Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket.
In envelope 2 are directions to a specific London flat.
The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist.
Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/ bloke-about-town called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous-though utterly romantic-results. But will she ever see him again?
Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it's all because of the 13 little blue envelopes.
From Goodreads
Ginny wasn't sure of anything when it came to her runaway Aunt Peg. Sure she was quirky and most definitely an artist, but cryptic wasn't usually her MO. But here Ginny is, under direct orders of the first of 13 little blue envelopes on the trip of a lifetime. Having secured her parents' permission, Ginny sets off to London, on her own, with no real idea what she's getting herself into.
Denied any outside, electronic communication and extra funding, Ginny finds herself on a strange Englishman's doorstep where her Aunt apparently lived during her final few months. Did I forget to mention that Aunt Peg was no longer with us? Whatever Ginny is supposed to get out of this adventure she must do it on her own, as instructed.
Some of the instructions are strange, some are outlandish, and some are downright dangerous. Out of all the instructions, one thing never mentioned was what to do if the plan goes awry? What if you fall in love or heaven forbid, what if you just don't want to follow the plan? Ginny learns all of this and more.
This was a fun little book. It takes a little bit to build up as we don't start out with all the information. Even as you read, you're still learning the basics that you normally pick up in the first chapter or two of any other book. I think that is part of this book's charm. The fact that the reader is just as lost and confused, taking a journey with, the main character.
It was entertaining to watch Ginny traipse all over Europe with no clue as to where or why she would be anywhere at any one time. The instructions in the envelopes were sometimes general and sometimes specific so she really had no idea what to expect each time she got to open one. She had unique experiences that no one could create on their own had they not experienced them themselves. Ginny was being guided by Aunt Peg's own life adventure while being told to find her own.
The plot and all the supporting characters really made this an interesting book. Between starving artists, big wigs at large corporate companies, and American tourist families, there was never a lack of diversity among the interactions. That being said, I found it quite unfortunate that there was a sexual assault mixed into all this, especially since it had to happen in Italy. I think that was a bit over the top and unnecessary, if not a bit presumptuous. I may be a bit sensitive about these types of things, but I am certainly more aware of them after reading Maggie Stiefvater's post about the pervasiveness of literary rape (in all genres).
Other than that this was a fine book. Not my favorite and certainly not the worst. It was a happy medium that satiated my wanderlust-filled heart. I understand there is a sequel called The Last Little Blue Envelope. I haven't decided whether I actually want to read it or not. Thoughts?
Frankie Towers has always looked up to his older brother, Steve, and with good reason. Steve is a popular senior who always gets what he wants: girls, a soccer scholarship, and--lately--street cred. Frankie, on the other hand, spends his time shooting off fireworks with his best friend Zach, working at his parents' restaurant, and obsessing about his longtime crush, Rebecca Sanchez.
Frankie has reservations about Steve's crusade to win the respect of the local "cholos." He doesn't think about them, though, until he gets into a fist fight John Dalton - the richest, preppiest kid in his New Mexican high school, and longtime nemesis of Steve. After the fight, Steve takes Frankie under his wing - and Frankie's social currency begins to rise. The "cholos "who used to ignore him start to recognize him; he even lands a date to Homecoming with Rebecca.
The situation with Dalton continues to simmer, and after another incident Steve is bent on retaliating. Frankie starts to think that his brother is taking this respect thing too far. He may have to choose between respecting his brother and respecting himself.
In an honest and humorous debut novel, Coert Voorhees uses a coming of age story to look at where loyalty ends and the self begins.
From Goodreads
The Brothers Torres is a rather fast-paced story. It takes place in a few short weeks during a pivotal time in Frankie Towers' life. I think just as important as the characters, is the setting. I don't think this story would have had quite the same effect if set anywhere else. New Mexico is the perfect location for its mixture of cultures & history without being overwhelming diverse.
As the kid brother of the star soccer player, Frankie has never really had his own direction. He did as he was told for the most part & didn't mind getting in trouble for doing stupid stuff. What he doesn't expect is how quickly things can go wrong when you fall in with the wrong people. While there comes a time in everyone's life where they have to choose to stand up for themselves, having that time chosen for you does nothing to help your personal development. Frankie appreciates Steve and his friends' help, but fears that they may be doing more damage than good.
At times I found the characters one sided because it seemed like they only focused on one thing at a time, but I eventually realized that they all represented different parts of a whole person struggling to coexist. I loved the Spanish mixed into the dialogue with no glossary provided because I think it helps give a little insight into the cultural variations among Borges' townspeople. The story was a bit of a slow build, allowing the reader to formulate their own opinion on the situation before delving into the actual plot. I think that really helped me connect better with the characters.
As a newer representative of the Contemporary Life genre, The Brothers Torres does a fine job. While given the background information on the issues that Frankie faces in his life, the focus remains on his reaction to them & his experiences. We get to see Frankie evolve from a bumbling doormat into a self-respecting guy. The trials he faces throughout the book aren't necessarily any different from ones that other teens might face, but the way he handles them is what makes him unique.
The basic obstacles facing the protagonist are often times the same things just in different manifestations. In this book, peer pressure can be represented by the cholos & jealousy can be represented by budding relationships (both platonic & non-platonic). This book is more than just about a boy & his life, it's about every teen and the types of struggles they face. What do I say to a date's parents? Will I be the laughing stock if she turns down my dance request? These things are so mundane that it really takes a personal experience to bring them to life. Coert Voorhees has done a phenomenal job capturing the difficult stages of adolescence in a unique venue!
Now onto, the fun part! As part of the Genreflecting feature, each month I will be giving away a book in the genre I explored. As this month is Contemporary Life I have chosen to give away 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson! The giveaway is open from now until 10 PM on Wednesday, January 30th to US residents. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway
