Review: Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn

Title: Very LeFreak
Author(s): Rachel Cohn
Genre: YA College, addiction, character-driven
Page Count: 303
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

The Summary: Meet Very LeFreak, playlist maker, party planner, heartbreaker, good-time girl who can't get enough good time.

Mute Button? As if.

Off button? Never.

-- from backcover

The Review: As much as I enjoyed this novel, I suspect that it isn’t for everyone. Very’s voice is very pronounced, and it’s a bit hard to get into at first because she’s just so intense and almost offputting with her out there, off-kilter personality, but if you adjust to “Very speed” you’ll find a most enjoyable novel. In fact, I ended up enjoying this novel for its extremely character-driven story, and Very’s over the top antics. And I loved that despite how off-kilter and out there Very can be, there’s a part about her that makes you think that you can see a bit of yourself in her character. (On the flip side, if you never warm up to Very then you’re never going to enjoy this novel. Your enjoyment is mostly definitely dependant on how much you like the main character here.)

I actually reallyyyyy liked the fact that Very was totally open about sexuality. I know that given Very’s personality, she would probably resist all attempts at labels, but she comes across to me as pansexual, which is totally cool in my books. Also, it’s just so refreshing to see female characters who own their sexuality and are not portrayed as evil!whores (usually next to the nice virgin female protagonist) because of it. I’m also extremely happy that this technological addict protagonist of ours is depicted as totally a social extrovert and gorgeous to boot. I haven’t read much YA books with techno addicts as part of the cast, but usually in animanga and stuff, girls who like techno, internet or gaming related things are depicted as these super hideous, socially awkward people.

While this book is very much an All-Very on-the-spotlight show 24/7, we get a nice cast of diverse characters with strong personalities that make a lasting impression. I really love the growing relationship between Very and Lavinia-who-is-really-Jennifer. (this book totally passes the bedchel test, btw. ♥) MAJOR ENDING SPOILERS: [ It’s so nice to see relationships that start off with two people actually being FRIENDS first, instead of you know, jumping into the whole love-at-first-sight thing. They kill me with their cuteness.] I love seeing their banter, and the way Lavinia shakes her head at her impossible friend but sticks with her to the end. And the boys! Cuddly-yet-total-sore-loser Bryan, to green eyeliner French-Canadian-Chinese Jean-Wayne, and extreme, sultry, gorgeous Vikram. All delightful, fascinating interactions. I ate up the dialogue in this novel like cake.

I really enjoyed this novel’s use of technology. I know all the pop culture references could end up sounding dated, but for me I really connected with it. And I’d like to think that the descriptions of the way Very was obsessed would override the dated aspect that may arise in readers of the future diving into this novel. And that obsession with technology totally rang true for me. Incidentally I connected with the playlist and music stuff less, because I only casually listen to USian music, but I found them enjoyable even if I didn’t know a lot of the songs mentioned, because the song titles were cues enough to understand what Cohn was trying to get at. I’ve seen reviews saying that they found the first part lacking/boring/confusing, but I confess that I really enjoyed it. I liked the depiction of campus life. It conveyed all that rush and buzz of March Madness in the undergrad’s life, and how you should really be writing this paper but end up using media to block out all the pile of assignments that are overwhelming you. (Who has gone through undergrad and NOT done this? If anyone says otherwise they’re liars) I also think this part was necessary for the second part to ring true because we need to see Very’s high before she crashes in order to embark on a journey with her to deal with her addiction.

The second part was most excellently done without being preachy as well. It was less on how Technology Addiction Is Bad, and more focused on Very unpacking her emotional baggage and trying to forge a new, healthier path for herself, trying to change for the better. I surprisingly enjoyed all the Keisha-the-counselor and Very interactions, and I liked how Keisha lets Very sort things out for herself, and guides her when Very asks for advice. There was a lot of hilarious anecdotes in this second half as well. One of my favourite interaction scenes, besides the Lavinia ones (which carry on being awesome into the second half), was the confrontation moment between Very and her aunt. It was awkward yet sweet, the tender attempts at bonding with your estranged family relation. (I’m a total sucker for family moments, in case my followers haven’t realized yet, lol.)

