Book Review: The Crying of Lot 49

Title: The Crying of Lot 49

Author: Thomas Pynchon

Publication Date: 1966 (2006 edition)

Publisher: Harper Perennial
Genre: Mystery

Pages: 183

Age Rating: Readers over 14

My Opinion: 3/10

Hi, Readers!

       Phew, I never realized how exhausting post-modernist novels could be.  Reading these novels for American Fiction from 1950 to Present requires my full attention - skipping over a single line of text can leave me feeling confused for chapters on end.  This sense of confusion hit me like a truck as soon as I dived into The Crying of Lot 49, by Thomas Pynchon.

The 'Trystero' sign that Oedipa discovers

       The Crying of Lot 49 is one of the most incomprehensible novels that I have ever reviewed.  I don't even know where to start, so I guess I'll just start from the beginning.  Oedipa Maas, a housewife living in California, had a previous romantic relationship with a billionaire property owner, Pierce Inverarity.  One evening, she discovers that he has passed away and left her as the executor of his will.  Naturally, Oedipa has absolutely no clue where to start in executing a will, so she meets with a lawyer, Metzger.  The two end up having a whirlwind affair, and Oedipa becomes involved in a conspiracy of sorts involving 'Trystero' and hidden signs around the city of San Narciso.  

       In case you haven't noticed, I rated Pynchon's novel as a three out of ten.  Let me make one thing clear - The Crying of Lot 49 definitely does reach a particular audience (although I'm not quite sure who that may be) and it is certainly renowned in the minds of some readers.  However, maybe I just don't understand what Pynchon is trying to get at with his choppy and unnecessary storytelling, but his writing style does not appeal to me whatsoever.  He includes ten pages worth of description on a movie that Oedipa and Metzger watch, and he also describes in full detail a gruesome play that Oedipa attends, the two of which were absolute wastes of time.  Considering that the novel isn't very long to begin with, I can't help but wonder why Pynchon wasted precious space including these irrelevant stories when he could have been developing his characters or expanding upon his brief discussion of gender roles and identity in society.  Plus, he never truly develops the plot of the novel - if there even is a plot to begin with - and the conclusion leaves readers hanging with no explanation.

Author Thomas Pynchon

       Pynchon's only saving grace is his use of humor.  Although I am still totally unaware about what the point of the novel is, I tried to read it with an open mind and it made me laugh constantly.  One of the funniest moments of the novel is when Oedipa accidentally breaks a can of hairspray in her hotel bathroom and it ricochets around for minutes, all while Oedipa is covered in layers of clothing from playing a stripping game with Metzger.  Ludicracy such as this is practically considered normal day-to-day life in The Crying of Lot 49.  

       As I briefly mentioned before, I do believe, deep down, that there is some sort of audience for The Crying of Lot 49, but that audience definitely does not encompass young adult fiction readers such as myself.  I would not have the heart to recommend this novel to anybody for the fear that they would end up just as disoriented as I did... or even worse, that they manage to uncover a deeper understanding that I totally missed.

Happy reading!

Book Review: Paper Towns

Title: Paper Towns

Author: John Green

Publication Date: September 22, 2009

Publisher: Speak

Genre: Realistic fiction, mystery

Pages: 305

Age Rating: Readers over 12

My Opinion: 8/10

Hi, Readers!

       Don't worry, my obsession with reading every John Green book on the planet is almost over.  And that's not just because there are only a couple of his books left that I haven't read yet.  John Green is such an amazing author that reading too much of his works at one time makes other books seem insignificant.  I would recommend that anybody else who becomes obsessed with John Green should read his books once or twice a year so that they have more impact.  Paper Towns is probably one of my least favorite John Green books, but it still deserves an 8/10 because it is a phenomenal and realistic mystery story. 

       Quentin Jacobson, also known as Q, is a fairly average, if not a little bit nerdy, high schooler.  He plays video games with his friends, complains about prom, and is about to graduate.  Ever since he was a little boy, Q has had an enormous crush on his next-door neighbor, Margo Roth Speigelman. When she shows up outside of his bedroom window in the middle of the night, Q follows her and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.  However, the next morning at school, everything seems to go back to normal.  Q cannot figure out Margo's intentions, and when she mysteriously goes missing, he is more puzzled than ever.  He decides that it is up to him to find his missing neighbor, and Q's search helps him to discover just as much about himself as he does about Margo.

