Sunday 29 June 2014

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

15832932Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

My thoughts

It's no secret that I love Huntley Fitzpatrck's first book, My Life Next Door. It's actually one of my all-time favorite books. So to say I was excited for another book from Fitzpatrick is to put it mildly. 
From the first reviews I read about the book, many noted that it was much different from MLND, and it was - and it wasn't. I'm not really going to compare the books that much, because they are not related in any way, so that would be pointless. But I would say that I loved Fitzpatrick's writing and her ability to create family dynamics, friendships and side charachters is amazing. And this was very much the case in WITWT too. 

Gwen is quite a different character than in many other contemporary books, where the protagonist always seem to be this perfect hesitant, pure virginal girl. Gwen was certainly not, though she is still a "good girl", but she has just made some bad decisions in her life. But haven't we all? I really liked her personality, she was feisty, strong and flawed, and also very compassionate. Her love for her brother and family was so genuine, but it also gave her these huge responsibilities both now and in the future - and she took bore them without complaint. She wanted to take care of everyone.

Cass was so sweet, though I did at times question his character, especially before all is revealed. But all these little quirks about him, his sincerity towards Gwen's family and his charm soon won me over. Him and Gwen were so good together.

Family was very central and present in this book and I loved Gwen's family despite all their flaws. I think family is one of the things that Fitzpatrick does best - not that any other things is lacking - but she just seem to capture all the different family relations and potray them so they seem so real.

One of my few complaints about the book, was how long Gwen and Cass' past was withhold. It was just a bit too long, since both characters knew excatly what had happened, and we as the reader was the only one kept in the dark. But it wasn't too bad. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's an excellent summer read, and a book I know I'll return to in the future.


☆ ☆ ☆ 

Friday 27 June 2014

If I Stay trailer

Some time ago I watched the first trailer for the movie adaptation of Gayle Forman's If I Stay. I've been very nervous about this movie, since the book is one of my all-time favorites. But as soon as I saw it, I got so excited! Everything seems so right and I love all the actors for their different characters. And this is to date the only movie trailer that has ever made me cry. I've seen it several times now, and it has made me cry every single time.
The only thing I'm really, really bummed about is that the movie won't be in the cinema here in Denmark. So I'll have to wait for the dvd before I can even watch it. I thought it was bad enough that they never even showed Vampire Academy, which I had been excited about too, but this...! C'mon what's wrong with them?! Guess I'll just have to be patienced then.

Have you seen the trailer yet? What did you think about it?


Tuesday 24 June 2014

Update!

Sooo. I've been away for a long, long time. In blogging years I think it adds up to about a decade. The reason is - well - the reason is that I haven't felt like either reading or blogging. It's only in the past couple of months I've really started reading again. And an even shorter time ago since I've felt like blogging again and that was right when I was studying for my exams. That's the other thing. In this spring I've been really busy, busy with school. But since I'm finally done with exams, I've actually got time to read and blog again.

I hope to be around a lot more now, though I'm not sure how much I'll be blogging in the future. Maybe a lot. Maybe not so much. I'll try to write whenever I can - and actually have something to say. And have some books to review. And if I can put my words in to coherent sentences - which I think is my difficult than it should be when I'm excited. I mean, earlier this spring I read the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy, and my thoughts are still all mush about it, because SO MUCH LOVE! I can't even...

Anyway, I hope y'all have been good while I've been away - and been reading a lot of great books!