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babette's review against another edition
1.0
I like Meg Rosoff and this was my third book but I didn't like it. Her style of writing was weird and so was the story. And even though I think it wasn't that good, you should read it. weird I know but...
soeurcierelitteraire's review against another edition
3.0
Vraiment déroutant, mais pas mauvais. Ma review : http://books-and-iced-coffee.over-blog.com/article-si-jamais-de-meg-rosoff-78146280.html
lstef's review
2.0
For young adult fiction, I think this is a bit dark. Perhaps it's aimed at older teenagers.
Funny in parts, plain weird in others. It does well in describing the inner world of David, his torment and angst, as he tries to run from fate.
Funny in parts, plain weird in others. It does well in describing the inner world of David, his torment and angst, as he tries to run from fate.
phaneem's review
4.0
I have decided to start posting my reviews on here as well, as it will probably make it easier for those who are interested in reading what I have to say.
I actually found this book rather weird. David (or Justin) Case is a teenager who suddenly realises that life is not what it seems. After saving his brother from toppling out of the window in his bedroom, his whole life changes, as he realises that he has to outwit fate, some way or another. So, he decides to change his name to Justin and to completely alter the way he looks, in the hope of having fate pass him by - not notice him.
During the course of the book, many things happen to Justin - he meets an older girl, Agnes, and makes friends with a boy from school, Peter. He runs away from home and lives in different places, and while away, he experiences some disastrous events, which lead to him contemplating his life even more.
Just In Case was a very good read. It captures the coming-of-age of a teenager who is troubled by guilt (at least, that's how I saw it) and who tries to invent ways to counter-attack the notion of the futility of life. I didn't like Agnes' character very much, but I did like Peter and his sisters, who really and truly supported David (Justin) during his whole Justin phase.
I particularly liked the twist that came in the last few chapters of the book. It wasn't a happy twist, but it did sort-of explain why certain things happened... To me, at least. It's not a happy twist, I warn you. But it was completely unexpected. I would have never though that something like that would happen.
But I do have an important objection about this book. David (Justin) Case was supposed to be 15 years old, and his parents just let him leave home and go and live elsewhere, without showing any objection whatsoever. I thought that was very weird. Which parent would let their 15-year-old child leave home, without knowing exactly where they are supposed to be (or at least wanting to know)?? I found that part of the story to be a little off-putting, as if his parents didn't really care about him that much. I might not bother (have bothered) you, but I did not like it.
You can also find my review here:
http://funny-wool.blogspot.com/2011/03/just-in-case.html
I actually found this book rather weird. David (or Justin) Case is a teenager who suddenly realises that life is not what it seems. After saving his brother from toppling out of the window in his bedroom, his whole life changes, as he realises that he has to outwit fate, some way or another. So, he decides to change his name to Justin and to completely alter the way he looks, in the hope of having fate pass him by - not notice him.
During the course of the book, many things happen to Justin - he meets an older girl, Agnes, and makes friends with a boy from school, Peter. He runs away from home and lives in different places, and while away, he experiences some disastrous events, which lead to him contemplating his life even more.
Just In Case was a very good read. It captures the coming-of-age of a teenager who is troubled by guilt (at least, that's how I saw it) and who tries to invent ways to counter-attack the notion of the futility of life. I didn't like Agnes' character very much, but I did like Peter and his sisters, who really and truly supported David (Justin) during his whole Justin phase.
I particularly liked the twist that came in the last few chapters of the book. It wasn't a happy twist, but it did sort-of explain why certain things happened... To me, at least. It's not a happy twist, I warn you. But it was completely unexpected. I would have never though that something like that would happen.
But I do have an important objection about this book. David (Justin) Case was supposed to be 15 years old, and his parents just let him leave home and go and live elsewhere, without showing any objection whatsoever. I thought that was very weird. Which parent would let their 15-year-old child leave home, without knowing exactly where they are supposed to be (or at least wanting to know)?? I found that part of the story to be a little off-putting, as if his parents didn't really care about him that much. I might not bother (have bothered) you, but I did not like it.
You can also find my review here:
http://funny-wool.blogspot.com/2011/03/just-in-case.html
yati's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this more than [book: How I Live Now], actually. I guess I identified with David better than Daisy (strange as it may sound) and I liked the characters better.
clarahash's review against another edition
2.0
I feel like I lost all my time to read this book. I found it boring and I didn't understand anything. Bad experience.
abookwanderer's review against another edition
4.0
Brilliantly weird, dark, humorous, and unique. Just in Case has been called the modern day Catcher in the Rye. And after having read them back to back, I could see the similarities. But, while the classic is more literal, Just in Case is subjective and fantastical. The author, Meg Rosoff, writes with an intelligent and imaginative voice. I will be adding more of her books to my ever-growing list of books to read.
bashbashbashbash's review against another edition
3.0
David Case has decided that Fate is out to get him, so he decides to change his name to Justin and his identity to something else non-specific (the signs of his supposed transformation are insomnia, a penchant for running, new clothes, an imaginary dog, and spiralling depression). Small interludes introduce Fate as a secondary narrator. Apparently Fate really IS out to get David/Justin. No way.
Maybe it's just personifying a concept as tired as Fate is just plain stupid, maybe it's because neither David/Justin nor any of the characters seem to have any dimension, history, or spark to them, but this book just didn't do it for me. It was shallow but the pace was just quick enough to keep me reading to until the end, although I did skip about six pages in the middle (something I almost never do, and a good sign of my lack of engagement with the novel).
Aside: all the cover designs are completely rubbish! I don't think there's a good one in the lot. What art director approves this junk?! Mopy teenage boy on white cover? Green cover with swirls of white, aeroplanes and butterflies in black and red?! A bloody greyhound and some ivy leaves?! These are some of the most lackluster professional covers I've ever seen attached to YA novels.
The only thing I really liked about this book was that it talked pretty openly about erections and that feeling of hopeless, consuming lust one experiences at 15.
I'll try How I Live Now, and hope that it offers more than a flat protagonist with an anxiety complex and a bunch of Manic Pixie Dream Girls.
Maybe it's just personifying a concept as tired as Fate is just plain stupid, maybe it's because neither David/Justin nor any of the characters seem to have any dimension, history, or spark to them, but this book just didn't do it for me. It was shallow but the pace was just quick enough to keep me reading to until the end, although I did skip about six pages in the middle (something I almost never do, and a good sign of my lack of engagement with the novel).
Aside: all the cover designs are completely rubbish! I don't think there's a good one in the lot. What art director approves this junk?! Mopy teenage boy on white cover? Green cover with swirls of white, aeroplanes and butterflies in black and red?! A bloody greyhound and some ivy leaves?! These are some of the most lackluster professional covers I've ever seen attached to YA novels.
The only thing I really liked about this book was that it talked pretty openly about erections and that feeling of hopeless, consuming lust one experiences at 15.
I'll try How I Live Now, and hope that it offers more than a flat protagonist with an anxiety complex and a bunch of Manic Pixie Dream Girls.
libbysbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Read this in a day, which I rarely feel compelled to do even though I am a big reader.
Beautifully written and a great story of self discovery.
Beautifully written and a great story of self discovery.