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106 reviews for:
Vacations from Hell
Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Sarah Mlynowski, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson
3.32 AVERAGE
106 reviews for:
Vacations from Hell
Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Sarah Mlynowski, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson
3.32 AVERAGE
Like any book of short stories, there were hits and misses for me. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Cassandra Clare's story. In my opinion, "I don't like your girlfriend" was probably the weakest, but even it was okay. A good group of YA authors with mostly well-thought-out plot lines.
This was five short stories about bad vacations. They all had different themes. I liked four of the five, the law of subjects seemed just stupid to me. All in all they are good for a quick read, none of them overly scary, although my perspective of scary has a very high tolerance level.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
This rating is really just for The Mirror House by Cassandra Clare, because it's the only story in the anthology that I reread. I actually decluttered my copy of Vacations From Hell along with a bunch of other books way back when, but over the last couple of years I grew to regret that choice massively, since this book is now out of print. Luckily for me, I found a copy at my local secondhand bookstore yesterday and, naturally, started reading Cassandra's contribution on the drive home.
It was really interesting to read this as at almost twenty-nine when I'd first read and enjoyed the story at nineteen. What stuck with me from almost nine years ago was still great, but I think what will stick with me now isn't the symbolism that I was drawn to all those years ago, but how relatable the villain's drive to 'do evil' is.
I love a really great villain, but there is something so special when you find one that is so relatable that they no longer seem clear cut 'evil', but morally grey. Since writing The Mirror House, Cassandra Clare has really perfected writing characters who fit that bill—like everybody's bestie, Malcolm Fade—but it's still really nice to go back and read about earlier villains of hers. Mrs Anne Palmer is a great example. It's really fun to see a woman who has been wronged by men take back her power. Even when that means she literally sucks the life-force out of men. Or, perhaps, especially when that means she literally sucks the life-force out of men.
I think a lot of women can appreciate Anne's sentiment, whether you see her plainly as a villain or not. We've all seen and loved that moment in Jennifer's Body: "You're killing people." "No, I'm killing boys." Anne and Jennifer aren't that different.
I really like that Violet saw Anne's need for retribution, and instead of stopping her outright, she offered her a soul worthy of destruction in return for the safety of one wasn't. Sometimes women supporting women means offering up the lives of piece-of-shit men for the taking. I think if most women knew of a soul sucking witch who had a penchant for trapping the lives of evil-doing men in shattered mirrors, they'd likely consider sacrificing a few during their lifetimes. I'd probably entertain the idea.
I do have a bone to pick with this story though! Did Violet ever free Evan's soul from the mirror it was trapped in? If she did: cute, lovely, good for her. If not: I want more. I want a whole book. Preferably a long book. I want the dirty deets on the dutiful daughter to soul coveting, morally grey teen pipeline. I don't care that this story was released thirteen years ago, I don't care that I might be the only person who wants to read what happens after Violet sends her abusive stepfather off to have his soul consumed by a vengeful witch who lives in a rose pink house (aesthetic goals much?). If Violet followed even slightly in Anne Palmer's iconically devilish footsteps, I want to know how it plays out.
Cassandra, please, you cannot serve up a morsel like “You’re a good girl, Violet.” No, I think. That is one thing I am not” and expect me to just live on without knowing if that applies only to sending Phillip to his death, or whether she intends to keep Evan's soul hostage as well. That's just plain rude.
Overall, this was a short but fun reread, and though I can't see myself going back to it often, I'm just happy to have the book back in my collection.
It was really interesting to read this as at almost twenty-nine when I'd first read and enjoyed the story at nineteen. What stuck with me from almost nine years ago was still great, but I think what will stick with me now isn't the symbolism that I was drawn to all those years ago, but how relatable the villain's drive to 'do evil' is.
“She is not a good woman. She likes the strong ones and the pretty, young ones. She takes them and then they never come back.”
I love a really great villain, but there is something so special when you find one that is so relatable that they no longer seem clear cut 'evil', but morally grey. Since writing The Mirror House, Cassandra Clare has really perfected writing characters who fit that bill—like everybody's bestie, Malcolm Fade—but it's still really nice to go back and read about earlier villains of hers. Mrs Anne Palmer is a great example. It's really fun to see a woman who has been wronged by men take back her power. Even when that means she literally sucks the life-force out of men. Or, perhaps, especially when that means she literally sucks the life-force out of men.
“That is how men are. They take the love you give them and they twist it until it becomes a stick to beat you with.” She glances at the club in her hand; her look is vicious. “Tell me I have no right to even the score, Violet. Tell me you wouldn’t do the same in my place. Men are a curse on women’s lives and you know it.”
