My second read for the GLBT Challenge and my first one for the What's in a Name? 3 was Empress of the World by Sara Ryan. Empress of the World is a YA novel about a group of students attending the Siegel Institute Summer Program for Gifted Youth. The narrator is Nicola (Nic) Lancaster, who plays the viola, draws, and works in theatre productions. She wants to become an archeologist and has come to the Siegel Institute to study archeology. Right in the beginning of the summer programme Nic, who has never had "friend friends" only theatre friends or orchestra friends, befriends some fellow students, among them Battle Hall Davies, a beautiful dancer, who seems to be everything Nic is not. The friendship between Nic and Battle grows and they soon move from being friends to being girlfriends.
I wanted to read this book especially for the GLBT Challenge (but it did not hurt that it also fits into the title category of What's in a name? 3 Challenge :)), as I had read quite a few very positive reviews about it. And I see why so many people have loved this book. The story felt very real. The subject matter, teenage same sex relationship, is important. It is essential that young persons whether they are GLBT or straight or wondering about their sexuality have books like Empress of the World to read and fictional characters like Nic and Battle to identify with. But...
I loved How Beautiful the Ordinary, I did not love Empress of the World. It was ok, and as I said, I do see its merits. I guess, I'm simply too old for this book. :) It felt too teenagey for me, but I would recommend it for all my heart to anyone in or closer to their teens than I am!
5 comments:
I know you didn't like it very much, but this sounds wonderful to me. I don't know, maybe it'll turn out to be too teen-lit for me, too, but I'm going to try it anyway. Thanks for reviewing it!
I don't think I told you that you had me convinced that I have to read How Beautiful The Ordinary.
I don't do many teenage-y books, and there are too many books already to read, so I might just give this one a skip.
That's too bad this one wasn't great, and I think I'd probably have the same reaction as you. But I do want to try out How Beautiful the Ordinary, and I was distracted your whole post about how beautiful that cover is!
Like Eva, I love the cover! I'm sorry this one didn't work out, because the premise sounds so promising. I'll have to try How Beautiful one of these days.
Amanda, you should definitely try Empress of the World!
Michelle, that's great! :) I think How Beautiful the Ordinary is fantastic! :)
Eva, it is a nice cover, isn't it? :) And I think you, too, would like How Beautiful the Ordinary.
Beth, I like the cover, too. :)Empress of the World in not a bad book,it is in many ways a good book, but maybe my expectations were also extra high after How Beautiful the Ordinary.
Greetings,
Tiina
Post a Comment