Carry On - Rainbow Rowell

My review for Fangirl

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who's ever been chosen

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. 

Half the time Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here - it's their last year at Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up. 

Cover

I didn't think the cover was that special, but it was pretty nevertheless. It's just that it's a Fantasy book, and I missed the Fantasy ambiance. On the other hand, it does have the style Rowell prefers, so it didn't really bother me.

Simon Snow

I liked him. That's it. He wasn't special? I feel like I still don't know him too well, even though I've read a 520-page story about him. 

What I liked about him, was that he wasn't perfect. He is supposed to be the 'Chosen One', but he doesn't have the abilities a Chosen One is supposed to have. His magic isn't perfect, and I loved that.

Also, I love how he had some worries about being 'gay' (which isn't in the summary, but yes he starts a relationship with Baz), but he didn't feel the need to label himself and knew he had some better stuff to think about instead. 

Baz (Basilton ?)

I LOVE HIM. I LOVE HIM. He was so funny. There were these times where I literally snorted because of his remarks. Also, the GAY. BEAUTIFUL. There were these comments by him just stating he's 'hopelessly queer' and that was so nice. So nice to read about a character who couldn't give two fucks about being gay/queer, and is just like: I'm in love with my male nemesis, so what? AMAZING. What bugged me though, was how fast Simon got together with Baz, I'd have like some more build-up beforehand. 

The search for his mother's killer was interesting. When I found out who was the cause of her murder, I didn't even want to believe it. WHY?

The vampire part was a nice add too. His sarcasm was great. Basilton is great. I love him.

Penelope 

Simon's Hermione. How I loved her! She seems so casual and lovely. She's a bit nerdy, but not afraid of anyone and she does what she wants. And when she found out that Simon was dating Baz, she didn't even care! I'd love to have her as my best friend. 

I was aware of her crappy 'relationship' with Baz, but that actually made the book more interesting so I didn't mind. You can see she gradually started to understand Baz more and she starting liking him. They'll never be close, but she doesn't mind being around him anymore.

Agatha

Uhm, yeah, Agatha, awkward. I didn't like her. Whenever I read her parts (book changes perspective), I wanted to have read those so I could just read about another character.

She's a really interesting character nevertheless. She's the only character who wanted to be a Normal. She didn't like being a magician. She was... average? It was interesting to me how she wanted to be someone she was not and how her family pressured her into doing things she didn't want to do. She was a bit selfish and arrogant in my opinion, but I can understand why.

The Ending

Yes, a capital letter. It deserved a capital letter. Cause wow, holy shit. A lot of people say the ending was expected, but for me, it was the complete opposite of that. I didn't expect it at all! The death of ****, why would they do that to me? I liked them. Why did they make **** the villain? 

The epilogue was so cute, it is always nice to see how characters are doing some time later. The last sentence was good closure to the book as well.

Still, the ending was really great. That's all I can say, the book was great. (I've used the word great like 100 times this review haha).

I recognised the writing style I love again. Rainbow Rowell is a great writer. I love her view on this world. Her stories aren't filled with perfect people, her characters have flaws. I love her books. However, this was not my favorite book by her. It wasn't that special to me? Eleanor & Park was a masterpiece, but this deserves 4/5 stars in my opinion. 

Dominique

The Selection 1 - Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Cover

I am really glad I didn't read this on the internet and get it in my library. Cause wow, this cover is so beautiful. The dress, the blue, just plain gorgeous. It really gives off this royal feel, which is a big thing in a books as well and I love that. I love books which covers give off the book's content. 

America Singer (-_-)

Really? America Singer? Apart from someone being named after a country/continent, did the author really have to make her a singer? And did the country she was named after, have to be the country where Illéa (America in the future) is now? 

She seemed like a very nice and down-to-earth person. She did whine a bit in my eyes. Saying stuff like: 'I only have a few dresses.' And she thought it was okay to have two boyfriends without telling them?
My friend told me she was going to annoy me in the second book, so I'm really looking forward to that haha.

