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3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
Micah and Janie have been best friends since elementary school... Not that anyone would ever suspect, though, because their friendship has been one of their best-kept secrets. After all, Janie is one of the popular girls and Micah is a bit of a social outcast. They seem to be opposites in every way, but it "works" for them. I found it strange to see how confident Micah was that Janie would always be there for him even though he knew better than to even try to talk to her at school. Ack! Talk about a terrible friendship. I will say, though, that there are probably plenty of so-called friendships like this, since adolescents are often willing to compromise their own feelings and integrity for the sake of fitting in and/or feeling wanted. The biggest problem with this arrangement, nevertheless, was when Micah woke up in the hospital with no recollection of how or why Janie went missing. All he seemed to remember was a big party and a bonfire... But where did Janie go, and why won't she even answer his texts?
I recommend this story to readers who enjoyed the Jennifer Hubbard's The Secret Year, John Green's Paper Towns, and E. Lockhart's We Were Liars. Though these stories are all unique, there is just a little something about Zhang's characters, plot, and/or storytelling methodology that reminded me of these books.
Happy Reading!
I recommend this story to readers who enjoyed the Jennifer Hubbard's The Secret Year, John Green's Paper Towns, and E. Lockhart's We Were Liars. Though these stories are all unique, there is just a little something about Zhang's characters, plot, and/or storytelling methodology that reminded me of these books.
Happy Reading!
Dang. This was good. Like the kind where I'm angry that my lunch break is over because I have only 40 more pages to go kind of good. I don't want to say too much, because you should just read it.
This book was just meh for me. The plot was obvious and predictable for me, and I hated the Janie/Micah dynamic. Actually, pretty much all the relationships in this book were pretty toxic and everyone is kind of an asshole to each other, so there's that too. The one thing I did actually enjoy though was Amy Zhang's writing style. It's simple and poetic, and the kind of writing that makes me speed through a book.
I initially wanted to pick up her first novel 'Falling Into Place', so I'm not sure why I got this instead, but let me know if you've read either and if you recommend the first.
I initially wanted to pick up her first novel 'Falling Into Place', so I'm not sure why I got this instead, but let me know if you've read either and if you recommend the first.
#30secondreview the year's manic pixie dream tumblr anthem. part murder mystery? maybe? definitely a little supernatural. one of those books that only makes sense if they make the narrator crazy to explain most events.
I think I've read one to many teen angst books. This one was difficult to follow.
This book was basically a combination of John Green's "Looking For Alaska" and Jennifer Niven's "All the Bright Places." I loved the retold fairy tale journals that were worked throughout the story, but I did feel a little betrayed by the story as I read because it ended up being so much like those other novels I read.
Micah and Janie have been friends since they were born (Janie says they share a soul) - they lived next door to each other until the summer before senior year, went on adventures together, and had secret places they'd hang out. The only thing that really changed through the years was whether they talked in public because they started to hang with different groups (but this was an agreed upon arrangement and didn't hinder their friendship). Cut to the book's plot - Micah has woken up in a hospital with some amnesia and is being questioned about Janie's whereabouts and a fire that occurred at her house. His friend Dewey is there to guide him through re-entry to school, to help him remember things, and to just take his mind off it. It bugs Micah that he can't remember, but he slowly starts to get glimpses of memories with the help of Janie's "presence." This book has alternating narrators and, within that, time periods - Micah's chapters obviously take place from the moment he wakes up forward, and Janie's chapters take place in the month or two before the incident. Janie is not happy with the move to her new house, she hates it, but her parents bought because it was expensive. She has a crush on Ander and has a plan to get him to fall in love with her. She is caught up in this plan, but also works hard to maintain her friendship with Micah. During a party at her house, her life is turned upside down, and the ensuing events in the book happen because of it.
This was certainly not what I thought the book would be like, though I guess I'm not sure what I expected. Yes, I'm a sucker for alternating narrators, and the time jumping within that element was great. The way the chapters / storylines unfold it was like I was with Micah, trying to remember, but also seeing the precursors to the night in question. Overall, well done, though certainly more for high school with the frequent f-bombs, alcohol and drug references, and the event that changes Janie.
Side note: Did a little research on the author and she wrote this book while in college! Talented, for sure.
This was certainly not what I thought the book would be like, though I guess I'm not sure what I expected. Yes, I'm a sucker for alternating narrators, and the time jumping within that element was great. The way the chapters / storylines unfold it was like I was with Micah, trying to remember, but also seeing the precursors to the night in question. Overall, well done, though certainly more for high school with the frequent f-bombs, alcohol and drug references, and the event that changes Janie.
Side note: Did a little research on the author and she wrote this book while in college! Talented, for sure.
I didn't even finish reading this book. I just don't get it. I got high hopes of it at first because Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang is great. But when I started reading TIWWE, I can still somehow follow the story but later I'll be like ????? Hahaha. So I gave the book to my aunt, at least she would finish the book. No money wasted. Haha.
I read 37 pages of this book and I feel like it’s making me stupid.
This book is a masterpiece. I was so enthralled by the characters, story, and emotion that radiated off the pages. It was whimsical and lyrical while also being grounded and earnest. This book is truly captivating.
