if i stay (novel)

Taking a break from The Dresden Files to read -- surprise! -- if i stay by Gayle Forman.     

if i stay

5 out of 5 so-glad-i-read-it stars

"This morning I went for a drive with my family. And now I am here, as alone as I've ever been. I am seventeen years old. This is not how it's supposed to be. This is not how my life is supposed to turn out."

I am so glad that I decided to read if i stay by Gayle Forman. I can't believe I was going to be one of those people that just watches the movie and never reads the book. The book is always better than the movie adaption; I must have had a serious lapse of judgement to forget this. I mean, I almost let an amazing story slip past me because of the film version. What was I thinking? Obviously I was not. I must thank Emily May of Goodreads (follow this link to see her reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4622890-emily-may?ref=ru_lihp_up_rv_6_mclk-up2393414703) for her review on this novel. When she says a book is worth reading, 9 out of 10 times she's right. Her review on if i stay made me say screw the movie, I'm reading this book. I am so grateful that I did.

"There's something comforting in that. To go down as a family. No one left behind."

Plot-Line:

As some of you may know from the movie trailer, if i stay is about a girl named Mia Hall who is involved in a terrible car accident. It was a day like any other, until it suddenly wasn't. Forman jumps right into the story, giving us a little bit of happiness with the family all together, only to rip the rug right out from under of feet. Bam -- car crash, dead parents, dying siblings. How could life change so suddenly, so horribly? There's some supernatural aspects to the novel, as Mia's body may be in a coma, but her mind is conscious -- or maybe this is her spirit? Mia is able to experience everything that is happening to and around her body; however, she cannot feel anything physically. She cannot walk through walls, or just wish herself somewhere and poof! be there. There are restrictions on what she can do. No one can see the Mia outside of Mia's body, and she cannot communicate with anyone, but she is aware of everything that is happening. Soon Mia realizes that it's her choice, whether to leave or to stay. How does she stay without her family, but how does she leave without Adam? This is a terrible burden that Mia has to suffer, and it is ultimately up to her what happens to her life.

"I'm not sure this is a world I belong in anymore. I'm not sure that I want to wake up."

Notable Parts:

There are many parts that I love about this novel. The relationship between Mia and her best friend, Kim, is developed wonderfully. The history they share just makes them even closer. Her relationship with Adam is not perfect, and they suffer many challenges ahead of them. Between Julliard and the rise of Adam's band, plus the differences in their personalities have them facing some hardships. Music is what brought them together, but is that enough? Also, Mia's insecurities are explained in such a realistic and relatable way in the novel. She's also not insecure all the time; she can and does stand up for herself, but it's understandable why she feels like the odd-one out of her family sometimes, why she feels like she doesn't fit in. Forman's writing has us experiencing every hardship right along with Mia, has us facing the same shocking decision: when your family is all gone, would you stay? Or would you go?

"I realize now that dying is easy. Living is hard."

Differences From the Movie:

There are many similarities in the novel and the film adaption; many scenes follow the book exactly. However, it's all in the execution. What seems cliche in the movie doesn't seem cliche at all in the book. Well, there's still that "play me like the cello" part, which, while at first made sense in the novel, did get a little weird when Mia says how she literally sawed her bow back and forth on Adam's stomach. Ummmmm what? This scene does help Adam and Mia get past the beginning stages of awkwardness in their relationship, so good for them that they overcame all the awkward I guess. Jamie Blackley is definitely the perfect actor to play Adam, although, after reading the novel, I'm not so sure about Chloe Grace Moretz. I still like her as an actress and think she did a wonderful job on the film, but I think her portrayal of Mia needs to be adjusted -- mainly to make Mia seem more secure, as Mia in the book is not as insecure as Moretz portrays her to be in the film. The movie adaption of if i stay is true to the novel, right up until the very end, but it's the way Forman writes out each scene that makes the novel so much better. Music is still a very important part in the novel like it is in the film, and Forman makes some really good references and choices of music in her novel. However, I just have to say that Willamette Stone is such a better band name than Shooting Star.

"Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you."

Overall:

It was a seriously screwed-up, failed experiment of mine to watch the movie and then read the book. I almost missed out on a great novel because I'm not too crazy about the film version. I always, always, read the novel first, and I'm never going to watch the movie first again. I don't know why I did in the first place. If I can't get my hands on the novel first, I'll just have to wait to watch the film adaption. Going to be as simple as that from now on. I am forever grateful that I picked up this novel and didn't let the movie adaption dissuade me from it for long, because if i stay is the type of novel that makes you think about your own life and what you would do if you were in a similar situation to Mia. It will stay with you for a long time. I cannot wait to start reading where she went and to find out what happens with Mia and Adam's story.

