Review: Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
Reviewed by Maggie: April 3, 2013
Published May 9, 2006 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Originally published Oct 5, 1992 by Puffin/Penguin Australia
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The first Marchetta. The only one I hadn't read. It was as precious to me as a last born in Charyn and I kept it hidden away for as long as I could. And then Carla declared that it was time to break the emergency glass on this book.

Josephine Alibrandi had me from the beginning. I knew I was dealing with a kindred spirit when on page 5 she says,

"Believe me, I could write a book about problems. Yet my mother says that as long as we have a roof over our head we have nothing to worry about. Her naivete really scares me."

Josie is whip smart, a scholarship student at a fancy private school who dreams about being a lawyer. She's been raised in the loving bosom of her single mother, Christina, who got pregnant at 16, and the suffocating bosom of her grandmother, Nonna Katia, who moved to Australia from Italy at 17. She knows her father is Michael Andretti, the boy next door, but she's never met him. Then one day, Michael Andretti shows up to visit her grandmother. Suddenly, the HSC (High School Certificate), mean girls, and her overbearing Nonna are the least of her problems. And then there's Jacob Coote, the boy from Cook High who caught her attention with a speech about voting and who dances pretty well too.

Guys, I never realized I was Italian-Australian. Okay, all joking aside, I know it's Marchetta and she speaks to me as few authors do, but still, imagine my surprise that as an ethnic Korean born and raised in the US, Josie Alibrandi is a character I related to on such a personal level. I can't even think of another character who comes close. Growing up, I remember thinking how much easier it would be if my family was European instead of Asian. It's not that I disliked who I was, but oh, to not have to prove my Americanness or my ability to speak English, to not have to worry about people pulling their eyes back and telling me to "go back to my country." I knew other immigrants and minorities dealt with their own prejudices, but I was convinced that Europeans, who didn't look so obviously foreign, had an easier time. Actually, scratch that. I was convinced they had an easy time, period. Josie's opinion of rich students like Ivy Lloyd and John Barton reminded me of that. She was sure their privilege cocooned them from her harsh reality. As a young girl, she was ostracized for being a bastard child by other Italians. As a student, she was called out for being on scholarship by other wealthy students. However, when someone says they would hate to be Italian after listening to her, she says,

"No. You can't hate what you're part of. What you are. I resent it most of the time, curse it always, but it'll be part of me till the day I die."

This. A thousand times this. I don't think you can sum up the immigrant experience in a few words, but this is pretty damn close.

I know I'm making it sound like an issue book because I was so impressed with Marchetta's portrayal of it, but it's not -- or it's not just that. I'm not surprised it's considered a modern classic in Australia and studied in school. Josie actually reminded me of another classic character. Remember when I was talking about gumption?

"I'm not ready for heaven yet and I don't think heaven is ready for me."

Josie, the spitfire, reminded me so much of Anne Shirley. They're both dreamers who won't settle for the status quo. Or personal attacks. Slates are nothing compared to modern science books. Jacob Coote, though, is no Gilbert Blythe. Still, Josie's interactions with Jacob, and her decision whether or not to sleep with him, and her regret at said decision, and her regret at her regret were so honest.

I don't think this is the best Marchetta (that honor goes to The Piper's Son and Froi of the Exiles), but it's the one closest to my heart.

Rating: 4/5 stars.

YAA Soundtrack: The Piper's Son

By Noelle

If you scroll through my favorite books on Goodreads, chances are I have a soundtrack for them on my iPod.  For any other playlist aficionados out there who enjoy making and listening to book-themed soundtracks, you've come to the right place!  We will occasionally be posting links to playlists from my personal soundtrack collection. 

Oh, The Piper's Son. One of my favorite books of all time.  Let's just say I've redone this playlist at least 15 times in the past year.  Lots of family songs.  Lots of second chances songs.  Lots of going home songs.  Yearning, desperate, hopeful songs? Oh, and a few bad life decision songs. I will try not to edit this playlist 15 more times this year but I can't make any promises when there's a Mackee involved.

In the meantime, you can listen to the playlist on Grooveshark. Here's the tracklisting with any liner notes if necessary:

1. Ho Hey - The Lumineers: You may say this is overplayed (the curse of the year old playlist strikes again!) but is it if you pretend it's about Tom Mackee? IS IT?
2. Home - Daughter: "I was drunk again, causing accidents. Oh, you're not a friend, you're nothing."

3. Between the Bars - Elliott Smith: Fathers & sons, part one.

4. Little Black Submarines - The Black Keys: Totally didn't drunk dial you, Tara.  I don't know what you're talking about.

5. The Rat - The Walkmen

6. Hold On - Alabama Shakes: Just so you know, in my mental Mackee movie this is the point where Tom moves in with Georgie.

7. Heart - Oberhofer

8. Cape Canaveral - Conor Oberst: Fathers & Sons, part two. Families! Grief! Ag!
9. Sleep All Summer - St. Vincent and the National: You didn't think I'd ignore Georgie (and Sam) did you?  (Although this works for Tom and Tara too.)

10. Under Mountain, Under Ground - The Lighthouse and the Whaler

11. Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men: Sure this too might be overplayed but find me a more perfect Georgie and Sam song I DARE YOU.
12. Take Me Home - Perfume Genius

13. It All Starts Now - Foreign Slippers: Because I need to end things happy for my favorite characters---even on their playlists!

14. Adventures in Solitude - The New Pornographers: "We thought we lost you.  Welcome back."

As always, thanks for listening!

Review: Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta
(Lumatere Chronicles #3)
Reviewed by Maggie: October 26, 2012
Published September 26, 2012 by Viking Australia
To Be Published March 12, 2013 by Candlewick
Goodreads • Buy at Fishpond • Preorder at Amazon



What can I say about this book but faith rewarded? How do I begin to talk about a series that turned me onto a new genre?

