Flashback Friday (#10): Something Strange and Deadly Readalong Discussion

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2014-December 2015 would NOT be old).

I'm participating in the readalong for Susan Dennard's Something Strange and Deadly. I love the series, and I hope that all the hype around Truthwitch will also lead to people picking up this series and falling in love. I hope you'll join in! But regardless, here are my answers to some of the discussion questions!

1) How do you think you would react to the Dead walking around your city?

Oh my gosh. I would be terrified! I don't know who would honestly be okay with the Dead wrecking havoc in their city, and I don't know if I know anyone crazy enough to go fight them (actually, there are probably a few).  If the Dead started showing up, I would leave the city! I know some people in Connecticut, and if worst comes to worst, I also know people in Canada, and I could even flee to Brazil. I'd like to think I could be brave, but nope, that's not realistically happening. I'm too scared to actually do anything. I'd never be like Eleanor; I'd just be a bystander.

2) What do you think about the Dead? Are you glad it isn't too zombie-ish, or were you hoping for a more zombie-esque theme?

I don't think I've actually read any other "zombie" books, but I will say that I'm not normally into those kinds of books. I've never watched The Walking Dead and just generally don't read much supernatural fiction. But I actually really enjoyed the portrayal of the Dead in the series. Perhaps it's because I don't have much experience with it, but I found it to be a refreshing different take on zombies. I'm kind of glad it wasn't too "zombie-ish" because I don't know if I would have enjoyed it as much. Part of what makes Something Strange and Deadly so special is that it's a historic supernatural book. It's not just about what zombies/the living dead would be like in our current society but also what it would be like, what their motivations would be, if they were in a different time in history. Props to Sooz!

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 24th, 2012

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

Something Strange and Deadly: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository 

Susan Dennard: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr

Flashback Friday (#9): Review: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2014-December 2015 would NOT be old).

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 4th, 2010

Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

I've heard great things about this book since I first started blogging, but I kept putting off reading it. I'm so glad I finally picked it up, though. If you haven't seen on my social media or didn't see my most recent Fiction Friction post, I've been in a huge slump, and I've been having a hard time finishing anything, but I did manage to finally finish Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, which I enjoyed.

I usually enjoy road trip books or any books with traveling in them in general, but I don't read too many of them because there aren't many I know of or can get my hands on. So I knew I had to read this when I saw it at the library. It lived up to my expectations and even went beyond it. I was expecting a cute, light summer read, and it delivered, but I wasn't expecting how dark it was also going to be and how deep it got, though never enough to bring down the entire tone/feel of the book. I would still say it's a quick, light read, but it definitely has its share of the darker topics.

Amy is struggling to cope with her grief, and she's struggling to open up and admit it/talk to someone about it. She's closed herself off, blaming herself for everything. She found herself distancing herself from her mom, her brother, her friends, everyone. It was so rewarding to see her change throughout the book, slowly opening up to Roger and to others around her. It was slow, as it should be, and it was the kind of change that happened subtley. Many times, it wasn't until after a moment and after thinking back on Amy earlier in the book that I realized how much had changed.

Along with that change, we saw a change in their relationship and the way they interacted. Amy starts to realize that she notices all the little things and the little habits Roger has. It's not difficult to predict that they would get together in the end, but seeing her struggle to work out her feelings, especially when he was still preoccupied with his ex-girlfriend, was really valuable. Even though the book only takes place over the span of a few days, it feels like much longer, and it feels very much like their relationship evolves slowly.

Roger is also a very well-written and well-rounded character. We see his struggles as well, but we also see him trying to help Amy. The other characters along the way are also interesting and for the most part still have a back story and are not just one-dimensional plot devices. Even though they're used to move the plot along, there's more to them as characters.

Matson also does a great job at balancing the tough stuff and lighter topics. With a book like this, I expected a quick, breezy, fun, light read. While I would still characterize the book overall in this way, the book was surprisingly dark at times. Matson doesn't shy away from dealing with Amy's grief. She doesn't just breeze over it. She explores it, along with Amy's brother's situation, her situation with being away from her mother, and more. There are times when it almost doesn't feel like you're reading such a cute, fun road trip book.

