I started a new blog! I wanted to expand my media outlets. I have this one, which is very focused on the literary side of things, so I wanted another one which is more free. It's about writing in general - including my own (oo-er). And it's on WordPress, because I thought I should mix things up a bit. I think that might allow me to have more control over the design and layout, and add pages to it etc, which I can't do here. It's a bit more complicated, but I think this is good for me. Hopefully....
So if you're bored, please take a look. It's a work in progress at the moment, as I'll probably change the look of things, and keep updating much more frequently than I do on here (in theory, anyway).
http://amusingly.wordpress.com/
As to Mansfield Park (next book to be reviewed), I'm about a third of the way through, so that post should be up maybe next week.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Monday, 19 March 2012
Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
Yikes.
Well, it's been a while, and we've both said some things, but I hope that you'll take me back...
Well, I'm writing this anyway!
Just looked at the stats for this blog for the first time in months, and they're amazing! Thank you to anyone who's reading! So it galvanised me into coming back with a bang.
And what bigger bang than to review the heartbreaking, emotional rollercoaster that is
MOCKINGJAY
In my opinion, no better.
*Mild spoilers detailing the horrific events in this novel are included*
Onward!
Well. This book. What to say? I admire authors who have the guts to kill of their characters. It's horrible, and I hate reading it, but it's brave and more realistic to get rid of those who don't deserve to die. I'm currently pondering whether or not to mention the extensive list of deaths, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone... Feel free to comment if you haven't read, but want to know, and I'll tell you!
If you haven't read it, then you'll have picked up that a lot of people die in this book. And it is extremely heartbreaking. Especially the way it leaves Katniss. Speaking of Katniss, I LOVE what happens to her in this book. Not because I'm sadistic, but because it was so different. When we see her at the beginning, a little while after escaping from the 75th Hunger Games, she is completely broken. She can't focus, she breaks down frequently: she is physically and mentally weak. We NEVER see heroes/heroines suffer from PTSD, and I think it was a good thing that Katniss suffers so badly: look what she's been through, how much death she's seen and caused herself. It's far more realistic for her to suffer this way than to spring right back up and be ready to lead an entire rebellion. So I applaud Collins from my very comfy swivel chair that I am currently sitting on. And I also want to ask which, if any, heroes/heroines from other novels would or should have suffered from post-traumatic stress? Harry Potter? I'm as yet unsure about this one. I certainly think he'd suffer post-traumatic guilt, and would spend a long time wallowing in the memory of all the deaths he thought were his fault.
I do think that Gale is amazing with her in this book. Although in Catching Fire he seemed to pressurise her a lot and blame her almost unjustly for her relationship with Peeta, I think he was a better influence on her in this book than Peeta ever would have been. Gale may not have been through the same things as Katniss, but they have this bond that transcends language. He knows what she's feeling, and he can help her through this horrible time. I also think he's pretty awesome in the fighting side. Even the most devoted Peeta-fan couldn't argue with the fact that Gale would have been way better in the Hunger Games than Peeta, who only survived because of Katniss.
Speaking of Peeta, OH MY GOSH. Now that storyline surpassed anything I could ever have expected. It was cruel of Collins, but that just makes me admire her all the more. To completely reverse his feelings towards Katniss through TORTURE was a touch of genius, and incredibly interesting, as we see how much Katniss depended on him before. In fact, she sees this for the first time herself, too. She realises that she took him for granted, and I think that's what sets her on her (very slow) path to genuinely loving him. I think it must have been awful for him, to be so confused about his own memories - imagine not knowing what's real and what's been put there by a corrupt government - and to have no one trust him.
I really liked the parallels between the official government of Panem and the rebel forces: it shows that this is not a battle between good and evil, that these things aren't black and white. It makes it all the more difficult for Katniss to know what she's fighting for - especially after they've won and President Coin suggests they host their own, final Hunger Games. And, of course, the bomb that Gale creates that kills so many innocent children (including SPOILER) goes to show that they're almost exactly the same as the Capitol.
The underground setting for the majority of the novel was successfully claustrophobic, and you could feel the pressure of the walls and the war closing in on Katniss. No wonder she had a hard time!
Then, the end, where everything is supposed to be all happy again, was still riddled with heart-wrenching agony. I have a picture of Katniss sitting alone in her house, not moving for days, burned into my mind. Her mother not returning was just horrific, and, although I don't want to say "heartbreaking" AGAIN, there are no other words. Although I kind of get Gale not wanting to say goodbye. After what he did, nothing he said could ever have made her understand, and it was better that he didn't upset her any more. I just hope that he got over his feelings for her and was happy in the end.
I was glad about the way Katniss's life ended up (again, not going to say just in case - comment if you want to know), although it was still profoundly poignant. It's a nice, peaceful ending, but was it really what she wanted? Would she have been fully satisfied after everything she went to? I think she might have been, but there's always that flutter of doubt in the back of your mind. I think it's because the Epilogue's so short, and we don't get much insight into her future life, that we still think this, and I think that was intended.
Overall, I though this was an excellent book, addressing very mature themes and gripping the reader in an iron fist that still doesn't let you go after you've finished.
On a slightly different note... Who's going to see The Hunger Games on Friday? I am :) very excited - the reviews have been so good, and the trailers look fantastic. Still not as excited about this as I was for Harry Potter, but if I was, I think the world would be worried...
Coming soon [or as soon as it takes me to read and review these novels, which, knowing me, will probably be a while]:
Mansfield Park - Jane Austen
Between the Acts - Virginia Woolf
A Handful of Dust - Evelyn Waugh
Yep, you guessed it - more Enlgish books. But IF I shock myself and read these all this month before I go back to Uni, then you could perhaps look forward to the likes of these beauties:
The Bloody Chamber and other stories - Angela Carter
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Mitford Sisters - ... can't remember... started this LAST SUMMER, and still haven't finished due to the horrific strain of reading lists for Uni. But I plan on finishing it this summer...
Hope the next gap isn't this long again - believe me, I'll try my hardest!
Btw: if you still haven't had enough of my ramblings on The Hunger Games, here is my review for my University newspaper...
http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/features/2011/11/05/hungry-for-more-a-review-of-the-hunger-games/
*shameless plug*
Well, it's been a while, and we've both said some things, but I hope that you'll take me back...
Well, I'm writing this anyway!
Just looked at the stats for this blog for the first time in months, and they're amazing! Thank you to anyone who's reading! So it galvanised me into coming back with a bang.
And what bigger bang than to review the heartbreaking, emotional rollercoaster that is
MOCKINGJAY
In my opinion, no better.
*Mild spoilers detailing the horrific events in this novel are included*
Onward!
Well. This book. What to say? I admire authors who have the guts to kill of their characters. It's horrible, and I hate reading it, but it's brave and more realistic to get rid of those who don't deserve to die. I'm currently pondering whether or not to mention the extensive list of deaths, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone... Feel free to comment if you haven't read, but want to know, and I'll tell you!
If you haven't read it, then you'll have picked up that a lot of people die in this book. And it is extremely heartbreaking. Especially the way it leaves Katniss. Speaking of Katniss, I LOVE what happens to her in this book. Not because I'm sadistic, but because it was so different. When we see her at the beginning, a little while after escaping from the 75th Hunger Games, she is completely broken. She can't focus, she breaks down frequently: she is physically and mentally weak. We NEVER see heroes/heroines suffer from PTSD, and I think it was a good thing that Katniss suffers so badly: look what she's been through, how much death she's seen and caused herself. It's far more realistic for her to suffer this way than to spring right back up and be ready to lead an entire rebellion. So I applaud Collins from my very comfy swivel chair that I am currently sitting on. And I also want to ask which, if any, heroes/heroines from other novels would or should have suffered from post-traumatic stress? Harry Potter? I'm as yet unsure about this one. I certainly think he'd suffer post-traumatic guilt, and would spend a long time wallowing in the memory of all the deaths he thought were his fault.
I do think that Gale is amazing with her in this book. Although in Catching Fire he seemed to pressurise her a lot and blame her almost unjustly for her relationship with Peeta, I think he was a better influence on her in this book than Peeta ever would have been. Gale may not have been through the same things as Katniss, but they have this bond that transcends language. He knows what she's feeling, and he can help her through this horrible time. I also think he's pretty awesome in the fighting side. Even the most devoted Peeta-fan couldn't argue with the fact that Gale would have been way better in the Hunger Games than Peeta, who only survived because of Katniss.
Speaking of Peeta, OH MY GOSH. Now that storyline surpassed anything I could ever have expected. It was cruel of Collins, but that just makes me admire her all the more. To completely reverse his feelings towards Katniss through TORTURE was a touch of genius, and incredibly interesting, as we see how much Katniss depended on him before. In fact, she sees this for the first time herself, too. She realises that she took him for granted, and I think that's what sets her on her (very slow) path to genuinely loving him. I think it must have been awful for him, to be so confused about his own memories - imagine not knowing what's real and what's been put there by a corrupt government - and to have no one trust him.
I really liked the parallels between the official government of Panem and the rebel forces: it shows that this is not a battle between good and evil, that these things aren't black and white. It makes it all the more difficult for Katniss to know what she's fighting for - especially after they've won and President Coin suggests they host their own, final Hunger Games. And, of course, the bomb that Gale creates that kills so many innocent children (including SPOILER) goes to show that they're almost exactly the same as the Capitol.
The underground setting for the majority of the novel was successfully claustrophobic, and you could feel the pressure of the walls and the war closing in on Katniss. No wonder she had a hard time!
