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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such and eloquently written, highly emotional story between two lost souls. Natsya is a girl who has been shattered by trauma after a horrific event that happened to her years ago, leaving her unable to do the things she loves most and becoming the shadow of what she once was. It kills her to drag down everyone she loves with her, but most of all, not being the girl they remember and want her to be. Feeling lost and broken, she stops speaking altogether, creating an air of mystery around her when she enters a new school, a girl dressed provocatively to keep people at a distance.
Then you have Josh. He is alone in the world, having lost everybody he has ever loved and has loved him starting from the age of 8 when his mother and sister died suddenly from a car accident, to his grandfather, his last remaining family member. He doesn't know how to relate to other around him, being surrounded by so much loss and hurt, and nobody knows what to say and act toward him, creating a "dead zone" that keeps others away, and him alone.
But then Natsya and Josh meet. Two people, lonely and outcasts in their own right, knowing nothing of each other's pasts and traumas, find themselves quietly drawn together. Josh, who has no one to love him, and Natsya, who is surrounded by loved ones, but doesn't know how to let them love her and feels the weight of their disappointment, gradually find peace and solace in each other's company. Both in their own right are damaged, both have secrets, and in a way, it brings them together in their isolation, but sooner or later, can tear them apart as those secrets come to light.
The writing draw me in, pulls me, and I get wrapped up in Natsya's and Josh's worlds. I can get a strong sense of their hurt and alienation from others, feel their pain and bitterness. I enjoyed how there was also a mystery that slowly unfolded the further in I get into the book, which explains Natsya's silence and bizarre behavior, her reluctance to let anyone in. I feel how Natsya's trauma changes her, the grief that she feels over the girl she once was and can never be again. She takes out her energy and frustration of not being able to speak by running (I kind of do the same thing, only I do a lot of walking instead. But still, I get the need to physically move just to get away from your thoughts).
I can also sense Josh's isolation and the pain of being completely alone in the world despite having friends. His compulsive need to build, create, and pour his energy into his craft to forget about all he's lost. When Natsya comes in to the picture, however, she creates a vulnerable spot for him, and as they get closer, you can sense the walls crumbling down along with Natsya's sanity. He cannot fall in love with her, and yet he does, but loving her would also mean being hurt by her.
The rest of the supporting characters were phenomenal, and THIS is an example on how you should write extra character. Each were well-fleshed out an played a part in Josh's and Natsya's story without becoming a distraction, but still managed to feel very real and fleshed out. Most notable is Drew, who although is something of a jerk, actually has a heart of gold inside. I loved getting to know him and his family, as well the dynamic between him and his sister Sarah, whose behavior I can later on understand. What stands out to me the most is the Sunday Dinner in which a bunch of them, a whole mismatched group of kids from different cliques, get together and play a part in setting up. This is such a wonderful scene in general, because it gives a chance for the supporting characters to really shine.
Overall, story was very emotionally intense, but also exciting as the mystery further unravels, and you understand what exactly happened to Natsya all those years ago, as well as who she really is and what she was in her past. The ending had me floored from all the revelations and then the decisions Natsya and Josh have to make. I loved how in the end, their circumstances don't change, but they decide to live with all the scars of their past and try to build and heal from there. The VERY end surprises me most of all, and its a sweet surprise because it takes you back to when Natsya found Josh's a garage, and if you've paid attention, you would see how it all came full circle.
This story weighed so heavy in my mind that it took me a while to sit and think about how to organized my thoughts about it, so I hope it comes out clear, because I can't say enough how much it's really imprinted on me. It's impressive that this is Katja Millay's first book, and its a shame she hasn't published anything else since.
Then you have Josh. He is alone in the world, having lost everybody he has ever loved and has loved him starting from the age of 8 when his mother and sister died suddenly from a car accident, to his grandfather, his last remaining family member. He doesn't know how to relate to other around him, being surrounded by so much loss and hurt, and nobody knows what to say and act toward him, creating a "dead zone" that keeps others away, and him alone.
But then Natsya and Josh meet. Two people, lonely and outcasts in their own right, knowing nothing of each other's pasts and traumas, find themselves quietly drawn together. Josh, who has no one to love him, and Natsya, who is surrounded by loved ones, but doesn't know how to let them love her and feels the weight of their disappointment, gradually find peace and solace in each other's company. Both in their own right are damaged, both have secrets, and in a way, it brings them together in their isolation, but sooner or later, can tear them apart as those secrets come to light.
