Book Review; Carry On

Hey hey hey!

Oh look another book review about a Rainbow Rowell novel. The only other book review I've ever done on my blog was a Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and really I should write a book review on a book by a different author but really I read Carry On and nearly burst out in tears just out of a mixture of confusionism (I'm aware this isn't an actual word), happiness and awe. It's just really easy to review because there are so many layers to this novel. If you haven't read any of my other blog posts on books (because recently I have mentioned this book in EVERY single post and even I'm telling myself to shut up), then you will be unaware that this is a spin-off from Fangirl, however . It is the fan fiction that the main character writes and it's Harry Potter fan fiction essentially.

Unspoiler Edition: 

It is Simon Snow's final year at Watford's School of Magik (YES, that's how it's spelt) and his life is a mess. I mean seriously, the last time he was there his arch nemesis Baz (real name Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch) and his girlfriend Agatha were standing in the forest holding hands. And then he gets back to school and Baz isn't even there (which makes him suspicious) and Agatha and him are just trying to pretend, that everything is okay. Not to mention the Evil Humdrum is constantly trying to kill him and it's pretty much inevitable that Simon has to defeat him eventually. Then Baz decides to show up and all hell breaks loose. I mean until Baz gets back the book is just full of Simon going on about where Baz could be and how he thinks he's a vampire. And if you think this is weirdly obsessive; it is.

A lot of people have been repulsed by the idea of this book because it is very similar to Harry Potter as I've pointed out. After reading it, it is also very different. Harry's adventures in the books are really focused on his battle with Voldemort but Carry On is also very much a novel about finding yourself and finding love in, as Simon learns throughout. Yes, both worlds are magical, but how many books nowadays have a magical element of some sort? Other than the characters and the fact that it is a magical world, Carry On is very much it's own story. In fact Rowell actually wrote this novel as a love story and the action is more like an additional feature (Not going to lie, I love the combination of both romance and action in this book, it's just beautiful). Fangirl, the fanfiction of Simon Snow had to link more so to Harry Potter because readers had to relate. Whereas now that Rowell has expanded that universe and there are lots of different plots in the book that make it really different.

There's a bit of dramatic irony going on, where readers are given a little insight to Simon's life that all of the other characters are unaware of. And let me tell you, it definitely takes me by surprise. At that point of the novel, I couldn't put it down because there was so much going on. However, Rowell does this thing where all of the events were flowing together rhythmically rather than clumping altogether. I've mentioned this before but I really like the humour that Rowell has in her books it just cracks me up! Especially the humour between the dialogue of the characters, it's so witty and funny and some of the things that they say, I would probably also say.

SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON

Spoiler Edition 

There are definitely many character parallels with Carry On and Harry Potter. Penelope is a walking Hermione, Baz is Draco (he even has the messed up family, just less evil) and bloody Simon is definitely Harry. They both have the same super hero nature about them, where basically saving the world comes down to them and to both of them, nothing else matters.

 Agatha, who is Simon's girlfriend at the beginning of the novel, does not correlate with anyone. I find Agatha kind of annoying because she's slightly self-centered and I think Simon is attracted to her at first because she's beautiful and maybe he thinks after defeating the Evil Humdrum, living happily ever after with Agatha is the perfect prize.

The Mage (Davy) is a tricky character because he's mental. He is the headmaster of the school so immediately you would think Dumbledore. I'd definitely say that both Dumbledore and the Mage have made their fair share of mistakes in terms of Harry/Simon but Dumbledore looks out for Harry. The Mage on the other hand, has got his own agenda and I feel as if he cares for Simon because Simon conveniently fits into his agenda and slightly out of obligation because Simon is his son.

Davy and Lucy. Oh my goodness. I still don't know what to think of this. If you've read the book, then you'll know that Davy is crazy. And Lucy! Oh my gosh, talk about a pushover! I was rooting for her to leave this lunatic but she never did. I don't think he ever loved her until she was gone. He was so focused on other things that he couldn't just be happy with what he had right in front of him. I do think that Davy is selfish and undeserving of well everything. Lucy was right to hide the child from him, I sure would.

The ending really threw me off the trail, I was like "wait...WHAT?" If anything it just confirms that Simon was always looking out for everyone's interests rather than his own. He's also learning to adapt to this new life rather than just being sad all the time. I think it was for the best that he lost his magic because now he's got less pressure on saving everything, he can just focus on being happy.

Hope you've enjoyed!

Much Love

- E