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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
What a beautiful coming of age story. By the end of this novel, I had to slow myself down because I became so wrapped up in the individual growth of the characters. A lovely story about redemption, the inner feelings we are afraid to speak of, and coming to grips with death under tragic circumstances.
About a girl whose uncle dies of aids and she befriends his partner.
Good for Mom.
Good for Mom.
I liked that the story was unique even in it's "coming of age". There are the usual "letting childhood go" themes but are also some weird love and sibling relationship aspects.
I devoured this book in two days. I could not put it down. The story was so rich and intricate that it sucked me into a whirlpool and I didn't want to come up for air. I love the main character, June, a somewhat awkward, dorky fourteen year old who has a deep secret. One that drives her life. The story is set in the late 80s and is about her relationship with her artist uncle who dies of AIDS, and how she begrudgingly develops a new relationship with her uncle's "special friend." It's also about the deterioration of the relationship with her sister, who was once her best friend. The bonds made, the memories shared and the secret adventures are sweet and touching. I felt like I was spying on someone's life and loved every minute of the journey. Exquisite story telling, rich characters and something that will stay tattooed on my heart for years to come.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Loved the majority of this book, the last 50 pages are a bit over done but the majority of the story is beautiful.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
There were a few missteps, but overall a strong debut. The depth of June's grief felt authentic and earned and I really enjoyed the revelation of Toby's character. I thought Brunt's portrayal of the conflict between the sisters felt right, but I'm not sure I buy all the reasons for it. But then, adolescent siblings don't always need reasons to be hateful to each other, right? Occasionally, I felt like the pacing was off. June would stumble around in the dark for ages, and then one question to her father cleared up ten years of obfuscation and misdirection. If only things were that easy! For all my criticisms, though, I was thoroughly engaged and found it hard to put the book down.
Beautiful story of loss and growth and coming of age. Made my heart ache, but the story was told with so much beauty and honesty.
Meh. Unfortunately, I think this one really suffered in audiobook format. Whoever the narrator is, well, I hope they have a day job. It sounded whiny and robotic. And don't get me started on her British accent for Toby. I could have done better. Half of the time he had one and half the time he didn't. I feel like I may have appreciated this book more had I read it :( but I definitely did not enjoy it enough to give it a second chance.
This book deals with some big issues-a quirky teenage main character dealing with loneliness and puberty to boot, throw in some family issues (her parents are always gone during tax season...oh, and her perfect sister, who...wait for it...isn't as perfect as she seems...), death of the only one who understood, and some big social/political issues of the time (her uncle dies of AIDS and there is a lot of hatred towards the gay community and the disease itself). It's a lot. And I wanted to like it, I really did. But I honestly felt like the book bit off more than it could chew. The writing just wasn't up to snuff. I did not empathize with June. Her and her sister Greta came off as brats most of the time. Even though I was supposed to feel sorry for them having just lost their beloved uncle to a horrible disease, it just didn't come. Because the book was from June's point of view, everything seemed simple and immature. Sometimes that can help a book (Room, for example) but I thought it detracted from the complexities of a lot of the issues the book was trying to address. There was the added problem that I don't think I really understand the AIDS epidemic and the fear people had-so every time characters talk about "the gays", "the AIDS", etc with such fear and disdain it kind of makes me hate them. June's mom refused to let her brother's partner at HIS FUNERAL because she hated him/blamed him for the disease. It just seems so petty and a little sick to me.
I also think I missed the deeper meanings. The wolves, the painting, the additions the girls and their mother put on the painting, June's romantic love for her uncle (seriously...did not understand this one at all...)-all of these just seemed like odd fillers to me (oh and I forgot about Toby getting a 14 year old drunk...WTF?!?). The AIDS epidemic and the feelings about the gay community at the time would actually be interesting to read about/to try to understand. Unfortunately, I don't think this book does a very good job of actually portraying this.
This book deals with some big issues-a quirky teenage main character dealing with loneliness and puberty to boot, throw in some family issues (her parents are always gone during tax season...oh, and her perfect sister, who...wait for it...isn't as perfect as she seems...), death of the only one who understood, and some big social/political issues of the time (her uncle dies of AIDS and there is a lot of hatred towards the gay community and the disease itself). It's a lot. And I wanted to like it, I really did. But I honestly felt like the book bit off more than it could chew. The writing just wasn't up to snuff. I did not empathize with June. Her and her sister Greta came off as brats most of the time. Even though I was supposed to feel sorry for them having just lost their beloved uncle to a horrible disease, it just didn't come. Because the book was from June's point of view, everything seemed simple and immature. Sometimes that can help a book (Room, for example) but I thought it detracted from the complexities of a lot of the issues the book was trying to address. There was the added problem that I don't think I really understand the AIDS epidemic and the fear people had-so every time characters talk about "the gays", "the AIDS", etc with such fear and disdain it kind of makes me hate them. June's mom refused to let her brother's partner at HIS FUNERAL because she hated him/blamed him for the disease. It just seems so petty and a little sick to me.
I also think I missed the deeper meanings. The wolves, the painting, the additions the girls and their mother put on the painting, June's romantic love for her uncle (seriously...did not understand this one at all...)-all of these just seemed like odd fillers to me (oh and I forgot about Toby getting a 14 year old drunk...WTF?!?). The AIDS epidemic and the feelings about the gay community at the time would actually be interesting to read about/to try to understand. Unfortunately, I don't think this book does a very good job of actually portraying this.