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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Mia had a perfectly good life before suddenly losing her family in a car crash, getting fatally injured herself.
And that's it. That's all the book is about. No deep meanings, no heart-wrenching plot twists. So I'll just rant about the book in the rest of the review.
The pages are filled with Mia telling about her life and worries and problems. First of all, these problems she's complaining about, all of them are white teenage girl problems. "Ooh, my boyfriend's punk and cool but I like classical music. I feel so left out. Same with my family. They don't get my musical tastes. Plus they're blond and I have dark hair. I'm so miserable! Boohoo!" Girl, please. You've been on this earth for only 16 perfectly fine years. And it would've been okay if she was somehow passionate about these worries. But no.
She's emotionless. I get that she's supposed to be, being stuck in purgatory and all, but even the memories of her emotions are emotionless. She's bland and I felt zero connection to the character. To none of the characters, actually. None of them were believable. The only time I felt something was the slight shock after reading her depiction of her dead parents. And her relationship with Adam, oh the non-existent chemistry and the sloppy "the formula for YA-books makes this compulsory so I'm just throwing it in" soft-core sex scene. Nothing clicked with me.
The story just doesn't flow, it feels like stuttering. It's just scene after scene, the ones Forman thought were related to each other somehow, so she just put them one after the other, not caring if there was a transition.
The most annoying of it all: Forman is overly obvious with everything, in case we didn't get the deep meaning of what Mia's saying. After explaining all the details about her purgatory, in case we didn't understand, she says it aloud for us. She writes a paragraph of things and events and then summarizes it at the end of it. "I now understand why my soul is still on earth. Because I have things to figure out here and it's up to me to decide if I want to live. If I stay. Oh yeah, that's also the name of the book. Pretty clever, right? That's what it means. I have to figure out if I want to stay. Stay stay stay." Oh, come on. At least leave this much to the imagination (not that you need to imagine anything to get what she has been trying to say).
This story could've been told so beautifully. That's why I'm angry. But I guess you need to get through the bad books to appreciate the good ones.
And that's it. That's all the book is about. No deep meanings, no heart-wrenching plot twists. So I'll just rant about the book in the rest of the review.
The pages are filled with Mia telling about her life and worries and problems. First of all, these problems she's complaining about, all of them are white teenage girl problems. "Ooh, my boyfriend's punk and cool but I like classical music. I feel so left out. Same with my family. They don't get my musical tastes. Plus they're blond and I have dark hair. I'm so miserable! Boohoo!" Girl, please. You've been on this earth for only 16 perfectly fine years. And it would've been okay if she was somehow passionate about these worries. But no.
She's emotionless. I get that she's supposed to be, being stuck in purgatory and all, but even the memories of her emotions are emotionless. She's bland and I felt zero connection to the character. To none of the characters, actually. None of them were believable. The only time I felt something was the slight shock after reading her depiction of her dead parents. And her relationship with Adam, oh the non-existent chemistry and the sloppy "the formula for YA-books makes this compulsory so I'm just throwing it in" soft-core sex scene. Nothing clicked with me.
The story just doesn't flow, it feels like stuttering. It's just scene after scene, the ones Forman thought were related to each other somehow, so she just put them one after the other, not caring if there was a transition.
The most annoying of it all: Forman is overly obvious with everything, in case we didn't get the deep meaning of what Mia's saying. After explaining all the details about her purgatory, in case we didn't understand, she says it aloud for us. She writes a paragraph of things and events and then summarizes it at the end of it. "I now understand why my soul is still on earth. Because I have things to figure out here and it's up to me to decide if I want to live. If I stay. Oh yeah, that's also the name of the book. Pretty clever, right? That's what it means. I have to figure out if I want to stay. Stay stay stay." Oh, come on. At least leave this much to the imagination (not that you need to imagine anything to get what she has been trying to say).
This story could've been told so beautifully. That's why I'm angry. But I guess you need to get through the bad books to appreciate the good ones.
WOW. I'm reading it now and so far, it's great. It gets dramatic as I read further, I did shed a few tears on a few pages because this book is great and that's the reason why I gave 5 stars to this book. I'm looking forward to watch the movie after I finished reading this. Chloë Grace Moretz done a great job potraying Mia! And yes, this character does suit her well. x
It's hard to write this review, as there's so many good reviews out there.
I saw a movie preview and it seemed, soulful, I like the cello, and hearing that music paired with the preview made me interested in what it was about. It seemed pretty obvious what it was about. The preview gives you a very precise plot summary. And the book followed that summary.
However how the book presents it's story, was not what I expected at all. I expected Mia to spend the book in dramatic conjecture about whether or not to come out of her coma, and the valiant effort of her boyfriend Adam in pleading with her to stay.
It is, and it is not like that. As Mia see's herself, and her relatives and friends, interact with her coma-stricken body, she begins to recall, random stories that come to mind, based on what's around her. Her first date with Adam, the day her Brother was born, her first cello recital. And all these stories come together to paint a very, very real picture of a family. Most YA books don't really focus on the family, they are usually side character, that the teenager dodges so they can go date Vampires, or party, or time travel, depending on the sort of YA you read. Not so in this case, you really, really know Mia's parents at the end of this book. They are close and very real.
Because she is not your typical co-dependent teenager YA teenager who only cares about her boyfriend. She loves Adam, but his relevance is set realistically in the story.
It feels like the author handled all the fragile beautiful details so carefully and finely. To weave a story with compelling characters, and thoughts and concepts. This book was very well done.
I saw a movie preview and it seemed, soulful, I like the cello, and hearing that music paired with the preview made me interested in what it was about. It seemed pretty obvious what it was about. The preview gives you a very precise plot summary. And the book followed that summary.
