All These Things I've Done was surprisingly good. I was completely captivated by this intriguing and tension filled story.
I have been reading quite a All These Things I've Done was surprisingly good. I was completely captivated by this intriguing and tension filled story.
I have been reading quite a bit of dystopia lately and I loved that this novel did not focus on matching people or the government trying to control everybody. In the year 2083 they are plenty of problems and changes but overall it feels more like a realistic future. Chocolate is illegal (EEK! no chocolate would make me crazy) together with a million other things like caffeine, paper without a permit, phones, cameras. I felt the world was very convincing as it feels similar to the stories of the 1920's when alcohol was banned and smuggled in.
This is the first book of Zevin's I have read. I found her prose sharp and alluring. Writing that draws you in immediately. It was perfectly paced story that had a cleverly constructed plot and world.
Anya is part of the Balanchine Family, one of the most well known crime syndicates in the world. Her father use to be the head of it before he was murdered. Anya mother was also killed in a hit gone wrong. Now Anya is trying to do the best she can caring for her ill grandmother, her older brother Leo, who has a learning disability and her younger sister Natty. Anya is a mature, brave and compelling character. I love that she always but her family first. I found the secondary characters to be just as well crafted and likeable as Anya especially Leo and Natty.
Win, is the son of the head of the District Attorney Department and Anya's love interest. So it is has a little bit of the star crossed lovers thing going on. The romance between Anya and Win was passionate and yet sweet at the same time.
The mafia part of the storyline was probably the highlight for me though. I found myself fascinated by this mysterious and dangerous element of the story. I would definitely like to see it play an even bigger part in the next installment.
I am so happy All These Things I've Done is going to be a trilogy. Even though it ended in a good place I felt like the story was just getting started and it has left me desperately craving more.
Overall, I found All These Things I've Done to be a clever and engaging read. Zevin definitely delivers all the right elements in this impressive novel. ...more
Favourite Quote:He pulls back, grins, and she is just young enough to mistake this feeling - this rough, violent swell - for love oRating 3.75 stars.
Favourite Quote:He pulls back, grins, and she is just young enough to mistake this feeling - this rough, violent swell - for love or something like it.
Wow, Cargo is such a breathtaking story. I wasn't quite expecting so much emotion from this book. My heart is still feeling a little raw and tender after finishing it.
Cargo is a real and honest read that captures the lives of three teens Gillian, Frankie and Jacob set in an Australian beach side town, the year 1992. It is a quick read at just 200 pages told in alternating chapters between these three characters who aren't friends but yet their lives are intertwined. While it captures some blissful moments of life as a teen and it really focuses on those heart aching times.
Jessica Au's writing is stunning. Her prose is gorgeous and is full of emotion. She makes every sentence sound beautiful.
The window grates open under her hands and the breeze is a shock of cold across her cheeks. When the horn calls for the third time, she feels the sound like the lowest note of a tuba through her ribs. She can just make out a lone cluster of lights that might be carrier navigating the darkness. Welded steel on great tracts of open water: she reminds herself that there have been swimmers who have crossed these same distances, some not much older than fifteen.
The characters are compelling. They each deal with issues that we all struggle with as a teen and you can really feel their angst and pain. While each of their stories held my interest, Gillian's point of view was my favourite. Completely absorbing and moving. It really got under my skin and nearly brought me to tears a couple of times.
Overall, Cargo is an impressive debut that is full of heart. Jessica Au is definitely an author I hope to read more from....more
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