FREE BOOKS.

Why am I making this face, you ask?

Free books, y'all. Well, free books for me anyway. My NYU program has finally shifted its attention to book publishing, and the best part? FREE BOOKS. I'm getting lots.

And I'll review them all here. GET EXCITED.

(This picture was actually taken at a David Cook concert two years ago. Books are the only other thing besides that gorgeous man that make my face contort in such a manner. His new CD comes out tomorrow--get at it.)

Love Walked In

Written by Marisa de los Santos


Goodreads Synopsis: When Martin Grace walks into the hip Philadelphia coffee shop Cornelia Brown manages, her life changes forever. Charming and debonair, the spitting image of Cary Grant, Martin sweeps Cornelia off her feet, but, as it turns out, Martin Grace is more the harbinger of change than the change itself. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, eleven-year-old Clare Hobbes must learn to fend for herself after her increasingly unstable mother has a breakdown and disappears. Taking inspiration from famous orphans (Anne Shirley, Sara Crewe, Mary Lennox, and even Harry Potter) Clare musters the courage to seek out her estranged father. When the two of them show up at Cornelia's cafe, Cornelia and Clare form a bond as unlikely as it is deep. Together, they face difficult choices and discover that knowing what you love and why is as real as life gets.


My Confession: I almost didn't finish this book. And I say that about close to no books. Ever. That's how slow this story started off. At one point, probably around page 100, I closed the cover, flopped back on my bed, and exasperatingly exclaimed to my roommate, "I just can't get into this book. It's disappointing." She, also a reader, had the good sense to make sympathetic clucking noises. However, being the bookaholic I am, I refused to totally give up on this book. I stuck it back on my shelf and resolved to come back to it. Which I did, of course. And the middle-to-end of the book was significantly better than the beginning. I could appreciate all the references to Philadelphia, seeing as how that's where I'm from, and not nearly enough books take place in the City of Brotherly Love. I also really like the name Cornelia. The character, on the whole, had a strong voice throughout, breaking out of her narration often to address her readers directly. However, this didn't totally work for me. Even though her voice is there, I was left feeling rather muddled about her character. Maybe she was too strong. But I had a hard time identifying and understanding this tiny person, who I couldn't picture to save my life and whose personality seemed so contrasting at times. 


And don't even get me started on Martin. Or their relationship. Not real. Not even close. I never believed it, never liked it, never felt it. As the book and plot progressed, you'd believe that perhaps their wooden interactions were purposeful, but my gut tells me they weren't. I had a hard time picturing him too, even though Cornelia kept likening him to Cary Grant. Considering their relationship pretty much opened the book, perhaps that's why I couldn't get into the story. Something about it seemed off. Not genuine. 


Skirting Issues: While I finally felt invested close to the end of the book, I noticed that a few major issues were being brought up: alcoholism, abuse, child abandonment, bipolar disorder, and death. I appreciated the different dimension these problems brought to what would have been a saccharine love story otherwise. But I was disappointed that these issues were never investigated or explored more. They were introduced and then swept away just as quickly. It was almost like they were added to give the story depth, but the author didn't really want to get into the stickiness of what they entailed. I was left with the feeling that those harder-hitting plotlines were a supporting cast instead of a lead. In the end, the story felt disjointed between hopeless romanticism and sad uncertainty. Blend them, and you've got a fantastic and moving book. Run them parallel to each other, never intersecting, and you've got a recipe for confusion and disjointedness. 


My Recommendation: I don't know. A part of me liked the book. I felt pleasant after reading it. I believed the second love story more than the first (you'll know what I mean when/if you read this). The character of Clare may be the best reason I have for recommending this book. She was the most consistent voice throughout, and I enjoyed her perspective on the more adult things going on around her; half the book is told from her perspective, a smart move, especially since I found Cornelia a tad annoying, even shrill, at times. Is it a cute story? Sure. Will it take you a while to get invested? Yup. But I'm not sorry I stuck it out. There are a few sweet moments in here that just might make the whole read worth it.


