Carry On My Wayward Rainbows
- Mel Astra
- Jan 20, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 8, 2020
"You were the sun... And I was crashing into you."
When the second book of the Simon Snow series by Rainbow Rowell came out I decided it was time to read the first book. I had never read a Rowell book but most of her books have been on her to read list. It just so happened that I felt like reading a gay love story with a little bit of magic.
Carry On wasn't what I wanted in the end, but is what I should have expected.
That just sounds bad.
It wasn't. I loved it. It was a great book and I truly enjoyed it.
For a while I had surrounded myself in fanfiction (I know) and I needed a little more. A little more story. A little bit better writing (I mean look at mine). Not saying that fanfiction is trash, because some of it is just captivating. But I read too much and I just need something different and something more. Wow. Tangent much.
Anyways- back to the review.
Lets start with the cover. Two handsome young men. A sword. A wand. AND a dragon! Not only that, but it was beautifully done with the purples and grays. The art is semi realism and honestly what I aspire to. Lets just say the cover is to die for. It's what caught my eye. That and the lgbtq tag, that got my attention too. So seeing these two characters and reading the synopsis I new that yes, this is what I wanted. Simon in his bronzy curls and his maybe soon to be "evil" black haired lover Baz, was what I had been looking for.
Onto the book itself. I love a bit of artwork throughout the book and this had a piece between each section of significant moments of that what was to come. It also had a map of the school and who doesn't like maps. It's lovely.
The book is split into different point of views and recently that's all I had been reading so it wasn't what I wanted but I most certainly didn't hate it. There was a bit of mystery by introducing a character and their thoughts without really being brought in by the main character. I would love to say I love a good mystery but that would be a lie. Yet I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out who this person was.
Now I'm no English major but we're going to talk about the writing anyways. This is a review.
This a YA novel so I'm going to keep that in mind. To me I know I loved the writing, that it's really stuck to me when I start talking and thinking like what I just read. This didn't happen with this book. The writing wasn't beautiful or poetic or confusing or too simplistic. No stylistic flair. That's not a bad thing. Rowell is better than average in her writing, most certainly better than my crap. Let's just say it's not the first thing that captivates her readers. As this being the first book I've read by her I cant compare to her past works and although her writing isn't drool worthy I enjoyed it.
Lets talk story. The rise if lgbtq books is ever rising. There was a time I would go to book store and just look on disappointed I couldn't get my gay on and had to go online and buy what I wanted. Now I see hints of the rainbow flag here and there among books stores. So praise to Rowell for getting her book on the shelves. That's saying a lot because not all lgbtq books are worthy. Those who have scoured the m/m, f/f, and otherwise section understand, the writing can be average at best and that's just one part of a book. Yay- tangent again.
Now lets really talk story. Main character, Simon, the "chosen one" who cant seem to control the magic that is supposed to make him the chosen one. His best friend Penny, smart see's things others are too distracted to see and solely focused in things she cares about, a little thick too. Last but not least Baz, who gets introduced early but doesn't have his own dialogue until mid way, vampire, loves a little hard (however you want to look at that- and no not like that you pervs) and my favorite character. Each chapter is almost a new or reintroduced character, rarely is it the same character talking chapter after chapter unless your Simon or Baz. In this I think as confusing as it can possibly be if your not one to keep up was a risk that she was right to take. I'm used to two perspectives, maybe a third on occasion, but in this book there are maybe eight in total (now don't get worried some only have there own chapter once).
It's an adventure story that starts mid Simon's adventures (since he got his powers at 11 and everything went to crap after that). That past is mentioned especially since it has a lot to do with what's happening in the present. As adventurous as it is even with all the magic its sort of leaning into contemporary. (Which I'm worried about in the second book since it's not always my favorite). I say leaning because it can never be fully contemporary as long as there magic and mythical beings. It's a growing up story, life's a rollercoaster kind of thing, and I think that's one of the main reasons it got the reviews it did, bit plot twist and all.
Now I'm sure there's more to talk about but for now I hope I made you a bit interested in reading this book because it's worth reading. The second book is another stroy (but we'll get there when we get there).
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