Hello lovely readers and welcome to today's blog tour stop of Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys, hosted by Razorbill Canada. This novel is the second by Sepetys, the first being Between Shades of Grey. I urge you all to read my review then go to the nearest store and pick a copy for yourself!
Title: Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication year: February 12, 2013
Genre(s): Young Adult (Historical/Mystery)
Source: NetGalley
Format: Digital ARC
Pages: 384
It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.
Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
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Ruta Sepetys was born and raised in Michigan in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. Her award-winning debut novel, "Between Shades of Gray" was inspired by her family's history in Lithuania and is published in 40 countries. Her new novel, "Out of the Easy" is set in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1950. A historical tale of secrets and lies, "Out of the Easy" is a haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny. Ruta lives with her family in Tennessee.
Out of the Easy was such a pleasant surprise. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Even now, I am still thinking about this book and how amazing it is. Out of the Easy is about the life of Josie, the daughter of a brothel prostitute in New Orleans in the 1950s. However all Josie wants is to get out of New Orleans, go to college, and leave behind the life that she never wanted that includes an uncaring and rather heartless mother and the work prospects that seem to be pressuring her into submitting to.
Josie is a very strong willed and confident female protagonist. Not many girls can move away from their own home at the age of 11 and get their own apartment on top of a book shop and hold a steady job there up to now, at the age of 17. This takes a ton of presistance and determination. Josie also never dwelled on how horrible her life is, but thought of ways to get away from it and improve it. Also, having a mother like the one Josie has? my god, I would have disowned myself ages ago. Her mother is not only caring but is obsessing with a dangerous man that has hit her more than once, and actually steals.. from her own daughter. However Josie does have a mother figure in her life and, surprisingly, it is the madame of the brothel, Willie Woodley. From the outside she may seem to be tough as steel, but when it comes to Josie? you know she would do anything for her. The relationship between those two, even if unconventional, was so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
Other secondary characters include Patrick, Jesse, and Cokie. The first is her close friend, the second is the love interest, and the third is sort of like her guardian; he is a driver who works for Willie and is always looking out for Josie. I have to say that romance isn't a prevailing theme in this novel, but I am a fan of romance in my novels and I still ended up loving Out of the Easy, so I would honestly recommend it to all young adult readers. I believe that Out of the Easy is a literary gem. It is one of those books with so many underlaying themes and "morales of the story" that I think everyone should at least try to pick this book up. I know for a fact that if you did, you would be swept up and to the world of Josie and the dreams that she, and you, want to come true.
Wonderful post, Juhina! Your review is brilliant, and I'm glad you enjoyed this so much.
ReplyDeleteI love it when a book turns out to be better than I had expected. It's always such a lovely surprise. :) Josie sounds exactly like the kind of character I would love to read about. She moved away when she was just 11? Seriously? That's very impressive. I also love how she doesn't dwell on the negative, but instead looks for the positive.
Thanks so much for sharing this fantastic post with us, Juhina! <3
Sounds like you got a lot of enjoyment from reading this book! Your review definitely piqued my interest - I now really want to find out what's going on among the characters. Loved your review, Juhina!
ReplyDeleteI didn't really enjoy Between Shades of Grey (I know, right? We're a very rare breed), but Out of the Easy sounds amazing! It's always a pleasant surprise when books turn out to be better than you'd think it was :) Great review, Juhina!
ReplyDelete~Chri @ Ink Skies
I loved everything about this one -- the setting, characters, pacing. I've decided I'll read everything Sepetys writes. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI love Between Shades of Grey, so I am really looking forward to this one too. Wonderful review. :)
ReplyDeleteJenea @ Books Live Forever's Sunday Post
I saw Ruta at the Houston Teen Book Con last year and she was fascinating. I can't wait to read this!
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
I almost wish I hadn't turned this down for review now! The premise doesn't immediately sound like something I might enjoy, but I've heard such great things about this book and its author now that I plan to give it a try soon anyway. I'm glad it was a pleasant surprise for you. Lovely review! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a gorgeous review Juhina, I love being swept away by a beautiful novel and Out of Easy sounds exactly like one, I like how it has promising secondary characters and even though I'm a huge fan of romance too, I'm glad you still enjoyed this even though it didn't feature prominently. I have a copy of this and now after your review I know I will be reading it sooner rather than later! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this Juhina! It sounds like such a moving read. What a horrible mother!! It sounds like she was pressure her into prostitution. What a lousy excuse for a mother. Excellent review. I'll have to pick this up soon. :)
ReplyDeleteI actually haven't heard of this one, until now. But it sounds very intriguing and full of hard emotions. I am definitely checking this out. I can't imagine being a young girl and being a daughter of a prostitute. That is just horrible on so many levels. I really am looking forward to this.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this! :D Don't you just love pleasant surprises!?
Fantastic review, Juhina! :)
~ Maida
Literary Love Affair
A literary gem? Wow, this sounds amazing! I always hear such great things about her first novel, Between Shades of Grey, but I've still yet to read that one and now I can add this one to my tbr, too. I'm not huge on romance so it's fine with me if it's not a major part of the book. I just love the premise and message of the novel!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you were pleasantly surprised. I haven;t heard much about this one so thank you for putting on my radar.
ReplyDeleteJosie sounds like my kind of character being strong willed and confident.
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
I really want to read this! THanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI've seen this cover before and I though it was so pretty. This is the fist review I'm reading for this book and wow it sounds great :) I'm really curious about 50's. I hope I'll get to read it soon :) Great review :)
ReplyDeleteI rarely read books that take place before the 80s or 90s but I might need to make an exception!
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