Lefty's Lowdown: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

(standalone)
Published: February 21, 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Read for free on Rivetedlit.com. All opinions stated in this review are my own.

Summary from Goodreads: 
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

I'd heard a lot about this novel but I wasn't quite sure what to expect, really. A cute dude romance. That's all I had in my brain going into this book, and boy was I misguided in that. This novel is more than a sweet story of two boys falling in love. Much, much more. Reading this book allowed me to embark on a journey of asking questions and learning how to come to terms with feelings. 

I've seen a lot of reviews criticizing Ari's character, claiming he's mean and treats people poorly, and I just have to disagree. In my opinion, Ari was painfully real and relatable. I saw a young boy who resorted to coping mechanisms and aversion tactics, who didn't know how to handle all the thoughts swirling around his head, who was often lonely and bored and insecure. I saw so many pieces of my heart in Ari, so many pieces of my fears and flaws. Maybe he wasn't a particularly likeable character, so to speak, but he was a character I really sympathized with, rooted for, and ended up loving, despite his flaws, and I think that's a truly beautiful, raw relationship to have with a fictional character. 

Dante, on the other hand, was a delightful contrast to Ari. He was unabashed and so generous with his love. He was exactly the person Ari needed in his life. With that said, though, this is not really what I'd consider a romantic book. In my opinion, their relationship is more about friendship and different variations on love, and the way feelings truly affect you. Of course I shipped them together because they balanced each other out beautifully, but they didn't have the sort of relationship where I wanted to push their heads together and make them kiss like two dolls. I wanted their relationship to evolve slowly, for them both to really figure things out before they came to terms with their feelings for each other. I was more than satisfied where these characters ended up--I was grinning like a fool by the time I reached the novel's conclusion. 

Now, admittedly, this is not a plot-focused book by any means. It's all about character development. I'm all on board with that, but I know a lot of people are not as gung-ho about it as myself. So, yes, this book is essentially plot-less, but it still managed to keep my attention and keep me eager to know what happens to my little babies. The writing style took me a little bit of time to get used to, but by the end, I really adored it and I think it fit the story. It was a bit jagged and jarring at first, but by the end of the novel it seemed more seamless. 

This is a novel that truly explores what it means to grow up and what it means to be a person. This is a novel of juxtaposition, of beauty and ugliness. Of honesty and stifled truths. Of being happy and simply just being. Aristotle and Dante provided a unique reading experience that I know I will revisit one day. My reaction at the very end was simply to close my eyes and say "Wow." 

My rating:

4.5/5

Lefty's Lowdown: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
(standalone)
Published: May 4, 2010 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: purchased

Summary from Goodreads: 
Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

 I feel like a broken record, spouting over and over again how marvelous Morgan Matson is. But you shoukd blame Matson, not me--it's not my fault Matson has never disappointed me. Not with the other books I've read by her, and not with this one. Morgan Matson set a high standard by putting the word "epic" in the title, and while I don't know that I'd actually describe this novel as epic, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour has so, so, so many special qualities that make it absolutely wonderful.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: Morgan Matson is a master of characterization. She has a way of creating interesting, flawed characters that you can't help but root for. Such was certainly the case for Amy and Roger. Amy is struggling to deal with her father's death, and blaming herself for it. Her brother is in rehab. Her mom has been in another state for a month. She's lonely and she's completely broken in the beginning. And Roger begins the trip broken-hearted and idolizing some beautiful, bitchy girl. But they both grow so much over the course of the novel, and it is just an amazing transformation. Matson also has a knack for creating mmorable secondary characters, like Bronwyn and Lucien, who flash through the story and leave their mark on me and the other characters. Her characters are always an absolute delight to read.

Now, I, personally, am a sucker for road trip stories. Probably because I live in a perpetual state of wanderlust. And this is one of the most interesting road trips I've ever read about. I loved reading about the different stops they made, especially considering all of the stops were personal. What's incredible is that Matson has actually made this trip a few times, so all the details are not only accurate, but vivid. I felt like I was actually on the trip myself.

