Reviews

Jay's Journal by

jessieg248's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

itsabritt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

girlpant44's review against another edition

1.0

Another horrible story about how witchcraft is evil and Christian religion is the remedy. Same old song and dance. This doesnt sound anything like witchcraft but more of Satanic/Demonic worship but as usual people group anything non Christian as "witchcraft"

emjayknocks's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

There are no redeeming qualities in this book. It’s clear the author has no knowledge or even peripheral understanding of the occult, and so the main character’s actions always come off as hollow and illogical. Jay goes to competing extremes to make/keep his friends/girlfriend, or to play the part of good son and Christian - these extreme actions feel consistently unjustified and confusing. Worst of all, the whole thing stinks of “adult writing as a teenager, even though they’ve clearly forgotten what it’s like to actually be a teenager”. I have a hard time believing that this caused any kind of social stir when it was released; the only reasoning I can come up with is, times were simpler in the 70’s, I guess? 

mondoweirdo's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

0.25

dimples0508's review against another edition

1.0

Don't pick this book up if you have any literary sense.

aregnier10's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Clearly written from someone who has a very old fashioned) Christian view of drugs, sex, and the occult. The journals this author publishes are very obviously all written from her own Mormon viewpoints and not at all of children experiencing a troubled life

meeeesh's review against another edition

2.0

I liked the character Jay (at least in part I read up to) , but I couldn't get into the story or book too much. Also, I did some research and this book is probably 99% fiction and has almost nothing from the actual diary.

michulette's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed reading this though I must question how much was actually creative writing of the "editor" Beatrice Sparks. It's very dark subject and it does serve some purpose as cautionary tale... Don't know, I think Go Ask Alice was better portrayed and the message got better across. Must admit the subject matter makes me nervous and in the end it does serve its purpose of warning.

blove0312's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Not. Good.