I really enjoyed the writing too, because it captured Very’s voice so beautifully in the Very Narration. (Har har, my puns are fail) I loved her splattered tangents, her fluid exchange from real life experiences to her constant text-ing, her endless and highly amusing fantasies with El Virus. Even the use of capslock was totally effective. (I was with Very 100% on her rage over Bryan. That may say something more about me than I’d care to admit though, lawl.) It’s so original and fun, and I just had a blast reading this from front to back. And I’m resolved to read more of Cohn’s works after this (Can you believe this is my first exposure to Rachel Cohn?! Blasphemous, I know)

The Verdict: SO MUCH FUN AND AWESOME. I had a great time reading this novel. I love the voice, the characters, VERY HERSELF, I know it’s hard to get into at first because it’s just so out there, but seriously, so much fun, everyone should at least give it a shot. All those negative reviews are LIES, LIES I TELL YOU I think undergrad students will enjoy this novel a lot, especially if you’ve just got passed March Madness, and finished with the last of your exams. (I mean, it was fun to read this, but I think if I read it during March some of her procrastination experiences mayyyy hit a little too close to home, lol. Er, not that I am an extreme procrastinator or anything like that!! <- lies lies lies) I can’t wait to check out more of Rachel Cohn’s works!

Rating: 4/5
Enjoyment: 100%!

Title and Cover Discussion: omg, the cover is SO PERFECT. Unique, strange, and memorable, and embodies the whole novel snugly like a glove. And I personally think the cover is drop dead gorgeous. The cover model’s got some seriously beautiful hair, and I am simply in love with the font. It’s the kind of cover that makes me stop and reach out for a copy in the bookstore. 8D

Title: A++++++
Cover: A!

Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Title: Before I Fall
Author(s): Lauren Oliver
Genre: YA Contemporary
Page Count: 480
Publisher: HarperCollins

The Summary (in my own words): It was supposed to be a regular school day like any other. Chilling out with her friends, partying it out after school. But then Samantha Kingston died -- and wakes up the next morning of the exact same day of her death. Seven repeats of the day you die. Seven chances -- is it enough for a person to change their lives?

The Review: This was honestly one of the most beautifully written novels I’ve ever read. In fact, I’d say it’s probably the most well-written debut YA novel of 2010. When I heard about the hype and how this novel made its way to the bestseller list, I was afraid of overhype, of being disappointed. But I was wrong. It was everything people said it’d be. And more, so much more.

From the summary, I had no intention of reading this novel. I mean, reliving one day over and over, how interesting can it be? But then, when I was hearing all the excitement bubbling over this book around the time HarperTeens was putting up a 100+ page preview for this novel, I decided to give it a shot. I sank right in. Everyone who lauded praise upon praise over Oliver’s writing was absolutely, irrevocably right. I cannot describe just how beautiful Oliver’s prose is, because I am not talented by half enough to explain it. It’s just – so incredibly beautiful, lush, tangible, delicious prose. Like, we get the exact same day described to us, and every time Oliver described the weather, the scenery that has not changed, she still manages to evoke different and varied sentiments, seven different ways of describing the exact same scenery that works and never, ever gets old. I flew through the pages, completely absorbed in Sam’s world.

I, like a lot of people who’ve read this novel, really enjoyed watching Sam’s transformation. I liked how her Mean Teen Girl persona was so very believable, and how she desperately tries to change her fate makes her grow as a person. All the changes in Sam felt believable, and it’s to Oliver’s credit that she develops this transition and character growth in ways that don’t stretch believability and even invoking sympathy, while always remembering that Sam is far from being a Nice Person. Also I liked Oliver’s convincing portrayal of high school life in general. It felt right and honest. And the high school scene isn’t completely whitewashed. While none of the prominent characters were POC, there were hints at the minor background characters being of Asian descent, which I’m pretty down with, personally.

