Ash

When people talk about something they have no idea about, it makes me angry. I'm not going to sit here and tell you why I'm right and you are wrong. Instead, I plan to sit here and tell you my opinions on books. The reason I started this whole blog. I want to talk about books. In particular, for the moment, Ash.

I read Malinda Lo's debut novel on the advice of one Heather Hogan. I don't think I've ever made a better whim decision. I read Ash on the bus home the day I got it from my library. I nearly missed my stop, because I got utterly lost. Ash, Kaisa, Sidhean. I was as as Ash, whether to follow the wishful thinking of childhood, turned into a dream like reality of a young women. Or the reality of a young women seeming more dream like than anything in her life before. Ash is reminiscent of Cinderella. Every word reminded me of Ever After, [Which I love. Really.] from a sensual point of view. The description of the forest, and the Soul's Night Ball echo of the movie, but stand on their own at the same time. The forest is lush. The Ball is confusing, and overwhelming, and fabulous. Quinn House is dark, dank, and depressing when Lady Isobel is there, and transformed when Kaisa comes a calling to something homely.

And the interesting thing that Lo did is that is wishing. Wishing for something different. For her mother back. For her father. To be back in Rook Kill. But more than anything to be away from her wicked stepmother and detestable stepsisters.

Ana is the mildly beautiful and perpetually spoiled older sister to Clara, the shy-by-force dreamer. Ana is a power hungry young girl in search of a powerful, but more importantly rich, husband. Lady Isobel continually caters to her needy daughter, and Clara plays the part of the dutiful sibling who is always going to be the door mat.

But, Ana, Clara, and Lady Isobel are background pieces and catalysts all at once. They push all of Ash's buttons in all the wrong ways, while Kaisa and Sidhean push her buttons in the right ways. First we meet Sidhean. The ethereal fairy that will do near anything to keep Ash happy and safe, yet constantly distant and cold. Kaisa is the yin to Sidheans yang. Where Sidhean is distant, Kaisa begins to seek Ash out. When Sidhean is cold, Kaisa is inviting. Kaisa is entirely human, and yet Ash has a harder time rationalizing Kaisa's interest in her than rationalizing Sidheans very existance.

"Ash laughed thinly. 'Content?' she repeated, and she heard the bitterness in her voice. 'I am a servant...' She trailed off, feeling uncomfortable; had the huntress not just sent her servant away to serve her? The difference hand never bothered her before; in the wood, when they were alone, she could imagine that they were at the same level. But after the hunt and the ball..." 

-Malinda Lo, Ash.

Everything I wanted to happen in Ash, did. But it wasn't predictable. Ash was enjoyable, and engaging. I do think that Lo held back. I think she could have gone a step further. That she was reigning herself in on purpose. I look forward to her next book, Huntress, to see if she exceeds my expectations.

Lo gets a 4.5 out of 5. I liked it and want more.

Book 9

Memoirs, to YA Fiction. More so, fairy tales. With a spin.

Book the last: Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Asperger's by John Elder Robinson
Book the next: Ash by Malinda Lo

Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Asperger's

John Elder Robinson might seem like an odd guy. He calls his wife Unit Two. He probably won't look you in the eye, and he has lived a life to be jealous of. Including, but not being limited to, touring around the country with KISS. Yes, the KISS. As in the guys in make up and the tongue and, yeah. KISS.

One of the reasons he could be considered such an odd guy, is because he has Asperger's syndrome.  Asperger's is a form of Autism. Usually, it is a higher functioning form of Autism. Kids can learn, dress themselves, and may even be able to pass them selves off as functioning and typical members of society.

John grew up in a dysfunctional family, as he tells. His father was both alcoholic and abusive, and his mother was mentally ill. Because of the rough time with his parents, he in turn gave his little brother Augusten Burroughs, [Or as he called him, Varmint.] an equally hard time. Eventually the entire family began to see a therapist, who told John Elder to nickname his parents. He choose "Slave" and "Stupid". [Which made me laugh out loud. Seriously. LAWL.]

The whole book, Robinson describes the struggle he has fitting in with typical society. Just carrying on conversations was difficult. It's no wonder that the boy gravitated toward machines, and pyrotechnics. These could be counted on. These did not get made if you asked them questions that might seem obvious to some, but incredibly unusual to others.

Simply being given a book on the subject matter of high functioning autism, Robinson had a name for the symptoms that up until his fourties had no disease. He understood know why he was so misunderstood.

Look Me In The Eye should be required reading for any mental health professionals, teachers, family friends and anyone who will ever come into contact another person with Asperger's.

Robinson gets a 4 out of 5. Interesting, and descriptive and I'd like more.

Week 14

To keep true to my previous word, I will in fact keep reviewing.

