Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
A great story that deals with some heavy themes (ex. death, change, growing up) in a light-hearted and innocent manner. Alex Woods is a great narrator who manages to completely understand and misunderstand his circumstances at one. His story is a great adventure and fun one to read.
Definitely a sweet book with quirky humor but I struggled through the middle half of it. I seriously considered not finishing it but I'm glad I did.
Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I initially thought this book was YA as it is shelved as such on goodreads but now that I have read it, I feel like that is inaccurate. On the one hand, the main character is a teenager reaching his seventeenth year during the course of this book. But on the other hand, age of the protagonist is not the only qualifier for a YA novel. Saying that, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I think there is definitely crossover appeal although I would be more inclined to shelve this as adult, when I compare it to the other YA books I've read.
The book opens in what I found to be a confusing manner but then jumps back in time to show how Alex reached that scene. This unfolds at a very leisurely pace so be prepared to invest some time. While events happen, I feel like this is more character-driven (it's Alex's coming of age story) and I was surprised by how much I ultimately liked it as the beginning had so dissatisfied me.
The jump back in time takes us to Alex being hit in the head with a meteorite and I thought that would be the focus. While this plays an important role in Alex's formation, it does not end up being the main plot, serving ultimately as more of a sidenote. That is another reason I struggled in the beginning-what is the point of this book? How exactly is the universe against Alex? Again though once the story begins moving in earnest, it really takes off and is absolutely gripping.
Alex is just the kind of character I like (and can really identify with.) He feels very out of step with his peers, preferring more introverted contemplative pastimes especially in the sciences (remember how he was hit on the head by a rock falling from space?), and seeking out the company of adults. Although I was never much into science, I have the other two traits and I appreciated Alex in all his awkwardness. There's also a character Ellie whose bluntness cracked me up. She is an important character but doesn't get much page time to my dismay.
Overall: A disorienting beginning and difficult categorization made the start of this book a tough read but I'm very glad I stuck to it. The humor and the way everything ties together were well worth it. I only wish I was more familiar with Kurt Vonnegut as this book pays significant tribute to him (and I've read a grand total of none of his books.)
I initially thought this book was YA as it is shelved as such on goodreads but now that I have read it, I feel like that is inaccurate. On the one hand, the main character is a teenager reaching his seventeenth year during the course of this book. But on the other hand, age of the protagonist is not the only qualifier for a YA novel. Saying that, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I think there is definitely crossover appeal although I would be more inclined to shelve this as adult, when I compare it to the other YA books I've read.
The book opens in what I found to be a confusing manner but then jumps back in time to show how Alex reached that scene. This unfolds at a very leisurely pace so be prepared to invest some time. While events happen, I feel like this is more character-driven (it's Alex's coming of age story) and I was surprised by how much I ultimately liked it as the beginning had so dissatisfied me.
The jump back in time takes us to Alex being hit in the head with a meteorite and I thought that would be the focus. While this plays an important role in Alex's formation, it does not end up being the main plot, serving ultimately as more of a sidenote. That is another reason I struggled in the beginning-what is the point of this book? How exactly is the universe against Alex? Again though once the story begins moving in earnest, it really takes off and is absolutely gripping.
Alex is just the kind of character I like (and can really identify with.) He feels very out of step with his peers, preferring more introverted contemplative pastimes especially in the sciences (remember how he was hit on the head by a rock falling from space?), and seeking out the company of adults. Although I was never much into science, I have the other two traits and I appreciated Alex in all his awkwardness. There's also a character Ellie whose bluntness cracked me up. She is an important character but doesn't get much page time to my dismay.
Overall: A disorienting beginning and difficult categorization made the start of this book a tough read but I'm very glad I stuck to it. The humor and the way everything ties together were well worth it. I only wish I was more familiar with Kurt Vonnegut as this book pays significant tribute to him (and I've read a grand total of none of his books.)
Once I actually got into this book, I really loved it. I'm not entirely sure why it took me roughly 8 months of being 12-13-14% of the way through but I raced through the rest within the last week.
When the book begun with the ending, as it were, I was a little annoyed that I thought the entire plot was given away, but as was the point of the whole tale (in my opinion), it gave way to a much deeper and greater story. Despite how utterly bizarre the series of events leading up to the final crux seems to be, when written out logically and with due explanation, everything was something I could imagine witnessing, if not necessarily living through myself.
