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stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
5.0
4.5, but I'm bumping it up because I read this book months ago and can't stop thinking about it. It spoke to me on a personal level, and that's why it deserves all the praise it can get.
So, I've read 40 books this year and this is my first 5-star read. Just shows how picky I am.
My life has been told to me through campfire tales - stories that spill over when the fire has burnt low and silence must be filled.
This is a realistic survival story that follows kids on the run, all from troubled homes and pasts.
It progressively grows darker and grittier, until we find out what these children are really capable of. It is dirty and unapologetic, and made me uncomfortable many times.
It reminds me of [b:Tiger Lily|7514925|Tiger Lily|Jodi Lynn Anderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329681513s/7514925.jpg|9720811], where children have to act like adults.
They have warped views of love and power, and therefore abuse both.
After all, how could they know? No one taught them, and that breaks my heart. In the end, they’re just confused, lost kids who do not know better.
Friday Brown is a very bittersweet and heartbreaking book, with hope sprinkled here and there.
The prose is gorgeous and poignant, with no ounce of pretentiousness. It feels sensitive and delicate and beautiful. I strongly related to Friday, who is at a crossroads in her life.
Life is full of wrong turns and dead ends and pathways that peter out. They all count, even the wrong turns; they all add more to who you become. Nobody wants to be a one-way street.
Friday and Arden's relationship tugged at my heartstrings. I love the concept of idolization and adoration of an older girl who dares you, who introduces you to a new world and makes you feel special. But you don't know that she's a master at manipulation and in the end as insecure and sad as the rest of them.
Maybe family were the people who came looking for you when you were lost.
What made this a 4.- star read instead of a 5 is because I feel one particular character could’ve been more fleshed-out.
I feared she would fall prey to the Manic pixie dream girl syndrome, and barely avoided the trap. We never find out her real backstory and that made her feel less relatable.
Final verdict:
I loved this little book, and can't believe how few people have read it. It deserves more recognition, because it's par with some of my favorite contemporaries.
I wish Vikki Wakefield had five other novels published, so I could get my heart broken by these amazing characters and beautiful writing.
Some things aren’t meant for this world. They’re too fragile, and life breaks them.
So, I've read 40 books this year and this is my first 5-star read. Just shows how picky I am.
My life has been told to me through campfire tales - stories that spill over when the fire has burnt low and silence must be filled.
This is a realistic survival story that follows kids on the run, all from troubled homes and pasts.
It progressively grows darker and grittier, until we find out what these children are really capable of. It is dirty and unapologetic, and made me uncomfortable many times.
It reminds me of [b:Tiger Lily|7514925|Tiger Lily|Jodi Lynn Anderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329681513s/7514925.jpg|9720811], where children have to act like adults.
They have warped views of love and power, and therefore abuse both.
After all, how could they know? No one taught them, and that breaks my heart. In the end, they’re just confused, lost kids who do not know better.
Friday Brown is a very bittersweet and heartbreaking book, with hope sprinkled here and there.
The prose is gorgeous and poignant, with no ounce of pretentiousness. It feels sensitive and delicate and beautiful. I strongly related to Friday, who is at a crossroads in her life.
Life is full of wrong turns and dead ends and pathways that peter out. They all count, even the wrong turns; they all add more to who you become. Nobody wants to be a one-way street.
Friday and Arden's relationship tugged at my heartstrings. I love the concept of idolization and adoration of an older girl who dares you, who introduces you to a new world and makes you feel special. But you don't know that she's a master at manipulation and in the end as insecure and sad as the rest of them.
Maybe family were the people who came looking for you when you were lost.
What made this a 4.- star read instead of a 5 is because I feel one particular character could’ve been more fleshed-out.
I feared she would fall prey to the Manic pixie dream girl syndrome, and
Spoiler
ArdenFinal verdict:
I loved this little book, and can't believe how few people have read it. It deserves more recognition, because it's par with some of my favorite contemporaries.
I wish Vikki Wakefield had five other novels published, so I could get my heart broken by these amazing characters and beautiful writing.
Some things aren’t meant for this world. They’re too fragile, and life breaks them.
miss_merna's review
4.0
"They call me Friday. It has been foretold that on Saturday I will drown..."