"If I stay. If I live. It's up to me."

And just because/wise words from Gayle Forman:

"Love can make you immortal."

Summer Knight (The Dresden Files #4)

Continuing on with The Dresden Files, now onto book number four: Summer Knight.

Summer Knight

5 out of 5 Sidhe-ful Stars

"I had to wonder: What do you wear to a war?"

Jim Butcher had added another great installment into his widely popular urban-fantasy series. Summer Knight may be one of the best Harry Dresden stories told yet (up to book 4). The action is better, the mystery is better, and the execution of the story is better. Considering the high caliber Butcher has established in these aspects of his previous novels, this is a great feat to accomplish.

“You’d think as long as I was gambling with my soul, I would have thought to get Mab to throw in fifty bucks an hour plus expenses.”

The Plot-Line:

Harry's choices in the previous novel, Grave Peril, have an important impact in Summer Knight. The White Council has come to Chicagoland to discuss the war with the Red Court, and they are not happy with what has occurred. To make matters worse, just before leaving for the meeting, Harry is approached by a most interesting character: Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, Monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe herself. Harry doesn't want any involvement with faerie politics, but he doesn't have much of a choice with this situation. After the White Council suffered a devastating blow from the vampires, the Red Court has proposed that if they are given Harry, they will cease fighting. Because of the fear the vampires have instilled in members of the Council, handing over Harry becomes a very real possibility. In order to prove himself to the White Council and avoid being handed over on a silver platter, Harry must complete a formal Trial to establish his rank as a wizard. This Trial includes honoring Mab's request of Harry in exchange for her promise of safe passage through the Nevernever for the Council, an essential part of defeating the vampires. Harry agrees and finds himself searching for the Summer Knight, whose murder has allowed a powerful mantle to go missing from the Summer Court. If Harry doesn't solve the mystery behind this murder, and fast, not only is he faced with death by vampire, but the whole world could perish, too. 

"The strong conquer and the weak are conquered. That is Winter. That is what you have learned," she said, "That is what makes you dangerous."

Notable Parts:

We're given so much more information about the world of The Dresden Files, from the White Council, to the Sidhe and the other faeries of the Nevernever. We're introduced to Ebenezer of the White Council, who has connections to Harry and allows us to learn more about Harry's past, along with other Senior Council Members Martha Liberty, Injun Joe, and the Gatekeeper, who I definitely hope to read more about. The development of the Sidhe courts, of the Knights, Emissaries, Lady's, Queens, and Mothers (one of each for Summer and Winter) may replace my love of the werewolf development back in Fool Moon. And speaking of werewolves, Billy and the Alphas are back! These characters have really grown from their last appearance, and become an essential asset to Harry. We're told about other types of magical creatures, such as wyldfae, ogres, ghouls and changelings, and something happens with Murphy that has taken way too long to happen. Finally, there is an appearance of a character you would never expect, although you can probably guess from the foreshadowing that is used, and said character changes the course of the whole novel, of what Harry has believed to be true for over a decade. Also, Harry has an awesome line that pretty sums up the whole book towards the end of the novel, which I really want to cite, but will not in order to avoid spoilers. You'll know it when you read it.

"The only people who never hurt are dead."

A Curious Observation:

Was it just me or did Butcher start using the word 'basso' a lot? He's never used it in the previous novels and then bam, it's popping up everywhere. Just thought that was funny. Also, we're always told about Harry wearing his leather duster and sometimes cowboy boots, but there is never any mention of a cowboy hat. On all the covers for The Dresden Files, Harry is always wearing a hat. Which leads to the question: does Harry even own a cowboy hat? An important question that must be answered, Mister Butcher.

“All of those faeries and duels and mad queens and so on, and no one quoted old Billy Shakespeare. Not even once.” 

Overall:

Summer Knight is an amazing story, and even though each novel has it's own separate mystery, Butcher continues to tie everything together in an almost effortless way. I wish I could plan out novels like he does! Harry's self-blame is not as evident as it normally is, and when it is present, it's justified in a reasonable way. Also, Murphy's button-nose is not mentioned! Huzzah! Everything about Summer Knight is great, and us readers can tell that Butcher is really coming into his own with The Dresden Files, making each novel more and more complex, and in turn making them that much more fun to read. I can't wait to see how the next novel, Death Masks, plays out.

“I don't believe in faeries!”