Life's a Story: Ballads of Suburbia

Showing posts with label Ballads of Suburbia. Show all posts

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Review: Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

[Info:]

{Title} Ballads of Suburbia
{By} Stephanie Kuehnert
{Publisher} MTV Books
{Release Date} July 21st, 2009
{Pages} 368

[Description:]

Kara hasn't been back to Oak Park since the end of junior year, when a heroin overdose nearly killed her and sirens heralded her exit. Four years later, she returns to face the music. Her life changed forever back in high school: her family disintegrated, she ran around with a whole new crowd of friends, she partied a little too hard, and she fell in love with gorgeous bad-boy Adrian, who left her to die that day in Scoville Park....
Amid the music, the booze, the drugs, and the drama, her friends filled a notebook with heartbreakingly honest confessions of the moments that defined and shattered their young lives. Now, finally, Kara is ready to write her own.

[Angel's Thoughts:]

I fell in love with I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone the first time I read it, placing Stephanie Kuehnert on my life of favorite writers ever. Her right to remain on this list was confirmed with her second novel, Ballads of Suburbia.

I've gotta say, I really think I might love Ballads of Suburbia a little more than I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, mainly because I could really closely relate to Kara, the main character, probably more than any character I've ever read before. She feels real, and that's something I adore about Kuehnert's writing. Both of her books feel like they could be real, either like you're reading a memoir, or you're remembering your past or listening to a friend's story. There were definitely several parts that felt like pieces of my past. I had a few dreams that I was Kara while I was reading it. This book is that powerful. Not to mention, you laugh, cry, and actually get a little depressed once you finish reading it, because you really don't want it to end. Ballads is one of the few books to actually make me cry, and I think it's because of how similar I felt to the main character.

Ballads is right up there with my top favorite books of all time. I've said it a few times, and I'm more than willing to say it again -- Stephanie Kuehnert deserves to be a New York Times Bestseller. She's a talented writer with amazing books, and one of the authors I'll be pushing in a little upcoming project I'm going to be working on. =]

So, head out to your local bookstore or get on Amazon RIGHT NOW and purchase this book. I promise -- you will NOT regret it.

~Angel

Monday, December 21, 2009

Top Five Choices for Christmas Gifts

I figured since my comback week was Christmas week, I'd start things off for those of you that are last minute shoppers -- my Top Five Choices for Books that make AWESOME Christmas presents. Now, anyone can copy and paste the bestsellers out there just because that's something they know a lot of people buy. But I went through and picked some of my favorite novels that I consider worthy of Bestseller status and wrote why I thought they'd be great.

These are in no particular order, so don't assume I'm rating them according to which is my favorite:

1. Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink -- This book is the start to what I feel will be a spectacular series. It's filled with mystery, love, and lyrical writing, and is sure to be a favorite of anyone that reads it.

2. The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King -- One of my favorite books of all time. Perfect for those that love a good adventure. Filled with Irish history, pirates, dogs, and a world full of other things I love -- this book is even loved by boyfriends. (Mine is reading it right now and loves it!)

3. I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone and Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert -- Okay, this is TWO books, but really -- I couldn't choose between the two. I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is perfect for the punk rockers of your life, as well as anyone else. And Ballads of Suburbia is just about the most perfect book you could ask for -- it fills you with hope, makes you ball your eyes out, and really breaks your heart when you finish because you just want to keep reading. Stephanie Kuehnert is one of my favorite authors of all time. And that is REALLY saying something.

4. A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb -- This book really haunted me. The writing is beautiful, and the idea is very original. It might be my favorite book of all time, if not one of my top favorites. Either way -- this book is an ideal gift for anyone in your life.

And, last but not least --

5. Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev -- A FANTASTIC book, perfect for the theatre lovers in your life. It's another example of an ideal blend -- adventure, love, humor, heartbreak, and hope. I'm dying to read the next book in the series -- and so will whoever you give this book to.

Hoepfully, this helps you in your quest for last minute gifts for that avid reader in your life!

~Angel