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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book. It practically gave a shout out to all us introverts out there that thrive off of the internet, and who have found themselves a place where they belonged. I loved all the characters, and how detailed they were. I adored Wallace and Eliza's relationship. It was so adorable to read about their awkward and quirky relationship! I also cherished the plot of the story. And you all know I am a sucker for those plots!
Read the rest of my book review at https://caylasbooktopia.wordpress.com/2017/07/14/book-review-eliza-and-her-monsters/
Read the rest of my book review at https://caylasbooktopia.wordpress.com/2017/07/14/book-review-eliza-and-her-monsters/
Oh boy this book made me ugly cry.
In a good way.
Is that a thing?
Am I a weirdo for liking it when books can make me cry?
I don't cry easily, so it says something for a book to resonate strongly enough to evoke that response in me.
Is this even a review?
Am I doing this right?
Idk. Probably not.
But what I DO know is that I'm deep in my feels right now and it's all this book's fault.
Here, have some quotes I liked:
"Who isn’t obsessed with the things they create, they love? Ideas are the asexual reproduction of the mind."
"That computer is my rabbit hole; the internet is my wonderland. I am only allowed to fall into it when it doesn’t matter if I get lost."
"He has dimples. Sweet Jesus, dimples. I want to stick my fingers in them."
"Creating art is a lonely task, which is why we introverts revel in it."
"Oh god, a winky face. The most provocative of all emoticons."
"I like being invisible, not having someone look at me like I should be."
In a good way.
Is that a thing?
Am I a weirdo for liking it when books can make me cry?
I don't cry easily, so it says something for a book to resonate strongly enough to evoke that response in me.
Is this even a review?
Am I doing this right?
Idk. Probably not.
But what I DO know is that I'm deep in my feels right now and it's all this book's fault.
Here, have some quotes I liked:
"Who isn’t obsessed with the things they create, they love? Ideas are the asexual reproduction of the mind."
"That computer is my rabbit hole; the internet is my wonderland. I am only allowed to fall into it when it doesn’t matter if I get lost."
"He has dimples. Sweet Jesus, dimples. I want to stick my fingers in them."
"Creating art is a lonely task, which is why we introverts revel in it."
"Oh god, a winky face. The most provocative of all emoticons."
"I like being invisible, not having someone look at me like I should be."
Loved loved loved. The author depicts social anxiety so well and I loved the glances we get at Eliza's comic series.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5 Stars
I just can't get over how well this book portrays content creators and fandoms
Original Review 07/24/17:
Have you ever finished a book and then immediately wanted to pick it up again and start over?
(It's the kind of book one can easily read in one sitting so I may just do that)
This is not the best book I've ever read. The writing is not the most poetic, the characters are not the most compelling, and the plot is not the most life changing. What this book is however, at least for me, is real. My high school experience was light years apart from Eliza's, yet I still resonated with her on almost every page. The fandom aspect rang true, both as a fan and as a content creator. The emotion of this book was quieter, more subtle than most, but still hit in meaningful ways.
This book is a love letter to fandom, and as a girl who has been actively involved in fandom since I was 13, I am grateful.
4.5/5 stars.
Some pretty excellent stuff here, though I felt it could have used another couple of chapters toward the end to resolve the plot and wrap things up as it just moved a little too quickly. I'm not explaining this terribly well, but something about this book just reeled me in and won't let go. But don't just take my word for it. Go. Read it for yourself. Enjoy it.
I just can't get over how well this book portrays content creators and fandoms
Original Review 07/24/17:
Have you ever finished a book and then immediately wanted to pick it up again and start over?
(It's the kind of book one can easily read in one sitting so I may just do that)
This is not the best book I've ever read. The writing is not the most poetic, the characters are not the most compelling, and the plot is not the most life changing. What this book is however, at least for me, is real. My high school experience was light years apart from Eliza's, yet I still resonated with her on almost every page. The fandom aspect rang true, both as a fan and as a content creator. The emotion of this book was quieter, more subtle than most, but still hit in meaningful ways.
This book is a love letter to fandom, and as a girl who has been actively involved in fandom since I was 13, I am grateful.
4.5/5 stars.
Some pretty excellent stuff here, though I felt it could have used another couple of chapters toward the end to resolve the plot and wrap things up as it just moved a little too quickly. I'm not explaining this terribly well, but something about this book just reeled me in and won't let go. But don't just take my word for it. Go. Read it for yourself. Enjoy it.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very cute story that appealed to my inner teenager, but felt unpolished and left something to be desired.
Honestly, I really wanted to like this book, and I think I might have if Eliza was more likeable. As a writer myself, most of her personality is very relatable. But in the first 40 pages, she's just so down and she is horrible to her parents and seems to hate everyone and everything. Reading it puts me in the most depressive, lethargic mood and I couldn't wait to stop reading it. I hate that, especially since I have my own fair share of mental health issues and know some people probably feel the same about me. Maybe it's because of my own issues that I simply can't stay in the headspace of such a negative character. Maybe that's what the author wanted, and I'm just not the right audience for the book. The story isn't bad, the writing isn't bad. But the main character has a demeanor about her that makes it very hard to enjoy seeing things through her POV, and for that reason alone I had to DNF this one.