Friday Brown's mother has frequently told tales of their female ancestors, who each acquired the Brown family curse that tragically all ended their life. Friday and her mother travel from to town in the outback desert as they attempt to elude the family curse, however fate leaves Friday alone after her mother's abrupt death.
"I am nothing. I feel like nothing. I want my life to matter. What if one day I'm gone and Nobody ever I knew existed."
Seventeen year old Friday makes a decision to continue her past lifestyle of traveling, and meets the lonely boy named Silence at the train station. He introduces her to a group of street kids, who she is able to relate to and become dependent on. It is on the other hand the charismatic Arden - the group leader who will challenge Friday more than she would she like.
Friday Brown came nothing close to what I envisaged, especially the end which had left me stunned. The book was split into two parts. I view the first part as being fundamental in providing the reader simply with the backgrounds of each of the the street kids. The second parts unravels each character and shows their true nature and growth, or how some of the characters have come to disintegrate as a human, and the transformation of all the characters can evidently be displayed by the change of setting in the book, from the city in part 1 to a ghostown in the outback in part 2.
^^Okay, I suppose that wasn't really review but more of analysis of the story. The novel comprised of simple little meanings found throughout the story, that it was attempting to convey, for instance a significant one I noticed was: "Appearance can be deceiving." I particularly loved how the book pointed out that lies told by the people we trust come to make us vitally who we are.
The characters as mentioned before, show more of their true nature in the second half of the book. The street kids are presented as lost and completely alone on their own, but with the guide of each other they are able to live almost happily. They each had a troubled life that has brought them together. Friday comes to describe them as being identical to the "lost boys" in Peter Pan. Friday forms a deeply strong and beautiful bond with Silence - the boy who found her all alone in the train station.
Friday Brown finds comfort with the street kids when she struggles to belong anywhere else. Her character is fiercely loyal and intellectual, but is at the same time heavily flawed, with her lack of confidence and her to inability to shrug of her past in order for self-realization to finally happen.
The romance isn't substantial part of the book. It actually only makes a very tiny fragment of the story. So be warned, don't expect teen angst or even much romance.
I did give this book four stars instead of five, due to how gloomy the ending left me. It was a perfect ending, but I could not find myself to love it. I do highly recommend Friday Brown of course!
“Maybe that was the thing about beginnings - they always seemed better than middles or endings. And if only I ever had beginnings and my past was so perfect, then the future would never measure up. I didn't want to live like that.”
mlhighfield's review against another edition
5.0
Friday Brown is a seventeen year old girl who's life is turned upside down when her mother dies of cancer. Growing up, her and her mother never owned much, nor did they ever stay in the same place for long. When her mother gets sick, her wealthy grandfather takes her in, but Friday runs away to the only life she's ever known.
She finds herself in the train station where she meets Silence. Intrigued and alone, she begs him to take her with him and soon meets Arden and the rest of the group. In a story of torturous and terrifying adventures, Friday Brown must fight to survive.
When I first started reading this book, I noticed that the synopsis on the back wasn't coming to life for me at all. I was confused but at the same time, I couldn't put the book down. I found myself constantly wondering what turn of events would happen next for Friday.
I highly recommend this book!
She finds herself in the train station where she meets Silence. Intrigued and alone, she begs him to take her with him and soon meets Arden and the rest of the group. In a story of torturous and terrifying adventures, Friday Brown must fight to survive.
When I first started reading this book, I noticed that the synopsis on the back wasn't coming to life for me at all. I was confused but at the same time, I couldn't put the book down. I found myself constantly wondering what turn of events would happen next for Friday.
I highly recommend this book!
xlovelylaurencalistax's review against another edition
4.0
"The stars were my witness, and the trees, the moon, the drowning town. 'Throw stones, make waves...'"
This is another find-yourself-without-really-achieving-a-goal kind of story, but this is the only author who does it well. The writing is poetic and whimsical.
There's a girl named Friday and a boy named Silence. The story can be taken in a completely metaphorical way if you wish. It's just lovely no matter what.
I did think some of the faster paced scenes were harder to understand but that was minor.
"Drowning is easy. Breathing is hard."
