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Birthright #1
All These Things I've Done
Sixteen year-old Anya becomes the head of a mafia family after her parents are both murdered by rival gangs. Although Anya is embroiled in the criminal world, she is determined to keep her brother and sister out of the mafia family, but her father’s relatives aren’t so keen to let them go. When Anya’s violent ex-boyfriend is poisoned with contaminated chocolate – chocolate that is produced illegally by Anya’s mafia family – she is arrested for attempted murder and sent to the notorious jail on Manhattan Island.
Eventually she is freed by the new D.A. in town, who believes she has been framed. But this D.A. is the father of Win, a boy at school to whom Anya feels irresistibly drawn, and her freedom comes with conditions. Win’s father wants to be mayor, and he can’t risk having his ambition jeopardized by rumors spreading that his son is seeing a member of a notorious crime family. Anya knows she risks the safety of her family by seeing Win again, but the feeling between them may be too strong to resist...
Eventually she is freed by the new D.A. in town, who believes she has been framed. But this D.A. is the father of Win, a boy at school to whom Anya feels irresistibly drawn, and her freedom comes with conditions. Win’s father wants to be mayor, and he can’t risk having his ambition jeopardized by rumors spreading that his son is seeing a member of a notorious crime family. Anya knows she risks the safety of her family by seeing Win again, but the feeling between them may be too strong to resist...
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2011
417 people are currently reading
25735 people want to read
About the author
Gabrielle Zevin
20 books19.1k followersGABRIELLE ZEVIN is a New York Times best-selling novelist whose books have been translated into forty languages.
Her tenth novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was published by Knopf in July of 2022 and was an instant New York Times Best Seller, a Sunday Times Best Seller, a USA Today Best Seller, a #1 National Indie Best Seller, and a selection of the Tonight Show’s Fallon Book Club. Maureen Corrigan of NPR’s Fresh Air called it, “a big beautifully written novel…that succeeds in being both serious art and immersive entertainment.” Following a twenty-five-bidder auction, the feature film rights to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow were acquired by Temple Hill and Paramount Studios.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry spent many months on the New York Times Best Seller List, reached #1 on the National Indie Best Seller List, was a USA Today Best Seller, and has been a best seller all around the world. A.J. Fikry was honored with the Southern California Independent Booksellers Award for Fiction, the Japan Booksellers’ Prize, and was long listed for the International Dublin Literary Award, among other honors. To date, the book has sold over five-million copies worldwide. It is now a feature film with a screenplay by Zevin. Young Jane Young won the Southern Book Prize and was one of the Washington Post’s Fifty Notable Works of Fiction.
She is the screenwriter of Conversations with Other Women (Helena Bonham Carter) for which she received an Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best First Screenplay. She has occasionally written criticism for the New York Times Book Review and NPR’s All Things Considered, and she began her writing career, at age fourteen, as a music critic for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Zevin is a graduate of Harvard University. She lives in Los Angeles.
NOTE: Apologies, but Gabrielle doesn't reply to messages on Goodreads.
Her tenth novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was published by Knopf in July of 2022 and was an instant New York Times Best Seller, a Sunday Times Best Seller, a USA Today Best Seller, a #1 National Indie Best Seller, and a selection of the Tonight Show’s Fallon Book Club. Maureen Corrigan of NPR’s Fresh Air called it, “a big beautifully written novel…that succeeds in being both serious art and immersive entertainment.” Following a twenty-five-bidder auction, the feature film rights to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow were acquired by Temple Hill and Paramount Studios.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry spent many months on the New York Times Best Seller List, reached #1 on the National Indie Best Seller List, was a USA Today Best Seller, and has been a best seller all around the world. A.J. Fikry was honored with the Southern California Independent Booksellers Award for Fiction, the Japan Booksellers’ Prize, and was long listed for the International Dublin Literary Award, among other honors. To date, the book has sold over five-million copies worldwide. It is now a feature film with a screenplay by Zevin. Young Jane Young won the Southern Book Prize and was one of the Washington Post’s Fifty Notable Works of Fiction.
She is the screenwriter of Conversations with Other Women (Helena Bonham Carter) for which she received an Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best First Screenplay. She has occasionally written criticism for the New York Times Book Review and NPR’s All Things Considered, and she began her writing career, at age fourteen, as a music critic for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Zevin is a graduate of Harvard University. She lives in Los Angeles.
NOTE: Apologies, but Gabrielle doesn't reply to messages on Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,153 reviews
March 30, 2012
Let's be clear, I did a lot of skim-reading and not-reading after the 150 page marker because there was nothing much - actually, nothing at all - about this book that I can say I enjoyed. I'm not surprised after reading a lot of my friends' negative reviews, but I do admit to a little curiosity sparking in me when this arrived from the publishers claiming to be The Godfather with a dystopian twist. This is nothing at all, slightly, remotely like The Godfather beyond the mention of mafia - and I'll get to that ridiculous plot element in a minute - and it's not really much of a dystopia either, though who's surprised about that anymore?
So this is supposed to be about the mafia, mobsters, crime lords... it isn't. I wanted a terrifying boss sat behind a desk, creating fear with a single look, dealing in all kinds of horrendous underground business; I wanted shoot outs, car chases and mysteries; scandals and betrayal... what did I get? Chocolate, caffeine and a love story. I kid you not. All those big mafia thugs with their illegal activities, you know what it's really all about? Chocolate and caffeine. After reading a book like White Cat which contains a perfect mix of mafia action, family betrayals and a touch of magic, this book is so... lame. I can't think of a better word for it, it's just lame. Plus, there's an extreme lack of world-building beyond this bizarre decision to ban chocolate, caffeine and paper without a license (or something to that effect). Why would chocolate be illegal??? WHY??? You're making no sense to me!!!
This is another romance. Yep, that's right, another one of those, posing as a dystopia naturally. The love interest is nothing to write home about, but the protagonist annoyed me so much I simply refused to give this book anymore than one star. She's bitchy and horrible and I really hated being in on her thoughts when she's watching her "best friend" flirting with Win, the way she so snidely criticises the poor girl for being "obvious" and "full-on" when she is strictly a good catholic girl who cannot possibly have sex before marriage because she will go to hell. I just can't... argh. The first chapter is called "I defend my own honour" - oh please, are you joking? Yeah, sure, the guy's an asshole but "defending her honour"?? Let me just quote this for you:
"I didn't believe in sex before marriage. I was a mostly good catholic girl, and I knew exactly where the type of behaviour he was suggesting would get me: straight to hell."
If you don't want to have sex, that's just fine, but preaching shit about going to hell for it in a young adult book that's going to be read by a lot of teenage girls? And straight from our "heroine's" mouth too? Well, fuck you. This is a book crammed full of slut-shaming and a load of anti-sex bullshit. Only for girls, though. There's a lovely scene where Anya (protag.) is out at a club with her friends and sees her brother and some girls dancing. The girls, she notes, are sluts. Sluts because of that suggestive way they're dancing with her brother! But, but, but... he's bloody dancing with them too! Holy shit. And, of course, these girls are from this point onward referred to as "the slutty girls" or individually as "one of the sluts". I don't care whether this is the author's opinion or a character trait of Anya's - I DO NOT LIKE.
Even without the poor world-building, slut-shaming and my complete annoyance at the main character, this would still not have been a good book. It's just a case of Gabrielle Zevin jumping on the dystopian trend with a crappy story. I wasn't expecting to be wowed, but it's rare that a book manages to offend me so much. Ugh.
August 13, 2011
2.5 stars
Mixed feelings about this book.
At first, I was enamored with All These Things I've Done. Mainly because of its originality. Even though the novel is pushed as another dystopia, it is more of a mafia crime drama, at least in the beginning. The setting is futuristic - 2083, but hardly dystopic. The end of the century US is overrun by lawlessness, corruption and rationing, however there is nothing particularly oppressive about it. In fact, it actually reminded me of 1990s Russia - the civilization is still there, but the change in political regime destroyed the country's infrastructure and order, not irreparably though.
16-year old Anya Balanchine is the daughter of the deceased head of the Russian-American mafia family. Although she still gets the perks of being affiliated with this organization (money, connections, easy access to illegal substances - chocolate among other things!), she is not a part of the criminal network. Anya is busy going to school, looking after her mentally disabled older brother, little sister and dying grandmother and fighting off her good-for-nothing ex. Her life is moderately difficult and later becomes even more so, when she finds herself attracted to the wrong boy (a new DA's son) and when her ex gets poisoned by what appears to be the chocolate bar Anya gave him.
Up to that point the book was great, except the occasional misspellings of Russian words and chocolate-is-now-a-drug bit which I thought was almost as ridiculous as love-is-a-deadly-decease premise. And then something happened in the second half of the novel.
The crime subplot is almost completely abandoned then. No new backstory or external information is introduced, there is hardly any conflict. What is in there is a lot of Anya's immediate family repetitive drama and romance. The strange thing is, all of this is written in a very detached way. You no longer feel like you are with Anya being a part of the events or romantic scenes. Everything reads as recaps, many plot points (proms, school theater production, dates) are introduced and then recounted in a couple of sentences. Even all the lovey-dovey stuff is recapped! Yes, a string of recaps and very poor and uninteresting dialog. My connection to this story was lost then. My interest was killed by excessive telling and minimal showing.
All These Things I've Done could have been so much better with more mafia, more crime, narrower time frame, and less recapping.
Such a wasted premise! Probably won't be back for the sequel.
Mixed feelings about this book.
At first, I was enamored with All These Things I've Done. Mainly because of its originality. Even though the novel is pushed as another dystopia, it is more of a mafia crime drama, at least in the beginning. The setting is futuristic - 2083, but hardly dystopic. The end of the century US is overrun by lawlessness, corruption and rationing, however there is nothing particularly oppressive about it. In fact, it actually reminded me of 1990s Russia - the civilization is still there, but the change in political regime destroyed the country's infrastructure and order, not irreparably though.
16-year old Anya Balanchine is the daughter of the deceased head of the Russian-American mafia family. Although she still gets the perks of being affiliated with this organization (money, connections, easy access to illegal substances - chocolate among other things!), she is not a part of the criminal network. Anya is busy going to school, looking after her mentally disabled older brother, little sister and dying grandmother and fighting off her good-for-nothing ex. Her life is moderately difficult and later becomes even more so, when she finds herself attracted to the wrong boy (a new DA's son) and when her ex gets poisoned by what appears to be the chocolate bar Anya gave him.
Up to that point the book was great, except the occasional misspellings of Russian words and chocolate-is-now-a-drug bit which I thought was almost as ridiculous as love-is-a-deadly-decease premise. And then something happened in the second half of the novel.
The crime subplot is almost completely abandoned then. No new backstory or external information is introduced, there is hardly any conflict. What is in there is a lot of Anya's immediate family repetitive drama and romance. The strange thing is, all of this is written in a very detached way. You no longer feel like you are with Anya being a part of the events or romantic scenes. Everything reads as recaps, many plot points (proms, school theater production, dates) are introduced and then recounted in a couple of sentences. Even all the lovey-dovey stuff is recapped! Yes, a string of recaps and very poor and uninteresting dialog. My connection to this story was lost then. My interest was killed by excessive telling and minimal showing.
All These Things I've Done could have been so much better with more mafia, more crime, narrower time frame, and less recapping.
Such a wasted premise! Probably won't be back for the sequel.
August 5, 2011
To make myself feel like an equal-opportunity teacher, I like to force myself to read some "YA chick books" so I can pitch them to reluctant reader girls the way I do so many sports, war, and horror books to reluctant reading boys (and girls, as girls seem less bothered by a book's gender target audience). But mea culpa, I'm here to confess I am a fraud. I cannot bring myself to read a single sentence of the Twilight series. Ditto anything by the much beloved Sarah Dessen (#1 with 8th-grade girls year in, year out).
All of which is my way of saying thank you, Gabrielle Zevin. When I read her study on life after death, Elsewhere, a few years back, I was smitten. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac wasn't bad, either. It missed a great opportunity, but it was readable start to finish. And here, All These Things I've Done, seemingly a rip-off of Gordon Korman's Son of the Mob, has won me over, too, despite initial reluctance. It seemed at first that she had simply taken the reluctant son of a mobster and replaced him with a daughter of a mobster. Then she had her lead fall in love with a new boy in school who is (gasp) the son of an ambitious new district attorney. Sound promising? How about derivative. But she broke down my resistance.
How? My weak spot. Characterization and voice. I'm a sucker for it when done well, and I felt myself liking this 16-year-old Anya more and more because she was smart and strong yet vulnerable. Here her chocolate don dad is dead, as is her mother, and she is trying to hold her family together as her grandmother tries to hold her life together on life-support. I even forgave Zevin the fact that the boyfriend is predictably perfect (I swear, girls who grow up to become YA writers make these guys up out of the frustrations they felt while waiting for "him" to appear).
And as the romance ran side-by-side with a crime subplot (intrigue in the family), the book gathered legs and hit its stride. Things happen. Anya, of course, is in the wrong place at the wrong time. The fragile balance of her family is constantly in jeopardy. And I'm buying because it's dumb fun and I like her (so sue me or park a horse head in my bed).
One final gripe. This is the first of a series. I'm sure it wasn't Zevin's choice. I'm sure her publisher, like every YA writer's publisher, told her she MUST start a series. Well, a pox on series, says I. With rare exception, I tend to read the first and no more. And so, in some ways, poor Anya's plight will hang in the balance, if for me then at least NOT for many a young reader, especially female, who will embrace the book and anxiously await its sequel.
