The Art of Asking (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help) by Amanda Palmer

"From what I've seen, it isn't so much the act of asking that paralyzes us--it's what lies beneath: the fear of being vulnerable, the fear of rejection, the fear of looking needy or weak. The fear of being seen as a burdensome member of the community instead of a productive one." - The Art of Asking, Amanda Palmer

Half autobiography, half self-help book, The Art of Asking takes you on a journey through the ups and downs of Amanda Palmer’s life and how she learned that both asking and accepting offers for help is ok!

If you’ve never heard of Amanda Palmer, or are a diehard fan of her music – it doesn’t really matter. This book is very honest and explores the ongoing relationship of trust that Amanda Palmer has with the world. I loved reading the ‘rockstar’ stories of her life as a living statue and couchsurfing as she played gigs across the world, alongside her personal battles like dealing with a friends illness and falling in love with someone unexpected (in this case, writer Neil Gaiman). 

I put the book down thinking that maybe she is right about some things – maybe we should all “take the flower” when it’s offered and trust in people just a little bit more.

 - Beth

A book review from our teen fiction collection

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Park is a quiet boy who loathes attention. Eleanor is a big, red-headed new girl whose gawkiness and style makes her stand out like a sore thumb. On Eleanor's first day, Park hesitantly invites her to sit next to him on the crowded bus and the pair share awkward trips to and from school, until they begin to realise they amicably share similar tastes in comic books and music. As time passes they both fall into a flurry of first love and nothing is ever the same.

I owned this book for a year before I decided to read it and I can't believe that I waited so long! Rainbow Rowell never fails to produce an amazing story and Eleanor and Park is no exception. I can see myself re-reading it in the future because the story was so captivating and I'm so fond of the characters.

It's easy to identify with the characters in this book. Park is an introvert who finds that the best way to deal with his teenage angst is to listen to music and keep to himself. Eleanor wants to be an individual, to stand out from the rest, and she expresses this through an outrageous style of fashion. If you read this book, not only will you fall in love with the story, but you will fall in love with the characters too.

This is a story that has won over my heart and I won't ever forget it. It's beautiful and it perfectly depicts the awkwardness and clumsiness of falling in love for the first time. Although this is categorised as a teen fiction/young adult novel, I believe know that this is a book that can also be enjoyed by adults.

Eleanor and Park is available for loan at Hurstville City Library. Don't cheat yourself out of reading this beautiful book! Click here to view Eleanor and Park in the Hurstville City Library catalogue.

- Holly.

A book review from our teen fiction collection

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

This story follows the companionship between Violet Markey, a girl who has recently lost her sister in a car accident, and Theodore Finch, a charismatic and troubled boy who suffers from bipolar disorder. They meet each other on top of the school bell tower and from the moment they meet they begin an unlikely friendship.

I cannot give this book enough praise, I am still whirling from the experience of reading it. It is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking, and most importantly it tackles a delicate issue - mental illness.

Violet and Finch get paired up together for a Geography project, which sends them travelling to find 'the wonders of their state'. They learn more about one another as each new adventure passes, each of them discovering more details about the others depression and dark thoughts.

I was gripped from the very first page and once I picked the book up I could not put it down. A book like this, including its characters and messages, stays with you forever.

This story changed my life. It is so confronting and raw. It shows that people from all walks of life can be affected by mental illness, no matter who they are or what they've been through.

Experience the journey with Violet and Finch and borrow this book from our library! Click here to see All the Bright Places in our catalogue.

- Holly.