Review: Why We Broke Up

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Dear Mr. Handler and Ms. Kalman,

Two days after I finished reading your book, I still can't stop thinking about it. That's why I gave it five stars. Because "It was amazing" is when you can't stop thinking about something. Sticks to your head like a 1990s bubblegum pop song. And I mean that in a happy happy way.

Mr. Handler, you described the feelings of teenagers so perfectly. I could imagine that perfect, imperfect high school boy everybody loves to love--handsome, athletic, with a heartbeat-skipping, eardrums-pounding smile, etcetera etcetera. I could imagine falling in love with him too, like Min Green did. I could imagine blaming myself, mentally chasing myself with a meat cleaver, should things go wrong between me and him--crying crying crying because he's so perfect and yet he's not. And between his perfection and assholey imperfection, I find myself wallowing in the muck of self-pity because perfect, imperfect as he is, I do not deserve him.

Having read this more than a decade past my teenagerhood, and at an age when I myself could be dealing with a teenager soon enough, I know that Min should have chosen the right guy, the kind guy, the guy who likes the same movies as she does, the same coffee, the same different stuff, who rides on the same arty waves as she does. But because you painted the characters so well, I actually felt for the "jerk" in the story. I felt that he really loved the heroine. But he couldn't help who he is, which is simply, of course, a teenager.

The title is a dead giveaway (duh) that unlike most teen romances/young adult books, Why We Broke Up does not (would not?) have the heroine and the boy ending up in each other's arms (or some other variation of a happy-ish ending). But the important thing is, your book dealt with Teenage Reality. I mean, come on, how many high school couples really end up with each other? Broken, bleeding hearts are really part of the teenage journey, and thank you for telling a deceptively simple, but exceptionally clever (and heartfelt!) story about that.

By the way, that self-loathing soliloquy near the end? Plain Brilliant.

Ms. Kalman, if only I could draw/paint my praises for your work, I would. And even if I could write them, I don't have the words. I'm a FAN.

If the two of you were a real-life couple, I would tell you to go on and have more more kids. Your superior genes deserve to spread.

Looking forward to your next collab.



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Review: The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest

The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Growing up, I have always been wishy-washy about my dreams. At different points in my childhood/young adulthood/adulthood, I have wanted to become a scientist, an archeologist, a brain surgeon, a supermodel (haha), an ambassador, a museum curator...and so goes on the list. But I have recently realized that until now, I would give everything up to be a writer for the National Geographic Society/Magazine/Channel (well, not really everything, but you know what I mean).

Reading D. Buettner's Blue Zones reminded me why that dream is legit to the core. I think that the book, written by a National Geographic journalist, achieved everything it wanted to achieve: feature inspiring centenarians, tell the story of different cultures that produced these centenarians, and generally spread the message that taking care of your health is of utmost importance (without being preachy and annoying).

I like the way the author divided the book into four parts for four different "blue zones" (Sardinia, Okinawa, Loma Linda in California, and Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica). It was also helpful that 75 percent of the book focused on the culture of these blue zones and on the stories of the centenarians. Somehow, when Buettner gets to the last part wherein he suggests simple ways on how to imitate these 100-year-olds' lifestyles, you have a specific idea of what you really want to be--and that is, to end up like them (with long lives and less years--if any--of disability and suffering).

As you breeze through the stories (which are like text counterparts of features on the National Geographic Channel by the way), there some non-obtrusive tips that you can take note of and practice in your own life (for example, in the Sardinia part of the book, there is a small box embedded in the text that succinctly explains the benefits of drinking goat's milk).

I know that I will read this book again and again (if only to inspire me again and again). I will recommend it to all my friends and loved ones, so they will have a concrete idea on why there is wisdom behind that (trite) health is wealth adage.







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Review: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



If you love music, uber witty lines, and wise-beyond-their-age teen characters, then Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is for you.

Some Rated R content made me rethink what really classifies a book as "Young Adult," but what the hell. I enjoyed every page, and I think young adults should, too.

Clever and cool this book is. Breathtaking in its wit and awesomeness. Made me realize how lucky I was to have grown up in the 90s, when great great music was king.




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Review: Matched

Matched by Ally Condie

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I was excited when I first saw a copy of Matched at a local bookstore (beautiful cover! post-apocalyptic world heroine! young adult genre! trilogy!).

I was so excited that I immediately asked the bookstore lady to reserve a copy of Crossed (book of two of this trilogy) for me, so I could immediately read it after I finish Matched.

Boy, was I disappointed.

Sure, the plot was promising and the book had some clever, thought-provoking moments. But I found the writing style to be contrived and trying hard. Because the writing focused on the melodrama, there was little left for characterization. This is a young adult novel after all, and I was supposed to feel happy (giddy?) for the characters in their "declaration of love" scenes. But I felt nothing. And that, for me, was the saddest part.

Needless to say, I cancelled my reservation for Crossed at the bookstore. Maybe I will just see how Disney (which apparently bought the book rights) interprets this for the big screen.



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Review: Flipped

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Flipped reminds me of why Young Adult is one of my favorite book genres. It's cute and giggly, deep and insightful at the same time. It pretty much encapsulates the confusing years of adolescence: when pre-teens and teenagers try to deal with new feelings,new discoveries, new learnings; and when they try to grapple with the remnants of childhood innocence while wrestling (and then coming to terms) with the eventuality that is adulthood at the same time.



The use of the egg and chick as the dominant metaphors in the story was clever. What better way to represent coming-of-age than a creature that literally breaks out of its shell?



On a lighter note, it felt wonderful to reminisce that unforgettable time when I was not-a-kid-anymore but not-quite-a-teenager-either. It seemed that emotions at that particular age were magnified a hundred times: happy moments were extra happy, your crush's smile was extra bright, sleepless nights were extra sleepless, heartbreaks were extra painful. Everything was in a surplus! But it was a real blast :)



All in all, Flipped is a wonderful he says, she says Young Adult novel. I say it's a must-read.



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