Fran's Review on Six of Crows 4 years after Lys's Review

Hello, I am here fresh from flipping through the last page of Leigh Bardugo's acknowledgements for Six of Crows. This is the link to Alyssa's original review in 2015 . Man, where do I start! The first thing I want to say is that Bardugo is an INCREDIBLE writer and it shows; I can't really pinpoint what she does differently and granted, every writer has their own renowned style, but stepping into the Grisha universe for the first time really astounded me. The world building was like no other and every nook and cranny seemed to be filled with real characters and real plot and a real world. Am I making sense? I'm trying to say it just seems like there's nothing that she didn't think of when building this empire and that's the reality of mastering the craft I guess, like you can just tell she's a writer and she knows what she's doing.

Going off of how vibrant and tangible this world is, it's the same way with her characters. They are all so fully-fleshed out and wonderfully executed (not literally) on paper. She uses the perfect amount of description to make us feel like we know them really well by the end of the book but also knows how to avoid over-saturating each chapter with too much dialogue or too much characterization (which I think is a common folly that just ends up making characters feel flat and boring) - I don't know everything just felt so well-done. Like if I was a teacher and if I was grading her work, damn I would send in my recommendation for some kind of special award right away.

So the book is told from multiple perspectives and it surrounds six characters, embarking on this crazy heist. The plot flashes from present time to the past and gently weaves in the background context to how they all end up in this scenario and why they are the way they are. I really appreciated that the plot was never predictable; I don't think I could ever figure out what was going to happen next and that proved to be something that kept me hooked 'till the very last page. I do want to say though that because this was my first taste of the Grisha universe, a lot of new information was thrust in my face and I didn't really know how to wrap my mind around it until a bit later when I thankfully forced myself to keep going.  It took my 153 pages to really get invested and involved in the story (I think a big part of that was because Avengers: End Game had been on my mind since I saw it, along with stress of school so it's all to say that reading this book was not really the first think I wanted to do but this is actually dipping into another topic that I will probably write about very soon so let's veer back before I get way too off track) and OF COURSE me being me, the one thing that nicked my attention in place was the teeeeeeeensiest tiiiiiiiiniest bit of romance that Bardugo dangles subtley over our heads from page 153 onward. Ugh, I'm sorry I'm such a sucker for that stuff I can't help it.

I'm going to agree with 2015 Lys and say that my favorite character was definitely Inej as well, specifically because she made being invisible feel FRICKIN COOL. Not being seen or heard when you enter the room? It's a potential point of insecurity that she turns into a superpower. My next favorite is Nina because she's sassy but badass and then Kaz because I can always believe he has the upper hand even when he doesn't (and I love those spurts of sudden vulnerability sprinkled throughout the story) then comes Jesper and Wyland tied with one another and then finally, Matthias.

I don't know why it took me so long to read Six of Crows but this is leading me to back track and say: I should've taken all of Lys's book recommendations to heart. In addition to Leigh Bardugo, I've devoured books that I didn't even realize Lys already wrote reviews for: from V.E. Schwab (This Savage Song) to Sarah J. Maas (ACOMAF series) to Madeline Miller's Song of Achilles and I am constantly in awe of how powerful and comforting stories like these can be. Plus, they're written incredibly well and definitely worth keeping on your shelf to refer back to whenever you want to know what good writing is like.

Rating: 5/5

Neal Shusterman Does it Again

Not gonna lie, I thought I would grow out of my YA phase by now but I find myself reverting right back into it as college gets worse (and it has gotten a lot worse). I guess I had an urge to cut ties with the genre in an attempt to mold a more sophisticated mindset now that I'm - you know *clears throat, straightens jacket* - an adult. Of course, I've realized that buying a bunch of self-help and better living autobiographies won't actually foster my maturity if I can't help falling asleep before the second chapter anyway.

