The BookFetish Blog

I knew when I pre-ordered J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy all those months ago that I would not be getting more of Harry’s story. I was quite confident this story would be as mundane and non-magical as possible, to be purposefully very different from the magical world that captivated millions for ten years. And that was the extent of my expectations.

I deliberately avoided all reviews of The Casual Vacancy because I adore the Harry Potter series and wanted to read this story and judge it by my own reactions with no preconceptions from other peoples’ opinions.

This is not the stay-up-reading-at-all-costs, page-turning, read-in-one-sitting novel that the Harry Potter books were for me. In fact, it took me a few pages to really get into the story. But then, on page 40, I was hooked. Nothing particularly momentous happens on that page, but it was then that I knew this was a book I had to finish.

The Casual Vacancy is not a happy book. It is, however, a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people motivated by their desire to fill some void. Rowling here gives us deeply flawed, not altogether likeable characters.  The dynamics and conflicts, with self, with spouse, with parents, and with children, are what make this story so compelling. I think that the name “The Casual Vacancy” fits on many levels. First is the literal definition of a vacant councillor seat.  But it’s also vacancies in character; something missing from a marriage; something missing from life; a void- real or imagined- of self worth; a lack of money. So many things that can inform our decisions or set our lives on a different path, depending on what we do with the emptiness.

J. K. Rowling has always had strong thoughts about poverty and the desperation it breeds, and those thoughts are omnipresent in this book.  While the moral arguments provide the fodder for the story, it’s the characterizations that drew me in and brought the emotional impact- an impact I admit I was not expecting.   As I mentioned earlier, few of the  characters are immensely likeable, but they are certainly relatable.  In fact, were we not so privy to these characters’ innermost thoughts, we’d probably like some of them just fine, because they put on a much different face in public.  But three of the teenagers really stood out to me.  One trying to survive his family life under an abusive father, just doing the best he can.  A teenage girl from the council housing who faces an uphill battle for anything in life, given the circumstances of her parentage.  And one girl, so bullied she resorts to drastic action.  This character made me cry. Rowling wrote about her pain in such a way that it was nearly palpable.

The Casual Vacancy isn’t for everyone.  In true Rowling fashion, it’s not particularly fast paced.  But it does tell a story that I liked, and has some very well done characterizations, and packed an emotional depth I wasn’t expecting. There’s more than one world in J.K. Rowling’s head, and I’m glad she’s sharing them all with us.

Last night, I went with friends to see the film adaptation of The Perks of Being A Wallflower. If you remember, Perks was my Banned Books Week Selection last year and one of my 2011 Bookish Bests, and I’ve been excited about the movie since I finished my re-read of the book last year.

I had high expectations for the film. I wanted to see Emma Watson outside her role of Hermione Granger. I wanted to see how a book of letters came alive on screen, and I wanted to see how the emotion translated. Well, as I tweeted last night, “I laughed. I cried. The film adaptation of The Perks of Being A Wallflower”was practically perfect. I loved it.”

And I did! Perhaps because author Stephen Chbosky adapted the book to the screenplay, and then directed the film. Perhaps because the casting was, in my opinion, spot on. Perhaps because the actors connected with the characters. I don’t know what the magical combination was, but it worked. At times heartbreaking and poignant, and at others laugh-out-loud funny, our whole theater enjoyed it. In fact, about half the theater sat completely through the closing credits, not ready for the experience to end yet. It just had that kind of spell to it.

Emma Watson nailed Sam. Her American English accent wasn’t perfect, but only on a few words. She definitely has skills beyond Hermione, and I’m excited to get to see her explore new and different roles. Logan Lerman was great as Charlie- really very much how I pictured the character when I read the book. Ezra Miller nearly steals the show as Patrick. Maybe because Patrick was the character I had the hardest time picturing when I read the book, but Ezra was just excellent here.  And while I feel strongly about the characters, I’m no film critic- I have no comment on lighting and direction style and anything like that. I judge movies similarly to how I review books: does it move me, speak to me, in some way cause me to identify with it? Does it entertain me?

For Perks the answer to all of these is a resounding YES. Perhaps because it brings back memories of finding my own “island of misfit toys” in high school, a group of slightly older kids who enveloped me into their group. They made me laugh, made me feel a part of something when I was feeling on the fringes of every other group- having friends in many areas, but not really belonging anywhere.  Perhaps it’s because that group of friends started my love affair with U2.  I don’t know. But I found myself  tearing up more than once last night.

