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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
i’ve read this book multiples times and everytime i enjoy it so much! i love how its written like a memory, it’s my favorite kind of narrative!! honestly ed was kinda an asshole the whole book but i think we all get why min wanted to be with him hahah i really liked the book overall!
After reading everyone else's reviews I can now write mine.
This left my mind and emotions whirling, and now I'm just sitting on my bed not knowing how to feel. I don't know whether to give it a 3 or 3.5 star rating.
The book is not what I expected. I expected... I really don't know.... I thought I would love it. I really did. But I only loved certain aspects.
I loved how different it was.
I loved how realistic it was although it was difficult to read at times, but you understood, like someone's review states, that she is just writing it and not editing her work.
I loved the illustrations that were in it.
When I first read the book, I instantly didn't like Min, because I thought she was being too harsh, but then I calmed myself and reminded myself that it was a break up letter and that she is still bitter about what happened, so I let it slide. Then I started to be okay with her. She didn't shy away, she knew who was and how she felt. And I have to admit it did kind of irritate me when she would reference movies. I mean she did it 92% of the book. Which probably made it long. But that was who she was.
Now about Ed. You couldn't help but approve of him over time, but you couldn't get attached to him and Min because he did something to Min and was the cause of the break up. I personally started to like him up til I found out his infidelity. And I thought she wasn't' harsh enough in the letter, but whatever.
It was flattering that they said Min was "different"a couple of time, but when Ed kept saying it it seemed like an insult. Like he could have clarified and say better-different.
The book was long and it did get sidetracked, but like I stated before this is a girl writing everything on her mind- it's real, humans get sidetracked.
At first I got confused because she kept saying how she should have known or paid attention to the hints that she should have broken up with him then, and I kept rereading to see what she meant, so I gave up. When I reached the end, i thought about the hints and understood that the hints were telling her something was wrong, especially when Ed's sister was quiet or awkward.
After awhile, I guessed what happened and the reason they broke up.
The problems I had with this book was probably my not understanding how her retelling their story was why they broke up or why it happened.
Then she kept mention how much she didn't like her mother and the reader never gets to know why or what happened to her dad. But of course, because Ed is suppose to know and it is a letter to him not to us.
And the big problem is just my desire, because I want to see how things are now. Is Ed really heartbroken? I would be satisfied to know that he is depressed.
You don't really get closure even when she does. Or at least I didn't really feel any.
Plus what didn't make any sense was that if he doesn't like to read I'm pretty sure he won't read her long letter.
This left my mind and emotions whirling, and now I'm just sitting on my bed not knowing how to feel. I don't know whether to give it a 3 or 3.5 star rating.
The book is not what I expected. I expected... I really don't know.... I thought I would love it. I really did. But I only loved certain aspects.
I loved how different it was.
I loved how realistic it was although it was difficult to read at times, but you understood, like someone's review states, that she is just writing it and not editing her work.
I loved the illustrations that were in it.
When I first read the book, I instantly didn't like Min, because I thought she was being too harsh, but then I calmed myself and reminded myself that it was a break up letter and that she is still bitter about what happened, so I let it slide. Then I started to be okay with her. She didn't shy away, she knew who was and how she felt. And I have to admit it did kind of irritate me when she would reference movies. I mean she did it 92% of the book. Which probably made it long. But that was who she was.
Now about Ed. You couldn't help but approve of him over time, but you couldn't get attached to him and Min because he did something to Min and was the cause of the break up. I personally started to like him up til I found out his infidelity. And I thought she wasn't' harsh enough in the letter, but whatever.
It was flattering that they said Min was "different"a couple of time, but when Ed kept saying it it seemed like an insult. Like he could have clarified and say better-different.
The book was long and it did get sidetracked, but like I stated before this is a girl writing everything on her mind- it's real, humans get sidetracked.
At first I got confused because she kept saying how she should have known or paid attention to the hints that she should have broken up with him then, and I kept rereading to see what she meant, so I gave up. When I reached the end, i thought about the hints and understood that the hints were telling her something was wrong, especially when Ed's sister was quiet or awkward.
After awhile, I guessed what happened and the reason they broke up.
The problems I had with this book was probably my not understanding how her retelling their story was why they broke up or why it happened.
Then she kept mention how much she didn't like her mother and the reader never gets to know why or what happened to her dad. But of course, because Ed is suppose to know and it is a letter to him not to us.
