It’s the end of the semseter, and sadly the end of Books and Bops. I’ve so enjoyed writing these posts throughout the year and hope you enjoyed reading and listening! For my first post, I reviewed my favorite book – for my last, I’m reviewing my second-favorite!

As a little kid, I read everything I could get my hands on. It was usually fantasy novels, as that was the largest population in my public library, but I fell in love with historical fiction when I first read Fever. I later went down the World War II rabbit hole, where I discovered the absolute gut punch that is Elizabeth Wein’s Code Name Verity.

“I am a coward. I wanted to be heroic and I pretended I was. God, I tried hard last week. My God, I tried. But now I know I am a coward. And I’m going to give you anything you ask, everything I can remember. Absolutely Every Last Detail.”

The Book

Code Name Verity throws us right into Nazi-occupied France, where the novel kicks off in the form of the confession of a captured spy. Queenie, as she calls herself, has bargained for her life by sharing secrets of the Allied war effort. She’s kept in horrific conditions and tortured continuously as she writes everything she can. Spun in with her codes and locations of the airfield is the story of her friendship with Maddie, the pilot who flew her into France. She ended up with Maddie’s identification papers before she got captured and their plane was found crashed in a cornfield, so her retelling is also her tribute to Maddie as she grieves her death.

Only Maddie’s not dead – she’s very much alive and stranded in France with forged identification papers and very little understanding of the language. She’s just a pilot, and is not trained to hide in plain sight. As Maddie documents her struggle to get back home, it becomes clear that the two stories aren’t lining up – and not everything is as it seems.

As I said, this book is a total sucker punch that keeps you guessing the entire time. The girls obviously have a deep friendship that helps to keep them afloat throughout their ordeal. The novel is obviously fictional, but uses true stories of women spy networks in World War II as a basis of the story.

Overall, Code Name Verity gets five out of five stars. It is an artfully crafted novel based in real situations, but the beginning of Queenie’s confession does drag if you’re not the type to enjoy tiny details. Once it picks up, and the reader gets invested, it is impossible to put it down.

The Bop

Code Name Verity‘s bop is “Seven” by Taylor Swift. The song looks back on a close friendship where one person had an unhappy home life. Although that’s not the case here, the song can be applied as the girls are both in different situations: one who’s doomed from the minute she lands and one who has been given a chance. The deep friendship and love is still there between the girls even as they go through their own struggles.

In conclusion, read Code Name Verity. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll start running around saying “Kiss me, Hardy!”

“I do mean fly safely. And I do mean come back.”

When I think of friendship, I think of the halcyon days of my childhood with my neighbors, with the fading yellow light of the day and dust being kicked up by our bikes. We often spent entire days together roaming between our homes and would usually end up back in someone’s backyard around a campfire by dark. Some days, we’d each walk home at midnight – on others, we’d crash in a pile in one of our basements. Those neighbors are still my best friends today – we no longer all live on the same street, but the easy conversation and real love is still there. I think it is because I have been graced with such luck that reading books about friendship usually don’t hit the mark for me. However, a recent read felt as though my feelings had been transferred to paper – that read is Benjamin Saenz’s The Inexplicable Logic of My Life.

“I have a memory that is almost like a dream: the yellow leaves from Mima’s mulberry tree are floating down from the sky like giant snowflakes.”

The cover of “The Inexplicable Logic of My Life”

The Book

Saenz is perhaps most well known for his breakout coming-of-age romance novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and it’s sequel, but he takes a completely different direction with The Inexplicable Logic of My Life. Instead of the endearing romance of Ari and Dante, he examines an extremely close friendship. The main character is Sal, a high school senior who has suddenly started getting into fights. His father, who adopted him as a baby, is worried about him as he also deals with the slow demise of his beloved mother. Just as central to the story is Sam, Sal’s best friend since childhood. She is crass and loud, but the two balance each other out extremely well. She tries to help Sal as she deals with difficult boyfriends and a troubled home life.

