Review: The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story

The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Julian, the bully from [b:Wonder|11387515|Wonder|R.J. Palacio|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366213431s/11387515.jpg|16319487], tells his story in this release. While we got to know the events that are happening to Auggie, a little boy with a genetic defect, in his first year at a public school only from the boy's perspective and those of his family and friends, the book doesn't tell us what made Julian bullying Auggie. This short story catches up on this. We read about Julian's reasons for his behavior, his problems and his parents' action that lead to a big fifth grade melt down, and we follow him to France where he spends his summer holidays - with his amazing grandmother. There he takes a journey to his family's history and to facing his actions until he comes back to New York City as much more responsible and mature boy.

I felt this was an interesting addition to the main book and not too short for the 1 $ I paid for the ebook. I liked to read Julian's point of view and think that the author did a great job in showing the readers, that there's no black and white, no pure evil and good out there. Everybody has his or her own reasons for acting this or that way and everybody can make mistakes. We're all just normal human beings. I think this is a very important lesson to learn, even more so that the target audience are middle graders. That was accomplished very well in my opinion. Still, the loose ends did find together a little too perfectly for me. Too many coincidences, too much understanding...I don't know how to put it, everything went just too well. I liked this short story but I'd have prefered a more realistic way of dealing with the issues, to which more kids could relate in their everyday life.



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Review: Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Auggie - to himself, he's just an ordinary kid but to the world he's unusual, frightening even to some. He doesn't look like every other fifth grader, he was born with a genetic disorder that made several (many!) surgeries necessary to allow the little boy a life as normal as can be. To allow him to eat by himself. Despite all these surgeries he still looks different...and different is always difficult in fifth grade. But Auggie isn't only extraordinary on the outside, he's a very brave and kind young boy who grows with his experiences when he enters a public school for the first time in his life.

His family, friends and classmates all have to deal with the new situation of Auggie going to school. I found it very interesting and enjoyable that the story was told by all these different perspectives and we understand, it's not only Auggie having a hard time.

I think I've never read a book on this topic before and in my opinion the author did a very good job. She told the story very sensitively, there were many serious and sad moments (actually I had difficulties with continuing the book at a certain point because I was crying so hard and every time I made up my mind and wanted to finish it I had to put my Kindle away just after one or two pages because I got all teared up again). But at the same time the book doesn't pity Auggie and there are quite some laughs in it as well. I especially liked the emphasizing on Auggies everyday life, on him being just a little boy and as I also really liked the writing style (you could feel the story was truly told in a kid's perspective but it wasn't overdone, but authentic and enjoyable. The author was involved in a huge Star Wars research I guess!) I was sure that it'll be a five stars read for me...up to maybe 94/95% of the book. Then I was disappointed by the and-he's-not-just-a-boy ending. The ceremony was way over the top for me...too obviously emotional, close to cheesy and in a big contrast to the rest of the book. Also I didn't feel as close to Auggie as I wanted to. I liked him for sure, but I would have loved to like the character even more. I can't really explain, what it was exactly. In some parts of the story he felt distant to me, just like a book character, and of course that's what he is...but do you know the feeling of forgetting the actual act of reading? When you're IN the story and the story goes on in your head, the book is just the input and the characters seem to come to life? It didn't happen here for me with Auggie, while I got that feeling about some of the other protagonists. Having said all this, I really liked the book. That's just my reasons for not rating it five stars...and four stars are really good as well, aren't they? ;)

And now I should definitely finish this massive super long review and start reading 'The Julian Chapter', a short story published last month in which we get to know Julian's point of view on the events. He's the bully of Auggie's class and the quote the short story starts is very promising already: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Ian Maclaren"



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Review: Doctor Sleep

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Having loved the Shining, Doctor Sleep was a must read for me...as are all books by Stephen King ;) And knowing that I like his more recent works better than his earlier ones I went into this with high expectations - which were fulfilled to the fullest. The world building is huge (what I love most about King's stories) and everything seems to be intertwined with his other stories (as also typical for his writing). Dan's childhood name, his family inheritance, the places, his experiences - everything we know from the first book is built into this sequel and somehow makes more sense now, just as if this really is the documentation of the real future of this little special child that had to spend a traumatic winter in a hotel in the mountains of Colorado. Stephen King is an excellent story teller because everything fits together so perfectly, that the reader really gets the feeling, he's just that: he tells Danny's story and he didn't make up anything. The links to the past, the many descriptions of little details and the telling of side stories let the story seem so real which makes it scarier than the big amount of blood and rotten flesh in King's earlier works.

It's the creativity of the Shining wrapped in a more mature writing style.



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Review: Fangirl

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



It's a definite must read - and that's someone saying who's neither a big YA reader nor a fan of love stories.

Cath and Wren - twins, 18 years old and just on their way to leave the nest and start their first year at college. But it's not just that, they look alike and are best friends, they both love Simon Snow and are very popular in the fan fiction community - but they're also different. Years ago their mom left and they try different ways to deal with it. Wren pushes forward, Cath keeps herself locked inside. Wren wants to make new friends at college, Cath is afraid of changes and refers to herself as crazy (she's sure of having her father's "crazy genes") - but she's sooooo strong! She's like an everyday life super hero with social anxiety.

In this amazing novel (oh my god, the writing style!! So beautiful and sweet!) we follow Cath's way - at college, with a room mate who's for the first time ever not her sister, boys, writing, her way away from and back to her sister, to a stronger personality, her way to deal with her family and her past but also her way to an exciting future. I loved the topic (it's not just another book about being a freshman at college, it's so much more, it's love to books, writing, family, finding one's own way and growing but still holding on on who one is), the creative storyline (fan fiction woven into the plot as it is woven into Cath's life...loved it!) and the wonderfully sweet protagonists who seemed to be so alive. My absolute favorite was the dad!! I never had the urge to hug my Kindle before ;)

The only thing that wasn't quite 5 stars to me was the love story - there was a little too much back and forth, slowness and understanding on both sides, but the writing, the fan fiction and Simon and Baz made it up for me...and there are some questions left. The most important: What DID Cath do with Baz?? ;) I need to know!! And I was a little irritated by the author actually mentioning Harry Potter once...I was like "huh, isn't Simon Harry? Similar enough to make everyone understand in what fan fiction world we are but still different enough to not have to tell him Harry? But wait...this can be genius as well...mentioning Harry to make the reader stop? Aaah, confusion!" ;)



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