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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Pattyn goes to live with her aunt after a fight with her father. She finds love an a stable home at the ranch, only to return to her family at the end of the summer.
This is another amazing read by Ellen Hopkins. I did not expect the cliffhanger ending though!
This is another amazing read by Ellen Hopkins. I did not expect the cliffhanger ending though!
I was ready to give this one 4 stars had it not been for that horrible ending. Wtf was that?? Pattyn and Ethan made some ridiculously stupid choices considering their age, which made me want to scream. The ending was too fast, it felt like the story slapped me in the face with events that neither I or Pattyn had time to comprehend. I was supposed to feel sad and shocked but all I had time to think was "what just happened?????" It was like the author didn't feel like writing the book anymore and wanted to end it quickly. The last chapters were weird and completely out of character.
The format (free verse) fit the style of the book and didn't bother me. I would've been fine with the story without that ending because I actually really liked the 2/3 of it. Okay, the love story was a little too perfect and cringey, I doubt you could find an Ethan irl. Or if you have, please introduce me to him asap.
The format (free verse) fit the style of the book and didn't bother me. I would've been fine with the story without that ending because I actually really liked the 2/3 of it. Okay, the love story was a little too perfect and cringey, I doubt you could find an Ethan irl. Or if you have, please introduce me to him asap.
This is the third of Hopkins books I've read and the one I finished fastest. I don't know if that's because I've had more free time as of late or because I've adjusted to Hopkins' prose format or what, but I completed it in about a day. I must say, I'm glad I've had the chance to get to know some Mormons so I can say with absolute confidence that not all LDS families are like the one portrayed here. Thankfully.
I'm not a religious person at all, but I have been disappointed in the world at large so, in that respect, I could compare a little to Pattyn's crises of faith. Thankfully, that is the pretty much the only way I could relate to the main character -- my life has never been as difficult. The ending feels like it wants to be a surprise, but it wasn't. Sadly, it is also not as far-fetched and difficult to believe as I wish it was.
On a lighter note, I did like Hopkins' vision of the landscape. I've lived in Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico and know there is much more to the Southwest than scrub and dust.
I'm not a religious person at all, but I have been disappointed in the world at large so, in that respect, I could compare a little to Pattyn's crises of faith. Thankfully, that is the pretty much the only way I could relate to the main character -- my life has never been as difficult. The ending feels like it wants to be a surprise, but it wasn't. Sadly, it is also not as far-fetched and difficult to believe as I wish it was.
On a lighter note, I did like Hopkins' vision of the landscape. I've lived in Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico and know there is much more to the Southwest than scrub and dust.
loved it until i hated it.
firstly, the narrator's voice is just so adorable! secondly, what.is.that.ending. that's a no from me. i don't know if i'll be continuing with the second book. also aunt J is such a sweetheart we stan.
firstly, the narrator's voice is just so adorable! secondly, what.is.that.ending. that's a no from me. i don't know if i'll be continuing with the second book. also aunt J is such a sweetheart we stan.
I find Ellen Hopkins' verse novels to be compulsively readable, but I thought this one's poetry wasn't as good as that in [b:Crank|270730|Crank|Ellen Hopkins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173302773s/270730.jpg|262457] and [b:Glass|270804|Glass|Ellen Hopkins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173303393s/270804.jpg|262530]. Additionally, the story was so much similar to Carol Lynch's [b:The Chosen One|5303373|The Chosen One|Carol Lynch Williams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1235161549s/5303373.jpg|5370813] that I couldn't help thinking how I preferred The Chosen One. The ending was unexpected and far too abrupt. Mature language and themes.
It did make me want to start a booklist around a certain type of character: the outcast/hermit who reforms the main character by introducing him/her to the benefits of hard work, homespun wisdom, and country living. While I was reading about Aunt J in this book, I thought of several others, but now I'm blanking out. Anyone?