Meanwhile I'll keep feeling like big man on campus, book talking a book for the girls. And a few guys, too. I once had an 8th-grade boy who read Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak and when he was challenged in the classroom by another boy ("Why are you reading a GIRL'S book?"), cooly replied, "So I know how they think."
The silent pause that followed this rejoinder told me that he'd made his point. Guess the other guys didn't think of that. Nor that he'd win a prized date with a really nice girl to the spring dance shortly thereafter.
Don't you love happy endings?
All of which is my way of saying thank you, Gabrielle Zevin. When I read her study on life after death, Elsewhere, a few years back, I was smitten. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac wasn't bad, either. It missed a great opportunity, but it was readable start to finish. And here, All These Things I've Done, seemingly a rip-off of Gordon Korman's Son of the Mob, has won me over, too, despite initial reluctance. It seemed at first that she had simply taken the reluctant son of a mobster and replaced him with a daughter of a mobster. Then she had her lead fall in love with a new boy in school who is (gasp) the son of an ambitious new district attorney. Sound promising? How about derivative. But she broke down my resistance.
How? My weak spot. Characterization and voice. I'm a sucker for it when done well, and I felt myself liking this 16-year-old Anya more and more because she was smart and strong yet vulnerable. Here her chocolate don dad is dead, as is her mother, and she is trying to hold her family together as her grandmother tries to hold her life together on life-support. I even forgave Zevin the fact that the boyfriend is predictably perfect (I swear, girls who grow up to become YA writers make these guys up out of the frustrations they felt while waiting for "him" to appear).
And as the romance ran side-by-side with a crime subplot (intrigue in the family), the book gathered legs and hit its stride. Things happen. Anya, of course, is in the wrong place at the wrong time. The fragile balance of her family is constantly in jeopardy. And I'm buying because it's dumb fun and I like her (so sue me or park a horse head in my bed).
One final gripe. This is the first of a series. I'm sure it wasn't Zevin's choice. I'm sure her publisher, like every YA writer's publisher, told her she MUST start a series. Well, a pox on series, says I. With rare exception, I tend to read the first and no more. And so, in some ways, poor Anya's plight will hang in the balance, if for me then at least NOT for many a young reader, especially female, who will embrace the book and anxiously await its sequel.
Meanwhile I'll keep feeling like big man on campus, book talking a book for the girls. And a few guys, too. I once had an 8th-grade boy who read Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak and when he was challenged in the classroom by another boy ("Why are you reading a GIRL'S book?"), cooly replied, "So I know how they think."
The silent pause that followed this rejoinder told me that he'd made his point. Guess the other guys didn't think of that. Nor that he'd win a prized date with a really nice girl to the spring dance shortly thereafter.
Don't you love happy endings?
April 8, 2025
The status comments I made for this book do a lot to explain my descending feelings. I'm just flat bummed that Zevin took things in the direction she did, because I started out absolutely LOVING this story.
To be honest, the only reason I was initially engaged in the book is because I liked Anya and her family. The worldbuilding is practically nonexistent, and for any book that touts itself as a dystopian, that's not good. Chocolate and caffeine have been outlawed, and there's little-to-no explanation as to why. I struggled to suspend my disbelieve that a society would attack caffeine but leave out alcohol. I mean...really? Explain to me how caffeinated, hand-snapping beatniks are more deviant and dangerous than angry drunks, seriously. So I never felt particularly drawn to the plot, because all things considered, there really was none. This is primarily the story of a deceased mob boss's daughter trying to make her way in the world. And that's cool, but this reads more like a futuristic realism novel. Dystopians usually need a little more engagement. There were some interesting elements, like the poisoning of Anya's ex-boyfriend and the , but mostly, the plot didn't come full-swing until the last 50 or so pages. By then, I'd lost interest.
So the only thing this book really had going for it was characterization. I loved the main character, Anya, because she seemed so different from the multitude of other YA heroines. She had a maturity that I crave in characters. She seemed grounded, and while she wasn't religious in the personal devotion, private faith sort of way, she had a moral code/set of values that she clung to. And that made me all kinds of happy. But what happens when that's taken away? For me, Zevin quite abruptly withdrew the one major positive I had with this book, the one thing that really had me caring, the one thing that made any sort of personal connection with me. A basic, forward-moving plot was hardly existent and there there wasn't a lot of action, so the whole likability of this book rested on the characters. And in my opinion, Zevin destroyed the main character's credibility. It made Anya's somewhat preachy declarations and internal monologues about her beliefs seem like nothing but talk. And the love interest, Win, had almost no likability whatsoever. He came across as manipulative in an emotionally pushy sort of way. Plus, I never like it when .
So that's what nagged at me as I struggled to finish this. It's like watching a strong, self-assured character turn codependent. I do want admit that Anya attempts to regain a proactive, strong personality by the end of the novel, but by then, I had just checked out.
What I also realized (I obviously didn't notice this from the synopsis, which was my bad) is that ATTID is really a retelling of 'Romeo and Juliet' with a semi-dystopian backdrop. Since I've already biased up this review, I might as well admit that I think 'Romeo and Juliet' is one of the LEAST ROMANTIC stories of all time, so I am definitely not one to buy into the whole 'starcrossed lovers make the best lovers' idea. And the ending of this book really sets up for more 'Romeo and Juliet' drama. Secret relationships and the whole 'I really love you but I'm going to act like I hate you to protect you!'is just hogwash storytelling, in my opinion. Mostly, I'm just sad that at how this book turned out. Here's the thing: It seems like most trilogies start out very solidly, then meander on through the second book, which is where we get the phrase "middle book syndrome." With this series, though, the FIRST book is the one that meanders. I bet the second book will make way more sense, and perhaps even be exciting. Because of the melodramatic way this book ended, though, I don't plan on catching that sequel.
To be honest, the only reason I was initially engaged in the book is because I liked Anya and her family. The worldbuilding is practically nonexistent, and for any book that touts itself as a dystopian, that's not good. Chocolate and caffeine have been outlawed, and there's little-to-no explanation as to why. I struggled to suspend my disbelieve that a society would attack caffeine but leave out alcohol. I mean...really? Explain to me how caffeinated, hand-snapping beatniks are more deviant and dangerous than angry drunks, seriously. So I never felt particularly drawn to the plot, because all things considered, there really was none. This is primarily the story of a deceased mob boss's daughter trying to make her way in the world. And that's cool, but this reads more like a futuristic realism novel. Dystopians usually need a little more engagement. There were some interesting elements, like the poisoning of Anya's ex-boyfriend and the , but mostly, the plot didn't come full-swing until the last 50 or so pages. By then, I'd lost interest.
So the only thing this book really had going for it was characterization. I loved the main character, Anya, because she seemed so different from the multitude of other YA heroines. She had a maturity that I crave in characters. She seemed grounded, and while she wasn't religious in the personal devotion, private faith sort of way, she had a moral code/set of values that she clung to. And that made me all kinds of happy. But what happens when that's taken away? For me, Zevin quite abruptly withdrew the one major positive I had with this book, the one thing that really had me caring, the one thing that made any sort of personal connection with me. A basic, forward-moving plot was hardly existent and there there wasn't a lot of action, so the whole likability of this book rested on the characters. And in my opinion, Zevin destroyed the main character's credibility. It made Anya's somewhat preachy declarations and internal monologues about her beliefs seem like nothing but talk. And the love interest, Win, had almost no likability whatsoever. He came across as manipulative in an emotionally pushy sort of way. Plus, I never like it when .
So that's what nagged at me as I struggled to finish this. It's like watching a strong, self-assured character turn codependent. I do want admit that Anya attempts to regain a proactive, strong personality by the end of the novel, but by then, I had just checked out.
What I also realized (I obviously didn't notice this from the synopsis, which was my bad) is that ATTID is really a retelling of 'Romeo and Juliet' with a semi-dystopian backdrop. Since I've already biased up this review, I might as well admit that I think 'Romeo and Juliet' is one of the LEAST ROMANTIC stories of all time, so I am definitely not one to buy into the whole 'starcrossed lovers make the best lovers' idea. And the ending of this book really sets up for more 'Romeo and Juliet' drama. Secret relationships and the whole 'I really love you but I'm going to act like I hate you to protect you!'is just hogwash storytelling, in my opinion. Mostly, I'm just sad that at how this book turned out. Here's the thing: It seems like most trilogies start out very solidly, then meander on through the second book, which is where we get the phrase "middle book syndrome." With this series, though, the FIRST book is the one that meanders. I bet the second book will make way more sense, and perhaps even be exciting. Because of the melodramatic way this book ended, though, I don't plan on catching that sequel.
August 15, 2011
All These Things I've Done was surprisingly good. I was completely captivated by this intriguing and tension filled story.
I have been reading quite a bit of dystopia lately and I loved that this novel did not focus on matching people or the government trying to control everybody. In the year 2083 they are plenty of problems and changes but overall it feels more like a realistic future. Chocolate is illegal (EEK! no chocolate would make me crazy) together with a million other things like caffeine, paper without a permit, phones, cameras. I felt the world was very convincing as it feels similar to the stories of the 1920's when alcohol was banned and smuggled in.
This is the first book of Zevin's I have read. I found her prose sharp and alluring. Writing that draws you in immediately. It was perfectly paced story that had a cleverly constructed plot and world.
Anya is part of the Balanchine Family, one of the most well known crime syndicates in the world. Her father use to be the head of it before he was murdered. Anya mother was also killed in a hit gone wrong. Now Anya is trying to do the best she can caring for her ill grandmother, her older brother Leo, who has a learning disability and her younger sister Natty. Anya is a mature, brave and compelling character. I love that she always but her family first. I found the secondary characters to be just as well crafted and likeable as Anya especially Leo and Natty.
Win, is the son of the head of the District Attorney Department and Anya's love interest. So it is has a little bit of the star crossed lovers thing going on. The romance between Anya and Win was passionate and yet sweet at the same time.
The mafia part of the storyline was probably the highlight for me though. I found myself fascinated by this mysterious and dangerous element of the story. I would definitely like to see it play an even bigger part in the next installment.
I am so happy All These Things I've Done is going to be a trilogy. Even though it ended in a good place I felt like the story was just getting started and it has left me desperately craving more.
Overall, I found All These Things I've Done to be a clever and engaging read. Zevin definitely delivers all the right elements in this impressive novel.
I have been reading quite a bit of dystopia lately and I loved that this novel did not focus on matching people or the government trying to control everybody. In the year 2083 they are plenty of problems and changes but overall it feels more like a realistic future. Chocolate is illegal (EEK! no chocolate would make me crazy) together with a million other things like caffeine, paper without a permit, phones, cameras. I felt the world was very convincing as it feels similar to the stories of the 1920's when alcohol was banned and smuggled in.
This is the first book of Zevin's I have read. I found her prose sharp and alluring. Writing that draws you in immediately. It was perfectly paced story that had a cleverly constructed plot and world.
Anya is part of the Balanchine Family, one of the most well known crime syndicates in the world. Her father use to be the head of it before he was murdered. Anya mother was also killed in a hit gone wrong. Now Anya is trying to do the best she can caring for her ill grandmother, her older brother Leo, who has a learning disability and her younger sister Natty. Anya is a mature, brave and compelling character. I love that she always but her family first. I found the secondary characters to be just as well crafted and likeable as Anya especially Leo and Natty.
Win, is the son of the head of the District Attorney Department and Anya's love interest. So it is has a little bit of the star crossed lovers thing going on. The romance between Anya and Win was passionate and yet sweet at the same time.
The mafia part of the storyline was probably the highlight for me though. I found myself fascinated by this mysterious and dangerous element of the story. I would definitely like to see it play an even bigger part in the next installment.
I am so happy All These Things I've Done is going to be a trilogy. Even though it ended in a good place I felt like the story was just getting started and it has left me desperately craving more.
Overall, I found All These Things I've Done to be a clever and engaging read. Zevin definitely delivers all the right elements in this impressive novel.
August 9, 2011
Let me first say that the first half of this book deserves 3 stars. I really enjoyed the setting even though I still don't quite understand why the world is the way it is. Annie, Scarlet, Natty, Leo, and Win were all great characters in the beginning. I felt like the story moved along pretty well and that things were really going to get good with Annie's mafia family background. Unfortunately the second half of the book did not deliver at least for me anyway. I got tired of waiting for the action to start and by the last stretch of the book I just wanted it to be over.
The plot is basically about a girl, Annie, who is trying to keep her family together and safe after her Father who was the mob boss dies. The drug here is chocolate which I found a little weird but this is a YA book so I can understand why something like chocolate would be used as opposed to an actual drug. Annie has to care for her younger sister Natty, her older brother Leo who was hurt physically and mentally after their mom died, and her Grandmother who is falling fast away. Annie's mob family is of concern to her because they have recruited Leo to help them out and Annie doesn't want anybody in her little family to end up like her parents. So the story begins with her trying to keep her family together and keep her life as normal as possible.
When the book focused on the mafia part I really enjoyed it, but when the author would switch to the normal everyday problems of a 16 year old I got bored. I would have loved to have known more about her family and what they did behind the scenes. If you are looking for a mob type YA book check out Holly Blacks White Cat.
