E-ARC Review: Crush. Candy. Corpse.

E-ARC Review: Crush. Candy. Corpse.

Posted by Nina L. on 1:00 PM in 2-star, E-ARC, galley, realistic, review, Sylvia McNicoll, YA,

Author: Sylvia McNicoll

Release date: February 17th 2012

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository  

Add to your library: Goodreads

Paradise Manor is depressing - the smells are bad and the residents are old. Sunny would much rather be doing her volunteer hours at Salon Teo, but her teacher won't let her. Who says volunteering at a hair salon doesn't benefit the community?

But working with the Alzheimer's patients has a surprising effect on Sunny. Along with Cole, the grandson of one of the residents, she begins to see that the residents don't have much more choice about their lives than she does: what they eat, how they are treated by staff, even what they watch on television. So Sunny does what she can to make the residents happy - even if she has to sometimes break the rules to do it.

But when tragedy strikes at Paradise, Sunny's left to make the decision about whether or not to honor a promise that Cole made to his grandmother about her life and her death. (via Goodreads)

It took me awhile before I got the hang of the story. Maybe because I was waiting in the hospital that day or maybe because the start didn't have that much of an impact to me. It actually started out unique. I think too unique for me that I didn't get it all too well. 

It started out in the courtroom. See? Unique right? But the organization of the scenes confused me. A lot. There are parts in the book wherein an entry of Sunny's journal is inserted. So it's like, courtroom, journal, courtroom, journal, etc. The entries in the journal were directed to Mr. Brooks. He was the teacher who actually forced Sunny to volunteer at Paradise Manor. The thing is, that journal itself made a lot of confusing thoughts for me. I don't know if it was my comprehension level or the book was just confusing. Either way, it was so confusing that I don't even know what's in the journal and not anymore. Placing a journal in a book sounds so good. Though I think it could have been executed in a better way. Without confusions.

There's Sunny. She had this volunteer work at Paradise Manor for her school requirement. Obviously, she was forced to do it. She met Cole and his grandmother in the Manor. She met a lot of oldies. A lot of staff hated her. Why? She doesn't follow rules. I hate her for that. Those rules weren't even for her. It was for the old people. So why can't she just follow them right? And I know she doesn't even want to volunteer. It was just for her school requirement. I read on thinking that she'll love the old people since she was close to her grandma before. She did, of course. But that, my friends, was the part where she lost me. I didn't feel as if she really felt concern for the old people. Sure, she was kind to them, did good things for them. But was that enough? I just didn't find that sincerity in her voice. And to think that this was written in the 1st person POV makes me sick. I felt like I was reading from a 3rd person POV. That's how much I didn't connect to her. There's also her boyfriend issue. Goodness, how can she lead on Cole when she has a boyfriend? If you're thinking that I hate her, I don't. Really. But her choices do suck. It's just so frustrating, okay. And here's the thing, I can forgive for her stupidity if she has a life that is sucking her up. But she doesn't. Maybe she has issues. But those weren't much of a big deal in the story. The story was so much focused on the case, in the courtroom. So I guess that's why I wasn't able to connect to her and understand her.

The thing that led Sunny to that courtroom concerns Cole and his grandma. You'll figure it out immediately when you read this. I just don't want to say it here. What happened was so freaking shallow. I'm sorry. But I think there are worse problems that can happen than that. It was pure accident. And I don't even know why there was a case against Sunny. Seriously? It was so unbelievable. I know Sylvia did some research but I didn't find it so convincing. 

Another thing is, there are a lot of issues that were introduced in this book that I find it so dragging already. Sure, the case is the main concern. But there are little problems that seemed so unimportant. They weren't discussed or even explained a little more. And there's the ending. It was so so so not what I expected. I know what's gonna happen to the case. But the last part of the ending itself made me think about what the moral of this story is. 

I read this because I have a soft spot for people with Alzheimer's. But because there are more issues I have with this book, I didn't get to enjoy the read anymore. I can't even think that the focus was Alzheimer's disease. I felt like the story took a lot of turns but didn't make it back. 

Despite all my rant, I'm giving this two stars. It was okay. Neither liked nor disliked. Still, I just thought the story could have been executed in a better way. The premise was so good anyway.

Of course, I'm not discouraging you to read this. Maybe this isn't just for me. But I do hope you'll give this a chance!

(Many thanks to James Lorimer & Company for allowing me to read this through NetGalley.)