However how the book presents it's story, was not what I expected at all. I expected Mia to spend the book in dramatic conjecture about whether or not to come out of her coma, and the valiant effort of her boyfriend Adam in pleading with her to stay.
It is, and it is not like that. As Mia see's herself, and her relatives and friends, interact with her coma-stricken body, she begins to recall, random stories that come to mind, based on what's around her. Her first date with Adam, the day her Brother was born, her first cello recital. And all these stories come together to paint a very, very real picture of a family. Most YA books don't really focus on the family, they are usually side character, that the teenager dodges so they can go date Vampires, or party, or time travel, depending on the sort of YA you read. Not so in this case, you really, really know Mia's parents at the end of this book. They are close and very real.
Because she is not your typical co-dependent teenager YA teenager who only cares about her boyfriend. She loves Adam, but his relevance is set realistically in the story.
It feels like the author handled all the fragile beautiful details so carefully and finely. To weave a story with compelling characters, and thoughts and concepts. This book was very well done.
3.5/5 stars
I'm actually kind of disappointed with myself for not liking this book more....like seriously. I was so hyped up to see the movie (and I still do want to see it!) so I decided to read the book first but...like a bad blind date, things just didn't work out.
1. I never clicked with the characters - I'm a hard to person to get to empathize with characters...very few authors can do that to me. I just never, ever clicked with any of the characters - not Mia or Adam or Kim. I just found them all sort of flat.
2. There was no definitive "WOW" factor - There really wasn't any definitive moment where I went "Wow! This is great!" The ending just sort of snuck up on you in the last few pages and left you kind of hanging. I felt that there was disconnect with the ending and the overall plot.
3. The decision - Maybe this was the reason I couldn't really love the book. I didn't get the idea of the decision. I would stay, I always would. I love my parents and family so much and I'd miss them insurmountably and I'd never recover....but I would always choose life because I love my life and I know that my family would want me to live my life and then meet them again once I've had my fill. I just couldn't relate to the decision thing.
I wanted to love this book so much more, but I just couldn't. I only got teary in the beginning, when the accident first happened...that's all. I liked it - it was really good, but I didn't fall in love head over heels.
I'm actually kind of disappointed with myself for not liking this book more....like seriously. I was so hyped up to see the movie (and I still do want to see it!) so I decided to read the book first but...like a bad blind date, things just didn't work out.
1. I never clicked with the characters - I'm a hard to person to get to empathize with characters...very few authors can do that to me. I just never, ever clicked with any of the characters - not Mia or Adam or Kim. I just found them all sort of flat.
2. There was no definitive "WOW" factor - There really wasn't any definitive moment where I went "Wow! This is great!" The ending just sort of snuck up on you in the last few pages and left you kind of hanging. I felt that there was disconnect with the ending and the overall plot.
3. The decision - Maybe this was the reason I couldn't really love the book. I didn't get the idea of the decision. I would stay, I always would. I love my parents and family so much and I'd miss them insurmountably and I'd never recover....but I would always choose life because I love my life and I know that my family would want me to live my life and then meet them again once I've had my fill. I just couldn't relate to the decision thing.
I wanted to love this book so much more, but I just couldn't. I only got teary in the beginning, when the accident first happened...that's all. I liked it - it was really good, but I didn't fall in love head over heels.
Good book, quick paced and enjoyable. I saw the movie before I read If I Stay and I really enjoyed how the movie fleshed-out the characters and romance. The book is so fast that it didn't leave very much of an emotional impact on me. I do plan on reading the second book because I want to know how everything wraps up.
I hate writing reviews like this. Believe me I want to LOVE every single thing I read but sometimes that just isn't possible. Right off the bat my first complaint is this: The story ended at page 234 but the book continues for roughly another 100 pages. I am sorry but that just irks me a bit. I bought a book thinking it was going to be nice and long but it turns out no, by the way we cut it 100 pages short so you could have space to advertise here. Yes, there were excerpts from the authors other books but by the time I hit the last word of the book I didn't care. Another complaint: I get cliffhangers, I like them! But I felt like this ending was so abrupt I might as well have jumped off a cliff into the roiling ocean. I mean just complete nose dive. The ending made me feel like I was missing a chunk of the book and needed to find it. Good thing I have book two but if I didn’t id be even more upset. Either way the abrupt ending was just like wait whaaaa!
I expected more solemnity, more feeling, but it just lacked passion for me. There is passion even in loss and that wasn’t even felt. I felt a little let down and it’s a little my fault for falling into the hype of it all but if I wasn’t so curious to know how it all works out I wouldn't even bother reading the second book.
I just felt really let down.
Original Post at: http://babygotstacks.com/2014/08/15/if-i-stay/
I expected more solemnity, more feeling, but it just lacked passion for me. There is passion even in loss and that wasn’t even felt. I felt a little let down and it’s a little my fault for falling into the hype of it all but if I wasn’t so curious to know how it all works out I wouldn't even bother reading the second book.
I just felt really let down.
Original Post at: http://babygotstacks.com/2014/08/15/if-i-stay/
this was one of the books that got me into reading. read it twice!
Bem legalzinho!
Não achei nada incrível, mas gostei! :)
Fiquei pensando que um adult novel sobre esse mesmo tema me interessaria mais, mas é bem escrito e emocionante.
3.5/5
Não achei nada incrível, mas gostei! :)
Fiquei pensando que um adult novel sobre esse mesmo tema me interessaria mais, mas é bem escrito e emocionante.
3.5/5
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A