Sal’s relationship with his father and Sam are are the cornerstones of the story, and Saenz really hones in on the idea of blood not making a family. Sam and Sal are hysterical with their banter, but it is extremely clear that they have a deep love for each other. It really made me think of my closest friends (those neighbors I talked about above). We have experienced so much of our lives together that it sometimes seems we can communicate without words. Even though we talk frequently, I am 1000% sure that if I were to go two years with no contact with any of them, we would pick up right where we left off. I feel that safety net with me wherever I go, and it was very apparent in this novel.

Myself and my neighbors – this was the last day we were all home before we split up for college

Saenz’s strength lies in his descriptions – he artfully crafts sentences about leaves that make them sound like poetry. One of my neighbors, Jack, thought those details dragged, but I feel as though they enhance the story and add to the world and emotions that Saenz is building. Another favorite detail of mine is that Sal’s dog is named Maggie – two of my neighbors, Abby and Alex had a lab named Maggie that was affectionately referred to as the “Neighborhood Dog”. She passed away a couple of years ago, but that little connection brought me a lot of joy when I read this for the first time.

Mags – The world’s best neighborhood dog (plus her buddy Simon)

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life gets five stars from me; I truly fell in love with the characters and felt fully immersed in their world and relationships – to the point that by the end of the novel, I was sad to see them go.

The Bop

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life‘s bop is “Happy Accidents” by Saint Motel. The song really talks about a romantic relationship, but I think it can be related to any type of relationship. It ponders on just how unlikely it is that two people exist at the same time and find each other. I am often overtaken by the sheer vastness of out planet, and how lucky it is that I have found my people in the sea of 8 billion humans. Sal’s story is especially applicable here – there were a lot of happy accidents that had to occur for him to be who he was, and that is not something that should be taken for granted.

So – if you’re on the hunt for a new read, try out The Inexplicable Logic of My Life. You will laugh and cry and all the emotions in between, but you’ll definitely be better off for it.

“Alone was not a word that applied to me as I sat there. Waiting for the sun to rise.”

Are you really a Gen-Z-er if you don’t have an unhealthy attachment to one of the Green Brothers? In my opinion, the answer is no. I certainly have an attachment to both of them – Hank, who taught me science, and John, who taught me history and gave me some of the most profoundly beautiful writing I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. There isn’t a book of his that I don’t like – but none are quite as poetic or as earth-shattering as his essay collection, The Anthropocene Reviewed.

“It is May of 2020, and I do not have a brain well suited to this.”

The cover of “The Anthropocene Reviewed”

The Book

John Green has an astonishing talent for making words flow effortlessly on the page in the perfect manner. He’s most well-known for the gut punch that is The Fault in Our Stars, but he’s written a plethora of other fictional novels – my favorite of which is Looking for Alaska. However, unlike most authors I love, I know the sound of John Green’s voice and could easily pick him out from a crowd. This is, of course, because of the YouTube series, Crash Course, that John created with his brother. John and Hank provided short educational videos that cover a lot of content very quickly – and for free. I loved these videos growing up: they were accesible, held my attention span, and were chock full of passion.

For this reason, I have felt the Green brothers as a guiding force in my life. I have vivid memories of the first John Green book I read (Paper Towns, which was taken away from me by my fifth grade teacher as she thought it was inappropriate) and the first time I watched Hank babble excitedly about biochemical properties (fourth grade, in the school library when we first got laptops). When I found out John was writing a non-fiction book, I was thrilled.

John and Hank at VidCon – which they created!

The Anthropecene Reviewed is a series of essays where John rates things from the human era on a scale of five stars. Some are logical (“Staphylococcus aureus” is given one star) while others are arbitrary (“Jerzy Dudek’s performance on May 25, 2005” receives 5). All of them, though, show the world through John-Green-tinted glasses. He is hopeful, yet realistic; funny, but somber. I have yet to find another author who so beautifully strings together words: two of my favorite passages from this book are:

“I think about the many broad seas that have roared between me and the past—seas of neglect, seas of time, seas of death. I’ll never again speak to many of the people who loved me into this moment, just as you will never speak to many of the people who loved you into your now. So we raise a glass to them—and hope that perhaps somewhere, they are raising a glass to us.”

and

“This will end, and the light-soaked days are coming”.