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E-ARC Review: If You Find Me

E-ARC Review: If You Find Me

Posted by Nina L. on 3:52 PM in 5-star, cry-worthy, depressing, E-ARC, favorite, galley, realistic, review, YA,

Author: Emily Murdoch

Release date: March 26, 2013

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Format: Hardcover, 256 pages

Purchase: The Book Depository | Amazon

Add to your library: Goodreads

There are some things you can’t leave behind…

A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

   

     Doesn't that synopsis make you cringe and look at your surroundings for possible enemies? It sounds like paranoia for my part. But then that's what reading do to me. It makes me feel. Saying that this book made me feel a lot of emotions is such an understatement. I experienced a whirlwind of feelings that I can't even begin to express it in words. I always have a hard time writing a review for books that I felt and still feel after days, months or even years of reading it. You know, some stories just don't truly leave you.

    I was amazed by how vivid the words of Emily are. It just feels so real. The way she described how Carey was feeling was so honest that I absolutely felt it. I especially liked the beginning of the story. The way that she gave such an image of what Carey's life has been was so unique and real. It gave me the creeps because I can't imagine someone having that kind of life. Taken when young. Out there. In the middle of the woods. Parents absent. Caring for a younger sibling. Without the basic needs. Fighting for their lives. I've read books which are so unique and honest that I was so thankful that they are just fictional stories and not real ones. But all stories are reflections of what's happening in the real world, right? 

     Carey was not so hard to love at all. Especially because she was definitely one of the most unique and honest characters I've known. Unique in both good and maybe bad for other people. She can be very backward in all aspects because obviously, she grew up in the woods. She wasn't placed out there in the real world. She was deprived of that right everyone has. Although that fact itself didn't stop her from learning. I remember my subject last semester! Theories of Learning. Seriously, we studied on how human beings and animals learn. At first, I was like, "What? Why shall I study the process on how people and animals learn? Isn't that an inert capability that everyone has? So it depends purely on the person or the animal given specific circumstances!" But in the end, I still took the subject anyway. It actually taught me on  the things that make people learn. May it be because of a drive or a reward or a punishment. Thus Learning is not the same for everyone. And Carey is a proof for that. Despite not attending school, she was able to learn the basics and math. She learned through the books her Mother bought. She was even learning more than the average. Although it wasn't the same for her English language. But hello, her English was understandable anyway. I know I said she's honest and yet she kept a secret until then end. I wonder what will you feel and think if you learn her secret. I actually had that guess but I want to think otherwise because it was too much for her. It was too much for anyone her age or for anyone for that matter. Thing is, all of us are afraid to tell our deepest secrets because we're afraid that everyone we love and everything we have will turn their backs away from us. She was honest in a way that I felt her sincerity that she really want to tell it. I bet it took all of her courage to say her secret to her dad. All she needed was time and I guess we all do.

      Jenessa was the sole reason why Carey did what she have to do. It was her sisterly love and instincts that drove her to do it.  Because of what Carey have done, Jenessa decided to be silent since then. Of course, Jenessa won't give Carey away for what she did since she was the only one who took care of her in the middle of the woods. She knew better that it was for their own protection. It was just so amazing how she can be that serious in keeping her mouth shut. I understand how Carey's dad and his wife Melissa adore her.

       The lives that Carey and Jenessa have to adjust with were not so easy. It's like a toddler during the first day of school. There will be lots of people and you have to trust someone else outside your family. That was the difference with Carey and Jenessa. They still have to learn how to trust their own family. It wasn't that hard with Jenessa since she's just a kid. And we all know how kids can be so innocent and just so good! But with Carey, it was so hard because she was keeping something. She can't even give in to Melissa even if she was such a good Mother figure. But of course, all walls do break. When Carey started to trust people, she became friends with Pixie whom I adore and even with Ryan whom I adore more. The connection that Carey and Ryan was so surprising and shocking for me. In the end, it was so good.

      Carey's dad, Melissa and Delaney became their family. I thank St. Joseph for giving the girls such a family. Although there were struggles at first, the two of them deserve the best. Even Delaney as their stepsister.  Of course, I wouldn't forget to mention the girls' Mom here. I just wish that she is in such a good place as her daughters are.

      If You Find Me is a story I'll never forget and a story that will always make me be thankful for the life I have. This story reminds me a lot of Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. It was one of my favorites so as this. I can't say more without giving a lot. So I suggest that you go read this book! There are a lot of  twists and turns which will make your heart ache. Be ready for an emotional read! If You Find Me will surely break your heart. 

      I forgot! The fact that this book contains quotations from Winnie the Pooh and Friends made me love it even more. 

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together...there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart...I'll always be with you."

     (Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing this galley in exchange of an honest review through NetGalley.)

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