Favorite quotes:
[on the effects of reading literature:] "I began / To view the world at large / through borrowed eyes, / eyes more like those / I wanted to own."
"They say the world sees you / As you see yourself, / and that night I saw myself in a different way. / Pretty. Almost desirable."
It did make me want to start a booklist around a certain type of character: the outcast/hermit who reforms the main character by introducing him/her to the benefits of hard work, homespun wisdom, and country living. While I was reading about Aunt J in this book, I thought of several others, but now I'm blanking out. Anyone?
Favorite quotes:
[on the effects of reading literature:] "I began / To view the world at large / through borrowed eyes, / eyes more like those / I wanted to own."
"They say the world sees you / As you see yourself, / and that night I saw myself in a different way. / Pretty. Almost desirable."
Wow. This book left me absolutely speechless (in a good way). This is by far one of the most powerful and heartbreaking books I have ever read. I was not sure if I would like the verse style of this book, but now I am absolutely hooked.
When sitting down to write this review, I felt like I couldn’t adequately express how I felt. So, I’m doing something a little different and listing all of the emotions that I felt or that the author portrayed in the book.
Gut-wrenching.
Sad.
Tragic.
Love.
Reconnection.
Faith.
Depression.
Anger.
Shame.
Resentment.
Lust.
Desire.
Crazy.
Submissive.
Disgust.
Terror.
Grief.
Bitter.
Commitment.
Jealousy.
Hopeless.
Trapped.
Caged.
Strong.
Defiant.
Headstrong.
Weak.
As you can see, there is a wide array of emotions felt and discussed throughout the book that continuously change and alternate. I have added the rest of Ellen Hopkins’ books to my TBR list and highly, highly recommend this book to everyone.
When sitting down to write this review, I felt like I couldn’t adequately express how I felt. So, I’m doing something a little different and listing all of the emotions that I felt or that the author portrayed in the book.
Gut-wrenching.
Sad.
Tragic.
Love.
Reconnection.
Faith.
Depression.
Anger.
Shame.
Resentment.
Lust.
Desire.
Crazy.
Submissive.
Disgust.
Terror.
Grief.
Bitter.
Commitment.
Jealousy.
Hopeless.
Trapped.
Caged.
Strong.
Defiant.
Headstrong.
Weak.
As you can see, there is a wide array of emotions felt and discussed throughout the book that continuously change and alternate. I have added the rest of Ellen Hopkins’ books to my TBR list and highly, highly recommend this book to everyone.
This book felt so good and hurt so badly. Beautifully done and painfully poignant
So. . .interesting. Written in prose form made it fun to read. The story was a little off. Well, a sad story, but written from an LDS perspective. The author was WAY off on the LDS religion. Sounded more like FLDS to me. A lot of FLDS stuff happening. . .husband beating his wife/daughters, the Bishop/community members turning a blind eye because he's the man of the house and he must be right, husband decides if/when his wife can get a drivers license, girls are expected to marry and procreate, wife's eternal salvation depends on husband to choose her in the afterlife. . .etc. If you're trying to get a peek into the LDS culture, this isn't the book.
But the story wasn't too bad. A little bit of a roller coaster ride of emotions. The ending shocked me a little bit, and I wanted to change it, but I guess it made sense.
But the story wasn't too bad. A little bit of a roller coaster ride of emotions. The ending shocked me a little bit, and I wanted to change it, but I guess it made sense.
I thought this book was very well written and interesting, though it wasn't my favorite book by Hopkins. I believe that in some ways she did portray Mormonism in the right way and some issues that go on in all churches. I am a Christian who is not caught up in denominations, but I am against false and man-made religion, which seems to have plagued our planet. If you read the bible, Jesus was a rebel against society and false religion, and he still is to this very day. I think that the main character of this book really struggles with her religion in a real way, but also she sometimes doesn't make sense. I wasn't too fond of her or any of her family members, but I didn't write the book so I have no say.