All of his essays have personal touches but also broad implications that can be related to by anyone who may be reading. He is a literary genius in all senses of the word. In apropos fashion, The Anthropecene Reviewed gets five stars – all humans would be better off for reading it.

The Bop

The Anthropecene Reviewed’s bop is “New Partner” by Will Oldham. There’s a whole chapter dedicated to this song – John speaks of how to song has followed him throughout his life. I feel as though most people have a song like this – one that they can tie to many moments of their life. For me, it’s American Pie. John’s descriptions of the many monumental moments of his life passing with “New Partner”  tugs at the heartstrings more than just a little bit.

In conclusion, add The Antropecence Reviewed to your TBR – you will curb some of the existential dread building in your soul and emerge with a newfound appreciation for Polish soccer players and 19th century photography.

“I will, sooner or later, be the everything that is part of everything else. But until then: What an astonishment to breathe on this breathing planet. What a blessing to be Earth loving Earth.”

What do high school English teachers across America and I have in common? Our overwhelming love for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby.

In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.

One of the most recognizable covers in literature!

The Book

If you were to ask a room full of people what they would define as “The Great American Novel”, I’d be willing to bet that over half of them would choose The Great Gatsby. The book has become synonymous with American literature – the great, green light being equivalent to the American Dream. I, like many people, read The Great Gatsby for the first time in a high school English class (shoutout to Mr. Schofield!). My teacher was passionate when reading the book aloud and leading our class discussions. We spent an absurd amount of time analyzing the eyes of TJ Eckleberg and the light at the end of the dock.

The “Eyes of TJ Eckleberg”

At first, I resented all of the characters – the fanciful Jay Gatsby, the shallow Buchanans, and the arrogant Nick Caraway.  However, the more I read, the more I started to sympathize with them – they were simply products of their environment. I often say that the sole biggest indicator of my personality is that I am a staunch Daisy Buchanan apologist. I will defend her until the day I die – I don’t think I’ve ever read something that has resonated with me more than her wishing for her daughter to be “a beautiful little fool” (on that note, a FANTASTIC Gatsby adaptation is Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor).

The Great Gatsby is told through Nick Caraway’s perspective – that of an unreliable narrator, one of my favorite literary tools. Nick moves to the extravagantly rich neighborhood of West Egg on Long Island, where he becomes acquainted to it and its neighboring town of East Egg, as well as all the characters that live there. He sees the stark difference between old money and new money, and how wealth truly can’t buy happiness. Nick bears witness to a whole bunch of shady happenings, all the while being infatuated with Gatsby. It’s a fascinating look into the Roarin’ 20’s, including several autobiographical features from Fitzgerald’s own life.

Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda, who inspired several elements of Daisy

The Great Gatsby also has a movie adaptation staring Tobey Maguire as Nick and Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, which was questionable at best – but any excuse to watch a DiCaprio movie is a win for me.

The Great Gatsby gets five stars from me – it is the definition of a classic, extremely engaging, and questionable characters that evoke intense emotions from the reader no matter what.

The Bop

The Great Gatsby‘s bop is “The Lucky One” by Taylor Swift. The song details someone having everything they ever wanted – only to realize it wasn’t what they wanted at all. This perfectly applies to Daisy as she struggles with societal pressures to marry rich and be the perfect socialite, only to be stuck in a dreadfully unhappy relationship she has no way to escape from. She also realizes that her daughter will have the same fate as her – hence why she wishes her to be a fool: if she’s ignorant, her future won’t be as painful as it is for the intelligent Daisy.

In conclusion, give The Great Gatsby another try – forgive your English teacher for the never ending symbolism discussions and immerse yourself into the Eggs and the 20’s in perhaps the greatest American novel ever written.

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

Post-apocalyptic United States, cannibals, and a startling lack of quotation marks – it may sound a lot like a zombie apocalypse movie, but these things can actually all be found in Cormac McCarthy’s award-winning novel, The Road.

When he woke in the woods in the dark and the cold of the night he’d reach out to touch the child sleeping beside him.