Readers should expect a fresh perspective on life in the comical and heart wrenching wonder that is Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia. Eliza Mirk is a nobody in person, no friends, weird, never talks. Eliza Mirk is a legend online, or at least her web comic Monstrous Sea, written under the name LadyConstellation is. No one knows except online and Eliza likes it that way, that is until Wallace Warland transfers in to her school. Wallace Warland is Monstrous Sea's most popular fanfiction writer, and now the most important person in Eliza's life, just one problem, she has no intention of telling him who she is. This book took me completely by surprise. I was expecting a typical YA novel with a little romance thrown in to it. What I got was a beautiful story about excepting your identity and preparing for your future. Francesca Zappia created extremely interesting round characters that grow throughout the whole book. The emotions of these characters just blew me away and felt so real and at one point even made me cry. I would highly, highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially young adults as this book will really resonate with them. This is the link to my full review https://bookswithbeccabarer.blogspot.com/2017/07/eliza-and-her-monsters-by-francesca.html
GAH!!!!
I just finished this a few minutes ago and have been struck dumb by the sheer brilliance of this story. I was afraid that I would be disappointed. But, man...I am in awe.
It has been a long time since I've felt this way about a book. It's been a long time since I wished a book didn't have to end. And that's pretty crazy considering the emotional depth of Eliza and Her Monsters. But I was captivated. Consumed. Enthralled.
To be honest, I didn't expect it to feel this way. I can't even put it all into words. I loved Eliza. She's so alive in a way that most characters strive for but always fall short of. I related to many aspects of how she felt about herself and the world around her. And at times, I felt absolutely gutted by how she perceived herself. She really took flight when Wallace came into the picture. I could see a change in her. She still held back, but she was opening up to someone in person. And that was HUGE.
I'm not going to lie---I was frustrated by her actions at times, too. I hated that she couldn't/wouldn't tell Wallace the truth. ESPECIALLY AFTER HE OPENED UP TO HER!!! I tried to see it from her point of view, but, it's difficult unless you have the same mindset. She didn't grasp how her lack of honesty could affect someone she cared about. And when it all came crashing down...well, that was almost unbearable.
This is where the story gets tough. Brutal and honest. No less gripping, though. As Eliza tries to deal with her monsters alone, it's clear to readers that she needs outside help. There's more going on than she is even aware of. Reading it was hard enough, so I cannot imagine living it. I wanted to go into the book and hug her. Or beg her to talk to someone. There's a scene at the end (which I won't spoil) that had my stomach lurching. I was so afraid that my fears about Eliza would come to fruition. And I didn't know how I'd handle that kind of ending. Because by now, she was MY friend.
This story is poignant. Something that's incredibly important and should be experienced by all. The formatting: the comics, IMs, texts, notes, etc. are just an added bonus. And they often added humorous elements. I really loved every character from Eliza to Wallace to Em to Max---even Sully and Church grew on me by the end! The family dynamic plays a huge part in the story. Eliza and Her Monsters is an outstanding look at mental health/illness. Not only in showing us from the affected person's point of view, but also the perspectives of loved ones. Easily the best book I've read so far in 2017, I have no doubt it will remain in the top 5 by December.
I just finished this a few minutes ago and have been struck dumb by the sheer brilliance of this story. I was afraid that I would be disappointed. But, man...I am in awe.
It has been a long time since I've felt this way about a book. It's been a long time since I wished a book didn't have to end. And that's pretty crazy considering the emotional depth of Eliza and Her Monsters. But I was captivated. Consumed. Enthralled.
To be honest, I didn't expect it to feel this way. I can't even put it all into words. I loved Eliza. She's so alive in a way that most characters strive for but always fall short of. I related to many aspects of how she felt about herself and the world around her. And at times, I felt absolutely gutted by how she perceived herself. She really took flight when Wallace came into the picture. I could see a change in her. She still held back, but she was opening up to someone in person. And that was HUGE.
I'm not going to lie---I was frustrated by her actions at times, too. I hated that she couldn't/wouldn't tell Wallace the truth. ESPECIALLY AFTER HE OPENED UP TO HER!!! I tried to see it from her point of view, but, it's difficult unless you have the same mindset. She didn't grasp how her lack of honesty could affect someone she cared about. And when it all came crashing down...well, that was almost unbearable.
This is where the story gets tough. Brutal and honest. No less gripping, though. As Eliza tries to deal with her monsters alone, it's clear to readers that she needs outside help. There's more going on than she is even aware of. Reading it was hard enough, so I cannot imagine living it. I wanted to go into the book and hug her. Or beg her to talk to someone. There's a scene at the end (which I won't spoil) that had my stomach lurching. I was so afraid that my fears about Eliza would come to fruition. And I didn't know how I'd handle that kind of ending. Because by now, she was MY friend.
This story is poignant. Something that's incredibly important and should be experienced by all. The formatting: the comics, IMs, texts, notes, etc. are just an added bonus. And they often added humorous elements. I really loved every character from Eliza to Wallace to Em to Max---even Sully and Church grew on me by the end! The family dynamic plays a huge part in the story. Eliza and Her Monsters is an outstanding look at mental health/illness. Not only in showing us from the affected person's point of view, but also the perspectives of loved ones. Easily the best book I've read so far in 2017, I have no doubt it will remain in the top 5 by December.