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andromedafalls's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Custom Rating: How Did All These Tears Get Here?/5
momodesu's review against another edition
4.25
Ode to My First Car is a coming of age story written in verse. A series of poems written as odes first to Claire’s car, Lars (who unfortunately meets his demise at the start of the book), and then expanding as we get further along in the story. It bounces around a bit, with bursts of stories interrupted by other thoughts and continuing further along, and is more about Claire exploring her feelings than a deep plot. I really liked all of the characters, but Claire and Lena in particular stood out as favorites.
I listened to the audiobook, which is harder to distinguish as poem instead of story. I keep going back and forth with myself about liking the more natural conversational reading, and wishing that it had read more like poetry in the narration that made the writing style more obvious. It’s messy, but I enjoyed the mess.
I listened to the audiobook, which is harder to distinguish as poem instead of story. I keep going back and forth with myself about liking the more natural conversational reading, and wishing that it had read more like poetry in the narration that made the writing style more obvious. It’s messy, but I enjoyed the mess.
elysia_16's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I related heavily to the main character, Claire. Her exploration in her sexuality and feelings for other girls her age (16-17) was cathartic, messy, reflective, and funny! I definetly shared some of her questioning thoughts and ideas. Loved the end and the story!
courtknee__vn's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This was really great!! I think the format of the story being told in verse as an ode to Claire’s car was so interesting and different than anything I’ve ever read! There was a lot of Claire’s inner thoughts that I could very much relate to and there was also a lot I couldn’t and I think that’s one of my favorite things in a book! Being able to see little pieces of myself while also learning new things about how other people’s brains work. Claire’s indecision between Sofia & Pen stressed me out in parts but besides that, I honestly really enjoyed this! I especially loved getting to see her relationship with her brother as they bonded more and more throughout the story, and getting to see how much they loved each other was really beautiful!
erin_hibshman's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
orbitingmars's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
heademptyhoney's review against another edition
Didn't even get an hour in and the plot of the book was starting to feel over explained and tired.
bhrtng's review
3.5
3.5 stars for this messy, bisexual novel in verse.
Ode to my First Car is a novel in verse written from Claire's point of view to her car which she totals in the very beginning of the book. I thought this was an interesting premise! Unfortunately the execution fell a little flat. In what I assume was an attempt to sound more authentically teen and conversational, the poetry is often really simple and lyrically uninteresting. There's a lot of usage of "like" as a filler word that took me out of the flow of the verse. Claire is also a little frustrating because despite being 17, she seems a little younger/less mature. This might feel like splitting hairs but she reads more as a 14/15 year old than a 17 year old. The story is propelled by her crush on her best friend, Sophia. But all of her interactions with Sophia felt awkward and they're weirdly estranged for most of the story. All of that aside, I did enjoy the side characters Chris, Lena, and Pen. The inclusion of an elderly lesbian character was unique and cool! I was disappointed to not be a bigger fan of this one because I enjoyed the author's middle grade book Dear Mothman so much.
Ode to my First Car is a novel in verse written from Claire's point of view to her car which she totals in the very beginning of the book. I thought this was an interesting premise! Unfortunately the execution fell a little flat. In what I assume was an attempt to sound more authentically teen and conversational, the poetry is often really simple and lyrically uninteresting. There's a lot of usage of "like" as a filler word that took me out of the flow of the verse. Claire is also a little frustrating because despite being 17, she seems a little younger/less mature. This might feel like splitting hairs but she reads more as a 14/15 year old than a 17 year old. The story is propelled by her crush on her best friend, Sophia. But all of her interactions with Sophia felt awkward and they're weirdly estranged for most of the story. All of that aside, I did enjoy the side characters Chris, Lena, and Pen. The inclusion of an elderly lesbian character was unique and cool! I was disappointed to not be a bigger fan of this one because I enjoyed the author's middle grade book Dear Mothman so much.
takingoverthesun's review
4.5
I really loved how this was written in verse and the format of this how it was written in “odes” broken into four parts: odes to her car, odes to African violets, odes to her future, and odes to this July. I love how this really only took place over the span of one month and how much the main character grew and learned in that time. I especially loved the relationship with Lena, the old woman at the nursing home, and who she was to Claire.
kyleethecatlady's review against another edition
didn’t realize that it is written in the poem form and I am not feeling that