Marchetta took me on a journey through an unfamiliar genre and story landscape, through curses and the Citavita. Looking back on Finnikin, I couldn't even finish my review because I was so unused to fantasy. I was exhausted by the little I did manage to write. By the time I read Froi, I was better prepared and any exhaustion I felt was due to the emotional ride from the book.

With Quintana, I could talk about how Lucian and Perri should star in their own buddy cop show, or how being in Quintana's head seemed like the most natural place to be. I loved so many of the characters, but for me, this series comes down to two people -- Isaboe and Froi. The things that bond them are at the heart of the series. They are the faces of children of war.

In Isaboe, we see what war does to a once beloved, sheltered child. Her experiences in Sarnak and Sorel shape the fierce queen she’s become. She’s unflinching. However, sometimes that results in a harshness that had me wincing. It's how she survived on her own, but it may not be the best way to ensure her people's survival.

For Froi, it was Sir Topher who prevented him from going down an irreversible path, but that and a belief in a girl with magic, shaped the man he became. His journey of redemption -- never once forgetting what could have been -- is about overcoming all the experiences that can break you and turn you into someone you're not. I loved seeing the person Froi came to be when given love and when he gave his love in return. It was so wholehearted and pure. It was devastating to think what war did to the boy with that much heart.

One character I didn't feel much affection for was Lady Zarah. To quote the great Dionne Warwick, I got your number, hussy!

Quintana of Charyn tested the bounds of loyalty, friendship, and family, and what it meant to be Lumateran, Charynite, Queen, husband, wife, lover, and friend. It's about having faith first, like a boy with cats once did, so it can be rewarded later. I loved being in this world and I hope Marchetta revisits it again, as I know I will.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

I leave the playlist-making to Noelle, but one song that played over and over in my head while reading Quintana was This Woman's Work by Kate Bush.

YAA Soundtrack: Lumatere Boxset

by Noelle

If you scroll through my favorite books on Goodreads, chances are I have a soundtrack for them on my iPod.  And like any music-obsessed person, I live to force my favorite songs on others.  For any other playlist aficionados out there who enjoy making and listening to book-themed soundtracks, you've come to the right place!  We will occasionally be posting links to playlists from my personal soundtrack collection.

This is a very special multi-blog soundtrack collection that I'm super excited to participate in: The Lumatere Boxset!  The idea came about chatting with the lovely Catie (of The Readventurer) and Reynje (of the brand new wordchasing) and our mutual love of book soundtracks.  Before long, we decided to try our hand at a trilogy, specifically a playlist for each book in the Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta.  I chose Finnikin of the Rock.  

Visit wordchasing for Reynje's soundtrack for Froi of the Exiles and The Readventurer for Catie's soundtrack for Quintana of Charyn next!

First up is Finnikin!

  

Since the Lumatere Trilogy is a fantasy, I tried to go for cinematic soundtrack choices for my tracklist.  I could imagine most of these songs playing in scenes from a Finnikin of the Rock movie or trailer.  Besides that, I tried to choose songs about epic journeys and the ol' standby emotional ANGST.  

Take a listen to the Grooveshark playlist or check out the tracklisting below:

1. O Death - Jen Titus
2. Endless Night - The Lion King Broadway Original Cast: What? First of all a) this is a total father son song for Trevanion and Finnikin and b) this entire show has something in common with Marchetta: they both make me sob.
3. Wading Deep Waters - Crooked Still
4. Ivory Tower - Tripod
5. Sorrow - The National: Sorrow found me when I was young... 
6. Cold, Cold Water - Mirah: This song always reminded me of Evanjalin.
7. Poison and Wine - The Civil Wars: My Evanjalin/Finnikin song.
8. Do Not Hang Your Head - Elizabeth and the Catapult: Sometimes manipulating loved ones to achieve the freedom of your people can really wear you down.
9.  You Will Be My Ain True Love - Allison Krauss
10. Just Breathe - Pearl Jam 
11. Hold you In My Arms - Ray LaMontagne: Because I'm a sucker for ending on a happy note.

Thanks for listening!  How'd I do?  And don't forget to check out Reynje's Froi soundtrack and Catie's Quintana soundtrack to listen to the complete set!

YA Authors... Like A Boss!

2nd May, 2012: Melina Marchetta writes a post on goodreads where she mentions the possibility of an event in LA.

2nd May, 2012: Maggie writes a comment to said post on goodreads where she shamelessly throws herself at Melina, begging her to hold an event in LA.

4th May, 2012: Melina responds. LIKE A BOSS.

There's a reason why she's called The Queen. And I will bet on the Goddess of Blood and Tears every day of the week! Is anyone else planning on going to Comic-Con and/or stalking Melina around LA?

YAA Confessions: My Friends Are Enablers

By: Maggie

And they're spectacular!

If you ever want to see me shrieking "Are you serious? Are you serious?!" over and over again in front of Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, this is how you do it:

1. Get me an autographed Melina Marchetta book.
2. That's pretty much all it takes.

My friend Anna, who has just been given Most Favored Enabler status, came for a visit and surprised me with Looking for Alibrandi. The book itself was shriek-worthy because it's the one Marchetta I don't own.  If you've seen the US edition, you know why. It's also the one Marchetta I haven't read. I wanted to save it for after Quintana, when I'd be desperate for my next Marchetta fix. As I was oohing over the cover, Anna told me to open the book.

Initiate full fangirl mode. As I explained to the people looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and fear, Melina Marchetta signed this book! Melina Marchetta signed this book... to me!! It's now nestled on my Marchetta shelf. Now the question is whether to wait for Quintana or not. Hmm...