Scan barcode
safiyyah_98_'s review against another edition
2.0
I have no idea what i just read, this book made absolutely no sense. The characters were strange and there was no plot ever fully explained.
feverdreamhigh's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicide
ebbajonsson's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kassy25's review against another edition
1.0
I was very disappointed in this book and had higher expectations! I preferred her other book that I had read from her which was shorter but it had a better plot and characters! The characters were flat and the plot was horribly put out!
selienv's review against another edition
3.0
I liked that 'fate' also had a voice in the story and that it seemed to be a very mean thing, because David/Justin feels about him that way. I even liked the ending more, because it shows that fate isn't entirely good or bad - like every human - and that the narrative is so important. Justin, as a young adult, is a bit of a pessimist, so the story is too, but the ending shows the optimistic sides.
NOTE: I do feel like the death of Justin/David was a better ending though. It seemed he slipped away, but then there comes this chapter "they live all happily ever after" - which I do not like. It was rushed, it felt unreal, no. Also, the dog, Boy, you need a lot of suspension of disbelief to keep this illusion in place, even more when his friends also start to see the dog. I mean. I like this bit of mindfuckery and the mind is very strong, but how far can you take this?
NOTE: I do feel like the death of Justin/David was a better ending though. It seemed he slipped away, but then there comes this chapter "they live all happily ever after" - which I do not like. It was rushed, it felt unreal, no. Also, the dog, Boy, you need a lot of suspension of disbelief to keep this illusion in place, even more when his friends also start to see the dog. I mean. I like this bit of mindfuckery and the mind is very strong, but how far can you take this?
ukuxara's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
razreads's review against another edition
2.0
Complete review available: Just In Case
This books has required a lot of thought on my part, and not because it's about some uber-philosophical theory. I have truly stuggled to see the reasoning behind this book - what is the story? what is it saying? I've spent time debating the character of Fate, trying to see the book as one bigger metaphor, and attempting to find some meaning in some of the events. I'll save you the effort - there is nothing bigger. The book is as it seems (which leaves me reeling a little as it was a Carneige medal winner, up against the likes of Marcus Sedgewick!)
I'm not saying there's no storyling - there is. The only problem is that if it truly is what it appears to be (a book dealing with ideas of life, fate and a teenage mid-life crisis), then there are whole regions that I just don't get. The language I'm happy with, characters not so much (particularly the obnoxious nature of Fate) and the storyline I'm at war with. Parts are perfectly stable, but other sections veer off so horrifically that any and all respect or reputation is lost - take, for example, the rabbit scene, or Boy.
It didn't score 1 star, no, because underneath some horrific chapters, there was some potential if it were reattempted (the whole book wouldn't necessarily need reconstruction). But it was not a pleasant 3 star read by far. Unless you have a burning desire, I'm not too sure it's worth crawling through...
This books has required a lot of thought on my part, and not because it's about some uber-philosophical theory. I have truly stuggled to see the reasoning behind this book - what is the story? what is it saying? I've spent time debating the character of Fate, trying to see the book as one bigger metaphor, and attempting to find some meaning in some of the events. I'll save you the effort - there is nothing bigger. The book is as it seems (which leaves me reeling a little as it was a Carneige medal winner, up against the likes of Marcus Sedgewick!)
I'm not saying there's no storyling - there is. The only problem is that if it truly is what it appears to be (a book dealing with ideas of life, fate and a teenage mid-life crisis), then there are whole regions that I just don't get. The language I'm happy with, characters not so much (particularly the obnoxious nature of Fate) and the storyline I'm at war with. Parts are perfectly stable, but other sections veer off so horrifically that any and all respect or reputation is lost - take, for example, the rabbit scene, or Boy.
It didn't score 1 star, no, because underneath some horrific chapters, there was some potential if it were reattempted (the whole book wouldn't necessarily need reconstruction). But it was not a pleasant 3 star read by far. Unless you have a burning desire, I'm not too sure it's worth crawling through...
thebookaddictedgirl's review
4.0
3¾ Out of 5
“I can look down across the world and see everything. For instance, I can see you.”
David Case is obsessed with Fate, and trying to outwit him/it. Everywhere he turns, he can’t help thinking of all the worst scenarios, all the what-ifs. He’s certain Fate has it in for him. Just so happens: he’s right.
Just In Case is another great book by one of my favourite authors. I wish I had Meg Rosoff’s genius mind. Like all her books, Just In Case was completely different from anything else I’ve read. Who else would think of using Fate as a character? I know this has received some bad reviews, and I admit it wasn’t the cheeriest book out there, but it was so full of Rosoff’s quirkiness and brilliance: how could I not love it?
David saves his brother, and that’s when he decides Fate’s out to get him. He changes his name to Justin – Justin Case (get it?). To stay hidden, he also has to look completely different. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Ok, no it doesn’t. But Justin-David thinks it will work. And I did love his whole tortured-thing. And his imaginary greyhound, oh-so creatively named ‘Dog’: he was cute! Even though he was imaginary… And I still can’t decide whether he’s just paranoid, or whether it’s the world (and Fate) that are the crazy ones…
As for Agnes, the older girl he meets and falls in love with, I liked her. At first. Then she did something – to tell would be to reveal – and I just… stopped. She suddenly seemed cruel and teasing. But she did get Justin out of his shell, helped him change…
The brother David saved, Charlie, was a little odd. He tried to telepathically tell Justin things and at one point spelled out a warning sentence, which is a little unbelievable for a child who can barely stand and can’t even talk.
