BOOK REVIEW: The Giver by Lois Lowry

"Memories are forever."

For most, The Giver was required reading during middle/ high school. And I'm sure many can remember enjoying it, or at least that it was not the worst of all of the required reading, but today they wouldn't recall what happened in the novel. This is unfortunate especially now when dystopian novels are so abundant, that you would miss out on such a fascinating and truly timeless read. 

As I've stated this is a dystopian novel, set in no particular time in the future that follows Jonas, a 12-year-old boy who lives in a small rural society. The defining attributes of this community is their sameness: there is no true individuality between the people, or at least none to truly set one apart from all other people. Every year there is an aging ceremony for the children from one to 12-years-old where they are bestowed with a gift of sameness that is to teach them how to function and mature properly in the community. This includes identical jackets or community bikes for example. But the most important ceremony is that of 12: where each child will be given their position within the community. 

As the novel begins Jonas contemplates and fears what will be chosen for him. While others seem inclined to end up in certain professions (IE a caregiver, a nurturer) he doesn't believe he has such a defining attribute. In an upset at this ceremony his name is skipped, making Jonas fear that he has failed his community and may be released. However, he is actually given the position of the community Receiver, the most prestigious position the community holds and the most confusing as no one seems to truly understand its position.

Soon Jonas begins to find out the truth: The original receiver now known as The Giver is the holder of all memories from the distant past, and has knowledge of all human existence. It is his role to hold these memories for the sake of the community to be able to keep their desire to stay the same. But Jonas quickly discovers how wrong the community has been.

"We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others."

When all people are the same and individuality is removed it means the removal of what makes humanity beautiful. There can be no color, no music or art, no emotions. There is no depth to humanity, no soul. This is what Jonas discovers. Humans become nothing but hollow shells, biding their time. And while it seems the original desire was to get rid of the bad such as pain, suffering, fights, anger, war, hunger, etc., it must be understood that to remove all bad things from humanity would erase humanity as well. The beauty of being alive is that there is good with the bad. Jonas understands now why it is worth the risk of pain so that one can feel love. 

What sets this novel apart from other dystopian novels:

The general theme of dystopian young adult novels currently is a strong lead who sees the wrong in how their community has existed and seeks to change it. This can also be said of The Giver. However, there are some key differences between this and for example The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner or any others that have been more recently written.

The efforts of the protagonist typically are more physical in newer stories, causing our hero to need to defend themselves physically in order to exert power and show strength. Jonas however finds his strength intellectually, using his knowledge of the past now that has been given to him in order to make a difference. He chooses to leave the community in order for his memories to be released to the people, forcing them to face what they fear: change and individuality. And unlike many of the newer young adult novels that seem to develop a love story within, The Giver relies on the love of the past versus Jonas falling in love with a girl. Jonas desires no more than to sacrifice himself in order to free his community of their sameness. 

I believe these key differences are what make The Giver an individual amongst other dystopian novels of today. It sends a message to listen to the past, our history, when making decisions but not to allow fear to overcome the good and beauty of humanity.

"The worst part of holding memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared."

RoxieReads Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭ (out of 5)

BOOKSTORE LOVE AFFAIR: Daunt Books in London, England

Name: Daunt Books

Website:Daunt Books England

Address: Several locations!

Marylbone High Street
83 Marylebone High Street, 
London W1U 4QW. 
United Kingdom.

Chelsea
158-164 Fulham Road, 
London SW10 9PR.
United Kingdom.

Holland Park
112-114 Holland Park Avenue, 
London W11 4UA.
United Kingdom.

Cheapside
61 Cheapside, 
London EC2V 6AX. 
United Kingdom

Hampstead
51 South End Road, 
London NW3 2QB.
United Kingdom.

Belsize Park
193 Haverstock Hill, 
London NW3 4QL. 
United Kingdom.


What makes it beautiful: The original location on the High Street is truly beautiful. An Edwardian bookshop with gorgeous skylights to allow for natural lighting is ideal for any bookshop. And there are several locations to mimic its beauty throughout England, making it also a convenient choice. I fell in love with the simplicity and comfort of this venue, looking both intriguing and peaceful.

BOOK REVIEW: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders By S.E. Hinton

"They grew up on the outside of society. They weren't looking for a fight. They were looking to belong."

It came as a surprise to most people I know that I had never read The Outsiders or even seen the star-cast movie until this year. After seeing the cast of the film (Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, etc) even I was shocked that I had never ventured into at least seeing the film. After first reading the book and then watching the film, I know for a fact that I had long been missing out. 

This coming-of-age novel from the late 1960's is an amazing depiction of a group of boys, deemed outsiders due to their small wealth and rough neighborhood, just trying to survive. They are constantly terrorized by those who are above them in status in the most gruesome ways. They are called Greasers, due to their love of their hair and the grease they apply to it (what they consider their best quality). Their biggest rivals are the Socs, short for Socials, an elitist group who feel it is acceptable to jump them and torture them for fun. In their world carrying knives or guns for protection, stealing to eat, and even sleeping outside to avoid abusive families is nothing new. In actuality, it is all they've ever known. Ponyboy, one of the youngest members of the group and also one of the smartest tells the story of their lives and how they strive to stick together.

