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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Another amazing book by Gayle Forman. This book was not what I expected and I have to admit, most of it was extremely uncomfortable--the kind of uncomfortable that keeps you reading because you just cannot settle until you know how it all resolves. Allyson's search for Willem--which turns out to be a search for herself--is one that resonated with me deeply and I think all who have ever wondered who they might become if they took chances, acted brave even when they didn't feel it, and just said yes. The ending, while hopeful, has me clamoring for Just One Year so that I can learn Willem's side of the story. Forman is a master at not only the fun romance we all love to encounter in books, but also that deep introspection that allows her characters to step off the page and into our world--our hearts--forever.
At the start and until long past the halfway point, this book was interesting and emotional. There was friend drama, parent drama, and emotional heartache. I also enjoyed the many Shakespeare references, despite not knowing the main plays mentioned. My problem was that after a while, the protagonist just seemed to be complaining about everything and overly caught up on her “stain.” On her final European trip, Allyson decides that she has found peace in not following her quest at least three times before continuing the little adventure. While the book was well written with many deep themes repeated constantly, it ended up feeling unrealistic with part of the lessons of the journey ending up forgotten.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book turned out to be an unexpected pleasure. The character of Allyson experienced real growth and change. It was rather fascinating to be a part of her journey to a new self.
I can't stop thinking about this book. I loved the way the theme of self identity (and Shakespeare) was woven through the story. It all felt so realistic and made me start to think about all the "accidents" in my own life and what has come from them.
Not the most original premise in the world, but Forman executed it well for the most part. The last third felt a little too straight-out-of-Hollywood, but I'll be interested to read the companion novel to see where the story goes.
Maybe it was. But still, that whole day, being with Willem, being Lulu, it made me realize that all my life I've been living in a small, square room, with no windows and no doors. And I was fine. I was happy, even. I thought. Then somebody came along and showed me there was a door in the room. One that I'd never seen before. Then he opened it for me. Held my hand as I walked through it. And for one perfect day, I was on the other side. I was somewhere else. Someone else. And then he was gone, and I was throw back into my little room. And now, no matter what I do, I can't seem to find that door.
The beautiful, beautiful thing about Gayle Forman is that she can take a seemingly superficial premise- a girl trying to track down a guy from her summer fling- into a coming of age story of sorts. Allyson, the main character, is older than most protagonists of coming of age stories (Think Charlie from Perks of Being a Wallflower or the iconic classic of The Outsiders) as a high school graduate at the beginning of the book. But it makes sense for a girl who never really emotionally matured in a way, too busy trying to meet her mother's expectations of her.
Trying to write about a single day worth basing an entire book around is a hefty task. Gayle Forman somehow did it though. She didn't shy away from setting the one day in the much-cliche Paris, and actually added to my image of it beyond the iconic Eiffel Tower with ancient canals, cafes and restaurants with a compassionate-ness to them that I can only hope isn't fiction, and secret masterpieces in artists' squats. However, that's not to say that their one day was perfect, and I liked it all the more for the messes that spilled everywhere through the course of the day. Allyson's freak out on the train, Allyson and Willem's chase from the skinheads, Willem turning cold towards Allyson after she is stabbed, etc.- It's almost a reminder to be that the best of days, the ones to be remembered, are the ones where I don't have to remind myself to be anything- I just am, like Allyson was Lulu, and Lulu and Willem just is at some point, brought together (and also torn apart) by accidents.
The premise of having the passionate love in Romeo and Juliet minus the tragedy is glorious. This time, there is a fabulous BFF named Dee with the right mix of reason and romanticism to ask a heartbroken Allyson whether Willem really left her the morning she woke up alone... Or at least it was supposed to be glorious. For all the beautiful writing and Allyson's painful, but integral character arc of trying to break out of her small room, a suffocating trap now, the ending... pissed... me... off.
I felt cheated. I didn't need Allyson to end up with Willem. In fact, although it was melancholic to find Willem seemingly in love with an entirely different girl a year later in Amsterdam, I was okay with it, like Allyson. In her words, in the one day they spent together, "He showed me how to get lost, and then I showed myself how to get found". I loved how in this, the 'stain' that up to this point had only been associated with love- the whole debacle of falling in love vs. being in love-was opened up to the people that deeply, irrevocably touch us, 'staining us'. And so Allyson goes to relay this to Willem, a thanks... ONLY TO HAVE THE BOOK END AT "HELLO"???? (No irony intended). I guess I just have to read the dang second book =3=
(My love for the book in ~general~ won out over my rage to the ending ultimately me guess ; v ;)
Fin. =v=
The beautiful, beautiful thing about Gayle Forman is that she can take a seemingly superficial premise- a girl trying to track down a guy from her summer fling- into a coming of age story of sorts. Allyson, the main character, is older than most protagonists of coming of age stories (Think Charlie from Perks of Being a Wallflower or the iconic classic of The Outsiders) as a high school graduate at the beginning of the book. But it makes sense for a girl who never really emotionally matured in a way, too busy trying to meet her mother's expectations of her.
