Lyrical Fantasy in River Secrets

It was around second year of high school, when I seriously started collecting books for my future “library”, that I read Shannon Hale’s books. I read Princess Academy first, a book I borrowed from the library and returned it two days later. I finished it in one day, and I re-read it again for another. It was then that I realized that Shannon Hale wrote the kind of books I enjoyed reading. A bit of fantasy, romance, adventure and a heroine who’s stronger than she seems. Since then, I’ve read Goose Girl, Enna Burning, Book of a Thousand Days and Austenland. But it was only this year that I’ve read River Secrets – the third book in her Books of Bayern series.

Like the preceding books, River Secrets takes place during a conflict between two kingdoms. It begins where Enna Burning ends, during a conflict between Bayern and Tira. All the beloved characters since Goose Girl are present in this book. But unlike Goose Girl, Enna Burning and even the rest of Shannon Hale’s books, the protagonist in River Secrets is a boy. Razo.

Razo is sent to Tira as one of the ambassadors of Bayern to promote peace and prevent war. Though cheerful by nature, he often expresses doubt and self-pity because of his small stature and incompetent ability with a weapon other than his sling shot. Like most of Shannon Hale’s protagonists, the beginning calls attention to his weak and vulnerable side – especially since he experienced heartbreak, another chip on his shoulder. But as the story progresses, Razo manages to turn his weaknesses into strengths – with the help of his friends, like Finn and Talone, who have seen something great in him that he has not.

I was a bit reluctant to read this book at first. It has been a while since I’ve read a novel of Shannon Hale and I have had thoughts on whether or not I’ve outgrown these type of books. Thankfully, it seems that I haven’t. I also couldn’t fathom how I could be able to relate to a character like Razo, his being a boy as the first reason. But then again, I could never resist an adventure, nor do I often judge a book by its protagonists (I like Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl and they’re boys.) And I was glad I decided not to put off reading this novel for another time. I was glad it was the first book I’ve read in 2012 because it reminded me what pushed me to start reading in the first place: the thrill of adventure and the wonder of discovering a magical world.

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I enjoyed reading this book for a lot of reasons.

First and foremost is because of Shannon Hale’s writing. Shannon Hale’s stories are not only captivating, her writing is also as magical as the world she creates. It’s like poetry turned prose. Eloquent, elegant and soulful, without the added obstacle of being vague and complicated as a poem can be. Even when writing action scenes – not overly emphasized nor dramatic but vivid and exciting, as if you could clearly see every movement.

Second reason is the characters. Razo’s a one-of-a-kind protagonist. He can be very charming without lacking depth. He’s a romantic, surely. And he’s strong despite his “made-up” setbacks. I especially enjoyed the chapter when he was able to prove himself using his sling shot. It reminded me of the notion that just because you’re ineffective at an ability the rest are competent at doesn’t me you can’t be  exceptional at things they aren’t. What I also loved about this scene was how it was his friend, Finn, who gave/showed him the opportunity. “People see things in you that you can’t see yourself.”

Finn also became a more interesting character in this book. In Enna Burning, he was the love interest, and his role was to prove himself to his girl. In River Secrets, we get to see more of his personality. Though he remains to be chasing after Enna throughout the book, we see how far he goes just to be with her. The progression of Enna and Finn’s relationship is also explored in this book, how it didn’t end all tied up in a “Happily Ever After” like Isi and Geric’s, but ended up sweet and new and ready to start afresh.

“Why do you have to be so perfect?” – Enna to Finn

“Why can’t he ever do something… something big, something dramatic, something frightening, woo me, show me that he loves me that much?” – Enna

Another interesting character is The Prince with No Name. They call him “Radiance”, the Prince of Tira. He’s like Razo – charming, and more than what he seems. Stronger than how people see him. I wished he played a bigger part in the story though.

Third is… well, I liked reading how Razo got over his heartbreak. Though this was not a central focus on the story, for me, it made Razo more interesting and real. I think this is the first time I read a book about a boy trying to get over a girl. It was interesting to see it wasn’t as dissimilar as when a female protagonist tries to move on as well.

He imagined being with her always. Now when he closed his eyes, he had trouble imagining anything else.

