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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
3 stars
I was so ready to fall completely in love with this book. I love the premise, and in terms of the historical framing, it’s such an important story to tell. But from the first ten pages, I knew I would not love this book. I wasn’t even convinced I would like it.
I found Jonathan’s narration really uncomfortable, and almost felt second-hand embarrassment while reading. The characters are okay, but not extraordinary to me. The plot felt really disjointed, and some of the scenes between Johnny and Web were so similar that they became less and less powerful. That being said, Johnny and Web’s relationship was definitely my favorite part of this book. I swoon over most romances, but I do feel like there’s something special in this one.
I hate the ending. I feel like some things wrapped up too neatly and other things left completely untouched.
I am a bi female who has no connection to the 1970s or rock music, so I know this book is not written for me, but I know it means a lot to others, so I am glad it exists.
I was so ready to fall completely in love with this book. I love the premise, and in terms of the historical framing, it’s such an important story to tell. But from the first ten pages, I knew I would not love this book. I wasn’t even convinced I would like it.
I found Jonathan’s narration really uncomfortable, and almost felt second-hand embarrassment while reading. The characters are okay, but not extraordinary to me. The plot felt really disjointed, and some of the scenes between Johnny and Web were so similar that they became less and less powerful. That being said, Johnny and Web’s relationship was definitely my favorite part of this book. I swoon over most romances, but I do feel like there’s something special in this one.
I hate the ending. I feel like some things wrapped up too neatly and other things left completely untouched.
I am a bi female who has no connection to the 1970s or rock music, so I know this book is not written for me, but I know it means a lot to others, so I am glad it exists.
A story set in the 70's about a gay teenager going through shock treatments and falling in love in the face of racial prejudice has the potential to be the most depressing story you've ever read. And, yeah, this book made my soul ache (this is a positive review I promise) - Brandon did a really great job of balancing the realistic world view of 1973 vs. Jonathan's far-out imagination. My heart hurt for Jonathan & Web which I always consider to be the mark of a good storyteller. I appreciated that by the end of the book the overall tone was hopeful, but still realistic - all of their problems aren't magically solved but it's still a happy ending.
Ziggy, Stardust and me….. wow….. what a rollercoaster of thoughts, feelings and emotions.
I personally wouldn’t rate this much more than the 3 star rating I have given and I’m going to explain why, and explain my recent small reviews I made while reading the book over the past couple of days when I had the time.
When I first read the write up about Ziggy, Stardust and me I expected the book to be about main character Johnathan Collins and David Bowie’s first persona Ziggy Stardust and their adventures in outer space, that’s the impress I got. However, when beginning to read the book there is very little mentioned about Ziggy himself and the boom is more focused on Johnathan Collins (the book may as well not even be called Ziggy, Stardust and Me as David Bowie’s persona Aladdin Sane is mentioned a lot more).
Linking to my point about Aladdin Sane, one Bowie’s layer 1973 personas is in fact a complete different persona and having him been called Ziggy Stardust throughout the book is upsetting for a David Bowie fan. (Aladdin has a lighting bolt and Ziggy has a golden circle on his forehead). Also, some facts about David are incorrect, saying he has heteroachroma when in fact he had Adie syndrome, or Holmes-Adie syndrome, a condition that makes it so his pupil doesn’t dilate in one eye, he got this condition in his teen years just to being punched in the eye. Although it’s not a massive effect to the story, I do wish the author checked his facts before writing the book.
Now, the characters and plot.
Well….. all the characters seemed to be hippies, it was as if the book was written in the 60’s and not the 70’s. I know drugs were very popular in the 70’s but everyone walks around saying ‘man’ and acting as if they’re from the hippie era of the 60’s but then slagging off actual hippies which really confuses me…. But anyway, what ever floats your boat. I really don’t care if anyones a hippie but don’t have characters doing stereotypical hippie things and then proceeded to have them slag hippies off.
The plot of the book was a very cliché, stereotypically lovers story, very sappy and just predictable at times, two boys love each other but it’s wrong but end up fighting to be with each other anyway, just the usual romance and I wish there was more to it.
