Book Review of "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness

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Title: The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1) 
Author: Patrick Ness

Classification: YA Fiction, Sci-Fi, Dystopian
Source: Bought

Overall Grade:

A+

Would I recommend it?

Wow. A powerful, powerful book!

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Summary (from Goodreads): 

 

Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?

 

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My Thoughts:

 

The summary for this book really does not do it justice.

 

The Knife of Never Letting Go is a book that grabs you and refuses to let go... whether you like it or not. Following the story of Todd Hewitt, his dog Manchee, and a mysterious girl he finds on his way, Ness tackles themes of war, bigotry, survival, and the definition of growing up.

 

The plot of this book is very fast paced, leaving you wanting more with each page. However, don't expect Todd to be delivered from every situation like most young adult novelists allow! In fact, you should probably expect to be frustrated, heart-broken, amused, happy, then frustrated all over again.

 

Written in Todd's dialect, which gives a similar experience to reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, (which I adore), this book has a stream-of-consciousness flow that makes every pain and joy resonate with the reader. The story itself forces the reader to cling obsessively to the main characters, but especially Todd, as one watches this young boy struggle in a land that has no place for weakness, kindness, or childhood.

 

A coming-of-age novel that is as suspenseful and entertaining as it is heart-breaking and poignant!
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Overall Grade:

A+

Would I recommend it?

Wow. A powerful, powerful book!

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Book Review of "Jane" by April Lindner

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Title: Jane

Author: April Lindner
Classification: YA Fiction, Contemporary
Source: The library!

Overall Grade: 

A 

Would I read it again? 

Definitely Yes!!

Would I recommend it? 

Certainly!!

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Summary (from Goodreads):

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, an iconic rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer, and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance. But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is tested by a torturous secret from his past. 

Part irresistible romance and part darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers. 

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My Thoughts:

Jane has all the mystery, romance, and suspense of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. It is lyrical and intense. At times desperately sad, and at times blissfully wonderful. 

What if Mr. Rochester was a rock star? A world-famous, honest to goodness rock star?

Yeah.

I absolutely loved this book. I have always loved the story of Jane Eyre, because of the decidedly different relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester, the way that Jane grows, develops, and always stands up for her beliefs.

Lindner's adaptation of Jane Eyre is absolutely exquisite. I found her story to be a great mimic of the original, but with enough originality of its own to become a new Young Adult Classic. I seriously recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of contemporary novels, romance, and stories where the smart yet plain heroine gets the rock star. :)

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Overall Grade: 

A 

Would I read it again? 

Definitely Yes!!

Would I recommend it? 

Certainly!!

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Book Review of "Case Histories" by Kate Atkinson

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This review was originally posted as a guest post at Baffled Books!

This is my first review of a non-YA book.

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Title: Case Histories (Jackson Brodie #1)
Author: Kate Atkinson
Classification: Adult Fiction, Literary Mystery
Source: Bought!

Overall Grade: 

A+

Would I read it again? 

Already have.

Would I recommend it?

Yes, but be prepared.

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Summary (from Goodreads):

Case One: Olivia Land, youngest and most beloved of the Land girls, goes missing in the night and is never seen again. Thirty years later, two of her surviving sisters unearth a shocking clue to Olivia's disappearance among the clutter of their childhood home. . .

Case Two: Theo delights in his daughter Laura's wit, effortless beauty, and selfless love. But her first day as an associate in his law firm is also the day when Theo's world turns upside down. . .

Case Three: Michelle looks around one day and finds herself trapped in a hell of her own making. A very needy baby and a very demanding husband make her every waking moment a reminder that somewhere, somehow, she'd made a grave mistake and would spend the rest of her life paying for it--until a fit of rage creates a grisly, bloody escape.

As Private Detective Jackson Brodie investigates all three cases, startling connections and discoveries emerge. Inextricably caught up in his clients grief, joy, and desire, Jackson finds their unshakable need for resolution very much like his own.
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My Thoughts:

Case Histories is a book that refuses to let me go. I first read it in a British literature class in college and have since read the sequels that follow Jackson Brodie's story with a voracity that scared me. The reason why I cannot and will not forget this book is not because of the thrilling mystery. It's not because the book is funny or romantic or tragic.

The reason why Case Histories was able to grab hold of me and not let go is because of Jackson Brodie, Theo and Laura Wyre, Olivia, Amelia and Julia Land. These characters failed to remain on the page in their two-dimensional literary bodies. They leapt at me and followed me around as I went to class, made a sandwich, drove to work. They are still with me, sometimes, if I call them up in my memory. They appear suddenly and in startlingly clear detail, as if they'd been there all along.

Atkinson breathed life into her story by crafting characters that felt more real than any I have ever encountered. With each new chapter of the book, Atkinson follows another character's story, but you never feel jilted or lost. Each section expertly weaves snippets of memories with present day reactions to give the reader a lean, mean, yet crystal clear view into the character that drives the already thrilling plot along with alarming speed.

Case Histories is a page-turning, character-driven mystery that defies classification. If the world were just, every aspiring author would read it, taking notes from Atkinson's amazing propensity to be lyrical in a mystery that will keep you turning pages until well into the night.
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Overall Grade: 

A+

Would I read it again? 

Already have.

Would I recommend it?

Yes, but be prepared.

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