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alguienmescucha's review
4.0
La premisa de este libro me pareció muy buena, el hecho de que haya un momento en el que tu mundo se destruye (figurativamente) y tenés que empezar de nuevo, o aprender a vivir en una situación completamente diferente a la que venías viviendo. Este tópico estuvo bien explorado en general.
El libro narra los sucesos de un sólo día, y cruza dos historias completamente diferentes, pero tan diferentes que ni sabés cómo se podrían cruzar, hasta el clímax de la novela. En principio, me pareció muy interesante el hecho de cómo se decriben las relaciones del personaje principal, ya sea con su padre, con su hermano, con su novio (y su ex), con su mejor amiga. Los personajes son complejos, pero se sienten reales. Realmente, una de las cosas que se distinguieron para mí es que las personas podrían ser gente que conocemos, y situaciones que se pueden dar tranquilamente (al menos, en uno de los troncos de la historia).
En cuanto a la narración, es bastante delicada, pero en el buen sentido. Me gustan las novelas que pueden permitirse ser un poquito poéticas (aunque no en exceso) y que queden bien con el tono general de la historia. En este caso, este recurso está utilizado de manera muy inteligente.
Algo que me decepcionó un poco fue el final. Me pareció que después de tanta preparación y tanta expectativa que generaba toda la primer parte del libro, el clímax fue un poco apurado y terminó demasiado rápido. Aunque las historias se cruzan, y tiene sentido, me hubiera gustado que se explore más
Hubieron cosas que no me terminaron de cerrar completamente con la historia, pero de todas maneras, está muy bien escrita, además de narrar una historia de amor homosexual que está naturalizada y no forzada, lo que me gustó, ya que muchas otras novelas intentan (pero fallan) en narrar una historia de amor de este tipo de forma realista.
El libro narra los sucesos de un sólo día, y cruza dos historias completamente diferentes, pero tan diferentes que ni sabés cómo se podrían cruzar, hasta el clímax de la novela. En principio, me pareció muy interesante el hecho de cómo se decriben las relaciones del personaje principal, ya sea con su padre, con su hermano, con su novio (y su ex), con su mejor amiga. Los personajes son complejos, pero se sienten reales. Realmente, una de las cosas que se distinguieron para mí es que las personas podrían ser gente que conocemos, y situaciones que se pueden dar tranquilamente (al menos, en uno de los troncos de la historia).
En cuanto a la narración, es bastante delicada, pero en el buen sentido. Me gustan las novelas que pueden permitirse ser un poquito poéticas (aunque no en exceso) y que queden bien con el tono general de la historia. En este caso, este recurso está utilizado de manera muy inteligente.
Algo que me decepcionó un poco fue el final. Me pareció que después de tanta preparación y tanta expectativa que generaba toda la primer parte del libro, el clímax fue un poco apurado y terminó demasiado rápido. Aunque las historias se cruzan, y tiene sentido, me hubiera gustado que se explore más
Spoiler
la relación entre el protagonista y la reina del mundo de las hadas, que lidera el otro tronco de la historia. Se nota que están conectados de alguna manera, pero nunca explican por qué, cómo se dio esa conexión, qué significa para Adam ni para la reina, absolutamente nada. Si este tema se hubiera explorado en profundidad, creo que hubiera hecho que la historia se volviese mucho más interesante.Hubieron cosas que no me terminaron de cerrar completamente con la historia, pero de todas maneras, está muy bien escrita, además de narrar una historia de amor homosexual que está naturalizada y no forzada, lo que me gustó, ya que muchas otras novelas intentan (pero fallan) en narrar una historia de amor de este tipo de forma realista.
katykelly's review
4.0
Ness takes on teenage angst in the guise of a conflicted young gay man caught between old love and new.
4.5 stars
Adam Thorn goes out to get flowers for his mother. The book, taking this as its starting point, follows him through a day, where revelations come thick and fast at him and his own perspective on life and love will undergo some major upheavals.
Adam is gay. His very religious parents disapprove of homosexuality, so he has never explicitly opened up to them about it. Happy with his boyfriend Linus, he still has strong feelings for Enzo, the ex he's preparing to say goodbye to tonight at a 'get together' to wish him well.
While Adam puzzles over his feelings and prepares to face Enzo for one last time, we vacillate between his story and that of a dead girl - Katherine - murdered by her boyfriend over drugs. Her spirit is angry and after revenge.
I could have lived without the second plot, the spirit story, the book would have worked perfectly well without it. Adam's story is fascinating - the author explains that the story is inspired by both Mrs Dalloway and Judy Blume's Forever, both of which I am familiar with. I liked the combination of the two, and the coming-of-age story that also encapsulates a friendship, a romance, a family drama.
Adam and his best friend Angela are marvellously written, she the smart and loyal confidante, he a young man trying to find himself. Linus is also a well-rounded character that I empathised with. And Enzo, the ex, develops nicely into a rather unsympathetic character.
The story itself develops well, with pushes from minor characters (Adam's brother and father) to further Adam's growth and understanding.
I wouldn't have instantly recognised the parallels between Release and Forever, though being told of the connection, I can see it. The Woolf inspiration is instantly obvious on the first page, and it's a novel idea.
This feels like quite a personal read. I have no idea of Ness's personal preferences, his teenage experiences, but this did feel as though there might be autobiographical elements to it (I could be completely wrong about this of course) but it did feel on a different level to the author's previous work - no fantasy context, a strong male voice.
I'm not one for supernatural stories, which is again probably why I didn't like Katherine's story, it felt unnecessary really, and didn't in my opinion add anything to the theme or overall book. I loved Adam's story and its conclusion, an excellent short novel set in the modern world.
Some quite graphic sexual content, this is best suited to ages 14 and above.
With thanks to Walker Books for the advance reading copy.
4.5 stars
Adam Thorn goes out to get flowers for his mother. The book, taking this as its starting point, follows him through a day, where revelations come thick and fast at him and his own perspective on life and love will undergo some major upheavals.
Adam is gay. His very religious parents disapprove of homosexuality, so he has never explicitly opened up to them about it. Happy with his boyfriend Linus, he still has strong feelings for Enzo, the ex he's preparing to say goodbye to tonight at a 'get together' to wish him well.
While Adam puzzles over his feelings and prepares to face Enzo for one last time, we vacillate between his story and that of a dead girl - Katherine - murdered by her boyfriend over drugs. Her spirit is angry and after revenge.
I could have lived without the second plot, the spirit story, the book would have worked perfectly well without it. Adam's story is fascinating - the author explains that the story is inspired by both Mrs Dalloway and Judy Blume's Forever, both of which I am familiar with. I liked the combination of the two, and the coming-of-age story that also encapsulates a friendship, a romance, a family drama.
Adam and his best friend Angela are marvellously written, she the smart and loyal confidante, he a young man trying to find himself. Linus is also a well-rounded character that I empathised with. And Enzo, the ex, develops nicely into a rather unsympathetic character.
The story itself develops well, with pushes from minor characters (Adam's brother and father) to further Adam's growth and understanding.
I wouldn't have instantly recognised the parallels between Release and Forever, though being told of the connection, I can see it. The Woolf inspiration is instantly obvious on the first page, and it's a novel idea.
This feels like quite a personal read. I have no idea of Ness's personal preferences, his teenage experiences, but this did feel as though there might be autobiographical elements to it (I could be completely wrong about this of course) but it did feel on a different level to the author's previous work - no fantasy context, a strong male voice.
I'm not one for supernatural stories, which is again probably why I didn't like Katherine's story, it felt unnecessary really, and didn't in my opinion add anything to the theme or overall book. I loved Adam's story and its conclusion, an excellent short novel set in the modern world.
Some quite graphic sexual content, this is best suited to ages 14 and above.
With thanks to Walker Books for the advance reading copy.
anyajulchen's review
4.0
“You choose your family, you know".
Damn. This books was quite a rollercoaster. It had fun moments, sad instants and reflexive scenes. The story of the queen it's what takes some points away, however. It made no sense.
Damn. This books was quite a rollercoaster. It had fun moments, sad instants and reflexive scenes. The story of the queen it's what takes some points away, however. It made no sense.
geenag90's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I admired that the author had tried to do something different with this book, but I’m not it truly paid off as I was only really interested in Adam’s story, making me want to rush through the over parts and making the book feel overall a bit disjointed. Adam’s story was very enjoyable though, with a realistic open ending and not the usual neat ending of most ya novels.
george_and_books's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
vkasbk's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Adam Thorn and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. My heart aches for Adam
kvreadsandrecs's review against another edition
3.0
Solid 3.5. I like Patrick Ness and his interweaving stories, but I did not get the Queen stuff. Maybe I'm just a terrible reader (but then again: I always thought that)
ztifhael's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75