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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
This seems to be a very well-liked book, and while I did want to see it through to the end, I couldn't really embrace it. Part of that is the subject matter. I like reading about "blended" and non-traditional families, and that is of course, because I became part of one.
The problem with this is that I am suspicious of stories that place a heavy emphasis on the importance of blood relations. Of course, your family is important, but your family is not always/only the people related to you by blood.
"The Opposite of Everyone" is about an adult woman, Paula Vauss, who has had a very different upbringing due to her nomadic hippie mother, Kai. She has little to no stability, and after years of a transient life on the road, she calls the cops on her mother. Paula's guilt over this betrayal eats her alive, and damages their relationship. The story begins, years later, when she receives a cryptic note from Kai, which unravels life as she knows it, and forces her to confront her past.
I had a problem with two things: one, a major theme seems to be that blood trumps everything else, no matter what the circumstances. Two, Paula's guilt over turning her mother in is horrifying. So an eleven year old girl in an unstable environment, who was scared/tired of being on the run, wants to do something about it? That's not horrible, and she shouldn't be punished for years on end for it. Kai is a loving mother, yes, but not a terribly great one, and if she's going to guilt-trip her child for making an adult decision (out of fear) then maybe she shouldn't be raising a child.
The story was interesting, and I really did want to see the end. Maybe I missed something, but I felt that the themes were a little bit off (for me personally.)
The problem with this is that I am suspicious of stories that place a heavy emphasis on the importance of blood relations. Of course, your family is important, but your family is not always/only the people related to you by blood.
"The Opposite of Everyone" is about an adult woman, Paula Vauss, who has had a very different upbringing due to her nomadic hippie mother, Kai. She has little to no stability, and after years of a transient life on the road, she calls the cops on her mother. Paula's guilt over this betrayal eats her alive, and damages their relationship. The story begins, years later, when she receives a cryptic note from Kai, which unravels life as she knows it, and forces her to confront her past.
I had a problem with two things: one, a major theme seems to be that blood trumps everything else, no matter what the circumstances. Two, Paula's guilt over turning her mother in is horrifying. So an eleven year old girl in an unstable environment, who was scared/tired of being on the run, wants to do something about it? That's not horrible, and she shouldn't be punished for years on end for it. Kai is a loving mother, yes, but not a terribly great one, and if she's going to guilt-trip her child for making an adult decision (out of fear) then maybe she shouldn't be raising a child.
The story was interesting, and I really did want to see the end. Maybe I missed something, but I felt that the themes were a little bit off (for me personally.)
I want my mother. I want my mother blindly, like a newborn mouse. Inside the quiet shell of me, I churn and shudder. My body so badly wants to root and seek, attach, be warm and full.
3.5 stars. I loved The Opposite of Everyone. Although I enjoy all Joselyn's' books, this one and [b:A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty|10960383|A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty|Joshilyn Jackson|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1442347366s/10960383.jpg|15878096] are my favorites. I was looking for an easy-read and this delivered, but I got more than I bargained for. I couldn't put The Opposite of Everyone down, and read it in two sittings. I laughed and cried, and my heart went out to all the lost girls, especially Candace. The book also reminds us of some valuable parenting lessons for instance if you live a life shaped like a loaded gun, your kid is going to come along and shoot it.. And yes I do think her writing may be a little bit formulaic, but it's a formula that works for me, and sometimes when I really want to pick up a book and know that I'll get exactly what I want. I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys Liane Moriarty or Jodi Picoult.
The Story: A tough divorce lawyer with a troubled past is forced to revisit her childhood when she discovers her estranged mother is probably dead and may have left another child behind.
Ye gods and little fishes-- as usual, Jackson takes her readers on an unforgettable ride. You never know what will happen next, but it's always worth strapping in and seeing where it goes.
I really loved this story. The summary is dead-on. I was so wrapped up in this story! While it is all one story, there are at least three stories going on. The story of a young mother and her daughter flitting from place to place changing their backstories as the mood struck them. The story of a mother in prison and a daughter in a state-run children's home. The story of a successful divorce lawyer who finds out her mother is likely dead and the shock of finding out she is an older sister. I love, love, loved it!
This is the best book I've read so far this year. The narrative switches back and forth between the present and Paula's childhood. In the present Paula seems to have it all together, especially professionally as a successful divorce attorney... but emotionally she's a wreck, suffering from debilitating panic attacks and unable to maintain a meaningful relationship. The cause of Paula's anxiety is something she did as a child that irrevocably changed her mother Kai's life. Their relationship is heartbreaking, and the only thing that redeems Kai is that she provides a family for Paula in the end.
Paula's ex-lover Birdwine has suffered heartbreak, too. After a bad split, Paula needs his PI skills to help her track her mother across the country. He agrees to take on the case after negotiating a huge increase in his fees. I am fascinated with their relationship because it's evident early on that they are in love, and that they love each other flaws and all. Unfortunately it takes a dangerous, life-threatening situation for Paula to finally realize her feelings for Birdwine.
One of my favorite elements of this novel is Kai's storytelling. She blends Hindu mythology with Kai and Paula's story. The Oral Tradition is an important part of Southern culture: People tell stories and pass down family histories around campfires, at afternoon teas, family reunions, and during story time before bed. What makes Kai and Paula so unique is that Paula's family history is not Hindu: she's adopted it like most Southerners adopt a college football team. Perhaps it is Paula's father's culture-- she is a mixture of several races.
