Slammed by Colleen Hoover
Pitched at a youth/young adult audience, this type of book isn't my normal cup of tea. But I have to say it was a genuinely enjoyable read. For starters it was well written and tight. Doesn't matter who the book is written for, it should always deliver in that regard. Just look at Harry Potter and the millions of adults who freely admit to reading (and loving) a book that's written for children. Not that Slammed is a kids' book by any stretch -- I'm just pointing out that a good novel can break the bounds of its genre when it's written by a good author.
Secondly, the dialogue felt real, rather than forced, which is a must if you want the story to be believable. I found myself rereading some exchanges just because I felt they were really well developed (I tend to do this sometimes, while wondering, 'how did they get this so right?')
It covered a subject matter from a perspective I probably hadn't thought too much of before and I found myself really empathising with the key characters.
And finally, I like to have my eyes opened to something new when I read a novel. This story opened my eyes to the world of performance poetry and how putting pen to paper can be a medium for healing.
I enjoyed this book immensely and to hear the story through the voice of two youngsters (an 18 and 21 year old) didn't detract from its tight and compelling plot.
Secondly, the dialogue felt real, rather than forced, which is a must if you want the story to be believable. I found myself rereading some exchanges just because I felt they were really well developed (I tend to do this sometimes, while wondering, 'how did they get this so right?')
It covered a subject matter from a perspective I probably hadn't thought too much of before and I found myself really empathising with the key characters.
And finally, I like to have my eyes opened to something new when I read a novel. This story opened my eyes to the world of performance poetry and how putting pen to paper can be a medium for healing.
I enjoyed this book immensely and to hear the story through the voice of two youngsters (an 18 and 21 year old) didn't detract from its tight and compelling plot.
Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park
When college freshman Julie Seagle finds herself in the home of the Watkins family, she knows there is something just not quite right. The folks are career-driven and distant, and their son Matt is nerdy enough to give the boys of Big Bang Theory a run for their money. But perhaps the most quirky of the bunch is the 13-year-old Celeste - a super-intelligent youngster who spends much of her time with a life-sized, cardboard cutout of her eldest brother, Finn. Why? Julie decides she's going to find out the truth, despite another family member having other ideas.
A clever, heart-warming novel about a family with more than its fair share of functional flaws and one very flat problem.
Published in 2011 by Jessica Park.
A clever, heart-warming novel about a family with more than its fair share of functional flaws and one very flat problem.
Published in 2011 by Jessica Park.