Applause for JK

Via the wonderful tool that is facebook, I - along with many others - have just been alerted to the fact that the wonderful JK Rowling has this year published another book. This time, however, under a pseudonym.
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith has recieved fantastic reviews from critics and readers over the last couple of months; being complimented for it's compelling characters, descriptions and it's maturity for a supposed debut. Well, we now know that it isn't, though it is Miss Rowling's first dive into crime novels.
The secret was discovered when people noticed that Robert Galbraith and JK Rowling shared the same editor and agent. Fortunately, this discovery doesn't seem to have changed the possibility of a sequel.
As a certified Potterhead already (and avid reader besides that) I'll be sure to pick this book up ASAP and add it to my summer reading list, along with The Casual Vacancy.
In the meantime: JK Rowling, I salute you.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

Okay, I'm really behind on reviews right now. I read this and Raven Boys all the way back in October and still haven't taken time to actually post a review. Time to remedy that.

First things first: I haven't actually seen the film of this yet (though I very much want to) so this is entirely based on the book itself rather than comparing with the film.
I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this book. The trailer for the film was pretty ambiguous and could be interpreted several different ways - of which I got the wrong one. It turned out nothing like I expected, but I could not be happier about that.
It's very much a narrative that grows with the main character. To start with the prose is not particularly fluent and seems slightly stilted - plenty of room for improvement. As you progress throughout the book the fluency, language and pretty much everything else changes and fluctuates as the main character experiments, learns and grows as a person. You go on the journey along with him and I came out feeling like I, too, had expanded as a human being. It's a hard feeling to describe and something you can only really understand from reading the book yourself.
Since it's written in letter form rather than direct narrative the setting is pretty ambiguous, but you still get to know the other characters well, and in some ways it's better, as you learn about them the same way you would by meeting them yourself.
Imparts plenty of lessons and wisdom. Some very profound moments.
One of the books you have to read in your lifetime. Seriously, I can't do it justice here. You have to experience it yourself.

The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater

I discovered Maggie Stiefvater's books about two years ago and was completely hooked. Her writing style suits me completely, and she pretty much covers every story theme I love and creates some brilliant fantasy elements. She's also a damn funny blogger and I'd recommend her for a follow.

The Raven Boys is the first of a new series and a book I had been looking forward to for quite a while (it had been nearly a year since her last release and I was having withdrawal trouble). This series, so far, seems to be based on Celtic folklore.
As with her other books, Maggie creates a vivid fictional setting for her novel - based in the real world but certainly not anywhere on a known map - this time a village called Henrietta. Perfectly created and with it's own specific atmosphere that seemed snatched from reality.
The characters all have their own little quirks, habits and twists (one a particularly big twist) , their own distinct personalities. We get to see from the points of view of several of them and get to understand their different motivations and back stories.
There's plenty of humour, healthy lashings of drama and still plenty of things still left to be unsolved (it's only the first book after all). A different tone to all Maggie's previous books, but the quality is as high as ever. Highly recommended.

Hold In

You say the thoughts that have crossed my head a thousand times before.

I listen to it; bite my tongue down, while my mind screams ‘no more’.

I try to find the words to say, and the strength to say them.

But in all these years the fear’s still there and my mind remains in mayhem.

Watch it burn

Hiss, crackle, smell of smoke,
As matches light and burn.
Hold it before me - no fear or alarm;
Watch the flame flicker and turn.
Oh, to be so bright and strong:
I'll let this be my lesson to learn.