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Showing posts with label Suicide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suicide. Show all posts
Monday, April 18, 2022
Backman's Newest A Delightful Surprise
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Despite the ongoing popularity of Fredrik Backman's novels, I actually had little desire to read them. Nothing about their titles, cover art, or plot summaries really appeal to me. I likely would never have given them a chance at all if someone in my book club hadn't suggested Anxious People for our first read of 2022. As I waded into the story, my fears were confirmed. Backman's unique style was not for me! It seemed weird, over-the-top, and just...silly. To make matters worse, the story appeared to be about something that never actually happened to a group of snarky, annoying people. I don't think I even made it through the first chapter before I closed the book and set it aside. Because it was for book club, though, I decided to give it another shot. Once I really tuned in to Backman's rhythm, the story started to flow and I began to enjoy it, especially as I came to understand what it was really about.
Here's the surface story:
In a "not particularly large town" in Sweden, a group of strangers attends an open house for a modest apartment that is newly on the market. The showing is interrupted when an inept bank robber who has just failed to carry off a planned heist bursts through the door and takes the would-be buyers hostage. As the nervous bank robber tries to decide what to do next, the strangers—who include a heavily pregnant young lady and an 87-year-old woman—grapple with the unexpected turn of events. All of them are concealing their own worries, hopes, and hurts, each of which will come to light as the situation barrels toward its surprising conclusion.
Here's what it's really about:
Anxious People is a cleverly-told tale with lots of wisdom to share about life, love, human nature, and the ways in which all of us touch the lives of others. Although these interactions can seem completely inconsequential, it's often these exact meetings that can impact our lives forever. That interconnectedness that we all need and crave (even if we don't know we do) can be the very thing that saves us in the end.
This novel turned out to be not at all what I expected—and I mean that in the best way possible. I didn't expect to enjoy Anxious People, but I did. Although its humor feels forced at times, there were other places in which it made me laugh out loud with genuine mirth. The characters charmed me and, absurd as the situation at the center of the novel becomes, the unfolding action kept me engaged. While I saw at least one of the big plot twists coming, another one took me completely, delightedly, by surprise. I can't say I abxolutely loved Backman's newest, but in the end, I found it entertaining, heartfelt, and life-affirming. The ladies in my book club who had read the author before all agreed that A Man Called Ove is a better book. Another friend of mine says Anxious People is her least favorite of Backman's novels. Her advice? "Read another, ASAP!" I think I shall do just that.
(Readalikes: I don't know what to compare Anxious People to. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, January 09, 2021
The Midnight Library Full of Tantalizing Possibility
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
One of the things I love about libraries is that they're full of possibility. There are literally millions of stories sitting on the shelves, just waiting to be told. You might walk in having a vague idea of what you want to read, but you could walk out with something totally different. The best part is you don't have to limit yourself to only one or two stories—you can experience them all!
Imagine a library with that kind of power, except every book on its shelves stars one person: you. Each represents a life you are living in a parallel universe, one in which you made different choices than those you picked in your root life. You can hop in and out of these volumes to find the story that suits you best. With endless possibilities, which life would you choose?
This is the premise behind The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. The story revolves around Nora Seed, a 35-year-old who has just lost her long-time dead-end job as well as her beloved cat. After realizing that these are her only real connections in a world where she's always felt superfluous, she decides to take her own life. Instead of ending up in heaven or hell, however, she finds herself in an in-between place called The Midnight Library. Here, she has the ability to try on her different lives to find one that feels more comfortable, more satisfying than her root life. As Nora tries these variations on for size—experiencing versions that are glamorous, successful, adventurous, terrifying, humdrum, disappointing, surprising, etc.—she begins to wonder if any life is really worth living. When her strange library starts to crumble, she must decide whether to live or die.
