Review: Just One Day

Just One Day
Author: Gayle Forman
Published: January 8, 2013
Hardcover, 368 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

This book started with Shakespeare. Anytime Shakespeare is involved, I know I'll enjoy the story. Allyson is on a European senior trip before going off to college and she's been doing everything she's told. But when she meets Willem, seduced by his performance in an impromptu performance of Twelfth Night, she only hesitates a bit when he asks her to go to Paris with him. The most insane thing she's ever done takes her on a journey that she never thought possible. The day in Paris with Willem is one she will never forget, especially since she wakes up the next morning to find him gone. 

I was heartbroken when Allyson woke up, knowing that Willem would be gone. Even though we are warned on the back cover, it's still hard to read as she wakes up to discover she is alone. It was easy to see why Allyson fell for him. Tall, charming, and ready to show her a world she's never seen. But when he's gone, I wanted to hate him, but I didn't know why he left and neither did she. Allyson goes to college in September anyway, trying to forget that faithful night. She lives life half alive, thoughts of Willem constantly in her head. When someone falls in love, that love get stained on them, as Willem says int he book, and there is no doubt that Allyson is stained. Her journey through her first year of college is bittersweet. The way she acts, like she's lost the love of her life, is not exagerated. This is how a young girl whose never been in love before would feel. She gave her everything to someone who disappeared from her life. 

I thought Allyson would immediately return to the scene of the crime, but she spends most of her year away from there in school. There was no filler. It was important to see her develop through these months, to see how hard this has affected her and to see if she could gather the strength to find answers. She finds herself in a Shakespeare class and makes friends with Dee, a man who hides his true self from everyone. They help each other in the ways they need it most and both grow together as friends. Allyson discovers a lot about herself throughout the year. and yes, Willem continues to haunt her, but she learns to survive. When lie brings her back to Paris, it's time for her to put everything she's learned to the test.

Forman writes beautifully. Her first novel, If I Stay, blew me away. Her words flow off the pages like poetry, sucking me into a world not unlike my own, and making me feel things I haven't felt in a long time. I remember the terror of falling in love, the high that comes with it, and she captures this wonderfully. It's in the simple words that she uses that make the story leap from the page. When Willem describes falling in love like being a stain, I wanted to shout this analogy to the word. It was so perfect, so true, that I may not be able to think of love the same way again. Life isn't easy, and love is harder, but that does not mean we don't try. That does not mean we give up. Allyson's story may seem far fetch to some, but we all go through this, it just may not take place in Europe. This is a beautiful story that made me laugh, swoon and cry. Willem's story will be told in Just One Year, and hopefully then we will get the answers to our long awaited questions.

“Or maybe it's not a miracle. Maybe this is just life. When you open yourself up to it. When you put yourself in the path of it. When you say yes.” 

Review: Juliet Immortal

Juliet Immortal
Author: Stacey Jay
Published: August 9, 2011
Hardcover, 306 pages
3 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

Juliet Immortal is not your ordinary Romeo and Juliet love story. Romeo and Juliet did not kill themselves for love. Romeo, a Mercenary, killed Juliet in order to become immortal. Betrayed and forsaken, Juliet becomes an Ambassador of Light, immortal on her own and now the arch nemesis of Romeo. Juliet's job is to keep soul mates together and out of the hands of the Mercenaries. Every century or so, she is sent into the mortal world in someone else's body in order to protect true love. Juliet believes love has failed her, Romeo now her worst enemy, and hates the idea of bringing soul mates together. When she meets Ben she experiences the same feelings she felt with Romeo, even though she knows it's forbidden for her to fall in love. When Romeo shows up in a body right next to her, she knows this mission will be unlike any other, and Romeo won't leave until he knows he can have Juliet as his own for eternity.

Romeo and Juliet is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays and I'm always interested in retellings. The problem is, I have yet to find a retelling that I love as much as the original. I love the idea of having the forbidden romance in modern times, but that has yet to be what any of the retellings I've read have been about. I was interested in this one because it seemed completely different. Romeo and Juliet, now enemies, but with this history of the crazy magical love they once felt for each other. Juliet is smarter, knowing that what she felt for Romeo was probably not real. She's much more mature in this novel, having been alive for over 700 years. The plot was good and I enjoyed the challenges that Juliet faced throughout the novel, but the writing fell short for me. I wasn't in love with the characters and I found myself just wanting the book to be done. 

