If you've ever been a The Vampire Diaries fan, then it's very likely that you'll like this book.
The story is ostensibly about 15-year-old Schuyler Van Alen and the secrets she uncovers about herself and her family, plus a gorgeous boy - the most popular one in their school - Jack Force who she starts to fall in love with. But it's an ensemble story, and the various characters' points of view push the story forward.
The book creates a pretty interesting set-up, with enough blank spaces around in book one to build the world further and elaborate on the story... as I found out when I checked the Wikipedia entry for the series. Melissa de la Cruz gives you enough of the popular YA tropes nowadays: vampires, angels, nephilim, past lives, past loves, unrequited love, love triangles, coming-of-age problems, childhood friend turned sweetheart, reincarnation, forbidden and twisted ties, history, mystery, magic, popular girls and jocks versus outcasts, and copious references to fashion styles and icons. I was hoping to see a reference to Filipino mythology, even a little, given Melissa de la Cruz's heritage (and it did say she spent part of her life in Manila), but I guess kapres and manananggals (types of ghouls) haven't found their way yet in YA fiction. The book teases you enough so that you'd like to go on to the next book to see what happens.
My biggest turn-off, though, with this book, is not the predictability and the stereotypes, but the writing. It's not at the level of The Tiger's Curse but I think Melissa should have gotten a better editor. The structure of the narration needs work, and the changes in the points of view in one scene could be smoother. I really do think this material would work better as a screenplay. In fact, I am convinced it would be gorgeous as a movie.
But hey, if you're 15 years old and looking for a book to sink your teeth into one boring night, this is a good enough place to start. Just be sure to check out Robin McKinley, Maggie Stiefvater, Laini Taylor, and Kristin Cashore when you're a bit older if you want stories that not only grab you but feel like honey in your mouth when you read the words, even if it's just in your head.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Saturday, June 20, 2015
P.S. I Still Love You
To All the Boys I've Loved Before was a charming read, not to mention that this is one of the few YA books that (1) has an Asian protagonist with no hang-ups about her roots (2) the family is not excluded/ expunged to start a story (3) has an ending that is true to the heart of the story, if not a bit of a cliffhanger. Plus, the premise itself is a cool hook. I mean, really, wouldn't you like to find out what happens next if a girl's secret pile of goodbye letters to all her past (and one present) crushes got mailed out and received by all those boys?
P.S. I Still Love You continues immediately where its predecessor ends. And I mean, immediately.
This book has heart, plenty of it, and this is where it draws it strength. Here we have a girl, Lara Jean who finally takes the brave step to love for real. But she and ***SPOILER ALERT*** Peter are in the middle of a very ugly and malicious scandal that tests their resolve to be together. They find that love is not all hearts and roses, but needs hard work and hard decisions. It's a surprisingly mature take for what's supposedly a bubblegum tale meant for high school readers.
The chapters go by very fast. And with such odds stacked against them, you start thinking that maybe it's better for the two to just make a clean break with each other and start anew.
As in the previous book, their families are a considerable part of their story, and it's a good thing because it not only fleshes out the and drives the plot; it also brings home the point that there are people who have your back, even when others betray you, and it's ok to rely on people who cherish you. It's also good to see much more of the Song sisters' mom here.
The ending is clear, but not set, just like in real life. There are foreshadowings to other (very far-off future) possibilities in the plot, and here I tip my hat off to Jenny Han. Because while her story makes it clear that you need to work hard for what you want, it also says that life unfolds in ways you never expect it to, and so, you have the choice at a new path if that is what you decide on. You have as many chances to love and be loved, but whatever choice you make needs your commitment to buckle down and work with your partner.
On a lighter note, this book also made me realize that a lot of things are just as applicable in high school life as in adult life. Which made me think that (to paraphrase another writer), heck, everything I need to learn, I learned -- or not learned -- in high school.
Since I've started reading a great deal of shoujo manga last year, I also realized that a lot of the plot devices and settings that Jenny used in the book are similar to manga. I think that this is why there's a different feel to this book. If you're interested, check out Kyo, Koi o Hajimamesu by Minami Kanan (completed) which I liked because the story covered the protagonists' post-high school life. And also Kimi no Todoke by Karuho Shiina, which is still ongoing.
P.S. I Still Love You continues immediately where its predecessor ends. And I mean, immediately.
This book has heart, plenty of it, and this is where it draws it strength. Here we have a girl, Lara Jean who finally takes the brave step to love for real. But she and ***SPOILER ALERT*** Peter are in the middle of a very ugly and malicious scandal that tests their resolve to be together. They find that love is not all hearts and roses, but needs hard work and hard decisions. It's a surprisingly mature take for what's supposedly a bubblegum tale meant for high school readers.
The chapters go by very fast. And with such odds stacked against them, you start thinking that maybe it's better for the two to just make a clean break with each other and start anew.
As in the previous book, their families are a considerable part of their story, and it's a good thing because it not only fleshes out the and drives the plot; it also brings home the point that there are people who have your back, even when others betray you, and it's ok to rely on people who cherish you. It's also good to see much more of the Song sisters' mom here.
The ending is clear, but not set, just like in real life. There are foreshadowings to other (very far-off future) possibilities in the plot, and here I tip my hat off to Jenny Han. Because while her story makes it clear that you need to work hard for what you want, it also says that life unfolds in ways you never expect it to, and so, you have the choice at a new path if that is what you decide on. You have as many chances to love and be loved, but whatever choice you make needs your commitment to buckle down and work with your partner.
On a lighter note, this book also made me realize that a lot of things are just as applicable in high school life as in adult life. Which made me think that (to paraphrase another writer), heck, everything I need to learn, I learned -- or not learned -- in high school.
Since I've started reading a great deal of shoujo manga last year, I also realized that a lot of the plot devices and settings that Jenny used in the book are similar to manga. I think that this is why there's a different feel to this book. If you're interested, check out Kyo, Koi o Hajimamesu by Minami Kanan (completed) which I liked because the story covered the protagonists' post-high school life. And also Kimi no Todoke by Karuho Shiina, which is still ongoing.
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