Ever since I read Unwind, Neal Shusterman has made quite a remarkable impression as one of my favorite authors. Whereas Rainbow Rowell is known for her feel good romances, Neal Shusterman has a way of leaving his readers truly amazed by the endless possibilities that stem from his imagination.

Scythe is no exception. The premise is that humans have surged into a future where immortality is now possible with the technology that we've achieved. Yet, since there's nothing controlling an exponentially growing population, there are professional reapers called 'scythes' who choose people to kill everyday. This is their cure to control a world of immortals. Just by that alone - how are you not enticed by a refreshing take on life and death??

The plot is wonderfully executed (LOL) and the characters have just the right amount of depth to them that you find yourself getting attached to the protagonists and hoping for the demise of the antagonists. The story is told from multiple perspectives, which interweave to produce an adventurous fantasy/sci-fi whirlwind.

Shusterman has literary trademarks that I find interesting to note because they're so consistent, I feel like I would be able to identify his work even if he wrote it anonymously:

1. multiple characters, multiple perspectives
2. main protagonists usually involve one boy and one girl who somehow become romantically involved with one another 
3. the romance is well done carrying a realistic love/hate undertone; it's there to propel the story and engage the readers in fun companionship. it's not overly irrational or sappy. 
4. the girls are not merely there to assist the boys. they are analytical and strong and not annoying and overall badass 
5. countless "what happens next?" moments. due to the nature of his unprecedented ideas, there is never really a cookie-cutter way to predict how his stories unfold. every twist and turn is surprising and keeps you hooked 
6. unfortunately, if there was a siiiiiingle "eh" thing that I would say about Shusterman's novels, it's that the first of the series is typically the best and after that, it just seems like he doesn't know how to wrap it up (but maybe that's just me) they're still good though! 

No matter what anyone says, there's no doubt - the man's a genius. 

I recommend Scythe 100%; it's definitely now one of my favorites of all time. 

Goodreads Summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28954189-scythe?from_search=true

Rating: 5/5 

A Lil Update

  

I am kinda...
like...
really miserable.

Not only because college life is difficult (aka when all the academic, social, financial, family complications come at you in one big kamekameha attack) but because I haven't really been reading or writing all that much anymore. Sure, a lot of it is because I don't have any free time for any leisure reading. But even when I do, I'm just not into it. When I'm reading a new novel, I feel like it's a waste of time. When I'm trying to write a fiction story, I feel guilty for not focusing on my problems in the real world. Either way, I just end up looking for something else to do because I get so frustrated that these hobbies don't give me the peace and satisfaction that I used to get from them.

Admitting that out loud feels like a sick punch to the throat - like I'm saying goodbye to the one thing that has been my comfort and security. I can't help but think about how I'll be like two, three, six years down the road. Will I ever get back into the whole fictional world again? Or does growing up require a trade off between imagination and success? Maybe it's because I'm a STEM major that I'm thinking this way? I can't even articulate my words correctly. I have no idea if this post is making the slightest bit of sense.

I do know that I feel really lost - not just with my career and academic work, but also with my inner self. Books and fictional worlds in general were (are) a big part of me and I don't know why I keep insisting to push them away but now, I get really sad and it's not as easy for me to jump into a new world to distract myself anymore.

Here's a couple of pictures that will hopefully counter the negativity of this update:

 

 

(If you see a nature post on my instagram, 99% of the time it's because I'm feeling blue-er than usual. I think it's a funny way to keep track of my emo social media moments lol) 

Mini Reviews: Mean Streak, The Wrath and the Dawn, & Slammed

Ahh, I haven't been on here in a while, so please excuse my very poorly-written reviews. None of them contain spoilers, but none of them contain summaries of the content either. (Feel free to click on the Goodreads link beforehand) It's basically just my thoughts on what I liked and disliked. I've been in a major reading slump this whole year, so I'm really grateful to have come across some great novels this summer.


