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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
One of my favorite books.
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Re leído, 2016.
Cada vez que leo este libro, me enamoro de Ed Slaterton y siempre me rompe el corazón.
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Re leído, 2016.
Cada vez que leo este libro, me enamoro de Ed Slaterton y siempre me rompe el corazón.
lighthearted
Way too juvenile
The art was cool though
The art was cool though
Bittersweet and funny, this tells the history of Ed and Min's ill-fated romance through objects that Min collected and her accompanying novel-length note. Min is a fully recognizable character (though maybe rather too articulate for 16 or maybe that's just me, remembering my 16yo self), though Ed never really comes alive. Initially I found Min's awkward running on and somewhat jumbled syntax to be rather irritating, but I got used to it (but quite often found myself thinking I'd read a paragraph and not really got the point of it). Billed as a YA novel, it feels more sophisticated than many and is certainly borderline adult.
Liebes Why We Broke Up,
du bist ein absoluter Hingucker… und ein Anker in der Handtasche. Deine Zeichnungen kommen auf Hochglanzpapier zwar besonders gut zur Geltung, aber sie machen dich auch zu einem Zementblock von Buch.
Ich bin total angetan von deinem Konzept. Deine Protagonistin Min ist nämlich dabei ihrem Ex-Freund Ed all seine Sachen wiederzugeben, also den nostalgischen Klimbim, den man als Verliebter in einer Erinnerungskiste so ansammelt (von einem gemeinsamen Kochbuch über Kinotickets für Filme, die man zusammen gesehen hat bis zur ersten Kondomverpackung). All diese Gegenstände hat Maira Kalman liebevoll in dich hineingezeichnet, damit dein Papa Daniel Handler anschließend Mins Geschichte erzählen kann und ich als Leser mir die Exfreundeboxgegenstände nicht alle nur gedanklich vorstellen muss.
Wie zu erwarten, wenn ich bedenke, wer dich großgezogen hat, bist du ein stiltechnisches Feuerwerk. Die Art wie du redest ist sowohl experimentell als auch originell. Manchmal kommst du nicht mal zum Luftholen, woraufhin ich kurz verwirrt bin und nicht mehr sicher weiß, worüber du gerade redest. Doch mit ein bisschen Konzentration und Augen zudrücken ist das überhaupt kein Problem und mir tausend Mal lieber als langweiliges Standardgesäusel.
Was wir übrigens nicht gemeinsam haben, ist eine unbändige Vorliebe für alte Filme. Ich kenne mich in dem Bereich überhaupt nicht aus, weiß höchstens wer Audrey Hepburn ist, aber du schmeißt mit Schauspielernamen, Filmtiteln und ganzen Szenen nur so um dich. Das ist eine wichtige Seite an dir, die dich und deine Protagonistin Min ausmacht, aber ganz ehrlich: mir hat das rein gar nichts gebracht, und ging mir dank meines Unwissens gelegentlich auf die Nerven.
Deine Charaktere habe ich alle sehr lieb gewonnen. Allen voran Min, die anders ist ohne je Wert darauf gelegt zu haben. Ich fand es unheimlich spannend, was jemand wie sie an Football-Klischee-Star Ed finden konnte (und andersherum). Allerdings muss ich gestehen, dass du mich eingewickelt hast mit deinen Erzählungen. Ich hab die Funken gesehen, das Herzklopfen gespürt und auch das unausweichliche Brechen. Ich würde Min aufgrund ihres beinahe blinden Vertrauens gegenüber Ed keineswegs als dumm bezeichnen. Man ist eben so, wenn man sich zum ersten Mal richtig verknallt, man kann da nicht immer unterscheiden, was echt, was groß, was Wunschdenken ist. Das hast du wirklich auf sehr authentische Art und Weise dargestellt.
Gegen Al verliert Ed (interessant, dass die beiden männlichen Hauptparts je nur zweibuchstabige Namen tragen) dagegen auf ganzer Linie, denn Al verkörpert den treuen besten Freund, der Min alles vergibt und immer für sie da ist. Seufz.
Bitte richte deinem Papa aus, dass ich deine entfernten Cousins (A Series of Unfortunate Events, die Daniel Handler unter dem Synonym Lemony Snicket geschrieben hat) zwar über alles liebe, mir jedoch wünsche, dass er ab jetzt zahlreiche Geschwister in deinem Alter schreibt.
In bitterem Abschied,
Infinite Playlist
du bist ein absoluter Hingucker… und ein Anker in der Handtasche. Deine Zeichnungen kommen auf Hochglanzpapier zwar besonders gut zur Geltung, aber sie machen dich auch zu einem Zementblock von Buch.
