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bibliobethreads's review against another edition
4.0
This debut novel was chosen as part of the Waterstones Eleven for this year, and was picked as the January release. I've read it a bit later than planned but I'm so glad I did as I loved it. Vivid imagery, piercing insights, and beautiful writing are just some of the highlights. Warning - this book isn't about the cheeriest of topics, and might not appeal to anyone wanting a "lighthearted" read!
Please see my full review at http://bibliobeth.wordpress.com
Please see my full review at http://bibliobeth.wordpress.com
kelseyat's review against another edition
4.0
One of those "can't stop reading, must keep reading" books. I had heard very good things about this book going into it, and I wasn't disappointed.
nicoleabouttown's review against another edition
4.0
When I originally received the email pitching Y by Marjorie Celona for this blog tour, there was something about it that just jumped out at me and made me want to read the book. I received the book and decided not to pick it up and read it right away. I decided to do a little experiment. As much as I wanted to read the book, would I still be as interested as I was when it was pitched if I put it out of sight, out of mind for a while? Would I still have that overwhelming desire to read the book that I had after reading that pitch? Would the same things draw me in? The short answer is yes. Time and distance didn’t dampen my desire to read Y one little bit, and for very good reason.
The story begins when Shannon is abandoned on the steps of the YMCA by her mother and follows Shannon through her childhood growing up as she is bounced from one foster home to another. As Shannon narrates, she tells us two stories; that of herself and that of the mother who abandoned her. As you are reading you feel the same fear, sadness, desperation, and hope of the characters as their stories unfold. While switching from one story to another does take some getting used to, the story and the delivery flows so wonderfully that you aren’t left feeling like something is missing at any point.
As Shannon grows, we watch her question her past and in a sense, her future. She begins to ask the inevitable question of Y? Through her search for answers, Shannon learns much about her biological mother and family and begins to realize that not all questions have easy answers and that sometimes our families are the ones we have created for ourselves and not the ones we were born into.
Y is both Marjorie Celona’s debut novel and a triumph. A triumph of spirit, a triumph of determination, and a triumph of writing. Deeply moving and universal, Y explores the topic and dynamics of family with flowing prose and great ease.
The story begins when Shannon is abandoned on the steps of the YMCA by her mother and follows Shannon through her childhood growing up as she is bounced from one foster home to another. As Shannon narrates, she tells us two stories; that of herself and that of the mother who abandoned her. As you are reading you feel the same fear, sadness, desperation, and hope of the characters as their stories unfold. While switching from one story to another does take some getting used to, the story and the delivery flows so wonderfully that you aren’t left feeling like something is missing at any point.
As Shannon grows, we watch her question her past and in a sense, her future. She begins to ask the inevitable question of Y? Through her search for answers, Shannon learns much about her biological mother and family and begins to realize that not all questions have easy answers and that sometimes our families are the ones we have created for ourselves and not the ones we were born into.
Y is both Marjorie Celona’s debut novel and a triumph. A triumph of spirit, a triumph of determination, and a triumph of writing. Deeply moving and universal, Y explores the topic and dynamics of family with flowing prose and great ease.
rebeccafromflorida's review against another edition
4.0
The lovely Jennifer over at The Relentless Reader and I did a little book trade. I sent her The Round House by Louise Erdrich, and she sent me Y by Marjorie Celona.
I was excited about this book for two reasons:
Reason 1: I need a book that starts with a Y for my A-Z Book Challenge, so this satisfies that criteria.
Reason 2: Jennifer made the book sound really good so I wanted to read it anyway! Here’s Jennifer’s review of Y.
Y is a book about Shannon, a girl who was left by her mother in front of the YMCA on the day she was born. While under the age of five, Shannon proceeds through multiple foster homes, many of which are not so pleasant, some where she’s abused, until she finds a healthy home with Miranda and her daughter.
But Shannon just isn’t dealing with life all that well. She feels lost, broken, and has no idea who she is. Will a convoluted search for her mother and father yield any results? And if so, will they make Shannon a happier person?
I definitely enjoyed reading Y. I think that . . .
For the full review, visit Love at First Book
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca @ Love at First Book
I was excited about this book for two reasons:
Reason 1: I need a book that starts with a Y for my A-Z Book Challenge, so this satisfies that criteria.
Reason 2: Jennifer made the book sound really good so I wanted to read it anyway! Here’s Jennifer’s review of Y.
Y is a book about Shannon, a girl who was left by her mother in front of the YMCA on the day she was born. While under the age of five, Shannon proceeds through multiple foster homes, many of which are not so pleasant, some where she’s abused, until she finds a healthy home with Miranda and her daughter.
But Shannon just isn’t dealing with life all that well. She feels lost, broken, and has no idea who she is. Will a convoluted search for her mother and father yield any results? And if so, will they make Shannon a happier person?
I definitely enjoyed reading Y. I think that . . .
For the full review, visit Love at First Book
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca @ Love at First Book
thrifty_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!
