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Books of 2011 that Surprised Me

When Nafiza asked me to guest post, I was a little nervous, because have you seen this girl’s writing? And the vast amount of books she’s read? And me: I only started reading YA this year. But considering the fact that we’ve had some of the best books EVER come out (I’m looking at you, Chime) and, lucky me, the Twilight style tortured-rude-boy-meets-supposedly-plain-girl-forever-love-ensues-OMG type books are receding and there are actual, good paranormals coming out- I couldn’t be happier.

So I told myself I could do it. Nafiza is one of my favourite bloggers, and I really wanted to do this for her. Anyways, I managed to narrow my choices down to a top 5, from Surprising to, er, Most Surprising. I cheated a teeny tiny little bit, as in, there is ONE book that was released in 2010 but I HAD to include it, because dude, this post wouldn’t be a post without including that one book.
(Have I created enough suspense? No?)

Okay. *clears throat* Here goes.

5. Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

I can’t put my finger on what exactly it is I like about this book. The writing, lush and descriptive and engaging? The setting? The characters? Heck, the characters’ names? (I mean, come on. I’d name myself Mandarin if I wasn’t afraid I’d get an identity crisis.) But I can tell you exactly what surprised me: just how much I liked the book.

Like Mandarin is different. It’s unexpected. And it’s unlike anything I’ve read before (and after). I hadn’t expected so much from it.

4. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Yes, there are major plot holes in this one, but there was something about this book. The writing was clean and spare; the action was well-executed, and although I can see Nafiza shaking her head right now, I liked Four. Although I don’t like either of his names.

What surprised me? The honesty. Something about Veronica Roth’s writing voice is so honest that I felt that I just had to keep reading. I may be weird (for more proof, see my tweets. You’ll have enough weirdness to last a lifetime) but that’s the feeling I get whenever I think about Divergent. I didn’t LOVE LOVE LOVE it, but I didn’t hate it, either. I just really liked it, plot holes, weird names and all.

3. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

See, I love Greek mythology. The gods are so twisted and not-innocent and the myths are so interesting that I was hoping that a YA book would have more room to talk about those grown-up things in a candid way. But what did I get from this book? A chicken-ified, CHASTE Hades named Henry. Hades is NOT innocent and nice, peeps. I mean, HELLO, he’s the god of the effing Underworld.

It wasn’t just
HadesHenry that became an I-want-to-talk-about-my-feelings type guy, which I can tell you write now is not something Hades would ever be. ALL the other gods were like that. Thus, I didn’t get what I was looking for in The Goddess Test. Not at all. And well, that’s a surprise, no? I expected so much, and then we’re introduced to this Henry person I can’t even recognize, and my expectations deflate like a balloon. Dang.

2. Chime by Franny Billingsley

I was SO happy when Nafiza named this one the book of the year. Because honestly? It is. I truly believe it’s probably the best book of the year. The writing was so beautiful that I’d look up and be surprised to find myself sitting in my bed, in my world, instead of the one Franny Billinsgley so masterfully created. This is the book I’d push into people’s hands to show them the power of words.

And this is the book that surprised me the most this year, because I thought I was reading some book about witches or… something paranormal. Uh, no. That cover and that summary combined don’t do it justice. I doubt any book and any summary can, actually. Yes, it’s just that awesome.

1. Plain Kate by Erin Bow

You may have noticed that I already told you which book of 2011 surprised me most of all. And you might just be thinking: this Rida girl obviously doesn’t know how to count, because uh, the book that surprised her most of all has already been revealed. So why does this one get the #1 spot? Well, hold on to your horses (or keyboards, rather) you lovely people, because guess what? *jazz hands* This book was released in 2010! Gotcha!

Technically it doesn’t count then, but WHATEVER! Who needs technicalities? Not me! Nuh-uh! Moving on…

I loved everything about this book. Taggle the talking cat, the writing, the setting, the Roamers, the cover, Linay… just, everything. And what surprised me is that I, being ridiculously silly (that is, even sillier than usual) didn’t think I’d love this book. I went into it thinking, MEH. And then I got blown away.

Serves me right for judging a book by the title. Because peeps, this book is NOT plain at all.

So there you have it. A list! Now, please do run off and do some reading and then tell me what you think of these books!

So. I’m heading on vacation soon to an undisclosed location you will probably figure out by the end of this post. I’m thinking of posting pictures, too. Maybe even a photo of *gasp* myself, so that you lovely peeps know that I don’t have a Nutella jar for a head. (Although that would be convenient- I’d just have to scratch my Nutella head and come away with heavenly chocolate spread on my fingers.)

What this vacation means, though, is that there will be a disruption in regular programming here. While that may or may not affect you, I just thought I’d let you guys know. Because, like, I love you peeps. A lot. In a non-creepy, platonic way.

The past few days have been tough. Of course, as a teenager, I think the world revolves around me, so things like me nearly getting one camera after another but then something ends up going wrong and I’m back to looking for a camera to buy- and this repeating for WEEKS- yeah, it’s taken a toll on me. When you want something badly enough, like, say, a good camera so that you can capture a completely different environment- everything else stops mattering as much.

