"What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect."
What I Liked
This story is so fast-paced. I can't think of a single scene or page that wasn't essential. My attention was caught the entire read and I had trouble putting the book down. The characters are clever and witty. June's observational skills are fascinating, as is the structure of the government. I appreciated the powerful female characters in this book. Kaede, Tess, June, and female antagonists are fully capable, articulate, intelligent, and physically strong as they maneuver throughout Legend.
Overall, Legend is absorbing, fast-paced, and clever. The characters are likable and entertaining. I enjoyed this read.
What I Didn't Like
I find it problematic when the author tries so hard to give her two narrating protagonists separate voices that she must give them different fonts and even change the color of the fonts. Day and June would have, or should have, stood apart separately without the necessity and the distraction of changing up their fonts. Each time Day's narration began, I found myself become distracted and bothered by his brown, not-Times New Roman font. Maybe this is a nitpicky thing to say, but it bothered me. These characters should have been strong enough through the writing alone to stand separately from each other.
The romance between June and Day happens fast and is based almost solely on initial physical attraction instead of personality and banter. The descriptions of characters at times seemed a little bizarre. Example: Day is an Asian boy with white blonde hair and startling blue eyes. While I realize this is a YA novel, the ages seemed often shockingly and unbelievably young. Day began his life of crime at only 10 years old. Tess is 13 and has medical skills that would take most people years in college to gain. Would a realistic government give a 15-year-old, no matter how smart, the responsibility of tracking down the country's greatest criminal? Especially immediately after the death of her guardian/older brother? These were a few things that I struggled to embrace about this story's world. Four stars.
"When documentarian Jane Takagi-Little finally lands a job producing a Japanese television show that just happens to be sponsored by an American meat-exporting business, she uncovers some unsavory truths about love, fertility, and a dangerous hormone called DES. Soon she will also cross paths with Akiko Ueno, a beleaguered Japanese housewife struggling to escape her overbearing husband."
What I Liked
The characters in this book are strong and realistic. Jane is a quirky and powerful female protagonist, and Akiko is equally compelling. I loved how their stories intertwined across the pages, even as they lived thousands of miles apart.
What I Didn't Like
I'm not a big fan of "preachy" fiction, and this book preached its message. The anti-meat message was pounded into the reader again and again. I read a quote once that said, "Readers won’t tolerate a writer on a crusade to tell the world the real meaning of life. What we will tolerate, however, is your sincere attempt to present a character struggling through the difficulties of life." There was way too much blatant "moral of the story" in My Year of Meats for it to be fully enjoyable. There were so many long lists of facts and tangents about anti-meat and DES poisoning that I found myself skimming through several pages, bored by a message repeated over and over and over.
The sexual explicitness of the novel was too much for my taste. In my opinion, it distracted from the characterization and artistry of the book. Three stars.
"Sara Crewe, an exceptionally intelligent and imaginative student at Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies, is devastated when her adored, indulgent father dies. Now penniless and banished to a room in the attic, Sara is demeaned, abused, and forced to work as a servant."
This was one of my favorite books of my childhood. Growing up, I related strongly to Sara's odd, overactive imagination and her intense desire to read books and escape into their magical worlds. Reading the book again, so many years later, I feel the same way. Sara is a beautiful character. The scene when she gives food to a beggar girl made me blink back tears. Sara's determination to act like a princess in terms of how she treats the people around her, no matter how difficult life might be, is profound and powerful. If I ever have a daughter, this will be one of the first books I ever read to her. Five stars.
"Named for a Russian writer by his Indian parents in memory of a catastrophe years before, Gogol Ganguli knows only that he suffers the burden of his heritage as well as his odd, antic name. Lahiri brings great empathy to Gogol as he stumbles along the first-generation path, strewn with conflicting loyalties, comic detours, and wrenching love affairs. With penetrating insight, she reveals not only the defining power of the names and expectations bestowed upon us by our parents, but also the means by which we slowly, sometimes painfully, come to define ourselves."
What I Liked
There is a rich authenticity to The Namesake that reminded me of Khaled Husseini's novels. The characters are real and tender and likable. Jhumpa Lahiri is a lovely wordsmith. She has captured her culture and the immigrant experience in a way I have never understood until after reading her novel.
What I Didn't Like
The plot was a little weak. Not a lot of meaningful realization happened in the novel. There was a deep sense of nostalgia and homesickness, but there was no real acceptance of identity or transformation of character by the end of the book. At times, the descriptions were long and overwhelming, while the plot building was slow and faltering. The Namesake was not captivating enough to leave a lasting, powerful impact or a permanent place on my bookshelf. Three stars.
"At the heart of the book is Bill Gray, a famous reclusive writer who escapes the failed novel he has been working on for many years and enters the world of political violence, a nightscape of Semtex explosives and hostages locked in basement rooms. Bill's dangerous passage leaves two people stranded: his brilliant, fixated assistant, Scott, and the strange young woman who is Scott's lover--and Bill's."
What I Liked
The writing in Mao II is powerful, stunning, and lovely. Each sentence is structured with care and perfection. Descriptions of mass events and roaring crowds are immersing. I don't know if I've ever rated something so low that was written so well, but I could never get into this book. I did not enjoy this read. And I will not come away a changed person from reading it. The profound message that DeLillo labored to pound into the reader didn't wash over me.
What I Didn't Like
I hated the dialogue in this book. Every character's voice sounded the same, all extensions of DeLillo's own voice and opinions. There were almost no dialogue tags to the point where, when four or five people are talking at once, it's difficult and frustrating to gather who is saying what.
The novel was boring. The characters, dialogue, and storyline were all incredibly dull. The only thing enjoyable about the book was the pretty writing, which can only carry a book so far. I struggled painfully to make it through to the end. I would not have finished if the book was not a mandated read for my literature class. Two stars.
I read for class: My Year of Meats, Mao II, The Namesake
I read for fun: Legend, A Little Princess
I recommend: Legend, A Little Princess
One year ago: Romans: Thankfulness
Three years ago: The Road Trip
Five years ago: The Dollar
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