Monday 30 October 2017

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

‘The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state, is not useful enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.’ – Goodreads.

This was a hard concept to wrap my head around – the idea that people would willingly agree that this was a good law to make, and then that they would actually follow along with it seems outlandish. At first I thought that because of all the different dystopian novels that have been written in the last few years (lets be honest, most YA books seem to have been dystopian for the last few years) that maybe the author was grasping at straws to write something in the genre that hadn’t already been done before. I didn’t have much hope for the book but decided to read it anyway as I have a lot of parents requesting book suggestions for reluctant male teen readers and this always seems to be on the list of best books.

Man I am glad I gave it a chance. It didn’t take long for me to accept the strange premise and get totally sucked into the story. At first Connor and love interest Risa, seem like very two dimensional characters and it took me a few chapters to feel connected to them, but we start to see why they both ended up on the run. 

Connor is a trouble maker, and his parents decide to sign the papers to have him unwound. Risa grew up in a group home, where if you don’t excel at something that can make them money when you get older, they will automatically unwind you when you reach your teens. Eventually the two find a safe haven, only to find that maybe it isn’t as safe, or as idealistic as they hoped.

Posted by Sas

Catalogue link: Unwind

Thursday 26 October 2017

My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent

Powerful, brilliant and shocking, this is one of those books that stay with you long after you finish it.

‘My absolute darling’ is what domineering and deeply flawed Martin Alveston calls his 14 year old daughter Turtle; whom he has brought up alone since the death of his wife.
Martin is a hard man; teaching his daughter how to use a gun with skill, fend for herself in their dilapidated home and run wild in the beautiful wilderness of the Northern Californian coast. He is convinced the world will end soon and mostly shuts himself off from modern life.

However we experience the world through Turtle’s narrative. She struggles at school, shuns people her own age, and surreptitiously visits her alcoholic grandfather (who is estranged from her father).
Turtle’s life changes when she helps two clever and playful High School students Jacob and Brett, who are lost in bad weather in the forest. This friendship opens her eyes to how other people live and she begins to question her father’s authority.

The flora, fauna and landscapes in My Absolute Darling are lovingly and beautifully described; enough for me to look up images online of the Mendocino Coast with it’s verdant forests and rocky coastline.

This is Gabriel Tallent’s first novel. He grew up near the Mendocino coast and spent eight years writing My Absolute Darling. He began writing while in his final year of University, homesick for his ‘free range’ childhood in the wilderness.

A warning: graphic abuse is depicted in this novel; and I admit to putting the book down for a couple of weeks thinking it was not for me. I am glad I picked it up again; it is unforgettable and ultimately a novel of coming of age and rising above adversity, mixed with elements of a gripping thriller. Turtle’s character in particular is mesmerising; vulnerable yet tough, you just so want her to succeed and thrive. My Absolute Darling reminds me of a rural version of the award-winning A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara; which was one of my favourite reads from last year.


Reviewed by Katrina

Catalogue link:  My Absolute Darling

Monday 23 October 2017

The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks

I’m not quite sure how to describe this without giving away too many spoilers, but this YA book has proven to be VERY popular with the Hastings Library teen book club. Described as Room meets Lord of the Flies by some, and ‘a tamer (but still disturbing) version of ‘Saw’ by another, this is a book that left many readers emotionally invested and, at times, frustrated. It is bleak, it is depressing, and it is masterfully written.

Without giving too much away, the story is told by Linus Weems, a teenager who is captured and imprisoned in a mysterious bunker. Locked in there by himself for days, starving, scared and lonely, until all of a sudden he’s not alone anymore. As more prisoners join him in the bunker, dynamics change, sides are chosen, and all hell breaks loose.

Posted by Sas

Catalogue link: The Bunker Diary

Thursday 19 October 2017

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

Americans call them hillbillies, rednecks, or white trash,  I call them neighbours, friends, and family.
J.D. Vance




Remember all the disbelief when Donald Trump was elected President and the media wondered how they had got their predictions so wrong?
Hillbilly Elegy was a book touted after the election as an enlightening read as to how blue collar America became disillusioned with the effects of globalisation.  The book in fact has no mention of Trump as it was written before the election, but does examine the culture of  disenfranchised, poor white people.
J. D. Vance's family came from the Appalachian Mountains, (and Scotland and Ireland before that) and like so many moved to cities and towns in the American 'rust belt' for work in steel mills, coal mines and other industries.
As the industries closed down or moved offshore families fell on hard times.
J.D was lucky to have loving and supportive grandparents Mawmaw and Pawpaw; who although having problems of their own were often a safe haven for J.D.  His mother struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and J.D had 12 'stepfathers' throughout his childhood.
J.D's great-grandparents were 13 and 17 when they married.
J.D. spent time as a marine after High School and served in Afghanistan; an experience which taught him discipline and how to be motivated.  J.D. was also the first in his family to attend college. He went on to graduate from Yale law school; obtain a good job and construct a happy marriage.


