Among Others

      Among Others, by Jo Walton, is one of my favorite books of all time. It's hard to categorize: it's a little bit name-dropping and reviewing other books, a little bit Tolkien imitation, a little bit Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in tone, and a dash of YA drama. The protagonist, Mor, is smart, witty, and magical, all the things I want to be. Unfortunately her family is dangerous and complicated- and magical on top of that.

My Favorite Part:
     One of the coolest and most well executed aspects of the book is the magic of it all. To me, it makes sense in that the magic is so practical. The author gives the impression, through explaining the magic as Mor, that she's thought it- the explanation of the magic- through and come to believe it as fact. The magic may or may not exist, even though it certainly does to Mor. It appeals to the past selves lingering in me, that wrote letters to my personal fairy and awaited my magical awakening with mixed feelings that it wasn't going to happen but maybe it will happen, secretly knowing it wouldn't, but maybe... 

Who Should Read It:
     I hope it wouldn't horrify Jo Walton, but I think the family issues, the drama, and the setting make the book well suited for teens, as long as they love books. Book lovers, especially high school and shy book lovers, can appreciate a fellow introverted book lover's story, even if we haven't read the books they love. And we can identify or at least empathize with Mor's feelings towards her relationships.
     I've read some reviews recommending this book to voracious sci-fi readers only. I disagree; I am not personally into Sci-fi personally and Among Others still opened my mind and heart. I think it depends on the reader- I would guess that only people who identify as readers would like this book, because one of Mor's most prominent traits is that she reads (a great percentage of the book is Mor's thoughts on what she's reading). So if you can't identify with loving reading, this is not the book for you; however, I don't think it is necessary to have read specifically science fiction. I expect that, one day, after reading some more of the books she references, I will reread Among Others and discover a deeper layer in the allusions Mor makes, but I didn't find the book any less complete for not understanding the references the first time around.


     I read Among Others in 6th grade and immediately bought it after finishing. I reread it regularly and I can genuinely say that it brings me joy. Overall, I think the story comes together in a kind of ethereal and perfect way. The writing and language are beautiful, and it's also just a fun read. I can see it's not for everyone, but I'd encourage any book lover to give it a try.

Viral Souls

Once upon a time, there was a girl. Like all people at one time or another, she yearned for a grander world and a sense of purpose. Her world was sweet, and simple as one’s world can ever be, and real, but she was affected by what she read and watched and she felt deep in her heart that there was excitement to be had somewhere, elsewhere. And then, when she found no fairytale excitement, she grew up, as most people eventually do. She created a sweet family, and settled into a simple job, and lived a real life. And then her children left, and she retired, and she was alone in a house meant for family.

Once upon a time, there was a woman. She lived across the street from my bedroom window in a house meant for family, the kind with a chimney, and a bathroom and a half, and  screen doors on the patio that expose the living room. When I was younger, like all children, my curiosity controlled my actions: I would peer in through the screen doors from my bedroom window, and although her sons often visited on holidays, I would see she was lonely. And then one day, she was gone. I remember, as I awoke the day she left, I was hit by an all consuming knowledge that settled in the place a soul resides. I knew her, suddenly, as she knew herself. I remembered in my heart all at once every trial and every accomplishment we had ever experienced, every benevolent kindness and every flagrant iniquity, every love and every loss. All at once, I felt her yearning for a grander world, stronger than I had yet felt myself, and I felt us accept the real world. I felt her loneliness as my own for a great while, and finally, I felt how she could not leave peacefully, so she chose me, the girl who peered in through her screen doors when I thought she could not see.

Once upon a time, a fairytale unfolded within a high school. You did not notice, because the tale was not your own; indeed, it could not be, for you chose to grow up early, and accept your sweet, simple, real world for what it was. You did not know that a girl with two souls desecrated her sweet, simple, real world and crafted a grander one, with true love at first sight, and a villain, and a purpose, and comedy and tragedy beyond anything in your world. You did not know that your classmate experienced a great trauma in early childhood, resulting in her two souls, or that she brought so many of your classmates into her grander world. You did not know, when you noticed her at your high school reunion, that she was in her seventh and last happily ever after. When she approached you, you could not know that she had chosen you. But when you finally knew her the way she knew her two selves, you left your sweet, simple, real world, too.