Review: Pulp by Robin Talley

Title: Pulp Written by: Robin Talley Published: November 13, 2018 by Harlequin Teen (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In 1955, eighteen-year-old Janet Jones keeps the love she shares with her best friend Marie a secret. It’s not easy being gay in Washington, DC, in the age of McCarthyism, but when she discovers a series of books about women falling in love with other women, it awakens something in Janet. As she juggles a romance she must keep hidden and a newfound ambition to write and publish her own story, she risks exposing herself—and Marie—to a danger all too real. Sixty-two years later, Abby Zimet can’t stop thinking about her senior project and its subject—classic 1950s lesbian pulp fiction. Between the pages of her favorite book, the stresses of Abby’s own life are lost to the fictional hopes, desires and tragedies of the characters she’s reading about. She feels especially connected to one author, a woman who wrote under the pseudonym “Marian Love,” and becomes determined to track her down and discover her true identity. In this novel told in dual narratives, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley weaves together the lives of two young women connected across generations through the power of words. A stunning story of bravery, love, how far we’ve come and how much farther we have to go.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I've read a few of Robin Talley's books and I really enjoyed them so when I saw she was coming out a new book that historical fiction elements I was really excited to read it. And it was a really interesting and engaging read with more layers than I was expecting.

One of the most interesting things about this book for me is the fact that it read like a historical mystery. Historical mysteries are one of my favorite subgenres and I have enjoyed both Robin's historical fiction and her mysteries so I knew this book was in good hands. This was one of those stories where a modern character finds something from the historical character who she has to learn more about. Their stories are linked and often mirror each other. That is exactly what happened in Pulp. Despite how different their lives were, in so many ways Abby and Janet's lives mirrored one another as they dealt with their feelings of attraction to their best friends, found a book that spoke deep into their soul, and their desire to write the perfect story.

My favorite part about this book was the subtle themes in the plot. Books about books is not rare by any means but Pulp handled it so well and in a way that was much more subtle. Pulp is very much a book for fans of reading and writing. It perfectly expresses how you feel when you find that perfect book with that character and experiences so much like your own that you relate to it so completely it overtakes you. It also communicates the idea of writing an own voices book. A book that captures your story in that cathartic way that you not only get it out of your head but out in the world. Despite my massive failure of NaNoWriMo this was the perfect book to read for this month because it is so much about writing.

I also really enjoyed the historical aspect of this book. Robin Talley is a master of write not only the LGBT experience in a historical perspective but what it was like in the mid-20th Century. This book took some of the more unspoken and undiscussed aspects of the 1950's and early-60's and brought them into the light, well as light as possible with such dark and difficult topics. She really showed the pressure and anxiety caused by McCarthyism and the witch hunt not only for Communists but anyone who was different including homosexuals. I love exploring not only this time period but some of the aspects that don't often get the attention they deserve so I really enjoyed this book for that reason.

As far as the characters go, I felt like the author did a great job in balancing the two perspectives. The story alternated between Janet and Abby and they both had interesting stories but if I am being completely honest I enjoyed Janet's story a bit more. Abby was super relateable and the way she was dealing with her writing and the anxiety of how she was handling the forthcoming change felt so genuine and real. However, I found myself wanting to learn more about Janet and how her story unfolded. In her chapters there was drama and tension. For a plot-driven reader, Janet's story was the more engaging. I also think I just liked Janet a bit more. She had a lot going against her but she knew who she and stayed fiercely herself despite the adversity. I had a lot of respect for her because of that.

I really enjoyed Pulp a lot. It was a fast and interesting book and I devoured it. I read it so much faster than I expected because I was invested in the stories of both Janet and Abby. It was a subtle historical mystery with great themes and engaging characters.

I give Pulp by Robin Talley 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially historical mysteries, then I would recommend reading this book. It's also a great read for people who like books about books and writing. I thoroughly enjoyed it for that aspect.

Have you read Pulp? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: As I Descended by Robin Talley

Title: As I Descended Written by: Robin Talley Published: September 6, 2016 by Harper Teen (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them. Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey. Golden child Delilah is a legend at the exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. She runs the school, and if she chose, she could blow up Maria and Lily’s whole world with a pointed look, or a carefully placed word. But what Delilah doesn’t know is that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—absolutely anything—to make their dreams come true. And the first step is unseating Delilah for the Kingsley Prize. The full scholarship, awarded to Maria, will lock in her attendance at Stanford―and four more years in a shared dorm room with Lily. Maria and Lily will stop at nothing to ensure their victory—including harnessing the dark power long rumored to be present on the former plantation that houses their school. But when feuds turn to fatalities, and madness begins to blur the distinction between what’s real and what is imagined, the girls must decide where they draw the line. From acclaimed author Robin Talley comes a Shakespeare-inspired story of revenge and redemption, where fair is foul, and foul is fair.

So much about the synopsis of this book caught my eye and I'm glad that it did because, oh this book was everything I wanted it to be and probably more. It was exactly what I had hoped for in a "lesbian YA Macbeth set in a haunted boarding school." It was super fantastic. Dark, creepy, and compulsively readable.

Lately I have been all about YA Shakespeare retellings. Give them all to me now! Give me more, especially if they are going to be like this one. Because Robin Talley's Macbeth retelling was fantastic. I usually like my retellings to at least stick really close to the original source material when it comes to the plot or take it in a totally creative direction. Talley managed to do both. You can see exactly the moments Macbeth that were used to craft this story but at the same time it is something all it's own that people not at all familiar with the original will enjoy.