This is another find-yourself-without-really-achieving-a-goal kind of story, but this is the only author who does it well. The writing is poetic and whimsical.
There's a girl named Friday and a boy named Silence. The story can be taken in a completely metaphorical way if you wish. It's just lovely no matter what.
I did think some of the faster paced scenes were harder to understand but that was minor.
"Drowning is easy. Breathing is hard."
patchworkbunny's review
5.0
Seventeen-year-old Friday Brown has spent all her life travelling from town to town, brought up on stories of the family curse. When her mother dies, Friday runs away from home, determined to continue the lifestyle her mother showed her. But in the city she meets a mute boy who shows her families are not always what you’re born with.
I honestly don’t know why more people aren’t talking about Vikki Wakefield; her writing is just a pleasure to read. Friday Brown feels like a quiet sort of tale, intimate in its telling but has big themes. Friday runs away from home after her mother’s death and ends up living in a squat. She’s set apart from the other kids who have fled unhappy homes where Friday left by choice; turned away money that would have set her on the right path.
It’s kind of refreshing for a young adult book to stay away from romantic love. It’s not that Friday doesn’t express any interest in dating, it’s just not a big part of her life. She’s still finding out who she is. Instead, Friday befriends Silence, a boy who doesn’t speak. Their bond is that of siblings within a wider family, one she doesn’t always feel she fits into.
The story goes from the big city out into Australia’s outback. Friday might never be street smart but she had grown up on the road with her mother. There’s little bits of everyday drama, details of things as simple as making dinner when you have little money to spare as well as moments of heartbreaking tragedy. I urge you to read it.
I honestly don’t know why more people aren’t talking about Vikki Wakefield; her writing is just a pleasure to read. Friday Brown feels like a quiet sort of tale, intimate in its telling but has big themes. Friday runs away from home after her mother’s death and ends up living in a squat. She’s set apart from the other kids who have fled unhappy homes where Friday left by choice; turned away money that would have set her on the right path.
It’s kind of refreshing for a young adult book to stay away from romantic love. It’s not that Friday doesn’t express any interest in dating, it’s just not a big part of her life. She’s still finding out who she is. Instead, Friday befriends Silence, a boy who doesn’t speak. Their bond is that of siblings within a wider family, one she doesn’t always feel she fits into.
The story goes from the big city out into Australia’s outback. Friday might never be street smart but she had grown up on the road with her mother. There’s little bits of everyday drama, details of things as simple as making dinner when you have little money to spare as well as moments of heartbreaking tragedy. I urge you to read it.
smolbean_reads's review
3.0
“Some things aren't meant for this world. They're too fragile, and life breaks them.”
✮✮✮ 3 stars!
Ah, I do enjoy a good Aussie YA. The first one i read was Stolen by Lucy Christopher and that just blew me away. So i'm always on the look out for a gritty YA by an Aussie author! Plus the scenery is just fantastic- i've never been to Australia before and all the descriptions of the sandy outback and big skies are just awesome.
This book follows Friday Brown as she gets drawn into a quirky group of homeless youth whilst running away from her past and the family curse. In the group, she befriends Silence, an adorable mute boy (who I just want to cuddle) and unfortunately gets caught up in the whirlwind that is the absolutely bat-shit crazy Arden. This is not a happy book by any means, i must say now.
I loved Friday. She was a great main character. She had courage and determination but had moments of doubt just as we all do. You truly wanted the best for her on her journey of self-discovery and her friendship with Silence was just so heartwarming. When she gets involved with Arden you don't want to shout at the book and tell Friday to stop being an idiot because it's absolutely believable just how easy it was for her to want to follow Arden's lead (with that charismatic attitude and otherworldly smile). If I start to talk about Arden in depth i will get angry so I'll leave you to read the book and find out about her...
The book has a part 1 and a part 2 and boy, does part 2 escalate quickly. You're kind of reading along and engaged and thinking things are a bit weird... and then this next part of the book comes along and Arden seems to of completely lost her mind and everything starts getting super dramatic and shit goes down and youre just praying to jebus that everyone gets out okay. Avoiding soo many spoilers here!
