Book Review: Underworld

Rating: 4 out of 5

Ok, guys, I have a confession to make: I cheated. Cheated on I, Claudius, that is. I’m usually not someone who juggles multiple books at a time, but I fully support book-sluttiness (it’s the best kind!). It’s not that I, Claudius is not a good book, because I have every intention on finishing it. But I’m sure you all have that author who when he/she publishes something new, you drop whatever you’re doing to read it.

That’s how I am with Meg Cabot, queen of teen fiction. After a quick calculation, I’ve found that I have read almost half of her entire bibliography, which currently clocks in at over 70 books! I don’t think I’ve ever read 34 novels of any other authors–I mean, I have a whole shelf dedicated to Cabot!

Why do I love her so much? Cabot’s like cotton candy to me: She’s not a writer of heavy substance, but she’s light and sweet, and her words just melt in your mouth. I can’t ignore cotton candy when the Fresno Fair rolls around every October, and I can’t help but cheat on books when a new Cabot novel is released.

Underworld is Cabot’s second work in her Abandon trilogy. (You can find my review of Abandon here). The book starts off with Pierce Oliviera waking up from a nightmare, only to find herself in the Underworld with death deity John Hayden. In this modern adaptation of the Persephone and Hades myth, Pierce must save her cousin Alex from the Furies, who can inhabit the living earth by possessing weak-willed people–such as Pierce’s own grandmother, who as a Fury, has been secretly trying to kill her ever since she was a young child.

Along the way, Pierce learns about John’s dark past and meets his crew-mates who assist him in sorting the dead and battling the Furies. She also struggles with her own teenage hormones, dealing with the temptation of cohabiting with her boyfriend, who just so happens to be Lord of the Underworld.

I absolutely love this ancient Greek myth, and this version balances new and old pretty well. Pierce and John have great sexual chemistry, and the story-line was intriguing and suspenseful enough for me to finish this book in three days. True to form, Cabot produces another sugary read, and fans of light-hearted romantic reads will enjoy this sequel.

I also appreciate Cabot for addressing sex in a way that is not condescending to teens, and is also smart and safe. One of the first things Pierce asked was whether she could get pregnant by a death god–oh, how I wish Bella Swan could have been that thoughtful before she got knocked up with a vampire baby! Cabot is highly aware of the faults of other young adult bestsellers, like Twilight, and ensures that her readers are aware of the consequences of their decisions.

However, Cabot is not without faults. People who need heartier reads might find Underworld formulaic and cheesy at times. Also, although Cabot takes a more liberal stance when it comes to sexuality, I found the descriptions of her gay characters stereotypical. I knew that the cemetery sexton Mr. Smith was homosexual without him having to wear pink all the time! I’m sure the gay male community would appreciate representations in media that don’t have to do with pastel colors, flamboyant speech patterns, or cliche occupations like interior designers or hairdressers.

Other than that, I would recommend Cabot’s Abandon trilogy, and I’m looking forward to the last sequel Awaken next year. And I promise to return to I, Claudius–no more cheating!

So are you monogamous or polygamous when it comes to reading? What books are your cotton candy? Send me your comments!

Masterpiece Monday: The Handmaid’s Tale

Image via Goodreads

Rating: 5 out of 5

Happy Victoria Day to all my Canadian readers! We here in the States don’t learn too much about Queen Victoria, unfortunately, and while I don’t really know how Canadians celebrate the queen’s birthday, I hear it’s full of fireworks, parades, and drinking–not unlike our own Memorial Day next week! So cheers to our neighbors up north!

I would have to say that the most famous Canadian author living today would be Margaret Atwood. I read her well-known novel The Handmaid’s Tale while attending UC Santa Cruz, and I immediately fell in love.

It seems only natural, since I’m never met a woman who disliked this feminist dystopian tale. Set in the near future, the Republic of Gilead (the former USA) is run by a racist, sexist, theocracy which completely reversed the progress made during the Feminist Movement of the 1970s.

In this society, women have no rights, forbidden from reading to possessing their own money. The protagonist Offred (name meaning “Of Fred,” referring to her master) serves as a handmaid, whose only job is to combat the declining birth rate and reproduce. If she fails, she’ll be declared an “unwoman” and discarded.

What’s interesting is that Offred is part of the first generation of handmaids, meaning that she remembers life pre-Gilead with her own husband and daughter. Now separated from them, the novel is written in the form of her diary as she flashes back and forth from her past and present.

