Book Review: The Bone Season

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

The year is 2059 and several major European cities are under the control of a security force known as the Scion.  People with special powers known as voyants (from clairvoyant) live a criminal existence in gangs on the fringes or society, or are captured and killed by the NVD.  But this society is not what it seems, and beneath it lies something even more sinister that our protagonist Paige Mahoney is about to discover.  Paige is a dreamwalker, someone who can enter people's minds, drive them crazy or even kill them.

The Bone Season has been receiving good reviews, with some criticism from book reviewers.  From what I understand some of the criticism lies in its similarity to other fantasy books, and I'd like to speak to that briefly.  I think people's natural tendency is to compare new books to older books so that readers will have a frame of reference.  Are some of the themes similar to other books?  Yes, but themes are typically similar and that is why they are themes, they recur.  I do not see a similarity to The Hunger Games, unless you are merely going with female protagonist that knows how to fight, which is a weak comparison at best.  As for the Harry Potter comparison, I don't really see that either.  Unless Hogwarts was a prison?  I'm starting to wonder if these book reviewers actually read the books they compared The Bone Season to.

And now for the comparisons that make sense to me.  There is an interesting Dickensian vibe here with Paige playing the role of Oliver Twist.  You also get an A Clockwork Orange vibe with some of the slang that is thrown around (not coincidentally one of Shannon's favorite books).  There is a glossary of slang at the end of the book, and it isn't used as much as in Clockwork, so there isn't a confusion factor.

The book itself is really quite original, Shannon creates a rich, developed world mostly based in Scion London, and its surrounding area.  She does a great job of world building, with the potential for more development in the upcoming sequels.  She also creates many different types and sub-types of voyants.  There is a handy reference chart at the beginning of the book, which honestly is unnecessary to appreciating the book itself.

From a purely aesthetic perspective this is a really pretty book.  It would appeal to fans of well made books everywhere.  The cover is beautiful, and the charts and maps are a nice addition, as are details like the red flyleaf with a symbol on it.  Sadly the only thing missing is a deckle edge.  No book is perfect I guess.

I loved this book.  I read it in two days (I even read it at work- ssssshhhhh don't tell my boss I may get fired).  It was really that entertaining.  It's definitely something I would suggest to everyone with an appreciation for fantasy novels, and any other good book.  Suggest, because it is rude to grab people and force them to read something.

Book Review: The 5th Wave

The 5th Wave, by Rick Yancey.

When I originally picked up this book and started reading it, I knew very little about it.  Only that it was this new dystopian Young Adult novel.  If I had a nickel for every book that thought it could cash in on the Hunger Games phenomenon...but it wasn't entirely like The Hunger Games, although I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to fans.  First of all it's actually about alien invasion.  I can hear your collective groans.  I groaned too when I discovered this, but it is done in an interesting way and it's not like the aliens have lizard faces or anything (I'm looking at you V: The Miniseries and the trauma that ruined my childhood).

If I had to liken this to any book it would probably be Ender's Game, although the main protagonist is female.  There are kids, there a war games, and they are tasked with saving what remnants of humanity from the alien invaders.  It is told in first person point of view, although it is told from the perspectives several different characters to keep things interesting.  It's very well done, and the fast past action keeps you hooked.

Although it is long, this is a very quick read and once you think you have everything figured out, it changes and you don't.  There are at least two major plot twists.  Give it a read to see if you can figure them out yourself before they are revealed.

I would recommend this to young adults and adults as well.  There is a little language, and some pretty mature themes, but it's good for teens.

World Book Night is almost upon us!

World Book Night is exactly two weeks from today! I'm giddy with anticipation! I'm also looking forward to seeing the books themselves. Apparently they will look a little different from the normal sale editions, with WBN promo information all over them. I hope they don't look lame because of it.

I'm not sure exactly where I'm going to be handing books out yet, so I'm open to suggestions. I don't, however, anticipate having a whole lot of trouble getting rid of 20 copies of The Hunger Games.

The list is kind of weird. I can't for the life of me figure out why they would hand out copies of the 17th book in a series (Q  by Sue Grafton). The Stand is massive, also not a book I would have chosen for those who don't read all the time. I'm all about the diversity of the list though, Ender's Game is classic Sci-Fi that is a great gateway into the genre. Friday Night Lights is great for non-readers and Because of Winn Dixie is a fantastic kids book. 

I would have liked to see some less know titles on the list. Maybe sub out The Stand for Horns by Joe Hill, or The Bean Trees instead of The Poisonwood Bible. I'm not entirely sure The Lovely Bones hasn't out lived it's hype, I would not have included it in my list of thirty.

What book would you have liked to see on the list?