I like the main characters, but I very much disliked Keeley's brother Zach and her best friend Nicky. Both seemed to be leeches, using Keeley for themselves and angry whenever she did anything for herself. I had no use for either of them, but I understood their purpose in the story. They were there as a means of endearing Keeley to us; making her sympathetic and forcing us to route for her. By the end we are hopeful she will push past her self inflicted boundaries, so she will go after Talon, even with his dark past. Again, an easy read. A cute teenage romance, a girl and boy from opposing football schools who fall for each other. Some unnecessary drama, but also a lot of thoughtful, poignant moments. And the peeps! The PEEPS! Just the weirdest and cutest addition to the story. But, almost impossible to find when you want to use them for props... Book 11/50.
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The novel starts where Winter left off; Earth and Luna are trying to rebuild, both experiencing loss and destruction. There is a cure being distributed for the debilitating Letumosis, the evil Queen Levana has been defeated. Emperor Kai and Queen Selene (Cinder) are holding together a fragile peace. However, Levana's wolf soldiers let loose on Earth have gone rogue, scattered across the world. Enter Iko, Cinder's best friend and an android, turned wolf hunter. She is bad ass, willing to risk herself for the survival of her friends and what they have worked so hard to achieve. These wolves are starting to band together, they are beginning to come together under a leader. This is the first in a series of graphic novels, so there was a lot of necessary exposition. It was great to see all our favourite characters as comic book personas. I especially loved seeing Wolf and Scarlet being domestic, with the tomatoes and Wolf being 'hopeless'. Scarlet was by far my favourite novel in the Lunar Chronicles. We are also reintroduced to Liam Kinney, remember him? He is a guard who helped Cinder's gang and became her personal guard. The one who, in Winter, was sparring (read flirting) with Iko, only to be disgusted to find out she is an android. Well, he's back, and the two of them are better than ever. These two remind me of a postmodern Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. Their banter, his apparent disapproval of her place in society, the obvious romantic tension (which both Iko and Carswell Thorne pick up on, although they think their watching net dramas is to blame). Iko 'hates' Kinney, mostly because of his views on androids, and the way he treats her because of this. I am so excited for the next installment, read that as impatient. I mean, this 90's girl's heart is over the moon (pun intended) for all of these Sailor Moon/Fairy tale mashups from Marissa Meyer. And I love, love, love this sassy, kick ass, fashion forward, more human than most android, Iko. I want more! I want her backstory; which, this installment promised was coming with a cryptic mention of a folder hidden in her personality chip. I want Iko and Kinney (their hate-love is too cute). This series is fabulous, in any format! Book 10/50.
There were many poignant moments in this short story collection, moments meant to make you question life and the meaning behind it. I am not ashamed to admit some stories went right over my head; as though, I missed the meaning being imbued by the words. However, while I did not laugh out loud to any of the stories, several of them got a soft chuckle or a little gasp. If you are interested in far-fetched ideas, some involving random celebrities, than this collection of short stories will keep you glued to the page. Many of the best stories are the longer ones, which often end abruptly, but leave you with questions that push you to think and contemplate. "Dark Matter" was one of those stories, which was sort of all over the place. However, the story was funny in its random jumps from topic to topic. The moment when the narrator threatens the scientist, to tell him about dark matter, is an analogy to how this book sometimes makes you feel. You are at once accosted, but intrigued and wanting to know more, while essentially being left behind. You are put off kilter, and you just continue to read, hoping to right yourself, but failing. Book 9/50.
Holmes is aloof, intelligent, unsympathetic, guarded, strong, but at times very vulnerable. She is always ten steps ahead of everyone, until her emotions cloud her vision. We see her only through Watson, but her character is well formed, if not romanticized. It feels as though they could be part of a Victorian plot, but both characters are also so intrinsically modern. More emotional, in tune with each other, than again at odds with each other. Being teenagers, they are not quite at their peak; or Holmes thinks she is, but she is unfortunately unable to stop others from interfering with her, which causes her to misunderstand herself, to loose herself in drugs. Her and Watson have been a part of each other's lives before they have even met, making their actual interactions to be clouded by assumptions and ideals. We are also introduced to the Moriarty's, still foe's to the Holmes clan; and still dragging the Watson family in to their rivalry. They are a clever enemy, with powers to persuade others to do their will, therefore keeping their own hands 'somewhat' clean. There is a past between Charlotte and one of the Moriarty's, August, which is a mystery throughout the book. I loved the banter between Holmes and Watson, their distrust, and their eventual overwhelming reliance on each other. They become two halves of a whole, leaning on each other for stability against their weaknesses. Sometimes hating to be together, but also terrified of being apart. It's a whip smart story, with edge of your seat writing. Characters throughout who are detestable and likable, more human than they may first appear. Holmes harbours a drug addiction and Watson has issues with rage. They are fighting both internal and external demons, together. I am looking forward to their next saga; hoping for another cleverly written case, another look through the lens of an old/new mystery duo. Also, loved the epilogue, which switched to Holmes point of view. A concise telling of the tale in a mere five pages. Facts, no overindulgence, no emotion (well mostly), and cleverly written. It was an interesting switch, necessary for understanding that Watson's tale does have a lot of his added flourishes and that it is only his point of view (so it is limited). Loved it! Book 8/50.
Sarah is at odds with herself the entire novel, as though creating two personas has stretched her thin and she is trying to reason herself back together. To prove she is more than a shell of a person, that her life matters. I loved the format of the book, a blog post at the end of each chapter, which is attached to the emotion or turmoil of the chapter it belongs to. In this way, we are at the point of view of both Sarah and her 'other self' Mitzi. The same, but different. Her posts on motherhood, on women, all of those hit home with me. They made me like Mitzi, while still understanding why those whose lives she had misappropriated would be furious. I was on the edge of my seat at the end. Comprehending Sarah's need to document her life, to ask questions and try in her own way to make sense of a world always at odds with itself. But also, feeling her emotions as she began to realize how wrong she had been. How words were powerful, both in good and bad ways. Like Sarah, the end of the book leaves us with questions, while tidying up some of her life. The book needed to be this way, to stay true to the message. This is "real" life, where you will never have all the answers. Where we have to learn everything is not always about us, that there are others in this life too. I will not spoil the ending, but it reached a conclusion that made sense to how Sarah needed to say goodbye to Mitzi. This book is a juxtaposition. A book both funny and emotional. Sarah's blog being both a strength and a weakness. Somewhere for her voice, but speaking to the wrong people. She is both heroine and villain. You like her, you understand her, but you hate her for revealing that this is all of us. We all judge others, envy others, compartmentalize others, and mistake others; so we can feel more real, more whole, more worthwhile, and like we are important. And we are, but so is everyone else. Book 7/50.
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