Review: Going Vintage

Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Release Date: March 26, 2013 
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Pages: 320
Source: NetGalley
[add on Goodreads]

Summary:  When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars).

The List:

1. Run for pep club secretary

2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree

3. Sew a dress for Homecoming

4. Find a steady

5. Do something dangerous

But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

My Favorite Lines:
".... He has three hula girls on the dash, three more in the back.  I wonder what they think behind those vacant smiles, their plastic shells.  These are women who will never wear a shirt, who must spend their existence dancing on demand."

"Adolescence is the same tragedy being performed again and again.  The only things that change are the stage props."

"And so Jeremy sends flowers to mark his territory.  Better than peeing in a circle around you."

Why I Loved It:  As many reviews will do, *I am sure* I shall do this in a list format of all the awesome things about the book as a tribute to the awesomeness of the book.

1.  Hysterical.  The book was incredibly endearing and laugh out loud kind of funny all throughout the book.  Moments that were kinda depressing always had a spot of comic relief.  I love funny and cute contemporary books, and this is definitely of that variety.

2.  Awesome MC.  Mallory could have been someone I went to school with.  She would be one of the stranger ones perhaps.  However, she had real issues and the whole swearing off technology thing and going strictly vintage 1960's?  Come on.  Many dramatic girls throughout time have pulled stunts as crazy.  I mean I probably would went down a similar path if my boyfriend had cheated on my via the world wide web.  Her best friend is her younger sister.  Considering that my bff is my little sister, I can totally relate to that relationship.  It's not something that is super existant in the world of YA.  It was a bit refreshing.

3.  Oliver.  He seemed to be pretty attractive in the book.  Though I am still not sure about it.  I mean he did some strange things.  But maybe that is part of his charm?  I am not sure, but he made the story better as most second halves of the romances do.

4.  Family.  Mallory's is dysfunctional.  And I did have some urges to yell at her mother at times.  But Mallory's relationship with her grandmother was a pretty awesome part of the story.  Mallory is constantly trying to explore what it meant to be a teenager in the 60's which means pestering her grandmother with questions that she didn't really want to answer.  That relationship leads to what really made what would be a "light and fluffy" read much less fluffy and much more substantial.

5.  1960's.  My favorite movies were made in those years considering I am an extreme Audrey Hepburn fan.  Of course some of my favorites were also the 50's and 70's, but you get the idea.  I loved the fashion of that time, but the book also hits on the not so great thing about the time period like gender inequality.  It's kind of important that the highs and lows are remembered.  And I thought the book covered both nicely.

Who Should Read It:  It's an awesome contemporary read.  I think it's a must for those contemporary fans.  Funny, intelligent, and a bit vintage.  Nothing a bit wrong with that.

       

Review: Dance of Shadows

Author: Yelena Black
Release Date:  February 12, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Pages: 469
Source:  NetGalley
[add on Goodreads]
Thanks to Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:  Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts.

Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames. 

Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed.

My Favorite Lines:

"Dance the dance.  There was something comforting in that simplicity.  She could dance things she couldn't find the words to say.  Feel emotion she didn't know how to show in everyday life.  She could defeat the villain, seduce the prince, enchant the nymphs of the forest, find her true love, and live happily forever after, just like that."

"You don't have to let them go," said Josef.  "You just have to use them.  For us, life and dance are not separate.  Dance your life."

"Vanessa started to feel each step deep within her body until they were as natural as falling in love, teetering with yearning, jumping back in anger.  The dance felt so intimate that she went warm with shame every time she caught the eye of one of the princesses, reminding her that the entire cast was watching her conversation with Zep."

Why I Loved It:  Let me just say, I have got to stop reading Goodread's reviews before I write mine.  I just like to know what people are thinking.  It usually makes me feel better if I have to say something negative.  But no more!  For me, this is one of those books that I obsessed over because of the cover.  It is beautiful!!  And since I am on that dancing kick *I know, I know I need to shut up about that* I thought it sounded perfect.  And there were a lot of things I loved about the book.  There were.