The cover of “The Road” – or should I say The Road

The Book

The Road is set in a post-apocalyptic United States after an undisclosed extinction event wiped out the majority of life on Earth. It follows a father and son, who are never named (another of McCarthy’s unique writing quirks) as they travel South to try to avoid the harsh Northern winters. The father is clearly very sick, but continues to rally for his son. He spends a lot of time clarifying that they are the good guys amongst all the other crazy people still lingering in the world. We think this is all fun and games and morality fluff on top, until the characters actually start meeting other people. Anyone interested in cannibalism and baby farms? Yeah, I wasn’t either.

Another interesting nuance is their gun – a revolver with only two bullets. McCarthy avoid one of my least favorite plot holes – the never-ending ammo supply in the apocalypse. Instead of using the gun to kill literal cannibals, the father tells his son that the bullets are for them to shoot themselves in case they are about to get captured by said cannibals. It is also revealed that the boy’s mother killed herself shortly after his birth.

Their journey continues, and they face adversity at every turn. Barring spoilers, the book closes just like the rest of McCarthy’s greatest hits – with an ambiguous, what-the-frack-just-happened ending. I have my own (very passionate) thoughts on what I think happened after the book – please discuss with me once you’ve read!

Another fantastic part? A MOVIE ADAPTATION STARRING VIGGO MORTENSON. In my mind, he will always be Aragorn, son of Arathorn and the lost heir of Gondor, but he did a pretty good job as the father in this movie.

Viggo Mortenson stars in “The Road”(2009)

The Road has all the hallmarks of a quintessential McCarthy novel – the no-named characters, questionable punctuation, the open ending, and zero shyness around violence. My favorite McCarthy book is Blood Meridian, but that tackles different issues than The Road. A particular thing that strikes me about this novel is the stark realness of the women in the apocalypse. Sadly, harsh conditions bring out the worst of humanity, and a lot of times this means women are treated extremely badly. The Road is no exception – even though the main characters are not women, it is very clear that women received the short end of the stick (think of the baby farm…how does a group of men start a baby farm?). It’s horrible and terrifying and true – something that is important in books.

I first read The Road in 9th grade (Cormac McCarthy hails from Rhode Island, and my English teacher made it her personal mission to make sure we would never forget it), but recently reread it. I was in a little apocalypse rabbit hole due to the premier of HBO’s The Last of Us, based on the hit zombie apocalypse video game (I could talk about this for hours). The game, and now the show, does a fantastic job of showcasing the best and worst of humanity when they are pushed to their breaking point – something that is also displayed in The Road.

Side by side shots of “The Last of Us” show (top) and game (bottom) at the Massachusetts State House

The Road gets four our of five stars from Books & Bops – it had a thrilling storyline, fleshed-out characters, and raised moral questions even through the clunky grammar.

The Bop

The Road’s bop is “Wayfaring Stranger” by Johnny Cash. The song is a folk song, having many different versions that have been recorded and sung. Johnny Cash’s is my favorite – A) because it’s Johnny Cash; B) because of the haunting overture behind his voice. The song details the journey of a sad individual, dreaming of going to a better place. It is accurate to the journey of the man as he struggles day after day to take care of his son.

To wrap it up, read The Road (unless you’re squeamish). You’ll learn how to read with no quotation marks and be left screaming from…rage? Sadness? Confusion? Find out!

In the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery.

A grumpy Swedish widower, a problem-seeking cat, and way too much car talk – all things that can be found in Fredrik Backman’s breakout novel, A Man Called Ove.

Ove is fifty-nine. He drives a Saab. He’s the kind of man who points at people he doesn’t like the look of, as if they were burglars and his forefinger a policeman’s flashlight.

The traditional English cover of “A Man Called Ove”

The Book

A Man Called Ove follows the eponymous character as he adjusts to life as a widower. Ove, described a curmudgeon, is a chronic pessimist. He constantly gets into fights with all people he interacts with, holds onto a forty year-old grudge with his next door neighbor, and spends all hours of the day planning and attempting to execute suicide. However, through a series of flashback chapters, the reader begins to learn about Ove’s early life and the reason for his pessimism. As the novel progresses, Ove’s true nature is revealed through his relationship with a young couple who moves into his neighborhood. He begins to act as a father figure to the couple and helps them in any way he can (even as he pretends he doesn’t want to). The heartwarming message that lies at the center of the novel is not to judge a book by its cover – and that persistence does indeed pay off. The book is also in the process of being adapted into a movie, with Tom Hanks starring as Ove/Otto.

