Book Review: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Book:Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Sepetys
File Type: Paperback
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Publisher: Philomel Books
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

synopsis:
It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. 

She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

I’m surprised by how much I liked Out Of the Easy.

Sepetys’ popularity in the GR community was the first thing that led me towards this book. I’m more of a fantasy girl these days and I wasn’t too sure if I was going to like Out Of The Easy, because sometimes it all comes down to a reader’s mood. I’ve found myself disliking books that wowed others and failed to work its magic on me and somewhere along the line, I started experiencing a reading slump. I was a tad apprehensive at first, but all my apprehensions ran away as soon as the book and I got it on.

The book’s strongest point is Sepetys’ writing. Her writing is so powerful and so engaging and so so so so..I don’t know..cool? I was into the book right from the start and would’ve finished the book in one sitting if not for my daily routine obstructing my route to the reading happyland. The tone of the book is perfect. It’s mysterious and calm. It’s like one of those times when I visited this hill station with my family for a tiny holiday of three days. That hill station was tiny but the scenery was spectacular. It was chilly and cozy and all we did was sit down as a family and stay in with hot cups of coffee and tea. It was one of those times where I felt that time stood still and that nothing in this world mattered except for what was right in front of me. It was peaceful and rejuvenating. It’s weird but while reading this book, I felt exactly the way I felt during that holiday. I don’t know what that says about me, but on a personal note, this is a book that pulled me back from my reading slump, even if it was for just a day or two, but at the end of the day, it did pull me back.
So YAY for me, I guess.

As for the characters?
I love it when I love each and every character of the book. Not all, but the ones who mattered. There were prostitutes, there were crime lords , there were people with double standards , there were people who had fallen too far and had no way of getting, there was an uptown girl who found a friend in another without caring about anything else but the person who she was befriending ,there were hot boys who drove bikes (OH, JESSIE.) , there was a chauffeaur who gave more than he took and was excited for others more than he was for himself, there was a cook who lived and let live and through her silence, gave the loudest cheers of love , there was an iron lady who beneath all her steel was the most sentimental and caring person to ever walk the face of this planet, and then at the end, there was a girl, who even in the darkest of times, never lost hope.

Josie Moraine is a fighter and the people around her are fighters in their own ways, too.

I love how the story was so simple yet when you think about it, it is also so very complex. It has so many layers to it. It has Josie’s inner struggle. Her aspirations. The mystery which frankly disappointed me, a bit. And then at the end, there is the city of New Orleans itself—‘The Big Easy’.

I get the title of the book.

Just saying.

Anyway, I think that Out Of the Easy is a fantastic book and that Ruta Sepetys should be proud of her achievement. Now if I may, I’d like to go and check out her other books because Ms. Sepetys, you’ve stolen my heart.

And I’m going to JIVE on it.

Book Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Book: Clockwork Princess
Author: Cassandra Clare
File Type: Hardcover
Release Date: 19 march 2013
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Synopsis:

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.
Rating 3.5

I'd like to pat myself on my back because writing a review for this book hasn't been an easy task. It's a given that this book is heartbreaking. And I was quite prepared for it. But alas, things never go according to the plan and there I was , a crying-snot-blubbering heap of heartbreak.

I had initially written a huge review for this and it was pretty fantastic. I had just about managed to explain all my feelings and thoughts about this book but my stupid laptop turned itself off and all my emotions? Poof. Gone.

There was nothing left. NOTHING. 

Right now? I'm sad. 

I'm sad because The Infernal Devices is a series very close to my heart and that it isn't easy saying goodbye to a series you love. With unforgettable characters, vivid world building and a highly engrossing journey through the Victorian Era in London , The Infernal Devices is something that is to be cherished forever. The fact that I won't get to read about Will , Tessa , Jem , Sophie , Charlotte , HENRY! , Gideon , Cecily , Gabriel , Bridget..(and oh the list just goes on.) makes me even more sad. Sure, they might be mentioned somewhere or the other because that's the way Cassandra Clare rolls but it wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't.

Clockwork Princess beats it's predecessor by a mile when it comes to character development. There were times while I was reading Clockwork Princess and I would read about a certain character and I would wonder as to why I never liked this character before. And then realization would strike home because it is in this book that each character gets a well deserved platform. 
Also, the imagery spun by Ms. Clare never fails to surprise me. The Victorian Era has been portrayed so beautifully that I couldn't help but feel mesmerized. Wales is now on my list of 'Beautiful Places to Visit before you die.'
What's also so spectacular about this whole scenario is how much this trilogy in itself has affected each one of my emotions. A few years ago while cursing and whining about the disaster that was The City of Fallen Angels , I would've never guessed that a few years in future I'd be so deeply affected by the prequel of the series that had started out pretty great but later started to throw nothing but crap at me. 