The plot is basically about a girl, Annie, who is trying to keep her family together and safe after her Father who was the mob boss dies. The drug here is chocolate which I found a little weird but this is a YA book so I can understand why something like chocolate would be used as opposed to an actual drug. Annie has to care for her younger sister Natty, her older brother Leo who was hurt physically and mentally after their mom died, and her Grandmother who is falling fast away. Annie's mob family is of concern to her because they have recruited Leo to help them out and Annie doesn't want anybody in her little family to end up like her parents. So the story begins with her trying to keep her family together and keep her life as normal as possible.
When the book focused on the mafia part I really enjoyed it, but when the author would switch to the normal everyday problems of a 16 year old I got bored. I would have loved to have known more about her family and what they did behind the scenes. If you are looking for a mob type YA book check out Holly Blacks White Cat.
October 19, 2011
I was pretty excited when I got this book. A future society where chocolate is banned and mafia included? Omg! Sounds so exciting. Especially since I'm such a chocolate whore. Haha.
Despite the ridiculousness of the premise I totally devoured up the whole caffeine and chocolate being outlawed because it just sounds cool. I don't know what I'd do if they were banned. I think I'd go crazy because I'm Asian! How can you go without tea? TEA?! But I'm just curious... Why would you ban chocolate and caffeine but leave alcohol consumption legal? Totally does not add up.
Anya was cool. She was pragmatic, logical, and not easily intimidated or influenced... that is until I got to the second half. I think it started around the tenth or eleventh chapter. I don't know what it was but her characterization seemed to be turned off. Now she was distant without much emotion behind her actions nor were there any insights into her thoughts as well. I became rapidly detached and disconnected from her and it didn't help that she started to turn into a person who ran away from difficult decisions and circumstances. Totally not the cool character she was earlier.
I really wish there had been more background scheming and plotting by her mafia (or mafiya as it's written in this book) relatives and really getting to know that dark underhanded methods they use to reach their goals. This book would have been fabulous if we got to see the interplay of power struggles and corruption within the ranks with Anya caught up in it.
Instead this book turned more toward the light and in the direction of romance, which was another area I had a problem with. Not that there was anything particularly wrong and offensive about the two main characters' romance because it's sweet and just a bit sappy for the most part but it just lacked development. When they first have their expression of feelings there isn't much build up there on the part of Anya. I mean, we can obviously see that he likes her but not so much with Anya. So when she does something rash and abrupt like that it seems out of character and unnatural.
Then the rest of the book focuses more on how they can stay together and the difficulties they encounter because of their two different backgrounds. Not fun. I like the Japanese guy better because I don't know, he had more life in his scenes when we saw him. Not to mention he's also a part of the mafia as well so that would make it doubly interesting.
I really hated when Anya did that whole addressing the reader bits. They were jarring and totally threw me out of the story. Also there seemed to be less elaboration and more straight forward telling in the second half. Some scenes were really only talked about after the fact in less than adequate detail when making the character experience and going through these scenes would have been a lot more gripping.
I have to admit though that I loved the healthy and positive family portrayal in this book. By family I don't mean her outside mafia connections, I mean her real family; her ailing grandmother, her brother and her sister. I loved that she always looked out for them and tried to protect them even though they weren't necessarily the right choices. They were always present and with real personalities and fears.
Also I loved her friendship with her best friend. (I forgot her name presently, sorry) It was awesome. Her friend didn't become the cliched comedic relief or the bitter and angry rival for the male lead's romance interest. She had her own life that didn't hinge heavily on Anya's own. If Anya did something that she didn't agree with or upset her, she didn't let it slide. She let her know and it wasn't just some easy, "I'm sorry" and that's that. Their friendship seemed to have a real resemblance to the ones you'd actually have with people in real life.
This book had marvelous potential and was living up to it quite well in the beginning... but then it sputtered and burnt out in the second half. Shame.
I won this book from First Reads and would like to thank Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read it.
Despite the ridiculousness of the premise I totally devoured up the whole caffeine and chocolate being outlawed because it just sounds cool. I don't know what I'd do if they were banned. I think I'd go crazy because I'm Asian! How can you go without tea? TEA?! But I'm just curious... Why would you ban chocolate and caffeine but leave alcohol consumption legal? Totally does not add up.
Anya was cool. She was pragmatic, logical, and not easily intimidated or influenced... that is until I got to the second half. I think it started around the tenth or eleventh chapter. I don't know what it was but her characterization seemed to be turned off. Now she was distant without much emotion behind her actions nor were there any insights into her thoughts as well. I became rapidly detached and disconnected from her and it didn't help that she started to turn into a person who ran away from difficult decisions and circumstances. Totally not the cool character she was earlier.
I really wish there had been more background scheming and plotting by her mafia (or mafiya as it's written in this book) relatives and really getting to know that dark underhanded methods they use to reach their goals. This book would have been fabulous if we got to see the interplay of power struggles and corruption within the ranks with Anya caught up in it.
Instead this book turned more toward the light and in the direction of romance, which was another area I had a problem with. Not that there was anything particularly wrong and offensive about the two main characters' romance because it's sweet and just a bit sappy for the most part but it just lacked development. When they first have their expression of feelings there isn't much build up there on the part of Anya. I mean, we can obviously see that he likes her but not so much with Anya. So when she does something rash and abrupt like that it seems out of character and unnatural.
Then the rest of the book focuses more on how they can stay together and the difficulties they encounter because of their two different backgrounds. Not fun. I like the Japanese guy better because I don't know, he had more life in his scenes when we saw him. Not to mention he's also a part of the mafia as well so that would make it doubly interesting.
I really hated when Anya did that whole addressing the reader bits. They were jarring and totally threw me out of the story. Also there seemed to be less elaboration and more straight forward telling in the second half. Some scenes were really only talked about after the fact in less than adequate detail when making the character experience and going through these scenes would have been a lot more gripping.
I have to admit though that I loved the healthy and positive family portrayal in this book. By family I don't mean her outside mafia connections, I mean her real family; her ailing grandmother, her brother and her sister. I loved that she always looked out for them and tried to protect them even though they weren't necessarily the right choices. They were always present and with real personalities and fears.
Also I loved her friendship with her best friend. (I forgot her name presently, sorry) It was awesome. Her friend didn't become the cliched comedic relief or the bitter and angry rival for the male lead's romance interest. She had her own life that didn't hinge heavily on Anya's own. If Anya did something that she didn't agree with or upset her, she didn't let it slide. She let her know and it wasn't just some easy, "I'm sorry" and that's that. Their friendship seemed to have a real resemblance to the ones you'd actually have with people in real life.
This book had marvelous potential and was living up to it quite well in the beginning... but then it sputtered and burnt out in the second half. Shame.
I won this book from First Reads and would like to thank Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read it.
December 26, 2011
3.5 stars.
I remember reading Elsewhere and Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin and enjoying them both. Zevin has a knack for creating unique stories and All These Things I've Done is no exception.
However, the dystopian aspect of the book could have been developed more. Chocolate and caffeine are illegal, there are copious amounts of crime, mafia families are present and powerful, but how did it get this way? How are these things affecting society? Even though Anya isn't directly affected by these things because of her position as the daughter of a crime boss, a more comprehensive view of life in 2083 would've been nice.
Furthermore, All These Things I've Done feels like buildup for the next book in the series. The plot starts out strong, but by the middle of the book any sense of danger dissipated and the conflict was almost nonexistent. At the end, everything happens at once when all the action could've been distributed more equally throughout the entire novel.
That being said, I'm looking forward to the next book in the Birthright series. I didn't really connect to any of the characters besides Anya, but her dry humor and sense of practicality made her a likable narrator whose voice I grew to love. All These Things I've Done ended in a way that leaves many possibilities for the plot of the second book, and I'm eager to see where Zevin takes the story in terms of Anya's family and her relationships.
Overall, a well-written story that didn't entirely live up to its potential. Not horrible, though. Recommended to fans of young-adult dystopia novels and books about mafia families and organizations.
*cross-posted from my blog, the quiet voice.
I remember reading Elsewhere and Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin and enjoying them both. Zevin has a knack for creating unique stories and All These Things I've Done is no exception.
However, the dystopian aspect of the book could have been developed more. Chocolate and caffeine are illegal, there are copious amounts of crime, mafia families are present and powerful, but how did it get this way? How are these things affecting society? Even though Anya isn't directly affected by these things because of her position as the daughter of a crime boss, a more comprehensive view of life in 2083 would've been nice.
Furthermore, All These Things I've Done feels like buildup for the next book in the series. The plot starts out strong, but by the middle of the book any sense of danger dissipated and the conflict was almost nonexistent. At the end, everything happens at once when all the action could've been distributed more equally throughout the entire novel.
That being said, I'm looking forward to the next book in the Birthright series. I didn't really connect to any of the characters besides Anya, but her dry humor and sense of practicality made her a likable narrator whose voice I grew to love. All These Things I've Done ended in a way that leaves many possibilities for the plot of the second book, and I'm eager to see where Zevin takes the story in terms of Anya's family and her relationships.
Overall, a well-written story that didn't entirely live up to its potential. Not horrible, though. Recommended to fans of young-adult dystopia novels and books about mafia families and organizations.
*cross-posted from my blog, the quiet voice.
January 9, 2012
This is the first book I've given up on in a long time.
And some might think it strange. Because, looking at it objectively . . . is it better than Twilight? Is it better than Evermore? Is it better than Hush, Hush?
I think I'd have to say yes to all of those. But the difference is, however terrible those books may be, the one thing they did do is keep me interested. They kept me invested enough in the story that I wanted to know how it all turned out. And that just did not happen with All These Things I've Done.
There are a few main reasons why I gave this up.
1. The writing. It wasn't horrid writing, and there were a few moments when it shone, but the style really did not work for me. From what I've gathered, it's Anya writing this whole account. I've read several books that worked that angle wonderfully. This did not. The writing was awkward and distant, and the random interjections only annoyed me. Also, little dialogue gems such as this didn't really help my opinion of this:
"His name's Goodwin but he goes by Win. Isn't that OMG?"
Uhhh, yeah.
2. The characters. I didn't hate the main character, Anya. I really didn't. There were a few moments where I even liked her. But most of the time, I just felt so removed from everything that was happening, and couldn't bring myself to care. Also, certain characters (coughScarletandNattycough) annoyed the hell out of me. They were flat, simple, and irritating, which is all the worse because I'm pretty certain we're supposed to love them. Win, the love interest, was . . . okay. He didn't upset me, but there was just no spark. I felt no chemistry between him and Anya and couldn't understand why he was interested in her. She hardly encouraged him.
3. The strong Christian presence. This part is just my bias. I tend to dislike books that have a strong religious presence, regardless of what the religion is. Some Christians may absolutely love this aspect of the book. It just really didn't work for me.
4. Related to the last one: Anya being the "good Christian girl." Whenever she would think bad thoughts, it would be all No, no, I can't think these things, because I am a good Christian girl. Whenever the possibility of sex was presented to her it would be all No, no, I would never have sex, because I am a good Christian girl. Now don't get me wrong--I have no problem with those who choose not to think "bad thoughts" about others, or who choose to abstain until marriage. That's there prerogative. What upset me was that these were painted as bad things, like being pure-minded and abstaining made you a saint and daring to think bad thoughts about someone who almost date-raped you or, gasp, having sex before marriage made you a terrible person.
This is not a horrible book. This is really one of those cases where I just have to say that it was not for me. Some of you may love it, or at least like it a lot more than I did. (Plus, you might just want that gorgeous cover. SO PRETTY. And did I mention that the hard cover is patterned to look like chocolate?) But personally, I could not make myself finish this.
2 stars.
And some might think it strange. Because, looking at it objectively . . . is it better than Twilight? Is it better than Evermore? Is it better than Hush, Hush?
I think I'd have to say yes to all of those. But the difference is, however terrible those books may be, the one thing they did do is keep me interested. They kept me invested enough in the story that I wanted to know how it all turned out. And that just did not happen with All These Things I've Done.
There are a few main reasons why I gave this up.
1. The writing. It wasn't horrid writing, and there were a few moments when it shone, but the style really did not work for me. From what I've gathered, it's Anya writing this whole account. I've read several books that worked that angle wonderfully. This did not. The writing was awkward and distant, and the random interjections only annoyed me. Also, little dialogue gems such as this didn't really help my opinion of this:
"His name's Goodwin but he goes by Win. Isn't that OMG?"
Uhhh, yeah.
2. The characters. I didn't hate the main character, Anya. I really didn't. There were a few moments where I even liked her. But most of the time, I just felt so removed from everything that was happening, and couldn't bring myself to care. Also, certain characters (coughScarletandNattycough) annoyed the hell out of me. They were flat, simple, and irritating, which is all the worse because I'm pretty certain we're supposed to love them. Win, the love interest, was . . . okay. He didn't upset me, but there was just no spark. I felt no chemistry between him and Anya and couldn't understand why he was interested in her. She hardly encouraged him.
3. The strong Christian presence. This part is just my bias. I tend to dislike books that have a strong religious presence, regardless of what the religion is. Some Christians may absolutely love this aspect of the book. It just really didn't work for me.
4. Related to the last one: Anya being the "good Christian girl." Whenever she would think bad thoughts, it would be all No, no, I can't think these things, because I am a good Christian girl. Whenever the possibility of sex was presented to her it would be all No, no, I would never have sex, because I am a good Christian girl. Now don't get me wrong--I have no problem with those who choose not to think "bad thoughts" about others, or who choose to abstain until marriage. That's there prerogative. What upset me was that these were painted as bad things, like being pure-minded and abstaining made you a saint and daring to think bad thoughts about someone who almost date-raped you or, gasp, having sex before marriage made you a terrible person.
