And One Last Thing... (Marchetta Madness)

So... I know that I have gone overboard with the Melina Marchetta themed posts this week, so I'm going to be quick when talking about this last thing. 

One of the things I love the most about Melina's writing is kind of completely indirect: The fact that she introduced me to stuff being written in places other than the US.

English is my second language and I admit I learned to master it in great part because I wanted to read, and read contemporary stuff aimed toward my age group - well, the age my heart feels anyway - so I got my books of Amazon and called it good. But I didn't know a lot of authors and it took me forever to take a chance on a new author. 

Before reading Melina's books, I wasn't even aware of Australia as a source of novels. But since then I've learned that Australian authors are made of AWESOME. 

Basically This:

Helped me to get to this:

In a very indirect way, sure, and over a long time, but I got there. And I HIGHLY recommend these books. Good Oil made me ache, Starfish Sisters reminded me of the true awesome of female friendships, and Graffiti Moon has the spirit true contemporary-urban awesome sauce.

So there. 

I bid farewell to the Marchetta Madness week! 

Thanks to Chachic for putting it together and be sure to check ou the Guest Post from Melina herself, that wrapped up this event in Chachic's Book Nook!

Love, 

Alex.

A Romantic Spotlight (Marchetta Madness)

Hello guys! I can't believe Marchetta Madness is almost over!

And since we are so close to the end, I want to talk about one of the things I love the most in Melina's books: the Romance.

Melina's books are wonderful for so many different reasons, but her characterization is particularly masterful, and no matter how rich the contexts and environments, there is always a lot of love and many kinds of love going around.

There are wonderful friendships and amazing family ties in all of the stories, but I love the way she writes romance. I love that when her girls fall in love they do so completely and without losing themselves. I love that her guys sound like guys and that they are fierce about the people they love.

So, here are some of my farorite romantic moments in Melina's books.

Fair warning, though, spoilers lay ahead!

(On the) Jellicoe Road

This first quote is one of my favorite parts of the whole book. Taylor is in a mood, the quest she's conducting with Jonah isn't going as planned and they are both at the far end of their patience. And I've always loved the scene because it's so Jonah.

"I'm here because of you. You're my priority. Your happiness, in some fucked way, is tuned into mine. Get that through your thick skull. Would I like it any other way? Hell, yes, but I don't think that will happen in my life time."

Then, a little ahead:

"What are you thinking?" I whisper after a while.
"That you deserve romance," he says.
I trace his face with my fingers. "Let me see. A guy tells me (too spoilery)... and then drives seven hours straight without whingeing once, on a wild-goose chase in search of my mother with absolutely no clue where to start. He is, in all probability, going to get court martialled because of me, has put up with my moodiness all day long, and knows exactly what to order me for breakfast. It doesn't get any more romantic than that, Jonah."
"I'm in year eleven, Taylor. I'm not going to get court-martialed."
"Just say you get expelled?"
"Then so be it. I still would have driven for seven hours and ordered you hot chocolate and white toast and marmalade."

See, I love that it's kind of a "Grand Gesture" moment, but in a completely practical way.

In The Piper's Son, there are two moments that I love.
The first one is all Will and Frankie. I'm going to have to cut it up a little 'cause it's long:

Francesca sits on the bench. Opposite her, with a lot of space between them, and a lot of silence, Will leans on the preparation bench.
“What do you always say about me?” Tom hears him ask.
She’s not answering.
“Frankie?”
“That you used calculus to work out whether we should be together or not,” she says.
“I mean when you’re trying to compliment me.”
“That you’re the smartest guy I know,” she says finally in a flat voice.(...)
“Why would the smartest guy you know do something stupid and lose you?” he asks.
She sighs. “Because smart guys have two brains, Will. One in their head and one in their pants.”
“Yeah, well both my brains are connected and one is always reminding the other of you.”
“I thought we weren’t going to drive each other crazy with this type of stuff, Frankie,” Will says, frustrated.
(...)
“Come here,” she says.
“No, you come here.”
“I said it first.”
“Rock paper scissors.”
“No. Because you’ll do nerdy calculations and work out what I chose the last six times and then you’ll win.”
Will pushes away from the table and his hand snakes out and he pulls her toward him and Tom figures that Will was always going to go to her first.

And this one is all Tara and Tom (It's a scene very near the end, so fair warning)

“I spilt my guts out all over the arrival lounge at Sydney’s domestic airport, Tara. It’s as bloody romantic as you’ll ever get from me. Where are you?”
“At a public phone in arrivals. I’ve run out of credit. I used my reprimanding voice and told my parents and Frankie and Justine that they couldn’t come near me for the next five minutes. I can see the four of them from here. They’re talking about me. They have a look of fear on their face. Even my parents, who created me, are afraid. I see that look on a lot of people’s faces when they see me, Tom. Never yours.”
“I keep it hidden, but it’s there. Believe me, you frighten me to death, but for different reasons.”

Nothing to add, but a happy sigh.


I also got a very soft spot for the romances of the adults. Like Sam and Georgie in Piper's Son. Hannah and Jude in Jellicoe. And, of course, Beatriss and Trevanion - I think I love them most of all.

