Review #61 - Landline by Rainbow Rowell

This is Rainbow Rowell's fourth book and her second book for adults. It's about Georgie who's marriage is failing. Her husband has taken the kids to his parents for christmas while she stays at home and works on her sitcom that's finally taking off. One night she finds a "magic" phone that can call her husband in the past.

This is definitely a book for adults and not in the sense that it's not "ok" for teens but in the relationships and experiences. In the same way that I couldn't ever quite "get" the Bridget Jones mind set (or humour), I didn't really get Landline. What I really loved about Fangirl was the fact I felt like the book understood me and as a result I enjoyed reading it more.

I really liked the characters and the ways they interacted. I really loved the dialogue between Georgie and young-Neal. Again, that may be because I'm 17 and not 37 and because it was more intimate. Also, I love late night conversations.

This is a very introspective book as Georgie's family are away and it spends a lot of time in Georgie's head. And yet, the pace is maintained and it doesn't get boring. Four for you, Rainbow. You go, Rainbow.

This isn't a fantasy book even with the magic phone. It is first and foremost contemporary with an element that makes the relationships more complex and interesting.

This is a very Christmassy book so it's best not to read it midsummer like I did. If you are going to try it, try it at Christmas. If feels really festive and it's sweet.

I would recommend it if:
You are an adult who wants to read something cute
You want a christmassy book
You want a book of late night chats

I gave it four stars

Buy the hardback here (I got the US copy because I love the cover but it's gotten really expensive so here is the UK cheap one)
Buy the audiobook here

Review #60 - She is not Invisible by Marcus Sedgewick

She is not Invisible is the story of a blind girl, Laureth, who's father goes missing so she takes her brother on a trip to NYC to find him. It's a book about coincidence and numbers and bravery.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book. And I really enjoyed the voice and the writing style. I just had a large problem with how blindness was tackled. Sedgewick was very subtle with how he introduced her blindness. It let you work out that she was blind yourself which treated the reader as smart which was a nice idea. I just think that it should have been more obvious.

"But Sophie you shouldn't define a person by their physical limitations."

It's a really lovely idea that who we are on the outside doesn't alter our self perceptions on the inside. It does though. I am a white girl and my experiences are perceived from blue eyes. And this shapes how I view the world and how I view myself as a result. I am someone who has lived with physical difficulties, and I know they aren't equivalent with being blind, but they affect everything I do and most importantly how I view myself. And by denying Laureth the ability to tell the reader something that defines her I felt like Sedgewick wasn't treating her as he should have.

The book has an obsession with a certain number (but never fear, not in a maths sense). Some things are really really cool like the number of pages in the book is this specific number but sometimes it got a little tedious. I did like the pages from the fathers journal though that were inserted.

I did really enjoy this book though. I whipped through it and it was an enjoyable experience. The pace was great and the interactions and relationships were just fantastic and let me tell you, that is not an easy feat. Also I loved the setting and the characters, especially her younger brother.

I would recommend this if:

You want an entry into YA

You love books on coincidence

You want a quick read

I gave this four stars 

Buy it here