Tag Archives: Book Review

2016, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] The Great American Whatever — Tim Federle

8 Comments 
Book Title:  The Great American Whatever (Standalone)
Author:      Tim Federle
Number of pages:  288

Synopsis:

the-great-american-whatever-tim-federle-book-coverQuinn Roberts is a sixteen-year-old smart aleck and Hollywood hopeful whose only worry used to be writing convincing dialogue for the movies he made with his sister Annabeth. Of course, that was all before—before Quinn stopped going to school, before his mom started sleeping on the sofa…and before Annabeth was killed in a car accident.

Enter Geoff, Quinn’s best friend who insists it’s time that Quinn came out—at least from hibernation. One haircut later, Geoff drags Quinn to his first college party, where instead of nursing his pain, he meets a guy—a hot one—and falls hard. What follows is an upside-down week in which Quinn begins imagining his future as a screenplay that might actually have a happily-ever-after ending—if, that is, he can finally step back into the starring role of his own life story.

(re: Goodreads @ The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– A coming of age fit for this generation
– Quinn can come off as whiny, self-centered, and difficult to sympathize for (blame puberty)
– Narrative voice is fluid, effortless, and conversational while cleverly employing screenwriting drafts to juxtapose escapism/realism
– Single mother family dynamics, intersectional supporting cast; bromance with best bud is solid
– Romance with an Iranian-American is not the central storyline

the-great-american-whatever-federle-scorecard-600x300

Initial Thoughts

Read “Federle” -> thought of Federer -> Timmy is secretly a Tennis player too (omg what am I on good friends level to call him Timmy?!)

Full disclosure: I received an ARC of The Great American Whatever. I extend thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing me the opportunity to review this title.

Continue reading [Review] The Great American Whatever — Tim Federle →

2016, Book Review

[Review] Calamity — Brandon Sanderson

15 Comments

calamity-the-reckoners-brandon-sanderson

Book Title:  Calamity (The Reckoners #3)
Author:      Brandon Sanderson
Number of pages:  421

Synopsis:

Brandon Sanderson - Calamity - Book CoverWhen Calamity lit up the sky, the Epics were born. David’s fate has been tied to their villainy ever since that historic night. Steelheart killed his father. Firefight stole his heart. And now Regalia has turned his closest ally into a dangerous enemy.

David knew Prof’s secret, and kept it even when the Reckoners’ leader struggled to control the effects of his Epic powers. But facing Obliteration in Babilar was too much. Prof has now embraced his Epic destiny. He’s disappeared into those murky shadows of menace Epics are infamous for the world over, and everyone knows there’s no turning back…

But everyone is wrong. Redemption is possible for Epics—Megan proved it. They’re not lost. Not completely. And David is just about crazy enough to face down the most powerful High Epic of all to get his friend back. Or die trying.

(re: Goodreads @ Calamity by Brandon Sanderson)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– Continued excellence in an [new] immersive setting; this time taking place in Ildithia (post-mortem Atlanta)
– The once endearing metaphors/similes of David Charleston feels burdensome to read especially during fight-or-flight situations
– Expands upon existing character arcs but lacks focus on the “real” key players to the story as it relates to the world/magic systems; the big reveal just didn’t work for me
– New Epics revealed with fun powers that integrate smoothly with the action sequences
– Holds a questionable ending to an explosive series that can be both positive and underwhelming

Initial Thoughts

Reality gave the middle finger to expectation, basically.

Continue reading [Review] Calamity — Brandon Sanderson →

2016, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] The Serpent King — Jeff Zentner

9 Comments 
Book Title: The Serpent King
Author:     Jeff Zentner
Number of pages: 384

Synopsis:

jeff-zentner-the-serpent-king-book-coverDill has had to wrestle with vipers his whole life—at home, as the only son of a Pentecostal minister who urges him to handle poisonous rattlesnakes, and at school, where he faces down bullies who target him for his father’s extreme faith and very public fall from grace.

He and his fellow outcast friends must try to make it through their senior year of high school without letting the small-town culture destroy their creative spirits and sense of self. Graduation will lead to new beginnings for Lydia, whose edgy fashion blog is her ticket out of their rural Tennessee town. And Travis is content where he is thanks to his obsession with an epic book series and the fangirl turning his reality into real-life fantasy.

Their diverging paths could mean the end of their friendship. But not before Dill confronts his dark legacy to attempt to find a way into the light of a future worth living.

(re: Goodreads @ The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– A quiet coming of age centering on Southern youths living within The Bible Belt; the environment/infrastructure is vividly imagined
– Multi-POV narrative (2 boys, 1 girl) with socioeconomic and religious diversity
– Pitch perfect characterizations with accessible struggles that make it easy to empathize and root for these kids
– This story capitalizes on the art of living and growing up featuring prose that’s mundanely resilient, effortlessly luminous, and simply raw.

the-serpent-king-jeff-zentner-review-scorecard-600x300

Initial Thoughts

I read most of this book commuting on transit. The dialogue between my heart versus brain went something like this:

Heart: Oh hey there sad mome–

Brain: —FIGHT THE TEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRSSsss.

There are no spoilers in this review.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from Penguin Random House of Canada courtesy of Goodreads First Reads. I extend thanks for letting me read this in advance. (Also props to the creative decision to make the ARC cover feel so buttery.)

Continue reading [Review] The Serpent King — Jeff Zentner →