/Exhales. This took me at least two weeks to write. IT BETTER BE GOOD. (It probably won't make sense, though.)
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities. (Guess what? I didn't write this. But that's not the surprise. No, the surprise is that Goodreads.com wrote it.)
Although I am considered to be a compulsive liar by all of those who know me, I regard lying as pursuit that is both morally and physically wrong. Therefore, I will do my very best not to lie in the following review. On that note, the following facts in this review are almost guaranteed to include some form of fib. Now, when I first heard of The Name of the Star, I was curled up in a corner that people normally reserve for hobos or the depressed. It was rather quiet in this corner of the world, the only living creature within miles were the black birds that usually follow hobos and the depressed in order to pick of their belongings and or gloomy atmosphere. After hearing of the details of this book, I let out a laugh that diminished both the black birds peace and the gloomy atmosphere within the space of a few seconds. However, that high pitched laugh was not one of mirth, but one of sheer terror. Maureen Johnson writing a series book in itself it hardly frightening, but Maureen Johnson writing a book on Jack the Ripper sends shivers down my spine. Something buried deep in the chaos of my head was yelling an alarm, warning me that it would not in fact be a murdered responsible for the crimes, but a rogue hamster with a horn. Why I thought this has long since left me, but I do remember resolving to buy the book, for the simple reason that Maureen Johnson wrote it, and it is thus automatically awesome.
Before one even questions the awesomeness of this book, the one who even thought of suggesting that this book was not awesome needs to stand up, leave the room and go to a place where they can wash their mouths and minds out with soap and water. The Name of the Star is indeed an awesome book, possibly the most enjoyable book I read in the time where I was confined to my corner of squawking, hiding from the gloomy atmosphere that lurked nearby. I eluded capture from the gloomy atmosphere that loomed outside, however, it seemed all for naught. There was a small piece of gloomy atmosphere, glaring at me all along, its smug eyes staring up at me from where I set the book down. Inside the sanctuary of my corner, was The Name of the Star. The Name of the Star may include gloomy atmosphere, but that’s only a part of the perfectly tailored atmosphere that the book treasured. The atmosphere adapted to whatever it needed to be, whenever it was needed. Amusing, alcohol driven school life hijinks? The Atmosphere has got its deck chair out, and is sampling an acidic yellow beverage with a giant idiotic smile on its face. Oh, no, some poor person has been murdered on the school green and our protagonist saw a suspicious man! What to do, what to do? The Atmosphere is looking over you, intense and sinister. Jack the Ripper wants to dismember and kill the main character in a horrible, painful way? Oh, The Atmosphere isn’t going to help, but it is definitely going to provide the fear, the suspense and tension. (But you have to buy your own popcorn.) Whatever the situation required, the atmosphere was fully equipped to make said situation awesome.
But it was not the atmosphere and its hills of shiny equipment, that made this book awesome. What was it? Because, in addition to having a great atmosphere, The Name of the Star is also fabulously written. Rory, as an excellent, quirky, strong character spins a fittingly strong, excellent, quirky narrative. Tremendously gripping, it felt very natural. More natural than the word ‘tremendously’ will ever feel on someone’s tongue, and just as quite as expressive. Since ‘tremendous’ feels like a firework trying to escape from a dentists appointment (but to no avail, of course), you will now imagine, along with the image of a firework unwillingly undergoing a root cannel, that this book’s narrative is, among other things, emotive enough to make the scene feel lively, but not overly so that it made me feel like I was drowning in a sea of teenage angst. No, because if I drown, then I’m taking the humour with me. Then that would be lost to the world, which would be a shame, as it was spot on, with its oddness and its alligators. It prevented the book from turning into a terrified, paranoid wreck that sat in the corner and made irrelevant comments on the end of the world. Speaking of which, the tension and the paranoia were built up perfectly, and maintained very well for the most part. Like the garden of mushrooms that the terrified, paranoid wreck is cultivating in its corner. I suppose I should also mention that somewhat akin to the garden of mushrooms being positively cultivated above is the pacing (which lost no time in boasting the fact that it will be faster than I will ever be, only stopping to allow me periods of time where I would sob at my own feeble speed or curl up in a ball and make terrified comments about the events of the novel. It often laughed at me while I did this.) and the execution of the novel (which, all mortifying puns I could make aside was also fabulous. More exciting, smartly woven events were skilfully placed onto the table than money at an antiques auction.). The romance also did well to alleviate the tension, but didn't detract from the plot. It was like the acidic yellow spots that lie on the top of the well cultivated mushrooms.
