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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
4.75 stars
Radio Silence is, in one word, incredible.
Alice Oseman skillfully captures the essence of friendships, fandoms and academic pressures in one book.
Also can we comment on how effortlessly diverse it is?
Frances is the most relatable character I have read in a long time and she perfectly encapsulates the struggle of overachievement and uncertainty about the future. And Aled, I just wanted to give him the biggest hug throughout the entire book. He's too good for this world.
The gradual development of Frances and Aled's friendship was probably the biggest highlight for me. The inclusion of compelling side characters, especially Raine Sengupta, added an enjoyable layer to the narrative.
Aled's mom on the other hand, can just, I don't know, rot in hell. Words cannot express how much I hate that woman. On a better note however, I'm so glad Aled and Carys had the courage to leave her at the end.
The storyline, while not overly intricate or complicated, remains very relatable and well crafted. Overall, Radio Silence remains one of my favorite books of all time.
Radio Silence is, in one word, incredible.
Alice Oseman skillfully captures the essence of friendships, fandoms and academic pressures in one book.
Also can we comment on how effortlessly diverse it is?
Frances is the most relatable character I have read in a long time and she perfectly encapsulates the struggle of overachievement and uncertainty about the future. And Aled, I just wanted to give him the biggest hug throughout the entire book. He's too good for this world.
The gradual development of Frances and Aled's friendship was probably the biggest highlight for me. The inclusion of compelling side characters, especially Raine Sengupta, added an enjoyable layer to the narrative.
Aled's mom on the other hand, can just, I don't know, rot in hell. Words cannot express how much I hate that woman. On a better note however, I'm so glad Aled and Carys had the courage to leave her at the end.
The storyline, while not overly intricate or complicated, remains very relatable and well crafted. Overall, Radio Silence remains one of my favorite books of all time.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the writing is so bland, basically reads like a 10 year old's type of comprehension. despite this, the characters are facinating, the plot is mostly brilliant, and aled last/universe city are excellent. the ending really threw me off because it's so... rushed? but i still liked it. i used to really love this book, and still do, but i think i've matured.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
I wanted to like this book more. I didn't really connect with any of the characters other than Aled, who I felt really sorry for. This book highlights issues such as emotional abuse as well as the sadness of being alone and how it can impact mental health. The pacing was quite slow at times. However, it did pick up again towards the end and Alice Oseman did a great job in making me hate Carol Last. I only wish the ending wasn't as rushed and that she got the comeuppance she clearly deserved.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Violence
I've haven't felt so conflicted about a book in a while, which sucks because I really wanted to enjoy this more. On one hand, I felt like I related deeply to Frances' struggles of centralizing one's academic career, and feeling the insecurity surrounding what one is supposed to do, versus what one feels fulfilment from. Unfortunately, the story itself just didn't sit right with me. Objectively, Alice Oseman is a good writer, but her writing was a bit too plain for me. Also, the whole story felt just a bit too "2014 Tumblr cringe" for me, at 22 years old. I think I would've enjoyed this a lot more if I had read it in high school.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Popsugar 2022 reading challenge: A book with a character on the ace spectrum
When this book works, it works so well. It was so much rawer than I expected and I often felt reluctant to pick this one up because some things in it hit a little too close to home. Especially At times though this book felt a little like it was treading water and I’d feel reluctant to read it because I was adrift in a section that felt pretty boring. I also feel like sometimes Francis’s character development was made a bit subordinate to Aled’s.
It’s still worth reading. At times it felt a little too impressed with itself in a “DAE think platonic bonds matter too? I’m the only one to think this!” kind of way. On the other hand the platonic bonds here are very touching and good. Although ironically I ended up a bit more moved by Francis and Daniel than Francis and Aled!
I was also pleasantly surprised with how it dealt with internet celebrity. The trappings are a bit dated and boy can you tell this was written in 2013 because tumblr is a huge deal (The Hate U Give also has this happen if I remember correctly!) The actual concerns and behaviors feel evergreen though. Some events that happen in here remind me of some of the real world content creators* whose work I follow and who have either stopped creating entirely or have gone on the record pretty forcefully about how the internet has dehumanized them. Aled and Francis both go through that and those sections were some of the strongest parts for me.
Overall this is a strong book with a lot to offer. I know I sound a bit negative and I think this is a case of the positives making the negatives stand out more than they actually do for me. It’s worth checking out if the summary appeals to you.
*and isn’t that phrase “content creator” kind of dehumanizing in and of itself?
When this book works, it works so well. It was so much rawer than I expected and I often felt reluctant to pick this one up because some things in it hit a little too close to home. Especially
Spoiler
realizing mid interview that you actually aren’t at all into the subject you want to get a job in eventually.Spoiler
Yes it’s important for him to be helped out at the end but Francis also had a full on depressive breakdown over not getting into the right university and out of nowhere she goes “wait I actually want to go to art college” and a whole lifetime of unhealthy obsessing goes away? I don’t know I know. I wanted a bit more from and about her and I feel like it should have happened even if Aled is in the more immediate crisis.It’s still worth reading. At times it felt a little too impressed with itself in a “DAE think platonic bonds matter too? I’m the only one to think this!” kind of way. On the other hand the platonic bonds here are very touching and good. Although ironically I ended up a bit more moved by Francis and Daniel than Francis and Aled!
I was also pleasantly surprised with how it dealt with internet celebrity. The trappings are a bit dated and boy can you tell this was written in 2013 because tumblr is a huge deal (The Hate U Give also has this happen if I remember correctly!) The actual concerns and behaviors feel evergreen though. Some events that happen in here remind me of some of the real world content creators* whose work I follow and who have either stopped creating entirely or have gone on the record pretty forcefully about how the internet has dehumanized them. Aled and Francis both go through that and those sections were some of the strongest parts for me.
Overall this is a strong book with a lot to offer. I know I sound a bit negative and I think this is a case of the positives making the negatives stand out more than they actually do for me. It’s worth checking out if the summary appeals to you.
*and isn’t that phrase “content creator” kind of dehumanizing in and of itself?