thumbs up!

Quite great. Not my favorite book of the year, but up on the “Definitely Enjoyed” list. I was thinking about how different it would have been if she had taken the same themes and written another realistic fiction novel, and how I probably would not have been even interested let alone liked it, and if that’s just one of the things that makes fantasy so great– it gives you that step back to really look at things, whereas if it had been about a real modern-day society you’d have to fight against the defense mechanism that says “I can’t read that, it’ll just make me feel hopeless about people I can’t help.” You read fantasy and the focus is on the HOPE instead.

It’s funny, whenever I try to articulate some sort of justification for why I couldn’t LOOOVE Jellicoe Road, I say the believeability of what someone who’s 11 remembers (and doesn’t remember) about someone who’s important to her that she last saw when she was seven was just too big a hurdle for me to get around; so it struck me as funny that in this book there were ALSO people not recognizing people who had been important to them in childhood! Though luckily at least Finnikin seemed to be the only character actually struck with this stupidity in reality. Oh, and his dad. Maybe it’s genetic.

Jen, that is so funny because I do the same thing — see a book mentioned and wait to read the review until after I’ve read it!

Rachael Ray has a dog named Isaboo. In her magazine, show, etc., she goes on and on about Isaboo, ad nauseam. So for me at least, the character’s name, Isaboe, was ill-chosen. I thought the character and place names struck a slightly sour note in what was otherwise a compelling novel.

Doreen, my TBR pile is so out of control, I may need to bring in a specialist. Do they have professionals to deal with overwhelming TBR piles?

Melina, I’m not worthy!

Kim, Gen is your true love?! He’s sitting right here next to me on the couch reassuring me he’s mine! All mine!