JudgeABook: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I really like the look of this book. I know it's been floating around for a while now, but I'm just now getting to writing about it. I haven't read it, but it's sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. Now, I love me some fairy tale adaptations, and even though I'm not a huge fan of the Cinderella story itself, how could I not be drawn to Cinderella-as-a-Cyborg? Admittedly, I know more than I should for a JudgeABook post, as the cover doesn't really say anything about cyborgs, only suggests a metal bone structure. But, let's go with it. It's a striking cover nonetheless.

Cinder slipped her foot into the ruby shoe. It was the perfect addition to her outfit. She smiled, thinking that the fragility of the glass pump belied her next-to-indestructible nature.

Standing, she looked at herself in the mirror. Thank goodness for the titanium reinforcement in the sole, imperceptible when she was standing. While her manufacturers had made her figure to perfection, they didn't really get her weight to what a girl would call acceptable. But, with a steel skeleton, there's only so much she could expect. She smoothed her dress. 

She was dressed to kill.

 

4.5 Silver Stars

Find it on Goodreads

Other JudgeABook Posts

Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

Writing a post last week about Breath got me thinking about Donna Jo Napoli again and how much I love her books, and how heavy a phase I went through some years ago. This is not to say I don't still love her, but for a while I was ordering her books one by one from over seas and reading them all in a row. I recently reaslised how many of her books I've yet to read and was a little daunted but very excited at the prospect.

So, here I am, writing a review for a book I read years ago, but is still fresh in my mind because I thought it was fascinating and skillfully executed.

As you might be aware, Donna Jo Napoli's 'thing' is to adapt and flesh out traditional stories and fairy tales. Bound is fantastic because it is a Cinderella retelling set in Ancient China. The reason it works so well is that, as the title suggests, it brings into it the practice of foot binding. The match is perfect and feels effortless, even though I'm certain a lot of research was involved.

Unlike my review of Breath, I'm not going to spell out exactly how this setting and story fits into the story arch we know so well from so many versions of Cinderella. But I will say, that I loved this book because it gave the main 'Cinderella' character some pluck. She is a girl who can stand up for herself and isn't the flouncy-I-need-someone-to-do-everything-for-me girl of many other stories.

I'm surprising myself with how well I'm remembering this book, it would be at least 6 years since I've read it and I can still see Xing Xing trying to please Stepmother, praying to her Ancestors, hiding a gown in a hole in a cave, making her own way to Emperor's festival, the food, the performers and her holding her own in the face of royalty. I think that goes to show how good a book it is, and how brilliant Donna Jo Napoli is.

You should read this book.

 

4.5 Gold Stars

Find it on Goodreads

Breath by Donna Jo Napoli

You may know from the prevalence on my blog of things that relate to fairy tales and classic folklore that I love that kind of thing. I particularly like a well realised adaptation, such as the ones Donna Jo Napoli is renown for. The Pied Piper of Hamelin is one such story that it is fascinating to see what people do with it. For example, The movie 'The Sweet Hereafter' is amazing. Then, I was jealous I didn't think of it first when the lost children of Hamelin turned up in Garth Nix's Keys To The Kingdom Series. It truly is a fascinating story and there's a lot that can be done with it.

But best of all, I think, is Donna Jo Napoli's Breath. This is a thorough retelling from the perspective of the boy on crutches that gets left behind. Like all good historical fiction, if feels very well researched. Being fiction, there's always scope to play around with fact but at no point did I question what I was being told. It fit perfectly into this story and the whole thing works as a possible explanation to the history behind the traditional tale.

Clearly, rats were pests of the worst kind, carrying disease etc themselves and in the fleas that rode them cross-country. It is perfectly understandable that a town would want to rid themselves of an infestation. But they should have know to pay their dues.

Salz, the main character, is a boy who is suffering from what we now know is cystic fibrosis. He is a boy who thinks about things through with logic and reason. He very nearly works out the connection to various illnesses and events to a fungus called Ergot which has grown on the plants and crops after a particularly wet year. This fungus, when ingested through bread, or beer not only makes people sick, but can also contains lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD as well as has similar effects as Viagra.

Perhaps I'm not explaining this in the right order, or correctly, but I'm trying to entice you into reading this book to find out how all of this plays into the story we all know.

*This next paragraph may contain SPOILERS*

Just so it's not too much of an obscure blog post, I'll let you know that while rejoicing the absence of the rats, the whole town goes on a bit of a acid trip, due to the Ergot, and don't react while their children are enticed away by the begrudged piper. Salz, our poor hero, is unable to keep up with the rest of them and, just outside of town, becomes the only witness to the disappearance of all the children. The only problem is, he is on a bit of an acid trip himself and the only what he can describe it later is to say that the mountain opened up and swallowed them all.

Now I feel like I've given too much away and have ruined the wonderful surprise of Donna's work. She does it so brilliantly all the time, so many of her adaptations have a delightful twist that makes you think 'ahhh, so that's how she's fit it into the original storyline!'