Very few novels are able to create a dystopian universe that is this intricate and disturbing. Since Atwood is a devout feminist, much of the terminology in The Handmaid’s Tale is biblical, pointing to all the patriarchal notions that Christian theology encourages.  Because of these allusions, Atwood has created much controversy.

I would argue that this book should shake you up. The graphic scenes of the “Ceremonies” and the overall sense that women are nothing but wombs should make you angry, frustrated, and afraid. Because you just have to read the news of the right-wing fundamentalists trying to destroy Planned Parenthood and eliminate women’s reproductive rights to understand that this story is not as far-fetched as you might think.

Clearly, The Handmaid’s Tale, and the rest of Atwood’s work, is not for everybody. Many might find her writing too radical. However, if you’re an advocate for female empowerment and you enjoy literature that is mentally stimulating, then you’ll love this novel. I know I did!

Favorite Quote: “Maybe none of this is about control. Maybe it isn’t really about who can own whom, who can do what to whom and get away with it, even as far as death. Maybe it isn’t about who can sit and who has to kneel or stand or lie down, legs spread open. Maybe it’s about who can do what to whom and be forgiven for it. Never tell me it amounts to the same thing.” (Ch. 23)

I, Claudius: Part One

Cover via Amazon

So, I’m officially graduating in two days, and in the whirlwind of wrapping things up, I haven’t had much time to read. Right now, I’m over 100 pages into Robert Graves’ I, Claudius, and since it’s quite a long book, I thought that it would be best to post my reviews in installments, like I did with Tender is the Night.

Published in 1934, the novel is written in the form of Claudius’ autobiography. Claudius was Roman Emperor from 41-54 CE, but due to his infirmities, suffered a poor reputation. With a stutter, limp, and nervous tics, his family considered him  useless. However, much to everyone’s surprise, Claudius was also a well-read intellectual.

Inspired by the historians before him, Claudius’ autobiography covers the entire story of his oh-so-famous royal family–which included Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Caligula. So one word of warning: if you’re not familiar with this monarchy, keep a family tree in front of you while you read. The book holds A TON of names, many of which are extremely similar due to Roman customs.

Did you know that women had no choice whatsoever when it came to their names? If you were a man named Julius, all of your daughters would be named Julia, and it was your job to give them nicknames or just call them “Julia the Elder,” “Julia the Younger,” and so on.

Thus, Claudius’ full name is Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, all parts of which come from other relatives. Confusing, right?

I’m not going to lie to you: this novel takes a while to get going. Robert Graves does an excellent job in imitating the Roman writing style (I swear, every ten pages I have to remind myself that this is fiction, because it sounds like it was literally translated from a Latin text).

Unfortunately, this devotion to style might turn many readers off. I had one friend take one look at my book, and ask, “You’re reading that for fun?” Apparently, she was forced to read excerpts in a college class, and considered it more of a textbook than a beach read.

I agree: I, Claudius is not a beach read. It’s heavy, weighty material about a historical time period most people never learn about. But I’m not afraid to admit that I’m a total nerd, and I love all the Roman references. Livy! Ovid! Cicero! Call me crazy, but I can’t get enough of that stuff!

I’m glad I kept reading, because once Claudius stops with the ancestor stories and starts discussing his own adolescence, the novel becomes much more intriguing. He suffers through constant bullying, difficult disabilities, and the shadows of more beloved siblings. Even after catching a break by falling love with his first fiance (at the ripe age of 13), she gets poisoned on the way to the wedding ceremony. You just want to give the guy a hug!

I should also mention that I’m enjoying I, Claudius more because when I was taking Advanced Latin at UC Santa Cruz, I translated Seneca’s Apocolocyntosis (yes, try saying that three times fast!). The title translates to the “pumpkinification,” meaning turning into a pumpkin rather than a god. It’s a hilarious Menippean satire which portrays Claudius as a cruel, idiotic leader.

Granted, Seneca was actually banished by Claudius, so you have to take the tale with a grain of salt. Neither man was innocent in their volatile relationship. But I find it interesting to compare Apocolocyntosis to I, Claudius, especially since one is an original Latin text and the other is a 20th-century fictional autobiography.

Ok, well this post turned out longer than expected, but as of now, I’m slowly liking this novel and look forward to reading its progression. Don’t let me nerd out all by myself–share the Latin love and let me know what you think!

