"To live is to swim toward the shimmer To die is to never try"
Jonathan is barely surviving after the death of his twin brother Telly. He skips classes"To live is to swim toward the shimmer To die is to never try"
Jonathan is barely surviving after the death of his twin brother Telly. He skips classes, doesn't sleep, survives on Red Bull, NoDoz and Special K topped with pure cane sugar from Hawaii. A year ago, he was awarded best young poet in Seattle, now he lives in a constant mindless stupor. The only poetry he actually writes is about his brother - the Tales of Telemachus. Less than five months before the end of the term, he receives an ultimatum from the school principal - get his act together or he'll be held back a year. To make up for his missed school work, he was given special projects: to write a book, a memoir of David Cosgrove II, a WWII soldier and to perform a song at the school's graduation ceremony. With the help oh his "thicks," he just might be able to keep afloat.
I absolutely adored this book. Jonathan’s ramblings are engrossing. There were a few times when he sounded condescending and full of himself but I think it added depth to his character. Made himself more tangible, more real. The way he was dealing with the loss of his brother made it immediately clear to me how much Telly meant to him. My favorite part of the story was when he and Telly went to Eddie Vedder's house. I think the way he described Telly at that moment sums up how much he loved and admired his brother. David’s story was intense and heartbreaking and it added another layer to the book. I thought the "thicks" were awesome for not giving up on Jonathan. I loved the other characters too - Agnes, Frank Conway, Count Basie, Gupti, Birdwell and especially RIC and RUBY.
i've had this book for a while and i've heard a lot good things about it but i kept putting reading it off and i'm not sure why. i guess i was apprehei've had this book for a while and i've heard a lot good things about it but i kept putting reading it off and i'm not sure why. i guess i was apprehensive that i'd be disappointed and end up not liking it. boy, i was wrong.
the story is about stanley yelnats IV who was sent to a juvie camp where kids are asked to dig holes to "build character". during the course of his time at camp, he discovers that there's a lot more to this hole-digging than they were being led to believe.
i loved how the three story lines in the book merged together. it reminds me of one of my favorite books - wally lamb's "i know this much is true" which weaves the present, some family history and a dash of magic all in a brilliant package. i should've read this sooner!
amy and roger's epic detour is a story about moving on, finding one's self and finding happiness in the most unexpected places. reading thiROAD TRIP!
amy and roger's epic detour is a story about moving on, finding one's self and finding happiness in the most unexpected places. reading this made me want to go on my own epic detour a-la amy and roger, to chart my own adventure and create my own playlists. speaking of playlists, roger's are brilliant! i'm downloading ALL the songs he listed that i don't have yet. the addition of the scrapbook-like entries and store/meal receipts are fun and quirky. awesome book!
my name is not will grayson but i sure appreciate tiny dancer errr..
when i picked WGWG up, i didn't know what to expect save for a story about what hamy name is not will grayson but i sure appreciate tiny dancer errr..
when i picked WGWG up, i didn't know what to expect save for a story about what happens when two will graysons unexpectedly meet but boy, was i in for a a touching and hilarious ride.
what can i say about the will graysons? i loved Will with jane, Will and his locker combination-dedication, Will with his dad, Will and his ten-minute game of truth, ... i just loved Will period. trust john green to give you a character that's so flawed yet so perfect you'd want one for yourself i-r-l. on the other hand, i was a bit put off with will (yes, the second one) with his doom and gloom attitude but as the story progressed, i felt sympathy for his depression and my apprehensions about him were soon overshadowed by my growing love for Will plus tiny in all his fab gay glory.
and what do i think of tiny cooper? tiny cooper is a force to be reckoned with. he's the type of person who's loud, obnoxious and majorly self-absorbed but you can't help being drawn to him because you know that deep down, he's nice person who's also charming and ridiculously funny. i have a couple of gay friends (though not as huge as or as gay as tiny) and i can definitely relate to the over-the-top theatrics and the sometimes urgent need to burst into song (complete with jazz hands). while i had some misgivings about tiny cooper, i fell inlove with "tiny dancer" because it had all the elements of a riotous high school musical - tawdry and irreverent, a bit narcissistic, touching, funny and full of love.
all in all, i thought this book was amazing. i LOVED the relationship between Will and tiny. The two of them together made up for some awkward hilarity. and honestly, there could not have been a greater sign of love and friendship than Will's willingness to pick tiny's nose.
first read on september 8, 2010 reread on february 22, 2011...more
**spoiler alert** i just finished reading mockingjay a few minutes ago and i'm still in shock.. not with how the story ended but with the events leadi**spoiler alert** i just finished reading mockingjay a few minutes ago and i'm still in shock.. not with how the story ended but with the events leading up to the end. panem is at war and katniss everdeen, who was whisked away to district 13 at the end of catching fire, reluctantly became the symbol of the districts' rebellion against the capitol.
this book was way more intense than the first two, even disturbing at times. suzanne collins did an excellent job of portraying the bleakness and desperation of a country at war; conflict, death, carnage - nothing was sugar-coated and the graphic descriptions made me flinch a couple of times. katniss' feelings about being the face of the rebellion and her personal turmoil over her family and friends were interspersed with gripping action ensuring that the story doesn't become boring or too drawn out. also, the characters were all fleshed out with everyone having their own motivations as to why they want to bring the capitol down, their thoughts and actions sometimes blurring the lines between right and wrong.
of course, there's the question of peeta vs. gale and it does get answered but there were no cheesy declarations of love and devotion. i liked that the resolution to this "love triangle" kept up with the reality of the story rather than giving in to the temptation of upping the "cutesy" factor for the sake of the screaming fangirls (like me).
if i could describe mockingjay in one word, i'd say it's grim. i felt absolutely shattered at the end when it turned out katniss' reason for joining the hunger games in the first place was for nothing. so were they able to defeat the capitol? who won? i won't spoil that part but suzanne collins sure did a fine job in reminding everyone that in war, there are no winners. ...more
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