My absolute favorite part of this novel, though, are all the inserts. There are receipts, brochures, photographs, and more. It's just so cool! It makes it feel more realistic, and it adds something special to the story that you don't find in a lot of road trip stories. Also, THE PLAYLISTS. Matson always makes sure that music is a huge part of her novels, and, as an avid music nerd, I just adore that. In this novel, she makes actual playlists that have little doodles on them and funny alternate titles. Those playlists and inserts are what really stole ,y heart.

Although this book deals with grief, loss, familial issues, and other serious subjects, it is a fabulous summer read that will leaveyou feeling good. It has humor and kissing and diners. This is not your typical road trip story. It's better, I assure you.

4/5

Lefty's Lowdown: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
(standalone)
Published: May 3, 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: purchased

Summary from Goodreads: 
Andie had it all planned out.

When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.

Important internship? Check.

Amazing friends? Check.

Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.

Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected.

And where’s the fun in that?

Morgan Matson has done it again, y'all. I saw this book at the store on May 3rd and knew I needed to buy it, not even realizing it was the release date, and I'm, like, 99.9% certain that was fate or destiny or serendipity. Matson has wiggled her way deeper into my nerd heart with this dynamic tale of summer memories, friendship, dorky romance, and dogs. 

Okay, I'll admit, when I first delved into this novel, I was getting slightly nervous that I wouldn't love it as much as I loved the only other novel by Morgan Matson that I'd read (Since You've Been Gone) because it started out fairly slow. Before I knew it, though, it was 6:30 am and I was obsessed with the characters. 

I could dedicate full paragraphs to each character because that's how well Matson develops them, but I'll (try to) keep it brief. Andie, the Type A protagonist, is used to playing it safe. She has so many walls, she doesn't even realize when she's blocking something off. A summer of instability shakes her up, though, and her walls begin to crumble. She makes some stupid decisions, but she grows a lot. I related to her a lot. The love interest, nerdy fantasy author Clark, is everything to me. I'm currently wishing he was real. And dating me. He wears Doctor Who shirts and writes books and is beyond socially awkward at times. What more could I possibly ask for????? He experiences a ton of growth too. I'm not even kidding...Clark is boyfriend goals. The other characters (Palmer, Toby, Bre, Tom, and her father) are all wonderful characters to read about, and they all contributed something special to the book. 

Other wonderful parts of this novel: the realistic friendships, the family dynamic, and the dog walking, to name a few. On top of that, the summer atmosphere was the perfect book to kick off my summer vacation. I loved the feeling of fun summer nights with friends and memories and first love. Summer vacation just isn't the same in college, so this novel brought back pleasant feelings. 

All in all, I really enjoyed this novel. The writing was great, the characters were all a pleasure to read about, and the feels were definitely there. I think the only thing keeping this from being a five-star knockout would be the length. It was 500+ pages. I enjoyed reading every single one of those pages, but I'll admit it could have been a little more exciting. I think fans of Matson will love this novel and will recognize the aspects of Matson's writing that are so wonderful in her other books. 

4/5

Lefty's Lowdown: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

In Honor by Jessi Kirby
(standalone)
Published: May 8, 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads: 
Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn . . . and ruggedly good-looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences? 

 So I've finally read it. This book has been on my TBR for years, so when I saw a used copy at Hastings for cheap, I was all over that like gravy on potatoes. I'd heard really good things about In Honor and I've had pleasant previous experience with Kirby, and I was not disappointed this time around. In Honor was by no means an amazing, force-everyone-I-know-read-this-book book, but it is a sweet road trip story imbued with emotion and discovery.

I'll tell you all right here, right now: I cried by the second chapter. The novel opens with Honor at her older brother Finn's funeral, and you can tell how close they were and how heartbroken Honor is now that he's dead. I have two older brothers, both of whom I am very close with, so I was immediately hit with every feeling ever. As the novel progresses, we learn even more about their relationship and how much Finn was willing to sacrifice in order to make his sister happy. It kinda crushed me and made me want to call up my brothers to tell them how much I appreciate them.