This is not a horrible book. This is really one of those cases where I just have to say that it was not for me. Some of you may love it, or at least like it a lot more than I did. (Plus, you might just want that gorgeous cover. SO PRETTY. And did I mention that the hard cover is patterned to look like chocolate?) But personally, I could not make myself finish this.
2 stars.
August 31, 2011
3.5 stars
(Looks at back of book. Reads “2082”. Looks at Goodreads synopsis. Reads “2083”. Is confused.)
New York, 2083. Chocolate and coffee are illegal. Curfews are enforced. Water is a precious commodity. And Anya Balanchine, orphaned daughter of a prominent criminal underworld figure, is arrested for attempted murder.
Gabrielle Zevin drops her readers into a future that is unsettlingly easy to imagine (with the exception of the chocolate ban, perhaps). It’s our world – just bleaker, harder, darker. Rather than wildly hypothetic dystopian elements or a brutal totalitarian government system, Zevin has drawn on current economic and environmental concerns and amplified them, building a New York that is disquieting, yet still recognisable. Futuristic details are used sparingly. Echoes of the prohibition era resonate in the references to speakeasies and crime syndicates, wielding their power by controlling the flow of contraband.
From the outset (that would be the table of contents, in this instance), I was quite taken with Anya as a narrator. Her voice is sharp and intelligent, and the first person style works well to flesh out Anya’s distinct character. It brings her to life, rather than falling into the flat, generic, “insert-self-here” type of prose that occasionally crops up in YA novels. Anya is shrewd and pragmatic, yet there are hints that there is more to her than just practicality and business-smarts. In her developing relationship with Win, her staunch loyalty and protective instincts towards her family, and her conflicted feelings about religion and spirituality, Anya still has moments of uncertainty and vulnerability. While she’s a savvy young woman with a fierce streak, she’s still just sixteen years old, with a lot on her shoulders.
Anya relates her story in past tense, often interjecting her own narrative to clarify or comment on events from her present perspective, which lends the writing a conversational (and occasionally confessional) tone. It’s true that Anya often keeps her cards close to her chest, and she doesn’t wax sentimental or linger over details, particularly when it comes to her romantic entanglements. This can at times render her somewhat emotionally distant, but her reticence felt in keeping with her character.
[Small personal aside here to say that I think I connected with Anya so much because we had a bonding moment over having curly hair. When Anya confesses to not usually liking people running their fingers through her hair, I practically cheered in agreement.]
Besides Anya herself, for the most part I enjoyed the supporting characters in ‘All These Things I’ve Done.’ In particular, the members of Anya’s immediate family, along with Gable, Win and Scarlet, were well realized. I felt invested in their interactions with Anya and the way their relationships played out in the plot. The themes of family and loyalty feature heavily in this story, and as such Anya’s siblings play a large part in shaping who she is and what choices she makes. The other Balanchine relatives, however, I felt lacked the depth of characterisation to make them truly interesting and compelling, though I suspect we have much more to see of them in the future.
Given the name of the trilogy we have a clue about the direction Anya’s arc will take. While a considerable portion of the book deals with her burgeoning “star-crossed” (and I use that term extremely loosely) romance, it is evident that Zevin has larger issues at play here, in terms of gender politics and personal identity. Using the backdrop of “the family”, with its patriarchal traditions and strict societal rules Zevin deftly manoeuvres Anya into both external and internal conflicts which, I predict and hope, will have Anya examining the power she holds and redefining her position in the Balanchine family. The pressure exerted by the gender role views held the family, along with Anya’s inner struggle between head and heart, open up the story for some potentially interesting developments in the future installments.
Granted, to make this work and build strong plot threads that will carry through into further books, the pacing did suffer a little. At times I felt the book lurched in terms of tension, as the plot juggles the tasks of being a Bildungsroman, developing a crime story and creating a believable romance.
However, I found the climax gripping and I was racing through the final chapters, caught up in Anya’s unraveling world. The final page, in my opinion, was brilliant, closing the story on a slightly ominous, resonant note.
All These Things I’ve Done is an unusual novel, with an interesting premise and a well-executed voice. Despite a few qualms, I found it an engrossing read, and I’m interested to see how Anya’s story develops in the following books.
(Looks at back of book. Reads “2082”. Looks at Goodreads synopsis. Reads “2083”. Is confused.)
New York, 2083. Chocolate and coffee are illegal. Curfews are enforced. Water is a precious commodity. And Anya Balanchine, orphaned daughter of a prominent criminal underworld figure, is arrested for attempted murder.
Gabrielle Zevin drops her readers into a future that is unsettlingly easy to imagine (with the exception of the chocolate ban, perhaps). It’s our world – just bleaker, harder, darker. Rather than wildly hypothetic dystopian elements or a brutal totalitarian government system, Zevin has drawn on current economic and environmental concerns and amplified them, building a New York that is disquieting, yet still recognisable. Futuristic details are used sparingly. Echoes of the prohibition era resonate in the references to speakeasies and crime syndicates, wielding their power by controlling the flow of contraband.
From the outset (that would be the table of contents, in this instance), I was quite taken with Anya as a narrator. Her voice is sharp and intelligent, and the first person style works well to flesh out Anya’s distinct character. It brings her to life, rather than falling into the flat, generic, “insert-self-here” type of prose that occasionally crops up in YA novels. Anya is shrewd and pragmatic, yet there are hints that there is more to her than just practicality and business-smarts. In her developing relationship with Win, her staunch loyalty and protective instincts towards her family, and her conflicted feelings about religion and spirituality, Anya still has moments of uncertainty and vulnerability. While she’s a savvy young woman with a fierce streak, she’s still just sixteen years old, with a lot on her shoulders.
Anya relates her story in past tense, often interjecting her own narrative to clarify or comment on events from her present perspective, which lends the writing a conversational (and occasionally confessional) tone. It’s true that Anya often keeps her cards close to her chest, and she doesn’t wax sentimental or linger over details, particularly when it comes to her romantic entanglements. This can at times render her somewhat emotionally distant, but her reticence felt in keeping with her character.
[Small personal aside here to say that I think I connected with Anya so much because we had a bonding moment over having curly hair. When Anya confesses to not usually liking people running their fingers through her hair, I practically cheered in agreement.]
Besides Anya herself, for the most part I enjoyed the supporting characters in ‘All These Things I’ve Done.’ In particular, the members of Anya’s immediate family, along with Gable, Win and Scarlet, were well realized. I felt invested in their interactions with Anya and the way their relationships played out in the plot. The themes of family and loyalty feature heavily in this story, and as such Anya’s siblings play a large part in shaping who she is and what choices she makes. The other Balanchine relatives, however, I felt lacked the depth of characterisation to make them truly interesting and compelling, though I suspect we have much more to see of them in the future.
Given the name of the trilogy we have a clue about the direction Anya’s arc will take. While a considerable portion of the book deals with her burgeoning “star-crossed” (and I use that term extremely loosely) romance, it is evident that Zevin has larger issues at play here, in terms of gender politics and personal identity. Using the backdrop of “the family”, with its patriarchal traditions and strict societal rules Zevin deftly manoeuvres Anya into both external and internal conflicts which, I predict and hope, will have Anya examining the power she holds and redefining her position in the Balanchine family. The pressure exerted by the gender role views held the family, along with Anya’s inner struggle between head and heart, open up the story for some potentially interesting developments in the future installments.
Granted, to make this work and build strong plot threads that will carry through into further books, the pacing did suffer a little. At times I felt the book lurched in terms of tension, as the plot juggles the tasks of being a Bildungsroman, developing a crime story and creating a believable romance.
However, I found the climax gripping and I was racing through the final chapters, caught up in Anya’s unraveling world. The final page, in my opinion, was brilliant, closing the story on a slightly ominous, resonant note.
All These Things I’ve Done is an unusual novel, with an interesting premise and a well-executed voice. Despite a few qualms, I found it an engrossing read, and I’m interested to see how Anya’s story develops in the following books.
July 19, 2011
With a cover like that, a premise like that, and the name of one of YA’s most highly awarded authors attached to it, how could one not pick this book up? With her trademark intelligent writing and world-building, Gabrielle Zevin’s dystopian ALL THESE THINGS I’VE DONE should be a hit for those who like their YA dystopias a touch on the literary side. It doesn’t quite hit the mark in terms of characterization, but I still very much enjoyed this novel, and look forward to its sequels.
Anya’s New York is like the present day gone to seed and corruption. Famous landmarks have been transformed into slumming hangouts and holding areas, and prepubescent kids rob people off the street with stolen handguns. The setting is fraught with tensions of all sorts, and Zevin makes great use of it. We keenly feel Anya’s struggle to juggle taking care of her family, standing her ground against her corrupt extended family, developing platonic and romantic relationships, and staying on the right side of the law. It is a testimony to the world’s potential that I couldn’t put this book down, even when the plot trudged along like it had all the time in the world to tell its story.
I had the same problem with ALL THESE THINGS I’VE DONE that I had with Gabrielle Zevin’s other books: that is, I know that Zevin’s writing is wonderful and mature and intelligent, but for some reason, I don’t find myself connecting to the characters as much as feel like I should. For example, while Anya and Win’s relationship is pleasant, it didn’t, I dunno, sweep me off my feet or anything. Anya’s “enemies” are supposed to be sinister and scary, but I didn’t really find myself that indignant or protective on Anya’s behalf.
But I feel like that’s just a “me” thing, because most others I know really like Zevin’s writing. Either way, I enjoyed ALL THESE THINGS I’VE DONE. At times it can feel like a really long setup to the second book, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll be able to enjoy the stellar world-building along the way.
Anya’s New York is like the present day gone to seed and corruption. Famous landmarks have been transformed into slumming hangouts and holding areas, and prepubescent kids rob people off the street with stolen handguns. The setting is fraught with tensions of all sorts, and Zevin makes great use of it. We keenly feel Anya’s struggle to juggle taking care of her family, standing her ground against her corrupt extended family, developing platonic and romantic relationships, and staying on the right side of the law. It is a testimony to the world’s potential that I couldn’t put this book down, even when the plot trudged along like it had all the time in the world to tell its story.
I had the same problem with ALL THESE THINGS I’VE DONE that I had with Gabrielle Zevin’s other books: that is, I know that Zevin’s writing is wonderful and mature and intelligent, but for some reason, I don’t find myself connecting to the characters as much as feel like I should. For example, while Anya and Win’s relationship is pleasant, it didn’t, I dunno, sweep me off my feet or anything. Anya’s “enemies” are supposed to be sinister and scary, but I didn’t really find myself that indignant or protective on Anya’s behalf.
But I feel like that’s just a “me” thing, because most others I know really like Zevin’s writing. Either way, I enjoyed ALL THESE THINGS I’VE DONE. At times it can feel like a really long setup to the second book, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll be able to enjoy the stellar world-building along the way.
October 5, 2011
I read the last page, closed the book, smiled and kind of hugged/patted it lol Have you ever gotten that feeling? All These Things I’ve Done was the ultimate comfort and deliciously good read.
I fall in love with Zevin’s writing. Her characters are PHENOMENAL! Anya Balanchine, she is such an honest. I was with her every step of the way. And even through I didn’t get I chance to meet her father, he seemed like a wise man(even though he was a notorious crime boss.)Who shaped Anna to be the young brilliant lady she is today. Family and the people close to her mean EVERYthing. She goes through hell to keep everyone safe and protected. They’re what keeps her going. Loved Win too...he is so sweet, intelligent and honorable. I know some people have expressed how her best friend, Scarlet, kind of “betrayed” her. But I didn’t get that impression at all. Yeah she did a “girl code no no” but who doesn’t make mistakes every now and then. AND clearly she’s still Anya’s BF. She’s a loyal friend and hopefully it stays that way.
You guys should definitely read this, if you like dystopian and a dash of contemporary. Strong female protag, great characters and plot. THEN JUST READ IT! you won’t regret it, seriously. I’m so addicted, I don’t even need the chocolate or caffeine just give me the 2nd book! lol
I fall in love with Zevin’s writing. Her characters are PHENOMENAL! Anya Balanchine, she is such an honest. I was with her every step of the way. And even through I didn’t get I chance to meet her father, he seemed like a wise man(even though he was a notorious crime boss.)Who shaped Anna to be the young brilliant lady she is today. Family and the people close to her mean EVERYthing. She goes through hell to keep everyone safe and protected. They’re what keeps her going. Loved Win too...he is so sweet, intelligent and honorable. I know some people have expressed how her best friend, Scarlet, kind of “betrayed” her. But I didn’t get that impression at all. Yeah she did a “girl code no no” but who doesn’t make mistakes every now and then. AND clearly she’s still Anya’s BF. She’s a loyal friend and hopefully it stays that way.
You guys should definitely read this, if you like dystopian and a dash of contemporary. Strong female protag, great characters and plot. THEN JUST READ IT! you won’t regret it, seriously. I’m so addicted, I don’t even need the chocolate or caffeine just give me the 2nd book! lol
February 13, 2012
LOVE this! Even though the narrative is first person, the way the story is told, it’s almost like a much older Anya is reminiscing about her misspent youth to her own grandchildren in a distant future. I liked Anya immediately and basically hung on her every word.
