Now Quoting: It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Published by Miramax on May 1st 2007

Page Count: 444

Genre(s): YA, contemporary, mental health, humor, romance

Format: Paperback, purchased

Would I recommend? Yes, absolutely! This was a super honest, raw read, and really funny in a strange way. The writing is just gorgeous as well. 🙂 I will be writing a review on this one in the near future!

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Ambitious New York City teenager Craig Gilner is determined to succeed at life – which means getting into the right high school to get into the right job. But once Craig aces his way into Manhattan’s Executive Pre-Professional High School, the pressure becomes unbearable. He stops eating and sleeping until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig’s suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness.

-Goodreads.com synopsis

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I read this book a few months ago, and I absolutely loved it! The author himself experienced similar circumstances as the main character, Craig, had, and you could definitely tell by the realistic and honest portrayal of mental illness in this novel. I realize I’m extremely late to the party on this one as it was released almost 9 years ago, but better late than never, right? XD

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Although I’ve never experienced any circumstances like Ned Vizzini or Craig did, I’m still able to relate to this quote incredibly on a personal level. I don’t like book characters to be “perfect and ready to explode,” as Vizzini puts it; I like them screwed-up and realistic. Vizzini wasn’t afraid to capture these flawed, messed-up characters in his writing, which is a huge reason why I loved this story so much.

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Have you read It’s Kind of A Funny Story? What did you think? Have you seen the movie? Have you read any books lately that you’ve found particularly quotable?

 

Mini Reviews | March 2016 Edition

Yes, I do realize that it is no longer March. But I was hoping to do some sort of round-up of all the books I didn’t get to review in March….so I’m doing mini reviews! Grab your beverages and get cozy, guys, because this is going to be a long post.

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The Shining by Stephen King

This book took me a while to get through, because, you know…..I’m not that experienced with Adult books. I did love it though! I had extremely high expectations for this one because Stephen King is considered to be one of the greatest writers of modern times, and I was certainly not let down. The only thing I wasn’t really expecting – and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing because I don’t like to get too freaked out – is that it didn’t scare me as much as I expected it to. I’m not saying that I didn’t get scared at all, because I did. I’m just saying that although I was pretty scared while reading this book, it didn’t have much of an effect on me after I finished it. I think it’s just one of those “it’s not you, it’s me” situations.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

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 This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

I had pretty mixed feelings about this one. I mean, it is Sarah Desssen, so it was extremely well-written and quite adorable. I guess I was just let down a little bit by the plot. I guess it felt a little slow to me for the first half of the book, so I didn’t get into it until much later on. Also, the main character, Remy, really bugged me with all her negativity and selfishness. The plot seemed pretty cliche with the whole “girl who doesn’t believe in love meets boy who changes her life” trope. It was a cute book, though, and while I didn’t necessarily like the characters individually, I loved them together.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

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None of the Above by I. W. Gregario

None of the Above is an extremely important book, and I’m so, so glad I read it. It centers on a teenage girl, Kristin, who has to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about herself after being told she was intersex. Admittedly, this book did make me a bit uncomfortable, but not because of the subject matter at hand. The way people reacted to Kristin’s situation and completely betrayed her just broke my heart. The sad thing is that before reading this book I had no idea what it meant to be intersex – and that is one of the reasons this book is so necessary. Lovely writing, realistic and fleshed-out characters, and unique, important subject matter. Highly recommend!

Rating: 4/5 Stars

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Fairest by Marissa Meyer

This one was okay. I mean, I guess it was kind of interesting to learn about Levana’s background and how she became so evil and everything, but for the most part, I feel like it didn’t add much to the series. Readers that actually liked Levana’s character to begin with might enjoy this book, but I personally don’t see the appeal. Some parts felt more like a chore to get through than actually reading for pleasure.