I also found the perspective of this novel really interesting. Honor's brother was a marine killed in action. We're taught to really respect every member of the military because they have sacrificed so much to fight for our freedom, but Honor has a hard time appreciating the military when it killed her brother. She is juggling hurt feelings, confusion, and anger that her brother would just leave her for (what seems to her like) no good reason. I just think that we don't get that perspective that often in YA especially.

Obviously I connected with Honer, seeing as she made me cry so easily, but I definitely found her a bit annoying and immature. I can't put my finger exactly on what it was, but she acted like a giant brat sometimes and I couldn't help but wonder if she was a sophomore in high school instead of a girl who is supposed to be at her college orientation. She grows a lot by the end of the novel, though, and realizes that it's time to grow up and take some responsibility, which I really liked.

The other main character in this novel is Rusty, who I liked a lot while reading, but now, only 3 days later, I've become rather indifferent toward. I know that a lot of people are saying he is supposed to be based off of a Friday Night Lights character, but I've never actually watched that, so he reminded me a lot of Wade Kinsella from the show Hart of Dixie, whom I am head over heels in love with. He was definitely arrogant and not much for vulnerability, but when he let his guard down, it was hard not to like him. I just wish I got to know him more. We do learn a lot about him, but I just feel like I didn't get this complete image of him. Same goes for many of the other characters, such as Lilah and even the dead brother Finn.

The writing, of course, was beautiful. Jessi Kirby has a way with words! And I adore the ending. It's one of those that aren't quite tied up in a pretty little bow, but also not super ambiguous and leaving you hanging.. There was also one tiny scene that really tied the whole story together.

Although this book was not perfect, it was still a very enjoyable read. If you're a fan of contemporary, this is one you don't want to miss. There's emotion and an Impala (and if someone tries to tell me Kirby is not a fan of Supernatural, I will not believe them) and vortexes, which is a pretty cool combination.

4/5

Lefty's Lowdown: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
(standalone)
Genre: YA contemporary
Published: May 6, 2014 by Simon & Schuster
Source: Pulseit.com made it available to read for free for a limited amount of time, but that doesn't affect my love for this book.

Summary from Goodreads: 
It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um...

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go skinny-dipping? Wait...what? 

WOAH, Morgan Matson quickly earned herself a new fangirl in me with this book. I'd never read anything by her before, but I'd seen some high praise for this novel, and I loooove contemporary books, so I was excited to see this on Pulseit.com. Well, I am absolutely blown away! It was fun, it was immensely engrossing, it was emotional, it was real, it was amazing.

Our narrator, Emily, is used to being Sloane's overlooked other half. She doesn't mind all that much, because since Sloane became her best friend, her life has become a billion times more interesting and she's come out of her shell. But then Sloane and her family skip town without giving word to anyone, not even Emily. Emily's life pretty much revolved around Sloane's friendship, so she's barely a person after Sloane's abrupt disappearance. The only thing that gives her life is a list from Sloane that comes in the mail--a list with 13 ridiculous, super-out-of character tasks for Emily to complete over the summer. Emily, believing that this list is the key to finding her best friend, vows to complete every task. Her quest to cross out items on the list leads to unexpected friendships, romances, and self-discovery.

I have SO MANY thoughts and feelings about this book (having finished it less than a half hour ago), but I'll start with all the incredible characters that Matson introduces us to. They're all very real, very distinct characters. Even the characters we didn't see a whole lot of. Emily is a likeable and relatable narrator. I can't speak for everyone, but I know that I have certainly felt like I was living in the shadow of a friend, like I cared way more for that friend than she did for me. I know what it's like to cherish a friendship so much, you never want to do anything that will scare them away. I also felt like, at first, Emily displayed some characteristics of serious social anxiety and I just felt that on such a spiritual level. It was such an accurate portrayal of how daunting and exhausting social settings can be for some people (me), so I really appreciated that. She grows SO FREAKING MUCH by the end of the novel and I was so happy for her. She's far from perfect, she makes pretty big mistakes, but I loved getting to witness her evolution. I'd want her to be friends with her!

