I would have never read this ordinarily, but I ran out of audiobooks and joined the SYNC free audiobook program and this was the first one they sent me.

Pretty crazy book!! The frequent repetition of facts bugged me. There were several laugh-out-loud moments in the book.

3.5 stars

This story. . . I have no idea what the heck was going on really haha. I guess it would be categorized as mature YA? It’s definitely teen characters, and I think it’s speaking to a teen audience. It’s not regular YA because has ample cussing and sex talk throughout as well as some drug use and actual sex scenes. It’s sort of about topics that really are in teens’ heads like sexual orientation, having sex, parents taking nerve pills, bullies, etc. It’s also a crazy mix of fantasy, coming of age, sci-fi, apocalypse, with a bit of horror, dark comedy, teen angst and a little dystopia thrown in. It’s definitely a story I won’t soon forget.

I like lists. A lot. This list is my personal opinion. If you would like to play along, please do. I'd love to see what books didn't let you down. 

 

In no particular order...

 

NOS4A2 and Krampus are perfect examples of "There is no way in hell these books are as good as their concepts need them to be." In my opinion, both books blew away my expectations and were even greater than I anticipated.

 

You was a flashbang in a cave. Completely unexpected and shockingly illuminating. I sure didn't think I would enjoy it as much as everyone was telling me I would. I will continue to play cheerleader for Caroline Kepnes until she writes a bad book. So far, with You and Hidden Bodies, she has yet to let me down.

 

Grasshopper Jungle had absolutely no right to be as good as it was. It's B-rated science fiction laced with poignant and sharp-witted social commentary. Grasshopper Jungle is as close to a new Vonnegut book as one is likely to receive in today's world.

 

And, finally, a book written by a disturbed mind is bound to be just as whacked out as it deserves to be. Will Elliott had some issues while writing The Pilo Family Circus, and his mental illness nearly drips from the page. I'm glad it was recommended it to me or else I might never have found it. It's one of those books that gets better every time I think about it. 

 

That's my top five. Do you have one? Let me know in the comments below, or create your own post. Maybe we'll make this a weekly thing.

 

*hugs and high fives*

 

E.

~ Grasshopper Jungle, by Andrew Smith (Dutton 2014)