But bravery comes in many forms and this month, the safest way to experience new authors was to ask my friends for recommendations. From seven different people, ten books were chosen and none of them left me feeling unsatisfied. The problem with enjoying all of the books is that I would love to go into detail about all of them but at the risk of boring everyone, I shall refrain.
One of the highlights of the month was John Green's The Fault in Our Stars. Quirky, comical, slightly teen angsty, the book follows the story of Hazel, a young girl fighting cancer whose world of one is quickly changed when Augustus Waters, another cancer fighter enters her life. With excellent vocabulary, a sense of poignancy, and a brilliant theory as to why basketball is existential, the book quickly became one of my favorites. The dialogue is quirky and witty and the insights and character development unfold quite naturally. It's an tricky task writing truth about cancer from the eyes of teenagers and how they view their world. It's not a downer book but one that I would certainly pass on my recommendation for. I'm excited to read a few more novels by John Green as well. For some reason, he finally came up with the explanation behind my oftentimes jumbled thoughts; "My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations." Thank you, Augustus Waters via John Green.
For how many times I've read The Great Gatsby (current count is four times), I have never picked up any of Fitzgerald's other novels. So when one of my friends mentioned This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I figured it was high time to give it a try. After reading The Paris Wife about Ernest Hemingway's first wife in which Fitzgerald enters as a character at one point, it seemed cohesive to pick up a Fitzgerald novel. I wasn't sure what I was expecting. Perhaps I was expecting something more Gatsby-esque but This Side of Paradise revolves around Amory as he comes of age and tries to make sense of the world in which he resides; the world of pretense, money, propriety, and influence. Fitzgerald still critiques that world of affluence but through the eyes of a young man as he navigates through his world. I really enjoyed it. At one point in the novel, Fitzgerald switches from prose to play form which was brilliant and perfectly fitted the scene. It was a creative novel in a way that I wasn't prepared for. It reminded me why Fitzgerald's books are not just for one place and time but they can transcend.
My go-to genre has, in recent years, been fantasy yet at the same time, I'm often hesitant to try new authors because my expectations are rather high for those sorts of novels thanks to CS Lewis, Tolkien, and Robert Jordan. But when one of my friends mentioned Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings and said he had read it multiple times, I decided to trust his judgement and give it a try. I'm thankful that the book was only the first in the series and there are more to be read. It follows a young farm boy named Garion whose past is slightly shrouded in mystery when he discovers that his Aunt Pol may not just be who she says she is and that his own importance may just be more than he realizes. He soon finds himself on an adventure seeking out new lands and learning that some of the "stories" he's heard growing up may not just be stories. The first book teases with information about Garion and who he is so I'm excited to continue with the series to see where it all goes. One thing that I really enjoyed was the dialogue, the humor, and just the wit throughout the book. It was a lot of fun to read and I definitely recommend it.
Among the other books, Jesus Land is a really interesting memoir. For me, it was interesting to read because of growing up in the church and how the author critiques the perceptions, decisions, and masks that people wear throughout their lives that affects us both good and bad. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut was also interesting, as the narrator has set out to interview the children of the man who invented the atomic bomb. It features it's own made up religion and transcends into a bit of madness but the satirical brilliance left me with a sense of "huh" once I finished but it was good. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett was another just fun read. It's super creative, wonderful vocabulary and a bit of anti or reluctant hero story. Definitely worth a read.
Lastly, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly quite immediately drew me in as the main character, David, has a love of books and stories fostered by his mother who explains how books need to be read and want to come alive. When his mother passes, through circumstances beyond his control, he finds himself in a world where the stories from Earth such as Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White and many others come to life but been twisted ever so slightly. David's quest while in the world is to find the King and "The Book of the Lost Things" so that he can make it back to his world. I enjoyed this book immensely as well. I loved how so many different stories were brought into the world. There's a reason stories and books grab us and many of those are discussed in this book which had an added sense of Imaginatorium for me.
I do love recommendations from friends, especially friends that I know read a lot and read good books. There's something special about sharing a favorite story, being able to talk about it, and relive events and characters together. In reality, when the authors share their words with the world and they are good, isn't it our duty to pass it along?
Next month: September, school, perhaps not for me, but with school back in session, the promise of the leaves changing, and the weather becoming colder, I thought it was fitting to dive into books read or mentioned on Gilmore Girls. One of the things I always have loved and identified with in Rory was her love of books. There are so many to choose from but I'm excited to finally take my list of books from Gilmore Girls and enjoy what Rory did.
A Separate Peace- John Knowles
The Fault in our Stars- John GreenPawn of Prophecy – David Eddings
The Paris Wife – Paula McLain
The Book of Lost Things – John Connolly
This Side of Paradise – F. Scott Fitzgerald
Cat’s Cradle – Kurt Vonnegut
The Colour of Magic – Terry Pratchett
Jesus Land – Julia Scheeres
The Friday Night Knitting Club – Kate Jacobs