Masterpiece Monday: Howl’s Moving Castle

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Today I’m bending the rules, because it’s the birthday of one of my best friends, Lily. Years ago, I recommended Diana Wynne Jones’ fantasy novel Howl’s Moving Castle to her, and now it’s one of her favorite stories. Although she currently lives in Tokyo and spends her free time reading in Japanese, I thought I would celebrate the book we shared together. I wouldn’t say it qualifies as a “masterpiece,” but it’s certainly an outstanding read.

Jones published her novel in 1986, and it tells the tale of Sophie Hatter, a young hat-maker who is cursed by the Witch of the Waste. After becoming displeased with Sophie’s hats, the witch turns her into an old woman.

Determined to break the curse, Sophie becomes the maid for the wizard Howl, a 28-year-old, self-centered, narcissistic man rumored to eat pretty girls’ hearts. Howl lives in his moving castle with his 15-year-old apprentice Michael and the fire demon Calcifer, who powers the place.

What makes Howl’s castle able to “move” is its magical entry, with a doorknob which has four dabs of paint to represent   its different locations. Howl’s mysterious past and many psuedonyms allow him to travel through this fantastical world relatively unnoticed, that is until he must face his own cowardice and help Sophie destroy the Witch of the Waste.

This is a unique love story as well, given that although Howl is aware of Sophie’s curse, she lives with him as an old woman. Howl even initially courts Sophie’s sister Lettie. Not to mention, it takes a while for Sophie to look past Howl’s vanity and messiness and find the good within. But while I won’t give away the whole plot, don’t worry, there’s a happily ever after!

L-R: Sophie, Howl, and Calcifer

Once you’ve read Howl’s Moving Castle, you should watch Hayao Miyazaki’s 2004 anime feature film of the same name. I’ve mentioned the movie before when I discussed my favorite literary vacation destinations, and it is really worth the watch.

There are vast differences between the book and film, the biggest being Miyazaki’s inclusion of supernatural creatures. The film also added the element of war, with Howl refusing to fight for pacifist reasons. And although Sophie is cursed in the movie, the witch devolves into a humorous, harmless character rather than the powerful sorceress she is in the book.

According to interviews, Miyazaki did not consult Jones, but allowed her a private viewing, after which she called the film “fantastic.” However, do not mistake Jones’ sequel to Howl’s Moving Castle, called Castle in the Air, for another Miyazaki movie called “Castle in the Sky.” The two are entirely unrelated.

So if you’re interested in experiencing a fun, magical tale of love and friendship, I highly recommend Howl’s Moving Castle. It’s a story that brings close friends even closer–so happy birthday, Lily!!!

Masterpiece Monday: Medea

Cover of Medea (Dover Thrift Editions)

Rating: 5 out of 5

I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to blog much last week, but I was celebrating my upcoming graduation with my grad school girlfriends in Las Vegas! I had such an amazing time, and after staying up all night, I have a serious case of the Mondays. But at least it’s Masterpiece Monday!

So Mother’s Day is this weekend, and I’ve been finding it difficult to find really good mothers in classic literature. Most women hundreds of years ago had children out of obligation rather than choice. Just look at The Awakening and Madame Bovary, for example. However, I’d much rather discuss probably the worst literary mother: Medea.

Medea was first produced by the ancient Greek tragedian Euripides in 431 BCE. It tells the tale of Medea, a barbarian woman from Colchis known for witchcraft. She married Jason, hero with the Golden Fleece, and traveled to Corinth. There, Jason falls in love with a princess named Glauce, daughter of King Creon. Interested in joining a royal family, Jason tosses Medea aside.

In a fit of unparalleled revenge, Medea murders Glauce and Creon with poisoned robes. Not satisfied, she decides to bring complete ruin to her husband by killing her own two children. She declares that she hates Jason more than she loves her progeny.

Surprisingly, Medea is not punished by the gods for her actions. The sun god Helios carries her and her sons’ bodies to Athens as the play ends. The chorus breaks into song frequently throughout the production, contemplating the morality of Medea’s actions, but it’s up to the audience to form their own conclusions.

As for this reader, I absolutely love Medea. Compared to Sophocles and Aeschylus, Euripides is such a bad-ass. He often writes about powerful women, including Helen, Andromache, and Hecuba, placing them as the stars in his tragedies.

