Some Good Books to Check Out

Hey there, everyone! So I thought I would write about a few books I've been reading in 2013, and share some of the good ones. If there's any books that anyone thinks I should definitely read, tell me in the comments! Alright, let's begin, shall we?

1. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon



It's 1939, in New York City. Joe Kavalier, a young artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdiniesque escape, has just pulled off his greatest feat - smuggling himself out of Hitler's Prague. He's looking to make big money, fast, so that he can bring his family to freedom. His cousin, Brooklyn's own Sammy Clay, is looking for a partner in creating the heroes, stories, and art for the latest novelty to hit the American dreamscape: the comic book. Inspired by their own fantasies, fears, and dreams, Kavalier and Clay create the Escapist, the Monitor, and the otherworldy Mistress of the Night, Luna Moth, inspired by the beautiful Rosa Saks, who will become linked by powerful ties to both men. The golden age of comic books has begun, even as the shadow of Hitler falls across Europe.






There's a few reasons why I like this book. One, it's so realistic, and Chabon adds so much knowledge to it that often I questioned whether or not this was supposed to be fiction. He even adds footnotes to further explain things completely unrelated to the plot, yet it creates yet another layer of reason as to why this books is pure genius. Not only that, but there's multiple plot lines, some more dominant than others, which had adds so much complexity and awesomeness in it that is rare to find. The books unfolds identical to how life does, no skipping or cascading around difficult subjects. He writes straight and simple, yet the entire story line makes it a book I would not recommend to just anyone. Admittedly, it is a hard book to read, and it takes a lot of concentration to be able to follow everything cohesively. But if you are an avid reader, I definitely think you should try out this book, because it is completely worth the time and energy used to read this amazing book. (Don't even get me started on the characters themselves-they're...just read it. You'll understand.)


2. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT PITY.

THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT REGRET.

THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT NUMBER.

THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP COMING.

Tessa Gray should be happy — aren’t all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding to Jem Carstairs, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to the Magister, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan of destruction.

He needs Tessa.

Tessa knows Axel Mortmain, the Magister, is coming for her, but not where or when he will strike. Charlotte Branwell, the head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain first. And the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa’s heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, and Will knows he should force himself to find someone else to care for, he is as much in love with her as ever.

In the last words of a dying Shadowhunter reside the clue that might lead Tessa and her friends to Mortmain. But the Shadowhunters of the London Institute cannot stand alone, and in their homeland of Idris, the ruling body of the Clave doubt their claims that Mortmain is coming. Deserted by those who should be their allies and with their enemies closing in, the Shadowhunters find themselves trapped when Mortmain seizes the medicine which is all that is keeping Jem alive. With his best friend at death’s door it is up to Will to risk everything to save the woman they both love.

To buy Will time, the warlock Magnus Bane joins with Henry Branwell to create a device that could help them to defeat the Magister. As those who love Tessa work to save her, and the future of the Shadowhunters that resides with her, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself —for in the discovery of her own true nature, Tessa begins to learn that she is more powerful than she ever dreamed possible. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

First order of business; if you haven't read Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince, read those first, then you can read this. I mean, you can read this and be slightly confused now, but that's really up to you. Okay. With that said, let me begin. I love this book. I love this series, I love the author Cassandra Clare, I love the characters, and I love everything about this. I've been with this series since the beginning, and so you can infer that this book, being the concluding third book of The Infernal Devices, I cried a lot. So this book in particular was great because firstly the characters had changed so much in the course of the trilogy, and their growth was portrayed so well here. Old characters were continuing to be developed, new characters were introduced, and new and old relationships were changed and adjusted into a perfect harmony. That's one of the greatest things about these characters. They never stop changing, and that's such an important part of novel writing. Real people change all the time, so why shouldn't characters in a book? Another thing I admire about these books is that Clare mixes together humor and a serious plot together so wonderfully, so you could be laughing one minute and then the next running for the tissue box. I guess that's all I'll say for now, other than read The Infernal Devices Trilogy!! (Also The Mortal Instruments.)  

3. If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko

Kirsten's parents are barely speaking to each other, and her best friend has fallen under the spell of the school's queen bee, Brianna. It seems like only Kirsten's younger science-geek sister is on her side. Walker's goal is to survive at the new white private school his mom has sent him to because she thinks he's going to screw up like his cousin. But he's a good kid. So is his friend Matteo, though no one knows why he’ll do absolutely anything that hot blond Brianna asks of him. But all of this feels almost trivial when Kirsten and Walker discover a secret that shakes them both to the core.

I usually don't read books that are too easy to read, but fortunately for me I made an exception with this one. This has surprisingly a lot of really difficult issues in here, all disguised in an easy-to-read humorous book. A few of the issues Gennifer Choldenko raises are self-esteem, racial profiling, bullying, being fake, familial problems like trying to impress parents or trying to ignore their fighting, and social class differences. And what makes it really interesting is that basically all the characters are in 7th grade, and most of the issues aren't just dealt with, as most juvenile books portray issues like these. So even if you know you're an advanced reader, I say humble yourself a little and take a look at this book. Don't worry, it's a quick read, as well, so you won't be stuck forever in the unforgivable universe of being a middle schooler.

I've read more books, but I think that's good for now. Maybe I'll start doing what the other people are doing, and start having "[Insert Month] Haul" things. Either way, I hope you check out these books, and see what I see and even more in them! Have a nice day, everyone!