GoryDamn! - Red Rising - Pierce Brown

So after much lamenting on reading an "eh!" book which was prefaced by an "ugh" book, I finally read a book I liked -  Red Rising by Pierce Brown!

Gorydamn is a curse word used by the characters. I mean the language of the book has already found a permanent place in my vernacular so that should say something. Although, it could just tell you I'm easily influenced by fiction dystopian novels but I then I'd just say ---->Don't You Judge Me! After all, its not like I sang all of Katniss' songs or started wearing my hair in Dutch braid after reading Hunger Games. Although, I will admit I did say "may the odds be ever in your favor" in more situations than masterfully applicable. It is more likely hinting at my knack for picking up curse words in a variety of languages and slang (fictional or reality tv show based). Most recently, I have been muttering pendejo and cabron under my breath in a lazy effort to acquaint myself with best and most mischievous words in the Spanish language. Someone will respond with something hopefully twice as vulgar and then I will have learned a new word.

Enough about linguistics. Basic rundown. There's a kid of a low class level...

WAIT hold the phone! I just want to quickly point out the book uses a system of colors for economic class distinctions, notably browns and reds are the lowest of the class. The main character coming from the lowest of the caste to rise against the highest. Oh when art reflects life. Okay, off the cliff...

So a kid from a lower class/caste who never knew there was any other economic levels (Gold being the highest) goes on a quest to avenge a personal loss. One guess who he loses and who did the taking. No surprise there but the story is still compelling. He is anger incarnated and that is the thing I love the most about his character - this singular strain of authentic emotion that drives his every move and decision - much like Batman actually. He is so angry and I like it. The author also does a great job of building the environment. It's on Mars by the way. You truly get a sense of the world the main character is in.

Also, the pace of the book is good. I like that I didn't have to really wait for a buildup. A bit of a lead in and then there you are right in the thick of it.  It is part of a trilogy so heads up. The first book was on the shallow end of 400+ pages. Read the gorydamn thing already!

I will add it did come out in 2014 so I am very late to the party - but I typically run on CP time anyway so late is on time :-/

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine - Ok Not Really!

So this book came up as a must summer read on a BookBub Facebook Post and I said what the hell I'll read it! Now mind you, I had just finished Steven King's The Mist and after that soaring disappointment I wanted a more emphatically positive reviewed book to ensure I would not be in the throes of two disappointments in a row. If you have ever been there before, as I have, you will undoubtedly understand how maddening it can be to read several books in a row that absolutely suck. You feel like wasted money and wasted time = wasted LIFE! So trying to ensure I did not find myself in another book curse, I browsed those 4.5-5 star rated books and this one stood out as a non romance story (I hate romance stories) and also perhaps a comedy which can be surprising in the best ways. Hmmm, well it wasn't exactly what I hoped...

So let's get to it...

Now mind you the book is title Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and after reading just the first few pages, my guess is the author intended this as an obvious sarcastic hyperbole because as you will find out the main character Eleanor is certainly not fine. She is odd - rarely funny odd, mostly odd odd. This is said without judgement as being in a people facing industry I am friends with quite a few odd people. Hell, if you ask some of them I may fall to the left of center on the odd scale which is neither here nor there - just emphasizing its not the character's profile that I am lukewarm reviewing.  As I was getting to, the main character is seemingly both aware and unaware of her existence in the extreme left of the spectrum of weirdos. Her brief "aha" moments are always followed by a casual shrugging off of that creeping reality.

Also, Eleanor is supposed to be a sympathetic character, but man there is a Regina George Muppet trapped in this woman's soul (Mean Girls reference in case you born this year! or before 1975 :-/). With that said, its initially hard to sympathize with her but not absolutely boring to read - felt very throwback to Perez Hilton's site before he became nice and legitimate - when he was just taking a white pen and circling people's bulging chichos or small "hands". Sigh the good ole days! As a character she's ok.

So the plot...There's some stalking. There is some mommy issues which is very appropo 20th/21st century issue here. There's a makeover.  I won't blab the big give of the story but there is a sad backstory that is hinted at WAY too long before it is actually disclosed and then when it is disclosed its barely explored. The backstory is sort of just unveiled and then shuffled to an end. I had a similar reaction recently when watching the movie The Girl With All the Gifts.  I mean here I am invested in this plot and then the end comes like a slammed door in your face and you're like WTF is that IT. Apparently it is and this is and so yeah Eleanor is not normal for a good reason that you might've cared more about if it was given more page space.

My review can be summed up as Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is like room temperature Chek soda. Sweet still but ultimately bottom shelf soda. Still drinkable, but it cannot compare to Grape Fanta or Cherry Coca Cola. I also wish I hadn't paid $12.99 for it. SKIP IT!