But there were also so many cute moments that I loved. They were just as well written, and they were earned moments, if that makes sense. I enjoyed the little snippets of pictures, receipts, etc, and I especially loved the playlists. It was such a treat to find bands and songs I love but aren't super popular on the playlists.

One of the few small things I had problems with, perhaps more from my slump than anything, was that this is a slow-moving book. The book only takes place over a few days, but it feels like so much longer. Now, I would usually be okay with that, but I also felt like this made the book drag in certain places. With a book like this, it's hard to create a really big, exciting, new climax, and the novel didn't do that. There were ups and downs and there were definitely some conflicts, but as a whole, there wasn't something that particularly made me want to keep reading the way I normally would want to. I felt like there were portions that could have led to bigger things blowing up but perhaps because of the nature of their trip and the short time span, it just didn't happen. For someone in a slump, it meant that more than once, I had to make myself continue reading, even when there wasn't a big pull for me to do so.

The second tiny thing that I wish had been explored more was Amy's relationship with her past friends. I know it wasn't meant to be a big focus because it was supposed to be about Amy moving forward and moving beyond, but I think there were portions that were also about finding the "old" Amy. In being able to move beyond her grief, she was able to start to be herself again, but I found that the story line with her old friend (Julia?) was never fully fleshed out. Maybe it didn't need to be--she moved on from that time of her life and she was moving anyway, but it could have added another layer to her road to recovery, at least in my opinion. Otherwise, what was the point?

Overall, this book was a really nice surprise, though I went into it expecting just as much. The book was a lot deeper than I thought it would be, and it definitely added to my wanderlust. It helped a little with my slump, but mostly I was just glad that I was able to finish the book without too much of a struggle. Perhaps if I weren't reading this during a huge slump, I would have given it a 5, but alas.

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Morgan Matson: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Flashback Friday (#8): Mini Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2014-December 2015 would NOT be old).

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Release Date: May 1st, 2012

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.

So I never meant to write this review or mini-review, but I've decided to write small reviews for some of the books I've read semi-recently and haven't reviewed to give myself time to sit and finish some books.

Anyway, I think I'm one of the few people that actually enjoyed Insurgent, potentially a lot more than Divergent. I found Tris to be more bearable and didn't find myself nearly as much at odds with her as I did before. I thought Veronica Roth did a great job at creating tension between the characters, but it also meant that much of it came down to Tobias' actions. It killed me to see how he was acting and reacting. He was such a hypocrite, but I can't help but love him. Yes, so much would have been easier, so much wouldn't have happened if he had just listened or if they had just communicated better! But obviously it wouldn't have been as exciting if they had just done that. ;)

I liked the mix of action and Tris' internal struggle. Some people might have found it slow, perhaps in the way I found the beginning of Divergent so boring. I'm glad Roth took the time to explore Tris' emotions and to let her work through her grief and come to terms with all that happened in Divergent. So often in action novels, that internal struggle and working through grief is forgotten about or pushed aside in favor of more action. Maybe that works for some people, but it was so much more realistic to see Tris struggle, and it made everything she did so much more compelling. I truly felt connected to Tris; I could understand her. She's still human, just like the rest of us. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU KILLED SOMEONE? WHAT IF THAT SOMEONE WAS YOUR FRIEND? Yup, there you go.

I really loved this book, and I'm hoping I'll enjoy Allegiant more than other people have enjoyed it.

Insurgent: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Veronica Roth; Website | Twitter | Tumblr

Flashback Friday (#7): Mini Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2014-December 2015 would NOT be old).

Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: January 8th, 2013

Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.

A book about love, heartbreak, travel, identity, and the “accidents” of fate, Just One Day shows us how sometimes in order to get found, you first have to get lost. . . and how often the people we are seeking are much closer than we know.

"[Allyson's] personal journey to finding herself and finding her own strength is so powerful and almost inspiring to me."

