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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
I didn't really enjoy this book because I felt like it was a giant book of cliches from the world today, and I don't really enjoy books that.
i wanted to like this and i really thought i would, but i found it heavy handed and fake deep :(
Nanette O'Hare doesn't have a hard life. She's the star of the soccer team, her grades are great, and her parents will do anything in their power to provide the best for their daughter. Even though Nanette knows she should appreciate the life she has, it's her last year of high school and she's tired of pretending to be the perfect child everyone believes she is. When a teacher gives her a copy of The Bubblegum Reaper, Nanette's perspective of life changes and she begins to explore what her identity really is.
The main ideas, conversations, and events in this book all surround the story of The Bubblegum Reaper. It's a made-up book, but the reader becomes familiar with its plot and concepts as it influences the characters in the book. The Bubblegum Reaper is a book especially understood by rather lonely people, but ends up bringing them together.
Booker, the author of the book, eventually befriends Nanette. It's obvious that Booker has had some experiences in his lifetime that have made him introspective yet sensitive. Nonetheless, he understands Nanette. He knows what it's like to feel like a loner. He tells her, "If the lonely kids could just team up, a lot of good things would happen, but the world is incredibly afraid of lonely people teaming up, and so it does its best to keep them apart." Booker tells Nanette that even though many introverted, lonesome people have great ideas, they are often shot down and overshadowed. Booker gives Nanette a voice, but for the better or worse, also sparks her rebellious side.
Through Booker, Nanette meets Alex, previously known as Little Lex. Their attraction to each other is almost instant, which is usually something I can't stand in books. But I'll admit. This was cute. For example (while FaceTiming): "Towards the end of our epic phone conversation, Alex and I were just sort of lying there, looking at each other's faces through the screens on our little machines, which sounds weird now but felt right—like we were both tired of being alone and therefore didn't want to say good-bye." The two seem to understand each other perfectly, and Nanette finally gets to experience what it's truly like to have someone you care about.
Why? Because Nanette is her own person.
Overall I loved Nanette. Everything she said, felt, and thought reminded me of myself. At times she was insightful, but at other times she was inconsiderate and a bit stuck up. Even though her character could be hypocritical, that's what made her feel real. Don't get me wrong. Hypocrites can be downright annoying. But Nanette is still naive, and no matter how much she discovers about the world, she has barely scratched the surface of all its secrets. Petty things, such as thinking the popular girls are inferior for liking boys and makeup and mainstream music, are mixed in with much more serious life lessons about being your own person. Sometimes Nanette misses the point—steering clear of all normalities and trends isn't the only way to embrace who you are. She disapproves of the lifestyle her sex-obsessed classmates live, and strives to be the exact opposite. Nanette even performs an "experiment" where she sees what it's like to be normal by going to parties and having a boyfriend and living life dangerously. Nanette's experiment makes everyone happy, even though she herself is not. She finally breaks down and no longer wants to live a life that isn't hers.
One scene I found crucial was when Nanette's friend Shannon comes over after Nanette ditched their prom. Shannon, upset that her friend ruined the night, tells Nanette that she is selfish. During this conversation, Nanette makes it clear that she does not approve of the standards of society—she doesn't want to go to college right away and or care about sports or do things simply because she is told to. Shannon on the other hand wants to go to college. Her whole life is soccer, and she wants to spend her time engaging in it. Shannon is not Nanette. But that does not make one person superior to the other. Their views on life may be different, but each person's choices are valid.
Even though this story didn't captivate me to the extent that [b: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock|13477676|Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock|Matthew Quick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1370282544s/13477676.jpg|19008613] did, I still found it profound. The characters were enjoyable and the theme was inspiring. Matthew Quick is a talented author and I will be reading more novels of his in the future.
The main ideas, conversations, and events in this book all surround the story of The Bubblegum Reaper. It's a made-up book, but the reader becomes familiar with its plot and concepts as it influences the characters in the book. The Bubblegum Reaper is a book especially understood by rather lonely people, but ends up bringing them together.
Booker, the author of the book, eventually befriends Nanette. It's obvious that Booker has had some experiences in his lifetime that have made him introspective yet sensitive. Nonetheless, he understands Nanette. He knows what it's like to feel like a loner. He tells her, "If the lonely kids could just team up, a lot of good things would happen, but the world is incredibly afraid of lonely people teaming up, and so it does its best to keep them apart." Booker tells Nanette that even though many introverted, lonesome people have great ideas, they are often shot down and overshadowed. Booker gives Nanette a voice, but for the better or worse, also sparks her rebellious side.
