Review/ Beautiful Dead: Arizona

ISBN: 9781402239458
Author: Maguire, Eden
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: October 2010

There's been no sign of the Beautiful Dead for weeks. Darina achingly misses Phoenix all over again. But surely he will return with the rest of the Beautiful Dead as so much still remains unresolved. It's been ten months since Arizona drowned in Hartmann Lake. Suicide, it would seem. But something doesn't add up. Drowning herself in a hidden-away lake does not sound like strong, confident, Arizona: Ellerton High School's high-maintenance drama queen. Darina needs to help Arizona the way she helped Jonas. But time is running out ...

Not having read Eden Maguire’s first book in the Beautiful Dead series I had no expectations when I began reading book two, Beautiful Dead: Arizona. While I found myself a bit lost at first, I quickly caught on to what I found to be an extremely fascinating and suspenseful story.

The plot of Beautiful Dead: Arizona revolves around Darina, who is very much alive, and very much in love with Phoenix, one of several beautiful dead, who have recently died under unusual circumstances. Each of the beautiful dead have come out of limbo to find out the particulars of their deaths and Darina is a link to the world of the living. Without her help, they cannot find peace. As long as Darina is helping she is allowed to see Phoenix. In this second book, Darina has only a few months to find out whether Arizona committed suicide by drowning and the story follows Darina’s investigation while providing more insight into the beautiful dead.

I was really thrilled with most of the characters in the story. From the beginning of the book, it is obvious that Darina, is way over the top in love with Phoenix and is willing to do anything to keep him around. Darina, has lot more courage than I would have dealing with both the dead and the living. She stand up to Hunter (Darina calls him the zombie overlord and at times he is one scary dead guy), and she boldly investigates Arizona’s life, which ends up putting her in harms way several times. I could also understand Darina’s feelings for Phoenix, who even in death loves her and wants to protect her and keep her safe. Finally, like Darina, I found it hard to like Arizona, but as the story unfolds and Darina delves deeper into Arizona’s death by drowning, Maguire slowly reveals important information about Arizona and here life, which helps explain a lot about her complex and abrasive attitude.

Beautiful Dead: Arizona is a quick read, and the combination of paranormal and mystery was very exciting. Maguire incorporates a sense of immediacy to Darina’s  investigation into Arizona’s death and creates tension and suspense scene by scene. One aspect that I really liked about this series is that the ending did not leave me hanging. Maguire ties up all the loose ends of Arizona’s death, so that in the book three, Darina she can move onto the next beautiful dead’s death.  She also connects this book with the first book about Jonas, and provides enough foreshadowing to definitely hook me into wanting to know what will happen next. I am also very interested in how Maguire will eventually help Darina deal with her strong attachment to Phoenix, but I won’t get the answer to that until book four.

If you enjoy the paranormal, romance, and mysteries then I recommend you give Beautiful Dead: Arizona a read. I will definitely be back tracking to read book one and will be anxious to read book three and four when they are released.

Source: Received ARC from publisher

Review/ My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares is the most haunting love story I have ever read. Told in alternating points of view and jumping from past to present, Brashares evocative prose brilliantly intertwines plot, characterization, and setting to explore the realm of past lives and brings a new meaning to the phrase “undying love.”

The complexity of this novel’s plot is mind boggling. The fact that Daniel has lived more “than a thousand years” and has “died countless times” in and of itself would seem an impossible undertaking to explain in a little over three-hundred pages. However, Brashares masterfully weaves Daniel’s past with the present, including yet another layer to the story through Lucy’s point of view. At the beginning of the story, Brashares introduces Lucy, a seventeen-year-old girl who is inexplicably drawn to Daniel. When after two years Daniel finally approaches Lucy and tries to explain to her that she is Sophia (Daniel’s soul mate), Lucy becomes frightened and runs away, leaving Daniel desperately alone. From there, Brashares reveals, layer after layer, the emotional nature of Daniel’s unrequited love. In the meantime, Lucy continues with her life, but can never totally forget Daniel or her unexplainable attachment to him. As if Daniel’s need to find a way to connect with Lucy is not conflict enough, Brashares adds even more tension, which at the end had me riveted to the page in fear that the Daniel and Lucy were not going to connect yet again.

Daniel’s voice and story is mesmerizing. I was literally transported back in time to the different historical settings where Daniel’s new lives take him. His quest to find Sophia is fraught with disappointment after disappointment and his heartbreak became mine. It becomes clear that the only way Daniel’s soul could find peace is for he and Sophia to find happiness together. And so each lifetime he searches for his one true love. Unfortunately, unlike Daniel, Sophia does not have the memory of her past lives, so each time Daniel finds her he must find a way to explain their connection. At one point in the story as he is trying to convince Constance (one of Sophia’s lives) he begs ...

“Please believe me ... This didn’t happen by accident. You have been with me from the very first life. You are my first memory every time, the single thread in all my lives. It’s you who makes me a person.”

I don’t know about you but if someone ever told me that I would be melting like butter.

One of the most dazzling elements of this story was Brashares’ descriptions of Daniel’s memories and his understanding of life and death.

