Review: Feed by Mira Grant

Title: Feed
Author: Mira Grant
Pages: 572
Series: Newsflesh #1
Genre: Dystopia, Zombies, Science Fiction
Publication Date: May 1st, 2010
Rating: C
Challenge: Calico Reaction's Book Club - October Challenge

From Goodreads:
The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.

NOW, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

I had many small problems with this book a couple bigger ones. The small ones included various inconsistencies which probably didn't matter to a lot of people except me. The book takes place around 25 years in the future and 20 years after two viruses mutated and created zombies and killed 20% of the world's population. I found that a lot of the world pushed my willing suspension of disbelief too far. For example, even if 87% of the population stays indoors because of the threat of the outside world, a lot of things from our world today still exist: Starbucks, campaign rallies, paparazzi and other daily life things. I felt that the world didn't change enough, other than the added zombies which only make a few real appearances.

A major problem for me was the pacing itself. The book was slowed down by a lot of nothing; info dumps, needless scenes and descriptions. I'm definitely someone who loves action and there definitely wasn't enough of it to keep me interested. It didn't help that often a lot of the action that was going on, the main character, Georgia, would halt the scene by inserting things about how good this might be for her blog, etc. It seemed like a very passive experience through the POV of the main character.

There are some redeeming qualities about Feed. The writing itself was good and I felt Grant had some good ideas but was brought down by the enormous amounts of information and blog/political stuff going on. The reasons for the zombie virus emerging was interesting and clever.

Overall, I was disappointed with Feed but perhaps my expectations were too high. It could be a great book for people interested in an original story, but maybe fans of zombies might not like it since zombies don't make a lot of appearances. I may be checking out the sequel to see where Grant takes the story.

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Review: A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott

Title: A Wish After Midnight
Author: Zetta Elliott
Pages: 258
Genre: YA, Time Travel, Historical Fiction
Publication Date: March 5, 2009
Rating: A
Challenge: Calico Reaction's Book Club - September Challenge (Alternate)

A Wish After Midnight is the story of 15 year old Genna Colon and her turbulent life in Brooklyn, New York. Her days are filled with school (which she is very good at), taking care of her younger brother, Tyjuan, and dealing with her older brother and sister. Her father left the family when they were little; their tiny apartment is crowded with five people. Then Genna meets Judah, a Jamaican boy who teaches her about her African roots and who is also there to support her. Suddenly, she is thrown into a new time: the year of 1863. There she learns about America during the civil war the hard way and exposes us to the daily life of African-Americans, the Irish and American people of Brooklyn 1863.

This book is divided into three parts; the first being about Genna's life in Brooklyn. It is a struggle to say the least. Her family is financially drained, there is the threat of drugs and violence around her, and there are still racial undertones in the city. Genna doesn't fit it as much as she would want to. I thought that this first part of the book was a good way to introduce us to Genna and her life. It also creates and interesting parallel to 1863: there is, surprisingly, still a lot of changes to be made in society. Genna gets an after-school job babysitting for a white woman and ironically, that's the same job she gets in 1863.

The second part is based on Genna's life in 1863 Brooklyn. I personally was more interested in the past part of the story. This is probably because I like historical fiction so much and anything set in the past is attractive to me. I really was fascinated by all the information Elliott crams into one book without info dumping. She not only explores the lives of African-Americans of the time but also the racism against the Irish and the mistreatment of women as well.

I really felt immersed in this story and I think this has to do with the fact that it is told in first person by Genna. I thought it was very emotional and raw and real despite the fantastical premise.

Overall, I really liked this novel and I cannot wait for a sequel! The ending left in a pretty big cliffhanger and I'm really interested to see what happens in the present and the past. Also, I thought Elliott was just expert at creating a world where different characters have different opinions on everything and it serves to teach the reader about issues such as race in the present day and the past. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a gritty novel, a smart young adult read, or even just a great historical tale.

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Review: Harmony by Project Itoh

Title: Harmony
Author: Project Itoh
Pages: 300
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: A
Challenge: Japanese Lit Challenge


In Harmony, a Japan SF Award winner, Itoh creates a dystopian (or is it a utopian?) future, approximately one hundred years from now. Most of the world is obsessed with health after the events of the Maelstrom in 2019. It was a nuclear war which left many dead and helpless. The radiation of the nuclear weapons created many new viruses which spread to a population that had no established immunity. Upon the creation of nanotechnology where the body can be monitored and cured of illness within the home, governments turned from capitalism to "medical welfare societies" where the number one concern is health and living. In this world we meet Tuan, a young woman, who finds herself in the middle of a large conspiracy all the while trying to figure out what it means to be alive.