September 4, 2011
A couple of months ago a small package arrived on my doorstep. To my amazement, it included not only a copy of the high anticipated All These Things I’ve Done, the newest book by the lovely Gabrielle Zevin, but also some chocolate covered espresso beans. The espresso beans ended up being delicious but the book was even better! Enchanting and engaging, All These Things I’ve Done has to be one of the best books I’ve read so far this year, and given the fact that it’s the first in series, I also think that this may just be the next HUGE series. Mark my words!
All These Things I’ve Done dives right into the year of 2083 with the viewpoint of Anya Balanchine, the daughter of the New York City’s infamous crime boss. Anya’s world hasn’t exactly been easy in the past few years. Not only are both of her parents now dead, but her beloved grandmother’s health is rapidly declining and she’s quickly becoming the prime caretaker of her younger sister and her older brother. That’s not even adding in the fact that some suspicious things have been occurring in her family’s manufacturing business- the one thing Anya would like nothing more than to get away from unscathed. However, everything soon takes a sudden turn when Anya’s ex-boyfriend is poisoned by a chocolate bar from her family’s company…one that she gave him. Now dealing with the police as well as her mysterious and sometimes deadly family, Anya’s life is quickly unraveling, especially when she becomes involved with the son of the new assistant district attorney. Will Anya clear her name, save her family, and get the guy before it’s too late? Or will her life be the next one taken? Only time and more pages can tell in this deliciously creepy and imaginative new dystopian!
Anya is without a doubt one of my new favorite protagonists. Dauntless and fierce yet flawed, Anya was not only easy to root for but extremely likable. I enjoyed seeing her interact with her siblings and grandmother, all of whom she loved to pieces, as well as her friends and foes. Every different relationship showed a different side to her character- the vulnerable side to the fearless side to the innocent one.
However, the best part of this story had to be plot. Fast paced and full of twists and turns, every point to it was fully developed in a fabulously fun way. It was so hard to put this book down at times, and even when I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. One of the points I enjoyed the most was the setting. I felt Gabrielle Zevin did a great job of making it come to life through Anya’s descriptions as well as seeing how the characters interacted with it. Plus, this review wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t address the romance between Anya and Win. Win was swoon worthy and just as head strong as Anya, if not more, so when they were together sparks flew in more ways than one!
Romantic and spellbinding, All These Things I’ve Done is one of those books I highly suggest you pick up! Seriously, it’s one of the dystopians I’ve read this year.
All These Things I’ve Done dives right into the year of 2083 with the viewpoint of Anya Balanchine, the daughter of the New York City’s infamous crime boss. Anya’s world hasn’t exactly been easy in the past few years. Not only are both of her parents now dead, but her beloved grandmother’s health is rapidly declining and she’s quickly becoming the prime caretaker of her younger sister and her older brother. That’s not even adding in the fact that some suspicious things have been occurring in her family’s manufacturing business- the one thing Anya would like nothing more than to get away from unscathed. However, everything soon takes a sudden turn when Anya’s ex-boyfriend is poisoned by a chocolate bar from her family’s company…one that she gave him. Now dealing with the police as well as her mysterious and sometimes deadly family, Anya’s life is quickly unraveling, especially when she becomes involved with the son of the new assistant district attorney. Will Anya clear her name, save her family, and get the guy before it’s too late? Or will her life be the next one taken? Only time and more pages can tell in this deliciously creepy and imaginative new dystopian!
Anya is without a doubt one of my new favorite protagonists. Dauntless and fierce yet flawed, Anya was not only easy to root for but extremely likable. I enjoyed seeing her interact with her siblings and grandmother, all of whom she loved to pieces, as well as her friends and foes. Every different relationship showed a different side to her character- the vulnerable side to the fearless side to the innocent one.
However, the best part of this story had to be plot. Fast paced and full of twists and turns, every point to it was fully developed in a fabulously fun way. It was so hard to put this book down at times, and even when I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. One of the points I enjoyed the most was the setting. I felt Gabrielle Zevin did a great job of making it come to life through Anya’s descriptions as well as seeing how the characters interacted with it. Plus, this review wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t address the romance between Anya and Win. Win was swoon worthy and just as head strong as Anya, if not more, so when they were together sparks flew in more ways than one!
Romantic and spellbinding, All These Things I’ve Done is one of those books I highly suggest you pick up! Seriously, it’s one of the dystopians I’ve read this year.
July 25, 2011
New York City is a very different place in 2083. Crime and poverty are everywhere, and it seems that the only thing that the government is good at doing is banning and rationing items. You’d think that life would get kind of boring since caffeine and chocolate are illegal, but life for Anya Balanchine is always a little more interesting than she’d like it to be. All the excitement probably comes with the family name—the Balanchine crime family is one of the most eminent crime families in the world. Anya would prefer going along with business as usual, a routine of school, taking care of her siblings, and avoiding her ex-boyfriend, but when the ex-boyfriend is poisoned by the chocolate manufactured by her family, routine gets thrown out the door. Now, in addition to all her other responsibilities, Anya has to figure out the truth behind the poisoned chocolate and protect her family name, all while trying not to fall for the son of the new assistant DA. It would seem overwhelming, but Anya was raised a Balanchine—and she’s too smart to go down without a fight.
I enjoyed Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac and absolutely I loved Elsewhere, but I have to say that All These Things I’ve Done is Zevin’s best YA novel yet. I was initially wary of the overall idea of the story, because the first synopsis I read didn’t give a great overview of the book, but I’m so glad I decided to trust my faith in Zevin because All These Things I’ve Done is an incredible story. Anya is a more serious but very intelligent narrator, and as a result, readers gain insight into both Anya’s personal thoughts and the complex system of loyalties associated with the Balanchine family. I don’t think I’d be able to pinpoint the exact point where I became completely invested in this story, but this was not a book I could willingly put down as each new complication was introduced to the story. I loved this novel for so many reasons, because of Zevin’s superb storytelling, the believability and strength of each emotion portrayed, and that although this story is labeled as dystopian, the setting isn’t so outlandish or extreme that readers have to take a big leap to connect our present day with the conditions in Anya’s world. I’m sure I’m not going to be the only reader anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Birthright series.
All These Things of Done is a must read for all fans of Zevin’s earlier YA novels and Heist Society by Ally Carter.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
I enjoyed Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac and absolutely I loved Elsewhere, but I have to say that All These Things I’ve Done is Zevin’s best YA novel yet. I was initially wary of the overall idea of the story, because the first synopsis I read didn’t give a great overview of the book, but I’m so glad I decided to trust my faith in Zevin because All These Things I’ve Done is an incredible story. Anya is a more serious but very intelligent narrator, and as a result, readers gain insight into both Anya’s personal thoughts and the complex system of loyalties associated with the Balanchine family. I don’t think I’d be able to pinpoint the exact point where I became completely invested in this story, but this was not a book I could willingly put down as each new complication was introduced to the story. I loved this novel for so many reasons, because of Zevin’s superb storytelling, the believability and strength of each emotion portrayed, and that although this story is labeled as dystopian, the setting isn’t so outlandish or extreme that readers have to take a big leap to connect our present day with the conditions in Anya’s world. I’m sure I’m not going to be the only reader anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Birthright series.
All These Things of Done is a must read for all fans of Zevin’s earlier YA novels and Heist Society by Ally Carter.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
November 26, 2011
This wasn't much of anything. It wasn't a love story, it wasn't a dystopic future, it wasn't an exciting action crime drama, it certainly wasn't science fiction as it is cataloged at the library. This story fell short of being defined in any genre just as it fell short in being interesting or appealing in any way.
The love interest, Win, was boring and annoying (he wore lots of hats and called his girlfriend "lass") and the main character Anya and her family was unsympathetic despite the sympathy the author forced on the reader by killing off everyone.
On top of everything else, the excuse of Catholicism Anya used for some things (not having any sex) but not others (being mean and terrible) made her "religion" weak and unconvincing. I suspect the Catholic, private school going, curvy, ethnic, mobster daughter descriptions assigned to Anya is the way for the author to use stereotypes instead of character development to flesh out an otherwise lacking leading lady.
The love interest, Win, was boring and annoying (he wore lots of hats and called his girlfriend "lass") and the main character Anya and her family was unsympathetic despite the sympathy the author forced on the reader by killing off everyone.
On top of everything else, the excuse of Catholicism Anya used for some things (not having any sex) but not others (being mean and terrible) made her "religion" weak and unconvincing. I suspect the Catholic, private school going, curvy, ethnic, mobster daughter descriptions assigned to Anya is the way for the author to use stereotypes instead of character development to flesh out an otherwise lacking leading lady.
October 26, 2011
I'll admit that this was fun to read, and that the echoes of the Prohibition era was done quite well, but it was the worldbuilding that really killed it for me. I mean, apart from the absurd notion that coffee and chocolate are banned, I can't understand why those two items are banned when alcohol is legal, even for minors. A lot of things just don't make sense in terms of the worldbuilding. If anything, it felt like it was dystopian for the sake of being a dystopian. There was nothing remarkable about this book, and it obviously jumped onto the dystopian bandwagon.
The romance was a bit iffy. Anya did a complete about-face in terms of her feelings for Win. One moment she was like, "Oh, I'm not interested. He's not my type", and the next, she's planning on having sex with him (which, if you've read the book, and know that she's a Catholic, is off-character).
I won't even touch up on the summary on the back of the book: "Anya will have to choose between love and loyalty, knowing that whatever she decides will have shattering consequences: heartbreak or a gangland war that will tear the city apart." Really? That's her decision? It seems like a bit of a no-brainer to me. And considering that she wasn't even remotely interested in Win when she was forbidden to date him, I don't see why it should have been that big a deal.
The story was pretty awesome, but when the unecessary romance came into play in the second half of the novel, all trace of plot scampered away, only revealing its ugly face in the last fifty or so pages. Not impressive.
Another positive aspect that I have to comment on is the voice and readability. The voice was very likeable, and easy to read. It made for a quick, light read, perfect for a day in the sun.
The romance was a bit iffy. Anya did a complete about-face in terms of her feelings for Win. One moment she was like, "Oh, I'm not interested. He's not my type", and the next, she's planning on having sex with him (which, if you've read the book, and know that she's a Catholic, is off-character).
I won't even touch up on the summary on the back of the book: "Anya will have to choose between love and loyalty, knowing that whatever she decides will have shattering consequences: heartbreak or a gangland war that will tear the city apart." Really? That's her decision? It seems like a bit of a no-brainer to me. And considering that she wasn't even remotely interested in Win when she was forbidden to date him, I don't see why it should have been that big a deal.
The story was pretty awesome, but when the unecessary romance came into play in the second half of the novel, all trace of plot scampered away, only revealing its ugly face in the last fifty or so pages. Not impressive.
Another positive aspect that I have to comment on is the voice and readability. The voice was very likeable, and easy to read. It made for a quick, light read, perfect for a day in the sun.
March 6, 2021
*reread in 2021*
I didn't love this as much as I did back in 2015, it was a fun read but nothing special. I had to reread it because I couldn't remember anything from the first time I read it, and I really want to finish the trilogy this year.
*first read 2015*
I really enjoyed this book, the Storyline was so different Chocolate being illegal? It was set in the future, I don't remember the date…I felt like the story was a little slow in the beginning that's why I gave it a 4.5.
I love Win he's so good to Anna, and the ending of this book made me happy, it didn't end with a cliffhanger, or anything like that. It just ended well.
I did like the characters, I suspected some people were behind certain things from the start, but it did make me second guess myself.
Overall I do recommend this book, it was good, Just know it is slow in the beginning.
I didn't love this as much as I did back in 2015, it was a fun read but nothing special. I had to reread it because I couldn't remember anything from the first time I read it, and I really want to finish the trilogy this year.
*first read 2015*
I really enjoyed this book, the Storyline was so different Chocolate being illegal? It was set in the future, I don't remember the date…I felt like the story was a little slow in the beginning that's why I gave it a 4.5.
I love Win he's so good to Anna, and the ending of this book made me happy, it didn't end with a cliffhanger, or anything like that. It just ended well.
I did like the characters, I suspected some people were behind certain things from the start, but it did make me second guess myself.
Overall I do recommend this book, it was good, Just know it is slow in the beginning.
July 9, 2012
Warning: This book promotes using your best friend, controlling other people's lives, losing your temper randomly, not learning anything from traumatic experiences, quoting dead people in every other sentence, whining about how miserable your life is, treating your siblings like they're animals that need to be led everywhere by a leash and trained in what not to do, and lying to just about every person that moves.
That was probably one of the worst book's I've ever opened. I would have labeled it as a Did Not Finish, but I somehow did. I dragged myself through every single page. Every single one. I felt like if different authors had attempted to re-write this novel in their own way, it would end up a hundred times better than this novel did. I really, really tried to like this book. Honestly, I did. I expected some kind of character development, and if I was lucky, a plot that made sense and a series I would be happy to continue. Of course, I was way wrong.
I don't even know where to start on the problems I faced while reading. I really don't. Let's see...the plot was alright, I guess, but the parts that I assumed (or at least hoped) would be fast-paced and exciting were short and dull. This girl had emotional, psychological, and any other -al problems a girl could have. She's got it all. From the denial of her attraction towards Win Then she dictates what the people she knows can and can't do, and it's like she owns them. Her best friend? Nice. Great take on best friends.
She also seemed to have a problem with siblings, I see. Her brother's a freaking adult, even though he's never been the same since the accident. So? It doesn't mean he has to be scolded like a 5 year old or told where he can and can't work like he's a kid. She's 16 for crying out loud, and she makes it seem like she's their parent. At least parents have some kind of obligation to tell their kids what to do because they aren't adults yet. For a 16 year old girl to do it, it's just hypocritical, and just wrong. Siblings know there are times when you have to butt out, and Anya never got that.