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

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 Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

I actually wrote a review on this book a few weeks ago, which you can view here. Basically, while the writing was still gorgeous and the story was somewhat enjoyable, I had some issues with the plot. By that, I mean: literally nothing happens throughout the course of the entire novel. Nothing. It was also pretty predictable, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the new characters that were introduced. Overall, a fast-paced, fun read, but I found it lacking in a few areas.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

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Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

I wasn’t a fan of this one at all! The premise sounded promising because I’ve hardly ever encountered any YA mermaid novels and I was in the mood for a good beach read, but unfortunately, it didn’t deliver. The writing style is what about 80% of my ratings are based off of, and I didn’t enjoy the writing style in this one at all. The sentences felt kind of choppy and contrived and there wasn’t much sentence variety, and it felt like the book was geared towards a much younger audience than “young adults.” I also had some serious issues with the characters, starting with Emma. Emma just seemed so whiny and naive, and she bugged me so much throughout the novel! Galen just seemed way too creepy and stalkerish and possesive for my taste. Insta-love is one of my least favorite romance tropes, and it was painfully present in this book. I could go on with all the things I didn’t like about this novel, but it’s supposed to be a “mini review,” so I’ll just stop right here….

Rating: 1.5/5 Stars

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The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

Loved, loved, loved! The first 3/4 of the novel is really, really confusing, but the confusion is well worth it. This book centers on the lives of 3 teenage girls: Amber, Orianna, and Violet. It tells the stories of these super messed-up girls and the crimes they did or did not commit. The way Nova Ren Suma wove these stories together in such a beautiful, seamless way was honestly awe-inspiring. The lyrical writing was absolutely gorgeous – almost poetic. This book will seriously mess with your mind, and while I do admit that this book isn’t for everyone because of the dark subject matters at hand, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

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Anything But Ordinary by Lara Avery

I wrote a review on this one a few days ago, which you can view here. This book had lots of potential, but unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of the execution. I suppose the first half of the book was pretty enjoyable, but there were too many aspects in the latter half that left me rolling my eyes and wanting to throw the book across the room in frustration to overlook. The writing was okay, but nothing special. The characters were boring and felt pretty unrealistic. The plot was shockingly predictable, and the ending felt really cheap and unsatisfying. A quick, fast-paced read, but I definitely had some issues with it.

Rating: 1.5/5 Stars

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The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

For anyone who has ever been bullied, The Truth About Alice is an absolute must-read. This book explores the effects of an extreme case on the bullying spectrum in an incredibly honest and raw perspective. The book is in the POVs of four characters: Kelsie, Alice’s ex-best friend; Kurt, the boy next door; Elaine, who hosted the party and is the most popular girl at school; and Josh, the best friend of the boy who Alice supposedly “killed.” The writing was amazing and I loved how Mathieu used 4 unique perspectives to piece together what truly happened that night. The only issue I have with this book was the extremely stereotyped and cliche characters. These stereotypes included: “the nerd actually really likes Alice” and “the best friend betrays Alice to fit in with the popular crowd” etc., etc. This did get a bit annoying, but besides that, I didn’t have any issues.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

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Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

This one was probably my favorite read of the month! I mean, I wasn’t MIND-BLOWN or anything, but I’m really, really glad I read it. The concept is so unique and unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and it kept me on the edge my seat the whole time. I’ve read an embarrassingly small number of magical realism books, but of the ones I’ve read, this one certainly takes the cake. Oh, did I mention how incredibly unique and quirky and WEIRD the characters are?! I completely fell in love with all of them within the first few chapters. Also, the writing style is quite gorgeous.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

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Gosh darn it, that took a long time to write. Still no 5-star reads for me this year, but I have had some solid 4-stars. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed! 🙂

Let’s chat: Which of the books on this list have you read? What did you think? What was your favorite book you read in March?

Now Quoting: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Hi guys! I decided to bring back a feature I started a while ago, Now Quoting. This week I will be spotlighting the book This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales, which is an amazingly written and extremely powerful novel. I read it over a month ago and it still gives me chills whenever I think about it because of all the gorgeous quotes this book has to offer. I originally rated it 4 stars, but I’m thinking about moving it up to 4.5 or even 5 stars because of the long-lasting affect it had on me. This book dealt beautifully with some darker themes such as bullying, suicide, acceptance, and mental illness, but there were also some fun scenes about things like first love, music, growing up, and that strange, fiery thing we call passion.