I have seen many people citing the romance as one of their favourite aspects of this novel. I do enjoy the sweet romance unfolding between Kent and Sam (Who can NOT love Kent? Seriously adorable and sweet, that one. Totally boyfriend material.), but I’ll admit that it’s the portrayal of female friendships/interactions fostered and broken was that truly won my heart. (Why didn’t anyone tell me this book passes the bedchel test?! Sheesh, I’ve very disappointed in all of you. Jks) Yes, they’re Mean Girls, but the friendship that the four girls have is so genuine and true. They can be awful to others and sometimes even to each other, but we know that they truly liked each other, that they’re friendship wasn’t a sham. And Sam doesn’t just interact with her clique. We see her interact with the school’s residential “slut” (who was given a personality and breath, and it should be noted that there is absolutely no slut-shaming messages in this novel, which I totally appreciate), the sophomores, etc. In all of Sam’s interactions between different people during that seven repeats of the same day, we see this theme of hope permeating and blooming, that potential for making a difference, and the interactions Sam has with the girls around her were my favourite messages of hope. I especially enjoyed the Juliet Sykes interactions, the unveiling of secrets, and how even when things weren’t going so well, people have hope for change. SPOILERS AHOY: [I really liked the transformation of how Sam began to connect her salvation through saving Juliet, which started off very self-centric, but then transformed into a genuine wish for Juliet’s well being, and her sincere but awkward attempts at being “nice” was wonderful to see. That’s another thing I really appreciate about Sam’s transformation. It wasn’t that she suddenly became a “nice” good girl or anything - but that she starts to make this effort to be kind that won me over.]


I thought Oliver used the idea of the time loop most effectively to showcase Sam’s character transformation. The possibilities of the littlest changes in your actions to bring about change in your day fascinated me as well. The story unravels steady and slow, picking up speed towards the climax with that emotional ompf that will grab at the reader’s hearts. I never once felt that the story went too slowly, or got repetitive. The climax and the ending stayed with me for a long time, and left me hungering for more. This is the kind of novel that will convert new readings into instant fans of the author. With her writing being so polished, I can’t wait to see what she does with her next book.

The Verdict: Believe the hype, people, and grab yourself a copy of this amazing novel. The writing will blow you away, and the characters will enchant you. Definitely one of my favourite debut novels this year.

Rating: 5/5
Enjoyment: 100%

Title and Cover Discussion: I LOVE THE TITLE. It’s simple and memorable, and fits very well with the story. As for the cover, I’m a bit lukewarm on it. It feels so… normal, somehow? But I kind of like the unnatural stillness of the cover model, a curtained deadened quality to her next to the warm yellow colours in the cover. The font was very nice as well.

Title: A
Cover: B

Sing Boys, Sing! The Chinese Version + Crossing Book Giveaway

(FYI details on giveaway at bottom of post)

I decided the way to celebrate the new release of Andrew Xia Fukuda’s novel Crossing was by showcasing some super talented Chinese male singers. As I’ve mentioned in my review, our narrator is depicted to have some amazing pipes (i.e. his singing will knock you dead) and I figured it’d be a good excuse opportunity to showcase some wonderfully talented male Chinese singers on my blog.

Note: The singers I will showcase are mostly based in Taiwan, because TW-music predominates not only all the Chinese songs I listen to, but just, make up a large majority of the music I listen to in general. I heart the Taiwan music scene. (They gave me F.I.R,! ♥ So if you think I'm biased towards Mandopop/rock... YOU'D BE RIGHT. *shot*

I’ll start off with songs sung in English, as I believe those who visit this blog predominantly speak English.

First up, recent Youtube sensation Lin Yu Chun, who can sing like Whitney. Rock on!



Sam Tsui - who sings the most awesome medleys and if he doesn’t win the Glee audtions, THERE IS NO GOD. *



(Unfortunately this is all the English ones I know. Now, onto MANDOPOP~)

Review: Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda

Title: Crossing
Author(s): Andrew Xia Fukuda
Genre: (YA) Mystery, Suspense, Coming-of-Age
Page Count: 213
Publisher: AmazonEncore

I received an ARC from the publicist.
The Summary: A loner in his all-white high school, Chinese-born Xing (pronounced “Shing”) is a wallflower longing for acceptance. His isolation is intensified by his increasingly awkward and undeniable crush on his only friend, the beautiful and brilliant Naomi Lee. Xing’s quiet adolescent existence is rattled when a series of disappearances rock his high school and fear ripples through the blue collar community in which he lives. Amidst the chaos surrounding him, only Xing, alone on the sidelines of life, takes notice of some peculiar sightings around town. He begins to investigate with the hope that if he can help put an end to the disappearances, he will finally win the acceptance for which he has longed. However, as Xing draws closer to unveiling the identity of the abductor, he senses a noose of suspicion tightening around his own neck. While Xing races to solve the mystery and clear his name, Crossing hurtles readers towards a chilling climax.