And Win. Poor, poor Win. I am so sorry that he ever had the misfortune of falling in love with Anya, I truly am. He is sweet, and kind, and caring, and yeah, a little naive. He thinks for himself, and sticks by the people he cares about no matter what. He looks at things from both angles and somehow tolerates Anya in a way that I cannot, so kudos to you, Win. He just seemed so genuine and...nice, that it is just pure insanity how, not only did he fall for Anya, but she somehow denied ever liking him until she's suddenly making out with him. That girl is seriously screwed up. I understand the whole hardships-in-life, my-life-is-so-miserable thing. I've had to deal with a lot myself, and I still am. And yes, I feel sorry for myself too--everyone does at some point. But she was the Mother of all Whiners, to me, and I hope I never ever for the rest of my life, complain about my life, or anything, as much as she does. I suppose, now, when I complain about myself and how I'm not this, or not that, I can think of her and remember I could be infinitely worse. I could be like her, and no one should have the misfortune of that. No one.
I also didn't understand the whole "Anya quotes Daddy every other page" thing. If I had to guess, I'd say she thinks or says "Daddy said", or "Daddy used to say", or "Daddy always believed", about 175 times throughout the entire novel. Not even joking. I wish I'd have written them all down because I could write a final paper for my English class with nothing but the "words of wisdom" Daddy provided through Anya. I swear, it was like Daddy did nothing but philosophize every single aspect of life. Like he did nothing but sit around and provide deep sentimental words every time someone moved anywhere near him. That's how bad it was.
I could go on and on and on and on and on , but I figure you don't want to read it. Or suffer through the faults I found in this book that I would point out. Because then, if you actually liked the book, you would either discredit me (which I understand if you do, no hard feelings, everyone is entitled to their own opinion), or you would actually notice them, and that would be much worse if you actually did like the book, than the first option would be. I really am sorry if I ruin anyone's opinion of this book through this review, but I am just saying what I read, and what I read is something I would never, ever, want anyone to read as my own work. I am actually looking into becoming a writer, and my greatest fear is my work would end up like this novel by Gabrielle Zevin, one that seems incomplete and more like a first draft than a final one. I would also like to apologize to Zevin (if she ever reads this) for the contents of this review. I am sorry if it seems offensive, but I am saying what I honestly thought after completing this book. And I know that, if I ever became an author, I would feel better knowing someone honestly hated something I wrote, rather than believing everyone loved it when they didn't. I find it helpful to read criticism about something as well as praise, because I can see both sides of the story, instead of just one. I mean no disrespect to Zevin, or any of her past and future works.
That was probably one of the worst book's I've ever opened. I would have labeled it as a Did Not Finish, but I somehow did. I dragged myself through every single page. Every single one. I felt like if different authors had attempted to re-write this novel in their own way, it would end up a hundred times better than this novel did. I really, really tried to like this book. Honestly, I did. I expected some kind of character development, and if I was lucky, a plot that made sense and a series I would be happy to continue. Of course, I was way wrong.
I don't even know where to start on the problems I faced while reading. I really don't. Let's see...the plot was alright, I guess, but the parts that I assumed (or at least hoped) would be fast-paced and exciting were short and dull. This girl had emotional, psychological, and any other -al problems a girl could have. She's got it all. From the denial of her attraction towards Win Then she dictates what the people she knows can and can't do, and it's like she owns them. Her best friend? Nice. Great take on best friends.
She also seemed to have a problem with siblings, I see. Her brother's a freaking adult, even though he's never been the same since the accident. So? It doesn't mean he has to be scolded like a 5 year old or told where he can and can't work like he's a kid. She's 16 for crying out loud, and she makes it seem like she's their parent. At least parents have some kind of obligation to tell their kids what to do because they aren't adults yet. For a 16 year old girl to do it, it's just hypocritical, and just wrong. Siblings know there are times when you have to butt out, and Anya never got that.
And Win. Poor, poor Win. I am so sorry that he ever had the misfortune of falling in love with Anya, I truly am. He is sweet, and kind, and caring, and yeah, a little naive. He thinks for himself, and sticks by the people he cares about no matter what. He looks at things from both angles and somehow tolerates Anya in a way that I cannot, so kudos to you, Win. He just seemed so genuine and...nice, that it is just pure insanity how, not only did he fall for Anya, but she somehow denied ever liking him until she's suddenly making out with him. That girl is seriously screwed up. I understand the whole hardships-in-life, my-life-is-so-miserable thing. I've had to deal with a lot myself, and I still am. And yes, I feel sorry for myself too--everyone does at some point. But she was the Mother of all Whiners, to me, and I hope I never ever for the rest of my life, complain about my life, or anything, as much as she does. I suppose, now, when I complain about myself and how I'm not this, or not that, I can think of her and remember I could be infinitely worse. I could be like her, and no one should have the misfortune of that. No one.
I also didn't understand the whole "Anya quotes Daddy every other page" thing. If I had to guess, I'd say she thinks or says "Daddy said", or "Daddy used to say", or "Daddy always believed", about 175 times throughout the entire novel. Not even joking. I wish I'd have written them all down because I could write a final paper for my English class with nothing but the "words of wisdom" Daddy provided through Anya. I swear, it was like Daddy did nothing but philosophize every single aspect of life. Like he did nothing but sit around and provide deep sentimental words every time someone moved anywhere near him. That's how bad it was.
I could go on and on and on and on and on , but I figure you don't want to read it. Or suffer through the faults I found in this book that I would point out. Because then, if you actually liked the book, you would either discredit me (which I understand if you do, no hard feelings, everyone is entitled to their own opinion), or you would actually notice them, and that would be much worse if you actually did like the book, than the first option would be. I really am sorry if I ruin anyone's opinion of this book through this review, but I am just saying what I read, and what I read is something I would never, ever, want anyone to read as my own work. I am actually looking into becoming a writer, and my greatest fear is my work would end up like this novel by Gabrielle Zevin, one that seems incomplete and more like a first draft than a final one. I would also like to apologize to Zevin (if she ever reads this) for the contents of this review. I am sorry if it seems offensive, but I am saying what I honestly thought after completing this book. And I know that, if I ever became an author, I would feel better knowing someone honestly hated something I wrote, rather than believing everyone loved it when they didn't. I find it helpful to read criticism about something as well as praise, because I can see both sides of the story, instead of just one. I mean no disrespect to Zevin, or any of her past and future works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2011
There has been a huge upswing in the amount of dystopian and dystopian-like books written in the past few years. Some are excellent. Some have excellent premises that are just not quite carried off. And some have premises that leave you kinda scratching your head. Despite all of the good things I've heard about Gabrielle Zevin, I was afraid this was going to fall in the latter category. I mean, a world where chocolate and caffeine are banned, but alcohol is not? And since that was all that was really being said about the book, it seemed like a pretty thin basis for a dystopia - hell, for a book in general. I was...hesitant. I've been burned by a thin premise before.
But here's the thing (well, the things):
1. The dystopian-like elements of this are almost incidental. They play a part (a big part), but it's not a dystopian story.
2. No matter how questionable elements in your world are, if you do them well, they will work. If you build it they will come. If you back your shit up, I'll buy in.
And I did. So, to break it down:
This is being tossed around as a dystopia, and like I said, the elements are there. But I am a firm believer that dystopia means something. Dystopia - like satire - is used to highlight some aspect of society, to show us what could be from what is. It's a magnifying glass held to our flaws, our society taken to its logical extremes, and all with the mantra that it's for our own good. All These Things I've Done does have a smidge of that, but it's lacking the verve, the fervor, the ardency that comes with A Message. And the reason is that it's not really about that. Zevin's dystopian society just is. It's not being used as a spotlight, and not even completely as a catalyst, but more just as a backdrop to the real story. It's no different than an alien world or a fictionalized contemporary world. It's simply a matter of 'this is what it is, and this is what we know.' No one's fighting (yet), no one's being made martyrs - it's not about that. It's more that this is just the world that is, and this is one girl's story in it.
This is a simple story of a girl who gets caught up in a whole lot of mess when the world starts noticing her and she starts noticing it back. So let's move on from the dystopia into what it really is. I've read reviews from a few friends who felt like they weren't able to connect to the characters or that Anya and the narration was really detached. This was one of my favorite things. The main character, Anya, is a bit of a cold fish. She has led a really hard life and has an insane amount of pressure on her shoulders, all the while trying to get out from under the shadow of her family and what they represent (which, as the daughter of a slain mob boss, is no easy feat). Anya's reservedness and tendency to go cold in her narration, to recap things and make less of them - I found this perfectly in keeping with her character and the world/character-building. I understood her thoughts and reactions, and her standoffishness and fierce need to protect. I liked her reluctance and pragmatism, especially where Win is concerned. It made her seem more real to me, and in some ways, more relatable. Everything she is and does has a basis in her past, and that comes through palpably.
Generally, I felt this was true across the board. I found all of the characters pretty relatable and I thought they added to my understanding of Anya and her world pretty nicely. Yes, some are cardboard and I could have wished for something more dynamic, but in the telling, somehow it still works. Anya's constant
"Daddyisms" - wise words from her mobster father - made sense and helped build the picture. The whole family unit, who they are and how they react and are portrayed, that all worked for me. Win was a little too good and Gable a little too bad...But I do think Win is a good love interest, even if the whole thing creeps dangerously close to something that would normally irritate me (Romeo & Juliet bullshiz. Which this is, as it is essentially a retelling, star-crossed lovers and all that jazz). But Anya's behavior saves it for me, cold-fish that she is. I could have done more shades of gray, but that is all really in hindsight because, as I said, as I was reading, it all just worked for me.
All that said, there were 2 things that bothered me. I mentioned the choc/caff banning as being a BIT ridiculous, but I can see a banning happening. I can even see coffee speakeasies and black market extra dark chocolate bars. What I CANNOT see is people getting high off of a candy bar. I mean, we all joke about being chocoholics, but come on now. I don't buy an honest-to-AA caffeine addict, I just don't. But this was minimal-ish and I got over it.
The second thing that bothered me hit me like a ton of bricks and is spoilery, so if you don't want to know...
PRE-SPOILER (you can read this, it's safe)
I reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally liked the relationship between Anya and Scarlet, her best friend, through most of the book. I was so damn happy to be reading a book with a female main character who gets along with other female characters. We all had a best friend in high school and for the most part, they weren't back-stabbing c*nts. I am so beyond sick of this Mean Girl trend I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU. So I was reading, and there was no Mean Girl-ness - even from the school gossip, who I was just waiting to turn bitchy - and I was giddy with the idea that there was going to be a healthy female relationship in a YA book. And it wasn't even saccharine and fake - these two do have problems, they do have arguments and disagreements. But then they do this miraculous thing where they talk about them and remain friends. It was heaven. And then.
SPOILER
END SPOILER.
That flaw knocked it back some, but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book by any means. I'm confident Anya can take care of herself, and Gable certainly gets what's coming, and probably will forever and ever amen, so I'm good with that. Scarlet's bad choice wasn't enough to spoil my the book for me, and Anya's voice and the overall dark tone of the story worked for me enough that, coupled with the hints of where this series is going, I'm certainly eager to see more.
But here's the thing (well, the things):
1. The dystopian-like elements of this are almost incidental. They play a part (a big part), but it's not a dystopian story.
2. No matter how questionable elements in your world are, if you do them well, they will work. If you build it they will come. If you back your shit up, I'll buy in.
And I did. So, to break it down:
This is being tossed around as a dystopia, and like I said, the elements are there. But I am a firm believer that dystopia means something. Dystopia - like satire - is used to highlight some aspect of society, to show us what could be from what is. It's a magnifying glass held to our flaws, our society taken to its logical extremes, and all with the mantra that it's for our own good. All These Things I've Done does have a smidge of that, but it's lacking the verve, the fervor, the ardency that comes with A Message. And the reason is that it's not really about that. Zevin's dystopian society just is. It's not being used as a spotlight, and not even completely as a catalyst, but more just as a backdrop to the real story. It's no different than an alien world or a fictionalized contemporary world. It's simply a matter of 'this is what it is, and this is what we know.' No one's fighting (yet), no one's being made martyrs - it's not about that. It's more that this is just the world that is, and this is one girl's story in it.
This is a simple story of a girl who gets caught up in a whole lot of mess when the world starts noticing her and she starts noticing it back. So let's move on from the dystopia into what it really is. I've read reviews from a few friends who felt like they weren't able to connect to the characters or that Anya and the narration was really detached. This was one of my favorite things. The main character, Anya, is a bit of a cold fish. She has led a really hard life and has an insane amount of pressure on her shoulders, all the while trying to get out from under the shadow of her family and what they represent (which, as the daughter of a slain mob boss, is no easy feat). Anya's reservedness and tendency to go cold in her narration, to recap things and make less of them - I found this perfectly in keeping with her character and the world/character-building. I understood her thoughts and reactions, and her standoffishness and fierce need to protect. I liked her reluctance and pragmatism, especially where Win is concerned. It made her seem more real to me, and in some ways, more relatable. Everything she is and does has a basis in her past, and that comes through palpably.