As unique and well-drawn as all the characters are in this novel (even the young girls while Paula is in foster care, told in flashback) the plot is equally as interesting. I thought the flashback parts of the novel were perfectly spaced throughout the narrative, and there were absolutely no boring sections. I was extremely pleased with the more than satisfying ending. The Opposite of Everyone is a fantastic story. I'm happy to have discovered the talented Joshilyn Jackson.
Paula's ex-lover Birdwine has suffered heartbreak, too. After a bad split, Paula needs his PI skills to help her track her mother across the country. He agrees to take on the case after negotiating a huge increase in his fees. I am fascinated with their relationship because it's evident early on that they are in love, and that they love each other flaws and all. Unfortunately it takes a dangerous, life-threatening situation for Paula to finally realize her feelings for Birdwine.
One of my favorite elements of this novel is Kai's storytelling. She blends Hindu mythology with Kai and Paula's story. The Oral Tradition is an important part of Southern culture: People tell stories and pass down family histories around campfires, at afternoon teas, family reunions, and during story time before bed. What makes Kai and Paula so unique is that Paula's family history is not Hindu: she's adopted it like most Southerners adopt a college football team. Perhaps it is Paula's father's culture-- she is a mixture of several races.
As unique and well-drawn as all the characters are in this novel (even the young girls while Paula is in foster care, told in flashback) the plot is equally as interesting. I thought the flashback parts of the novel were perfectly spaced throughout the narrative, and there were absolutely no boring sections. I was extremely pleased with the more than satisfying ending. The Opposite of Everyone is a fantastic story. I'm happy to have discovered the talented Joshilyn Jackson.
Was not a huge fan of this book. While I found the weaving of the tales interesting, I also found it distracting and kind of annoying. Characters were somewhat intriguing, but I never really felt connected to them. Plot was okay, but overall a disappointing read.
Picked this book up because I had nothing better to do, though I didn't think it was my style. Could not put it down and read it all in one night.
This is my second Jackson and I devoured it mostly because of the soap-opera-y (everything but the kitchen sink) quality of the plot.
Joshilyn Jackson is a master story teller. I love the flawed characters in this book. Their flaws don't stop them from seeking to find their best self.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of TLC Book Tours.
If my youngest son hadn't been sick and needed me the moment I finished this book, I'd have been a blubbery mess. I'm not even sure where to begin telling you what I thought.
Paula's childhood is the OPPOSITE of traditional. Her young mother, Kai, is as mysterious and mythical as the stories she concocts. Every time Kai and Paula meet a hardship, they pack their bags and start over in a new city with a new identity. Paula struggles to understand her eccentric mother who speaks through rhyme and art. But when Kai ends up in prison, Paula is put into foster care and the only thing she wants is to return to Kai. Even the volatile, unpredictable childhood she had with Kai was better than the group home.
In the group home, Paula is much the OPPOSITE of the other girls there. She has a mom and she's mutiracial, not fitting in initially with the white or black girls. We get an inside commentary on the foster care system and how the girls are affected throughout their lives.
The only thing that remains stable in Paula's childhood is Kai's beautiful, allegorical style of storytelling. Each story has it's base in Hindu mythology and Kai uses the stories of gods and goddesses throughout her childhood to teach Paula lessons and ultimately leave her clues about the truth she must uncover as an adult. I loved how these stories were weaved throughout the book and Kai changed the stories just enough to help Paula figure out the truth. It spoke to the bond they had, no matter how their living situation strained their relationship.
This was the first book I read by Joshilyn Jackson and what I loved was how complex and conflicted these characters were. Paula used her past to build an impenetrable wall around herself that finally has to come crumbling down. It's not pretty. She fights the change and has to do a lot of soul searching to figure out the truth of what Kai's stories held. Will it be worth the struggle or will the truth break Paula?
This review was originally posted on Mom's Small Victories
If my youngest son hadn't been sick and needed me the moment I finished this book, I'd have been a blubbery mess. I'm not even sure where to begin telling you what I thought.
Paula's childhood is the OPPOSITE of traditional. Her young mother, Kai, is as mysterious and mythical as the stories she concocts. Every time Kai and Paula meet a hardship, they pack their bags and start over in a new city with a new identity. Paula struggles to understand her eccentric mother who speaks through rhyme and art. But when Kai ends up in prison, Paula is put into foster care and the only thing she wants is to return to Kai. Even the volatile, unpredictable childhood she had with Kai was better than the group home.
In the group home, Paula is much the OPPOSITE of the other girls there. She has a mom and she's mutiracial, not fitting in initially with the white or black girls. We get an inside commentary on the foster care system and how the girls are affected throughout their lives.
The only thing that remains stable in Paula's childhood is Kai's beautiful, allegorical style of storytelling. Each story has it's base in Hindu mythology and Kai uses the stories of gods and goddesses throughout her childhood to teach Paula lessons and ultimately leave her clues about the truth she must uncover as an adult. I loved how these stories were weaved throughout the book and Kai changed the stories just enough to help Paula figure out the truth. It spoke to the bond they had, no matter how their living situation strained their relationship.
This was the first book I read by Joshilyn Jackson and what I loved was how complex and conflicted these characters were. Paula used her past to build an impenetrable wall around herself that finally has to come crumbling down. It's not pretty. She fights the change and has to do a lot of soul searching to figure out the truth of what Kai's stories held. Will it be worth the struggle or will the truth break Paula?
This review was originally posted on Mom's Small Victories