Bettin had made him feel that the world was a laugh, that he was a bucketful of fun, that his heart zigging in his chest was the only way to feel. But in the end, it had been a lie.

“So are you over Bettin?” – Enna “No, and I won’t ever be, so save your voice telling me it’s done. I know it’s done, but I decided to love her always, and that’s not something a boy can just undo because she’s gone and everyone says to get over it already.” – Razo

Then Dasha, the Tiran ambassador’s daughter, comes along. And I thought they were perfect for each other. It wasn’t “love at first sight” like Isi and Geric, nor did it begin as an unrequited love like Finn and Enna. It started out simple: teasing conversations, noticing inconsequential things like the crinkling of noses when smiling and ended simple and sweet too, without too much drama in between.

“You just said that nicknames are a sign of affection. Well, you call me tree rat…” – Razo to Dasha

“Do you think a person can decide to love only one girl in his whole life, then lose her, then find someone else he loves more and change his mind? Do you think that’s possible?” - What Razo wanted to ask Dasha

“No one has ever observed that about me before, or never told me. It means you’re noticing me. It means you care.” – Dasha to Razo

And when the book ended, the conflicts resolved and happy endings are at an abundance, all we have is a magical and satisfying story you’d love to read over and over again.

Telling his story felt like the next closest thing to giving her a kiss.

2011 Book list

2011 was a wonderful year – and not only because I completed my 50 books a year pledge. I read classics (courtesy of my English 12 class), historical fiction (lots of these!) and even read children’s books (Diary of a Wimpy Kid is very addicting.) I bought books from book sales, read from ebooks, ordered some online, bought a novel at a bookshop in Paris and another one at a chain bookstore in Dubai and received plenty of book gifts during my 18th birthday (most of them were Paulo Coelho novels). 2011 would not be complete without these books at my side, sharing with me a new journey and adventure all together. I know 2012 will be busier and I’ll be saving up for something special this year so I won’t get to splurge on books that often. But hopefully, I’ll still get to finish another 50 books by the year ends. Here’s to a new year with new books to read and more adventures to come!

* The ones in BOLD are the best reads this 2011.

1. A Bloody Jack Adventure: Curse of the Blue Tattoo – L.A. Meyer
2. A Bloody Jack Adventure: Under the Jolly Roger – L.A. Meyer
3. I Am Number Four – Pittacus Lore
4. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian – Rick Riordan
5. Secrets of the Nile (Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Super Mysteries) – Carolyn Keene
6. Atonement – Ian McEwan
7. The Pride of the Peacock – Victoria Holt
8. Darkest Mercy – Melissa Marr
9. The Last Book of Salem – Katherine Howe
10. My Name is Memory – Ann Brashares
11. Bloody Valentine – Melissa De La Cruz
12. Confessions of a Shopaholic – Sophie Kinsella
13. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan – Sophie Kinsella
14. Desert Tales : Sanctuary – Melissa Marr
15. Desert Tales : Challenge – Melissa Marr
16. Desert Tales : Resolve – Melissa Marr
17. A Bloody Jack Adventure: In the Belly of the Bloodhound – L.A. Meyer
18. A Bloody Jack Adventure: Mississippi Jack – L.A. Meyer
19. Mary, Bloody Mary – Carolyn Meyer
20. Patience, Princess Catherine – Carolyn Meyer
21. Shopaholic Ties the Knot – Sophie Kinsella
22. The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky
23. A Bloody Jack Adventure: My Bonny Light Horseman – L.A. Meyer
24. A Bloody Jack Adventure: Rapture in the Deep – L.A. Meyer
25. Ash – Malinda Lo
26. Dante’s Inferno
27. Angelology – Danielle Trussoni
28. The Stranger -Albert Camus
29. Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
30. Death in Venice – Thomas Mann
31. Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
32. Wake – Lisa Mann
33. The Fallen – Liz Braswell
34. The Stolen – Liz Braswell
35. The Chosen – Liz Braswell
36. A Bloody Jack Adventure: The Wake of the Lorelei Lee – L.A. Meyer
37. A Bloody Jack Adventure: The Mark of the Golden Dragon – L.A. Meyer
38. Sundays at Tiffany’s – James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet
39. The Devil and Miss Prymm – Paulo Coelho
40. Graveminder – Melissa Marr
41. What Happens in London – Julia Quinn
42. The Sugar Queen – Sarah Addison Allen
43. The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
44. Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney
45. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick rules – Jeff Kinney
46. Sabriel – Garth Nix
47. Peeled – Joan Bauer
48. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw – Jeff Kinney
49. Keeping the Moon – Sarah Dessen
50. Everything and the Moon – Julia Quinn
51. Brighter than the Sun – Julia Quinn
52. Just Like Heaven – Julia Quinn

* Does not include the fanfics, short stories and fictionpress stories I’ve read and the re-reads this year.