Tom Hanks as Ove/Otto in the movie adaptation, “A Man Called Otto”

I was reluctant to pick up A Man Called Ove – I was (and still am) in love with another one of Fredrik Backman’s novels, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and was worried that his other novels wouldn’t live up to my expectations. However, all my worries were for naught – Backman continues to me a literary genius. His tone, humor, and talent for packing punches with his words carry through each of his novels (even though they have been translated from his native language of Swedish) and draw you in. He makes you fall in love with characters who are painfully human – flawed, but still good at heart. He doesn’t focus on traditional relationships between romantic partners, parents, or siblings; rather, he looks for connections between the most unlikely of friends. His novels really speak to the baffling nature of the human condition and what connection truly means.

A Man Called Ove gets five stars from me – I was drawn right in and could hardly stand to put the book down. The ending was not a happily ever after, but still satisfying, and left me in a reading-induced trance for hours after I finished.

The Bop

A Man Called Ove’s bop is “Yesterday” by the Beatles. The song is a melancholy tune that focuses on the feel of nostalgia for days past, which is perfect for Ove. He so desperately wants to return to the past, where he was happier and less alone, and refuses to notice the goodness of life happening around him. Paul McCartney’s voice and words could almost belong to Ove – perhaps in another life.

In conclusion, take the time to read A Man Called Ove. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will come out of the experience with an unexplained love for Saabs.

The young man straightens up for the first time, smiles an almost undetectable smile, and looks her right in the eye with the sort of indomitable pride that only one word can convey. “Saab.”

IMAGE SOURCES:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/29/movies/a-man-called-otto-review.html

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, Wizards, Orcs, and ubiquitous eyeballs – all of these things can be found in perhaps the greatest fantasy series of all time: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.

This is the 1986 box set of The Lord of The Rings that I own: they were my father’s in his childhood

The Book

The Lord of the Rings is a cultural phenomenon – you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has not heard of them in some manner. Tolkein’s Middle Earth is a sprawling franchise, extending into the prologue of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit. Many other texts have been published by himself and his family (after his death). They were made even more popular by Peter Jackson’s movie adaptations, which are largely considered to be among the greatest movies of all times.

The Fellowship of the Ring, as depicted in Peter Jackson’s movie adaptation (Top, Left to Right: Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, and Boromir; Bottom LtR: Sam, Frodo, Merry, Pippin)

My first exposure to The Lord of the Rings was through The Hobbit, which I read in sixth grade and hated. I did so to appease my dad, who carefully conserved his copies of the series since he was 9 years old. I didn’t pick up The Lord of the Rings until 9th grade, when I became utterly enthralled.

The Lord of the Rings follows the young Hobbit, Frodo Baggins, who is the nephew of the famed Bilbo. Bilbo disappears after his eleventy first birthday party, leaving Frodo his home and all his belongings, including the mysterious One Ring. The ring takes Frodo on an epic and harrowing journey to prevent the destruction of Middle Earth. Frodo, who has never left his home in The Shire, is forced to grow up and push himself past all his previous boundaries. He doesn’t do it by himself, however – he is joined by fellow Hobbits (Sam, Merry, and Pippin), Legolas (an elf), Gimli (a dwarf) Gandalf (a magic wizard angel man), Boromir (a man), and Aragorn (a man? (read to find out!)). Other characters help further Frodo’s cause – Elrond (leader of the Rivendell elves), his daughter Arwen, Glorfindel (another elf), Galadriel (queen elf)  the riders of Rohan, Ents (giant walking-talking trees), and soldiers from the royal city of Gondor.  The characters must face their fears head on and learn to work together despite their difference as they head towards the certain death that is the fires of Mordor. The quest is sprawling and dangerous – and the fate of all of Middle Earth hangs in the balance.

I could read The Lord of the Rings for the rest of my life and never be bored. You can find new nuances in every reread.  The characters are easy to love and are complex – each of them has their own goals and morals. Additionally, although women are not prominent, the men are comfortable in themselves. They easily express emotion and truly care about each other. The Lord of the Rings teaches many lessons, but one sticks out – no one is too small to make a difference.