Last time it was Christian theology. This time it's a memoir.

Week the last: Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller
Week the next: Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Asperger's by John Elder Robinson

Searching For God Knows What

And by Tweeker, I actually meant, a Seven weeker. I got lazy, so I never followed up. But, I am back. I'm sorry. Still friends? Good. So, on to the book.

When someone describes following Jesus as less formulaic and more like falling in love, I like to pay attention. Donald Miller has a way with words. He makes them come alive. He doesn't tell a story. He breathes life into it. Miller takes a frank look at what an honest relationship should be between a person and Jesus. He tells it like it is, and we need to hear it.

He tells stories that one could perceive as nearly self-deprecating and makes it humorous.  Throughout the entire book, I had a smile on my face. Even when he was telling me that, I'm doing it wrong.


Mr. Miller, you make me smile and re-evaluate my life. Good job.

Miller gets a 4.5 thumbs up. Keep going.

Week 7 and 8

And, as I've yet to actually purchase the third book in the Millennium tirlogy, we'll be moving on to one of my favorite authors.
Now, this is a heavier book. So it'll actually be a Tweeker. [A two weeker.] 

Book the pervious: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Book the next: Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller

My Sister's Keeper

One of the most interesting questions you'll ever find yourself trying to answer is this: What's more important? Quantity of life, or quality? Jodi Picoult tells an entire story that has you questioning yourself the entire way with her story of a young girl suing her parents for the rights to her own body.
Along the way we to Anna fighting literally for her right to life, we meet her arsonist brother, firefighter father, ex lawyer mother, and a whole realm of interesting people both with her and against her.

Picoult tells a magnificent story, with a cruel twist at the end, just for fun. You may never look at something as black and white, because this story makes you think in all the colors of grey.

Picoult gets a 3.5 out of 5. Not the best written, but a great story.

Week 6

And now, from the wonderful Lisbeth Salander, onto a compelling family story.

Book the previous: The Girl Who Played With Fire by Steig Larsson
Book the next: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

The Girl Who Played With Fire

Steig Larsson has done it again. With the second installment of the Millennium trilogy, Lisbeth Salander is back as the bad girl hacker that no one wants to be friends with.

There is a wonderful story that Larsson has woven. Filled with mystery, intrigue and everything you'd wish from a James Patterson novel, mixed with computers. Larsson even throws in a few big surprises towards the end, with a tidy finish on the last two pages.

There is not much I can say other than that Larsson is a gifted story teller, with an even better story. While, at times vulgar, it's always depicting a scene so perfectly that it plays out in your mind.

Larsson is a storyteller equivalent to a glass of salt water; Wets your whistle, but you need another drink.

On this one, I give Larsson a 4 out of 5 and frankly, I'm sleeping with my stuffed dinosaur tonight.

Week 5

And, since we have already started the Millennium Trilogy, why not take the next step with the second installment.

Book the previous: Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi.
Book the next: The Girl Who Played With Fire

Unbearable Lightness

Most t.v. stars that try to write, write badly. They simply state things that happened, and expect people to like it.
Portia de Rossi did not do that. She told us a story about coming from an average family in Melbourne, to becoming a cast member on a widely loved t.v. show.

In Unbearable Lightness, de Rossi discusses her battle with food. How she dealt with the need to be thinner and more beautiful. Going from the normal 1400 calorie diet down to under 300. And how she felt with being a closeted homosexual in Hollywood, and not wanting anyone to find out.
And then she met Ellen. 

De Rossi is in no short terms, a poet. Her whole story is well crafted, and thought out. She flourishes in the raw pain she discusses.

Wonderfully written, at times witty, and always real. Real with her readers, and with herself, de Rossi gets a 4 out of 5.

Week 4

And, from fiction back to real life.

Book the previous: The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
Book the next: Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

"Do you like pain, creep?" -Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

Steig Larsson did an excellent job weaving a story of pain, mystery and cruelty in the first book of his posthumous success.

Lisbeth Salander and Mikeal Blomkvist make an odd pair that complement one another very well. Mikeal is the soft side, while Lisbeth, the vengeful one. Both are strong characters, that have their flaws, and yet function as the lighter side of the darkness happening through out in both Stockholm and smaller Hedestead. We get glimpses into both their pasts.

We see Mikeals mistake in a large case on libel, and his reactions. As well as seeing how Lisbeth is treated by a new guardian. With strong themes of violence against women, and those crimes being brought to justice, it's no wonder that the original Swedish title was, "Men Who Hate Women."

Well written, thought provoking, and full of mystery, the first book in Steig Larssons "Millenium" trilogy may start out slow, but once you're in, you're in. It hooks you and takes hold. A true hit.

Larsson gets a 4 out of 5 in the first book, while I am waiting for the second.