Now, all of the positive energy that’s leaking out of the above paragraphs is beginning to make this dreary little corner practically radiant. Can’t have that, can’t have that now. Anyhow, to deter the cheery atmosphere from growing, I shall now mention some of this book’s flaws. Unfortunately, it has some, but they don’t really matter, because (as you should know by now) this book is awesome. Alright, you know that fantastic atmosphere I mentioned? Yes, well, sometimes, it just disappeared. This was to be expected; the excellent job it did blanketing the story and enhancing its already great features must have been taxing, and it was entitled to a few breaks, I suppose. But nonetheless, it’s rather jarring when the previous scene was tense and sinister, but the current scene (the introduction of the ghosts scene/part/THING is a particular offender) is so carefree it could be inserted into a Malory Towers book and nobody would notice the difference. However, it’s not particularly noticeable in the long run, and it does help to balance out the book; it would be truly tragic if the book went from fairly innocent school story to paranormal, sinister murder mystery. But thankfully, it doesn’t.
On the more personal side of today’s nitpick, the whole ghost story aspect of the novel didn’t really sit with me well, not at first at least. Although seeing ghosts after a near death-experience is an interesting concept, and it was certainly was done well, but just the ghost’s presence felt rather … lazy to me. Previously, there had been this amazing, intriguing crime story, and instead of resolving that it was actually so and so (and by so and so I mean the main character’s best friend, because that would amuse me.), it is revealed that it is a ghost doing this. To me, at least, this revelation didn’t quite fit in with the tone. Like some genius had just injected giant squid monsters into a Sarah Dessen book. However, after having read it a … couple of times, I can’t really hate it. It was a unique take of ghost stories, and ghost busters and other related things.
Why, all of my efforts to resurrect the gloomy atmosphere seem to have been for naught (and have left me rather exhausted to boot.), for I still have a few positive things to say. Why, you ask? Well, the answer lies in your heart, or your short time memory. No, no, no, it is not that I am mad and am currently sitting in a mental institution, chained to the wall with machines pumping enough sedatives into me to send an elephant into hibernation. No, no, no. The answer is that this book is awesome. And while the answer to that question still eludes me, I do believe that the characters may have had something to do with it. Indeed, Rory was a brilliant lead, humorous and fun, yet strong and noble, she came straight from the USA with her brain and spine in check and she definitely wasn’t afraid to use them. However, she wasn’t entirely inaccessible, as she too was frightened by the horrible events that were conspiring around her. Jazza and Jerome were fairly interesting fodder as well; the self-depreciating every-girl who has the brains to choose the right alcohol but not the capacity to contain it, and the delightfully strange, unnervingly well-informed, curly haired love interest are at the same time common stereotypes and something completely different. However, they were not the main event. Neither were Boo, Callum, or Stephen, who were just as men-in-sparkly-tights fabulous. (Today’s meaning of MISTF denotes that the characters were all tremendously well-developed and terribly interesting have around.) Boo was amusing, a stereo-type that seems to have nested itself in the people around me, and while I find this terrifying, she was still an intriguing character even if she could be buried in the amount of times she said ‘yeah’ after a sentence. Callum was loud and boisterous, snarky and brave, but I am sorry to inform you that his ego couldn’t be contained within his head and splattered over the pages of the book. Stephen, whom I adored for mostly unexplained reason, was a young policeman with a tragic backstory and a penchant for being the most huggable character in the series due to attitude/poor luck/other stuff. Come here, Stephen, let me give you a hug, I promise I’m not a criminal. Speaking of criminals, the antagonist of this novel is one of the most despicable sort; one that aspires to sympathetic. WELL, MR.NEWMAN, YOU ARE ANYTHING BUT. I haven’t hated a character so much for such a long time; he was a really effective and interesting as villains go.
Well, it appears that we have approached the end, and no it is my solemn duty to reveal why this book is awesome, for those of you who care. Those people have a headcount of 0.5, and have all been recently released from Hell, but they at least have some idea about why this book is awesome. It is not because of one mere detail, no; it is because of all the mere details that were meticulously woven into this book. This book is awesome because it is full of awesome things. And if one wants a list of those awesome things, then they haven’t been paying attention. Paying attention or no, I recommend that you go and buy a copy of this book. The only reason, my dear, is one that you know well. No, no, no, it is not because I am mad and need my medication, it is because THIS BOOK IS AWESOME.
Thanks to HarperCollins for sending me a copy to review.