Mean Streak by Sandra Brown is one of the first adult fiction novels I've read and I loved it. Not gonna lie, I mainly bought this book because it was only $3 in the bargain section at Barnes and Noble, but girrl let me tell you - this is such an exciting, action-packed read. There were so many plot twists and secrets that you can't help but keep turning the page. Since the book is definitely geared towards mature readers, I would definitely say that the romance is a lot more...intense (sex is not censored lol) so proceed with caution if you're not used to that stuff. On a more serious note, the problems that these characters have to deal with (marriage, affairs, death, rape, etc.) can be an eye-opener because no matter how far-fetched and ridiculous it may play out in a fictional story, these horrible things happen in real life to real people. Brown does a good job of manipulating the readers' feelings to suit the plot, and this played a big factor in leading us to certain conclusions while she's setting up something completely different without us knowing. You won't get bored with this book and I highly, highly recommend!!

Goodreads Summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20454672-mean-streak?from_search=true
Rating: 5/5
*Recommended for mature audiences (18+)

As someone who isn't a huge fanatic about fantasy novels, The Wrath and the Dawn (#1) and The Rose and the Dagger (#2) by Renee Ahdieh were surprisingly addicting. First of all, I didn't know that this duo-logy was supposed to be a retelling of Arabian Nights, until Alyssa told me. Second of all, I don't even know the premise of Arabian Nights, so it wouldn't have made a difference in my opinion of the novels anyway. The world is beautifully described; the middle-eastern culture is so richly & consistently portrayed in everything: language, wardrobe, names, etc. One of the things I couldn't get enough of was the relationship between the two main characters: Sharzhad and Khalid. Renee Ahdieh did a good job of showing that relationships are much more than possession, which is a very crucial message to send out to younger teens. “It was because they were two parts of a whole. He did not belong to her. And she did not belong to him. It was never about belonging to someone. It was about belonging together.” -The Rose and the Dagger One of the notable themes that the author made sure to incorporate was feminism - and just how important it is in any culture. Sharzhad is an extremely strong character yet she's rational and doesn't lose her wits when she doesn't get what she wants. She can handle her own and doesn't need anyone to save her from anything. It contains a bit of mystery and magic as well, so if you're into that, check it out. (If you're not into that, check it out anyway. It's good.)

Goodreads Summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18798983-the-wrath-the-dawn?ac=1&from_search=true
Rating for both books: 4.5/5

Colleen Hoover! Such a well-known author in the contemporary genre. I don't know why I didn't pick up her books sooner. I read Slammed (#1) and Point of Retreat (#2) and they're the type of books that pull you out of an extremely long reading slump. At least, that's what happened in my case. I believe this is also categorized in adult fiction, but it's not as graphic as Sandra Brown's novels. This is mostly a romance/contemporary novel, unlike the books above which dabble in varying genres. Although that might sound appalling and boring to some people, trust me, it's not. Unless you don't like romance at all...then in that case, I wouldn't recommend this to you. The chemistry between the characters are so fun to read that it becomes normal to read one of these Hoover novels in a day. I'm a huge sucker for romance, but a lot of the times, I end up not finishing contemporary novels because it's too boring to go through. I was worried that this was how this book was going to turn out in the beginning because there's that instant, love-at-first-sight sort of passage within the first couple pages. However, the one thing that's different with this is that there are many plot twists and that factor is good enough to make you keep going. The characters have to deal with some heavy stuff like death, grief, and illness, which makes them very relatable and all the more better. One last thing I loved was the incorporation of spoken word poetry. In order to achieve the feeling of this, Hoover emphasizes different words by italicizing them or breaking them down - all so that you can try to hear it being performed as you're reading, which is very cool.

Goodreads Summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13372690-slammed?from_search=true
Rating for both books: 4/5

Review: Me Before You

It's almost June and so far, I've only finished 2 books this year.

Me Before You was one of them. I finished this in 4 days, which is quite impressive considering my reading slump was/is at an all-time low. 

