Running Loose by Chris Crutcher

Amazon Summary: "Louie Banks has it made. He's got a starting spot on the football team, good friends, and a smart, beautiful girlfriend who loves him as much as he loves her. Early in the fall, he sees all his ideas of fair play go up in smoke; by spring, what he cares about most has been destroyed. How can Louie keep going when he's lost everything?"

Hmmmm... I think this is my least favorite book of Crutcher's so far. It's probably because I decided to read them all in the order he wrote them--this being the first one. At least, the first popular one. He might've written something before it. It's still good, but it lacks the emotional depth that his other books have. I didn't feel much of anything while reading it--the part that should have made me feel something really didn't because I'd already guessed it was going to happen. It's sort of a blah book for me. My favorite part of the book was probably the last quarter. I probably would've liked the story better if the first three quarters of the book were condensed into one and the last quarter stretched to three. It's also kind of dated (as I mentioned for Stotan!). Anyway, this book really just goes to show how much an author can improve over time. He went from mediocre to brilliant. I can't wait to get to his newest book. I think the main thing that he's improved on over time is how engaging his books are--this really didn't hold my attention as well as his later books. Anyway, on to the next Crutcher book!

Stotan! by Chris Crutcher

Amazon summary: "It's the last swimming season for Walker, Nortie, Lion, and Jeff, and their coach is building their self-discipline in a grueling four-hour-a-day test of stamina designed to bring them to the outer edge of their capabilities. As it turns out, Stotan Week is also the week in which secrets are revealed, and the four friends must draw upon their new strengths for an endurance they never knew they'd need."

I'm going to start out by suggesting that you read this before Ironman because I already knew some of the stuff that was going to happen since Lion is in both books. Plus I kept thinking it was Lion who was narrating instead of Walker. Stotan! struck me as a little less intense than the other books I've read by Crutcher. It's sort of all over the place--I couldn't give you a solid plot since Stotan week is done by the time you reach the halfway point in the book. That's not necessarily a problem, but I found myself liking the other books a bit better than this one. It's also possible that I didn't enjoy it as much because it was written about a generation before my time so the issues it addresses aren't quite as relevant. I mean, they are, just a little less prominent today than they were then. Nevertheless, it's still a plenty good book--just a little dated.

Ironman by Chris Crutcher

Amazon summary: "Bo Brewster has been at war with his father for as long as he can remember. Following angry outbursts at his football coach and English teacher that have cost him his spot on the football team and moved him dangerously close to expulsion from school, he turns to the only adult he believes will listen: Larry King. In his letters to Larry, Bo describes his quest for excellence on his own terms. No more coaches for me, he tells the talk show icon, no more dads. I'm going to be a triathlete, an Ironman. Relegated to Mr. Nak's before-school Anger Management group (which he initially believes to be populated with future serial killers and freeway snipers), Bo meets a hard-edged, down-on-their-luck pack of survivors with stainless steel shields against the world that Bo comes to see are not so different from his own. It is here he meets and falls in love with Shelly, a future American Gladiator, whose passion for physical challenge more than matches his."

Well, I'm just going to cut to the chase: I believe I have now officially become a Chris Crutcher fan. This may only be the second book of his that I've read, but so far his stuff is right up my alley. I may not have experienced most of the hard things his characters deal with, but the insights he makes ring true to me. I don't know that I can do his work justice. It's just so absolutely touching and real. You can't ask much more than that from a piece of writing. I think every author wants their writing to speak to people and that's what this really does. I can't recommend his work enough.

Beastly by Alex Flinn

This story is basically a modern re-telling of the good old Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, most commonly known as a Disney movie. The story is told from the beast's perspective and is interesting in that it gives a background to the beast. This beast starts out as a handsome teenager by the name of Kyle Kingsley. He's essentially your average, run of the mill 'popular' jerk. A witch notices his jerkly ways and curses him to be as ugly on the outside as he is on the inside--giving him two years to find someone to love him and break the spell with a kiss. Of course, he has to love her too. 