Things I Liked
Holy hell did I LOVE all of the characters. Janie is a larger-than-life girl in love with fairy tales and metaphors. Micah is an unfocused follower in love with apocalypses and Janie. The characters stories progress in beautiful and heartbreaking ways as we see their dynamic unfold. Both characters are flawed beyond belief and must deal with their own tragedies - their own personal apocalypses - as they navigate a disrupted fairytale.
Janie and Micah’s relationship is TOXIC and it is clearly stated as such by multiple characters in the story. Their relationship is not glorified or set as a standard to look to. That being said, they had one of the most complex and engaging relationships I have ever read. I don’t even think I can give it justice trying to put my thoughts down. Janie burns so bright and Micah just wants to be in her orbit. That’s why he agrees to keeping their friendship secret and help her with all of her ninja-vigilante missions - righting the small wrongs in their world. Micah is so consumed by Janie and she is so manipulative. He would do anything for her, hoping for just a little more than she is willing, or able, to give. When Janie needs Micah to be more than her follower and push her to confront her own struggles - he doesn’t. Because that’s not his role. Janie loves Micah because he’ll go along with her and doesn’t make her confront something that she doesn’t want to and Micah loves Janie for not forcing him to try to be more than a follower. They don’t bring out the best in each other and don’t help each other grow or overcome any difficulties. That stagnation is so heartbreaking when action NEEDS to happen.
I loved SO MUCH about the writing. I loved the Then/Now format, told from Janie and Micah POV respectively. It created two stories that flowed and battled each other - weaving together and drifting apart, like Janie and Micah themselves. Janie’s journal entries really showcased her emotions in the story. We see them transition from happy fairy tales to grim resignation. I loved Janie’s journey as a whole and I felt that she took some of her agency back at the end of the story. I also loved the use of metaphors, they sort of acted as a character in themselves.
-QUOTES: SO MANY AMAZING QUOTES. Some of my favorites:
Things I Didn't Like
Ruined the name Ander for me.
This is not a happy-feel-good book. It’s raw and emotional and eloquent. Because of the subject matter and writing style this is a very decisive book, and you might not like it. I’ve read books with similar premises and couldn’t even finish them, but I think that the story is worth a shot. The book breathes, the words flow, and the characters come to live. I already know this will be one of my favorite reads of the year.
*TRIGGER WARNINGS for Rape, Suicide, Toxic Relationships
Things I Liked
Holy hell did I LOVE all of the characters. Janie is a larger-than-life girl in love with fairy tales and metaphors. Micah is an unfocused follower in love with apocalypses and Janie. The characters stories progress in beautiful and heartbreaking ways as we see their dynamic unfold. Both characters are flawed beyond belief and must deal with their own tragedies - their own personal apocalypses - as they navigate a disrupted fairytale.
Janie and Micah’s relationship is TOXIC and it is clearly stated as such by multiple characters in the story. Their relationship is not glorified or set as a standard to look to. That being said, they had one of the most complex and engaging relationships I have ever read. I don’t even think I can give it justice trying to put my thoughts down. Janie burns so bright and Micah just wants to be in her orbit. That’s why he agrees to keeping their friendship secret and help her with all of her ninja-vigilante missions - righting the small wrongs in their world. Micah is so consumed by Janie and she is so manipulative. He would do anything for her, hoping for just a little more than she is willing, or able, to give. When Janie needs Micah to be more than her follower and push her to confront her own struggles - he doesn’t. Because that’s not his role. Janie loves Micah because he’ll go along with her and doesn’t make her confront something that she doesn’t want to and Micah loves Janie for not forcing him to try to be more than a follower. They don’t bring out the best in each other and don’t help each other grow or overcome any difficulties. That stagnation is so heartbreaking when action NEEDS to happen.
I loved SO MUCH about the writing. I loved the Then/Now format, told from Janie and Micah POV respectively. It created two stories that flowed and battled each other - weaving together and drifting apart, like Janie and Micah themselves. Janie’s journal entries really showcased her emotions in the story. We see them transition from happy fairy tales to grim resignation. I loved Janie’s journey as a whole and I felt that she took some of her agency back at the end of the story. I also loved the use of metaphors, they sort of acted as a character in themselves.
-QUOTES: SO MANY AMAZING QUOTES. Some of my favorites:
“Miracles do not belong to fairy tales. Miracles belong to the desperate, because only the desperate believe in bullsiht.”
“That’s the truth, I guess. We don’t catch moments in the passing - we don’t catch them at all. We just reach and scramble and wish for fairy godmothers and Prince Charmings. It’s too bad none of it is real. It really is too bad.”
“I used to think that destiny was fluid, becuase isn’t that the point pf every Disney movie and Saturday-morning cartoon? You make your own choices. You decide how life goes. I always thought that your fate line would change if something happened, bam, something goes wrong and the line on your palm goes all wonky to reflect that. Nope. It still looks fine. Well, fuck you too, fate.”
Things I Didn't Like
Ruined the name Ander for me.
This is not a happy-feel-good book. It’s raw and emotional and eloquent. Because of the subject matter and writing style this is a very decisive book, and you might not like it. I’ve read books with similar premises and couldn’t even finish them, but I think that the story is worth a shot. The book breathes, the words flow, and the characters come to live. I already know this will be one of my favorite reads of the year.
*TRIGGER WARNINGS for Rape, Suicide, Toxic Relationships