The Luxe (Luxe #1) by Anna Godbersen

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): In the self-contained world of young Gilded Age Manhattan socialites, Elizabeth and Diana Holland reign supreme. Or so it seems. Scratch the surface, though, and you can detect festering jealousies that threaten to topple them. Elizabeth suffers a more literal fall when her carriage overturns and she is carried away by the swift East River current. That's only the beginning of the action and suspense in The Luxe, the launch volume in a teen series by Anna Godbersen.

MY OPINION:

Through more than three quarters of the book I was wavering between loving it and hating it. The last sixty pages or so made me tilt to the first option.

The Luxe is basically a soap opera in the written form. I love soap operas. And I hate them. That is, I love splendour and romance, but I hate scheming and misunderstandings.

Now, I must explain myself. I am the kind of a reader who suffers when being in the know of what the characters have no idea about, especially when it hurts them. It makes me nervous and I wish I could skip all of it and just find out what happens. Although, I am perfectly fine with scheming when I can solve it alongside the characters. Knowing the core of the problem in advance, however, does not work from me. Unfortunately, The Luxe follows the let-the-reader-be-in-the-know concept, which I don't like. 

Godbersen knows how to create ambience. Her writing conjures luxurious homes, glamorous attires and dazzling people right before your eyes. Then it takes you from all the wealth to the modest rooms of the less fortunate, their rough dresses, and daily toiling. As Godbersen lets you take a look at the lives of the New York society of the late 19^th century, she shows you a two-sided canvas: one side out in the open for everybody to see, and the other hidden, dark, full of secrets.

What bothered me the most in The Luxe was the insincerity in the relationships between people. Everyone is so concerned with decorum that nobody says what they truly mean. Even family members cannot openly speak to each other about what troubles them, because it is not appropriate, thus the relations between them are often unaffectionate due to numerous misunderstandings. 

The one character I truly liked and rooted for in this book was Diana Holland. She is a rebellious girl who speaks her thoughts. She is pristine, full of life, adventurous and unlike any other society girl. She reads inappropriate books in her craving for knowledge and breaks rules. Wanting to find out what happens to Diana was what kept me reading all those times I was about to give up on the book.

Her sister Elizabeth is a good character, too, but she feels bound by duty to her family, which almost makes her ruin her chances for happiness. I was really sad for her alienation from her sister, but I was really happy that the circumstances forced her to step out of conformity and try to make her own luck.

Overall, the social atmosphere of the era with its hypocritical conventions does not appeal to me, which made me struggle thorough the book. However, the story of the Holland sisters is intriguing. Therefore, I will continue reading the series, because I am very curious about how their lives continue.

RECOMMENDATION: This is the book for someone who likes a well-described settings and vivid atmosphere of the Gilded Age. 

Book Blogger Hop, July 8 – 11, 2011

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books. It is a great way of discovering new blogs and meeting fellow book bloggers, talking about books and authors, and sharing our love for literature.

This week Jennifer gave us a task:

This week’s question isn’t a question at all! I thought I would do things a little differently this week and give all of you a chance to promote a giveaway (or two!) from the blogosphere.

The catch?

IT CAN’T BE YOUR OWN GIVEAWAY!

Gotcha!

You have to find another blogger who is having a giveaway and promote their giveaway for them! If possible, promote a giveaway from a blogger doing the Hop (hey, you are visiting other blogs anyway, right?). Have fun with this one! It’s not an easy task this week! 

MY RESPONSE:

Ellie of Musings of a Bookshop Girl gives away two books from an amazing selection. Go and check it out!

Booking Through Thursday – Dog Days

 

Since my dog is turning 10 today … what animal-related books have you read? Which do you love? Do you have a favorite literary dog? (Snoopy, anyone?)

White Fang by Jack London is the first book that comes to my mind, then Lassie, naturally. I am sure I read quite some animal-related books; I just cannot remember titles and authors.

My absolute favourite literary dog of all times though is Kazan, the protagonist of Kazan by James Oliver Curwood. Kazan is a tamed half-wolf/half-dog and the book is mostly written from his point of view. Kazan is a loyal and smart dog. His life is very hard as he changes a lot of “owners”, some very cruel, has many adventures and helps many people. It is an amazing, heat-wrenching story which I read several times and it made me laugh and cry every time. I recommend this book to everyone. I love it.

Coming Soon! Bookie Brunch

Coming soon: Bookie Brunch 
Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)
Come join the discussion! 
* Every Sunday*

Is there anything better than getting together with your friends and discussing something you are all passionate about? Maybe, but not much. So, let’s get together on Sunday over Bookie Brunch and talk authors, characters, stories, genres, and everything else related to what we love – books, books, books.

What’s Bookie Brunch all about?: Bookie Brunch is a weekly

meet-up, held every Sunday, where book bloggers can have a cup of tea

and chat about a particular bookie question of interest.

The discussion is open from Sunday through Wednesday, and you’re

welcome to drop by any time to add your opinion or read what other

people have to say.

This discussion is open as well to general readers or bloggers in a

different field, authors, publishers and publicists.

