Book reviews: The Outsiders | En olustig början | Dream On

Title: The Outsiders
Author: S.E. Hinton
Original title: The Outsiders
Genre: Classic, YA
Series: --
Publisher: Puffin
Format: Hardback
Pages: 218
Finished: 01/01/2019
Summary: No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he's got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friends - true friends who would do anything for him, like Johnny and Two-Bit. And when it comes to the beating up on "greasers" like him and his friends - he knows that he can count on them for trouble. But one night someone takes things too far, and Ponyboy's world is turned upside down...

My thoughts: This will be a short review, because I really liked this book. I read this for my exam project in school about the development of core messages and sub-genres of young adult literature in school and private since the 70's. To be honest, I wasn't stoked to read this. Sure, I wanted to read it sometime, but at the time that I picked it up I just felt that the genre wasn't what I needed at the time. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. “The Outsiders” offers likeable characters, a good narrative, an exciting plot, and some wisdom, as well as insight to the underclass youth of the 60’s USA. It’s a quick and easy read, and I do highly recommend it, seeing as it’s both a classic and a good book.

Rating: 4,5/5

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Title: En olustig början (An Uneasy Beginning)
Author: Lemony Snicket
Original title: The Bad Beginning
Genre: Middlegrade
Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #1
Publisher: Richters
Format: Hardback
Pages: 170
Finished: 05/01/2019
Summary: Dear Reader,
I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.
In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.
It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

My thoughts: This is the first book in the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, which Netflix series adaption I watched before reading this novel. As many other middlegrade books, it’s short and easy to get through quickly, and of course needs something extra to stand out in the sea that is middlegrade literature. This is offered by a witty and odd narrative, and a continued sense of unease through the whole book. The breaking of the fourth wall (by the narrator addressing the reading in person) also adds to the special character of this series. Although I’ve already seen the series, I’m looking forward to reading more of these books this upcoming year. The reason for the low-ish grade is because it didn't blow me away.

Rating: 3,5/5

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Title: Dream On
Author: Kerstin Gier
Original title: Das zweite Buch der Träume
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Series: The Silver Trilogy #2
Publisher: Square Fish
Format: Paperback
Pages: 317
Finished: 07/01/2019
Summary: Spoiler alert! Things seem to be going well for Liv Silver: she's adjusting to her new home (and her new family) in London; she has a burgeoning romance with Henry Harper, one of the cutest boys in school; and the girl who's been turning her dreams into nightmares, Anabel, is now locked up. But serenity doesn't last for long. It seems that Liv's troubles are far from over--in fact, suddenly they're piling up. School gossip blogger Secrecy knows all of Liv's most intimate secrets, Henry might be hiding something from her, and at night Liv senses a dark presence following her through the corridors of the dream world. Does someone have a score to settle with Liv?

My thoughts: It’s not been too many years (I think 2015?) since I read “Dream a Little Dream”; the first novel of the Silver trilogy. Kerstin Gier, a German author, has been one of my favourite writers since I first read her Ruby Red trilogy several years ago. What makes her writing and her books special is to a large extent her humour. The way she portrays her female protagonists as clumsy, witty, and goofy makes them stand out from every other bland YA main character out there. We follow Liv in this trilogy; a teenage girl who makes mistakes, has prejudices, and very much differs from the other characters in the book. Because, as it should be, the characters in Gier’s novels don’t blend together. Another thing Gier is good at is building worlds and plots that seem majestic and could be very serious and maybe even scary, but she makes them sort of fun and dainty, if that makes any sense. We’re kind of talking the opposite of The Lord of the Rings on the seriousness scale, but it’s still very entertaining. Imagine a contemporary young adult novel with a twist of time travel or dream travel. That’s what Gier’s books are like. Reading one of them is like drinking a mug of hot coacoa with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. I like it!
Spoiler content: (mark to see the white text) I’ve gathered from the Goodreads reviews that many people would’ve wanted Liv to end up with Grayson, even after reading this second book. I just frankly don’t agree with that, especially since the brotherly and sisterly bond between Liv and Grayson strengthens. I think Henry is a much more interesting partner choice for Liv, even if Grayson is a nice character.
Link to my review of the first book in the series.

Rating: 4,5/5