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akmargie's review against another edition
3.0
What a frustrating book. At times I loved its honest and brutal look at grief and the turmoil and rage that comes with losing someone you love. On the other hand there were times I wanted this book to just get on with it and stop with the internal monologue of the main character because he was so incredibly self-absorbed and obnoxious. Yes, the MC is a hormonal teenager with anger and dad issue, but there was just too much at times. There was also a female character introduced late in the second act that was very flat and one-dimensional and really slowed down the story when it should have been amping up to the emotional climax. She pissed me off to be honest.
Almost a 2 star but bumped up to 3 because I could see this being the perfect book for a teen going through something similar. Also Nick Podehl is a great narrator and probably the only reason I stuck to the end.
Almost a 2 star but bumped up to 3 because I could see this being the perfect book for a teen going through something similar. Also Nick Podehl is a great narrator and probably the only reason I stuck to the end.
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
4.0
I actually had EM Kokie’s debut novel Personal Effects in ARC form and had planned to just read the physical copy, but then the publicist for the book had emailed me and was all, hey I am including a surprise audiobook in your package. Because this person has totally baller taste, I freaked the frick out when I opened the package up and saw that Personal Effects on audio was in there . This is because it’s easier for me to fit in audiobooks and so, if I am behind an audiobook really helps. ALSO! ALSO! The narrator is legit my favorite narrater EVER: Nick Podehl. And so, I immediately started the book like the day that I got it and found myself following along with the physical copy.
Read the rest of my review here
Review goes live 4/3/13
Read the rest of my review here
Review goes live 4/3/13
emiller83's review against another edition
5.0
Very emotionally compelling - I was attached to the main character right away! Some mature sexual content.
thebookaneer's review against another edition
4.0
Matt Foster got into another fight: a peace-nick student flaunting his "Bring Our Soldiers Home...Not in Pieces" shirt. Matt is suspended and has to pay for the display case he broke while pummeling the kid's face bloody. His principal wants him to work on anger management. His dad applauds Matt's actions, asserting that the kid deserved it, and he is proud that his son acted like a man. Soon the reader discovers why Matt acted so extremely: Matt's older brother, TJ died in Iraq. Matt's father is dealing with it in his own way, through violent outbursts against his remaining son, and by eradicating any evidence that TJ ever existed. Matt is trying to mourn in his own way and struggling with his father's expectations that he follow TJ into the army. When TJ's remaining personal effects are shipped home, Matt sneaks a peek before his father is able to hide them. What he discovers sends him on a journey, discovering who TJ really was, and who Matt will become.
This book is way outside of my wheelhouse, and I wasn't sure if I would be able to relate. Matt and his father are from a conservative military family, and when he beats the kid for flaunting his peace paraphernalia, I was wary. I thought the book might be about hawk vs dove. However, it is really about the deep grieving of a family who was touched by war (picking a fight with a kid who wears peace as a fashion statement).
Matt goes through a crucible in this book, dealing with his anger and sadness, his feelings for his best friend, his father's violence and expectations, and the explosive revelation about TJ that shakes his entire foundation. In the end, he comes out a stronger, calmer, more self-assured man who may not know where he is going, but he knows what he wants. He is such a compelling character.
John Green and Neil Gaiman both say that we should read books to live lives we never would have lived, to see inside someone else's head. To develop empathy. This book did just that. It gave me a peek into a life I never imagined, and have often put up walls against. I am so happy I branched out.
I don't have much more to say about the book, because I was so engrossed, I didn't really notice style or take any notes. It was kind of refreshing that he wasn't saved by classic art or literature (OK for Now or The Wednesday Wars, the two sons-with-abusive-fathers books I have read previously), but by human interaction. An excellent read.
This book is way outside of my wheelhouse, and I wasn't sure if I would be able to relate. Matt and his father are from a conservative military family, and when he beats the kid for flaunting his peace paraphernalia, I was wary. I thought the book might be about hawk vs dove. However, it is really about the deep grieving of a family who was touched by war (picking a fight with a kid who wears peace as a fashion statement).
Matt goes through a crucible in this book, dealing with his anger and sadness, his feelings for his best friend, his father's violence and expectations, and the explosive revelation about TJ that shakes his entire foundation. In the end, he comes out a stronger, calmer, more self-assured man who may not know where he is going, but he knows what he wants. He is such a compelling character.