Ich bin total angetan von deinem Konzept. Deine Protagonistin Min ist nämlich dabei ihrem Ex-Freund Ed all seine Sachen wiederzugeben, also den nostalgischen Klimbim, den man als Verliebter in einer Erinnerungskiste so ansammelt (von einem gemeinsamen Kochbuch über Kinotickets für Filme, die man zusammen gesehen hat bis zur ersten Kondomverpackung). All diese Gegenstände hat Maira Kalman liebevoll in dich hineingezeichnet, damit dein Papa Daniel Handler anschließend Mins Geschichte erzählen kann und ich als Leser mir die Exfreundeboxgegenstände nicht alle nur gedanklich vorstellen muss.
Wie zu erwarten, wenn ich bedenke, wer dich großgezogen hat, bist du ein stiltechnisches Feuerwerk. Die Art wie du redest ist sowohl experimentell als auch originell. Manchmal kommst du nicht mal zum Luftholen, woraufhin ich kurz verwirrt bin und nicht mehr sicher weiß, worüber du gerade redest. Doch mit ein bisschen Konzentration und Augen zudrücken ist das überhaupt kein Problem und mir tausend Mal lieber als langweiliges Standardgesäusel.
Was wir übrigens nicht gemeinsam haben, ist eine unbändige Vorliebe für alte Filme. Ich kenne mich in dem Bereich überhaupt nicht aus, weiß höchstens wer Audrey Hepburn ist, aber du schmeißt mit Schauspielernamen, Filmtiteln und ganzen Szenen nur so um dich. Das ist eine wichtige Seite an dir, die dich und deine Protagonistin Min ausmacht, aber ganz ehrlich: mir hat das rein gar nichts gebracht, und ging mir dank meines Unwissens gelegentlich auf die Nerven.
Deine Charaktere habe ich alle sehr lieb gewonnen. Allen voran Min, die anders ist ohne je Wert darauf gelegt zu haben. Ich fand es unheimlich spannend, was jemand wie sie an Football-Klischee-Star Ed finden konnte (und andersherum). Allerdings muss ich gestehen, dass du mich eingewickelt hast mit deinen Erzählungen. Ich hab die Funken gesehen, das Herzklopfen gespürt und auch das unausweichliche Brechen. Ich würde Min aufgrund ihres beinahe blinden Vertrauens gegenüber Ed keineswegs als dumm bezeichnen. Man ist eben so, wenn man sich zum ersten Mal richtig verknallt, man kann da nicht immer unterscheiden, was echt, was groß, was Wunschdenken ist. Das hast du wirklich auf sehr authentische Art und Weise dargestellt.
Gegen Al verliert Ed (interessant, dass die beiden männlichen Hauptparts je nur zweibuchstabige Namen tragen) dagegen auf ganzer Linie, denn Al verkörpert den treuen besten Freund, der Min alles vergibt und immer für sie da ist. Seufz.
Bitte richte deinem Papa aus, dass ich deine entfernten Cousins (A Series of Unfortunate Events, die Daniel Handler unter dem Synonym Lemony Snicket geschrieben hat) zwar über alles liebe, mir jedoch wünsche, dass er ab jetzt zahlreiche Geschwister in deinem Alter schreibt.
In bitterem Abschied,
Infinite Playlist
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
First of all, I hated the way this book was written. I know it's supposed to read like a letter, but the lack of grammar, the random use of weird words and the sometimes odd dialogue just meant I kept having to re-read things. Not sure if the author thought that this is/was how teenagers talk? Not in my experience.
Honestly, the main reason I finished this book was because I don't like to leave books unfinished. I really didn't love it or feel amazed by any of it. The characters are not particularly lovable (besides maybe Min sometimes) and the plot is so cliché with no redeeming qualities (not to mention the slight tinge of homophobia). *It also felt like Min being Jewish was just a bit of a diversity tick-box, because it was randomly mentioned and that was it, this part of her character was not fleshed out in any meaningful way*.
I'm giving the book 2 stars because 1. I enjoyed the format and I thought the illustrations were cool to have alongside the text and 2. I can feel for Min at the end of the book and just regarding the break-up in general. It's a shame this book wasn't written better.
Honestly, the main reason I finished this book was because I don't like to leave books unfinished. I really didn't love it or feel amazed by any of it. The characters are not particularly lovable (besides maybe Min sometimes) and the plot is so cliché with no redeeming qualities (not to mention the slight tinge of homophobia). *It also felt like Min being Jewish was just a bit of a diversity tick-box, because it was randomly mentioned and that was it, this part of her character was not fleshed out in any meaningful way*.
I'm giving the book 2 stars because 1. I enjoyed the format and I thought the illustrations were cool to have alongside the text and 2. I can feel for Min at the end of the book and just regarding the break-up in general. It's a shame this book wasn't written better.