Rating: 3/5


307 pages, published by Plume (Dec. 29, 2005)

This is Where I Leave You

Written by Jonathan Tropper


Goodreads Synopsis: The death of Judd Foxman's father marks the first time that the entire Foxman family--including Judd's mother, brothers, and sister--have been together in years. Conspicuously absent: Judd's wife, Jen, whose fourteen-month affair with Judd's radio-shock-jock boss has recently become painfully public.
Simultaneously mourning the death of his father and the demise of his marriage, Judd joins the rest of the Foxmans as they reluctantly submit to their patriarch's dying request: to spend the seven days following the funeral together. In the same house. Like a family.
As the week quickly spins out of control, longstanding grudges resurface, secrets are revealed, and old passions reawakened. For Judd, it's a weeklong attempt to make sense of the mess his life has become while trying in vain not to get sucked into the regressive battles of his madly dysfunctional family. All of which would be hard enough without the bomb Jen dropped the day Judd's father died:  she's pregnant. 


My Confession: I was first drawn to this book because of the cover. It's not just colorful--it's textured. I'm all for tactile stimulation (which is perhaps why I'll never warm up completely to ebooks), so the sensation of this book in my hands felt about as authentically literary as you can get. Before I even read the summary on the back, I was sold. And once I cracked the pages, I was hooked. Tropper has one of the most fantastic literary voices I've ever read. He's witty, sardonic, self-deprecating, wry, and intuitive, and because of this, he draws us in to his multi-faceted character and the complicated, tangled mess that is his life. After the first page, I was invested. That kind of writing takes incredible skill.


Sitting Shiva: This book, structurally, takes place over seven days, but we're treated to Judd's romantic, scholastic, and familial history throughout the novel. We're thrown so deeply into his head that we feel his fears, his desires. His betrayals are our betrayals, his depression our own. I don't think this story could have been as moving without the first-person narration. Seeing the other characters through the filter of Judd's memories and experiences paints a fulfilling picture. In other words, I didn't need to know their side of the story; I knew and trusted my narrator enough to take his descriptions at face value. Again, a very difficult feat that Tropper does easily. Judd is such an incredibly flawed character, and his family is positively certifiable. What goes down during those seven days (and the past thirty-something years that lead up to the family sitting Shiva) proves the point that relationships, love, and--most importantly, memories--are imperfect. As Judd tries to work through the quicksand of despair that seems to come at him from all angles, he's forced to confront decades-long resentment and guilt. Most importantly, the reader is left with the notion that silence, and a lack of trust in those closest to you, never bodes well. Silence is not golden.


My Recommendation: Every single character in this novel is flawed. Every single one seems to have a secret, a battle, a cross to bear in some way. The way they're tied together makes for one insanely intricate novel. However, the pieces click together impossibly well, and the reader feels just as connected to those characters as Judd does. In fact, in the middle of this read, I felt like I had to physically pull myself out of Judd's skin when I'd put the book down--and I'm a girl. For the first time, I felt like I could relate to and understand a male narrator who, while a bit more dramatic, had worries, fears and doubts not unlike my own. My family is a lot less dysfunctional, but every family has problems somewhere. This is Where I Leave You doesn't bother to romanticize the kinds of relationships most people simultaneously treasure and long for. And that's precisely what makes it so special.


Rating: 4.8/5


339 pages, published by Dutton Adult (Aug. 6, 2009)

The Summer I Turned Pretty

Written by Jenny Han


Goodreads Synopsis: Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.


My Confession: This was a really sweet read. From the carefree prose to the breezy descriptions of the delectable shore line, this story felt light. As someone who has treasured summers down the shore, I felt like this book really captured the atmosphere of the otherworldly sensation of sand between your toes and young love in your heart. I don't know about you, but I'm always more optimistic when I'm at the beach. It's always been my safe place, my home-away-from-home. When it's time to leave, you usually have to drag me away (kicking and screaming is not just for toddlers, you know). Having tried to write about my love for and connection with the shore, I know how hard it is to create that special emotion and convey it to a reader. Han, however, does a pretty good job with it.