Generally, I felt this was true across the board. I found all of the characters pretty relatable and I thought they added to my understanding of Anya and her world pretty nicely. Yes, some are cardboard and I could have wished for something more dynamic, but in the telling, somehow it still works. Anya's constant
"Daddyisms" - wise words from her mobster father - made sense and helped build the picture. The whole family unit, who they are and how they react and are portrayed, that all worked for me. Win was a little too good and Gable a little too bad...But I do think Win is a good love interest, even if the whole thing creeps dangerously close to something that would normally irritate me (Romeo & Juliet bullshiz. Which this is, as it is essentially a retelling, star-crossed lovers and all that jazz). But Anya's behavior saves it for me, cold-fish that she is. I could have done more shades of gray, but that is all really in hindsight because, as I said, as I was reading, it all just worked for me.
All that said, there were 2 things that bothered me. I mentioned the choc/caff banning as being a BIT ridiculous, but I can see a banning happening. I can even see coffee speakeasies and black market extra dark chocolate bars. What I CANNOT see is people getting high off of a candy bar. I mean, we all joke about being chocoholics, but come on now. I don't buy an honest-to-AA caffeine addict, I just don't. But this was minimal-ish and I got over it.
The second thing that bothered me hit me like a ton of bricks and is spoilery, so if you don't want to know...
PRE-SPOILER (you can read this, it's safe)
I reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally liked the relationship between Anya and Scarlet, her best friend, through most of the book. I was so damn happy to be reading a book with a female main character who gets along with other female characters. We all had a best friend in high school and for the most part, they weren't back-stabbing c*nts. I am so beyond sick of this Mean Girl trend I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU. So I was reading, and there was no Mean Girl-ness - even from the school gossip, who I was just waiting to turn bitchy - and I was giddy with the idea that there was going to be a healthy female relationship in a YA book. And it wasn't even saccharine and fake - these two do have problems, they do have arguments and disagreements. But then they do this miraculous thing where they talk about them and remain friends. It was heaven. And then.
SPOILER
END SPOILER.
That flaw knocked it back some, but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book by any means. I'm confident Anya can take care of herself, and Gable certainly gets what's coming, and probably will forever and ever amen, so I'm good with that. Scarlet's bad choice wasn't enough to spoil my the book for me, and Anya's voice and the overall dark tone of the story worked for me enough that, coupled with the hints of where this series is going, I'm certainly eager to see more.
August 7, 2023
my expectations were low. I vaguely remember everyone talking about this book back when it first came out and I had told myself I would never read it... WELL here I am 🤣
Honestly it was better than expected but it was still pretty cringy and outdated. (ironic since its set in 2083 ☠️)
The Main character would often talk directly to the reader which was a little weird. Her older brother had been in an accident leaving him with some mental challenges and the R word was used within the first like 2 chapters, and it was also full with other comments that were in poor taste of his abilities.
They also made chocolate and coffee sound like they were hard drugs and that was an interesting take on it I guess.
It was also really long with little to nothing actually happening in the book till the last 15%
will probably not continue the series but honestly I still have a tiny pull of intrigue to find out what happens next so who knows 🤣
Honestly it was better than expected but it was still pretty cringy and outdated. (ironic since its set in 2083 ☠️)
The Main character would often talk directly to the reader which was a little weird. Her older brother had been in an accident leaving him with some mental challenges and the R word was used within the first like 2 chapters, and it was also full with other comments that were in poor taste of his abilities.
They also made chocolate and coffee sound like they were hard drugs and that was an interesting take on it I guess.
It was also really long with little to nothing actually happening in the book till the last 15%
will probably not continue the series but honestly I still have a tiny pull of intrigue to find out what happens next so who knows 🤣
November 3, 2011
Look at the lovely cover for this book. Do you think that it could be about a dystopian world? Peel away the dust jacket (thanks for the tip, Mocha Latte!) – There’s a surprise beneath. It’s a Balanchine Special Dark Chocolate book cover. YUM!
It’s 2083 and the futuristic New York City is seriously lacking resources. Water is scarce, food is rationed, and paper and candles are not readily available. What remains of the Statue of Liberty are her feet and the bottom of her dress. New York City is plagued by crime and corruption, especially since chocolate and caffeine have been prohibited. The good news – you can still get a drink and there is no drinking age.
OK, so I can believe that in about 70 years or so, resources will have dwindled. I can understand that crime and corruption could run rampant in a large city. But a ban on chocolate AND caffeine, two of my favorite food groups? That is brutal.
Prohibitions on these items lead to a healthy black market. The Balanchine family controlled the chocolate trade. Their trademark Balanchine Special Dark was highly sought after. Then someone poisons the chocolate supply…
What’s interesting about this book is that it begins as the story of a young girl living in New York City in 2083. Anya leads a pretty normal life under her circumstances. She attends a Catholic High School, hangs out with her ditzy friend Scarlet, and her boyfriend Win (short for Goodwin). As you continue reading, Anya is not an ordinary girl. She is the daughter of Leonyd Balanchine, head of the Russian mafiya.
Anya is a remarkable girl. She lives with her younger sister Natalya, her older brother Leonyd, and her dying grandmother. Anya bears a lot of responsibility to ensure that her family can stay together. Leonyd has not been the same since he was injured in a botched mob hit. Anya is protective of her family and has a level of maturity beyond her years. Anya is not like any teen heroine I’ve read. There is no angst, though there should be. There is no whining, either. Anya has strong beliefs and a strong moral code.
I was surprised to find out that this book is part of the Birthright trilogy. The other books are untitled and there was no publication information at this time. It would be interesting to see what happens to Anya and the rest of her family in the next book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
It’s 2083 and the futuristic New York City is seriously lacking resources. Water is scarce, food is rationed, and paper and candles are not readily available. What remains of the Statue of Liberty are her feet and the bottom of her dress. New York City is plagued by crime and corruption, especially since chocolate and caffeine have been prohibited. The good news – you can still get a drink and there is no drinking age.
OK, so I can believe that in about 70 years or so, resources will have dwindled. I can understand that crime and corruption could run rampant in a large city. But a ban on chocolate AND caffeine, two of my favorite food groups? That is brutal.
Prohibitions on these items lead to a healthy black market. The Balanchine family controlled the chocolate trade. Their trademark Balanchine Special Dark was highly sought after. Then someone poisons the chocolate supply…
What’s interesting about this book is that it begins as the story of a young girl living in New York City in 2083. Anya leads a pretty normal life under her circumstances. She attends a Catholic High School, hangs out with her ditzy friend Scarlet, and her boyfriend Win (short for Goodwin). As you continue reading, Anya is not an ordinary girl. She is the daughter of Leonyd Balanchine, head of the Russian mafiya.
Anya is a remarkable girl. She lives with her younger sister Natalya, her older brother Leonyd, and her dying grandmother. Anya bears a lot of responsibility to ensure that her family can stay together. Leonyd has not been the same since he was injured in a botched mob hit. Anya is protective of her family and has a level of maturity beyond her years. Anya is not like any teen heroine I’ve read. There is no angst, though there should be. There is no whining, either. Anya has strong beliefs and a strong moral code.
I was surprised to find out that this book is part of the Birthright trilogy. The other books are untitled and there was no publication information at this time. It would be interesting to see what happens to Anya and the rest of her family in the next book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
May 19, 2012
All These Things I've Done is a new take on the dystopian genre. In a world where chocolate is banned? Who wouldn't want to read about that? This is the first book in the Birthright series that you will either love or...not get along with.
Set in New York City, 2083, 16-year-old Anya is the one keeping her family together. Her parents died in a car crash. Her brother is suffering from that accident. Her grandmother is dying. What does she do? She does the best she can to keep her family safe, but when her ex-boyfriend is poisoned by the chocolate that Anya gave him, she is an immediate suspect. A few weeks later she meets Will, a charming young boy who is genuinely interested in her, but Anya knows she can never make that feeling mutual. Win's father is the new D.A and he does not want Anya messing up his chances to be mayor by ruining his family's reputation. Can Anya take this risk?
All These Things I've Done wasn't anything like I thought it would be. The plot line was predictable, the main character was boring, and the list just goes on and on. I must say, I really liked the idea for the book when I read the blurb; the romance sounded interesting and, well, overall I just couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Sadly, the book did not live up to my expectations.
I didn't enjoy the Gabrielle's writing style or the way she built up her characters, I probably skim read 3/4 of the book because I couldn't stand to read another word of Anya's thoughts. Okay, sure, the book wasn't entirely bad, I still found positive moments that I cherished for as long as humanly possible. One character in particular encouraged me to finish the book: Win. He was nice and, at times, funny. I thoroughly enjoyed his personality! And if you want me to be honest, I skim read the book just to find bits to read with him in it. I can't help it! The girl, Anya, drove me nuts. "No, sorry, I can't do this, I'm pure, I have to save myself!", WELL YOUR NOT DOING A GOOD JOB ARE YOU? FLIRTING WITH WIN ISN'T GOING TO HELP THAT PURENESS, IS IT?! The answer: NO.
I'm not saying you shouldn't try out this book, I'm just saying that I don't think that this book will satisfy reader's high expectations now-a-days. I'm going to read the sequel, not because I'm desperately aching to find out what happens, more along the lines of wanting to see if the series does get any better. So, give this a go and let me know!
Set in New York City, 2083, 16-year-old Anya is the one keeping her family together. Her parents died in a car crash. Her brother is suffering from that accident. Her grandmother is dying. What does she do? She does the best she can to keep her family safe, but when her ex-boyfriend is poisoned by the chocolate that Anya gave him, she is an immediate suspect. A few weeks later she meets Will, a charming young boy who is genuinely interested in her, but Anya knows she can never make that feeling mutual. Win's father is the new D.A and he does not want Anya messing up his chances to be mayor by ruining his family's reputation. Can Anya take this risk?
All These Things I've Done wasn't anything like I thought it would be. The plot line was predictable, the main character was boring, and the list just goes on and on. I must say, I really liked the idea for the book when I read the blurb; the romance sounded interesting and, well, overall I just couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Sadly, the book did not live up to my expectations.
I didn't enjoy the Gabrielle's writing style or the way she built up her characters, I probably skim read 3/4 of the book because I couldn't stand to read another word of Anya's thoughts. Okay, sure, the book wasn't entirely bad, I still found positive moments that I cherished for as long as humanly possible. One character in particular encouraged me to finish the book: Win. He was nice and, at times, funny. I thoroughly enjoyed his personality! And if you want me to be honest, I skim read the book just to find bits to read with him in it. I can't help it! The girl, Anya, drove me nuts. "No, sorry, I can't do this, I'm pure, I have to save myself!", WELL YOUR NOT DOING A GOOD JOB ARE YOU? FLIRTING WITH WIN ISN'T GOING TO HELP THAT PURENESS, IS IT?! The answer: NO.
I'm not saying you shouldn't try out this book, I'm just saying that I don't think that this book will satisfy reader's high expectations now-a-days. I'm going to read the sequel, not because I'm desperately aching to find out what happens, more along the lines of wanting to see if the series does get any better. So, give this a go and let me know!
January 14, 2012
This one is hard for me to review. I really, really wanted to like it, then by the end I had to come to terms that it just wasn’t that good.
It started out good - a mob boss’s daughter, living in a dystopian world. Chocolate and coffee are banned substances, you had really good side characters and then she lost me about half way. Anya became whiny and I lost interest. I don’t know that I would finish the series. I hate to give bad reviews because I know how hard it is to write a book, I just sort of felt the dystopian theme was thrown in there because that is what is popular now.
It started out good - a mob boss’s daughter, living in a dystopian world. Chocolate and coffee are banned substances, you had really good side characters and then she lost me about half way. Anya became whiny and I lost interest. I don’t know that I would finish the series. I hate to give bad reviews because I know how hard it is to write a book, I just sort of felt the dystopian theme was thrown in there because that is what is popular now.
November 24, 2016
Was ist das Bitte gewesen? Nach etwas über der Hälfte gebe ich auf. Langeweilige Prota's, Liebesgeschichte die mich überhaupt nicht berührt hat. Einfach öde. Verschwendete Lesezeit.
October 18, 2011
The first few pages of this I absolutely could not take seriously. Honestly, you try and keep a straight face when someone is talking about drinking espresso like it’s getting shot up with meth. The feeling passed fairly quickly though and in this story I found a character that I could really like.
Quick Overview: Anya Balanchine is known mainly as the daughter of the most notorious (and dead) chocolate crime boss. All Anya wants though is to stay under the radar and keep her and her family safe. But with trying not to fall for the new assistant DA’s son and sudden accusations of attempted murder, flying under the radar is getting close to impossible. In fact Anya finds it hard not to be in the spotlight lately, and it brings all the wrong kind of attention, like from her mafiya (this is how they spell it in the book) family.
After I got over my laughing fit I thought the ban of coffee and chocolate was actually a pretty original idea. I suppose this could be considered dystopia, but it really doesn’t hold the same style. Anya is a likeable character. Not in the way that you want to be her best friend, but because you can respect her grounded-ness (is that a word?) and determination to keep her family safe. A lot of Anya’s decisions may seem insensitive, but I could understand her and can honestly say that for the most part I would’ve done the same thing if it meant doing right by my family. I could understand her protectiveness towards her brother Leo and I loved her innocent but wise younger sister Natty.
