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shelbyswartzel's review
5.0
This was a wonderful book that I got from a "blind date" from B&N. I believe it captures teenage life fairly well while still adding the dramatics we all see in books and movies. Family, friends, and love.
snaillydia's review
DNF @ 132 pages
I cannot stress enough how much I wanted to enjoy this book. I bought it new, in hardback, I nearly never do that. I waited for the perfect moment when I'd need a heartwrenching sapphic YA, and that moment finally came.
But nope. No satisfaction. No heart wrenching or swooning to be found.
I suppose that this book just ticked too many of my random pet-peeves. I hate when characters break into song. I hate characters self diagnosing. I hate manic pixie dream girls that are squeaky clean. I dislike love triangles.
So the novel was already stretching the limits of my patience by the 130 page mark, when I realized how little had happened by that point. Seriously. This book moves at a snail's pace, attempting to focus of characters and their relationships. Which I usually love! Some of my favorite books are commonly criticized for their pace. But those books managed to get me to care about their characters. The Last True Poets of the Sea never gets me to care, not even a little bit. The protagonist is as interesting as a saltine cracker, and the rest of the characters have zero edge.
I thought that, with a whimsical title like 'The Last True Poets of the Sea', I would be in for some nice, poetic prose at least. Nope, the writing falls short. Nothing special, no spark, nothing to separate it from every contemporary YA novel I've ever read.
Yawn.
I cannot stress enough how much I wanted to enjoy this book. I bought it new, in hardback, I nearly never do that. I waited for the perfect moment when I'd need a heartwrenching sapphic YA, and that moment finally came.
But nope. No satisfaction. No heart wrenching or swooning to be found.
I suppose that this book just ticked too many of my random pet-peeves. I hate when characters break into song. I hate characters self diagnosing. I hate manic pixie dream girls that are squeaky clean. I dislike love triangles.
So the novel was already stretching the limits of my patience by the 130 page mark, when I realized how little had happened by that point. Seriously. This book moves at a snail's pace, attempting to focus of characters and their relationships. Which I usually love! Some of my favorite books are commonly criticized for their pace. But those books managed to get me to care about their characters. The Last True Poets of the Sea never gets me to care, not even a little bit. The protagonist is as interesting as a saltine cracker, and the rest of the characters have zero edge.
I thought that, with a whimsical title like 'The Last True Poets of the Sea', I would be in for some nice, poetic prose at least. Nope, the writing falls short. Nothing special, no spark, nothing to separate it from every contemporary YA novel I've ever read.
Yawn.
slowa_w_filizance's review
5.0
Have you ever felt so touched by a book that you could cry just thinking about it?
Honestly, I am afraid that this review is going to be a mess cause I can't quite find words to this book justice. But, holy shit, it was good. It was so, so good. Even though it's only February, I would genuinely be surprised if this book doesn't turn out to be one of my favourites of the year.
But, of course, first things first. What is "the last true poets of the sea" even about?
Violet, 16 years old girl, is sent to her uncle for the summer. The small, seaside town that the man lives in, has a rich history, thst is tied to main character's family. Long ago, her ancestor, survived the shipwreck on these shores, but the ship has never been found. Violet, encouraged by her new friend, Liv, who is obsessed with history, decides to search for the wreck. Not just for herself - but for her brother, Sam, as they both dreamt about having found this wreck. At least when they were kids. Now they're drift apart and Sam is now in treatment after his suicide attempt.
This book, as it's probably clear from the synopsis, isn't a light read. Actually, it's pretty emotionally wrecking. But, the funniest thing is, even when my soul ached for the characters, this book also gave me incredible feeling of comfort and hope. Reading this book, with it's incredibly emotional story, feels like going to a desolate beach after a long, long day and finding peace in salt smelling air and cold breeze. It feels like someone dear putting a blanket over your shoulders and sitting with you in quiet, their sole presence being enough to make you feel a little better.
What particularly stood out in this book are rationships that the main character forms with others. Her brother, even though absent, was so ever present in the book in Violet's thoughts and I ached at how dearly she missed him but, at the same time, didn't know how to reach him. I also fell in love with Violet's uncle wuiet love for her - how he always tried be there for her but never pushed her, simply stood by and gave her the space she needed.
Did I also mention that this book is sapphic? Our main character is bisexual and falls in love with a girl. And I fell in love with their story, the one, I will remember for a very long time.
Honestly, I am afraid that this review is going to be a mess cause I can't quite find words to this book justice. But, holy shit, it was good. It was so, so good. Even though it's only February, I would genuinely be surprised if this book doesn't turn out to be one of my favourites of the year.
But, of course, first things first. What is "the last true poets of the sea" even about?
Violet, 16 years old girl, is sent to her uncle for the summer. The small, seaside town that the man lives in, has a rich history, thst is tied to main character's family. Long ago, her ancestor, survived the shipwreck on these shores, but the ship has never been found. Violet, encouraged by her new friend, Liv, who is obsessed with history, decides to search for the wreck. Not just for herself - but for her brother, Sam, as they both dreamt about having found this wreck. At least when they were kids. Now they're drift apart and Sam is now in treatment after his suicide attempt.
This book, as it's probably clear from the synopsis, isn't a light read. Actually, it's pretty emotionally wrecking. But, the funniest thing is, even when my soul ached for the characters, this book also gave me incredible feeling of comfort and hope. Reading this book, with it's incredibly emotional story, feels like going to a desolate beach after a long, long day and finding peace in salt smelling air and cold breeze. It feels like someone dear putting a blanket over your shoulders and sitting with you in quiet, their sole presence being enough to make you feel a little better.
What particularly stood out in this book are rationships that the main character forms with others. Her brother, even though absent, was so ever present in the book in Violet's thoughts and I ached at how dearly she missed him but, at the same time, didn't know how to reach him. I also fell in love with Violet's uncle wuiet love for her - how he always tried be there for her but never pushed her, simply stood by and gave her the space she needed.
Did I also mention that this book is sapphic? Our main character is bisexual and falls in love with a girl. And I fell in love with their story, the one, I will remember for a very long time.
kromanuski's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
felissadee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eve_kaarina's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
emsprobablyreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
whosbradpitt's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A story that hooked me in immediately but wound up going on just a bit too long. I enjoyed the prose in particular.