“If you take a book with you on a journey…an odd thing happens: The book begins collecting your memories. And forever after you have only to open that book to be back where you first read it. It will all come into your mind with the very first words: the sights you saw in that place, what it smelled like, the ice cream you ate while you were reading it…yes, books are like flypaper–memories cling to the printed page better than anything else.” ― Cornelia Funke, Inkheart

Paper, string and glue

Books are amazing. If a book was a person, it would be my most constant companion. A friend recently asked me how do I choose books to read, since I seem to have a lot of books that she, and my other friends, like. I didn’t think much before responding. And so my first answer was “I just check if it’s a bestseller.” But practically every book and every author sold in every chain bookstore had the title “A New York Times Bestseller” embossed on the cover. So I answered again. And I told her I base my choices on the authors. If I like one book by the author, then surely I’d like his/her other novels as well. I also check for the other book recommendations of said author, and they seem satisfied with that answer.

I wasn’t able to tell them of my luck in choosing/finding books. When I started reading as a hobby, my books were either from the library or bought from book sales. Books are expensive. And I think that’s also a reason why so few would choose a book over other things at the same price, such as clothes, shoes and bags which you could reuse. You could reread a book, but only if it’s a good one and only if you have a passion for reading. I didn’t know hunting for bargain books would help my “book radar”. I learned to patiently search from shelf to shelf and meticulously read the synopsis at the back cover (probably why I prefer paperback to hardcover books since the latter had none) to judge whether or not I’d be interested in the story. Now, I save up for the books I want to buy, but every so often, I’d still go to book sales, especially at this branch of NBS, to save up on money. But I also go there because there’s a thrill in finding books, like looking for an adventure – the adventure being the new world the book draws you in. It gives me a different kind of happiness when I’ve found one I would like and then discover how amazing it is after reading it. I think I’ve been lucky when it comes to finding books at book sales, though there are a few books I haven’t finished reading yet, I’ve found plenty that I’ve come to love and consider my favorite. Like the Bloody Jack Adventures.

Yesterday, I found another diamond in the rough. While my family was exploring Toys R Us, I wandered next door to PowerBooks. I headed to the books on sale on the cart and started peering around. And I found this:

From the back cover:

In this irresistible follow-up to her New York Times bestselling debut, Garden Spells, author Sarah Addison Allen tells the tale of a young woman whose family secrets—and secret passions—are about to change her life forever.

Twenty-seven-year-old Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter in her North Carolina hometown is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her hidden closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night…. Until she finds it harboring none other than local waitress Della Lee Baker, a tough-talking, tenderhearted woman who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother…

Fleeing a life of bad luck and big mistakes, Della Lee has decided Josey’s clandestine closet is the safest place to crash. In return she’s going to change Josey’s life—because, clearly, it is not the closet of a happy woman. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey is soon forgoing pecan rolls and caramels, tapping into her startlingly keen feminine instincts, and finding her narrow existence quickly expanding.

Before long, Josey bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who makes the best sandwiches in town, is hounded by books that inexplicably appear whenever she needs them, and—most amazing of all—has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush.

As little by little Josey dares to step outside herself, she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom at any time—even for her. It seems that Della Lee’s work is done, and it’s time for her to move on. But the truth about where she’s going, why she showed up in the first place—and what Chloe has to do with it all—is about to add one more unexpected chapter to Josey’s fast-changing life.

Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love—and the enchanting possibilities of every new day.

Sounds magical isn’t it? And just my cup of tea – magic, intrigue, friendship and romance. The sinker was the phrase “the enchanting possibilities of every new day”. I started reading this novel yesterday evening and finished it in the wee hours of dawn. It was that good that I couldn’t be bothered by sleep.