Note: I originally wanted to make this a mini-review, but then I started just writing. I'm still going to call it a mini-review though because I'm not really covering most of what I cover in my reviews.

A little more than halfway through reading this book, I was ready to give this book a 3 or 3.5, but then, the story began to change, and it began to reshape itself, totally becoming a story that I loved and connected with.

I enjoyed the beginning. I did. But the pacing felt wonky, and the book wasn't really keeping me engaged. I loved the setting for the story, but none of it felt particularly "real" for me, not because it can't happen, but because there was something that was missing for me. It was cute but also a really awkward situation when you look at it in a grander context. I mean, I wish I could do something similar--end up in a random place in Paris and explore the parts that tourists don't tend to see--but I don't think I'd ever do it with some guy I just met.

And then Allyson's loss of identity and sense of self just made it all crash down even further. Maybe it's because I've never been in love or anything, but I couldn't get why she couldn't just get over it. I know, easier said than done, but she had barely even known him!

But then it began to pick up, and Allyson's journey began to fascinate me. On the one hand, I still wanted to shout at her to get over it, but on the other hand, her personal journey to finding herself and finding her own strength is so powerful and almost inspiring to me. I totally understood Allyson's self-doubt, and I connected to that. I've been in her place, feeling all that self-hate, faking for so long you don't even know who the real you is anymore. I deal with that every day. But her story and her journey gives me hope.

I also really enjoyed the discussion about the difference between being in love and falling in love. It's a distinction I never used to think about, but now, I'm constantly thinking about the difference between the two phrases. We see them as equal phrases, but what if they're not?

Anyway, I think another reason I began to greatly connect to Allyson is that I'm about to head off to college. Her fallout with Melanie is everything I fear about going to college and that feeling of everyone moving on and becoming someone new draws in and scares me at the same time (which is funny because I'm that person that can't wait to get out of high school, doesn't really have any friends so it doesn't really matter, and am really excited to finally be who I am/be someone new). And she has really interesting relationships with her roommates. I'm scared I'll be like that too--too anti-social and with too much social anxiety to make any friends (which I know is irrational but whatever). But then there's Dee! He's such a big part of Allyson's journey, and he's such an amazing character that came in at the perfect time in the book. I wish I could have more friends like him!

Overall, it was slow and a bit disappointing at first, but the latter portion of the book really made up for a lot of it and left me with lots to ponder.

Just One Day: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Gayle Forman: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Instagram

Flashback Friday (#6): Mini Review: Looking For Alaska by John Green

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2014-December 2015 would NOT be old).

Looking for Alaska by John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 3rd, 2005

Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. Then he heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same.

"[Looking for Alaska] is decent, but it didn't really work for me."

To be honest, I was disappointed. So many people love this book, and I guess I could see why. Maybe I went into it expecting too much. But I don't think I would have liked it much two or five years ago either.

Pudge's voice just didn't work for me in the way Charlie's voice didn't work for me in Perks. I didn't particularly feel anything for any of the characters, and though I understood them and ther actions to some extent, I personally didn't connect or feel compelled by the story. I was able to predict the ending well in advance, despite this being one of the few books in which I didn't read ahead. There was just something missing here that worked so well for me in TFiOS. I've been told that people who know someone who committed suicide got much more out of it though. 

However, the one thing that made me keep reading and made me give the book the additional .5 was the deep implications found in the novel. The book did make me think. It made me question. It made me talk to people about some of the issues brought up in the book. 

All in all, the book isn't horrible. It's decent, but it didn't really work for me. I liked how it made me think, but it didn't do so much for me beyond that. People mention Alaska being a MPDG, and I can definitely see why. I feel like this is a book that I'd only recommend to certain people.

[To be honest, do I even need to include these links?]

Looking for Alaska: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

John Green: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Instagram | Vlogbrothers

Flashback Friday (#5): Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2013-December 2014 would NOT be old)

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: December 2nd, 2010

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming,beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

"I don't think I can necessarily put into words why I loved it so much..., but it just left me feeling giddy and happy and hopeful."

