the ballad of starlight and neil gaiman
need a new novel to read? never fear, the petal press is here!
Dear Petals,
Our next installment of the Wildflower Files are here! The Wildflower Files are your neighborhood friendly book reviews — written by teen girls from all across the world! Together, all these global voices join forces right here, right now, in The Petal Press. Read below to discover your new binge-read!
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
★★★★☆
This book, while a bit slow at the beginning, is a very interesting read, exploring the concept of the American Dream in a very intriguing manner. I love the way that this book tackles the idea of class and wealth, and I also love the way the book builds up to the climax. I did initially dislike the ending because I thought it was “unfair”, but over time I’ve come to realize that this very “unfairness” is the whole point of the book, so I think the ending suits the book very well. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys classics or wants to see a glimpse of a twentieth century-era America.
Sweet by Emmy Laybourne
★★★☆☆
Overall, while the premise is very interesting and the cliffhanger ending suits it well, this novel was dragged down by its uneven pacing, especially towards the end. The concept of the disaster that unfolds in the novel is very unique and different from other books that I’ve read, and I did like the way that the climax was built up through various hints. Additionally, I think that the way that the novel explored the themes of greed and vanity was unique and fresh, though I do wish they were explored more deeply. If you like novels that combine romance with horror (and you are okay with violence), I would recommend checking this book out.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
★★★★★
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern is an excellent love letter to adolescence and young relationships, all in the face of adversity and mystery. When Zachary, our main character, nds a book lled with stories, one being his own, he is determined to nd out where it came from. This leads him to an underground labyrinth of books and stories, and also leads him to Mirabel, creator of doors, and Dorian, a man who Zachary totally does not have a crush on. Something that stood out to me in this book was the writing. I know that sounds cliché; any book has to have good writing, but The Starless Sea takes it to another level. With its metaphors and symbolism, it takes you on an unforgettable journey. One of my favourite quotes in this book is, “Nightmare number 113: I am sitting in a very big chair and I cannot get out of it. My arms are tied to the chair arms but my hands are gone. There are people without faces standing around me feeding me pieces of paper that have all the things I am supposed to be written on them but they never ask me what I am.” (Morgenstern 279) This book took me to another world, which is hard for a fantasy book to do. I highly recommend it for anyone, especially writers who want to get inspired.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
★★★★☆
Coraline by Neil Gaiman is an excellent book for people of all ages and is a great pick if you’re a beginner in reading all things creepy and disturbing. Coraline is an unsatised and bored little girl who just moved to a new house. She decides to explore and nds a door leading to a version of her world where her parents give her the attention she needs. Thing is, they have buttons for eyes. I really liked the pacing in this book. It’s a kid’s book, so it’s more of a novella than a novel, but I found that I didn’t mind. It was really easy and enjoyable to read, which is important in a good book. Coraline had me on the edge of my seat, which is a great aspect for a fantasy-horror book to have. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy read, or anyone looking to ease themselves into the horror genre.
Sick Kids In Love by Hannah Moskowitz
★★★★☆
Sick Kids In Love by Hannah Moskowitz is a beautiful homage to chronic pain and the struggles that come with it. I’ll be honest, I don’t read a lot of romance, so this book was out of my comfort zone. I only read it because the main character has the same disease as me. However, I found myself enjoying it as much as any other book. Sick Kids In Love is about Isabel, a girl with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, and Sasha, a boy with Gaucher disease. They nd themselves in each other's personalities and pain, and fall in love. The accuracy and attention to detail in this book stood out to me. As someone who struggles with JIA, I know exactly what struggles are realistic, and Isabel’s struggles convinced me. I remember one scene where her hands were sti and hurting from the cold, and all I could think was, “I experience that exact same thing.” Accuracy and relatability is important for any book, but especially one depicting the experience of someone with chronic pain. Sick Kids In Love achieves this with its attention to detail and beautiful scene work. I recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about chronic pain, and I especially recommend it for people with chronic pain themselves.