But this one, I think, is my second favourite of her books that I've read so far, and even with my spoilers I still think you should read it.

 

4.5 Gold Stars

Find it on Goodreads

Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan

So this is how it went for me and Margo Lanagan: I had a long-standing love affair from a-far with Tender Morsels which you can read about HERE, which sadly remains unresolved, as I haven't got around to reading it yet.

Then, last semester, her collection of short stories 'White Time' was a set text for my masters subject. I liked what I read there, I liked that I had to fit myself into each story like someone doing advanced yoga of the mind. But alas, Tender Morsels still waved, sadly-unread, from my shelf.

Then there was the release of Sea Hearts AND the possibility of meeting Margo at an event at Better Read Than Dead, a beautiful bookshop in Newtown where a friend of mine works as the Children's specialist. What was I to do? I'll tell you what: I got my hands on a copy, forced myself to take a break from work reading (it was well timed really) then Sea Hearts jumped the queue. I had accepted the invitation to the event, so I knew I had to have it read.

The plan was to read Tender Morsels as well, so I could seem switched on and genuine in my apparent fandom. Because, lets face it, despite having only read some of her short stories last year, I have thought of Margo Lanagan as an author that I love for years. (it might have something to do with the jacket of Tender Morsels - See the other post) But I know I loved the idea of her.

This has turned into a rather long pre-amble for my review of this book, I know. But partly the time it took me to read it is needed to explain how I felt about it. I read each night when I climb into bed. It's the one time of the day I can guarantee myself the time to read. Unfortunately, I picked a time to read Sea Hearts when I was particularly exhausted from work and life in general. One thing I discovered when I picked up this book is it's the kind of writing that you sort-of need to pay attention to (not quite as hard as the aforementioned mind-yoga, but still) and this is difficult to do when your eyes are struggling to stay open as it is. Therefore, it took me much longer to get through this book than I had hoped. (then along comes reading for work again, and unless I can read three books in the next 2 days, there no chance of be even attempting to start Tender Morsels before the event on Wednesday.)

Enough already! I hear you sighing, tell us about the book! Ok, here it goes:

It's a moving re-work/fleshing-out of the Selkie legends from the regions of the far-North Atlantic Ocean. Now I had only a passing/second hand knowledge of these legends, so for me, it read like a well thought out fantasy. I can see how others who know the tales better would enjoy it even more than I did. Margo Lanagan's writing is superb. She doesn't fluff around, but fills her prose with the magic of time and place. Her conviction to the story she is telling is striking. This is a book for anyone who loves a tale of love, loss and a spot of magic.

I feel like I have to say, though, that as a male reader, I felt appalled at the state of men in this book. Every single female character was wronged at the hands of a male, and absolutely none of the men had any redeeming characteristics, save for one pre-pubescent boy who devised a way to help his mother. I understand that in the context of the story that the sea-wives were enchanting, but I would have loved to see at least one man resist. As you do with books, I put myself in their shoes and asked: What of a gay man? would he be equally beguiled? (Although I must admit that the Seal King magiked into a man was rather steamy...) Or are all men destined to hurt the women in their lives and rely on their young sons to make amends on their behalf?

That said, I loved reading this. There was a sequence in it that was one of the most exciting-cannot-put-down-what's-going-to-happen things I've read in at least 6 months (and I've read a lot in that time). It's a beautiful novel that reveals the devastating effects of taking things from where they naturally belong for your own personal gain.

I really need to stop writing now, so I can go and read and hopefully - finally - find the time to read Tender Morsels.

4.5 Gold Stars

Find it on Goodreads

TopographicalFeature: Sea Hearts - Margo Lanagan

Something You'd See In The Sky:

Creepy Crawly:

Type Of House:

Something You'd Carry In Your Pocket, Purse, or Backpack:

Something You'd Find On A Calendar:

The Magic Circle by Donna Jo Napoli

This book was originally lent to me with a slip of paper taped over the blurb on the back cover. I was instructed to read it without reading the blurb on the back, or any other descriptions about the story. I wish I could do the same for everyone, because I LOVED reading it that way, not knowing was so good.

Not knowing? you might ask. Not knowing what? Well, you won't find out on this blog. I'm going to have to try and craft this review without giving the game away. What you do with your own time, and if you want to take that extra element of surprise away from yourself, that's up to you.

This is the book that led me to a love of all things Donna Jo Napoli. Return readers might know my love of fairy tales and their adaptations, and technically, this post should be part of my 'Fairytale Friday' series, but unfortunately the questions I pose myself in those posts would reveal too much.

Instead, what I'll say is this: this is an adaption of a fairy tale that puts an entirely different spin on the events and characters. The first half of the story takes place before the story that we know, and there are hints as to where it's going, but it's not until one point where you sit back and go AAAHHHHH!