Why didn't I read this book before now??? Seriously. I kept hearing about how great the series is, but I was repeatedly put off by the old covers. I mean, I know: Don't judge a book by its cover. But still! Now I want to smack myself for not having read this earlier!

I've recently been in a huge contemporary mood, and I always love a good quick, fun(ny), sweet romance. Well, Anna didn't disappoint.

I love Stephanie Perkins' writing, and she wrote such an amazing slow-burning romance. Anna and Etienne are so cute together. There was just enough romantic tension and things holding them back to make the story show a tug and pull between the two characters that were so obviously in love with the other. There were so many feels and definitely a lot of swooning! I think I connect a lot to Anna's insecurity and how she tends to hide when she's upset, turning (for her) to film and what she knows for sure. But I love how Anna and Etienne see through one another and just really fit well together. I'm glad that they had so many bumps and uncertainties because for me, that resembles reality. (But maybe I have a skewed/biased view, seeing as I've never been in a relationship...)

Anyway! One aspect that really stood out to me was the group dynamic between Etienne, Anna, Josh, Meredith, and Rashmi. I've always wanted friendships like the one they have. Sure, they have problems and issues, but they're also there for one another in a way I've always wanted my group of friends to be like. This group is so fun together, yet they all bring something to the table between their problems, their thoughts, etc. But I do wish there was a slightly bigger focus on Anna's friendships outside of the group. For example, I think her falling out with Bridgette was patched up a little too quickly for my taste. (In fact, one of my qualms about Anna and the French Kiss is that it all got wrapped up a bit quickly, but.) Then there was the relationship between Anna and Toph or lack thereof. I think there was a little room for more exploration, especially since that's where many of the tensions between Etienne and Anna and Bridgette and Anna pop up. Along the same vein, I wish her friendship or maybe friendly truce with Matt was explored a little bit more. It would have been really interesting to see the dynamics between Anna and her ex. Another major friendship that does ties in more with the major France plot and the group dynamic discussed above that I wish was developed a bit more was actually Anna's friendship with Meredith, particularly right before and right after the incident with Etienne.

In terms of other relationships, Ellie seemed like both a huge and yet a smaller, background part of the story. I found her annoying. Perhaps if the story was told from her point of view, I'd view everything differently, but told from Anna's point of view, I wasn't that sympathetic towards Ellie, and she annoyed me in a way I can't necessarily explain. I do wish there was a tad more closure on Rashmi's part in terms of her fall out with Ellie. It's so saddening, and while I understand neither of them and their story lines are the central part of the story, maybe just a little bit about Rashmi dealing and/or moving on from the disappointment and heartache would have made it feel a little more resolved.

Despite all of these feelings of "it could have been better if this had happened," I really did enjoy Anna and the French Kiss a lot. As I mentioned above, the romance was incredibly well written, and it's one of the best written slow-burning romances I've read. I am a huge sucker for obvious but slow-burning romances, and Anna did not disappoint. There's a lot about friendship and trust that can be gathered from the book, both the good and the bad, and the group and friend dynamics only strengthened the book. I love books about friendship and also a romance (like Open Road Summer), so I love how well-written and refreshingly new (for me) Anna's take on that is. Overall, the book is a quick, fun read. I don't think I can necessarily put into words why I loved it so much (see how much I wrote about things I wish had been done better vs what I loved about the book), but it just left me feeling giddy and happy and hopeful.

Anna and the French Kiss: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Stephanie Perkins: Website | Twitter | Tumblr 

Flashback Friday (#4): Books That Made Me Love Reading

Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2013-December 2014 would NOT be old).

I was inspired by one of the Top Ten Tuesday posts to write about my own "gateway" books. I guess I'll split it up into a few books that a) got me into reading b) got me into YA and c) led to me reading other books of its genre (if that makes any sense). So without further ado, here are some of my gateway books! (These are not in order, and I obviously haven't included everything, but this is just a sampling.)