Through Booker, Nanette meets Alex, previously known as Little Lex. Their attraction to each other is almost instant, which is usually something I can't stand in books. But I'll admit. This was cute. For example (while FaceTiming): "Towards the end of our epic phone conversation, Alex and I were just sort of lying there, looking at each other's faces through the screens on our little machines, which sounds weird now but felt right—like we were both tired of being alone and therefore didn't want to say good-bye." The two seem to understand each other perfectly, and Nanette finally gets to experience what it's truly like to have someone you care about.
Spoiler
Alex's arrest (and then later his death) was tragic. Something in Nanette's life seemed to finally be going right, and then it all collapsed on her. But it was before this when Nanette realized that Alex solved his problems with violence—this led to her discovering that she was no longer in love. Despite all Alex had given her, Nanette did not change her views on violence just to keep her relationship going.Overall I loved Nanette. Everything she said, felt, and thought reminded me of myself. At times she was insightful, but at other times she was inconsiderate and a bit stuck up. Even though her character could be hypocritical, that's what made her feel real. Don't get me wrong. Hypocrites can be downright annoying. But Nanette is still naive, and no matter how much she discovers about the world, she has barely scratched the surface of all its secrets. Petty things, such as thinking the popular girls are inferior for liking boys and makeup and mainstream music, are mixed in with much more serious life lessons about being your own person. Sometimes Nanette misses the point—steering clear of all normalities and trends isn't the only way to embrace who you are. She disapproves of the lifestyle her sex-obsessed classmates live, and strives to be the exact opposite. Nanette even performs an "experiment" where she sees what it's like to be normal by going to parties and having a boyfriend and living life dangerously. Nanette's experiment makes everyone happy, even though she herself is not. She finally breaks down and no longer wants to live a life that isn't hers.
One scene I found crucial was when Nanette's friend Shannon comes over after Nanette ditched their prom. Shannon, upset that her friend ruined the night, tells Nanette that she is selfish. During this conversation, Nanette makes it clear that she does not approve of the standards of society—she doesn't want to go to college right away and or care about sports or do things simply because she is told to. Shannon on the other hand wants to go to college. Her whole life is soccer, and she wants to spend her time engaging in it. Shannon is not Nanette. But that does not make one person superior to the other. Their views on life may be different, but each person's choices are valid.
Even though this story didn't captivate me to the extent that [b: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock|13477676|Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock|Matthew Quick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1370282544s/13477676.jpg|19008613] did, I still found it profound. The characters were enjoyable and the theme was inspiring. Matthew Quick is a talented author and I will be reading more novels of his in the future.
I struggled with knowing how I felt about this book almost from the start. And yet...it was a pretty quick read, and I wanted to keep reading.
One problem for me was that I never felt like I understood Nanette. For moments maybe, but overall, and ESPECIALLY by the end of the book, I did not understand her and I really don't think I even liked her.
I will say, I have discovered about myself that, thus far, I do not appreciate books that have a significant storyline focused on a fictional book (which sound meta to even write). Despite loving The Fault in Our Stars when I read it, I struggled with finding the meaning Hazel and Gus did in that fictional book, and I did the same here with Bubblegum Reaper. While I definitely believe in the power of fiction, and the ability of books to change lives and connect people, depicting that through the use of a made up book that I only learn about in the pages of another made up book isn't super effective for me.
I think what made this book tough for me in particular was that many of the characters didn't feel like real people to me. Which made sense to some extent for Alex, since it becomes apparent that he's got more going on in his life and mind than anyone knows at first. But I expected that at some point I would feel more warmly toward Nanette, and while that started to happen (about the time that she started speaking in third person), by the end of the book it gets shot to hell.
I liked the pacing of the book. I liked that it kept me wondering about the characters. I liked when the underdogs kind of came together, forming a bond with one another and filling spaces in each other's lives they didn't seem to know were missing. I liked the way literature was referenced, the way it brought people together. I liked the idea of feeling "weird" in high school, and the power that can come from rebelling against the norm, and the expectations set for you.