★★★★★
... I really ought to find a synonym for awesome.
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities. (Guess what? I didn't write this. But that's not the surprise. No, the surprise is that Goodreads.com wrote it.)Although I am considered to be a compulsive liar by all of those who know me, I regard lying as pursuit that is both morally and physically wrong. Therefore, I will do my very best not to lie in the following review. On that note, the following facts in this review are almost guaranteed to include some form of fib. Now, when I first heard of The Name of the Star, I was curled up in a corner that people normally reserve for hobos or the depressed. It was rather quiet in this corner of the world, the only living creature within miles were the black birds that usually follow hobos and the depressed in order to pick of their belongings and or gloomy atmosphere. After hearing of the details of this book, I let out a laugh that diminished both the black birds peace and the gloomy atmosphere within the space of a few seconds. However, that high pitched laugh was not one of mirth, but one of sheer terror. Maureen Johnson writing a series book in itself it hardly frightening, but Maureen Johnson writing a book on Jack the Ripper sends shivers down my spine. Something buried deep in the chaos of my head was yelling an alarm, warning me that it would not in fact be a murdered responsible for the crimes, but a rogue hamster with a horn. Why I thought this has long since left me, but I do remember resolving to buy the book, for the simple reason that Maureen Johnson wrote it, and it is thus automatically awesome.
Before one even questions the awesomeness of this book, the one who even thought of suggesting that this book was not awesome needs to stand up, leave the room and go to a place where they can wash their mouths and minds out with soap and water. The Name of the Star is indeed an awesome book, possibly the most enjoyable book I read in the time where I was confined to my corner of squawking, hiding from the gloomy atmosphere that lurked nearby. I eluded capture from the gloomy atmosphere that loomed outside, however, it seemed all for naught. There was a small piece of gloomy atmosphere, glaring at me all along, its smug eyes staring up at me from where I set the book down. Inside the sanctuary of my corner, was The Name of the Star. The Name of the Star may include gloomy atmosphere, but that’s only a part of the perfectly tailored atmosphere that the book treasured. The atmosphere adapted to whatever it needed to be, whenever it was needed. Amusing, alcohol driven school life hijinks? The Atmosphere has got its deck chair out, and is sampling an acidic yellow beverage with a giant idiotic smile on its face. Oh, no, some poor person has been murdered on the school green and our protagonist saw a suspicious man! What to do, what to do? The Atmosphere is looking over you, intense and sinister. Jack the Ripper wants to dismember and kill the main character in a horrible, painful way? Oh, The Atmosphere isn’t going to help, but it is definitely going to provide the fear, the suspense and tension. (But you have to buy your own popcorn.) Whatever the situation required, the atmosphere was fully equipped to make said situation awesome.
But it was not the atmosphere and its hills of shiny equipment, that made this book awesome. What was it? Because, in addition to having a great atmosphere, The Name of the Star is also fabulously written. Rory, as an excellent, quirky, strong character spins a fittingly strong, excellent, quirky narrative. Tremendously gripping, it felt very natural. More natural than the word ‘tremendously’ will ever feel on someone’s tongue, and just as quite as expressive. Since ‘tremendous’ feels like a firework trying to escape from a dentists appointment (but to no avail, of course), you will now imagine, along with the image of a firework unwillingly undergoing a root cannel, that this book’s narrative is, among other things, emotive enough to make the scene feel lively, but not overly so that it made me feel like I was drowning in a sea of teenage angst. No, because if I drown, then I’m taking the humour with me. Then that would be lost to the world, which would be a shame, as it was spot on, with its oddness and its alligators. It prevented the book from turning into a terrified, paranoid wreck that sat in the corner and made irrelevant comments on the end of the world. Speaking of which, the tension and the paranoia were built up perfectly, and maintained very well for the most part. Like the garden of mushrooms that the terrified, paranoid wreck is cultivating in its corner. I suppose I should also mention that somewhat akin to the garden of mushrooms being positively cultivated above is the pacing (which lost no time in boasting the fact that it will be faster than I will ever be, only stopping to allow me periods of time where I would sob at my own feeble speed or curl up in a ball and make terrified comments about the events of the novel. It often laughed at me while I did this.) and the execution of the novel (which, all mortifying puns I could make aside was also fabulous. More exciting, smartly woven events were skilfully placed onto the table than money at an antiques auction.). The romance also did well to alleviate the tension, but didn't detract from the plot. It was like the acidic yellow spots that lie on the top of the well cultivated mushrooms.