Inspired My Love for Books/Reading:

1) Make Way for Ducklings

2) The Babysitter's Club

3) Harry Potter

4) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

5) Inkheart and Cornelia Funke's other books

6) Doctor Seuss' books

7) Eric Carle's books

8) Judy Blumes' books

9) Beverley Cleary's books

Got Me Into MG/YA:

1) Sarah Dessen's books, namely Lock and Key

2) Harry Potter

3) Inkheart and other Cornelia Funke books

4) Percy Jackson and the Olympians

5) The Mysterious Benedict Society

6) Chasing Vermeer

7) The Princess Academy

8) Midnight Rider

9) Judy Blumes' books

10) Jude Watson's Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series

Books That Led Me to Others in Its Genre

1) Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen-->YA Contemporary

2) Midnight Rider by Joan Hiatt Harlow (and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne)-->Historical Fiction

3) Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (and Eragon by Christopher Paolini)-->Fantasy

4) Twilight by Stephanie Meyer-->YA Paranormal (I'm not a huge fan of the genre anymore, but this initially led to it)

5) Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan-->Mythology

6) The Wanderer by Sharon Creech-->Multiple POV books

7) Nancy Drew, Shakespeare's Secret, and Chasing Vermeer-->Mystery

8) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins-->Dystopian (as much as I didn't like the books)

Flashback Friday (#3): Review: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2013-December 2014 would NOT be old)

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Publisher: First Second

Release Date: September 5th, 2006

A tour-de-force by rising indy comics star Gene Yang, American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he’s the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny’s life with his yearly visits. Their lives and stories come together with an unexpected twist in this action-packed modern fable. American Born Chinese is an amazing ride, all the way up to the astonishing climax.

"It explores identity and image, race and society."

So I actually read this book once, but it was ages ago. Then, recently, I went to a signing at Books of Wonder, and Gene Luen Yang was one of the authors on the panel, and I knew I had to buy both this book and his new book(s) Boxers & Saints. As an Asian American myself, a lot of what Gene mentioned while speaking was really impactful for me. It was then that I knew I had to re-read this book at some point. What really got me to re-read this again was receiving a copy of This One Summer to review from First Second. I realized that I wanted to get back into reading graphic novels, and I knew I would have to make the time to read both American Born Chinese and Boxers & Saints. So when I was in a bit of a slump, I picked ABC up. I'm sure glad that I chose to re-read this.

I don't remember any of my initial impressions from the first time I read this, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. The twist at the end was one I wasn't expecting at all, but I love how it brought the story together. The ending held such an important message--the one I was waiting for the book to get to. I was so close to giving this a 3.5, but the ending and the book's final message is what ultimately pushed me to give it a slightly higher rating.

Another aspect that I enjoyed was seeing how other people interacted and treated the err...human characters (this starts to get confusing towards the end, but I'm going to stick with humans), particularly Jin. While I don't know how accurate this would be, I suppose that it could definitely be a real-life scenario. I admit that I live in a very diverse neighborhood and attend one of the most diverse schools in the US, so perhaps my experience as an Asian American is different from the experiences of others. I just liked the exploration of treatment towards Asians/Asian Americans because I think it's always important to discuss the issue of how society and peers treat those of another race. There were many relationships that I wish had been explored more or that I at least wanted some closure on. A lot of it was left open, and I believe that it would have been even more whole and complete if we had gotten some hint of what ended up happening.

However, my biggest problem was the overuse of Chinese stereotypes. While it was certainly...entertaining, there were times when I just couldn't figure out what Chin-Kee was saying, and there were times when it just made me mad to see Asians portrayed in such a light. Though the end message made up for this a little bit, it frustrated me in a surprising way. Maybe I had been expecting something different or maybe I was expecting a more positive image of Asians, but this definitely didn't give me that. Maybe that's what made the message at the end meaningful. I'm not really certain.

(Ahhh, I just found this blog post written by Gene Luen Yang, and it addresses this exact issue. I implore you to check it out for yourself because it gives great insight.)

