Shiver

 

 

I was very skeptical going into this read. It honestly sounded like a "team Jacob" version of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight, but I finished pleasantly surprised. Grace was bitten by wolves when she was young, but had been saved by a wolf with striking yellow eyes; Sam. She watched him for years, until a rumor spread that a boy at her school had been killed by the wolves. Men from Mercy Falls hunted the wolves. Grace tried to save them, but found her wolf as a boy on her back porch. Sam and Grace were finally together, but it is a constant struggle for Sam to stay in his human form. They both knew their time was limited.

 

I thought Stiefvater did a good job of making this werewolf story her own. Unlike most books I've read with werewolf characters, this was different. The Mercy Falls pack were wolves during the winter and humans during the summer. The change in air temperature is what changed them. At some point in their lives they would stop changing and live out the remainder of their days as wolves.

 

"I don't want to do this anymore, Grace. It's not good enough anymore to watch you from the woods, not now that I've been with you- the real thing. I can't just watch anymore. I'd rather risk what ever could happen--"

 

I enjoyed Sam and Grace's relationship. It was, at times, bittersweet. They knew they had a limited amount of time together, but they also had loved one another (in different ways) for six years. I would have liked some more intense scenes with these two. They seemed to always be busy with the whereabouts of the pack or trying to keep Sam a human and there could have been more confessions of love, more intimate moments, and less song lyrics from Sam, they were just too cheesy. The book ended on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to pick up Linger and see where their story goes from here.

 



The Three Incestuous Sisters

This is the second graphic novel I've read by Audrey Niffenegger. This story is about three sisters; Clothilde, Ophile, and Bettine. Clothilde, the oldest sister, was considered to be the smartest, Ophile was the most talented, and Bettine, the youngest, was the most attractive. Bettine falls in love with the lighthouse keeper's son, Paris. They conceive a child. Clothilde is insanely jealous of Bettine and is also in love with Paris. Ophile is able to connect with the fetus and knows that he will be a prophet. Tragedy strikes the sisters, but they are able to overcome their differences and are reunited in the end.

I read Raven Girl a few months ago and loved it. So, I expected this to be a strange, fairytale-esque graphic novel. Honestly, it was just weird. The descriptions were vague, short, and the story was choppy. IT never really explained how or why everyone was reunited. I think that I would have enjoyed it more if it had there been more description and if it had been a little longer.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

"She's been given to her ocean. One day, in it's own time, the ocean will give her back."

This was the first book that I have ever read by Neil Gaiman, and it reads like a fairy tale. It was fantastic. The book opens with a man reminiscing back to his childhood. He remembers all of the terror and fear he endured when he was just seven years old. The mysterious and magical, Lettie Hempstock, befriends the boy and completely changes his life. she and her family taught him that no one is what they appear on the outside. There is always more to people than we know. 

"Nobody actually looks like what they really are on the inside. You don't. I don't. People are much more complicate than that. It's true of everybody."

Lettie, her mother, and grandmother truly made this book. They are my favorite female characters in any of my recent reads. All three of them were strong, caring, and independent women. There were no men around to help them and they seemed to prefer it that way. The Hempstocks were able to see a different side of life than most. 

"So you used to know everything?"

"Everybody did. I told you. It's nothing special, knowing how things work. And you really do have to give it all up if you want to play." 

I loved the relationship between Lettie and the boy. They became instant friends, it was very endearing. The boy put all of his trust into what Lettie told him and was never frightened or judgmental by what she could do. This book, while dark at times, shows you the beautiful innocence of childhood and that not everything is as it appears. 

The Edge of Always

I have been anxiously awaiting this book since I read The Edge of Never last year. Unfortunately, I was fairly disappointed. It was like deja vu throughout much of the plot. Camryn and Andrew go through a lot of drama and solve it by going on a road trip. Sound familiar? I kept hoping for some redemption towards the end, but it never came. 

It really bothered me that the book jumped around so much. "Oh we're having a baby, now a miscarriage, now Camryn's popping pills, and to make things all better we go on a road trip." It was frustrating to read and I felt as though the characters said they resolved issues, but never really showed it. The scene where Andrew found out Camryn had been taking the pain pills had to be one of them most infuriating for me. He's clearly upset and angry, but remains quiet and then completely understands and forgives her. I realize they are just characters in a book, but they lose some of their humanity when they don't show proper emotions and are made into the "perfect man, woman, fiancé, spouse, etc." 

Andrew seemed to be surprising Camryn ALL the time; baby shower, road trip, letter from Natalie, necklace, wedding rings, house warming party, etc. Honestly, it got to be redundant. You're a sweet, thoughtful guy, Andrew, we get it. Also, towards the end of the novel it brought up Aiden and Michelle's divorce and it seemed to insinuate that they weren't as lucky as Andrew and Camryn. Very annoying. 

I feel a little bad that I just bashed this book. I expected better. That being said, I look forward to J. A. Redmerski's future work.