With that kind of premise, how could I not be drawn into The Midnight Library? It's a fascinating seed from which to grow a compelling story. The novel definitely tells an interesting tale, one which is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It explores some intriguing concepts: potential and perspective, regrets and resolutions, choice and possibility. Still, I didn't end up absolutely loving The Midnight Library, but I did like it. It's a unique, life-affirming read that kept me turning pages.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, and depictions of illegal drug use (marijuana)
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Midnight Library with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Tough, Beautiful Fighting Words An Unforgettable Novel
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Every child needs a fierce protector. Ten-year-old Della has her older sister, Suki. It was Suki who cared for her while their mother cooked meth; Suki who watched out for her when their mom went to prison, leaving the girls in the care of her abusive boyfriend; Suki who got the evidence that convicted him for molesting Della; and Suki who still shields her even though the sisters are finally safe with Francine, their forthright but loving foster mother. It's only now that Della is beginning to realize that while she's always had Suki as her older, wiser guard, Suki's never really had anyone to fulfill that role. And she's needed a protector. Desperately. When Suki tries to take her own life, Della discovers just how broken her she-wolf sister really is. Can Della find a way to nurture her sister the way Suki has always done for Della? Will the two ever find the healing they so need and deserve?
As you can no doubt tell, Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is a raw, gut punch of a novel. While it's not graphic, it's still honest and hard-hitting. The thing that saves it from being unrelentingly grim is our heroine, Della. She's tough, irrepressible, and hilarious. Her voice is absolutely pitch-perfect. For all these reasons, it's impossible not to root for her and Suki. While Fighting Words is about so many things—sexual abuse, consent, bravery, resilience, etc.—it's really about two sisters and their unbreakable bond. Despite its touch subject matter, I loved this beautiful, empowering novel.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a bit of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, January 13, 2020
Debut Proves Rader-Day Improves With Time
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's been 10 months since a student shot Dr. Amelia Emmett in the pelvis. Although she's still walking with a cane, popping pain pills, and suffering from panic attacks, the professor is determined to get back in the classroom at Rothbert University. Despite her colleagues' misgivings and the whispers that trail after her wherever she goes, Amelia aims to prove she's ready and able to reclaim her life. No one needs to know that she's shaking in her high heels. Just like no one needs to know how obsessed she is with the question why. Why did the shooter—a kid Amelia had never met, never taught, never spoken to—choose her as his victim? Why had he deliberately waited outside her office door with a gun? Why had he tried to kill her before taking his own life? None of it makes an ounce of sense.
Nathan Barber, a grad student in sociology, has come to Rothbert for one reason—to research Dr. Emmett. Intending to do his dissertation on the shooting, he offers to be Amelia's teaching assistant in an effort to get closer to her. When Amelia wises up to his plan, she can't keep herself from encouraging Nath to do some sleuthing around campus. She wants to know why she was shot even more than he does. But the clues Nath uncovers only create more questions and when the truth finally comes to light, it will be even more shocking than either Amelia or Nath ever imagined.
I've enjoyed a couple of Lori Rader-Day's newer novels, so I was interested to see how her debut, The Black Hour, compared. I liked it least of the ones I've read because although it boasts a compelling premise, the story plods along slowly, with the action only picking up at the end. A few times, I almost put the book down. In addition to a sluggish plot, the main characters are pretty blah. Amelia's sympathetic, but not very likable. Nath's just boring (admittedly so). The book's vibe doesn't help—it's dark and depressing. Considering all this, why did I keep reading? Well, it's the same question that haunted Amelia and Nath—why?—that kept me turning pages. In the end, though, I didn't find The Black Hour all that satisfying. I finished it, but I definitely didn't love it. The good news is I know for certain that Rader-Day's novels improve with time!
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), mild sexual content, violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Black Hour from Changing Hands Bookstore with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, September 28, 2018
The Elizas Tells a Strange Little Tale
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Eliza Fontaine has tried to commit suicide several times, so no one's all that surprised when her unconscious body is fished out of a hotel swimming pool. When the 22-year-old comes to in the hospital, however, she claims she didn't try to kill herself this time. Someone pushed her. With no witnesses or security camera footage, there's nothing to prove her story true except her own memory. It soon becomes clear, however, that her recollection is the last thing she can rely on. With some major holes in her memory, Eliza's not sure what to believe.
