Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
1929
First off, let me just say that I have absolutely loved all the Hemingway that I have encountered thus far. He makes me want to go camping and hunt with my bare hands or fight a bull or something. This was no exception, even though the ending left me furious and frustrated (and sad, sad, sad, sad, sad!).
A Farewell to Arms is a love and war story with some of the most interesting characters I’ve ever met on the page. Lieutenant Henry, the main character, is serving in World War I in the Italian army, despite the fact that he is an American. Complicated, yet oh so macho much? Check. He falls in love with Catherine Barkley, a British nurse who is stationed in Italy. Catherine starts off crazy and soon becomes, well, interesting. I’ve read some comments that describe Catherine as a sexist portrayal of a woman, but I found to be much more intriguing and complicated than that. She and Lieutenant Henry embark on an intense, war hospital-based courtship that is all fairytale and no reality. There’s love, there’s sexy banter, there’s some tough guy war stuffs (it is Hemingway, after all), a bit of adventure and them, of course, some tragedy. It’s all very good and I think this is one of those classics for everyone.
Also, I should add that I listened to this in audio format. How did this come to be? I desperately needed a new audiobook for my commute home and my holds for the latest teen werewolf love story hadn’t come through yet, so I found myself browsing until I picked this one up. I usually avoid the classics or anything really that could be defined as “literature” when it comes to audio format, but I figured that Hemingway is so short and blunt and downright uncomplicated that I could follow in audio format…and I was right!
Juliet, Naked delivered everything that I was expecting for a Nick Hornby book–it was amusing, albeit slightly depressing, witty, and fairly enjoyable. Juliet, Naked is about the intertwining lives of an aging, has-been of a rock star, an obsessive fan, and a woman who has wasted the last 15 years of her adult life. A good solid read for those who like their drama quirky and riddled with pop culture references.
Evermore: The Immortals by Alyson Noel
St. Martin’s Griffin, 2009
After surviving a horrible accident that leaves her entire family dead, Ever finds herself orphaned, living with an Aunt in sunny Orange County. She also finds herself able to hear the thoughts of others, see auras, and hanging out with the ghost of her dead little sister. Unfortunately, the psychic powers alienate and overwhelm her, leaving her unable to lead any kind of normal social life. Predictably enough, a mysterious boy with no aura, Damen, arrives one day and Ever is powerfully drawn to him. It’s love at first sight, but there are…complications. Who (or what) is Damen? Who is the mysterious girl who has turned up at his side? Why does he disappear at every critical moment?
Though it echoes too strongly of the Twilight series, Evermore is still a fun read. The supernatural drama may not be unique, but it manages to stay interesting. My one complaint is that the character of Ever, and her subsequent relationship with Damen, is beyond frustrating. I understand that Ever, having lost her entire family, is not the happiest soul, however, Noel has created the most passive character imaginable. Ever seems to have few opinions, no interests of her own, and very little backbone. I was very frustrated with Ever and Damen’s relationship for most of this book…yet I kept on reading. I guess that would be the more telling factor.
Recommended for teens who like Twilight. Adult Twilight fans may enjoy this, but it definitely reads more for a younger audience than some of the other crossover successes. Despite its many flaws, I couldn’t stop reading…
The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith
HarperTeen, 2007 (originally published in 1991)
Originally published in 1991, Book 1, The Awakening, and Book 2, The Struggle, have been released as one, thickish paperback beginners of The Vampire Diaries, which has also been made into a television series to air this fall on the CW. I don’t have much to say about these books other than this-they certainly contain the elements of melodramatic, sticky teenage love at first sight AND glamorous, sexy vampires that made Twilight so popular, however, they are much more poorly written. I think these books will made a decent readalike for the younger fans of Twilight, but more sophisticated readers will probably find them as painfully cliché as I did. Still, younger readers who enjoyed Twilight will probably enjoy these quick and disposable books. As for me, I actually read these a month ago and promptly forgot everything about them. I look forward to the TV show though!
