#glory o'brien's history of the future

[reviewthisbook]

Reading Roundup: April 2020

Favourite > First & Then: Emma Mills - Finally made it to Emma Mills’ first novel, and it was great as usual. Good times.

Least Favourite > 16 Ways to Break a Heart: Lauren Strasnick - This is one of those books about toxic people with little to no redemption and you start to wonder what the point of the entire story is if everyone remains horrible. At first I really liked the writing and the voice but pretty soon things got way too dramatic for no reason. Just outrageous behaviour. It was not enjoyable to read.

Reread > The Luxe: Anna Godbersen

[nondualreality]

Not living your life is just like killing yourself, only it takes longer.

A.S. King, Glory O'Brien's History of the Future

[asreadbydana]

Contemporary-A-Thon TBR

Hello readers, it’s time for another read-a-thon! 

This time around I will be participating in the Contemporary-A-Thon from February 11 through February 17. There are 7 reading challenges and I will be attempting to meet them by reading these 4 books:

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan

Four Weeks, Five People by Jennifer Yu

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King

[housemavencalore]

Free yourself. Have the courage.

Ellie Heffner, Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future

[diaryofabookgirl]

Women In Young Adult Literature

This Wednesday we're celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women on International Women's Day. I’d like to use that as an opportunity to talk about a few of my favorite female characters in Young Adult books. Careful if you haven’t read these books because of possible spoilers.

Cather Avery (Fangirl)

Cather Avery and her twin sister Wren are starting college and Wren has announced she wants to discover college on her own, leaving an introvert Cath hiding out in her dorm, writing fan fiction. I really liked that Fangirl was about Cath as a character at first and everything else second. Cath is shy and introvert but she’s also sure of who she is and isn’t ashamed of that.

Madeline Whittier (Everything Everything)

Madeline has a rare illness which prevents her from leaving her house, but Maddy is a happy teenage girl. She reads a lot, takes classes online, has a friend in the form of her nurse. Despite the fact that she was missing out on so much in her life, she keeps being optimistic. It is impossible not to like her. Of course, she was also moody and curious. This curiosity eventually leads her to uncover a secret that will change everything for her.

Glory O’Brien (Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future)

One evening Glory and her best friend mix up beer with the remains of a bat (that is as weird as it sounds). Next thing they know they can see people’s pasts and futures. Glory becomes obsessed with the second civil war and decided to write down every piece of information she gathers from seeing people’s futures. I loved how Glory handled seeing the future. She questioned everything in her past and present; her future, the strange hippie community across the street and especially her mother’s suicide and what I means for her.

Rose Hathaway (Vampire Academy-series)

Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir and thus fated to guard a Moroi. She's determined to protect her best friend Lissa, a royal Moroi. Rose is sarcastic and insubordinate but she is fiercely loyal to Lissa. Over the course of the series Rose loves and loses Dimitri. The loss of him puts her friendship with Lissa and even her life at stake.

Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer trilogy and upcoming Shaw Confessions)

She has to power to kill people with a thought, but is she a villain? Throughout this trilogy, Mara tries to figure out what is happening with her. She means no harm, but around her people start dying under strange circumstances. She tries to understand her powers and is put in dangerous situations because of it. To get herself out of these situations she must use her power and questions who she is when she does.

Gwendolyn Shepard (Ruby Red)

Kerstin Gier gives us curious and funny heroines. These characteristics often put them in complicated situations. Take Gwendolyn, (Gwyneth in the US/UK editions) for example. She can travel through time but it isn’t nearly as fun as it sounds. She always taught her cousin would inherit the time travel gene, she isn’t ready to fulfill tasks that would take her across time. Yet, Gwendolyn uncovers the truth and stands her ground while taking on an ancient organization.

Shahrzad Al-Khayzuran (The Wrath and the Dawn)

She marries the Caliph, not to love him and be his bride, but to kill him. Khalid has had countless wives and has killed every one of them, including her best friend. But when Shahrzad finds out her husband is cursed she takes it upon herself to save him and their people. Shahrzad can come across as spoiled, but she also doesn’t take shit from anyone and doesn’t like to be told what to do.

Inej Ghafa & Nina Zenik (Six Of Crows)

Inej can climb the most impossible buildings. She grew up with loving parents but was separated from them and sold to a brothel. Her time there still causes her anxiety. Nina was a member of the second army in the Ravkan war. She's a heartrender. Nina loves her power, she loves food and she loves Matthias, who is supposed to be her enemy, and she knows he loves her too. Nina is determined to show him Grisha aren't evil like he has been told, to not only accept her but her kind as well. Inej and Nina are just as much a part of The Dregs as the boys and just as important for their mission.

