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outoftheblue14's review against another edition
4.0
Come Aidan Chambers scrive di sesso tra adolescenti (e giovani adulti) in un modo che... indescrivibile. Solo lui ci riesce.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
1.0
Medal Winner 2003
Uncertain sexuality, polyamory, adultery, assisted death, AND a World War II story. How could this not win awards? *sigh* This definitely falls into the "not my thing" category, but the "not my thing" was so overwhelming that I find it hard to evaluate it free of that. I appreciate literature that asks me to get out of my comfort zone and stretch my understanding of the world, but this book gave me no comfort zone whatsoever, and no relief from the stretching. The two and a half page sermon about why euthanasia is a good thing, even though people are sad about it, and how teenagers should have written documents about what circumstances they would rather be dead in, took this from two or three stars to the one star.
Marriages can last a lifetime happily, not because people find it easy to stay in love forever but because love and commitments are choices to be made over and over again.
Most people don't have any control over when or how they die. It's not a right.
World War II is an incredibly story-worthy event, however, using it as the counterpoint to every current social issue imaginable feels emotionally manipulative.
I realize I bring a bias to the story, but aside from that bias, the alternating viewpoints had mixed results for me. The World War II chapters carried the momentum of the story, but going from 1st person in the past to 3rd person in the present was repeatedly confusing to me, especially since the present was so introspective, and the main character of that storyline shared a name with the main character of the World War II storyline.
Uncertain sexuality, polyamory, adultery, assisted death, AND a World War II story. How could this not win awards? *sigh* This definitely falls into the "not my thing" category, but the "not my thing" was so overwhelming that I find it hard to evaluate it free of that. I appreciate literature that asks me to get out of my comfort zone and stretch my understanding of the world, but this book gave me no comfort zone whatsoever, and no relief from the stretching. The two and a half page sermon about why euthanasia is a good thing, even though people are sad about it, and how teenagers should have written documents about what circumstances they would rather be dead in, took this from two or three stars to the one star.
Marriages can last a lifetime happily, not because people find it easy to stay in love forever but because love and commitments are choices to be made over and over again.
Most people don't have any control over when or how they die. It's not a right.
World War II is an incredibly story-worthy event, however, using it as the counterpoint to every current social issue imaginable feels emotionally manipulative.
I realize I bring a bias to the story, but aside from that bias, the alternating viewpoints had mixed results for me. The World War II chapters carried the momentum of the story, but going from 1st person in the past to 3rd person in the present was repeatedly confusing to me, especially since the present was so introspective, and the main character of that storyline shared a name with the main character of the World War II storyline.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book's dual narratives didn't work because the 1940s storyline was vastly more compelling than the 1990s one, which made me even more annoyed and bored by the 1990s main character than I already would have been. The plot idea is good, but the dialogue and slow pace are insufferable.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
What a curious book. Told in two perspectives--Jacob's in the early 2000s and Geertrui's in the 1940s--Postcards weaves two narratives together to create a dynamic and layered story filled with ethical and moral drama in the middle of war time.
This book discusses the burden of knowledge, war-time decisions, and being a stranger in a foreign land while also transcending both time and place. Also not shying away from the loss of innocence and discussions of sexuality, it takes care to assess all sorts of view points and allows for various epiphanies.
I found the interactions between Hille and Jacob probably the most interesting, and oh man, that scene where Jacob finally gets to visit Anne Frank's house and realizes that everyone else has had the same fascination with her as he does.
However, I do have to say that its the moral and ethical dilemmas, for me, that drive this book. I don't normally enjoy historical fiction--and World War II fiction even less--so this book didn't do it for me necessarily. But when we discuss things such as Geertrui's assisted suicide and her need to confess the hidden secrets of her family--that's when it really gets interesting for me.
Overall, this book is an intriguing and important one in a very subtle way. If anything else, I highly appreciate the artistry and intertextuality that this book offers.
Review cross-listed here!
This book discusses the burden of knowledge, war-time decisions, and being a stranger in a foreign land while also transcending both time and place. Also not shying away from the loss of innocence and discussions of sexuality, it takes care to assess all sorts of view points and allows for various epiphanies.
I found the interactions between Hille and Jacob probably the most interesting, and oh man, that scene where Jacob finally gets to visit Anne Frank's house and realizes that everyone else has had the same fascination with her as he does.
However, I do have to say that its the moral and ethical dilemmas, for me, that drive this book. I don't normally enjoy historical fiction--and World War II fiction even less--so this book didn't do it for me necessarily. But when we discuss things such as Geertrui's assisted suicide and her need to confess the hidden secrets of her family--that's when it really gets interesting for me.
Overall, this book is an intriguing and important one in a very subtle way. If anything else, I highly appreciate the artistry and intertextuality that this book offers.
Review cross-listed here!
martsfrommars's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Non mi ha entusiasmato molto diciamo, gli altri libri di Chambers mi hanno preso molto di piú.
Non mi ha entusiasmato molto diciamo, gli altri libri di Chambers mi hanno preso molto di piú.
gma2at's review against another edition
2.0
So now I feel incredibly old fashioned. Young adult fiction? Definitely not like the fiction when I was a young adult. Definitely not the fiction I'd be pleased to have my children read as young adults. Maybe I'm incredibly naive, but having such sexual/near sexual experiences at 17 blows my mind.
The scenes aren't too graphic, but enough to cause me discomfort. And even though I don't like some description, what was offered was slanted. This is very obviously written by a man who thinks penises are the end all. Good descriptions of at least three of those. And even though there are actually male-female experiences here, not much mention of her parts. Weird.
Quite surprised this won so many awards. I'd not recommend this book. To anyone.
The scenes aren't too graphic, but enough to cause me discomfort. And even though I don't like some description, what was offered was slanted. This is very obviously written by a man who thinks penises are the end all. Good descriptions of at least three of those. And even though there are actually male-female experiences here, not much mention of her parts. Weird.
Quite surprised this won so many awards. I'd not recommend this book. To anyone.
gbliss's review against another edition
4.0
An impressive book. Tells and weaves together two story lines. The sexual frankness of both stories is impressive and well done in a realistic and not sensationalist way. The confusion of the contemporary narrator does not feel like a gimmick. And in a story with so much else going on and handled so well and with such restraint, it has a naturalism that makes it all the more powerful.
yabetsy's review against another edition
5.0
Winner of both the Carnegie Medal and the 2003 Printz Award.
abanks617's review against another edition
2.0
This was my second attempt at reading this book. It definitely got better, but it leaves much to be desired. I couldn’t really figure out where they were going with the undertones related to lifestyle choices, etc...now I don’t even know if I can call it historical fiction. Meh. I wouldn’t recommend.
littlemascara's review against another edition
2.0
UPDATE: Upon further reflection, I'm downgrading it to two stars.
This book was very disappointing. I never connected with modern-day Jacob and part of it was his inconsistency in character. His inner dialogue felt like it was trying to hard to be authentic. Also, the ending just sort of happened, leaving a lot of resolution open.
However, the sections set during WWII Holland are very good. The historical part of the dual narrative worked and I found the story very touching. It also read as very real, whereas the contemporary sections felt forced.
This book was very disappointing. I never connected with modern-day Jacob and part of it was his inconsistency in character. His inner dialogue felt like it was trying to hard to be authentic. Also, the ending just sort of happened, leaving a lot of resolution open.
However, the sections set during WWII Holland are very good. The historical part of the dual narrative worked and I found the story very touching. It also read as very real, whereas the contemporary sections felt forced.