The Sugar Queen has exceeded what I have expected. In a span of 8 hours or so, it has become one of the best books I’ve read and has become a favorite. The author describes her fiction genre as “magic realism” and I couldn’t agree more. The story seemed so realistic, a kind of slice-of-life novel that you don’t realize how magic was seeping between the pages all along. The novel is so much more from its synopsis and I don’t think any review I’ll write will be able to give it justice.

The characters were wonderful and memorable in their own ‘typical’ way. There was nothing new with their personalities yet the way they were portrayed made them endearing. Della Lee, you will find out after you’ve read the whole thing, though her part seems insignificant (being stuck in the closet for the duration of the novel tends to do that) is in the heart of this story and how she affects Josey and Chloe help them grow and mature.

I guess a part of this novel being one of my favorites is because I can somehow relate to the characters – isn’t that one of the reasons why other novels are your favorites too?

Like Josey, I want to leave. I want to go out there and explore the world. And like her, there are certain things that hold me back from doing so. She is Rapunzel in a tower she locks herself in, not just because her mother forces her to but because she restrains herself as well. I also love the way she thinks… she feels for Adam. She seems to heartbreakingly admire him, like a girl having her first crush, which 27-year-old Josey seems to.

“Do you want to leave?” “I want to leave so badly I can’t stand it sometimes,” “What would you do if you left?” “I’d go everywhere, see everything I could.”

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“You would leave?” she asked incredulously. “Really?” “I would leave.” He took a deep breath. “But only with you.”

Chloe is also fascinating – especially her relationships with books. Books randomly appear around her and they help her get through things, even though recently, she doesn’t want their help.

“Books can be possessive, can’t they? You’re walking around in a bookstore and a certain one will jump out at you, like it had moved there on its own, just to get your attention. Sometimes what’s inside will change your life, but sometimes you don’t even have to read it. Sometimes it’s a comfort just to have a book around. Many of these books haven’t even had their spines cracked. ‘Why do you buy books you don’t ever read?’ our daughter asks us. That’s like asking someone who lives alone why they bought a cat. For company, of course…”

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[Books] Paper, string and glue. Separately, they were just objects waiting for a purpose. Together, they were parts of a whole. Something significant, something solid. They were a lot like relationships that way.

And Della Lee! Well, like I said about this novel, nothing I could write would be able to do her justice.

Don’t be fooled by the title. You might think that this novel is some sickly rich fantasy but it is no way like that. There is a bit of a fantastical theme but you wouldn’t notice it unless you really are looking – I was at first, but then the story drew me in and I got completely enchanted, without realizing magic was in the fringes. It’s simple and beautiful and completely unforgettable like The Perks of Being a Wallflower.  There were also a lot of memorable and inspiring quotes, I’d re-read it again and again just for those inspiring lines. It’s  wonderfully written and perfectly paced. You also wouldn’t expect the twist in the ending, the one that did it for me – secured its spot in my list of favorites.

Some books are best read when you’re in a certain mood. Like the Bloody Jack Adventures when you’re bored from being cooped up at home, or Meg Cabot’s novels when you’re in for a light, entertaining and romantic read. But I think The Sugar Queen is one that is best for all seasons – when you’re bored, when you’re feeling down, or when you’re happy. Trust me, it’s that amazing.

The Dark Side of Faerie Tales (And no, it’s not the Brothers Grimm.)

Urban fantasy is my genre of the moment. There’s something so fascinating with the mixture of city life and the supernatural realm – particularly the ones that delve into Faerie mythology. I guess I’ll be a forever fan of faery tales. But now, I’d prefer to hear stories about these cunning and mischievous folk rather than, well, Tinkerbell and Thumbelina. Faerie tales in urban fantasy novels are more similar to the dark stories of the Brothers Grimm than the typical sappy/happy adaptations of Disney. The Young Adult novels I’ve read about Faeries comprises of a typical, dark beginning in an urban village but (thankfully) ends on a happy note – and yes, the girl gets the guy, or the other way around.