(from the backcover)

The Review:While I don’t think this book is marketed as a YA novel, I think it will do well among the YA reader circle. The raw emotional experiences shown to us through Xing’s narration can resonate well with anyone who remembers high school, its isolation and the wish to fit in. The requisite love story and dreams of our underdog taking the singing lead will also ring familiar and true to those who enjoy their YA high school setting stories. And I believe that those who loved Justine Larbalestier’s Liar will enjoy the way this suspenseful story, for we once again get an unreliable narrator telling the tale, but not because Xing is a liar. Xing, instead, comes across as unreliable because he does not speak out for himself. He unravels his side of the story in the narration, but he never defends it wholeheartedly, letting other people’s assumptions dominate. It gives the readers the choice of who you are going to believe is telling the true story of events. I found this unreliability in the narrationf very interesting, because the whole time we can feel Xing seeking validation: for his innocence, for his potential to be more than the stereotype. But when it’s not given, he crumbles, and lets others and their opinions take over. It’s painful to watch, and it made Xing feel so real to me.

I’ll confess that I have no handle in the whole mystery/suspense genre. I suck royally at guessing who is the real killer and all that jazz that goes with this genre. Instead, I connected very deeply with Xing’s emotional development and his desire for his singing talent to be recognized. For me, this book was all about the broken, failed American Dream. How the promises and dreams that lured in immigrants failed spectacularly for Xing and his future. Xing had all this potential, was depicted as such a happy kid before arriving in the States, and all his painful experiences shattered him, ruined his voice, and how absorbing all that hate directed his way for simply looking Chinese with the wrong accent warped and changed him.

All the reflected experiences of growing up as an Asian immigrant felt extremely familiar to me. This is not saying that my experiences as a Chinese-Canadian is the same as the one depicted by Xing or by the one another Chinese character in the school, Naomi, as the experiences of Asians in North America are varied and diverse, but there is that thread of familiarity that struck real for me. For instance, the description of accents: “Her English was Julie Chen perfect; mine was Jackie Chan cumbersome.” (5) I could literally hear exactly what Fukuda meant by the difference in their accented English, and feel that chasm of difference it makes between the two, how the way you talk can make the difference between peer acceptance or ostracism. There is that fine line you have to thread, to look and speak a certain way so that you are “Canadian” or in this context, “American” enough, and when you fall too far away from this line standard you become too ethnic, too Chinese, too Other, the perpetual foreigner. Xing’s struggle with that fine line resonated deeply with me, and it made all his failed dreams in America hurt that much more. Every time we got a scene wherein Xing wished to look white, to have those blue green eyes and blond hair, how he equated that with acceptance, it stung raw because that could be my brother, my sister, my cousin, any of my Chinese-Canadian friends growing up who didn’t feel like they belonged enough.

Also, more of a sidenote, but I really liked the author’s choice of giving his narrator the name Xing Xu. I suspect the use of “X” in the name is very deliberate on the author’s part because it’s one of the transliteration of Chinese-to-English that gets most of your (white) teachers/authorities baffled and confused, resulting in very embarrassing but also very common attempts at pronunciation of your name during roll call in front of the classroom for the world to hear. It’s not uncommon to see Chinese immigrants adopted “English” names, and I appreciate how this detail was woven into the story, the roll call experience of getting your name butchered and asking to be called something else instead to avoid this. (fyi, Xing asks to be called Kris in this situation.) What I mean to say is that the details of Xing’s Chinese-American experience is so precise and woven in without making it the big moving storyline of the novel, and it was really nice to see.

The Verdict: An amazing read. Readers who enjoyed books like Liar or works by Robert Cormier should run to grab a copy of this novel. You’ll connect deeply with our narrator’s psyche, and I personally can’t wait for future projects by this talented new voice in the publishing market.