Though it took a while to get to that stage, I realised the real point of this book was about friendship, and anyone who knows me will know that I'd far rather read about a good ol friendship than a terrible romantic cliche, especially friendship of the unshakeable kind. The friends in question are an unusual pair, but that seems to be how you end up in the greatest conversation, the best situations and the strongest trust. Alex is an extremely well developed character and though naive to so much of the world, brings a great new joy into an elderly persons life. Along the way he is taught to drive, accused of property damage, forms a book cult, learns a lot about Kurt Vonnegut and gets drawn into the business of growing cannabis in an attic. All of this sort of happens because he was hit in the head by a piece of a meteor a few years earlier.
I find that I cannot say much about the plot because it would either be insufficient and seem strange and random, or I'd go on for days, because though I didn't seem to realise while reading it, a lot does go on within this book. I recommend re-reading the first chapter towards the end, it explains a fair amount and also really ties it all together, with subtle references to characters that you have not met at that point and subsequently forget were in that first chapter.
All in all a great read, emotional and unique and humorous, with well rounded characters and some great literary references within.
When the book begun with the ending, as it were, I was a little annoyed that I thought the entire plot was given away, but as was the point of the whole tale (in my opinion), it gave way to a much deeper and greater story. Despite how utterly bizarre the series of events leading up to the final crux seems to be, when written out logically and with due explanation, everything was something I could imagine witnessing, if not necessarily living through myself.
Though it took a while to get to that stage, I realised the real point of this book was about friendship, and anyone who knows me will know that I'd far rather read about a good ol friendship than a terrible romantic cliche, especially friendship of the unshakeable kind. The friends in question are an unusual pair, but that seems to be how you end up in the greatest conversation, the best situations and the strongest trust. Alex is an extremely well developed character and though naive to so much of the world, brings a great new joy into an elderly persons life. Along the way he is taught to drive, accused of property damage, forms a book cult, learns a lot about Kurt Vonnegut and gets drawn into the business of growing cannabis in an attic. All of this sort of happens because he was hit in the head by a piece of a meteor a few years earlier.
I find that I cannot say much about the plot because it would either be insufficient and seem strange and random, or I'd go on for days, because though I didn't seem to realise while reading it, a lot does go on within this book. I recommend re-reading the first chapter towards the end, it explains a fair amount and also really ties it all together, with subtle references to characters that you have not met at that point and subsequently forget were in that first chapter.
All in all a great read, emotional and unique and humorous, with well rounded characters and some great literary references within.
A good, solid read and not at all what I expected. Extence may have changed my mind on assisted suicide with this one.
Alex Woods war mir gleich sympathisch. Ich habe was übrig für Außenseiter die wissbegierig und literatur-interessiert sind. Alex gilt bei seinen Mitschülern als schwul, weil er gerne liest und lernt. Alex versucht trotzdem seine Bücher zu lesen und gute Leistungen in der Schule zu erbringen. Ich mag Alex genau deshalb. Wegen seiner Marotten und Ecken und Kanten und seinen teils komischen Gedanken. Er ist jemand der viel wissen möchte, weil es ihm Spaß macht. Zudem ist er ein Fan der Bücher von Kurt Vonnegut (ja, den Autoren gibt es wirklich). All diese kleinen und großen Details verleihen Alex Tiefgang. Auch Mr. Peterson ist mir sehr ans Herz gewachsen. Die Entwicklung der Charaktere ist schön mitzuerleben. Überhaupt mag ich den Roman so, weil es eine Geschichte aus dem wahren Leben sein könnte.
Fazit
Ein Roman der begeistert - sowohl mit seinem Schreibstil als auch mit der Geschichte konnte mich Gavin Extence überzeugen. Lesen!
Fazit
Ein Roman der begeistert - sowohl mit seinem Schreibstil als auch mit der Geschichte konnte mich Gavin Extence überzeugen. Lesen!
I thought this book was really excellent. It was really unusual and I was never quite sure where the story would go but I enjoyed the ride and I would definitely recommend it to others.
This one was recommended to me by one of my high school students. I loved it. This is one of those books that quietly sneaks its way into your heart and mind. In fact, I gave very little thought to it early on and found myself not entirely engaged, but at some point I discovered that I was all in, along for the ride and so happy to be a part of the experience. Lovely and moving. Left me balling and smiling.
There needs to be more literature about assisted suicide. This was a beautiful tale of Alex helping his friend. I’m hoping this option will be around when I’m ready to go.
My best read this year. Like a cross between Elinor Oliphant / Rosie Project / Me Before You. Such good moments, characters were likeable and the narrative was fab. Adult themes tackled very well.