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this_momma_is_booked 's review for:
This Lullaby
by Sarah Dessen
I've embarked on a re-read of Sarah Dessen's books with some friends and it makes me so happy! For the longest time Sarah has been my favorite YA author. But that was me as a teenager - does it still hold up as a grown ass adult? We shall see!
I originally had this rated 5 stars on my account but that was completely based on the memory of my feelings for this book. After this reading, it's a solid 3 stars for me.
Remy is a pretty crappy person, to be honest. She clearly has a lot of emotional issues that she needs to deal with and she should seriously considering talking to a therapist to process the fact that she was raped and she hasn't even batted any eye about it. I can understand that her issues contribute to her less-than-stellar personality but what's worse is that everyone around her continues to enable her to act that way. She treats everyone poorly and they just laugh it off as "that's so Remy!" rather than really helping her acknowledge her issues.
Additionally, Remy goes around life as if she had a terrible childhood that has contributed to her negative outlook on life. In reality, her mom was always there. She never abandoned her. Sure, she had some trouble finding love, but she never brought someone home who put Remy and her brother in any danger. I don't think she should essentially shame her mother because she chose to believe in love and in finding that forever person.
All that being said, I do appreciate that Dessen wrote about an unlikeable character. It's not often that books recognize that people are flawed creatures and not everyone is going to be happy all the time. Dessen also has a big focus on being raised by the community you create for yourself: your friends, coworkers, teammates, etc. It's not only your family who raises you.
I also had to keep reminding myself that this was written in 2002 and times, they are a'changin'! I choose to believe that had this story been written today, these plot holes would not exist and there would be a more open conversation about sexual assault and mental health in general.
But honestly, Sarah, would it kill you to diversify your characters a bit?
Favorite quotes:
“I am coming to terms with the fact that loving someone requires a leap of faith, and that a soft landing is never guaranteed.”
“Some things don't last forever, but some things do. Like a good song, or a good book, or a good memory you can take out and unfold in your darkest times, pressing down on the corners and peering in close, hoping you still recognize the person you see there.”
I originally had this rated 5 stars on my account but that was completely based on the memory of my feelings for this book. After this reading, it's a solid 3 stars for me.
Remy is a pretty crappy person, to be honest. She clearly has a lot of emotional issues that she needs to deal with and she should seriously considering talking to a therapist to process the fact that she was raped and she hasn't even batted any eye about it. I can understand that her issues contribute to her less-than-stellar personality but what's worse is that everyone around her continues to enable her to act that way. She treats everyone poorly and they just laugh it off as "that's so Remy!" rather than really helping her acknowledge her issues.
Additionally, Remy goes around life as if she had a terrible childhood that has contributed to her negative outlook on life. In reality, her mom was always there. She never abandoned her. Sure, she had some trouble finding love, but she never brought someone home who put Remy and her brother in any danger. I don't think she should essentially shame her mother because she chose to believe in love and in finding that forever person.
All that being said, I do appreciate that Dessen wrote about an unlikeable character. It's not often that books recognize that people are flawed creatures and not everyone is going to be happy all the time. Dessen also has a big focus on being raised by the community you create for yourself: your friends, coworkers, teammates, etc. It's not only your family who raises you.
I also had to keep reminding myself that this was written in 2002 and times, they are a'changin'! I choose to believe that had this story been written today, these plot holes would not exist and there would be a more open conversation about sexual assault and mental health in general.
But honestly, Sarah, would it kill you to diversify your characters a bit?
Favorite quotes:
“I am coming to terms with the fact that loving someone requires a leap of faith, and that a soft landing is never guaranteed.”
“Some things don't last forever, but some things do. Like a good song, or a good book, or a good memory you can take out and unfold in your darkest times, pressing down on the corners and peering in close, hoping you still recognize the person you see there.”