Prince Maxon

I don't really know what to think. I don't know him that well yet. I feel like there's a lot I need to know before I can make assumptions. He seemed very humble and down-to-earth to me. He has respect for women, but is shy and doesn't know how to act around them. America and him become friends and she teaches him how to act around the 35 women (then 32?). Problem is, he is unable to feel anything for the other women, and starts feeling something for America. I love the way he handles his feelings, Maxon is so gentle and well-mannered. I feel bad for the fact that America doesn't like him that much yet. 

Aspen

HKJHKJLDHmxncmms. WHY. One way it was interesting to see America being together with a 'normal' person, but I want her to be with Maxon ajhc mdjab. I don't really like Aspen, but it made the book more interesting and I'd like to find out more about him and his family.
There's this 'Romeo and Juliet' feel about him and America. Because Aspen is a caste 6, she can't be with him. Which makes me wonder, why doesn't she just pair with Maxon and skip all the stupid drama?

The royal family

The royal family was seriously interesting. Apart from the king and his relationship with his son, there was also the queen. There's a lot about her that's still unknown and I'd love to see more of her. How she wanted to have children but wasn't able to, where she came from (she's a caste 5, just like America), what her opinions are, her own family. I'm glad there is a novella written about her, because she seems really interesting. 

The king though, he didn't let his son say a thing, he pushed his son into doing things. I'm sure he meant well, but I didn't really like the king. 

 The other 34 girls

34 girls, of course you'd have different personalities. The ones that got talked about mostly were Marlee, Celeste and Kriss. Marlee was nice, but kind of mysterious and I feel like she has a big secret, maybe about her family at home. Celeste, however, was an entirely different thing. Who did she think she was? Why did Maxon stand up for her? Have they met before? Let's just say Celeste is the stereotypical bitch in The Selection. 

Kriss seemed sweet and interesting. She wasn't that important, but I'm glad there was someone I seriously liked. 

The second book 

I'M SO EXCITED TO READ THE SECOND BOOK. I do not regret finally starting this series. It wasn't that long either, so that was great too, I love books that are fairly small. 

What kept me reading too, was the North and South thing. I'm not going to say anything more about that, so you might be confused, but I'd really like to know more about that. Definitely picking up the second book once I go to the library again!

Overall, this book was pretty great apart from some small things. I would definitely recommend this series to friends who like books with royalty. 

4,5/5 stars from me!

Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection (book 1)

Dominique 

(I've been so incredibly busy with school lately, I didn't get any time to read, sorry, but book life next week!)

Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...
But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

Simon Snow

Simon Snow is basically the protagonist in some ways. 50 pages in, I already thought Simon was this universe's Harry Potter. But when Cath was reading Levi fanfiction, Levi said something that made me question it: 'That's like saying Harry Potter was gay'. Does that mean they have two big franchises in this universe? Or is Harry Potter not even our Harry Potter, but something completely different? I'm kind of wondering, but I guess we won't find out very soon.

Cath

Okay, so Cath's a nerd. She writes fanfiction (gay style), spends her night at home and is obsessed with everything Simon Snow. She's also a giant control freak. Throughout the book, she loosened up a bit and wanted to do more and more. Going to parties, even. For some, she must have felt like a whiny child, but for me, I completely understood. She always stood in the shadow of her twin sister, Wren, and never got to be herself. I felt really bad for her.

Cath's dad

Well, a few moments in I already realised Cath's dad wasn't just a normal dad. He forgot things, even forgot to take care of himself. I later on realised her dad was bipolar, but this wasn't explained very well. It could be that I didn't really read that one piece it was explained in, but I realised so late into the book that I practically hit myself for being so stupid. Cath is very sweet to her dad and helps him in every way she can, even moving back home.

Laura, Cath's mom (?)

What a horrible bitch this was. Did she really expect her child to want to bond with her after leaving her at 8 years old? Cath literally hadn't seen her for 10 years when she comes back into Cath/Wren's life expecting everything to be fine. And while Wren wants to bond, Cath still hates her. Laura made her father (and them) go insane. I completely understood why Cath hated her so much. Now I know she never wanted any children at her age, but then, go on birth control and use a freaking condom. Don't just leave your kids.