Something I really enjoy about the book is that the girl isn't a total pansy--not that Belle is a complete pansy. I mean, at least she is intelligent. But she's still kind of pansyish... Anyway, that was nice. Also, the author included some very cute interludes in the form of a cursed fairy tale character chat room. I found it absolutely charming. Beastly is particularly effective at conveying the message behind the original story (you know, the whole don't be a jerk just because you're pretty message), at least compared to the Disney version, because it's told from the beast's perspective. I don't have anything in the way of criticism so if you like these sorts of spin off stories, then go for it.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Amazon Summary: "Sarah Byrnes and Eric have been friends for years. When they were children, his fat and her terrible scars made them both outcasts. Later, although swimming slimmed Eric, she stayed his closest friend. Now Sarah Byrnes -- the smartest, toughest person Eric has ever known -- sits silent in a hospital. Eric must uncover the terrible secret she's hiding, before its dark currents pull them both under."
Okay, so the second bit of the summary is a little overdramatic, but they have to get their readers somehow. I'm going to have to add a bit to that summary though, I don't think it's quite complete. While all of the summary information is true, the story isn't as much focused on Sarah's "terrible secret" as it leads you to believe. A lot more of the book is dedicated to Eric and Sarah's past together and their friendship in general.
In the beginning I was a little thrown off by the switching from past to present and the swimming terminology, but I got used to it pretty quickly so it didn't end up being a big deal. The thing to note about this book though is how much it makes you think. It's narrated by Eric who is in a class where people discuss their beliefs. This leads to a fair amount of discussion about religion and abortion that in turn makes Eric think about his beliefs, thereby causing the reader to think about their own as well. I've categorized this book as one of those strangely addictive books that are more of a narration of the character's life than a story with a solid plot (though this plot is definitely more solid than most of the ones in this category). Luckily, this one is actually interesting and didn't leave me feeling irritated at the characters (unlike The Catcher in the Rye). The book just left me thinking. I can't really come up with any criticism for it at the moment. I just want to be sure to emphasize how almost philosophical this book is. I ended up really enjoying it.

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Amazon summary: "As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another's only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend. When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken."

Alrighty! I did intend to read the sequel to The Innocent Mage next and I did start it, but I got distracted. So I spent a while reading random Fictionpress stories and only got back to reading published books today. So. On to the review!

I really enjoyed the book. It is a good story and it kept my attention but there were a couple of things that I didn't like. First of all, it lacked some of the detail it needed and left me with questions. A lot of that centered around Cameron and his and Jenna's past. I really wanted to know more about Cameron; why he suddenly came back, how he coped (because honestly, he had it a lot rougher than Jenna), information about his mom and siblings, anything really. He was a vague fill in character that really remained a part of Jenna's past more than anything else. There wasn't much evidence of a change in him. It was... lacking.
The ending really bugged me. It was so inconclusive. It ended with a lot of pretty words but what happened just didn't add up with the rest of the story. There was just a lot that was skimmed over and it took away the realism of the story. It was still good, just not fabulous.

The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller

Amazon summary: "Being a fisherman like his father isn't a bad life, but it's not the one that Asher wants. Despite his humble roots, Asher has grand dreams. And they call him to Dorana, home of princes, beggars, and the warrior mages who have protected the kingdom for generations. Little does Asher know, however, that his arrival in the city is being closely watched by members of the Circle, people dedicated to preserving an ancient magic. Asher might have come to the city to make his fortune, but he will find his destiny."

Well. That was certainly the most horridly brutal cliffhanger I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. But that's okay! Thank GOODNESS I can get the next book immediately! It's difficult to pinpoint an opinion on this book. On the one hand, I feel like I could say that it was absolutely flawless and wonderful; but on the other hand, I can see some things that could be changed. It just seems like those flaws are part of the author's style, but I don't really know. It was a somewhat strange read for me. I had no trouble getting through the entire thing, but I didn't have too much trouble setting it aside either.

As for the plot... Well, that's also hard to form an opinion on. The beginning is so frustratingly vague but then, all of a sudden, you figure out what's going on and you're like, "Oh. Well. What was all the suspense about?" [Sorry for misusing the word 'like' there]. It just wasn't necessary. But, it's short enough that it didn't much matter in the scheme of things. It does, however, take a while though for anything to start happening that has to do at all with the plot. Maybe ninety percent of the book? But again, that didn't bother me too much because I enjoyed what was happening in the meantime. I guess there were quite a few things that didn't really need to be included... But all that really did was add more details and delay the plot a bit. It sort of meandered a bit before anything much happened.

