Friday, May 20, 2011

Obsession with Possession

Wow!!! Elana Johnson's debut novel Possession is stunning. I adored it. The world is awesome - so well drawn, you know you could pack up and visit it - if you're that brave!

Elana's use of language is beautiful - whether the mood is snarky or scary or steaming! Here's one of my favourite passages ...

Conversations passed between us, things we couldn't say out loud but that patched up all the holes in the silence.
The entire book is full of passages that I had to stop and read again - just to enjoy them all over again. Well done, Elana, well done!

There's another section about The End (and no, it's not at the end, but it's past the middle, so I don't want to quote it!) that is powerful.

And the ending? Wow! Just Wow!!!

If you're not on the Elana rocket, grab your luggage and jump on board - she's heading for the stars.

And before she hits those stars, she's going to drop by here on Monday to talk about world building. I know! I'm excited too. (Can you tell by the ridiculous amount of !!!! in this post?) :)

What's the best book you've read lately? I bet you can guess mine!

58 comments:

Mary said...

Ooh, yay! I actually have an ARC of this one & can't wait to read it. She's so awesome -- want her book to rock, too. But you liked it, so it's got to be good!

Jemi Fraser said...

Mary - you're going to LOVE it!! It's really the best I've read in a bit - and I've read a lot of good ones! :)

Beth Zimmerman said...

I'll have to see if this one is available for Nook. I need to stock up for a road trip next weekend.

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

Well, now I can't wait to read Possession. Thank you for this. I'll have to stop by on Monday, too. And as for the best book I've read lately: probably Paper Towns by John Green.

Jemi Fraser said...

Beth - it's awesome! I'm not sure if it's on the nook or not though! Have fun and be safe on the road trip :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Cynthia - you'll love it! Hope you do :)

I haven't read that one - thanks for the tip - I'll have to check it out!

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Lucky you and yay Elana! I can't wait to read it.

Jemi Fraser said...

Tricia - I know! Lucky me indeed :) You're going to love the book!

Meagan Spooner said...

I actually just won an ARC of this--I've been sooo looking forward to reading it. It's heading to Elana to get personalized, and then heading to my address hopefully just in time for me to arrive home and snatch it up.

I've been hearing awesome things about it!

Jemi Fraser said...

Megan - Lucky you! You're going to LOVE it!! The story is really compelling - and the characters rock!! :)

Michael Di Gesu said...

Looking forward to the interview on Monday. Have a great weekend, Jemi.

Janet Johnson said...

So awesome she's coming to your blog!

Can't wait to read it. :)

Stephanie Thornton said...

I don't plan to read much YA this year, but Elana's has been on my list since she got her book deal. I'm glad to hear such rave reviews about it!

Old Kitty said...

Love your enthusiastic review!!! Good luck to Elana Johnson and her much-talked about book!! Yay!! Take care
x

Paula RC said...

After such a great review I shall have to check it out.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Elana used to comment on my blog but suddenly stopped. I will certainly look at her book thanks for sharing this.

Yvonne.

Jemi Fraser said...

Michael - thanks! Me too - Elana's great :)

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Great review! Looking forward to her post on worldbuilding. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Janet - I know! I'm excited!! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephanie - I read quite a lot of YA and MG with my kids reading it. Possession is in my list of top faves! You'll enjoy it :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Old Kitty - thanks! I love the book - Vi is an awesome character! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Jarmara - you won't be disappointed! As soon as I finished the book I had to write down my thoughts - it 'got' me!

Jemi Fraser said...

Yvonne - Elana visits an enormous amount of blogs - so she doesn't get to visit everyone too often. I think you'll enjoy the book - it's a great read :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Elizabeth - thanks! World building is a lot of fun. Elana's world is very real - I can't wait to see her tips :)

Southpaw said...

That is a beautiful sentence. It is on my list. It comes out in June right?

Jemi Fraser said...

Holly - I know! It's a beautifully written book. It's out on June 7th! :)

Golden Eagle said...

Great review!

I'm looking forward to her post on world-building. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Golden Eagle - thanks! It was an easy book to talk about! :)

She's such a great writer - it'll be awesome to hear her thoughts!

Lisa Gail Green said...

Oh I cannot WAIT to read Possession!! I'm so excited. I just finished 3 amazing books as well. Red Glove, CoFA, and Original Sin. All incredible. There are so many more I need to get to..

Jemi Fraser said...

Lisa - you're going to love it! There have been so many great books out lately! It's a lot of fun :)

Mari said...

Wow, you sure stirred my curiosity! I'll definitely be back here on Monday to see what Elana has to say.

Jemi Fraser said...

Mari - It's a terrific book! The characters are so vivid and exciting! :)

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Yay, Elana. I'll be back.

Jemi Fraser said...

Teresa - yay Elana indeed! She totally rocks! :)

Helen Ginger said...

It sounds like a fabulous books. I love books that make me stop and go back to re-read passages.

Jemi Fraser said...

Helen - me too - even when in the middle of an action packed sequence, there are some passages that reach out to grab you! :)

Talli Roland said...

Elana's book sounds so awesome - I read the sample chapter she had up and was blown away. I can't wait until it comes to the UK! Hopefully soon...

Jemi Fraser said...

Talli - you're going to love the whole book. It's so frustrating when things don't become available in our sports when they're available in others!

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

So much fun. Those books sound amazing ;)

Jemi Fraser said...

Elisabeth - it really is! I enjoyed it so much :)

Unknown said...

Sounds like a great book. I'll be sure to take a look at it.

Jemi Fraser said...

Mary - If you like action packed YA with great characters, you'll love it :)

Nichole Giles said...

I love it too. Such a great book, beautifully written, and I already can't wait to read the next one!

Anonymous said...

Wow that's beautiful writing, Elana is a very talented lady. Look forward to seeing it.

Jemi Fraser said...

Nichole - I know! I hope her next book isn't too far away! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Catherine - it is! THe book is full of passages that screamed out to be reread! :)

Elana is amazing :)

Dawn Simon said...

I really want to read POSSESSION! I have to get it soon!

I loved WICKED LOVELY, which I remember you enjoyed as well. :)

Yay about Elana! I'm happy for her!

LTM said...

yep, can't wait! Thanks, J~ :o) <3

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I've heard so many good things about Possession. I'm looking forward to reading it!

Jemi Fraser said...

Dawn - Wicked Lovely is another good one. You're going to LOVE Possession!

Jemi Fraser said...

Leigh - I feel so lucky to have enjoyed Possession early! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynda - it's a really enjoyable book - I devoured it! :)

Elana Johnson said...

WOW! Thanks! I'm glad I scrolled down to read this! You must email me the part at "The End" that you liked. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Elana - you're welcome! It was the part where Jag talks about The End - not actually at the end ... if that makes sense! :)

Talei said...

Best book lately? I'm reading an old one of Jennifer Weiners 'The last goodnight.' ;-)

Happy Friday!

Jemi Fraser said...

Talei - I haven't read that one - I'll have to check it out :)

TerryLynnJohnson said...

I'm reading this right now! Agree! love it. I've just finished Blood Magic which I also ADORED!

Jemi Fraser said...

It's awesome! I'm actually listening to Elana in a live chat right now - through her website. It's great to hear her thinking!