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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
“‘We never know what will happen,’ Betty says, ‘but I believe good things happen every day. I believe good things happen even when bad things happen. And I believe on a happy day like today, we can still feel a little sad. And that’s life, isn’t it?’”
emotional
funny
inspiring
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:
No
What a great concept of a book. What really happens after we die, although fiction this is surely one of the ideas that could happen. I think for me, I picked this up way too soon after my nans death, and it threw me right off. Too soon for me to read. But a few months later and I wanted it finished. It could be a story of hope, new life, reborn. The fact they are watching us, life doesn't end, reunion with past family members and pets. It could give comfort. I just really think I read it at the wrong time. But I enjoyed it as much as I could. 4/5 stars.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
I really loved the world, Zevin builds in this world and would have loved for it to be explored even more, instead of adding rushed plot lines towards the end — Liz coming to terms with being at Elsewhere would have been enough for me, the whole Owen/Emily thing felt so weird and rushed .
At first I didn't really like the story or the principles behind the story. However as I read I became more interested in finding out what would happen to Liz. Just past the middle I became more and more interested and like it by the ending.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sobbed in public reading this; how better can I recommend it?
15-year old Liz is hit by a taxicab one day and finds herself on the way to Elsewhere, an afterlife where people age backwards until it's time to be born again. It's a lot like earth, except you get to talk to animals, be pals with your favorite rock star, and choose whatever job you like to do. But Liz is a wayward child, and she would rather grow up instead of get younger. So she spends her time on wayward teenage stuff. Then everybody falls in love and marries each other.
I was pretty disappointed in this. The concept was great, and the story could have been quite beautiful. But it just didn't get there. It wasn't very well written. The writing would have matched with a book for the 12-and under set, but it didn't seem to be aimed at that audience.
There were lots of little things that bugged me. Dogs don't use human body language to communicate. Newborn babies don't laugh. Most people wouldn't choose wading through bureaucratic red tape as a job they'd enjoy. This afterlife seemed to have lots of bureaucracy and paperwork, but everyone got to choose a job they loved, and there seemed to be no one doing the crap jobs, and no one calling the shots. Maybe I ask too much from teen literature, but this was no [b:If I Stay|4374400|If I Stay|Gayle Forman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1221604709s/4374400.jpg|4422413] or [b:The Afterlife|54387|The Afterlife|Gary Soto|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170438269s/54387.jpg|524065].
I was pretty disappointed in this. The concept was great, and the story could have been quite beautiful. But it just didn't get there. It wasn't very well written. The writing would have matched with a book for the 12-and under set, but it didn't seem to be aimed at that audience.
There were lots of little things that bugged me. Dogs don't use human body language to communicate. Newborn babies don't laugh. Most people wouldn't choose wading through bureaucratic red tape as a job they'd enjoy. This afterlife seemed to have lots of bureaucracy and paperwork, but everyone got to choose a job they loved, and there seemed to be no one doing the crap jobs, and no one calling the shots. Maybe I ask too much from teen literature, but this was no [b:If I Stay|4374400|If I Stay|Gayle Forman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1221604709s/4374400.jpg|4422413] or [b:The Afterlife|54387|The Afterlife|Gary Soto|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170438269s/54387.jpg|524065].
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No