Then, the end, where everything is supposed to be all happy again, was still riddled with heart-wrenching agony. I have a picture of Katniss sitting alone in her house, not moving for days, burned into my mind. Her mother not returning was just horrific, and, although I don't want to say "heartbreaking" AGAIN, there are no other words. Although I kind of get Gale not wanting to say goodbye. After what he did, nothing he said could ever have made her understand, and it was better that he didn't upset her any more. I just hope that he got over his feelings for her and was happy in the end.
I was glad about the way Katniss's life ended up (again, not going to say just in case - comment if you want to know), although it was still profoundly poignant. It's a nice, peaceful ending, but was it really what she wanted? Would she have been fully satisfied after everything she went to? I think she might have been, but there's always that flutter of doubt in the back of your mind. I think it's because the Epilogue's so short, and we don't get much insight into her future life, that we still think this, and I think that was intended.
Overall, I though this was an excellent book, addressing very mature themes and gripping the reader in an iron fist that still doesn't let you go after you've finished.
On a slightly different note... Who's going to see The Hunger Games on Friday? I am :) very excited - the reviews have been so good, and the trailers look fantastic. Still not as excited about this as I was for Harry Potter, but if I was, I think the world would be worried...
Coming soon [or as soon as it takes me to read and review these novels, which, knowing me, will probably be a while]:
Mansfield Park - Jane Austen
Between the Acts - Virginia Woolf
A Handful of Dust - Evelyn Waugh
Yep, you guessed it - more Enlgish books. But IF I shock myself and read these all this month before I go back to Uni, then you could perhaps look forward to the likes of these beauties:
The Bloody Chamber and other stories - Angela Carter
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Mitford Sisters - ... can't remember... started this LAST SUMMER, and still haven't finished due to the horrific strain of reading lists for Uni. But I plan on finishing it this summer...
Hope the next gap isn't this long again - believe me, I'll try my hardest!
Btw: if you still haven't had enough of my ramblings on The Hunger Games, here is my review for my University newspaper...
http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/features/2011/11/05/hungry-for-more-a-review-of-the-hunger-games/
*shameless plug*
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne
Oh yeah, you can tell I'm back in Uni, now I'm doing proper books again! Don't worry - I'm still going to do Mockingjay (the final Hunger Games book), but I haven't finished it yet, so I'm doing this review first.
Sooo, anyone know what this book's about? If you've seen the film Easy A you might have a very, very vague idea about what happens, but that film really doesn't do this book any kind of justice. It's set in 17th Century America, in the town of Salem, where a young woman is being punished for having a child out of marriage. Hester Prynnehas been condemned to wear a red letter 'A' for the rest of her life, to remind her and everyone of her adulterous nature. The book follows her and her daughter as she becomes accustomed to it, and defined by it, and as she fights to save the honour of the man who fathered her child.
At first, I was a bit affronted, because Hester alone was being punished for this "crime", when we all know it takes two to actually conceive a baby. I thought that the ministers were just being sexist pigs, and were targeting Hester because she was a woman who made one mistake. However it seems that they had been asking her the identity of the father for a while, and she had resolutely refused to divulge the information.
As we find out, the father is a man called Arthur Dimmesdale, the minister of Salem, who the people seem to look to as some sort of saint or angel-in-waiting. It seems that Hester knew that if she said that it was him, the people of Salem would never believe her, as they wouldn't want to think that their perfect leader could possibly do something wrong. I also wondered a few times if they would suggest that Hester had bewitched him somehow, as I know that Salem is notorious for its witch-burnings, and I thought that maybe they would decide that she was in fact a witch who had taken a fancy to Dimmesdale and lured him to her. There is never actually a definitive answer as to why she put herself through so much suffering alone, but there are various theories abounding.
I thought the fact that Dimmesdale never told the public himself that he was the father (except for right at the end, when he was dying) showed weakness: he let Hester, who he seemed to love, be ridiculed and humiliated for seven years, without ever helping her in the slightest, just because he was afraid of the reaction of his people. Little bit douchey and weak. But then someone else pointed out that there were times when he tried to tell his congregation that he was a sinner, and was far worse than they, but the people just thought he was being modest, and that if he was a sinner, they must be much worse, and it was impossible to convince them. I still think he is a weak character (the fact that he is permanently ill and about to die throughout the whole novel doesn't help), but he is certainly redeemable.
Their daughter Pearl is a very strange child, constantly referred to as an elf-child or some strange, mystical being, but I just think that she seems strange in comparison with the strict, highly conservative, religious community she is brought up in. Being shunned her whole life doesn't help, and she has no conatct with other children, and therefore her connection with nature doesn't seem at all surprising to me.
It's certainly a slow book, and I only had a week to read it in, so I had to breeze through a large part of the descriptive bits, but I did find it interesting. Hawthorne's engagement with the psychology of the characters, and their mental disintegration/strengthening in Dimmesdale and Hester respectively was in some ways more exciting than a lot of the content of the novel. Watching Hester cope with the scarlet letter, and how the people of the town gradually begin to appreciate her humility, eventually seeing the 'A' to stand for 'able', or even 'angel' was even satisfying, as it shows us that, even in extreme conditions, people are still able to forget past wrongs and accept people if they're just strong enough.
Man, that sounds cheesy! Ok, I know this is a short review, but I have a lot of work to do!! Until next time (hopefully Mockingjay!!)
Sooo, anyone know what this book's about? If you've seen the film Easy A you might have a very, very vague idea about what happens, but that film really doesn't do this book any kind of justice. It's set in 17th Century America, in the town of Salem, where a young woman is being punished for having a child out of marriage. Hester Prynnehas been condemned to wear a red letter 'A' for the rest of her life, to remind her and everyone of her adulterous nature. The book follows her and her daughter as she becomes accustomed to it, and defined by it, and as she fights to save the honour of the man who fathered her child.
At first, I was a bit affronted, because Hester alone was being punished for this "crime", when we all know it takes two to actually conceive a baby. I thought that the ministers were just being sexist pigs, and were targeting Hester because she was a woman who made one mistake. However it seems that they had been asking her the identity of the father for a while, and she had resolutely refused to divulge the information.
As we find out, the father is a man called Arthur Dimmesdale, the minister of Salem, who the people seem to look to as some sort of saint or angel-in-waiting. It seems that Hester knew that if she said that it was him, the people of Salem would never believe her, as they wouldn't want to think that their perfect leader could possibly do something wrong. I also wondered a few times if they would suggest that Hester had bewitched him somehow, as I know that Salem is notorious for its witch-burnings, and I thought that maybe they would decide that she was in fact a witch who had taken a fancy to Dimmesdale and lured him to her. There is never actually a definitive answer as to why she put herself through so much suffering alone, but there are various theories abounding.
I thought the fact that Dimmesdale never told the public himself that he was the father (except for right at the end, when he was dying) showed weakness: he let Hester, who he seemed to love, be ridiculed and humiliated for seven years, without ever helping her in the slightest, just because he was afraid of the reaction of his people. Little bit douchey and weak. But then someone else pointed out that there were times when he tried to tell his congregation that he was a sinner, and was far worse than they, but the people just thought he was being modest, and that if he was a sinner, they must be much worse, and it was impossible to convince them. I still think he is a weak character (the fact that he is permanently ill and about to die throughout the whole novel doesn't help), but he is certainly redeemable.
Their daughter Pearl is a very strange child, constantly referred to as an elf-child or some strange, mystical being, but I just think that she seems strange in comparison with the strict, highly conservative, religious community she is brought up in. Being shunned her whole life doesn't help, and she has no conatct with other children, and therefore her connection with nature doesn't seem at all surprising to me.
It's certainly a slow book, and I only had a week to read it in, so I had to breeze through a large part of the descriptive bits, but I did find it interesting. Hawthorne's engagement with the psychology of the characters, and their mental disintegration/strengthening in Dimmesdale and Hester respectively was in some ways more exciting than a lot of the content of the novel. Watching Hester cope with the scarlet letter, and how the people of the town gradually begin to appreciate her humility, eventually seeing the 'A' to stand for 'able', or even 'angel' was even satisfying, as it shows us that, even in extreme conditions, people are still able to forget past wrongs and accept people if they're just strong enough.
Man, that sounds cheesy! Ok, I know this is a short review, but I have a lot of work to do!! Until next time (hopefully Mockingjay!!)
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHH MY HEART IS IN PAAAAIN!!!!!!!!!
OH, SO DEVASTATED!
I DON'T EVEN FULLY UNDERSTAND WHYYYY!
Who would have guessed what would happen in this book?? Not me, certainly.
Before I get wrapped up in the utter heartbreak and darkness that goes on in this novel, I want to do some praising of Suzanne Collins, which I don't think I really did much of in my last review.
I know I had a few troubles with her writing style before, but now I've realised the huge benefit it gives to this type of fiction. Because it's in first person, present tense, ther is no way of knowing if Katniss is going to survive or not. There is no opportunity for hindsight which would give us a hint that she will make it, and at certain points of the book I wasn't sure that she would. Now I've finished this book, I am pretty sure she'll make it through the final one, but unfortunately I can't say the same for Peeta.
