Friday, July 26, 2013

The Thing About Books: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

I know this week was supposed to be Caitlyn's turn for this but she's at camp for a week that's why she's been MIA for a while now! Don't fret though I'm not going to be talking to myself! 
I asked Monica AKA the awesome book-ish friend over at Cover Analysis if she would like to join me on this fine lovely Friday! This week we shall be discussing....



~The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater~ 
Taherah:
Unfortunately for me The Raven Boys did not live up to its hype :/

Monica:  
I saw people saying they loved it but I guess, since I read Shiver, I didn't pay much attention to it, you know? I read Shiver before The Raven Boys to get a taste of what Maggie's writing is like.

Taherah: 
Mhmmm yeah I just had really high expectations for it. Shiver was an ok series. And I just thought that Maggie's writing style would be a bit different for this book since it's a different genre and stuff.

Monica:  
Same. The Raven Boys was more light-hearted and funny, getting to know everyone, very different concept. There's just something that I don't particularly like about her writing, I can't put my finger on it though.

Taherah:  
Agreed! She has a very different writing style that some people either hate or love.

Monica:  
I've noticed that in the reviews on Goodreads. I like her writing but there's something that doesn't make me love it.

Taherah:  
I feel you. What did you think about The Raven Boys??

Monica:  
I liked it! A lot. Physic Blue and her family, Gansey trying to find Glendower with his friends. Everyone was really interesting.

Taherah:  
Characters were definitely interesting and cool. But the plot had me confused and it was all over the place.

Monica:  
Same! I understood the basics but when it came to details, I had to re-read it so many times.

Taherah:  
YES except I didn't really take the time to reread it those parts...I probably should have but it made me even more confused so I left it at that.

Monica:  
I think if I re-read the book, I would understood the concept a little more but what really bugged me was that there was so much foreshadowing.

Taherah:  
*nods* The thing with that teacher was one right?

Monica:  
Yes, then Blue's visions and the ones that both Gansey and her experienced in the tree.

Taherah 
Yeah *vaguely remembers*

Monica:  
But it gets me pumped too, you know? Like WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

Taherah:  
Is it bad that I felt the opposite?

Monica:  
Mhmm, to one's own

Taherah:
:P Tis true tis true...I will admit that Blue was a really cool character though was she was one of the reasons I finished the book.

Monica:  
She was! I laughed out loud so many times with what she said

Taherah:
She was a very chill character too :D She was good for the book if that makes sense

Monica:
Mhmm, I understand. She pushed the plot forward

Taherah:
Exactly! What were the boys names again?

Monica:
Ronan, Adam, and Noah

Taherah
There were 3 or 4 of them altogether?

 Monica:
4 including Gansey too

Taherah:
Adam was the one that liked Blue?

Monica:
Yeah

Taherah:
Ronan was the moody one?

Monica:
Yeah, with the bird

Taherah:
Mhmmmm dude have you seen TRB paperback cover?

Monica:
Yes and I don't really like it.

Taherah:
They seriously didn't need to add the guys in the background.

Monica:
I feel like it's not that big of a deal but I just ..meh. I'm glad I have the original.

Taherah:
The original cover is really pretty

Monica:
Mhmm. I felt it was more mysterious that way.

Taherah:
Now GANSEY: determined

Monica:
Gansey: Smart

Taherah
*nods* Yeah Gansey didn't really seem like a jerk either

 Monica:
He seems so cool, the kind of guy I want to high five.

Taherah:
I really didn't seem to have a problem with the characters

Monica:
Me neither, it was mostly plot-wise that I had a problem with. The characters were all so great.

Taherah:
Yeah if she explained the plot better and made it a bit less complex then I would've liked it more.

 Monica:
I liked it the mythology though. So much. Discovering ley lines and the latin trees was cool.

Taherah:
Ley lines had me confused. I didn't really understand how they worked and all :/

Monica:
Reading reviews it seems The Raven Boys was a hit or miss.

Taherah:
Yup but enough people must have liked it to get 4 stars on GR

Monica:
It was a good book overall though

Taherah:
Meh...I'd go with 1.5-2 stars not to be rude or anything but it did have potential but it was also something not made for me.

Monica:
I think it will pick up in the next book though.

Taherah:
You can read it and tell me how it is :D :D

Monica:
You have yourself a deal.

So what did YOU guys think about our convo? 
Had the same feelings as us? Liked it more than us?
Let us know and comment!! 

And thank you again Monica for doing this with me! 

6 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness. I felt the same way as you guys did! Ley lines, the plot, and all that shananiganz was hella CONFUSING! I gave The Raven Boys a 2.5 out of 5 stars. It was just a NO NO for me. I didn't like the Shiver trilogy either! I think Maggie Stiefvater's writing style is just not my cup of tea.

    Leigh
    Little Book Star

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    Replies
    1. Exactly! Glad I'm not the only black sheep around here :P

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  2. I actually really loved The Raven Boys, but I totally get where you're coming from with the plot being all over the place. I had to reread a few scenes and still felt like I was missing stuff, but I loved the characters so much, especially Blue and Gansey, that it made it worth it for me.

    Maggie's writing style is just very hit or miss. I loved Shiver, but ended up DNFing the second book and never read the third.

    The Scorpio Races is by far my favorite of her books.

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    Replies
    1. I think it's great people appreciate her writing style! I also believe it depends on her books and the type of genre people like as well. Thanks for commenting :)

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  3. Haha, I just finished rereading this book, since I was going to read The Dream Thieves. I really liked The Raven Boys, but yeah, it seemed like it was either a hit or miss. I just really enjoy the character development and Maggie's writing style( not everyone seems to love it, though :p). I guess I never really got confused during the plot. Idk, everything seemed pretty easy to go along with for me ;) I haven't read her other books( I did try to read Shiver, but didn't really like it).

    Nevertheless, I hope Monica ends up liking The Dream Thieves. So far it is sort of boring, but I just started it, so I think it will pick up soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I re-read the Raven Boys right after this! I took my time with it and I found myself understanding it a bit more. The writing still was a little odd but yes, the character development for everyone was so great. I even picked up a few jokes I missed the last time I read!

      I hope so! I heard it was focused more on Ronan than anyone else. Focusing on him rather than the entire scheme of things but *shrugs* I'll wait and see!

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