I don't want to spoil Froi, as it's all too new and in Finnikin they had few scenes together, but the following scene always stuck to me, when Trevanion finds out Beatriss is still alive:

"Her strength, it comes from you," she said quietly.
"What?" The question was like a bark, but she did not shrink back.
"Beatriss."
There was a sharp hiss of breath, and Finnikin found himself in his father's path as Trevanion advanced tosard her furiously. "Beatriss is--"
"Do not speak her name! Do not dare taint her memory," he raged.
Evanjalin did not move. "Sometimes when people sleep they agonize about decisions made. Other times they think back on the past. She spends much time doing both. I do believe it is Beatriss who has worked through the dark magic to find me."
"You lie to taunt me!"
"Enough, Evanjalin," Sir Topher ordered. "Beatriss is dead."
Finnikin felt his father flinch at the words, but Evanjalin held Trevanion's gaze.
"Most nights she is restless. There are too many people to worry about, and she wonders how she will be able to make things right. How can she be someone other than Beatriss the Beautiful or Beatriss the Beloved? But then, just when she's about to lose hope, she remembers what you would whisper to her, Captain Trevanion. That she was Beatriss the Bold. Beatriss the Brave. To all others she was a fragile flower, but you would not let her be."
Finnikin's hand was still against Trevanion's chest; his father's heart was beating out of control.
"She remembers the nights you lay with her when she worried about something happening to you. 'What would I do without you?' she would cry. Do you remember your response, Captain Trevanion? 'What needs to be done, Beatriss."

*Sigh* this scene breaks my heart each and every time.

So, these are some of my favorite scenes of the books, I tried to keep this short but I think that didn't work out so well. But what can you do when you have so much awesome to pick from?

Anyway, what about you? Any favorite scenes?

PS - Sorry for the crappy formatting. Blogger is trying to destroy me

At the Movies: Looking for Alibrandi

Josie Alibrandi is an scholarship student at a prestigious All-Girls catholic school where she's finishing Year 12 (a.k.a. Senior Year). An excellent student, she hopes to go to university and study law. Her life is defined in a lot of ways by the two women in her life: her Nonna Katia and her single mom Christina. Her father has never been in the picture, though Josie knows who he is and in which part of Australia he lives. 

Josie is used to being a team with her mother, even though they don't see eye to eye in some regards, but with her Nonna Katia, Josie clashes constantly. An Italian immigrant, Nonna Katia has pretty outdated ideas about the mixing of "Italian" and "Australian" and has a very Us versus Them mentality. Katia's relationship with Christina is also a bit strained, mostly because Katia showed little support to Christina when she got pregnant at sixteen.

And things are about to be shaken up in the Alibrandi household. First, when Josie meets Jacob Coote, who goes to a public school, can make up a speech at the drop of the hat, and is the resident bad-boy of Josie's life. And then, Michael Andretti, Josie's faceless father moves back from Adelaide to Sydney... and lets just say that their first meeting is everything but ideal. There is also John Barton a sensible, nice, smart and rich guy in whom Josie finds something of a kindred spirit. 

Surrounded by her friends, her family and even her school nemesis, Josie is set out to live the year that might very well change and define the rest of her life. 

Looking for Alibrandi is based on the novel by the same name by Melina Marchetta, and though it follows the book pretty closely, it has some deliberate differences that keep it from being exactly alike. However, I'm happy to say that all my favorite parts of the book made it to the movie. 

Alibrandi is a movie that feels very Australian and its a lot of fun. Though nothing can ever compete with one's own imagination, it was easy to see the actors as the characters. I particularly liked Anthony LaPaglia as Michael Andretti. 

I do have to say that sometimes it was hard to understand what Nonna Katia was saying, like at all. And that I found her a bit more likable in the book.

All in all, Looking for Alibrandi is a must see for any Marchetta fan, and a very nice teen movie even if you haven't read the book. I give it a B+

This review is part of Marchetta Madness, hosted by Chachic's Book Nook 

Tune in Tuesday (30) - Book Playlists Edition: Marchetta Madness Themed!

This meme is hosted by Ginger at GReads and music. Each week you can post an old or new song so that it gains more interest! So head on over and link up.

We are still doing Book Playlists and for this week -and in theme with Marchetta Madness week - I'm featuring songs from books by Melina Marchetta. 

Music is a big theme in Melina's stories, it helps people connect and to heal. Many of Melina's characters are musicians - like Justine, Tom, Frankie, Ben - or need to feel the music like the people from Charyin in Froi. 

So here are my Marchetta inspired picks

The Coward of the County by Kenny Rogers - It's a recurring theme in Jellicoe Road, each time Taylor says anything about Kenny Rogers everyone always tells her "Oh, the Coward of the County" and I think Taylor takes it a bit personal. This song always makes me a little sad, which is how Jellicoe makes feel too.

I'm Your Venus by Bananarama - This movie comes up in Saving Francesca - and Tom says he only danced to it because he thought it said I'm your Penis - It's actually quite a feel good song for me so, here it goes. Fair warning, though, the video is SO 80's

Lastly, this song comes up in The Piper's Son, and I love it anyway so I thought, why not? The Blower's Daughter

So, what song plays for you?