I did not like that Nanette, in an effort to set herself apart, treated other people like garbage. I found no good in that. I did not like her "experiment" and the way she treated people who thought she was actually their friend. I didn't like that she dropped this facade, and then was angry at the people she unexpectedly abandoned for not "getting" that she just "wasn't like them." I thought she was kind of heartless and had very little respect for other people's feelings, and the way she manipulated them. I didn't like that at all.
Maybe the things I didn't like were just me. Maybe I'm supposed to enjoy Nanette's empowerment. Her selflessness earlier on in the novel wasn't good for her, but I didn't feel that her detachment from everyone else was either. I didn't like the judgment she showed towards others - Shannon in particular - when they expressed true joy in things that she herself found no joy in.
I gave this three stars because there really were points of the book where I wanted to easily give it 4, and there were others that made me want to lower it. Right in the middle seemed like a respectable compromise. I would really like to talk to someone else about this one, and see what they got out of it, because it did affect me in a unique way, even if I didn't necessarily love it.
One problem for me was that I never felt like I understood Nanette. For moments maybe, but overall, and ESPECIALLY by the end of the book, I did not understand her and I really don't think I even liked her.
I will say, I have discovered about myself that, thus far, I do not appreciate books that have a significant storyline focused on a fictional book (which sound meta to even write). Despite loving The Fault in Our Stars when I read it, I struggled with finding the meaning Hazel and Gus did in that fictional book, and I did the same here with Bubblegum Reaper. While I definitely believe in the power of fiction, and the ability of books to change lives and connect people, depicting that through the use of a made up book that I only learn about in the pages of another made up book isn't super effective for me.
I think what made this book tough for me in particular was that many of the characters didn't feel like real people to me. Which made sense to some extent for Alex, since it becomes apparent that he's got more going on in his life and mind than anyone knows at first. But I expected that at some point I would feel more warmly toward Nanette, and while that started to happen (about the time that she started speaking in third person), by the end of the book it gets shot to hell.
I liked the pacing of the book. I liked that it kept me wondering about the characters. I liked when the underdogs kind of came together, forming a bond with one another and filling spaces in each other's lives they didn't seem to know were missing. I liked the way literature was referenced, the way it brought people together. I liked the idea of feeling "weird" in high school, and the power that can come from rebelling against the norm, and the expectations set for you.
I did not like that Nanette, in an effort to set herself apart, treated other people like garbage. I found no good in that. I did not like her "experiment" and the way she treated people who thought she was actually their friend. I didn't like that she dropped this facade, and then was angry at the people she unexpectedly abandoned for not "getting" that she just "wasn't like them." I thought she was kind of heartless and had very little respect for other people's feelings, and the way she manipulated them. I didn't like that at all.
Maybe the things I didn't like were just me. Maybe I'm supposed to enjoy Nanette's empowerment. Her selflessness earlier on in the novel wasn't good for her, but I didn't feel that her detachment from everyone else was either. I didn't like the judgment she showed towards others - Shannon in particular - when they expressed true joy in things that she herself found no joy in.
I gave this three stars because there really were points of the book where I wanted to easily give it 4, and there were others that made me want to lower it. Right in the middle seemed like a respectable compromise. I would really like to talk to someone else about this one, and see what they got out of it, because it did affect me in a unique way, even if I didn't necessarily love it.
I just love Matthew Quick's books. There is something about his style of storytelling that really resonates with me and makes me feel an interesting connection with his characters. This book was no exception. It was an interesting journey into the mind of a young girl trying to be everything to everyone and finds this endeavor to be impossible. The characters were wonderful and I enjoyed every moment of reading about their progression.
I really liked parts of the story but overall I just thought it was okay. It got too crazy for me in the middle and too philosophical for my taste.
I will recommend for teens though because I think they will like it! Filled with high school drama and teenage angst.
I will recommend for teens though because I think they will like it! Filled with high school drama and teenage angst.
I love a good YA book. There was a lot in here that I liked. A gal trying to figure herself out, feeling weird, feeling alone. I liked the hope and the realness to her story. I didn’t really like the ending tho so that’s making me give it a 3/5.
“And then one day you will look for you in the mirror and you’ll no longer be able to identify yourself—you’ll only see everyone else. You’ll know that you did what they wanted you to do. You will have assimilated. And you will hate yourself for it, because it will be too late.”