Wren 

A few chapters in, I already realised Wren was the "cool one" out of the twins. She likes to go to parties, likes to drink and has had loads of boyfriends (and sex). She does, however, appreciate and accept Cath's personality. While she does want her to loosen up, she doesn't push and loves Simon Snow almost as much as her. Their sister bon was so cute and while they did fight, they found each other again in the end.

Levi

He was so sweet. He tried to make everyone feel good and smiled at everyone. I was so in love with him. He accepted Cath for who she was and wasn't scared off by her fanfiction. He waited for her and didn't push her. He was also very funny and just great. Cath and Levi were like opposites, but they still managed to make it work, despite their differences.

Raegan

Oh my god, she was so great. Sarcasm on point, and she indirectly helped Cath get a boyfriend and be more open. She was like anyone not familiar with "fandoms" and kind of judged her for her Simon Snow addiction, but throughout the book had actually started to like it. She was her 'best' friend and it was really amazing. She's like the typical "party girl": make up, parties, smoking, sex. But still, she stood up for Cath.

Writing Style

I love Rainbow's writing style. It's so detailed and so pure. I could picture everything so well. After Eleanor & Park I had to read more of her. Eleanor & Park was true beauty in a book, but this got me feeling less. Don't get me wrong, it was still beautiful, but not as breath-taking as Eleanor & Park was.

Storyline

Well, how to start. I didn't feel like the book had a beginning. You know, when all the good things start and the introduction is over. It was kind of like loads of things thrown into one big book. It didn't really have a storyline. Maybe because I'm used to Fantasy, which almost always does have a storyline.

Overall, it was a great book with nice characters and very detailed, but it isn't on my recommendation list. Carry On (Cath's fanfiction which is also a book by Rowell) is definitely on my TBR list though. 3/5 stars.

Dominique
(for anyone wondering why I didn't post this Tuesday, I want to go back to my Sunday-schedule :))

Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell

Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.
So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.
I'm not kidding, he says.
You should be, she says, we're 16.
What about Romeo and Juliet? Shallow, confused, then dead.
I love you, Park says.
Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.
I'm not kidding, he says.
You should be. 

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits - smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you'll remember your own first love - and just how hard it pulled you under.

First of all, the cover. It fits the book perfectly, since Eleanor and Park came in touch through music and comics. But it's not very special, because imagine when you don't know the story, would you go for this book or for a book that jumps out and get's you to grab it immediately? But again, it fits the story, because being in love certainly isn't roses and pink clouds.

The book changes from Eleanor's point of view and Park's point of view, which I actually really enjoyed. They both have such different lives and different insecurities. Park is Asian and throughout the book he will grow and find his own style, he has a loving Asian mom and a white dad, who love each other and show interest in Eleanor. But Eleanor is so insecure, maybe even more than Park. She hates her bright red hair, her curves and lives with an abusive stepdad and three siblings. She gets assaulted by this mystery person, whom I won't name, but when you get to the point where you find out who it is, wow, I was so shocked. Then a lot of things happen at a time and when I finished the book I wanted to throw it against a wall (which means I loved it).

Eleanor's mother and stepdad don't have much money. Richie -her stepdad- spends it on gambling and booze, which is why Eleanor and her three siblings have to sleep in one room, don't have nice clothes (Eleanor only has one bra which she wears with a paperclip) and have to get groceries in a store where everything is after date. This made me realise how lucky I am to have parents who make enough money to buy me clothes and food. 

The story had a lot of swearing, which is fine if you're used to that. But if you'd rather read a book with a lot of swearing (b and f), then I suggest you don't read it.

I will give this book 4/5 stars. It was different than what I normally read, but still beautiful and I loved it.

Extra: Movie rights are sold for the book, so there will maybe be a movie soon.

Title: Eleanor & Park

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Publisher: Orion Books

Age: 14+

Price (Hardcover): €16,50, $18,99

Pages: 336

ISBN: 978-1-4091-5725-0

                                                 Dominique (@myperfectreading on Instagram)