What I've Read Lately #12

Here are my latest reads:

Title: Number the Stars 
Author: Lois Lowry
Language Read in: Romanian
Format: Paperback 
Pages: 150
Stars: 4*

I haven't read a WWII story from the perspective of a Danish person/ character before, so this was new. I have a thing for WWII novels, no matter how many I read; there's always something new to learn and see through the characters' eyes.
This story is told by a ten-year-old girl who gets to do something brave. I have to admit that I was expecting something more dramatic, as is most often the case with a war novel, but it was good to see that it was relatively mild in this respect. Although you'd be tempted to see it as merely a children's story or a middle-grade novel, there is depth to it. I enjoyed it a lot. It's a quick read at about 160 pages.

Title: A Man Called Ove
Author: Fredrik Backman
Language Read in: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 294
Stars: 4*


The beginning was a bit tedious. I knew it would get better because I am familiar with Fredrik Backman's writing. I kept trying to convince myself to keep reading until about page 70, until I got to know the characters.
I kept seeing the blurbs that stated that the book made them cry and I was sure I was not going to cry; books don't make me cry. This one almost made me do that, and do you know when? At the end! Yup, the last chapter and the epilogue.
If one has the time to sit with this book, and give it time to slowly unfold for the reader, it will be a good read. You cannot rush it, though. Having read all of Backman's novels, I can see how some characteristics of his writing are still present in every book, but I can also see how he got better and better with every new novel. There are the turns of phrase, the perfectly formed sentences that either make you laugh or make you want to highlight, share on Instagram, and write an essay because that sentence is full of meaning&depth! I missed that, and I am glad I got to savour this novel at the beginning of a new year. 

Title: If Beale Street Could Talk
Author: James Baldwin
Language Read in: English
Format: Kindle
Pages: 197
Stars: 1*

I didn't like this one. I wish I did, though. The only thing that kept me reading was my interest in learning more about the case, to see how and if Foony's case will get the justice it deserved. The characters are all acting for themselves, even if they say they are a family and will help each other, and all that. It was painful to see everyone accepting the beating and the word shaming, but that is not normal. Even Foony and Tish's relationship is messed up, despite all that love they kept declaring for each other; Foony spoke rudely to Tish, and they way he acted towards her is unhealthy.
The idea for the book was what drew me to read this [and the fact that it is norminated for best actress in a supporting role for Oscars 2019], but I didn't like how it was executed.

Title: The Hate U Give
Author: Angie Thomas
Language Read in: English
Format: Kindle
Pages: 444
Stars: 5*

Now I get the hype with this book!
It's good because it takes on a heavy subject, but at the same time it is so natural. It's YA, but without the fake drama. Not once did I roll my eyes while reading, I just wanted more and more of it. It's profound and deep and funny and all you need to take a YA novel seriously. I love absolutely every character in this novel. Starr is a real star (cheesy, predictable pun intended), her real, every day life is presented so normal, it makes your head spin that it also includes shotguns in the distance, gangs fighting for power, people-killing in the streets. I feel ashamed to admit that every news piece that I've heard or read about on the news in the last years about the clash between the whites VS the blacks in the States fell on a dead ear - because how's that relevant where I live?! This novel could have been the life story of people in any of the American cities. It made it all real and eye-opening.
I am so glad I finally got to read this one! It's amazing!

Title: The Sun is Also a Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Language Read in: Romanian
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 331

Stars: 5*

I loved this book! So much! I know there was a hype about this book, both when it was released and when the Romanian edition was released. I am late to the party, but in two days I read this one. For a YA this is big.
I liked how the novel was divided into chapters told from different perspectives and glimpses into other, smaller, characters' perspective. And the African-American and Coreen characters were a welcome departure from the all white people I keep reading about.
Fun fact: I saw a Nicola Yoon novel at my cousin's, she had borrowed it from a friend. I wanted to read it, too, but I decided to go to the library and pick it up. However, I mistook the book I saw, because it wasn't this one, but Everything, Everything. One I was done with The Sun..., I picked up Everything, Everything. Now I can say that I've read everything by Nicola Yoon and I want to read everything she writes.

Title: Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Language Read in: Romanian
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 311

Stars: 4*

This is Yoon's first novel. The idea of the novel reminded me of a movie I saw a while back, Midnight Sun. The idea that the girl can't leave her house or she'll die is the only similarity, though. 

I enjoyed this one a lot, though not as much as The Sun.... I didn't start reading this one with the plan to try to figure out everything that'll happen, so I gave myself permission to be surprised as I read. I was expecting the girl to die or to discover a miraculous cure, which both would have been predictable and/or hardly believable.

I liked the ending and the young adults were mature characters that acted normal without being obnoxious.

Title: The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Language Read in: English
Format: Kindle
Pages: 374

Stars: 3*

I enjoyed this one, but it didn't make a long lasting impression. Although I am drawn to YA lately, I still don't like the young men {or women} who are just so mature, nice, good at being a human being. For some reason sometimes they do not seem real. The most human character was Macy's sister; I liked her best. Macy was a typical teenager.
It gave me a real summer vibes, in January, and that was a welcome read.