Juliet inhabits a new body whenever she comes back to Earth. The body she's in this time, Ariel, has been in an accident and she has burn scars all over her face. This is an important element to her character, but it's not explored as much as I would have liked. In no way did I want Juliet and Romeo to get back together, his character not at all charming like Ben was. He made a good villain, knowing everything about Juliet that she wished he didn't. As she tried to get her soul mates together while also trying to avoid her feelings for Ben, Romeo was always there, always showing her that he had her first. I had no idea how their story would play out in the end. And I was quite surprised and happy with the ending, which is the reason I gave this more than 2 stars.

The subtle additions for the original play kept my interest. Juliet's nurse became her mentor, the Friar Romeo's boss. The forbidden love between Juliet and Ben had the tellings for a real love story. Juliet learns throughout the novel that it's best that her and Romeo did not survive back then as there would have been no way for them to live without any money. The novel had its strong points, the plot moved quickly and the ending was dramatic, but there was something missing that made me not love it. I'm still eager to find a retelling that will give me the same feelings the original play did, hoping that tragic love can still be beautiful in modern times. 

“Real love has little to do with falling. It's a climb up the rocky face of a mountain, hard work, and most people are too selfish or too scared to bother. Very few reach the critical point in their relationship that summons the attention of the light and the dark, that place where they will make a commitment to love no matter what obstacles-or temptations- appear in their path.” 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme hosted by The Book and the Bookish. As a lover of books and lists, I knew I wanted to be a part of this awesome and creative feature! The weekly topics can be found on the Top Ten page.

 Top Ten "Older" Books You Don't Want People To Forget About

1. Goosebumps by R.L. Stine: I grew up reading Goosebumps. In fact, this series is one of the first to make me love reading. They are scary enough to make you want to sleep with the lights on and creative enough to keep you coming back for more.

2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: I know no one will ever forget this book, especially with the movie coming out, but I think it was incredible. It's a harsh, honest look at life and F. Scott does not sugar coat anything. One classic that every reader should read.

3. The Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: Another classic. It's epic, timeless, and leaves your imagination feeling full of hope and life. Good v.s. Evil is a universal theme and Tolkien hits it right on the mark. I'll never forget Frodo and his adventures and I'll make sure my kids read this series, this includes The Hobbit because it's just as, if not more, important for everyone to read.

4. The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan: Okay, so I must admit I'm currently reading this now, but I'm almost done. These books have been out for a while now, but I hadn't really thought about reading them until I saw the movie (I know, blasphemy!) They are amazing and any fan of Greek mythology and epic adventures will love it. 

5. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling: Another epic series full of magic and adventure. Harry is a character that everyone knows on a first name basis and I'd like it to stay that way. I'll admit I haven't finished this series, but I will one day because Harry will forever have a place in my heart. 

6. Confessions Of A Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella: Okay, not as epic as the others on this list, but I love this series! Becky Bloomwood is the funniest character you'll meet. She is loveable and quirky and she'll remind you of yourself. Plus, we've all been in her shoes. Truly one of my favourite series.

7. The Baby Sitter's Club series: So I just have to mention another series from my childhood. Reading when I was younger was so important and I think it got me into m habits today. I could relate to everything these girls did even though I never really babysat. Also, I love series that go one forever, you get to know so much about the characters!

8. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: I hope they never stop making kids read this in high school because this was one of my favourite books to read. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is always so eye opening. We forget how much everything we say and do affects those around us. This book is so important to literature, I'm sure it will never be forgotten.

9. The Giver by Lois Lowry: The original dystopian novel. With all the hype on dystopian now, I hope all these teenagers take the time to read this wonderful novel. I read it a long time ago and have been meaning to re-read it, buy I still remember it so vividly that I've yet to revisit that world. 

10. Shakespeare. All of it all the time. I was changed the day my english teacher made us open Romeo and Juliet. It was the first I read and certainly not the last. Even now, I'm trying to read all of his plays because his words draw me in and promise to never let go. School makes us read these for a reason. (And made it easy for us to understand them!) 

Feel free to tell me if you agree with my list, or your top ten older books!