Just in Case

Just in Case - Meg Rosoff
Rating: 6/10
Justin Case is convinced fate has in for him.
And he's right.
After finding his younger brother teetering on the edge of his balcony, fifteen-year-old David Case realizes the fragility of life and senses impending doom. Without looking back, he changes his name to Justin and assumes a new identity, new clothing and new friends, and dares to fall in love with the seductive Agnes Day. With his imaginary dog Boy in tow, Justin struggles to fit into his new role and above all, to survive in a world where tragedy is around every corner. He's got to be prepared, just in case.


Summary by Goodreads.com


Another novel from Meg Rosoff I found all the familiar qualities of the previous novels a comforting simplicity. The book I found like its kin was a nice, easy read, something to relax and chill with, not too taxing or demanding which made the read enjoyable. With no expectations for this novel I could enjoy it as it was, another surprisingly unique piece of YA literature. With some real-life issues being addressed the book had a certain amount of depth, however I found the male lead completely jarring for his portrayal as a sex obsessed teenage boy with an almost constant foul mood.


Good Points:

• Easy read, not too demanding or intellectually challenging.
• Light hearted for the most part.

Bad Points:

• Author clearly has some deranged ideas on what a teenage boy thinks about all day :|
• Completely un-relatable characters.

Buy/Borrow/Avoid:

In general for most people, avoid, unless you're a fan of Meg Rosoff's style or enjoy YA literature. 

The Book of Loss

The Book of Loss - Julith Jedamus

Rating: 4.5/10

A renowned storyteller and lady-in-waiting to the Empress, the narrator is locked in a bitter rivalry with another woman for the love of a banished nobleman. Forced to observe the complex rules and social hierarchies of court life, she finds herself caught in a trap of her own making. Her machinations reach such a pitch that they threaten to undermine the rule of the Emperor himself.

Summary by Goodreads.com

I chose this book because I am a big fan of novels delineating asian and ancient japanese culture, however upon beginning this novel I was confronted with a vague and disarranged prologue, not the greatest start. The confusion is only cleared up after the first few chapters and only by the pretense that the prologue hadn't happened. Continuing on with the plot, of which the environment and description was praiseworthy, I found that the characters presented were unique in such a way that every flaw and malign thought were exposed, leaving a clear image of the protagonists personality. I found this refreshing, in contrast to the too often occurring mary-sue characters of more popular novels. Unsurprisingly the romance present in the book turned more tragic than winsome, the emotions of the characters were powerfully portrayed and the feeling of the protagonists continual loss, passion and jealousy were woven through the entire book. However, despite it's merits, the novel ends in an unsatisfactory and inconclusive manner, I found myself continually putting the book down for a few days even though I liked a large proportion of what I read, for that reason I can not give the book higher than a rating of 4.5/10.

Good Points:

• Beautifully descriptive
• Refreshing characters
• Exhibits emotion above expectation

Bad Points:

• Confusing start off-putting
• Inconclusive and vague ending.

Buy/Borrow/Avoid:

For most people I would not recommend the book, I found it tough to keep picking it up after putting it down so many times. Avoid.