Holly Black’s The Modern Faerie Tales is a prime example of a dark and dreary faery tale set in similarly jaded world but finishes with a happy ending. The first and last book, Tithe and Ironside respectively, focuses on Kaye, a usual angst-ridden teen who discovers she is a changeling sprite. She becomes entangled with Roiben, the alluring dark knight of the Unseelie Court. Kaye becomes enthralled with him, with the faerie lore and soon finds herself an important element in a sacrificial ceremony, a tithe.

Holly Black’s faeries are the typical cunning folk in old myths. Shrewd, unable to tell lies and inhumanely beautiful, it’s no wonder I find them so fascinating. They are so different from the playful fairies we have thought of them to be, their personalities are completely the opposite and takes on a “dark side” which I think makes them more realistic because it shows how inhumane they really are. What I also find interesting about Holly Black’s series is that the protagonist, Kaye, tries to outsmart the age-old faery rules. The novel is filled with twists and seemingly impossible situations that the happy ending seems unreachable, even unimaginable since even at the beginning the picture the book paints is a bleak one.

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My most favorite urban fantasy faery tale would be Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series. Similar to Black’s faeries, the ones in Wicked Lovely are just as devious and alluring, though they show a more emotional side. The “Messianic” type of story is also comparable: girl is entangled in a Faerie court and becomes a faerie herself to save said court. In Wicked Lovely, Aislinn is thought of to be the long lost Summer Queen. The Summer King, Keenan, was cursed by her mother, the Winter Queen Beira, and only if he finds his Summer Queen can he attain full power and resurrect his Summer court. Keenan has been searching centuries for her, leaving behind a trail of broken hearts and mortals turned into needy Summer Girls, those who did not take the Winter Queen’s staff, or Winter Girls, those who took the risk and failed and so they must carry the Winter Chill. One of these Winter Girls is Donia, the person dearest to Keenan though he would choose his court over being with the one he truly loves. The series revolves around a love-square between Aislinn, Keenan, Donia and Seth, Aislinn’s mortal love, and mixed with fairy intrigue and irrevocable choices.

Some of the characters in Wicked Lovely are my all-time favorite. I especially adore Donia. She is a beautiful character, one of the best female characters in books I’ve read. She is strong and determined yet tender and heartbreakingly selfless. Irial, the King of the Dark Court, is also a great character. He embodies all that is dangerous and alluring in faeries, and his actions are often misunderstood. These two characters are not your typical broken-hearted girl and bad boy, and I love how Melissa Marr has developed them as the series continues.

I also enjoyed seeing a bigger glimpse of the life and fate of faeries and their courts. The strengths and weaknesses of the Summer, Winter, Dark and High courts, the boundaries and rules of the Fey and the humanness of Melissa Marr’s faeries – these create a thrilling faery world enclosed in a dark, urban area, but one that is much lighter than the environment in Holly Black’s novels. What endeared me to this series was also how the last book ends. I think Melissa Marr did a great job on tying the loose ends of the story and creating a happily ever after – one that is much satisfying than the ones in Disney movies. I usually have one or two complaints on the ending of series (even with Harry Potter and The Hunger Games) and things that I wish had happened or had been addressed, but Wicked Lovely’s ending is just prefect.

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On another (random) note, I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence, or perhaps it’s a requirement of sorts, but all of the urban fantasy / faery mythology books I’ve read have included homosexual romances. I don’t hate homosexuality, but I don’t embrace it either. It’s acceptance or tolerance at best. Modern Faery Tales and the Wicked Lovely series both have boy-boy romances, which I found I could tolerate more (I found the Irial and Niall pairing in WL sweet actually.) than the girl-girl romance (the first I’ve read) in Malinda Lo’s Ash. Ash is another Faery YA novel, though it is not urban fantasy. It’s a very different (not because of the gender issue) re-telling of the classic Cinderella, a whole new take on the “Fairy Godmother”. It’s an interesting read, if ever you’re curious.

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As we grow older, our preferences change. But blame it on early exposure to fairy tales and fantasy that I’ve become selective in my book choices. Maybe it’s better to say, as we grow older, our preferences change, but it’s either we outgrow them or we adapt other things to suit our original inclination. In my case, I just gave my penchant for faerie tales a dose of reality – and we all know how “dark” real life can be.

