You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Maybe more a 3.75. Not as good as severed heads broken hearts but I still enjoyed it.
This book was okay i didn't really like it that much.. i only read like almost half & i was done .. the plot didnt like it was going anywhere & the characters didn't interest me that much.. so yeah not great read..
Lane has had a pretty normal life, including being top of his high school class half way through his senior year. He has a great girlfriend and is looking forward to attending an Ivy League school, until his diagnosis of antibiotic resistant TB. Due to the high level of contagiousness, people with this diagnosis are quarantined, and Lane is no exception. He finds himself at Latham House, a boarding school for teens with TB, trying to navigate his new life. Sadie is also at Latham House, and has been for a couple years, but Lane recognizes her as someone he met at a summer camp once. Eventually they get past some issues and Lane becomes part of Sadie's friend group. This group is great for Lane as they show him more about making the most of life at Latham House. Of course, as most YA books have, there is some romance while also still dealing with this terminal illness.
I am a sucker for alternating narrators, and this book did not disappoint. Told through Lane and Sadie's perspectives, this quality gave the story a more well-rounded feel for me. As a reader I was pulling for Lane and his friends to get better, to hope that a cure was around the corner, because they were all so lovable and also funny...heck, I would have loved to be friends with them. A well written book that tackles some pretty tough subjects in a really approachable way.
I am a sucker for alternating narrators, and this book did not disappoint. Told through Lane and Sadie's perspectives, this quality gave the story a more well-rounded feel for me. As a reader I was pulling for Lane and his friends to get better, to hope that a cure was around the corner, because they were all so lovable and also funny...heck, I would have loved to be friends with them. A well written book that tackles some pretty tough subjects in a really approachable way.
(probably 3.5/5)
i loved some elements of this, it was a fun quick read, and overall it was witty and had a really nice message. But, there were definitely some points where the writing just didn't do it for me.
i loved some elements of this, it was a fun quick read, and overall it was witty and had a really nice message. But, there were definitely some points where the writing just didn't do it for me.
I think this is my sign to never touch sickfic ever again. This was marginally better than Five Feet Apart, but that isn't saying much. First of all, Sadie. Her death had next to no impact on me because she is such an unlikable character. Her actions frustrate and her dialogue comes off as the author trying to sound hip and cool with the constant insertions of pop culture references. There was this one line about the drink fandom that was really just so cringey. Because of this, the dialogue and general interactions between characters really fell flat to me.
The main group's response to Charlie's death read really oddly to me too. I understand why they left his body, since they wanted to stay in the drug trial, but there was next to no emotion or tension in the scene itself. They rationalized the death way too quickly, especially considering their blame in Charlie's death, which really took away from the scene. I'd understand if they were all in denial or if the full brunt of the scenario hadn't fully dawned on them, but it wasn't written in a way that would imply that. It needed more description, more internal monologue or anything.
I thought that I had accidentally picked up a book that was for younger audiences because of how minimally descriptive it is, and then suddenly I'd be met with the insertion of adult jokes and topics. Many scenes lose meaning because of the poor diction of the author. I have more thoughts on this book but all in all, I really disliked it. It felt less like a book and more like a fanfiction with the sad attempt of sounding like a 13 year old.
The main group's response to Charlie's death read really oddly to me too. I understand why they left his body, since they wanted to stay in the drug trial, but there was next to no emotion or tension in the scene itself. They rationalized the death way too quickly, especially considering their blame in Charlie's death, which really took away from the scene. I'd understand if they were all in denial or if the full brunt of the scenario hadn't fully dawned on them, but it wasn't written in a way that would imply that. It needed more description, more internal monologue or anything.
I thought that I had accidentally picked up a book that was for younger audiences because of how minimally descriptive it is, and then suddenly I'd be met with the insertion of adult jokes and topics. Many scenes lose meaning because of the poor diction of the author. I have more thoughts on this book but all in all, I really disliked it. It felt less like a book and more like a fanfiction with the sad attempt of sounding like a 13 year old.