Kestrel Trajan (The Winner’s trilogy)

As the general's daughter Kestrel knows politics very well. She has always had a privileged life. When Valorians and Herrani's go to war, Kestrel is put in a difficult position. Her people are in the wrong, but they are her people. Arin isn't one of them. He's her slave, the boy she's in love with. She has to help his people. Kestrel is often put before terrible options but they are her only options and what do you choose when the outcome is bound to be horrible either way?

Verity (Code name Verity)

“Kiss me, Hardy. Kiss me, quick!” Well, if this book didn’t destroy me. Verity is captured by Nazi’s and tortured until she agrees to write down everything she knows - everything. The first half of the book is her confession, the second half is told from her best friend’s POV. Maddie and Verity are major friendship goals. Their story was so inspiring and completely heartbreaking at the same time.

Bianca (The DUFF)

The Designated Ugly Fat Friend is what Robbie calls Bianca, explaining that it isn’t a bad thing, but it’s a fact. Bianca tries to not let this bother her, but it does. She is the DUFF. Despite the fact that he hates Robbie the two of them start a friends-with-benefits relation, except for the “friends” part because they hate each other. The book discusses many others topics, such as friendship, neglect, alcoholism and divorce. Bianca uses the words ‘slut’ and 'whore’ a lot throughout the book. In the end, she comes to a nice conclusion about these labels and ultimately it’s a good message. I would also recommend Kody’s other YA novels.

Linh Cinder (Cinder)

So far I’ve only read the first book in the Lunar Chronicles series, but it was enough to see that Cinder is bad-ass. She’s funny and sassy and the best mechanic in New Beijing. Instead of going to the Prince' ball she'd rather use that opportunity to elope from her evil guardian. Things don't go as planned when it's discovered that Cinder is a Lunar, that she has powers, and that if the Lunar queen finds out, she will take Cinder to Luna and most likely kill her.

[words-going-across-the-universe]

I will do great things. You will do great things. Most people can't handle that. Can you?

A.S. King, Glory O'Brien's History of the Future

[iwillreadyourbooks]

Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future By A.S.King

[kattra]

What I'm Reading

DECEMBER READS Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Tales From Watership Down by Richard Adams (SS) Ten Arguments For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by Jaron Lanier (NF) Five Little Indians by Michelle Good ** You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus A Portable Paradise by Roger Paradise (P) Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi All the Feels by Olivia Dade When Sorrows Come by Seanan McGuire Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans (SS) The Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent Birds Art Life by Kyo Maclear (NF) Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer A Princess of Roumania by Paul Park This Accident of Being Lost by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (P/SS) Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan ** Hotel Silence by Auður A. Ólafsdóttir What Lies Behind by J.T. Ellison Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy **

(184 books read / 180 books goal)

Currently Reading: Read, Listen, Tell: Indigenous Stories From Turtle Island edited by McCall/Reder/Gaertner/Hill (NF/SS) Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation by Mat Auryn (NF) Switch by A.S. King Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón (P)* The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by Susanna Clarke (SS)

* - re-read / ** - 4+ star rating on my goodreads GN - graphic novel // NF - non-fiction // P - poetry SS - short story/anthology / AB - audiobook

TBR: Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King* ** How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black (SS) I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid The Pisces by Melissa Broder Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino (NF)

[millennial-book-review]

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future

I just finished Glory O'Brien's History of the Future and my review is now live.

Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future is a 2014 young adult fantasy novel by A.S. King. It was published by Little, Brown books for Young Readers in October 2014. Following its release, the book was nominated for several awards, including 2015 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award, and won the 2015 NAIBA Book of the Year for Young Adult award. Graduating from high school is a time of limitless…

[books-n-quotes]

Not living your life is just like killing yourself, only it takes longer.

A.S. King, Glory O'Brien’s History of the Future

[downtownbumbling]

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future!

YA titles must contain one of the following words or you have to pay a fine:

blood crow queen ice crown fire bone true academy magic glass shade kingdom world shadow song sun ember secret legend star raven thief

[reviewthisbook]

I may have used the shut-down for the past three months to order from Book Outlet three times...

[rhymaes]

book asks: 2, 3 and 17

hello! :) Thanks so much for playing!