His plays are also the most violent of the three playwrights: My second-favorite work of his, Bacchae, narrates a young man ripped from limb to limb by his own mother in an ectastic, orgiastic episode. All of this occurs at the hands of the vindictive god Dionysus.

Obviously, Euripides is an acquired taste, and may not suit prim-and-proper readers. But he manages to contrast gritty, brutal themes with beautiful writing. It’s a shame that there are so many texts of his that remain lost or in fragments.

So why do I love Medea? She’s the quintessential figure behind the saying “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Because she has semi-supernatural powers and is a foreigner, she is not chained to Greek mores. She suffered through a tremendous betrayal and finds the perfect way to get back at her scumbag of a spouse. She realizes that killing him would be too easy; it’s much crueler to kill his loved ones and force him to live with his guilt.

Do I think she’s a good role model? Of course not. Are her actions justified? I think so, but that’s for you to decide. If you’re interested in reading Greek literature, leave your Judeo-Christian notions behind and open your mind to an entirely different way of thinking. If you can do that, you might just find yourself enjoying some of the most celebrated, intellectually rewarding pieces of literature in the entire world.

Feel free to share your thoughts about Medea or just give a shout-out to your favorite literary mothers! And don’t forget to call your real one on Sunday!

Favorite Quotes: 

“This I say, that those who have never had children, who know nothing of it, in happiness have the advantage over those who are parents” – Chorus, lines 1090-1095

“Let no one think me a weak one, feeble-spirited, a stay-at-home, but rather just the opposite, one who can hurt my enemies and help my friends; for the lives of such persons are most remembered” – Medea, lines 805-810

Book Review: Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea

Image via Amazon

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Earlier this week I finished listening to the audiobook Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea (2009). Narrated by the author Chelsea Handler herself, it was great to compare the audiobook to Tina Fey’s Bossypants and Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? All three women are outstanding comedians in their own rights, but Handler is certainly an acquired taste.

I’ve seen Handler’s talk show “Chelsea Lately” a handful of times, so I knew what I was getting into. She is unafraid to discuss the most politically incorrect of situations, from her DUI and night in jail to her obsession with little people. If you’re easily offended, back away from this read. No race or religion escapes her mockery, and if she’s willing to insult her closest friends and family members, you know no topic is safe.

While I didn’t laugh out loud as much as I did during Bossypants, Handler has her hilarious moments. Some of the stories are funnier than others, but since they were narrated chronologically, it was interesting to see her progress from an elementary student lying about being in a movie with Goldie Hawn to win popularity with her classmates into a woman dragged on a Costa Rica vacation by her father who pretends to be her husband to fly first-class.

My only issue with the novel was I wasn’t sure just how autobiographical it was. Even as a child, Handler writes with an adult vocabulary and perspective, so the early scenes weren’t as believable. She gets herself into some crazy situations, including starting a brawl with some high school Latinas, so it’s up to you to determine fact from fiction.

Granted, she has filled in some details in various interviews, so I was already aware of her teenage abortion and her hatred of Angelina Jolie. While she often described herself as poor and unpopular when she was young, clearly that’s not the case now. Ignore the “I’m just like you” mentality that many celebrities like Handler perpetuate, and just enjoy the outrageous anecdotes as semi-fiction.

Again, if you’re uncomfortable reading about a woman who revels in drinking, drugs, and one-night-stands, then this book’s not for you. But if you think Handler’s more entertaining than obnoxious, then you’ll probably get quite a few chuckles from Are You There, Vodka?

Favorite Quote: “I rolled over and picked up Us Weekly magazine off the floor. The cover had a picture of Angelina, Brad, and their little Eskimo son, Maddox. I saw staring at the photo, wondering why this little boy looks so pissed off in every picture. At first I thought he was just pissed about his Mohawk, but then I realized he’s probably furious. Maddox must have thought he hit the jackpot when some A-list celebrity rescued him from third-world Cambodia, only to discover that she was going to shuffle him back and forth to EVERY other third-world country in the universe. He’s probably like, ‘When the f*** are we gonna get to Malibu, b****?”

Masterpiece Monday: Night

Image via Amazon

Rating: 5 out of 5

In case you didn’t know, Thursday is Holocaust Remembrance Day in America, the origins of which date back to 1978 when President Carter created a memorial commission and established Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel as the chair.

Wiesel is most famous for his memoir Night, published in English in 1960. In the novella, Wiesel recounts his experiences in various internment camps during World War II. He discusses the horrific living conditions, the beatings and murders by the Nazis, and his loss of faith in God and humanity. He even comes to see his own father as more of a burden due to the old man’s ever-waning health.