Jack, A Girl

Jack, A Girl

I’ve always liked the name Jack. Maybe because of the amazing (the one adjective to describe him completely) Captain Jack Sparrow, but I’d like to think there’s more to it than just that. It’s certainly not because of the words you add at the ending of the name to denote something entirely different (like jackhammer, jackfruit, or worse, jackass) As the saying goes, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” But I think there’s a universal personality of people (or literary characters to be more accurate) with the name “Jack”.  This character possesses charming qualities that I admire. The first of which, is wit, intelligence that is most attractive because it is the most expressive and “fun”, for a lack of a better word. Aside from that, Jack is also street-smart and can easily get away with murder… if he wants to. Second is charm. Jack is a likable sort of fellow with an outgoing personality but maintains an air of mystery around him. A walking contradictory, most probably. This gives a lure of curiosity which makes Jack ever so interesting in my eyes. And lastly is confidence. Often mistaken for arrogance, Jack exhumes an easy-going attitude and struts around with the belief that most, if not everyone, likes him. Which is exactly the case, most of the time.

In my musings to recreate the “Jack Character”, I’ve basically described Jack Sparrow, pirate extraordinaire. But it’s not just him I’m basing the personality on. I also have another Jack in mind. One that is as cunning and entertaining as the “alpha male Jack”, and is also a Pirate. The only difference is, this Jack is a girl.

Bloody “Jack” Faber started out as poor, little orphan Mary on the streets of London. After the head of their small gang of orphans dies, she pretends to be a boy and joins the crew of the HMS Dolphin as a Ship’s Boy. There starts her numerous adventures.

On board the Dolphin, Jacky tries to remain undiscovered as a female but puberty is making things a lot more difficult and confusing – which makes a lot of funny scenarios and musings in the first book. She learns the basics of being a ‘sailor’ and dreams of owning her own little merchant ship and travelling the world to see the Bombay Rat, the Cathay Cat, and the Kangaroo. Also, Jacky and the other Ship’s Boys form a “Brotherhood”, and their secret tattoo is marked on their pelvis. One of the members of the Brotherhood is Jaimy Fletcher, Jacky’s true love. He, unlike the other Ship’s boys was born from an affluent family but is soon after knocked off from his high horse and becomes friends with them. The first book is more of a prologue to her adventures and shows how she starts out as a meek little girl but soon after becomes a fiery heroine with a penchant for trouble (and boys). The events also lead up to how she acquired the nickname “Bloody Jack” and after a few scuffles with the French, she is found out to be girl (Of course Jaimy is the first to know.) The book ends with Jacky getting off the Dolphin to study at Lawson Peabody’s School for Girls in Boston but she leaves with promises of meeting again and soon after, get married to Jaimy. The second book starts out with just that and the new Jacky, more confident yet still the same “peaceful sort of coward” she admits to be. After getting into more misadventures and meeting valuable friends (forming a Sisterhood as well) along the way – the boys she flirted with included in this category – Jacky finds herself demoted to a servant girl and a part time performer at night (unknown to the headmistress of course). But her history and infamy of being “Bloody Jack” isn’t past her and she as is discovered to be the one and only girl from the HMS Dolphin, she is met with good cheer but ends up in quite a snitch because of her wanton ways – she remains loyal to Jaimy though, loyal by her standards anyway.

The third book continues her adventures back at sea once again, and the succeeding books show how she becomes more infamous than she already is. Up to the latest book, she becomes an “acting-Lieutenant” of the HMS Wolverine, acquires her own ship through dubious ways, has been convicted as a Pirate with a price upon her head, was captured in a Slave Ship and planned an escape with her classmates form the Peabody school, travels along the Mississippi river with new friends and native Americans, becomes a spy for England and travels to France, becomes a messenger of Napoleon Bonaparte, almost gets married, enlisted to find lost Spanish gold and many more… there is clearly no dull moment. She also manages to keep herself “somewhat chaste” for her true love Jaimy who, despite her wanton ways with numerous (there’s a new guy vying for her affections in every book! And she doesn’t completely turn them down…) lovers, still finds himself deeply in love with the girl and she with him as well. Jacky also managed to establish an orphanage in her hometown, start her dream company, Faber Shipping Worldwide and earn quite a reputation in Britain, France and America – having books documenting her adventures helped a lot in this case. Obviously, she also managed to stay alive after so many life-threatening events.