John Green and Neil Gaiman both say that we should read books to live lives we never would have lived, to see inside someone else's head. To develop empathy. This book did just that. It gave me a peek into a life I never imagined, and have often put up walls against. I am so happy I branched out.
I don't have much more to say about the book, because I was so engrossed, I didn't really notice style or take any notes. It was kind of refreshing that he wasn't saved by classic art or literature (OK for Now or The Wednesday Wars, the two sons-with-abusive-fathers books I have read previously), but by human interaction. An excellent read.
moggmogg's review against another edition
3.0
Matt is devastated by his brother TJ's death and can't seem to get his life together. Things go from bad to worse after he is suspended from school for fighting. Then TJ's personal effects arrive and Matt finds letters and photos from a girlfriend he knew nothing about. When he finds a letter to her from TJ that was not mailed he decides to deliver it to her in person. But things aren't always what they appear and Matt discovers there were many things about TJ that he did not know. A beautiful story about grief and secrets and being true to who you are. Recommended for high school. 9+
romance, realistic fiction, death, secrets, military, YA contemporary
romance, realistic fiction, death, secrets, military, YA contemporary
srousseau's review against another edition
4.0
Matt is 17 and lives with his dad. His father is ex-military, very controlling, and doesn't have any compunction about hitting Matt if he is displeased. Matt's brother, T.J., was a soldier killed in the war in Iraq. Neither Matt nor his father are dealing with this loss well. Matt is getting into trouble in school, failing classes, and is very angry. Matt's dad is eradicating any evidence of T.J.'s existence from their house and refuses to talk about him. When the Army sends three footlockers of T.J.'s personal effects to his family, Matt decides he has to go through them before his father gets rid of them. Matt discovers things about his brother he never knew and begins to deal with some of his problems.
This was an excellent book about the family left behind. Matt's life wasn't all sweetness and light before his brother was killed, and it spirals downhill after his death. There isn't a pat ending, but it is hopeful. Matt's journey is believable. I think this book has something for most readers - it's realistic fiction with a male protagonist who has a rough life, a female best friend and a brother he idolizes who is gone. I highly recommend this book.
This was an excellent book about the family left behind. Matt's life wasn't all sweetness and light before his brother was killed, and it spirals downhill after his death. There isn't a pat ending, but it is hopeful. Matt's journey is believable. I think this book has something for most readers - it's realistic fiction with a male protagonist who has a rough life, a female best friend and a brother he idolizes who is gone. I highly recommend this book.
memawls's review against another edition
3.0
Matt is in high school when his brother, T.J., dies in the Iraq war. When his brother's belongings are given to the family, he finds out a whole new side of T.J. that he never knew existed. He also deals with no support from his dad and a mother who left the family when he was young. He learns to stand up for himself and start to be the man he wants to be.
library_brandy's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent story, very well handled. Matt's reactions to just about everything that happened--TJ's death, the kid at school who keeps needling him with anti-military t-shirts, his meeting the other people TJ knew and loved--everything so believable and true to how a 17-year-old boy would react to those things. At least, a boy who's grown up in the house Matt grew up in, anyway, with that father.
I was sorry to come to the end of this book. I know that the story Kokie set out to tell was over, but I want to follow up with Matt, make sure he's okay, see that he keeps in touch with his.. well, in-laws; TJ's family in Madison. I'm invested in his life. Even if this book didn't make me bawl the way many others have, I really felt for Matt.
I don't entirely feel like this was a 5-star book, but I think I'm just being star-stingy. Bumping it up because Nick Podehl narrates it, and that man could bring life and nuance to a phone book.
I was sorry to come to the end of this book. I know that the story Kokie set out to tell was over, but I want to follow up with Matt, make sure he's okay, see that he keeps in touch with his.. well, in-laws; TJ's family in Madison. I'm invested in his life. Even if this book didn't make me bawl the way many others have, I really felt for Matt.
I don't entirely feel like this was a 5-star book, but I think I'm just being star-stingy. Bumping it up because Nick Podehl narrates it, and that man could bring life and nuance to a phone book.
k_wazlib's review against another edition
5.0
Such a raw and gripping tale.
All throughout Personal Effects my heart kept clenching and breaking for all of the pain that Matt felt and most especially for what he figures out in the end. He was a brave, honest and realistic character, that I couldn't help but feel for him. While the story did read a bit slow for me, it was a fantastic read overall.