It kills me to write this, because he is officially my favourite character in this series. I can relate to him so well, and I sympathise with him completely. Whilst Katniss has moments of being a little dense, insensitive or moody, Peeta clearly thinks ahead, always has a plan of action, and is evidently hopelessly in love with her. Because he is so totally awesome I don't see him lasting. Partly because Collins DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO KEEP ANYTHING HAPPY, and partly because I saw on Twitter that someone had finished the book and were going off to cry. Which doesn't bode well at all :( *sadness forever*.
Back to Collins being a legend. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE books where the opressed rise against the opressors. I don't know what it is: as far as I know, I have no radical political views; and yet I really love books about rebellion (see Harry Potter and His Dark Materials). So it excites me greatly to read about all these rebellions going on, and to have Katniss as the figurehead of it all. Could she be the female Harry Potter? Interesting...
So, shall we move onward to the story?
I may as well start with the *love triangle*. I am not a fan of love triangles. Ever since I made the gravest mistake of my life and read Twilight I have become irrationally angry whenever I read about them. Don't get me wrong, I love reading romance in novels. But when another love triangle starts, I just get sooo bored. So I was a little worried when I sensed one coming on here between Katniss, Gale and Peeta, but I needn't have worried. This is why I find Katniss's character so refreshing. She is not romantic, and she is not in love with either of the boys. She admits she has feelings, though what they are she isn't sure, for both of them, but when they tell her they love her she doesn't melt into their arms and sacrifice her life for them like some "heroines" might do. Instead, she tells them both that she has no time for romance in her life right now, as she has to keep her family,and now her fellow rebels, safe. OK, she has to maintain this strange rigmarole with Peeta whenever they're in the public eye, but other than that she won't let it cloud her vision. I think this is really great of Collins because it is so different, and I'm interested to see where this is going, although I have to state now that I hope she and Peeta get together, even though I would feel so awful for Gale... maybe it would be better for him to die... :(
I was surprised how quickly the Victory Tour passed by. After their first stop in District 11 it just went by in a few pages, but of course I understand why, as there is so much worse to come. I enjoyed finding out about the other districts, as I love delving into the imagination of the author, as I said in my last post. I really love everything in the Capitol. I know the people are awful, and the juxtaposition of that and the destitute Districts shows how corrupt the government is, but I loved the lavish detail, the descriptions of food, fashion and frivolity that peppered the pages.
But then, of course, after things seem to be going just about OK, they announce the plans for next year's Hunger Games. And my heart nearly stopped beating.
I couldn't believe that Collins could be so cruel. How could she do this to her characters again?
I'll admit, I did cy when I found that Katniss, along with one other male Victor from the District would be joining 22 other previous Victors. I'm now wondering how the people of the Capitol, the people who actually enjoy the games, reacted, or will react. We heard rumours that they weren't happy with this decision, as they had got to know the Victors over the years, and now they were going to have to watch them kill each other. Could this lead to dissent even from those in the Capitol? I'm interested to see where this goes.
So, Katniss and Peeta return to the Games, and I didn't think the run-up was as suspenseful or detailed as last time, but then, of course, we know what's coming, and I suppose by throwing her in there quicker it gives us more of a shock. Before we get to that bit though, I want to say how totally awesome Cinna is. I LOVED the idea of sending her on in a Wedding Dress that disintegrated to become a Mockingjay: the symbol of resistance for Katniss's fellow rebels. I hope we see more of him, that they didn't kill him when they took him away.
As for the actual games, although I loved the idea of the island being a clock with each section holding a different horror, I actually preferred reading about the character interactions than anything else. I'm not sure what to make of Finnick yet, although I'm pretty sure he's an OK guy. With Johanna, I'm glad there's another fiesty girl around, and also I enjoyed the disparity between them. So many people love Katniss that it was refreshing to see some verbal sparring.
I also liked how determined Katniss was to have people like Mags, Beetee and Wiress on her side, rather than the tougher tributes like Brutus, and, hey, it paid off!
Before I get on to the traumatic ending, I'm going to talk briefly about ~the kiss~. So, I'm pretty sure Katniss does have feelings for Peeta, more than friendly, but I don't think she'll act on them until this is over... if he survives. I'm not saying that she doesn't have feelings for Gale, though. Those two have such a history behind them, and now she knows he loves her I think it'll be hard to ignore it. Although I'm swaying on the Peeta side, I do still think Gale is an awesome character, and I don't want him to be an empty shell if she rejects him. It's so difficult for her!!
Ok. To the endless sadness.
Once Beetee concocts his plan, Katniss and Peeta are forced to split, and I was not happy. The confusion that ensues was completely discombobulating (yes, that is a word) that I wasn't really sure what was happening. All I knew was that I was positive that Johanna's stabbing of Katniss was just a way to protect her from Brutus and Enobaria, rather than a malicious attempt to kill her.
It's hard to sum up what happened, but Katniss's shooting of the forcefield was great: a nice piece of foreshadowing from Collins there, and I love me some foreshadowing!
BUT.
BUT THEN...
I SOB FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY.
Katniss hears Peeta shouting for her, but they can't get to each other, and then she gets picked up by a hovercraft!
I thought the hovercraft was the capitol, thinking she was dead, and when Plutarch Heavensbee (coolest name ever, btw) closed her eyes, I though somehow they actually thought she was dead and she was going to be buried alive, or turned into a mutt or something awful, but THEN!!!
We find out that actually, PLUTARCH WORKS FOR THE REBELS AND....
DISTRICT 13
OMG!!
Sooooo exciting!!
I love that there's a significant rebel movement and everything, but then we learn two things that kill me:
Bring on Mockingjay.
OH, SO DEVASTATED!
I DON'T EVEN FULLY UNDERSTAND WHYYYY!
Who would have guessed what would happen in this book?? Not me, certainly.
Before I get wrapped up in the utter heartbreak and darkness that goes on in this novel, I want to do some praising of Suzanne Collins, which I don't think I really did much of in my last review.
I know I had a few troubles with her writing style before, but now I've realised the huge benefit it gives to this type of fiction. Because it's in first person, present tense, ther is no way of knowing if Katniss is going to survive or not. There is no opportunity for hindsight which would give us a hint that she will make it, and at certain points of the book I wasn't sure that she would. Now I've finished this book, I am pretty sure she'll make it through the final one, but unfortunately I can't say the same for Peeta.
It kills me to write this, because he is officially my favourite character in this series. I can relate to him so well, and I sympathise with him completely. Whilst Katniss has moments of being a little dense, insensitive or moody, Peeta clearly thinks ahead, always has a plan of action, and is evidently hopelessly in love with her. Because he is so totally awesome I don't see him lasting. Partly because Collins DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO KEEP ANYTHING HAPPY, and partly because I saw on Twitter that someone had finished the book and were going off to cry. Which doesn't bode well at all :( *sadness forever*.
Back to Collins being a legend. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE books where the opressed rise against the opressors. I don't know what it is: as far as I know, I have no radical political views; and yet I really love books about rebellion (see Harry Potter and His Dark Materials). So it excites me greatly to read about all these rebellions going on, and to have Katniss as the figurehead of it all. Could she be the female Harry Potter? Interesting...
So, shall we move onward to the story?
I may as well start with the *love triangle*. I am not a fan of love triangles. Ever since I made the gravest mistake of my life and read Twilight I have become irrationally angry whenever I read about them. Don't get me wrong, I love reading romance in novels. But when another love triangle starts, I just get sooo bored. So I was a little worried when I sensed one coming on here between Katniss, Gale and Peeta, but I needn't have worried. This is why I find Katniss's character so refreshing. She is not romantic, and she is not in love with either of the boys. She admits she has feelings, though what they are she isn't sure, for both of them, but when they tell her they love her she doesn't melt into their arms and sacrifice her life for them like some "heroines" might do. Instead, she tells them both that she has no time for romance in her life right now, as she has to keep her family,and now her fellow rebels, safe. OK, she has to maintain this strange rigmarole with Peeta whenever they're in the public eye, but other than that she won't let it cloud her vision. I think this is really great of Collins because it is so different, and I'm interested to see where this is going, although I have to state now that I hope she and Peeta get together, even though I would feel so awful for Gale... maybe it would be better for him to die... :(
I was surprised how quickly the Victory Tour passed by. After their first stop in District 11 it just went by in a few pages, but of course I understand why, as there is so much worse to come. I enjoyed finding out about the other districts, as I love delving into the imagination of the author, as I said in my last post. I really love everything in the Capitol. I know the people are awful, and the juxtaposition of that and the destitute Districts shows how corrupt the government is, but I loved the lavish detail, the descriptions of food, fashion and frivolity that peppered the pages.
But then, of course, after things seem to be going just about OK, they announce the plans for next year's Hunger Games. And my heart nearly stopped beating.
I couldn't believe that Collins could be so cruel. How could she do this to her characters again?
I'll admit, I did cy when I found that Katniss, along with one other male Victor from the District would be joining 22 other previous Victors. I'm now wondering how the people of the Capitol, the people who actually enjoy the games, reacted, or will react. We heard rumours that they weren't happy with this decision, as they had got to know the Victors over the years, and now they were going to have to watch them kill each other. Could this lead to dissent even from those in the Capitol? I'm interested to see where this goes.
So, Katniss and Peeta return to the Games, and I didn't think the run-up was as suspenseful or detailed as last time, but then, of course, we know what's coming, and I suppose by throwing her in there quicker it gives us more of a shock. Before we get to that bit though, I want to say how totally awesome Cinna is. I LOVED the idea of sending her on in a Wedding Dress that disintegrated to become a Mockingjay: the symbol of resistance for Katniss's fellow rebels. I hope we see more of him, that they didn't kill him when they took him away.