Living in the most evangelical state in the United States (believe it or not, Tennessee has more evangelicals than Alabama or Mississippi), I've always felt like a fish out of water. I've especially felt like a misfit the past two and a half years, so this book resonated with me. Two other passages I particularly enjoyed:
~“There are seven billion people in the world and you have only experienced twenty thousand at the most. And those twenty thousand were fairly homogeneous. Your experiences with people have been largely dictated by your parents' choices. The neighborhood in which they chose to purchase a house. Where they sent you to school. And maybe those choices weren't the best for you. Maybe you don't fit in where you are now... There are seven billion other people out there. Seven billion. Are you really pessimistic enough to believe that you wouldn't get along with any of them?”
~ “Just because you're good at something doesn't mean you have to do it.”
Living in the most evangelical state in the United States (believe it or not, Tennessee has more evangelicals than Alabama or Mississippi), I've always felt like a fish out of water. I've especially felt like a misfit the past two and a half years, so this book resonated with me. Two other passages I particularly enjoyed:
~“There are seven billion people in the world and you have only experienced twenty thousand at the most. And those twenty thousand were fairly homogeneous. Your experiences with people have been largely dictated by your parents' choices. The neighborhood in which they chose to purchase a house. Where they sent you to school. And maybe those choices weren't the best for you. Maybe you don't fit in where you are now... There are seven billion other people out there. Seven billion. Are you really pessimistic enough to believe that you wouldn't get along with any of them?”
~ “Just because you're good at something doesn't mean you have to do it.”
this exquisite novel explores Nanette's love (obsession?) with a cult book called The Bubblegum Reaper - through her befriending the author, meeting other fans, and making radical changes in her own life. This is in almost every way a typical Matthew Quick novel, but still rings different and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Okay, can someone write a fanfiction about all the Matthew Quick book MCs sharing one world where everyone become friends and then I can let go of a feel-good sigh?
This is another gem by Matthew Quick but this one comes with a different flavor. Nanette O'Hare is your academe model. Being the soccer star player and a top student in her high school, Nanette always feels like she needs to go beyond everything she is asked to do. But everything changed as soon as her favorite teacher, Mr. Graves, gave her a copy of The Bubblegum Reaper, a renowned book that has been pulled out of shelves after a successful publication for unknown reason. The book made Nanette feel different and this awakening leads her to new people in her life - Nigel Booker (the author), Alex Redmer, Oliver, and the Thatch twins. But will Nanette's new life finally fits with the voice inside her head? Or will this change of lane be abandoned and will come at a high price and devastating consequences?
I have high expectations for this book since both TGLORN and FMLP (Matthew Quick books) made me cry and well, Every Exquisite Thing delivered a new kind of goodness I devoured in one day. Like before, Matthew successfully established the characters in this book with their unique attributes and characteristics that made everyone stood out. I love how he incorporated the daily struggle and how it feels to be someone experiencing depression. I feel so attached with Nanette the same thing I poured my empathy to every Matthew Quick books I encountered.
Though this book has some trigger warnings like depression, grief, bullying, and minor rebellion, it is still an enjoyable ride that will make you question your existence in this universe.
RATING: 4stars
This is another gem by Matthew Quick but this one comes with a different flavor. Nanette O'Hare is your academe model. Being the soccer star player and a top student in her high school, Nanette always feels like she needs to go beyond everything she is asked to do. But everything changed as soon as her favorite teacher, Mr. Graves, gave her a copy of The Bubblegum Reaper, a renowned book that has been pulled out of shelves after a successful publication for unknown reason. The book made Nanette feel different and this awakening leads her to new people in her life - Nigel Booker (the author), Alex Redmer, Oliver, and the Thatch twins. But will Nanette's new life finally fits with the voice inside her head? Or will this change of lane be abandoned and will come at a high price and devastating consequences?
I have high expectations for this book since both TGLORN and FMLP (Matthew Quick books) made me cry and well, Every Exquisite Thing delivered a new kind of goodness I devoured in one day. Like before, Matthew successfully established the characters in this book with their unique attributes and characteristics that made everyone stood out. I love how he incorporated the daily struggle and how it feels to be someone experiencing depression. I feel so attached with Nanette the same thing I poured my empathy to every Matthew Quick books I encountered.
Though this book has some trigger warnings like depression, grief, bullying, and minor rebellion, it is still an enjoyable ride that will make you question your existence in this universe.
RATING: 4stars