I Might Have To Become A Historical Fiction Fan

In my last post (my first post), I said how I had just begun Countdown by Deborah Wiles. For those who don't know the book it, indeed, is historical fiction. It's about the sixties, the Russian bomb threat, the culture of the time, etc.


And, you know, I liked it well enough. Three stars. My problems with it derived mostly from the fact that it was too young for me, and it was enjoyable overall. 


I don't know why, but I just like the 'feel' of historical fiction. I like when a book can subtly vibe me into a different decade that makes an impression on me without even realizing it. That's good writing, right there. Now, Countdown didn't quite achieve that, but, like I said, it was nice. There were pictures.


The perfect historical fiction, of course, is The Book Thief. In addition to being lovely and heartbreaking, it educates you about World War II. And then it slowly dissolves your soul... (Actually, I didn't cry when I read it, because I'm heartless and very, very picky about what I choose to shed tears over, but most people say they bawl hysterically.) 


 Lois Lowry's Number The Stars is also a nice World War II book, though that's for a younger audience. There have been other historical fiction books I've liked, but for the moment (Sunday night, after an incredibly busy weekend), I'm blanking. Perhaps they will come to me later. 


Then, of course, there is Hetalia. It's an anime. In addition to supplying us with the fabulous Russia, Italy, Latvia and England (my personal favorite characters), It gives us this gem of a quote:


(Italy is hugging Romano because Romano is being his usual self, complete with douche-baggery) 


Romano: "Would you stop it with your hug-therapy already?!" 
Germany: "I'll never understand Catholics..." 


Oh, it is offensive and  historically inaccurate in the best way possible. It brings us adorable yaoi couples and chibi Italy and - and... *takes deep breath* It's a wonderful show. The episodes are, literally, five minutes long each. And if you don't want to watch them, I beg of you to watch Italy's song to Germany. It's kind of the best.  And, despite the show's flagrant messing up of the facts (sometimes), it does have a knack for educating on the general gist of world history. 


Anyway, I like historical fiction, and I've been trying to figure out what I like so much about it. I think it could be the fact that I just don't like the 21st Century very much (minus the internet and a few other technological advances). Or, it could have something to do with my deep affinity for Medieval Times (the era, not the dueling show... though that is also enjoyable). Most likely, it has a lot to do with my obsession with films from the 80's and the 20's, and my giggly affection for ball gowns and Shining Armor (so long as a Knight is inside it, anyhow). 


Of course, the problem comes when I begin to interpret old-fashioned-feeling fantasy as...reality (see Fire by Kristin Cashore - though not Graceling - and Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta). It's not that I truly believe any of that is a part of the world's past, it's just that... I wish it was. I wish that the world from books was the world we lived in because, conflict or not, there's something beautiful about the pretend. (And then of course, that begs the question, if the pretend were real... would it still be beautiful? I honestly have no idea).




Anyway, I'm off to Be A Good Student and do my homework, so I will leave you know. Unfortunately, I've been on a bit of a bad book streak, since finishing Delirium. It's putting me in a bad mood. Here's to hoping I enjoy The Hate List by Jennifer Brown?


Till next time readers (all two of you),
Abbie

And Today I Realized Five Of My Favorite Books Are About Car Crashes

Well, they are not about car crashes per se - but they include them. A distinction, yes, but "And Today I Realized Five Of My Favorite Books Include Scenes Where Cars Crash" is a bit of a mouthful, isn't it?

And, please note, it's not like these are my only favorite books, either. They are five of (at the moment) seventy. (Yes, I do know how many books I consider favorites. I'm neurotic like that. Also, the internet tells me so.)

At this point, you are probably wondering either a) why you are wasting your valuable time on my blog (I can sympathize, as I wonder why I'm writing this) or b) what these books are.

If I Stay (by Gayle Forman)  is about a girl who is in a car crash with her entire family, and she is the only survivor. It is sad and poignant and filled with so much warmth that I fell instantly in love.

Before I Fall (by Lauren Oliver) is about a girl who dies in a car crash, and is forced to relive the last day of her life over and over until she lives it right. It is also sad and also poignant and, though it is not warm at first, it gets you there eventually. I personally think it is far superior to Delirium, also by Oliver, which I just finished. (No, that book does not have a car crash.) (But it does have a motorcycle one... kind of...).

Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska (both by John Green) both have extremely significant car crashes (one fairly humorous, with an underbelly of sadness to it, and the other straight-up heartbreaking).

Jellicoe Road (by Melina Marchetta)... well, it is a book I will have to learn to discuss without spewing my love and adoration and a million other redundancies at the world. Because for the moment, that is all I can do. (Give me a break, I did finish it all of yesterday). Anyway, it can be adequately described only by this quote, from the book itself: (first part omitted because of earth-shaking spoilers) "[The families] who set out on their separate journeys that day not realising the tragic ironies and joys of that collision of worlds on the Jellicoe Road. (pg. 393)"

(Blogger thinks 'realising' should be spelled with a 'z'. I am going to rebel by spelling it with an 's' for the rest of my life.)

Ahem, yes. Car crashes get around. A lot. These are only the instances they're used in my absolute favorites - I'm not even thinking about the car crash in Twenty Boy Summer (by Sarah Ockler) or the one that begins Vampire Academy (by Richelle Mead) (the series is a favorite, as a whole, but not the first book).  Also, what about Vampire Diaries? I haven't read the books (I'm such a hypocrite), but that's how the story starts there, too. And, of course, hundreds of others (Well, how do I know? But I'm guessing).

So what gives? I think, in my slightly-jaded view of literature, that it is quite an easy way to kill-off-the-parents-and-make-the-hero-or-heroine-do-stuff. Killing off the parents is a more general way to describe it, obviously, but I cannot get over the Car Crash aspect.

But do you want to know what's cool? In my favorites (I say with a way-too-smug smile), the car crashes are used as catalysts. Sure, they kill people and give us plot, but they also serve as this slam to something bigger. I love that. It may sound stupid and extremely conceited, but I love my taste in books.

 Well, I suppose that is all for today. I have homework to do, a novel to edit, and I've just begun reading Countdown by Deborah Wiles. Does anyone know if it's any good?

I will be back, at some point. I am going to try to not be one of those stereotypical reviewers, and to actually post when I have a unique thought or when I really, desperately need to procrastinate.

Also, if you haven't seen this, please see it. Fans will understand. (Be warned there is a "Really Bad" swear word, even in the title, and Extremely Inappropriate Content.) (And by that I mean it's all sex jokes.)

(Please note, that I also inhabit shelfari and am an ex-tenant of fanfiction.net, if you feel like saying hello.)

(Comments here are also appreciated.)

Thanks for reading!

Hugs & Smiles,
Abbie