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Read for Fall Reading Challenge: Stories Past and Future

The true beauty of this book is not its first impression, but the way it lingers. I first read Palace Beautiful when I was seven or eight, during my older brother's soccer game. I remember sitting on a blanket behind my parents' lawn chairs, reading, thinking more about the green shirt I was wearing than the actual book. I've reread it every few years since then, and it hits harder each time. (As you can imagine, I had ultimate bragging rights in 2020 for knowing what the Spanish flu was before the pandemic.)
Palace Beautiful has made its mark on me, well and truly. When I write, I describe colors like the chapter titles. I think frequently about the concept of “extraness”. I have an interest in history, particularly the women's fashion of World War 1.
I've never been able to pin down this book as a favorite favorite, but it deserves a spot on this list for the sheer effect it has had on me.

In the beginning, there was nothing, no light, no dark, no air - nothing. Then, suddenly, a Great Dog as big as the universe came into being and then there was something...The dog panted and howled with loneliness. He lay his head down on one paw and fell asleep, and as he slept, his dreams leaked from his ear and spilled out over the nothingness...The entire universe spilled out of his dreams. When he woke, he howled with joy. Then there was everything.

This is a review of the trilogy as a whole.

I've got quite a lot of thoughts about these books, and they are mixed.
I loved the lighthearted humor in Carry On, and was disappointed to find it mostly* gone in Wayward Son and Any Way the Wind Blows. The tone changed completely between books. While I do love the question what happens to the characters after their big adventure ends?, I think a humorous tone would have put a unique spin on it and continued the almost-satire of Harry Potter that Carry On was.

Simon is very unlikeable to me, and he was written to be rooted for. He was fine in Carry On and awful by the end of Any Way the Wind Blows. His character development just didn't make sense to me. I completely understand the way depression** can stall you and make a mess of everything, but once he started getting better his effort to improve was illogical. The solution is neither breaking up nor weird sexual stuff.There's also a lot of inconsistencies between the books. 1. the NowNext vampires, where did they go?2. the plot irrelevancy of Agatha, Shepard, and Niamh (I loved them all, but why are they there?)3. where were the subtle mentions of the other chosen ones in Wayward Son?The trilogy would have been so much better if these had been addressed.In conclusion:Carry On worked well as a standalone. Simon & Baz were vaguely toxic in the last two books. The plot choices were weird at best. I'm not a fan of vampires. (sorry Baz, I still love you) the whole Shepard-demon-marriage plot was hilariousbasically what I mean there is that I have anxiety, depression, and adhd. I'm a walking disaster when it comes to relationships too
*** thanks but I don't need to read that. please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no please no ple

Carry On - 4/5 stars
Wayward Son - 2.5/5 stars
Any Way the Wind Blows - 2/5 stars

you guys should look up the realms of ruin nft scandal - it's hilariously awful

something tells me Ransom Riggs has not been in an American high school in twenty years. how did they get in there without IDs??? how did the grenade get through the metal detectors?? (my school doesn't have any, but I imagine schools in Brooklyn do) just. how.

read this a while back in a short-story anthology

why does everyone forget that suzanne collins has written stuff other than the hunger games?

I read this one as a kid, 5 stars for nostalgia, 3 for my rating now

that last chapter will live in my nightmares forever, I love it

hint hint nudge nudge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22lGbAVWhro

my actual opinions of this book have been summarized in a far more clear and concise way by other reviewers than I could, so go read other reviews if you like that

on a more personal note, I spent several of my childhood summers visiting my grandparents in Skagit County, taking the ferry to Whidby Island, and eating at my favorite restaurant in Fairhaven... so reading this feels like getting shot in the heart with nostalgia

I feel like I haven't processed the sheer power of this book enough to say I have read it

well that explains a lot

it is my personal belief that one queer person in a heterosexual relationship makes it like drugs for my gay, gay, brain.

I call this the Grishaverse effect??????

I read this last year but I guess I forgot to put it in????

anyways

a bit unrealistic in the sense that a person left alone on Mars for over a year would probably go a little insane

that was... an experience
I've never read anything quite like that before, and the queer rep makes me unimaginably happy about having read this

read for pride month reading challenge

ow

I recommend reading up on the Dozier School for Boys. just a note: it is very depressing

this did not go in the direction I was expecting and honestly I'm relieved

3 stars, I had no idea what was happening after the first 100 pages or so

heartening to know that I can contract Chagas in my own home /s

my friend recommended this to me and must I say, they have IMPECCABLE taste.

I may or may not have read the entire webcomic (all 180 updates) in one sitting

I read this because my holds at the library weren't ready. it was a lot better than I expected tbh

this isn't an actual review since I read it in May of last year (it is now January)

my mother is currently reading this. I haven't said anything, because I hate talking about books outside of my disgusting, old computer. this is especially uncomfortable because I know what happens at the end and she is already sad. I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING

send help

Gansey does NOT follow the US guidelines for white nose syndrome prevention

I have no idea what just happened but I'm here for it