As for the actual games, although I loved the idea of the island being a clock with each section holding a different horror, I actually preferred reading about the character interactions than anything else. I'm not sure what to make of Finnick yet, although I'm pretty sure he's an OK guy. With Johanna, I'm glad there's another fiesty girl around, and also I enjoyed the disparity between them. So many people love Katniss that it was refreshing to see some verbal sparring.
I also liked how determined Katniss was to have people like Mags, Beetee and Wiress on her side, rather than the tougher tributes like Brutus, and, hey, it paid off!
Before I get on to the traumatic ending, I'm going to talk briefly about ~the kiss~. So, I'm pretty sure Katniss does have feelings for Peeta, more than friendly, but I don't think she'll act on them until this is over... if he survives. I'm not saying that she doesn't have feelings for Gale, though. Those two have such a history behind them, and now she knows he loves her I think it'll be hard to ignore it. Although I'm swaying on the Peeta side, I do still think Gale is an awesome character, and I don't want him to be an empty shell if she rejects him. It's so difficult for her!!
Ok. To the endless sadness.
Once Beetee concocts his plan, Katniss and Peeta are forced to split, and I was not happy. The confusion that ensues was completely discombobulating (yes, that is a word) that I wasn't really sure what was happening. All I knew was that I was positive that Johanna's stabbing of Katniss was just a way to protect her from Brutus and Enobaria, rather than a malicious attempt to kill her.
It's hard to sum up what happened, but Katniss's shooting of the forcefield was great: a nice piece of foreshadowing from Collins there, and I love me some foreshadowing!
BUT.
BUT THEN...
I SOB FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY.
Katniss hears Peeta shouting for her, but they can't get to each other, and then she gets picked up by a hovercraft!
I thought the hovercraft was the capitol, thinking she was dead, and when Plutarch Heavensbee (coolest name ever, btw) closed her eyes, I though somehow they actually thought she was dead and she was going to be buried alive, or turned into a mutt or something awful, but THEN!!!
We find out that actually, PLUTARCH WORKS FOR THE REBELS AND....
DISTRICT 13
OMG!!
Sooooo exciting!!
I love that there's a significant rebel movement and everything, but then we learn two things that kill me:
- Peeta was not saved by the rebels, and will likely be tortured by the Capitol for information
- District 12 has been decimated, and there is nothing left.
Bring on Mockingjay.
Monday, 19 September 2011
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
I am going to come right out with it.
I LOVE THE HUNGER GAMES.
But not as much as Harry Potter. Never.
STILL. It is FLIPPING AMAZING AND HEART-BREAKING AND HORRIFYING AND EXCITING AND UNIQUE.
I absolutely LOVED it.
So this was another book I'd heard loads about. It's not been as hyped up as One Day, but I've been hearing things, especially since the film's coming out (Oh my gosh, guys I actually cannot wait for that!!) and I thought that I ought to give it a try.
Best decision since sliced bread.
I don't even know where to start. I don't think I'll do one of those reviews where I just explain exactly what's going on, but I will give a brief summary just in case...
So. This series is set in the future, in the place where America used to be. The land is split into 12 Districts, with one area that controls the others, called the Capitol. Years ago, there was a rebellion against the Capitol, because of their iron-fisted hold over all the Districts, but the Capitol beat them down. As a result they imposed the Hunger Games: a televised competition, in which a boy and girl from the age of 12-18 are chosen at random from each District, and they are put in an arena and have to fight to the death, the last one remaining winning the competition.
Katniss Everdeen is our narrator, and her little sister gets chosen to compete in the Games. Katniss, aged 16, won't let this happen, and so volunteers instead. The boy chosen is Peeta Mellark. They journey to the Capitol with a support team, and have to go through many public appearances and interviews before the nation. But there comes an interesting twist. Katniss and Peeta's main mentor is Haymitch, District 12's only living survivor of the Games, and he and Peeta seem to think that if Peeta and Katniss pretend to be in love, they will win over public favour. By doing this they're more likely to get funding, which can be life-saving, as it means you might be able to get access to medicine or food when you're trapped in the arena.
They enter the Games, and although they're split up for a while, they are eventually reunited, and both know they have to act like they're in love the whole time, to keep the audience, and the Game-makers, happy. When the announcement comes that the rules have changed, and if two people from one District are left at the end, they may both win, it seems that they won't have to kill each other, and they might both be able to get home. Through various schemes and events, it turns out that they manage to survive it, and just as the final tribute dies, another announcement comes that actually, the rules can't be changed: meaning that they're going to have to kill each other.
Now Katniss has been having suspicions that Peeta isn't faking his affection towards her, and she is in confusion about her own feelings, and knows that she could never kill him. She proposes they both kill themselves, hoping that the Game-makers will not allow this, as the Games needs a winner. Her plan works, and they are taken out of the arena, to safety. Or so they think. Haymitch tells them that the Capitol isn't happy, that they feel they've been cheated, and if Katniss and Peeta don't uphold their story of being in love, they will both be killed.
It isn't until they're on the train home that Katniss tells Peeta that she was faking her attraction to him, trying to get them to survive. He is understandably angry and upset, and it ends with themheading home, her knowing that she's hurt him, but also knowing that they will have to keep up pretenses in order to stay alive...
Ok. Now for my reactions.
This book is exactly the type of story that I love. Fantasy is defintely my thing: Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, The Magicians' Guild, The Hobbit. I love stories where imagination runs wild, where anything is possible becaue it's a completely different world. I love the fact that people can create these worlds with so much depth and back story, how they're so completely different to ours. That's probably part of the reason I love Harry Potter so much. So this book fits that category perfectly.
I also like a bit of romance. I just get so involved with the characters, and think about their lives far more than I think about my life. Especially with this book. I have gone to bed every night for the past couple of weeks, my head filled with the problem of Katniss and Peeta, thinking about their relationship and how on earth they're going to survive.
I actually love Peeta, (NOT in a fangirl way though!) he's just so sweet and honest, and it's such a shame Katniss doesn't quite feel the same way about him. I think I'll start with this problem, as we're here. I thought it was a great idea of Collins' to set this romance up, but remind us that is was only as a way to survive. In reality shows now, people always whisper rumours about contestants getting together, and it's a comment on how set up these things are that Collins had them pretend like this. However the great twist was that they had to do it just to save their own lives, and also that Peeta actually does love Katniss.
Throughout the novel Katniss's feelings were torn between Peeta and Gale, her best friend from home, neither of whom she knew her feelings towards. I have to admit, that for a short while I was worried that this would go down the 'Twilight road' (that's one Fantasy series that I don't like) of the whole love triangle, who's she going to choose, are the two guys going to be all stupid and macho towards each other, blah blah blah. But it doesn't quite seem to be like that. I'm not sure yet whether Gale does like her. Hopefully not, as that would make things easier, but also the fact that Katniss is determined not to get married or have children. I thought that was an interesting dynamic to her character, as so often we are fed the idea that Marriage + babies = happiness. In my opinion, if people want to do that then fine, but personally I don't want children, I want an amazing career instead. But I wouldn't miind getting married. So when she told Peeta at the end that her feelings for him weren't real, I felt like wrapping him up in bublewrap and hugging him, because he's so adorable, and just been completely crushed.
Sadness forever.
So yeah, Katniss's character is nice and refreshin: just like I said the other day about wanting a different kind of heroine, one who doesn't always end up with a guy etc. With Katniss, she loves both Gale and Peeta as friends, and I think that's really different.
Something else I love in novels, and it sounds weird to write this, is the government opressing the nation. I'm not saying I think it's a good thing!! I was just always interested in learning about the Nazis and Soviets, and I don't know what it is, but in books when there are parallels to that sort of society, I find it really interesting. Especially when people begin to rebel against it (see Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, the Inheritance series, etc). I've always loved history, and when I get to learn about the social context of novels in English, it really brings them to life for me, and I feel like I understand them that little bit more.
So although the Capitol and the Game-makers were awful, I love the fact that they're there because I'm sure there'll be some kind of rebellion in the coming books. I couldn't believe that anyone could be so sadistic as to trap 24 children in a large area and force them to kill each other. It was even worse when, after a day or so of inaction, they decided to set the forest on fire just to force the tributes out of their hiding places and into close range of each other, so they had no choice but to fight.
Collins obviously wasn't scared of having Katniss confront the other tributes, and I was surprised that she actually made her kill someone. One complaint would be that she didn't dwell long enough on the fact that Katniss had just murdered, but then maybe the only way for Katniss to survive was for her to block out everything she had done. Maybe we'll see more regret in the next books, but somehow I doubt it.
I also thought that the people who live it the Capitol were really interesting. The stark contrast between them and the people Katniss is used to, and the disgust she feels towards them was really well done. I also like the way Collins approached the idea of fashion. The story is set centuries into the future, so why wouldn't people find ways of dying their skin pea green? Why wouldn't people want golden swirls inked onto their faces, or gems embedded in their arms? I thought those details really made the city come alive, and only added to the difference between them and Katniss.
I didn't think Collins' writing was perfect. I'm not so keen on the writing style, in that it's written in the present tense, which I've never been that keen on, but I didn't think it detracted from the story at all. For me, even though I love it when people write beautifully (modern example: Markus Zusac, The Book Theif, classic example: EM Forster, A Room With a View), but it's not the most important thing. Unless, of course, they write so awfully, Stephenie Meyer and Mandy Hubbard, to name a couple, that I just can't ignore it anymore. But on the whole, I care more about the story. As long as that's good, I'll go with it, and I can confidently say that this book is a hell of a good story.
