Book # 55 THE NIGHT CIRCUS By: Erin Morgenstern

"The circus arrives without warning. No announcements proceed it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentions or advertisements in local papers. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. The towering tents are striped in white and black, no golds or crimsons to be seen. No color at all, save for the neighboring trees and the grass of the surrounding fields. Black-and-white stripes on a grey sky; countless tents of varying shapes and sizes, with an elaborate wrought-iron fence encasing them in a colorless world."

And so begins the most magical book I have read in years.

A tale of dueling magicians (both prodigies of famous illusionists) in a circus that only opens at nightfall. The story is told from multiple points of view and throughout the course of many decades. One of the great things about this book is that it didn't remind me of anything else. It mastered lush description without sacrificing plot and hosted a love story without being trite. The language was rich without being dreary or heavy. When I reached the beautiful conclusion- I wanted to start the book all over again.

These reviews are always much shorter when I love the book, aren't they?

A+

Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 2011

Barnes & Noble Best Books of 2011

Advance Book Review- BORN WICKED By: Jessica Spotswood

I find it exceptionally interesting that so many of the YA books that are getting the most attention and loyalty all seem to do with a controlling government and/or religious oppression. I wonder if the young adults who are reading these books are taking the time to look at the state of politics and religion in our country today. Do they notice the parallels?

That being said, Jessica Spotswood's debut novel Born Wicked is the first I've read in a while that isn't dystopian- but a period piece. Born Wicked is the story of three sisters towards the end of the 19th century who after their mother's death find that they may be the subject of a powerful prophecy . Oh BTW- they're witches in New England. Now before you start shouting "Crucible!" on me, let me assure you that this book is not a copycat of anything we've seen regarding the Salem Witch Trials. Spotswood managed to turn the "Little Women" feeling that I got whilst reading into a very unique fantasy with rich prose. I liked how even though I was reading a period piece the themes of the story at hand felt very relevant to today. (aka: religious oppression, censorship, sexism, homophobia, etc)

This book is openly marketed as book one in a series (Trilogy, possibly?) and with such a shocking and emotionally jolting ending I am horrified that I now have to wait for book two. I hope Jessica knows how to write fast.

A+

If You Liked THE HUNGER GAMES You'll Love LEGEND By: Marie Lu

Today's America is fundamentally split down the middle on practically every issue there is. What if we decided to literally cut the country down the middle and divide it in two? The lefty side of me says "hell yeah", but after reading Marie Lu's LEGEND- I'm curious to see more.

LEGEND tells the story of two teenagers in The Republic of America-June is a prodigy being groomed in the upper ranks of society for military success- Day is the country's most wanted criminal accused of murdering June's brother . The Republic is constantly at war with it's neighbors and it's people are suffering of a mysterious plague. The middle class has been eliminated- there are only slums and high rises living under the oppressive regime.

I am confident that the premise of this story is similar enough to The Hunger Games that it will cultivate the same fan base, but not so similar that you feel as though you are reading a copycat.

If you enjoy dystopian fiction, mature YA fiction, The Hunger Games, or just a good page-turner- do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK.

A+

Teen Reading: THIRTEEN REASONS WHY By: Jay Asher & THE FUTURE OF US By: Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

I hated High School. I mean really hated it. I'm sure a part of that was my own fault in that I had a terrible attitude- but mostly it was having to be around people I didn't like each day. Don't get me wrong- there were people that were great people and I was lucky enough to call a couple of those people my friends- but for some reason we always seem to remember the pricks, don't we?

Thirteen Reasons Why is the story of Emily, who commits suicide and leaves a set of cassette tapes for the people who contributed to her making that decision. Dark? Yes. Hard to read? Yes. Could I put it down? Nope.

This book should be mandatory reading for all teenagers- this was a haunting story and a terrifying portrait of what happens when we treat each other badly. It's funny how fast we forget that every little thing we do affects people. Just because something you say or do doesn't affect you- doesn't mean it won't change the lives of others (and not always for the better).

___________

I've said many times that I am SO grateful facebook hadn't been invented yet when I was a teenager. It was bad enough being harassed on AIM- facebook would have been fucking brutal.

All that being said- The two Jay Asher books I've now read touched heavily on being a teen today (FML- I'm so sorry to everyone who is currently in HS) and facebook.

The Future of Us was written by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler. In 1996 two teenagers log onto the internet for the first time and through some inexplicable magical realism are able to see their own facebook pages 15 years in the future. The thought of seeing facebook before even being able to comprehend what social networking has become over the past decade is a bizarre thought.

The Future of Us was not quite the emotional powerhouse that Thirteen Reasons Why was- but it was entertaining and a truthful look at how easy it is to be an unhappy teenager and not always understand why.

I can honestly say that when I was younger there was nowhere near the quality of YA writing that there is today. I sincerely hope that kids today puts down fucking angry birds and read a book!