Hillbilly culture has some strong positives; intense family  and patriotic ties and loyalty, and it's own sense of justice, albeit outside of the law.  Such values run alongside suspicion of those different from themselves, especially those with success and money; those in authority and also the media.
Towards the end of the book are some interesting insights into why the hillbilly culture can encourage learned helplessness.  The author ably combines his lived experience with a questioning analysis and sometimes harsh judgements.


Reviewed by Katrina


Catalogue link:  Hillbilly Elegy










Monday 16 October 2017

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

This particular story follows Dimple, an 18 year old girl who just finished high school and is preparing for college. She wants nothing more than to work in web design, and spend all her time coding. She doesn’t want the distraction of romance, and hates that all her mother’s spare time seems to be dedicated to finding her the I.I.H (Ideal Indian Husband). While Dimple's family is Indian, she was born and raised in America, and is trying to escape what she considers the ‘misogynistic’ ideals of Indian marriage.

Rishi was also born and raised in America to Indian parents, but he is very proud of his heritage, wants nothing more than to please his parents, who sacrificed much for him to have a better life. He is happy to have his marriage arranged by his parents. When he is given Dimple's photo, and is told to meet her in San Francisco, he trusts their judgement and starts imagining their life together. There is just one problem, Dimple has no idea who he is!

At times this novel could have come across as far too cheesy and forced, but the main characters are so lovable that I wanted nothing more than for them to both be happy. At times Dimple can be stubborn and a bit of a wet blanket, and Rishi has trouble trying to admit his true dreams (because it may mean disappointing his parents) but I still loved them both, flaws and all. This story was a fun summer read that I will be recommending to a lot of people.

Posted by Sas

Catalogue link: When Dimple Met Rishi

Thursday 12 October 2017

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

Close Enough to Touch is what you might call a not-so-simple love story. The two main characters have problems, big problems, and while it is chance that throws them together, their apparently insurmountable difficulties make any chance of a relationship highly unlikely.

Jubilee Jenkins is a recluse due to her terrible health problem – she is allergic to human touch. After Donavan Kingsley kissed her for a bet at school and she nearly died of anaphylactic shock (and of shame), Jubilee refused to leave the house. When her mother marries and moves away, Jubilee becomes adept at managing her life - educating herself, buying groceries, managing the garden - all with the help of the Internet. The story picks up when Jubilee’s mother dies, and to make ends meet, Jubilee finds work at the library.

Eric is divorced when he takes on a temporary assignment in New York, bringing with him his ten-year-old adopted son, Aja. The boy has never quite managed to grieve for the parents who died two years before. Instead he practises telekinesis, which gets him into trouble time and time again. Meanwhile, Eric’s daughter Ellie refuses to speak to him, but somehow her school reading journal winds up among the boxes Eric takes away with him. To find out more about the daughter he misses Eric decides to read the books Ellie loves most. This takes him to the library, where he meets Jubilee.

Colleen Oakley has written a poignant and engrossing comedy/drama, with characters who are quirky and so heart-breakingly vulnerable, you can’t help but feel their pain and want the best for them. We follow their journey as Eric attempts to reconnect with his daughter and keep Aja safe, and Jubilee develops the courage she will need to explore the world outside, accepting help when she needs to. While they deal with big problems, the humorous tone of the writing and the offbeat turn of events create a light and engrossing read. I found Close Enough to Touch a warm-hearted novel, which is surprisingly hard to put down.

Posted by JAM

Catalogue link: Close Enough to Touch

Tuesday 10 October 2017

Queen of Beauty by Paula Morris

“Virginia Seton lives in rainy, seedy New Orleans, working as a researcher for an historical novelist with a "strip-mined" imagination. On a brief trip back to New Zealand for her sister's wedding, Virginia is drawn into the family secrets, lies and tensions of both the past and the present.” – Authors Website.