People sometimes talk about the power of first impressions, and believe me, there is truth to it. The path of your life can change in a n instant. Not just eh path of your life but the path of all your lives, the path of your soul. Whether you remember or not. It makes you want to think hard before you act.

Death is an unknowable place, but I have learned something about it over time. My state of consciousness after death and before birth is not like the normal state of waking and living, but I do have perceptions and memories from those times. It’s hard for me to gauge how time passes in those dark transitions.

and

In my shameless heart, I’ve always hoped that Sophia and I would become whole together. I hate that phrase (along with the term “soul mates”), but I can’t think of a better way to say it. I’ve always thought I could ease my sins and make myself a better person through her. I’ve had the gall to think I could love her better than anyone else could. I’ve always feared she would find completion without me, and I’d be around, stupid and unperfected, forever.

The only aspect of the novel that had me scratching my head was the introduction of Lucy's sister, Dana, who committed suicide before the action of the story began. While this fact did provide information about Lucy's background, I expected it to tie into the story later on, but it never did. 

My Name is Memory is a fantastic journey that explores the power love has even over death, and one I urge you to experienced for yourself!

Source: Purchased

Review/ the Summer of My Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

Title: The Summer of My Skinny Dipping
Author: Amanda Howells
Release date: June 1st 2010 by Sourcebooks Fire
isbn1402238622   
Arc copy provided by Publisher


After getting dumped by her boyfriend, sixteen-year-old Mia Gordon is looking forward to spending a relaxing summer in the Hamptons with her glamorous cousins. But Corine, has better things to do—like ditch Mia at a party.

That’s when Mia meets boy-next-door Simon Ross. After devising a secret signaling system, Mia and Simon meet up nightly to swim in the cool, dark ocean and lie on the beach, talking and looking at the stars, Neither feels like they belong in the exclusive resort community.

Mia isn’t looking for love that summer, but she finds it. She finds a funny, artistic boy who lives boldly. She finds someone who understands her. And she finds herself (Publisher’s summary from back cover).

When I first read the publisher’s summary, I thought The Summer of Skinning Dipping was going to be a typical girl meets boy romance novel, and honestly, I am not a huge fan of that particular plot setup.  However, what I found was a much more complicated story about relationships and a few other surprises as well.

The first surprise is how much I really liked this story. Howell’s writing is descriptive and authentic.  She definitely has a strong sense of how to create characters you either love or really dislike. Mia’s is extremely likable. She has a strong sense of self and even though she lacks self-confidence in some areas, her evaluations about herself and those around her are usually spot on. After being dumped by her high school boyfriend the one thing she wants, besides being at the beach all summer, is to hang with her cousin Corine.  Unfortunately, the Corine Mia remembers from their childhood has grown up into a very self-centered snob.  Mia ends up being the country bumpkin, which exacerbates Mia’s feelings of inadequacies. The only problem I had with Mia was I really wanted her to go off on her cousins, and her mother long before she did. When she did finally speak her mind, she was a lot nicer than I would have been.

Another surprise was Simon and how Mia’s relationship with him played out.  I loved how he just showed up uninvited to Mia’s cousin’s party and how after Mia is ditched, Simon begins to discuss The Great Gatsby and call Mia, Daisy. As the story unfolds Mia and Simon begin spending nights together on the beach, and a strong friendship builds. Simon is a risk taker and helps Mia to stop being such a cautious person. Through their interactions Mia learns how great it feels to be more spontaneous.  In the end Mia realizes just how much Simon has come to mean to her, and without meaning to she falls in love with him.

The best surprise in this story was Howells’ insights into the precarious nature of relationships, and she uses these insights to create a much more complicated story than boy meets girl. Mia’s relationship with her mother for example is very strained. Her mother always seems to dote on Mia’s younger sister, who has her mother’s beauty while Mia is average looking. It doesn’t seem to matter to her mother that Mia is smart and has goals to become a marine biologist someday.  Another interesting relationship is Mia’s adoration of her aunt. Mia’s perception of Corine’s mother is very different than Corine’s. As the summer progresses Mia begins to see that not everything is as it seems even with people you think you know.  There is also the strained relationship between Simon and his father. Simon does not want to be like his father who is all about appearances and making money.  His father is tyrannical to the point of abuse, but Simon’s strength lies in his clear understanding of himself despite what others think.

The ending also reveals a huge surprise, which of course I will not reveal, but I will say that Howell crafted the ending in such a way that I didn’t see it coming.  Many of the relationship issues are revealed and some are resolved.  Howell did not rush to wrap everything up, which I found extremely satisfying.

The Summer of My Skinny Dipping is the perfect beach read.  Mia is a well-drawn character with a beautiful clear voice. She is very easy to relate and connect to, and the romance is one that drew me in.  I believe that the various relationships between the characters helped make this about more than a summer romance novel. So, if you are like me and want more than a romance novel to occupy your time this summer, then The Summer of My Skinny Dipping will definitely fit the bill.

Review/ Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison

THE TRANSFORMATION

Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.

THE LOVE AFFAIR

When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE

When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?