I enjoyed how the book was formatted. By starting in the present and then jumping back and forth in time (you're given fair warning, so the transitions are smooth instead of jerky), you get a real feeling for why Belly is so in love with the shore--and Conrad. Belly, who's only 16--even though there are moments when she seems much older--has been in love with the older Conrad her entire life. Even though he's brooding, moody, and never seems to acknowledge her as anything more than a pest, she turns to mush inside whenever he's around. Knowing this right up front, I was a little leery that this book would turn into Belly-pining-for-Conrad-and-Conrad-never-noticing-Belly. 


I was pleasantly surprised.


Early on, it becomes clear that Conrad does notice Belly as something more than a younger sister, but something keeps him from acting on it. And Belly, not one to turn down a good opportunity, meets a boy that summer and pursues a relationship. While Conrad remains in the back of her mind, it was refreshing to see that she didn't spend her entire summer doing her hair all pretty so Conrad might notice. Even though I never doubted (and I think this is the point) just how deep her feelings for Conrad run. She really does love him, but something holds her back, too. 


A Fresh Breeze: This YA novel has many layers. On the surface, it seems like a superficial love-triangle story of a pretty girl torn between two boys (brothers, no less). But that's not exactly how this plays out. Friendships are explored--between the kids as well as the adults--and serious issues, such as cancer, are dealt with out in the open. Belly proves herself to be a rather un-shallow character, and her summers revolve around more than boys. She has a close relationship with her family and feels extremely linked to Susannah, Jeremiah and Conrad's mom. And while her love life took up a significant amount of the book, there was enough substance that keep this story from getting annoyingly pubescent. 


My Recommendation: It's pretty much the perfect summer read. It's light, airy, and fun. It delves slightly deeper than you might expect, and every time you think you've just about had enough, something new happens that takes the plot down a different road. The Summer I Turned Pretty is the first book of a trilogy, so the ending has almost no resolve. Personally, I'd be interested to see where Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah go from this point in their story. Han does a great job of creating multi-faceted characters that are easy to invest in and root for. Yes, it's classified as YA lit, but I think anyone who knows what it feels like to spend a summer down the shore will enjoy this. 


Rating: 4.5/5


276 pages, published by Simon & Schuster (May 5, 2009)

Something Borrowed Movie Review

I promised earlier when I reviewed Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin that I'd follow it up with a review of the film. I practically ran to the theater to see this with my friends. I was so excited after watching both trailers. I knew I wasn't going to be entirely objective, and I don't fool myself into believing I'm a credible film critic. That aside, a promise is a promise. So, to begin, here's what I loved about this adaptation.

I loved:
1. The above video. I don't know what it is, but something about this dance sequence is really human. Anyone who knows how the story ends up feels a little pang for Rachel and Darcy, who, despite both betrayals, did have moments of true friendship.
2. This. Lots and lots of this. 
3. John Krasinski was so incredibly endearing as Ethan. Even though he doesn't have a large role in the book, I'm so glad they decided to forgo the novel on this one. He was just brilliant. So funny and adorable. His witty banter during the trips to the Hamptons was classic.
4. Rachel and Dex. Besides the fact that I just loved ogling Colin Egglesfield during the movie ad nauseum, these two were super-cute together. Their flashback scenes to how they became friends in law school were well-done. 

