Review: Burning by Elana K. Arnold + Giveaway

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Rating: 5/5 stars
Pub Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Delacorte Press (imprint of Random House)
Genre: young adult contemporary
Format/Source: DRC, Netgalley
Status: Standalone

Summary:

Ben: Having just graduated from high school, Ben is set to leave Gypsum, Nevada. It's good timing since the gypsum mine that is the lifeblood of the area is closing, shutting the whole town down with it. Ben is lucky: he's headed to San Diego, where he's got a track scholarship at the University of California. But his best friends, Pete and Hog Boy, don't have college to look forward to, so to make them happy, Ben goes with them to check out the hot chick parked on the side of Highway 447. 

Lala: She and her Gypsy family earn money by telling fortunes. Some customers choose Tarot cards; others have their palms read. The thousands of people attending the nearby Burning Man festival spend lots of cash--especially as Lala gives uncanny readings. But lately Lala's been questioning whether there might be more to life than her upcoming arranged marriage. And the day she reads Ben's cards is the day that everything changes for her. . . and for him.

Reivew:

Disclaimer: I obtained a copy of Burning from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the cover and description for Burning when I found it on Netgalley so I gave it a shot and was approved for a copy. I read the first couple pages and was completely hooked. If it weren't for work, I would have read the entire thing in one sitting. Right now, I'm really drawn in by novels featuring split perspective. It's like two novels in one when you experience two characters.

Ben is...perfect. There's no way around it. I really wish I knew a guy like Ben in real life. I don't mean he's perfect as in he always does the best thing. Rather, Ben always tries to do the best thing. Ben's narrative is exquisitely saturated with his emotions, predominantly guilt for abandoning his loved ones, relief for escaping, and desire for Lala. It's raw and real. I felt completely like I was in the head of an actual 18-year old boy/man on the eve of his separation from his childhood, the life he's always known.

Then there's Gypsy Lala. I really never considered Gypsy culture much before, but it was really interesting to read Lala's chapters because her life was so different from anything I've ever known before. I love Lala's formal speech and her drive to know more. She's incredibly perspective, even for a member of her family, which makes for some really fantastic scenes, like Ben's Tarot reading. I loved reading Lala's evolution throughout the novel, her love of her family fighting against her need to be free. I really felt for her.

This was my first Elana K. Arnold, and it definitely won't be my last. Elana's words flow like poetry, creating gorgeously vivid images and intense feelings for the characters and their problems. I tend to get very drawn into my reading because that's the way I read, but Elana's words would have forced me to care even if I were a different kind of reader. Lala and Ben were characters I would love to know and befriend. The supporting characters were just as integral: James, Pete, even Hog Boy. I wanted to be in Gypsum, swim in the pond, experience the Burning Man festival (well, parts of it...). I could see all of this, and I wanted it for myself.

Burning is deep and thoughtful. It makes statements without being pushy or moral. I like that the characters were able to grow and change realistically, even in such a short amount of time. The ending is definitely bittersweet, but I honestly can't see it resolving in any other way. It felt true to the characters, to the situation. Nothing was forced; it was completely natural, as if Elana were simply relaying a true story. To me, that's the mark of a fantastic novel.

Recommended for: A realistic contemporary

Not recommended for: Anyone offended by language, sex, or a different culture. The sex and language is natural and not overly present, but the culture shock between typical American culture and Lala's life is somewhat severe. If you're not willing to be open-minded and respectful about the differences, I say skip it.

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About the Author:

ELANA K. ARNOLD completed her M.A. in Creative Writing/Fiction at the University of California, Davis. She grew up in Southern California, where she was lucky enough to have her own horse--a gorgeous mare named Rainbow--and a family who let her read as many books as she wanted. She lives in Long Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. She is represented by Rubin Pfeffer of the East/West Literary Agency. Sacred is her debut novel.

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Giveaway details:

This is not exactly my giveaway. I am simply hosting it for Random House. I will choose the winner via Rafflecopter, then pass the winner's information to Random House, who will send the prize.

Contest will run until 12 AM June 7.

UPDATE: CONTEST IS OPEN TO US AND CANADA!

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