Things become even more confusing when Eliza's associates—her family, her agent, her editor, etc.—keep mixing up scenarios from Eliza's about-to-be-published debut novel with the events of her own life. Her book is pure fiction. Right? The more perplexing her life gets, the more uncertain she becomes. If she can't trust herself, who can she trust? Will Eliza ever know what really happened the night she almost drowned? Is someone trying to kill her or is her own damaged mind playing a cruel, cruel trick on her?
I'm still not quite sure what to think about The Elizas, a thriller by Sara Shepard. It's an odd little tale with a heroine who's strangely intriguing but not all that likable. Alternating between Eliza's story and chapters from her book, it's got a compelling setup, although I'm not sure it worked all that well in this particular novel. The Elizas gets confusing and far-fetched, although it's also twisty and entertaining. Overall, then, I'm kind of on the fence about this one. On the whole, I found it to be just okay.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Weight of Lies by Emily Carpenter)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, sexual content, violence, disturbing subject matter, and depictions of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, June 01, 2018
Grief Novel Poignant and Engaging
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Maddy Starling may have left her family, but she can't quite leave them alone. Even as a ghost, she worries about her workaholic husband and their grief-stricken 16-year-old daughter, Eve. Without Maddy there to bridge the gap, to keep the household running and manage everyone's emotions, what will become of her fractured family? The least she can do is find a replacement for herself, someone who can be a companion to Brady and a loving mentor for Eve. She thinks she may have found the perfect woman in Rory Murray, an elementary school teacher who's tutoring Eve. Is Rory, who comes with her own baggage, really a suitable stand-in? Can Maddy somehow "push" her and Brady together?
In the meantime, Brady and Eve have to learn how to cope without the wife and mother who's always held them together. Neither one can quite grasp the fact that Maddy—the most put together woman either of them has ever known—committed suicide, purposely leaving them behind. It makes no sense. Reading Maddy's diary brings some answers, but also more questions. Why would someone like Maddy jump off a building, ending what seemed like a perfect life? In order to rebuild their shattered lives, Brady and Eve must come to terms with what happened on that rooftop and learn to forge a new future for themselves. Can they find their way, even as Maddy's influence grows more and more difficult to assert? Can Maddy, Brady, and Eve figure out how to move on, even when all they want is to go back to the way things were?
I'm known for writing honest reviews, but Jenny over at Alternate Readality takes the art to a whole new (and often hilarious) level, so when she raves about a book, I pay attention. She recently recommended I Liked My Life, a debut novel by Abby Fabiaschi, which I also ended up enjoying. While I didn't love the book quite as much as Jenny did, I agree that it features solid writing, intriguing characters, and a plot that kept me turning pages. The story feels raw and real, but it's also funny and hopeful. All of the main characters are complex, sympathetic, and interesting, which makes it easy to root for their happiness. Fabiaschi even throws in some plot twists to keep things interesting. All in all, then, I Liked My Life makes for an engaging, thought-provoking read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, mild sexual content, and depictions of underage drinking
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, March 13, 2017
Gothic Mystery Eerie, Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Nestled in the Adirondacks, The Heart Lake School for Girls holds little but bad memories for Jane Hudson. Once a scholarship student at the boarding school, she fled the institution after a spate of suicides that resulted in the deaths of her three best friends. Two decades later, she's a single mother looking for a new start. As Heart Lake's new Latin instructor, she'll live on site while teaching. As apprehensive as she feels being back, she's hoping for the best.