Perks is a beautiful book, and now a beautiful film.

Debora Geary is doing something that few authors do: Giving us the back story on some of our favorite characters.  Going back fifteen years before A Modern Witch, we get to learn how Nell and Daniel met.

To  Have And To Code reveals the story of nerd-girl and powerful witch, Nell Sullivan, and hacker genius Daniel Walker.  When Daniel hacks into Enchanter’s Realm, and even manages to get into the Witch-only levels, sparks literally fly.

With her trademark warmth, love, community, and glimpses of the characters we love from Witch Central, Geary once again delivers.  Nell must learn to be vulnerable, to let herself take a chance on what could be with Daniel. And Daniel has to grow up and learn that maybe he is ready to settle down after all.

My biggest complaint about the story is that perhaps Daniel is just a little too perfect… a coding genius, ex-athlete, good looking and he volunteers with at risk youth? Sigh. That package is pretty scarce.  What I like best about the story, though, is Nell’s growth.

She’s perfectly content where she is. She has her family and her friends and her perfect life.  It takes a lot of soul searching – and ultimately courage- for her to let Daniel into her life, to love him wholly and to let him see (and love) the real her.

That’s what I like about Debora Geary’s books- in addition to telling an entertaining story, they make me want to be a more honest, vulnerable, and authentic person.  And once again, the Witch Central characters make me want to do just that.

In so many books, we want to know what a character was like before we met them- how they came to this point in their life, what drives them, and we get to make up our own back story. Thanks to Debora Geary for giving us that glimpse in To Have and to Code.

Meet Jane Frank. It’s been a year since her last (and only) long term relationship, and with reality looming large in the form of the LSAT, Jane decides it’s been far too long since she’s been kissed and that she’s ready to meet the man of her dreams. Meredith Schorr’s A State of Jane takes us through Jane’s adventures in dating. As she grows more frustrated with the online dating scene and the way men tend to flake out for no reason, Jane decides to take her friend Andrew’s advice about dating, and this is where our story really takes off.

Much the way she did in Just Friends With Benefits,  Meredith Schorr gives us an all-too-recognizable heroine.  OK, I’ve never gotten up to some of Jane’s antics, but there have been times when I’ve certainly wanted to.  Certainly, navigating the dating terrain is not easy, and Schorr captures that feeling of “I don’t know why it went wrong” so perfectly. Of course, as interested but objective observers in Jane’s life, we can see the mistakes she’s making… which makes an interesting point about not being able to discern our own dating foibles, but I digress.

I confess that at times I got really frustrated with Jane.  I can’t explain too much of why here, or else it would spoil the story, so I’ll say this about it: I didn’t like the way Jane treated people sometimes.  For a few pages there, I frankly didn’t like Jane. However, Jane’s behavior is an integral part of her journey and she had to go through this stage to grow into her true self. That being said, I still wanted to shake her, and which made me again appreciate the authenticity of the friendships Meredith includes in her stories.

We tell our friends we want them to be honest with us. But sometimes, when they are, no matter how lovingly the message is delivered, we just don’t want to hear it.  So in A State of Jane I thought the confrontations between Jane and her friends and the conflicts in their relationships were portrayed authentically.  It is often the people we love the most who are also the people we hurt the most.

And the final thing I really liked about A State of Jane is the way that it ends. No spoilers here, but I felt the ending was perfect.

Chick lit fans- and fans of Just Friends With Benefits- will really enjoy A State of Jane.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Known as the “Bad Redhead” and Rachelinthe OC, Rachel Thompson is the author of Amazon Top 100 book The Mancode: Exposed and A Walk in the Snark ,which hit number one on the Motherhood list. When she’s not writing, Rachel’s blogging at RachelInTheOC or sharing her knowledge as a social media consultant through BadRedhead Media.  The thing I love most about Rachel is how much she interacts with her Twitter and Facebook followers. For all these reasons, but mainly because of her snarkiness,  Rachel’s my current Author Crush. Keep reading, and then see how you can connect with her yourself.

A big Thank You to Rachel for taking the time to answer these questions.