I think a lot of women can appreciate Anne's sentiment, whether you see her plainly as a villain or not. We've all seen and loved that moment in Jennifer's Body: "You're killing people." "No, I'm killing boys." Anne and Jennifer aren't that different.
I really like that Violet saw Anne's need for retribution, and instead of stopping her outright, she offered her a soul worthy of destruction in return for the safety of one wasn't. Sometimes women supporting women means offering up the lives of piece-of-shit men for the taking. I think if most women knew of a soul sucking witch who had a penchant for trapping the lives of evil-doing men in shattered mirrors, they'd likely consider sacrificing a few during their lifetimes. I'd probably entertain the idea.
I do have a bone to pick with this story though! Did Violet ever free Evan's soul from the mirror it was trapped in? If she did: cute, lovely, good for her. If not: I want more. I want a whole book. Preferably a long book. I want the dirty deets on the dutiful daughter to soul coveting, morally grey teen pipeline. I don't care that this story was released thirteen years ago, I don't care that I might be the only person who wants to read what happens after Violet sends her abusive stepfather off to have his soul consumed by a vengeful witch who lives in a rose pink house (aesthetic goals much?). If Violet followed even slightly in Anne Palmer's iconically devilish footsteps, I want to know how it plays out.
Cassandra, please, you cannot serve up a morsel like “You’re a good girl, Violet.” No, I think. That is one thing I am not” and expect me to just live on without knowing if that applies only to sending Phillip to his death, or whether she intends to keep Evan's soul hostage as well. That's just plain rude.
Overall, this was a short but fun reread, and though I can't see myself going back to it often, I'm just happy to have the book back in my collection.
Loved all the stories from this collection. The last one was probably the most fucked up, though. Damn.
STORY #1
Cruisin' by Sarah Mlynowski
Casual and short story. Likeable but nothing out of the ordinary. Theme is vampire attacks on a cruise ships. Author has nicely captured carelessnes of high school kids. 3 stars
STORY #2
I Don't Like Your Girlfriend by Claudia Gray
Pretty cool story. Even though it is a short story it has certain depth to the plot and the characters. Straighforward and enjoyable read. Witches and familly relations theme. I wouldn mind reading more stories about these characters. Mother daughter relationship seemed cool and interesting. 4 stars
STORY #3
The Law of Suspects by Maureen Johnson
This is the weirdest and the best story so far. I like the suspense theme where you can never know who to believe and must make a choice of truth from what you have. I liked the style of the story and will probably try to read more of this author. 5 stars
STORY #4
The Mirror House by Cassandra Clare
Drakly intriguing and rather dramatic.Authors love for golden boys and barely there incestuous conotations come to mind. 4 stars on the account of drama flare.
STORY #5
Nowhere is Safe by Libba Bray
Ghost story and dark forces theme. Aside the few really annoying proof sentences that Americans are totally clueless about European geography it was an interesting read. 3 stars
Cruisin' by Sarah Mlynowski
Casual and short story. Likeable but nothing out of the ordinary. Theme is vampire attacks on a cruise ships. Author has nicely captured carelessnes of high school kids. 3 stars
STORY #2
I Don't Like Your Girlfriend by Claudia Gray
Pretty cool story. Even though it is a short story it has certain depth to the plot and the characters. Straighforward and enjoyable read. Witches and familly relations theme. I wouldn mind reading more stories about these characters. Mother daughter relationship seemed cool and interesting. 4 stars
STORY #3
The Law of Suspects by Maureen Johnson
This is the weirdest and the best story so far. I like the suspense theme where you can never know who to believe and must make a choice of truth from what you have. I liked the style of the story and will probably try to read more of this author. 5 stars
STORY #4
The Mirror House by Cassandra Clare
Drakly intriguing and rather dramatic.Authors love for golden boys and barely there incestuous conotations come to mind. 4 stars on the account of drama flare.
STORY #5
Nowhere is Safe by Libba Bray
Ghost story and dark forces theme. Aside the few really annoying proof sentences that Americans are totally clueless about European geography it was an interesting read. 3 stars
3.5 stars. The first story is weak, but the rest are pretty good.
A mixed bag of stories involving supernatural elements. Some good, some not so good, one even freaked me out a bit. Ok as a time filler whilst waiting for my next big book to arrive.
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Podobało mi się że mogłam czylać historie w perspektywy różnych osób które normalnie piszą dlugie książki. Te książki są czasami nie dla wszystkich wiec czytanie łatwych i krótkich histori pozwala na poznanie jak oni piszą i czego można sie spodziewać z ich książek.