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twowheelsaway's review against another edition
5.0
TW: Sexual assault. The plot of this book deals directly and somewhat graphically with an incident of non-consensual sex involving alcohol and other substances.
To those reading this as potential readers: this book is beautiful, but difficult. There was never any way for it to not be difficult, and the heaviness is handled as well as I think it possibly could be, but if you've dealt with sexual assault, this is frankly a book that will probably be really triggering. That said, it's potentially also healing, and at the very least affirming. For anyone who hasn't dealt directly with sexual assault, and wants a difficult and complicated but truthful and unflinching perspective, this is definitely worth a read, although it will obviously not be light reading.
To those reading this as potential recommenders: I am having trouble thinking of the student to whom I would recommend this book, to be quite honest. I would never recommend it without telling a student what they're getting into, but I would have to know a student quite well to be sure this is what they could want. BUT this is the kind of book we have to have quietly on our shelves, so someone can find it when they need it. So when a peer recommends it to them in a way I don't think I could, we have it there for them to read.
More practically, I would never rip a book out of someone's hands, but I might have some hesitations about letting a younger student (we have kiddos down to 12 at my school) walk out of the library with this. Ultimately students' reading decisions are their own, but as comes up in the book, letting someone make a decision with information you know is incomplete is not harmless.
This review is a little differently structured than my usual deal, but I did want to acknowledge some kick-ass things about the book beyond subject matter. The magical realism strikes a perfect balance, where it can't be assigned just to the character's perspective, but it's also not entirely clear what exactly is and isn't happening. Also this book is stuffed full of rich, rounded characters, even in tiny roles. The world of the book feels so real and vivid. Finally, this book made my stomach growl any number of times with amazing food descriptions! I need to read some of McLemore's other books so I have something by them I can more easily recommend.
I hope I've given enough warning that anyone who picks this book up feels like they know what they're getting into-- if you feel up to it, this book is stunning.
To those reading this as potential readers: this book is beautiful, but difficult. There was never any way for it to not be difficult, and the heaviness is handled as well as I think it possibly could be, but if you've dealt with sexual assault, this is frankly a book that will probably be really triggering. That said, it's potentially also healing, and at the very least affirming. For anyone who hasn't dealt directly with sexual assault, and wants a difficult and complicated but truthful and unflinching perspective, this is definitely worth a read, although it will obviously not be light reading.
To those reading this as potential recommenders: I am having trouble thinking of the student to whom I would recommend this book, to be quite honest. I would never recommend it without telling a student what they're getting into, but I would have to know a student quite well to be sure this is what they could want. BUT this is the kind of book we have to have quietly on our shelves, so someone can find it when they need it. So when a peer recommends it to them in a way I don't think I could, we have it there for them to read.
More practically, I would never rip a book out of someone's hands, but I might have some hesitations about letting a younger student (we have kiddos down to 12 at my school) walk out of the library with this. Ultimately students' reading decisions are their own, but as comes up in the book, letting someone make a decision with information you know is incomplete is not harmless.
This review is a little differently structured than my usual deal, but I did want to acknowledge some kick-ass things about the book beyond subject matter. The magical realism strikes a perfect balance, where it can't be assigned just to the character's perspective, but it's also not entirely clear what exactly is and isn't happening. Also this book is stuffed full of rich, rounded characters, even in tiny roles. The world of the book feels so real and vivid. Finally, this book made my stomach growl any number of times with amazing food descriptions! I need to read some of McLemore's other books so I have something by them I can more easily recommend.
I hope I've given enough warning that anyone who picks this book up feels like they know what they're getting into-- if you feel up to it, this book is stunning.
lena_899's review against another edition
The writing let me down- repetitive descriptions, and a magical realism component that felt hamfisted. A lot of moments felt wooden and stiff when I could tell the author wanted them to be more affective. It was an unfortunate situation of a lot of description, but not enough atmosphere. Just a rough experience to read the writing, getting %50 through took so long and felt so long, I did not want to spend more time reading it. I would have liked to see the story to its conclusion plot wise. Maybe someday if I have more patience, because the topic is an important one and I am glad there is literature based on it in case someone needs the space of fiction to process similar situations.
mossymadi's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
this book broke me apart and put me back together again. McLemore's prose is achingly beautiful, I am so looking forward to reading the rest of their books.