Trying to write about a single day worth basing an entire book around is a hefty task. Gayle Forman somehow did it though. She didn't shy away from setting the one day in the much-cliche Paris, and actually added to my image of it beyond the iconic Eiffel Tower with ancient canals, cafes and restaurants with a compassionate-ness to them that I can only hope isn't fiction, and secret masterpieces in artists' squats. However, that's not to say that their one day was perfect, and I liked it all the more for the messes that spilled everywhere through the course of the day. Allyson's freak out on the train, Allyson and Willem's chase from the skinheads, Willem turning cold towards Allyson after she is stabbed, etc.- It's almost a reminder to be that the best of days, the ones to be remembered, are the ones where I don't have to remind myself to be anything- I just am, like Allyson was Lulu, and Lulu and Willem just is at some point, brought together (and also torn apart) by accidents.
The premise of having the passionate love in Romeo and Juliet minus the tragedy is glorious. This time, there is a fabulous BFF named Dee with the right mix of reason and romanticism to ask a heartbroken Allyson whether Willem really left her the morning she woke up alone... Or at least it was supposed to be glorious. For all the beautiful writing and Allyson's painful, but integral character arc of trying to break out of her small room, a suffocating trap now, the ending... pissed... me... off.
I felt cheated. I didn't need Allyson to end up with Willem. In fact, although it was melancholic to find Willem seemingly in love with an entirely different girl a year later in Amsterdam, I was okay with it, like Allyson. In her words, in the one day they spent together, "He showed me how to get lost, and then I showed myself how to get found". I loved how in this, the 'stain' that up to this point had only been associated with love- the whole debacle of falling in love vs. being in love-was opened up to the people that deeply, irrevocably touch us, 'staining us'. And so Allyson goes to relay this to Willem, a thanks... ONLY TO HAVE THE BOOK END AT "HELLO"???? (No irony intended). I guess I just have to read the dang second book =3=
(My love for the book in ~general~ won out over my rage to the ending ultimately me guess ; v ;)
Fin. =v=
2014
Amazing, I really can't get over how beautiful and meaningful this book was
2018
I just can't get over how much I love this book. It just makes me feel so good, I can't explain it. It's like, I usually like the dialogue in books better than anything else, but with this book? There isn't anything I don't like about it. Every sentence and every thought and every word… it just made me feel as wonderful and I remember feeling the first time I read it. It is not a book I return to when I want to read the few scenes I liked the best, when I return to it I need to read the whole thing, so I can experience everything all over again. And I still can't believe after all this time I haven't read the companion "Just one year", but I need to remedy that right away. I might not relate to Willem and much as I did with Allyson but I really don't care, I need to know the details of the other side of the story.
I don't know how Gayle Forman was able to craft this thing and make it one of my favorite books, even after all this time since first reading it. I wish I could stumble upon more books that brought these feelings out of me.
2022
What are words?
It's been eight years since the first time I read this book and it still hits me right in the heart.
I can admit that it is not perfect in every little thing, and a lot of people might see this book as a love at first sight YA romance and that's it. But for me it's that case where every reader makes his own interpretation of the story. And the way I feel the story... it makes me smile all the way through. For me, it's this journey of self-discovery that was triggered by one day spent in Paris with a boy.
I try not to read this book every year, because I don't think I need to, even though it is my favorite book of all time, but there are times when I just have this need to re-read it, to try and absorb some of Allyson's growth and courage through the words.
There is a warm feeling in my heart, and I think I will try to maintain it before I decide to read anything else.
I'm probably just going to watch "As you like it" because of this book.
Ah... The feels :)
Amazing, I really can't get over how beautiful and meaningful this book was
2018
I just can't get over how much I love this book. It just makes me feel so good, I can't explain it. It's like, I usually like the dialogue in books better than anything else, but with this book? There isn't anything I don't like about it. Every sentence and every thought and every word… it just made me feel as wonderful and I remember feeling the first time I read it. It is not a book I return to when I want to read the few scenes I liked the best, when I return to it I need to read the whole thing, so I can experience everything all over again. And I still can't believe after all this time I haven't read the companion "Just one year", but I need to remedy that right away. I might not relate to Willem and much as I did with Allyson but I really don't care, I need to know the details of the other side of the story.
I don't know how Gayle Forman was able to craft this thing and make it one of my favorite books, even after all this time since first reading it. I wish I could stumble upon more books that brought these feelings out of me.
2022
What are words?
It's been eight years since the first time I read this book and it still hits me right in the heart.
I can admit that it is not perfect in every little thing, and a lot of people might see this book as a love at first sight YA romance and that's it. But for me it's that case where every reader makes his own interpretation of the story. And the way I feel the story... it makes me smile all the way through. For me, it's this journey of self-discovery that was triggered by one day spent in Paris with a boy.
I try not to read this book every year, because I don't think I need to, even though it is my favorite book of all time, but there are times when I just have this need to re-read it, to try and absorb some of Allyson's growth and courage through the words.
There is a warm feeling in my heart, and I think I will try to maintain it before I decide to read anything else.
I'm probably just going to watch "As you like it" because of this book.
Ah... The feels :)
Nothing particularly wrong with it and it was interesting enough, however, it felt a bit slow and I felt myself losing interest a few times. Curiosity will make me read Just One Year, nothing else.