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powisamy's review against another edition
4.0
When I first was offered to read a copy of No Sad Songs I was excited. I didn't really know what it was about except that it was a YA with a male protagonist set it in the 1990s. I, therefore, went in with low expectations, after all, I didn't know what it was about but No Sad Songs was an example of how to write an amazing YA book that everyone should read.
So one of the high points of this book is definitely the writing, it was very well written and there were elements that just really added to the overall story. This was especially well illustrated with the personal essays in the book which were a great touch and allowed the reader to explore Gabe's character even more than we previously would have. As someone who really loves reading essays, Gabe's were really good at exploring his history. The book is also really short so to fit a story of this length and for it to be amazing is great in itself.
I think that this is definitely a great thing about Gabe. As someone who reads a lot of YA, the male characters are normally real douchebags and don't tend to be good characters but this was completely the opposite with No Sad Songs. Gabe wears his heart on his sleeve and is a character that you want to root for as his past is rocky and you want him to do well in life. He came alive from the page and I just wanted to give him a massive hug.
Gabe's story is based on his family which is so well done in this book. Morelli does an amazing job of exploring the family relationship between Gabe and his grandfather in this book that is heartbreaking and so great. This is especially fantastic in the grand scheme of the book as Gabe gives everything to his grandfather so seen his evolve in the plot is heartwrenching. The book also focuses on Alzheimer's and was done really well and I would love to see his being tackled in the book. With this family relationship being the core this was different to most other YAs and I want to see this done more. This book was just so good!
The Verdict:
No Sad Songs is an excellent YA book that will have you hooked emotionally on the characters and the journeys that they take.
So one of the high points of this book is definitely the writing, it was very well written and there were elements that just really added to the overall story. This was especially well illustrated with the personal essays in the book which were a great touch and allowed the reader to explore Gabe's character even more than we previously would have. As someone who really loves reading essays, Gabe's were really good at exploring his history. The book is also really short so to fit a story of this length and for it to be amazing is great in itself.
I think that this is definitely a great thing about Gabe. As someone who reads a lot of YA, the male characters are normally real douchebags and don't tend to be good characters but this was completely the opposite with No Sad Songs. Gabe wears his heart on his sleeve and is a character that you want to root for as his past is rocky and you want him to do well in life. He came alive from the page and I just wanted to give him a massive hug.
Gabe's story is based on his family which is so well done in this book. Morelli does an amazing job of exploring the family relationship between Gabe and his grandfather in this book that is heartbreaking and so great. This is especially fantastic in the grand scheme of the book as Gabe gives everything to his grandfather so seen his evolve in the plot is heartwrenching. The book also focuses on Alzheimer's and was done really well and I would love to see his being tackled in the book. With this family relationship being the core this was different to most other YAs and I want to see this done more. This book was just so good!
The Verdict:
No Sad Songs is an excellent YA book that will have you hooked emotionally on the characters and the journeys that they take.
novahkiin's review against another edition
4.0
This book was received from the author for review. All opinions are my own.
Let’s get right to the point: I really liked this book! I’m not really the biggest fan of contemporary and tend to only reach for it when I feel like reading it, but this was far from the usual lovey/romance/girl-meets-boy kind of contemporary that I tend to lean away from that I was way more invested in it than I usually would be.
I want to first start off this review by touching on my absolute favorite part of the whole book (because I want to), and that is the writing style. Morelli’s writing style is fantastic. It’s entertaining and descriptive and captures your attention without overwhelming you or boring the hell out of you, usually by the way he throws in commentary via Gabe, our main character we see out of, for comic relief or visual representation or whatnot. I really loved it. I want to read more of his work for this reason alone.
(He doesn’t have any other books yet, according to Goodreads, though! I’ll be keeping an eye out.)
Now, the story itself is a little jarring, I would think, for those not aware of how dementia and Alzheimer’s can affect those diagnosed with it, along with the families that often have to care for them. I do have a little bit of familiarity with this subject — my grandmother had dementia just before she passed, but had already chosen to live in a nursing home long before it had set it. She was taken care of there. Gabe’s grandfather, however, only has Gabe, and then his son Nick when Nick shows up to help.
Yeah, I can only imagine the struggle, and a lot of that imagination is fueled by the extremely realistic representation Morelli gives us in No Sad Songs. At some points, it was almost too real for me! Without Gabe to break some of the scenes with humor or a snarky comment (or John for that matter, who really should be given all of the best friend awards because he was such a good guy about so many things in the book), the whole endeavor probably would have been a struggle for me to get through.
Honestly, between the story we’re given in the form of Gabe, Nick, and co. and the absolutely wonderful writing style it’s fed to us in, this really is a very good book, despite being a genre I’m not usually quick to pick up, and I highly recommend giving it a go regardless of what you know about Alzheimer’s. It’s a very good window to take a peek into, and you may just learn something.
