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vgartner's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
everencore42's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn't hate this book. It wasn't bad. The characters were interesting and fun to read, and LeGuin did a great job of convincingly writing teenagers, with all their flaws and idiosyncracies. But I didn't really find it to be a particularly compelling story either.
murraycampobianco's review against another edition
5.0
Very very touching when you are young and falling in love.
untravel's review against another edition
3.0
In many cases, the term "Young Adult" can serve as a warning label--"ATTENTION: This Book is Simplistic and Didactic. May cause irritation."
Very Far Away From Anywhere Else seemed, at first glance, very much in that mold. But as I read further, I realized two things. First, the simplicity is somewhat deceptive. While it is almost entirely written in simple declarative sentences and filled with very basic observations, the structure becomes more complicated as it progresses. Seemingly banal plot points start to tie together, and by the end the work as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that's a good structure for a Young Adult novel to have. Young young adults get a simple story, older Young adults get something more.
So then I thought maybe the problem was that I'm not a Young Adult. One could easily retitle this book "Teenage Angst: Theory and Practice". Frequently, my response was something along the lines of 'tell me something I don't know'. I read Catcher in the Rye (et al) a long time ago. I remember, very distinctly, what being a teenager was like.
But of course, I had forgotten one thing: teenagers don't know what being a teenager is like. When you're that age, the experiences you later realize are ubiquitous and cliche are all new and fresh cut. The callouses, the scar tissue, haven't formed yet. They've happened to thousands of people before you and will happen to thousands more, but, very importantly, you don't realize that yet. The particular pain of that time of life is, in effect, the realization, the first awareness, of the pain itself. I had forgotten, and this book reminded me. So that's the second thing.
I wish I had read this book when I was younger. I would probably have remembered it fondly. But for now, I would only recommend it Young Adults, to those who remember what it was like to be a Young Adult, or those who feel the need to be reminded.
Very Far Away From Anywhere Else seemed, at first glance, very much in that mold. But as I read further, I realized two things. First, the simplicity is somewhat deceptive. While it is almost entirely written in simple declarative sentences and filled with very basic observations, the structure becomes more complicated as it progresses. Seemingly banal plot points start to tie together, and by the end the work as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that's a good structure for a Young Adult novel to have. Young young adults get a simple story, older Young adults get something more.
So then I thought maybe the problem was that I'm not a Young Adult. One could easily retitle this book "Teenage Angst: Theory and Practice". Frequently, my response was something along the lines of 'tell me something I don't know'. I read Catcher in the Rye (et al) a long time ago. I remember, very distinctly, what being a teenager was like.
But of course, I had forgotten one thing: teenagers don't know what being a teenager is like. When you're that age, the experiences you later realize are ubiquitous and cliche are all new and fresh cut. The callouses, the scar tissue, haven't formed yet. They've happened to thousands of people before you and will happen to thousands more, but, very importantly, you don't realize that yet. The particular pain of that time of life is, in effect, the realization, the first awareness, of the pain itself. I had forgotten, and this book reminded me. So that's the second thing.
I wish I had read this book when I was younger. I would probably have remembered it fondly. But for now, I would only recommend it Young Adults, to those who remember what it was like to be a Young Adult, or those who feel the need to be reminded.
lleullawgyffes's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
zelma's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent and honest portrayal of being a teenager. This rang very true to me and my memories of that time in my life. I remember feeling so serious about everything, yet able to be completely goofy; worried about the future but so excited and ready for it I couldn't contain myself; in love with the idea of being in love but not ready for it yet; feeling so close to people yet so alone. it wasn't a prefect book (the end felt slightly off for me, just with how distant the narrator becomes) but it was so honest and realistic that I could overlook that.
mailenguyen's review against another edition
4.0
It felt very Holden Caulfield. More like a 3.5 because some bits just didn't stick to me, but overall, a pretty quick and good read.
aliceccbg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
nevertheless_zero's review against another edition
3.0
There are two synopses for this book, depending on which edition you pick on Goodreads. The first one you can find by clicking on the edition of the book that is paperback or hardcover:
“Owen is seventeen and smart. He knows what he wants to do with his life. But then he meets Natalie and he realizes he doesn't know anything much at all.”
