Review: Ask the Passengers

Purchase Ask the Passengers here.

Synopsis:

Astrid Jones desperately wants to confide in someone, but her mother's pushiness and her father's lack of interest tell her they're the last people she can trust. Instead, Astrid spends hours lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead. She doesn't know the passengers inside, but they're the only people who won't judge her when she asks them her most personal questions . . . like what it means that she's falling in love with a girl.

As her secret relationship becomes more intense and her friends demand answers, Astrid has nowhere left to turn. She can't share the truth with anyone except the people at thirty thousand feet, and they don't even know she's there. But little does Astrid know just how much even the tiniest connection will affect these strangers' lives--and her own--for the better.

In this truly original portrayal of a girl struggling to break free of society's definitions, Printz Honor author A.S. King asks readers to question everything--and offers hope to those who will never stop seeking real love.

Review:

My mother (who is the reason for the title of this blog) tried to tell me how awesome this book was weeks ago.  It took me a while to finally get around to it, but I'm so glad I took the time to read Ask the Passengers.  I tore through it in a single afternoon, all while texting her excitedly.

I am absolutely in love with this book.  It's adorable, funny, and thought-provoking.  Astrid is a well-rounded and complex character whose challenges are relatable whether or not you've ever dealt with questioning your sexuality.  On that note, I love that Ask the Passengers forces us to question the rigidly binary "gay or straight" idea of sexuality we've internalized, and I love the way that happens.  Rather than having some academic (or, more likely, Tumblr social justice blogger) lecture at the reader about how sexuality is fluid, the reader is inside the mind of a teenager struggling with the implications of that way of thinking.  Honestly, I think this should be required reading for every parent with a queer child who wants to better understand them.

There is a bit of magical realism in this book.  That's often not my thing, but the book is written in such a way that it actually makes sense and really enhances the story.

All in all, a really beautiful book that is well-worth the read.  Thanks, Mom.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: Feed (The Newsflesh Trilogy)

Purchase Feed (The Newsflesh Trilogy) here.

Synopsis:

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.

Now, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.


FEED is the electrifying and critically acclaimed novel of a world a half-step from our own---a novel of geeks, zombies, politics and social media.

Review:

After finishing Feed, I sat in stunned silence for two minutes, spent five minutes crying like a child, and then rushed to my computer.  If you've been reading for a while, you'll remember that Divergent kicked me off on a YA dystopian kick that lasted for months; I firmly believe Feed will do the same for zombie apocalypse novels for me (seriously, I just purchased the rest of the trilogy as well as two more books that were recommended as similar).

It's been a while since I've fallen so completely into the world of a book.  I found myself squinting at lights (despite my lack of retinal Kellis-Amberlee), reaching for my non-existent gun, and forgetting that my awesome new hat wasn't also recording everything around me.  It's probably because the world is so beautifully thought out; for starters, Mira Grant doesn't just position bloggers as credible with a vague "it's the future" response.  She cites a reasonable cause for the rise of bloggers as news sources (failure of mainstream media) that is both believable and relevant to current events, with entire revolutions only having Twitter to get their message out of the country.  Grant constructs an entire world and culture around the outbreak that makes it feel as though she's gone through the situations herself.

Aside from the intricate set up, the story in itself is amazing.  It's wonderfully written, full of suspense and political intrigue, along with a healthy amount of the humanity of her characters shining through.  Grant builds tension expertly, causing me to tear through the nearly 600-page novel in around 4 days (and that's during midterms).

A warning: the novel is fairly graphic.  If that's not your thing, I have a review of some less gory zombie novels here.  But if you can handle your blood and guts, I cannot recommend this book enough.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: The Maze Runner

Purchase The Maze Runner here.

Synopsis:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. 

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Review:

Okay, so I know I am waaaay behind on reading the Maze Runner series.  To be fair, the books had sounded a bit young for me (and also a bit too Lord of the Flies).  The descriptions I'd gotten had been along the lines of "the dude runs through the maze and tries to figure out the thing."  Not exactly a stunning review.

My expectations were completely exceeded.  As frustrating as it can be, I loved the way readers were kept in the dark for most of the book.  I usually feel that particular mechanic is taken further than it needs to be and is used only to drag readers along to the bitter end, despite a fair to poor storyline.  In this case, however, it allows us as readers to sympathize with the Gladers.  The reader knows as much as they do, and we race along with the Gladers to find a way out of the Maze.

I haven't read the rest of the series, but in my mind, the next few books will make or break my feelings on The Maze Runner.  If the no-information mechanic is run into the ground and we still get absolutely no explanation, I probably won't be as kind in future.  However, for now, I am pleasantly surprised by the opening of the series.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: The Registry

Purchase The Registry here.

Synopsis:

Welcome to a safe and secure new world, where beauty is bought and sold, and freedom is the ultimate crime.