This novel made me laugh, smile, and metaphorically cry. (I say metaphorically because it's pretty difficult to make me cry from a book but my heart did ache very much as I was reading this story.)

I consider this book under the genre of adult-fiction-romance. It's wonderfully written, at the point where Louisa Clark's positive, radiating, hilarious voice infiltrates your own daily life. It makes you rethink the way you set your mentality, at least that's what it did to me. Personally, I'm a big pessimist and it helped me see that looking at the bright side and making the best with what you have shouldn't be the scariest thing in the world. 

The banter between Will and Louisa made me smile a lot. Brits are very witty; it's fun reading from their perspectives. The characters' personalities are very well-developed, which helps the readers relate to them a lot more. This is something that I feel is very essential in romance novels. 

I love the message about living your life to the best of your capability, without the implication that you have to go out and do something stupid while screaming "YOLO" at the top of your lungs. 

Will Traynor, the male protagonist, is such a complicated character who you just want to make happy. His unfortunate circumstances highlight the pain and depression that many people feel in this world. Although it may not be to the extent of a quadriplegic, Jojo Meyes does a good job of weaving in the dark and bright sides to life. That's why it becomes very easy to relate and immerse yourself within this story. 

I'm really glad and excited for the upcoming movie starring Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke. In my opinion, they are perfect for their roles! Just check out their instagrams if you don't believe me. 

My rating of 4/5 stars is subjective because the ending upset me at the end. If I was a professional, unbiased book reviewer, I'd probably lean towards 5/5 stars. 

Goodreads Summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15507958-me-before-you
Subjective Rating: 4/5
Objective Rating: 5/5

The Burden of Aspiring Writers

Another episode in which I deviate far from the contents of what is entailed in a "book blog." But I feel as though this is some noteworthy things to share.

That's a misleading title though because first off, I am not writer. And I don't think I will ever have the courage or persistence to consider myself as one. For the past four years or so, my mind has always been coming up with these new stories and ideas that never make their way onto paper. Little snippets of scenes are the closest things I have to a finished product, and it's so infuriating. Although there are the joys of being stuck in your own little world, the means of getting it down on paper is extremely difficult. It's maddening and horrible and intensifies my mental instability to an all-time high.

Here's a journal entry I wrote about my frustrations and it sounds absolutely insane for people who don't know what I'm talking about but I swear it pertains to my creative process 98% of the time.

3/6/16

An Open Letter to My Characters

The thing is that I've given up so much of my time for you. I could be 60 pages closer to finishing Crime and Punishment, I could have been working of my makeup work for Stats, or I could have been revising my extended essay. But I dropped it all and I will keep on dropping everything until you have finished your business with me. 

I understand that I am blaming you for the procrastination that I have imposed on myself, but every year this happens. You are taking a toll on my mentality and physically making me sick from exhaustion. My mind can't ever think straight without reverting back to you. Like what in the actual fuck??? Who does that???

All I ask is one thing: for you to tell me your story. But every time I try to give you time to expose yourself, you somehow always change your mind. I'm left with wasted hours of staring at a blinking cursor or a blank page. You have led me to believe that mental constipation is just as bad as actual constipation. (I should know. I am a veteran in both areas.)

I know it's nice to be able to dream about things like this, but no one really tells you how exhausting it all is. Writing a novel - writing anything that is valuable enough to be read in public - is such a laborious job. 

So please, just stop wasting my time and tell me what you want to tell me. 

-fq

A couple days after I wrote this, I found a video that perfectly describes everything I feel in regards to the pressure of being creative and being successful in channeling that creativity. I highly recommend watching Elizabeth Gilbert's (author of Eat, Pray, Love) TED Talk linked below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA

Crime and Punishment

It's March and this is the first book I have finished this year LOL.

And yes, I broke almost all of the points listed on my New Year's Checklist. My apologies. 

