Everyone that has been reading the words of this girl in the tiny hat knows how much I have enjoyed Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Boys Cycle books. When I finally read the ARC of "The Raven Boys" I loved it so much that I kind of mentally kicked myself for not reading it sooner. You know how you do when you read a really good book after it has sat on your shelf for awhile? You mentally yell at yourself 'WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ THIS?! OMG THIS IS AWESOME!!!' Yes I do it in all caps and everything. Then with the second book in the series "The Dream Thieves" I was even more blown away, enough so that I went and bought the hardcover autographed edition of it. In total-honest-truth-telling fact I liked it more then the first. Which is usually a good thing because it just means that the author is really finding a voice for these characters and that things are just going to keep getting better. Knowing this when I heard about the third installment "Blue Lily, Lily Blue" coming out I gave a little fan girl squeal and did a little happy dance. Then proceeded to eagerly await the day I could go and pick it up. And then the day finally came! I was so happy and started it right away.
The first few lines scared me a bit simply because they were a little over the top. A little bit like she was trying really hard for poetry when she should of just stuck to the brilliance of the story that was already there. Don't get me wrong I think that Ms. Stiefvater is a brilliant writer and I love her Raven Boys books with a passion but I love them so because they are beautiful and intriguing and utterly amazing in their simplicity. Anyway being the faithful reader that I am I forged ahead and was relieved when things started feeling more Raven and less 'hello I am fancy pants.' As the story really got going I started feeling lost and confused and at times a little bit hurt. It just didn't have the same feel as the first two. Something felt off and still after a couple months of thinking on it I can't quite pinpoint what it was that threw me. What I can tell you is this, the writing was mostly as good there were times when she went off on overly lyrical flights of fancy that ground my teeth a bit. The characters that I grew to love were all there in abundance and the story progressed a bit. But what I found was that many the writing was off at times because she was maybe trying too hard to take it to a new level which in my humble opinion was unnecessary.
The characters that I have grown to love were all there, Ganesy and Blue, Adam and Ronan, Chainsaw the raven and course Blue's aunts and their very special brand of crazy. But Ms. Stiefvater also felt it was time to add in some brand new characters to add some spice. Which is usually always a good thing, new characters with new plot lines usually mean big things are happening and to keep an eye out. Unless of course you are going for the 'War & Peace' vibe in which case you are simply adding characters because you have nothing better to do. I fear that Ms. Stiefvater had a little 'War & Peace' syndrome going on. There were just too many new characters with brand new plot lines to follow that were added on top of all the old loveable characters and all their plot lines that it kind of got twisted and confused a bit. I felt a little lost and confused at times which made it hard to speed through this one the way I did with the first two.
Maggie Stiefvater is a great storyteller. I've never read anything by her other than The Raven Boys cycle books but I think that she is just brilliant n her storytelling ways. That being said in "Blue Lily, Lily Blue" the story got a little lost or maybe it simply took a nap in Cabeswater and woke to find itself in another time and place. Whatever the reason I struggled to follow it and found myself wading through pools too deep for me. Again it was the simplicity of the story that was the brilliance of both "The Raven Boys" and "Dream Thieves." But in "Blue Lily, Lily Blue" things felt too complicated, too all over the place for me. It was still a decent story and towards the end things begin to shift back into perspective a bit so it is worth the read if you are a fan of the series. I recommend it solely based on the fact that it is the third in the series and it helps (somewhat) to guide us to the next plot point. I am of course excited about book 4 whenever that may be coming out but this time I plan on going into it with a little bit of reserve.
I tip my hat (my almost forgotten rating system) 3 times to Maggie Stiefvater's "Blue Lily, Lily Blue" not the best book I've read this year but not the worst by far. Well folks it has been quite a reading year. Less with the reviewing part and I apologize for that but a reading year indeed. I can't wait for 2015 and the many, many books that are awaiting us. So for the last time this year my dear, dear readers happy reading!
Book Title: Confederates Don't Wear Couture
Author: Stephanie Kate Strohm
Version: Paperback ARC
ISBN: 9780547972589
Publication Date: June 2013
Number of Pages: 208
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
SYNOPSIS: Libby Kelting is back and this time she is going to war. Well a Civil War reenactment starting in Alabama anyway. When Libby's best friend Dev first comes to her with the idea Libby is hesitant because she has the chance to spend the summer in Boston with Garrett. And how can she pass that up? Even if it means not getting to live in the 1860's and wear gorgeous hoop skirts and relive epic battles from the Civil War. But the more Dev talks about his brilliant money making scheme "Confederate Couture" bringing the best fashion of the 1860's to the ladies of the south, and what it's going to be like to travel around wearing Dev's best Libby finds herself unable to resist.
