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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
I absolutely loved this book. It was so heartbreaking at times I cried like a baby...and now that I've finished, I can't stop thinking about it.
What was the goal here, is my question. What was achieved, what was intended, what was the plan. Because if it was to talk about the AIDS crisis, it could have been done without making the main teen character have incestuous feelings for her uncle, if it was to explore grief, it could have been done without making a grown man have a clandestine friendship with said teen character, and if it was to discuss her inappropriate love for her uncle, it could have done so without equating homosexuality with incest. It was altogether uncomfortable and I didn't appreciate how the important topics were handled.
I really loved this book. Beautifully written, evoking strong emotions. Love the setting, the characters, the story. Great book.
On a silly, side note, though, the only part I didn't like was the quote on pg 296: "There was a live professional orchestra in the pit, and as the lights dimmed they started to play the overture. The overture is by far the most boring part of the show. It's the most boring part of any show, and I don't think anyone knows why it even exists." As someone who has driven herself crazy practicing many difficult overtures, this made me a little sad. It might be true for the audience, but still made me sad :)
On a silly, side note, though, the only part I didn't like was the quote on pg 296: "There was a live professional orchestra in the pit, and as the lights dimmed they started to play the overture. The overture is by far the most boring part of the show. It's the most boring part of any show, and I don't think anyone knows why it even exists." As someone who has driven herself crazy practicing many difficult overtures, this made me a little sad. It might be true for the audience, but still made me sad :)
this book was so incredibly moving. i loved each and every one of the characters deeply. june's struggle between childhood and adulthood was done so well and so subtly. definitely now one of my favorite novels.
I was surprised how much I connected with this book, I must admit a few tears were shed.
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dawno nie wciągnęłam się tak mocno w historię, przez te dwa dni żyłam historią june, momentami bardzo mnie przypominała, byłam w centrum jej problemów, podejmowanych decyzji, traktując jako swoje. przekładanie wszystkiego na swoje życie sprawiło, że zauroczyłam się w tej książce, wciąż o niej myślę i nie mogę przestać. sięgając po nią spodziewałam się błahej historii z wątkiem miłosnym, a dostałam przepiękną, mądrą opowieść o stracie, kruchości życia i o tym, co tak naprawdę jest ważne. jedna z najbardziej rozdzierających serce i kruchych powieści jaką miałam okazję przeczytać.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Listening to a story about a teenager that takes place in 1987 was kind of refreshing - with no social media, no texts or cell phones, and no Internet, it really drives home how much our lives and the lives of kids have changed over time. I liked the exploration of sibling relationships (between the two girls as well as between the mother and the uncle) as well as the author's depiction of how AIDS was just becoming such a big part of our history and culture in the 1980s. I found myself having visceral reactions to some of the misconceptions that characters had about AIDS, then had to remind myself that the general public did not know as much about it back then. Very interesting book.