Then there's Frank, who absolutely stole my heart. When we were first introduced to him, all I could think was, "Frank. Frank is his name. A very un-sexy, un-swoonworthy name. Who is named Frank????" (Sorry to all the Franks out there). But, name aside, Frank is adorable, intelligent, determined, and endlessly kind. I CHALLENGE YOU TO NOT LOVE HIM. He was dorky and funny, and basically my ideal guy, if I'm being honest. I loved the way he complemented Emily! The tension between them was fantastic!¡ The other great characters are Frank's faithful companion Collins, Emily's surprising new friend Dawn, and Emily's little brother Beckett. They all have so much personality. Matson is clearly a pro at introducing delightful characters and developing them and bringing them to life.

Another thing that was really great about this novel was the plot and pacing. I tend to favor quest plots in contemporary novels, where the character spends the book working to accomplish something. And I liked how this novel was a series of accomplishing little, very different things to accomplish something bigger. It made the pacing perfect! Every chapter held a different adventure. It was lots of fun and made it very very hard to put down (but once 5 am came and I could barely keep my eyes open, I kinda had to).

Now, one of the most important and prominent aspects of this novel is friendship, which I love. There are so many different friendship dynamics in this novel, and it was extremely interesting to read about them all. Friendship between two girls, friendship between two guy, friendship between a guy and a girl, friendship between two siblings, friendship in a group setting. The one I found especially interesting, though, was the friendship between Sloane and Emily. Though Sloane is largely absent throughout the story, we get flashbacks and memories, giving us a very good idea of their friendship In a way, they had a great friendship. They were practically connected at the hip, they rarely fought, they trusted each other (for the most part), they had fun together, they could talk about anything and everything. It sounds pretty damn wonderful. But--and this is never explicitly stated, it's just my perception--it seems a bit toxic. It definitely hindered Emily. She was trying to be what Sloane wanted her to be. She let herself sink into the shadows. She idolized Sloane. I've had that friendship (in fact, I'd say I still do), and it really doesn't feel like a bad thing, and it doesn't feel like something you want to escape, even when you realize the truth of the friendship. I just really appreciate and respect how accurately this was demonstrated in Since You've Been Gone.

I love the way this book ended. Not everything was wrapped in a pretty little bow, but there's still hope. It feels like there is still so much left for these characters to figure out and work through, and I love that because it just makes them feel like real people.

If I haven't already made it abundantly clear, let me reiterate one last time: I am 100% in love with this novel. The characters are beautifully crafted, the story kept me hooked, and there were some very touching moments in this book. I definitely got up in my feelings at some points. I'd without a doubt compare this to the works of Sarah Dessen, which is honestly one of the best compliments I could give a book. I definitely plan on reading every other book Morgan Matson has/will ever write.

My rating:

5/5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Morgan Matson was born in 1981 and grew up in New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut. She attended Occidental College in Los Angeles but halfway though a theater degree, she started working in the children's department of Vroman's Bookstore and fell in love with YA literature.
Following college graduation (and the proud bearer of an incredibly useful theater/English degree) she moved back East to attend the New School, where she received her M.F.A in Writing for Children.
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, inspired by Morgan's three cross-country road trips, was published in May 2010. It was named an ALA Top Ten Best Book, a PW "Flying Start" book, and was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize.

In the meantime, Morgan moved back to California, went back to school again and in 2011 received an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California.

Her second book, Second Chance Summer, was published in May 2012. It was inspired by her experiences spending summers growing up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. It was named to the ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults list, and selected as a School Library Journal Best Book of 2012.

Her third book, Since You've Been Gone, will be published on May 6th, 2014.

Morgan's work has been published all over the world, and translated into 10 languages so far.
She lives in Los Angeles, though she loves to travel and does it whenever she can. She is currently writing another book, to be published in 2016.

website / goodreads / tumblr / facebook / twitter / insta

OTHER BOOKS BY MORGAN MATSON

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour
 Second Chance Summer
The Unexpected Everything (Coming May 3, 2016)

Lefty's Lowdown: Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Sever by Lauren DeStefano
(The Chemical Garden #3)
Published: February 12, 2013 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary from Goodreads:
Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

Holy crap. It's so hard to write a review for the last book in a series without repeating everything I've already said about the previous books or discussing spoilers. I know everyone won't agree with this, but I found Sever to be a satisfying conclusion to The Chemical Garden series. 

