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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Not precisely my cup of tea, but anyone who's been through a breakup can probably relate to some aspect of Min's experience. The illustrations by Maira Kalman add a fun, charming aspect to this otherwise depressing breakup story. Min is very likable-and you have to love Daniel Handler's (aka Lemony Snicket) wit and sarcasm.
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Min Green writes a letter to Ed Slaterton in which she breaks up with him, documenting their relationship and how items in the accompanying box, from bottle caps to a cookbook, foretell the end.
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Min Green writes a letter to Ed Slaterton in which she breaks up with him, documenting their relationship and how items in the accompanying box, from bottle caps to a cookbook, foretell the end.
I don't usually go for anything YA, but this was so well written, I couldn't resist.
El listado de falsas películas, cantantes y grupos, actores y actrices, sitios, restaurantes y demás es magnifico. Muy buen libro.
I really liked this book for so many reasons. One of them is that I have an odd fondness for Lemony Snicket. So, although I would normally not pick up a book about a high school break up, I gave this one a chance. I'm glad I did.
It follows Min, short for Minerva Roman Goddess of Wisdom, and Ed's relationship. Min has decided to write a letter to Ed and include it in a box with all the things from their relationship. Its a purge; its an end. Throughout the book she repeats, "This is why we broke up" like a mantra. I've noticed that several reviews commented on that, but I think it was perfect for the tone of the book. This is a little whiny and self-indulgent, because its a young girl who fell for the wrong guy. Its her heartbreak, and it makes sense. This rings true for my high school experience. I remember the whining and the ranting and the repetition and the anger at the ex.
You can see why Min falls for Ed, though, even with all the warning signs. You get why she is fascinated that this guy, this popular guy, has picked her and thinks she is so "different". You get why she overlooks the things he does, and is charmed by his apologies. You get it. Though Ed is annoying and its pretty obvious he's a jerk, it makes sense. After reading YA or fantasy or watching any number of romantic comedies, we're trained to forgive someone these small indiscretions. They're flawed; they're wounded. They have a deep pain, and it will be okay because it will be different for us.
That's why I liked this book. This is the other side, the more realistic side of that relationship. Its where the bad-boy relationship inevitably ends up, with the innocent girl hurt and the boy moving on to something else. Sure, he loved her, but he was also a jerk. The love for her wasn't going to fix that.
I liked that Daniel Handler approached the book this way. So I forgive the girl for her whines and repetitiveness. I think a lot of us have been there. We fell for the wrong guy, and let them charm us, (or someone close to us did), and we don't see the warning signs or the end of the road. Instead, we see the charming smile and the way they look at us. And after, we beat ourselves up and whine and get angry.
I think this is honest and sweet at parts and sad. Its also about demanding to be treated better and about how its okay to be fooled sometimes, and about getting over it.
I think the art added so much to it, and really was integral to the story. Seeing the objects with the text was important. It was about Min putting away these memories, and seeing how everything started, and it was good to see that visual representation.
Of course, there are run-ons here, and normally that would bother me. However, I think it fits the tone. It makes sense that a girl pouring out her feelings on notebook paper to her ex-boyfriend would go on and on and forget about periods. It makes sense her anger and heartbrokenness would come across that way.
So, I do recommend this book. I liked Min, and her friends, and Al (who could have been a niceguy (TM), but wasn't. Or rather, he comes out of being one by being honest and not expecting her to feel the same way, and just being a good friend.) There was a lot to like about this, like the vocabulary or the way it makes you want to watch old movies, or the way it captures that frustration and sadness. I think this one could definitely be divisive, and I get why it doesn't appeal to everyone. But I liked it. I liked it for the illustrations and the run-on sentences, and the author blurbs on the back that talk about bad breakups, and the pretty cover. This review from the amazing blog Slatebreakers http://slatebreakers.com/2012/01/30/review-why-we-broke-up-by-daniel-handler-and-maira-kalman/, covers it much better than I do.
I'll leave you with the end of their review:
"Because this is a book about figuring out who you are, and realizing that who you are sometimes involves other people. And when those other people, whether they’re boyfriends, friends, parents, anyone, leave your life, it changes you, and it breaks your heart. But that doesn’t mean you don’t get to go forward, and still live your life, and still figure out who you are and who you’re going to be. Min does. And the readers of the book, especially those who might stumble across it in a moment of grieving their own heartbreak – I have a strong suspicion that they will too."