Let’s get right to the point: I really liked this book! I’m not really the biggest fan of contemporary and tend to only reach for it when I feel like reading it, but this was far from the usual lovey/romance/girl-meets-boy kind of contemporary that I tend to lean away from that I was way more invested in it than I usually would be.
I want to first start off this review by touching on my absolute favorite part of the whole book (because I want to), and that is the writing style. Morelli’s writing style is fantastic. It’s entertaining and descriptive and captures your attention without overwhelming you or boring the hell out of you, usually by the way he throws in commentary via Gabe, our main character we see out of, for comic relief or visual representation or whatnot. I really loved it. I want to read more of his work for this reason alone.
(He doesn’t have any other books yet, according to Goodreads, though! I’ll be keeping an eye out.)
Now, the story itself is a little jarring, I would think, for those not aware of how dementia and Alzheimer’s can affect those diagnosed with it, along with the families that often have to care for them. I do have a little bit of familiarity with this subject — my grandmother had dementia just before she passed, but had already chosen to live in a nursing home long before it had set it. She was taken care of there. Gabe’s grandfather, however, only has Gabe, and then his son Nick when Nick shows up to help.
Yeah, I can only imagine the struggle, and a lot of that imagination is fueled by the extremely realistic representation Morelli gives us in No Sad Songs. At some points, it was almost too real for me! Without Gabe to break some of the scenes with humor or a snarky comment (or John for that matter, who really should be given all of the best friend awards because he was such a good guy about so many things in the book), the whole endeavor probably would have been a struggle for me to get through.
Honestly, between the story we’re given in the form of Gabe, Nick, and co. and the absolutely wonderful writing style it’s fed to us in, this really is a very good book, despite being a genre I’m not usually quick to pick up, and I highly recommend giving it a go regardless of what you know about Alzheimer’s. It’s a very good window to take a peek into, and you may just learn something.
jackie_beyondthebookends's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so glad that I received this book to read from the author. It is such an accurate portrayal of dementia and how it slowly can change people into someone your don't recognize. This book is so well written. It isn't a long book but, it's full. It tells a story of a boy thrown into adulthood with the death of his parents. He becomes a caretaker for his grandfather who was once full of wisdom and is now a confused and disoriented man. This is a story of love, friendship and the fight for dignity
stuedb's review against another edition
3.0
I must admit I really enjoyed this novel, I wasn’t sure what to expect from it but I was very entertained and read it in just five days (which is very fast for me).
The circumstances that befall 18 yr old Gabe I wouldn’t wish on anyone, and I think Morelli’s telling of Gabe’s emotional state is very well done. Obviously I disagree with Gabe hiding his Grandfather’s involvement in a hit and run however having never been in that position I wouldn’t know how I’d react (I’d like to think I would tell the truth from the start). I enjoyed the rollercoaster ride his friendship with John went through as they argued and fell out with each other throughout the ordeal but I found it unrealistic that Gabe got the girl (not Sofia the other one) as I don’t think that would ever happen (however short lived it was). But I was happy that he formed a relationship with Sofia who I felt was the novel’s most interesting character (I would have liked more Sofia in the novel).
Dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia is very difficult and I think this novel does a brilliant job of bringing the enormity of the task of looking after someone with the disease to a YA audience.
The circumstances that befall 18 yr old Gabe I wouldn’t wish on anyone, and I think Morelli’s telling of Gabe’s emotional state is very well done. Obviously I disagree with Gabe hiding his Grandfather’s involvement in a hit and run however having never been in that position I wouldn’t know how I’d react (I’d like to think I would tell the truth from the start). I enjoyed the rollercoaster ride his friendship with John went through as they argued and fell out with each other throughout the ordeal but I found it unrealistic that Gabe got the girl (not Sofia the other one) as I don’t think that would ever happen (however short lived it was). But I was happy that he formed a relationship with Sofia who I felt was the novel’s most interesting character (I would have liked more Sofia in the novel).
Dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia is very difficult and I think this novel does a brilliant job of bringing the enormity of the task of looking after someone with the disease to a YA audience.
nghia's review against another edition
3.0
I came across mention of No Sad Songs, a YA (Young Adult) novel by Frank Morelli, in a column on "hopepunk" literature, a reaction against the far more common "grimdark" kind of fiction -- dystopian, amoral, or violent worlds like The Dark Knight movie or Breaking Bad.
What about No Sad Songs makes it "hopepunk" instead of "grimdark"?
The setup: 18 year old Gabe LoScuda is in his final year of high school. Both parents suddenly die in a car crash and he's left as the sole caregiver for his grandfather who is far gone with Alzheimers. An entire life derailed. An overwhelming amount of responsibility.