Oh gosh, my life doesn't have room for another book obsession!!
I LOVE THE HUNGER GAMES.
But not as much as Harry Potter. Never.
STILL. It is FLIPPING AMAZING AND HEART-BREAKING AND HORRIFYING AND EXCITING AND UNIQUE.
I absolutely LOVED it.
So this was another book I'd heard loads about. It's not been as hyped up as One Day, but I've been hearing things, especially since the film's coming out (Oh my gosh, guys I actually cannot wait for that!!) and I thought that I ought to give it a try.
Best decision since sliced bread.
I don't even know where to start. I don't think I'll do one of those reviews where I just explain exactly what's going on, but I will give a brief summary just in case...
So. This series is set in the future, in the place where America used to be. The land is split into 12 Districts, with one area that controls the others, called the Capitol. Years ago, there was a rebellion against the Capitol, because of their iron-fisted hold over all the Districts, but the Capitol beat them down. As a result they imposed the Hunger Games: a televised competition, in which a boy and girl from the age of 12-18 are chosen at random from each District, and they are put in an arena and have to fight to the death, the last one remaining winning the competition.
Katniss Everdeen is our narrator, and her little sister gets chosen to compete in the Games. Katniss, aged 16, won't let this happen, and so volunteers instead. The boy chosen is Peeta Mellark. They journey to the Capitol with a support team, and have to go through many public appearances and interviews before the nation. But there comes an interesting twist. Katniss and Peeta's main mentor is Haymitch, District 12's only living survivor of the Games, and he and Peeta seem to think that if Peeta and Katniss pretend to be in love, they will win over public favour. By doing this they're more likely to get funding, which can be life-saving, as it means you might be able to get access to medicine or food when you're trapped in the arena.
They enter the Games, and although they're split up for a while, they are eventually reunited, and both know they have to act like they're in love the whole time, to keep the audience, and the Game-makers, happy. When the announcement comes that the rules have changed, and if two people from one District are left at the end, they may both win, it seems that they won't have to kill each other, and they might both be able to get home. Through various schemes and events, it turns out that they manage to survive it, and just as the final tribute dies, another announcement comes that actually, the rules can't be changed: meaning that they're going to have to kill each other.
Now Katniss has been having suspicions that Peeta isn't faking his affection towards her, and she is in confusion about her own feelings, and knows that she could never kill him. She proposes they both kill themselves, hoping that the Game-makers will not allow this, as the Games needs a winner. Her plan works, and they are taken out of the arena, to safety. Or so they think. Haymitch tells them that the Capitol isn't happy, that they feel they've been cheated, and if Katniss and Peeta don't uphold their story of being in love, they will both be killed.
It isn't until they're on the train home that Katniss tells Peeta that she was faking her attraction to him, trying to get them to survive. He is understandably angry and upset, and it ends with themheading home, her knowing that she's hurt him, but also knowing that they will have to keep up pretenses in order to stay alive...
Ok. Now for my reactions.
This book is exactly the type of story that I love. Fantasy is defintely my thing: Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, The Magicians' Guild, The Hobbit. I love stories where imagination runs wild, where anything is possible becaue it's a completely different world. I love the fact that people can create these worlds with so much depth and back story, how they're so completely different to ours. That's probably part of the reason I love Harry Potter so much. So this book fits that category perfectly.
I also like a bit of romance. I just get so involved with the characters, and think about their lives far more than I think about my life. Especially with this book. I have gone to bed every night for the past couple of weeks, my head filled with the problem of Katniss and Peeta, thinking about their relationship and how on earth they're going to survive.
I actually love Peeta, (NOT in a fangirl way though!) he's just so sweet and honest, and it's such a shame Katniss doesn't quite feel the same way about him. I think I'll start with this problem, as we're here. I thought it was a great idea of Collins' to set this romance up, but remind us that is was only as a way to survive. In reality shows now, people always whisper rumours about contestants getting together, and it's a comment on how set up these things are that Collins had them pretend like this. However the great twist was that they had to do it just to save their own lives, and also that Peeta actually does love Katniss.
Throughout the novel Katniss's feelings were torn between Peeta and Gale, her best friend from home, neither of whom she knew her feelings towards. I have to admit, that for a short while I was worried that this would go down the 'Twilight road' (that's one Fantasy series that I don't like) of the whole love triangle, who's she going to choose, are the two guys going to be all stupid and macho towards each other, blah blah blah. But it doesn't quite seem to be like that. I'm not sure yet whether Gale does like her. Hopefully not, as that would make things easier, but also the fact that Katniss is determined not to get married or have children. I thought that was an interesting dynamic to her character, as so often we are fed the idea that Marriage + babies = happiness. In my opinion, if people want to do that then fine, but personally I don't want children, I want an amazing career instead. But I wouldn't miind getting married. So when she told Peeta at the end that her feelings for him weren't real, I felt like wrapping him up in bublewrap and hugging him, because he's so adorable, and just been completely crushed.
Sadness forever.
So yeah, Katniss's character is nice and refreshin: just like I said the other day about wanting a different kind of heroine, one who doesn't always end up with a guy etc. With Katniss, she loves both Gale and Peeta as friends, and I think that's really different.
Something else I love in novels, and it sounds weird to write this, is the government opressing the nation. I'm not saying I think it's a good thing!! I was just always interested in learning about the Nazis and Soviets, and I don't know what it is, but in books when there are parallels to that sort of society, I find it really interesting. Especially when people begin to rebel against it (see Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, the Inheritance series, etc). I've always loved history, and when I get to learn about the social context of novels in English, it really brings them to life for me, and I feel like I understand them that little bit more.
So although the Capitol and the Game-makers were awful, I love the fact that they're there because I'm sure there'll be some kind of rebellion in the coming books. I couldn't believe that anyone could be so sadistic as to trap 24 children in a large area and force them to kill each other. It was even worse when, after a day or so of inaction, they decided to set the forest on fire just to force the tributes out of their hiding places and into close range of each other, so they had no choice but to fight.
Collins obviously wasn't scared of having Katniss confront the other tributes, and I was surprised that she actually made her kill someone. One complaint would be that she didn't dwell long enough on the fact that Katniss had just murdered, but then maybe the only way for Katniss to survive was for her to block out everything she had done. Maybe we'll see more regret in the next books, but somehow I doubt it.
I also thought that the people who live it the Capitol were really interesting. The stark contrast between them and the people Katniss is used to, and the disgust she feels towards them was really well done. I also like the way Collins approached the idea of fashion. The story is set centuries into the future, so why wouldn't people find ways of dying their skin pea green? Why wouldn't people want golden swirls inked onto their faces, or gems embedded in their arms? I thought those details really made the city come alive, and only added to the difference between them and Katniss.
I didn't think Collins' writing was perfect. I'm not so keen on the writing style, in that it's written in the present tense, which I've never been that keen on, but I didn't think it detracted from the story at all. For me, even though I love it when people write beautifully (modern example: Markus Zusac, The Book Theif, classic example: EM Forster, A Room With a View), but it's not the most important thing. Unless, of course, they write so awfully, Stephenie Meyer and Mandy Hubbard, to name a couple, that I just can't ignore it anymore. But on the whole, I care more about the story. As long as that's good, I'll go with it, and I can confidently say that this book is a hell of a good story.
Oh gosh, my life doesn't have room for another book obsession!!
Sunday, 18 September 2011
One Day by David Nicholls
I decided I'd buy into the hype about this book and see what all the fuss is about, so this review is of the hugely popular and surprisingly upsetting One Day.
This type of book isn't usually what I go for. I read so many teenage girl books when I was younger (I was going to say, when I was a teenager, but then technically I still am, at the tender age of 19), that I think I must have saturated my thirst for 'chick flick fic', as I like to call it, and I tend to go for classics and more 'high literature' fiction, in an attempt to make me sound more intelligent and widely read in my English seminars... Somehow, I still end up bringing Harry Potter into everything though... really must sort that out. Anyway, my point is that I didn't really think that I'd enjoy this book so much, but I was surprised by how well-writted and witty it was. I'm not saying that this book changed my life, that it was a revolution in modern literature, and that I will never read another book, like so many people seem to have done, but Ifound I did enjoy it.
If you have been living in a hole at the end of your garden for the past couple of months, here is a brief summary of the story. Emma and Dexter met on 15th July, 1988, on the day of their graduation from St Andrews University, Edinburgh. Emma got a first (that's the highest you can get) in English and History, and Dexter got a third (the lowest you can get) in Anthropology. Each chapter in the book details what happens on that day, every year after that until about 2005. I thought this was a very original idea, and I suppose it could be difficult to pull off well, because seeing these characters for one day, once a year might stunt the character development, or not make us that close to the characters because we see them so infrequently. However the closeness we feel, and the progress of these two characters is really admirable, and I really did feel attached by the end.
I'm going to start with Emma, I think. She was a surprising character because she was so cynical: not at all the type of successfull, perfect character you see in so many novels/films of this genre. Indeed, the last few chick flicks I've seen seem to have made a point of characters who are not the perfect, pink, cheerleading-type that we've seen for so long. At first I thought this was quite refreshing, but now I'm getting quite bored of it. They try to make them seem 'kooky' and 'cool because they're different', when really they still end up with what the film-makers deem the 'perfect life' with the 'perfect boyfriend' and everyone loving them. Seriously, can we please have a chick flick where the girl doesn't get the guy, where nothing changes, but she still comes out happy and awesome?