Anyway, I was assigned to read Crime and Punishment for my IB English class and although it was cool to be learning about Russian literature, I had to trudge my way through the denseness in this book that so often put me to sleep. You're essentially in the mind of a killer and taken through the journey of guilt eating you from the inside out. (There were a lot of prepositions in that previous sentence, please ignore them.) First of all, the names take a bit of getting used to: Raskolnikov, Svidrigailov, Razumihin, Pulcheria, they all sound like a type of exotic fruit. After the first 60 pages or so, however, you get used to it. The next challenge would then be your ability to stay awake through the explanations of abstract ideas. For example, Raskolnikov, the main character, has a theory about humans being separated into either the "ordinary" or the "extraordinary" and how these labels play a crucial part in the advancement of society and the justification of breaking the law. That whole section took me about three times to read over because I did not understand what the hell they were trying to say. Dostoyevsky does a good job of manipulating the readers into sympathizing with characters that would typically be seen as antagonists. In fact, almost all of his characters were very complex and elicited a strong emotion of either hatred, pity, or admiration at one point or another. I don't know if it's because the work load was relatively heavy or if it's because the book is really meant for more highly intellectual minds, but I found myself getting more frustrated than interested throughout the book. However, I do feel really accomplished to have finished this novel. It definitely would not have been something I would have picked up on my own, so I'm glad that I was exposed to a new type of literature. 

Goodreads summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7144.Crime_and_Punishment?from_search=true&search_version=service

Rating: 3/5

Another pointless post by Fran

I haven't posted anything in a while because I don't have anything to post about and it's infuriating!
I don't have any books to read or stories to write. I could have used finals week as an excuse but since I'm a worthless piece of human, I'm not spending any time on that either. (Evident in using this time to blog instead of studying for my huge bio final coming up in 12 hours).

Alyssa, on the other hand, has published parts of her work on wattpad and you should definitely check it out. (Alyssa's Wattpad account)

After this week, I will try to read and write more actively. If any fellow bookworms are actually reading this, please recommend me some good books! I'd greatly appreciate them.

FRAN'S 2016 New Year's Checklist

Hello! First and foremost, I want to apologize to Lys and anybody else who actually reads this blog. I'm sorry for being gone for so long - I really have no excuse besides holiday season and A LOT of school stuff. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to see Star Wars either but I trust Alyssa's judgement in it being super good. Also, I guess I gotta address the fact that our weekly "Christmas Wrapping" never really took off after our first post.

Onto other pressing matters: 2016 is coming up! Let's be honest, 2015 was a shit hole. (Is that a thing?) But this is gonna be a monumental year guys, I can feel it. Although, it probably has to do with the fact that I've correlated the number so much with me graduating high school. Anyway, you can call me out on being lame but I refused to make a list of "New Year's Resolutions" because those don't actually get accomplished, right? So I called it a checklist. I made a "New Year's Checklist". lol I hate myself. Here we go.

1. Finish a list of writing prompts (for those who can't finish writing a novel but still want to practice writing)
• Flash Fiction
• Short Stories
2. Read at least 20 books of variety
• Popsugar's Reading Challenge
• Challies' Reading Challenge
3. Learn some form of calligraphy/hand lettering
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Make a good friend in college
5. Post in this blog at least once every 2 months
6. Look more decent when I exit the premise of my house
7. Limit my mental breakdowns to twice a week

Share your own 2016 checklist with me!

FRAN'S Top 10ish Soundtracks

FRAN'S TOP 10:
These tracks are in no specific order. Because I've experienced playing in a string orchestra, I tend to listen to a lot of orchestra-type film scores because I appreciate them more. All of these are non-lyrical. John Powell, Joe Hisaishi (Studio Ghibli), and Disney comprises most of my favorites.

