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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
When I clicked "I'm finished", I meant I was finished with this book. I did not actually finish reading it.
It seems like an interesting story. The breakup that everyone can relate to, told through items attached to memories in a box. It does have its interesting moments. But most of the moments I've had in trying to read this book have been, "GOOD GOD, PLEASE HELP THIS WRITING. MAKE IT BETTER. IT HURTS."
Let's just say that IT'S BAD. It's a list of junk you don't want to read. It makes me want to punch a publisher.
I've seen some reviews by people who've pushed through the excrement and liked it. Supposedly it makes you "feel ALL the feels!", but all my feels are crappy right now, and it's all thanks to this book. So I'm taking it back to the library, after I finish looking at the GOOD ART BY MAIRA KALMAN (the only good thing about it). I'll try not to let the attractive cover and weight fool me into picking it up again.
It seems like an interesting story. The breakup that everyone can relate to, told through items attached to memories in a box. It does have its interesting moments. But most of the moments I've had in trying to read this book have been, "GOOD GOD, PLEASE HELP THIS WRITING. MAKE IT BETTER. IT HURTS."
Let's just say that IT'S BAD. It's a list of junk you don't want to read. It makes me want to punch a publisher.
I've seen some reviews by people who've pushed through the excrement and liked it. Supposedly it makes you "feel ALL the feels!", but all my feels are crappy right now, and it's all thanks to this book. So I'm taking it back to the library, after I finish looking at the GOOD ART BY MAIRA KALMAN (the only good thing about it). I'll try not to let the attractive cover and weight fool me into picking it up again.
I will start by saying this is one of my very favourite books. I decided to read this book for two reasons:
1. It is by Daniel Handler, who also wrote A Series of Unfortunate Events (under his pen name Lemony Snicket).
2. The beautiful illustrations throughout the book, by Maira Kalman.
This book is written in letter form, one bigger letter sent from Min, short for Minerva, to her ex boyfriend, Ed Slaterton. Along with the letter is a box. In that box is every single item, souvenirs if you will, related to their relationship: a box of matches, bottle tops, wrappers, you name it, it's in the box. These items are described by Min as "the prizes and debris of this relationship, like the glitter in the gutter when the parade has passed, all the everything and whatnot kicked to the curb". When Min is finally ready to part with the items and move on, she delivers the box to Ed's house.
The letter is written telling the story of their relationship, every single thing that happened in the few short months, building up to their break up. Each 'chapter' focuses on a different item from the box, alongside one of the beautiful illustrations, with Min explaining the story that goes along with it and why it is in the box.
We are introduced to a range of people: Min's friends, and Ed's friends, and we see how each of them react towards this new relationship, and how these people, in effect, are part of their breakup.
Throughout the book Min is constantly comparing events to scenes from old movies, which are her obsession, and she is always being described as 'arty', which she hates.
We get to see the couple progress and 'put up with' each others different interests, but as you read on, you learn of just how different the pair are; they aren't very well suited at all, both wanting completely different things. Despite this, I was desperate for the couple to stay together. In my opinion, Ed has a very ignorant attitude to a lot of things, although they do have one thing in common: they are both seemingly desperate to please each other.
It is a very bitter sweet book, as you already know how it is going to end from the title, but somehow as you read, you find yourself wanting to change the ending, or that's how I felt about it, anyway.Although I knew the ending, I found myself forgetting that as I read, and when the couple finally did break up, I was equally as heart broken as I would be if I hadn't know; I really felt Min's pain and humiliation.
1. It is by Daniel Handler, who also wrote A Series of Unfortunate Events (under his pen name Lemony Snicket).
2. The beautiful illustrations throughout the book, by Maira Kalman.
This book is written in letter form, one bigger letter sent from Min, short for Minerva, to her ex boyfriend, Ed Slaterton. Along with the letter is a box. In that box is every single item, souvenirs if you will, related to their relationship: a box of matches, bottle tops, wrappers, you name it, it's in the box. These items are described by Min as "the prizes and debris of this relationship, like the glitter in the gutter when the parade has passed, all the everything and whatnot kicked to the curb". When Min is finally ready to part with the items and move on, she delivers the box to Ed's house.
The letter is written telling the story of their relationship, every single thing that happened in the few short months, building up to their break up. Each 'chapter' focuses on a different item from the box, alongside one of the beautiful illustrations, with Min explaining the story that goes along with it and why it is in the box.
