Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper Book Review

Star Crossed Lovers 

When Romiette Cappelle meets Julio Montague, she feels as though she has met the soul mate who can rescue her from her recurring nightmare about fire and water. But like the Shakespearean characters whose names echo theirs, Romiette and Julio discover that not everyone approves of their budding romance. In their case, it is because Romiette is African-American and Julio is Hispanic, and the Devildogs, a dangerous local gang, violently oppose their interracial relationship. 

When the Devildogs threaten to teach them a lesson, Romiette and Julio come up with a risky plan to escape from the gang's fearsome shadow. But things go terribly awry, and the two find themselves caught up in a deadly reality more frightening that Romiette's nightmare — and in a desperate struggle to avoid the tragic fate of Shakespeare's famous young lovers. 

 Romiette, an African-American girl, and Julio, a Hispanic boy, discover that they attend the same high school after falling in love on the Internet, but are harrassed by a gang whose members object to their interracial dating. 

-Barnes & Noble

When I spotted Romiette and Julio, I thought it would be very intriguing to read an interpretation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This novel has transformed Juliet into an  ambitious, African-American young woman from Cincinnati,  and Romeo into a Hispanic young man who's recently moved to Cincinnati from Texas.

This novel has a very innocent feel in terms of how Draper allows her characters to encounter one another, which I liked. It was nice to see two teenagers encounter one another with intentions to simply get to know each other.  Romie and Julio are each intriguing in their own ways, as well as the supporting characters. I loved Romie's thoughts on life and those around her, also her descriptive dreams. Julio knowing how to play the mandolin was gold for me! One of my favorite supporting characters is Ben who dyes his hair a new color every week, and has an awesome sense of humor. I also loved the feel of it being a forbidden love, which is captured well. It's pretty special to read of an interracial relationship, as it seems this scenario is not often portrayed.

The novel, however, takes a more serious turn when Romie and Julio are harassed by neighborhood gangs populating the school with a disdain for their interracial relationship. Draper handles this topic honestly, with a borderline rawness. There were places in the novel  where I was shocked at the length some of the characters went to judge and cause racism to flourish within their school.

The thing that I didn't love about this novel was its pacing. I thought the plot went entirely too quickly, but it can also be said that Romeo and Juliet's relationship is also developed as quickly. I still wished that Romie and Julio had the opportunity to get to know each other a bit longer. I also thought that the writing/dialogue became a bit cliched at times. There were moments where I wondered if the dialogue sounded realistic.

Bare in mind: This novel contains slight violence and scenes depicting racism.

Everything said, I thought that Romiette and Julio was a pretty good portrayal of Romeo and Juliet, with a strong sub-story that is heartbreaking and needed. There are moments that will have you crying, and moments where your heart will flutter if you're the type to take a bit of cheese.

I give Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper 3 and 1/2 cups of Earl Grey.

Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten Books Written in the Past Ten Years That I Hope People Are Still Reading 30 Years from Now

Top Ten Tuesday's is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer: Easily one of the most profound novels to come this decade.  Bare in mind that this novel touches on the sensitive subject matter of the Events on September 11th, 2001.

The Hollow Series by Jessica Verday: This is one YA series that I would love to see read 30 years from now. It's often slept on, which is a shame, as its a wonderful series! Many times people don't give the rest of the series a chance because of frustrations with the first novel, but I recommend you forge forward. It's also one of the most effectively ended series' that I've read in YA. Abbey and Caspian <3! Bare in mind that this novel contains slight sexual content, and scenes depicting seances (Witchcraft).

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers: This is one novel that will probably always be listed by me, as its just beautiful! There's nothing like being reminded of God's unfailing love for you! Bare in mind that this novel contains slight sensuality, harsh subject matters, and violence.

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris: Wonderful World War II novel that made it's debut this year and deserves to be a modern classic! Bare in mind that this novel depicts scenes of war, racism, and violence.