And the big problem is just my desire, because I want to see how things are now. Is Ed really heartbroken? I would be satisfied to know that he is depressed.
Spoiler
She says that she is sad to hear about Annette. Is it intended that they didn't get together? Why she seemed to like him- the tramp. <\spoiler>You don't really get closure even when she does. Or at least I didn't really feel any.
Plus what didn't make any sense was that if he doesn't like to read I'm pretty sure he won't read her long letter.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I liked the idea behind this book much more than the execution. I liked the idea of these characters much more than the annoying way they were written--how often do teens fully *address* each other in complete sentences? The falling in love, the betrayal, the heartbreak... it all made me remember my own high school days. And Maira Kallman's artwork was just the quirky thing to pull each memento out. But it all felt so unrealistic--how long can a break-up letter be? Ed surely would have stopped reading long ago, and so I understand how other readers have and will. Also, the film references went right over my head, and so I did a lot of skimming. All in all, not a recommended read.
Let me begin by saying I really wanted to like this book. The premise is an original take on the usual teen love story, and the artwork was vibrant. However, the voice was terrible. The book is a letter from Minerva to her ex-boyfriend, explaining why they broke up, but it read exactly like the notes I would find on the floor when I taught at the high school.
Minerva just broke up with her boyfriend and she is going through her box of his possessions and explaining in a letter how each one contributed to their breakup. The reason they broke up was so incredibly obvious to me, which meant there was no payoff to reading until the end when she finally reveals it to the reader. Minerva constantly references obscure old movies, which was alienating to me as I had no frame of reference.
All in all: worst book I've read this year.
Minerva just broke up with her boyfriend and she is going through her box of his possessions and explaining in a letter how each one contributed to their breakup. The reason they broke up was so incredibly obvious to me, which meant there was no payoff to reading until the end when she finally reveals it to the reader. Minerva constantly references obscure old movies, which was alienating to me as I had no frame of reference.
All in all: worst book I've read this year.
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
War ok. Cooles Konzept mit dem rückwärts aufrollen und den zeichnungen. Der Plot ist aber langweilig, die Filmreferenzen fand ich eher störend.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my first review.
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler is one of the first books I have fully read for pleasure in a long time. And I loved it.
This is a book about a true breakup, true heartache. It is vivid and it is universal. All of us that have gone through a heartbreak know what Min is talking to us about. She knows all of the stupid things we have done for love. All of the things we cherish and regret. All of the pain. The story and Handler's writing style hit home for me. It was real and raw. It was intimate. It didn't feel like the story could just be Min and Ed. It could be anyone. It could be anyone's crazy stupid young love that we all wish we had back. And that's what makes this book what it was.
This isn't a book to read in sections. You have to read all in one go. You have to read it as Ed would, replaying all the "dailies" in the time span it takes for you to go through this book. I struggled through flipping through the heavy paper, but I wanted to know everything. I wanted to continue knowing what Min had to say. All the film references, all the jeers at sideline girlfriends, the book came to life. It was real. Handler makes second person work for him.
It is the perfect novel for anyone suffering heartache. Maybe I'm just partial because of certain events in my life and/or because Handler's style is similar to my own, but I highly recommend it to everyone.
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler is one of the first books I have fully read for pleasure in a long time. And I loved it.
This is a book about a true breakup, true heartache. It is vivid and it is universal. All of us that have gone through a heartbreak know what Min is talking to us about. She knows all of the stupid things we have done for love. All of the things we cherish and regret. All of the pain. The story and Handler's writing style hit home for me. It was real and raw. It was intimate. It didn't feel like the story could just be Min and Ed. It could be anyone. It could be anyone's crazy stupid young love that we all wish we had back. And that's what makes this book what it was.
This isn't a book to read in sections. You have to read all in one go. You have to read it as Ed would, replaying all the "dailies" in the time span it takes for you to go through this book. I struggled through flipping through the heavy paper, but I wanted to know everything. I wanted to continue knowing what Min had to say. All the film references, all the jeers at sideline girlfriends, the book came to life. It was real. Handler makes second person work for him.
It is the perfect novel for anyone suffering heartache. Maybe I'm just partial because of certain events in my life and/or because Handler's style is similar to my own, but I highly recommend it to everyone.