Review: Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

Title: Girl Parts

Author: John M. Cusick site

Format: Hardcover, 218 pages

Published: 8/10/2010

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Source: Library

“What happens when a robot designed to be a boy’s ideal “companion” develops a will of her own? A compulsively readable novel from a new talent.

David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David’s parents present him with a hot Companion bot designed to encourage healthy bonds and treat his “dissociative disorder,” he can’t get enough of luscious redheaded Rose — and he can’t get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. Parted from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn’t real. With Charlie’s help, the ideal “companion” is about to become her own best friend.

In a stunning and hilarious debut, John Cusick takes rollicking aim at internet culture and our craving for meaningful connection in an uber connected world.”

-Goodreads

Basic Synopsis:

Set in the near future… It all starts when a girl named Nora Vogel kills herself on a live web cam over the internet for all to see. David is just browsing the web when he sees it and watches. He thinks nothing of it until he is called into the psychiatrist’s office where he is confronted about doing nothing to stop it. He is diagnosed with “dissociative disorder”. His recommended course of treatment is to get a Companion, a robotic girl whose universe revolves around him to help him relate to others.

Characters:

There was something very human about David and Charlie. David is a very popular boy who has the pick of any girl he wants. Of course he doesn’t treat them well, and doesn’t care for long term relationships. Charlie is very smart and reclusive, but is also kind of arrogant and puts himself in a league above others.  Both were imperfect characters, which I always like, and they both had an air of realism about them. And Rose was very likable, and I was really rooting for her throughout the book. She’s naïve, but she really takes a stand for herself. She gains more confidence and self respect, while remaining humble.

Plot and Story:

There is a kind of ease and disconnected-ness about the writing. I was interested to see what happened in the story, but I didn’t feel particularly connected with the characters. It was almost like viewing them from a distance, but not exactly in a bad way. It is pretty steadily paced, and I wasn’t left bored. And although the book is only 218 pages, Girl Parts wasn’t too long or too short, it was just right.  The ending of the book is unexpected. I’m not sure whether I think it’s good or bad. It was just different.

Overall:

Girl Parts was a short read, but an enjoyable one. There was something distinctly different and likeable about it. I didn’t find it “hilarious” but it’s still worth reading. It was short, direct, and to the point while still being entertaining. I give it 4 of 5 stars.

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer site

Format: ARC, 387 pages

Release Date: 1/03/2012

Publisher: Feiwel &Friends

Source: ARC received from publisher for review
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge (hosted by The Story Siren)

“Even in the future, the story begins with once upon a time…

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows the Earth’s fate hinges on one girl…

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

In this thrilling young adult debut novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer’s rebooted fairy tale introduces readers to a heroine and a masterfully crafted world that isn’t the Cinderella you remember—but it’s one you won’t forget.”

-Cover

How it starts:

Cinder starts out with lots of ups and downs. Up, Cinder is an extremely gifted mechanic. Down, she is also a cyborg and is considered owned by her not very nice stepmother. Up, the legendary Prince Kai came to her small both in the marketplace to have her fix his droid. Down, her one kind stepsister, Peony, got infected with the deadly plague, letumosis, and it might be Cinder’s fault. Up, Cinder gets the chance to see the prince again. Down, but only because she’s involuntarily in the palace, being the research scientist’s guinea pig. Up, Cinder turns out to be immune to letumosis, and might be able to help find a cure for Peony.

Plot:

All I had to hear about Cinder was that it was Cinderella with cyborgs. But there is a lot more to this story than a simple retelling. There’s a deadly plague going around without an antidote (you know how much I love deadly plagues), and the constant threat of war between an alien race from the moon. I was really glad that this story turned out so original. More and more often I find that retellings just seem to glide around within the pre set plot lines. Marissa Meyer really made Cinder her own. The only fault I found was that I was disappointed that Cinder’s “mysterious past” was pretty easy to guess.

POV:

The main point of view throughout the book is Cinder, with some chapters devoted to other characters points of view such as Prince Kai, and Dr. Erland.

Overall:

I was surprised by how much I liked Cinder. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical after the last few retellings I’d read were less than satisfactory. I loved how original it was and I’m really excited to see where this series goes. I’m giving Cinder 4.5 of 5 stars.