I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Every once in a while, I'll read a book that completely renews my love for literature--this was one of those books. I'll Give You the Sun is a beautifully written coming-of-age novel about twins Noah and Jude Sweetwine (swooooon at that last name) who are driven apart by tragedy, but are reunited by love, mystery, and a few common interests that they never knew they had. This is one of my favorites I've read this year. Jandy Nelson did a fantastic job with this book, and I wish everyone with a brain would read it.

Here's the Big Five:

1. SO MUCH NEUROTICISM. But in such a good way. All the characters exhibit such complex emotions and thoughts, and Nelson conveys them with grace and ease that I haven't seen in a while in a YA novel.

2. Plotline--tough. There are issues addressed in this novel that you wouldn't normally see brought to the surface in other YA plotlines. It's also very original in the sense that it branches out from the clichés that the genre tends to play on and, while not altogether excluding them, plays on the strengths and weaknesses of them and makes them that much more endearing.

3. The characters are lovable. That's not something I say often, but almost every character makes you want to connect with them.

4. Again.. I'm a big fan of P.O.V. switches (WHEN DONE WELL), and Nelson hit this one right on the head. It really makes the story mesh well and the details fit together much better with the switch.

5. The author's quirks definitely shine through. A lot of Nelson's own flairs can be seen throughout this novel--bits and pieces of her own family life, traditions, and even some characters were adapted from her life.

Overall, I give this novel a 10/10, and like I said, everyone with a brain should read it. I cried and I laughed, and I want my kids and my parents and my husband and everyone I'm close to, to read it, because it meant that much to me. Too much? Oh well.

xoxo.

Horns by Joe Hill

I do believe I've found my favorite horror/thriller novel. Horns by Joe Hill is by far one of the best books I've read in a while. Set in Gideon, NH, Hill follows the life of Ignatius Perrish, who has loved with all of his heart and lost everything he holds dear. The most precious thing he lost was Merrin, the love of his life. He goes through a life altering experience and is able to discover who killed her. Ig goes through hell (ha) to bring justice to his lost lover.

Here's the Big Five:

1. Completely. Original. Horns is a completely new concept, and Hill delivers it exceptionally well. I think he's paving the way for new horror.
2. Character development is flawless. Hill spends a deal of time developing the characters, and he makes you feel as though you personally have met each and every one. I fell in love with the way that he let you into the minds of his characters.. literally.
3. Horns will make you question your beliefs, or at least it made me question mine. Hill obviously did a substantial amount of research on different religions and presented many different views/beliefs throughout the book.
4. This is one of the most cerebral books I've ever read. You can make of it what you'd like, but it requires some thinking to understand deeper meaning than what is necessarily written.
5. The symbolism used is absolutely impeccable. Almost everything can be interpreted to symbolize something.

I loved Horns, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a new take on the world of horror/thrill. Hill did a fantastic job and I'm certain he has established himself in the world of literature as a contender with the release of Horns. 

I recommend Horns 9/10.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Both of my previous posts have been positive. But, as you may know, not every book that I read, will I particularly like. If I Stay by Gayle Forman is one of those books that I read and kinda just went "...eh". Don't get me wrong, it's sweet and it's well-liked by many readers.. just not me.

If I Stay tells the story of young girl Mia, who is a musical prodigy. Mia undergoes some traumatic experiences and ends up in a coma. She has an out-of-body experience and ultimately has to make the decision between life or death.

Here's the Big Five:

1. Well, I can't really tell you much more in the synopsis without giving away the entire book. That's one of the main problems I had with the plot.. it was so narrow and micromanaged that most, if not all, of the book is about one specific thing/place/decision.
2. There's no variation. None. Whatsoever. The story is interesting and I didn't have a problem reading it all the way through. But Jesus, it's almost anti-climactic. It's one huge oh-my-gosh-this-is-crazy and there's never any suspense or wondering, and then at the end you're just kinda left like oh.. okay.
3. The ending.. well it wasn't very hard to predict. From page 1, I could pretty much guess exactly how the book was going to end. All of the details Forman put into the book, while they were good details, left absolutely no room for interpretation and left no other ending available. 
4. A lot of the concepts and plot lines that were introduced were left undeveloped. Characters that had a lot of potential were mentioned once, maybe twice, and never to be heard from again. There were so many ways that Forman could have taken the story to higher levels, and she just.. didn't.
5. Random elements were shoved into place that never tied into the rest of the story at all. For example, Forman made a huge deal out of Mia's parents being "hippies", but that never had any kind of bearing on the plot. She also made Mia's love interest a big deal, but he was only mentioned two or three times. The rest is about Mia's internal conflicts (which is probably how Forman intended it) but I just couldn't get into it.

So, while If I Stay is a decent story, I wouldn't ever consider reading it again or raving about it. And I know this isn't really relevant, but the movie = NOTHING like the book (just an FYI). I mean, if you like hopeless romanticism, then you'd probably enjoy it, but I really, truly didn't. 