That’s not a good thing.

So here I am, sitting at my computer feeling really down and unable to do anything about it. On bloggy matters, though, I have a BUNCH of reviews and some thoughts on YA that I’d like to share with you amazing peeps, and I hope to be able to do that in India. I’ve gotten so much through blogging, and I’d like to continue.

So here I am, saying this: see you later. I WILL be back. Just not for a week or so.

And I might even show you my face.

Also, here’s something for you: a clue. If you figure out what place I’m going to… no, you won’t get a prize, but you will gain the title of Smartest Person EVARRR in my head. And on this blog. (And Bee, you are excluded from this competition because you already know where I’m going.)

Funny, the place didn’t look half as pretty when *I* went there. Have a good time guessing, lovely peeps. See you soon.

I know that “6 Books That Changed My Life” is a heavy title- I mean, I’m sixteen! How much great literature could I have read in order to actually get enough books to write this post? So far, I haven’t read many classics. So far, I’ve only just dipped my toes into adult literature. So far, I know the YA section of my library inside and out. And so far, I’ve read enough books to be able to write out this post.

So, in no particular order, here we go. *clears throat*

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

This is a beautiful, beautiful book. It’s sad, yes. It’s depressing a lot of the time. But I (and I hate to say this) love tragedy. It gives life a completely different dimension, and here is the result. Read this book. If the writing doesn’t blow you away by the end, then dude, tell me what book trumps this one in writing, and I’ll make sure to read it.

How did it change my life? Maybe it was the stunning prose. Or the ending. Or the characters, so real that they jumped off the page, and my love for them. Maybe it was the sadness of the thing, proof that human lives so rarely have happy endings. Or that it’s okay to write about these things. It was all that and more.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I’d read Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner before this, and while I absolutely love it, I have to say that A Thousand Splendid Suns resonated with me on a completely different level. The writing, the story, the ending- oh, my gosh. I love this book.

I think I love this book so much because although I disagreed with certain things in the book (things too political for me to feel free telling you my thoughts right here) there was the very human struggle to find meaning in life that is so universal. There were the characters. And I think I can read forever and ever about Afghanistan and never be tired of it.

The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

I’m sure this one is VERY obvious. Which reader’s “changed my life” book list does this not feature on? I grew up reading and watching Harry Potter. I breathed spells and had Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans for lunch. I lived vicariously through those three iconic characters that I have no doubt I’ll remember forever. Potternerd forever.

(Where’s my letter from Hogwarts, people? Why hasn’t it arrived yet?)

Hansel and Gretel

I don’t know which version of the story I read, so I can’t say who the author was. *clears throat* Anyways, this is the first book that I ever read. It was a picture book, obviously, and I turned the pages so many times after that the book fell apart. I knew all the words by heart. I can still clearly see some of the pages in my mind.

This is the book that introduced me to the wonders of the written word. That showed me how a story is formed. It also grounded the (now discarded) belief in me that there must be happy endings or else. (Growing up watching Bollywood does that to you.) And now that I think about it, a happy ending cannot be from the brothers Grimm, can it? Who the heck was the author of this one? I owe them!

Blue Jasmine by Kashmira Sheth

As an immigrant child, I related with this one on a much deeper level than any other book I read at that time. I mean, I didn’t understand our language. I couldn’t speak it (still can’t speak it) without stumbling on every other word. But even with my perfectly normal Canadian accent, I could never shrug off the feeling that I wasn’t Canadian enough for Canadians, or Indian enough for Indians. I was always in the middle. Still am.

I’ve learned to appreciate being stuck between two places that will never completely be mine. I get a unique perspective on everything. This book helped me come to terms with that. Plus, I found out I wasn’t the only awkward immigrant kid in the world.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

While this book is ridiculously funny and has the best supporting character in the history of supporting characters, Hassan, it was the book that started my addiction to young adult fiction. I hadn’t known that people wrote about that strange half-grown stage where you aren’t child or adult. And, well, this is the book that made me realize that I could write about this strange stage too, AND read more books about people my age. WIN.

And that’s that. How many of these books have YOU read? What’s a book that changed your life?

It’s been a while since I’ve done a WoW. *cracks knuckles* *shakes out muscles* Let’s get going. Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This Wednesday, I’m waiting on City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare, (yet) another installment in The Mortal Instruments. It’s releasing May 2012.

Summary (goodreads):

In Book 5: City of Lost Souls, the Shadowhunters struggle to piece together their shattered world after a betrayal by one of their own leaves them reeling.

And that is all Goodreads tells us. Any of you who are familiar with TMI series know that the ridiculous cliffhanger on that last book makes me want to figure out what the heck is going on with that Jace, even though I thought that the series should have ended at book 3.

There are so few urban fantasies I love that this is one I’m keen to follow just to show myself that I’m not just, you know, one of those readers that never goes out of her comfort zone. So I love this series, I love Simon, and even though I’m frustrated that TMI keeps going on and on when it should have ended long ago, I’m looking forward to reading this one.