Yet in Morelli's hand the book is upbeat & full of hope. Gabe accepts his new-found responsibilities. Most everyone around him is a genuinely decent human being. Teachers at school are decent human beings. His best friend, John, is an especially decent human being. The many, many challenges of being a caregiver for someone lost to Alzheimers are generally treated with humor rather than despair. Even when Gabe's life slowly spirals out of control, the underlying cause is because he's (willingly) letting caring for his grandfather overwhelm everything else in his life. And when he's ultimately saved it is because of the efforts of his friends caring for him, along with other adults just being decent & understanding.
It is a nice, sweet little book and, especially for the YA audience it targets, is a good read about a difficult situation few of us have real experience with. That's part of why we read, after all, isn't it?
So...why only 3 stars, then, when I seemed to like it pretty well? I think that comes down to three things: the 1990s aesthetic, the use of the word "freaking", and some weak plotting.
The 1990s
The book is set in the 1990s, which I think is a tremendous mistake for a YA book. The book is set before any YA reader was actually born. That means it is chock full of fairly obscure references that will mean nothing to any YA reader. The time period is not really integral to the book; it could easily have taken place in 2015 instead and been much more accessible to YA readers.
(The author was a teenager in the 1990s and it is hard not to assume he set this in the 1990s because it is either vaguely-memoir-like or because he didn't want to do the research to make it sound like teenagers in the 2010s.)
After a while, I started taking notes of the kinds of references that I think will fly over the heads of actual YA readers:
"I pop a CD into the stereo on Dad's workbench: Nirvana. The one with the naked, swimming baby on the cover."
"The salesman - some dude with a ZZ Top beard and a pair of overalls"
"In his beach chair, the old man looks like he could star in the movie Weekend at Bernie's"
"[...] attempting to recreate wrestling moves that were best left to guys like the Junkyard Dog and Jake "the Snake" Roberts"
"John swings himself inside the car like he's in an episode of Dukes of Hazzard"
And it goes on and on. Nolan Ryan. Dick Tracy. Dirty Harry. Tales from the Crypt. LA Law. RBI Baseball on the Nintendo. Miami Vice. Doogie Houser. Lionel Richie. It isn't just one or two references that are easily skipped over by a YA reader that was born a decade (or more) after any of those things.
To add insult to injury, Morelli makes a few slip ups by setting the book in the 1990s instead of a more current time period; twice I noticed him talking about things that didn't exist when the book takes place. He mentions the poem "Simplicity" by Dejan Stojanovic, which wasn't published until 1999. He also says that Gabe's grandfather is taking Razadyne, which is an anti-Alzheimers drug that didn't exist before 2005.
"Freaking"
Gabe doesn't sound like a real teenager. When I first started reading the book, I assumed he was maybe 12 or 13 because he uses words like "freaking" and "crummy". But he's actually 18. I haven't seen someone that old use "crummy" non-ironically since Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye. I just don't think 18 years in Philadelphia say "crummy" in their interior monologues.
But, okay, it is a YA book and the language is made a bit G-rated for sales/marketing purposes. I can swallow my disbelief.
And yet....Gabe's G-rated verbal tic is to use the word "freaking" constantly. And I do mean constantly. The book is 228 pages and "freaking" is used 118 times in those 228 pages. In some cases it'll appear two, or even three, times on a single page.
Ugh. Just. It was too much. I'm surprised his editor didn't tell him to mix it up.
The plotting
One of the challenges of "hopepunk" is that, if everyone in the world is decent, how are you going to find a source of drama and tension? The usual stereotypes: mean teachers, clueless parents, misunderstandings with your best friend, and so on aren't really available.
Morelli almost dodges this problem but not entirely. The two or three pivotal moments in the book -- the confession/arrest, the trial, and John's outburst in the cafeteria -- didn't feel as genuine and organic and, yes, "realistic", as the rest of what happens. I'm not sure what a better solution for those moments would have looked like, exactly, but I couldn't help but feel that the book became a bit too formulaic at those points. (Formulaic as in: "we will now have a cafeteria fight scene between BFFs because that's what teen movies usually have in the second act")
(As a side note: I was especially irked at how formulaic the love interest/triangle thing was. The pretty blond girl turns out to be bland and not especially smart. The girl who listens to The Pixies is just soooooo interesting and unique!. For a book that did so well avoiding tropes in other places, it was a disappointment that it fell back into these well worn tropes.)
So, those negatives dragged down my final rating a bit. Maybe the "freaking" won't grate on you as much or maybe you won't mind the 1990s setting, in which case you'll probably enjoy the book even more than I did.
Hopepunk, the latest storytelling trend, is all about weaponized optimism
What about No Sad Songs makes it "hopepunk" instead of "grimdark"?
The setup: 18 year old Gabe LoScuda is in his final year of high school. Both parents suddenly die in a car crash and he's left as the sole caregiver for his grandfather who is far gone with Alzheimers. An entire life derailed. An overwhelming amount of responsibility.