The Registry saved the country from collapse, but stability has come at a price. In this patriotic new America, girls are raised to be brides, sold at auction to the highest bidder. Boys are raised to be soldiers, trained to fight and never question orders.

Nearly eighteen, beautiful Mia Morrissey excitedly awaits the beginning of her auction year. But a warning from her married older sister raises dangerous questions. Now, instead of going up on the block, Mia is going to escape to Mexico—and the promise of freedom.

All Mia wants is to control her own destiny—a brave and daring choice that will transform her into an enemy of the state, pursued by powerful government agents, ruthless bounty hunters, and a cunning man determined to own her . . . a man who will stop at nothing to get her back.

Review:

I found the holy grail of dystopians: a stand-alone novel.  And I wanted to like it, I really did.  I made it all the way through, trying my very best to focus on the book's redeeming qualities.  After all, the set-up is intensely interesting and particularly appealing to feminist critique.  Women, literally priced by their beauty?  Told to take tests to make sure they are not smart enough to pass?  A patriarchal society where daughters literally belong to their fathers until marriage, and then belong to their husbands (enforced by a rather large number of agents)?  I am all over deconstructing that.

Unfortunately, The Registry was just too poorly written to overlook.  There was no build-up and release of tension.  Instead, the book started off tense and never stopped (aside from breaks to describe what colour polos the characters were wearing).  Everything felt incredibly rushed and unplanned; I felt physically and mentally exhausted while reading.  I would love to see this novel better-executed.

Oh, and we all know how I feel about love triangles.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: Wither

Purchase Wither (Chemical Garden Trilogy) here.

Synopsis:

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males born with a lifespan of 25 years, and females a lifespan of 20 years--leaving the world in a state of panic. Geneticists seek a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. 

When Rhine is sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Yet her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement; her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next; and Rhine has no way to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. 

Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

Review:

The Handmaid's Tale is one of those books that makes you want to scour the library to find something else like it to read.  Lucky for me, one of my best friends had just recommended this series.  Also lucky for me, this is one of very few YA dystopian series I've read where ALL OF THE BOOKS were out before I began reading.  

Imagine a world where modern medecine has gone too far.  Where generations live and die in under a century.   How far would the rich go to continue on their genetic line?  This is much less political than the last dystopian novel I reviewed, but it's still weighty - portraying an America that is fast approaching a world without "grown ups".  Add to that themes of lost innocence masked by false glamour that echo throughout the novel and its characters, and you have an intriguing, layered novel that will draw you in and allow you to get lost.  

This book is not an intense political statement, nor is it high literature.  It's not an inspiring romance, but it is a good story and a fun read.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: The Handmaid's Tale

Purchase The Handmaid's Tale here.

Synopsis:

In the world of the near future, who will control women's bodies?

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are only valued if their ovaries are viable.

Offred can remember the days before, when she lived and made love with her husband Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now....

Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid's Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.

Review:

Another day, another dystopian novel for me to fall in love with.  The Handmaid's Tale, though, is in an entirely different experience than any possible future I have heretofore delved into.  Perhaps it is how immediate the novel is, how swift and plausible the overthrow of the state by the church is.  With the ongoing discussion of the control over women's bodies, The Handmaid's Tale becomes more and more relevant with each passing day.  Margaret Atwood seamlessly blends a horrifying dystopia with a religious critique and a resonating political statement.  If you haven't read Atwood before, now would be the time to start.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: Don't Worry, It Gets Worse

Oh, hello internet!  Fancy seeing you here.  It turns out that when your computer is stolen and then you move into a house that doesn't have internet yet, it's pretty tough to write reviews.  Never fear, I am back from hiatus, and I've been reading plenty in the meantime.  Now on to your regularly scheduled review.

Purchase Don't Worry, It Gets Worse here.

Synopsis:

other, eager to trade in parties and all-nighters for “the real world.” But post-grad wasn’t the glam life she imagined. Soon buried under a pile of bills, laundry, and three-dollar bottles of wine, it quickly became clear that she hadno idea what she was doing. But hey, what twentysomething does?

In Don’t Worry, It Gets Worse, Nugent shares what it takes to make the awkward leap from undergrad to “mature and responsible adult that definitely never eats peanut butter straight from the jar and considers it a meal.” From trying to find an apartment on the black hole otherwise known as Craigslist to the creative maneuvering needed to pay off student loans and still enjoy happy hour, Nugent documents the formative moments of being a twentysomething with a little bit of snark and a lot of heart. Perfect for fans of HBO's Girls and Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half, and based on her popular Tumblr blog The Frenemy, Don’t Worry, It Gets Worse is a love note to boozin’, bitchin’ ladies everywhere.

Review:

If you are the parent of a twentysomething (or soon-to-be), for your own sanity, do not read this book.

