How to Save a Life: Review

Title: How to Save a Life

Author: Sara Zarr

Release Date: October 2011

Published By: Little, Brown

Pages: 341

Goodreads Rating: 4.20 stars

 
Review: Ever since Jill's dad passed away, all she's wanted is for life to go back to normal, but instead everything - her boyfriend, her family - is falling apart, and now her mom wants to have a young girl live with them and adopt her baby. All Mandy wants is for her baby to avoid the neglect she had grown up with and to give it the best possible life. But when Jill and Mandy's lives are thrown together, they're suddenly not so sure what they want anymore.

It has to be said, so: Sara Zarr is a genius and produces the most beautiful, exceptional works imaginable, and HOW TO SAVE A LIFE is no exception. From the first page to the last, this book brims with stark, raw emotion, conveyed through seemingly simple words. The premise is not completely original and yet Zarr is able to put a unique spin on it to create a lovely, emotional, and moving story.

One of the most notable aspects of this novel is the dual perspective. Not every author is able to pull it off well, but this author handled it admirably. The two-person perspective worked very well and complemented the story perfectly, allowing insight that just one perspective would have been unable to give. Through this, the characters' personalities were fleshed out into dimensions they wouldn't have had otherwise.

One complaint I would make, though, is about Jill. I completely understand that she goes through a lot and struggles a great deal emotionally, and while some level of aggression on her part is relatively acceptable, her rudeness reached uncalled-for levels. I was, at several parts, actually shocked by some of her actions and words, and this did make me lose some sympathy for her.

Overall, HOW TO SAVE A LIFE is exactly what you would expect from Sara Zarr: pure, unadulterated emotion bound in the form of a book and presented with a beautiful cover. I would have preferred for Jill to be less of a drama queen in some places, but the characters were, for the most part, brilliantly written, and I would recommend this to any fans of contemporary fiction.


I received a free copy of this book for review. This in no way affected my review.

Waiting on Wednesday (29)

This week I'm waiting on...

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu. Here's what Goodreads has to say: In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse. 


Isn't this cover gorgeous?

E-Books

I have a Kindle, and while I wouldn't say I absolutely love it, I find it convenient. After all, it's much easier to read NetGalley books on a transportable screen than on my computer monitor. However, if I got to choose between an e-copy and a physical copy, the latter wins all the way.

As the trite expression goes, there's just nothing like the sensation of actually holding it in your hands. I like being able to actually flip the pages and feel the cover, not to mention looking at it and admiring the art whenever I want. The words are crisper, and it's just so much more aesthetically pleasing than a gray-ish screen with clumped paragraphs in poor formatting.

But I do know people who prefer reading off the screen, and I can acknowledge the advantages. You can make text bigger or smaller, have it read out loud to you, and newer versions of e-readers deliver text in a prettier way than the original Kindle, which I have.

But do I think print books will disappear? Nope. As high as e-book sales are, a demand for physical books will never completely go away, just like CDs haven't become completely outdated with the advent of music files.

So what do you think? Do you like e-books better or print? Do you think print books will eventually disappear?

Babe in Boyland: Review

Title: Babe in Boyland

Author: Jody Gehrman

Release Date: February 2011

Published By: Dial

Pages: 292

Goodreads Rating: 3.85 stars

Review: Natalie is secretly Dr. Aphrodite, the relationship columnist for her school paper, but unfortunately, she knows next to nothing about boys. Her solution? To go undercover as a boy at Underwood Academy, the local all-boys boarding school. There she learns a lot about not only guys but girls as well, especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. Too bad he doesn't know she's a girl...

BABE IN BOYLAND is exactly what it sounds like: a cute, fun read guaranteed to crack a smile on your face and keep your fingers turning pages. It's not exactly hard to put it down, but I found myself always looking forward to picking it up again and continuing on in Natalie's hare-brained but hilarious adventures. She becomes stuck in a wide variety of situations, and all of them will keep you laughing and waiting for more.

It's not just the plot that's funny. Natalie has a breezy, easy-to-read voice that would have made even the most stilted stories entertaining. She often imparts her witty and precise observations of the world around her on the reader, and there are an endless amount of sharp lines to read out loud to your friends. Even better, she doesn't blend in with the plethora of sarcastic narrators out there - she has a distinct personality that will resonate strongly with readers everywhere.

However, this book wasn't perfect, and the premise was, at times, quite far-fetched and difficult to believe. There are some books where this can be overlooked, but this is one where I ended up raising eyebrows a lot in the beginning. I just can't see any mother going along so easily with Nat's flimsy cover story, nor can I buy that no one realized she's, well, a she, not with all those close calls.

All in all, though, BABE IN BOYLAND is just what it needs to be: fluffy, unadulterated chick-lit that will drive you through any post-emotional-book haze. It's pure wit and fun wrapped in a snappy voice and unique personality with a satisfying, feel-good ending. This is a book for anyone who wants to sit back, relax, and enjoy a good laugh.