Yet in Morelli's hand the book is upbeat & full of hope. Gabe accepts his new-found responsibilities. Most everyone around him is a genuinely decent human being. Teachers at school are decent human beings. His best friend, John, is an especially decent human being. The many, many challenges of being a caregiver for someone lost to Alzheimers are generally treated with humor rather than despair. Even when Gabe's life slowly spirals out of control, the underlying cause is because he's (willingly) letting caring for his grandfather overwhelm everything else in his life. And when he's ultimately saved it is because of the efforts of his friends caring for him, along with other adults just being decent & understanding.
It is a nice, sweet little book and, especially for the YA audience it targets, is a good read about a difficult situation few of us have real experience with. That's part of why we read, after all, isn't it?
So...why only 3 stars, then, when I seemed to like it pretty well? I think that comes down to three things: the 1990s aesthetic, the use of the word "freaking", and some weak plotting.
The 1990s
The book is set in the 1990s, which I think is a tremendous mistake for a YA book. The book is set before any YA reader was actually born. That means it is chock full of fairly obscure references that will mean nothing to any YA reader. The time period is not really integral to the book; it could easily have taken place in 2015 instead and been much more accessible to YA readers.
(The author was a teenager in the 1990s and it is hard not to assume he set this in the 1990s because it is either vaguely-memoir-like or because he didn't want to do the research to make it sound like teenagers in the 2010s.)
After a while, I started taking notes of the kinds of references that I think will fly over the heads of actual YA readers:
"I pop a CD into the stereo on Dad's workbench: Nirvana. The one with the naked, swimming baby on the cover."
"The salesman - some dude with a ZZ Top beard and a pair of overalls"
"In his beach chair, the old man looks like he could star in the movie Weekend at Bernie's"
"[...] attempting to recreate wrestling moves that were best left to guys like the Junkyard Dog and Jake "the Snake" Roberts"
"John swings himself inside the car like he's in an episode of Dukes of Hazzard"
And it goes on and on. Nolan Ryan. Dick Tracy. Dirty Harry. Tales from the Crypt. LA Law. RBI Baseball on the Nintendo. Miami Vice. Doogie Houser. Lionel Richie. It isn't just one or two references that are easily skipped over by a YA reader that was born a decade (or more) after any of those things.
To add insult to injury, Morelli makes a few slip ups by setting the book in the 1990s instead of a more current time period; twice I noticed him talking about things that didn't exist when the book takes place. He mentions the poem "Simplicity" by Dejan Stojanovic, which wasn't published until 1999. He also says that Gabe's grandfather is taking Razadyne, which is an anti-Alzheimers drug that didn't exist before 2005.
"Freaking"
Gabe doesn't sound like a real teenager. When I first started reading the book, I assumed he was maybe 12 or 13 because he uses words like "freaking" and "crummy". But he's actually 18. I haven't seen someone that old use "crummy" non-ironically since Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye. I just don't think 18 years in Philadelphia say "crummy" in their interior monologues.
But, okay, it is a YA book and the language is made a bit G-rated for sales/marketing purposes. I can swallow my disbelief.
And yet....Gabe's G-rated verbal tic is to use the word "freaking" constantly. And I do mean constantly. The book is 228 pages and "freaking" is used 118 times in those 228 pages. In some cases it'll appear two, or even three, times on a single page.
Ugh. Just. It was too much. I'm surprised his editor didn't tell him to mix it up.
The plotting
One of the challenges of "hopepunk" is that, if everyone in the world is decent, how are you going to find a source of drama and tension? The usual stereotypes: mean teachers, clueless parents, misunderstandings with your best friend, and so on aren't really available.
Morelli almost dodges this problem but not entirely. The two or three pivotal moments in the book -- the confession/arrest, the trial, and John's outburst in the cafeteria -- didn't feel as genuine and organic and, yes, "realistic", as the rest of what happens. I'm not sure what a better solution for those moments would have looked like, exactly, but I couldn't help but feel that the book became a bit too formulaic at those points. (Formulaic as in: "we will now have a cafeteria fight scene between BFFs because that's what teen movies usually have in the second act")
(As a side note: I was especially irked at how formulaic the love interest/triangle thing was. The pretty blond girl turns out to be bland and not especially smart. The girl who listens to The Pixies is just soooooo interesting and unique!. For a book that did so well avoiding tropes in other places, it was a disappointment that it fell back into these well worn tropes.)
So, those negatives dragged down my final rating a bit. Maybe the "freaking" won't grate on you as much or maybe you won't mind the 1990s setting, in which case you'll probably enjoy the book even more than I did.
alwaysgottimeforbooks's review
4.0
Gabe, an 18 year old high school student finds himself in the difficult position of becoming the main carer for his Grandpa who suffers from Picks disease, a form of Alzheimer’s.