I digress. I did like Emma's sarcastic sense of humour, how she avoids awkward and potentially emotional scenes with her dry wit, because I could relate to that. I hate ~emotional stuff~ when it comes to my life (although I adore reading/watching it), and I hardly evertalk about my feelings because it's weird. So I liked that quality about her. What really frustrated me though, and I think it was supposed to, was how when she left University her life spiralled into nothingness. Her brief stint as a performer who tried to change the world one act at a time was awful, and then she landed that humiliating job with the mexican restaurant Loco Caliente. I just couldn't understand how someone as bright and intelligent as her could possibly be settling for jobs like that. Dexter points this out at some point in the book, that she seemed to like suffering, and I think he was right, because she did nothing to get out of it, and she didn't even seem to care.
Her *unrequited love* (I hate that phrase) was definitely something I could relate to, so in a number of ways I felt she was fairly similar to me. But I don't want to go all fangirl and say that *this book is the definition of ~MY EXISTENCE~*, because that's definitely not true. But yeah, I was pleased in a way that Nicholls kept them apart for so long. I don't think the relationship could have worked if they'd been together when they were younger, as she was so dependent on him, and he just took her for granted for years. So although it's very poignant how little time they actually had to be properly together, I don't think it would have lasted as long if they'd got together earlier on.
This seems like a good time to talk about Dexter. Oh, Dexter. He was one of those characters who you couldn't help but love, even though you absolutely hated him sometimes, and Nichols summed this up absolutely perfectly in the now legendary line, "I love you, but I just don't like you", said by Emma to Dex. I kind of understood why he was such an asswipe at the beginning because hey, he was hot, rich, fairly intelligent etc, and could get any girl he wanted. When he was "finding himself" abroad, it was obvious that he didn't get how awful a time Emma was having, but you kind of had to forgive him, because when we read his side of the story we knew how much he though about her.
It wasn't until he became a TV Presenter and became a C-list celeb that his asswipe-ishness just turned into general arrogance and unbearableness. He was evidently an alcoholic, and completely full of himself, not caring about any of his old friends, especialy not Emma. In fact, I think he really liked the idea of Emma, knowing how close they'd been, but when it got to actually seeing her again, he just wanted her to know how much he'd given up to be with her tonight, how he deigned to be in her presence. I didn't blame Emma at all when she "broke up with him", because she really didn't need him in her life.
I want to talk briefly about the interesting juxtaposition between Dex's first live show and Emma's school play's opening night. They both had these things on at the same time, and they were both so different, yet so important to each of them. It highlights how different they were at that point, and also how selfish Dexter was to beg Emma to come to his show, when he knew what she was doing was equally as important.
I know I haven't talked about every detail that happened in this book, but I don't think I need to. I'm going to go straight on to the shock of the ending.
Well. Did anyone gues that was going to happen? I know I certainly didn't! I was surprised that I didn't cry though. I have to admit that I am prone to crying when something like this happens. I can't bear it when two people are separated. Think Lyra and Will (that still makes me cry), Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner, and Cecilia and Robbie from Atonement. Yep, absolute wreck. So, very surprisingly I didn't cry, and I'm still not sure why. It was certainly upsetting that Emma died, especially the way she did, just out of nowhere, by a lorry (and that bit was really horrible in the film).
I guess what was worse was when we followed Dexter on the few years following her death, when he was an absolute wreck, and I think I found that more upsetting, because I hate to see the ones left behind. Still, I didn't cry, but that doesn't mean it wasn't sad. I thought Nicholls' writing was very emotive, and when Dexter was 'celebrating' Emma's life by getting drunk and being beaten up, I thought it was quite brave of Nicholls to do that. It would have been so easy to say, 'after Emma's death Dexter was perfect to honour her memory', but the fact that he slipped back into his old ways was probably more realistic, and I'm glad they kept it like that in the film: especially the loss of respect from his daughter.
Essentially though, it is a happy book, because we're left with the image of the two of them together in Edinburgh, young and happy, and I think the message here is that death is not what's important: as long as you've lived and loved, you've lived a full life.
This type of book isn't usually what I go for. I read so many teenage girl books when I was younger (I was going to say, when I was a teenager, but then technically I still am, at the tender age of 19), that I think I must have saturated my thirst for 'chick flick fic', as I like to call it, and I tend to go for classics and more 'high literature' fiction, in an attempt to make me sound more intelligent and widely read in my English seminars... Somehow, I still end up bringing Harry Potter into everything though... really must sort that out. Anyway, my point is that I didn't really think that I'd enjoy this book so much, but I was surprised by how well-writted and witty it was. I'm not saying that this book changed my life, that it was a revolution in modern literature, and that I will never read another book, like so many people seem to have done, but Ifound I did enjoy it.
If you have been living in a hole at the end of your garden for the past couple of months, here is a brief summary of the story. Emma and Dexter met on 15th July, 1988, on the day of their graduation from St Andrews University, Edinburgh. Emma got a first (that's the highest you can get) in English and History, and Dexter got a third (the lowest you can get) in Anthropology. Each chapter in the book details what happens on that day, every year after that until about 2005. I thought this was a very original idea, and I suppose it could be difficult to pull off well, because seeing these characters for one day, once a year might stunt the character development, or not make us that close to the characters because we see them so infrequently. However the closeness we feel, and the progress of these two characters is really admirable, and I really did feel attached by the end.
I'm going to start with Emma, I think. She was a surprising character because she was so cynical: not at all the type of successfull, perfect character you see in so many novels/films of this genre. Indeed, the last few chick flicks I've seen seem to have made a point of characters who are not the perfect, pink, cheerleading-type that we've seen for so long. At first I thought this was quite refreshing, but now I'm getting quite bored of it. They try to make them seem 'kooky' and 'cool because they're different', when really they still end up with what the film-makers deem the 'perfect life' with the 'perfect boyfriend' and everyone loving them. Seriously, can we please have a chick flick where the girl doesn't get the guy, where nothing changes, but she still comes out happy and awesome?
I digress. I did like Emma's sarcastic sense of humour, how she avoids awkward and potentially emotional scenes with her dry wit, because I could relate to that. I hate ~emotional stuff~ when it comes to my life (although I adore reading/watching it), and I hardly evertalk about my feelings because it's weird. So I liked that quality about her. What really frustrated me though, and I think it was supposed to, was how when she left University her life spiralled into nothingness. Her brief stint as a performer who tried to change the world one act at a time was awful, and then she landed that humiliating job with the mexican restaurant Loco Caliente. I just couldn't understand how someone as bright and intelligent as her could possibly be settling for jobs like that. Dexter points this out at some point in the book, that she seemed to like suffering, and I think he was right, because she did nothing to get out of it, and she didn't even seem to care.
Her *unrequited love* (I hate that phrase) was definitely something I could relate to, so in a number of ways I felt she was fairly similar to me. But I don't want to go all fangirl and say that *this book is the definition of ~MY EXISTENCE~*, because that's definitely not true. But yeah, I was pleased in a way that Nicholls kept them apart for so long. I don't think the relationship could have worked if they'd been together when they were younger, as she was so dependent on him, and he just took her for granted for years. So although it's very poignant how little time they actually had to be properly together, I don't think it would have lasted as long if they'd got together earlier on.
This seems like a good time to talk about Dexter. Oh, Dexter. He was one of those characters who you couldn't help but love, even though you absolutely hated him sometimes, and Nichols summed this up absolutely perfectly in the now legendary line, "I love you, but I just don't like you", said by Emma to Dex. I kind of understood why he was such an asswipe at the beginning because hey, he was hot, rich, fairly intelligent etc, and could get any girl he wanted. When he was "finding himself" abroad, it was obvious that he didn't get how awful a time Emma was having, but you kind of had to forgive him, because when we read his side of the story we knew how much he though about her.
It wasn't until he became a TV Presenter and became a C-list celeb that his asswipe-ishness just turned into general arrogance and unbearableness. He was evidently an alcoholic, and completely full of himself, not caring about any of his old friends, especialy not Emma. In fact, I think he really liked the idea of Emma, knowing how close they'd been, but when it got to actually seeing her again, he just wanted her to know how much he'd given up to be with her tonight, how he deigned to be in her presence. I didn't blame Emma at all when she "broke up with him", because she really didn't need him in her life.
I want to talk briefly about the interesting juxtaposition between Dex's first live show and Emma's school play's opening night. They both had these things on at the same time, and they were both so different, yet so important to each of them. It highlights how different they were at that point, and also how selfish Dexter was to beg Emma to come to his show, when he knew what she was doing was equally as important.
I know I haven't talked about every detail that happened in this book, but I don't think I need to. I'm going to go straight on to the shock of the ending.
Well. Did anyone gues that was going to happen? I know I certainly didn't! I was surprised that I didn't cry though. I have to admit that I am prone to crying when something like this happens. I can't bear it when two people are separated. Think Lyra and Will (that still makes me cry), Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner, and Cecilia and Robbie from Atonement. Yep, absolute wreck. So, very surprisingly I didn't cry, and I'm still not sure why. It was certainly upsetting that Emma died, especially the way she did, just out of nowhere, by a lorry (and that bit was really horrible in the film).
