Review: GO SET A WATCHMAN, by Harper Lee

Due to the circumstances behind this book's emergence and publication, it's hard to remain objective in its rating and review. Is GO SET A WATCHMAN as good as TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD? Of course not. The writing and characters are less developed, and the story lacks intrigue and build-up. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it. What a pleasure to see how Scout and Atticus evolved in their later years; what an honor to see how Harper Lee further envisioned Maycomb. GO SET A WATCHMAN is a great companion novel to TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I would not recommend it as a stand-alone, as readers might find it lacking context and substance.

Stars: 3/5

Recommended for: Anyone who loved TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Review: EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU, by Celeste Ng

EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU is a subtle thrill ride that will have you on the edge of your seat. It follows the story of five family members, four of which are reacting to the death of the fifth. Each character is unique and compelling, each adding their own haunting background to the mix. The prose is simply beautiful, the story simply powerful. Celeste Ng manages to put her readers in the shoes of five different people, creating five different perspectives of the same event. It would be impossible for me to choose one perspective that I liked most, as all of them were given their justified spotlight. My only drawback with this book was how often the perspective shifted, which was oftentimes within the same paragraph; the constant back-and-forth could at times make me lose my bearings.

Stars: 4/5
Recommended for: general fiction readers who enjoy the exploration of family dynamics

Review: THE ONE, by Kiera Cass

After reading THE SELECTION and THE ELITE, THE ONE was an overall disappointment. I didn't think it was possible for America to become an even weaker character, but this book proved me wrong. I saw no growth for her throughout the entire series, and oftentimes I considered giving up on reading because I was so frustrated with her. America changed from a strong-willed girl with conviction (in Book #1) to a wishy washy, flimsy girl in Book #3. When I started the first book, I never expected to hate the main character as much as I did by the end of the third.

As for the plot, it was quiet and predictable (with the exception of a slight surge near the end). The direction of each character's destiny--America, Aspen, Lucy, the king, etc.--was easy to see from a mile away, which was another reason I was constantly tempted to stop reading. There was a great buildup about the rebels (northern and southern) and the history of the country, but most of that fizzled out by the end of the story. Was any of that buildup necessary? I would have appreciated more about how the various rebel groups affected the palace, aside from the random explosion near the end that focused on America more than necessary and went generally unexplained.

Stars: 2.5/5
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoyed the first two books in the series. However, be warned that it might not live up to your expectations.

Review: LIAR, by Justine Larbalestier

Justine Larbalestier's LIAR had me guessing from beginning to end and beyond. Even after setting this book down, my mind is racing with questions. The author makes her audience read between the lines and use their imaginations in unexpected ways. LIAR has a great build-up, giving the reader just enough information at a time (while artfully retracting other details). LIAR is a thrill ride I wish hadn't ended!

Stars: 4/5

Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys unreliable narrators and dark secrets.

Review: FAR FROM XANADU, by Julie Anne Peters

FAR FROM XANADU is well-written with realistic, relatable characters. It provides a fantastic glimpse at small-town life and mentalities, touching on subjects that are bound to make you uncomfortable but draw you in anyway. The "relationship" presented in this story is doomed from the start, but it's a pleasure to watch it unfold, and to see how the characters handle what life throws at them. I look forward to reading other books by Julie Anne Peters!

Stars: 4/5

Recommended for: Lovers of small town fiction

Review: THE TIME MACHINE, by H.G. Wells

THE TIME MACHINE is a good book for its time, but it's probably not something that would be published by today's standards. The build-up is slow, and the climax lacks intensity. The second-to-last chapter (the future of the future) was almost entirely unnecessary. I do love how Darwinian Wells's vision of the future is, though the racism and sexism that accompanies that Darwinism are cringe-worthy. I enjoyed the creativity of this story, and, even more so, I loved the "what-if" questions that THE TIME MACHINE provokes. I gave this book three stars because of my constant internal debate about whether the book as a whole was good or bad.

Stars: 3/5
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys classic literature