Book Review #3: Twisted Summer

I am desperate for summer. Here in Pennsylvania, there has been snow nearly every week since Christmas, and it always falls from Friday night until Sunday morning. It's like I am supposed to hibernate.

Thinking of summer and all the warm happiness it brings reminded me of my first ever favorite book. I read Twisted Summer by Willo Davis Roberts the summer before entering middle school. It is, if you have not already guessed, a YA (Young Adult) novel, but it is a very interesting one.

With vivid descriptions and interesting twists (do you like that pun?), Willo David Roberts tells the story of three-generations of family as they spend summer vacation in the mountains. Our heroine, CiCi, goes through the transition from childhood to adulthood throughout this summer, and we also learn of a murder that needs to be solved.

I loved this book because it was my first real introduction to darker, more complicated plots. Everything I had read up to that point was from an elementary school textbook, rhymed, and had cartoons as companions. Reading a novel made me feel like I was growing up, and made me feel like I was CiCi as I went through the story.

I suggest picking this book up whenever you need a lazy summer read and want to bring out the curious kid that was once inside you. I'm fresh out of hammocks though, so you'll have to provide your own.

Book Review #2: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I do realize that my first two book reviews are those of books with movie adaptations. But I Scout's Honor that I actually have read these books, have yet to see these movies, and was not aware of the movies until after finishing the books. In my defense, so as not to be seen as just following mainstream lit flicks, I believe that it is only some of the best told stories that become a film. At least the films I want to be watching.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age story told from the perspective of an albeit awkward young man. His home life is not one I can relate to, his high school experience is not one I can relate to, and often times his feelings are not those which I can relate to. And yet, Stephen Chbosky has a way of creating a character with whom I empathize and was able to learn to understand.

As I started reading the first letters in this book - it is formatted as letters to an unspecified friend - I wondered if I would be able to enjoy reading this character, mostly because I found him boring and rather embarrassing. You may also feel this way, and it is probably not entirely out of the ordinary. But it is his candid speech, his vulnerability with you that eventually endears him to you.

I would suggest this book to anyone who has gone through high school, no matter how bullied, or unscathed, you came out of it. It is a unique tale with strong, original characters and an easy-to-read layout. I finished this book in less than a day.

And after you read it, let me know if you watch the movie. I am waiting for it to be available on Netflix or RedBox. There's no way I'm paying six dollars for a 24-hour rental On Demand.

Book Review #1: Ellen Foster

The first book I am choosing to review is one that I finished reading less than a month ago - Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons. This book was actually written decades ago and was a first novel for Gibbons, but is still considered a valuable literary piece.

I can remember my mother trying to get me to read this when I was younger, most likely in an effort to make me thankful for the life I led, but alas, it took me 10+ years to actually pick it up and read it cover to cover. Though I think it would have been a meaningful read for me at the time, I think that I was all the more able to appreciate it now, relating to it as an adult (and having the prospect of raising kids on the horizon).

The book essentially details the life of a ten year old girl who never quite knows what 'home' means or feels like. She moves around to houses of friends and family after various crises, but life always seems to upset her plans.Once she is settled somewhere, she is made to pack up a small box with the few objects she can call her own. Though it is a depressing narrative for the majority of the book, it is an honest and vulnerable recounting of what a girl like this would go through. One of the things I appreciated most was the raw voice of our main character, and that she stayed consistent with the time and geographical settings of the book. 

It is a short book, just over 100 pages, and is a poignant, thoughtful read. I would recommend this book to all adults, and even middle- and high-schoolers to gain some perspective on life outside of their own. It certainly helped me to count my blessings for my upbringing, and reminded me how not to be whenever I get around to having children. 

I found this book exceptional for its rich content, ease of reading, and originality. This is one you should think about adding to your shelf. And if you prefer your novels in movie form, you're in luck! Its film adaptation was made 1997.