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lunababybat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I did listen to the audiobook with this, which may have impacted the rating. I feel I was missing something, in how Ellen will make art with the lines in her book, outside of the poetry. Otherwise, I did enjoy this entry, although it is a different subject matter than what she usually delves into.
I think Collateral is important work, especially for anyone who is in the military or in a relationship with someone who is. I think it does a good job of illustrating how war and violence can change someone, make them hard and angry. But it's more than that; it demonstrates how getting with someone and staying with them, even as it becomes obvious they weren't the person you thought were, is draining on someone. Cole seemed amazing at first, but even before the war had a chance to change him, cracks showed. Ash and him had different worldviews, backgrounds, and it's obvious Cole had a big streak of conservatism that was very at odds with the progressive woman Ash was. I think that streak is also why Cole was able to be molded by the violence around him, as often times blind patriotism goes hand in hand with sexism, bigotry, and hatred, which ultimately consumed Cole. It's obvious he had some demons lurking even before deployment and said deployment let those demons grow, until he became the violent war vet stereotype. Because not all shoulders become violent, or suspicious, or angry, but all of them are changed in some way. I'm glad the book ended the way it did, as I was greatly impacted by the changes I saw taking place, and, despite the ending violence,I'm happy Ash finally saw Cole for the monster the had become and had found someone more on her level to hopefully be happy with.
I think Collateral is important work, especially for anyone who is in the military or in a relationship with someone who is. I think it does a good job of illustrating how war and violence can change someone, make them hard and angry. But it's more than that; it demonstrates how getting with someone and staying with them, even as it becomes obvious they weren't the person you thought were, is draining on someone. Cole seemed amazing at first, but even before the war had a chance to change him, cracks showed. Ash and him had different worldviews, backgrounds, and it's obvious Cole had a big streak of conservatism that was very at odds with the progressive woman Ash was. I think that streak is also why Cole was able to be molded by the violence around him, as often times blind patriotism goes hand in hand with sexism, bigotry, and hatred, which ultimately consumed Cole. It's obvious he had some demons lurking even before deployment and said deployment let those demons grow, until he became the violent war vet stereotype. Because not all shoulders become violent, or suspicious, or angry, but all of them are changed in some way. I'm glad the book ended the way it did, as I was greatly impacted by the changes I saw taking place, and, despite the ending violence,
allieskat17's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I felt like this book addressed a very different subject than the rest of Ellen Hopkins work. This story focuses on the us armed forces and their loved ones back at home. The main character Ashley falls for a marine as he entered his training. Five years later as much as she doesn’t want to admit it he is a different man. It’s takes an extreme situation for her to see the toll that being in the armed forces has had on him and the rest of their families
anxiouslyreading33's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lookatjimmy's review against another edition
2.0
I understand that I can’t possibly relate to the main character, nor do I have a personal understanding of what war does to people, but Jesus Christ. There were like 17 different times where the relationship should’ve ended.
nickyfox13's review against another edition
4.0
My love of Ellen Hopkins might make me biased because I'm a consistent fan of her work. It is amazing in the way Hopkins so effectively creates a raw, gripping, emotionally charged narrative in such a sparse style while frankly, boldly discussing controversial issues in a powerful and honest way. This novel, surprisingly enough (to me at least), is a novel not in the young adult genre; instead, it's a story directed towards adults.
This novel is about the romantic relationship between sweet, indecisive civilian poet Ashley and the man she falls in love with an impassioned Marine named Cole who is deployed as a soldier for four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. As much as I love all of Hopkins' books, I found this novel to have fallen flat in ways that her prior novels didn't. I feel like Hopkins's writing style is more suited to young adult novels. I don't think that's a flaw, per se, because YA realistic fiction is Hopkins' strength. However, I felt like her typical style didn't translate very well into this novel. I felt like everything seemed too emotionally subdued, and therefore everything seemed to fall flat as I didn't relate to Ashley or Cole; whenever the high action arrived, I felt like it was jarring because the pacing of the action felt all over the place. Jumping between the past and the present would've been more effective if the pace was more solid, but I liked that it was utilized anyway because it brought an interesting layer to the romantic relationship.
I felt like the hugest flaw of the narrative was the fact that such a divisive and polarizing event in recent US history such as the war in Afghanistan/Iraq and treating it like a backdrop to the drama of Ashley and Cole's relationship. I felt like the war was treated without much neutrality and with a very biased view, as it was viewed mostly from the point of view of a very liberal but also passive and wishy-washy character. Had the novel treated the war with more respect, as Hopkins does treat taboo/controversial opinions/actions with respect & neutrality, I would've enjoyed that aspect.
I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable, because I didn't relate to them since I felt that the pacing mean that there wasn't enough time for me to get attached to the characters.
mp_1018's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kaycur's review against another edition
3.0
the ending of this book was way too rushed..... left too many questions unanswered.
el_wheel's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is definitely my least favorite of Hopkins' books. I just couldn't stand Cole at all and I hated that it took Ashley so long to realize how awful he was. There were also some things I think weren't handled as delicately as they could've been, which surprised me given her other works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, War, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Death, Sexism, Rape, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Abortion, Cancer, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, and Murder
samlo_books's review
5.0
I've loved every book of Ellen Hopkins's that I've read, and considering I've read every one of her books I guess that means I've loved everything this woman has written! Hopkins takes a very real, very sensitive, very current topic: the United States military and how it effects those in the military but their families as well. From the very beginning I was attached to all of the characters. I quite literally devoured this book once I could break away from work! Any one who wants a quick, but amazing, read should definitely read this book.
mmseitz822's review against another edition
5.0
I REALLY enjoyed this book. I liked how it was written in stanzas like a poem (poetry is a theme throughout the novel) but still reads like a book. The plot really kept me hooked - a young woman in love and dating a marine who is constantly deployed but trying to make the relationship work even though they are almost always apart. I really liked the main character, Ashley. I was happy with the ending though I can see why some readers wouldn't be. I won't say more than that for fear of spoiling it for future readers. Anyway, I love love stories and this is a good one! The author does a lot so readers can really feel the passion between Ashley and Cole. Check it out!