We are introduced to a range of people: Min's friends, and Ed's friends, and we see how each of them react towards this new relationship, and how these people, in effect, are part of their breakup.
Throughout the book Min is constantly comparing events to scenes from old movies, which are her obsession, and she is always being described as 'arty', which she hates.
We get to see the couple progress and 'put up with' each others different interests, but as you read on, you learn of just how different the pair are; they aren't very well suited at all, both wanting completely different things. Despite this, I was desperate for the couple to stay together. In my opinion, Ed has a very ignorant attitude to a lot of things, although they do have one thing in common: they are both seemingly desperate to please each other.
It is a very bitter sweet book, as you already know how it is going to end from the title, but somehow as you read, you find yourself wanting to change the ending, or that's how I felt about it, anyway.Although I knew the ending, I found myself forgetting that as I read, and when the couple finally did break up, I was equally as heart broken as I would be if I hadn't know; I really felt Min's pain and humiliation.
Listened to the audio version in one Saturday. I LOVED the way that the author told a story using second person. I thought the details were interesting, the lack of a specific setting fascinating, all of Min's film references were completely made up and the fact that the right thing happened at the end. Good book. I could have done without the predictable bad teen/parent relationship, the profanity and the expectation of romantic intimacy. There are teens out there who don't lie to their parents, drink at every event and think they know everything. Oh, you YA authors, let me know when you write about a teen like that.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There's just something icky whenever I read books about teenage girls, when the author is a middle aged man. Unlike Daniel Handler, I have actually been a teenage girl in my lifetime, and can say with some certainty that he wrote a character (and story) that was one dimensional and contrived.
It's an unoriginal nerdy girl X jock boy romance, complete with teenage 'i love you's when they were only dating for less than 3 months. The real reason for why they broke up was also predictable and also not that earth shattering considering the two lovers had less in common than a sponge and a rock.
Lots of pointless description and metaphors that bulked up the book, but otherwise it was an easy read, you just really have to push past the cringe factor.
It's an unoriginal nerdy girl X jock boy romance, complete with teenage 'i love you's when they were only dating for less than 3 months. The real reason for why they broke up was also predictable and also not that earth shattering considering the two lovers had less in common than a sponge and a rock.
Lots of pointless description and metaphors that bulked up the book, but otherwise it was an easy read, you just really have to push past the cringe factor.
Oh what a bittersweetly perfect day (Valentine's Day) for me to finish reading this book. I must say, it is hard for me to imagine that I will read another book this year that I liked as much as this one. I just....it just got to me. The writing was so perfectly Lemony Snicket but adjusted perfectly for teens, and Maira Kalman's illustrations are bright and straightforward and perfect -- almost everything about this book was perfect. Thank you Mr. Handler for writing me a real girl I felt like I could be myself. Who is me, in a lot of ways, actually. (I think it's probably clear by now that I like to read girl characters who are real people I feel like I can relate to). So yes, just thank you for this book.
Spoiler
The only thing that got me about this book that I didn't lovelovelove, the ONLY thing, is that I do not not understand why Min would date Ed. In any world, for any reason. I have dated people I didn't really like before, but there was always at least something...ONE thing...something redeemable about them. I never, ever ever could like Ed for any reason. I wanted just one or two tiny kernels of something to like about him.
I literally finished this book five minutes ago, but by the end of the first chapter I knew that as soon as I finished it I wanted to write a review. Wow. I loved this book. I loved it, loved it, loved it!
I'm going to start by saying I have been in a MAJOR reading slump since mid January, which is really upsetting because reading is one of my favourite things to do in the world. I just would start books and then abandon them because I had no motivation. However the other night I watched a video by one of my favourite booktubers which was a review on this book. I searched other reviews and then decided to get a free sample of it on my kindle (yes,I have a kindle, don't hate)and after reading a few pages of the sample I went and bought it. I picked up my kindle last night and put it down hours later, being almost half way through. If I hadn't had to get up early this morning I'd have kept reading. So, tonight I sped through the rest of it and now here I am.
The long and short of this review is that I love the book and would recommend it anyone. I thought Min was just such a great character and I loved reading from her perspective. At times she perplexed me because I didn't understand how she could be so naive and could fall in love so fast but when I considered this I realised that is the brilliance of it. Teens do fall in love fast and we are naive. I loved her relationship with her best friend Al, I loved the description of every moment she spent with Ed, I loved how Min wasn't your typical 'outcast' character who isn't popular, describes herself as ugly, is never looked at by guys etc. I could go on about how much I loved Min as a character but that would take up all the space I have left. I just really enjoyed reading from her point of view.