When I talk about emotions , I try not to think much about the love triangle. Because let's admit it. It was pretty epic. There was something so beautiful in the pain and heartbreak that came with each page and I just couldn't help but fall more and more in love with this book. Will , Tessa and Jem are unforgettable characters and there were times when I just wanted to crawl inside the book and soothe their pain.

"I am not alone," he said. "Wherever we are, we are as one."

 This whole complication could be understood so well. All three of them lived for each other and if it came to that, they would even die for each other. Will and Jem's relationship was the highlight of the whole book. If,like me , you've ever wondered the dynamics of the Parabatai bond , things get pretty clear after reading this one.

"whether Will wanted her there or not or Jem either-- she could not watch the two of them walk into danger and not want to be where they were."

Some may wonder that if I did love Clockwork Princess so much and that according to me , this book beats Clockwork Prince then why is that Clockwork Prince received five shining stars and that this one just about managed to bag three and a half stars?
I'll tell you why.

Just because I feel everything doesn't mean I like everything I read. That end was beautiful but it wasn't something that sat well with me. 
There were certain things in the book that I did not approve of. And the epilogue was something I'd like to forget about. I'm at a loss of words because I have no idea how to explain to you my reasons without spoiling this book for you. Although, it was pretty predictable. My heart break went on until the end....until I read the epilogue and all I could say was WHAT?

In the end, although this book had it's flaws and I had my issue with it, this experience has been nothing but epic. This is a series that deserves to be cherished. And Cherish it, I will.

Book Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Book: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
File type: Paperback
Publisher: Black Swan
Release Date: September 8th 2007

synopsis:

HERE IS A SMALL FACT - YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION - THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH. It's a small story, about: a girl, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. ANOTHER THING YOU SHOULD KNOW - DEATH WILL VISIT THE BOOK THIEF THREE TIMES.

review:
Is it just me or is Mr.Zusak really cute? No seriously. He is, isn't he? Look at those dimples. Go ahead..JUST LOOK AT THEM. And oh his writing. A dimple guy who writes. *Dies.*

Anyway.The Book Thief was an amazing book. If you haven't read it yet, then you're an idiot. Case Closed. Sayonara. Bye.

I wish I could just end my review here but I have so much to say. And today is one of those many days where I read a book, loved it and words seem to just bounce off of me. See when I got my copy, I had a fair idea of how I would find myself in the end: Weeping and chanting Zusak's name.
But what I didn't expect was the kind of devastation it would cause. I’ve read a fair amount of reviews and I knew that there were going to be tears. What I didn’t think about was the magnitude.

It's a small story, about: a girl, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.

It is.

SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION - THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH. 

Holy mother or lord. Best Narrator Ever.

The story is set in Germany during the time when Hitler ruled. We’re all aware of the horrors of holocaust. How there were concentration camps and gas chambers and acid showers , the idea of which still scare me. How there were the Jews and the Nazis. Then there were some who simply were German. There was unemployment everywhere. It was a time of war and helplessness. Around this time when there were atrocities inflicted upon people and threats of bombing were spread around everywhere , there was this one particular young girl who stole books. A girl who found books magical and words fascinating and not once but thrice stole books just because she wanted to read. This is that girl , Liesel Meminger’s story. It’s narrated by death and it’s unforgettable.
It’s true. This is a simple story and that’s where it’s beauty lies. This one is for those who crave thought-provoking and moving stories.

I have to say, the writing is pure genius. There was the right amount of everything. There was sarcasm and heartbreaking honesty. And the way the characters have been created is marvellous. Each and every character impacts the heart and I think that this is Zusak’s biggest achievement.
Liesel Meminger was one female I couldn’t help but love. Her fascination with books and simple take on life was really endearing. I think every reader in general is going to love her because of how enthusiastic she is towards books. I also love how her character growth has been portrayed in the book. We meet her when she’s about nine in the book and it’s perfect because after all our naive years there is a time when everybody grows up and the growth of this beautiful girl is well....beautiful! 
And then there was Rudy. And Max. And Mr. Hubermann. I cannot get enough of this book.

So here’s the thing. This book is beautiful. And it’s AUSTRALIAN! And Zusak is obnoxiously cute. So do yourself a favour , buy the book and simply enjoy because this one deserves a place in all your bookshelves. 

Note- It's on the longer side. So be patient.

