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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
Took awhile to make sense to me, but I really enjoyed figuring out Taylor's mystery. Also obviously enjoyed Skyping with Melina Marchetta! :)
Written December 1, 2014:
No time to review now, but I will say this:
A shit ton of people raved about the beauty of this book.
They weren't wrong.
And they didn't exaggerate.
----------------------------------------------------------
I feel like a jerk because I barely remember this book at all. I am convinced that this is an effect of growing old because I'm finding this happening more and more often. This is why I write notes as I read. For this one I had only written one thought ("I am having a hard time picturing the environment - the school, the town, the territories, etc."), which is still true. The rest of my scribbling contained the following quotes:
And although I wanted to mock her and explain I didn't believe in anything or anyone, I realised that no one had ever prayed for me before. So I let her.
"Please don't be crazy, Taylor," Griggs whispers, leaning his head against mind. "Please don't be crazy." He kisses me, holding my face between his hands, whispering over and over again, "Please."
I stand up and walk towards her because my days of waiting for more are over. If I want more, I need to go and get it, demand it, take hold of it with all my might, and do the best I can with it.
I shrug. "I'll probably mention that I'm in love with you." He chuckles. "Only you would say that in such an "I-think-I'll-wash-my-hair-tonight tone." He leans down and kisses me and I hold on to his shirt, wanting to savour every moment.
I mean c'mon. It's pretty damn beautiful.
I'm going to trust my original five stars that I slapped on here right after reading.
No time to review now, but I will say this:
A shit ton of people raved about the beauty of this book.
They weren't wrong.
And they didn't exaggerate.
----------------------------------------------------------
I feel like a jerk because I barely remember this book at all. I am convinced that this is an effect of growing old because I'm finding this happening more and more often. This is why I write notes as I read. For this one I had only written one thought ("I am having a hard time picturing the environment - the school, the town, the territories, etc."), which is still true. The rest of my scribbling contained the following quotes:
And although I wanted to mock her and explain I didn't believe in anything or anyone, I realised that no one had ever prayed for me before. So I let her.
"Please don't be crazy, Taylor," Griggs whispers, leaning his head against mind. "Please don't be crazy." He kisses me, holding my face between his hands, whispering over and over again, "Please."
I stand up and walk towards her because my days of waiting for more are over. If I want more, I need to go and get it, demand it, take hold of it with all my might, and do the best I can with it.
I shrug. "I'll probably mention that I'm in love with you." He chuckles. "Only you would say that in such an "I-think-I'll-wash-my-hair-tonight tone." He leans down and kisses me and I hold on to his shirt, wanting to savour every moment.
I mean c'mon. It's pretty damn beautiful.
I'm going to trust my original five stars that I slapped on here right after reading.
When Taylor Markham was 11, her mother abandoned her in the 7-11 on Jellicoe Road. Six years later, she find herself as the unwilling leader in her school's traditional battle with the Cadets and Townies. But Taylor has a history with the leader of the Cadets, and teen war games begin to take a back seat toward Taylor's journey to discover the truth about her family.
I like stories that weave together seemingly separate narratives. Here there's a novel within the novel, and because of that the first bit of the story can seem a bit disjointed. It's a long while before you get clues as to how things fit together. But Marchetta is such a strong lyrical writer--and I say this as someone who is always complaining that too many YA writers barely manage workmanlike prose at best--that I was sucked into the story along the way. I started reading this during a lunch break, dived back into it during my 15-minute break, and then sat down as soon as I got home and finished it. It was utterly absorbing, and I cried through the last few chapters.
In some ways, this novel is so far removed from the high fantasy of Finnikin of the Rock, but the bones are the same: themes of home and family, both families of choice and families of blood; about surviving loss; about guilt and forgiveness.
I can't wait to read more of Marchetta's work.
I like stories that weave together seemingly separate narratives. Here there's a novel within the novel, and because of that the first bit of the story can seem a bit disjointed. It's a long while before you get clues as to how things fit together. But Marchetta is such a strong lyrical writer--and I say this as someone who is always complaining that too many YA writers barely manage workmanlike prose at best--that I was sucked into the story along the way. I started reading this during a lunch break, dived back into it during my 15-minute break, and then sat down as soon as I got home and finished it. It was utterly absorbing, and I cried through the last few chapters.