After Dark by Haruki Murakami: Murakami is one of my absolute favorite authors. No one I've read thus far can create an ethereal, dualistic world like he can. I could have chosen any of the novels I've read by him, but I chose After Dark because what's more interesting than what goes on in various people's lives during the darkest hours of the night? It's also weird...very weird! Bare in mind that this novel contains adult content.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: One of my favorite Young Adult novels of all time. Green writes with such intelligence and sincerity that you'll be sucked in...tears streaming. Augustus Waters. Period.  Bare in mind that this novel contains profanity, sensitive subject matter, and slight sensuality.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinnelli: Stargirl. Another novel that will most always be listed for it's awesomeness! It showcases one of the only true individual Young Adult characters out there worth emulating!

The Perfect Chemistry Series by Simone Elkeles: The Fuentes Brothers feel like my family at this point! I loved every minute of these novels! Every character blew me away! Bare in mind that this novel contains sexual content, profanity, and violence.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: Yes, ladies and gents. Yes. It still rocks my world, and perhaps in 30 years we would've gotten over the vampire saturation enough to appreciate this novel again. I adore Twilight, and thought that this first novel deserves to be read, and not taken as seriously as it has been over the last few years! It's okay to have an imagination that doesn't always fit into a prescribed box. Bare in mind this novel contains slight sensuality, slight profanity, and violence.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins: I adore it, and believe that any awesome dystopian novel is timeless. It'll probably read for years to come!

Hope you enjoyed reading this list! What are your Top Ten Tuesday picks?

Top Ten Tuesdays: My Top Ten Favorite Books Ever

Top Ten Tuesday's is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Echo by Francesca Lia Block: I remember the year I decided to get serious about my writing. It was my senior year in high school, and I had to take on night classes. This novel stuck out to me whilst perusing through Barnes & Noble, and I thought, why not. I sat in my night class sneaking peeks at Echo, blown away with her lyricism, beauty, and ability to turn this ordinary world into a land of angels and magic. I knew then, I wanted to write magical realism. Each story in this novel is beautiful and heartbreaking. 

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson: This novel! Another school house favorite of mine. When I was in 4th or 5th grade, my class read this novel, and I couldn't dislodge myself from its world. I remember going home, and trying to recreate Terabithia in my room, or in the bathroom with blankets, a flashlight, and glow crayons. This novel showed me the beauty and blessing of being able to imagine farther and wider than ones own environment.

The Collected Stories of Guy de Maupassant: I'll admit that I've never been a huge fan of short stories. I always felt as if they tried so hard to be profound, and they bored me a bit. That was until I found Maupassant. I purchased an early Penguin edition, which I highly recommend. His stories are sublime, disturbing, lovely...so many words for them. The Graveyard Sisterhood is one of my favorites of his. Maupassant showed me what a short story should be, and I look forward to giving others a chance, like Salinger's 9 Stories.

Krik, Krak by Edwidge Danticat: I discovered this collection of short stories during one of my Undergrad courses that I considered crucial to the development of my adult self. Krik, Krak is striking. One of the most well written collections I've ever read! Beautiful tales of Haitian life, dealing with trauma, love, and self discovery. It really caused me to understand the beauty of being a woman of color, and the beauty of talent in our communities.

Washington Square by Henry James: Here's another novel from my Undergrad years. I consider Henry James one of the most overwhelmingly intimidating writers that I've encountered. Nevertheless, this novel was such a wonderful read. I sympathized with the main character so much, as she is, in many ways, forced into silence by her father's disdain of her, and belittlement from around her. Great book!

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers: This novel is literally the only Christian Romance that ever need to be read. Why? Because it portrays a hard, complicated, and freeing love as the hero of the story loves a young woman that is so battered by her past experiences that she cannot open herself to love. It also portrays the love that God has for us, even as we spurn Him, and turn to other people, places, and things to fulfill us, He still pursues us with a passionate love. I HIGHLY recommend this novel to every single person out there seeking a deeper understanding, in novel form, of God's love.

On The Road by Jack Kerouac: Of course you guys saw this one coming. This novel is a bit different from the rest of the list. I've been reading this novel for the past three or four years now. While I still haven't finished the novel, it ranks up there with my top ten because I relate to Jack. I love his experience with humanity, his lyrically spontaneous prose, his musings on living life with passion and drive (though, I obviously don't condone most of the shenanigans he gets into with his friends). His writing will move me to read anything he's written, simply because of it's sincerity, risk, and love of the craft.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli: All I can say about this novel is, Stargirl is my hero, and a role model for every one, ladies and gents.