Book Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Title:  Revolution
Author:  Jennifer Donnelly
File type:  hardcover
Release date:  October 13^th , 2010
Genre:  YA, historical, contemporary, time travel

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.
PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Revolution is one of those rare books that both adults and teens can read and still see how wonderful it is.

I usually have a hunch when it comes to buying books published before 2011 and almost always get it right.  Back then, the YA community was still trying to find a firm ground and there weren’t many desperate “authors” who would write about anything just so they could poison our minds. Jennifer Donnelly is one of the few that actually knows how to write a good, quality book rather than those books where your new boyfriend helps you to get rid of all your problems and worries. I don’t think there’s ever been a book which made me cry so many times.  I cried 4 times in the first 100 pages and that says a lot because this book had 472 pages of pure emotions on paper.

 Our protagonist Andi is still battling with the death of her ten-year-old brother Truman so she turns to drugs and alcohol.  So, Andi accompanies her father to Paris for a couple of days so she could write her senior thesis on Amade Malherbeau, a French musician.  There she discovers a hidden compartment in a guitar case that can be opened with her brother’s key. The diary that was hidden in it is from a girl, Alexandrine Paradis, who wrote it two centuries ago.

Even though girls lived 2 centuries apart they still have a lot in common. While Andi is dealing with the guilt over her brother’s death, Alex is trying to save a little prince from a certain death. Through Alex’s daily battle Andi finds the strength to go on with her life and not just wait for it to end.

What I love about this book that it combines historical (which I don’t usually read) and contemporary fiction so easily you can feel like you’re living in the middle of the French Revolution and running around the modern day Paris.

Revolution is one of the best books I’ve read-ever. This is a must read for everyone! Well, actually not everyone, since some people don’t have taste and only enjoy in reading nonsense.  

This book also has a lot of different covers and I like every last one of them. 

Quotes:

“Life’s all about the revolution, isn’t it? The one inside, I mean. You can’t change history. You can’t change the world. All you can ever change is yourself.”

“There is only one thing I fear now-love. For I have seen it and I have felt it and I know that it is love, not death, that undoes us.” 

“History is a Rorschach test, people. What you see when you look at it tells you as much about yourself as it does about the past.” 

“Cry your grief to God. Howl to the heavens. Tear your shirt. Your hair. Your flesh. Gouge out your eyes. Carve out your heart. And what will you get from Him? Only silence. Indifference. But merely stand looking at the playbills, sighing because your name is not on them, and the devil himself appears at your elbow full of sympathy and suggestions. And that's why I did it....Because God loves us, but the devil takes an interest.”

Book review: Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Title: Infinite Days
Author:  Rebecca Maizel
File type:  paperback
Release date: August 3^rd, 2010
Genre: YA, Vampires, paranormal romance

“Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you... no one.”
Those were some of Rhode’s last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.
It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste.
Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust. 
I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn’t Rhode.
But Justin was... daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream.
I never expected to be sixteen again... then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me...

My Goodreads friend Stacia was right when she said this book was weird. I can’t even explain it how I felt about it. Did I like it or not? I’m really not sure. There were some things that caught my eye but there were some things that made me mad.

Let’s start with bad things, since they are easier to remember. It’s an understatement to say this book was filled with clichés such as new mysterious girl in school, most popular guy as a love interest, his bitchy girlfriend, spunky best friend who is the voice of reason and a bad guy. Main love interest, Justin did nothing for me. He had no personality at all. Why did Lenah fall in love with him so fast? His possibility to score some points with me disappeared the moment he agree with his girlfriend when she called Lenah a whore. Slut shamming? No, thank you. The bad guy wasn’t really a bad guy. He was just a frustrated lovesick vampire with a lot of time on his hands.

Now, there were two things I liked. Those are Rhode and just the feeling I had while reading the flashback scenes.  I really don’t get it why Maizel killed off the most interesting character in the book so early. This actually isn’t a spoiler since he died in the first 20 pages or so. Rhode was Lenah’s lover and maker and pretty much the only interesting vampire or human character in Infinite Days. My fingers were crossed that somehow he would turned out to be alive so I would learn more about him. Also, those flashback scenes were mostly with Rhode or Vicken. Tony (BFF), was an ok dude, I guess. After all, he did help Lenah a lot with her transition from being a vampire to a completely normal girl. Well, a really pale girl which know too much about everything.

Even after I got a lot of bullying and slut shamming I think I’ll try to read the second book when it comes out because I hate leaving things unresolved. 

This book was a part of 2013 Paranormal reading challenge hosted by Megan Likes Books and Auntie Spinelli Reads.