If you are a twentysomething, for your own sanity, read this book.  Alida Nugent manages to perfectly capture what it is to be in college (and to be just out of college) in this economy.  Her stories are funny in a way that kind of hurts.  Nugent hits close to home - too close.  This book will make you feel less alone.  It will make you laugh, then cry a little bit, then make you want to have Nugent alongside you on a night out.  To be honest, I'm just incredibly happy she writes the Frenemy blog so I get to read more of her writing on a regular basis.  Nugent's writing is a vital companion to anyone stumbling along in the grey area of oh-my-gosh-is-this-really-adulthood.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation

Purchase The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation here.

Synopsis:

Our leaders swear to uphold it, our military to defend it. It is the blueprint for the shape and function of government itself and what defines Americans as Americans. But how many of us truly know our Constitution?
The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation uses the art of illustrated storytelling to breathe life into our nation’s cornerstone principles. Simply put, it is the most enjoyable and groundbreaking way to read the governing document of the United States. Spirited and visually witty, it roves article by article, amendment by amendment, to get at the meaning, background, and enduring relevance of the law of the land. What revolutionary ideas made the Constitution’s authors dare to cast off centuries of rule by kings and queens? Why do we have an electoral college rather than a popular vote for president and vice president? How did a document that once sanctioned slavery, denied voting rights to women, and turned a blind eye to state governments running roughshod over the liberties of minorities transform into a bulwark of protection for all? The United States Constitution answers all of these questions. Sure to surprise, challenge, and provoke, it is hands down the most memorable introduction to America’s founding document.

Review:

I got this book a while ago, as a friend had to read it for her freshman year of college.  I recently picked it up again, expecting just the text of the constitution with some pictures.  Instead I found a fascinating story that brought up questions about our nation's founding document that I never thought to ask.  The novel isn't patronizing or overly biased.  Instead, it's thoughtful and thought-provoking, brilliantly weaving an interesting story that's even better because it's true.  This would especially be a great way for teachers to get their students to want to learn about the Constitution.  My one gripe is that all of the presidents and vice presidents are portrayed as white men.  However, at the time this book was published, that was historically all we'd had for presidents.  The author does point out diversity in the government in another section of the book.  All in all, this book is a great way to learn about the US government and actually be excited about it.

Review: The Selection

Purchase The Selection here.

Synopsis:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review:

Okay, so by now we all know that I have a massive soft spot for dystopians.  There's just something about a world that's ours, but gone slightly...wrong that draws me in.  So how could I resist an America with royalty and a The Bachelor-type set up?  I devoured The Selection in an afternoon, wrapped up in the world and politics of the palace.

Let's be straight here.  This is not an incredible work of literature.  The writing isn't always the best, and there is YET ANOTHER LOVE TRIANGLE (guys please come up with a new plot device this is boring).  However, it's a lot of fun.  I liked getting whisked off to be treated like royalty and I liked the royal intrigue.  It was a fun read to escape into, and we all need a book like that sometimes.  Also, when America said "I'm choosing me," I cheered almost as hard as when the Khaleesi threatened to cut her brother's hands off in Game of Thrones.  You go girl.

Seriously, this book is fun and a super quick read.  If you have an afternoon to spare, go for it. 

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: What Learning Leaves

Purchase What Learning Leaves: New Edition here.

Synopsis:

YouTube search “What Teachers Make” and witness almost 5 million views. It’s not a video about teacher’s salaries; it’s a poem performed by New York City poet and four-time National Poetry Slam champion Taylor Mali, the world’s most popular, passionate teacher turned full-time poet. His new spring release, What Learning Leaves, is an eloquent and entertaining poetry collection centering on his experiences as a middle school teacher.

What Learning Leaves is Mali’s second poetry collection published with Write Bloody Publishing. His first, The Last Time as We Are sold over 10,000 copies. And, Mali, like any writer worth their salt, is getting better with age. His words don’t just stick, they reverberate. 

Review:

When I was first dipping my toe into slam poetry videos on YouTube, I found Taylor Mali almost immediately.  I enjoyed school growing up, so I liked listening to a teacher.  I love his approach to teaching and his approach to slam; in a way, Mali is also a teacher to new slam poets.  This collection is sprinkled liberally with his recognizable poems, as well as newer material that shows a more personal part of Mali's life, and all of it is wonderful.  I may be biased, but this is my review, so tough cookies.  Taylor Mali will make you laugh, he will make you angry, he will make you pause, and he will make you think.  And you will be better off for it.

Until next time, happy reading!

-Amanda

Review: To Be Maria

Check out Deanna Proach's Amazon page here: Deanna Proach

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Anya Preschnikov wants to become a famous actress but she's faced with two problems. Her father ignores her and doesn't have any money to support her. At school, she's bullied on a daily basis, yet she believes that she will gain her stepping-stone to stardom if she's accepted by her peers.

All of this changes when Maria Hernandez--an immigrant from Spain--comes to Peach Valley Senior High. Maria knows what it takes to fit in. She's assertive, confident and she dresses suggestively, characteristics that all of the popular kids admire. Yet she sees in Anya what no one else sees: beauty and talent.