For example, I loved the mystery underlining the storyline.  You just know that something sinister is happening, though I don't think I  quite expected what it was.  The book had a bit of a Black Swan feel to it.  Ok maybe not that intense.  Black Swan made my head hurt with all the psychological intensity.  But still there was that tension building throughout the story that made me reminisce.  The first half of the book was actually really good that pulled you in, showed you the world of ballet, and made you wonder what exactly was happening.

Vanessa's friends made me laugh, and I found Justin to be adorable and complicated.  The dance scenes for me were intense and a bit erotic.  I don't know if that was quite the right word, but everything was so intimate and close.  I mean for those Dirty Dancing fans, you know they say dance is like making love.  So yea maybe erotic is the right word.  Either way, most of the dance scenes were well-written.

Vanessa though, the main character, was annoying.  I hate to say it, but she was.  She refused to listen even though she came to the school to find her sister.  If anyone seemed like they knew anything, I think I would hear them out with an open mind.  I mean if my sister were missing, my ears would be all open.  I wanted to shake her a few times to stop being so stuck up her butt and pay attention to what Justin was saying.  Honestly, the book could have been a bit shorter and cut out some of Vanessa's horrible pigheadedness.

And sweat is not sexy.  Nor is it something that smells sweet.  Please disregard this misconception if you read the book.      

I would read the second book in the series though.  The author shows promise, and with some work I think Vanessa could be made into a much more likable MC.

Who Should Read It:  Dancers, lovers of dance, and those people who sit on the couch and yearn to be dancers.  If you like paranormal or that dark tone *similar to Black Swan* you may enjoy this book.

          

Review: The Académie

Author: Susanne Dunlap
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Pages: 368
Source: NetGalley
[add on Goodreads]
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:  Eliza Monroe-daughter of the future president of the United States-is devastated when her mother decides to send her to boarding school outside of Paris.  But the young American teen is quickly reconciled to the idea when-ooh, la-la!-she discovers who her fellow pupils will be: Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Josephine Bonaparte; and Caroline Bonaparte, youngest sister of the famous French general.  It doesn't take long for Eliza to figure out that the two French girls are mortal enemies-and that she's about to get caught in the middle of their schemes.  Loosely drawn from history, Eliza Monroe's imagined coming of age provides a scintillating glimpse into their lives, loves, and hopes of three young women during one of the most volatile periods in French history.  

Why I Loved It:  How could I not?  I love historical fiction, and it's been a long time since I've read one.  There were a lot of pluses in the book for me.  The fact that it took place in France was AWESOME because I love France.  I don't really know much about France from that time.  I have to say that my knowledge of the Bonapartes is very limited which actually lent to the pleasure of the reading experience.  If I know a lot about the time period, the liberties get on my nerves.  Thankfully, I had nothing to fear in this novel.

Now the tone of the novel was set by the sophisticated and fabulously polite words of the time period.  I couldn't help but be swept away in the beautiful language, in the world of high etiquette, and the drama of historical figures that filled the book.  If I may, I'd say this book was Gossip Girl meets the 1800s.  Except if you are looking for the steamy hook-ups and lusty canoodling that come on the CW drama, you should probably look elsewhere.  For lovers of historical fiction, I can assure you that the book is filled with dramatic encounters and ardent love affairs.  The Bonapartes were a interesting group of people, and I felt enthralled as I went from famous women's perspective to the next.

I have to admit it took me awhile to get into the book.  I was captured by the cover, and by the end of the book, her writing did the cover justice.  My one complaint was that I would have loved to have less of Caroline.  That was too much scheming, and I didn't like that I was meant to like her by the end.

Who Should Read It:  If you don't love historical fiction, I wouldn't suggest it unless you love reading books set in the 1800's.  The book isn't just stuffy historical jumbo.  There is adventure, love, drama, and lasting friendship.  Does that sound good to you?  Then read the book.  =)