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A review by cgreaderbee
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
3.0
[a:Rainbow Rowell|4208569|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1342324527p2/4208569.jpg] certainly has a way with words ... and romances.
“Sharing a room with the person you want most is like sharing a room with an open fire.
He's constantly drawing you in. And you're constantly stepping too close. And you know it's not good--that there is no good--that there's absolutely nothing that can ever come of it.
But you do it anyway.
And then...
Well. Then you burn.”
The beginning of this book is a little hard to get through, especially as an avid Harry Potter fan. If you don't already know, in another of Rowell's books -[b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] - the main character Cath writes fan fiction on the wildly popular Simon Snow series, which is equatable in our world to the Harry Potter series. Carry On is Rowell's desire to actually bring Simon Snow's story to the surface. The beginning of this novel is the most uncomfortable in its similarities to Harry Potter & Hogwarts. There's the magical school Watford (Hogwarts), run by the powerful headmaster The Mage (Dumbledore). There's discord between the magical world, split essentially between Purebloods and Mudbloods, for lack of better phrasing. Plus, there's a friendly groundskeeper, I mean goatherd, Ebb (Hagrid).
But, for what it's worth, the story branches away from all the similarities that formed the groundwork and includes its own unique plot and character development. It challenges the concept of The Chosen One, and shows that prophecies aren't always what they seem.
Some positives:
- The writing & pacing. The sentences and lines read quickly and flow nicely. The paragraphs and chapters were pretty short, making the book a literal page-turner.
- POV & perspective. We got a sampling of nearly every character's POV; while Simon & Baz were my favorites, I still think the others added a unique flare to the bigger story.
- The slow-burn. From enemies to more. Simon & Baz do not disappoint.
- Snark, wit, and banter.
- Smart and caring friends like Penelope. Courageous and unexpected goatherd friends like Ebb.
- Vampires and mystery and spirits that return wanting their killers brought to justice.
Some negatives:
- As mentioned above, the awkward Harry Potter similarities.
- The magic system was rather wimpy and weak and didn't make a lot of sense, but I don't believe magic was the point of the story anyway...
- The Insidious Humdrum. Could there not have been a better name for this?? I hated having to read this word repeatedly.
- The confusing and seemingly random 'Lucy' chapters that I had to go back and read through at the end to make sure I understood.
- Agatha was the worst. Simon and Penny should just give up on her. Clearly she just wants to live a Normal life with her vapid, magic-less friends. Let her go; I'd gladly take her place.
While I know some other readers weren't a fan, I would still recommend this book, especially if you have previously fallen for Rowell's writing.
“Does it have to be fatal every time? The biting? Couldn't you just drink some of a person's blood, then walk away?"
"I can't believe you're asking me this, Snow. You, who can't walk away from half a sandwich.”
“Sharing a room with the person you want most is like sharing a room with an open fire.
He's constantly drawing you in. And you're constantly stepping too close. And you know it's not good--that there is no good--that there's absolutely nothing that can ever come of it.
But you do it anyway.
And then...
Well. Then you burn.”
The beginning of this book is a little hard to get through, especially as an avid Harry Potter fan. If you don't already know, in another of Rowell's books -[b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] - the main character Cath writes fan fiction on the wildly popular Simon Snow series, which is equatable in our world to the Harry Potter series. Carry On is Rowell's desire to actually bring Simon Snow's story to the surface. The beginning of this novel is the most uncomfortable in its similarities to Harry Potter & Hogwarts. There's the magical school Watford (Hogwarts), run by the powerful headmaster The Mage (Dumbledore). There's discord between the magical world, split essentially between Purebloods and Mudbloods, for lack of better phrasing. Plus, there's a friendly groundskeeper, I mean goatherd, Ebb (Hagrid).
But, for what it's worth, the story branches away from all the similarities that formed the groundwork and includes its own unique plot and character development. It challenges the concept of The Chosen One, and shows that prophecies aren't always what they seem.
Some positives:
- The writing & pacing. The sentences and lines read quickly and flow nicely. The paragraphs and chapters were pretty short, making the book a literal page-turner.
- POV & perspective. We got a sampling of nearly every character's POV; while Simon & Baz were my favorites, I still think the others added a unique flare to the bigger story.
- The slow-burn. From enemies to more. Simon & Baz do not disappoint.
- Snark, wit, and banter.
- Smart and caring friends like Penelope. Courageous and unexpected goatherd friends like Ebb.
- Vampires and mystery and spirits that return wanting their killers brought to justice.
Some negatives:
- As mentioned above, the awkward Harry Potter similarities.
- The magic system was rather wimpy and weak and didn't make a lot of sense, but I don't believe magic was the point of the story anyway...
- The Insidious Humdrum. Could there not have been a better name for this?? I hated having to read this word repeatedly.
- The confusing and seemingly random 'Lucy' chapters that I had to go back and read through at the end to make sure I understood.
- Agatha was the worst. Simon and Penny should just give up on her. Clearly she just wants to live a Normal life with her vapid, magic-less friends. Let her go; I'd gladly take her place.
While I know some other readers weren't a fan, I would still recommend this book, especially if you have previously fallen for Rowell's writing.
“Does it have to be fatal every time? The biting? Couldn't you just drink some of a person's blood, then walk away?"
"I can't believe you're asking me this, Snow. You, who can't walk away from half a sandwich.”