Search This Blog
April Reviews Link-Up
May Reviews Link-Up
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
If I Stay: Contemplative YA Novel Asks the Big Questions
Through flashbacks, we learn about Mia's quirky, bohemian parents; her funny little brother, Teddy; her loyal best friend, Kim; and her rocker boyfriend, Adam. In the one day that she floats between her world and the next, we see exactly why her choice is so difficult. Even though the accident has changed things, Mia has plenty of reasons to return. She also has good reasons to go. As Mia spends the day contemplating her decision, the reader also has the chance to ponder the big questions: What happens after we die? Do families endure beyond the grave? Can comatose patients really choose to fight or let go? How do those left behind cope with the death of a loved one?
While I don't have a problem with contemplative novels like If I Stay, this one dragged quite a bit for me. I'm not sure why, since it had plenty of conflict, but it never really grabbed me. Maybe it's because the story's not terribly fresh, or because the only characters who really stand out are Mia's parents (who are charmingly original), or because Mia's voice isn't strong enough to make her truly come alive (pardon the pun). The ending did surprise me, though, and the sentimentality might have even coaxed a tear or two out of me. Still and all, I found If I Stay disappointing - one of those books that comes nowhere near to living up to its hype. Always a bummer.
(Readalikes: A little like The Everafter by Amy Huntley)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language (several F-bombs, plus frequent milder invectives) and some sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought If I Stay from Amazon.
6 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
Love on Camera1 hour ago
-
-
-
-
The Highgate Cemetery Murder by Irina Shapiro5 hours ago
-
Mistimed Meal: A Review of Vampire Fly5 hours ago
-
Daily Prompt 27 March Wednesday8 hours ago
-
The Silver Swan: Benjamin Black11 hours ago
-
A Death in Denmark - Amulya Malladi12 hours ago
-
Review: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera13 hours ago
-
-
36. The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry19 hours ago
-
The Spellshop20 hours ago
-
-
Thank you1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Top 5 Tuesday ~ Female Authors2 days ago
-
What's up?2 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Review: Beartown1 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?5 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra9 months ago
-
-
-
Sundays with Sam – The Sunday Post11 months ago
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ▼ 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
I really liked this novel. While the premise may not have been original, I thought the way the story was told was lovely. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you didn't like it. I absolutely loved it. But it's always disappointing to dislike books that so many others love - for me it was The Dark Divine and Prophecy of the Sisters.
ReplyDeleteThis is a book that has been on my TBR list for awhile now. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeletesounds like a book with an interesting premise.
ReplyDeleteI finished reading this last night. I found it an interesting read that brought tears to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteAfter I read this book, I thought, "How did this book make it onto my list? I really don't think that Bloggin' 'bout Books would have suggested it." So I searched for it on my Google Reader and found that it was NPR that suggested it, not you. Thank you for being more insightful about books than NPR.
ReplyDelete