I guess the reason why this isn't 5 stars is because I wanted to know why, really why, Arden had all these hang-ups and issues. I also felt her parter Malik needed more of a part in the book. He was a bit of a flat character and I think there could of been so much more of an interesting story surrounding him and Arden. I wanted to know more about their fucked-up relationship! Also I thought that after the big climax of the story, there was too long an ending, too much reflection back on the journey which for me softened the blow a bit too much. I like to be left feeling all torn up and raw (aren't i just so positive!)
I'm glad I finally got around to reading this because it's been laying around in my bedroom for far too long.
Also, reading this book means I completed my book challenge of 30 books in 2015!! (Although like, 3 of those were graphic novels so it doesnt feel quite legit but im sure i'll read 3 'normal' books before '16.)
alizalondon's review
3.0
Originally I had a short paragraph on how much I loved this book, and I did, only I was still reeling from the emotions and didn't really get a chance to think about how good the book really is. So, after a few days, I've downgraded my rating to 4 stars, and you'll soon find out why.
Friday Brown is about Friday, who runs away from home and her family curse following her mother's death. In the city, she meets up with Silence, a mute boy who takes her in, and a group of kids led by a motherly figure named Arden.
What I love most about this book is the characterization. Friday is a strong female lead, and I loved seeing her world through her eyes. All the other side characters were well layered as well, each having their own stories and personalities.
Who really stole my heart was Silence, and he's the main reason for this 4-star rating. His tragic tale of his past, and how he lost his voice made me develop a serious emotional attachment to him. His relationship with Friday is beautifully written, perfect and realistic. I loved every moment of it.
However, the major problem I had with this book was that it had no point. It starts off as a tale about her family curse and destiny, then becomes one of her life in the city with Arden's gang, and then goes into a horror-movie like plot where everything crashes down that just becomes unrealistic and random. I did not expect the plot to go the way it did, and am almost disappointed that it left the beautiful narration that was the first half of the book.
I loved this book; I really did. I found myself neglecting my life as I read this book, completely enraptured in the life of Friday. I would have liked for it to have a more solid plot, but just the attachment you will develop for these characters will make Friday Brown well worth reading.
Friday Brown is about Friday, who runs away from home and her family curse following her mother's death. In the city, she meets up with Silence, a mute boy who takes her in, and a group of kids led by a motherly figure named Arden.
What I love most about this book is the characterization. Friday is a strong female lead, and I loved seeing her world through her eyes. All the other side characters were well layered as well, each having their own stories and personalities.
Who really stole my heart was Silence, and he's the main reason for this 4-star rating. His tragic tale of his past, and how he lost his voice made me develop a serious emotional attachment to him. His relationship with Friday is beautifully written, perfect and realistic. I loved every moment of it.
However, the major problem I had with this book was that it had no point. It starts off as a tale about her family curse and destiny, then becomes one of her life in the city with Arden's gang, and then goes into a horror-movie like plot where everything crashes down that just becomes unrealistic and random. I did not expect the plot to go the way it did, and am almost disappointed that it left the beautiful narration that was the first half of the book.
I loved this book; I really did. I found myself neglecting my life as I read this book, completely enraptured in the life of Friday. I would have liked for it to have a more solid plot, but just the attachment you will develop for these characters will make Friday Brown well worth reading.
katdid's review
3.0
When will I accept that my YA days are well and truly behind me.
This is a well-written and interesting story, but I didn’t connect with it much. And I felt like it got a bit sensational (in the negative sense) towards the end there.
This is a well-written and interesting story, but I didn’t connect with it much. And I felt like it got a bit sensational (in the negative sense) towards the end there.
Spoiler
Actually I think killing Silence was a narrative cop-out because had he lived then Friday would have had to negotiate that relationship and that would not have been easy for her.joyousreads132's review
4.0
This, in essence is what Friday Never Leaving is about.
I am Friday Brown. I buried my mother. I ran away from a man who buried a swimming pool. A boy who can't speak has adopted me. A girl kissed me. I broke and entered. Now I'm fantasising about a guy who's a victim of crime and I am the criminal. I'm going nowhere and every minute I'm not moving, I'm being tailgated by a curse that may or may not be real. They call me Friday. It has been foretold that on a Saturday, I will drown...