It doesn't take long, though, for sinister reminders of Jane's tragic Heart Lake past to surface. Someone seems to know exactly what happened when she was a student. But who? Everyone concerned is dead. Has one of Jane's new students somehow gotten hold of the journal she kept back then? Are the girls playing a cruel trick on their new teacher? Or is something more ... otherworldly going on? When a new rash of suicides starts plaguing the school, Jane is terrified that the past is coming back in the most awful way possible. Can she figure out what's going on before more people die? Heart Lake has already taken so much from Jane. Will it finally strip her of everything that's important to her?
The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman is an atmospheric mystery with eerie Gothic undertones. Its premise intrigued me, as did its back-and-forth-in-time storytelling. Although the plot kept me engaged, I saw most of its twists and turns coming, which made Jane seem very slow on the uptake. Still, I raced through this dark, compelling novel, eager to see what was going to happen. In the end, I didn't love The Lake of Dead Languages, but I did enjoy it overall.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Carol Goodman, including River Road, Arcadia Falls, and The Ghost Orchid)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a half dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, October 02, 2015
Dark, Brooding Circus Tale Absorbing and Memorable
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Simon Watson spends his days trying to keep his job as a librarian while his family home slowly crumbles into the Long Island Sound. Built in the 1700s, the house has been witness to plenty of history, including the drowning of Simon's mother and the subsequent grief that tormented his father until he, too, passed away. All 29-year-old Simon has left is his younger sister, Enola. Following in the footsteps of their mother, who once earned her living as a circus mermaid, Enola works as a fortune teller for a traveling carnival. She hasn't been home in six years. Until a series of disturbing tarot card readings send her back in a panic.
The librarian is already unnerved by the surprise arrival of an old book on his doorstep. Sent by a stranger who bought it on speculation, the tome is a log kept by Hermelius Peabody, troupe master of the once great Peabody's Portable Magic and Miracles Show. Peabody's mention of a mysterious mermaid, who drowned on July 24 just like Simon's mother, convinces Simon that his family history is somehow tangled up in that of Peabody's strange circus. Worried about the disturbing pattern of women in his family dying by intentional drowning, Simon can't help but fret for his unstable sister. Has Enola come home only to throw herself in the sea? Can Simon stop her before she does something terrible? With his job gone, his house falling into the Sound, and his sister unraveling before his eyes, Simon becomes obsessed with the circus log. Can he pull himself out of his own manic study long enough to save Enola? Himself? Or will the ruined house watch more Watsons die in the churning sea below?
The Book of Speculation, a broody, atmospheric debut by Erika Swyler, tells an intricately woven story about the dark history of Simon's family. Moving between the present and the past, it offers a compelling then and now tale that gets increasingly tense as July 24th approaches for Simon and Enola. With vivid portrayals of circus life, the novel exudes a strange, potent magic. The author's evocative illustrations only make it more intriguing. While The Book of Speculation isn't exactly a page turner, it is utterly absorbing. And memorable. Overall, I found myself quite mesmerized by it. If you enjoyed The Night Circus (which I did) or Water for Elephants (which I actually didn't care for that much), give this one a shot. Chances are, it will bespell you just as thoroughly as it did me.
(Readalikes: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern; Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen; That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
'Hatchet for a New Generation'? Why Yes, Yes It Is.
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Jane Solis is done—done with the mental hospital she's been confined to since she tried to kill herself last year, done with pretending she's cured, done with life. This time, her suicide will be successful. Not to mention special. She'll wait to swallow her toxic mix of pills until she's on the plane headed home to New Jersey, then just fade out while soaring above the clouds. It's fool-proof. Perfect.
Before Jane gets the chance to put her plan into action, however, the plane hits some serious turbulence. As the aircraft takes a nosedive, everything goes black. When Jane wakes up, she crawls out of the wreckage into a wilderness covered in snow. She's horrified to find she's one of only two survivors—the other is a cocky Canadian ski instructor named Paul—and that they're stranded in Montana's remote Bob Marshall Wilderness. As the weather worsens, it becomes clear that help won't be coming. Their survival is up to them—and suddenly, unexpectedly, Jane realizes how much she wants to live. But will her new-found determination be enough to save her, let alone both her and Paul? As the days wear on, that's looking less and less likely ...
