The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

The writings of John Green are so mind-blowingly-beautiful that they leave me feeling much like the quote above. My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations.

And, did John pat himself on the back and smile that sly-writer's smile that writers get when they realize they've just written gold? If not, we need a time machine. 

Let me first say: I bought the novel this afternoon. I read it in just over two hours. I refused to leave a 6 foot radius. I laid on the carpet like a 15 year old girl. I cried. I sobbed. I cried and laughed at the same time. I was appalled, and then pleased, and then confused (because that is what John Green does to me). 

And before I even get to the review: yes. I recommend this novel. 

The Fault in Our Stars is primarily comprised of a raggedy bunch of cancer-fighting youth. Blind, missing limbs, and attached to oxygen tanks, they are trying to navigate the world of adolescence while simultaneously engaged in civil wars with their own bodies. John does a great job of touching on the very real aspects of the teenage experience - break ups, family drama, video games, high school; all of these things play a role in the lives of the characters.

The thing I've really come to appreciate about his writing is that it offers some real, something worth consuming, to the world of YA Literature. The characters featured in novels such as The Fault in Our Stars have a level of depth to them that is so, so very human. 

Augustus, Isaac, and Hazel transcend the imaginary character space. They are these people, and these people exist in the world. These situations happen. This is teenage life for someone, somewhere - and thank the universe for John Green because he keeps the bookshelves lined with words that matter. With experiences that are truly relatable. With character-people who provide that other side, the emotional perspective, the raw truth, the fact-of-the-matter.

Augustus is this fantastic blend of Holden Caulfield and Miles Halter (plus a dash of something completely unique to his own self). Hazel is a kind, smart, but still ordinary (self conscious, ANTM watching) teenage girl who compliments him perfectly. 

This novel navigates the tough stuff - death and dying, grief and pain - in a gentle but upfront way. It's a great read that pushes the boundaries and leaves you sobbing on the carpet of your parents living room like a little girl.

The universe won't look the same for a long time.
Or maybe ever again.

*Sidenote: It was really strange, reading this novel and being forced to re-encounter the grieving process. I didn't realize how many loose ends I'd left open in regards to deaths of close friends/family, and this novel wouldn't let me ignore them. It sits heavy with me, but in a very welcome way. Read it. 

Fifty Shades of Grey - E.L. James

I'm ashamed I'm writing this.
I was convinced by a friend to read Fifty Shades of Grey in Spanish (because she was, our friends were, it's good to keep up with language skills...that kind of stuff).

It was the most tortured 380+ pages I have ever read.
Thank GOD the author herself admits she's not a good writer, because she's not.

There was no character development (in fact, this may be the first time I've experienced character regression). The almost non existent plot moved at a snails pace. The whole "first person experience" is also cringe-inducing:

I see Christian. He is walking towards me in his grey suit and grey tie and he has grey eyes. His last name is Grey. I can feel my heart fluttering.

That's not a direct quote, but it's pretty damn close.
Luckily, reading it in Spanish, I just pretended it was all in the past tense (easier to do in another language).

Unfortunately, the authors lack of vocabulary was not as easy to avoid. I think I will vomit if I ever hear the word "drool" again.

Yeah. DROOL.

And, let's not leave out the whole "naive little girl who thinks she can convince the beast to change for her" over-arching theme of the novel. I am very worried for all the young ladies out there who read this book and think that Christian is the kind of guy to compete for.

He's an abuser. A handsome, somewhat-mysterious abuser with a past.
Condoning (wait, creating and then condoning) abusive relationships through writing? Horrific.

This book was an accident - and it reads like a disaster.
Stay away.

The Storyteller - Jodi Picoult

I saw this book sitting on the shelf at the student book fair. I'm an English teacher; it was called The Storyteller. I put it on my teacher wishlist and moved on with my life.

And then I read the book, which changed my life.

Seriously. I'd read 20, 30, 40 pages. Put it down, and then 10 minutes later come back. The multiple story lines weave beautifully (and surprisingly) through one another. The characters are refreshing - not stock characters by any means.

And the story. It is definitely one to be told. It's beautiful, poetic. It's full of charge, and full of tragedy. Love. Confusion. Wonder. Fear. Pushing boundaries, breaking norms.

In fact, it's so fabulous, I want to say as little as I can - the story is so precious, I don't want to spoil even a corner. 