Traveling to Alabama with Dev and their mountains of luggage Libby finds herself getting more and more excited about the summer ahead. Landing in Alabama they are hit by the immense summer heat, which prompts Libby to ask 'why Alabama?' Dev responds "...Because no other southern state boasts their very own Reese Witherspoon rom-com. Obvi." (Pg. 26) Ah yes the all important rom-com logic. Their liaison Tammy Anderson picks them up from the airport and takes them to her B&B to change and freshen up before driving them to meet her handsome, southern-manners-having son Beau. Dressed in her first Couture best Libby meets Beau and there is an instant spark, but it's just because he's friendly and likes history right?
The day of the first battle Dev's idea seems to have been nothing short of genius, minus the fact that he is severely caffeine deprived. His designs start selling like hotcakes and with the amount of money Dev makes in that first day he believes that his dreams of starting college with a full brand name wardrobe is possible. While fighting through the boredom of a battle, learning to 'breathe' in a corset and dealing with an inappropriately attached 13-year-old boy scout Libby finds that this summer may be more than just a good old trip down history lane. Not to mention she has to deal with Beau crushing on her, and maybe she's crushing on him a little too, a ghost that has the camp scared silly, a real estate developer trying to buy up Civil War battlegrounds and Garrett showing up unexpectedly.
What's a young lady to do when the summer of her dreams suddenly turns into a waking nightmare? Now Libby has to concentrate on solving the mystery of the ghost, find a way to stop Dixie Acres from taking away important historical land, keeping Garrett and Beau away from each other and making sure she is always dressed in the finest Confederate Couture. Whew, and here Libby thought Summer was going to be a breeze.
REVIEW: When I first read 'Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink' I automatically fell in love with Libby Kelting, Garrett, and Dev. Going into this second book I was so excited to see what Ms. Strohm had in store for them this time. As soon as I started the very first page I knew this adventure was going to be even better than the last. I mean this puts Libby and Dev in the Civil War and everything Dev knows about the Civil War comes from "Gone With the Wind" and he and Lobby together are definitely Scarlett O'Hara. Also "Gone with the Wind" happens to be one of my all time favorite book/movie. So what's not to love?
I knew right away that Stephanie Kate Strohm had a unique and talented voice. In her second novel her skill as a writer has become more defined and obvious. I found myself totally sucked into the lives and dramas of her richly sketched out characters. Although this is still a young adult novel there is a maturity to it that will make it accessible to an older crowd, and I think that this is a testament to Ms. Strohm's growth as an author. Well done Ms. Strohm, I can't wait to see where your writing goes next.
The characters are just as wonderful this time around. Libby is a more defined and solid character here which is so wonderful because how can you not love Libby? And seeing her grow like this is really awesome. Garrett is just as rumpled and nerdy as ever and how can you not like an adorable nerd? And then we have Dev, who is much more prominent in this book, who I have fallen in love with. He is the gay best friend of my dreams and I want to thank Stephanie Kate Strohm for bringing him into my life. He is everything a girl could ask for in a gay best friend. He has the most exquisite taste in clothes, a heart of gold and enough sass to set a Kardashian on edge. Dev is maybe my favorite character now, I mean I love, love, love Libby but I have always wanted a friend like Dev and there he was in black and white. He is just so fantastic that it's hard not to love him.
The story is so much fun! You learn about history in a fun interesting way, get creeped out by a ghost, meet attractive southern gentlemen and hear Dev quote Scarlett O'Hara and search for the Tarleton twins. What could be better than that? Well throw in a love triangle, couture clothing and the fight to save historic landmarks and you have a cocktail of awesome.
All in all this is a fantastic book inside and out. Stephanie Kate Strohm has done it again with her second Libby book and I can't wait for everyone to read it. Every Broadway star has to be a triple threat, they have to sing, dance and know how to act. Well a truly great book can be seen as a triple threat as well, good writing, characters you love and a story to die for. Stephanie Kate Strohm has delivered a second triple threat book to the world. And I can't wait to see what she brings us next!
"Confederates Don't Wear Couture" by Stephanie Kate Strohm comes out in June and I highly suggest that all of you loyal readers go out and pre-order yourself a copy. This second Libby book is so worth the wait and the money and I have a feeling that the next will be even better. I am really looking forward to seeing this book fly off the shelves. I will be able to recommend this book as well as "Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink" with nothing but sincerity and praise. Go forth my dear readers and dive into a world that might be lost but never forgotten, Libby and Stephanie Kate Strohm make this world come back to life!
MORE LIBBY:
Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink
