Book Review Twenty-Four: Bliss

Bliss by Lauren Myracle, published by Amulet Books.

In all honesty the only reason I picked up this book was because I needed something to read in the airport and they had a VERY small Young Adult section. In that section almost every book featured some supernatural element. Are there no more real-life reads anymore? Does everything revolve around aliens, witches, vampires, and werewolves? If so, that's really sad and I need to write something for my target market (aka: ME!). Luckily there was a love element in this novel, otherwise I would have gone crazy.

Let me explain a few things before I tell you about this novel. First and foremost, I usually stick to a select few authors that I really really like. For example: E. Lockhart, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Sarah Dessen. I've read almost all of their works (and I own all of E. Lockhart's books). Even though I've read two of Lauren Myracle's works before I wouldn't count her as one of my favorite authors. I didn't particularly love Kissing Kate and although I did enjoy How to Be Bad, it was a collaborative work with E. Lockhart and Sarah Mlynowski. But she BLEW me away with this novel. It was not only informative, it was also three-dimensional, complicated, and disturbing.

Secondly, I love to read my books straight through in one shot. I sat there with the Harry Potter books for hours at a time just to finish. That's how enthralled I was. I read most of Bliss in one day (it was a long day of travelling and being delayed at the airport) but it was difficult. It wasn't difficult because of the language or the fact that it's a 444 page novel. It was just disturbing. There were several instances where I would cringe and close the book for a few minutes. I was curious about the plot but Sandy, one of the main characters, a teenage girl who becomes obsessed with blood magic, started to creep me out. There's a scene in the novel where Bliss, the main character who moves from a commune with her hippie parents to live with her grandmother in Atlanta, enters Sandy's room for the first time and what follows is the most disgusting scene I have ever read. To put it delicately, Sandy has never cleaned up after her cat. Including the litter box. Talk about an image that haunts you...

There is so much involved in this novel I hardly know where to start. The writing technique Myracle uses is original in itself. The novel is first-person POV from Bliss' perspective. However, it's mixed with blackened pages that feature quotes from pop culture of the time. Mostly they feature quotes from The Andy Griffith Show and the Charles Manson Tate-LaBianca murder trial. Also between chapters are diary entries from S.L.L. Myracle may try to trick the reader by featuring two characters with the same initials, however it becomes quite obvious halfway through who the real S.L.L. is and that she is seriously deranged.

The character development is quite extraordinary also. All of the relationships feel complex and real from the strained relationship between Bliss and her grandmother to the fragile relationship between Bliss and Mitchell and the scary and somewhat deluded relationship between Sandy and Liliana. I was pretty amazed at how well-developed these relationships were. They rival those of Sarah Dessen. The only relationship that seemed strange and non-exisistant was that of Bliss and her parents. They essentially dropped her off at her grandmother's house and fled to Canada to never be heard from again. I want to say it seemed unrealistic, however I'm sure it's happened to someone somewhere.

The aspect of this novel that I enjoyed (and that was the most surprising) was the talk of integration in schools. Lawrence was Crestview Academy's "token black student" and Bliss expressed her feelings on the issue quite a few times throughout the novel. There is talk of the Ku Klux Klan, other integrated schools, an inter-racial relationship, and even the theme of power via race. It actually made me proud of her because she seemed to be the only character in the novel that could see past race and the stereotypes surrounding it.

When I finished the novel I'll admit that I said outloud "wow, that was fucked up." I encourage you to read it not only for a disturbing tale that rivals that of Stephen King but also for a glimpse at a character who is as flawed as she is inspiring.

Oh hello again...

Before I start any reviews I should apologize for taking forever to update. I was told by a good friend that this blog should be more than book reviews, which was initially how I started it. However, my life isn't interesting enough to write about (in my opinion) and I doubt I'll be motivated or inspired enough to come up with my own material as often as readers like. I will, however, give you a little insight into my life for the past 6 months. This is me opening up, so be gentle.

I made a huge move from New York (state, NOT city) to California. Words can't express how overwhelming that journey was. That's saying a lot because I full-heartedly believe in the power of words. I read into what and how people express themselves verbally in a million different ways. Words are the light at the end of the tunnel. They can change your entire mood, your feelings, your ambition. That's mainly why I love to read and write. I believe in the power that language holds. I believe that sending someone a note can change their day. I believe a kind word can bring about happiness and that means the world to me.

Shortly (and I mean VERY shortly) after I arrived in California my boyfriend of four years broke up with me. I'm not going to get into details because it's taken me a long time to get over it and there's no point in looking back. It's over and done with; I'm better off now than I was then. It was the hardest thing I've ever been through but I am glad I went through it. I know it's made me a stronger person and that I've learned a lot about what I can handle from it. That may all sound cliche but it's the truth. I never had to search for myself because I've always known who I am. I haven't changed for anyone, even though I've been pressured to. I'm proud of myself for getting this far and staying true to myself. Maybe everything does happen for a reason after all.

Working through the breakup, finding an apartment, dealing with car trouble, and finally getting my transfer to Target worked out was about the hardest two months of my life. The perspective that this journey has given me is priceless. I feel like I'm experiencing life and gaining stories and memories that will shape my writing career. Or maybe that's just another excuse I can have for why I'm not actually writing anything...

Recently someone who has shaped my life in ways that he'll never know passed away. I haven't really dealt with his death yet. It just sits in the back of my heart simmering and gnawing at me. I know I'll have to recognize it and work through it, but I keep pushing it away like it doesn't affect me. I don't know if closure will ever come, but I don't regret a single thing.

Now things are a hundred times better in my personal life but financially I am scared out of my mind. In the past year and a half I've spent a couple thousand dollars. It's really overwhelming to see my savings account dwindle away. I don't mind working 80 hour weeks to do what I have to do, I just need to find a new job or a way to pick up more hours at Target. I don't want to regret anything in my life but it's hard to not regret the year I spent in Rochester paying $585 dollars for rent every month by myself. I worked my ass off and it's like I have nothing to show for it now. And the next 5 and a half years I'll be paying off this new car. I really hope I haven't made a mistake.

So there you have it. An update on my life. Now back to the book reviews. I'm going to start from scratch with the latest book I've read. It's called Bliss and it happens to be a mixture of The Andy Griffith Show, the Charles Manson murder trial, integration in schools, blood magic, first loves, and ghosts. If that doesn't catch your attention, I don't know what will!