Thursday 29 November 2012

Shimmer , by Alyson Noel

Shimmer (Riley Bloom #2)
Paperback, 208 pages
Published August 5th 2011 by Macmillan Children's Books (first published January 1st 2011)
ISBN
0330530380 (ISBN13: 9780330530385)
edition language
English
original title
Shimmer
characters
 
This is the second book in the Riley Series, a spin-off off of the popular Immortals series. Based on Ever's younger sister, Riley.
 
 
My Review
I've not yet had the chance to read the first book in the series, but I kind of knew what was happening due to the fact that I have read the evermore series. Riley was a rather interesting character within those novels, so to see a series about her really gives the reader the chance to understand the full characteristics of the whole family. Riley is a 12 year old girl whose life was taken from her too soon. Now she finds herself living within the planes of the here and now with her dog, buttercup, and life is no easier than what it was when she was living within the real world. Riley has challenges and things to do, she is needed and is perhaps more important than what she was before. She is a soul catcher, the person who has to help lost and broken souls move over the bridge to the here and now, to where they can be at peace and serenity with themselves and with there lives. I think the idea and the concept of the book is a great one, though I had to chuckle at the fact that she is called a soul catcher as I am currently watching the bleach series where a soul catcher or well a soul reaper, is very similar and yet so very different. I think in this we start to see that Riley is really a 12 year old girl, who wants to do all that she can in order to grow up. she has dreams and desires but she wants to show that she is mature enough to handle anything and everything, but unfortunately this is just going to land her in trouble, trouble that she really doesn't need.
 
In this novel Riley does go on her own path, not listening to the guide that has been given to her. I can only take the impression that this is because she is sick of all the rules and regulations, that she wants to show that she is mature enough to handle the tougher things. This instantly made it much more relatable because I think that is a path that we have all been down. We feel that we can actually branch out and do things without people telling us what to do, but sooner or later we have to learn and find out that actually not listening to those who offer a helping hand we could end up in a much worse situation. Rileys actions mean that her dog and her guide are the ones in danger and its not till its too late that she realized what she has done and therefore what she has to do to resolve the problem. The book seems to represent to me the fact that we just have to understand that advice is often given for our own good and that sometimes we have to accept the offering hand that is stating to help us.

Whilst the novel itself was simplistic there did seem to be thought provoking things to it. Its not something that I would perhaps read on a day to day basis, the novels are far too short and simplistic and theres not that much in the way of depth and edge to it. But there is something there that keeps you wanting to read on. Perhaps its the overall depth of the novel, the fact that it makes you look at the way you behave and act or the fact that it has you questioning who and what you listen to. Regardless the journey of Riley is an interesting one and it can fit to the basis of a normal society. I enjoyed the novel but it wasn't all that. it was enough to class as an easy read, a break from the heavy novels. 

didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing

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