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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
i love wake's writing and characterization as always though i think his books lack plot. this book was not an exception and the lolita thing bothered me a little but overall it's a good book.
actual rating: 3.5
actual rating: 3.5
I bought "Unteachable" by Leah Raeder on a whim, and I am so glad I did. Teacher-student relationships are usually more squicky than sexy for me, and I'm not sure whether the technical legality of this romance made the decision to pick up the book easier or not. Now that I've finished reading, I'm not so sure it matters.
Maise O'Malley is a restless eighteen-year-old, eager to finish her senior year and go to film school somewhere as far from her small hometown as she can get. She meets Evan during one intense night at the carnival, fleeing after she realizes that she's falling for him much too fast. Avoiding their connection proves impossible when Mr. Evan Wilke is waiting to teach Maise's film studies class on her last first day of school.
As much as I loved the deeply dysfunctional relationship between Maise and Evan--not to mention their crazy chemistry--I wouldn't have cared half as much about their story if the other people getting tangled up in it weren't just as interesting. The contrast between Maise's desire to belong to her friend Wesley's eccentric family, and the mother she's really stuck with, added depth to her bold personality and her longing to escape.
Raeder's writing is beautiful--walking the fine line between lyrically vivid and bluntly coarse with natural ease. I've read and re-read some sections over and over again since finishing the book the first time, and I keep finding passages that wow me. The prose here makes me almost green with envy. I love it.
One of the things that impressed me about "Unteachable" was the whole host of other character issues orbiting the forbidden romance at the center of the story. Maise fights a constant battle--both in her relationship with Evan and her life outside him--between acting like a mature adult and being seen as one. Her handling of her problems veers between childlike and grown-up depending upon how she feels around Evan. It seemed realistic to me that she would be so influenced by her first real relationship, and watching her stand on her own with or without him was super rewarding.
This novel earns an easy five stars and it deserves every one of them. "Unteachable" is being released by a publisher next year, with a brand new cover to boot. If you haven't bought it by now, I suggest you do after its second release. You won't regret it.
Maise O'Malley is a restless eighteen-year-old, eager to finish her senior year and go to film school somewhere as far from her small hometown as she can get. She meets Evan during one intense night at the carnival, fleeing after she realizes that she's falling for him much too fast. Avoiding their connection proves impossible when Mr. Evan Wilke is waiting to teach Maise's film studies class on her last first day of school.
As much as I loved the deeply dysfunctional relationship between Maise and Evan--not to mention their crazy chemistry--I wouldn't have cared half as much about their story if the other people getting tangled up in it weren't just as interesting. The contrast between Maise's desire to belong to her friend Wesley's eccentric family, and the mother she's really stuck with, added depth to her bold personality and her longing to escape.
Raeder's writing is beautiful--walking the fine line between lyrically vivid and bluntly coarse with natural ease. I've read and re-read some sections over and over again since finishing the book the first time, and I keep finding passages that wow me. The prose here makes me almost green with envy. I love it.
One of the things that impressed me about "Unteachable" was the whole host of other character issues orbiting the forbidden romance at the center of the story. Maise fights a constant battle--both in her relationship with Evan and her life outside him--between acting like a mature adult and being seen as one. Her handling of her problems veers between childlike and grown-up depending upon how she feels around Evan. It seemed realistic to me that she would be so influenced by her first real relationship, and watching her stand on her own with or without him was super rewarding.
This novel earns an easy five stars and it deserves every one of them. "Unteachable" is being released by a publisher next year, with a brand new cover to boot. If you haven't bought it by now, I suggest you do after its second release. You won't regret it.
EDIT: 24/3/2014 Ahhhhh, so much love for the new cover. Even better than the first!
I'm going to be honest. This book didn't grab me from the very start. I don't exactly know the reason why, it was just that I had a hard time getting into it and enjoying it properly. However, as the story went on, I was having a harder time letting my phone out of my hands, even though there were others things to do. You see, I fucking love books with student/teacher relationships. I always found the subject interesting so I like to see how it's handled. And this book didn't disappoint after all.