When Maria extends her hand of friendship, Anya is elated. Her rise to popularity is about to become a reality, but it ends at a house party when a boy's rude comment sends her into a rage.

Desperate to belong somewhere, Anya and Maria seek new friends outside of school. They meet Alex and Marissa, a young couple who eagerly welcomes them into their world of parties and drugs. Anya and Maria soon find out that Alex is a drug dealer, but they are so lured by his wealth, good looks and aggressive confidence that they can't resist his friendship. They don't know that Alex's gang is at war with a rival gang--one that's run by Anya's older brother, Adrik--until one incident puts their lives in danger's path. To make matters worse, Alex won't let Anya and Maria out of his sight. The two teens are forced to make a decision that's a matter of life or death.

Review:

The best way I can think to describe this book is "that escalated quickly." To Be Maria starts out as a novel about a poor girl trying to make friends with the popular crowd and get started as an actress. It ends...very far from there. I get the point; the book is an after school special-type cautionary tale about getting involved with the wrong people, with a completely unforeseen religious twist at the end. However, it comes across in the same way shows like Degrassi do, trying to fit too many teen problems into one small episode. Add to that the similar naming of two main characters and the unexplained use of present tense, and readers end up a bit...confused.

I saw where the author was trying to go, and I agree that it's an important message. I just think the story could be pared down a bit. There were too many issues, too many points of view. However, if you're an Ellen Hopkins fan, this will be right up your alley. It's a quick, if confusing read and a convoluted story.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: The Art of BioShock Infinite

Purchase The Art of BioShock Infinite here.

Synopsis:

In The Art of BioShock Infinite, delve deeper into the city of Columbia—the fabled floating metropolis that serves as a beacon of technology and achievement for the early 1900s!

This deluxe hardcover features production designs and concept illustrations focusing on main characters Booker DeWitt, Elizabeth, and Songbird from the highly anticipated BioShock Infinite video game.

See the evolution of the Heavy Hitters, the populace of Columbia, the Sky-Hook, vigors, airships, and much more!

This deluxe hardcover also features an introduction from BioShock Infinite Creative Director Ken Levine!

Review:

I am terrible at first-person shooters.  I mean, beyond awful, shoot-my-own-foot, make-everyone-motion-sick bad.  I'm great at other games, but an FPS is just not going to happen for me.  However, I make an exception for BioShock games.  The art of the games and the intricate story lines drive me insane, to the point where I will watch hours of walkthroughs while waiting for the game to come out for Mac.

When I got the chance to read through a book entirely about the art of the most recent BioShock game, BioShock Infinite, I couldn't wait.  This book does not disappoint.  Filled with beautiful, full-page illustrations that immerse the reader completely in the world of Columbia, The Art of BioShock Infinite is perfect for any video game or graphic design nerd.  It's also incredible getting to see what baddies and other designs didn't make it into the final game; the reader can see the designers going through completely different moods for the game.  It's also interesting to see them struggle to make a game that sticks to the type of play and design we love in BioShock, but keep from making a villain that is too close to "A Big Daddy with wings."

The book is fairly spoiler-free.  You'll get names of characters and pictures of baddies you haven't encountered in the game and you'll learn a little about Elizabeth's character, but nothing you don't learn in the first hour. This is a beautiful and fascinating book that any fan of the game will love.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: Point Your Face at This

Purchase Point Your Face at This here.

Synopis:

In his first book, This Is a Book, Demetri Martin introduced fans and readers to his unique brand of long-form humor writing. Now Demetri returns with an eclectic volume devoted entirely to his trademark one-liners and drawings, as well as short prose and poetry, leaving the longer-form material for his next hardcover. Like an indie stepchild of Gary Larson and Jack Handey, POINT YOUR FACE AT THIS contains hundreds of drawings, jokes, and page-long bits, showcasing Martin's particular penchant for brevity and a sensibility all its own-and will be a great gift book and a must-have for fans of the brainy, ambidextrous, comedian, palindromist (and author), Demetri Martin.

Review:

As I mentioned previously, I really enjoy Demetri Martin's stand up. I find his deadpan delivery and rough drawings very funny and I've seen many of his videos. When I reviewed Martin's first book, This is a Book, I expressed the wish that the book had been only the drawings rather than having the essays mixed in. So naturally, when I had the chance to review a book that was just that, I was overjoyed. However, I am yet again disappointed by how Demetri Martin's humor translates on paper. His stand up is amazing, but without his trademark delivery, his drawings fall flat. I did chuckle a few times, but an overwhelming portion of the jokes were mysogynistic and just plain fat phobic. I was rather disappointed by Demetri Martin's second book, but I hope to keep enjoying his live stand-up in the future. 

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: Swans & Klons

Purchase Swans & Klons here.

Synopsis:

What does it take to survive in a world built on lies?