In some ways, this novel is so far removed from the high fantasy of Finnikin of the Rock, but the bones are the same: themes of home and family, both families of choice and families of blood; about surviving loss; about guilt and forgiveness.
I can't wait to read more of Marchetta's work.
Simply put: this book is intricate perfection. When I started reading it I was confused, not sure I was understanding it or if I ever would. But it kept me glued to it, and the beautifulness of it is overwhelming. It's heartbreaking, and it scars you in the most unforgettable way.
+Super blandning av sockersött och äkta känslor/handlingar! Ingen är ju perfekt och alla är egoister i viss mening!
+Jonah Griggs borde alla tjejer föredra istället för stalkers som till exempel Edward Cullen!
-Lite svår att komma in i..
Matthew 10:26.
+Jonah Griggs borde alla tjejer föredra istället för stalkers som till exempel Edward Cullen!
-Lite svår att komma in i..
Matthew 10:26.
Taylor Lily Markham was abandoned by her mother when she was 11, and she's been living at the Jellicoe School ever since. Now her seniors have picked her as the leader of the school's underground assembly. And she has to fight as the commander in the territory wars that's been going on between them, the Townies, and the Cadets for twenty years. All this, and she has a history with the leader of the Cadets.
I'll admit that the book started off weird... The boy in the tree? Territory wars? Initiation rituals? I was promised YA but was this fantasy fiction? Was this dystopian? I was confused. I was also annoyed by entering the story from the middle, where the character talks about their life like everything makes sense to you already but nothing actually does. But by a quarter of the book in, the plot started to unfold very nicely. Maybe too nicely, I figured out the "mystery" by the time I was at 1/3 of the book. No worries, even though I knew what the plot twist were, the official revealing of everything in the ending MESSED. ME. UP. I felt the beauty of the characters' friendship and the pain of their tragedy in my chest. There might even have been too much tragedy, so much that it becomes gut-wrenching when you think of all the things that happen to the characters. What this also means is that you're very attached to the characters and like them, and that's kind of what every writer wants to happen to the reader.
It's safe to say that I loved the story and the characters and practically bawled my eyes out during the last quarter of the book. My Kleenex box can testify.
I'll admit that the book started off weird... The boy in the tree? Territory wars? Initiation rituals? I was promised YA but was this fantasy fiction? Was this dystopian? I was confused. I was also annoyed by entering the story from the middle, where the character talks about their life like everything makes sense to you already but nothing actually does. But by a quarter of the book in, the plot started to unfold very nicely. Maybe too nicely, I figured out the "mystery" by the time I was at 1/3 of the book. No worries, even though I knew what the plot twist were, the official revealing of everything in the ending MESSED. ME. UP. I felt the beauty of the characters' friendship and the pain of their tragedy in my chest. There might even have been too much tragedy, so much that it becomes gut-wrenching when you think of all the things that happen to the characters. What this also means is that you're very attached to the characters and like them, and that's kind of what every writer wants to happen to the reader.
It's safe to say that I loved the story and the characters and practically bawled my eyes out during the last quarter of the book. My Kleenex box can testify.
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
What a beautifully written book that I would so desperately love to teach. Unfortunately, I teach 8th grade and that would never happen. The characters in this are so damaged, and watching their path to acceptance is beautiful. Marchetta did an amazing job taking two sets of characters from two different time periods and weaving them together. Such a sweet romance where two people love and save each other from their demons and learn from the mistakes of their predecessors. This book also has some of the most beautiful themes I have ever read. All about life and love and how much they are worth it. If your in the market for a some serious Young Adult LITERATURE this is most definitely your book. Awesome read!
Warning: There is just about everything in this book, sex, drugs, swearing so if you are sensitive to this stuff, be warned. But seriously, this book is not about any of these things.
Warning: There is just about everything in this book, sex, drugs, swearing so if you are sensitive to this stuff, be warned. But seriously, this book is not about any of these things.
My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die.
I counted.
It happened on the Jellicoe Road. The prettiest road I'd ever seen, where trees made breezy canopies like a tunnel to Shangri-la.
I'm finding it so hard to put into words the feelings I have about this book, I started reading this book and was completely confused in the first few chapters. None of it was making sense but it must be pretty good since there are so many 5-Star reviews. So I persevered and kept reading.