I would recommend 3/10.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I'm usually not a huge fan of Holocaust-related literature, but The Book Thief is a great story. Zusak chronicles the life of a young girl named Liesel that is separated from her brother and her mother in Nazi Germany. The girl, after being orphaned, is taken in by a family that lives in Munich, Germany, which had tons of Nazi supporters and Hitler-worshipers. Throughout the book, Liesel learns how to keep a secret and develops relationships with people that would have been less-than-desirable in her time. She learns to read and write from her "Papa", and she opens the door to a whole other world through books and reading.

Here's the Big Five:

1. Zusak recreates a world that not a lot of people are around to recount. He describes the Nazi reign in Germany vividly and, after doing some research myself, accurately. He inserts German vernacular (but he clearly defines every word he uses) and describes the lay of the land and the people there perfectly.
2. The Book Thief tells a historical account without having that boring history feel. You learn a lot about the culture in Germany at the time while feeling like you're simply reading a creative fiction story.
3. Zusak takes a very original approach to the story. There are lots of pieces of literature about the Holocaust and events that took place during, but Zusak constructs an interesting, never-before-heard-of story that will keep you wanting to read more.
4. The Book Thief leaves you room to form your own opinions. Zusak doesn't push a biased opinion down your throat. If you're a decent human being, then yeah, you're going to be disgusted by the Holocaust and the crimes committed during, but when I say you can form your own opinions, I mean about the characters in the book.
5. I'm an avid supporter of education, so the fact that Zusak allows his main character's eyes to be opened through reading and learning to write really makes my heart smile. A theme that was clearly developed throughout the novel was that knowledge means power.

So, if you're looking for a great read that will be sure to reach deep down into your soul and touch your heart, then you'll love The Book Thief. History nuts will also find the book interesting and accurate; or, if you're just interested in learning about the Holocaust but don't want to read a history textbook to learn, then this book is a great start.

I recommend 8/10.

Red Dragon byThomas Harris

Red Dragon is a novel that was written by Thomas Harris, and is the first book in the series of books Harris wrote about the infamous literary character Hannibal Lecter. Now, I absolutely loved the book and the movie "Silence of the Lambs". Even though Red Dragon is the first book in the series, I actually saw/read SOTL first. In my humble opinion, Red Dragon is the best book of Harris' that I've read.

The book begins following the life of retired FBI Agent Graham. Graham had a rough life in the FBI, so he retired. But, a new serial killer, dubbed "The Tooth Fairy", or known to some as "The Red Dragon", is on the loose, and the FBI recruits Graham to come back and face the skeletons in his closet, in order to hunt down the Red Dragon before he strikes again. Throughout the book, which is narrated from a third person POV, Graham learns a lot, not only about himself, but about his relationship with his wife, his comrades, his son, the infamous Hannibal Lecter, and the Red Dragon, as well.

I loved this book for many, many reasons. 

1.  Harris did an outstanding job developing his characters. It's almost as if the book doesn't really revolve around a single character. He spends equal amounts of time describing and detailing the lives of his characters and analyzing their behaviors and thoughts. The only character that wasn't as developed as I'd have liked was, in fact, Lecter. He is briefly referenced maybe two or three times throughout the novel. So, if you're looking for a book solely about Lecter, this isn't the one for you.
2. The story was so original, and there were so many plot twists, that I couldn't stop reading. All throughout Red Dragon, Harris develops his story and intertwines the lives of the different characters so effortlessly and clearly that I didn't ever have to wonder what was going on. The plot was so unusual, yet brilliant. I've never read anything like it. 
3. Harris brings in elements from the real world. You can tell that he's done his fair share of research on FBI, legal procedures and jargon, serial killer behavior, and Asian Culture (I'm sure since you saw the title of the novel that you assumed it had some kind of oriental influence, but if not, there is). Although he uses legal jargon, the story is easy to understand.
4. The ending threw me for a complete loop. Harris did a fantastic job of tricking me, and I love that whenever I'm reading a novel. The ending was completely unexpected and while it was not really original, it was freshly introduced and fit well with the story.
5. Harris' writing is clear, concise, and to the point. You aren't left to interpret what he means by what he's said. (Well, maybe on the very last page, but it's really not all that bad, folks). He doesn't use fancy, flamboyant language throughout the entire novel; and why would he? This is a crime novel, not a Shakespearean sonnet!

Yes, there are many more reasons why I love this novel, but those are the BIG FIVE. (Since this is my first post, I'll go ahead and tell you that in my later posts, the Big Five will probably become a consistent element). 

SO, if you're looking for a gripping, thrilling, I-can't-put-this-book-down-help-me novel, then Red Dragon is perfect for you. I would not recommend this novel to anyone with a sensitive/weak stomach, because it is semi-graphic and there is coarse language used throughout. Anyone who has an interest in forensics, law, or even just plain out psychopathic killers, will love this book and the story that Harris tells.

I 10/10 recommend this book.