Now for the not so great. At times it seemed like the authors was trying too hard to make us feel sorry for Anya. It’s really unnecessary seeing as we already know about her circumstances, so it was overkill. We are constantly being told that Anya is tough and she’s excessively mean at parts just to show this point. The chocolate and coffee ban I think it supposed to show how outlawing drugs and restricting drinking just causes crime. And I agree, but making them legal would mean that you trust people to use these things responsibly… and I don’t. Not to mention that drugs and alcohol impair your actions and judgment a lot more than coffee and chocolate put together. I mean really, how many times have you heard of someone being hit by a car cause the driver was under the intoxicating influence of chocolate? Exactly. My real beef though is that somewhere in the middle I just lost Anya. All of sudden she's detached and at odds with some of her strongest beliefs for…a very stupid reason. It makes her lose some of her credibility because she had previously established how important these things were to her. I would’ve liked to see a lot more of the mafiya conflict that we see earlier and at the end of the book.
Even though I’ve got these hang ups I really enjoyed this book. The characters are like normal people with their flaws and complications. Their actions are (almost) always understandable and in correlation with their beliefs and struggles. I love the loyalty and love between Anya and her brother and sister. Strong sibling relationships are one of the most underappreciated relationships in literature I think, as are families in general. The dynamic between Anya’s immediate family and her extended mafiya family was also interesting to see. There’s an obvious distance, but inseparable bond between them. It’s a unique and interesting read, but I’m not sure I want read the sequel. I can just see things getting all kinds of convoluted. I don’t think I’ll be able to resist seeing what happens to Anya and the rest of her family though. Besides, I love me some crime drama.
Quick Overview: Anya Balanchine is known mainly as the daughter of the most notorious (and dead) chocolate crime boss. All Anya wants though is to stay under the radar and keep her and her family safe. But with trying not to fall for the new assistant DA’s son and sudden accusations of attempted murder, flying under the radar is getting close to impossible. In fact Anya finds it hard not to be in the spotlight lately, and it brings all the wrong kind of attention, like from her mafiya (this is how they spell it in the book) family.
After I got over my laughing fit I thought the ban of coffee and chocolate was actually a pretty original idea. I suppose this could be considered dystopia, but it really doesn’t hold the same style. Anya is a likeable character. Not in the way that you want to be her best friend, but because you can respect her grounded-ness (is that a word?) and determination to keep her family safe. A lot of Anya’s decisions may seem insensitive, but I could understand her and can honestly say that for the most part I would’ve done the same thing if it meant doing right by my family. I could understand her protectiveness towards her brother Leo and I loved her innocent but wise younger sister Natty.
Now for the not so great. At times it seemed like the authors was trying too hard to make us feel sorry for Anya. It’s really unnecessary seeing as we already know about her circumstances, so it was overkill. We are constantly being told that Anya is tough and she’s excessively mean at parts just to show this point. The chocolate and coffee ban I think it supposed to show how outlawing drugs and restricting drinking just causes crime. And I agree, but making them legal would mean that you trust people to use these things responsibly… and I don’t. Not to mention that drugs and alcohol impair your actions and judgment a lot more than coffee and chocolate put together. I mean really, how many times have you heard of someone being hit by a car cause the driver was under the intoxicating influence of chocolate? Exactly. My real beef though is that somewhere in the middle I just lost Anya. All of sudden she's detached and at odds with some of her strongest beliefs for…a very stupid reason. It makes her lose some of her credibility because she had previously established how important these things were to her. I would’ve liked to see a lot more of the mafiya conflict that we see earlier and at the end of the book.
Even though I’ve got these hang ups I really enjoyed this book. The characters are like normal people with their flaws and complications. Their actions are (almost) always understandable and in correlation with their beliefs and struggles. I love the loyalty and love between Anya and her brother and sister. Strong sibling relationships are one of the most underappreciated relationships in literature I think, as are families in general. The dynamic between Anya’s immediate family and her extended mafiya family was also interesting to see. There’s an obvious distance, but inseparable bond between them. It’s a unique and interesting read, but I’m not sure I want read the sequel. I can just see things getting all kinds of convoluted. I don’t think I’ll be able to resist seeing what happens to Anya and the rest of her family though. Besides, I love me some crime drama.
May 27, 2013
First sentence: "The night before junior year--I was sixteen, barely--Gable Arsley said he wanted to sleep with me."
Anya Balanchine is the daughter of a mob boss, living in New York City in the year 2083. Chocolate and caffeine are illegal and paper and water are scarce. Anya is trying to keep her head down and keep out of the family business for the sake of her brother and sister. However, when a boy is poisoned by the family's chocolate supply, Anya finds herself on the wrong side of the law and must find a way to keep those she loves safe.
Ok, good things about this book. Let's see. Well, it does have a good message about family. It is a tolerably good crime drama. Yeah that's all I've got. It wasn't that great of a book.
First of all, there is Anya. A more self-righteous, self-absorbed character I have never found. She goes on and on about how all the other girls are sluts (including her so-called best friend) and that having sex before marriage is a "one-way ticket to Hell" (actual quote from the book) and she is a "good Catholic girl" (another actual quote from the book that is repeated several times). By the way have I mentioned that all of this comes out in the first paragraph of the book. The whole no sex thing is the only way she is even close to being a good Catholic or Christian. She swears like a sailor, holds grudges, does not forgive, and would not know the golden rule if it slapped her in the face. Then there is her whole obsession with her daddy, who was apparently the best man in the world despite being a notorious crime boss. If I had to hear one more "Daddy always said" from her I was going to be sick. I could not relate to or even like Anya at all and that is not a good sign about a book.
Secondly, I am so tired of authors slapping the dystopia label on books that are not actually dystopias just to take advantage of the dystopia fad (see also Pirate Cinema). To me a dystopian novel is one in which there is a) a great deal of world-building and b) the dystopia elements play a large role in the story. This book did not have that at all. Yes everything fun is illegal (except apparently alcohol), but we don't know why and it doesn't seem to be that big a deal since everybody has access to the illegal substances. The water shortage besides being mentioned in passing is never addressed directly and does not seem to be that big a deal. Ditto for paper. The whole future angle does not seem to be that important. It really was a story that could take place in modern times with very few changes. My only guess is that the author did not want to write a story about "hard" substances, so she just wrote a book set in the future where harmless substances such as chocolate and caffeine have been banned. I also do not really think that the reactions people had to chocolate and caffeine in the book have any basis in real scientific fact.
I kind of want the 10 hours of my life I spent listening to this book back. I mean the crime drama part was ok, but was sort of forgotten in the middle of the book and then brought back up at the end. There are much better dystopia books out there and I am sure there are better crime drama books as well. I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone.
Anya Balanchine is the daughter of a mob boss, living in New York City in the year 2083. Chocolate and caffeine are illegal and paper and water are scarce. Anya is trying to keep her head down and keep out of the family business for the sake of her brother and sister. However, when a boy is poisoned by the family's chocolate supply, Anya finds herself on the wrong side of the law and must find a way to keep those she loves safe.
Ok, good things about this book. Let's see. Well, it does have a good message about family. It is a tolerably good crime drama. Yeah that's all I've got. It wasn't that great of a book.
First of all, there is Anya. A more self-righteous, self-absorbed character I have never found. She goes on and on about how all the other girls are sluts (including her so-called best friend) and that having sex before marriage is a "one-way ticket to Hell" (actual quote from the book) and she is a "good Catholic girl" (another actual quote from the book that is repeated several times). By the way have I mentioned that all of this comes out in the first paragraph of the book. The whole no sex thing is the only way she is even close to being a good Catholic or Christian. She swears like a sailor, holds grudges, does not forgive, and would not know the golden rule if it slapped her in the face. Then there is her whole obsession with her daddy, who was apparently the best man in the world despite being a notorious crime boss. If I had to hear one more "Daddy always said" from her I was going to be sick. I could not relate to or even like Anya at all and that is not a good sign about a book.
Secondly, I am so tired of authors slapping the dystopia label on books that are not actually dystopias just to take advantage of the dystopia fad (see also Pirate Cinema). To me a dystopian novel is one in which there is a) a great deal of world-building and b) the dystopia elements play a large role in the story. This book did not have that at all. Yes everything fun is illegal (except apparently alcohol), but we don't know why and it doesn't seem to be that big a deal since everybody has access to the illegal substances. The water shortage besides being mentioned in passing is never addressed directly and does not seem to be that big a deal. Ditto for paper. The whole future angle does not seem to be that important. It really was a story that could take place in modern times with very few changes. My only guess is that the author did not want to write a story about "hard" substances, so she just wrote a book set in the future where harmless substances such as chocolate and caffeine have been banned. I also do not really think that the reactions people had to chocolate and caffeine in the book have any basis in real scientific fact.
I kind of want the 10 hours of my life I spent listening to this book back. I mean the crime drama part was ok, but was sort of forgotten in the middle of the book and then brought back up at the end. There are much better dystopia books out there and I am sure there are better crime drama books as well. I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone.
October 2, 2011
3.5 stars
This is a fun, exciting and at times thrilling read that felt like a cross between a dystopian and a contemporary book. There's a lot of things that Gabrielle intertwines into her story that captured my attention, and kept invested in the over all story even when some things didn't quite come together for me. It's unique and refreshingly different from the normal YA books that have been released lately. I think YA fans will really enjoy it because of that.
Anya is a character I both admire and had a hard time really connecting with. Her greatest strength is her ability to do whatever it takes to protect her family, and stick to her guns when she believes in something. She's grown up in the shadow of her father, a notorious late mob boss which gives her a sense of no fear, she has to sort through her family's mob issues, make her relationship with Win work and try to stay out of trouble, which she lands in a few times. I like the way Anya was written and the way she tells her story. Her voice is really strong and unique, which made for a fast paced, exciting read, but one that I didn't connect with like I wanted to. She's a character who shows little emotion, which is understandable, but it made it hard for me to truly connect with her.
I really liked the romance in the story between Anya and Win, because they're from two totally different sides of the law. Anya hails from a family of well known mobsters and Win, the new kid is the new DA's son. Gabrielle Zevin does such a fabulous job at creating a believable romance between these two, because it's not all peachy with them. Anya's mobster ties and Win's dad cross paths one too many times, and that definitely has an effect on their relationship. Both characters have realistic strengths and weaknesses that together make their relationship work, while at the same time cast doubt into whether or not it can survive the latest proposition Win's dad offers Anya.
There's some great twists that liven up the plot and made me want to yell "GO ANYA", because just as things seem to go well for her something happens and she either has to deal with the consequences from it or figure out a way to fix the situation. There's action, romance, mob action, a ban on caffeine & chocolate (gasp who can live in a world where these things are banned), and a different approach on the true meaning of family that really make this book stand out. In terms of world building, I liked the feel of the world in which Anya lives in, but I was left wondering why there was a ban on things like caffeine and chocolate, and other things that are mentioned in the book. I wanted to know more about why there was a ban on these things vs being told there was and having to just accept it.
There's a lot of things that happen through out the story that truly make it an unique, good YA read. It's one I'd definitely recommend to YA readers 14 years & older.
This is a fun, exciting and at times thrilling read that felt like a cross between a dystopian and a contemporary book. There's a lot of things that Gabrielle intertwines into her story that captured my attention, and kept invested in the over all story even when some things didn't quite come together for me. It's unique and refreshingly different from the normal YA books that have been released lately. I think YA fans will really enjoy it because of that.
Anya is a character I both admire and had a hard time really connecting with. Her greatest strength is her ability to do whatever it takes to protect her family, and stick to her guns when she believes in something. She's grown up in the shadow of her father, a notorious late mob boss which gives her a sense of no fear, she has to sort through her family's mob issues, make her relationship with Win work and try to stay out of trouble, which she lands in a few times. I like the way Anya was written and the way she tells her story. Her voice is really strong and unique, which made for a fast paced, exciting read, but one that I didn't connect with like I wanted to. She's a character who shows little emotion, which is understandable, but it made it hard for me to truly connect with her.
I really liked the romance in the story between Anya and Win, because they're from two totally different sides of the law. Anya hails from a family of well known mobsters and Win, the new kid is the new DA's son. Gabrielle Zevin does such a fabulous job at creating a believable romance between these two, because it's not all peachy with them. Anya's mobster ties and Win's dad cross paths one too many times, and that definitely has an effect on their relationship. Both characters have realistic strengths and weaknesses that together make their relationship work, while at the same time cast doubt into whether or not it can survive the latest proposition Win's dad offers Anya.
There's some great twists that liven up the plot and made me want to yell "GO ANYA", because just as things seem to go well for her something happens and she either has to deal with the consequences from it or figure out a way to fix the situation. There's action, romance, mob action, a ban on caffeine & chocolate (gasp who can live in a world where these things are banned), and a different approach on the true meaning of family that really make this book stand out. In terms of world building, I liked the feel of the world in which Anya lives in, but I was left wondering why there was a ban on things like caffeine and chocolate, and other things that are mentioned in the book. I wanted to know more about why there was a ban on these things vs being told there was and having to just accept it.
There's a lot of things that happen through out the story that truly make it an unique, good YA read. It's one I'd definitely recommend to YA readers 14 years & older.
May 8, 2016
All These Things I've Done heeft een heel originele premisse, maar de uitwerking mist actie. De nadruk ligt mijns inziens teveel op romantiek (zo cliché: een verboden liefde!) en het boek wordt pas tegen het einde echt interessant..
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Oog op de Toekomst.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Oog op de Toekomst.
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April 26, 2011I got an ARC of this at TLA. I didn't know what to expect, and I loved not knowing what to expect. Refreshingly different, with an appealing main character and romantic interest. Read it very quickly, and really enjoyed it.
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