Walking In Two Worlds by Wab Kinew
★★★★☆
Walking In Two Worlds by Wab Kinew is an excellent love letter to adolescence, self-discovery, and young relationships. It tells the story of Bugz, an Anishinaabe girl, and her battle with her identity and culture. She does this while living her life through two worlds; the real world and the Floraverse, a virtual reality game. She is stuck between these two worlds where in the Floraverse, she is trying to maintain her status as the most powerful player against the powerful misogynistic, and persistent Clan:LESS, and the real world, where she feels like she has no power at all. Wab Kinew creates intriguing conflict and tension in this book. There are many scenes where characters say harsh and cutthroat things to and about each other. It never fails to make the reader gasp or feel angry. During the climax, Feng is arguing with Bugz because she’s accusing him of outing her to Clan:LESS when he retorts, “I understand. In the Floraverse, you were brave, but in the real world you’re nothing.” (Kinew 218-219) Feng is purposely trying to get under Bugz’s skin and hurt her because she hurt him and killed him in the Floraverse, and he thinks she deserves to feel the same way. It invokes shock and makes the reader want to read more. Conflict is important to create tension for an interesting, well-rounded story, and Walking In Two Worlds achieves it by creating dramatic and relatable arguments. Walking In Two Worlds is a book that anyone, especially teenagers, can relate to and enjoy. Between the excellent conflict, dialogue, and characters, it is a great representation of adolescence, identity, and becoming.
On The Calculation Of Volume I by Solvej Balle
★★★★☆
A monotonous, soft yet haunting story about time, stillness and the fragility of existence. The story details the life of Tara Selter and her husband Thomas that live under the same roof, see the same stars and breathe the same air, but are tragically separated by time. Tara Selter finds a fracture in time,her days repeat themselves over and over again while her husband does not experience this repetition at all. Throughout the story we flow through the mundanity of the Selters' rainy, hazy and leisurely slow days. Written in the format of short journal entries, the story at its core is about the ebbs and flow of time and its consequences with undertones of isolation, repetition and loneliness. Balles' writing is philosophical,evocative and crisp with lots of room for pondering. This is the kind of book that lingers in the air even after it is finished. It makes up for a perfect cozy rainy day read!
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
★★★★☆
The story follows the lives of four sisters- Meg, Jo, sweet Beth and Amy. We follow through the (mis)adventures of these sisters and watch them grow, learn and embrace life. At its core the book is about sisterhood, womanhood and femininity. It exemplifies the spirit of hardwork,kindness,and what it means to be resilient during adversity. It teaches us that light can be found even in the darkest of times. The characters are all lovable, kind and flawed which makes them all the very more relatable. This book feels like comfort and a warm hug. Truly a masterpiece and a must read classic for all.
A Hunger Artist by Frank Kafka
★★★★☆
A Hunger Artist is a short but intriguing read. It stars a seemingly ambitious and perennially dissatisfied character, who has made a career out of fasting. Alienation is a central theme of this story, as it is in most of Kafka’s works. The story also explores themes of abstinence, exhibitionism, and decay. The fickleness of public attention is another important element, which is of increasing relevance today.
For the hunger artist, fasting is not just a profession, but a lifestyle, a devotion, a purpose. He is wholly committed to the art of fasting.
The peculiar nature of his work and his ambition leads to public awe, misunderstanding, isolation, and ultimately, death.
There are a multitude of ways in which one may interpret this story.
Artistic pursuit as self-inflicted suffering. The feeling of entrapment in one’s own body. Dynamics between artist, art and spectator. A parody of authoritarian regimes. Critique against capitalism. An ineffectual call for societal change.
Every possible interpretation provides food for thought, and forces one to reflect critically. This story, despite being short, left an indelible impression on me.
Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft
★★★★☆
For me, Wings of Starlight is a warm embrace wrapped in all the wondrous fairy magic of Pixie Hollow from my childhood! Saft’s telling of the origin of Queen Clarion and Lord Milori’s enchanting, star-crossed love--set in whimsical Pixie Hollow long before Tinkerbell’s generation--is laced with breathtaking emotion. Saft masterfully weaves the most tender yearning, fierce hope, and heart-wrenching tragedy into the pages of Clarion and Milori’s tale, and their story is an experience I will never forget. This story is also one of sacrifice, perseverance, and self-discovery, and the emotional core of each character truly added depth and a sense of realness to those themes. Finally, Saft’s gorgeous prose and vivid details breathed life and beauty into the magical fairy world I cherished as a child, making each chapter both captivating and nostalgic. To anyone longing to be transported back to Pixie Hollow, or looking for their next cozy summer read, you simply must pick up Wings of Starlight!
I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang
★★★★★
This addictive, witty, and heartfelt romcom instantly drew me in and became my new comfort read. Highlighting meaningful themes surrounding perfectionism, vulnerability, and validation, the story follows model student and people-pleaser Sadie Wen, who channels her inner frustrations (mostly about her academic rival, Julius Gong) into private email drafts never meant to reach their recipients--but Sadie’s world comes crumbling down after all her drafts are accidentally sent out to her entire school. I picked up this book for the academic rivals-to-lovers trope, and the hilarious banter, tension, and forced proximity had me giggling and kicking my feet the entire time! Liang depicts young high-school love in such an endearing (but not cheesy!) way while still maintaining that true essence of hate-to-love, all of which I absolutely adored from start to finish. However, I kept turning the pages to watch the characters grow and develop past their challenges and inner conflicts. I ended up relating to Sadie and her struggles with self-neglect and the need for others' approval much more than I thought I would, and I really enjoyed seeing her and Julius’ growth by the end of the novel. To the pathological people-pleasers, perfection-chasing daughters, romcom lovers, and “this is me trying” girlies, this book is for you!
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
★★★★★
This book is a prequel to the original Hunger Games trilogy, following the events of the 10th Hunger Games from the perspective of the tyrannical president Coriolanus Snow prior to his rise to power. After reading the original Hunger Games trilogy, I went in expecting this book to be good but perhaps not as captivating. Upon reading the first chapter, I realised that this assumption of mine was very wrong. Snow was revealed to be more complex than I imagined. We get to know a lot more about the events that shaped both the world of Panem and Snow himself. I was engrossed by Snow’s inner monologue, particularly when he was torn between his heart and his duty to his family and as a Capitol citizen. It was heartbreaking yet fascinating in a way watching Snow’s ambition drive him to become the cruel president we know him as today. Collins’ intent to make a bold statement was clear with the introduction of new characters when their paths cross with Snow. Through Snow’s decisions and interactions, themes of power, freedom, corruption, and the nature of humanity are explored, which provided a thought-provoking backdrop to the story. If you have read the original Hunger Games trilogy, but not this prequel, I highly recommend it as knowledge from the previous books elevates the story and further highlights the message.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
★★★★☆
Imagine being a part of a murder mystery, but from the murder’s side. If that sounds compelling, you should read The Secret History. It follows the protagonist Richard Papen’s arrival at Hampden College. Tartt’s descriptive writing made me feel as if I was walking right beside the characters for the entirety of the book, and made me fall in love with the romantic atmosphere. With dimly lit libraries, parties, fall leaves, and candles in the dead of night, it is the ultimate dark academia escape that many of us, like Richard, dream of. Upon his arrival, Richard notices and begins to admire a group of ancient Greek classics students. Eventually, he is invited to join them and from then on, chaos erupts. As dark truths are exposed, readers are struck with Tartt’s authorial intent - to juxtapose a perfect, lavish lifestyle with its consequences and ultimately, demonstrate how unattainable it is. My experience reading this book was enriched by the exploration of themes like beauty, terror and morality. The only part of the book that made it a little less enjoyable was the pacing, which made the story feel slow at times. If you’re looking for a long yet roller-coaster of a read, and want to start reading the ‘modern classics’, this book is a great introduction. Not only does it delve into many deep, philosophical ideas but it also provides readers with an engaging storyline.
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