THE HEARTBREAK

The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her …one that could shatter everything. (From Goodreads)

Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison is an emotional rollercoaster that quite literally ended (at least for me) with a lump in my throat and the threat of tears. For the most part, I was completely taken over by the story and the characters. Morrison immediately draws you into Beth’s ugly life starting with her father’s rejection at birth and the absolutely, horrible pranks played on her at school. All because her face is scared, she wears thick glasses and has uncontrollable fizzy hair.  Beth is unfortunately defined, like so many teenagers are by her looks, and it is impossible not be empathetic. However, Beth does have beautiful moments: when she sings. Morrison uses Beth’s talent first metaphorically to help her escape the ugliness of her life and then literally to physically transform her. This literal transformation occurs after Beth receives the lead solo and her choir is chosen to compete in Switzerland against other choirs. One of the choir’s sponsors gives Beth a makeover taking her from the ugly duckling to a swan in a very short period of time.  While I did not have a difficult time accepting this transformation (I tend to be able to suspend disbelief quite easily), I do have a problem about the message that young adults could construe from Beth’s makeover. After all, we aren’t all beautiful people, and true talent should be judged on its own merit not by the physical wrappings it comes in.

Despite this message Sing Me to Sleep is still a book I really enjoyed. The title was very meaningful and I thought Morrison’s writing was engaging. I especially liked how Beth’s mind was always making up lyrics to explain her feelings and continually tries to find a hopeful chorus to add to her song:

Change.
Why do they surprise me?
Can everyone see
Inside
That I’m still the same girl?
Now who will she be?
Can she be beautiful?
Will she be blinded too?
Why am I anxious
To leave my old shell behind?
Can it be possible
Will all the people love me?

I also liked Beth’s best friend Scott, who always saw Beth as the beautiful person she was inside. I kept wishing that Beth would see past their long time friendship and realize what a great boy friend Scott would make. However, the story definitely would have been much different without Derek, who falls in love with Beth’s voice before he even meets her. It was exciting to see their romance unfold while they were in Switzerland, but once they return it got tedious. I really wanted Derek to stop being mysterious and I hated how Beth moped and brooded over him. I was elated however, that she didn’t succumb to Derek’s demands to quite her choir and join his. I would have been extremely disappointed in Beth as a character and instead found myself overlooking some of the other flaws she developed after falling in love.

I have to admit that I was more than a little overwhelmed with the emotional intensity at the end. Morrison’s pacing was perfect and it left me drained. Overall, I really did like this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a story that can quite literally move you to tears.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

A crazy curse, or more accurately a curse that makes you crazy and your daughter, and your daughter's daughter, and so on. Unless of course you figure out a way to break the curse, which requires completing three impossible tasks. In Nancy Werlin’s Impossible this is Lucy Scarsborgh's legacy to either break a curse placed on the Scarsbourgh women eons ago or wind up like her mother, Miranda, crazy as a loon and dooming her own daughter to the same frightening fate.

I must admit I was unsure whether I was going to like Impossible when I first began reading. I think it was because the exposition took longer than many books I read. However, it would have been a huge mistake to judge this book without reading further because the first event in the rising action truly sets the scene for what is to follow. In the exposition, Werlin takes her time introducing Lucy, the protagonist; her foster parents, Leo and Soledad; Zach, Lucy’s next door neighbor, life-long friend, and eventual love interest, and Miranda, Lucy’s crazy mother. This introduction establishes Lucy’s past and present, which are irrevocably tied together.

Werlin’s plot is remarkably inventive in it originality. The seed of Impossible’s plot revolves around an old folksong, Scarbourgh Fair, which dates back to the 1600’s. Werlin’s version of the song describes three impossible tasks that must be perform in order to break the curse, which was placed on Fenella, the Scarborough woman who spurned the Elfin King's affection. Failure to break the curse results in the woman losing her mind after giving birth to her daughter, and condemning her daughter to give birth at seventeen thus, perpetuating the curse for another generation. Once Lucy realizes that in order to escape her mother’s fate and all her ancestors before her, and with the help of her foster parents and Zach, she set out to defeat the Elfin King’s malediction.

In addition to Welin’s mesmerizing plot, I was enchanted by her characterization. Lucy is a strong rational teenager, who despite overwhelming odds, dauntlessly attempts to complete each task necessary to break the curse. Another author might have easily allowed Lucy to become despondent and even whiny over her fate, but Lucy manages to realistically work through her moments of self-doubt and despair to face the obstacles that threaten not only herself but also her unborn child. I was especially  drawn to Zach’s character. Quietly unassuming, Zach unflinchingly becomes Lucy’s closet allied. Again, another author might have created a character who just willingly accepted Lucy’s fate, but Welin takes time developing not only Zach’s love, but his belief in the unbelievable.

Impossible is a perfect example of how an author takes a thought and nurtures it over a period of time to create a complex plot and turn it into a fascinating tale that holds the reader attentively through out. I recommend if you have not read Impossible that you do so. It is romantic without being a romance novel, it will satisfy the fantasy lover in you, and it speaks to the realist as well.