The Bop

The Lord of the Rings‘ bop is “Soldier, Poet, King” by the Oh Hellos. The song is meant to be biblical, but it accurately describes the plight of a specific character in The Lord of the Rings – Arargorn. Aragron is my personal favorite character – he’s a fearless leader hiding a mysterious past. He is willing to sacrifice all personal gains for the benefit of the greater good and greatly cares about his friends and family. Additionally, the whimsical, medival tune firmly plants the reader into Middle Earth.

In conclusion, read The Lord of the Rings. You will fall in love with the stubborn Hobbits and all other inhabitants of Middle Earth as they enter into the fight of their lives.

Sam drew a deep breath. “Well, I’m back,” he said.

Politics, violence, sex,  feudalism, wars, killer ice zombies, crazy fire gods, three-eyed ravens…and oh, yeah – dragons. All of this and more can be found in George R.R. Martin’s ongoing fantasy epic, A Song of Ice and Fire.

The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted at the end of summer. They set forth at daybreak to see a man beheaded, twenty in all, and Bran rode among them, nervous with excitement. This was the first time he had been deemed old enough to go with his lord father and his brothers to see the king’s justice done. It was the ninth year of summer and the seventh of Bran’s life.

The box set of A Song of Ice and Fire

The Book

If you’re not a reader but find the introductory paragraph above to be startlingly familiar, you are probably familiar with the HBO adaptation of the book – “Game of Thrones”. As a staunch book elitist and someone who read the books before I watched the show, I urge all show fans to try the books. They have different nuances than the show – some storylines were completely omitted or significantly modified for time in the show, while the 1000+ pages of the books allow for more detail. There are five books currently published – A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast of Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. Two additional books are in the works (supposedly) to complete the series – The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.

The books have no “true” main characters – there are over 30 point of view characters to ensure all sides of the story are represented – but a large portion of the novels focus on the Stark family, one of seven noble house on the continent of Westeros. The Starks are as cold and unyielding as the tundra they inhabit and the direwolves that create their sigil. Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark is the blunt patriarch, focused on protecting his children after the brutal murder of the majority of his family in his youth. His wife, Catelyn, is Southern-born but has adapted well to Northern life. Their eldest son, Robb, is eager to learn the ways of being a high lord. Sansa, their eldest daughter, feels she was made for a life at court and is a hopeless romantic. Arya, the younger Stark daughter, is wild and carefree, preferring to hold swords over a needlepoint. Bran and Rickon, the younger two sons, are still enraptured in the beauty of childhood. Then there is Jon Snow, the bastard son of Ned. Entwined with their lives are the Baratheons (the sitting King and Ned’s childhood best friend), the Lannisters (who is the Queen), and the other houses. On the other side of the world, on the continent of Essos, is the exiled daughter of the previous King, Daenerys Targaryen, who seeks to regain what she believes is her birthright.

When King Robert arrives in Winterfell, the Stark’s home, and asks Ned to take over the role of his Hand after the untimely death of their foster father who previously held the position, Ned accepts out of duty. However, as he, Sansa, and Arya travel South, it becomes clear that his death wasn’t natural. Ned unknowingly begins a war that sprawls the continent and affects the lives of everyone living there. Suddenly, all of the Starks are separated and fighting for survival as danger lurks in every corner. If that wasn’t enough, there is an unworldly threat coming from beyond the Wall – and the only way to stop it is to unite Westeros.

These books are truly my bread and butter – I’m a sucker for sprawling high fantasy tales. However, unlike other similar series, Martin prioritizes the characters and relationships over the fantasy epics. They run the show, even as the zombies and dragons and direwolves run through the background. There are dedicated families (some a little too dedicated), families who hate each other, and families that aren’t blood related. All of humanity is explored – honorable and kind characters as well as the worst of the worst. Martin also makes sure to show how goodness doesn’t always out – rather, it often gets you killed.