To help with those who haven't read it yet I think it would be best to explain. The story is told from Taylor's point of view, we are also shown sections of a written story about 5 kids that become the best of friends. (This is part of what had me confused because I had no idea what relevance these kids had to the story.) But trust me when I say, everything that is said or shown is for are very important reason and plays into this unbelievably beautiful story. Taylor lives in a boarding house, there are several buildings with kids in them and each house is appointed a leader. The start of the book we are shown Taylor being appointed the leader of one of the houses. I can't really say any more of the story as it is so much better to read it first hand.
I've read a lot of emotional books and had a tear or two but never and I mean NEVER has a book moved me as much as 'On the Jellicoe Road' did. From start to finish I had my kindle in a white knuckled death grip. As cliche as it may sound...
This book will change your life
Do yourself a favor and get this book immediately, then give it to everyone else to read cousins, friends, parents, siblings and even strangers in bookstores. I've read about 250 books this year alone and I can honestly say this has got to be hands down the best book I've ever read. Thank you Melina Marchetta for giving me this beautiful story.
This book is sort of a gem. I kind of hate teen novels. Even when I was one (only 3 years ago, but still) I was not the biggest fan. I read them though, because I am not a fan of classics (something I am trying to change) and I hated reading books about adults. I couldn't relate. That being said, girl loves boy, teen angst, high school drama, love triangles, and pitiful fantasy didn't much do it for me. I liked to read though, and there is that rare teen novel that is amazing, and this is one of them.
The first line totally hooked me. I mean describing the length of your father's death?
Honestly the reason this is a 4 and not a 5 is because it took me a little while to figure out what was the past, and get into those sections. And it took me a few pages to get a grasp on what was happening.
Taylor is the main character. A seventeen year old girl abandoned by her mother at age 11 and sent to this boarding school. She is chosen to be the leader of the school's group for the games. This part confused me a bit too at first. I couldn't figure if it was supposed to be some fantasy thing or what. Its not, its just this old tradition. The kids from the school, vs. the Townies (local kids from town), and the Cadets (a group of kids from a military like boarding school that visit once a year). A long time ago these 3 groups got together and started the "wars" over territory. Hence the game. But they all take it very seriously.
Taylor is kind of a loner, not really happy with, or was she expecting this responsibility. She is now in charge of the younger kids in her dorm, dealing with the leaders of the Townies and Cadets, and hopefully winning the wars. Her mentor of sorts is Hannah, a woman who lives on the grounds and works at the school. When Hannah disappears suddenly, her world is sort of shaken up.
I don't want to say much more for fear of giving stuff away but I can say this, the author is fantastic at totally wrapping you up in her world. Her characters are very well written, believable, relatable and human. This is a story that deals with a lot, friendships, loss, grief, the characters really do go through a lot. But, it never feels melodramatic or like its just there to have a bad thing happen. Its honest.
A good teen novel is rare, but when they are good, they can really be great. That age is a pivotal one, and good stories dealing with it are what I love. Highly recommended.
The first line totally hooked me. I mean describing the length of your father's death?
Honestly the reason this is a 4 and not a 5 is because it took me a little while to figure out what was the past, and get into those sections. And it took me a few pages to get a grasp on what was happening.
Taylor is the main character. A seventeen year old girl abandoned by her mother at age 11 and sent to this boarding school. She is chosen to be the leader of the school's group for the games. This part confused me a bit too at first. I couldn't figure if it was supposed to be some fantasy thing or what. Its not, its just this old tradition. The kids from the school, vs. the Townies (local kids from town), and the Cadets (a group of kids from a military like boarding school that visit once a year). A long time ago these 3 groups got together and started the "wars" over territory. Hence the game. But they all take it very seriously.
Taylor is kind of a loner, not really happy with, or was she expecting this responsibility. She is now in charge of the younger kids in her dorm, dealing with the leaders of the Townies and Cadets, and hopefully winning the wars. Her mentor of sorts is Hannah, a woman who lives on the grounds and works at the school. When Hannah disappears suddenly, her world is sort of shaken up.
I don't want to say much more for fear of giving stuff away but I can say this, the author is fantastic at totally wrapping you up in her world. Her characters are very well written, believable, relatable and human. This is a story that deals with a lot, friendships, loss, grief, the characters really do go through a lot. But, it never feels melodramatic or like its just there to have a bad thing happen. Its honest.
A good teen novel is rare, but when they are good, they can really be great. That age is a pivotal one, and good stories dealing with it are what I love. Highly recommended.