Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart tells two overlapping, intertwining stories, both of which center around Okonkwo, a “strong man” of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first of these stories traces Okonkwo's fall from grace with the tribal world in which he lives, and in its classical purity of line and economical beauty it provides us with a powerful fable about the immemorial conflict between the individual and society. 

The second story, which is as modern as the first is ancient, and which elevates the book to a tragic plane, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world through the arrival of aggressive, proselytizing European missionaries. These twin dramas are perfectly harmonized, and they are modulated by an awareness capable of encompassing at once the life of nature, human history, and the mysterious compulsions of the soul.

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This is a hard book for me to review, because I feel like I am missing some essential element needed to understand the greater message of the novel. I had a really hard time connecting to this story and its characters. The plot of the story is sparse. Not a lot happens. Because of this, I had a hard time connecting with the characters and their journeys.

I get why the book is called Things Fall Apart. Events outside of Okonkwo’s control cause his world to fall apart and send him into exile for seven years. His tribe and culture begin to “fall apart” under the outside influences of western culture after the missionaries move in and begin converting tribe members. I can certainly understand this to a point. I have studied colonialism and its effects on different cultures, but having never experienced it myself, I will admit that my understanding is limited. I think that is why narratives like Things Fall Apart are important. It prevents us from, what author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie calls the “danger of a single story” (Sidenote: Check out her TED Talk on this topic here. It’s incredibly powerful). Stories like this are important because they contribute to a broader understanding of the human experience, which is both universal and unique.

There were a lot of times throughout this novel that I had to stop myself from judging the characters through the lens of my own cultural understanding. There were many instances, especially with the main character Okonkwo and his wives, where I found myself getting worked up, forgetting that he exists in a different culture, with different values and social norms. While I personally I don’t think that this is a legitimate justification for his actions, it does help to understand why he acted this way. Even if it makes me cringe.

In the end, I can’t say that I enjoyed this novel. In truth, I read it because I had to. I recognize the necessity of having narratives like this written, published, and read. I just can’t say that this novel did anything for me, but to add a very small piece of the puzzle to understanding a culture quite different from my own. I don’t say this to diminish the novel in any way; I can only speak to my experience. I would encourage others to give the book a chance, despite my low rating. You will be no worse for wear if you decide to pick up this book, and at the very least, you will come away from this novel more culturally aware than before.

Deceiving Lies (Forgiving Lies #2) by Molly McAdams

Deceiving Lies is the sequel to Forgiving Lies by Molly McAdams. 

Rachel and Kash thought everything was behind them. They are in the process of planning their wedding, and the future ahead of them looks bright, until Kash’s life as an undercover narcotics agent comes back to steal their happiness. Kidnapped from her home, Rachel now finds herself in the hands of a gang seeking revenge against Kash and is partner, Mace. Kash has only one focus: find Rachel and bring her home, no matter what he has to do, or what rules he has to break.

Trent Cruz’s orders were clear: take Rachel. But after spending months watching her, he can’t help the feelings that Rachel inspires in him. He feels trapped in a life that he never wanted and is determined to protect Rachel, even at the risk of angering his fellow gang members. As time goes on, Rachel begins to see Trent less and less like her captor, and more and more like a true friend and protector. Living in close quarters and facing a life and death situation, leaves Rachel somewhat confused over her feelings. She wants desperately to get back to Kash, but she can’t help caring about Trent.

Can Rachel and Kash find their way back to each other? If they do, will things ever be the same? Or did Trent steal more than just their happily ever after?

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Molly McAdams is the queen of the torturous love triangle, and while I LOVE her books, I also know that when I pick one up I am asking to be emotionally destroyed. While this series is full of angst and still emotional, it is different from other novels of hers that I have read. While Deceiving Lies does contain a love triangle, it is a largely unreciprocated love triangle, that didn't leave me me angry (as most love triangles do). Instead, the love triangle made me feel more compassion towards Trent. He turned out to be an alright guy in the end. While he did love Rachel and did physically steal her, I think he knew that her heart would always belong to Kash and was simply content to spend what time he could with her and love her. 

Rachel is an amazing heroine. I’m not sure many women could survive what she has endured and still be able to function as a normal human being. I love her relationship with Kash and her spitfire attitude. I still think she and I could be great friends. Kash is still swoon worthy. He is all alpha and everything that makes a good book boyfriend. I also enjoyed seeing his more vulnerable side and watching him walk the line between what is right and what is a step too far. While still emotional, this book was less emotionally destructive for me than other McAdams novels. However, I should note that Taking Chances was the first Molly McAdams book that I ever read and serves as my point of reference when comparing her other novels. For those of you who have read Taking Chances, you understand that this might not be a fair comparison, as that book is really in a league all its own. It’s all I got, so I’m going with it. 

