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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
For the first 200 pages I wasn't sure what I was reading, but once the two stories started to merge, I couldn't stop reading--I read the last 200 pages in one sitting. If you read it, don't give up or give in to the strange structure--I think it is worth it to stick with it.
I thought I was going to like this book a lot more and I should give it extra credit for actually pulling me in enough to finish it... the last five or six books I've started, who knows what happened to them. It was good enough to get my attention and everything but there were problems. I just had issues with the narrator and the disjointed second story that toward the end got a lot more coherent to suit the plot. Weirdly Law and Order SVU pulling at the heart strings moments **spoiler** drug addicted cancer mom that let her daughter get taken in by a pedophile, whaaaat?
It felt like an award winner. Something that's labeled teens but is also written to draw in the 20 and early 30-somethings. I mean, that's a good thing, I don't even know what I'm saying. Might have just been the wrong time for me to read this. Although it was kind of cool starting this when I was on a train from Amsterdam and there was a random Anne Frank reference in it.
It felt like an award winner. Something that's labeled teens but is also written to draw in the 20 and early 30-somethings. I mean, that's a good thing, I don't even know what I'm saying. Might have just been the wrong time for me to read this. Although it was kind of cool starting this when I was on a train from Amsterdam and there was a random Anne Frank reference in it.
Looking at other people's reviews I have come to the conclusion that I am the only person out there that didn't think this was the best book ever.
I spent the first 3/4 of the book not even sure what was going on.
I spent the first 3/4 of the book not even sure what was going on.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I've been sitting on this review for a couple of days, and I'm still not sure how I really feel about this book. I attempted to flounce this book at about the 15% mark and the OtJR lovers pounced on me and "forced" me to keep reading. I pressed on knowing that Melina Marchetta always delivers. And she did deliver a fantastic story with characters that popped off the page. Even the secondary and tertiary characters were vibrant and played vitals roles as the story unfolded.
But to be honest, the fact that I spent the first 40% of the book confused about what was happening, with barely an errant shred of anything that connected made me feel crazy. I don't mind stories that require a little work, but this felt like too much. While the story pieces slotted together in a lovely way once it got closer to end, I'm not sure the payoff was actually worth all the confusion in the beginning.
This is by far NOT my favorite MM book, but it definitely won't keep me from reading more of her beautiful words. I want to give this book 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because of the intricacy and character development. Griggs and the Brigadier owned me in this, but overall, this book just wasn't for me.
But to be honest, the fact that I spent the first 40% of the book confused about what was happening, with barely an errant shred of anything that connected made me feel crazy. I don't mind stories that require a little work, but this felt like too much. While the story pieces slotted together in a lovely way once it got closer to end, I'm not sure the payoff was actually worth all the confusion in the beginning.
This is by far NOT my favorite MM book, but it definitely won't keep me from reading more of her beautiful words. I want to give this book 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because of the intricacy and character development. Griggs and the Brigadier owned me in this, but overall, this book just wasn't for me.
tl;dr Taylor Markham struggles to understand her past while undertaking being the head of her dormitory and managing the war between the Jellicoe school, the "Townies"(kids from schools in town), and the Cadets who annually spend six weeks training nearby.
First line prologue: "My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die. I counted."
I JUST CAN'T DO IT. The confuse is strong in this one.
I JUST CAN'T DO IT. The confuse is strong in this one.
I didn't know that a book could make me feel so happy and so sad at the same time.
This might require a reread. In the right frame of mind, I can see myself really falling into something like this, but it really required a lot of concentration. And even then, it was really vague. So much of what turns out to be important in the story happens before the beginning of the book - which makes sense in the grand scheme of things, but leads to a lot of "Wait, what? Who?" moments during the initial reading.
I couldn't have imagined a better narrator for a better story. Jellicoe Road is beloved in my heart and on the Mod Podge Bookshelf and shall remain so forever.
***
I'm going to know this book until the day I die.
***
I'm going to know this book until the day I die.