This is a rare kind of fiction - written well, tells an important story but still easy to read. It's short, too, but says a lot. Many of the other reviewers have said it's a sad story, and it is, but it's happy too. Not whiny, doesn't try to hard.
The chapters alternate between the story of Shannon, whose mother left her at the Y the day she was born, and that of her mother, Yula, in the time leading up to Shannon's birth, told by Shannon.
There are so many interesting and quirky characters, each of which play an important role in Shannon's life. My favorite might be the man who sees Yula leave Shannon at the Y.
This hooked me from the beginning but got even better as it went on, Shannon grew up and everything began to weave together. I loved how pieces of Yula's story mixed in with Shannon's and certain images appeared in both. It was so subtle and clever.
I really loved this, have already recommended it to a friend, and will be reading more of Celona's work.
This is a rare kind of fiction - written well, tells an important story but still easy to read. It's short, too, but says a lot. Many of the other reviewers have said it's a sad story, and it is, but it's happy too. Not whiny, doesn't try to hard.
The chapters alternate between the story of Shannon, whose mother left her at the Y the day she was born, and that of her mother, Yula, in the time leading up to Shannon's birth, told by Shannon.
There are so many interesting and quirky characters, each of which play an important role in Shannon's life. My favorite might be the man who sees Yula leave Shannon at the Y.
This hooked me from the beginning but got even better as it went on, Shannon grew up and everything began to weave together. I loved how pieces of Yula's story mixed in with Shannon's and certain images appeared in both. It was so subtle and clever.
I really loved this, have already recommended it to a friend, and will be reading more of Celona's work.
acinthedc's review against another edition
4.0
Left at the YMCA the day she was born, Shannon has bounced around the foster system with well-intentioned and abusive results until she is taken in by a single mother, Miranda, with a daughter of her own. Interwoven with the story of Shannon's childhood is the story of her parents and how she came to be abandoned. A touching story about family and personal identity.
mckenna98's review against another edition
3.0
this book was simply okay in my opinion. it was certainly upsetting and made me think a bit more about certain things. i thought the ending fit the book.
3dotsforme's review against another edition
4.0
Abandonment and life in the foster care system in B.C.
keyboardscoffee's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.
I don't think I have ever been so sad to see a book end. It caught me by surprise and I must have stared at the last page for 5 minutes before I finally closed the book. It was like saying goodbye to a friend that you don't want to lose. I grew so attached to the main character that I almost cried.
One of my favourite things about this book is the way it was written. The narrative is beautiful and 150% suits how you imagine Shannon would think if she was an actual human being. She doesn't always describe what's going on in full sentences, but when you think about it, when does anyone in real life think to themselves in full sentences when something is going on? I sure don't. In my opinion the narrative is pretty much what made this book exceptional.
I loved how not one character in this book was perfect. Their flaws don't get pointed out blatantly, but you know that they have them and you know what they are for the most part. It's like you've been talking to this character for a bit and you notice they have a tick or something. Their flaws are slipped in just like that. And it makes them so much more vivid and life like.
Last but not least, the plot. I only have one word for this: phenomenal. I seriously can't explain it any other way. If I had the time and I thought someone would actually read it, I'd write two pages on just the plot alone. It flowed so smoothly and weaved together so wonderfully that I didn't even feel like I was reading a book. No questions were left unanswered, and yet there was still a hint of mystery at the end. But I was left satisfied instead of upset with that.
I would, and have already, recommend this book to everyone I meet. Strangers walking down the street might even be told to read this book. I loved it that much.
I don't think I have ever been so sad to see a book end. It caught me by surprise and I must have stared at the last page for 5 minutes before I finally closed the book. It was like saying goodbye to a friend that you don't want to lose. I grew so attached to the main character that I almost cried.
One of my favourite things about this book is the way it was written. The narrative is beautiful and 150% suits how you imagine Shannon would think if she was an actual human being. She doesn't always describe what's going on in full sentences, but when you think about it, when does anyone in real life think to themselves in full sentences when something is going on? I sure don't. In my opinion the narrative is pretty much what made this book exceptional.
I loved how not one character in this book was perfect. Their flaws don't get pointed out blatantly, but you know that they have them and you know what they are for the most part. It's like you've been talking to this character for a bit and you notice they have a tick or something. Their flaws are slipped in just like that. And it makes them so much more vivid and life like.
Last but not least, the plot. I only have one word for this: phenomenal. I seriously can't explain it any other way. If I had the time and I thought someone would actually read it, I'd write two pages on just the plot alone. It flowed so smoothly and weaved together so wonderfully that I didn't even feel like I was reading a book. No questions were left unanswered, and yet there was still a hint of mystery at the end. But I was left satisfied instead of upset with that.
I would, and have already, recommend this book to everyone I meet. Strangers walking down the street might even be told to read this book. I loved it that much.
mollyjordan's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the style of this book. I felt like I really got to know the main character.