       Paper Towns is a mystery book in disguise.  In reality, it is all about Q's search for Margo, but John Green makes it seem like a coming of age story instead of a search.  He creates excellent characters who made me want to read more.  They were willing to follow Q on his road trip journey to find Margo, no matter what their parents said about the matter.  Q had some fantastic friends that always had his back, which is one aspect of the novel that is different than other John Green books.  Although the story has some spooky parts, it is overall a heartwarming road trip journey.

Nat Wolff, who will play Q

       As I mentioned before, all of John Green's books are so good that they cannot be read in a row.  All of his novels share similar plot lines and characters.  They are all great books and I would highly recommend them to anybody and everybody.  That being said, Paper Towns seemed to lack a little something that the other books had.  The whole time, I struggled to understand why Q loved Margo so much, when she constantly ignored him to be higher up the social ladder.  Margo's attitude at first reminded me of Into The Wild, but by the end of the book she seemed like a stuck up teenager looking for attention.  My tip is that when you are reading Paper Towns, use your judgement - going on a wild goose chase to find a missing girl isn't always the best idea.

       A movie adaptation based on Paper Towns is due to come out on July 31, 2015.  Nat Wolff, who played a side role in the John Green-based movie, The Fault In Our Stars, has been cast as Q.  I absolutely cannot wait to see how he makes the character of Q his own.  I believe that this movie adaptation could be a massive hit.  There are a number of scenes that will be filmed beautifully, and John Green's descriptions in the books will really come to life.  Also, the emotion of the characters will come across better on screen than it does in the book.  Now, I wonder who will play Margo Roth Speigelman.

Happy reading!

Book Review: Mojo

Title: Mojo

Author: Tim Tharp

Publication Date: April 8, 2014

Publisher: Ember

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 288

Age Rating: Readers over 14

My Opinion: 7/10

Hi, Readers!

       Every once and a while, I enjoy reading a good mystery book.  Trying to figure out the culprit before the main character solves the mystery is a lot of fun.  In the novel Mojo, author Tim Tharp includes a great mix of mystery and comedy to create a lighthearted and entertaining read.  However, some of his characters were not my favorite.

       Dylan is an ordinary high school boy who enjoys writing for the school newspaper and hanging out with his best friends, Audrey and Randy.  However, when Dylan finds the dead body of his high school classmate discarded in a dumpster, he is worried, to say the least.  Therefore, as soon as a girl from a local private school goes missing, Dylan feels obligated to investigate and he believes the cases may be intertwined.  He starts writing a column in the school newspaper about the disappearance, but he becomes more involved in the case than expected.  His investigation takes him to Gangland, a dangerous club created by students from the private school.  Faced with rich kids, overzealous parents, and the police, Dylan must figure out who he can trust while attempting to solve the mystery of the missing girl.

       The best part about Tim Tharp's writing is that he seamlessly integrates comedy into his storytelling.  Some of the situations that Dylan must face made me laugh out loud.  For instance, Dylan has an obsession with cheeseburgers, so whenever he feels passion for something, he connects it back to his love of burgers.  In addition, Tharp uses his comedic style in order to deeply develop his characters.  He even uses a joking manner when describing characters.  Specifically, Tharp described Randy as "wearing a cheesy collared shirt that was unbuttoned far enough to expose his pale bony chest.  I should also point out that he'd been trying to grow a mustache... which had the texture of armpit hair.  Apparently, he thought it was suave."  Just imagine a whole book filled with descriptions as wacky as these.

       However, one drawback of the novel is that none of the characters really stood out.  Although Tharp made Dylan into a funny character, I did not particularly like him.  Many of his decisions and thoughts made me mad.  For instance, it took Dylan the entire novel to figure out that the 'popular crowd' was using him for their own personal advantage, even though all of the signs were there.  I got frustrated that Dylan was self-centered throughout his search for the missing girl, and it got to the point where I wondered why he was even looking for her in the first place.

       If you are a mystery lover, Mojo would be an entertaining read for you.  I enjoyed reading it and it made me laugh, but the novel lacked a certain something to transform it from good to great.

