I can't even remember what happened in the first three books completely, only a hazy memory of the first book, so I don't think I'll ever finish this series which is a shame. 


And some series I haven't even started too...
- The Summer series by Jenny Han - Long story. 
- Across the Universe by Beth Revis
- Divergent by Veronica Roth - I have heard amazing things however!
- The Flappers series by Jillian Larkin

On My Bookshelf (28)

This meme for originally inspired by 'In My Mailbox' created by The Story Siren
Other versions are:
Letterbox Love created by Narratively Speaking
Stacking the Shelves created by Tynga's reviews
Showcase Sunday created by Books, Biscuits and Tea


Bought:

- Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan - Since reading Dash and Lily's Book of Dares (review) and The Lover's Dictionary (review), I've fallen in love with Levithan's writing. It is very unique and different and the ideas he creates are just so original. He reminds me a lot of John Green actually. 

Anyway, after the anniversary of 9/11, I thought it was time to buy this book with a gift voucher I found for Amazon. I think this is going to be an emotional read...

- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - I have actually read this before, having borrowed the book from the school library. However, with the release of the movie impending (*squeals*), and this exclusive cover being released at work, it's just TOO pretty not to buy. Right? (review)

E-books:

- VIII by H.M.Castor - This was on the Amazon Daily Deal the other day for 99p and after loving this book and understanding all the historical references from studying History, I thought I would buy a copy of it. (I got the book out of the library before). H.M.Castor is also a lovely writer so you should check this out! (review)

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? What books did you get? 

After - Morris Gleitzman (#4)

**This is the fourth book in the Once series by Morris Gleitzman featuring Once (review), Then (review) and Now (review). However, Gleitzman says, and I agree, that they don't need to read in order to understand the story**

When I finished Now, I thought I was done with Felix's story. I moved on as did Felix and I was safe in the knowledge that Felix turned out just fine and didn't die during the Holocaust. 

I think so did Morris Gleitzman, as he says in his Author's Note. 

When I discovered that After was being released, I had a mixture of anticipation and dread. Here was an amazing trilogy that I loved, although ended not so well, and now an extra book, an after thought, was being added on the end. This book wouldn't be good. Nah ah. Yet I still wanted to read it. 

So when an anonymous commenter asked if I could get a copy of this, read it and post a review, I thought it was time to enter Felix's crazy and dangerous world one last time.

Synopsis: Set in 1945 between Then and Now, Felix faces some of his greatest and challenging adventures of the Second World War. The Nazis have taken his parents, have killed Zelda and those he loved, and now, they have ruined his 13th birthday. Felix struggles to find hope when he loses mostly everything in the last most dangerous agonising stages of war. Soon, he meets Yuli, a young woman helping Felix find his way, hoping that neither of them disappear before the end of the war. 

Review: After is simply beautiful. Through Felix's innocent naive narration, we discover a world where everything is not quite what it seems and danger is lurking at every corner, all read with a poignant under layer where you, as a reader, know that some of the events are utterly true.

This is certainly not a comfortable read. Any reader cannot help feeling this sinking feeling as the book progresses, the Holocaust comes alive through the eyes of thirteen year-old Felix. For those that are loyal readers of the Once series, we were first introduced to him at aged 6, running away from a Catholic orphanage his parents left him in (so he would not be taken to a concentration camp). What I have loved about this series is seeing Felix get older, I mean it's hardly a desirable childhood. 

In my review for Now, I wrote that I didn't think Felix would be the type of person to fight violently against the Nazis. But in this book, that completely changed. This portrayal of Felix shows his grown-up side and I left reading this book with a smile on my face because it's now a teenager!

Gleitzman's writing is neither too intellectual or patronising. It has the right balance of being childlike but not annoyingly so. I would say this is an easy read, due to the length, but as I hope I've displayed so far, it isn't. Felix's childlike narrative and naivety makes this book all together more emotional and shocking while describing some of the horrors that happened during WWII.

There is nothing more I can really say about this book that hasn't already been said in my previous reviews for the Once series. These books DO NOT need to be read in order, although of course, some things in After may reveal events from Once and Then.

This story has captured mine, and many other reader's, imagination of the young Jewish boy from Poland - Felix. This novel manages a perfect mix of shock, horror and danger with the lovely childlike narration from Felix. It's fair to say his chats with Dom (a horse) in this book definitely made it less intense to death/killing scenes a few pages previously.

Any reader will close this book with Felix in their mind for a while longer. This series is one of the most harrowing books I have ever had the pleasure to read and I think all the credit for that goes to the fantastic and desperately suffering character of Felix. I'm so glad Felix was alright in the end. And that the series ended superbly this way.