These books are long and boring at times, but every minute detail is carefully placed to be relevant. I would advise to those who are squeamish to research before reading – there is no shortage of gore, violence, and rape in the novels. Additionally, many of the main characters are children and are unfortunately not spared from the horrors of the world. The most recently published book also ends on the most ridiculous cliffhanger EVER. Be warned.

ASOIF gets five stars from me – now publish the last two books, George!

The Bop

A Song of Ice and Fire‘s bop is “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel. The song speaks of a young boy who travels away from his family and undergoes many struggles. Even though he is beaten and manipulated and thinks of giving up, “the fighter still remains”. This could apply to a multitude of characters – all the Stark children, Jon, Tyrion Lannister, or Daenerys. They are all faced with unmanageable difficulties, but they persevere.

So break out some ale and cozy up with A Song of Ice and Fire – you will be pulled in by the feuding houses of Westeros, the War of Five Kings, and the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea.

The other two pulled away from her breasts and added their voices to the call, translucent wings unfolding and stirring the air, and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.

*Note: The first and last lines are from the first book of the series, A Game of Thrones – ending with the last line from the most recent book would be a huge spoiler!

When a well-read individual thinks of feminist literature, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë comes to mind. A plain-looking woman with a horrific childhood, Christian ideals, and a crazy man who keeps his wife in the attic – what more could you want?

There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.

My favorite cover of Jane Eyre from the Splinter’s Classic Lines collection

The Book

Jane Eyre was the classic that made me fall in love with classics – before reading it, I found them woefully boring and outdated. Jane’s story (from her perspective) pulled me in and kept me enraptured throughout the novel. The novel follows the eponymous heroine from her tragic childhood into her adult life. Jane, an orphan, grows up with her abusive aunt and cousins – this abuse comes to a head when Jane retaliates and is sent to the “red room” as punishment. She believes she sees a ghost and faints. The doctor who comes to tend to her sees how unhappy she is and suggests that she is sent away to boarding school. Jane is #pumped, but school turns out to be a bust as the pupils are subjected to terrible conditions and cruel teachers. The majority of the student body is wiped out by typhus, but a miraculous revamp is done in the school. Jane remains there for her tenure as a student and then begins to work as a teacher. After 8 years, she becomes bored and becomes a governess for a little French girl named Adele, who is being raised by one Mr.Rochester. Jane and Rochester become close, even as shady things start happening in the house (a fire, an attack, etc.). Rochester proposes to Jane, who joyfully accepts…that is, until the truth comes out.

Jane Eyre, in my opinion, is dreadfully unappreciated. Often cast aside for the likes of Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf (both of which I also love), Charlotte Brontë’s magnum opus is much more subdued. This does not take away from the work, however – rather, it enhances it by showing the reader that there is beauty in simplicity. Jane herself is also adamant that she is her own person first – any prospects for love are second to the pursuits and dreams she has of her own. As a young girl reading the book, it was amazing to see a heroine so confident in herself and her goals.

Jane Eyre gets five out of five stars – I have loved it for years and will continue to for many more. Plus, I wrote about it for my AP English Literature exam and got a 5, so that was a win.

The Bop

Jane Eyre’s bop is “Mirrorball” by Taylor Swift. The song describes a women trying to fit into society’s standards, though it is very difficult for her. She feels as though she must please everyone, being the “mirrorball” that everyone is always looking at. This is Jane at the beginning of the novel – she is so often treated poorly that she is willing to do anything to gain positive attention and have people like her. However, as she grows up, she realizes that her, as she is, is just as worthy of love and respect as any other version of herself.

In conclusion, take the time to read Jane Eyre. It’s a great introduction into the classics, makes you look educated, and is a wonderful read overall.

We entered the wood, and wended homeward.

What do a criminal mastermind, prostitute-turned-assasin, gambling addicted sharpshooter, illiterate pyromaniac, hypersexual witch, and imprisoned religious fanatic have in common? For one, they are all under the age of 18. Second, they inhabit a rip-off fantasy Amsterdam. Third, they are the outcasts that make up the ensemble cast of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.

Kaz Brekker didn’t need a reason. Those were the words whispered on the streets of Ketterdam, in the taverns and the coffeehouses, in the dark and bleeding alleys of a pleasure district known as the Barrel. The boy they called Dirtyhands didn’t need a reason any more than he needed permission – to break a leg, sever an alliance, or change a man’s fortunes with the turn of a card.

