I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and. Twitter has been a goldmine of great book suggestions. The thing is, i disliked it more than i wouldve liked to enjoy it. Parents need to know that mosquitoland is a powerful comingofage novel about the brilliant, halfblind, mentally ill 16yearold mary iris malone, whos on a tumultuous fourday trip from mississippi to ohio to reunite with her sick mom. I actually started the story in book form and desided to by the audio book. Questions to accompany mosquitoland by david arnold. This summary of mosquitoland includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Explore more than 260 standout titles picked by npr staff and critics. Mosquitoland provides riveting protagonist, realistic plot. David arnold when she learns that her mother is sick in ohio, mim confronts her demons on a thousandmile odyssey from mississippi that redefines her notions of love, loyalty, and what it means to be sane. Provided by pesky librarians at creative commons, flickr. Mosquitoland is an incredible book because of the voice of its protagonist, mim, who is maddening, strange, hilarious, and honest.
Usa today david arnold combines brio with compassion in this captivating first novel, which holds surprises, big and small, right to the end. The opening page of mosquitoland is one line i am mary iris malone, and i am not okay and the second is the first in a series of letters to an unspecified relative named isabel, to whom mary or mim, as she prefers to be called is chronicling the story of a 1,000mile journey she took to get home to her mother. When mim overhears her father and the principal, what does she think happened to her mom. Author david arnolds debut novel explores many challenging subjects, including psychosis, sexual assault. The guy is lounging shirtless in a folding chair, sipping an umbrella drink. I dont remember life before mim, and i dont want to. It gives you a perfect primer to the style and characterization, the references and the themes, and should have you hooked from the start. Ill explain the whys behind my whats, and you can see for yourself how my reasons stack up. Mosquitoland stings in all the right places, which is why it will no doubt be many teenagers new favorite book and win over the crustiest oldtimer, too. But i was disappointed by the way the main character makes sweeping generalizations about people and ableistracist comments without learning from her mistakes until the very last pages. I know im not going to be able to adequately describe this book or the experience and thats okay.
Had i known it was really about a troubled 16yearold girl dealing with the divorce of her parents and the sudden marriage of her father and his new girlfriend, i never would have bought the book. David arnold, quote from mosquitoland every great character, iz, be it on page or screen, is multidimensional. I liked the different voices the used and all in all it was really good. Its more about what kind of book you usually enjoy in the contemporary genre. John corey whaley, printzwinning author of where things come back. By katy goodwinbates you will know by the end of the first chapter if youre going to love mosquitoland by david arnold headline, 2015.
This book had great potential to show brilliant, diamondintherough mim growing gradually, which would have been a more rewarding character arc to follow. His choice of words are very lyrical and if he ever wrote a book of poetry, i would definitely go for it once more. At last, a kerouacian adventure for teenage girls independentwhen her parents unexpectedly divorce, mim malone is dragged from her beloved home in ohio to the wastelands of mississippi, where she lives in a haze of medication with. Mosquitoland wasnt really for me and i wouldve been better of dnfing it, but it might be fantastic for you, and i really do hope you pick it up, because its great literature. Our protagonist, mim malone mosquitoland is told in the firstperson point of view, and is told to us by mary iris malone, or mim for short. John corey whaley, printzwinning author of where things come. In mosquitoland, david arnold has created one of the most unique narrative voices to show up in the world of young adult fiction. Buy a cheap copy of mosquitoland book by david arnold. David arnolds debut, mosquitoland, initially seemed to be the perfect book for me, and one of those that deals with mental illness and no romance. When i originally picked up this book, i was mainly looking for a female lead character. He is the criticallyacclaimed author of mosquitoland, which has been translated into over a dozen. Theres been quite a buzz about mosquitoland no pun intended, and.
Mosquitoland by david arnold, 9781472218902, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. I added a 2015 nerdy book club shortlist shelf 6 weeks early just so i could put this book on it. Mosquitoland is perfect for fans of rainbow rowell, john green and david levithan. Mosquitoland is different from any book ive ever read because o. Mosquitoland by david arnold by penguin teen issuu.
For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book and to carry with us the authors best. Mosquitoland boasts a very unique heroine who has a sharp tongue and a rough attitude, but has a good heart and wants nothing more than to be there. Penguin random house excerpt sampler fall 2015 01 sep 2015 general fiction adult. Mosquitoland boasts a funny, gutsy, straighttalking heroine with a distinctive voice, whose company is a blast of fresh air daily mail mims endless wisecracking on a road trip by greyhound bus to visit her sick mother is a joy independent best ya novels of 2015. Here on thebookhive, we always love to hear what our viewers have to say, so plea. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. The good guys arent all good, the bad guys arent all bad, and any character wholly one or the other shouldnt exist at all. Theres no way im going to be able to explain this book what an experience reading mosquitoland was. Ultimately, mim revises moments from her own narrative, offering readers tantalizing glimpses of the adult mim will eventually become and reminding readers that the end of the novel is not the end of mims journeyor her story. Mosquitoland by david arnold excerpt by penguin teen issuu. Mosquitoland by david arnold nook book ebook barnes. Told in an unforgettable, kaleidoscopic voice, mosquitoland is a modern american odyssey, as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.
December 8, 2015 the book concierge is back and all new for 2015. Arnold proves his worth as a topnotch storyteller on his first literary goround, which is reminiscent of ferris buellers day off if done by john hughes with jack kerouac. Pulling out her phone, she dials her mothers number for the hundredth time, hears the same robotic lady for the hundredth. Its ok weve all felt the irresistible lure of a particularly gorgeous book. About kids of appetite a gorgeous, insightful, bighearted joy of a book. Mim is a troubled 16 year old girl from cleveland whos not especially happy with how her life is going, blaming it entirely on her father. David arnold, new york times bestselling author of. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read mosquitoland. A story of the difficulties we face and the strength we find to overcome them, perfect for fans of little miss sunshine, the fault in our stars, and juno. Disclaimer anything i write about this book will not sufficiently convey how awesome it truly is.
Mosquitoland is equal parts sharp, sad, and surreal. Mosquitoland quotes showing of i am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons. Also, what are some of your favorite road trip titles. I follow walts voice around the side of the tank and find him standing next to a 350 pound whaleofaman. It takes a special talent for an author to tap into the mind of a character who is radically different from himself, and firsttime novelist david arnold has uncannily captured the voice of a 16yearold girl with beauty and style in mosquitoland mary iris malone or, as she prefers, mim is an unhappy teenager for many reasons. Mosquitoland by david arnold overdrive rakuten overdrive. A sure sign of a great book is the feeling of emptiness that comes over you when it ends. Best ya novels of 2015 mosquitoland boasts a funny, gutsy, straighttalking heroine with a distinctive voice, whose company is a blast of fresh air daily.
An emotionally heart wrenching book that will make you laugh. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons. Mosquitoland is a modern american odyssey, as hilarious as it is heartbreaking. If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from mosquitoland. Read these 14 steamy excerpts from romance novels that are sure to turn you on to erotica literature. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because i am strange. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. Mim jumps to the conclusion that her mother is dying of a chronic illness like cancer. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of. Weve compiled snippets from a wide variety of books. Im just hoping youll see that beautiful cover or my interview with david arnold and will want to just rush right to pick it up.
This is how i felt turning the final page of david arnolds debut novel, mosquitoland. Mosquitoland by david arnold published on may 9, 2016 after the sudden collapse of her family, mim malone is dragged from her home in northern ohio to. Im following some seriously amazing book nerds, and its been to my benefit. This sentence becomes a refrain in david arnolds debut novel, mosquitoland, a road narrative that.