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celia_thebookishhufflepuff 's review for:
Carry On
by Rainbow Rowell
Review 11/21/2024
I'm really glad I revisited this. It was exactly what I needed.
I first got back into this one because one of my wizard rock friends said they found a lot of song inspiration in this book. I wanted to see if it provided the same for me, because I want to expand my bookish songwriting as well. Within the first few chapters, I was bookmarking everything that would make good lyrics.
I love the idea of a book that's gone through so many iterations. It's based off of an obvious Harry Potter parody and a story of someone writing fanfiction for that parody, which then took on a life of its own in the Simon Snow series. That in and of itself could have so much written about it.
I'm finally going to get to [b:Wayward Son|44017627|Wayward Son (Simon Snow, #2)|Rainbow Rowell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552666477l/44017627._SY75_.jpg|62661027] in the new year! Excited for that!
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Review 6/4/2019
I did read this before, three years ago. But I don't know. At that point I think I just kind of cast this off as a Harry Potter derivative. Certainly, that's what Simon's World of Mages starts off as in [b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1355886270l/16068905._SX50_.jpg|21861351].
At first, in this read, I still felt the same way, that it was basically copying the 5th and 6th Harry Potter books. I still think there are a lot of similar elements, but [a:Rainbow Rowell|4208569|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1728591706p2/4208569.jpg] puts her own creative spin on things and creates a world that is entirely her own.
When Rowell first said in an interview that Simon and Baz were not Harry and Draco, I found that really hard to believe. However, even though there are similar elements, Baz was a far more complex character than Draco (as he was written in the books - fanfiction is another story). There's also just so much more in this world.
One thing I loved was how Rowell incorporated many elements of pop culture into this world. I can't say I've read fantasy before where Queen and Carly Rae Jepsen are still relevant, and the wizards all carry cellphones and do their work on computer. It's a really interesting take on "chosen one" fantasy, that there is still this element that is absolutely recognized in our society today.
Of course, there is also the gay piece. There isn't a lot of gay fantasy out there, or at least not a lot of mainstream stuff. [a:Rainbow Rowell|4208569|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1728591706p2/4208569.jpg] used her fame in the best way possible to create something to fill the hole. I know many people who would turn to fanfiction in order to see themselves in fantasy. [b:Carry On|32768522|Carry On (Simon Snow, #1)|Rainbow Rowell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481729252l/32768522._SX50_.jpg|43346673] is the first step into a world where that isn't the only option for LGBTQ+ people.
I had forgotten how genuinely good this book, and all of Rowell's writing, was. I am so glad there is a sequel coming out at the end of summer. I need more Simon and Baz in my life, and I'm so glad I won't have to wait too long to get it.
But Simon and Baz's relationship...SO. PURE.
I'm really glad I revisited this. It was exactly what I needed.
I first got back into this one because one of my wizard rock friends said they found a lot of song inspiration in this book. I wanted to see if it provided the same for me, because I want to expand my bookish songwriting as well. Within the first few chapters, I was bookmarking everything that would make good lyrics.
I love the idea of a book that's gone through so many iterations. It's based off of an obvious Harry Potter parody and a story of someone writing fanfiction for that parody, which then took on a life of its own in the Simon Snow series. That in and of itself could have so much written about it.
I'm finally going to get to [b:Wayward Son|44017627|Wayward Son (Simon Snow, #2)|Rainbow Rowell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552666477l/44017627._SY75_.jpg|62661027] in the new year! Excited for that!
---------------------------------
Review 6/4/2019
I did read this before, three years ago. But I don't know. At that point I think I just kind of cast this off as a Harry Potter derivative. Certainly, that's what Simon's World of Mages starts off as in [b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1355886270l/16068905._SX50_.jpg|21861351].
At first, in this read, I still felt the same way, that it was basically copying the 5th and 6th Harry Potter books. I still think there are a lot of similar elements, but [a:Rainbow Rowell|4208569|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1728591706p2/4208569.jpg] puts her own creative spin on things and creates a world that is entirely her own.
When Rowell first said in an interview that Simon and Baz were not Harry and Draco, I found that really hard to believe. However, even though there are similar elements, Baz was a far more complex character than Draco (as he was written in the books - fanfiction is another story). There's also just so much more in this world.
One thing I loved was how Rowell incorporated many elements of pop culture into this world. I can't say I've read fantasy before where Queen and Carly Rae Jepsen are still relevant, and the wizards all carry cellphones and do their work on computer. It's a really interesting take on "chosen one" fantasy, that there is still this element that is absolutely recognized in our society today.
Of course, there is also the gay piece. There isn't a lot of gay fantasy out there, or at least not a lot of mainstream stuff. [a:Rainbow Rowell|4208569|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1728591706p2/4208569.jpg] used her fame in the best way possible to create something to fill the hole. I know many people who would turn to fanfiction in order to see themselves in fantasy. [b:Carry On|32768522|Carry On (Simon Snow, #1)|Rainbow Rowell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481729252l/32768522._SX50_.jpg|43346673] is the first step into a world where that isn't the only option for LGBTQ+ people.
I had forgotten how genuinely good this book, and all of Rowell's writing, was. I am so glad there is a sequel coming out at the end of summer. I need more Simon and Baz in my life, and I'm so glad I won't have to wait too long to get it.
But Simon and Baz's relationship...SO. PURE.