Huge TW for SA - but it is treated with the utmost care and respect.
Huge TW for SA - but it is treated with the utmost care and respect.
mel_j's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My heart.
Why is it not possible to give more than 5 stars?
Such s heavy book, but a beautiful one.
Why is it not possible to give more than 5 stars?
Such s heavy book, but a beautiful one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Racism, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, and Outing
_missperfectlyfine's review against another edition
5.0
Ta ksiazka jest tak cholernie trudna, bolesna i ważna. Żadna ocena nie odda jej wartosci.
fancypebble's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia
pantsreads's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5
Yet another stunning book from Anna-Marie. This one is equal parts heartbreak and hope.
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
Yet another stunning book from Anna-Marie. This one is equal parts heartbreak and hope.
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
elyana's review against another edition
5.0
Un coup de cœur, une lecture incroyablement belle et difficile à la fois.
Ce livre parle d'une agression sexuelle tout du long, donc je ne le recommanderai clairement pas à tout le monde : faites attention aux trigger warnings.
Je préfère mentionner que l'auteurice s'est basée sur son expérience personnelle.
Il me faudra un peu de temps pour poser les mots sur ce que cette histoire m'a fait ressentir.
En tout cas je lirai probablement d'autres livres d'Anna-Marie McLemore.
Mon Bookstagram
Ce livre parle d'une agression sexuelle tout du long, donc je ne le recommanderai clairement pas à tout le monde : faites attention aux trigger warnings.
Je préfère mentionner que l'auteurice s'est basée sur son expérience personnelle.
Il me faudra un peu de temps pour poser les mots sur ce que cette histoire m'a fait ressentir.
En tout cas je lirai probablement d'autres livres d'Anna-Marie McLemore.
Mon Bookstagram
aleksandra_jot's review against another edition
Na wstępie zaznaczam, że moja opinia nie ma zamiaru umniejszać historii opisanej w książce, bo nie podlega dyskusji, że temat napaści seksualnej jest rozdzierająco trudny i istotny. Niemniej jednak mam wrażenie, że często dzieje się tak, że istota tematu przesłania wszystko inne – warsztat na przykład, a ja nie umiem pominąć niedociągnięć, być może dlatego, że przeczytałam dużo non-fiction na podobne tematy, a być może dlatego, że w książkach szukam czegoś więcej niż ważny temat.
A szukam dobrego pióra i umiejętnego kreowania bohaterów oraz świata przedstawionego, czego w moim odczuciu tutaj zabrakło, zwłaszcza w kontekście pisarskiego warsztatu. To w ogóle chyba wspólne wielu książkom YA, że mają tendencję do nadużywania kwiecistych opisów i budowania patetycznych, pretensjonalnych zdań. Tutaj to wszystko znalazłam, odbijając się jednocześnie o wyjątkowo proste, surowe momenty. Stylistycznie mi to po prostu nie zagrało, podobnie jak wykorzystanie niektórych tropów, które być może doceniłabym w innej historii albo gdyby w tej zostały inaczej napisane. Koniec końców daleka jestem od zachwytów, ale rozumiem, dlaczego innych ta książka zdobywa. Od wystawiania gwiazdek się jednak powstrzymuję, bo nawet nie wiem, jak miałabym zdecydować się na konkretną ocenę.
A szukam dobrego pióra i umiejętnego kreowania bohaterów oraz świata przedstawionego, czego w moim odczuciu tutaj zabrakło, zwłaszcza w kontekście pisarskiego warsztatu. To w ogóle chyba wspólne wielu książkom YA, że mają tendencję do nadużywania kwiecistych opisów i budowania patetycznych, pretensjonalnych zdań. Tutaj to wszystko znalazłam, odbijając się jednocześnie o wyjątkowo proste, surowe momenty. Stylistycznie mi to po prostu nie zagrało, podobnie jak wykorzystanie niektórych tropów, które być może doceniłabym w innej historii albo gdyby w tej zostały inaczej napisane. Koniec końców daleka jestem od zachwytów, ale rozumiem, dlaczego innych ta książka zdobywa. Od wystawiania gwiazdek się jednak powstrzymuję, bo nawet nie wiem, jak miałabym zdecydować się na konkretną ocenę.