2. top 5 books of all time?

( THIS WAS HARD, but here it is for now, in no particular order):

 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future - A.S King

War of Foxes - Richard Siken OR The Collected Poems - Anne Sexton

3. what is your favorite genre?

I’m actually not sure! I love fiction and poetry so much, but I read around in a bit of everything? I do love contemporary fiction a lot, though.

17. top 5 children’s books?(from what i can remember!)

- Coraline - A Wrinkle in Time- The Hungry Catipillar- Chika Chika Boom Boom- Anne of Green Gables!

[asreadbydana]

February TBR

Here are the books I am hoping to get to this month! 

Since it’s Black History Month I am making it a priority to read some of the books on my TBR that are written by Black authors. I am also hoping to participate in Contemporary-A-Thon so that I can kind of force myself to pick up the non-Fantasy books on my shelf, lol. 

What are you planning to read in February?? 

[housemavencalore]

I might buy a glistening crystal ball and lay it down before you. Roll it between us, and teach you that the future is round. And upon shattering it, show you it is as vast as the shard that surround us, as sharp as teeth in living traps. I will startle you with warnings, scold you with expectations, and not confine you to my limits, but our limits. Cells made of cells made of cells, we are a chain of fierce knitting, a patchwork of relation that does not fray. I shall buy a pouch made of leather and pass it on to you, delicately, filled with my dust. Then I will tell you a story.

Darla O’Brien, Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future

[jmholloway]

Do you know where you are, Winston?' he said.

'I don't know. I can guess. In the Ministry of Love.'

'Do you know how long you have been here?'

'I don't know. Days, weeks, months -- I think it is months.'

'And why do you imagine that we bring people to this place?'

'To make them confess.'

'No, that is not the reason. Try again.'

'To punish them.'

'No!' exclaimed O'Brien. His voice had changed extraordinarily, and his face had suddenly become both stern and animated. 'No! Not merely to extract your confession, not to punish you. Shall I tell you why we have brought you here? To cure you! To make you sane! Will you understand, Winston, that no one whom we bring to this place ever leaves our hands uncured? We are not interested in those stupid crimes that you have committed. The Party is not interested in the overt act: the thought is all we care about. We do not merely destroy our enemies, we change them. Do you understand what I mean by that?'

He was bending over Winston. His face looked enormous because of its nearness, and hideously ugly because it was seen from below. Moreover it was filled with a sort of exaltation, a lunatic intensity. Again Winston's heart shrank. If it had been possible he would have cowered deeper into the bed. He felt certain that O'Brien was about to twist the dial out of sheer wantonness. At this moment, however, O'Brien turned away. He took a pace or two up and down. Then he continued less vehemently:

'The first thing for you to understand is that in this place there are no martyrdoms. You have read of the religious persecutions of the past. In the Middle Ages there was the Inquisition. It was a failure. It set out to eradicate heresy, and ended by perpetuating it. For every heretic it burned at the stake, thousands of others rose up. Why was that? Because the Inquisition killed its enemies in the open, and killed them while they were still unrepentant: in fact, it killed them because they were unrepentant. Men were dying because they would not abandon their true beliefs. Naturally all the glory belonged to the victim and all the shame to the Inquisitor who burned him. Later, in the twentieth century, there were the totalitarians, as they were called. There were the German Nazis and the Russian Communists. The Russians persecuted heresy more cruelly than the Inquisition had done. And they imagined that they had learned from the mistakes of the past; they knew, at any rate, that one must not make martyrs. Before they exposed their victims to public trial, they deliberately set themselves to destroy their dignity. They wore them down by torture and solitude until they were despicable, cringing wretches, confessing whatever was put into their mouths, covering themselves with abuse, accusing and sheltering behind one another, whimpering for mercy. And yet after only a few years the same thing had happened over again. The dead men had become martyrs and their degradation was forgotten. Once again, why was it? In the first place, because the confessions that they had made were obviously extorted and untrue. We do not make mistakes of that kind. All the confessions that are uttered here are true. We make them true. And above all we do not allow the dead to rise up against us. You must stop imagining that posterity will vindicate you, Winston. Posterity will never hear of you. You will be lifted clean out from the stream of history. We shall turn you into gas and pour you into the stratosphere. Nothing will remain of you, not a name in a register, not a memory in a living brain. You will be annihilated in the past as well as in the future. You will never have existed.'