It follows Min, short for Minerva Roman Goddess of Wisdom, and Ed's relationship. Min has decided to write a letter to Ed and include it in a box with all the things from their relationship. Its a purge; its an end. Throughout the book she repeats, "This is why we broke up" like a mantra. I've noticed that several reviews commented on that, but I think it was perfect for the tone of the book. This is a little whiny and self-indulgent, because its a young girl who fell for the wrong guy. Its her heartbreak, and it makes sense. This rings true for my high school experience. I remember the whining and the ranting and the repetition and the anger at the ex.
You can see why Min falls for Ed, though, even with all the warning signs. You get why she is fascinated that this guy, this popular guy, has picked her and thinks she is so "different". You get why she overlooks the things he does, and is charmed by his apologies. You get it. Though Ed is annoying and its pretty obvious he's a jerk, it makes sense. After reading YA or fantasy or watching any number of romantic comedies, we're trained to forgive someone these small indiscretions. They're flawed; they're wounded. They have a deep pain, and it will be okay because it will be different for us.
That's why I liked this book. This is the other side, the more realistic side of that relationship. Its where the bad-boy relationship inevitably ends up, with the innocent girl hurt and the boy moving on to something else. Sure, he loved her, but he was also a jerk. The love for her wasn't going to fix that.
I liked that Daniel Handler approached the book this way. So I forgive the girl for her whines and repetitiveness. I think a lot of us have been there. We fell for the wrong guy, and let them charm us, (or someone close to us did), and we don't see the warning signs or the end of the road. Instead, we see the charming smile and the way they look at us. And after, we beat ourselves up and whine and get angry.
I think this is honest and sweet at parts and sad. Its also about demanding to be treated better and about how its okay to be fooled sometimes, and about getting over it.
I think the art added so much to it, and really was integral to the story. Seeing the objects with the text was important. It was about Min putting away these memories, and seeing how everything started, and it was good to see that visual representation.
Of course, there are run-ons here, and normally that would bother me. However, I think it fits the tone. It makes sense that a girl pouring out her feelings on notebook paper to her ex-boyfriend would go on and on and forget about periods. It makes sense her anger and heartbrokenness would come across that way.
So, I do recommend this book. I liked Min, and her friends, and Al (who could have been a niceguy (TM), but wasn't. Or rather, he comes out of being one by being honest and not expecting her to feel the same way, and just being a good friend.) There was a lot to like about this, like the vocabulary or the way it makes you want to watch old movies, or the way it captures that frustration and sadness. I think this one could definitely be divisive, and I get why it doesn't appeal to everyone. But I liked it. I liked it for the illustrations and the run-on sentences, and the author blurbs on the back that talk about bad breakups, and the pretty cover. This review from the amazing blog Slatebreakers http://slatebreakers.com/2012/01/30/review-why-we-broke-up-by-daniel-handler-and-maira-kalman/, covers it much better than I do.
I'll leave you with the end of their review:
"Because this is a book about figuring out who you are, and realizing that who you are sometimes involves other people. And when those other people, whether they’re boyfriends, friends, parents, anyone, leave your life, it changes you, and it breaks your heart. But that doesn’t mean you don’t get to go forward, and still live your life, and still figure out who you are and who you’re going to be. Min does. And the readers of the book, especially those who might stumble across it in a moment of grieving their own heartbreak – I have a strong suspicion that they will too."
I've wanted to read this book for years and years. A Series of Unfortunate Events was my Harry Potter growing up, and I always wanted to read a Daniel Handler book, and this always looked interesting. For whatever reason I just never got around to picking this book up. Since breaking up with my first boyfriend in January, I've been reading a lot of books about failed relationships because misery loves company. I had no idea how much this book would impact me.
I see so much of myself in Min. I've written pages and pages of letters and texts to my ex, in attempts to remind him why we got together and why we deserve a second chance. Realizing this book is all a letter resonated way too much with me. While I don't see any of my most recent love in Ed, I see more of the first guy I ever went on a date with in him. All around, this book has a lot of similarities to my own breakups.
Reading this book now was meant to be. If I had read it at 14 or 15 years old, I would never have had the emotional connection to it that I have now, since my heart has been broken. I relived my first love with Min and Ed, remembering all of my firsts with them. I also got to relive my breakup, though mine and Min's were vastly different (thank god). Her words in her letter are reminiscent of mine, however, and I feel very emotionally in sync with her.
I see so much of myself in Min. I've written pages and pages of letters and texts to my ex, in attempts to remind him why we got together and why we deserve a second chance. Realizing this book is all a letter resonated way too much with me. While I don't see any of my most recent love in Ed, I see more of the first guy I ever went on a date with in him. All around, this book has a lot of similarities to my own breakups.
