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_rebeccareads_ 's review for:
Why We Broke Up
by Daniel Handler
I will start by saying this is one of my very favourite books. I decided to read this book for two reasons:
1. It is by Daniel Handler, who also wrote A Series of Unfortunate Events (under his pen name Lemony Snicket).
2. The beautiful illustrations throughout the book, by Maira Kalman.
This book is written in letter form, one bigger letter sent from Min, short for Minerva, to her ex boyfriend, Ed Slaterton. Along with the letter is a box. In that box is every single item, souvenirs if you will, related to their relationship: a box of matches, bottle tops, wrappers, you name it, it's in the box. These items are described by Min as "the prizes and debris of this relationship, like the glitter in the gutter when the parade has passed, all the everything and whatnot kicked to the curb". When Min is finally ready to part with the items and move on, she delivers the box to Ed's house.
The letter is written telling the story of their relationship, every single thing that happened in the few short months, building up to their break up. Each 'chapter' focuses on a different item from the box, alongside one of the beautiful illustrations, with Min explaining the story that goes along with it and why it is in the box.
We are introduced to a range of people: Min's friends, and Ed's friends, and we see how each of them react towards this new relationship, and how these people, in effect, are part of their breakup.
Throughout the book Min is constantly comparing events to scenes from old movies, which are her obsession, and she is always being described as 'arty', which she hates.
We get to see the couple progress and 'put up with' each others different interests, but as you read on, you learn of just how different the pair are; they aren't very well suited at all, both wanting completely different things. Despite this, I was desperate for the couple to stay together. In my opinion, Ed has a very ignorant attitude to a lot of things, although they do have one thing in common: they are both seemingly desperate to please each other.
It is a very bitter sweet book, as you already know how it is going to end from the title, but somehow as you read, you find yourself wanting to change the ending, or that's how I felt about it, anyway.Although I knew the ending, I found myself forgetting that as I read, and when the couple finally did break up, I was equally as heart broken as I would be if I hadn't know; I really felt Min's pain and humiliation.
1. It is by Daniel Handler, who also wrote A Series of Unfortunate Events (under his pen name Lemony Snicket).
2. The beautiful illustrations throughout the book, by Maira Kalman.
This book is written in letter form, one bigger letter sent from Min, short for Minerva, to her ex boyfriend, Ed Slaterton. Along with the letter is a box. In that box is every single item, souvenirs if you will, related to their relationship: a box of matches, bottle tops, wrappers, you name it, it's in the box. These items are described by Min as "the prizes and debris of this relationship, like the glitter in the gutter when the parade has passed, all the everything and whatnot kicked to the curb". When Min is finally ready to part with the items and move on, she delivers the box to Ed's house.
The letter is written telling the story of their relationship, every single thing that happened in the few short months, building up to their break up. Each 'chapter' focuses on a different item from the box, alongside one of the beautiful illustrations, with Min explaining the story that goes along with it and why it is in the box.
We are introduced to a range of people: Min's friends, and Ed's friends, and we see how each of them react towards this new relationship, and how these people, in effect, are part of their breakup.
Throughout the book Min is constantly comparing events to scenes from old movies, which are her obsession, and she is always being described as 'arty', which she hates.
We get to see the couple progress and 'put up with' each others different interests, but as you read on, you learn of just how different the pair are; they aren't very well suited at all, both wanting completely different things. Despite this, I was desperate for the couple to stay together. In my opinion, Ed has a very ignorant attitude to a lot of things, although they do have one thing in common: they are both seemingly desperate to please each other.
It is a very bitter sweet book, as you already know how it is going to end from the title, but somehow as you read, you find yourself wanting to change the ending, or that's how I felt about it, anyway.Although I knew the ending, I found myself forgetting that as I read, and when the couple finally did break up, I was equally as heart broken as I would be if I hadn't know; I really felt Min's pain and humiliation.