Reviews

No and Me by Delphine de Vigan

connorfrankss's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

“On est capable d'envoyer des avions supersoniques et des fusées dans l'espace, d'identifier un criminel à partir d'un cheveu ou d'une minuscule particule de peau , de créer une tomate qui reste trois semaines au réfrigérateur sans prendre une ride , de faire tenir dans une puce microscopique des milliards d'informations . On est capable de laisser mourir des gens dans la rue.”


No et moi is the first book I have read in French so it was great to finish. I had to read it for French class so I wasn’t expecting it to be an extremely enjoyable read but I did enjoy the story. It deals with lots of social issues – most notably homelessness. It deals with this issue in an excellent way, while it doesn’t offer solutions to the problem, it does a great job at raising awareness for it and encourages you to want to help.

The characters were great and they all felt developed. I liked No and Lou in particular as well as their relationship. Even though parts of the story were slightly unrealistic, such as Lou’s parents so easily letting a random homeless girl live with them, overall, it was still good. The ending was sad and did fell slightly abrupt but I suppose it offers a realist perspective of the issue rather than a perfect ending.

ievastrazdina's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

“Suņus var paņemt pie sevis uz mājām, bet ne bezpajumtniekus”

Lū - 13 gadus jauna meitene, kas nejauši iepazīstas ar 18 gadīgo bezpajumtnieci No un abu meiteņu starpā izveidojas īpaša saikne. Lū ir ļoti skumja meitene, kuras dzīvei ir skaista fasāde “šajā ģimenē viss ir lieliski”, taču patiesībā ģimenes laime turas mata galā. Lū mamma pēc ģimenes traģēdijas nespēj atveseļoties no depresijas, tēvs slepus raud vannas istabā, bet Lū ar savu netipiski augsto IQ dzīvo savā pasaulē un ilgojas pēc māmiņas mīlestības un jūtas vientuļa. No jau kopš dzimšanas dzīve nav lutinājusi - līdz meitene nonāk uz ielas. Mazās Lū sirds ir tik liela, ka viņa nolemj lūgt vecākus ņemt No savā paspārnē un dot iespēju atsperies jaunai dzīvei, Lū par pārsteigumu vecāki piekrīt. Šie notikumi kādu dzīvi salabos, bet kuru, to Jums būs jāizlasa pašiem.

Šķiet, ka Vigānai ir īpašas spējas ļoti emocionāli spēcīgi uzrakstīt par fiziski un emocionāli pamestiem bērniem un skaudri lasītājam izstāstīt, ko pieaugušie šādā veidā nodara bērniem.

Tāpat Vigāna nebaidās runāt par sabiedrībai neērtām tēmām - šeit par bezpajumtniekiem un to, ka sistēma ir tik ačgārna, ka pat tad, ja bez pajumtes nonākušie vēlas izrauties, atrast darbu - sistēma to padara teju neiespējamu, jo, piemēram, lai pieteiktos darbā, ir jānorāda dzīvesvieta un saprotams trešā kaste patiltē nederēs.

Un visbeidzot pats svarīgākais par ko runā autore - kā tas iespējams, ka cilvēki nonāk uz ielas?
Mēs automātiski pieņemam, ka bezpajumtnieki ir dzērāji un atkarīgie, taču ne jau vienmēr tā ir bijis - iemesli nonākšanai uz ielas ir tik dažādi, taču iela pret visiem izturas vienādi un līdz ar to šie cilvēki kļūst neatšķirami. Visšausmīgāk, kad uz ielas nokļūst bērni un viņi tur nokļūst, pie tam vienā acu mirklī, arī bērni no ģimenēm, kur šķietami viss ir labi. Tikai viena izvēle, tikai pēdējais piliens pilnā traukā - un bērns var izvēlēties aiziet. Biedējoši. Un jau atkal Vigāna liek domāt par bērniem un to kā viņu izvēles atkarīgas no tā ko mēs ģimenē viņiem iedosim.

Stāsts nav tik laimīgs kā gribētos un pēdējās lapas puses ļoti smeldza, taču šī ir ļoti lasīšanas vērta.

ckjaer88's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I really liked this one. It reminded me somewhat of the Danish realism prose just not quite as dark. It has a lot of different layers to it, the aspiring hope of a lost girl who ultimately ends up stuck in the same vicious circle, and the coming of age of a innocent young girl, who as a depressing cynicism at the end but still manages to find love. I liked and hated the rather abrupt ending, it was kinda happy ever after and tragic at the same time, but had it ended on a more wholesome tied with a bow kind of way I wouldn't have found it credible anyway. So a solid 4 stars to this one.

strawfly14's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

"Somos capaces de enviar aviones supersónicos y cohetes al espacio, de identificar a un criminal a partir de un cabello o de una minúscula partícula de piel, de crear un tomate que se conserva tres semanas en el frigorífico sin una arruga, de almacenar en un chip microscópico miles de millones de datos. Somos capaces de dejar morir a gente en la calle".

patti_pinguin's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

kamckim's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

For a mature YA reader, this book, translated from French by George Miller, is very, well, French. American YA is usually about the protagonist, but this was as much about the antagonist. Both characters are equally strong, as are the themes. But it's also bleak. "I don't like when it gets dark. These days that disappear into the shadows forever." In the story of Lou, an introvert bordering on genius, and No, a homeless teen she befriends, one bright spark occurs. It's in Lou's relationship with Lucas. Lou's voice is very clear as she declares that something had happened that made her grow up. And she wasn't afraid. There aren't too many American YA heroes who have that kind of self-awareness. Delphine de Vigan writes mostly for adults, but I hope she will write more YA and that it will be translated. This was a refreshingly realistic read.

olivia_redd's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I would have liked the ending to give more clarity on what happened to No. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially Lou's deep thoughts.

readwithpassion's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Lou has an IQ of 160 and while she is very smart, she isn't talented socially. She has skipped two grades and has a crush on a boy who has stayed back two grades. For a project, she decides to interview a homeless girl on the streets of Paris named No. After the project ends, she can't stop thinking about No and wants to find a way to help her. While I read, I had a constant, uncomfortable feeling of dread. The author crafted a very honest, realistic tale, in my opinion.

evadravina's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Dzīve nav nekas vairāk par miera un nemiera brīžu miju, un to secība nepakļaujas nekādai objektīvai nepieciešamībai.

phie's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

the end is good and unsatisfying at the same time