After reading two of Paula Morris’ YA novels (both set in New Orleans exclusively) I had almost forgotten that she was a New Zealand author, so it was lovely to read a novel where she included both settings (New Orleans and Auckland), and did so quite nicely. While parts of the story seemed dis-jointed (it was full of flash backs from other characters point of view across three generations) it was a lovely look at an extended Pakeha/Maori family, and the different relationships that happen within it.

Virginia left New Zealand to study at Tulane University in New Orleans fell in love with the city. She hasn’t seen her family in more than five years, but makes the trip back for her younger sister’s wedding. While the scenes set in New Orleans seemed to drag a little bit (she led an unexciting life working as a fact checker for a successful novelist) the scenes involving her family came alive, and reminded me (too much at some times) of my own crazy extended family. With her parents separated and remarried, new children, and old grudges, Morris paints a very realistic (and very entertaining) portrait of family secrets and relationships. I loved it.

Posted by Sas

Catalogue link: Queen of Beauty

Thursday 5 October 2017

The Leavers by Lisa Ko

Being stamped with “literary award winner” means this is a book I would normally avoid reading. For me these three words conjure up boring novels with long scenic descriptions and in-depth character analysis which leave no room for much of anything to happen. However this debut novel, winner of the 2016 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, cannot be described in these terms. Yes it is beautifully written and yes it has complex characters but it also has a well-crafted story-line, which kept me hooked from the first page.

Weaving back and forth between undocumented Chinese immigrant Peilan and her son Deming, we experience Peilan’s early life in the rural village of Minjiang where she lived with her father. America, the land of unlimited wealth and opportunities, beckoned and Peilan settles in New York City where she works in a factory sewing clothes and then into the much higher paid position of nail technician at a beauty salon. With no support the difficulties of working and caring for a small baby are beyond Peilan and she sends the very young Deming home to her father in China. Circumstances see Deming return to live with Peilan in the one roomed apartment she shares with her fiancé, his sister and her son. Then one day Peilan disappears and her fiancé’s sister takes Deming to the authorities with the result that at aged eight he is fostered into an American white family.

Deming’s journey, much like his mother’s, takes him from one continent to another, moving between different cultures and languages. To share more details than this would be a plot spoiler, for the story is woven through what happened to Peilan.

What makes this book such a good read is that it is more than a story about a separated mother and son. There’s the clash of parents doing the wrong things for the right reasons; there’s children trying to do the right thing for misguided reasons and there’s the story of present day American society failing to do the right thing in the fraught area of illegal immigration.

Ko has captured the heart of her characters and with descriptions like…snow fell like clots of wet laundry…maybe I could be tempted to read another literary award winning novel.

Posted by Miss Moneypenny

Catalogue link: The Leavers

Monday 2 October 2017

Ruined by Paula Morris

A year after Hurricane Katrina, Rebecca Brown is sent from her home in New York City to live among strangers in New Orleans. Among the tombs of Lafayette Cemetery, one of the famous Cities of the Dead, Rebecca makes her only friend – a ghost named Lisette, who has a very old score to settle. – Authors website.

Unexpectedly sent to New Orleans for six months while her father travels for work, Rebecca has no friends, no family, and no idea what she is doing. The girls at her new school are snooty and distant, the family friend she is staying with is peculiar and reads tarot cards to tourists for a living, and she has been banned from talking to the only boy she finds even remotely interesting. So what else is a bored teenager to do but to explore the cemetery across the road and befriend a ghost?

Rebecca promises Lisette that she will help her however she can, not realizing that although Lisette died hundreds of years before Rebecca was born, the two are connected in unexpected ways.

I have to say that while this may not be one of the best YA novels I have read, it definitely had me hooked. Set in New Orleans (a city I have always wanted to visit) you would never guess that the author was a kiwi. This book for me was more about the setting, and the amazing descriptions of not only the various parts of the city, but the wonderful, colourful people that Rebecca meets along the way. Morris used such descriptive language to describe places, and included many restaurants and cafés in her story that truly exist (and that I can’t wait to visit for myself).

While this story was a supernatural thriller, with a teen love story, to me it was more like a love letter to a city.

Posted by Sas

Catalogue link: Ruined