Friday Brown has lived her life as a vagabond, flitting from one town to the next on the heels of her mother. It was told that generations of Brown women have died by drowning in one way or another. So her grandfather - who married a professional swimmer, moved his family far, far inland. But like a mermaid stuck on land, his wife started disintegrating before his eyes. He then builds her a swimming pool. And everyday that she's in the water, he'd worried and paced and watched her, making sure that she wouldn't drown. Fate, however has other plans. She drowned on a Saturday. He buried the swimming pool and he hasn't been the same since. Friday's mother died from complications brought on by cancer. If you'd asked how she died, I'll never tell. I'll leave you to discover exactly how she died.
Perhaps it was the life that she's gotten used to, but the stability of living with her grandfather was like the proverbial body of water that's threatening to drown her. She takes off in search of a father she's never met and meets Silence, a boy who can't speak. Through Silence, she meets a group of homeless kids in the care of half terrifying, half enigmatic Arden. And in the difficult life full of strife that she's attempting to live, she finds meaning and purpose; family and love. Friends and enemies. Most of all, she'll find a way to face the curse that had long since plagued her family.
If you are under the impression that this book has paranormal elements thrown in it, you'll be wrong. There is just something supernatural about the way Wakefield wrote her story. Extraordinary characters, extraordinary stories. Silence, for one, will burrow himself in your heart and will hoard all the sympathy you have in your reserves. While Friday Brown may shy from forming any bonds with people, she's also hungry to be a part of something. And that's why she vacillates from staying or going. Whenever she clashes with Arden or Darcy, or when she gets the creepy vibes from Malik there's always something that freezes her on the spot. She can't seem to leave.
This book is all heart; which to me is the defining characteristic of what I've known of Australian contemporary YA in the short time that I've been reading them. It's gorgeous, dark and lovely, searing and devastating. Those looking for romance will also find something tender and sweet amidst the complex dynamics of the life in the squat. Highly recommended.
I am Friday Brown. I buried my mother. I ran away from a man who buried a swimming pool. A boy who can't speak has adopted me. A girl kissed me. I broke and entered. Now I'm fantasising about a guy who's a victim of crime and I am the criminal. I'm going nowhere and every minute I'm not moving, I'm being tailgated by a curse that may or may not be real. They call me Friday. It has been foretold that on a Saturday, I will drown...
Friday Brown has lived her life as a vagabond, flitting from one town to the next on the heels of her mother. It was told that generations of Brown women have died by drowning in one way or another. So her grandfather - who married a professional swimmer, moved his family far, far inland. But like a mermaid stuck on land, his wife started disintegrating before his eyes. He then builds her a swimming pool. And everyday that she's in the water, he'd worried and paced and watched her, making sure that she wouldn't drown. Fate, however has other plans. She drowned on a Saturday. He buried the swimming pool and he hasn't been the same since. Friday's mother died from complications brought on by cancer. If you'd asked how she died, I'll never tell. I'll leave you to discover exactly how she died.
Perhaps it was the life that she's gotten used to, but the stability of living with her grandfather was like the proverbial body of water that's threatening to drown her. She takes off in search of a father she's never met and meets Silence, a boy who can't speak. Through Silence, she meets a group of homeless kids in the care of half terrifying, half enigmatic Arden. And in the difficult life full of strife that she's attempting to live, she finds meaning and purpose; family and love. Friends and enemies. Most of all, she'll find a way to face the curse that had long since plagued her family.
If you are under the impression that this book has paranormal elements thrown in it, you'll be wrong. There is just something supernatural about the way Wakefield wrote her story. Extraordinary characters, extraordinary stories. Silence, for one, will burrow himself in your heart and will hoard all the sympathy you have in your reserves. While Friday Brown may shy from forming any bonds with people, she's also hungry to be a part of something. And that's why she vacillates from staying or going. Whenever she clashes with Arden or Darcy, or when she gets the creepy vibes from Malik there's always something that freezes her on the spot. She can't seem to leave.
This book is all heart; which to me is the defining characteristic of what I've known of Australian contemporary YA in the short time that I've been reading them. It's gorgeous, dark and lovely, searing and devastating. Those looking for romance will also find something tender and sweet amidst the complex dynamics of the life in the squat. Highly recommended.