Drown by Junot Diaz: Here's one more title I discovered whilst in school! Diaz is a PHENOMENAL writer and storyteller. Drown is a collection of hopeful and haunting short stories that are sure to draw you in. It tackles harsh topics such as drug use, neglect, cultural identity. I loved the color and rhythm of his prose as he spotlights his experience of what it is to be Dominican. Beautiful!

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint Exupery: This is such a darling little tale, with little nuggets to imagine to. There are bits where I wanted to cry at its adorable profundity! There's nothing like a great children's tale to get a smile on your face.

What are your top ten favorite books?

Fallen In Love by Lauren Kate

What makes your heart race a little faster? It's FALLEN IN LOVE, four wholly original and romantic new stories collected in a novel set in the Middle Ages by Lauren Kate. FALLEN IN LOVE gives fans the much-talked about but never-revealed stories of FALLEN characters as they intertwine with the epic love story of Luce and Daniel. The stories include: Love Where You Least Expect It: The Valentine of Shelby and Miles , Love Lessons: The Valentine of Roland; Burning Love: The Valentine of Arriane; and Endless Love: The Valentine of Daniel and Lucinda.

-Amazon

Fallen In Love was a cutesy, heartwarming collection of short stories set on Valentine's Day during the 14th century. I loved the little Valentine's festival tidbits. I believe out of all the stories, I loved Shelby and Miles' bit. Totally cute! Roland's story is my next favorite as it was the most real, and painful. The rest of the stories were a bit (shruggs) to me. Arriane's love story is surprising, and I'll admit that I didn't have any incentive to even begin Daniel and Luce's story. I felt that with Passion being centered on their past love affairs, I didn't necessarily want to sit through another past glimpse. I want to get to the future and see how it all concludes.

I love the Fallen series, and like many fans, I can't wait for Rapture to release! But I kind of feel that perhaps Fallen in Love could have been released in e-book form, or even for free, and not pumped up as something that could add more to the series. They were satisfying, but in the end, I totally didn't need to read it. I feel disappointed that I felt this way, as I was uber excited to buy this book! It does offer a sneak peek of Rapture which is glorious.

That being said, Rapture's coming out real soon, dearies, and it will finally be concluded in a stunning finale!

I give Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate 3 and a half cups of Earl Grey.

Kippa Picks: Barely Breathing by Rebecca Donovan Book Review

Kippa Picks is a segment of Novel Days where I highlight Kindle novels that have been Self Published. 

Warning: There will be SLIGHT spoilers in this post, as it is the sequel to Reason to Breathe.

Emma’s struggle with an abusive home life came to a heart pounding conclusion in the final chapters of Reason to Breathe. Now everyone in Weslyn knows Emma’s secret, but Carol can’t hurt Emma anymore. Some are still haunted by the horror of that night, and some must face the repercussions of their choices. Fans of Rebecca Donovan’s debut novel will discover there’s still much to learn about Emma’s life.

-GoodReads

Rebecca Donovan has done it again, ladies and gentlemen. She never fails to plot her novels in such a way that readers will have no choice but to fall in love with everyone involved, break as they fall, and scream, "No!!!!!!," as it crescendos to an incredibly gut-wrenching cliff hanger.

Barely Breathing opens in the aftermath of Emma (Emily's) tragic experience with her Aunt. She now lives with her best friend Sara, and tries to start over with her incredibly supportive boyfriend, Evan. Emma takes on the opportunity to live with her mother for the first time since she was a child. Donovan has captured an abuse of a different sort in a way that is that is unsettling, and heartbreaking, but realistic. As I stated earlier, it is impossible not to feel for every single character in this novel, even Emma's mother, Rachel, who has succumbed to various rejections in a self destructive manner that leaves all those who have open themselves to help her at risk. Donovan further mixes the plot up a bit by the introduction of a new character, Jonathan, Rachel's proposed love interest, who grows closer to Emma than the two of them were prepared for. Jonathan is very intriguing, and easy to trust, which may prove to be wonderful, or regretful. In the midst of everything else happening, I found myself wanting to peel back his layers to understand his journey.