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance - Now With Ultraviolent Zombie Mayham!
by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Quirk Books, 2009
Preserving most of the original text of Pride and Prejudice, this modified classic now includes zombies and a horror twist. The “strange plague” going around England is actually that of zombies. Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters have been trained in “the deadly arts” to be, no longer just well-mannered young ladies, but zombie slayers of the finest caliber as they putter about society before being married off. Mr. Darcy has also been transformed into a gentlemanly, zombie slaying hero.
And now to admit something that perhaps will sway your view of me as a reader–until it was available in zombie fused fashion, I have never read Pride and Prejudice. Although I was forced to read some other Austen novels in high school, they never moved me, a true tomboy at heart, enough to seek out anything more. It wasn’t until there were zombies and a concept so hilarious (fancy, well-mannered ladies zombie slaying!) that I just had to pick it up. Pick it up I did and it was in doing so that I realized that, while the zombie bits are funny, the real goodness of the book is in Austen’s original work. I found myself enjoying the characters and the original humor enough that, at times, the zombie interruptions felt just like that–like interruptions. Although I credit Grahame-Smith for coming up with such a wonderful concept and for fusing it in some seamlessly, the quality of the book still lies in the original work.
All in all, the postmodern, zombie mashup concept is a good way to get reluctant readers slightly more interested in Jane Austen. I could see this being successfully used in high school English classes to make Austen (slightly) more appealing to boys and girls. At the same time, I can see why Austen fans might be offended at the addition of ironically place gore and grossness in such a beloved classic. I think it’s important to recognize that this zombie version of Pride and Prejudice, will never replace the original text. It’s just a fun twist that may get non-Austen readers (like me) to pick up and *actually enjoy* Pride and Prejudice.
Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie are back in this (seemingly?) final chapter of Megan McCafferty’s crossover ya/adult series. McCafferty has ditched the standard journal format of the series in place of a present tense narrator that shifts focus between Jessica and Marcus throughout the book. The result is a little awkward, but the charming reunion of this pair will please fans of the earlier books in the series.
One of the most interesting things about the Jessica Darling series has been the way in which McCafferty has aged the characters and the content from young adult to adult. While Perfect Fifths is totally inappropriate the YA shelves (not just for language, but content and general tone as well), I’m impressed with the way the characters have developed over the course of the series. Not only are Marcus and Jessica adults in Perfect Fifths, but they have been shaped and influenced by everything that has happened throughout the years. A satisfying conclusion for most Jessica Darling fans, but newcomers to the series should start with the earlier books, which were the stronger of the series.
There’s something very familiar about Evernight. As a boardschool/vampire/love story, it certainly was published to ride the Twilight wave. As I read it, I couldn’t help but to grow slightly annoyed that the way it was so desperately trying to be another Twilight with a twist.
In Evernight, Bianca is forced to go to Evernight Academy, an exclusive, isolated boarding school that is full of creepy old gothic architecture and freakishly perfect students. Bianca’s parents have been hired as teachers at the academy, so they’ve moved there too. Bianca, who is painfully shy, has trouble fitting in at Evernight…until she meets Lucas. Naturally, Bianca and Lucas immediately share a deep and intense connection, but there are, of course, some complications…vampire complications. As the first book in a series, of course, many questions are left, leaving readers lingering for the next book Stargazer.
It’s not that Evernight is a terrible book, but there’s something a little boring about how hard it tries to be Twilight. Although there are new elements and twists (boarding school!), it’s impossible to get past the lack of originality in Evernight. As if to prove my point further, there’s another YA vampire love story book called Evermore, which is not to be confused with this series. Once you get past the lack of originality, there are some redeemable qualities to Evernight. The plot takes quite a while to get going, but once it does get moving (about halfway through), it really takes off. I found the second half of this book to be a pretty entertaining read. The love story lacks the depth and intensity that it needs to really work, but it’s readable. I think some (especially younger) teen Twilight fans will enjoy this book, if they can get past the rip-off factor, however, I do not think too many adult Twilight fans will enjoy it on the same level they did Twilight.