Eventually, Wiesel was rescued by the US army in 1945, but didn’t speak of his past for ten years. Then he wrote a manuscript of over 800 pages, about 100 of which was composed into Night. The book is actually the first part of a trilogy (Dawn and Day as the sequels, respectively), but I have not personally read them. However, Night is the only part of the series that is not fictional.

I read this story in high school, a couple years before Oprah selected it for her book club. It has become synonymous with the Holocaust, and although it is disturbing and graphic, it effectively conveys the tragedy to the public. In fact, I recently learned that when Spielberg directed “Schindler’s List” in 1993, half of high school students in America were not aware of the genocide, and 20% of them denied its very existence. Those figures have since been disputed.

Regardless of that poll’s results, there are still too many people today who are uneducated regarding the Holocaust and other genocides in history. Too many people today still hide behind their bigotry and say these cultural/religious groups deserved their fates.

I’m not Jewish, but I am Armenian, and Armenians also suffered from genocide during World War I. Allegedly, Hitler was even motivated to annihilate the Jews because the Armenians had been massacred relatively unnoticed by the world. April 24 is Armenian Genocide Recognition Day, so I will be returning to this theme next week.

I just want the world to memorialize those whose lives have been lost, and to do all that it can to prevent such tragedies from occurring again. We should never forget the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, and other atrocities, but we should also never stop striving for freedom and peace.

Favorite Quote: “One day I was able to get up, after gathering all my strength. I wanted to see myself in the mirror hanging on the opposite wall. I had not seen myself since the ghetto. From the depths of the mirror, a corpse gazed back at me. The look in his eyes, as they stared into mine, has never left me.”

Book Review: The Song of Achilles

Rating: 5 out of 5

I really hope you’re paying attention right now, because this book just became one of my favorites of all time. Of. All. Time. No novel has blown my mind this hard since 1984, and honestly, I doubt that I will read another book this year that can top this one. It’s THAT good.

That being said, not everyone will feel the same way. You have to be a die-hard fan of Homer’s Iliad and Ancient Greek literature in general to truly appreciate Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles. I reviewed the Iliad a couple weeks ago, and when I found out that Miller was garnering a ton of great press for this adaptation, I was hooked.

Miller deserves every fabulous review, because she has the credentials. With a BA and MA in Classics and a current position teaching Latin and Ancient Greek, needless to say, she knows her stuff. And as someone who also minored in Classics and spent two years studying Latin, I believe that I have the right to say that she knows her stuff.

The Song of Achilles is told from Patroclus’ perspective. Patroclus was a Greek prince who was a suitor of Helen’s as a young boy. After he unintentionally murders a bully, he is exiled to Phthia, King Peleus’ domain. Peleus is Achilles’ mortal father, and the sea-nymph goddess Thetis is his immortal mother. Patroclus and Achilles’ relationship progresses over time from best friends to lovers.

Yes, if you are uncomfortable reading about homosexual relationships, then this book is not for you. However, if you love Ancient Greek literature, then this interpretation of the Iliad will not surprise you.

In the Iliad, Achilles is aware that he will die in the war, due to his mother’s knowledge of prophecy. After his slave-girl Briseis is stolen from him by King Agamemnon, Achilles refuses to fight. After many Greeks die, Patroclus agrees to fight in Achilles’ armor to trick the Trojans into submission.

Tragically, he is killed by Trojan prince Hector, and Patroclus’ death is the reason why Achilles resumes fighting. In his fiery rage, Achilles murders Hector and drags his body from his chariot around Troy. Hector’s brother Paris ends up killing Achilles, and his ashes are mixed and buried with those of Patroclus.

The 2004 movie “Troy” avoids offending conservative viewers by portraying the two men as cousins, and Briseis as Achilles’ love interest. Miller’s interpretation is much more plausible, given what other Ancient Greek writers like Plato and Aeschylus have expressed. Again, sexuality back then was nothing like it is now: it was typical for Greek men to take both male lovers and female wives.

I would encourage anyone who has an open mind to read this book, as it is one of the best love stories I’ve ever read. It was even more heart-breaking, because I knew how it all would end. As much I wanted to keep reading, I didn’t want these two characters to meet their doom–and I couldn’t help but cry when they did.

