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A review by lewreviews
That Was Then, This Is Now by S.E. Hinton
3.0
(Definitely leaning more to a 3.5/5, but also definitely not as good as The Outsiders, its semi-prequel.)
Hinton tells a more mature story here; rather than being concerned with growing up, the book comes to terms with the startling realisation that you wish you could be young again. Youthfulness is innocence, a view of the world that is not tainted with evils and cruelty - it is preferable to being an adult. And what Hinton does so well here is show the consequences of our inevitable ageing. A coming of age novel founded in its regret of maturation, the angle it takes is curious and devastating, as we are all reminded of the glory days: our childhoods.
I wasn't nearly as attached to the characters with this one though, as I feel I was stuck in the world of The Outsiders and found it difficult to adjust. This was tough as to truly get the most out of this novel you need to relate to and appreciate the relationship between Mark and Bryon. Unfortunately, I couldn't do this... somewhat ruining my experience and the ending in general.
But with further reflection having finished reading, what I can appreciate is how the story would have affected others. I can see this in the reviews of the book and what not, but truly the story is beautifully devastating. The build of the plotline comes to a shocking end, and with full investment, it would definitely bring some to tears (maybe even me... haha just joking... unless??).
This is more than a YA novel. I've been deeply impressed with the quality of Hinton's work and have thoroughly enjoyed her riveting stories and incredibly layered characters. At such a young age, I still can't believe that she had such a deep insight into the human psyche and what stirs us inside. The unsettling revelations of a childhood gone amiss run rampant through both books, and both hit home hard with strong emotion. Good stuff.
Hinton tells a more mature story here; rather than being concerned with growing up, the book comes to terms with the startling realisation that you wish you could be young again. Youthfulness is innocence, a view of the world that is not tainted with evils and cruelty - it is preferable to being an adult. And what Hinton does so well here is show the consequences of our inevitable ageing. A coming of age novel founded in its regret of maturation, the angle it takes is curious and devastating, as we are all reminded of the glory days: our childhoods.
I wasn't nearly as attached to the characters with this one though, as I feel I was stuck in the world of The Outsiders and found it difficult to adjust. This was tough as to truly get the most out of this novel you need to relate to and appreciate the relationship between Mark and Bryon. Unfortunately, I couldn't do this... somewhat ruining my experience and the ending in general.
But with further reflection having finished reading, what I can appreciate is how the story would have affected others. I can see this in the reviews of the book and what not, but truly the story is beautifully devastating. The build of the plotline comes to a shocking end, and with full investment, it would definitely bring some to tears (maybe even me... haha just joking... unless??).
This is more than a YA novel. I've been deeply impressed with the quality of Hinton's work and have thoroughly enjoyed her riveting stories and incredibly layered characters. At such a young age, I still can't believe that she had such a deep insight into the human psyche and what stirs us inside. The unsettling revelations of a childhood gone amiss run rampant through both books, and both hit home hard with strong emotion. Good stuff.