Our final characters are Peter and Dorothea. These two I liked a lot. They were brother and sister, and befriended Justin. They were also wonderful, and a little weird. They could see Dog. Yes, Dog, the imaginary greyhound. Strange. I never could figure out why they could see him…
And the strangeness continues with our second narrator, who only appears on a few pages and yet makes a huge impression. Fate. It was an absolutely new thing for me. As I mentioned before, who thinks of using Fate as a narrator? It was new and unusual, but it worked, really, really well. Plus, Fate himself was brilliant! Sure, he was twisted and, well, superior. But, oddly enough, he was my favourite character. It sounds strange, but there was something… bewitching about the god-complex-troubled Fate. (Then again, can you have a god-complex if you’re Fate?) And even though the question of whether he’s real or some figment of Justin’s imagination didn’t take away from the fact that he was amazing. But, I asked myself, if Justin made him up, then why can’t Justin hear what Fate is saying…?
This wasn’t Rosoff’s best novel, that I will admit right now. But it was still Meg Rosoff. I’ve always loved her writing style: simple and powerful and beautiful, and I could clearly see it in Just In Case. And the storyline was unlike anything I’d ever seen. As I mentioned earlier, using Fate? Pure genius! My biggest fault was that there was no character development. I kept hoping that Justin would grow into a bigger and stronger character, but… nothing. Also, I was left with so, so many questions! It’s annoying me a little – I want to know why Justin? Why could Peter and Dorothea see Dog? Who – well, what – is Fate? Is he just made up? Or is he something… more? Questions, so many questions…
But, overall, I liked Just In Case. It was new, quirky and had me in its grip. I just loved how subtly Rosoff played the mental health side of things – made even more powerful by the fact that the sufferer was only a teenager. She’s a master of difficult issues, and Meg Rosoff really pulled the paranoia issue off perfectly. I can’t wait for my next book by her: I think it’s one about a teenage couple having a baby… only the baby is a moose…
“I can look down across the world and see everything. For instance, I can see you.”
David Case is obsessed with Fate, and trying to outwit him/it. Everywhere he turns, he can’t help thinking of all the worst scenarios, all the what-ifs. He’s certain Fate has it in for him. Just so happens: he’s right.
Just In Case is another great book by one of my favourite authors. I wish I had Meg Rosoff’s genius mind. Like all her books, Just In Case was completely different from anything else I’ve read. Who else would think of using Fate as a character? I know this has received some bad reviews, and I admit it wasn’t the cheeriest book out there, but it was so full of Rosoff’s quirkiness and brilliance: how could I not love it?
David saves his brother, and that’s when he decides Fate’s out to get him. He changes his name to Justin – Justin Case (get it?). To stay hidden, he also has to look completely different. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Ok, no it doesn’t. But Justin-David thinks it will work. And I did love his whole tortured-thing. And his imaginary greyhound, oh-so creatively named ‘Dog’: he was cute! Even though he was imaginary… And I still can’t decide whether he’s just paranoid, or whether it’s the world (and Fate) that are the crazy ones…
As for Agnes, the older girl he meets and falls in love with, I liked her. At first. Then she did something – to tell would be to reveal – and I just… stopped. She suddenly seemed cruel and teasing. But she did get Justin out of his shell, helped him change…
The brother David saved, Charlie, was a little odd. He tried to telepathically tell Justin things and at one point spelled out a warning sentence, which is a little unbelievable for a child who can barely stand and can’t even talk.
Our final characters are Peter and Dorothea. These two I liked a lot. They were brother and sister, and befriended Justin. They were also wonderful, and a little weird. They could see Dog. Yes, Dog, the imaginary greyhound. Strange. I never could figure out why they could see him…
And the strangeness continues with our second narrator, who only appears on a few pages and yet makes a huge impression. Fate. It was an absolutely new thing for me. As I mentioned before, who thinks of using Fate as a narrator? It was new and unusual, but it worked, really, really well. Plus, Fate himself was brilliant! Sure, he was twisted and, well, superior. But, oddly enough, he was my favourite character. It sounds strange, but there was something… bewitching about the god-complex-troubled Fate. (Then again, can you have a god-complex if you’re Fate?) And even though the question of whether he’s real or some figment of Justin’s imagination didn’t take away from the fact that he was amazing. But, I asked myself, if Justin made him up, then why can’t Justin hear what Fate is saying…?
This wasn’t Rosoff’s best novel, that I will admit right now. But it was still Meg Rosoff. I’ve always loved her writing style: simple and powerful and beautiful, and I could clearly see it in Just In Case. And the storyline was unlike anything I’d ever seen. As I mentioned earlier, using Fate? Pure genius! My biggest fault was that there was no character development. I kept hoping that Justin would grow into a bigger and stronger character, but… nothing. Also, I was left with so, so many questions! It’s annoying me a little – I want to know why Justin? Why could Peter and Dorothea see Dog? Who – well, what – is Fate? Is he just made up? Or is he something… more? Questions, so many questions…
But, overall, I liked Just In Case. It was new, quirky and had me in its grip. I just loved how subtly Rosoff played the mental health side of things – made even more powerful by the fact that the sufferer was only a teenager. She’s a master of difficult issues, and Meg Rosoff really pulled the paranoia issue off perfectly. I can’t wait for my next book by her: I think it’s one about a teenage couple having a baby… only the baby is a moose…
ashleymarie114's review against another edition
4.0
A very very confusing book, i read it when I was a little bit younger though so i dont think I got some of the messages behind some stuff I think I may re-read this one and see if I can pick up on some stuff I didnt understand before.