Told from Gabe’s point of view we are given a glimpse of what life as a young carer is like for many people, juggling school, a part time job and friendship with the heavy responsibility of caring for someone who used to care for you. It is a real eye opener and I was so proud of Gabe by the end of the book, he doesn’t always make the right decision but everything he does is based on the love he has for his Grandpa and not wanting to break his Dad’s promise to him.
The story is told in the present day with flashbacks from Gabe’s memory given to us in the form of personal essays which I loved. It gave us a little more back story and a chance to get to know Grandpa as the man he was before this terrible illness took a hold of him.
Gabe’s relationship with his best friend John is beautiful. There is one stand out moment where John really stepped up with a maturity unexpected from a young man and throughout the story he tries to get Gabe to see reason and make the right choices. For Gabe, burdened by grief and responsibility to his parents, its harder to see what the right thing to do is and he comes close to throwing his whole life away for his family.
All the characters in this book stand out and have their own issues. Uncle Nick appears unannounced after years of no contact, to help look after Grandpa though he ends up needing looking after a lot more than actually helping Gabe. Sofia, the tattooed punk rocker Gabe meets in the hospital waiting room, proves herself to be a good friend despite going through her own family problems.
Being a YA novel this book has it’s fair share of teenage angst and drama. As a 31 year old woman I doubt I am this books target audience and I did find some of Gabe’s actions frustrating at times. Despite the many baseball references which went slightly over my head, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it provides a real insight to how an illness like Alzheimer’s affects a whole family
I give this book 4/5 stars.
I was gifted this book as part of the book blog tour, all views are my own.
Told from Gabe’s point of view we are given a glimpse of what life as a young carer is like for many people, juggling school, a part time job and friendship with the heavy responsibility of caring for someone who used to care for you. It is a real eye opener and I was so proud of Gabe by the end of the book, he doesn’t always make the right decision but everything he does is based on the love he has for his Grandpa and not wanting to break his Dad’s promise to him.
The story is told in the present day with flashbacks from Gabe’s memory given to us in the form of personal essays which I loved. It gave us a little more back story and a chance to get to know Grandpa as the man he was before this terrible illness took a hold of him.
Gabe’s relationship with his best friend John is beautiful. There is one stand out moment where John really stepped up with a maturity unexpected from a young man and throughout the story he tries to get Gabe to see reason and make the right choices. For Gabe, burdened by grief and responsibility to his parents, its harder to see what the right thing to do is and he comes close to throwing his whole life away for his family.
All the characters in this book stand out and have their own issues. Uncle Nick appears unannounced after years of no contact, to help look after Grandpa though he ends up needing looking after a lot more than actually helping Gabe. Sofia, the tattooed punk rocker Gabe meets in the hospital waiting room, proves herself to be a good friend despite going through her own family problems.
Being a YA novel this book has it’s fair share of teenage angst and drama. As a 31 year old woman I doubt I am this books target audience and I did find some of Gabe’s actions frustrating at times. Despite the many baseball references which went slightly over my head, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it provides a real insight to how an illness like Alzheimer’s affects a whole family
I give this book 4/5 stars.
I was gifted this book as part of the book blog tour, all views are my own.
findingmontauk1's review against another edition
5.0
No Sad Songs by Frank Morelli is the story of 18-year-old Gabe who is forced to mature quicker and more suddenly than most people have to. His grandfather has Alzheimer’s and he suddenly assumes the role of primary caretaker for him. He is struggling with his relationship with his best friend, he has normal teen-like troubles with his crush, and his long-lost uncle has returned who is not the most organized and mature person on the planet, to say the least. Then amidst ALL of this, a tragedy happens when there is a hit-and-run and a little boy on a bicycle that further complicates the story. Gabe is going to be forced to make an impossible decision, one that either choice will likely upturn his life even more and change it forever.
First and foremost, I want to thank the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. After reading the synopsis, I have to admit the first and main reason I wanted to pick this up is because of the Alzheimer’s situation in the book. My dad died with Alzheimer’s a little over a year and a half ago and something inside just kept telling me that I need to read this book. While the Alzheimer’s is not the primary focus of the story, how it affects Gabe as a caretaker and caregiver and THEN how his life begins to pan out based on his decisions and actions is.
I loved this book. And I am going to go ahead and say that it made me cry multiple times. It was so sincere, genuine, and full of just… happy-tears-causing-things and then sad things, too! Morelli perfectly blends these emotions into a story that I am thankful I read in my lifetime. There were times where I laughed out loud and then pages later came the opposite emotion. For an author to be able to back and forth, keep you on your toes, and keep you engaged is definitely not something to overlook. Not everyone has that ability in handling multiple emotions.