I guess what was worse was when we followed Dexter on the few years following her death, when he was an absolute wreck, and I think I found that more upsetting, because I hate to see the ones left behind. Still, I didn't cry, but that doesn't mean it wasn't sad. I thought Nicholls' writing was very emotive, and when Dexter was 'celebrating' Emma's life by getting drunk and being beaten up, I thought it was quite brave of Nicholls to do that. It would have been so easy to say, 'after Emma's death Dexter was perfect to honour her memory', but the fact that he slipped back into his old ways was probably more realistic, and I'm glad they kept it like that in the film: especially the loss of respect from his daughter.
Essentially though, it is a happy book, because we're left with the image of the two of them together in Edinburgh, young and happy, and I think the message here is that death is not what's important: as long as you've lived and loved, you've lived a full life.
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Scorpia Rising, Anthony Horowitz
I have been back for a few days now and I still don't really know how to do this review. And I finished the book on the second day of my holiday.
I am in complete and utter shock.
I still can't believe Horowitz could have done something like this.
I refused to believe what I had read.
But that's not until towards the end of the book, and there's so much to cover. I think I should say now, that if you haven't read this book and are just looking for an overview, read with caution because I will be talking with nothing held back about the events that happen in this book.
Are you prepared to delve into utter, heartbreaking misery? I'm not.
So my last review was the chapter that concludes Part 1 of this book, and seriously, I look back on that time as a happier time in my life because I was blissfully unaware of the horror the next part would bring. Maybe I should stop being so melodramatic. We'll get to THAT bit later.
We join Alex in school, in a lesson, and he sees a sniper. He alerts everyone, and HIS BEST FRIEND TOM HARRIS WHOM I LOVE TO PIECES gets shot. :(( But, don't worry, it's only in the arm. Phew.Alex, naturally, runs out of the school and onto his bike, hoping to chase the sniper. Seriously. What person in their right mind would follow the person who just tried to kill him?
At the time I couldn't work out who this sniper was working for. Was it Scorpia? But they already had their plan. Unless it was because Mrs Jones and Alan Blunt had failed to take the bait and weren't using Alex. I just couldn't tell, but I guessed it to be the latter. When the truth is revealed at the end, I could have screamed in anger and hatred... but we'll get to that later.
As is typical of Alex, he follows the sniper to a helicopter, and manages to make it crash. Natch. So then he feels compelled to alert MI6, but Jack (eternal love for her) demands that Blunt and Jones come to Alex. Not him come to them. Wow, what a BAMF. She is forever awesome. I liked how humiliated Blunt felt by being summoned like this, and it just goes to show how important Alex has become to them. It wouldn't be to anyone that they took time out to come and visit them.
Alex asks for protection and, inevitably, they demand 'payment'. They want him to go to Egypt. Nothing dangerous, just keeping an eye on a school.
I HATE MI6 I HATE MI6 I HATE MI6
Why? Whywhywhywhy? Can't they just help him one last time? Alex is obliged to agree, and Jack insists on going with him. I was so pleased, because I love Jack and I thought Alex might be safer with her there too. Can someone please hold me while I cry?
Blunt and Jones do agree to send another agent though, and this time it's going to be Smithers. This reminded me of something. Ages ago I read an interview with Horowitz who teased that something huge would be revealed about Smithers. I worried for ages that he would be working for the 'bad guys', that he would end up betraying Alex, and I didn't think I could stand that. At this mention, I fleetingly thought it would be EPIC LOLZ if it turned out Smithers wore a fatsuit. Oh Helena. Your powers of furtune-telling are greater than you think. Right? We'll get to that though.
Alex and Jack go off an their adventure, and for ages there seems nothing wrong with the school. Smithers give Alex various eavesdropping gadgets, in order to help him listen in on head of security, who they suspect. Of course, this is a WHOLE BIG SCORPIA PLOT. After various mishaps, Alex has a run-in with the CIA who don't realise who he is, and torture him by the infamous 'waterboarding' technique. How someone could do that to a 15 year old boy is beyond me. Do they have no compassion? Fortunately he is saved by Joe Burn, head of CIA, and is informed that they are here to protect their Secretary of State who will be flying out to give a talk about international relations. A talk in which she will name Britain as a weakening country. They worry that she may be assassinated because of this. As a Brit, I wondered if I should feel affronted by this speech, but really I don't really care if we're a 'super-power' or not. In fact I think it would be nice not to be, maye the government wouldn't interfere with so much. But then, I'm not particularly informed about current politics, so I'm not the best judge.
Alex finds Jack again, and they agree to leave the next day, because things are definitely getting dangerour, and they were told it would be safe. He goes to see Smithers to tellhim they're leaving, and this is when THINGS GET 100% AWESOME! Not that they weren't already. Scorpia learn of Smithers' presence and decide to take him out. So we get to learn of all the gadgets he has built into the house. And they are truly awesome. My personal favourite was thesecret passage through the fridge and out into the street behind, but I did like the line about the exploding garden gnomes he has in England. Alex and Smithers are on the run from the 4 or 5 agents who are trying to kill Smithers, and when it seems like there's no escape, Smithers drops a bomb on us. Figuratively, not literally. Turns out that my random musings were 100% CORRECT!! Well what do you know? Is it enough to say that my mind was well and truly blown right then? I wonder if Horowitz always planned this...? Not only that, but his face is completely different, and he has an Irish accent. Deep cover or what? Anyhoo, he and Alex separate, and I assume that he makes it out ok, because we don't hear anything else about him.
Alex returns to the house he is staying in with Jack, only to find the house empty and a note telling him that Scorpia have her. Shit. Shitshitshitshitshit. I felt like my stomach had just ridden a rollercoaster and my body had chickened out and stayed on the ground.
NOT JACK YOU ABSOLUTE FUNSPONGE. THERE I SAID IT. I HATE SCORPIA, THEY ARE FUNSPONGES, AND FUNSPONGES ARE NOT COOL.
They leave instructions for Alex, and he obeys them, terrified that he will lose the one person who has stuck with him throughout (excuse me while I curl up in my sock drawer and cry for ten years). When he reaches the appointed destination, he comes face to face with - himself. Well, Julius Grief. But still. You think that's pretty bad, but then he's flown out into the desert with Julius and the Head of Security, who does actually turn out to be a bad guy.
We arrive at a place we've been before. Razim, the guy who was testing a measurement of pain, who lives in the desert. Alex and Jack are reunited briefly, and then things go from bad to worse. Razim confirms that he will be torturing Alex tomorrow evening, and he hopes that the anticipation will make the pain worse, as this would be informative to his studies. Know what? Funsponge isn't even strong enough for you, you bastard.
The next day, Alex and Jack talk, and she reveals that she thinks she's found a way out, and will try to get help as soon as they take Alex and don't pay attention to her anymore. I expected this to be the only way out. How wrong I was.
Razim and Julius take Alex to the torture room, and Razim explains that Alex must have no marks on him, because tomorrow he is to do something else for them, so he as devised a way to hurt him without leaving any scars. I was a little confused by this, and wasn't quite sure what to think. I'd heard that Alex came out alive at the end of this one, but that what happened to him was worse than death, so I thought we'd find out here. Imagining some terrible torture that would leave him paralysed. Oh, but it's so much worse.
Narrative switches to Jack who makes her escape, and it's surprisingly easy, but as soon as she got in the car on the way to the nearest city I felt relief. So then we switch back to Alex, and we see Razim turn on a television. Was he going to make Alex watch a Saw marathon? I know that would torture me. But no.
It shows Jack.
She is escaping.
No one is worried.
She is driving away.
Julius pushes a button.
The car explodes.
My head explodes.
My heart explodes.
Why?
I just can't get over it. I sat in my room that night and sobbed, because I just couldn't bear the thought that Jack was dead. I was so sure throughout the remainder of the book that Horowitz would be like, 'FOOLED YOU! It was just a trick, here she is!' as he's done so many times in this series, and I think it was because of this that it only sunk in till later. I still can't believe it.
Razim, heartless pig as he is, finds that emotional pain is far worse on physical pain, and writes this all down, which makes me sick.
You've probably all read the rest of the book, so I'll just say that Alex manages to stop Scorpia from killing the US Secretary of State and saves the day again.
But what I want to talk about now is what happens between him and Julius Grief. Because Alex actually kills him. With a gun, in cold blood. This really got to me, because throughout the series we all know, and he does, that he wouldn't actually be able to kill someone. And now Jack has gone and nothing seems to matter to him anymore. Everyone mentions how the light has gone from his eyes, how he is empty. It's absolutely heartbreaking. Mrs Jones says later on the killing Grief was like killing a piece of himself, because they are identical, and I hadn't thought of that. Could it be that he was effectively killing the 'spy' part of him? Is it a metaphor? Or is it an example of just how wrong you can go when you've been mistreated and abused, manipulated and lied to by adults. Jack was the final straw, and I worried that there'd be no going back now.
It's funny, because in Harry Potter the point is that Harry would never kill anyone. He has too much love in him, and despite the amount of people who have died for him he still never kills. When he defeats Voldemort he uses Expelliarmus, and Voldemort uses Avada Kedavra which rebounds; therefore meaning that Harry didn't physically kill. So what's the difference then, now that Alex has killed? I'm not saying he's gone bad, not at all, or that he's weaker. I just think that it's interesting how two children's authors have tackled similar problems so differently.