Could have been better:
1. While I'm glad they ignored the book's lack of Ethan-ness, there were some plot points I wished they'd included in the film. For instance, the 4th of July weekend--not really a big deal in the movie. All of a sudden, Dex's parents were there, throwing an awkward monkey-wrench into the situation. The reasoning behind Dex's parents' shameless promotion of his marriage to Darcy (and his father's unnecessarily nasty comment that Dex better end his relationship with Rachel) was never resolved. It was an odd addition that never really made sense. And was I the only one missing the magic dice? Double sixes! Can't believe they didn't make a cameo.
2. The jig-is-up scene. [SPOILER ALERT!] When Darcy visits Rachel after Dex calls off their wedding, she figures out that Dex is in Rachel's apartment. In the book, she figures it out when she finds Dex's watch on Rachel's nightstand. In the film, she discovers his suit jacket in Rachel's foyer. And instead of finding Dex crouched low in Rachel's closet, wearing nothing but boxers and clutching his clothes, Darcy finds Dex just chillin' in the kitchen. Darcy's raw rage, Rachel's blind panic, and Dex's calm anger never translates. I know this is a danger when books get turned into movies, but this was not how I pictured that scene going down at all. 
3. The end. I'm sorry, but while the ending in the book is far from cinematic (Rachel and Darcy do not speak), I felt like having them "bump into" each other on the streets of NY was just dumb. It didn't feel genuine at all, and that literary part of me rebelled against this addition. I guess they were setting up for a sequel where Rachel and Darcy can be civil (even though, in Something Blue, they never regain a normal friendship), but I was just disappointed. It felt like the filmmakers were trying to resolve all the conflict, and it ended up too nice-and-neat.
4. It was waaaaay too obvious that Ginny Goodwin was wearing a wig.

All in all, I love the book. I knew a part of me would love the movie purely for that reason. And when it comes out on DVD, you can be sure it'll become a part of my collection. Parts of this movie were well-done, and I laughed pretty consistently throughout. I loved the romance, even wished at times it had been pushed a little further. I hate the times when Dex comes off like he has no backbone, and the moments when you want to slap Rachel for not telling Darcy the truth. Perhaps it's because I read the book that I don't have a problem with the "moral ambiguity" of sleeping with your best friend's fiance. Rachel is sympathetic; Darcy comes off like a giant beeyotch who doesn't deserve Dex the Dreamboat. But there are times when I wish their personalities weren't so contrasting. It leaves people unfamiliar with the story wondering why those two stayed friends for so long.

And, just because....

Shameless, I know. But isn't he gorgeous? Ugh.


Grade: B- (but Colin gets an A)


Photos courtesy of Google Images, and video courtesy of Youtube

Shiver

Written by Maggie Stiefvater

Goodreads Synopsis: 

the cold.

Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

the heat. 

Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

the shiver.

For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human--and Grace must fight to keep him--even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

My Confession: I commend Stiefvater for creating a paranormal romance that somehow manages to keep both feet in the realm of normal. While the subject of werewolves has been broached and, at times, seriously overdone, there's something different and fresh about the love story between Sam and Grace. For one, their relationship seems extremely real. Perhaps it's the easy and fluent dialogue between the two, but I never second-guessed their sincere feelings for each other. And, given the history the two share before they even meet as humans, there is something special about how quickly they fall into a routine with each other. Take away the supernatural element, and the story loses its urgency. But, at the same time, Shiver does not feel reliant on the notion of creatures-you-never-believed-existed to carry the storyline.

Sam's Shiver: Sam's only a human during the warmest seasons--namely, the months between June and August. For some reason, as soon as it starts getting cold, he--wait for it--shivers, and turns back into a wolf until the warm weather returns. Naturally, that's going to put a kink in his relationship with Grace, especially since he senses that the summer he spends with her will be his last a human. 

The rules Stiefvater puts in place for Sam's transformation creates a sad and omnious tone for the novel's duration. There's a feeling of inevitability that these two lovers will be separated forever. And even though I love a good happy ending, I just didn't see how it could be pulled off without cheapening what came before. Seeing as this is the first book in a trilogy, there is obviously some resolve, but Stiefvater has stated a few times that she wrote these books to make people cry. 

In other words, brace yourselves. 

My Recommendation: As I anxiously await the arrival of Forever (click here to pre-order the final book in this trilogy, out July 12), I enjoy reading this story over. Linger, the second book, will be reviewed here as well in the future, and also packs a somber punch. The series could go either way--happy or sad. And even though there's a part of me that wishes I knew, the lack of predictability is what makes these books so special. Without a strong foundation in Shiver, this series would have nothing to build on. You'll get attached to the characters, but not because they're written in an overly-sympathetic or mushy way. 