Jacky Faber is living the life of adventure and romance. She is clearly one of the most unique and interesting heroines I’ve ever read. I found the first book in a book sale, and I bought it for about P30 only! I was so engrossed in the story that I had to order the rest of the books in the series online because they don’t sell it here in the Philippines. It’s one of my favorite books of all time, underrated it may be. Jacky Faber is my most favorite female character ever, even more than Katniss of the The Hunger Games or Donia in Wicked Lovely. She’s so badass. The best female Jack I’ve ever encountered, not that there are a lot but that fact only adds up to the assertion of how unique she is. Jacky Faber could give Captain Jack Sparrow a run for his money any day. And I doubt his experiences would be just plentiful on and off the ship. Either that’s the truth or that’s my feminist side speaking. Probably both.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

There are two types of writing that I like the most.

The first is a very detailed and descriptive account. One that spurs my imagination, those that take me to places I can only dream of going and encountering events that would never have happened to me in real life – the prose that caters to my sense of adventure.

The other is a painfully honest piece, eloquently expressing the words I couldn’t find when I was feeling the same way as the character does in the story. These help me put things in perspective, and I learn a lot of valuable lessons from understanding it better.

The former is an accurate explanation of why I love reading Fantasy and Adventure novels. The latter is an illustration of my thoughts and emotions. And Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I realized, has painted the whole picture.

I’d like to think that Charlie, the protagonist, is like me on the outside: shy and socially awkward. But he is a person who I only wish I was in the inside: reflective and intelligent. The saying “There is more to him than what meets the eye” is personified in him. In the novel, Charlie narrates the confusing and emotionally draining experience that is growing-up. From the eyes of a wallflower, the story shows the every day experiences of people: conflicts between family, the comfort and reassurance of friends, the paradox of wanting to stand out and be the same as everyone else, the pain of unrequited love, the confusing world of relationships, the memories buried in the subconscious, and the consuming loneliness of thoughts. Yet at the same time, the novel shows a different perspective of life – one that is more conscious of every action. Charlie’s thoughts consume him, and instead of living his life, he just watches idly in the background and reflects. It shows that sometimes, the price of understanding is at the cost of experiencing.

“Do you always think this much, Charlie?”

“Is that bad?” I just wanted someone to tell me the truth.

“Not necessarily. It’s just that sometimes people use thought not to participate in life.”

“Is that bad?”

“Yes.”

The honesty of this book moves me. The seemingly plot-less journey of the characters made the story become a realistic depiction. I think fiction is at its finest when it’s either vividly imagined or believably true. Usually I’d describe a page-turner as an engrossing, fast-paced story that gives a need to know what happens in the end, but Perks is one in its own merit. I found it hard to put it down because the simplicity and articulacy of Charlie’s thoughts drew me to my own. The heart of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is its sensitivity. And in that sense, I guess there’s a feeling of affinity between every person and Charlie. It made me realize that you don’t need to have a similar perspective in life to share an identical experience and to react the same way. It’s a great and inspiring book to read especially for those who are seemingly ‘lost’ and feeling unappreciated. Though I think this is not a ‘feel-good’ book, I would read it over and over as a reminder to not just feel, not just think, but also act. Do something in your life. Be someone.

Here are some of the quotations/passages in the book that I really love. I also wrote the page number, taken from this copy:

26 I look at people holding hands in the hallways, and I try to think about how it all works. At the school dances, I sit in the background, and I tap my toe, and I wonder how many couples will dance to “their song.” In the hallways, I see girls wearing the guys’ jackets, and I think about the idea of property. And I wonder if anyone is really happy. I hope they are. I really hope they are.

27 “Charlie, we accept the love we think we deserve.” – Bill

42 And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.

52 I just think it’s bad when a boy looks at a girl and thinks the way he sees the girl is better than the girl actually is. And I think it’s bad when the most honest way a boy can look at a girl is through a camera.

54-55 Personally, I like to think that my brother is having a college experience like they do in the movies. I don’t mean the big fraternity party kind of movie. More like the movie where the guy meets a smart girl who wears a lot of sweaters and drinks cocoa. They talk about books and issues and kiss in the rain. I think something like that would be very good for him, especially if the girl were unconventionally beautiful.  They are the best kind of girls, I think. I personally find “supermodels” strange. I don’t know why this is.

