Book: The God Box

“Paul has dated Angie since middle school, and they’re good together. They have a lot of the same interests, like singing in their church choir and being active in Bible club. But when Manuel transfers to their school, Paul has to rethink his life. Manuel is the first openly gay teen anyone in their small town has ever met, and yet he says he’s also a committed Christian

Talking to Manuel makes Paul reconsider thoughts he has kept hidden, and listening to Manuel’s interpretation of Biblical passages on homosexuality causes Paul to re-evaluate everything he believed. Manuel’s outspokenness triggers dramatic consequences at school, culminating in a terrifying situation that leads Paul to take a stand.“

If you’re into reading diaries, then this book is for you. Unfortunately, I’m not. That’s not to say the book wasn’t well-written. I thought it was. I still think it is. I guess I was just expecting something else.

No, I’m not going to diss the novel. Because even though I was expecting something else, and even though I didn’t like the fact that it read like a journal–I still liked what the book was trying to say.

I’ve been on the lookout for a Young Adult novel that dealt with homosexuality for a few weeks now. I haven’t kept it a secret that I’m part of GMA-7′s My Husband’s Lover, right? All right. Anyway, if you hadn’t known before, now you do.

Thing is, with worlds I’m not familiar with, I go to great lengths at getting to know said world. I did this for Bantatay before, for Futbolilits, and Indio. Now, I’m doing the same for My Husband’s Lover. And I must say, The God Box is a very enlightening novel.

Again, it reads like a diary. In my case, even if I wasn’t a fan of how the story was being told, I still think that it’s the best way of getting its point across. It helped me get into the mind of at least one gay character. Sure, he was fictional, but I don’t think the struggles that were presented in the book were. Homosexuality has always gone hand-in-hand with discrimination, and the book dealt with this topic honestly. Realistically. And that’s what I wanted to know more about.

(Last aside: I’m not limiting myself to this book to get to know more about the homosexual lifestyle. That’s just another way of stereotyping, isn’t it? I’m also talking with people, with friends, and watching films that deal with the topic.)

The God Box really does a great job of presenting the homosexual lifestyle in a religious context. It presents the confusion, the acceptance, and the fear, with great care and respect. It does a great job at presenting to a straight audience the challenges of being gay without asking for sympathy, nor does it take a high morale ground.

I really have to commend author Alex Sanchez at how he handled the topic.

I didn’t care to find out what the author’s sexual orientation is. I don’t think it should have any bearing on the final product. If Mr. Sanchez turns out to be gay, then I applaud him for not being one who makes out his characters as victims. If he’s straight, then I applaud him even more for presenting realistic characters with realistic fears.

I especially like how the main character didn’t get his questions answered in black and white. He reached a conclusion on his own. He made his decisions. And then he lived with them.

Really, The God Box is a very good novel.

Of course, you shouldn’t take just my word for it:
Guys Lit Wire
Helen’s Book Blog
The Black Sheep

Book: The Other Normals

“Given the chance, fifteen-year-old Peregrine ‘Perry’ Eckert would dedicate every waking moment to Creatures & Caverns, an epic role-playing game rich with magical creatures, spell casting, and deadly weapons. The world of C&C is where he feels most comfortable in his own skin. But that isn’t happening–not of his parents have anything to do with it. Concerned their son lacks social skills, they ship him off to summer camp to become a man. They want him to be outdoors playing with kids his own age and meeting girls–rather than indoors alone, with only his gaming alter ego for company. Perry knows he’s in for the worst Summer of his life.

Everything changes, however, when Perry gets to camp and stubmles into the World of the Other Normals. Ther he meets Mortin Enaw, one of the creators of C&C, and other mythical creatures from the game, including the alluring Ada Ember, whom Perry finds more beautiful than any human girl he’s ever met. Perry’s new otherworldly friends need his help to save their princess and prevent mass violence. As they embark on their quest, Perry realizes that his nerdy childhood has uniquely prepared him to be a great warrior in this world, and maybe even a hero. But to save the princess, Perry will have to learn how to make real connections in the human world as well.“

I’m a little up in the air about this book. On the one hand, I liked it. I found it engaging enough that what was supposed to be an hour’s worth of break turned to three, just so I could finish the book. But there’s something off about it as well.

I just can’t put my finger on what that off something is.

