Sophomore Year is Greek to Me

Sophomore Year is Greek to Me is a YA contemporary novel by Meredith Zeitlin.

Growing up as a single child, raised by her dad in New York, Zona has never felt she was lacking anything. Since her mom died before she could remember her, the loss has never truly hurt – though she knows it has never left her dad.

She has her close-knit friends, her new position as features editor at the high school paper and enjoys a trust-based, roommate type of relationship with her journalist father.

When her dad tells her they are moving to Greece for six months for him to cover their economic crisis, Zona is upset for two reasons. One, she does not want to leave all she knows and loves in New York. Two, she knows that his work is not the only reason her dad is taking her to Greece.

That is where her mother’s family lives. Her big family. Her big family that returned her father’s many letters and has never attempted to contact her in her entire teenage life. The big, Greek family she has no interest in meeting.

Despite her protests, her dad is insistent. So shall begin Zona’s uprooting to Greece…

Sophomore Year is Greek to Me was an easy, swift read. It starts off presenting Zona in a rather immature way, putting up a childish fight about leaving the country. However, I cannot say that I didn’t sympathize with her plight – leaving everything behind for six months would be a hard pill to swallow.

Once she gets in Greece, the story picks up. There is some pretty entertaining and enlightening Greek customs that get highlighted. Zona faces many scenarios where she has to decide whether she is going to let new experiences change her.

Truly the best part of the book was everything to do with Zona meeting her Greek family. From the funnier, more obscure moments to the touching, heartfelt scenes – they definitely stole the show. It focuses on regret, bitterness and forgiveness. A pursuit of understanding and moving on.

There’s also some great friendship in Sophomore Year is Greek to Me. Small, but important, events highlighting pivotal everyday life.

Overall, Sophomore Year is Greek to Me was an enjoyable, fast read. I was not head over heels and felt some of the material was quite familiar, but it was nice to read after long, hard days at work and hours of studying.

There’s nothing wrong with a low-effort book here and there!

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Of Noble Family

Of Noble Family is the fifth and final novel in The Glamourist Histories by Mary Robinette Kowal.

I am passionate about this series, primarily due to the absolutely wonderful characterizations and lovely Regency atmosphere. Therefore, I strongly recommend reading these books in order:

Shades of Milk and Honey: Here
Glamour in Glass: Here
Without a Summer: Here
Valour and Vanity: Here
Of Noble Family

As you can see, you can click on each prior title to be swept away to my reviews of those books. Again, if you are not caught up with the series – I ardently recommend reading them, in order, before this review of the final book!

After their exhausting time in Italy, Jane and Vincent have been able to do some relaxing with Jane’s family, including her sister’s new baby, whom they both find themselves enjoying immensely.

Yet, when news comes to Vincent stating that his estranged, fugitive father has died – his soul is thrown into turmoil. He attempts to push aside the tumultuous emotions and horrific memories of a cruel father and agrees, with Jane by his side, to go to the West Indies on his elder brother’s behalf.

It’s a long sea voyage and the heat of Antigua is instantly wearying. However, the married couple do not plan to stay long – especially once they realize Jane is more than seasick.

But what they find at the estate is that everything they’ve been told is a lie. And getting back home may not be as simple as initially believed…

Anyone who has read my reviews of the books in this series know that I adore this story. I adore the Regency era, the excellently paced feeling Kowal gives it, the expertly done language that provides a sense of Jane Austen that so many try – and fail – to emulate, the delicately approached fantasy element in the Glamour magic and most of all: Jane and Vincent.

Together and apart, Jane and Vincent are two of my favorite characters in literature. Smart, flawed, complicated but oh-so-devoted to each other and their glamour art, these two are a realistically portrayed married couple. It’s not often, and it’s unfortunate to say, that a novel can keep up the romantic tension and intense chemistry that Jane and Vincent have – once married. Yet not only does Kowal do that, but she makes it EVEN BETTER by making them best friends – thoroughly knowing and caring about one another. Such a gorgeous, addictively readable couple.

Placing them in this unpleasant situation (which I am not providing much details on for your optimum reading pleasure) is terribly suspenseful and left me with worse nerves than Mrs. Bennett at times. But what a rewarding read!

This is truly a series that I will look forward to rereading in the future!!!

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The Madness Underneath

The Madness Underneath is the second book in the urban supernatural YA series Shades of London by Maureen Johnson.

I strong recommend reading the books in order – so if you haven’t read The Name of the Star yet, check out my review of that first book here.

Final warning to look away if you haven’t read the first book yet…

Rory’s move from the American South to a London boarding school didn’t turn out the way she expected it to.

Suddenly gaining the ability to see ghosts was startling enough – to then also be nearly killed by a Jack the Ripper copycat was the icing on the horror cake.

Yet Rory doesn’t feel like she’s as psychologically damaged as she should be – and when she’s given the opportunity to return to Wexford, she does.

But there’s evidence of a new potentially ghost-like string of murders and Rory’s powers have morphed into something stronger since she was nearly murdered…

Is she as ready as she thinks she is to take on another dark force?

First off, I love Maureen Johnson. Her heroines are just so darn hilarious – I mean, I laugh out loud when I read their narration and dialogue – yet also believably vulnerable. Awesomeness.

Where The Name of the Star had a very specific plot, The Madness Underneath feels a little bit more all over the place. Much of it is seeing the psychological aftermath of what happened to Rory – which I actually find refreshing as that feels more realistic. Then we also get some new mysterious characters and some murders that may or may not be related to the rest of everything.

You see what I mean?

I know there’s been some discussion that The Madness Underneath is not as good as The Name of the Star – and I could almost agree with that. However, I think it was actually a lovely, creepy, page-turner extension of the story and I believe that all these seemingly unconnected pieces are clear to the author.

Plus – the end? WOWZA.

Like I said, I love Maureen Johnson.

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