The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Sometimes I’m glad I (literally) judge a book by its cover because I discover gems like this cover-love-purchase-that-delivered.

I have read The Room and although I liked the story, I also remember it dragged a bit (for a short book). For that I did not expect much from The Wonder despite its mysterious plot (and I do love a good mystery). There are similarities between the two books when it comes to style but for some reason I find I like this better. The author kept the number of characters to a minimum for both books which I suppose is also the reason why a lot of people complain about the seemingly overflowing monologue. That is where good writing comes. Emma Donoghue knows how to keep me engaged even with the “overflowing monologue” so 

I’m no Irish but I was born and raised in a mostly Catholic country where, in the early 90s, a teenager claimed the Virgin Mary talks to him. Although the kid in this book does not claim to witness an apparition or carry any message from the silver city, it reminded me of that hullabaloo because of the inclination of the people to blindly believe in something without proof. It’s a very controversial issue. More controversy comes in when the reason for the kid's solemn oath to fast was revealed. 

There's only so much my heart can take.

Room by Emma Donoghue

If you can get past the fact that this kid talks in metaphors but can't use definite articles properly, then this is a fairly fast read. I couldn't get over it. And I quote:

There's a few more around the whole book. I understand he wasn't raised in a proper environment but he was raised with books (albeit a limited number) and his mother corrects him when he uses the wrong words? Also maybe because they treat "door" and "wardrobe" and "toilet", etc as a person? Not a person person but a ... being. Like Door is Matt or Toilet is Andy or something so you don't have to use a ... specifier or something. Err, yea I couldn't get over it. Other than that ...

I liked the story, it's not overly complicated (the prose and storytelling, I mean, because, yes, the plot is sad and twisted) and there's a little bit of suspense in it and I said a little bit because there's really just that one part that wasn't too predictable (t's human nature so it's pretty much predictable). I guess it's the story-telling in the eyes of a 5-year old that's the hardest to do but it she pulled it.

Rating: 3 stars

New (and Old) Book Loot

Does anyone else think "Everyday Is Fully Booked Day" is dangerous? Lol. I mean, I'd love a new book a day but I'm not sure my budget will agree. And I'm not sure I'd stop at only one book. Lol. Anyhoo, so much for not buying new books unless I've read half of what I already have. Bought a few new titles last week. 

Wednesday, I got: 

1) The Coffee Shop Book Club which is a collection of short stories from various authors. This was published by the Orion Publishing Group in association with Woman&Home. Apparently buying a copy means donating £1 to Breast Cancer Care. 

2) The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt! This 700+ pager is Ms Tartt's contribution to literary fiction this decade. Heh. I didn't think I'd see this right away in Manila but glad I did. Or Anj did. Lol. I'm saving this for when I can read in an slow pace since I'm 14 books away from my goal this year.

I went back Friday and got a few more even if I haven't started on any of the stuff I got Wednesday. See what I mean about "everyday" being a dangerous thing? Lol.

 Friday I got:

1) Room by Emma Donoghue: I saw this Wednesday too but couldn't find a plastic wrapped copy. I know it's the bookstore people that wraps them but I like to fool myself into thinking I get a better deal that way LOL. 

 2) Fyre (Septimus Heap Book Seven): Finally got me a copy and I'm reading this now. This is the final installment of the Septimus Heap series. I haven't posted the reviews on the other books but I have them on Goodreads. 

 3) Dodger by Terry Pratchett: Nuff said.

 4) The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera: That blurb ... LOL!

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I've also been doing an inventory of books I have and found fairy books from those days I was obsessed with fairies! Haha! One is a mythologies book for kids (Fairies by John Malam), the other one a children's story book (Alice the Fairy by David Shannon) and the other is a Disney Fairies' Fashionable Fairies paper doll book I bought on impulse. Lol!