Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry

Title: Gathering Blue
Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: Dystopian, YA
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 215
Date read: October, 2009

Kira, newly orphaned and lame from birth, is taken from the turmoil of the village to live in the grand Council Edifice because of her skill at embroidery. There she is given the task of restoring the historical pictures sewn on the robe worn at the annual Ruin Song Gathering, a solemn day-long performance of the story of their world's past. Down the hall lives Thomas the Carver, a young boy who works on the intricate symbols carved on the Singer's staff, and a tiny girl who is being trained as the next Singer. Over the three artists hovers the menace of authority, seemingly kind but suffocating to their creativity, and the dark secret at the heart of the Ruin Song.

With the help of a cheerful waif called Matt and his little dog, Kira at last finds the way to the plant that will allow her to create the missing color--blue--and, symbolically, to find the courage to shape the future by following her art wherever it may lead.

I read The Giver earlier this year and absolutely loved it, so when I heard it had two companion books (Gathering Blue and Messenger), I naturally wanted to get hold of them.

I don't think it quite lived up to my expectations though. It was interesting, and I really enjoyed it, but it wasn't as mind-blowing as The Giver was. I think part of the problem was that it was presented as a companion novel, so I expected the same atmosphere as I'd found in The Giver and it just wasn't able to deliver. I think the plot was too simple in comparison.

Still, it entertained me, and I still want to get my hands on Messenger which seems to be a more direct continuation of this one than this was of The Giver.

Who Do I Talk To? - Neta Jackson

Title: Who Do I Talk To?
Author: Neta Jackson
Genre: Christian fiction
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 393
Date read: October, 2009

Gabby Fairbanks's husband locks her out and disappears with her sons, leaving her homeless and stunned. With her frail mother and a mutt named Dandy, Gabby must take refuge at the women's shelter where she works, trying to salvage the shattered pieces of her life. There, her new friends-including Lucy the bag lady and sisters from the Yada Yada Prayer Group-prop her up.

But a midnight intruder brings unwanted media attention to the shelter and threatens to undermine Gabby's chances of getting her sons back. Still hoping to put her family together again, Gabby puzzles over what to do with the warm attentions of a sympathetic lawyer who rebuilds her confidence and soothes her wounded spirit.

Neta Jackson redeemed herself in this second book in the House of Hope series. I had been extremely disappointed by Where Do I Go?, because it ended on such a depressing note, and had seemed pretty pointless - using the entire book to get the main character down as low as she could get.

In Who Do I Talk To? it becomes apparent why Neta Jackson did this. I still think it's an extremely risky venture to write the first book in a series like that. If I hadn't already been introduced to her writing through the Yada Yada series, I think I would have given up on her then and there. As it was, it was with some reluctance I picked up the second book, and for once, I didn't start reading it immediately.

But thankfully the atmosphere was completely different. Still not as upbeat as in the Yada Yada series, but taking the topic into consideration, that would have been completely inappropriate. However, it was a lot more positive, and I ended up laughing and crying together with Gabby.

The characters were better fleshed out (especially Gabby's father-in-law) and I enjoyed getting to know them better, and seeing them interact with Gabby and her mother. And I LOVED the ending.

Still nowhere as inspirational as the Yada Yada series, Neta Jackson has "won me back", and I'll definitely be purchasing Who Do I Lean On? once it comes out... which unfortunately won't be until June 2010.

Evermore - Alyson Noël

Title: Evermore
Author: Alyson Noël
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 301
Date read: October, 2009

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school - but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste.

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she's thinking - and he's the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn't know who he really is - or what he is.

I couldn't put the book down - and it made me feel absolutely soiled.

Let me see if I can try to explain it.

My first impression was that it was a run-of-the-mill Paranormal YA - albeit a tad more Twilight-wannabe'ish than average - right down to the references to Wuthering Heights. However, the romantic love interest did not work for me at all. Edward's so-called 'stalkerish' behaviour never bothered me, but I got seriously creepy vibes from Damen, and I desperately hoped I was wrong in assuming he was intended as Ever's soulmate. It worked for me with Edward and Bella - it really didn't here.

What bothered me was Damen's utter disregard for Ever's opinions, how he kept lying to her (even if he felt it was for her own good), and how he could manipulate with her feelings. To me it reminded me far too much of Hush, Hush - another book that made me feel dirty for reading, and I'd be reluctant to recommend either to teenage readers - something I never had a problem with in Twilight.

I was absolutely fascinated by the start though, and wish Alyson Noël had spent more time dwelling on Ever's psychic abilities. I'd also have liked to see more of her interaction with her aunt, Sabine. I did think the plot line concerning Riley was well done though.

The 3rd star is for capturing my attention even at 2am halfway through a 24-hour Read-a-thon ;-)