1/5 stars:
I hated this book with a passion, my god.
I went into this story expecting to cry and expecting it to be angsty and to feel raw and sad because I mean Why We Broke Up sounds like a story that's supposed to remind you of your own failed relationships and maybe then feel hopeful by the end, right? WRONG! This book just feels exasperating and its characters are not relatable or even likable at all.
Min is probably the best character of the book but I think that has to do with her being the protagonist and narrator so because you spend the most time with her there are moments when you like her actions but even so, she's annoying at times, she's so much of a YA cliché with the whole book having this "You're different" bullshit throughout it and her being like "'I'm not because I'm so insecure and normal and unremarkable". I may sound insensitive because being insecure and having low self esteem (especially for teenage girls) is not something to take lightly, but this book made it feel like that's what she was meant to say to make her seem even more humble and good and to make you relate more to her.
And don't get me started on Ed. The worst part about this book was definitely the main relationship between Ed and Min which speaks to how bad I thought the book was because it's the heart of the story. How can I feel sad or nostalgic or frustrated or upset when the break up comes when I didn't even like the relationship at all? I wasn't even cheering for Min to break up with Ed, I just rolled my eyes and said "Whatever".
Also, the book has so many questionable things that angered me so much at the beginning and then just tired me out.
First of all, the homophobia that is kind of discussed but also kind of condoned and brushed off. We get it, Ed, you're a homophobe who uses the word gay in a derogatory manner. Jesus, you don't need to do it every five sentences. Also, Min, it's good that you told your boyfriend that what he was doing was bad but the explanation you gave was ridiculously shallow and then you go on to joke about it with him again so like, yeah, great job.
Then, there are so many misoginistic moments and expressions and things happening in this book that I don't think I can mention them all: the "you're not like other girls" shit, the "girls fighting over the jock playboy", the slut shaming (LET GIRLS WEAR WHATEVER THEY WANT ON HALLOWEEN AND ON WHATEVER FUCKING DAY).
And the way that virginity is talked about and handled and treated... Nop, I'm out.
And oh, oh, oh, the great "surprise" by the end where such an innovative twist was introduced where the main character and her best guy friends couldn't, of course, be just best friends with no romantic feelings towards the other because, of course, they're a girl and a guy so how is it possible for them to be friends? No way!
Lastly, the book felt so presumptuous from beginning to end that I just couldn't handle it. I'm not saying the only valid references a book can make are mainstream one and I'm not saying that as soon as I don't understand a reference in a book that makes it presumptuous. I'm just saying that Min mentioning all this old-school, kind of obscure, kind of rare movies didn't make me feel as if it was something she really loved. It made me feel as if the author was really trying to prove how unlike other girls his protagonist is and as I said before, bullshit.
I don't know if this review makes any sense whatsoever but I just have so much rage and disappointment inside after reading this book and I needed to vent.
I hated this book with a passion, my god.
I went into this story expecting to cry and expecting it to be angsty and to feel raw and sad because I mean Why We Broke Up sounds like a story that's supposed to remind you of your own failed relationships and maybe then feel hopeful by the end, right? WRONG! This book just feels exasperating and its characters are not relatable or even likable at all.
Min is probably the best character of the book but I think that has to do with her being the protagonist and narrator so because you spend the most time with her there are moments when you like her actions but even so, she's annoying at times, she's so much of a YA cliché with the whole book having this "You're different" bullshit throughout it and her being like "'I'm not because I'm so insecure and normal and unremarkable". I may sound insensitive because being insecure and having low self esteem (especially for teenage girls) is not something to take lightly, but this book made it feel like that's what she was meant to say to make her seem even more humble and good and to make you relate more to her.
And don't get me started on Ed. The worst part about this book was definitely the main relationship between Ed and Min which speaks to how bad I thought the book was because it's the heart of the story. How can I feel sad or nostalgic or frustrated or upset when the break up comes when I didn't even like the relationship at all? I wasn't even cheering for Min to break up with Ed, I just rolled my eyes and said "Whatever".
Also, the book has so many questionable things that angered me so much at the beginning and then just tired me out.
First of all, the homophobia that is kind of discussed but also kind of condoned and brushed off. We get it, Ed, you're a homophobe who uses the word gay in a derogatory manner. Jesus, you don't need to do it every five sentences. Also, Min, it's good that you told your boyfriend that what he was doing was bad but the explanation you gave was ridiculously shallow and then you go on to joke about it with him again so like, yeah, great job.
Then, there are so many misoginistic moments and expressions and things happening in this book that I don't think I can mention them all: the "you're not like other girls" shit, the "girls fighting over the jock playboy", the slut shaming (LET GIRLS WEAR WHATEVER THEY WANT ON HALLOWEEN AND ON WHATEVER FUCKING DAY).
