Fiction – notabooktuber

My first review of 2020! Here we go.

RATING: ✖✖

Initially, I was enticed by the lure of sci-fi/’young-ish’ adult in the spotlight of modern media frenzy, but found the plot dissolved into minor intrigue and petty drama rather than the focus on the viral dramatics.

SYNOPSIS: The Carls just appeared.

Roaming through New York City at three a.m., twenty-three-year-old April May stumbles

raderasenaresop — Book cover, pic from Goodreads.

across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship–like a ten-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armor–April and her best friend, Andy, make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day, April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world–from Beijing to Buenos Aires–and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the center of an intense international media spotlight.

Okay, most of us are probably familiar with the other Green’s work. The John Green of the Vlogbrothers, the other half of the CrashCourse founder-squad (I think? Don’t quote me on this.) Anyway, I was all about the John Green hype a few years ago, as a mere tween, engulfed by the awkward teen romances and quote-worthy Pinterest boards his books entailed. As a slighter older awkward teen, I was excited about Hank Green venturing into the writing universe with a debut novel of his own, titled ‘An Absolutely Remarkable Thing’. As I read the initial blurb + first saw the cover design, I was thrilled. Delighted. Absolutely, positively happy.

But then I read the book — and, well … it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. I’ll let you know why.

Continue reading “An Absolutely Remarkable Thing — Hank Green”

RATING: ✖✖✖✖

The kind of book you need to read to cleanse your palate from generic YA but also to actually read something that makes you think.

SYNPOSIS: What if you could live forever—but without your one true love? Reincarnation Blues is the story of a man who has been reincarnated nearly 10,000 times, in search of the secret to immortality so that he can be with his beloved, the incarnation of Death. Neil Gaiman meets Kurt Vonnegut in this darkly whimsical, hilariously profound, and wildly imaginative comedy of the secrets of life and love. Transporting us from ancient India to outer space to Renaissance Italy to the present day, is a journey through time, space, and the human heart.

Continue reading “Reincarnation Blues – Michael Poore”