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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
A slow-moving novel about an excessively navel-gazing teen. I bought this for my high school-age daughter and ended up reading it myself primarily to find out why my daughter wasn't interested in reading it. I think slow pace and small upheavals-made-large of the first two thirds of the book were a little subtle for my daughter, accustomed as she is to the more obvious plot points and fast pace of episodes of Grey's Anatomy.
Still, I liked it as a heartfelt exploration of that excruciating time in life of so many teens, where any social interaction feels laden with so many layers of tension and meaning that must be examined and dissected and examined again... and I appreciate the author bringing that to life in a way that isn't breathy and petty. I don't think I'd want to hang out with Lee Fiora if we were in school together, but it would certainly be a relief to know that there was someone at my school overanalyzing things even more than me!
Still, I liked it as a heartfelt exploration of that excruciating time in life of so many teens, where any social interaction feels laden with so many layers of tension and meaning that must be examined and dissected and examined again... and I appreciate the author bringing that to life in a way that isn't breathy and petty. I don't think I'd want to hang out with Lee Fiora if we were in school together, but it would certainly be a relief to know that there was someone at my school overanalyzing things even more than me!
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads contest.
I was not sure about his book when I first read it because Lee, the main character, is not very likeable. She is totally insecure get distant from herself/everyone in the story. I started to becomes interested in all that happened a few chapters in and continued on reading, liking the book more and more.
The time setting isn't really spoken but I would say 1990s since internet isn't mentioned and letters are written. A cell phone is not mentioned until her senior year and only to comment on the rarity. It gives this a bit of a nostelgic feel for a high school student populated book. It reminds me a bit of my teen years though that was in the last 80s.
It is an interesting read and definitely not a YA book...more New Adult. It kept me reading and I enjoyed it after the getting used to the writing style.
I was not sure about his book when I first read it because Lee, the main character, is not very likeable. She is totally insecure get distant from herself/everyone in the story. I started to becomes interested in all that happened a few chapters in and continued on reading, liking the book more and more.
The time setting isn't really spoken but I would say 1990s since internet isn't mentioned and letters are written. A cell phone is not mentioned until her senior year and only to comment on the rarity. It gives this a bit of a nostelgic feel for a high school student populated book. It reminds me a bit of my teen years though that was in the last 80s.
It is an interesting read and definitely not a YA book...more New Adult. It kept me reading and I enjoyed it after the getting used to the writing style.
Surprised by how much I enjoyed this light (but still well written and just frothy enough) coming of age story. Was happy to wait well outside of the book club fervor to give it a shot and glad I did.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to like it more than I did but I found my eyes glazing over on entire pages.
This book is so wonderfully weird. I kept waiting for Lee to be something other than odd or off-putting, but then, somewhere around half-way, I realized that I wouldn’t know her any other way. Much of her description is me. Well, me during high school, that’s for damn sure. I was so deep in my well of thinking and overthinking and analyzing all the people and relationships, imagined and real, in my life that I am quite sure I missed some of those people and relationships completely. It’s a little heart-breaking. But the book was great. So great. I wish I’d read it sooner.
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Totally reminded me of what I hated about high school. I also was a malcontented nonconformist and that just made everything that much more difficult.
Oh yeah, pretty good book too.
Oh yeah, pretty good book too.
When I first tried to read this book, I couldn't get into it. I must have been crazy (or drunk???) The first line alone is "I think that everything, or at least the part of everything that happened to me, started with the Roman architecture mix-up." Amazing.
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There was so much writing in this book that I absolutely loved, but I was dismayed that the narration came from such a non-person.
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There was so much writing in this book that I absolutely loved, but I was dismayed that the narration came from such a non-person.