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.