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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Many of us probably should have done what Min did: return the box of relationship mementos with a missive about that first love did to her (i.e.: the breakee).
Liked the interspersed drawings. Was drawn in by Min’s love of films – and the side-story of Lottie Carson (Ed: You are a cad!). As I read, I felt almost voyeuristic; the details of the relationship were just so … bare.
But did it remind me of my first love & breakup? Nope. And, I was a tad distracted by the very long sentences, stream-of-consciousness, and writing-style. But all three of those distractions had a purpose: it was Min’s voice & thoughts, and that definitely came through.
Liked the interspersed drawings. Was drawn in by Min’s love of films – and the side-story of Lottie Carson (Ed: You are a cad!). As I read, I felt almost voyeuristic; the details of the relationship were just so … bare.
But did it remind me of my first love & breakup? Nope. And, I was a tad distracted by the very long sentences, stream-of-consciousness, and writing-style. But all three of those distractions had a purpose: it was Min’s voice & thoughts, and that definitely came through.
“I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing this letter, the whole truth of why it happened. And the truth is that I goddamn loved you so much.” 💔
This book was simply beautiful. From the writing, to the illustrations, to everything in between. Handler made you feel everything Min was feeling and you really felt for her. Another thing I liked was that we got to experience the beginning to the end of Min and Ed's relationship. It was so cool to the progression it made and to see how in love they became with each other. I felt for Min at the plot twist in the book, when she found out that Ed was cheating on her. You could feel the love she had for him just come crashing down. Min was one of my favorite characters, I loved her spunk, and how she was as a person. I never cared that much for Ed, but in the end, I couldn't stand him. I did have a reading slump and so much school work during reading this work and it took a while to finish it. Nevertheless, I did enjoy it!
i don't know i don't know i don't know how i feel about this
pro: makes you feel emotions
con: but why?? i don't even like ed, the ending was a cop-out, WHY DIDN'T JOAN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT [SPOILER]
but I STILL REALLY ENJOYED IT DESPITE ITS MANY MANY FAULTS
i feel like this is one of those books where you can take excerpts to put on tumblr and get 500k notes for ~poetic waxiness~
pro: makes you feel emotions
con: but why?? i don't even like ed, the ending was a cop-out, WHY DIDN'T JOAN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT [SPOILER]
but I STILL REALLY ENJOYED IT DESPITE ITS MANY MANY FAULTS
i feel like this is one of those books where you can take excerpts to put on tumblr and get 500k notes for ~poetic waxiness~
Wow. The way this book was formatted and written was just so beautiful and poetic. Much better than I expected, every aspect of it was perfectly bittersweet. Awesome, awesome book.
I enjoyed reading this. The writing style was engaging and the characters ones that I recognized. The illustrations were lovely, but the story could've done without much cursing and promiscuity.
I love Maira Kalman's art, so it goes practically without saying that I adored the paintings in this book. And I liked the concept which married illustration and writing so well.
The story improved as it went on. Min became more winning and Ed had moments of depth.
I wasn't crazy about the portrayal of "normal" teenage behavior. Casual everything except virginity and even that is casual in the end. Drinking, cutting class, theft, sex...Did I know people who thought and acted that way? Yes, absolutely. But this book makes it feel a bit inevitable, like no matter who you are, OF COURSE that's how it is.
Winning though, and worth reading.
The story improved as it went on. Min became more winning and Ed had moments of depth.
I wasn't crazy about the portrayal of "normal" teenage behavior. Casual everything except virginity and even that is casual in the end. Drinking, cutting class, theft, sex...Did I know people who thought and acted that way? Yes, absolutely. But this book makes it feel a bit inevitable, like no matter who you are, OF COURSE that's how it is.
Winning though, and worth reading.
This was tough. Just going to go for bullet points:
- I hate seeing red flags I've missed in my own life in a book. It hurts. Doesn't mean anything about the quality of a book, it just sucks for me. I'll get over it.
- I enjoyed the plethora of invented films and accompanying lore.
- I did NOT enjoy the really strange racism. Not the antisemitism, not the off-color note about the "japanese-looking girl."
- The homophobia either. It's written like it's supposed to make Ed and his friends flawed, real, or quirky somehow. It isn't. It was an outdated writing choice for 2011 and the lack of critical thought about it in the text is frustrating.
- Min's writing style is often frustrating. It would be naturalistic dialogue. The dialogue is actually pretty good. But it doesn't make sense for everyone to talk like that AND for Min to write like that, even if she is our narrator.
- Maira Kalman's art is lovely and actually adds to the story (as opposed to just decorating it).
Look. This book had huge potential. I loved parts of it. It feels unfortunately real at times, and I wish a younger me had read it and subsequently avoided some similar heartbreak. But the overall experience is seriously damaged by what felt like a lack of a good editor and some common sense. I want to read more non-Snickett Hander and I desperately hope it does not repeat these mistakes. I don't need to repeat how torn and icky I feel mixed with how much I wanted to love the book.
- I hate seeing red flags I've missed in my own life in a book. It hurts. Doesn't mean anything about the quality of a book, it just sucks for me. I'll get over it.
- I enjoyed the plethora of invented films and accompanying lore.
- I did NOT enjoy the really strange racism. Not the antisemitism, not the off-color note about the "japanese-looking girl."
- The homophobia either. It's written like it's supposed to make Ed and his friends flawed, real, or quirky somehow. It isn't. It was an outdated writing choice for 2011 and the lack of critical thought about it in the text is frustrating.
- Min's writing style is often frustrating. It would be naturalistic dialogue. The dialogue is actually pretty good. But it doesn't make sense for everyone to talk like that AND for Min to write like that, even if she is our narrator.
- Maira Kalman's art is lovely and actually adds to the story (as opposed to just decorating it).
Look. This book had huge potential. I loved parts of it. It feels unfortunately real at times, and I wish a younger me had read it and subsequently avoided some similar heartbreak. But the overall experience is seriously damaged by what felt like a lack of a good editor and some common sense. I want to read more non-Snickett Hander and I desperately hope it does not repeat these mistakes. I don't need to repeat how torn and icky I feel mixed with how much I wanted to love the book.