#141 - 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Cerita tentang penderita Tuberculosis gak banyak, apalagi dengan genre YA. Kaget juga sih baca buku ini, karena aku gak tahu di AS masih ada yang menderita TB.
Sadie dan Lane, penghuni rumah sakit khusus TB, yang sebelumnya pernah bertemu di Summer Camp saat berusia 13 tahun. Sadie pernah mengalami hal yang memalukan disebabkan oleh Lane saat itu, yang membuat Sadie menyimpan sakit hati pada Lane. Ternyata semua itu hanya prank yang dilakukan orang lain dan bukan Lane yang melakukannya.
Begitu mengetahui bahwa bukan Lane yang melakukannya, Sadie membuka diri untuk berteman dengan Lane dan membawanya ke circle friends dia. Lambat laun berdua merekapun saling tertarik satu sama lain. Mereka punya harapan akan melanjutkan hubungan begitu keluar dari rumah sakit ini saat ada pemberitahuan ada vaksin yang berhasil menyembuhkan TB.
Aku gak mau spoiler tentang akhir cerita buku ini, dari premisnya saja kita tahu cerita ini penuh dengan angst. Kita membaca tentang kumpulan remaja penderita penyakit menular, yang cukup mematikan. Mereka todak bisa bergaul bebas diluaran karena bisa menularkan penyakit mereka. Satu sisi mereka masih punya harapan, tapi ada yang sadar bahwa mereka tinggal menunggu waktu saja.
Remaja tetap lah remaja walaupun mereka mengidap penyakit menular, mereka ingin merasakan kehidupan normal. Memiliki kekasih, mencoba minuman beralkohol, hang out bareng, melakukan kejailan, breaking the law seperti remaja normal lainnya. Hal-hal ini dilakukan oleh sekumpulan remaja ini, walaupun tidak mematuhi sebuah peraturan membuat mereka menyesali hal itu, karena mengakibatkan hal fatal.
Banyak nilai-nilai moral di buku ini, salah satunya masyarakat masih menganggap penderita penyakit menular adalah monster menakutkan yang harus dihindari dan dikucilkan. Penolakan adanya TB ward si lingkungan juga memperlihatkan kerdilnya pemikiran banyak orang dan ketidak pedulian terhadap penderita TB. Padahal mereka juga manusia biasa yang ingin sembuh, dan butuh tempat khusus untuk perawatan. Aku berharap lebih banyak lagi masyarakat yang lebih peduli dan terbuka pemikirannya mengenai hal ini.
Genre: YA Contemporary
Cerita tentang penderita Tuberculosis gak banyak, apalagi dengan genre YA. Kaget juga sih baca buku ini, karena aku gak tahu di AS masih ada yang menderita TB.
Sadie dan Lane, penghuni rumah sakit khusus TB, yang sebelumnya pernah bertemu di Summer Camp saat berusia 13 tahun. Sadie pernah mengalami hal yang memalukan disebabkan oleh Lane saat itu, yang membuat Sadie menyimpan sakit hati pada Lane. Ternyata semua itu hanya prank yang dilakukan orang lain dan bukan Lane yang melakukannya.
Begitu mengetahui bahwa bukan Lane yang melakukannya, Sadie membuka diri untuk berteman dengan Lane dan membawanya ke circle friends dia. Lambat laun berdua merekapun saling tertarik satu sama lain. Mereka punya harapan akan melanjutkan hubungan begitu keluar dari rumah sakit ini saat ada pemberitahuan ada vaksin yang berhasil menyembuhkan TB.
Aku gak mau spoiler tentang akhir cerita buku ini, dari premisnya saja kita tahu cerita ini penuh dengan angst. Kita membaca tentang kumpulan remaja penderita penyakit menular, yang cukup mematikan. Mereka todak bisa bergaul bebas diluaran karena bisa menularkan penyakit mereka. Satu sisi mereka masih punya harapan, tapi ada yang sadar bahwa mereka tinggal menunggu waktu saja.