The back cover blurb calls Survive, a debut novel by Alex Morel, "Hatchet for a new generation." I'd have to agree. It's a gritty survival story that pits two determined teens against a storm-ravaged wilderness that's ready and willing to claim both their lives. Exciting and unexpectedly heart-breaking, Survive tells a tense, action-packed tale about a girl who's facing her imminent death even as she's finally learning to live. Although the story and prose are sparer than I would have liked, I still enjoyed this quick, compelling read.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, sexual innuendo, and intense situations
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Survive from the generous folks at Razorbill. Thank you!
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Term "Dying to Fit In" Takes On A Whole New Meaning in New YA Novel
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
At 423 lbs., "Butter" can barely move without fighting for breath. Waddling down the hallways of his ritzy Scottsdale, Arizona, high school is just plain torture—not because his classmates tease him, but because they don't. Even the bullies feel sorry for him now. He's too pathetic to warrant a glance from them, let alone from a thin, beautiful girl like Anna McGinn. Sure, Butter can pour his heart out to her online (as long as Anna continues to believe he's the cool, confident "SaxMan," anyway), but in real life? Not a chance. She'd probably throw up if she knew that Butter, the blob who sits behind her in English class, has the hots for her.
Butter has tried to slim down, he really has. He's gone on special diets, attended fat camp every summer, even starved himself to lose the weight. Nothing works. After he humiliates himself at school one day, he's officially ready to give up—not just on dieting, but on life. Butter creates a blog, announcing to the world that he's planning to eat himself to death on December 31st. And he's going to do it live on the Internet. He's prepared to tell anyone who asks that it's all just a big joke, even though the thought of dying sounds more tantalizing by the day. Then, something weird happens: the in-crowd at Scottsdale High starts swarming around Butter. They're not there to talk him out of his impending suicide, they're clamoring for all the macabre details of Butter's death plan. Suddenly, bizarrely, he's the most popular guy on campus. And, just as suddenly, he's not so sure about the suicide thing. He knows that wimping out of his big plan will cost him all of his new-found friends, but, then again, how can he kill himself when he's just discovering what it feels like to truly live? With everyone gleefully counting down the days until his death, Butter must make the biggest decision he's ever faced in his 16 years on planet Earth—live or die.
With a premise as shocking as that one, you just know Butter (available September 18, 2012), a debut novel by Arizona journalist Erin Jade Lange, is going to be one of those disturbing, no-holds-barred kind of stories. And it is. It's also sensitive, thought-provoking and, ultimately, empowering. Anyone who's ever struggled to accept themselves as they are (and, really, who hasn't?) will sympathize with Butter. He's funny, talented and self-deprecating—the kind of person everyone would love, if only they could look past the extra pounds to see the kid beneath the fat. The fact that our hero is contemplating suicide (an act I find unforgivably selfish) does diminish him as a character for me, especially since the decision to kill himself seems to pop up out of nowhere. Still, I devoured Butter's story, as anxious as anyone to find out what he'd do in the end. I had a few issues with the novel (of course I did). Overall, though, I enjoyed this modern take on the old dying-to-fit-in story. It offers a little something different—and I like that.
(Readalikes: a little bit like Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language and depictions of underrage drinking
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Butter from the generous folks at Bloomsbury Children's Books via Netgalley. Thank you!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Waiting A Quick Read That Will Stick For A Good Long While
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
London Castle misses her big brother every day. Ordinary things—the sight of his car, the smell of his aftershave, the memory of his laughter—bring him back to her, but only long enough to remind her that Zach is gone forever. Dead at sixteen. London will never wrestle with him, never giggle with him, never fight with him ever again. And it's all her fault.