I fully recommend this book as it is loaded with humor and heart. A five star read!
First and foremost, I want to thank the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. After reading the synopsis, I have to admit the first and main reason I wanted to pick this up is because of the Alzheimer’s situation in the book. My dad died with Alzheimer’s a little over a year and a half ago and something inside just kept telling me that I need to read this book. While the Alzheimer’s is not the primary focus of the story, how it affects Gabe as a caretaker and caregiver and THEN how his life begins to pan out based on his decisions and actions is.
I loved this book. And I am going to go ahead and say that it made me cry multiple times. It was so sincere, genuine, and full of just… happy-tears-causing-things and then sad things, too! Morelli perfectly blends these emotions into a story that I am thankful I read in my lifetime. There were times where I laughed out loud and then pages later came the opposite emotion. For an author to be able to back and forth, keep you on your toes, and keep you engaged is definitely not something to overlook. Not everyone has that ability in handling multiple emotions.
I fully recommend this book as it is loaded with humor and heart. A five star read!
ofbooksandbone's review against another edition
5.0
When I saw the blurb for No Sad Songs, I hesitated. When the author, Frank Morelli, offered to send an arc, I hesitated. And when I read the first page, again I hesitated. Then I thought about, truly thought about it. Didn't I owe it to the author AND myself to actually read this book?
This book...full of heavy hitting material that follows a high school boy who has to care for his ailing grandfather cursed with Alzheimer's. This book, which tells of a boy who lost his parents and has a long lost uncle just show up to the funeral after years of being out of the picture. And this book, which hits so damn close to home I want to scream. But I read, I hesitated and I then I kept reading. No Sad Songs shows the reality of Alzheimer's and just how difficult it can be for the family members who care for one that's been inflicted with this awful disease. Frank Morelli portrays the raw, gut-wrenching truth of what caregivers experience, as well as what they sacrifice. There is nothing funny about this disease but there were a few moments that I chuckled, being able to look back at what we experience within my own family.
You see, my nana has Alzheimer's and it is so God-dammned unfair. This woman has always been at the peak of physical health and quick witted and we are watching her disappear. My mother is her sole caregiver, bless her heart, especially on the days my nana calls her daughter "mamma". I may also have a POS family member in the picture that fits the MC's uncle to a "T". Even if you are not directly affected by Alzheimer's or dementia...I encourage you to pick this book up, it may help you empathize with someone in your life. Or maybe you are up close and personal with the disease and have kids ... young people could really learn from this story...there is compassion to be learned within the depths of this book.
This book...full of heavy hitting material that follows a high school boy who has to care for his ailing grandfather cursed with Alzheimer's. This book, which tells of a boy who lost his parents and has a long lost uncle just show up to the funeral after years of being out of the picture. And this book, which hits so damn close to home I want to scream. But I read, I hesitated and I then I kept reading. No Sad Songs shows the reality of Alzheimer's and just how difficult it can be for the family members who care for one that's been inflicted with this awful disease. Frank Morelli portrays the raw, gut-wrenching truth of what caregivers experience, as well as what they sacrifice. There is nothing funny about this disease but there were a few moments that I chuckled, being able to look back at what we experience within my own family.
You see, my nana has Alzheimer's and it is so God-dammned unfair. This woman has always been at the peak of physical health and quick witted and we are watching her disappear. My mother is her sole caregiver, bless her heart, especially on the days my nana calls her daughter "mamma". I may also have a POS family member in the picture that fits the MC's uncle to a "T". Even if you are not directly affected by Alzheimer's or dementia...I encourage you to pick this book up, it may help you empathize with someone in your life. Or maybe you are up close and personal with the disease and have kids ... young people could really learn from this story...there is compassion to be learned within the depths of this book.
avalinahsbooks's review
4.0
5 Reasons To Read No Sad Songs: also read this post on my blog
Reason #1. How Can It Be So Funny When It's So Sad?
It's hard to believe it, but No Sad Songs is one of the funniest books I've read this year so far. Its entertainment value is incredible. I will say that sometimes it goes over the top, and maybe the jokes are a little disrespectful, especially when it comes to Gabe's grandfather, but at the same time - isn't this what teen humor is about a lot? So it does paint a pretty convincing picture. And I've got to hand it to Frank Morelli - somehow No Sad Songs manages to be both a book about a hard, heavy topic, and yet - very funny and lighthearted at the same time. How can a book about death be a light, uplifting read? But it can! I truly don't know. Maybe it's in the way the main character deals with everything, but it's just not depressing at all. It's hilarious!
Reason #2. Well-Written And Relatable
The main character Gabe is someone you could be - he's just that kind of down to earth character that's easy to connect with. Even with all the feelings he's dealing with, you won't find overdramatized paragraphs - it's all no nonsense, full of humor and just so natural. Even the wrong decisions sometime feel so right. That's what a good book is all about.