Rating: 4.5/5
Enjoyment: 100%

Cover and Title Discussion: I liked the idea of the shadowed silhouette within a snowy scenery, as snow and winter features prominently as a motif in this novel, but I suspect if ever the publishing house wishes to repackage this novel as YA, they’ll need a flashier cover. Also, I thought the red star could have been incorporated better. The title font is okay, but I thought the positioning of the title was awkward. Same goes for the author’s name. I also suspect that I’m too fond of the old cover concept that was released a while ago, one with the dual image of one closed eye with tears running down, but when you look closer it’s footprints walking into the snow. *shrugs* Oh well, there’s nothing terribly wrong with the cover design as a whole, but it’s also not particularly eye-grabbing either. As for the title itself, I thought it’s okay, but also kind of easily forgettable. I confess that when I recommend this novel I forget what the title of the book was, and would refer it to people as “that debut suspense book by the author Andrew Xia Fukuda” (I remember author’s names better than titles, usually) instead.

Cover: C+
Title: C+

ETA by popular demand, this was how the old cover looked like. Feel free to tell me what you think.

New Releases Spotlight: 04/27/2010

Behold, some exciting new releases!

Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda

A loner in his all-white high school, Chinese-born Xing (pronounced “Shing”) is a wallflower longing for acceptance. His isolation is intensified by his increasingly awkward and undeniable crush on his only friend, the beautiful and brilliant Naomi Lee. Xing’s quiet adolescent existence is rattled when a series of disappearances rock his high school and fear ripples through the blue collar community in which he lives. Amidst the chaos surrounding him, only Xing, alone on the sidelines of life, takes notice of some peculiar sightings around town. He begins to investigate with the hope that if he can help put an end to the disappearances, he will finally win the acceptance for which he has longed. However, as Xing draws closer to unveiling the identity of the abductor, he senses a noose of suspicion tightening around his own neck. While Xing races to solve the mystery and clear his name, Crossing hurtles readers towards a chilling climax.

A most excellent debut novel. Go order it now. I have plans to hold a sort of release party for this novel on this book by hosting a giveaway and whatnot this week, so stay tuned for that, and a review and possibly some other special, related posts for this novel. (Actually the review was supposed to be up today, but due to time constraints from work and whatnot I don't think I'll be able to post it up until tomorrow. =X)

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

In The Demon's Lexicon Nick must find a way to save his brother from the demon's mark that means certain death.

+ Yay TDL is out with the new shiny cover! So much better than the old one... Which of course, means I can happily go around recommending this book without constantly having to say 'I know the cover sucks but you should read it anyways!' While not my favourite book of last year, it was certainly one of the most enjoyable debuts of 2009 I had the pleasure of reading, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. Or anything Sarah Rees Brennan writes, really. 8D

It's Not Summer Without you by Jenny Han

Last year, all of Belly's dreams came true and the thought of missing a summer in Cousins Beach was inconceivable. But like the rise and fall of the ocean tide, things can change-just like that. Suddenly the time she's always looked forward to most is something she dreads. And when Jeremiah calls to say Conrad has disappeared, Belly must decide how she will spend this summer: chasing after the boy she loves, or finally letting go

lol I am an eternal fan of Jenny Han ever since I laid my eyes on Shug, so I had to give this a shoutout even if I'm pretty ambivalent about the direction of the storyline for this trilogy. Wrote up a review for it, if anyone's interested

+

In other news, damn it's harder to get back into the groove of book blogging than I expected. My review backlog intimidates me, lol. *coughs* Anyone, any new releases today people feel like sharing? 8D

Review: It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

Title: It's Not Summer Without You
Author(s): Jenny Han
Genre: YA Coming-of-Age, Romance, Family
Page Count: 275
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

WARNING: Spoilers for Book 1

I received an ARC from a contest.
Summary: Last year, all of Belly's dreams came true and the thought of missing a summer in Cousins Beach was inconceivable. But like the rise and fall of the ocean tide, things can change-just like that. Suddenly the time she's always looked forward to most is something she dreads. And when Jeremiah calls to say Conrad has disappeared, Belly must decide how she will spend this summer: chasing after the boy she loves, or finally letting go

Waiting on Wednesday: Dragon Soul by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett

Meme from Breaking the Spine

You know, I suspect it is rather tacky to have a comeback post in form of a meme, but I really wanted to do WoW because there’s this book I’m really, really excited about. And yes, I AM BACK FROM MY HIATUS. Well, after 12 pm EST today anyhow, when my last exam is officially over and I can kiss my campus goodbye for the rest of the summer. Technically at the time this is published I am not yet over my hiatus, because I should be studying for the exam I will have in a couple hours (holy sh*t alfjsjalfja;f). Buuuuuut, I want to procrastinate, SO HERE I AM.