TBF: Are you working on a new book? Any hints you can give us on content?

RT: I am! My next book is almost complete. Titled Broken Pieces, it’s narrative nonfiction that is not humor like my other two books. I’m looking at a November release date, if not sooner. I’m also working with Pavarti K. Tyler (award-winning writer) and Jessica Swift Eldridge (editor) on a new literary erotica anthology: Penny A Page Erotica. We’re taking submissions now. It’s really fun to write and be involved in this process.

TBF: What tweet about you is your favorite, and why?

RT: Someone mentioned me in the same sentence as Malcolm Gladwell and Lucille Ball. I thought that was awesome. I can’t find it right now, darn it. But it was great. I also heard from a male fan yesterday who says he’s going to get #TeamRachel tattooed on his…bum. (Does this mean I’ve finally made it?)

TBF: You’re from the OC- what stereotype about the Real Housewives on Orange County annoys you the most? I ask this because I’m from Atlanta and have my own pet peeves about our series.

RT: I could write an entire essay on this! But mostly that we’re all rich, vapid, have fake body parts and are blonde. Also that the county is one big beach. We have a lot of beautiful beach but lots of inland cities too, which includes Anaheim (hello, Disneyland) and Santa Ana, two relatively poor areas. And I was actually raised in the Sacramento area. I moved to the OC in my thirties and am actually moving back to Sacramento in October.

TBF: How do you make the perfect martini (or how does your husband make it for you)?

RT: Yea, he’s my bartender for the most part. I’m partial to non-sweet drinks usually, so I prefer a Dirty Martinis: vodka, tiny bit of dry vermouth, strained olive juice, and lots of olives. Mmmm, perfecto! I do make a mean Screwdriver though, I must say.

 TBF: Are you a dark chocolate or milk chocolate girl?

RT: Milk, but I’ll eat any chocolate as long as it’s not that fake white chocolate stuff or filled with goo. Nutella plus a spoon equals me in heaven.

TBF: What’s currently playing on your iPod?

RT: I wrote a post recently for @InClassicStyle about the music that helps me to write. I’ve been listening to Poe’s Haunted every day for over ten years and I’m still not sick of it; lots of Madonna, 70’s rock, Sheryl Crow and Zero 7 (and Beatles, Jeff Buckley, Fisher, Jonatha Brooke, Garbage, and…ok, that’s not even close to all of it but I don’t want to take up any more room). I do seem partial to strong female voices and interesting lyrics, though.

TBF: If there were a movie about your life, whom would you want to play you? Any other picks for the significant people in your life?

RT: I’d love a redhead (of course), so I suppose either Christina Hendricks or Julianne Moore. My daughter loves young teen actress AnnaSophia Robb, so that’s who would play her. Steve Martin for my guy, and the kid in that new Timothy Green movie, C.J. Adams.

TBF: Who’s your favorite musician or band?

RT: I don’t have a favorite since my musical tastes are so diverse, but definitely Poe and Madonna, for sure. And soundscores by Thomas Newman are beautiful and heart wrenching.

TBF: What are you reading right now? I’m usually reading client books (for my company BadRedheadMedia)! But I just finished A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness and have just started Shadow of Night, the second book in the trilogy. I kinda thought I was over the whole vampire thing, but I love how these books are written and my mom and sister loved them so I had to give it a shot. My TBR pile includes:
David Vinjamuri (@DVinjamuri), Forbes writer, author, and NYU professor’s new book Operator;
Say My Name by Rebecca Tsaros Dickson (@thinking2hard13);
The Seventh Level by Joe Hefferon (@HefferonJoe);
The Broken Road by Melissa Huie (@MelissaHuie);
In One Person by John Irving;
Sand by Lili Tufel (@Lili_Tufel),
And…well, that will keep me busy for a few months!

Feel free to connect with Rachel on Twitter @RachelintheOC or @BadRedheadMedia; Facebook at BadRedheadMedia or The Mancode: Exposed; G+, YouTube, Pinterest, or Instagram at RachelintheOC, or email her anytime at RachelintheOC at gmail dot com (her author account) or BadRedheadMedia at gmail dot com (for questions on author marketing and social media).

I’ve also started four author (indie and traditional welcome) promotional sites. Like us on Facebook and find out more!