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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
This book is just wow. I have read and listened to this book four times now and it still finds a way to destroy me. The amount of grief and loss Benji felt was enormous and it isolated him. But this story wasn't just about him, it was also about his little town of Roseland. He lost his father who hung the stars, but they lost both of them. All until a man who falls from the sky came to town and showed them how to smile and live again. I'm not religious at all, but I still found this book amazing. The writing in this book is beautiful even with all the sadness, written in a way that is uniquely TJ.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
This was not my favorite TJ book. I think my religious trauma probably impacted my enjoyment of the story (lots of biblical references that made me uncomfy).
The story was still what you would expect of Klunes work, although some of the content definitely hasn’t aged well but did reflect the setting (particularly the use of t slur; although unfortunately I feel that the use of them was probably accurate for the 2000-early 20teens which are when the book takes place)
The story was still what you would expect of Klunes work, although some of the content definitely hasn’t aged well but did reflect the setting (particularly the use of t slur; although unfortunately I feel that the use of them was probably accurate for the 2000-early 20teens which are when the book takes place)
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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:
Yes
emotional
reflective
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:
Complicated
I cried several times during this read (good, achy tears). If you've ever lost someone special in your life you understand Benji perfectly. TJ Klune writes so poetically and beautifully that I often stopped and reread lines just to feel the words over and over again. I haven't come across writing this exceptional in a long time ❤️
dark
sad
tense
medium-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
4⭐️
There were parts of this book I loved-like couldn’t put the book down had to keep reading. And other parts that felt slow and dragged. Also not a big fan of some of the language used (t-slur).
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this book was pretty good but it definitely dragged for me in the middle but picked up a bit in the end. the main star of this book for me was the relationship between benji and his father. i cried several times and the mysterious elements in addition to their dynamic. that being said, i’m a pretty staunch atheist and became quite annoyed with how this book attempted to explain away the atrocities committed by humankind. it was a recurring theme throughout the book and i’m sure it will work for some people but it got pretty annoying for me.
This book was beautiful. Wonderful writing, well developed characters, and an emotional ending. The reason I'm giving this two stars is that TJ Klune wrote the t-slur several times in the context of mocking gnc and trans feminine people. There is some homophobia as well, though it is always from the antagonists as a way to intimidate the protagonists, who are two gay men. There are no trans characters, and the protagonists (Big Eddie and by extension Benji) are who use the t-slur and make jokes about "he-shes," "she-men," and ". . . one of those tr*nny guys that likes to dress up in a slutty skirt and pretend you have a vagina.”
It did not add anything to the development of the plot or the characters, and there are no gnc or trans characters who can defend themselves or redeem TJ Klune for using these words and making these jokes. To me, they seemed out of the blue and like they didn't fit with the characters, considering how accepting Benji's family was of his sexuality. Why accept his gayness while in the same breath mocking trans people? Especially in the context of Benji remembering his father with love and respect. The author could have just left it out and it would have made no difference to the development of the plot or to Benji's emotional journey.
I enjoy TJ Klune's writing, but this really ruined it for me.
It did not add anything to the development of the plot or the characters, and there are no gnc or trans characters who can defend themselves or redeem TJ Klune for using these words and making these jokes. To me, they seemed out of the blue and like they didn't fit with the characters, considering how accepting Benji's family was of his sexuality. Why accept his gayness while in the same breath mocking trans people? Especially in the context of Benji remembering his father with love and respect. The author could have just left it out and it would have made no difference to the development of the plot or to Benji's emotional journey.
I enjoy TJ Klune's writing, but this really ruined it for me.
DNF (a little over half way in)
Look, this is a beautiful book. Understand this before anything else.
My problem? It's way, way too long for what it offers and things dragged on longer than necessary. I'd been struggling to finish it last year ( for months ) until finally I just put it down and haven't picked it up since. I have no desire to pick it up again, sadly. I skimmed over the second half and realized that a bunch of stuff throughout this book is what I consider filler. Seriously, if this book had been cut in half, it could have still gotten the plot through along with developing the relationships properly. It was pretty clear what happened to his father and the person involved before the half way point and I was just like "why is there still over half the book left?"
So yeah. I will never deny this is a beautiful story and I can see why so many people love it. But I fell off the wagon of enjoyment around the half way mark because of all the filler and mundane things happening above the plot.
Look, this is a beautiful book. Understand this before anything else.
My problem? It's way, way too long for what it offers and things dragged on longer than necessary. I'd been struggling to finish it last year ( for months ) until finally I just put it down and haven't picked it up since. I have no desire to pick it up again, sadly. I skimmed over the second half and realized that a bunch of stuff throughout this book is what I consider filler. Seriously, if this book had been cut in half, it could have still gotten the plot through along with developing the relationships properly. It was pretty clear what happened to his father and the person involved before the half way point and I was just like "why is there still over half the book left?"
Spoiler
I also can't take the fact our MC was going to use a condom during sex with an ANGEL seriously. Did he...did he think his angel had gone around sleeping with numerous people before or something?So yeah. I will never deny this is a beautiful story and I can see why so many people love it. But I fell off the wagon of enjoyment around the half way mark because of all the filler and mundane things happening above the plot.