Non-historical Reads

review: Twilight

2009-11-17T12:07:00.001-08:00

Twilight

by Stephenie Meyer

I’m always reluctant to review books that are extremely popular. For one thing, it seems moot because there is such a multitude of reviews and articles out there already; who needs one more? And for another, especially with this particular book, people take it very personally. I’ve read a few of these online rants and raves myself, smiling as I take in the differing opinions.

I will admit to seeing subtle inconsistencies in the Twilight saga. And I agree that Bella hyperventilates a bit too much over Edward, but – haven’t we all felt that way, as teens? I can remember my thought process when I was near a crush and, as described in Bella’s POV, it seemed right-on to me. She is fairly normal and likable. I guess I can relate to her way because I was never an outgoing, partying type of teenager. I was a reader, sort of a loner (though not melancholy) and I liked my parents and helping out around the house. So, yeah, I get her.

For me, the first part of Twilight is my favorite of the entire series. I like reading about her reaction to Edward and vice versa. Because I read the first 12 chapters of Midnight Sun, Meyer’s re-writing of Twilight in Edward’s perspective, I got a taste of what was going on in his world and his mind at the same time. This is just fascinating to me, to find out what certain looks and mannerisms really meant.

I read this one article of an adult analyzing the series (not nicely), and a young reader left a comment that basically said, “but teens don’t dig into the story and decipher the way an adult would. It’s just a fun story, escapism.” I thought that was such an insightful, mature comment to make. Yes, it’s just juvenile fiction; no need for a College Lit Professor break-down of writing style and such.

There is one thing that I am so curious about. If you’re a guy you should probably skip over this part… Edward couldn’t be in the room with the students when they were Blood Typing. Well, what about when we ladies are menstruating? Does that blood not bother him? Just saying…

I like this series a lot and it’s nice to take a break from Historical Fiction for a while.

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

2009-06-06T14:23:00.000-07:00

The Sugar Queen is another whimsical tale of ordinary people from small-town North Carolina, though each has his or her own slightly magical touch.

Josey is the only child of an elderly mother who plans for her daughter to keep to the house and take care of her, while Josey dreams of travel and overall escape – escape from her dominating mother, her unpleasant childhood reputation and a town where she has never felt accepted. Her secret hide-out is her closet, where she has a false wall that holds a huge stash of every kind of sweet you can imagine, along with magazines and romance novels.

Enter Della Lee, the town bad girl and the last person Josey imagined to find sitting in her closet – not that finding a person in your closet is the norm, but if it were, Della Lee would have been the last person she expected. Della Lee is running from something – or someone. She begins giving Josey unsolicited advice and somehow Josey decides to allow her to stay for a while, though grudgingly.

Running errands for Della Lee, Josey meets a young woman her age, Chloe, and finds her first real friend. Chloe has problems of her own that are linked to Josey’s crush – her mailman. Together they examine options of getting on with their lives. Their friendship deepens and eventually Josey finds out exactly what Della Lee is up to, hiding out in her closet with Josey’s travel magazines and horde of sweets.

Chloe’s subtle magic is attracting books. Books appear on her nightstand, the counter at work, in restaurants and a number of other places when they think she needs them. She tries to ignore them but they are relentless in their efforts to get her attention. Josey’s lucky color is red and good things happen to her when she wears it, though her mother admonishes her saying it’s not her color. Josey’s maid, Helena, can sense the supernatural, as well as people’s true feelings. There are other characters with special ‘powers’ but taken out of context they are hard to explain. Suffice to say the description of Sarah Addison Allen’s writing on her website is correct in saying these novels are ‘southern-fried magical realism’.

I really enjoyed this read and cannot wait for her next novel in early 2010!

review: Garden Spells (from April 2009)

2009-06-03T18:58:00.001-07:00

A quirky, light read with just a hint of magic, Garden Spells is set in a small town in North Carolina called Bascom. Thirty-four year old Claire Waverley enjoys a simple existence as a successful caterer with exquisite edible creations that she makes with ingredients from her own garden. Clients flock to her for the subtle rush of emotions her meals evoke upon those who eat them. Even though she has been in town since the age of 6, she still feels like an outsider due to the mysterious garden and apple tree that has been in her family’s possession for as long as anyone can remember – not to mention the strange happenings surrounding all Waverley women.

Coming home to Bascom after a decade was not something Sydney Waverley looked on fondly. She’d left with no intentions of returning; however, an abusive relationship forces her to find refuge for herself and her young daughter, Bay. Sydney tries to mend the past with her eccentric older sister, while building a stable life for her daughter.

Claire and Sydney together try to discover the reasons behind their mother’s abandonment, all the while knowing it had something to do with their unusual garden and simply being a Waverley.

My favorite character is Evanelle, an elderly Waverley cousin. Her entire life she has felt the need to give people things, and these things have a way of becoming useful, but in such small ways that most people don’t realize and just assume she’s loony. Evanelle is very outspoken and sassy – the funniest parts of the book! She befriends a gay man who has been recently dumped and they make a really great pair of background characters.

All of the established families of the town have peculiar destinies. The men in one family always marry older women. The women in another family are known for their sensuality and ability to hang on to their men. This is one of the quirks I like, along with the intuitional nature of the apple tree and the ethereal magic of the Waverley home itself.

This book was definitely worth stepping away from historical fiction for a day (yes, I read it in a day!)