Esk Reviews Books

[Eskarina]

In the spirit of Taliesin's music thread I'd like to start a review thread for books. Especially since I noted that most people haven't read any of my favorites in the other thread.

Consider this Esk reads books so you don't have to read the rotten ones. Generally I go through one a week, though it might be less since, you know, education.

First up: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (as soon as I finish it)

[mojoboy31]

Cool idea!

[Taliesin]

good idea. I'll check in!

[Dadinator]

Sounds good

[Eskarina]

I finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak several hours ago and I still have absolutely no idea how to describe it, but I'll give it a shot.

For starters, you should know that despite my illusions upon picking the book up, this novel is not a medieval fantasy novel. In fact, I'm laughing at the idea of this novel being the high fantasy I pictured. I can't really be blamed. the person who recommended it reads almost exclusively fantasy.

But this is not fantasy, rather, The Book Thief takes place in the slums of Germany during WWII and it is narrated by Death. Zusak, using this peculiar point of view, tells us about the life of a young girl named Liesel. He sees her first when her little brother dies and she picks a book up out of the snow called The Gravedigger's Handbook (it's about exactly what it sounds like) officially stealing her first book and becoming the book thief.

While you might think that having death as a narrator would make for a rather maudlin story Zusak manages to make him a likeable fellow wh is doing a tough job with as much sympathy as he can muster. It's not as if he likes war. In any case, Death becomes entranced with the book thief and follows her story throughout the war.

The most unusual aspect of the book, besides the voice, is Zusak's style of prose. He writes shorter paragraphs and vignettes that are linked by quick interjections from the the narrator. At times the effect can be a bit jarring, at other times it's touching. For the most part, Zusak pulls it off with considerable finesse. No one can deny the man knows how to turn a sentence. My favorite was:

"Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out like rain." (Page 80)

It's sentences like that, that will keep you coming back to The Book Thief, even knowing that a book about WWII and narrated by death will eventually break your heart.

More so than any other theme, The Book Thief is about words and their power. Leisel grows from a little girl with no words to a woman whois in the process of becoming quite eloquent. Zusak's book is powerful because it reminds us that words have power. He is quick to remind us that the greatest of evils can be perpetrated through a charismatic man with the right words, and the best of deeds can be accomplished with only a whisper.

Perhaps the best thing I can do to end this review is warn you that, should you choose to read The Book Thief, you won't be able to forget it. It's one of those rare books that makes it's way into your heart and stays.

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Mark Zusak
Genre: historical fiction
Rating: 5/5


Next up: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
What I know about: it's about a zombie named R with an existential crisis who falls in love with a human girl.

Interested?

Join me as I make my virgin foray into zombie territory.

[mojoboy31]

Now that I've read your review, I realize that I have heard of the Book Thief, and considered picking it up a few times... That being said, it does not sound like my cup of tea, lol

Warm Bodies is very interesting to me, and I've been considering picking it up as well. I've never read a zombies book, except for one, and I can't tell you what it was because it would spoil the whole trilogy.

[Eskarina]

@mojo: I loved The Book Thief, but it's easy to see why someone wouldn't. People who don't like it, tend to not like it at all. On the other hand, if you read and enjoyed anything by Vonnegut it might be worth a shot.

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Issac Marion's Warm Bodies is about a young zombie named R with an existential crisis. He just doesn't see the point of all this flesh eating and moaning stuff. He runs across a group of humans on a hunting trip and after absorbing her boyfriends memories by eating his brain, he falls in love with the fellows girlfriend and takes her back to the zombie base.

It follows in the genre of books about the undead and the women who love them (a postmortem romance, if you will) and has many of the same themes:

The dangerous love: "I love him, but he wants to eat me (and not in a fun way)"

The forbidden aspect: "everyone thinks that he's bad for me, but I know how much he loves me!'

And the idea that monsters can be men: "by teaching him how to love his monsterous nature will be overcome and we can be together forever!"

Don't get me wrong, if I had to pick a book in the genre I'm glad it was this one. I like Marian's spin on zombie "religion", "culture", and even "marriage". The characters are engaging and well rounded. Marion has a simplistic but engaging way of writing that makes the book easy to read. He's also great at telling a story that keeps you hooked. It might be because of these skills that people love Warm Bodies so much, but it has some core failings that shouldn't be overlooked.

Marion reaches for references to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet way too hard. Don't believe me? The love interest is named Julie, her best friend is Nora (a nurse) and R kills Julie's boyfriend Perry (Paris).

There were also some major plot holes. The ending seems to avoid facts and reality in favor of philosiphizing and while Marian has a lot of well formed prose and valid philosophical thoughts they left the ending feeling ultimately empty. In the end Marian's plot boils down to "teaching the zombies to love" and I just didn't buy it. I wanted answers to the world Marion created and he refused to give them to me.

If you enjoy zombies more than I do this book might be one you would like, but it's failings ultimately made it flop for me.

Title: Warm Bodies
Author: Issaac Marion
Genre: Sci-fi/romance
Rating: 2.5/5

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Any suggestions for books I should read next? I've got a good reads list I can delve into, but I mostly read books that have been recommended (or that I've been asked to screen) by other people.

[mojoboy31]

I think I will check out Warm Bodies. I don't necessarily enjoy the zombie, or the paranormal romance genre, but I do enjoy YA novels.

[Eskarina]

[mojoboy31]

[Eskarina]

Don't. It's the only book I've ever given a 0/5 stars. No redeeming qualities whatsoever.

It is literally about a stalker and the vulnerable girl he emotionally abuses- I mean falls in love with. Running themes included codependency, pedophilia, racism, and sexism.

Mark Oshiro has already done a fantastic job of unpacking the harmful tropes twilight perpetuates here: http://bit.ly/MRTarchive

[mojoboy31]

What? Sexism you say?... I'm there! =P

[gwenhyver42]

[mojoboy31]

[Eskarina]

@ mojo: caught the sarcasm and laughed...but the twilight rant'o'meter has been started


Twilight Pro tip: follow the girl you like home to watch her sleep

Twilight Pro tip: if your girlfriend is going to see a friend you disapprove of removing the engine frm her car is a totally healthy reaction.

Twilight pro tip: if your boyfriend leaves you because he thinks that sucking all of your blood out of your body might put a damper on your social life, the answer is obviously to become catatonic for three months and then jump off a cliff in a futile attempt to take your own life.

Twilight Pro tip: if your wife is pregnant with your monster spawn trying to force her into having an abortion without her consent is a reasonable way of protecting her.

Twilight pro tip: if your wife dares defy your wishes about the above you could always try telling her that she can sleep with your best friend and have his baby if she will only abort her current one.

Twilight pro tip: it is totally normal to have bruises all over your body because your boyfriends super strength causes him to lose control in the throes of passion.

I can't make this up.