As for the characters... Again, hard to form an opinion on. I did love Asher and Gar. Dathne... not so much. I also liked Matt, though I wish his character were explored a little more. Perhaps in the next book... But anyway, for all that I liked or disliked their personalities, they did at times seem a little... fake. Of course, they're not actually real people but with most books, you feel like they are. Okay, so maybe not most books, but that's what they strive for. Looking at some other reviews, I agree that at times the characters can be kind of whiny... I didn't actually notice that while I was reading, but thinking back, I can definitely see where that came from. But to be fair, there were some pretty harsh things that went on... But back to fake characters! Asher's whole family backstory seems just a bit farfetched. And he doesn't react very much to a certain large event that occurs. And Dathne... she's just too darn cold! Well, around other people at least. I mean, she does have reason to be, but still... Gar's sister... She's a little bit too hostile. And Gar... He should know what to expect from her by now. I don't know. The characters just need a bit of work. Their motivations are all there, they just... I guess they just don't seem enough reason to act the way they do. Or they under-react. Like Asher. Also, there's a bit of a time skip that I think shouldn't have been quite so glossed over. It sort of skipped certain, possibly vital, relationship developments. I guess that's where you would want plot-related events to go. I can see why it was postponed so long (for Asher), but that really just means that Asher should've had a different motivation for leaving home in the first place. *sigh* But now I'm getting into little details that don't make much sense if you haven't read the book. But it will suffice to say that certain details didn't line up and the characters weren't wholly believable... But, nevertheless, I really did enjoy the book and my complaints are, for the most part, about small things (though I guess they do kind of add up...) so don't let that keep you away from the book! Anyway, it was interesting enough that I'm going to hold off on reading the rest of the Tillerman cycle (remember my last review? Homecoming?) while I finish the series (I think there's just one more book. And then two more that are related but set at a later time. I think. And a prequel. We'll see how interested I am at the end of this next book).

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt

Amazon summary: "“It’s still true.” That’s the first thing James Tillerman says to his older sister, Dicey, every morning. It’s still true that their mother has abandoned the four Tillermans in a mall parking lot somewhere in the middle of Connecticut. It’s still true that they have to find their own way to Great-aunt Cilla’s house in Bridgeport. It’s still true that they need to spend as little as possible on food and seek shelter anywhere that is out of view of the authorities. It’s still true that the only way they can hope to all stay together is to just keep moving forward. Deep down, Dicey hopes they can find someone to trust, someone who will take them in and love them. But she’s afraid it’s just too much to hope for...."

This as not, as you can probably tell from the summary, a fantasy book. So no, that is not the only type of book that I will read. This sort of story is waaaaaaaaaaaay up there on the interest scale next to fantasy books. You know, the whole growing-up-with-hardships-and-overcoming-them kind of thing. Of course, this also has the added bonus of survival and journeying thrown in! I actually read this for the first time quite a while ago--five, maybe six years ago? I believe I had been assigned to read A Solitary Blue (the third book in the series) for summer reading and loved it so much that I had to read the others. Crazy, I know. An assigned book that's actually good--and not horribly depressing (besides Shakespeare which, now that I think about it, can be pretty depressing too...)! The reason I came back to it now is that for the past few years it has been nagging at my memory. Occasionally I would think something like, 'hmmmm... I really loved that one book where the girl got left in the parking lot with her siblings...' and then totally forget about it for a few months. Well, a couple of days ago that same thing happened to me but this time I got a terrible urge to read it. Of course, I had totally forgotten the title, the author, and the characters' names so I put my faith in a google search and voila! After a bit of searching I found it. I owe it all to the fact that it's a pretty popular book--otherwise I'm quite sure that I wouldn't have found it (because, along with this book, there was another one that I remembered and tried looking for but couldn't find). But anyways, I ended up putting the book I was in the middle of reading on hold while I read this one. I feel like I've read the whole series but since it was so long ago, I'm going to read them all again. After I finish the book I abandoned that is.

Anyway, by this point you probably already know my opinion on the book--I freaking adore it! I just crave books like these. It does involve a lot of getting into Dicey's head, but that's part of what makes me love it so much. So, it may not be your cup of tea, but it certainly is mine!

The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams

The Amazon summary: "In the peaceful land of Osten Ard, the good king is dying-and a long-dreaded evil is about to be unleashed. Only Simon, a lowly castle scullion apprenticed to a secret order dedicated to halting the coming darkness, can solve the dangerous riddle that offers salvation to the land."

As long as the book is, I can't seem to think of much to say about it. I've mentally categorized it as one of those near-flawless books that for some reason you just didn't get hooked on. None of my thoughts take away the fact that this book was crafted magnificently by a very skilled author. I spent a little over a month reading it--ridiculously long, even considering its impressive length. The beginning was, in my opinion, incredibly dull. It was spent pretty much exploring the character of Simon and setting everything up for an extremely elaborate story. After that, however, the book suddenly picks up speed and becomes engaging. At least, Simon's parts become engaging. The others... not so much. As much as I loved the plot and the characters (Binabik in particular), I began to have trouble following what was going on. This was probably due to the unfamiliar and complicated names, along with the large cast of characters. As long as you follow it though, the book is wonderful. It's probably much easier to get through the book if you can follow who everybody is. Perhaps that would have made the parts that were not told from Simon's perspective more interesting... Anyway, great book, just not my cup of tea.