This blurb is the one that makes me want to read this book. Here is someone who I can relate to because he knows what he wants to do in his life but later realizes maybe he doesn’t. And meeting and talking with someone helps him think of something different.
The second blurb is from the kindle edition and goes like this:
“This is a love story unlike any you have ever read. It is about two marvelous people, outsiders. Owen and Natalie are brilliant, talented, quirky. They know what they want. Some of the time. They also know what they don't want. Most of the time. They have their dreams. One wants to be a musician. One wants to be a great scientist. Neither one wants to be the answer to the great American dream.”
A few things I don’t like about this blurb: 1) how it immediately says it’s a love story. It is, but I didn’t see it in that way. This book isn’t a typical book where the girl is pining for some guy or vice versa. And for someone who loves romance, for once, I find a book like this refreshing.
2)How they word things. I’ll try not to nitpick too much, I’ll name at least one example: "It is about two marvelous people, outsiders." Marvelous is pushing it. Are they referring to their personality? Their talent? Their brains? I’m not saying they are bad people or anything, and not speaking of anything or anyone in particular, but I think it’s okay if you don’t like some or any of the characters. Though if you want to argue, that’s a conversation for another time.
I have no idea what they mean about the answer to the great American dream. What does the American dream have to do with the story? Unless I missed something? I plan to reread this one day. Maybe I’ll figure it out by then and update this review.
I want to say more about the story, about what I like and don’t like, but I’m afraid I might ruin the story that way. I'll add one more thing, sometimes when they have their conversations, I feel lost, but I don’t mind it too much because as long as the characters aren't and they somehow connect to each other’s thoughts, which I find is cool, it didn't matter if I understood it. Though I wish I could connect with them too. Or understand. I wonder if I am alone on that? Well, there was a moment or two where Owen didn't know what Natalie was talking about, but I think he got the gist of it. Or if he didn't, the thing was that he listened and let Natalie talk without interrupting her with questions. Because he knew she had trouble talking about it, and to interrupt her would make it even harder. He knew and understood that. And I appreciate that.
“Owen is seventeen and smart. He knows what he wants to do with his life. But then he meets Natalie and he realizes he doesn't know anything much at all.”
This blurb is the one that makes me want to read this book. Here is someone who I can relate to because he knows what he wants to do in his life but later realizes maybe he doesn’t. And meeting and talking with someone helps him think of something different.
The second blurb is from the kindle edition and goes like this:
“This is a love story unlike any you have ever read. It is about two marvelous people, outsiders. Owen and Natalie are brilliant, talented, quirky. They know what they want. Some of the time. They also know what they don't want. Most of the time. They have their dreams. One wants to be a musician. One wants to be a great scientist. Neither one wants to be the answer to the great American dream.”
A few things I don’t like about this blurb: 1) how it immediately says it’s a love story. It is, but I didn’t see it in that way. This book isn’t a typical book where the girl is pining for some guy or vice versa. And for someone who loves romance, for once, I find a book like this refreshing.
2)How they word things. I’ll try not to nitpick too much, I’ll name at least one example: "It is about two marvelous people, outsiders." Marvelous is pushing it. Are they referring to their personality? Their talent? Their brains? I’m not saying they are bad people or anything, and not speaking of anything or anyone in particular, but I think it’s okay if you don’t like some or any of the characters. Though if you want to argue, that’s a conversation for another time.
I have no idea what they mean about the answer to the great American dream. What does the American dream have to do with the story? Unless I missed something? I plan to reread this one day. Maybe I’ll figure it out by then and update this review.
I want to say more about the story, about what I like and don’t like, but I’m afraid I might ruin the story that way. I'll add one more thing, sometimes when they have their conversations, I feel lost, but I don’t mind it too much because as long as the characters aren't and they somehow connect to each other’s thoughts, which I find is cool, it didn't matter if I understood it. Though I wish I could connect with them too. Or understand. I wonder if I am alone on that? Well, there was a moment or two where Owen didn't know what Natalie was talking about, but I think he got the gist of it. Or if he didn't, the thing was that he listened and let Natalie talk without interrupting her with questions. Because he knew she had trouble talking about it, and to interrupt her would make it even harder. He knew and understood that. And I appreciate that.