Hollow City (Book Review)

Hollow City begins right where Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children left off, as promised. The kids are trying to make sense of what has happened and what’s to come. With intent to save their beloved ymbryne, they go on an adventure of a lifetime. Discoveries are made of friends and enemies alike, and the future becomes one big, unpromised question mark.
I entered Hollow City over a year after reading Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. It was taunting me from a corner of my room, and I’ll be the first to admit it, I was terrified. Rightfully so, but scared nonetheless. What was to become of my heroes, characters that felt more real than the world I lived in?
Wading headfirst, I embarked on the adventure and had trouble leaving this beautifully detailed world that Ransom Riggs had created. The syntax in this novel was even more enticing than the last. The story was crafted so carefully that I could in no means be a step ahead of the author. I was completely absorbed into the world of the peculiars.
Advertisement

Break-Ups (Short Story)

Write about a character break-up that happened under strange circumstances.

“It’s over!” I shouted, trying to be heard despite the rush of wind surrounding us. My voice was soon lost between the churning gusts that had nearly lifted us both into the sky. I attempted to storm out (no pun intended) but just as surely, Ezra shot another wisp my way.

As I tumbled to the ground, I felt myself being incased in a newly forming sand dune. My mind was struggling to understand what I had gotten myself into in the first place. How was I supposed to know that I’d basically fallen for an Airbender.

I’d only gone out with the kid because of a lost bet, and sure, it was cute at first. He’d trip people without so much as a twitch, bewilderment following the victim. Sometimes he’d even steal me a souvenir from the stand at the waterpark, but now, it was just out of control. The power was getting to his head and our relationship only had room for one narcissist.

“Help! Help!” I screamed. If someone was to appear, I was sure he’d stop. He couldn’t let people know about his power.

“There’s no one to help you, Lila. You’ll be buried alive, I’m sure the beetles will enjoy some fresh flesh,” he said with a cackle. If I didn’t survive the burial, the laugh would surely kill me. This was the last time I’d make another bet with Jenny.

As if appearing from thin air, the devil herself came to my side.

“Jenny, what are you doing here?” I whisper shouted. Could she hear my thoughts or something?

“Well, I can do that too, but teleportation is my specialty.”

And as if she’d been an apparition, she reappeared behind Ezra, giving him a sharp jab in the side. Just as he turned to see where the hit had come from, she was suddenly on his other side, punching his chest. Ezra turned with an extended arm to shoot a blast of wind her way, but it was too late. Jenny was directly in front of Ezra, administering a tough blow to the face. And with that, he crumpled fully to the ground, with not so much as a twitch.
My mouth was agape as I gazed up at Jenny who now had her hand extended to me.

“Did I never tell you about that?” she stated rhetorically.

I grabbed her arm and used it as an aid in projecting myself forward, though I could barely stand upright.

“Don’t worry; he’s knocked out, not dead. He’ll be back to his old self by tomorrow or maybe next week,” her playfulness seemed so out of touch with what had just happened.

“You guys are weird,” I said, shaking my head in defeat.

I Crawl Through It by A.S. King (Book Review)

I Crawl Through It is a surrealist novel depicting the differing and often contradictive views of four unusual teenagers. Gustav is building an invisible helicopter. Stanzi dissects things. China is a walking digestive system. Lansdale’s hair keeps growing as long as she keeps lying. Bomb threats are being sent to their school.

This was definitely the weirdest novel I’ve read and also my first surrealist novel. The initial syntax and exposition can be a bit confusing at first, but enticing, nonetheless. I read the first hundred pages in one sitting as I tried to understand and guess what would happen next (and being wrong each time). This book even goes as far as to break the fourth wall(on page 33). Belief and love are recurring elements and this book really makes you think about life and society and guilt.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1644696588

Three

She smells sweet / like lavender

The putrid sound rings high / Sour scents / Rotten things

The succulent lilt of his sides / smooth

27 is crude / 59 is all attitude / But three is beautiful

Bright

Mommy tells me to be quiet

But the voice of 3 / calls so sweetly to me

And I can’t stay seated

Ya see / I need her with me

Because 3 is the most beautiful number I have ever heard or seen

She sounds like the breeze / As it runs through daisies

And I don’t understand / Why I can’t demand

To have her with / me always

To make her stay

Momma says no / 5 is the right guy

And he’s cool and all / just not my type

But I’m not the type to judge

So don’t judge me / If I only

want to see my best friends in threes

I posted this to my classes NaPoWriMo, not my best work but still. Let me know what you think 🙂