So let me break it down.

Story-wise, it’s very engaging–as I already said. The novel intrigues you enough to make you keep wanting to know what happens next. And it’s unpredictable enough, that you don’t even want to second-guess what’s going to happen. You just want to experience it.

And the book also succeeds in making likeable characters, as you do care about them enough that you want them to succeed. And though their flaws already border on the unlikeable territory, they still maintain enough pull that you don’t want harm done to them. That you don’t want them dead.

That said, one of the problems I encountered in reading this novel was perception. Ned Vizzini’s other work, Be More Chill, played with the importance of public image and how you carry yourself. This novel takes that a step further by introducing a twist: actions affect a person’s imaging. In a big way.

And, hang on, I think a big reason of why I can’t make my mind up if I like this book or not, is because it fails in follow through. Well, partly.

We see Peregrine’s actions affect the world of the Other Normals, but we only see parts of it in our world. Glimpses, really. And this teases a bigger conspiracy and a bigger story, yet doesn’t deliver on it.

I’ve read books that don’t get a full wrap-up and still give a sense of closure and resolution. Perks of Being a Wallflower comes to mind. So does Be More Chill, actually. But while The Other Normals provide a resolution, it doesn’t give closure. Or, if it does, it’s not a satisfying one.

Unless Vizzini plans on revisiting this world in the future, with more development from Peregrine. That’s the only reason I can think of why Vizzini would end where he ended. Because, personally, I didn’t see an end of journey for Peregrine when the novel ended. It felt like we were just about to enter denouement.

But I could be reading it the wrong way. After all, I did say I liked it. And even after over-analyzing, I can still say I liked it.

Let’s see if what other people have to say will help me make my mind up:
The Book Reaper
Small Review
Toast Pop

Okay. So. Reading the reviews, I realize now that I do like the book enough to overlook the things other people didn’t like. Though, Small Review does bring up a good point about expectations:

She wanted a traditional fantasy world but was given a weird and convoluted world that didn’t seem well-formed. While I did like how weird and convoluted the world is, I do agree that the fantasy world doesn’t feel whole. Or real.

It was bowing too much to where the author wanted the story to go, so it didn’t feel natural. The plot developments did not feel like the were where the story would naturally go.

And it’s hard to define what are inconsistencies in characters, and what are actually developments that the story gave them.

Oh, also, I really found it annoying how one character dies and disappears from thought after a couple of chapters. I thought said character should have mattered more to the survivors. I guess I thought wrong.

Who else has read this book? Let’s discuss what worked and what didn’t. Hit me up with your comments!

Movie: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

“Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up. Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a moving tale of love, loss, fear and hope-and the unforgettable friends that help us through life.“

No expectations. That’s very important when watching movies adapted from books. But I’m not always successful with, even, lowering expectations. Especially with books I really liked. And I failed once again while watching The Perks of Being a Wallflower. But you know? It didn’t matter.

Adaptations have a tendency to cram everything loved from a book into the film version. This movie doesn’t do that. Maybe it’s because the person who wrote and directed the movie was also the person who wrote the book. He knew what needed to be in the film. And he knew what it could do without.

Whatever reservations I had for the book didn’t materialize while watching the film adaptation. Unlike the novel, the movie didn’t feel like it was just another coming-of-age film. From the moment it opens, you could feel its identity.

And that’s another thing I liked about the book that I forgot to mention. While it felt run-of-the-mill at first, it quickly established its own identity.

Which then translated really well on screen.

Again, maybe it’s because it’s not a direct adaptation. Maybe it’s because the author was also the creative mind and hand behind the movie.

At the end of the day though, it doesn’t matter what may be the reason. What’s important is that the movie works.

I’m not a fan of Logan Lerman. Mostly because I didn’t really like the film adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and he’s front and center in that film. But in The Perks of Being a Wallflower though, Lerman plays a great lead.

I was afraid that Charlie’s problem of being too emotional would look weird once it’s off the pages. But Lerman plays the role with a quiet intensity that the crying does feel very natural. It’s not cinematic at all.

And the innocence he carries with him is so palpable that you really do believe that Charlie, even with his good looks, can be an outcast in their school.

