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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I think I've read this every year for the last 3 or 4 years. It's an easy, fun read. Every single chapter makes me laugh. It handles a lot of hard stuff but doesn't feel heavy.
DNF @ page 64
On the back of the book John Green says "Patrick Ness is an insanely beautiful writer"
Where is that beautiful writing?
Quotes from the book
"Jared asks for an energy drink. Henna asks for an energy drink. I ask for an energy drink." - that's all the people in the room. Literally just say we all asked for energy drinks.
"We'd all met at the office and told the Vice Principal- who, like all Vice Principals, is genetically Nazi- what we'd seen."
"putting extra slices of cheesy toast on a plate for the really, really fat family at table two."
On the back of the book John Green says "Patrick Ness is an insanely beautiful writer"
Where is that beautiful writing?
Quotes from the book
"Jared asks for an energy drink. Henna asks for an energy drink. I ask for an energy drink." - that's all the people in the room. Literally just say we all asked for energy drinks.
"We'd all met at the office and told the Vice Principal- who, like all Vice Principals, is genetically Nazi- what we'd seen."
"putting extra slices of cheesy toast on a plate for the really, really fat family at table two."
I really loved the concept of this one.
It’s a book about what it’s like to not be the chosen one. To live in a world of vampires and ghosts and gods, but to not be the one who saves the day, blowing up the high school in the process.
It’s about the kids who go to school with the chosen ones but who – if this were Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Twilight (etc.) – sit in the back of the class, silent and nameless.
The Rest of Us Just Live Here explores this idea, affectionately poking fun at Chosen One narratives.
Each chapter opens with a short paragraph detailing what the local “indie kids” are up, but otherwise the book belongs to Mike and his friends. Occasionally the current impending disaster intrudes on their lives in big and small ways, but these kids have problems of their own to deal with. Mental health, little sisters, distant parents, finishing high school.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book, as I have every other Patrick Ness book I’ve read. It’s well written and deals well and truthfully with some sensitive topics – though, as Ness himself says, this is not an “issues” book.
But at the end of the day, I’m maybe more in love with the book’s concept than I am with the book itself.
I’m struggling to put my finger on why exactly. Nothing really irritated or angered or frustrated me. I love contemporary fiction, so the fact that the fantasy elements were not featured more didn’t bother me either.
There’s nothing major in it that I can point to and say “There. If you change that, the book would be better.” But nor did anything in it provoke a truly strong response in me the way More Than This and the Chaos Walking trilogy did.
But hey, that’s okay. Those books are a lot to live up to.
Three and a half stars, downgraded to three.
This review was first posted on my blog, here.
It’s a book about what it’s like to not be the chosen one. To live in a world of vampires and ghosts and gods, but to not be the one who saves the day, blowing up the high school in the process.
It’s about the kids who go to school with the chosen ones but who – if this were Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Twilight (etc.) – sit in the back of the class, silent and nameless.
The Rest of Us Just Live Here explores this idea, affectionately poking fun at Chosen One narratives.
Each chapter opens with a short paragraph detailing what the local “indie kids” are up, but otherwise the book belongs to Mike and his friends. Occasionally the current impending disaster intrudes on their lives in big and small ways, but these kids have problems of their own to deal with. Mental health, little sisters, distant parents, finishing high school.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book, as I have every other Patrick Ness book I’ve read. It’s well written and deals well and truthfully with some sensitive topics – though, as Ness himself says, this is not an “issues” book.
But at the end of the day, I’m maybe more in love with the book’s concept than I am with the book itself.
I’m struggling to put my finger on why exactly. Nothing really irritated or angered or frustrated me. I love contemporary fiction, so the fact that the fantasy elements were not featured more didn’t bother me either.
There’s nothing major in it that I can point to and say “There. If you change that, the book would be better.” But nor did anything in it provoke a truly strong response in me the way More Than This and the Chaos Walking trilogy did.
But hey, that’s okay. Those books are a lot to live up to.
Three and a half stars, downgraded to three.
This review was first posted on my blog, here.
Another Patrick Ness book that I fell in love with, connected with, and regularly asked myself what was going on. A quirky story with authentic characters and some great names; Henna, Satchel, Kerouac!
As usual, Patrick Ness does not disappoint.
As usual, Patrick Ness does not disappoint.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book made me want to put it down, the ending was really disappointing as well.
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Police brutality, Dementia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
A brilliant concept. Fast paced and emotional but unique in so many surprising ways.
this was very ... interesting i would say. it takes a whole new perspective on the entire "chosen one" character in YA books and i was pleasantly surprised.
I'd say this is a 3.5 - I love the premise but was disappointed by the story in the end, it was a fairly straight forward YA "end of the summer".