We learn through the POV of Edward Pleasure that Alex is now going to live with them in San Fransisco, which is good: he'll get away from MI6 (although now Mrs Jones is head, I don't think they'd use him anyway). But again, it was heartbreaking to read how Edward noticed how broken Alex is, how he strares for long periods of time into nothingness, and doesn't volunteer conversation. The only way things are looking up is that he notices that Alex has perked up minutely since he arrived, and hopes that he will keep doing so.
We're left believing that things are going to be alright, if not for a very long time, but at some point, as Alex leaves his life behind him and tries to forget the horror that has been the past year of it.
I am in complete and utter shock.
I still can't believe Horowitz could have done something like this.
I refused to believe what I had read.
But that's not until towards the end of the book, and there's so much to cover. I think I should say now, that if you haven't read this book and are just looking for an overview, read with caution because I will be talking with nothing held back about the events that happen in this book.
Are you prepared to delve into utter, heartbreaking misery? I'm not.
So my last review was the chapter that concludes Part 1 of this book, and seriously, I look back on that time as a happier time in my life because I was blissfully unaware of the horror the next part would bring. Maybe I should stop being so melodramatic. We'll get to THAT bit later.
We join Alex in school, in a lesson, and he sees a sniper. He alerts everyone, and HIS BEST FRIEND TOM HARRIS WHOM I LOVE TO PIECES gets shot. :(( But, don't worry, it's only in the arm. Phew.Alex, naturally, runs out of the school and onto his bike, hoping to chase the sniper. Seriously. What person in their right mind would follow the person who just tried to kill him?
At the time I couldn't work out who this sniper was working for. Was it Scorpia? But they already had their plan. Unless it was because Mrs Jones and Alan Blunt had failed to take the bait and weren't using Alex. I just couldn't tell, but I guessed it to be the latter. When the truth is revealed at the end, I could have screamed in anger and hatred... but we'll get to that later.
As is typical of Alex, he follows the sniper to a helicopter, and manages to make it crash. Natch. So then he feels compelled to alert MI6, but Jack (eternal love for her) demands that Blunt and Jones come to Alex. Not him come to them. Wow, what a BAMF. She is forever awesome. I liked how humiliated Blunt felt by being summoned like this, and it just goes to show how important Alex has become to them. It wouldn't be to anyone that they took time out to come and visit them.
Alex asks for protection and, inevitably, they demand 'payment'. They want him to go to Egypt. Nothing dangerous, just keeping an eye on a school.
I HATE MI6 I HATE MI6 I HATE MI6
Why? Whywhywhywhy? Can't they just help him one last time? Alex is obliged to agree, and Jack insists on going with him. I was so pleased, because I love Jack and I thought Alex might be safer with her there too. Can someone please hold me while I cry?
Blunt and Jones do agree to send another agent though, and this time it's going to be Smithers. This reminded me of something. Ages ago I read an interview with Horowitz who teased that something huge would be revealed about Smithers. I worried for ages that he would be working for the 'bad guys', that he would end up betraying Alex, and I didn't think I could stand that. At this mention, I fleetingly thought it would be EPIC LOLZ if it turned out Smithers wore a fatsuit. Oh Helena. Your powers of furtune-telling are greater than you think. Right? We'll get to that though.
Alex and Jack go off an their adventure, and for ages there seems nothing wrong with the school. Smithers give Alex various eavesdropping gadgets, in order to help him listen in on head of security, who they suspect. Of course, this is a WHOLE BIG SCORPIA PLOT. After various mishaps, Alex has a run-in with the CIA who don't realise who he is, and torture him by the infamous 'waterboarding' technique. How someone could do that to a 15 year old boy is beyond me. Do they have no compassion? Fortunately he is saved by Joe Burn, head of CIA, and is informed that they are here to protect their Secretary of State who will be flying out to give a talk about international relations. A talk in which she will name Britain as a weakening country. They worry that she may be assassinated because of this. As a Brit, I wondered if I should feel affronted by this speech, but really I don't really care if we're a 'super-power' or not. In fact I think it would be nice not to be, maye the government wouldn't interfere with so much. But then, I'm not particularly informed about current politics, so I'm not the best judge.
Alex finds Jack again, and they agree to leave the next day, because things are definitely getting dangerour, and they were told it would be safe. He goes to see Smithers to tellhim they're leaving, and this is when THINGS GET 100% AWESOME! Not that they weren't already. Scorpia learn of Smithers' presence and decide to take him out. So we get to learn of all the gadgets he has built into the house. And they are truly awesome. My personal favourite was thesecret passage through the fridge and out into the street behind, but I did like the line about the exploding garden gnomes he has in England. Alex and Smithers are on the run from the 4 or 5 agents who are trying to kill Smithers, and when it seems like there's no escape, Smithers drops a bomb on us. Figuratively, not literally. Turns out that my random musings were 100% CORRECT!! Well what do you know? Is it enough to say that my mind was well and truly blown right then? I wonder if Horowitz always planned this...? Not only that, but his face is completely different, and he has an Irish accent. Deep cover or what? Anyhoo, he and Alex separate, and I assume that he makes it out ok, because we don't hear anything else about him.
Alex returns to the house he is staying in with Jack, only to find the house empty and a note telling him that Scorpia have her. Shit. Shitshitshitshitshit. I felt like my stomach had just ridden a rollercoaster and my body had chickened out and stayed on the ground.
NOT JACK YOU ABSOLUTE FUNSPONGE. THERE I SAID IT. I HATE SCORPIA, THEY ARE FUNSPONGES, AND FUNSPONGES ARE NOT COOL.
They leave instructions for Alex, and he obeys them, terrified that he will lose the one person who has stuck with him throughout (excuse me while I curl up in my sock drawer and cry for ten years). When he reaches the appointed destination, he comes face to face with - himself. Well, Julius Grief. But still. You think that's pretty bad, but then he's flown out into the desert with Julius and the Head of Security, who does actually turn out to be a bad guy.
We arrive at a place we've been before. Razim, the guy who was testing a measurement of pain, who lives in the desert. Alex and Jack are reunited briefly, and then things go from bad to worse. Razim confirms that he will be torturing Alex tomorrow evening, and he hopes that the anticipation will make the pain worse, as this would be informative to his studies. Know what? Funsponge isn't even strong enough for you, you bastard.
The next day, Alex and Jack talk, and she reveals that she thinks she's found a way out, and will try to get help as soon as they take Alex and don't pay attention to her anymore. I expected this to be the only way out. How wrong I was.
Razim and Julius take Alex to the torture room, and Razim explains that Alex must have no marks on him, because tomorrow he is to do something else for them, so he as devised a way to hurt him without leaving any scars. I was a little confused by this, and wasn't quite sure what to think. I'd heard that Alex came out alive at the end of this one, but that what happened to him was worse than death, so I thought we'd find out here. Imagining some terrible torture that would leave him paralysed. Oh, but it's so much worse.
Narrative switches to Jack who makes her escape, and it's surprisingly easy, but as soon as she got in the car on the way to the nearest city I felt relief. So then we switch back to Alex, and we see Razim turn on a television. Was he going to make Alex watch a Saw marathon? I know that would torture me. But no.
It shows Jack.
She is escaping.
No one is worried.
She is driving away.
Julius pushes a button.
The car explodes.
My head explodes.
My heart explodes.
Why?
I just can't get over it. I sat in my room that night and sobbed, because I just couldn't bear the thought that Jack was dead. I was so sure throughout the remainder of the book that Horowitz would be like, 'FOOLED YOU! It was just a trick, here she is!' as he's done so many times in this series, and I think it was because of this that it only sunk in till later. I still can't believe it.
Razim, heartless pig as he is, finds that emotional pain is far worse on physical pain, and writes this all down, which makes me sick.
You've probably all read the rest of the book, so I'll just say that Alex manages to stop Scorpia from killing the US Secretary of State and saves the day again.
But what I want to talk about now is what happens between him and Julius Grief. Because Alex actually kills him. With a gun, in cold blood. This really got to me, because throughout the series we all know, and he does, that he wouldn't actually be able to kill someone. And now Jack has gone and nothing seems to matter to him anymore. Everyone mentions how the light has gone from his eyes, how he is empty. It's absolutely heartbreaking. Mrs Jones says later on the killing Grief was like killing a piece of himself, because they are identical, and I hadn't thought of that. Could it be that he was effectively killing the 'spy' part of him? Is it a metaphor? Or is it an example of just how wrong you can go when you've been mistreated and abused, manipulated and lied to by adults. Jack was the final straw, and I worried that there'd be no going back now.
It's funny, because in Harry Potter the point is that Harry would never kill anyone. He has too much love in him, and despite the amount of people who have died for him he still never kills. When he defeats Voldemort he uses Expelliarmus, and Voldemort uses Avada Kedavra which rebounds; therefore meaning that Harry didn't physically kill. So what's the difference then, now that Alex has killed? I'm not saying he's gone bad, not at all, or that he's weaker. I just think that it's interesting how two children's authors have tackled similar problems so differently.
We learn through the POV of Edward Pleasure that Alex is now going to live with them in San Fransisco, which is good: he'll get away from MI6 (although now Mrs Jones is head, I don't think they'd use him anyway). But again, it was heartbreaking to read how Edward noticed how broken Alex is, how he strares for long periods of time into nothingness, and doesn't volunteer conversation. The only way things are looking up is that he notices that Alex has perked up minutely since he arrived, and hopes that he will keep doing so.
We're left believing that things are going to be alright, if not for a very long time, but at some point, as Alex leaves his life behind him and tries to forget the horror that has been the past year of it.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)