Reason #3. It's The Story Of Growing Up
Ultimately, growing up is heart-breaking for most of us, in one way or another. It was more heart-breaking for Gabe, which is why it's very touching and you can't walk away from this story just like that. And it's pretty natural, too - all the teen mishaps, believing in cheap virtues, what's cool and what's not... Labeling things. Labeling yourself. And finding where the true virtues lie. I found this was very well done in this book - just shown, not told, not overexplained, or even explained at all. Just very natural!
Reason #4. Good Friends Do Tough Things
I loved the friendships in this book. They were realistic! The virtues were good. Good friends sometimes have to do the right thing, even if it's hard, even if it makes you hate them, for a time. Because real friends know what you truly need, and they prioritize that above what you want.
Reason #5. The Importance Of #SelfCare
This is a story about a really, really responsible and kind teen who is dealing with way more than he should have on his plate. And while he's coping, he doesn't know that he can't just keep going like this. The book stresses the importance of not just caring for others, but also caring for yourself, cause one does not run on an infinite battery. And if you don't remember to take care of yourself, you won't be able to care for others for long.
No Sad Songs is a truly wonderful book. I'm incredibly happy I could read it. It's strong, full of humor and compassion. And also, it deals with two tough subjects - dementia and lonely, overworked, abandoned teens. Dementia is an incredibly sad topic, but it's even sadder to think of the teens - their life is only starting. This kind of story may be true for a lot of unfortunate kids - ones without parents, or with parents that are unable to care for them, or even themselves. So if you're lucky to not be one of them - you should read this story to know there are others and value what you have. And also know when to help!
Other Books You Might Like
Read the reasons why on my blog. It’s a bit long for this review.
[bc:You May Already Be a Winner|32740589|You May Already Be a Winner|Ann Dee Ellis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479680485s/32740589.jpg|53332417] [bc:The Finding of Martha Lost|29905575|The Finding of Martha Lost|Caroline Wallace|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494504741s/29905575.jpg|44985337] [bc:Miranda and Caliban|25670396|Miranda and Caliban|Jacqueline Carey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1463498415s/25670396.jpg|45494280] [bc:Elizabeth Is Missing|18635113|Elizabeth Is Missing|Emma Healey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388883559s/18635113.jpg|24946905]
I thank the author for giving me a copy of the book in exchange to my honest opinion.
Read Post on My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
Reason #1. How Can It Be So Funny When It's So Sad?
It's hard to believe it, but No Sad Songs is one of the funniest books I've read this year so far. Its entertainment value is incredible. I will say that sometimes it goes over the top, and maybe the jokes are a little disrespectful, especially when it comes to Gabe's grandfather, but at the same time - isn't this what teen humor is about a lot? So it does paint a pretty convincing picture. And I've got to hand it to Frank Morelli - somehow No Sad Songs manages to be both a book about a hard, heavy topic, and yet - very funny and lighthearted at the same time. How can a book about death be a light, uplifting read? But it can! I truly don't know. Maybe it's in the way the main character deals with everything, but it's just not depressing at all. It's hilarious!
Reason #2. Well-Written And Relatable
The main character Gabe is someone you could be - he's just that kind of down to earth character that's easy to connect with. Even with all the feelings he's dealing with, you won't find overdramatized paragraphs - it's all no nonsense, full of humor and just so natural. Even the wrong decisions sometime feel so right. That's what a good book is all about.
Reason #3. It's The Story Of Growing Up
Ultimately, growing up is heart-breaking for most of us, in one way or another. It was more heart-breaking for Gabe, which is why it's very touching and you can't walk away from this story just like that. And it's pretty natural, too - all the teen mishaps, believing in cheap virtues, what's cool and what's not... Labeling things. Labeling yourself. And finding where the true virtues lie. I found this was very well done in this book - just shown, not told, not overexplained, or even explained at all. Just very natural!
Reason #4. Good Friends Do Tough Things
I loved the friendships in this book. They were realistic! The virtues were good. Good friends sometimes have to do the right thing, even if it's hard, even if it makes you hate them, for a time. Because real friends know what you truly need, and they prioritize that above what you want.
Reason #5. The Importance Of #SelfCare
This is a story about a really, really responsible and kind teen who is dealing with way more than he should have on his plate. And while he's coping, he doesn't know that he can't just keep going like this. The book stresses the importance of not just caring for others, but also caring for yourself, cause one does not run on an infinite battery. And if you don't remember to take care of yourself, you won't be able to care for others for long.
No Sad Songs is a truly wonderful book. I'm incredibly happy I could read it. It's strong, full of humor and compassion. And also, it deals with two tough subjects - dementia and lonely, overworked, abandoned teens. Dementia is an incredibly sad topic, but it's even sadder to think of the teens - their life is only starting. This kind of story may be true for a lot of unfortunate kids - ones without parents, or with parents that are unable to care for them, or even themselves. So if you're lucky to not be one of them - you should read this story to know there are others and value what you have. And also know when to help!