Maise was, surprisingly, a very lovable character. She was confident, strong and brave which is really all I'm looking for in a main character. She knew was she wanted and she wasn't afraid to get it - at least not on the outside. Although, there's her fucked up life and a fucked up mother and her fucked up self, she's built herself in a way that's making her appear unbreakable. Then there's Mr. Wilke, or Evan, who's making her alive - or, better to say, they are making each other alive. I was quite fascinated with their relationship, actually. It was full of light with a hint of darkness, and I have no idea if I'm making any sense right now and I apologize if I don't, but there was just something, making it special - making this book different than other books dealing with student/teacher relationships.
I'm trying to come up with something else to say, but my mind is blank. I think I still need to process this book a bit more to be able to write anything better than this. All things considered, this is one of the better books I've read lately and it left me a bit speechless and a bit amazed in the end. I'd like to thank the author for bringing this book in NA genre and making it better. Definite recommendation.
I'm going to be honest. This book didn't grab me from the very start. I don't exactly know the reason why, it was just that I had a hard time getting into it and enjoying it properly. However, as the story went on, I was having a harder time letting my phone out of my hands, even though there were others things to do. You see, I fucking love books with student/teacher relationships. I always found the subject interesting so I like to see how it's handled. And this book didn't disappoint after all.
Maise was, surprisingly, a very lovable character. She was confident, strong and brave which is really all I'm looking for in a main character. She knew was she wanted and she wasn't afraid to get it - at least not on the outside. Although, there's her fucked up life and a fucked up mother and her fucked up self, she's built herself in a way that's making her appear unbreakable. Then there's Mr. Wilke, or Evan, who's making her alive - or, better to say, they are making each other alive. I was quite fascinated with their relationship, actually. It was full of light with a hint of darkness, and I have no idea if I'm making any sense right now and I apologize if I don't, but there was just something, making it special - making this book different than other books dealing with student/teacher relationships.
I'm trying to come up with something else to say, but my mind is blank. I think I still need to process this book a bit more to be able to write anything better than this. All things considered, this is one of the better books I've read lately and it left me a bit speechless and a bit amazed in the end. I'd like to thank the author for bringing this book in NA genre and making it better. Definite recommendation.
advice: Skip the reviews , just go read the book ... You can't get wrong with this one.
I don't understand how this book isn't more famous :(
SOMEONE EXPLAIN !
I don't understand how this book isn't more famous :(
SOMEONE EXPLAIN !
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was not quite what I expected. I had heard great things about it and went into it with high expectations. It was a very well written book with some of the most beautiful and creative writing style I have ever read. It was so unique that it almost became too much sometimes, but overall I think it added to making this book stand apart from others.
The characters and the story itself are absolutely raw and gritty. The author didn't hold back on this in the slightest. This really added to the passion and force behind the connection between the main characters. That said, it made the female lead not necessarily as likeable as I would have expected, and I really wanted to like her. It didn't detract from my reading, though. I enjoyed it for its unexpectedness and in-your-face moments. It was hard to put this book down, and I'm glad to have experienced it for all its uniqueness and for the ride it took me on. Well worth experiencing for yourself.
The characters and the story itself are absolutely raw and gritty. The author didn't hold back on this in the slightest. This really added to the passion and force behind the connection between the main characters. That said, it made the female lead not necessarily as likeable as I would have expected, and I really wanted to like her. It didn't detract from my reading, though. I enjoyed it for its unexpectedness and in-your-face moments. It was hard to put this book down, and I'm glad to have experienced it for all its uniqueness and for the ride it took me on. Well worth experiencing for yourself.
Total page turner! Could not stop reading until I finished it!
Wow. Such a wonderfully, vividly written book. This should be on the big screen.
I'm not a fan of teacher/student romances, but Elliot Wake's storytelling had me hooked.