The writing is superb, reflecting the poetry of the Iliad. Character development was perfect, as I fell in love with Achilles and Patroclus as they were falling in love with each other. And other than a couple anachronisms, I loved how Miller inserted tidbits of Greek vocabulary and other myths to appeal to Iliad fans and educate those unfamiliar with the tale.

I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. I imagine one day college students will be reading The Song of Achilles right along with the Iliad in their Classics courses. And if it were up to me, Miller’s next book should be an adaptation of Homer’s equally famous sequel Odyssey. One can hope!

Masterpiece Monday: Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rating: 4 out of 5

BEWARE: SPOILER ALERT!

Hope everybody had a happy Easter yesterday! Because I’m more interested in the time spent with family than the spiritual aspects of the holiday, I usually associate Easter with egg hunts, chocolate, and–of course–bunnies. As I was brainstorming what to discuss for Masterpiece Monday, my morbid sense of humor immediately thought of John Steinbeck’s 1937 novella Of Mice and Men. If you don’t understand the sick joke yet, stay with me.

Of Mice and Men is about two migrant workers, Lennie and George, living in California during the Great Depression. Because Lennie is mentally challenged, it is difficult for them to find work. Lennie’s dream is to own land and raise a bunch of rabbits. Unfortunately, his love for soft things often results in killing them because he is not aware of his own strength.

This serious issue escalates from mice, to puppies, to finally, the wife of their boss’ son. George, aware that Lennie will continue to be a danger to himself and others, chooses to end their friendship in the most tragic way. After meeting one another and reminiscing over Lennie’s dream bunny farm, George shoots his companion in the back of the head.

I would hate to label this novel a “bromance,” but it does exhibit one of the most famous male friendships in literature. What makes it special is that the ending forces the reader to determine just how loyal of a friend George was. Was murder the only option? Was it malicious or merciful?

Other than Steinbeck’s excessive descriptions of scenery (I mean, I live in the Central Valley of California, but how long can a man talk about landscape? Geez!), this is a great novella with many timeless themes. I recommend this book, not only to anyone living in this state, but to all those who want more classic American literature in their lives.

And for those of you who are familiar with the story, go watch Looney Tunes again, because you’ll see the Abominable Snowman in a whole new way!

See what I mean? Nothing’s better than finding out your favorite cartoons are smarter than you thought they were!

Favorite Quote: “I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads . . . every damn one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ’em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land.”

Book Review: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Image via Goodreads

Rating: 4 out of 5

Well, today is a Book Club Babe first, because I just read my first guest recommendation! A good friend of mine from graduate school suggested that I read Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (referred to as MPHPC from now on), which was written by Ransom Riggs last year. It was a book I would have never picked out for myself, but I’m glad I got the opportunity to broaden my horizons!

This book is just that, peculiar. It’s about a 16-year-old named Jacob who is rebelling against his family’s wealth from an extensive line of pharmacies. Because his parents aren’t the greatest and he has very few friends, he spends his time idolizing his grandfather, who growing up told him these crazy, spooky stories of monsters and kids with special abilities.

While you first think his grandpa’s just exaggerating his traumatic experiences from the Holocaust, he’s mysteriously murdered by one of the very monsters Jacob thought were fictional. After being accused of going insane and forced to see a shrink, he and his dad make their way to Wales where his grandpa had stayed with Miss Peregrine and her peculiar children.

What makes MPHPC special, however, are the creepy black-and-white photographs which are sprinkled throughout the pages. According to the author, these are real photos which he gained permission to use from private collectors (although whether they’ve been altered, I don’t know). Here’s an example:

Spooky, right? Jacob meets all kinds of new friends, like Emma who can produce fire, or Millard who’s invisible. I can’t give you many more details than that, but when the monsters return, it’s up to them to save themselves…and the world.

This was a very suspenseful, intriguing tale of unusual friendship. The end was abrupt to make way for a sequel, which I’ll be sure to read. This book was not terrifying enough to give me nightmares, so I would recommend it to other scaredy-cats like me.

And rumor has it that Tim Burton has signed on to direct the movie adaptation! I think it would be a perfect fit for him, and I can easily picture Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Peregrine, if they aged her a bit. Hmmm, but who would Johnny Depp be? Jacob’s dad?

All in all, I’m very pleased that I opened my mind by opening the pages of a book that, quite honestly, made me nervous. But the only thing to fear with MPHPC is the withdrawals you’ll experience at the end! I need that sequel!