It feels like Shiver accomplishes what Stephenie Meyer tried to do in the creation of Twilight's "heroine" Bella. Grace is her own person, but she feels like you, or your best friend. Sam is the boyfriend you always wanted, but when you get him, he both gets on your nerves and inspires spontaneous bursts of love. Wolves aside, this could be your life. Well, not really. But you get my drift.

Rating: 4.2/5

392 pages, published by Scholastic Press (Jan. 1, 2009)

One Day

Written by David Nicholls


Synopsis: It's 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day--July 15--of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself.


My Confession: I'd been wanting to read this book for quite some time, and I'm almost embarrassed to admit that it was the film version (which looks rather good, by the way) which lit a fire under me to finally pick it up. And I loved it. Every single, love-struck, frustrating, devastating page. This is a love story. This is the way love should be written about. This book has so much heart. The best part about it is that the relationship between Dexter and Em is far from perfect; in fact, they don't see each other every year on July 15. Their lives take them different places and in different directions. They both screw up, they both love other people. But in the end, the undeniable tug toward each other just steals the show.


Dexter Drama: One of the main criticisms I've seen for this book is the supposed "unlikable and shallow" character of Dex Mayhew. I'll be the first person to say that Dex does come off as selfish, daft, lazy, narcissistic, and blind to all the good in his life. He takes Emma for granted for most of the book and makes more mistakes than most people get away with in life. However, despite his hopeless flaws, I find Dex a wonderfully refreshing and realistic character. Yes, he's an ass. Yes, he uses people and struggles with personal relationships. But at his core, we're supposed to believe that Dex is a good person with a good heart. And no matter where his drama takes him throughout the book, no matter how many women he sleeps with or how his alcoholism ravages a promising career, I never doubted that he loved Emma with every fiber of his being. 


His love for her makes him a redeemable character. I've known guys like Dex: guys who act like big shots; guys who think they are going to become famous and "make something" of themselves; guys who come across as having gigantic egos; guys who love pretty women and have trouble settling down. But at the end of the day, I've learned that those guys can also be charming, endearing, and just plain good. Maybe it's that connection that left me enjoying the refreshing way Dex was written. He's not Prince Charming; that's not the point. He's real. And it works.


The ending: Hated it. Loathed it. Couldn't sleep after I read it. But that's what makes it a great ending. Emotionally, I wanted to rip Nicholls a new one, but I truly appreciate how deeply this book hit me. There hasn't been a story that kicked me in the gut as hard as this one. I got so attached to the characters, so attached to the story, and when it was over, I wanted more. I'm very curious to see how the movie handles this, as the ending is far from prettily Hollywood. I won't go into specifics, but somehow, after spending a few days thinking about it, the ending makes sense for the story. It resonates. As it should. 


Recommendation: Read it. It's magical. It provides that sweetness of romance with the bluntness of reality, a feat that's difficult to accomplish. Love can become cliche, but One Day cleanly rides the line between saccharine and harsh. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll probably go see the film and bemoan Anne Hathaway's fake British accent (I love her, but...no). You won't be able to put this one down, or stop thinking about it for days to come.


Rating: 5/5


437 pages, published by Hodder & Stoughton (April 13, 2004)

Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of...

This is the fountain in the heart of City Hall Park, NY.

Hey everyone! Sorry for the (long) hiatus. I just graduated from college (what?!) and moved to New York City (hence the Alicia Keys reference) to attend NYU's Summer Publishing Institute. The city is absolutely amazing. I've never been in New York longer than 12 hours, and I certainly haven't explored anywhere outside Times Square. I'm still a Philly girl at heart, but I always wondered what living in New York would be like. Now I'm here, and I'm meeting some extremely fun and interesting people. I've mastered the subway (for the most part) and love how just about everything is within walking distance.


Needless to say, I'm having the time of my life. That being said, I have no time for anything. The Institute is super-intense, but I'm determined to get back in the swing of things and bring back the book reviews!


I appreciate your patience, and there's a nice, long list of book reviews just waiting to hit cyber space.