I give it a 5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/
Pages: 209
Publisher: Puffin
Challenges: Historical Fiction

Other Books in the series:
Once #1
Then #2
Now #3

Related Books (set during Second World War):

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne
Chocolate Cake with Hitler - Emma Craigie
Annexed - Sharon Dogar
Auslander - Paul Dowswell
A Song for Summer - Eva Ibbotson
The Morning Gift - Eva Ibbotson

Why We Broke Up - Daniel Handler

This book has been on my to-read list for a long time. However, with it not being published in the UK, it was doubtful and practically impossible to get a copy to read.
However, one morning I was tidying the shelves in the Teen section at work (aka look and see what new books have come in that I want) and I found about 8 copies of this book that had come in during the week. I was going to buy this but the next day, I was visiting the library, picking up a book I reserved and glanced at the 'New Teen Reads' section. Seeing this, I instantly picked it up.

The idea behind this is what interested me the most to want to read it. I think every girl (and guy) can say coming out of a relationship that there are going to be little things around your house/bedroom that mark a time you were with that person. In my room alone, I counted about 15 things from two ex-boyfriends. It's weird that even after you get over the person emotionally, they are still impacting your life in a small and subtle way. And I commend Min in this book for ridding Ed from her life, both mentally and physically.

Synopsis: Min Green is breaking up with Ed Slaterton. So Min is writing a letter and handing over a box. The box contains many things - a pair of ugly earrings, movie tickets, a recipe book, a box of matches, a protractor, a note. But every single item has significance for the couple. Every item holds a memory, a feeling, an emotion that Min felt throughout their short yet magical relationship. The box, like Min herself, will be dumped on Ed's doorstep with a letter detailing exactly why they broke up.


Review: I think the thing that interests most people about this book is the idea. It's an idea anyone would have experienced and I can certainly emphasise with Min and say I would have loved to have done this to my ex's. I was additionally attracted to this novel because of the striving cover and the fact this was a contemporary.

There have been a mixture of reviews for this one, and I have to admit, I am a little on the fence about this book. I did enjoy reading this book because of it's originality. But when I finished it, and during reading, even though I wanted to love this so much, I just didn't...

There are a number of reasons for that. One is the beginning. Sure, I was interested in what was happening but it took me a while to be sucked in. The beginning starts with Min and Ed meeting at a party that Ed wasn't invited to. I found it slow and in parts of the narrative, especially near the end, it was slow and jumpy. I can't really see what made their relationship turn negative. One moment they are fine, the next not so much. There was no definite moment to signify the beginning of the end, as such.

So the beginning wasn't great. I think started to get into it..mostly. The main problem for me was Min's narrative, mostly the writing. The novel is written in a particular style and this style left me confused about what was happening and reading sentences over and over trying to make sense of them. Min is angry, and because of this, to make it sound angry I think, the sentences are long. And I mean long, making it feel like Min is ranting at you. On one page, there was only two sentences on the pages - that's how long they were. This is fine, but I found it made it confusing and jumpy. Essentially, it didn't flow well some times.
The writing is also very subtle in what is happening, especially in personal moments between the pair. I didn't mind this and I don't think many people would. It just can perhaps be a little unclear about exactly WHAT is happening.

I have to admit, I liked Min - however, I think I was positioned to. I also felt for her. She seems like someone who wouldn't make friends easily or go out with guys often because of her personal originality but then, Ed comes along, whisks her off her feet and then breaks her heart, all within about a month. She is angry. I think anyone can tell. And she has reason to be, as you discover throughout. I also have to admit that I liked Ed, despite this sign in my mind shouting 'Don't trust him!'. I'm sure Min also experienced that.
Ed is an interesting character. The main reason they break up is entirely his fault and so soul destroying for anyone that has also had a relationship end for that reason. Yet he says he loves her continuously, in fact, it's always him starting the 'I love you, I love you too' thing. It's weird really and after seeing Ed in different lights, I'm still a little bewildered why he would do that to Min.

This book is great filled with teenage angst, unique, hilarious and sad stories charting Ed and Min's relationship - something that anyone would envy perhaps. I feel entirely for Min and I think Ed would be punched on mass if this was true. This book shows the ups and downs of teenage relationships and for adults, shows how even though teenagers may only be 17/18, being forever is still in their sights. This book, although not perfect, should be read just for the beautiful illustrations (done by Maira Kalman) and the right mix of originality and inevitability of this little book (and because it's Lemony Snicket...). It's great to see a novel that isn't 'happily ever after'.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.lemony-snicket-stuff.com/
Pages: 354
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Challenges: None

There's lots more about the 'Why We Broke Up' project, here

And like many, here's my break up story:

We broke up because we both know you liked my best friend. I liked someone else, so we're even.

We broke up because you were moving far far away. The day we broke up, I knew it from the moment I woke up that morning. I even told my friend, and after a conversation of 'Oh no he won't!', 'You'll be fine', 'Don't be silly', I felt reassured. It's hard sometimes when you prove you're right.