60 I am very interested and fascinated by how everyone loves each other, but no one really likes each other. [About Families]

71-72 I think it was the first time in my life I ever felt like I look “good.” Do you know what I mean? That nice feeling where you look in the mirror, and your hair’s right for the first time in your life? I don’t think we should base so much on weight, muscles, and a good hair day, but when it happens, it’s nice. It really is.

73 Inside the card, I told Sam that the present I gave her was given to me by my Aunt Helen. It was an old 45 record that had the Beatles’ song “Something.” I used to listen to it all the time when I was little and thinking about grown-up things.  I would go to my bedroom window and stare at my reflection in the glass and the trees behind it and just listen to the song for hours. I decided then that when I met someone I thought was as beautiful as the song, I should give it to that person. And I didn’t mean beautiful on the outside. I meant beautiful in all ways. So, I was giving it to Sam.

75 And she kissed me. It was the kind of kiss that I could never tell my friends about out loud. It was the kind of kiss that made me know that I was never so happy in my whole life.

100 I don’t know if you’ve ever felt like that. That you wanted to sleep for a thousand years. Or just not exist. Or just not be aware that you do exist. Or something like that. I think wanting that is very morbid, but I want it when I get like this.  That’s why I’m trying not to think. I just want it all to stop spinning.

101 Sometimes, I look outside, and think that a lot of other people have seen this snow before. Just like I think that a lot of other people have read those books before. And listened to those songs.

149 I just wish that God or my parents or Sam or my sister or someone would just tell me what’s wrong with me.  Just tell me how to be different in a way that makes sense. To make this all go away. And disappear. I know that’s wrong because it’s my responsibility, and I know that things get worse before they get better because that’s what my psychiatrist says, but this is a worse that feels too big.

153 To tell you the truth, I’ve just been avoiding everything. I walk around the school hallways and look at the people.  I look at the teachers and wonder why they’re here.  If they like their jobs.  Or us.  And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen.  Not in a mean way.  In a curious way.  It’s like looking at all the students and wondering who’s had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report on top of that.  Or wondering who did the heart breaking.  And wondering why.  Especially since I know that if they went to another school, the person who had their heart broken would have had their heart broken by somebody else, so why does it have to be so personal?

156 But because things change.  And friends leave.  And life doesn’t stop for anybody.

182 “I would die for you.  But I won’t live for you.” Something like that. I think the idea is that every person has to live for his or her own life and then make the choice to share it with other people.  Maybe that is what makes people “participate.” I’m not really certain.

195-196 When I was driving home, I just thought about the word “special.” And I thought the last person who said that about me was my aunt Helen.  I was very grateful to have heard it again.  Because I guess we all forget sometimes.  And I think everyone is special in their own way.  I really do.

213 In the silence, I remembered this one time that I never told anybody about. The time we were walking. Just the three of us. And I was in the middle.  I don’t remember where we were walking to or where we were walking from.  I don’t even remember the season. I just remember walking between them and feeling for the first time that I belonged somewhere.

214 “It’s great that you can listen and be a shoulder to someone, but what about when someone doesn’t need a shoulder.  What if they need the arms or something like that? You can’t just sit there and put everybody’s lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love.  You just can’t.  You have to do things.” – Sam

216 “It’s just that I don’t want to be somebody’s crush.  If somebody likes me, I want them to like the real me, not what they think I am.  And I don’t want them to carry it around inside.  I want them to show me, so I can feel it, too.  I want them to be able to do whatever they want around me.  And if they do something I don’t like, I’ll tell them.” – Sam

228 So, I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons.  And maybe we’ll never know most of them.  But even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there.  We can still do things.  And we can try to feel okay about them.

229 I think that if I ever have kids, and they are upset, I won’t tell them that people are starving in China or anything like that because it wouldn’t change the fact that they were upset.  And even if somebody else has it much worse, that doesn’t really change the fact that you have what you have. Good and bad.

231 Please believe that things are good with me, and even when they’re not, they will be soon enough. And I will believe the same about you. Love always, Charlie

Enjoy.