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anja_the_ineffableegg's review against another edition
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
slysky4's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
wanderingmole's review against another edition
5.0
Made me cry. Beautiful. Uncomfortable. Consuming.
shemene's review against another edition
3.0
3/5 sterren.
Dit boek was het hem gewoon niet voor mij. Ik kon me niet vinden met de (hoofd)personen en bij alles vroeg ik me af van “waarom?”. Het einde heeft het wel wat beter gemaakt maar het geheel viel mij heel erg tegen.
Dit boek was het hem gewoon niet voor mij. Ik kon me niet vinden met de (hoofd)personen en bij alles vroeg ik me af van “waarom?”. Het einde heeft het wel wat beter gemaakt maar het geheel viel mij heel erg tegen.
undercoverreads's review against another edition
3.0
I was expecting more. This book has also been published under the title Now is Good. Tessa is a teenager who is terminally ill. She has a bucket list of things she wants to do and experience before she dies. Personally, I found the chapters quite disjointed and at times did not feel that what was happening was believable. At times, just as I was starting to connect on an emotional level with what was happening, the chapter would come to an abrupt end and then the new chapter would commence with a different scene. Because of this, I found the writing to be superficial and lack depth. I also found the ending to be very abrupt, with me turning the last page and expecting something more. I was expecting a lot more from this book.
lauraddubs's review against another edition
I read this book years ago, but I'll never forget it. One of the best pieces I've ever read because it was so realistic and so moving. While the ending is expected, the author presents it brilliantly. Love this one, definitely a "good read."
bmusselman3's review against another edition
1.0
i only read this book because I liked it as a teen but turns out I had really bad taste
shhchar's review against another edition
5.0
This book is beautiful. That's the best word to describe it. It is a pure masterpiece, and described so well. I felt like crying the entire time, but that's good. It gives so much insight to the whole thing, makes you more aware [of cancer] without even realizing it. Everyone should read this.
stephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
I had heard lots about BEFORE I DIE before I finally got around to reading it. And while it didn’t change my life the way I thought it was going to, BEFORE I DIE was still a beautifully written story that made me cry big fat tears all night long.
Tessa is not an easy character to like, but I think she behaves in the way that people who are not terminally ill will not understand. She starts off rather reckless, bitter at her diagnosis but pragmatically resigned to her mortality. Indeed, for the first half of the book I had rather little patience for her, as she insensitively plows ahead with her plans without any regard for the people around her. But, like she says, who’s going to criticize her? Her death sentence has given her the power to do whatever the hell she wants whenever the hell she wants. With this in mind, I plowed forward in the story, hoping that I would grow to love her.
While I didn’t end up quite loving Tessa, I did develop great respect for her, mostly through Jenny Downham’s incredible writing. Downham does things with words that you wouldn’t have thought of, yet afterwards you are like, now why hadn’t anyone thought of that before? Her writing had me on page 8:
And page 158:
Worth reading through the less sympathetic parts to get to those.
If you’re looking for a book along the lines of Gayle Forman’s (and, for the record, there’s also an Adam in BEFORE I DIE. Are all fictional guys named Adam so very lovely?), only a little rougher, a little more raw, a little bigger, then check out BEFORE I DIE. And keep some tissues close by, just in case.
Tessa is not an easy character to like, but I think she behaves in the way that people who are not terminally ill will not understand. She starts off rather reckless, bitter at her diagnosis but pragmatically resigned to her mortality. Indeed, for the first half of the book I had rather little patience for her, as she insensitively plows ahead with her plans without any regard for the people around her. But, like she says, who’s going to criticize her? Her death sentence has given her the power to do whatever the hell she wants whenever the hell she wants. With this in mind, I plowed forward in the story, hoping that I would grow to love her.
While I didn’t end up quite loving Tessa, I did develop great respect for her, mostly through Jenny Downham’s incredible writing. Downham does things with words that you wouldn’t have thought of, yet afterwards you are like, now why hadn’t anyone thought of that before? Her writing had me on page 8:
“I want a big dark room you can barely move in, with bodies grinding close together. I want to hear a thousand songs played incredibly loud. I want to dance so fast that my hair grows long enough to trample on. I want my voice to be thunderous above the throb of bass. I want to get so hot that I have to crunch ice in my mouth.”
And page 158:
“The whole world could roar and it wouldn’t freak me out. I want an avalanche at the next junction. I want black rain to fall and a plague of locusts to buzz out of the glove compartment.”
Worth reading through the less sympathetic parts to get to those.
If you’re looking for a book along the lines of Gayle Forman’s (and, for the record, there’s also an Adam in BEFORE I DIE. Are all fictional guys named Adam so very lovely?), only a little rougher, a little more raw, a little bigger, then check out BEFORE I DIE. And keep some tissues close by, just in case.