I'll admit this book wasn't as exciting as the previous one, Fever. It got off to a slow start, but then, all of a sudden, I was hooked. I read 70% of the book in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. I think Sever is by far the most interesting book in the series. There are so many bombs dropped--literally and figuratively. I accidentally read a few spoilers beforehand, but I was still shocked when certain events took place. Another thing that I really liked about this one was that we were finally offered an explanation into the dystopian world and Vaughn's mind. I'll be honest, the worldbuilding isn't flawless. It's not all that intricate, and there are holes, but I found it sufficient enough. There were no glaring errors that got on my nerves or anything. Then again, worldbuilding is not really my focus when I'm reading. 

This is also the first book in the series in which I felt a real emotional connection. I actually cried a little in this book! In the past two, I had a hard time feeling connected to any of the characters, but something shifted in this book. Gabriel was basically not in the book, and I have to say, I didn't miss him at all (his ending is one of the only ones I'm not particularly fond of). I did, however, really enjoy Linden's presence in the novel. I wasn't exactly sure how to feel about him before this novel, but he really won my heart in Sever. He was going through a lot and he had a hard time processing the reality of the world he lives in. But the way he cared for Cecily and Rhine, even though she wronged him in so many ways, was adorable. I can't say any more on my feelings about Linden without revealing spoilers, but know that I loved him. 

We get to know two new characters in this novel, both of whom I enjoyed. It took two and a half books but finally it happened. We got to meet twin brother Rowan in the flesh. Some people didn't like him, but I did. The way he interacted with Rhine just made my heart happy. Maybe it's because I have always been super close with my brother, but I just adored how much he obviously cared for his sister. Then there is Reed, Vaughn's way less maniacal brother. I loved him a lot too. He is a unique one, that's for sure. Maybe he isn't great with people, I could tell how much he ended up caring about Rhine, Cecily, Bowen, and of course Linden. I wish we got to know him a little better, but I loved the way this story ended for him. 

Everyone grew so much over the course of the series. Cecily...Cecily. She has come so far from the first novel, and I hate the she had to experience so much tragedy and was forced to grow up so quickly, but she is such a dynamic character and never dull to read. Rhine is so much stronger and much more independent. In this final novel, I felt like I finally connected to her. She finally let herself feel something other than sorry for herself.  

I'm so glad I read this series. With beautiful, gorgeous, completely stunning writing, and a seemingly hopeless world, DeStefano has gifted us a dystopian story that stands out from the rest of the pack. I really enjoyed this final installment. I didn't like everything that happened in it, but I think it ended the way it needed to, and it left me with a fluttery feeling as I closed the book. I'll miss these characters and this world. It was a good run, and I can't wait to read anything else DeStefano graces us with. 

Rating:

4/5

Lefty's Lowdown: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Fever by Lauren DeStefano
(The Chemical Garden #2)
Published: February 21, 2012 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

*WARNING: This review may contain slight spoilers for Wither*

This may be the unpopular opinion, but I have to say--I liked Fever much more than I liked its predecessor. This book had all the great elements that Wither had (interesting premise, gritty settings, lovely writing), only I found it more exciting. 

My biggest complaint with Wither (if you haven't already, you can read the review I posted for it yesterday) was that I didn't feel like enough happened. Fever certainly doesn't have that problem. The pacing is much better in the second novel, so it was way more exciting. There was way more external action and complications. I had trouble putting the book down because I needed to find out what was going to happen next.

Now let's talk settings. We follow Rhine and Gabriel as they make their way to Manhattan to find Rhine's brother after having escaped the Mansion. However, they run into a slight complication when they get taken against their will into a carnival-like brothel. They're forced to be intimate with each other in front of spectators, and they spend a lot of time in a drug haze, Maybe I'm weird, but I love reading about this kind of thing, especially in YA. DeStefano does an excellent job capturing the creepy, gritty atmosphere without being gross or too explicit as to the happenings of the brothel.  We also get another taste of impoverished Manhattan, and one of the orphanages there. All of these things were just so incredibly intriguing to me and I loved reading about them. 