So very good! Donna Jo Napoli is a genius of re-working a well known story and adding so many layers to what we think we know, adding depth to characters that turn out to be misunderstood. She gives me shivers. It's one of my goals to read everything she has written, which is A LOT!

I recommend hunting this one down with your eyes closed. Trust me.

4.5 Gold Stars

Find it on Goodreads

The Adjustment Bureau

The was not the movie I was expecting. The original trailer I saw made it out to be a non-stop action, heavily FX-ed sci-fi adventure. But, having said that, I would have been happy to watch such a movie. It had still made me excited to see it.

It was not that movie, however, and felt a lot more grounded and worth watching.

I felt like a bit of an idiot at the end when the credits started rolling and I was informed that it was based on a book by Philip K. Dick. “Oh…” I said to myself, “that’s why I liked it so much.” It’s moments like that that I think that I should have researched the movie a bit more before watching it. I generally really enjoy movies that are based on books by Philip K. Dick. Admittedly, I’ve never read any of his books which, I’m sure, is a huge oversight, but in my own defence, I find that there is too much YA fiction to read so I have to make do with movie adaptations of adult novels.

Anyway, back to the movie of the hour.

Firstly, a good third of the film passes before anything sci-fi/fantasy-ish happens, by which time you have a great sense of ‘real life’ as it has been constructed. Then, enter the mysterious agents of “The Adjustment Bureau.”

Even at this point, I was still expecting it to be typical Hollywood and get carried away with itself, but the whole thing was pleasantly restrained. I was engaged and lapping up the theory of how tiny events can change what happens in the future eagerly. How the Adjustment Bureau are there to keep people “on plan” by making you get a text at this time, or spill your coffee at that time etc.

Honestly, the resolution was a little weak, but without destroying the mystery of the Bureau, it’s probably the best that could happen.

It was a great movie!

This trailer gives a bit of a better sense of what the movie is actually like:

Fantastic Mr. Fox

I was sceptical about ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’. The trailer didn’t interest me, during all its publicity at the time of its cinema release I cringed at every film poster, film tie-in novel, and sticker book merchandise that I saw everywhere. I love Roald Dahl but I was so put off by the look of this film that I avoided it like the plague. Which is why, I have only just now seen it when I found myself thinking, ‘why not? Everyone says it’s good, what have I got to lose?’

Boy had I got it wrong!

This film cracked me up on so many different levels! It was brilliant! The stop motion animation was incredible, and the voices were superb.

First of all, while this was filmed in stop-motion it had a lot of the humour that is usually found in cartoons. And to see it in another medium was great! Brief sight gags, nonsense dialogue and awkward pauses while characters look at each other all worked perfectly to bring to life the type of fun that reading a Roald Dahl novel is like. It’s too Funny!

The casting was great too! While I’m not a George Clooney fan, his voice suited Mr Fox ‘fantastically’! But all of them were flawlessly suited to each of the characters and there were a nice mix of easily recognisable actors and those who I didn’t know about. Some characters (eg. Kylie voiced by Wallace Wolodarsky) had me laughing loudly with almost everything they said.

In all my ‘judging before knowing anything about it’ and ‘avoiding for the sake of avoiding’ it wasn’t until I had sat through all the delicious nonsense, enjoyed myself thoroughly and decided that this was definitely one to watch again in the near future, when the credits began to roll and I discovered that it was a Wes Anderson film. This discovery both explained much of the nonsense (in its delivery, Roald Dahl must be given credit for the majority of it) and was a bit of a final ‘why was I avoiding this movie’ moment. I love his other films and probably would have seen it sooner had I paid any attention to the fact that he was the director.

What this entire review boils down to is: if you haven’t seen this film, you must. And if you have, you probably need to watch it again for good measure. I know I will be!

Jane Slayre - Charlotte Bronte and Sherri Browning Erwin

Well, this was the latest read selected for the 'Non-pretentious Bookclub'. And Non-pretentious is a good way to describe this new genre. Purists should steer clear but those after a chuckle and like a bit of slaying, staking and beheading, this type of thing is perfect.

This particular one, however, is probably not the best one to start with. While I found parts of it quite amusing, there were long stretches where not a lot happened.

Admittedly, I have not read Jane Ayre so, I can't really compare it to the original classic. However, I think that part of the fun for me was trying to work out what might have actually been happening in the normal version.

There were moments that I was laughing out loud at this book, but there were others in the bookclub that didn't find it amusing at all.

This genre might be viewed in light of "making the classics accessible", and while I would agree with that for the most part, personally I'm not against reading classics and have quite enjoyed the ones that I have. But then I can also see the humour in these. I am very much looking forward to when I have the time to read 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' and even more so, looking forward to the movie adaptation staring Natalie Portman: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1374989/

Sorry that this review is a bit jumpy, it's been a few weeks since I finished the book. I'll try and review closer to finishing so I am more eloquent.