BOOK
REVIEW : Caraval
By
Stephanie Garber
BY SULPHIA IQBAL
WARNING:
If you haven’t read the book yet, stop at the 2nd section.
ALSO:
ISN’T THAT COVER JUST BEAUTIFUL??
MY THOUGHTS
Caraval was an emotional roller coaster through a
complex web of mystery and the unknown, sisterhood and friendship, sprinkled
with the right amount of magical goodness, so unlike other books you might have
read this year.
There
are times where I’m reading a book and there are just far too many problems to
ignore. At some point, I usually put said book down and call it a day. That was
not the case with this one. While Caraval was not perfect, it made me feel
like that was okay, like I didn’t have to think too much about what I
was reading. It was simply Caraval, the story of two sisters and
their everlasting, steadfast love and friendship.
Scarlett
and her younger sister Tella live on an island with their harsh and rigid
father who plans to force Scarlett into marrying a guy she’s never met.
After the disappearance of their mother years ago, their father’s personality
had begun to transform him into an abusive man, willing to punish one
sister for the fault of another just to make his consequences clear.
The two
sisters grew up hearing many stories from their grandmother who introduces the
story of the Legend. According to grandma, Legend conducts Caraval (
this game that’s almost like a reality game show mixed with Willy Wonka )
every year, each game with its different purpose. He invites
exclusive players to play one another for the grand prize: a wish
granted by Legend himself. Scar and Tella idolized Legend while growing up.
They wrote to the gamemaster each year, asking him to visit and help them
escape the wrath of their father. They would eagerly wait for a letter that
never came.
Because
of this, Scar was in disbelief when she receives tickets from Legend to play
this year's Caraval. Despite years and years of waiting for a letter back,
ironically Scar actually opposes the idea of attending Caraval, arguing that not
only could they not leave the island under their father’s nose, but there was
also Scarlett’s wedding, which was to happen in a week or so.
Julian,
a random (when I mean random I mean actually random) friend of
Tella’s, helps knock out Scar and drops Tella off at Legend’s island. By the
time Julian goes back and brings Scar to the island, Tella has disappeared.
Already guessed what this year’s Caraval is about?
Yup.
This year’s objective : find Tella Dagna. With the help of Julian, who
has apparently played the game before, Scar reluctantly is immersed in a confusing
wild-goose chase in a world where everything is a mere illusion- a game that is
controlled by Legend and could very well ruin you. But Scarlett can’t let that
happen. She has to find her sister, save her from Legend, and return back to
their island before their father finds out.
I found
this book and its concept really creative. It was refreshing to read a YA book
where there are two female who were actually friends and had none of that
sister hate and/or girl problems. The idea of this reality game show coming to
life by a misunderstood villain and two sisters who are caught in the
middle of it all - it was straight up my alley and I’m sure yours too.
Things That Were Not So Great
WARNING: If you haven’t read the book yet,
don’t read anything under this!!!
Caraval had a lot going for it, but as the persnickety
(don’t you love that word?) book reviewer I am, I will address some of
the minor issues.
Like I
mentioned in the beginning of the review, there is a handful of nonsensical and
overly dramatic phrases scattered throughout the book, such as :
“It smelled like the middle of the night”
“He tasted like midnight and wind”
“Tella’s expression fell, like a doll Scarlett had dropped.”
“She could see the sting of her rejection in shades of stormy
blue, ghosting over his heart like sad morning mist."
“Periwinkle curiosity”
Like
what?!!! How on earth can someone taste like midnight? Does midnight
even have its own taste? And since when did curiosity have a color? For those
of you who have read Shatter Me and did not like it for this exact
same reason, I know you can resonate with me. I mean, I get it, metaphors
and literary devices are important, but when authors go too far *CRINGE*,
it has officially become a high school creative writing class piece.
Additionally,
there was practically no character development whatsoever. The two main
characters in this book were really iffy from the start. Scarlett is consumed
by the need to protect her sister, making tough decisions and taking in
consideration everyone’s opinion, even her dad’s. She was willing to get
married to someone she didn’t even know just so that everyone around her could
be happy. At one point, I remember Julian asking whether she ever actually
cared about herself. It’s not like I really didn’t enjoy her character, but
I just think Scarlett could’ve matured a bit more by the end of the book. She
was kinda whiny and had to get a hold of herself, though I wouldn’t know how to
act myself if my sibling was kidnapped as part of a game that could potentially
cause me to lose them forever. Tella, always the rebel, couldn’t stand
waiting for things to magically solve the issues involving her father and
therefore makes rather rash decisions. Even in the end, you see her acting
behind her sister’s back, and though you really don’t see her as much, I really
wish we could’ve seen more of Scarlett and Tella together and their development
as individuals and sisters. Honestly, the only character who actually changed
to some extent was Julian. In the beginning, you wouldn’t think his role was as
essential to the book as Tella’s or Scarlett’s was, but he’s more important
than you think.
The
ending was kinda disappointing. Towards the end, I was in this frenzy, guessing
possible identities and connections between the characters. At some point, you
think you got it and then Garber is like HA YOU THOUGHT WRONG and yeah…..And
then you get to the end and you’re like...oh, and I’m going to stop there
before I spoil anything.
I
really liked the premise of this book and read the book with an opened mind.
There was so much hype about it and I naturally told myself not to expect
anything too great. I think that’s the best way approach books like this,
so if you decided to ignore the warning , try to ignore whatever I said in this
second section and read the book.
QUOTES
“Every
person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for
what they desire more than anything.”
“Whatever
you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than
just a game or performance. It's the closest you'll ever find yourself magic in
this world.”
“Welcome,
welcome to Caraval! The grandest show on land or by sea. Inside you’ll
experience more wonders than most people see in a lifetime. You can sip magic from
a cup and buy dreams in a bottle. But before you fully enter into our world,
you must remember it’s all a game.”
“What
happens beyond this gate may frighten or excite you, but don’t let any of it
trick you. We will try to convince you it’s real, but all of it is a
performance. A world built of make-believe. So while we want you to get swept
away, be careful of being swept too far away. Dreams that come true can be
beautiful, but they can also turn into nightmares when people won’t wake up.”
Check
it out at the library and goodreads :
RATINGS: 5/5
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