And some of the vocabulary really cringed me out, I really hated some of the onomatopoeia’s because they were in pretty much every page and it just made me lose track in my reading, I would be reading smoothly and BAM there was an onomatopoeia (that’s literally how it was like in the book, just a small demonstration).
Overall, Ziggy, Stardust and Me is a good and easy read if you want something that’s light and easy however I do hope that the author avoids any of the things mentioned about in any of his other works (if he has them) and if he ever write based upon a character or a celebrity again to check his facts before publishing.
Thank you for reading :)
I personally wouldn’t rate this much more than the 3 star rating I have given and I’m going to explain why, and explain my recent small reviews I made while reading the book over the past couple of days when I had the time.
When I first read the write up about Ziggy, Stardust and me I expected the book to be about main character Johnathan Collins and David Bowie’s first persona Ziggy Stardust and their adventures in outer space, that’s the impress I got. However, when beginning to read the book there is very little mentioned about Ziggy himself and the boom is more focused on Johnathan Collins (the book may as well not even be called Ziggy, Stardust and Me as David Bowie’s persona Aladdin Sane is mentioned a lot more).
Linking to my point about Aladdin Sane, one Bowie’s layer 1973 personas is in fact a complete different persona and having him been called Ziggy Stardust throughout the book is upsetting for a David Bowie fan. (Aladdin has a lighting bolt and Ziggy has a golden circle on his forehead). Also, some facts about David are incorrect, saying he has heteroachroma when in fact he had Adie syndrome, or Holmes-Adie syndrome, a condition that makes it so his pupil doesn’t dilate in one eye, he got this condition in his teen years just to being punched in the eye. Although it’s not a massive effect to the story, I do wish the author checked his facts before writing the book.
Now, the characters and plot.
Well….. all the characters seemed to be hippies, it was as if the book was written in the 60’s and not the 70’s. I know drugs were very popular in the 70’s but everyone walks around saying ‘man’ and acting as if they’re from the hippie era of the 60’s but then slagging off actual hippies which really confuses me…. But anyway, what ever floats your boat. I really don’t care if anyones a hippie but don’t have characters doing stereotypical hippie things and then proceeded to have them slag hippies off.
The plot of the book was a very cliché, stereotypically lovers story, very sappy and just predictable at times, two boys love each other but it’s wrong but end up fighting to be with each other anyway, just the usual romance and I wish there was more to it.
And some of the vocabulary really cringed me out, I really hated some of the onomatopoeia’s because they were in pretty much every page and it just made me lose track in my reading, I would be reading smoothly and BAM there was an onomatopoeia (that’s literally how it was like in the book, just a small demonstration).
Overall, Ziggy, Stardust and Me is a good and easy read if you want something that’s light and easy however I do hope that the author avoids any of the things mentioned about in any of his other works (if he has them) and if he ever write based upon a character or a celebrity again to check his facts before publishing.
Thank you for reading :)
this book is beautiful and sad. i really hope one day his dad will except him. that he will see Web again. to finally be loved by the people around him because he is a gift.
I don't feel like having to subject myself to this again at the moment so i'm just rerating it based on what I remember...
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It took me one day to read this. I timed it. 5 hours, 31 minutes, 1 second. That's how long I was on an emotional rollercoaster. When I opened this book, I was expecting some fluffy, Aristotle and Dante vibes. A few chapters in, I realized that this was going way deeper. The bullying in the street, the hiding in the bathroom, the treatments, the drunken dad, the discrimination, the violence, the assault... I could go on, and on, and on. I'll admit, I was uncomfortable at some parts. Knowing that this was happening then and that similar things still happen today...it really breaks my heart. Really. I think I actually wrote that my heart was broken a few pages in. (I was annotating.) Tears pooled in my eyes during the last hundred or so pages. My bedroom door was open, though, and I live in a house with five other people who could come in at any minute, so I shoved them back in and refused to let any fall. ...Anyways. Five stars.
update: it is december 22, 2022, and i have just finished my bracket for the best book of 2022. congratulations, you have won. when pitted against ACOMAF, you pulled through and showed how bright and special you are <3
update: it is december 22, 2022, and i have just finished my bracket for the best book of 2022. congratulations, you have won. when pitted against ACOMAF, you pulled through and showed how bright and special you are <3