The writing draw me in, pulls me, and I get wrapped up in Natsya's and Josh's worlds. I can get a strong sense of their hurt and alienation from others, feel their pain and bitterness. I enjoyed how there was also a mystery that slowly unfolded the further in I get into the book, which explains Natsya's silence and bizarre behavior, her reluctance to let anyone in. I feel how Natsya's trauma changes her, the grief that she feels over the girl she once was and can never be again. She takes out her energy and frustration of not being able to speak by running (I kind of do the same thing, only I do a lot of walking instead. But still, I get the need to physically move just to get away from your thoughts).
I can also sense Josh's isolation and the pain of being completely alone in the world despite having friends. His compulsive need to build, create, and pour his energy into his craft to forget about all he's lost. When Natsya comes in to the picture, however, she creates a vulnerable spot for him, and as they get closer, you can sense the walls crumbling down along with Natsya's sanity. He cannot fall in love with her, and yet he does, but loving her would also mean being hurt by her.
The rest of the supporting characters were phenomenal, and THIS is an example on how you should write extra character. Each were well-fleshed out an played a part in Josh's and Natsya's story without becoming a distraction, but still managed to feel very real and fleshed out. Most notable is Drew, who although is something of a jerk, actually has a heart of gold inside. I loved getting to know him and his family, as well the dynamic between him and his sister Sarah, whose behavior I can later on understand. What stands out to me the most is the Sunday Dinner in which a bunch of them, a whole mismatched group of kids from different cliques, get together and play a part in setting up. This is such a wonderful scene in general, because it gives a chance for the supporting characters to really shine.
Overall, story was very emotionally intense, but also exciting as the mystery further unravels, and you understand what exactly happened to Natsya all those years ago, as well as who she really is and what she was in her past. The ending had me floored from all the revelations and then the decisions Natsya and Josh have to make. I loved how in the end, their circumstances don't change, but they decide to live with all the scars of their past and try to build and heal from there. The VERY end surprises me most of all, and its a sweet surprise because it takes you back to when Natsya found Josh's a garage, and if you've paid attention, you would see how it all came full circle.
This story weighed so heavy in my mind that it took me a while to sit and think about how to organized my thoughts about it, so I hope it comes out clear, because I can't say enough how much it's really imprinted on me. It's impressive that this is Katja Millay's first book, and its a shame she hasn't published anything else since.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Grief, Dysphoria
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Abandonment
February 2017 Re Read:
Still a wonderful story. This is such a great example for building a relationship. Showing us how slowly, two people come together. Drew is very much the reader in this story, in the way he says what we all think - we don't need Josh and Sunshine to say aloud that they love each other. Everybody knows.
Original Review
The Sea of Tranquility is a powerful, heartbreaking, painful story about two broken individuals who find solace in one another. It was definitely one of the more unique and emotional books I've read last year... but I don't regret it for a second.
Still a wonderful story. This is such a great example for building a relationship. Showing us how slowly, two people come together. Drew is very much the reader in this story, in the way he says what we all think - we don't need Josh and Sunshine to say aloud that they love each other. Everybody knows.
Original Review
The Sea of Tranquility is a powerful, heartbreaking, painful story about two broken individuals who find solace in one another. It was definitely one of the more unique and emotional books I've read last year... but I don't regret it for a second.
"I hate my left hand. I hate to look at it. I hate it when it stutters and trembles and reminds me that my identity is gone. But I look at it anyway; because it also reminds me that I'm going to find the boy who took everything away from me. I'm going to kill the boy who killed me, and when I kill him, I'm going to do it with my left hand."
The Sea of Tranquility took me by surprise. It had a completely different and unique feel than anything I've read so far. Love is not treated in it like in most books, with vows of undying emotion and grand gestures. It's understated, it grows over time, it sneaks up on both participants, it moves slowly but surely. It's told through actions, between the lines, rather than outright confessions.
It's the best kind of romance, in my opinion.
I don't think there could ever be any doubt in your heart that Josh and Sunshine (or Nastya, whatever) belong together.
It's the best kind of romance, in my opinion.
I don't think there could ever be any doubt in your heart that Josh and Sunshine (or Nastya, whatever) belong together.
“We're like mysteries to one another. Maybe if I can solve him and he can solve me, we can explain each other. Maybe that's what I need. Someone to explain me.”
They are both irreversibly damaged. Josh has lost everybody he ever lover, and Nastya lost herself. Though you don't actually know what happened to either of them for a long while. In fact, the journey to figuring out both these individuals is piled on shock upon shock. I didn't see all that was coming.
Just like Josh is trying to piece what happened to Nastya, she's trying to figure out why people treat him the way they do. And we're right there together with them, which is what makes the book so incredible.
