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3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
WHOA yeah definitely was not expecting that particular plot point to happen, but it definitely went there
very enjoyable writing style — makes me want to read FALLING INTO PLACE even more than i already did, if only because i was left feeling kind of unsatisfied with the characters in this novel. like individually i loved janie and micah but when they're together they're just AWFUL with each other and i couldn't connect with their weird pseudo-ultra-friendship at all?? if you're gonna go the whole "everything is shitty, let's be shitty together" route, you need to make the relationship somewhat likable overall
but still a great, fast read that i breezed through for the mystery elements of it & the stellar writing
very enjoyable writing style — makes me want to read FALLING INTO PLACE even more than i already did, if only because i was left feeling kind of unsatisfied with the characters in this novel. like individually i loved janie and micah but when they're together they're just AWFUL with each other and i couldn't connect with their weird pseudo-ultra-friendship at all?? if you're gonna go the whole "everything is shitty, let's be shitty together" route, you need to make the relationship somewhat likable overall
but still a great, fast read that i breezed through for the mystery elements of it & the stellar writing
I really loved this book- it was a slow start for me but when it got going I couldn't put it down. The characters felt very real and even though it was heartbreaking, it was beautiful.
TW for
Homophobic slurs
Rape
Suicide
Pretentious teenage girls who thinks the world owes her
I don't think I've hated a character more than Janie Vivien.
Tamlin and Meghan Chase come close though.
Homophobic slurs
Rape
Suicide
Pretentious teenage girls who thinks the world owes her
I don't think I've hated a character more than Janie Vivien.
Tamlin and Meghan Chase come close though.
I did not like this as much as [b:Falling into Place|18163646|Falling into Place|Amy Zhang|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393613084s/18163646.jpg|25526485] , but I still really enjoyed it. I've decided that Amy Zhang is one of those authors who I will happily read any time she publishes a book. Even when I don't think I should like it, I am engrossed.
It didn't take long for me to realize that Janie is a total Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She's like a magnified version of all of John Green's MPDGs. I had a sort of sinking feeling that the book would be too quirky for its own good.
Neither of the main characters were particularly likable, the big plot points were obvious from the jump, and the ending wrapped up almost too abruptly, but it was still a total page-turner for me. I wanted Micah to remember, and I wanted to see what led Janie to the day of the incident. Something about Zhang's writing completely works for me. I still marvel at the fact that the author is a teenager. She captures high school perfectly while still sounding as though she is far beyond it.
Be prepared for John Green-esque writing (although, like I said, I prefer Zhang to green), but I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to future novels from Zhang!
It didn't take long for me to realize that Janie is a total Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She's like a magnified version of all of John Green's MPDGs. I had a sort of sinking feeling that the book would be too quirky for its own good.
Neither of the main characters were particularly likable, the big plot points were obvious from the jump, and the ending wrapped up almost too abruptly, but it was still a total page-turner for me. I wanted Micah to remember, and I wanted to see what led Janie to the day of the incident. Something about Zhang's writing completely works for me. I still marvel at the fact that the author is a teenager. She captures high school perfectly while still sounding as though she is far beyond it.
Be prepared for John Green-esque writing (although, like I said, I prefer Zhang to green), but I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to future novels from Zhang!
This is the tragic story of the mismatched couple who "shares" a soul, Micah and Janie. Janie and Micah. They are inspiring and dynamic and explosive and unstoppable. But their friendship is also a secret. It does not help that Janie has a boyfriend and Micah truly loves her, and is the only one who truly understands her. Janie is a vibrant young girl with big dreams and big ideas, and big plans that could either be pranks or wonderful surprises for the people she loves. And Micah is with her for every adventure. This is sort of reminiscent of Paper Towns by John Green. Except Janie wishes so much to be found and loved and appreciated, and this is where the world ends for her - Janie was both bullied and worshipped by her peers, and she struggles to find herself, with Micah quietly reaching out to her. Zhang's writing is beautifully poetic and poignant, albeit the slightly scattered plot. Still, this is a truly engaging and heartbreaking story.
This book made me cry so much!!! It was so beautifully written in the way the time and perspective changes. I was so captivated and didn’t want to put it down!
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good writing and a non-linear storytelling style, which is totally my jam. However the emotional resolutions felt rushed and didn't really work for me. It dealt with important themes, and if I was less aware of the issues already I think I would have found them more powerful. I'm older than the intended audience though, and I think it might have been more impactful if the concepts were newer to me. (Staying vague to avoid spoilers.)
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Zhang's writing style was, without a doubt, the biggest thing drawing me through this book. Though her imagery and character movements did sometimes feel subpar, the ideas and themes as a whole felt really interesting and beautiful. Not to mention the journal pages throughout the book – EXTREMELY creative. The plot, too, though rather easy to figure out from the jump (and I can always entertain a book that has a familiar plot line or set of tropes), was a well-written reflection on young minds and desperations.
Besides that, I finished this book not liking a single character. (Maybe the English teacher.) Not a single one of them received any sort of closure or comeuppance.
It's Thirteen Reasons Why with a sunshine-girl-meets-introvert-sad-guy trope, and I wish it had been handled a bit better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent
Micah wakes up in a hospital and has severe memory problems. His best friends house has burnt down and many people have gotten hurt, but he has no idea why. The police keep questioning his involvement and his friend/family, Dewey, won't give him any answers. Where is Janie Vivien? What happened that night?
Janie Vivien hates her parents money and their new house. She loves Virginia Woolf quotes, art, and living life to the fullest. Her perspective describes the relationship between her and Micah and the events leading up to the tragic bonfire.
I just can't. This book was like a sub-par imitation of Looking for Alaska. Janie has the excitement and drive to live life, but no actual direction. This character is not likable and presents herself as being smarter than she is. The overwhelming amount of inside jokes between the friends detracts from the story and I just didn't care to figure it out. Crazy amount of cursing going on in this book.
Janie Vivien hates her parents money and their new house. She loves Virginia Woolf quotes, art, and living life to the fullest. Her perspective describes the relationship between her and Micah and the events leading up to the tragic bonfire.
I just can't. This book was like a sub-par imitation of Looking for Alaska. Janie has the excitement and drive to live life, but no actual direction. This character is not likable and presents herself as being smarter than she is. The overwhelming amount of inside jokes between the friends detracts from the story and I just didn't care to figure it out. Crazy amount of cursing going on in this book.