Also: In the past I’ve featured multiple quotes with each of my posts, but I decided to do just one this time. Hopefully this will give me a better chance to explain how/why this quote really affected and resonated with me.

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I thought this quote was really interesting because it shows how such a huge part of who we are and how we identify ourselves comes from one thing: passion. I’m not a huge music person, but this quote really made me appreciate people who are music fans because I’ve experienced a similar type of passion for other things in life. This book particularly resonated with me because it shows how deeply people can be affected by their greatest passions. For Elise, the protagonist, this passion was music. Music changed her life in a way that she could never imagine, and it may have even saved her life. For me, this passion was books.

This post has gotten a bit rambly, and I apologize for that, but I think you understand the general idea. Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed it!

Have you read This Song Will Save Your Life? What did you think about it? Would you agree with my analysis of my chosen quote, and what would you add to it? What books have you read recently that you’ve found particularly quotable?

 

Mini Reviews: Throne of Glass and Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Rating: 4.5 stars

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass–and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

-Goodreads.com description

 My Thoughts:

I loved this book so much! I wasn’t very interested until after the first 100 pages, but after that, I couldn’t put it down! I normally steer away from fantasy, so I wouldn’t normally read something like this, but once again, I gave into the hype monster and I’m so glad I did. The characters were all so unique and interesting, the plot was complex and layered, and the writing was amazing. I loved the main character, Celaena, with all her flaws and strengths. I’m so excited to read the rest of the series!

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Rating: 4 stars

Today is Leonard Peacock’s birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather’s P-38 pistol.

But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate, Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school’s class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours tick by and the moment of truth approaches.

In this riveting look at a day in the life of a disturbed teenage boy, acclaimed author Matthew Quick unflinchingly examines the impossible choices that must be made—and the light in us all that never goes out.

 -Goodreads.com description

 My Thoughts: 

This book was so unique and honest in the way the author told it. The main character, Leonard, was one of the loneliest people I’ve ever met. He’s weird, incredibly smart, and deeply flawed. Through his eyes, we experience this 24-hour period where he plans to kill himself and his former friend. This book is sad, no doubt, but it’s also very important and I think every teen (or adult) should read it. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Thirteen Reasons Why, Falling Into Place, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

So, as you can see, I really enjoyed both of these. Have you read either of them? What did you think? Let me know in the comments! 😀

Review: Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang

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 Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang

Published by Greenwillow Books on September 9th 2014

Pages: 304

Genre(s): YA Contemporary, Tough Subjects

Rating: 3.5 stars

On the day Liz Emerson tries to die, they had reviewed Newton’s laws of motion in physics class. Then, after school, she put them into practice by running her Mercedes off the road.

Why? Why did Liz Emerson decide that the world would be better off without her? Why did she give up? Vividly told by an unexpected and surprising narrator, this heartbreaking and nonlinear novel pieces together the short and devastating life of Meridian High’s most popular junior girl. Mass, acceleration, momentum, force—Liz didn’t understand it in physics, and even as her Mercedes hurtles toward the tree, she doesn’t understand it now. How do we impact one another? How do our actions reverberate? What does it mean to be a friend? To love someone? To be a daughter? Or a mother? Is life truly more than cause and effect? Amy Zhang’s haunting and universal story will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and Jay Asher.

-Goodreads.com description

Okay, before I begin, I’ll give you some time to read that last sentence again.

Yup, you read it right.

“…will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and Jay Asher.”

Which are, like, three of my FAVORITE AUTHORS EVER. And their names are in the SAME SENTENCE.

Which means that it absolutely has to be one of my favorite books ever, right?!! Um…….

This book left me feeling SO CONFUSED! I was so torn on rating this one. Though I LOVED the writing style and the depth of the story, I didn’t like the main character at all!