Courtesy guidelines: All thoughtful comments will be considered

and probably get a response from fellow bloggers. In fact, you’re

encouraged to talk about it and share viewpoints or include links to

relevant materials. We’d like everyone to have a nice time. Differing

viewpoints are just fine, even if strongly expressed, but inflammatory

or off-topic comments will be removed.

Contact Bookie Brunch

Be a guest at an upcoming brunch: @StoryWings 

Bring goodies for a giveaway: @StoryWings 

Suggest a question: @LiederMadchen

Browse Bookie Brunch discussions (after July 2011, archive):
The Fluidity of Time

Find Bookie Brunch

You’re invited! Feel free to join us every Sunday for great

company, fun discussions, and occasional goodie giveaways. Some upcoming dates are listed below, it’ll be great to see you there.
Calling all bookies - grab a seat and let’s talk books.

Upcoming Bookie Brunches in July 2011:

We’ll be talking about e-readers vs. print editions, fantasy vs.

realism in books, characters vs. plot, and lots of other cool and

bookish questions.

Sunday, July 10

Host: Songs and Stories (@LiederMadchen)

Sunday, July 17

Host: Moonlight Gleam’s Bookshelf (@MoonlightGleams)

Sunday, July 24

Host: This Miss Loves To Read (@MissIrenne)

Sunday, July 31

Host: Beyond Strange New Words (@StrangeNewWords) 

More Bookie Brunches: Every Sunday, July 2011 through December 2011:

Upcoming dates on the schedule.

Would you like to be a guest on an upcoming brunch, bring a giveaway,

or send a question? Feel free! Please leave your info below, and then

contact the Bookie Bruncher who can help get you set up:

Contact Bookie Brunch

Be a guest at an upcoming brunch: @StoryWings 

Bring goodies for a giveaway: @StoryWings 

Suggest a question: @LiederMadchen 

The first Bookie Brunch is open for a delicious discussion on July 10, at Songs and Stories . 

I’m going to be a host at an upcoming Bookie Brunch on July 31, feel free to drop by. See you there!

The Reunion (The Vampire Diaries #4) by L. J. Smith

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Elena summons the vampire trio once more to unite and challenge their fate. Together they will be called to face the most terrifying evil Fell's Church has ever known.

MY OPINION: 
The fourth book in The Vampire Diaries series is written mostly from Bonnie’s point of view. After a short period of respite, during which Fell’s Church recovers from the last manifestation of evil paranormal forces, strange things begin happening again.

Through an unlikely way, Bonnie is warned of a great evil which is threatening the town and its inhabitants. In order to fight it, Bonnie seeks the help of the Salvatore brothers, who for once seem to get along and try to work together although for different reasons. While the relationship between the brothers slowly changes, some intriguing information about each of the two is revealed.

Bonnie takes over the lead role in The Reunion. Although people consider her fragile, and her friends want to protect her, she is smart and resourceful and proves her strength when the least expected. She and the other characters give the reader plenty of surprises throughout the book.

In The Reunion, Smith keeps the secretive and suspenseful style from The Fury, leaving the readers on pins and needles about the development of events. The big battle between the good and the bad side is messy and hectic. Pandemonium ensues and everything goes on so fast it makes your head spin. Smith creates a tangible atmosphere which puts the reader right in the middle of action. Also, Smith creates tangible spiritual and subconscious experiences, which I liked very much.

I could say much more in this review, but I am rather making it vague as to avoid including spoilers. Overall, I loved the book, and I will probably have to reread it soon to really grasp all the tiny details. 

RECOMMENDATION: This is an action-packed continuation of the series, full of surprises. It is a fast and thoroughly suspenseful read which puts you in danger of wanting a reread. 

What Makes a Poorly Written Book?

This weekend’s Book Blogger Hop question asked us what makes us keep reading a book or stop us from reading it. One of the reasons bloggers, including me, often mentioned was poor writing.

In comments to my answer Lisa of Lisa Loves Literature asked me this question: “What do you feel makes a poorly written book?” 

Now, Lisa mentions Twilight as one of the books people often consider poorly written. Like her, I must disagree with that. Just like her, I get sucked into the Twilight books every time I read them and find myself unable to put them down.

Therefore, I started thinking about how to answer Lisa’s question. Since it would make much too long a comment, I decided to dedicate it a post.

Now, bear in mind, even though I graduated in English, I do not consider myself being of any authority in the field, so this is just my personal opinion as an avid reader of what makes a poorly written book.

1)     Grammatical and spelling errors

This is self-explanatory. It is understandable if there is a typo or two. We are all humans and mishaps happen. However, when grammatical and spelling mistakes recur so often that they interfere with the reading process they cannot be overlooked.

2)     Confusing use of vocabulary and awkward sentences

It really makes it difficult to read when there are obviously misused words and the sentences are formed in such a way that you must read them twice to get the meaning. This has especially to do with the use of pronouns. It is very disturbing when you have to flip back and forth to figure who or what was meant by a particular pronoun.