And the way that virginity is talked about and handled and treated... Nop, I'm out.
And oh, oh, oh, the great "surprise" by the end where such an innovative twist was introduced where the main character and her best guy friends couldn't, of course, be just best friends with no romantic feelings towards the other because, of course, they're a girl and a guy so how is it possible for them to be friends? No way!
Lastly, the book felt so presumptuous from beginning to end that I just couldn't handle it. I'm not saying the only valid references a book can make are mainstream one and I'm not saying that as soon as I don't understand a reference in a book that makes it presumptuous. I'm just saying that Min mentioning all this old-school, kind of obscure, kind of rare movies didn't make me feel as if it was something she really loved. It made me feel as if the author was really trying to prove how unlike other girls his protagonist is and as I said before, bullshit.
I don't know if this review makes any sense whatsoever but I just have so much rage and disappointment inside after reading this book and I needed to vent.
El libro nos cuenta la historia de Minerva a quien le gusta que la llamen Min y que cuando se presenta siempre cuenta la historia acerca de su nombre.
Tiene su grupo de amigos conformado el cuál incluye a Al, su mejor amigo y quien siempre la apoya y la acompaña en sus locuras, hasta que aparece en escena Ed el típico deportista, capitán segundo del equipo de basquetball y con quien Min ha empezado a salir.
Min, se me ha hecho una chica poco consciente, se deja llevar por lo que vive en el momento, sin importarle las consecuencias ni las situaciones. Todo lo que le sucede es por desesperada y confiar demasiado en quien realmente todavía no conoce.
Al principio del libro llegué a pensar que Ed habia hecho algo por recuperar su amor, pero resulta que efectivamente está sufriendo, pero Min no es la causa.
Tiene su grupo de amigos conformado el cuál incluye a Al, su mejor amigo y quien siempre la apoya y la acompaña en sus locuras, hasta que aparece en escena Ed el típico deportista, capitán segundo del equipo de basquetball y con quien Min ha empezado a salir.
Min, se me ha hecho una chica poco consciente, se deja llevar por lo que vive en el momento, sin importarle las consecuencias ni las situaciones. Todo lo que le sucede es por desesperada y confiar demasiado en quien realmente todavía no conoce.
Al principio del libro llegué a pensar que Ed habia hecho algo por recuperar su amor, pero resulta que efectivamente está sufriendo, pero Min no es la causa.
I have heard a lot of mixed things about Why We Broke Up and have been wanting to read it for a while. When I realised it had been picked up by a UK publisher I jumped at the chance to read it.
Why We Broke Up begins with a letter from Min to Ed, she also sends him a box filled with items and every last remnant of their relationship,that she kept hold of and is now giving back.
Why We Broke Up is a unique book. It is basically the letter that Min has wrote for Ed, and each 'chapter' begins with a picture of an item from the box, bottle caps, movie ticket, match box, and each item has its own little story and part into the whole reason of why they broke up. I really loved the pictures and how they broke up the book into individual but unique chapters, but also I loved how they helped tell Min's story. The artwork for these pictures is fantastic and I spent a few minutes of each picture before reading just to admire them.
When min is telling her story I did feel sorry for her, Ed never really treats her like he should and I think he thinks too much of himself. Everything they do together seems to take second place in his life, and even down to comments he makes or things he does to her friends makes me wonder why the relationship lasted as long as it did. I did like how Min gave all the items back though, and even pointing out everything that was the reason for the break up.
Why We Broke Up is different but unique in its telling, and while I didn't like it as much as I initially thought I would, I still found it an enjoyable read that I would recommend to others.
Why We Broke Up begins with a letter from Min to Ed, she also sends him a box filled with items and every last remnant of their relationship,that she kept hold of and is now giving back.
Why We Broke Up is a unique book. It is basically the letter that Min has wrote for Ed, and each 'chapter' begins with a picture of an item from the box, bottle caps, movie ticket, match box, and each item has its own little story and part into the whole reason of why they broke up. I really loved the pictures and how they broke up the book into individual but unique chapters, but also I loved how they helped tell Min's story. The artwork for these pictures is fantastic and I spent a few minutes of each picture before reading just to admire them.
When min is telling her story I did feel sorry for her, Ed never really treats her like he should and I think he thinks too much of himself. Everything they do together seems to take second place in his life, and even down to comments he makes or things he does to her friends makes me wonder why the relationship lasted as long as it did. I did like how Min gave all the items back though, and even pointing out everything that was the reason for the break up.
Why We Broke Up is different but unique in its telling, and while I didn't like it as much as I initially thought I would, I still found it an enjoyable read that I would recommend to others.
I didn't want to feel melancholy, and while beautiful and true to life, this book is melancholy.