Now, all of the positive energy that’s leaking out of the above paragraphs is beginning to make this dreary little corner practically radiant. Can’t have that, can’t have that now. Anyhow, to deter the cheery atmosphere from growing, I shall now mention some of this book’s flaws. Unfortunately, it has some, but they don’t really matter, because (as you should know by now) this book is awesome. Alright, you know that fantastic atmosphere I mentioned? Yes, well, sometimes, it just disappeared. This was to be expected; the excellent job it did blanketing the story and enhancing its already great features must have been taxing, and it was entitled to a few breaks, I suppose. But nonetheless, it’s rather jarring when the previous scene was tense and sinister, but the current scene (the introduction of the ghosts scene/part/THING is a particular offender) is so carefree it could be inserted into a Malory Towers book and nobody would notice the difference. However, it’s not particularly noticeable in the long run, and it does help to balance out the book; it would be truly tragic if the book went from fairly innocent school story to paranormal, sinister murder mystery. But thankfully, it doesn’t.
On the more personal side of today’s nitpick, the whole ghost story aspect of the novel didn’t really sit with me well, not at first at least. Although seeing ghosts after a near death-experience is an interesting concept, and it was certainly was done well, but just the ghost’s presence felt rather … lazy to me. Previously, there had been this amazing, intriguing crime story, and instead of resolving that it was actually so and so (and by so and so I mean the main character’s best friend, because that would amuse me.), it is revealed that it is a ghost doing this. To me, at least, this revelation didn’t quite fit in with the tone. Like some genius had just injected giant squid monsters into a Sarah Dessen book. However, after having read it a … couple of times, I can’t really hate it. It was a unique take of ghost stories, and ghost busters and other related things.
Why, all of my efforts to resurrect the gloomy atmosphere seem to have been for naught (and have left me rather exhausted to boot.), for I still have a few positive things to say. Why, you ask? Well, the answer lies in your heart, or your short time memory. No, no, no, it is not that I am mad and am currently sitting in a mental institution, chained to the wall with machines pumping enough sedatives into me to send an elephant into hibernation. No, no, no. The answer is that this book is awesome. And while the answer to that question still eludes me, I do believe that the characters may have had something to do with it. Indeed, Rory was a brilliant lead, humorous and fun, yet strong and noble, she came straight from the USA with her brain and spine in check and she definitely wasn’t afraid to use them. However, she wasn’t entirely inaccessible, as she too was frightened by the horrible events that were conspiring around her. Jazza and Jerome were fairly interesting fodder as well; the self-depreciating every-girl who has the brains to choose the right alcohol but not the capacity to contain it, and the delightfully strange, unnervingly well-informed, curly haired love interest are at the same time common stereotypes and something completely different. However, they were not the main event. Neither were Boo, Callum, or Stephen, who were just as men-in-sparkly-tights fabulous. (Today’s meaning of MISTF denotes that the characters were all tremendously well-developed and terribly interesting have around.) Boo was amusing, a stereo-type that seems to have nested itself in the people around me, and while I find this terrifying, she was still an intriguing character even if she could be buried in the amount of times she said ‘yeah’ after a sentence. Callum was loud and boisterous, snarky and brave, but I am sorry to inform you that his ego couldn’t be contained within his head and splattered over the pages of the book. Stephen, whom I adored for mostly unexplained reason, was a young policeman with a tragic backstory and a penchant for being the most huggable character in the series due to attitude/poor luck/other stuff. Come here, Stephen, let me give you a hug, I promise I’m not a criminal. Speaking of criminals, the antagonist of this novel is one of the most despicable sort; one that aspires to sympathetic. WELL, MR.NEWMAN, YOU ARE ANYTHING BUT. I haven’t hated a character so much for such a long time; he was a really effective and interesting as villains go.
Well, it appears that we have approached the end, and no it is my solemn duty to reveal why this book is awesome, for those of you who care. Those people have a headcount of 0.5, and have all been recently released from Hell, but they at least have some idea about why this book is awesome. It is not because of one mere detail, no; it is because of all the mere details that were meticulously woven into this book. This book is awesome because it is full of awesome things. And if one wants a list of those awesome things, then they haven’t been paying attention. Paying attention or no, I recommend that you go and buy a copy of this book. The only reason, my dear, is one that you know well. No, no, no, it is not because I am mad and need my medication, it is because THIS BOOK IS AWESOME.
Thanks to HarperCollins for sending me a copy to review.
★★★★★
... I really ought to find a synonym for awesome.
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