The newest collector’s edition dust jacket of Six of Crows

The Book

I will admit, I gave you very two-dimensional descriptions of the cast of Six of Crows in the introduction – let me break them down more, as they are a bigger part of the novel (in my opinion) than the actual plot:

Criminal mastermind: This is the aforementioned Kaz Brekker, unaffectionately known as Dirtyhands. Kaz is the 17 year old leader of the gang known as The Dregs. He is cunning, cold, and driven by a never-ending thirst for wealth and revenge. He also wears black leather gloves 24/7 for unknown reasons (at least until you read the book).

Prostitute-turned-assasin: Inej Ghafa – another character with an unaffectionate nickname. She is known as “The Wraith”, slinking over rooftops and murdering from the shadows. Sold into sexual slavery at age 14, her indenture was bought by Kaz when she was 16 and her murder-sprees are working off her debt. She was an acrobat in her family’s circus as a child and is devoutly religious, leading to an interesting inner conflict for her. She also carries significant trauma from her time in the pleasure houses, which she struggles to overcome.

Gambling addicted sharpshooter: The lovable Jesper Fehey, an immigrant who has conned his family into believing he is studying at university while he actually blows his life savings gambling. He, too, is repaying Kaz by working as his sharpshooter. Jesper is funny and lovable – starkly different from the other two.

These three make up the “originals” – that is to say, they have known each other before the start of the novel. It is very clear that the three characters have history and there is both a sense of trust and connection between them that the newcomers do not have.

Illiterate pyromaniac: Wylan [redacted] – another Kaz hire who he pulled from the streets. Wylan is quiet and unassuming but has a gift for pyrotechnics and serves as the team’s explosives expert. Wylan’s also the only character of our main six that is originally from Ketterdamn, making him irreplaceable.

Hypersexual witch: Nina Zenik, who can only be described as a hoot. She sleeps with anything that walks, although she is holding a candle to a certain someone. She’s Kaz’s ace in the hole – she also owes him a debt and he’s not afraid to use her when he needs her. She’s from Ravka – the governing seat of the fantasy world.

Imprisoned religious fanatic: Matthias Helvar, a witch-hunter from Fjerda, a frozen tundra. Through unfortunate events, he ends up in the high security prison, Hellgate. He’s determined to get back home and get revenge on those who put him in Hellgate.

These six come together in a series of unlikely events to complete what has been deemed an impossible task – a heist of the fabled Ice Court. It will take all of them working together to achieve – that is, if they don’t kill each other first.

The characters are some of the most morally grey I’ve ever read (something I love). All have done some pretty terrible things which they have justified in different ways. Each is driven by their own personal quest, but to achieve their goals they have to work together. Kaz, in particular, is extremely compelling. He is the true main character – the other five revolve around him and his planning for the heist. As stated before, he is cold and cunning and often times cruel, but the introspective third-person perspective allows for the reader to truly understand his thought process.

Throughout the course of the novel, the characters form a ragtag family. It is easy to forget they are teenagers with their mature attitudes and the horrors they have endured, but they truly are all searching for a place to belong – something they seem to find together.

Six of Crows gets five stars. It has everything I love in a book – fantasy elements, three-dimensional characters, sarcasm and puns (The Dregs are the bottom of the Barrel – get it?) and a found family at the center.

The Bop

Six of Crows‘ bop is Teenagers by My Chemical Romance. A pulsing punk anthem, the song sings about the prejudice towards teenagers instituted by adults. The characters of Six of Crows are often patronized or looked down upon by adults – something which annoys them but they use to their advantage. You can imagine the gang strutting through the alleys of Ketterdamn with this song blasting.

To hit the bullseye, take the time to read Six of Crows. You will fall in love with The Dregs and their banter, and root for them as they brutally murder all those who wrong them. And even better – there’s a sequel!

Inej had wanted Kaz to be become someone else, a better person, a gentler thief. But that boy had no place here. That boy ended up starving in an alley. He ended up dead. That boy couldn’t get her back.

Dirtyhands had come to see the rough work done.