THE FUTURE OF US:

*Barnes & Noble Best Books of 2011

Book # 54- 11/22/63 By: Stephen King

The world is fucked up. There's no way around it- it just is. What if you could pin down the turning point where everything spiraled out of control? What if you were given the opportunity to take back the shot gun blast that started it all?

In 11/22/63 a High School teacher finds a worm hole in time and goes back to 1958 to stop the Kennedy assassination. Yes- you heard me right- he has to live for five years in the past before he can live that fateful day. The thing is- the past doesn't want to be changed- the more you try to change it the harder it fights you.

For those who love Stephen King- this book has just enough suspense that you will be thoroughly satisfied. For those of you who are not quite as into Stephen King- this book is unlike any of his previous work and you should seriously consider giving it a shot.

First off- this is not a book of conspiracy theories (though some are addressed)- this is a work of fiction. KICK-ASS fiction.

Second- who knew that Stephen King was capable of such a good love story? I was pleasantly surprised to experience one of the most likable non-nauseating love stories I've read in recent memory.

This book is very long- but it doesn't feel like it. It looks like a big undertaking but it's totally enjoyable. Pick this one up.

A

*New York Times Notable Book

*Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction of 2011

*Barnes & Noble Best Books of 2011

Books I'm ashamed to say I enjoyed...

Valley of the Dolls By: Jacqueline Susann

Yup. Trashtastic. But ya know what? I loved it. It was everything I wanted from a pill-popping, plastic surgery, 1960s New York Soap opera. I’m not saying that it was quality literature by any means- but I’ll probably read it for a second time one day. (the movie was painful in comparison, btw)

Peyton Place By: Grace Metalious

Again- Grace Metalious created a trashy sub genre here- but nonetheless I like the scandal. Very comparable to Valley of the Dolls in some way (that includes a sub-par film adaptation)

Gossip Girl By: Cecily von Ziegesar

I like these books the way most people like the Kardashians- I’m fully aware that they’re stupid, superficial, and probably making me less of a human being- but I enjoy them anyway.

Twilight By: Stephanie Meyer

The writing is unforgivably terrible. The heroine is unlikeable. Her main love interest is basically a stalker. The vampires are total pussies who don’t drink human blood (isn’t that what vampire means?).

But still. I enjoyed these.

__________________________

Moral of the story? Sometimes you just need to zone out go ahead and relish in trashiness.

PS- I’m Team Jacob. Edward’s obsessive, controlling, & creepy.

10 Books I know I'm supposed to read but really don't feel like it...

1.) A Tale of Two Cities By: Charles Dickens

I read somewhere that this is the best-selling single volume book of all time. Well I’ll be damned if I didn’t space out by the fourth page. I’ve started it multiple times and OH MY GOD. I get that classic literature has value even though the language has become dated and all- but this book is impossible for me to read! Sorry Mr. Dickens- I liked Great Expectations but I think it’s time for us to break up now.

2.) War & Peace By: Leo Tolstoy

TOO LONG.

3.) Lord of the Rings By: Tolkien

Yeah...so I know that they're the best thing in the history of the planet and all- but I cannot get into Sci Fi/Fantasy stuff. I mean no disrespect by that but I have tried and all those fairies, elves, goblins, aliens, etc. make me feel like I'm on an acid trip that I'm not really enjoying. Maybe I should just read The Hobbit. That's like a kid-friendly Lord of the Rings- right?

4.) Animal Farm By: George Orwell

While I love dystopian fiction I was not a big fan of 1984- that kind of keeps my interest for this book at bay. Plus- didn't they reference this book on Gossip Girl? I feel like that alone should take away some of this book's street cred.

5.) Moby Dick By: Herman Melville

Something tells me this book should be something I would like. I know that this is the epitomy of the great American novel and all, but I seriously have to swim through the language to get to the adventure. Isn't it like Cujo but with a whale?

6.) Wuthering Heights By: Emily Bronte

This book probably has the best shot at getting me to sit down, read it, finish it, and (potentially) like it. That being said every time I sit down to read it I get distracted by the new and shiny books on the bestseller list. Sorry- maybe I'm more of a consumer that I'd like to admit.

7.) Gone With the Wind By: Margaret Mitchell

While I appreciate that this book probably has a lot of drama that I would enjoy- American history truly bores me. I know, I know- I'm a bad American. But I've never found US History interesting and the Civil War in particular is a very quick way to make me take a nap.

8.) The Fountainhead By: Ayn Rand

I've started this book three times. I'm pretty sure I've lied in conversation and claimed that I've finished it when I've been surrounded by other people who have- but cards on the table- never made it past page 70. I want so badly to love this book- but if I genuinely don't care by page 70- maybe I'm not meant to like it.

9.) Les Miserables By: Victor Hugo

I didn't even like the musical.

10.) Going Rogue By: Sarah Palin

HAHA. Just fucking with you.