Out of the pot and into the firefight

INTERNMENT introduces us to Layla, a teen American-Muslim, and her frustration and incredulousness at how basic civil liberties are being dismantled—while the people around her seem to just watch in defeated silence. Layla knows, and we know, that we were warned. This is happening because we didn’t do anything. INTERNMENT shakes us out of our stupor and encourages us to speak now and fight against a world that is spiralling towards complete oppression.

At the core of power: choice vs circumstance

Like many chosen ones, Elisa grapples with being special—she doesn’t think she is and she is not even sure that she wants to be. But this book differentiates itself in the deliberateness of Carson’s language and of her narrative. When it is obvious that a writer has taken the time to consider the significance of even the smallest details, a reader can’t help but feel valued and respected. And in this book, it is undeniable that the small thrilling details all add up to an enjoyable and organic whole.

Just do away with the girl

I don’t remember ever having to say this about any other story. Friends would maybe always hear/read me say that the love angle in a certain story could have been done away with. But I have never, EVER, felt like a lead character was completely unnecessary. Unfortunately, in my honest opinion, The Raven Boys could have done without the girl.

According to the stars: grappling with giving graded reviews

In the end, it will go back to my quantitative interpretation of how my perception of a book’s relevance relates to the probability of me recommending the book to other readers. And as it is a largely personal and subjective process, I will be thinking of those readers in terms of my friends. I  have thus figured out a guide, for myself, to use for these starred reviews.