Just like Josh is trying to piece what happened to Nastya, she's trying to figure out why people treat him the way they do. And we're right there together with them, which is what makes the book so incredible.
"Bad things happen all the time; they don't wait until after dinner"
And both of these characters, despite being so inherently broken--or maybe because of it--are captivating. They make you love them. They make you swoon. They make you pray everything will be okay--good, even. Great. They make you love their friends, too, like Drew and Clay.
“I can be your other hand when you need it.”
The only reason this book is not a solid five star is because of how I felt confused and thrown all over the place at the beginning of the book, with all the time jumps back and forth. I had a hard time figuring what came before what, and understanding all that was going on. Wasn't she just walking into the English building? How is it the end of the day--wait, now we're back at shop?
It took time for the book to find a rhythm I could follow. After that, it was damn near perfect.
It took time for the book to find a rhythm I could follow. After that, it was damn near perfect.
"Your garage."
The "punchline", so to speak, the very last line of this book, is utter perfection. I didn't see it coming before it was asked, but when he did, the answer was suddenly obvious and I wanted to hug the author for creating such an absolutely right ending for these two.
Okay. This book is so good. It is so interesting, it pulls you in and you want to know more about the characters instantly. It was a little long, but it doesn't feel that way at all. It felt as if I was a middle schooler reading fanfiction. It was so easy to understand and fall in love with as well. It had such an impact on me that I haven't felt since reading Eleanor & Park. I loved this book and i definitely recommend it.
En este mismo instante, estoy hecha un mar de lágrimas.
Cuando empecé a leer The sea of tranquility, en realidad no sabía que esperar. Sabía que este libro iba a ser especial, porque he leído muy buenas reseñas y sus 4.56 estrellas en Goodreads te dicen eso. Y yo le di 5 estrellas a este libro porque se lo merece totalmente.
Quizá quienes haya leído mis """estados""" mientras leía este libro, sepa cuanto lo he amado y cuando he sufrido con este libro. Se ha convertido en uno de mis libros favoritos.
No quiero dar spoilers respecto a este libro, no como los spoilers que ya di en un """estado""" anterior y no como los spoilers que he dado en otra reseñas.
Sólo les puedo decir que este libro habla del amor, de la amistad y del milagro que son las segundas oportunidades.
Está es la historia de Nastya y Josh, dos chicos que están arruinados a su manera y son la salvación del otro por muchas razones. Esta narrado alternando los puntos de vista de ambos, por lo que llegamos a conocerlos muy bien. Otro punto clave en esta historia es el mejor amigo de Josh, Drew.
Puede que mientras comiencen a leer The sea of tranquility, se confundan un poco o no entiendan ciertas partes. Pero créanme cuando les digo que vale totalmente leer este libro. Es un libro que habla sobre la verdad y el perdón y el olvido y la desgracia y el sufrimiento y como siempre tiene que haber alguien para ayudarte, a pesar de que a veces no lo sabes.
Es un muy bonito libro, que me hizo reír en varias partes, y también me hizo llorar.
Quiero mencionarles esto: el final es absolutamente perfecto y yo simplemente estoy llorando aquí y por Nastya y Josh y por todo lo que pudo haber sido y por todo lo que fue y por todo lo que será. Léanlo. Ámenlo. Es lo único que digo.
Cuando empecé a leer The sea of tranquility, en realidad no sabía que esperar. Sabía que este libro iba a ser especial, porque he leído muy buenas reseñas y sus 4.56 estrellas en Goodreads te dicen eso. Y yo le di 5 estrellas a este libro porque se lo merece totalmente.
Quizá quienes haya leído mis """estados""" mientras leía este libro, sepa cuanto lo he amado y cuando he sufrido con este libro. Se ha convertido en uno de mis libros favoritos.
No quiero dar spoilers respecto a este libro, no como los spoilers que ya di en un """estado""" anterior y no como los spoilers que he dado en otra reseñas.
Sólo les puedo decir que este libro habla del amor, de la amistad y del milagro que son las segundas oportunidades.
Está es la historia de Nastya y Josh, dos chicos que están arruinados a su manera y son la salvación del otro por muchas razones. Esta narrado alternando los puntos de vista de ambos, por lo que llegamos a conocerlos muy bien. Otro punto clave en esta historia es el mejor amigo de Josh, Drew.
Puede que mientras comiencen a leer The sea of tranquility, se confundan un poco o no entiendan ciertas partes. Pero créanme cuando les digo que vale totalmente leer este libro. Es un libro que habla sobre la verdad y el perdón y el olvido y la desgracia y el sufrimiento y como siempre tiene que haber alguien para ayudarte, a pesar de que a veces no lo sabes.