" It seemed funny that the sunset she saw from her patio and the one I saw from my back steps was the same one. Maybe the two worlds we lived in weren't so different after all. We saw the same sunset."

The rivalry between the Greasers and Soc's comes to a peak in this novel causing devastation and death on both sides. It is only then that they all begin to realize that things are great for either side. Cherry, A Soc, tells of her jealousy of the Greasers passion and love, where she feels nothing. It is with these small reveals that the reader comes to realize that the rivalry is merely out of jealousy on each side and that maybe, these groups aren't so different after all. 

"You take up for your buddies no matter what they do. When you're a gang, you stick up for your members. if you don't stick up for them, stick together, make like brothers, it isn't a gang anymore. It's a pack. A snarling, distrustful, bickering pack like the Socs..."

The reason I loved this novel so much was the love between all of the boys for one another. It was so intimate and genuine. They are each others true family and would die for one another. They don't judge one another for bad choices or questionable morals, but instead they full accept one another for who that person is. You can feel the love and devotion they have to one another throughout the entire novel. It was so touching and real. I feel like even in real life you don't see this kind of devotion. It felt so raw and uninhibited which is exactly how it should be. The Greasers don't know how to better their situation, but they know what matters in life; the bonds they have with each other. Even after finishing the novel and then watching the film I couldn't get over how powerful their sentiments had an effect on me. 

"Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold."

Arguably the most quoted line from the novel and story, its impact is so much deeper. As Johnny lies dying in a hospital room he explains to Ponyboy the impact of this poem from Robert Frost, how when we are children everything is new and green, and then when we stop acknowledging the good and wonder of the world everything fades away. It is only when we each seek to find love and passion in the world around us, to try to see the good in the world despite all the bad we might face, and then embrace it, only then are we gold. Anyone who takes the time to acknowledge this fact will be able to live a more fulfilled and happy life. 

My rating is below!

The Outsiders- ✭✭✭✭✭

You can follow me @RoxieReads on Twitter or @MissRoxie on Instagram

Follow me on Goodreads! ~Nicole Valdez

BOOK REVIEW: The Syrena Legacy by Anna Banks

The Syrena Legacy by Anna Banks

includes: Of Poseidon, Of Triton & Of Neptune

"My kingdom is threatened by war, extinction, or both, and the only way to solve it is to give up the one thing I ever really wanted."

It seemed an impossible task to write a review on just one of these YA novels by Anna Banks, especially being that I needed to keep reading to decide how I truly felt about the story as a whole. We are introduced to two narrators, Galen and Emma, who meet under strange circumstances.

What we don't realize in the beginning is they both have a secret, but only one knows the truth. Galen is a Syrena, or how we modernly would put it a merman (though in the novel he gets quite angry at being referred to in that way). Emma is a half-breed, and though she has felt out of place or that she is different from all other human beings (being that she has extremely light hair and violet eyes) she was unaware of her true heritage; part Syrena, part human. Galen witnesses a tragedy that involves Emma using a power that is exclusive to the Syrena people, the gift of Poseidon, which drives him to follow her and find out who she is and how it is possible that she exists.

Of course they have this constant "will they both realize that they have feelings for each other and get together already" beginning, and then finally, throughout the rest of the series, how could they possibly make a relationship work (being that he is a prince of Triton and has obligations to his kingdom, and she is a half-breed who is incapable of living under the sea for all the rest of her life). 

There is problems on all sides it seems that this young couple is forced to face: Acceptance of half-breeds who are deemed an abomination and must be destroyed; the discovery that she got her half-breed status because her mother was a Syrena who fled to land during a misunderstand where she thought she killed her fiance, Grom, Galen's much older brother; an uprising of those who oppose the rule of the Poseidon and Triton royalty; discovery by humans that can annihilate their existence entirely; and then the discover that there are full towns of half-breeds that now seek to rejoin and claim their Syrena legacy. 

Of the three, Of Poseidon was my favorite. I loved the couple learning about each other, and falling in love despite all the reasons they shouldn't. I felt it was an exciting story and couldn't get enough. I enjoyed Of Triton as well as Emma learns more about who she is and her special gift which makes her valuable to the Syrena community. However, Of Neptune I really felt was unnecessary to the overall story. While I enjoyed the existence of other half-breeds existing, I found most of it unrealistic. Galen and Emma need to get away due to the tragedy that occurred at the end of the 2nd novel (Of Triton) before they start their lives together as they had originally planned. And then they meet one half-breed named Reed and all of a sudden all their plans are thrown out the window, including the faith either of them have in their relationship. Galen leaves and is kidnapped and more than half the book is Emma running around with Reed, not even really being all that concerned that Galen is gone (she texts and calls him, but that is the extent of it). The relationship had already been established to be so much stronger than that, and in one instance it all falls apart.