Dragon Soul by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett

With just two novels under their belts, young writers Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett have established themselves as two of the hottest new stars in fantasy. Havemercy introduced readers to a brilliantly realized world riven by an intractable war between the kingdoms of Volstov and Ke-Han—a war in which the great dragons of Volstov—deadly hybrids of machine and magic—and their equally fierce human riders were all that kept the dark sorcery of Ke-Han at bay. In Shadow Magic, Jones and Bennett brought the common humanity of the opposing sides to life in an adventure that showcased once again their talent for creating not only fantastic settings but vivid characters to inhabit them.

Now Jones and Bennett are back with their most accomplished novel yet, featuring the return of two beloved characters, the brothers Rook and Thom. When the war was at its height, there was no fighter on either side who could match Rook for sheer arrogance and skill. Only Rook could ride the great dragon Havemercy, whose savagery and bloodlust matched his own. Thom could not be more different. Bookish, diffident, reserved, he yearns for his brother’s approval—yet fears he can never earn it.

With the war over, and an uneasy truce holding between Volstov and Ke-Han, it seems the perfect opportunity for the long-lost brothers to forge a bond by taking a trip together. At least, that’s how it seems to Thom. Rook hasn’t given a rat’s ass about anything since the end of the war, his brother included, and he’s not about to start now. Not when the one thing he loved in the world—Havemercy—lies scattered in pieces across Ke-Han.

Then Rook and Thom discover that someone is buying up bits of the fallen dragons, including Havemercy. Though the dragons are dead, the magic that powered them is not—and if that magic and the technology created to harness it should fall into the wrong hands, the fragile peace could shatter. An agent from Ke-Han, a sorceress from Volstov, and a group of desert tribesmen are all in the race, and the future rests on whoever gets there first. But all that matters to Rook is that someone is desecrating his girl, so he vows to leave no stone unturned in laying her to rest—and taking his revenge.

ASDL;FJAFJASDLFJ THE THIRD BOOK BY THE JAIDANI TEAM!! LAFJKLASDJKFAS I love this series. It might not be obvious from the majority of my reviews, but fantasy is one of my favourite genres. I’m pretty big on YA Fantasy (Graceling, anyone?), but I’m also highly fond of select Adult Fantasy genres as well. And I waxed poetry on my love for the book Shadow Magic wayyyyyyyyyyy back when this book blog got started(see review) Don’t let its crap cover fool you; this is actually one of the best East Asian-inspired fantasies I’ve ever read.

I will admit though, I actually wasn’t terribly excited about this book until the character reveals came along. As the summary insinuates, it makes it seem like very much a Boy’s Adventure, and all of Jaidani’s previous works have given no indication of countering this. (I mean, there was a smalllll likelihood of maybe one lady pov from the mention of a female magician, but I didn't want to get my hopes up.) They always write in the style of 4 persons, 2 entwined storylines, and every single time the narration was coloured by men. Which was great for the first two books, but I was ready for some ladies to step up on stage, you know? AND IT HAPPENED. Through a reliable reviewer, I found out that not only is there a female lead in the story, but there are TWO. And one of them is from Ke-Han! (I prefer the Ke-Han over Volstov, but I understand that this is a minority opinion.) Just knowing that there will be more females and more Ke-Han appearances makes me squee in pure delight. It made me go from ‘oh look, the third book, I’ll check it out when it’s in my library’ to ‘ OMG CAN THIS BOOK COME OUT NOW?! I SHALL BUY IT IN ALL ITS FIRST EDITION HARDCOVER GLORY, YESSSSSSSSSSSS’

So yes, I’m seriously pumped. WHO’S READING THIS WITH ME?! (Also, if you haven’t read Shadow Magic yet, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WITH YOUR LIFE?! Go buy it now.)

*buries self in last minute cramming*