Lastly, I just kind of wished there had been a bit of exploration into the relationship between Jin and his parents or how his parents and their culture have affected him. I would have loved to see what they thought when they saw his new haircut. How do they react to him being hit in the face? Just little things like that could've added a lot more, and it would have made the book/plot feel a bit more comprehensive.

Overall, I thought this was an interesting book that brought together Chinese culture, both current and traditional, into the spotlight. It explores identity and image, race and society. If you can get past some of the aspects of this book, I think there's something really valuable in this book for everyone.

American Born Chinese: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

Gene Luen Yang: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Flashback Friday (#2): Review: The Host Movie

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2013-December 2014 would NOT be old).

"I enjoyed the movie to some extent, but it definitely could have been better."

I had heard great things about this movie, as well as the book. I didn't want to go see it in theaters when it came out because I wanted to read the novel first. Then, February break/President's Week came, and I finally borrowed the DVD from the library, resigned to the fact that it'll be quite some time before I read The Host.

Anyway! I enjoyed the movie to some extent, but it definitely could have been better. The premise is really interesting, and I think it's much more interesting than The Twilight Saga.

My first major issue with it was the MAJOR insta-love between both Wanda and Ian AND Mel and Jared. I can almost understand Mel and Jared because of the circumstances under which they're living, but at the same time, I felt no real connection between the two of them more than the feeling that they need one another to survive and keep one another alive. With Wanda and Ian, it was like Ian all of a sudden went from wanting to kill her to being in love with her...I don't get it. What prompted this change? I would have liked the relationship to have been explored more before getting to that point.

I did like the struggle between Melanie and Wanda though, including in relation to liking different boys. It reminded me of Kat Zhang's Hybrid Chronicles Series. There's the argument between the two characters that others don't know about. Then when Melanie "disappeared" I just made even more connections to the Hybrid Chronicles. But I know they're not related and that What's Left of Me was published after The Host. This also made for some incredibly awkward scenes. While I KNOW they were meant to be awkward, at times, I felt like I couldn't watch scenes between Wanderer (Wanda) and Ian and Wanda and Jared. But I think the struggles were well portrayed.

I liked many of the characters in this movie, and I thought they were interesting. However, I would have liked for them to be explored more in depth. I felt that even with Melanie, we didn't actually learn that much about her. What was her life like before the creatures took over? What did she like to do? I had a similar issue with the various relationships explored in the movie. Some were better developed but there were many that I would have loved to learn more about, ranging from Melanie's relationship with her brother, Melanie's relationship with her uncle, Wanderer's relationship with Mel's uncle, and Jared's relationship with Melanie's brother. Overall, I think the characters were fairly interesting, but I felt as if they were flat at times.

[SLIGHTLY SPOILER-Y. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK] I liked how the movie explored how characters changed, from Melanie to Ian to Wanderer to the Seeker. While a bit unrealistic and a little too "perfect," I liked seeing what was really going on to the Seeker. It was an interesting reveal, and the ending, while again, too clean and perfect, I quite liked. I liked how it was giving the Seeker's host a second chance. I also wasn't a big fan of Emily Browning playing Wanda at the end. I felt like one of the main lessons in the movie, through Ian's character arc and growth, was that it's not about your appearance that matters. It's about who you are and what you believe in and will fight for. So why did they have to choose an actress that looks so much like Saoirse Ronan? Ian would still love her if she looked completely, right? Well...we don't know for sure, I think. [END SPOILERS]

There were some small details that didn't make complete sense to me, but they didn't hinder most of the important aspects of the film. One example would be: why would they need to put up the mirrors when they're harvesting? If you're harvesting, you don't need to give the plants constant sunlight anymore.

Overall, I really enjoyed the acting. I find Saoirse Ronan to be a fantastic actress, and she shines in this movie. I also really liked William Hurt's character, and I found his acting to be really compelling. The guys were pretty great, though there were some times when I would mix some of them up, but overall, I think they did a pretty good job. Diane Kruger's performance as the Seeker really intrigued me, and the ending blew me away (not the VERY end, but the end-ish, when we learn something big about the Seeker and her host).