Overall, I was quite pleased with how this sequel played out. Everyone ended up where they should. Like Forgiving Lies, Deceiving Lies was plenty of action, lots of angst, and plenty of drool worthy men. I know that Mace is due to have his own book, and that is set up quite nicely at the end of this one. I hope that Molly is taking it in the direction that I would like to see it go - namely that Candice and Mace end up together, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I also hope that Molly will give Trent his own book in the future too. He has already joined by book boyfriend list, and I would love to know what happens to him next and see him find his own happy ending. Fingers crossed!

The Princess of Sparta (Heroes of the Trojan War #1) by Aria Cunningham

Everyone knows the story of Helen of Troy and her prince, Paris. Their love story has become legend and their names are inextricably linked, like Romeo and Juliet and all the other tragic lovers of the past. I have to admit that I never really had a lot of compassion for Helen and Paris. Helen was always the seductress who used her beauty as a weapon. Paris was the spoiled prince who was content to sit back and let others fight his battles. Not exactly people who inspire a lot of compassion. That is until I read the version of their story written by Aria Cunningham.

While Aria’s narrative is faithful to the historical events, she crafts the characters of Helen and Paris in a way that is so different from any other that I have encountered. Helen is a humble princess of Sparta, destined to become a great queen. As men from all over come to seek her hand in marriage, Helen faces the most important decision of her life. This Helen is honorable, loyal, and her beauty is more of a curse than a blessing. I instantly connected with her and felt compassion for her situation. Especially after she marries Menelaus, who is a complete brute, and must suffer the carnal desire her sister’s husband, Agamemnon. Her only solace is the promise from Aphrodite of a great love.

Paris is not the spoiled prince. He is a noble prince of Troy, and a respected ambassador, but he is also a cursed man. A dark omen cursed his birth, claiming that he would lead to the destruction of Troy, leading his own mother to try and kill him. Scorned by this family and the other Trojan nobles, Paris has spent his life traveling as an ambassador, always far from home and never knowing love. The guilt he feels because of this curse and the small kindness his father, Priam, has shown him in preventing his death, drives his desire to bring honor to Troy. When his father sends him to deliver a message to Agamemnon about the strength of Troy, it is with the promise that Paris might finally be allowed to remain in Troy upon his return. Again, Aria’s portrayal of Paris makes him a much more sympathetic character. He is everything a great prince should be - handsome, brave, loyal - and his desire to overcome his fate is commendable. 

Because they are such likable characters, it makes the tragedy of their situation that much greater. These two really are soul mates. Watching them try to fight their fate and feel trapped by their situations in life, made for all the angsty goodness that is a well written romance novel. The passion between these lovers makes for some steamy, but tastefully done love scenes. I found myself completely lost in their story, and even though I know the outcome, I can't help myself from hoping that maybe this time there could be a different ending for Helen and Paris. 

I have few criticisms of this novel, and fans of historical romances will be pleased. There were times when Aria used a more modern dialect that threw me out of the world of the story for a moment. For example, Paris’s thought upon seeing Helen for the first time is, “Oh, f*#$ me.” While appropriate to the situation, not so appropriate for the time period. Aria did such a good job with making sure the language she used fit within the context of the time period, that when there was a change in diction, it was quite obvious and jarring. It doesn't happen often, and could have been done for emphasis. When it did happen, for me, it was like the mental equivalent of a tree root one catches their foot on while walking down the street. It caused me to stumble, but I was quickly able to regain my balance and jump back into the story.

My only other criticism is the somewhat cheesy cover. I know that you should never judge a book by its cover, but with so many options available, a good cover goes a long way. A good cover is nothing if there isn't any substance to back it up, but a good cover makes me more likely to pick a book up and read the synopsis, increasing its chances that I will adopt it and take it home. I have to say that if I saw Princess of Sparta in a bookstore and knew nothing about it, I would have most likely passed it by. The cover is just too reminiscent of the cookie cutter romance novels that you can buy for a dime a dozen at Goodwill. And that would be a shame, because despite its cover, this book is worth your time.

The Princess of Sparta only gives us part of the story, and it’s sequel, Princess of Betrayal, is scheduled for release in Fall, 2014. I will be eagerly awaiting its release.

For more information on the author, Aria Cunningham, and her novels, check out her website at http://www.ariacunningham.com/.

