Book Thoughts: Just One Day

Title: Just One Day
Author: Gayle Forman
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This book taught me three things about myself: 1) I want to be the kind of person who says yes. 2) I’m lucky to be studying something that I actually love. And 3), I always knew I wanted to travel Europe, but now I extra-special want to travel Europe.

In Just One Day, good girl Allyson Healey is in Europe for a student tour. On the last day, instead of heading back to London with her best friend, she spends just a single day in Paris with a Dutch actor she’s just met, and she falls a little bit in love with him. It’s just one day, but it turns into a year of self-discovery, finding out who she truly is and who she is capable of being. Also, some seriously cool tie-ins to Twelfth Night and As You Like It, but not hitting you over the head with it.

Europe and sassy friends and adventures and well-incorporated Shakespeare and a deeper understanding of life. Definitely, definitely read this one, guys.

Book Thoughts: Code Name Verity

Title: Code Name Verity
Author: Elizabeth Wein
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Holy freaking cow. This book. I don’t know where to start.

Code Name Verity is one of those books that made me giggle and then tore my heart to shreds and now I want to share it with absolutely everybody, because it’s so beautiful and heartbreaking and real and ugh I’m about to cry again.

Code name “Verity" has been taken prisoner by the Gestapo. This book is her story — her story, and the story of her best friend Maddie. A spy and a pilot, two girls in an unlikely and heartbreaking situation during World War II, and the story of how they find, and re-find, each other.

The Nazis’ treatment of POWs is handled tactfully and without being overly gruesome while at the same time being hauntingly honest. And the realities of war become far too real in the pages of this book. But the girls’ friendship, and the kindness of strangers, and the often-forgotten humanity of even the enemy soldiers — those are equally powerful and real. And basically, you should DEFINITELY read this book.

Book Thoughts: Les Miserables

Title: Les Miserables
Author: Victor Hugo

So, I read this one because I love the musical so much; I just had to see what it came from. I was not disappointed. There were definitely passages that dragged, to be sure. There was one bit where Hugo sidetracks for several chapters describing the entire history of the battle of Waterloo when only the last few paragraphs of that section are relevant to the plot, and there's another bit where he sidetracks for like four chapters about the nature of slang. The writing was every bit as beautiful in those passages, but when you really want to get on with the story, they're kind of frustrating.

Philosophically, though, Les Mis is a fascinating and brilliant novel, and the writing is beautiful, and I just love all of the characters so much. Also, the book didn't make me cry my eyes out like the movie did, so I'm not sure how to feel about that. While the writing is beautiful, it's hard to connect to the characters.

Long story short, I really loved the book but it's a long and intensive read so make sure you know what you're getting into when you start. Also, yes, I loved it, but I think I loved the musical even more. (Also, if any of you are curious: I hardcore ship Cosette/Marius either way, but in the movie I prefer Eponine to Cosette, where in the book I like Cosette better.)