The only problem I had with his acting was when he was kissing Emma Watson. Jealousy at him being able to kiss Emma Watson aside, he has a tendency to drop the innocence of Charlie whenever he kisses his leading lady. Or even the girl who plays his girlfriend. Thing is, if it had been just Sam (Emma Watson’s character) who he kisses without innocence, I think I would’ve let it go. It fits with the character anyway. But it’s not a one-off thing. And it really doesn’t fit the character he builds throughout the movie.

Emma Watson and Ezra Miller also shine in the movie. But I feel that, because the movie had to focus more on Charlie’s life, their characterization and arcs had to be sacrificed. Which, I feel, shafted the actors who were brilliant. But, for the sake of the movie, it was a wise decision. The film was much more focused than the book because of it.

The one actress who really does get shafted is Nina Dobrev. Her character is the one I really rooted for, while reading the book. She was the one who really had to go through sufferings to learn and become a better person. Which, seeing as the movie narrowed its focus on just Charlie, had to be cut out. And I understand. The movie is all the better for it.

But I still can’t help but feel sad that it had to be cut out.

What didn’t get cut out though, and which I really enjoyed, was The Rocky Horror Picture Show sequences. In the book, it had a much bigger significance, as it symbolized Charlie’s growing emotions. I’m not sure what it added to the movie though, aside from the eye-candy. And seeing people’s surprised reaction at the shot of Susan Sarandon singing “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me.”

Overall, I say the film is perfect. Even more so than the book. And this is the first time I’m saying this since The Lord of the Rings got translated into the big screen.

And it doesn’t matter if you’ve read the book or not. The movie doesn’t disappoint. I urge you to watch it.

Book: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

“Charlie is a freshman. And while he’s not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can’t stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.“

It’s hard to put into words why I liked this book–because to tell you honestly, I was never intrigued enough to pick up the book. Reading the synopsis, nothing really jumps out–especially after reading John Green novels. The novel definitely seemed like something John Green would write. Now that I’ve read it though, I’m glad I picked the book up. Because it is amazing.

“And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.“

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is written in first person. In letter form. And I was really close to just giving up on the book and writing it off as just another coming-of-age young adult novel–and then I read that line. And I don’t know what it is about that line, but I feel as if it captures the essence of being a teenager–without the pretensions, without the superiority, without trying too hard to be now.

That’s what it’s like to be a teenager. A moment of infinity. Then suddenly, I was able to connect to Charlie. I was able to feel for Patrick. And I fell in love with Sam.

Suddenly, I was one of them.

Of all the coming-of-age novels I’ve read, I think this is the first one that was able to nail what it’s like to be a teenager for everyone–regardless of the when.

And that, I think, is why I loved the book.

I apologize if you thought this was going to be a cohesive reaction to the book. There are a lot of blogs out there though that reviewed the Perks of Being a Wallflower. Here are some of them:
Escape
Ayestria Abridged
Reading Wishes

Book: Looking for Alaska

“Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole existence has been one big movement, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the “Great Perhaps” (François Rabelais, poet) even more. He heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After. Nothing is ever the same.“

I tried really hard to like this book, but I have to say–I think the synopsis is more inspired than the novel it’s trying to sell. But this is just me. I know people who will swear by this book. I just don’t see it.

Come to think of it, prior to reading Paper Towns, I wasn’t really interested in this book at all. But because I liked that book, I decided to give the other John Green novels a chance. Clearly, I have not learned from my Twilight mistake. Never buy books by bulk. Only get the ones you’re really interested in. Don’t be fooled into complacency by one good book.

That said, I’m not saying Looking For Alaska is bad. It’s not. A little talky, yes, but not bad. Thing is, while reading it, my mind kept flashing back to Paper Towns. Both are novels about self-discovery, about growing up–I just think Paper Towns did it better. And with that mindset, I guess Looking for Alaska was doomed midway through.

Also, call me a prude, but I’m not really a fan of novels that have teens getting hooked into vices. In this book’s case: drinking and smoking. And I know that it’s part of growing up. Supposedly. But I just find myself giving negative points to books/stories that have this character devolution. I mean,  development.

Of course, this doesn’t really factor in when I find myself engrossed in the story. Or even if it does, I tend to forget about it when the book is really, really good. Which, in this case, it’s not. Not for me, anyway.

But, as I always say, this is just my opinion. If you want second opinion, why don’t you check out these blogs:
The Bookaholics
Mindful Musings