Read 4 books this month with more or less the central theme revolving around those three words. So, as promised (to myself hehe) below is my take on the books I have read for March.
1. Every day by David Levithan - the plot is surreal, but there was a point where I began to wonder if it can be possible, if there really are drifters like A. And how many times in my life did I really feel "out of it", like someone else is doing stuff and I am merely an observer trapped in my own body? Well, i guess that is a testament on how well Levithan wrote this book. There are a lot of notable lines in there that can strike a chord in people's hearts. Well it did mine, at least. So, here are some that I really like:
There are many things that can keep you in a relationship. Fear of being alone, fear of disrupting the arrangement on your life. A decision to settle for something that's okay because you don't know if you can get any better. Or maybe, there's the irrational belief that it will get better. Even if you know he won't change.
I keep turning back to see her. Even when there are walls between us. Even when there are miles between us. I keep turning back. I keep turning back in her direction.
If you want live within the definition of your own truth, you have to choose to go through the initially painful and ultimately comforting process of finding it.
I wanted love to conquer all. But love can't conquer anything. It can't do anything on its own. It relies on us to do the conquering on its behalf.
Kinda cheesy and kinda emo, right? but I guess that was the overall mood of the book. Oh, and of course, hope and love.
I like the fact that A and Rhiannon have hope. Especially A, since his situation is really difficult, he makes it a point to do something about his situation. The epitome of the saying "if there's a will, there's a way". Some people confronted with a difficult situation will either accept the fact that it is difficult and stay within the confines of that situation, but some will find ways to alleviate their situation, take steps to make that difficult situation a better situation, come hell or high water. Turn the impossible into the possible. I admire people who are like that. And that is why I like A, that is why I loved this book.
2. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - two words: thrilling ride. The mixture of the story complemented by the vintage photos really made this book quite an experience. An air of reality is injected in the story due to the presence of the photographs.
It is the story of Jacob, a sixteen year old boy whose life will be forever altered due to certain peculiar events in his life which lead him to find Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I like the way Ransom Riggs tells the story which is both haunting and thrilling. I also like the way Jacob developed in the story, matured in a way. He started out as scared boy looking for answers and when he found his place in the world, something in him clicked. He decided to face his destiny with all its uncertainties and with danger lurking in every corner, head-on.
Initially, I got the book because I was intrigued by the cover of a hovering little girl with a tiara staring directly at me. Now, looking back, i think that was a good decision after all :).
3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - O.M.G. Now i understand why this book was described as addicting. I could not put it down. AND the TWIST. My gosh!
Obviously, I like the book. I read Dark Places before I read this and that was also a good read. Kinda disturbing though, but still good nonetheless. But I liked Gone Girl better. Still disturbing, but hey, it was a suspense filled disturbing thingie that you just cannot put down. A nice kind of disturbing (if there is such a thing) that got me hooked on the book.
Amy and Nick Dunne are indeed made for each other in every way. In may sound romantic and it is romantic for most people, but for these two, it is one lifetime of trying to be the best for each other, be it for better or worse, for both love and punishment.
One memorable line in the book that I feel everyone can relate to goes like this:
I was told that love should be unconditional. That's the rule, everybody says so. But if love has no boundaries, no limits, no conditions, why should anyone try to do the right thing, ever?
SPOILER ALERT: Who is better between the two? that is for the reader to decide. For me, I think its Nick. Given all his flaws, his infidelity, his craving to be the "hero", all of which are forgivable in the grand scheme of things. But Amy? two words: psycho bitch. And her being a twisted sick person is embedded in her whole being, a being with no remorse whatsoever. Scary.
If you haven't read a suspense novel in a while, this is the book to read. 'Nuff said.
4. Emily the Strange: The Lost Days by Rob Reger - Gone Girl left me in a daze so I opted for a fun and light read and this book did not disappoint. It was a mystery, finding out about Emily the Strange and why she was in Blackrock and who she was and all that since she lost all her past memories.
I was intrigued by Emily the Strange and I got the book just because. I did not know anything about her until I read the book :) Good thing my instincts on buying books are kinda good for the past purchases (yay! ).
It was an entertaining read, actually. A very entertaining read that I am planning to go to the bookstore to get the other 2 books on Emily the Strange.
Oh, and I read it in a day :)
So, that's it for now. I still have 3 books on my March-April TBR list : 1. The Song of Achilles, 2. Write Here, Write Now and 3. Why We Broke Up. I started reading the latter last night and so far so good :)
Till next time!
-M