But here is the thing that bothered me the most--and it bothered me in Wither as well. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. I like Rhine as a narrator, I've enjoyed seeing her development, I've been hardcore rooting for her...but I can't say I feel a huge connection to her. I kept puzzling over why this could be, but I think I figured it out. I think it was hard to connect to her because she's so focused on herself. That may not seem like it makes sense, but I want to know more about her in regards to the other characters, I don't think we see enough of her feelings in that aspect, which in turn makes it hard to connect with/get to know the other characters as well. The number one thing that pissed me off while I was reading is that Gabriel is supposed to be such an important character, but we don't get to know him AT ALL. It's like he's just a person there for Rhine's benefit--to go on this journey with her, to help her make realizations about herself, to take care of when she's sick. We get almost zero insight into his feelings, and it makes him such a flat character. 

Despite any peeves I had while reading, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Lauren's writing is extremely engrossing! I can't wait to find out how the series ends!

Rating:

4/5

Lefty's Lowdown: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither by Lauren DeStefano
(The Chemical Garden #1)
Published: March 22, 2011 by Simon & Schuster  Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can't bring herself to hate him as much as she'd like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband's strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?

Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

Okay, y'all. I have had this books sitting unread on my shelves for freaking years, and that was such a mistake. I'm not sure why I was hesitant to read it, but I'm glad I finally did. Wither is different than a lot of the books you'll find on the shelves these days. I will say there are some areas where this novel fell flat, but the writing and the premise had me flying through this book in one sitting. 

Guys let's just talk about some of the awesome ideas in this novel. It takes place mostly in a dystopian Florida (my home state, what what) with flashbacks to dystopian New York (my future state, what what). What made this especially interesting, though, is that New York is this, run-down, dilapidated state, and Florida is thriving. It's the opposite of what you might expect, and that's just really cool to me. And then there's the phrase "sold as a bride." It's super creepy to think about and that's what makes it such a fascinating thing to read about. Oh, and that whole thing where basically everyone knows exactly when and how they're going to die. All of this is actually quite chilling. It's gritty and sucked me right in.

However, I feel like this story was still lacking some of the darkness and creepiness it promised. I feel like not enough happened. A lot of the story was merely Rhine thinking about how much she wanted to escape and how much she hates the mansion. There were a few parts when she took action, but she mostly just let things happen to her, rather than making them happen. Like, I wish Rhine would have dug deeper to find out some secrets of the mansion and Vaughn, her father-in-law that gives everyone the heebie-jeebies. I mean, we find out some pretty crappy things he has done, but I just wanted more. He's the villain of the book, but I just wasn't appalled by him enough.

Now, about the other characters. The thing is, I don't really have strong feelings about any of them, which makes me sad because I am a character-focused reader. Rhine is a good narrator, and I was rooting for her, but I wouldn't say I necessarily like her. If anything, I was more a fan of the secondary characters, namely Linden and Cecily. Linden was just so sweet and clueless, it was hard not to love him. And Cecily was a lot of fun. I loved watching the way she developed over the course of the novel. 

As far as the romance goes, it was nothing spectacular. It could have been, but Gabriel, the main love interest, is basically absent for half the novel. The chemistry that was building between them kind of fizzled, in my opinion. 

My absolute favorite part of book is the writing style. DeStefano has such a beautiful way with words. Some of her descriptions sent a pang to my heart because they were so good. I think her writing is the primary thing that sets this book apart and makes it feel different from the things I usually read. Even if this book had nothing else going for it, I would have still read it until the very end because I was so enthralled by the writing. 

I know there seems to be a lot of negativity in this review, but I really had a hard time putting this book down. I immediately picked up the second book when I was finished with it. I will probably be recommending this to my friends because I think it is extremely interesting. I don't think you'll regret reading this. 

Rating:

4/5