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
Ace Books, 2004
Sookie Stackhouse is in for another foray with the supernatural in Dead to the World, the fourth installment of Charlaine Harris’s popular Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Chronicle books. In this novel, Sookie, a sweet and spunky telepathic waitress, deals with vampires, warewolves, shapeshifters, witches, and even a fairy! Eric, the head vampire in her area, is left in Sookie’s care while the entire supernatural community of Bon Temps, Louisisana gathers together to discover and fight a mysterious coven of evil witches. Sookie’s brother is missing and Eric has lost his memories and is a little bit helpless, and therefore all the more irresistible, to our darling Sookie.
Although I have to say that this book was just as quick and addictive a read as any of the other Stackhouse novels, I was just a little bit disappointed with this installment. The supernatural in Sookie’s world have gone from quirky to downright silly in some cases as Harris pushes more and more magical creatures and powers into the already crammed picture. Although the book still combines the genres of mystery, romance, and fantasy/horror, it is becoming more and more rooted in the latter. I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing, however, I think that the books are starting to lose the more widespread appeal that the earlier installments carried. When I read the first of the Southern Vampire Chronicles, I deemed it appealing to readers looking for any kind of offbeat trashy fun book. As I get further into the series, I think that the books are becoming more appealing to fantasy/horror readers, but possibly less appealing for people who aren’t into those genres. I don’t know. I still think these books are a lot of fun to read and I have trouble putting them down. I’ll read onto the next one soon and see where it goes from here.
Club Dead is another fun vampire/mystery/romance novel from Charlaine Harris’s Southern Vampire Chronicles. Centered around the loveable Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress with a vampire boyfriend, and her misadventures with the supernatural beings of Bon Temps, Louisiana.
In Club Dead, Sookie must go to Alabama to rescue her vampire boyfriend Bill. Getting tangled with Werewolves, Goblins, Shape-Shifters, and, of course, more Vampires, along the way, Sookie charms her way through another mystery, this time showing us how tough she can be.
Club Dead is very much like the previous books in the series. It delivers just as much trashy fun as readers have come to expect from Sookie Stackhouse. I did notice that this book pushes the role of the supernatural just a little bit further than the last two and may start to cross the line for some readers as it delves further and further into the fantasy/horror genre. It’s still a fun read, perfect for relaxed reading on long commutes or during soaks in the tub.
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Ace Books, 2001
The first of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire novels, Dead Until Dark is a page turner of a book that’s part vampire story, part mystery, and part trashy romance novel.Set in Bon Temps, Louisiana, Dead Until Dark introduces us to Sookie Stackhouse, a beautiful, charming and telepathic sweetheart who lives with her grandmother and works at the local bar.Her telepathy, however, is not seen as a gift to Sookie or the few who understand her ability to read minds.Sookie puts so much mental effort into blocking out the thoughts of others that she’s seen has half crazy by most people who know her. Never able to retain a close relationship, sexual or otherwise, Sookie makes due with her little life, plastering a smile on her face to cover up the inappropriate and awkward thoughts that penetrate her mind.
The story begins when a vampire comes into Sookie’s bar.Now that synthetic blood is available and they no longer have to hide, vampires have “come out of the coffin” in this world.Naturally, Sookie and the vampire, Bill, begin to fall for each other and, not so naturally, a crop of unsavory murders begin to plague the town.Somehow, Sookie becomes the center of it all, delivering us one fun book of murder mystery, supernatural, and steamy romance.
I have to admit, I absolutely could not put this book down.It’s everything you want in a good bathtub or vacation book—it’s exciting, it’s a little bit creepy, and it’s unapologetically trashy!A different kind of romance + vampires than Twilight books, Dead Until Dark might be a good book for the adults who read Twlight and grew frustrated with the chasteness of the action (or lack thereof).I’d also recommend this book to readers looking for an offbeat trashy fun book (because we all need a trashy fun book every now and again).
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
Evermore: The Immortals by Alyson Noel
The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance - Now With Ultraviolent Zombie Mayham!
Evernight by Claudia Gray