My Name is Not Easy - Debby Edwardson

I had my students write book reviews for this novel after we finished it. Here are some of the things they had to say:

"...Experience being ripped away from your family and forced to adhere to a culture you don't believe in, and which doesn't believe in you..."

"You will laugh, cringe, and cry all within 3 pages."

"The past never felt so current."

Words they used to describe this novel: encouraging, heart-breaking, endearing, sad, shocking, honest, communal, accepting, educational, confusing.

Truthfully, I don't think the students picked up on the subtle unconventional tones of this novel. You are dropped feet first into a culture you know nothing about, but at no time do you feel "out of the know." You as the reader become part of the instant-family in the novel.

I really appreciated the jokes about white people. So many times in life you hear phrases like "is it because I'm black?" or "You know how Mexicans/Natives/Asians can be."

But you almost never hear "Oh, you know how White people are."

This is a theme that occurs again and again - the white person as the outsider, the minority, the one that has strange customs and eating/religious habits.

I really enjoyed seeing my white students squirm in their skin. They've never had to think about themselves as the "other" and so it was really cool to have that experience with them, to help them see that people view white culture just as awkwardly as we view 'other' cultures and customs.

So - final word: read this book. There are some obvious typos and occasionally it gets slow, but that's life. And this book is teeming with it. 

Finding Miracles - Julia Alvarez

It's un milagrito that I even came across this book in the first place. I would never have encountered this text in my lifetime if it weren't for the fact that I'm teaching it this fall.

When I first embarked on the journey to find this novel, I didn't realize exactly what a journey it would be. I knew the book was a little bit older (copyright 2004), but I had no idea it was out of print. I went from used bookstore to used bookstore with no luck. Not even one Barnes and Noble in the entire state had a copy!

It's a good thing we have the internet these days...I visited the Amazon.com gods and they delivered unto me a perfect copy of Finding Miracles. Because the text is out of print, I was pretty skeptical. What could an old book have to offer a class of 13 year olds?

Let me just tell you: I was blown away. This book spoke to me in ways I would never have imagined - and I'm no longer an adolescent. Alvarez's style has a natural rhythm that rocks you ever so gently until you can't decipher whether you're actually living in the book, or your own life. It rocks you gently, but it rocks you nonetheless.

The story of young Milly and her search to find her roots is something I think people of all ages can connect with. We all have a fascination with "where we came from" and "who we are." So many times, I hear students hashing out "I'm 1/4 this and 1/4 that..." as if to justify their existence in a way that is unique to them. We see this same thing happening with Kate - Milly's sister, who is the birthchild of their parents.

I appreciated the natural feel of the relationships between characters. Nothing in this novel felt contrived! I'm so excited to teach it this fall - I know it's a text that the students will love. And, of course, it's left its imprint on me for life.

The Litigators - John Grisham

John Grisham is a pretty good writer. Granted, he is a story teller of things law related and that's kind of a niche that you have to be into to enjoy his stuff. I recently read The Litigators on my flight home from Rome. For the most part, I enjoyed it. Grisham has a gift for bringing characters to life and giving them hilarious personality quirks and flaws.

My biggest criticism is this: I felt like I was watching an episode of Law and Order: Chicago - an episode that would not end. There was enough legal jargon in there for me to get lost and about half way through the book it became very easy to predict what was going to come next.

So, if you're getting on a plane and desperate for a read...The Litigators isn't a bad choice. Though you might want to brush up on your law knowledge ahead of time...

Persepolis - Marjane Sartrapi

Persepolis isn't just a book that you read, it's a book that you fully experience. You live the words on the page. As someone who knew virtually nothing about the Iranian revolution during the 1980's, I found myself completely invested and ready and willing to learn about this major historical event.

As someone who isn't the biggest fan of history books, I was surprised at how completely invested I was in the story. I suppose that it could have something to do with the fact that it is the memoir of a young girl, or the fact that one of my best friends is an Iranian, living in Tehran.

There are a lot of things to be gained from reading Persepolis. Whether you gain a knew knowledge or understanding about this event, or simply find that you are able to appreciate the themes of love, life and resistance in a time of war, it is not a graphic novel to skip over. The message is powerful, and it definitely leaves you wanting more (good thing there is a second half)!