Also, that cover: I love. I’ve always thought that Clary was pretty meh, but she does have a choice between two hot guys I like a lot more than her. Jace looks like a bit too baby-faced here for his character, but his HAIR. ZOMG, HIS HAIR. I love it!

My question is, when is Simon gonna show up with Clary? HE’S my favourite.

What are YOU waiting on this Wednesday?

Summary (goodreads):

Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastians, a boys’ school that’s pretends it’s coed by giving the girls their own bathroom.  Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an an impossibly dorky accordion player.  The boys are no better, from Thomas who specializes in musical burping to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can’t seem to stop thinking about.

Then there’s Francesca’s mother, who always thinks she knows what’s best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, along, and without an inkling who she really is.  Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.

Cover: that girl looks like Anne Hathaway. COME ON. I can’t be the only one to think so. IT’S TRUE. Oh, and I do like the cover.

Before Reading: this is my third Marchetta book, and although I did really like Jellicoe Road and Finnikin of the Rock, I didn’t understand why everyone loved Marchetta’s work THAT much. Well, uh, this book changed that.

My Thoughts

Saving Francesca is the book I’d shove in your hand if you told me to find you a classic YA contemporary. It’s what I’d recommend if you want to see a good ol’ character-driven plot. And it’s definitely what I’d go around telling everyone to read because I loved almost every single character in this book.

Melina Marchetta has (among many) a strong point: she knows how to have character growth. Francesca isn’t the only one who changed. Almost every character who was friends with Francesca had this amazing character arc that makes me reiterate: contemporary is the backbone of YA.

Good contemporary makes you think. It makes you relate. It makes you fall in love with a swoony boy. Saving Francesca did all that. The fact that she’s Italian in Australia- I can relate, even though I’m nowhere near any of those two ethnicities. And it made it all the more special for me.

The swoony guy is what YOU must be thinking about. It wasn’t our love interest Will Trombal, incidentally. I mean, I did like him, but it was Jimmy Hailler who I really fell for. I have no idea why; I mean, he’s weird and funny and sweet and warm and… yeah. I just really liked him. *blushes furiously* *clears throat* *glares at anybody who gives me a weird look*

Moving on. I can’t finish this review without mentioning all the amazing supporting characters: Justine, Tara, Siobhan, THOMAS (I almost liked him, too, only he apparently turned out to be taken) and even the Stella girls. And of course Jimmy Hailler. *blushes again*

I’m in love with this book. And Jimmy Hailler. I’m seriously hugging the book right now because it was amazing and beautiful and it made me fall for the vibrant characters, especially Jimmy Hailler so yeah. This might just be my new favourite YA book.

And although this wasn’t by Jimmy Hailler, I loved this conversation, because I could imagine even a regular high school guy saying this:

“Do you think people have noticed that I’m around?”

“I notice when you’re not. Does that count?”

Oh my gosh, that’s SO sweet. I’m also a teenage girl, so it must be why I love that line so much, even if it’s slightly cheesy.

Parting Thoughts: this is GOOD contemporary, the kind that would be ridiculously fattening because of everyone knows that all the good things are bad for you. But this is a book, thank goodness, so it only opened my mind and made me acknowledge that yes, Melina Marchetta is the queen of contemporary.

Rating: 5/5. Read this, peeps. I loved Saving Francesca, and if you love contemporary, methinks you’ll fall head over heels in love with this one. Also, Jimmy Hailler is mine.

This post is long overdue. What with the Goodreads meltdown over one negative review and just a couple of days later, another author’s anger-filled post about a negative review that wasn’t even offensive enough to be so bothered about- I should have written this earlier.

I guess I just didn’t know what to say.

I am a book blogger, peeps. It means I love to read. And as a reader, my tastes aren’t always going to be the same as everyone else’s. I may hate a book everybody loved. Or heck, the other way around. And it’s my choice.

You know why? Because reading is subjective. That’s the beauty of it. I don’t know how many times we’ve pointed this out over the course of the last week, but reading is something that can strike a different chord in everyone. The very thing I loved about a book can be a peeve for somebody else. Isn’t there something beautiful in that?

I’m not writing reviews to please authors. I’m writing reviews to help others and to share my thoughts.

I won’t be bowing down to imaginary pressure from displeased authors. And ha, I suppose that pressure isn’t imaginary after all, is it? YA has been going through some rough patches lately. What everybody needs to understand is this: reviews are just that. Reviews. They may or may not help somebody get a book. A person is going to read your book no matter what if they’re interested in it.

So please don’t take out your anger on bloggers. Because, believe it or not, we have lives outside of blogging and reading. About 99 percent of us are NOT bitter, beaten down folks who want to take their anger out on the more successful artists out there. But for some reason, the majority of published authors seem to think that this is the case.

All I’m saying is this: if I didn’t like a book, I’m going to speak my mind. I’m not going to personally attack the author. I’m just going to share my thoughts, and I’m entitled to that.

I’m not afraid. And I hope that you fellow book readers and reviewers as well aren’t, either.

(And it’s okay if you didn’t get my Eminem reference from the title.)