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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
It is beautifully written and narrated and I'm surprised to see how easily I can connect with this book because racism is still a big thing in my country. I don't have a lot of words for this, just that it's raw and emotional. The last sentences in this book sum up this book perfectly.
Time comes to us softly, slowly. It sits beside us for a while.
Then, long before we are ready, it moves on.
I stared at it for a while and felt my eyes welled up.
Time comes to us softly, slowly. It sits beside us for a while.
Then, long before we are ready, it moves on.
I stared at it for a while and felt my eyes welled up.
I read this book as part of the Life's Library book club, because I wasn't very familiar with this author. I had heard of her book Brown Girl Dreaming, but it never made it to my TBR list. It is on it now because I really enjoyed the way she writes (and there were a few poems in the back of this edition of the book).
The story is about a white Jewish girl and a black boy who go to the same private school and fall in love. It's about racial stereotypes, interracial couple stereotypes, family relationships, and how we become who we are.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but the book moves pretty fast. The chapters are short, but the writing is still able to pull you into this world and meet all the characters.
I don't think there was any profanity in the book. As far as sexual content, it was mostly just kisses, holding hands. The story is about that first love so it is pretty innocent and sweet. There is some violence but it's not graphic, and that's all I will say so that it doesn't ruin the book for others.
Even though the book was written in 1998, it still is very much relevant for today. It isn't dated at all. It could all happen today.
And it's a story that needs to be told, needs to be read, right now. Highly, highly recommend!
The story is about a white Jewish girl and a black boy who go to the same private school and fall in love. It's about racial stereotypes, interracial couple stereotypes, family relationships, and how we become who we are.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but the book moves pretty fast. The chapters are short, but the writing is still able to pull you into this world and meet all the characters.
I don't think there was any profanity in the book. As far as sexual content, it was mostly just kisses, holding hands. The story is about that first love so it is pretty innocent and sweet. There is some violence but it's not graphic, and that's all I will say so that it doesn't ruin the book for others.
Even though the book was written in 1998, it still is very much relevant for today. It isn't dated at all. It could all happen today.
And it's a story that needs to be told, needs to be read, right now. Highly, highly recommend!
Not sure I remember where I heard about this book. It's very YA, probably along the same lines as [b:The Hate U Give|32075671|The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1)|Angie Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476284759l/32075671._SY75_.jpg|49638190]. I think just too YA and simplistic for me. It's supposed to be the "great love" of two 15 year olds where one is white and one is black so there is racial tension. Except I feel like there's not nearly enough development time for either of them, or their relationship.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First and foremost, whatever you do, do not read the synopsis of this book on Goodreads. The synopsis on Amazon is okay but the synopsis on Goodreads spoils the ending of the book. Okay, now that that's out of the way...
If you're looking for a moving contemporary romance that you can start and finish on the way home from the beach, check out If You Come Softly. I say on the way home rather than on the way to the beach because tone wise, it's more settling than it is thrilling. It's quiet. It's thoughtful. It's a heavier romance. It's a story that follows Ellie and Jeremiah, a Jewish girl and a Black boy, as they meet, grow closer and what comes after when they're together. In public. In a time when black churches are getting vandalized at least once a week. This is a story of innocent love meeting the real world, meeting the realities of racism and white privilege. It's a small book that packs a big punch.
As for Ellie and Jeremiah? I really enjoyed the family contrast of Ellie's family and Jeremiah's family. Ellie has many siblings (one of which is lesbian, solid representation here, #ownvoices). Jeremiah is an only child. Ellie has dealt with the abandonment of a parent and has a very distant relationship with her mother, whom she calls by her first name. Jeremiah has very present parents, one of which is very well known to not only Jeremiah but the nation. Both are well off but Jeremiah often misses his life before moving and starting high school in one of the most expensive high schools in the city.
Kudos for seeing a black kid who comes from a well off family. Not every black person is poor or in the middle class. So thanks for this representation. What I love most is that even though he does have culture shock as he leaves the daily of what he has always known, he's close enough to go back to what he recognizes as home and he never leaves behind what he connects to most.
There's so much to appreciate here - so much to relate to, to unpack though it's best you read this for yourself and get what you need out of it rather than me telling you what to get out of it. So be sure to read If You Come Softly this summer if you haven't already.
This is #QuietYA and it's YA that's so timely and I don't know what made me decide that this would be the second book by Jacqueline Woodson that I would read but I am so, so glad that this book stood out and I read it. Long overdue for all those who have yet to read it.
If you're looking for a moving contemporary romance that you can start and finish on the way home from the beach, check out If You Come Softly. I say on the way home rather than on the way to the beach because tone wise, it's more settling than it is thrilling. It's quiet. It's thoughtful. It's a heavier romance. It's a story that follows Ellie and Jeremiah, a Jewish girl and a Black boy, as they meet, grow closer and what comes after when they're together. In public. In a time when black churches are getting vandalized at least once a week. This is a story of innocent love meeting the real world, meeting the realities of racism and white privilege. It's a small book that packs a big punch.
As for Ellie and Jeremiah? I really enjoyed the family contrast of Ellie's family and Jeremiah's family. Ellie has many siblings (one of which is lesbian, solid representation here, #ownvoices). Jeremiah is an only child. Ellie has dealt with the abandonment of a parent and has a very distant relationship with her mother, whom she calls by her first name. Jeremiah has very present parents, one of which is very well known to not only Jeremiah but the nation. Both are well off but Jeremiah often misses his life before moving and starting high school in one of the most expensive high schools in the city.
Kudos for seeing a black kid who comes from a well off family. Not every black person is poor or in the middle class. So thanks for this representation. What I love most is that even though he does have culture shock as he leaves the daily of what he has always known, he's close enough to go back to what he recognizes as home and he never leaves behind what he connects to most.
There's so much to appreciate here - so much to relate to, to unpack though it's best you read this for yourself and get what you need out of it rather than me telling you what to get out of it. So be sure to read If You Come Softly this summer if you haven't already.
This is #QuietYA and it's YA that's so timely and I don't know what made me decide that this would be the second book by Jacqueline Woodson that I would read but I am so, so glad that this book stood out and I read it. Long overdue for all those who have yet to read it.
Have owned this for awhile bc I love her writing and just haven’t gotten around to it. We decided to read it for our book club book bc we wanted something quick and I’m so glad we did! Her writing is so poetic and beautiful.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This love story about Ellie and Jeremiah is absolutely beautiful. It also destroyed me. The switching point-of-view. The lyrical way it was written. Everything that happens--and doesn't. The fact that it was written in 2006, but feels like it was written yesterday.
Just read it.
Oh, my heart.
Just read it.
Oh, my heart.
A tender and heartbreaking story about young love and race.