Matt's father had always groomed him and his brother to go into the military. Growing up with that push wasn't the easiest thing for either son to deal with, but T.J. eventually joined up. Sadly, he dies on his tour in Iraq, and Matt struggles to deal with his death and his angry father. After breaking into T.J.'s stuff, he finds questions and people that he must seek out if he wants any answers. "What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life."
This was such a great book. E.M. Kokie's writing was so raw and greatly detailed Matt's struggle with his brother's death and his father. I believe that she did a swell job in writing a character of the opposite gender, who had obvious male thoughts.
Really, the thing that I enjoyed most about this book was the lead character. He's written so realistically, that you probably wouldn't be able to pick him out on the street. He's not written as the totally gorgeous bad boy, or the lonely awkward guy, he just exists. In fact, I don't even know if we got total descriptions (that I paid total mind to) of his physical appearence or not. In a book, I tend to enjoy this because then it's not all about what they look like or what they're wearing. We read that what's on the inside is the only thing that matters. All we know is that there's all of this angst, pent-up anger, and FEELINGs that are so ready to bust loose, that I can't help but feel that I know him better than I know most female characters from other contemporary fiction that I've read.
Plot-wise, I was uber curious to pick up this book and discover the truth of his brother's life. Matt's questions became my questions, and I was just as eager to get those answers in the end.
Pacing-wise, for some reason it just wasn't for me. I enjoyed the crap out of this book, but some of the parts just read a bit lax for me, especially the middle. The beginning and the 150ish pages of the end kept me going the most.
Overall, Personal Effects was a great book. The plot keeps you going, the main character keeps you feeling and the ending might even twist your heart a bit. If you've eyeballed this book for awhile or are just in the least bit curious, I suggest that you pick it up and read and open your heart.
☆☆☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If military contemporary fiction sounds appealing to you.
If you're not afraid to let your heart feel something.
All throughout Personal Effects my heart kept clenching and breaking for all of the pain that Matt felt and most especially for what he figures out in the end. He was a brave, honest and realistic character, that I couldn't help but feel for him. While the story did read a bit slow for me, it was a fantastic read overall.
Matt's father had always groomed him and his brother to go into the military. Growing up with that push wasn't the easiest thing for either son to deal with, but T.J. eventually joined up. Sadly, he dies on his tour in Iraq, and Matt struggles to deal with his death and his angry father. After breaking into T.J.'s stuff, he finds questions and people that he must seek out if he wants any answers. "What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life."
This was such a great book. E.M. Kokie's writing was so raw and greatly detailed Matt's struggle with his brother's death and his father. I believe that she did a swell job in writing a character of the opposite gender, who had obvious male thoughts.
Really, the thing that I enjoyed most about this book was the lead character. He's written so realistically, that you probably wouldn't be able to pick him out on the street. He's not written as the totally gorgeous bad boy, or the lonely awkward guy, he just exists. In fact, I don't even know if we got total descriptions (that I paid total mind to) of his physical appearence or not. In a book, I tend to enjoy this because then it's not all about what they look like or what they're wearing. We read that what's on the inside is the only thing that matters. All we know is that there's all of this angst, pent-up anger, and FEELINGs that are so ready to bust loose, that I can't help but feel that I know him better than I know most female characters from other contemporary fiction that I've read.
Plot-wise, I was uber curious to pick up this book and discover the truth of his brother's life. Matt's questions became my questions, and I was just as eager to get those answers in the end.
Pacing-wise, for some reason it just wasn't for me. I enjoyed the crap out of this book, but some of the parts just read a bit lax for me, especially the middle. The beginning and the 150ish pages of the end kept me going the most.
Overall, Personal Effects was a great book. The plot keeps you going, the main character keeps you feeling and the ending might even twist your heart a bit. If you've eyeballed this book for awhile or are just in the least bit curious, I suggest that you pick it up and read and open your heart.
☆☆☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If military contemporary fiction sounds appealing to you.
If you're not afraid to let your heart feel something.
abetterbradley's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book.
Matt is mourning his brother, T.J., a soldier who has died serving in Afghanistan. Their father is trying to ease his own pain by erasing all traces of T.J. and almost succeeds. Then T.J.'s personal effects arrive leading Matt on a quest to find out who his brother was.
Matt is mourning his brother, T.J., a soldier who has died serving in Afghanistan. Their father is trying to ease his own pain by erasing all traces of T.J. and almost succeeds. Then T.J.'s personal effects arrive leading Matt on a quest to find out who his brother was.