And that creativity came in the form of a totally creepy Gothic ghost story. If you are looking for a dark and atmospheric read for fall, look no further. This book is full of vengeful ghosts, unexplained occurrences, and a great mystery. But as much as I enjoyed these elements that was also one of my criticisms of the book. I felt like there were some questions left unanswered and plot points when it came to the supernatural elements. I would have liked more resolution or even answers about the ghosts. There were a little but in the end there wasn't much explanation about them and the why about them. But that did add to the creepiness factor. There are so many moments here that had me catching my breath, gasping, covering my mouth, and biting my nails out of worry. It's a dark and creepy story with an atmosphere to match.

If you are familiar with the story of Macbeth then you know that as one of Shakespeare's tragedies there is a lot of turmoil in that book. I mean it has a serious body count. And if you are wondering if this book goes there, yes it does. The plot is full of suspense and thrills. It slowly builds to a thrilling conclusion that will have you on the edge of your seat concerned and curious. And of you're like me then you'll be hoping it varies a little from the original.

But the setting and the plot are not the only dark and complex things about this book, the characters fit right in. I will say that when it came to the characters, I did miss some of the relationship building. We were dropped into something already established and I didn't quite buy into it in some instances. However this is mostly a book about ambition gone wrong so you have a book full of overly-ambitious schemers, something I absolutely love. But you also have unreliable narrators and characters who walk a very fine line between right and wrong. And no matter how they might justify it, they definitely cross that line. But that's what makes them so interesting and honestly likable. I surprisingly wanted them to succeed. All of them. Which made it very difficult when there was a conflict among them. And there plenty of conflict which made for an interesting read for sure.

All in all, As I Descended was a fantastic read that I really enjoyed. I was hoping for a dark and dramatic story with complex characters that would creep me and that's what I found. This book totally hooked and I really enjoyed it.

I give As I Descended by Robin Talley 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you are at all interested by this synopsis, check this book out for sure. It is a must read for fans of Macbeth but even if you don't like or have never read the original, check this out of you are looking for a creepy and complex story full of atmosphere and suspense.

Have you read As I Descended? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Title: Lies We Tell Ourselves Written by: Robin Talley Published: September 30, 2014 by Harlequin Teen (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever.  Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.  Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town's most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept separate but equal.  Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another.  Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling, Lies We Tell Ourselves is a brave and stunning novel about finding truth amid the lies, and finding your voice even when others are determined to silence it.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I have had this book in my life for nearly two years now. And since then it has been staring at me wondering why I haven't taken the time to read. I was so excited about it when I got it. It has been on many a potential read list for me and I never took the time to read it. But thanks to ARC April I made the time and I am so glad that I did. Lies We Tell Ourselves is a beautiful and affecting historical fiction novel with great characters and themes.

Sometimes the best books, the ones that make the biggest impact, are those that are hard to read. Books that handle difficult topics and make the reader a little uncomfortable. That was Lies We Tell Ourselves for me. This book, for one, is a great piece of historical fiction. It takes the reader to a time of great turmoil and change in American History and by showing a tiny slice of life, is able to portray and analyze some really complex ideologies. The author did a really great job researching the period and it shows. She was able to immerse the reader in the period in a way that both honest, organic, and dramatic. She also did a good job of showing such a complex issue from multiple sides. The topic of segregation and the Civil Rights movement was such a complex thing, especially in the American South and we gain more from putting ourselves in the shoes of those who wanted integration and those who didn't. It's not always easy to be there especially when it comes to those conversations of right and wrong come up, but that's what made the book all the more interesting. It wasn't very easy to read at times but it was really compelling.

The characters were also really interesting. The nature of the story made for really complex characterizations and great character development which I always really like. The two main characters are Sarah and Linda. Sarah, an African American integrator, does not have things easy and you totally feel for her. Getting in her head while she is being mistreated by her fellow students just for their perceptions about her was tough to handle at times but it made her so sympathetic and her inner strength all the more engaging. Then there is Linda, a white student at the school. She starts off being very unlikable. She kind of embodies the ideals that we see as backwards and racist but were so common at the time. But you also get the sense that she knows this treatment is wrong. So as the book develops you start to see that she's waking up to what's really going on and you can't help but respect her for that. Both girls have great development as they start thinking for themselves and taking responsibility for their actions and their future.

But part of their development that I liked so much was the relationship between the two girls. It definitely starts very adversarial as they argue and fight about their beliefs and the world around them. But the more time they spend together, and the more they learn from one another, the more respect they develop for one another, the more they like one another. As a reader I was incredibly engaged in that development and as it progressed I was totally on board. This isn't just about about race, it's a book about identity and part of that identity is sexual identity. The two main characters coming to terms with their sexuality with their relationship with each other was fantastic and such a slowburn. Like so slow that in the end it was only implied. But that's what made it historically accurate and all the more interesting.

I will say that Lies We Tell Ourselves is a more character-driven book, something I don't always love, but it was so readable and compelling. It was beautifully written and so well-paced. I slowly read the first half and then flew through the second half of the book, needing to know what would happen next. It's a book that brilliantly handles difficult topics that are relevant today but shows them through a really well-done historical gaze. And while it is difficult to read at times, it never felt over-done in reference to it's themes and topics. It was an engaging story about identity and independence at the same time as it was about serious social and historical issues.

On the whole this is a fantastic book and I can't believe I waited this long to read it. It was sometimes hard to read but it was so engaging with great characters and interesting themes. It is a book that will stick with me long after reading.

I give Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, especially ones that deal with serious issues. Or if you are looking for a book that deals with race and identity then check this out. It was so well-written and engaging.

Have you read Lies We Tell Ourselves? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!