I have had the same favorite book for many years. It seemed almost impossible that anything would surpass my reigning fave to claim the title of Single Most Awesome Book I’ve Ever Read…and then I found Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell.
Greatest Hits:
I’ve been bothered for years by the popular notion that tragic, edgy stories are somehow inherently more artistic or valuable than happy go lucky stories that have happy endings. Truth be told, I could take or leave most of those stories- I don’t like to be upset. I like happy endings. And its for that reason that I knew I wanted to read this book. I had heard enough about it to know that Rowell would challenge the fantasy tropes I had grown tired of, and my previous experiences with her books told me I was sure to find the characters compelling and downright lovable.
Even with incredibly high expectations going in, this book blew them all out of the water. I loved the characters, the world, the prose. I got swept away in the tide of wonderment usually reserved for someone reading Harry Potter for the first time.
The whole story is built on a foundation of love for fantasy and fanfiction. The characters know the tropes, and the tropes are hungry. Arguably, the tropes are the antagonist.
My Conclusion:
When the world feels too cynical to bear, this book is your “break glass in case of emergency.” It’s wonderful and well written, and a damn satisfying read.
Happy Reading!
-Kat
Kat Pollock 