Happy reading!

       

New Release Book Review: SYLO

Title: SYLO (Book 1 of The SYLO Chronicles)

Author: D.J. MacHale

Publication Date: July 2, 2013

Publisher: Penguin Group USA

Genres: Action, Science fiction, Mystery

Pages: 336

Age Rating: Readers above the age of 12, specifically boys

My Opinion: 6/10

Hi, Readers!

       Are you looking for an action-packed novel to read over the summer vacation?  SYLO, by D.J. MacHale, is filled with explosions, high-speed chases, fighting, and more.

       Tucker Pierce lives on Pemberwick Island, Maine, and enjoys riding the bench on the varsity football team, as well as going on midnight bike rides with his best friend, Quinn.  However, Tucker's peaceful lifestyle is thrown out of wack when a branch of the United States Military, called SYLO, quarantines Pemberwick Island due to a mysterious "virus".  All communications are cut off from the outside world - no phones, Internet access, or live television.  When a so-called drug dealer offers Tucker a performance enhancer called Ruby, Tucker discovers that there is no virus on Pemberwick Island.  He, Quinn, and their friend, Tori, investigate the real reason why the US Military invaded the island.  After being captured and put in jail, they end up in the middle of a war zone and try to escape through flames and wreckage while being shot at.  Will Tucker and his friends make it out alive and discover the secrets of SYLO?  

D.J. MacHale's ending to SYLO

Storm, the sequel to SYLO

       What SYLO lacks in depth and originality is made up for through mystery and adventure.  Although I could not sympathize with Tucker throughout his adventures, I wanted to find out what he would do next in order to survive.  The most interesting part of the novel is Tucker's relationship with his parents, who know a lot more about the SYLO organization than they initially let on.

       I would recommend Sylo to boys between the ages of 12 and 18.  It has a movie-like quality in that there is always another explosion or surprise to come.  Sylo definitely leaves readers hanging at the end of the book, finishing with "To be continued...".   It is part of The SYLO Chronicles trilogy, followed by Storm, which will be released on March 18, 2014.  D.J. MacHale has also written the vastly popular Pendragon series.  Make sure you check your library for this thrilling new novel.

Read on,

Book Review: Legend

Title: Legend (Book 1 of the Legend series)

Author: Marie Lu

Publication Date: November 29, 2011

Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons

Genres: Dystopian, Mystery

Pages: 336

Age Rating: Readers above the age of 12

My Opinion: 6/10

Hi, Readers!

       Forget about everyday realistic fiction and quirky fantasy novels - the dystopian genre is completely and utterly taking over the Young Adult book scene.  One exciting book to check out is Legend, by Mary Lu. 

Fan drawing of June

       June Iparis is a perfectionist who lives in military luxury with her older brother. However, when she finds out that her brother is unnecessarily murdered by the infamous convict, Day, she sets out undercover to get revenge. June lives in squalor and poverty to find Day, while constantly reporting back to military headquarters. When she accidentally gets involved in a street fight, her life becomes intertwined with that of a kind stranger. Their lives merge into one as they uncover dangerous secrets about people that June has loved and trusted her whole life.  Doubts about friends versus enemies come into play as June slowly falls in love with her brother's so-called murderer. 

       The best part about Legend is its narration.  All of the storytelling switches off between June and Day, allowing readers insight to both of their perspectives.  

       Although Legend is technically a Dystopian book, it is filled with mystery and even has its share of crime scene investigation. The plot line appeals to both boys and girls, and even the best of sleuths would have trouble predicting its ending. 

       All in all, Legend is an interesting novel, but at the end, it did not leave me wanting to continue reading about June and Day's adventures.  The plot line in which the persecutor falls in love with the criminal seems a little too obvious for an otherwise well-planned plot.  June goes through the dynamic character change of heart, as is expected.

The Legend series

       If you are a mystery lover, Legend is a great option to read. The mystery extends into the next two books in the Legend series, Prodigy and Champion.  Assuredly, Marie Lu will weave even more secrets into June's past to keep things fresh.  For those who are looking for a quick and engaging read, Legend is a good choice. 

Stay cool and keep reading,