Sixteen-year-old Rubric loves her pampered life in the Academy dormitory. She’s dating Salmon Jo, a brilliant and unpredictable girl. In their all-female world, non-human slaves called Klons do all the work. But when Rubric and Salmon Jo break into the laboratory where human and Klon babies are grown in vats, they uncover a terrifying secret that tears their idyllic world apart.

Their friends won’t believe them, and their teachers won’t help them. The Doctors who rule Society want to silence Rubric and Salmon Jo. The two girls must flee for their lives. As they face the unthinkable, the only thing they have left to believe in is their love for each other.      

Review:

The premise of this novel is incredible. As an English major who takes a lot of classes about gender in literature, a dystopian society comprised entirely of women was too good a storyline to pass up. I was not disappointed. Themes of individuality, humanity, gender, and consent dominate this novel, backed by a unique dystopian storyline. I also love that Swans & Klons includes a sweet romantic storyline that doesn't overpower the story. The love is believable because so many different kinds of love are so integral to the storyline. The idea of the Cretinous Males is fascinating (I was wondering how the novel would explain an all-female society, and they actually did fairly well), and I sincerely hope a sequel is in the works. The ending was a bit rushed for me, but that may just be because I didn't want it to end... All in all, a super fun read.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: This is a Book

Purchase This Is a Book here.

Synopsis:

From the renowned comedian, creator and star of Comedy Central's Important Things with Demetri Martin comes the paperback debut of his bold, original, New York Times best-selling humor book.

THIS IS A BOOK was an instant and long-lasting New York Times best seller, and is the renowned comedian's hilarious foray into prose comedy. In these pages, Martin expands on the sensibility he's developed on stage as an award-winning stand-up comedian and on television as a writer-performer on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and his own Comedy Central series, Important Things with Demetri Martin.

Featuring narrative essays, short stories, and conceptual pieces (such as "Protagonists' Hospital," where doctors treat only the shoulder wounds of Hollywood action heroes) as well as Martin's signature drawings, absurdities, and one-liners, THIS IS A BOOK delivers sharp jokes, colorful characters, and interesting surprises.

Martin takes readers to places as far-off as Ancient Greece ("Socrates's Publicist") and the distant future ("Robot Test," where everyone must take a test to prove that they are not robots). He recounts a lonely man's visit to a strip club in the form of a five-hundred-word palindrome ("Palindromes for Specific Occasions"). And he examines the human condition ("Human Cannonball Occupational Hazards") and the competing world-views of divergent groups ("Optimist, Pessimist, Contortionist").

Martin's material is varied, but his unique voice and brilliant mind will keep readers in stitches from beginning to end.

Review:

I love Demetri Martin's stand-up.  I giggle every single time; I think he's hilarious.  So when I heard he was coming out with a book, I was overjoyed and couldn't wait to purchase it.  However, this book did not live up to my expectations in the slightest.  So many of the jokes were overdrawn or just plain not funny, which was extremely disappointing.  Many of the drawings were very similar to his trademark doodles during his stand-up routines, but others just missed their mark.  Overall, there were a few very funny bits, but not enough to make the book worth it.

Until next time, happy reading!
 -Amanda

Review: The S-Word

Purchase The S-Word here.

Synopsis:

Lizzie wasn’t the first student at Verity High School to kill herself this year. But the difference is, she didn’t go quietly.
First it was SLUT scribbled all over the school’s lockers. But one week after Lizzie Hart takes her own life, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie’s own looping scrawl. Photocopies of her diary show up in the hands of her classmates. And her best friend, Angie, is enraged.


Angie had stopped talking to Lizzie on prom night, when she caught Lizzie in bed with her boyfriend. Too heartbroken to let Lizzie explain the hookup or to intervene when Lizzie gets branded Queen of the Sluts and is cruelly bullied by her classmates, Angie left her best friend to the mercy of the school, with tragic results.


But with this new slur, Angie’s guilt transforms into anger that someone is still targeting Lizzie even after her death. Using clues from Lizzie’s diary and aided by the magnetic, mysterious Jesse, Angie begins relentlessly investigating who, exactly, made Lizzie feel life was no longer worth living. And while she might claim she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, her anguish over abandoning and then losing her best friend drives Angie deeper into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out.


Debut author Chelsea Pitcher daringly depicts the harsh reality of modern high schools, where one bad decision can ruin a reputation, and one cruel word can ruin a life. Angie’s quest for the truth behind Lizzie’s suicide is addictive and thrilling, and her razor-sharp wit and fierce sleuthing skills makes her impossible not to root for—even when it becomes clear that both avenging Lizzie and avoiding self-destruction might not be possible.

Review:

Continuing on with my love of a bit of drama (fueled by binge-watching Gossip Girl and 90210 when I'm sick and pretending it's because I'm delirious), the S-Word follows Angie as she tries to make sense of her best friend's suicide and the betrayal that occurred before it.  I don't know what I expected from this novel by the description, but what I got was definitely different.  The book is dark and twisted, voiced by a surprisingly unreliable narrator and with an all-too-recognizable cast of characters.

