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3.22 AVERAGE
3.22 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF ~ 30%
Well that was boring. It’s as if someone took Midsommar and threw in a whole bunch of boring people and plots, and it was just a boring mess.
How many times can I say boring? Boring, boring, boring. Haha
Ok I’ll stop now.
Well that was boring. It’s as if someone took Midsommar and threw in a whole bunch of boring people and plots, and it was just a boring mess.
How many times can I say boring? Boring, boring, boring. Haha
Ok I’ll stop now.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
This one is woerd as I love the concept of it but i just felt as if the book went somewhere and stayed there! It seemed a little repetitive but i did still enjoy it.
All I will say about this book, is that it is utterly magnificent, and heartbreaking, and full of moments I can utterly relate too, and even more moments where I cried inside, or outside, and while I ached for Kyra and Corey, my heart also sang because I love stories and this one is GLORIOUS.
This novel was written for a much younger audience than myself, and I found it hard to fully engage in the story and the characters. That said, excellent writing for a first-time novelist. I hope she wins the hearts of many young readers.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Understanding. Accepting. Embracing. These qualities are part of loving. Before I let Go is a portrayal of learning about fully loving another person. Not to change, not rewrite, not to recreate. Just to love. These are arduous beliefs to practice in a society of perfectionism and expectation. This fable like story, takes the readers by the hand to walk them through how to get to this remarkable acumen of acceptance. Marieke writes a story that is full of symbols and shadows, letting the reader attribute their own ideas as to what is and why by not answering all the questions presented. Her writing is sometimes rough and lacking in the poetic flow of storytelling, yet in this case it is does not hinder the message, rather it drops it along the way for the reader to pick up and carry along. An advisable read for better understanding of mental illness and depression in teens.
This was a pretty intriguing story. It deals with mental illness in a unique way where Kyra essentially dies due to neglect by her parents and the entire town of Lost. The community essentially reminded me of a religious cult where they refuse outsiders and anyone who doesn’t fit the mold of what they want, gets cast aside unless they prove useful like Kyra did with her art.
Corey was definitely a relatable protagonist and I applaud Marieke Nijkamp for making her Asexual, as I’ve have yet to read any books regarding LGBTQ characters who were Asexual. I really felt Corey’s anger, bitterness, and grief as she essentially not only lost her best friend but also her home town as they cut her out of their community after she moved away and refused to acknowledge that they were RESPONSIBLE for Kyra’s death by isolating her for years, refusing to provide treatment when she asked for it, and essentially making her their prisoner just because her artwork made the feel special. Her parents are terrible people and I had no sympathy left for them, only anger after finishing the book. Kyra deserves help to overcome her illness and be given a chance to live a full life instead of such a short one.
Overall, this book packed a lot into it, from grieving a loss of a friend, to the eerie and terrifying cult of the town of lost and the way they would watch anyone die who threatened their beliefs. It was worth the read.
Corey was definitely a relatable protagonist and I applaud Marieke Nijkamp for making her Asexual, as I’ve have yet to read any books regarding LGBTQ characters who were Asexual. I really felt Corey’s anger, bitterness, and grief as she essentially not only lost her best friend but also her home town as they cut her out of their community after she moved away and refused to acknowledge that they were RESPONSIBLE for Kyra’s death by isolating her for years, refusing to provide treatment when she asked for it, and essentially making her their prisoner just because her artwork made the feel special. Her parents are terrible people and I had no sympathy left for them, only anger after finishing the book. Kyra deserves help to overcome her illness and be given a chance to live a full life instead of such a short one.
Overall, this book packed a lot into it, from grieving a loss of a friend, to the eerie and terrifying cult of the town of lost and the way they would watch anyone die who threatened their beliefs. It was worth the read.