Honestly, I have to start out by saying I'm surprised this book (and its movie adaptation) weren't a bigger hit. I went in with fairly low expectations and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading it and how quickly I was able to fly through it.
I picked this up after finishing a contemporary, a fantasy, a sci-fi, and a historical fiction already this month and being unsure of what genre I was in the mood for next. I flipped through this book (which I had purchased on a whim at a thrift store for 50 cents a few months back) and noticed that it had some unique inserts including lists, asides, and what appeared to be scripts (you know, like for a movie or play). Once I saw that diversity in writing, I knew this was my next read. I love when novels have enhancements like that. It varies the story-telling and keeps me from getting bored. But enough of that, I guess I should save it for the review.
So, here we go!
1. Characters: I really enjoyed the characters. Sure, the narrator, Greg, and his friend/co-worker, Earl, use some pretty inappropriate language basically the entire time. But, I mean, they're teenage boys and they talked like a lot of teenage boys (not all, but a lot). I liked their friendship and when Rachel (the dying girl) was added to the mix she brought a new shade of character to the story as well. They were each unique, but each complimented the cast of other characters, if that makes sense. It was a well-balanced ensemble.
2. Story: This may seem like a stereotypical teenage romance where a dying girl and an average boy fall in love, but it's not. There's an innocence to this story that can't be found in many other YA works. There's also a bluntness, a truth, that is very rare when handling such sensitive topics, such as teenage cancer/illness (or any cancer/illness I suppose). I started reading expecting something similar to A Walk to Remember or The Fault in Our Stars, but this is not those stories. This story stands on its own, and it does so very strongly, I might add.
3. Author's Writing Style: Would I read more by Jesse Andrews? Absolutely. I plan on it, in fact. If he includes little enhancements like he did in this novel, then that's a bonus. However, even if his other works are less creatively presented, I still think I would enjoy them. I felt like every sentence was intentional. Even the ones that are really only there to make you chuckle because they're sarcastic or a demonstration of the narrator's rambling thoughts. The writing is colorful and flows, even its moments of madness.
4. Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars. I will likely re-read this again someday, and I've already begun recommending it to others. I will be looking up and looking forward to other works by this author as well. And, I already watched the movie and was overall very pleased with it (minus the last 20-30 minutes or so which veered from the book).
5. Similar Reading: Like I said, this book really stands on its own. I wouldn't say the other novels that generally come to mind when you think of YA books dealing with cancer/illness are comparable or similar in any significant way. In fact, I struggle with what to even call "similar." However, I will say that it reminded me, in its uniqueness, of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Thus, that is my only suggestion for similar reading and you can click the cover below to check it out as well.
Thanks, and happy reading!!
I picked this up after finishing a contemporary, a fantasy, a sci-fi, and a historical fiction already this month and being unsure of what genre I was in the mood for next. I flipped through this book (which I had purchased on a whim at a thrift store for 50 cents a few months back) and noticed that it had some unique inserts including lists, asides, and what appeared to be scripts (you know, like for a movie or play). Once I saw that diversity in writing, I knew this was my next read. I love when novels have enhancements like that. It varies the story-telling and keeps me from getting bored. But enough of that, I guess I should save it for the review.
So, here we go!
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| Click the cover to read the full synopsis on Goodreads! |
2. Story: This may seem like a stereotypical teenage romance where a dying girl and an average boy fall in love, but it's not. There's an innocence to this story that can't be found in many other YA works. There's also a bluntness, a truth, that is very rare when handling such sensitive topics, such as teenage cancer/illness (or any cancer/illness I suppose). I started reading expecting something similar to A Walk to Remember or The Fault in Our Stars, but this is not those stories. This story stands on its own, and it does so very strongly, I might add.
3. Author's Writing Style: Would I read more by Jesse Andrews? Absolutely. I plan on it, in fact. If he includes little enhancements like he did in this novel, then that's a bonus. However, even if his other works are less creatively presented, I still think I would enjoy them. I felt like every sentence was intentional. Even the ones that are really only there to make you chuckle because they're sarcastic or a demonstration of the narrator's rambling thoughts. The writing is colorful and flows, even its moments of madness.
4. Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars. I will likely re-read this again someday, and I've already begun recommending it to others. I will be looking up and looking forward to other works by this author as well. And, I already watched the movie and was overall very pleased with it (minus the last 20-30 minutes or so which veered from the book).
5. Similar Reading: Like I said, this book really stands on its own. I wouldn't say the other novels that generally come to mind when you think of YA books dealing with cancer/illness are comparable or similar in any significant way. In fact, I struggle with what to even call "similar." However, I will say that it reminded me, in its uniqueness, of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Thus, that is my only suggestion for similar reading and you can click the cover below to check it out as well.
Thanks, and happy reading!!
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