To be completely honest, sections of this book are kind of trope-tastic.  Ooooh, it's the bleach-blonde cheerleader and the pervy computer nerd.  However, some other characters can be surprising in their depth.  In addition, this book could be triggering to some.  Feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you're concerned; I'm just trying to keep my review spoiler-free.

All in all, an interesting debut novel.  It wasn't my favourite, but it's interesting, surprising, and a quick read.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: Any Psalm You Want

Purchase Any Psalm You Want: Poems here.

Synopsis:

A fellow poet once described Khary Jackson as a blend of Saul Williams and Pablo Neruda, which may prove fitting given Khary's unique aesthetic as a child of the hip hop generation with penchant for intimate, passionate verse. Jackson's first book incorporates fantastical imagery, quiet vulnerability and a willingness to witness the rite of loss, fearlessly. He is one of the most popular authors in all of Minnesota.

Review:

Khary Jackson's poetry reads like music. His lines thrum to the beat of the instruments he writes about and the places he dedicates his poems to. Jackson raises a symphony of words, painting pictures of America, tiny microcosms of its culture. This collection is absolutely stunning, the kind of body of work that makes a slam poet prod to be a part of the same community. I cannot stop gushing about this, and I'm not sure I want to. Write Bloody consistently brings its readers incredible poets, and this is no exception. This is necessary for any poetry or music lover. 

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: Songs From Under the River

Purchase Songs From Under the River here.

Synopsis:

If someone says a poetry reading is a perfect opportunity for a nap, check to see if their head is under a rock. Today’s poet performers have kicked it up a few hundred notches. Poets like Anis Mojgani, a two-time National Poetry Slam champion, winner of the International World Cup Poetry Slam and author of Over the Anvil We Stretch and The Feather Room. Mojgani has put together his third gathering of poems, Songs From Under the River: Early and New Work, a striking collection of his best out-of-print and new works that jump off the page and prove a performance on their own.

Songs From Under the River showcases what is expected from an artist of Anis’s considerable talent. His words have the fluidity of paint strokes, creating vivid imagines while structured to invite rhythmic reading. Anis’s poetry proves a universal art form, telling his story while at the same time evoking the reader’s own personal interpretation.

Songs From Under the River exhibits all the brilliance Anis’s fans have been reveling in for years. He is playful and whimsical and has the uncanny ability to lift us up while grounding us; flawlessly exemplified in his performance of Shake the Dust, the YouTube video of which has had more than a million hits. The popularity of Anis and other like him proves poetry is not just alive — it’s flourishing. 

Review:

There is nothing so refreshing during a poetry slam as a poem that makes you laugh. Slams are filled with so much sadness and anger and anxiety that they are emotionally draining, so any bit of laughter is beautiful and appreciated. In his most recent collection (released today), Anis Mojgani manages to convey all of the sadness and anger and anxiety that other poets express, but he manages to infuse humor and hope into his lines as well, saying we kiss and breathe like poetry and also "they poop like poetry!" Anis Mojgani manages to weave a beautiful collection that does not lose anything in an attempt to make his readers smile. If you like Mojgani or slam in general, this is definitely a necessary addition to your poetry collection.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: Waiter Rant

Purchase Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip--Confessions of a Cynical Waiter here.
You can visit Steve Dublanica's blog here.

Synopsis:

According to The Waiter, 80 percent of customers are nice people just looking for something to eat. The remaining 20 percent, however, are socially maladjusted psychopaths.
Eye-opening, outrageous, and unabashed—replete with tales of customer stupidity, arrogant misbehavior, and unseen tidbits of human grace in the most unlikely places—Waiter Rant presents the server's unique point of view, revealing surefire secrets to getting good service, proper tipping etiquette, and ways to ensure that your waiter won't spit on your food.

Review:

Scrolling through the reviews for Waiter Rant on Goodreads, it's easy to pick out people who fit the bill for the usual clientele of The Bistro; they're the ones giving one-star reviews and calling Steve Dublanica "arrogant" and "self-indulgent".  The reviews from former waiters and waitresses are almost exclusively four- and five-star.  It's a dichotomy that gives you an idea of how the rest of the book will go.

As a former waitress (and probably future one, seeing as one is expected to pay for textbooks), I was predisposed to enjoy a book telling people to stop acting like morons in restaurants.  I wish most of the people who dined out would follow Dublanica's advice; for all the profanity and ranting, he gives many good tips about eating in a restaurant.  I agree with the reviewers who didn't enjoy the book so much because it was self-indulgent.  However, the book is meant to be a memoir.  Writing a memoir is the epitome of self-indulgence; when you pick one up, you're expecting to read an account of the author's life.  All in all, this was funny and honest.  An interesting examination of everyone in a restaurant, I would recommend it to waitstaff and patrons alike.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: John Dies at the End

Purchase John Dies at the End here.