Zach's death has broken not just London, but her parents as well. Her dad tries, but he's distant, always absorbed in his work. And her mother? She hasn't spoken one word to London since the day Zach died. She won't even look at her remaining child. London knows she deserves the silent treatment, but she longs for her mother's attention anyway.
As London claws her way out of the well grief has dug in her heart, she finds strength in unexpected places. With this new found power, she may finally be able to come to terms with what really happened the day Zach died and maybe—just maybe—find the redemption she's been seeking ever since.
If you've read Carol Lynch Williams before, you know the YA author doesn't do light and fluffy. Every book she writes makes a solid impact. Her newest, a novel-in-verse titled Waiting, is no exception. It might not be as lyrical as Glimpse, as haunting as Miles From Ordinary, or as memorable as The Chosen One, but it's just as affecting. I would have liked more originality from this one, true. Overall, though, I found it as well-written and powerful as Williams' other novels. It's a quick read, but one that will stick with you for a good long while.
(Readalikes: Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs), sexual innuendo and mature subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Despite Newbie Mistakes, Debut Novelist Shows Potential
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's easy to become invisible in a city of 600,000 people. Olivia Tate should know. The 20-year-old floats through the streets of Seattle, so wrapped in grief and sorrow that she
feels hollow, empty, like a ghost drifting silently among the living. When her burden grows too heavy, she reaches for a bottle of Valium, hoping to dull the pain. Forever. She's shocked when she wakes up in a hospital, even more so when she meets her rescuer, a quiet 22-year-old named Jude West. Not only does Jude save Olivia's life, but he sticks around for weeks afterward, always making sure she has what she needs.
His presence makes all the difference for Olivia. Jude's friendship helps her heal, gives her hope. He's so good to her, makes her so happy, that she ignores all his weird little quirks—like how he never invites her over to his apartment or talks about his family or the fact that he has no real job, but always has plenty of money. It's only when Olivia begins to
remember disturbing details about the night of her suicide attempt that she realizes just how much Jude's been keeping from her. Her suspicions seem crazy, unbelievable, but what if they're true? Does she really know Jude? Does she really want to? If he is what she thinks he is, what does that mean for their growing relationship, the one that's rapidly turning into something that's much, much more than just friendship? Will the secret Jude keeps tear them apart forever?
It's difficult to describe Emerald City, a debut novel by Alicia K. Leppert, because, really, it has no plot. The main characters lack concrete story goals, which means the tale has no driving force behind it, no direction. It rambles here, there and everywhere, losing oomph with every purposeless turn. This is a newbie mistake, one I see often in first novels. Still, it makes a huge impact on the reader's enjoyment of a story, especially since the novel also suffers from lifeless prose, flat characters and some pretty big leaps in logic. My biggest issue (besides the no-plot thing) is with Olivia. I'm not sure I've ever met a more pitiful heroine. She's sympathetic, at least at first. But her wallowing gets old pretty darn quick, especially when it becomes apparent that that's all she ever does. Olivia's so self-centered that only once in the entire novel does she do something for anyone but herself—and that's to leave a paltry (35 cents!) tip for a street musician. Olivia's entire aim in the story is to make herself happier by focusing on, you guessed it, herself. This selfishness made me lose any sympathy or respect I had for her, which also stood in the way of my enjoyment of Emerald City.
Given all my complaints, you might think I detested every word of the story. Not so. The book's premise, while not all that original, has plenty of potential. As do the characters. In fact, most of what's wrong with Emerald City could have—and should have—been fixed through a session or two with a good, tenacious editor. Leppert has a lot to learn, for sure, but I did catch enough glimpses of capable writing throughout her debut to convince me that she will learn and she will improve with each book she writes. Maybe her next novel will do more for me than this one did. Let's hope.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a lot [too much] of the movie City of Angels, also of the book No Angel by Theresa Sneed and a little of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer)
Grade: C-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for scenes of peril and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Emerald City from its generous author and her publisher, Cedar Fort. Thank you!