Lastly, I just have to include this, but there's a deleted scene about the line "Who would I die for?" I think they should have included this in the movie for various reasons. It was a really pivotal scene, and it was extremely candid. I think that the inclusion of this scene would have made the ending even more powerful, and it would have made a little more sense. It would have allowed the movie to come full circle. But even without it, I think that the end scene regarding that question was very well executed and very emotional

The Host

Directed by: Andrew Niccol

Written by: Andrew Niccol, based on The Host by Stephanie Meyer

Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel, Diane Kruger, Chandler Canterbury, William Hurt, and more

Release Date: March 29th, 2013

Flashback Friday (#1): Review: Now You See Me Movie

This is a more irregular feature. Flashback Friday is where I review, or possibly discuss, an old TV show, movie, book, or album. So what's considered old? Anything that was not released within the past year and a half. By years, I mean calendar year (so for this year, June 2013-December 2014 would NOT be old).

(Source)

A refreshing new take on heist films, this movie gives you a look into the world of magic and the art of deception, leaving just enough to keep you on your toes and to keep you guessing.

I've been interested in this movie ever since I saw the trailer. The premise of the movie is interesting and involved, and the plot will keep you on your toes for the entire movie. One of my favorite aspects of this movie was the refreshing new take on heist films. Everyone, I'd venture to guess, loves magic (or at least loved it at some point). I know I'm fascinated by magic, not just Harry Potter magic but magician magic too. This offers a cool look into the world of magic and the art of deception. You think you know what's going on, but then something else happens that tells you you're wrong. 

There were some aspects and some tricks that were predictable and/or obvious. Sometimes I knew something had happened, but I couldn't figure out exactly how it had been executed. I liked how it showed you how the tricks were accomplished, while leaving enough for you to guess.

Some of the back story confused me a bit, but I found that it didn't matter that much at the end. There's a twist at the end that made me rethink the entire movie, and I think that's the point. As I mentioned, this movie is a refreshing new movie that will keep you on your toes and will keep you guessing for the majority of the film.

An aspect I liked was the mix of personalities. I do wish there was a bit more diversity, but I enjoyed the characters and their chemistry. They worked off of one another's talents, yet they are all talented on their own. They work together really well, and you can tell that they're all incredibly sneaky and deceptive. I guess that's why they're magicians. I wish there was more development of the characters and the relationships, but overall, I really enjoyed the characters and the cast. The actors and actresses were beyond amazing, and they certainly pulled off those tricks really well. I'm so glad the crew included an actual illusionist/magician because I think that added to the authenticity of the movie. You felt like you were there experiencing their tricks too.

I think this kind of flows into the setting as well. You see just enough to get a feel of what's going on and where they are. The different cities were a nice way to change the setting but to also so how versatile and popular the magicians were. Of course, the majority of the movie took place in big cities, but the hectic feel and the rush of being in a city and being able to hide made this invariably funner to watch.

There were plot twists abound, but as I mentioned above, the last twist was the one that got me the most. I think that was the most well-executed and while there were small clues, I, for one, was not really expecting that ending!

One last thing that bothered me a bit was the "romance." It was way too obvious, and I found it unnecessary. Besides, why can't a woman want to step up and take the job because she's interested? Why is it assumed that there's something sneaky about her? I'm not overly fond with how women were treated in this movie, but I think this is a movie that's meant to be enjoyed more aesthetically and to just relax, rather than to think too much into it, as horrible as that sounds.

All in all, this was an incredibly enjoyable movie that offered a unique look in the world of illusions and so-called magic. It makes you rethink what you know, and the twists and turns keep you guessing. Movie critics may not be a huge fan of the movie, but if you're looking for something fun and cool to watch, this is your movie. Imaginative and refreshingly new, this is a movie I'm glad I watched.

Now You See Me

Directed by: Louis Leterrier

Written by: Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, Melanie Laurent, Michael Caine, and more

Release Date: May 31st, 2013