Once again, Donovan has a magic with characterization that is entirely believable. Nothing ever seems overdone, or underwhelming, but just right in leu of the circumstances. I found myself wanting to get frustrated with Emma towards the end of the novel (for reason's you'll understand when you read), but I couldn't even blame her. Sara, Emma's best friend, is also very much the supportive friend, and sister, jumping into the trenches when Emma needs her most. She even finds time for bits of romance on her own, which I was definitely excited for! Evan...one can't help but fall in love with him within his first few words. Donovan brings to light the challenge/risks he faces in being with Emma, how her actions affect his own, and his family. It was great to observe these challenges as they made me further relate to his character, and fall more for his patience and tenderness towards Emma.

The ending had me screaming in a crowded train car. In that moment, I didn't know whose side to take, or how even to speculate what could happen next. There is one person I felt so heartbroken over, and you'll find out...when you get to that place in the novel!

Barely Breathing is pretty much everything I love in a novel, realistic drama, heartfelt vulnerability, and even a  bit of fun/comedy. It will take you, as cliche as this sounds, on an emotional roller coaster, send you hurling towards the edge, and then leave you gasping for the next installement (which Ms. Donovan is hard at work on called, Out of Breath!).

I give Barely Breathing 5 out of 5 cups of Irish Breakfast Tea (this book deserves a stronger brew).

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal Book Review

Shades of Milk and Honey is an intimate portrait of Jane Ellsworth, a woman ahead of her time in a version of Regency England where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality. But despite the prevalence of magic in everyday life, other aspects of Dorchester’s society are not that different: Jane and her sister Melody’s lives still revolve around vying for the attentions of eligible men. Jane resists this fate, and rightly so: while her skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face, and therefore wins the lion’s share of the attention. At the ripe old age of twenty-eight, Jane has resigned herself to being invisible forever. But when her family’s honor is threatened, she finds that she must push her skills to the limit in order to set things right–and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own. 

-GoodReads

Happy May! I'm thrilled to start this month with a review of the most glorious novel! It is as smooth and comforting as it's title, yet, not lacking for entertainment and tension that carries you through to the end. My sister, Ashley, alerted me to this title, and I'm so happy that she did.

Shades of Milk and Honey is an Austen inspired novel surrounding a young woman named Jane Ellsworth. One of the most brilliant facets of Kowal's Regency novel is it's unusual and fresh addition of Glamours, which gives the genre a bit of magic. In the world of Shades, the magical practice of Glamours has been added to the list of womanly arts to fluent yourself with if you are to be a learned young lady. It's addition really gave the novel great color and beauty. Kowal's descriptions of the the artistry behind pulling ephemeral folds from the ether to create picturesque recreations of nature, and other enhancements were entrancing. 

Jane is a wonderful character to observe as she is often overlooked for her sister, Melody, who tends to draw all eligible suitors her way. I related to her entirely too much! Jane, however, being an accomplished 'Glamourist' is able to draw curious conversation her way. She also catches the eye of Mr. Vincent, who is considered a master glamourist. The tension between them as they often challenge one another over the knowledge they have on the subject, is very effective to the plot. It was also very  entertaining to observe the jealousies that Jane and Melody succumb to as the novel moves forward. Melody is and a whole situation on her own. I found myself wanting to tell her off on more than one occasion.  Kowal perfectly captures the fervor of familial life, the relationship between sisters, mothers, and daughters, and the affairs of their friends and acquaintances. The story starts off wholesome enough, but with each chapter, tension and scandal build to a steady crescendo.

Shades of Milk and Honey is a wonderful romance that is not steeped in melodrama, and sweeping overtures, but in quiet subtleties that I really appreciated. Also, I could never be sure who Jane, Melody, or Beth would end up with, and this is totally effective. I loved that it wasn't very predictable. I haven't read a historical fiction novel in quite a while, and this was a great reentry back into the genre. I loved hearing words like 'propriety', 'gentlemen,' and becoming enamored with a world of balls, sweeping gowns, manners, and the magic of Glamours to enchant visitors with. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel: Glamour and Glass!

I give Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal 5 out of 5 cups of Lady Grey!