1. Arrival of the Birds by The Cinematic Orchestra
2. Suns and Stars by Really Slow Motion
3. The Stag from Disney's Cinderella
4. Romantic Flight by John Powell
1. Battle of the Bewilderbeast by John Powell
2. Battling the Green Death by John Powell
5. Simple and Clean by Utada Hikaru
6. The Wind Forest by Joe Hisaishi
1. Howl's Moving Castle Main Theme by Joe Hisaishi
2. Day of the River by Joe Hisaishi
7. The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams
8. The Last Airbender Suite by Jeremy Zuckerman
1. Red Lotus from Legend of Korra
9. Flying from Peter Pan
10. Mermaids by Hans Zimmer

FRAN'S THOUGHTS: NanoWrimo

Halloween is over! and aside from the automatic transition into Thanksgiving preparation, the time has also come for NanoWriMo!

For those who are not familiar with the term, NanoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Yeah, it's a thing. Writers commit themselves to starting and finishing a novel within the month of November, and you become a winner by achieving your desired word count by November 30th! (AKA WHEN UC APPS ARE DUE HAHAHA H8 LIFE) 

Click here to participate!

Anyone who joins this insanity has my immediate respect. I have never been one to finish a novel even if I get a whole year as opposed to a month. So to honor this special time for writers all over the world, I thought I'd share with you the stories-that-I-thought-about-writing-24/7-but-never-actually-spent-the-time-to-finish.

• 2009: Love Story
• It was about a love story.
• 2013: Stonehaven Academy
• A story of long-lost twins named Lennon and Emerson who ran cross country for a living.
• 2014: Ryland
• A girl named Ryland who did the most badass things because her name was Ryland.
• 2014: Hero Battles Fanfiction
• Damn right I wrote fanfic
• 2014: A Story for my Mother
• A 5-page fictional message to help my mom cope with claustrophobia during her solo trip on a plane. (She never read it)
• 2014: Elite
• In which a group of Sherlock Holmes' prodigies come together to solve crimes throughout the universe. They may or may not have been spies as well. 
• 2015: Forest
• A treasure hunt occurs within the mystical forests of a parallel universe. 

FRAN'S THOUGHTS: Pan Movie Review

It sucked.

FRAN'S THOUGHTS: Howl's Moving Castle

I honestly don't know what I just read but I'm pretty sure I liked it. 

This is one of the few times I will admit that watching the movie first has helped me understand and delve deeper into Diana Wynne Jones's world. There's a TON of people, spells, quirks, places, and quotes to remember, so it's definitely challenging to read with no previous context otherwise. Overall, the Studio Ghibli film has tainted my perception of the events and the characters within the story in a really good way!

Likes: 

• The mysteriousness of the different curses and contracts and how each main character is essential in breaking them. 
• The adventure is pretty rad. Also the fact that old, wrinkly Sophie gets to embark on it is even cooler. 
• The message of a strong family/friendship bond (especially between the Hatter sisters). It's always refreshing to read about a true friendship without any romantic inclinations. Although I am glad that Sophie and Howl end up together, I enjoyed Michael, Sophie, and Calcifer's interactions throughout the story even more. 
• Character development everywhere!! It's hard to believe that this is a children's book. There's a lot of deeper meanings (that I will probably have to look up later since everything goes right over my head): this includes the differing spirits of the young and the old; the selflessness and courage highlighted in each character; the vices of being self-absorbed; etc.
• Also when Howl is constantly shunned for being a "slither-outer" of uncomfortable/difficult situations because he is a coward. lol that is me

Dislikes:

• Because so much is going on, sometimes it is hard to get into what is happening within a chapter. Much like the film, the audience is kind of just thrown into the world, so this is kind of typical. But for someone who doesn't like fantasy that much, the book did a good job.

Book Rating: 4/5 stars

Film Rating: 8/10 stars

Summary:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6294.Howl_s_Moving_Castle?ac=1

{DISCLAIMER-NONE OF THE ART IS MINE. REFERENCES BELOW}

Sophie Fan Art by Flyless http://flyless.deviantart.com/art/HOWL-S-MOVING-CASTLE-SOPHIE-373936482

Howl's Moving Castle Art by Studio Ghibli