For example: “He liked her sister but she didn’t know about it.” All right, I made up this sentence, but I read plenty of similar material, which takes you a page to figure which one was clueless – “she” or “her sister.”

3)     Incoherent transitions between P. O. V.-s and topics.

I love different P. O. V. -s and multiple topics/themes in a book if they are well organised and the transitions are natural. Jumping between P. O. V.-s and topics can be irritating.

For example: In the middle of a heated discussion between the policemen on the crime scene, there is a paragraph on the lead detective’s breakfast, which has nothing whatsoever to do with the discussion. Even if it is somehow important for the characterisation, there must be some better place to fit it in.

Considering all of the above, I would say that a poorly written book is a book where writing gets in the way of enjoying reading. I enjoy reading when I can read a book smoothly. Do not confuse it with the difficulty or quality of writing. I think both “easy” and “difficult" books can be equally enjoyed if the writing is good.

Let me give some examples. While many readers would agree Sookie Stackhouse series is an easy read with one main story arch, it is not easy when you have to flip back a page or two to figure out who said what or where something happened (see number two above – pronouns). Though I love the series, the writing is a little off at times (but this is a very mild case of writing problems).

Conversly, Random Magic by Sasha Soren (see my review) is an instance of a well-written book. It is a book with numerous topics, elaborate sentencing, countless references (they require quite some worldliness to appreciate them all), and beautiful language; and is a really enjoyable, smooth read you do not feel like putting down.

In the end, I will return to The Twilight Saga (see my review). Examining its writing, I cannot find anything of what I mentioned to make poor writing in it. Its grammar and spelling are good, the wording is not only appropriate but also rich, the text is coherent and transitions graceful; all of which make reading unforced and engaging.  

To conclude, I think good writing is such which enables the reader to enter the world it describes. If you imagine a book as a garden, the writing is the entrance door. If writing is good, you pass the door effortlessly, perhaps marvelling its intricate design, but then you take a stroll in the garden and enjoy it. In case of bad writing, the door to the garden is a plain iron framework; it is closed and you must strain to peek at the garden through the bars. 

The Letter

All Caitlin wanted was to go to bed and put the tiresome day out of her memory. Passing the study on the way upstairs she remembered the mail having arrived in the morning just as she was heading out.

She hesitated awhile. Surely, whatever it is, the bills could wait over night. Yet, she retraced her steps and entered the study. “I’ll just browse through it,” she thought.

The mail was on the desk. It was as she thought. Bills and pleas for aid. She would see to them in the morning. Suddenly her hand, flipping through the envelopes, stopped.

She set the candle she was holding in her hand on the desk. With a trembling hand she slowly lit another one. She lowered herself into the leather seat that still smelled of him.

Firstly, she carefully read his writing on the envelope. It was dated more than two months ago. A lot could have happened since then.

Finally, she opened the letter and leaned over it.

It read:

               Dearest Caitlin,

How are you doing? How is everybody on Clarefield? I have my absolute confidence in you; therefore I am certain you are running the estate for the wellbeing of everyone entrusted to our care. I believe you enjoy love and support of our people. I hope your mutual affection is a solace to all of you in these most difficult of times.

I will not write about war. You see plenty of its gory results by yourself. How I wish you, we, none of us would be burdened with this suffering brought upon us by those who are deemed to posses the wisdom to lead us.

There is hell all around me. But as I am thinking of you right now, I feel as if we were having a conversation in person. I can hear your clear, soothing voice. I smell your perfume. I can see you now and look in your eyes. And peace and happiness are in my heart.

I must stop for I am due for the first night watch. Take good care of yourself – I know, it would be useless to ask you not to work so hard – I w . Stay safe. I love you.

Christopher  

“Oh, Chris,” whispered Caitlin, leaning back in his chair. Her face was wet with silent tears. She closed her eyes, pressing the letter tightly to her heart. “I’m with you, too, right now.”

After some time she stood up, took her candle and blew out the other one. She went to their bedroom and climbed into the bed, putting the letter carefully under the pillow. Then she closed her eyes and dreamt she was with Christopher. There was a bright, sunny day. He was holding her in his embrace and they were laughing with pure joy.

 

This post is a response to Red Writing Hood, a weekly writing meme hosted at The Red Dress Club. This week's prompt asked to have you or your character find a forgotten letter or card from someone important in your life - whether good or bad. What does it say? How does it affect you or your character? What is done with it?

Book Blogger Hop, July 1 – 4, 2011

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books. It is a great way of discovering new blogs and meeting fellow book bloggers, talking about books and authors, and sharing our love for literature.

This week’s question is: “What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?”

MY ANSWER:

A good plot is definitely the most significant for keeping me reading a book. Sometimes, however, the plot is not particularly special, but there might be an intriguing character or more of them, because of which I insist on finding out what happens to them. Also, often it is the writing which makes it worth reading a book through.

The plot, the characters and the writing, if they are of poor quality, are also the reasons that can stop me from continuing reading a book and put it back on the shelf. Nothing is more torturous than reading a badly-written book with a boring story and predictable, one-dimensional characters.