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Thirteen Reasons Why ... You Should Read Jay Asher's Debut
(Image from Indiebound)13 Reasons Why You Should Read Jay Asher's debut novel:
1. The format: In Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher tells the story of a teenage girl's death in a way that is both original and effective. Taking its cue from the buttons on an old-fashioned Walkman, the story plays out as Clay Jensen roams around town stopping, pausing, and playing his way through Hannah Baker's verbal suicide note. This clever technique gives a new spin to the exploration of an issue that haunts us all.
2. The voice: Books narrated by dead people aren't all that unusual, but this one takes the concept in a new direction. Through the audio tapes Hannah recorded before she killed herself, we're able to "hear" her voice, helping us understand who she was and what she became. I kept wondering why Asher chose Clay to co-narrate, since he was such a bland character, but I think Clay's there as more of a canvas. Hannah comes alive enough that she could carry the novel alone. Still, Clay's thoughts round out the story, making it deeper, more complex and, ultimately, more interesting.
3. The suspense: Unlike other issue novels, Asher's reads almost like a mystery/thriller. The pacing moves things right along, keeping the reader on edge as he flies through the story. Even though the plot didn't surprise me much or really blow me away, it kept me as engrossed as any John Grisham or James Patterson pageturner.
4. The moral: While Thirteen Reasons Why never comes off as preachy, there are definitely lessons to be learned from it. As Hannah details all the ways in which people wronged her, it becomes clear how deeply words, even those meant in jest, can wound a person. Asher doesn't knock us over the head with platitudes, but his message gets through loud and clear: Be careful with other people's feelings.
5. The debate: Asher writes about suicide with sensitivity, while still allowing Clay to play devil's advocate. While I believe the responsibility for a person's suicide should be placed solely on the shoulders of that person, others might disagree. The issue would make for interesting discussions in schools, book clubs, or on blogs/message boards.
6. The acknowledgment: In an interview included in my copy of the book, Asher said, "Some people, primarily adults, would rather there be no books dealing with controversial subjects, even if those books help start a dialogue between teens and adults." I'm not one of those adults. I think readers of all ages will recognize themselves in Hannah, which will hopefully make them feel less alone. I'm all for helping people get the understanding and support they need, especially if it prevents them from thinking suicide is the only answer to their problems.
7. The overabundance of paranormal teen lit: Maybe this type of book is what made you turn to paranormal stories in the first place. Reality can be harsh, that's a fact. However, I think well-written issue novels like Thirteen Reasons Why prove why contemporary novels are still so relevant. Who cares about broody teenage vampires when realistic books give you meaty, true-to-life issues on which to chew?
8. The acclaim: If I haven't convinced you yet, consider the many awards this book has received. Click here for a full list.
9. The blurbs: Don't believe me? Ask the experts. Chris Crutcher, Sherman Alexie, Ellen Hopkins and Gordon Korman all wrote excellent blurbs about Thirteen Reasons Why. Check them out here.
10. The reviews: Thirteen Reasons Why gets 4 1/2 out of 5 stars from Amazon reviewers, the same from Barnes & Noble readers, 4 out of 5 stars at Goodreads, and rave reviews from all kinds of book bloggers.
11. The blog: Jay Asher's funny. Just check out his posts.
12. The website: If you don't read the book, you may not understand the book's excellent website, which offers lots of extras, like videos of all the different tapes, wallpaper, an interactive version of Hannah's map, and more.
13. The giveaway: Okay, if I haven't managed to convince you yet, then read the book for a chance to earn free stuff. Everyone likes prizes, right? Well, when Jay Asher gets 13,000 reader reviews of Thirteen Reasons Why posted to his website, he'll give away copies of his books to four lucky winners. Check out the contest here.
(Readalikes: Apparently, I don't read too many books about suicide. Any suggestions?)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs), sexual content, and depictions of underrage drinking/partying
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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