Other Books You Might Like
Read the reasons why on my blog. It’s a bit long for this review.
[bc:You May Already Be a Winner|32740589|You May Already Be a Winner|Ann Dee Ellis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479680485s/32740589.jpg|53332417] [bc:The Finding of Martha Lost|29905575|The Finding of Martha Lost|Caroline Wallace|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494504741s/29905575.jpg|44985337] [bc:Miranda and Caliban|25670396|Miranda and Caliban|Jacqueline Carey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1463498415s/25670396.jpg|45494280] [bc:Elizabeth Is Missing|18635113|Elizabeth Is Missing|Emma Healey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388883559s/18635113.jpg|24946905]
I thank the author for giving me a copy of the book in exchange to my honest opinion.
Read Post on My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
camilleareads's review
4.0
No Sad Songs is a coming of age story about a young man and his ailing grandfather; it touches on the hardships of families and the promises one keeps. It tackles loss, identity, and family values. While reading this book, the words felt both soft and humorous.
Gabriel LoScuda is your typical eighteen year old just trying to get through high school, maybe get a girl, succeed in baseball, but above all he’s driven by the thought of keeping his grandfather safe. The book delivered well in portraying Gabe’s conflicting emotions. I can’t say that he was completely likable, in fact, there were times I found his character to be quite annoying and immature. His drive for popularity, at first, made me wonder why I should care about this character. But as I followed Gabe’s story it occurred to me that maybe all his life Gabe has had this certain expectation to live upto, a certain life he had to achieve in order to feel right in himself. He does make a lot of bad choices, sure, but he owns up to them. For me that was the heart of the story; to watch this character struggle with his inner emotions.
I’m especially soft for John and Gabe’s relationship. John is the absolute sweetest; his actions reminded me of J.K. Rowling’s quote, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” (Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone)
John is portrayed as the quieter and mild mannered of the two, and the more practical. His character acts as a substitute for Gabe’s parents; Gabe’s friendship with John is probably the only stable foundation, or a better way to put is, John is the only emotional fallback Gabe has. I’m in awe of John’s patience with Gabe and Gabe’s strong sense of loyalty. In spite of the unpredictability of his family structure, Gabe pushes himself to take on the responsibility of two adults.
No Sad Songs is such an honest potrayal of the tribulations, and it really does not shy away from showing how young caretakers are affected. Gabe is not shown as the selfless and humble young man but as a typical teenager who gets frustrated and lashes out. I was really worried for his character, to be honest.
No Sad Songs is a lovely and comforting read with laugh out loud moments. I greatly appreciated the author’s inspiration for this book and I believe this is a book that people would benefit from reading.
I'd like to thank the author for sending me a review copy of No Sad Songs in exchange for an honest review
Follow me on Camillea Reads for more bookish adventures
Gabriel LoScuda is your typical eighteen year old just trying to get through high school, maybe get a girl, succeed in baseball, but above all he’s driven by the thought of keeping his grandfather safe. The book delivered well in portraying Gabe’s conflicting emotions. I can’t say that he was completely likable, in fact, there were times I found his character to be quite annoying and immature. His drive for popularity, at first, made me wonder why I should care about this character. But as I followed Gabe’s story it occurred to me that maybe all his life Gabe has had this certain expectation to live upto, a certain life he had to achieve in order to feel right in himself. He does make a lot of bad choices, sure, but he owns up to them. For me that was the heart of the story; to watch this character struggle with his inner emotions.
I’m especially soft for John and Gabe’s relationship. John is the absolute sweetest; his actions reminded me of J.K. Rowling’s quote, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” (Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone)
John is portrayed as the quieter and mild mannered of the two, and the more practical. His character acts as a substitute for Gabe’s parents; Gabe’s friendship with John is probably the only stable foundation, or a better way to put is, John is the only emotional fallback Gabe has. I’m in awe of John’s patience with Gabe and Gabe’s strong sense of loyalty. In spite of the unpredictability of his family structure, Gabe pushes himself to take on the responsibility of two adults.
No Sad Songs is such an honest potrayal of the tribulations, and it really does not shy away from showing how young caretakers are affected. Gabe is not shown as the selfless and humble young man but as a typical teenager who gets frustrated and lashes out. I was really worried for his character, to be honest.
No Sad Songs is a lovely and comforting read with laugh out loud moments. I greatly appreciated the author’s inspiration for this book and I believe this is a book that people would benefit from reading.
I'd like to thank the author for sending me a review copy of No Sad Songs in exchange for an honest review
Follow me on Camillea Reads for more bookish adventures
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