Of course the ending did bring Galen and Emma back together, but I found most of the middle part very unnecessary. I also didn't find it totally believable that Reed was throwing himself at her the moment he met her. He's met other half-breed girls so it wasn't a "she's just like me so we are meant to be" situation. 

Overall the series was very entertaining, but I would say the first 2 novels were enough. I understand the use of a love triangle in YA trilogies but sometimes, they just aren't necessary. This was one of those instances. 

My ratings are below!

Of Poseidon- ✭✭✭✭ 

Of Triton-✭✭✭✭

Of Neptune-✭✭✭

Follow me @RoxieReads on Twitter or @MissRoxie on Instagram

You can also find me on GoodReads! Nicole Valdez!

THE RETURN OF ROXIEREADS

Hi everyone,

I have returned! Due to some changes in my personal life (most specifically in starting a career) I was forced to take a hiatus from this blog that I love so much.

But now I am back!

For those who have actively read my blog, thank you so much and I hope I further enlighten and entice you to explore your literary world.

Some book reviews coming up include:

- The Outsiders
- A Wrinkle In Time
- To Kill A Mockingbird
- Some more YA Lit


Also:

- More beautiful bookstores and libraries from around the world
- More highlights of Comic Books (and some of my favorite story lines)

Additionally you can follow me on Twitter @RoxieReads and now on Instagram @RoxieReads !

It feels great to be delving into my passion once again!

Stay tuned for postings this weekend :)

~Roxie

 

LIBRARY LOVE AFFAIR: Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (Conn, USA)

Library Love Affair: Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Address: 121 Wall Street
               New Haven, CT 06511
               USA

Things to know: This was a gift from the Beinecke family to Yale University in the 1960's. It has a breathtaking modern architectural style and is the largest library in the world to be used exclusively for the preservation of rare books and manuscripts.

Enjoy!

BOOK REVIEW: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (YA)

"I spent my life folded between the pages of books."

Shatter Me is the first novel of the Shatter Me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi. When first reading a summary of this novel I was instantly attracted by the premise. Take a girl, named Juliette, who lives in a dystopian world where the earth's ozone layer has been destroyed and now a government body called The Reestablishment monitors and organizes every aspect of every one's lives. Now this girl is no ordinary person. She has a unique ability or rather a curse it seems which causes her to drain the life of any other individual by simply touching them with her skin.

The reason I was so drawn to this is as a fan of X-men, and Rogue being in particular my favorite member, she had a similar affliction which never allowed her to touch any other human being without severally hurting or killing them. 

Juliette has been put into an asylum, since it seems no one knows what to do with her, and left to die. She soon gets someone to share her cell which could not be more terrifying for her. It turns out however the presence of this newcomer is not what it seems. She soon finds herself being taken out of the asylum where she finds out the truth about the newcomer: the leader of sector 45 has been watching her, and he wants her for himself.

"' You are absolutely delicious when you're angry.' 'Too bad my taste is poisonous for your palate'"

Juliette understands now that Warner, the leader of sector 45, means to use her curse to his advantage and possibly as a weapon of torture and murder. She soon realizes that Adam, the original soldier placed within the confines of the asylum with her knows her better than he let on, and actually means to help her.

Juliette and Adam find solace in one another and quickly fall in love, as he too has a special gift meaning he is the only one who can get close to her. Or so we think for some time. As they attempt to escape she finds out more about Adam, and realizes she has known him all along, and he quickly discovers why she was considered so dangerous that she was locked up to die.

"My face is in his hands and my lips are on his lips and he's kissing me and i'm oxygen and he's dying to breathe."

They also find help from other unlikely sources and soon discover that in fact they are not the only ones with these gifts and are able to escape the base of sector 45 to a haven called Omega Point. It is here that Juliette realizes that her abilities are not truly a curse but a power she has yet to harness and she becomes determined to do just that for the greater good of all mankind.

This first novel of the series was incredibly gripping and action packed. I have to admit my love for dystopian novels with female leads, especially those who have yet to find out just how truly strong they are and how much the world needs them to help fix what the powers in charge have broken. The similarities between Juliette and Rogue from the X-men is really uncanny whether the writer meant it to be or not. And the leading man, Adam, is exactly what you would want in a male hero; he doesn't just take over but he recognizes the need for her to not just let go of her fear but to embrace the concept that she can be loved. When everything in her world has told her that no one could possibly hold any feeling except disdain and panic, he loves her so fully and openly. It is both refreshing and of course my own heart skipped a beat.

"All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands, but with my heart."

Warner is not what he seems I would think. While he comes across has a sociopath with nothing but murder in his mind, it seems like there has to be another element there. A piece that we as the readers are missing.

Overall the first novel definitely kept me hooked for the upcoming novels.

Questions or Comments? leave them here :)