Synopsis:

STOP.
You should not have touched this book with your bare hands.
NO, don’t put it down. It’s too late.
They’re watching you.
My name is David Wong. My best friend is John. Those names are fake. You might want to change yours.
You may not want to know about the things you’ll read on these pages, about the sauce, about Korrok, about the invasion, and the future. But it’s too late. You touched the book. You’re in the game. You’re under the eye.
The only defense is knowledge. You need to read this book, to the end. Even the part with the bratwurst. Why? You just have to trust me.

The important thing is this:
The drug is called Soy Sauce and it gives users a window into another dimension. 
John and I never had the chance to say no. 
You still do.
Unfortunately for us, if you make the right choice, we’ll have a much harder time explaining how to fight off the otherworldly invasion currently threatening to enslave humanity.
            I’m sorry to have involved you in this, I really am. But as you read about these terrible events and the very dark epoch the world is about to enter as a result, it is crucial you keep one thing in mind:

None of this is was my fault.

Review:

What to even say about this book?  I picked it up a while ago, then decided it was time to review as the movie was recently released here in the US.  Enticed by the severed hand on the cover and the spoilerific title, I thought it would be an interesting read.  What followed was a dark and convoluted (and more than occasionally sickening) tale that I assume is comparable to an acid trip.  Especially if you're ill and tired and dizzy while reading the book.

Favorable reviews of John Dies at the End cite a laugh-out-loud and horror-filled novel.  Less favorable ones call it juvenile.  I fall somewhere in between; I have to admit that I giggled and read some of the lines of the novel aloud to my mother or friends while I was reading.  However, the humor of the novel is juvenile in most places, consisting mainly of poorly-timed penis and diarrhea jokes (although the line "SHIT THE BOMB" will never stop being funny to me, I think). 

All in all, this book is right in the middle to me.  There are a very select few people I would recommend it to, based on content and writing style.  However, it was certainly different than anything I've read before, and it did have its moments of humor.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: The After Girls

Purchase The After Girls here.

Synopsis:

Ella, Astrid, and Sydney were planning the perfect summer after high school graduation. But when Astrid commits suicide in a lonely cabin, the other girls' worlds are shattered. How could their best friend have done this--to herself and to them? They knew everything about Astrid. Shouldn't they have seen this coming? Couldn't they have saved her?

As Ella hunts for the truth, and Sydney tries to dull the pain, a chilling message from Astrid leaves them wondering whether their beloved friend is communicating from the after life. The girls embark on a journey to uncover Astrid's dark secrets. The answers to those questions--questions they never dreamed of asking--will change their lives forever.

Review:

Pretty Little Liars was, is, and always will be my favourite guilty pleasure.  I read the entire book series from the time I got a free ebook copy of the first book, pretty much devouring all the fun drama and twists.  The After Girls brings that same kind of drama and mystery and town secrets back.  However, in this book, the main character has committed suicide rather than been murdered, and her friends are left to pick up the pieces and attempt to find out what happened, all with the aid of some crazy adults and yummy boys.  This book is a quick read.  It's interesting and dramatic, with the right amount of respect for what happens when a girl commits suicide.  What happens After.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: After the Witch Hunt

Purchase After the Witch Hunt here.

Synopsis:

As if she discovered a small army of silenced women captive in her pen, Megan Falley releases them in the spilled ink that is her most brilliant collection of poems, After the Witch Hunt. Demanding "if you really love a writer, bury her in all your awful and watch as she scrawls her way out,” her book does exactly that. An incessant digging, a journey in building escape routes, armed with both humor and a brazen darkness, each poem in this book of bloodletting is another swing of the pick and axe in this young woman's labor, insistent upon light.

Review:

I've seen Megan Falley perform.  I've watched her videos on YouTube for years now.  And yet, I'm still shocked by how hard and deep many of her poems hit with me.  Megan is a brilliant and versatile writer, and this collection is just another example of her talents.  I first read After the Witch Hunt nearly a year ago, and I just keep going back to it because the poems keep resonating.  This is definitely a book to borrow and re-read until the cover is tattered and the pages well-loved.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: Drunks and Other Poems of Recovery

Purchase Drunks and Other Poems of Recovery here.

Synopsis:

There are rock stars of the slam-poetry world; poets who not only sell thousands of books but travel the country and perform for hundreds of fans at a time. Poets like the late Jack McCarthy, writer of eight books of poetry and whose newest work, Drunks and other poems of recovery, is a masterful collection for those who have made and are making the thorny journey through addiction.

In Drunks and other poems of recovery, McCarthy likens an AA meeting to an island of shipwrecked survivors. “Every night we gather around the fire and tell our stories. And the more we tell our stories, the clearer it becomes: it isn’t many stories we’re telling, it’s The Story,” says McCarthy.  That’s what he was unparalleled at doing: telling his story while at the same time telling the tale of thousands.