The writing was also brilliant. Daniel Handler did something that only gifted authors can do, he wrote from the perspective of a person of a different gender and age group and pulled it off flawlessly. I genuinely believed I was reading from a teenage girl's perspective. Also, I don't know if this will make as much sense but, Min sounded really smart but not in a stupid, pretentious, adult-like way, Handler made her sound smart..but teenager smart. That probably makes no sense. I guess what I mean is that sometimes when I'm reading a book, the main character is young and is really smart, but the author in an attempt to make the character sound smart makes them sound like a 30 year old type of smart. Handler made her sound smart but not unrealistically so. I also found his writing style great as it was really deep and well thought out. I also thought it brilliant the way Min constantly would say "Ed" at points, which reminded me that this wasn't just a story but a letter to someone-in particular the person who broke her heart. The shortness of the chapters also in my opinion made the read feel a lot quicker which I liked because I felt good speeding through after a reading slump.
I also loved how I could relate to this book. Everyone knows the feelings Min talks of about school, we've all been there (and I'm still there). Handler had something for every type of person in this book. If you had ever been through a breakup, felt too posh for a place or had to relive a painful memory you could relate to this book.
For these reasons and so many others, I absolutely loved Why We Broke Up and I am grateful to it for getting me out of my reading slump. I will definitely be reading this again.
I'm going to start by saying I have been in a MAJOR reading slump since mid January, which is really upsetting because reading is one of my favourite things to do in the world. I just would start books and then abandon them because I had no motivation. However the other night I watched a video by one of my favourite booktubers which was a review on this book. I searched other reviews and then decided to get a free sample of it on my kindle (yes,I have a kindle, don't hate)and after reading a few pages of the sample I went and bought it. I picked up my kindle last night and put it down hours later, being almost half way through. If I hadn't had to get up early this morning I'd have kept reading. So, tonight I sped through the rest of it and now here I am.
The long and short of this review is that I love the book and would recommend it anyone. I thought Min was just such a great character and I loved reading from her perspective. At times she perplexed me because I didn't understand how she could be so naive and could fall in love so fast but when I considered this I realised that is the brilliance of it. Teens do fall in love fast and we are naive. I loved her relationship with her best friend Al, I loved the description of every moment she spent with Ed, I loved how Min wasn't your typical 'outcast' character who isn't popular, describes herself as ugly, is never looked at by guys etc. I could go on about how much I loved Min as a character but that would take up all the space I have left. I just really enjoyed reading from her point of view.
The writing was also brilliant. Daniel Handler did something that only gifted authors can do, he wrote from the perspective of a person of a different gender and age group and pulled it off flawlessly. I genuinely believed I was reading from a teenage girl's perspective. Also, I don't know if this will make as much sense but, Min sounded really smart but not in a stupid, pretentious, adult-like way, Handler made her sound smart..but teenager smart. That probably makes no sense. I guess what I mean is that sometimes when I'm reading a book, the main character is young and is really smart, but the author in an attempt to make the character sound smart makes them sound like a 30 year old type of smart. Handler made her sound smart but not unrealistically so. I also found his writing style great as it was really deep and well thought out. I also thought it brilliant the way Min constantly would say "Ed" at points, which reminded me that this wasn't just a story but a letter to someone-in particular the person who broke her heart. The shortness of the chapters also in my opinion made the read feel a lot quicker which I liked because I felt good speeding through after a reading slump.
I also loved how I could relate to this book. Everyone knows the feelings Min talks of about school, we've all been there (and I'm still there). Handler had something for every type of person in this book. If you had ever been through a breakup, felt too posh for a place or had to relive a painful memory you could relate to this book.
For these reasons and so many others, I absolutely loved Why We Broke Up and I am grateful to it for getting me out of my reading slump. I will definitely be reading this again.
Whoa. So many feelings. So many pictures. Such an interesting narrative perspective.
This book really did not make me feel anything until the very end, the rest was just reading and rereading pages long paragraphs and run on sentences with characters that I really didn’t even like. Not a bad book, but definitely not one I’ll read again.
Ehhhh... it was okay. Just okay. Fast read because of the pictures. I hate the POV it was written in. This book is definitely written partially in second-person narrative, and it's my least favorite format. But the story was fairly realistic, I believed it. But I just wasn't interested.