List Maniac #26 - Favorite Secondary Characters (Marchetta Madness)

Oops! Sorry for the super long title, it's just that it's Marchetta Madness Week and I realized I hadn't done a List Maniac in a really long time! So I decided to spot light some of my favorite secondary characters. 

In this case, my criteria to call them Secondary is that we have never seen things from their perspective. These are the characters I've loved and wish I knew more about them!  

And now, onto the list! 

Jimmy Hailler (Saving Francesca / The Piper's Son)

"Jimmy Hailler was a killer of a listener. The guy understood fragmented people." (The Piper's Son)

At first glance, Jimmy is a bit of a clown. He's always saying and doing the one thing that will make everyone uncomforatble, and he seems to do it only for his own amusement. But people tell him stuff, he's doesn't judge and he ends up having more inside and perspective than anyone would ever give him credit for. His personal history is hinted at in bits and pieces, but I always feel like I want to know more about him. Sadly, he's currently MIA and not even his friends know where he is. 

Celie of the Flatlands (Finnikin of the Rock / Froi of the Exiles) 

When Lady Celie first appears on the page, you don't think a lot about her. But she keeps making small appearances and now, after reading Froi, I've realized that she kind of lingers. And I want to hear more about her. I know from the bits and pieces that she's very smart and braver than one would guess seing as she's beautiful. And I'm happy to hear that we'll be hearing more about Celie soon.

Marcus Sandford (Looking for Alibrandi)

"Who's the hunk?"

She looked pensive and reached to touch it. 

The person in the photo was of medium height with golden-brown hair. He was smiling broadly, leaning against a shovel, with no shirt on. 

"His name was Marcus Sandford." 

"An Australian?" I screeched. "You know an Australian hunk?"

"He was my friend."

When I read Looking for Alibrandi, I was captivated by the story of Nonna Katia and Marcus, and I always wondered about him. What his life had been? Did he marry someone else? Had kids? Did he still thought about Katia? I would love to get answers to all of those questions, mostly because I always thought they deserved a happy ending. And even though he's never in the story 'in the present day', I wish he were.

Ben Cassidy ((On The) Jellicoe Road / The Piper's Son)

"When it's time for Ben to play his solo - his eyes are close, his mind anywhere but here, his fingers so taut and precise that it almost looks painful - my eyes well with tears. Because you know from the look on Ben's face that he's somewhere you want to be."

Ben is a really close friend to both Raffy and Taylor - he is Taylor's second in command in the territory wars - but he never gets quite as much page time as Raffy or Jonnah or Chaz. But I love whenever he's around. I love that he likes to tease Jonah and he's not afraid of him (though he often gets beat up for his efforts), and that he loves music so much. I was so happy to see him and his band make a cameo in The Piper's Son, but it's just never enough.

Tariq of Lascow & the other Last Borns (Froi of the Exiles)

I really liked Tariq the second he showed up in Froi of the Exiles, he's essentially a nice, decent man who was worthy of leading people. I would have loved to hear more of him and his life in the caves. The other Lastborns, Satch of Desantos and Grijio of Paladozza (as well as his sister Tippideux) also intrigued me. I hope they feature more in Quintana of Charyn.

Special Mention: Danny Griggs ((On The) Jellicoe Road / The Gorgon in the Gully).

I know Danny does have his own book but is only available in Australia, and as such is very hard to come by this side of the pond. I love Danny because Jonah loves him. I would LOVE to read his story and I hope someday is published in the US so I can get my paws on it.  

Okay, so that's my list! and I admit it would have been up way earlier if not because I kept getting distracted while I was looking for quotes about these characters and ended up reading big chunks of each book, just because. 

It's Not Just a Book! It's an Experience - (Marchetta Madness Week)

Hello everyone!!

So today marks the start of the Marchetta Madness Week - Hosted by Chachic's Book Nook - and Chachic is asking what's the first Marchetta book you read. 

Mine was Saving Francesca, but the thing is that for me it's never just reading a book. It's a whole experience. I became an instant fan when I first read Francesca. I was nineteen or so, and I remember I waited and waited and waited because I wanted to get the particular cover I got (which was the original US paperback). I thought it would be a fun, cute book, and it was but it was also so much more. 

I remember staying up very late to finish the book, of being sitting up in my bed in the middle of the night crying because of what was going on, because the ending was happy and hopeful and then crying some more because it was over. 

I have very vivid memories of what I was doing and where I was when I was reading each and every of Melina's books, I remember the parts that made me cry, and when I was laughing while reading and no one else got it. There are very few books that have given me that: the immediate recall of the first time we crossed paths each and every time I pick them up. 

When it comes to Melina's books, I tend to see them as living, breathing beings. They are not just stories and characters, there are people to me. Reading them it's not something I can do with my eyes only, I'm there 100% , I go in with my heart and my head, and everything in between. 

It's not just reading a story, it's a whole experience.

That's why I was so very happy to be part of this week dedicated to Melina's works, because they touch me in ways I never thought possible and I'm happy to spread the word!

So... what about you? Have you read a Marchetta book? which one?