Reading this book now was meant to be. If I had read it at 14 or 15 years old, I would never have had the emotional connection to it that I have now, since my heart has been broken. I relived my first love with Min and Ed, remembering all of my firsts with them. I also got to relive my breakup, though mine and Min's were vastly different (thank god). Her words in her letter are reminiscent of mine, however, and I feel very emotionally in sync with her.
When we fall in love, we so quickly believe we know that person, their truest self, and feel betrayed and lost when who they were to us disappears. We're left wondering if what we felt was ever real for anyone but ourselves, leaving us to relive the relationship, going over every sweet moment and every sign that it would inevitably end.
Watching a relationship from the outside, it's easy to say it's only been a month, it was hardly a relationship at all. Yet a whole book can be written about the love shared between two people, even if it's short-lived. Every moment spent together is an eternity in comparison to the mundane moments of everyday life.
Watching a relationship from the outside, it's easy to say it's only been a month, it was hardly a relationship at all. Yet a whole book can be written about the love shared between two people, even if it's short-lived. Every moment spent together is an eternity in comparison to the mundane moments of everyday life.
Loved the format of this book -- the full color, the weight of it. I thought it was good. Shows teenage "love" realistically. Shows how it is easy to lose yourself in the throes of first love. Liked it.
This is not a tale for everyone. But if as a teen you were someone extraordinary who no one noticed and you loved someone ordinary who everyone treated like a god then you will probably appreciate the tragic comedy that is this tale.
The only complaint I have about the story is the constant reference to fictional old movies and fictional old Hollywood stars. I appreciate that this was the hobby of the protagonist and that there are some parallels and plot lines that turn on he references but generally I found them to be distracting.
The only complaint I have about the story is the constant reference to fictional old movies and fictional old Hollywood stars. I appreciate that this was the hobby of the protagonist and that there are some parallels and plot lines that turn on he references but generally I found them to be distracting.
Chemistry. Pheromones. Physical attraction. Lust. Yet not just physical, because what are our emotions but more chemical reactions? So: love. Some bodies--some people--are just meant to go together. Feel pulled toward each other. Feel right together.
Even when it doesn’t make any sense; even when personalities, interests, backgrounds are different; even when the two people come from different worlds, will have trouble understanding each other, have friends who will never like each other, just don’t seem compatible in any way: attraction happens. Love happens. It makes no sense, it just is.
This is one such story of inexplicable attraction. Min’s version of the story, told after the fact as a break-up letter. A letter delivered, along with a (nicely illustrated) collection of mementos from the relationship, in a box to Ed’s front porch. It’s her attempt to understand their relationship and just why it didn’t work. To, in some small way, heal her broken heart and move on.
Because she believed so much that it would work. Even though her artsy, coffee-shop-frequenting, old-movie-watching friends tried to convince her that a popular star jock like co-captain of the basketball team Ed Slaterton just wasn’t right for her, she was convinced he was because their attraction was so strong--too strong to be denied. They were different than each other, but they were drawn to each other; each wanted to learn about the other’s differences, to grow and become a deeper, more rounded person because of the other. It was an attraction that became love, even when they had to cut off others who tried to stop them. It was destined to be.
Yet it wasn’t. This is Min’s exploration why.
Even when it doesn’t make any sense; even when personalities, interests, backgrounds are different; even when the two people come from different worlds, will have trouble understanding each other, have friends who will never like each other, just don’t seem compatible in any way: attraction happens. Love happens. It makes no sense, it just is.
This is one such story of inexplicable attraction. Min’s version of the story, told after the fact as a break-up letter. A letter delivered, along with a (nicely illustrated) collection of mementos from the relationship, in a box to Ed’s front porch. It’s her attempt to understand their relationship and just why it didn’t work. To, in some small way, heal her broken heart and move on.
Because she believed so much that it would work. Even though her artsy, coffee-shop-frequenting, old-movie-watching friends tried to convince her that a popular star jock like co-captain of the basketball team Ed Slaterton just wasn’t right for her, she was convinced he was because their attraction was so strong--too strong to be denied. They were different than each other, but they were drawn to each other; each wanted to learn about the other’s differences, to grow and become a deeper, more rounded person because of the other. It was an attraction that became love, even when they had to cut off others who tried to stop them. It was destined to be.
Yet it wasn’t. This is Min’s exploration why.