Fitting in: Four books.

ok, so, here we go, four books that deal with some facet of maturity, belonging, and growing up. One is completely fictional, one is historical fiction, and the other two are very different, but set in the modern world.

Lets start with Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld. This is a Teen book, but would give you a lot to talk about with your teen (or any teen). The premise of the book is that, at 16, you get an operation that makes you a 'pretty'. The book is a little simplistic, in many ways, but gives some commentary on what we value. And its about a journey a teen makes, both literally and metaphorically, and how she grows up. Its also about societal demands. I think the one thing that would have made this book really ideal for teens is a series of discussion questions or interview with the author in the back. I know sometimes I find the discussion questions get me thinking a little more about the themes of the book, and there are some themes that kids wouldn't immediately think about. The role of parents and protection in this book (you see two sets of parents, as well as the societal 'authority figures'), you see friendship and promises. You see responsibility and accountability.

The historical fiction, the Wet Nurse's Tale, is a somewhat sanitized historical fiction piece, but it is fascinating to read. Reading it made me wonder why we don't have wet nurses in society so much anymore. It too was a love story, a story about growing up, finding a place in society. I enjoyed it, but just found it a little too simplistic for my taste... I didn't feel that there was a broad enough amount of research, somehow, and the character was a little too complacent about some things that should have provoked a different response. I suppose I did not find it passionate enough. That being said, for historical fiction, its not a bad read. I have read significantly worse, and in the end, it turned out to be just a light, fun read.

Turning to the modern world, and a finishing school upbringing, we have The Finishing Touches, by Hester Browne. This, again was a lighter read, but very very enjoyable. It was also full of lessons that I wish my 'finishing school' education had covered. How to evaluate a man, how to walk in heels, how to balance a checkbook... It really felt as if the author had attended my boarding school. There were many, many things in there that rang very true.

Lastly, a magical modern novel, 'Blue Boy' by Rakesh Satyal. This resonated with me in a different way than the previous book, because its about fitting in, and being part of different groups. And growing up, and finding your own way, and navigating between different cultures... in the hero's case, navigating between his Indian heritage and the Indian circles, and the American society by which he is surrounded, and his attempts to reconcile the two...

A theory of all things

I got an ARC of this book, which I also reviewed on LibraryThing (where I received the ARC). This is due out in March, and is a fabulous book. It is told, in turn, by all five of the Bennett children (now adults), as well as a few other people who figure in the story, eventually. It is a story of a family that had fragmented following two traumatic events, and is now gradually healing. Its the story of reconnecting, refinding, rediscovering and reforging family.

There are few authors who can tell a story from multiple points of view, but Leon manages it, with skill. She shows us the personalities of the various family members, and how their lives have been framed and formed by these two events, and how they all interact with other members, and start healing and coming to terms with their family.

The Dragon Reborn...

I know that after Robert Jordan passed away in 2007, I was saddened. I had been reading the Wheel Of Time series for years, since my mid-twenties. I was also starting to feel that perhaps Jordan was a little burned out.... as I don't recall reading Knife of Dreams. I am feeling inspired again after reading The Gathering Storm. (I actually read both Knife of Dreams and Gathering Storm, one after the other) Sanderson does a wonderful job of filling Jordan's shoes and presenting the story. There is a very good flow, and in some ways Sanderson sets up the events more clearly, so there is a better feel of what is happening with each character. The writing style is slightly different, nothing I can point to directly, and say 'This, this, and this is different', but he does a wonderful job. There was only one false note that just felt wrong to me, which I won't describe in detail because it is a spoiler. But it just felt unfinished and abrupt, somehow.

I do wish I had a cheat sheet to figure out which of the Forsaken are dead, which are alive, and who is where, but that is something I've wished for a long time. That's my one problem with this series, is that the same characters crop up ten books later, when you've forgotten who they were and what they did. I think that is one thing that Sanderson actually handles better than Jordan did. Because he reminds you 'ok this person was from this time, and did this', whereas Jordan would just plunk them in and it wasn't until you were rereading that you'd say 'Oh! He did that too!'.

I'll be interested to see what Sanderson does with the next two books, to finish off the series. But so far, apart from that one false note, he has done wonderfully. And it cannot be an easy thing, to take up the reins on such a popular series.