Es un muy bonito libro, que me hizo reír en varias partes, y también me hizo llorar.
Quiero mencionarles esto: el final es absolutamente perfecto y yo simplemente estoy llorando aquí y por Nastya y Josh y por todo lo que pudo haber sido y por todo lo que fue y por todo lo que será. Léanlo. Ámenlo. Es lo único que digo.
I don't really know how to define my feelings about this book.
heartbreaking? maybe, beautiful ending for sure, and it surely made me cry, but not so much as I expected...
heartbreaking? maybe, beautiful ending for sure, and it surely made me cry, but not so much as I expected...
Ok so wow this book was intense. I have never met two characters that have been through so much and are so lonely as these two. Josh and Nastya aka Emilia have been through so much that its a miracle either are as sane as they are. I loved the relationship of these two. They healed each other gradually through the book. Josh lost his whole family one after the other. Nastya lost everything including her life in an attack and both are closing themselves off from the rest of the world until they meet each other. Then they are pulled towards each other whether they want to be or not and both are wondering if they will ever know the other.
Nastya sometimes bugged me. She wanted to talk. She kept saying she did and yet she refused to. She decided keeping everything bottled up was better and it almost broke her. If Josh had not gotten her out of her shell she would still be a walking zombie. All this did was let the attack control her life and make it so she could never move on. Yes I understand that it was horrible, that her music was taken away and that she literally died for two minutes. I'm not sure how I would react to this. Maybe I would be worse but it still bugged me that she didn't even try before she met Josh.
I loved that the romance in this story was not rushed. Actually it was so gradual that the characters didn't even know they were in love with each other until almost the end of the book. I love the slow development of the romance it gave the story the time it needed to show that they were healing, that they were two people who were more than growing closer but needed each other just to get up in the morning. I was rooting for these right from the beginning and I was riveted and could not put the book down until I found out if they got their happily ever after.
I only have two complaints and it in no way detracts or changes my rating. First, the ending left me wanting more. I don't want to say it was anticlimatic because it was anything but. I will say that the ending was a little rushed though with the decisions they made I wanted to know what happened next in their relationship. Second, as I said before Nastya in the beginning wasn't even trying and that has always been a pet-peeve of mine but I think it was needed to make to story so epic so even though it's a pet-peeve I dealt with it and boy was I impressed.
Nastya sometimes bugged me. She wanted to talk. She kept saying she did and yet she refused to. She decided keeping everything bottled up was better and it almost broke her. If Josh had not gotten her out of her shell she would still be a walking zombie. All this did was let the attack control her life and make it so she could never move on. Yes I understand that it was horrible, that her music was taken away and that she literally died for two minutes. I'm not sure how I would react to this. Maybe I would be worse but it still bugged me that she didn't even try before she met Josh.
I loved that the romance in this story was not rushed. Actually it was so gradual that the characters didn't even know they were in love with each other until almost the end of the book. I love the slow development of the romance it gave the story the time it needed to show that they were healing, that they were two people who were more than growing closer but needed each other just to get up in the morning. I was rooting for these right from the beginning and I was riveted and could not put the book down until I found out if they got their happily ever after.
I only have two complaints and it in no way detracts or changes my rating. First, the ending left me wanting more. I don't want to say it was anticlimatic because it was anything but. I will say that the ending was a little rushed though with the decisions they made I wanted to know what happened next in their relationship. Second, as I said before Nastya in the beginning wasn't even trying and that has always been a pet-peeve of mine but I think it was needed to make to story so epic so even though it's a pet-peeve I dealt with it and boy was I impressed.
This book will forever be one of my faves, the way it just felt so real and heartbreaking. I found it incredibly moving and healing for me in many ways. I have read this book about 3 times and probably will continue reading it in the future.
WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST FINISH OH MY GOD. THIS BOOK WAS SO AMAZING HOLY JESUS I AM SOBBING RIGHT NOW JOSH AND SUNSHINE JUST SCREAM OTP AND MTB. MY LIFE . I CAN'T HANDLE THIS.
but like moving on, why can't i meet someone like josh and drew and be best friends with them idgi????????????
OKAY IT'S LATE MY PARENTS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO YELL AT ME FOR STAYING UP TO READ BYE
but like moving on, why can't i meet someone like josh and drew and be best friends with them idgi????????????
OKAY IT'S LATE MY PARENTS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO YELL AT ME FOR STAYING UP TO READ BYE
medium-paced