**Note: I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, a 16 year old junior, recounts the events following his expulsion from his school, Pencey, and his adventures in New York City as he avoids going home to face his parents' reaction to the news. Holden is the quintessential misunderstood teenager who wants desperately to fit in, but can't seem to connect with anyone.

I somehow escaped reading The Catcher in the Rye in high school, the age when most people read this novel for the first time. Over the years, I have had many people, males especially, tell me how they loved this book and connected to the main character, Holden Caulfield. I read it for the first time last summer and to be honest, I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Nothing significant really happens in the story and Holden spends the majority of the novel complaining about everyone and everything. Not exactly my cup of tea. I wouldn’t say I hated it, but I certainly did not experience the connection with Holden so many others did. I’m not sure if that had more to do with my age, or my personality. I have always had very little patience for people who refuse to help themselves, and Holden seemed to fall into that category, which left me little sympathy for him.

I decided to give the book another chance and reread it, as my 10th grade students prepared to study it for the first time. While it still is not a favorite of mine, I do have to say that I find myself having a lot more compassion for Holden after my subsequent reading. I think Holden is a lonely boy. A boy who suffered greatly after the death of his brother and feels abandoned by his parents after they send him away to boarding school after boarding school. I think that he desperately wants to connect with someone, but doesn’t know how and fears being judged. He looks for connection in anyone who will give him the time of day, while at the same time keeping people at a distance. Holden hides behind the pretense that he can’t stand “phonies” when he himself is one of the phoniest people in the novel. He looks for faults in others, but refuses to truly recognize them in himself.

The only real connection he has is with his sister, Phoebe, who is a child. Holden is still a child in many ways and talks about how he desperately wants to protect innocence of the children he sees, but I think it is his innocence that he wants to protect. He is on the cusp of adulthood, but instead of looking forward to the future, Holden wants to freeze time. He was clearly deeply affected by the death of his brother and his failure to protect his innocence.

So in the end, I have a new appreciation for The Catcher in the Rye, but you still won’t find it at the top of my favorite books list. Perhaps this might have been different had I read it as an adolescent, but I still think I would have been impatient with Holden. Maybe future re-readings of the novel will continue to change my perspective.

Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman

Death and the Maiden is the three act play written by Ariel Dorfman in response to the social, economic, and political events surrounding the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet in Chile and its eventual overthrow and governmental shift to democracy. 

Set in a country (presumably Chile, but never specified) that has recently returned to a democracy. Paulina Salas waits at home for her husband, Gerardo Escobar, a lawyer recently named to the Commission in charge of investigating the crimes of the old regime, to return home. When Gerardo returns accompanied by Roberto Miranda, a doctor who has stopped to give Gerardo a ride after his car gets a flat tire, Paulina believes she is again hearing the voice of the man who raped and tortured her years before. Taking matters into her own hands, Paulina detains Roberto, seeking the justice that has been denied to her.

I must confess that I do not know much about Chilean history or the dictatorship of Pinochet, except what little I have picked up in my effort to provide my students with some historical context for this play. I think the background of the author and the historical context of the play are important element to understanding this play, but it can also be read and understood without them. What I most appreciated about this play is not the historical connections, but rather the more universal themes it addresses, which were wonderfully summed up by the author in the Afterword:

Death and the Maiden is “not only about a country that is afraid and simultaneously needful of understanding its fear and its scars, not only about the long-term effects of torture and violence on human beings and the beautiful body of their land, but about other themes that have always obsessed me: what happens when women take power. How can you tell the truth if the mask you have adopted ends up being identical to your face? How does memory beguile and save and guide us? How can we keep our innocence once we have tasted evil? How to forgive those who have hurt us irreparably? How do we find a language that is political but not pamphletary? How to tell stories that are both popular and ambiguous, stories that can be understood by large audiences and yet contain stylistic experimentation, that are mythical and also about immediate human beings?”

Dorfman style is simplistic, but deliberate. Each word, each action, every nuance has a purpose. He does some pretty amazing things with symbolism, particularly with the use of silence and sound, and light and darkness. It is through these things that Dorfman artfully explores the issues of power, forgiveness, and justice. What I appreciated most about the play is that Dorfman does not thrust his bias down your throat, but leaves it up to you to make your own decisions. I found myself sympathizing with different characters at different points in the play, sometimes shocked at myself for sympathizing with characters that I previously scorned. The end is ambiguous, leaving the audience to decide what is justified in the end.

Be warned that this play does include sensitive topics, such as rape and torture, and does contain language that may be considered inappropriate. Nevertheless, I do think it is a worthwhile read and I would love to see it performed one day. There is a movie adaptation, but I have been told that it deviates from the play.

Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ Resisting Atlantis (Atlantis #1) by Jamie Canosa

I am super excited to be hosting one of my favorite YA authors, Jamie Canosa, and celebrating the release of her new book Resisting Atlantis. Check out the post below for my review, an author spotlight, and giveaway.

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What if everything you think you know . . . is wrong?

Cora is your average college freshman. Battling the evils of boring classes and noisy dorms, her greatest concern is how to attract the attention of the drool-worthy, party-god next door.

That is, until Kaden comes barging into her life, insisting everything she knows is false. The family and friends she grew up with don’t exist. Her entire past a carefully-crafted fabrication, created to replace the truth.

Her name isn’t Cora, it’s Cameron. And she isn’t from New York. She hails from Atlantis. Yeah, that Atlantis. Oh yeah, and she’s psychic. 

Crazy, right?

Except, tall, dark, and out-of-his-ever-loving-mind doesn’t come alone. Trouble follows, thrusting Cameron back into a world she can’t remember and a life she must reclaim if they’re going to make it out alive.

But there’s someone out there who doesn’t want her to remember.

Links:
Amazon
GoodReads

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When Jamie approached me about being part of the blog tour for her new book, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on an ARC, even before I had read the blurb for Resisting Atlantis. Jamie became one of my favorite YA writers after I read her Fight or Flight series (which I highly recommend if you haven't read it). The thing that I love most about her writing is her characters. Jamie has an amazing talent for creating characters that you instantly care about and want to root for. You become so invested in her characters that their journey becomes your own. Every step of the way you are with the characters. You feel every emotion, every injury, every moment of triumph, and Jamie doesn't disappoint with her new series.

Once again, it was the characters that made this book for me. Cam is a strong female lead and her vulnerability makes her a relatable and believable character. Kaden is everything a male lead should be and has joined the ranks of my book boyfriends. The connection between the two was real and swoon worthy, adding the perfect dash of romance to this adventure story. I was invested in their story from page one and couldn't put it down. There is plenty of action and even a few twists that keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next.

My only criticism is that I wish the story contained a little bit more history or back story on Atlantis. As a history and Greek mythology nerd, I loved the idea of the story taking place there. The history/back story is essential to understanding the premise behind Resisting Atlantis, as the central conflict is a rebellion against the Palace. Most of what we learn about Atlantis and the rebellion is through what is explained to Cam as she tries to regain her memories, and I often found myself feeling exactly what she felt, that everyone around me knew something that I didn't and no one was sharing. Having more of a back story would have fleshed out the narrative a bit more and made it easier to connect to the reasons behind the rebellion. However, this "criticism" is probably more of a personal preference than anything. Jamie provides enough in the story to make it flow and make sense; I just wanted more.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This story has everything - adventure, humor, tragedy, romance - that makes for a good read. The characters are well developed and easy to connect to, and fellow nerds like myself will geek-out over the infusion of Greek mythology into the story line. There is a sequel, so be prepared for a cliffhanger. The next book in the series is called Restoring Atlantis, and I am excited to find out what is in store for Cam and Kaden.

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Meet the Author

Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA/NA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Upstate NY with her husband, and their three crazy kids . . . plus the cat, the bird, and the rabbit.

Author Links:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamieCanosa
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JL_Canosa

Blog: http://jamiecanosa.blogspot.com

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Giveaway Time!

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Seeing Stars (Celebrity #1) by J. Sterling

Walker Rhodes is the type of guy that is at the top of Madison Myers' Do Not Date List. He is a sexy singing sensation with a bad boy reputation to match. As an aspiring talent agent, Madison knows Walker is the type of guy she needs to avoid dating if she is going to make it in this business.

But when Walker pulls her up on stage during one of his concerts, even Madison can't deny the sparks that literally fly between them. As much as she wants to deny it, there is something about Walker Rhodes that draws her in. Even though she tries to stay away, Walker is determined to make her his, and Madison will soon discover that fate has a bigger hand in their story than she ever could have imagined.

You won't find this book at the top of my all-time favorite reads, but it was still an enjoyable read for me. I liked the characters and the story definitely had that element of romantic fatalism that make romance movies such a huge success (especially with the female demographic). It was lacking in the angst department and did not contain the emotional turmoil that I look for in a 5 star read. Having said that, the story was well written and a quick read. Definitely a good read for a lazy afternoon. It is a stand alone novel, so no worries about a cliffhanger. It is part of a new series, and it appears that each book will focus on a new celebrity. I liked this book enough to want to read the next one - Catching Stars, Paige Lockwood's story - when it comes out (no release info at this time).