Remaja tetap lah remaja walaupun mereka mengidap penyakit menular, mereka ingin merasakan kehidupan normal. Memiliki kekasih, mencoba minuman beralkohol, hang out bareng, melakukan kejailan, breaking the law seperti remaja normal lainnya. Hal-hal ini dilakukan oleh sekumpulan remaja ini, walaupun tidak mematuhi sebuah peraturan membuat mereka menyesali hal itu, karena mengakibatkan hal fatal.
Banyak nilai-nilai moral di buku ini, salah satunya masyarakat masih menganggap penderita penyakit menular adalah monster menakutkan yang harus dihindari dan dikucilkan. Penolakan adanya TB ward si lingkungan juga memperlihatkan kerdilnya pemikiran banyak orang dan ketidak pedulian terhadap penderita TB. Padahal mereka juga manusia biasa yang ingin sembuh, dan butuh tempat khusus untuk perawatan. Aku berharap lebih banyak lagi masyarakat yang lebih peduli dan terbuka pemikirannya mengenai hal ini.
very predictable. so much taken from TFIOS but toned down sooo much that there wasn't anything exciting about the story.
too flat and predictable for me. no emotions tugged nor nostalgia.hits..
too flat and predictable for me. no emotions tugged nor nostalgia.hits..
After a bit of a ponder, I still can't quite decide if this a 3 or 3-and-a-half starrer. I enjoyed 'Extraordinary Means', it was very readable and handled its topics impressively well. Considered and authentic portrayal and exploration of the lives of the young and seriously ill is sorely lacking in literature, and its realisation here will mean a lot to many people, and hopefully do a lot for many too. There are a few moments of genuine greatness, definitely quotes I shall be taking note of.
But while overall the writing is more than sound, where this book falls down for me may well be where it flies for others: it relies heavily on modern YA tropes, two of my pet hate ones in particular. Firstly, it is liberally seasoned with slang and pop culture references which are either too throwaway current to last into the vernacular of the novel's near-future teens, or lacking the significance that would see them stand that test of time. And secondly, the characters suffered from what gets up my nose about a lot of John Green et al creations: they started off charming but quickly became overdone, tiresomely faux-legit, world-weary and semi-profound.
I'd love to see what Schneider might produce if she didn't feel the need to throw in a band name, reference to Tumblr or half-baked sardonicism every other sentence. Young adults are hard to write, I get that, and their fast-changing culture and terms of expression are two of the reasons why - but I'm fed up of reading this style of cardboard-cutout-with-sprinkles teenager. It's not realistic, it's not clever, and it detracts immeasurably from good writing.
And so I found myself stuck, hmm-ing back and forth between stars. Having written out my thoughts, I reckon this may be where 'Extraordinary Means' belongs: lost in the indefinable between what is and waht could have been. This does feel a little harsh - just to be clear, I did like the book! - but I hate to see such potential smothered by stylisation, especially when what is good here is important, and done so well.
But while overall the writing is more than sound, where this book falls down for me may well be where it flies for others: it relies heavily on modern YA tropes, two of my pet hate ones in particular. Firstly, it is liberally seasoned with slang and pop culture references which are either too throwaway current to last into the vernacular of the novel's near-future teens, or lacking the significance that would see them stand that test of time. And secondly, the characters suffered from what gets up my nose about a lot of John Green et al creations: they started off charming but quickly became overdone, tiresomely faux-legit, world-weary and semi-profound.
I'd love to see what Schneider might produce if she didn't feel the need to throw in a band name, reference to Tumblr or half-baked sardonicism every other sentence. Young adults are hard to write, I get that, and their fast-changing culture and terms of expression are two of the reasons why - but I'm fed up of reading this style of cardboard-cutout-with-sprinkles teenager. It's not realistic, it's not clever, and it detracts immeasurably from good writing.
And so I found myself stuck, hmm-ing back and forth between stars. Having written out my thoughts, I reckon this may be where 'Extraordinary Means' belongs: lost in the indefinable between what is and waht could have been. This does feel a little harsh - just to be clear, I did like the book! - but I hate to see such potential smothered by stylisation, especially when what is good here is important, and done so well.