I chose this book to be my first Japanese Lit Challenge experience because of the intriguing premise. I wanted something that people may not have heard of and also something unique.

One of the strongest aspects of Harmony is the intricate and well-thought out world Itoh has created. He seemingly devised a whole world where everyone is obsessed with health and cleanliness. Life itself is considered a national resource. He not only creates this different society, he also joins it with countless technologies that I found very clever and also very fitting for this world. Everyone is fitted with nanotechnology, a system called WatchMe, where everything that goes on in your body is outsourced. You are told what to eat (to be most healthy), what you should and shouldn't do to maintain optimal mental health. Others can see how well you do by looking at a public score. Being healthy becomes more than what you want; you are forced to perform well on these scores lest you attract public scorn.

The story is told from Tuan's point of view. We follow her through this world where she meets two friends, Miach and Cian. Out of their friendship brings questions about the turn humanity has taken and also the growing mystery involving massive suicides all over the world. Tuan is a strong female character; she is smart, determined and independent in her views. Through her we see flashbacks into her past where we learn about the character of Miach.

Overall I found this to be a strong science fiction novel. I found the translation very easy and smooth. The style is somewhat sparse but I found that it was quick paced and suited to the tension of a mystery. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good science fiction story that questions what privacy, life, living, and free will really means.

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Review: The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente

Title: The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Pages: 483
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: A+

Challenge: Calico Reaction's Book Club - August Challenge (Bonus)

From Goodreads:Secreted away in a garden, a lonely girl spins stories to warm a curious prince: peculiar feats and unspeakable fates that loop through each other and back again to meet in the tapestry of her voice. Inked on her eyelids, each twisting, tattooed tale is a piece in the puzzle of the girl’s own hidden history. And what tales she tells! Tales of shape-shifting witches and wild horsewomen, heron kings and beast princesses, snake gods, dog monks, and living stars–each story more strange and fantastic than the one that came before. From ill-tempered “mermaid” to fastidious Beast, nothing is ever quite what it seems in these ever-shifting tales–even, and especially, their teller. Adorned with illustrations by the legendary Michael Kaluta, Valente’s enchanting lyrical fantasy offers a breathtaking reinvention of the untold myths and dark fairy tales that shape our dreams. And just when you think you’ve come to the end, you realize the adventure has only begun…

This volume collects two books: The Book of the Steppe and The Book of the Sea. In each there are many tales interconnected through the many different characters. It has a very mythological and fable feeling to it which Valente executes perfectly. I really became absorbed in these tales and their many characters and their many stories.

Since I also read Palimpsest by the same author for this same challenge I have to make some comparisons. I don't think it is as poetic or abstract as Palimpsest but it is just as magical and special. I think Palimpsest was more of an experience whereas the craft of the tales in In the Night Garden really stood out. I loved both immensely. Also, I think Palimpsest is the type of book not everyone would like and In the Night Garden I would say most would enjoy and should read once in their lives.

One thing I also noticed with the stories in In the Night Garden was that I think Valente didn't try to pretend that fables or other tales did not exist and she often made small tweaks that left me smiling. For example, on page 128 the stepmother says "Didn't you know? All stepmothers are witches. It is our compensation for remaining forever an intruder in another woman's house." Valente is very creative and I think that's what I love most about her stories, other than the exquisite writing.

I think this month's challenge was well worth it. I'm glad I ordered both of Valente's books because I think she has become one of my favorite authors. I will definitely read more from her especially the next volume of The Orphan's Tales, In the Cities of Coin and Spice.

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Japanese Lit Challenge 4

Hey everybody! I have joined a challenge! While looking for some fun challenges I came across Bellezza's Japanese Lit Challenge 4 which started a couple months ago. Since it only requires at least one book read I decided I definitely can do that before January 2010 and in fact I will try to do more.

I love Japanese culture and I realized that I have read very little Japanese literature. I have looked over the suggested reading for the challenge and while I only found one or two books that I thought would fit my interests and those of the readers of this blog, I decided to do some hunting myself for some great Japanese authored books. Fortunately, I found some very interesting looking books and I hope that everyone will enjoy them and maybe they will interest you if you are not particularly interested in the more popular Japanese literature options.

I will also keep track on this post the books I review.

Books Completed
1. Harmony by Project Itoh - Review

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