Drunks and other poems of recovery will be McCarthy’s last book. He left this world earlier this year at age 73. His life was a full one; 40 years sober, a touring poet who traveled much of the United States and Canada, Ireland, Germany and Spain and an innovative writer of poetry and recovery. McCarthy is gone but due to his poetry and recorded performances, the essences of him will always be here.

Review:

I read this book while at the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational.  What better place to delve into a book of poetry when surrounded by some of the best poets I've ever met?  Write Bloody Publishing continues to publish authors with so much to offer, this time showcasing a man who shows incredible versatility, even in a book based around one subject.  Yes, most of these poems focus on Alcoholics Anonymous and other parts of the author's life being an alcoholic, but they echo sentiments that anyone in recovery feels.  Whether you are recovering from alcoholism, drug addiction, self harm, or an eating disorder, or if you are close with someone who is, you will find pieces of yourself in these poems, along with something that seems scarce in the recovery community: hope.  This is a beautiful final connection that, if I have anything to say about it, will be read long after people have forgotten Aliens.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: The Bane

Purchase The Bane (The Eden Trilogy) here.

Synopsis:

Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time. Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind. The Bane is The Terminator meets The Walking Dead with a heart-twisting romance.

Review:

Anyone who read my last post or who has talked to me within the past month knows that I've been dying to find new dystopian/post-apocalyptic books to read lately.  Divergent set me off on a kick that I haven't been able to shake since, so when I stumbled across The Bane, I thought it would be the perfect answer to what I was looking for.  Keary Taylor's idea is so innovative, treating the traditional science fiction idea of cyborgs as a virus - a disease that one human can spread to another.  Reading this story was a treat, telling the same kind of story I was looking for in a post-apocalyptic story, but in a surprisingly refreshing way.

The romantic aspect of the book, I was not a huge fan of for the majority of the novel.  Specifically West's parts were excruciatingly uncomfortable, feeling closer to sexual assault than to romance.  In addition, parts of the plot felt too rushed, as if Taylor was trying to fit too much into one volume.  I'm left wondering what could possibly happen in the two remaining volumes of the Eden Trilogy.

However, I enjoyed The Bane.  It was a fun read and a great adventure story.  If you are looking for a good post-apocalyptic novel that manages to maintain a sense of lightness despite the heaviness of the subject matter, The Bane is a perfect option.  I look forward to reading the remainder of the trilogy.

Until next time, happy reading!
-Amanda

Review: The Diviners

Buy The Diviners here.

Synopsis:

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

 

Review:

 

This book is the perfect book to spend a few days completely lost in.  The language (which will get stuck in your head and you will accidentally try to use in your daily life), the vibrant city, the secrets and characters and intricate plot...  You'll fall down the glitzy and dangerous rabbit hole of Evie's world and not want to come out.  Libba Bray once again creates an amazingly rich, enchanting atmosphere for an engaging story that will have you hooked until the very last page.  This is another one of those books that I will probably get in trouble for not shutting up about, but I don't care.  I think it's the elephant's eyebrows!

Until next time, happy reading!

-Amanda

Reviews: Divergent and Insurgent

Purchase Divergent and Insurgent here.

Divergent Synopsis:

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Insurgent Synopsis:

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Review:

I am currently trying to figure out what to do with my life after finishing what has been published of this series so far.  I am in book shock - it's been hard to read anything else because these two books are so great that I don't know what will measure up.  I have my desktop set to a fan-created Divergent image.  I will not stop talking about this series to basically anyone who will listen; I've downloaded both books to my boyfriend's Kindle, I semi-attacked my friend David in the dining hall today over the series, and I swear my mother will hang up on me the next time I bring the books up.  To say I enjoyed the series is an understatement; I've needed a series into which I can completely escape lately, and the Divergent universe gladly delivers. 

Veronica Roth's faction system creates such an interesting set up for this series.  The books are engaging, fast-paced, heart-wrenching, and mind-bending.  One word of warning; this series is not for the faint of heart.  The series takes place in war time, and Roth is certainly not shy of character death.  As someone who seems to only watch shows that involve intense emotional trauma (hello, Fringe, Season Four), this is not an issue for me.  Veronica Roth really delivers: you have a badass heroine with a group of fleshed-out and interesting characters, a complex political system, insane plot twists, a complicated romance that doesn't hinder the story line.  I also love that Tris isn't inhuman, and neither are any of the other characters.  Even the basic training that Dauntless members have to go through is incredibly emotionally traumatizing, and dealing with that is an integral part of the storyline.  When a character dies, it isn't just dealt with, accepted, and then out of the storyline; you see how it affects each character.

All in all, this was an amazing series and I cannot wait until book three is released.

Until next time, happy (or in this case, incredibly emotional) reading!
-Amanda