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A review by bellefarren
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
5.0
5/5 stars
It’s rare that a book speaks to me early on, I often have to get halfway through before I become truly invested in characters and story line. But within a chapter I knew that Eliza was special—at least to me. I related to her feelings of not having people who truly understood her in real life, and having an important and vivid online life.
And she was just so damn funny.
In the beginning I believed Wallace was such a beautiful creature, with his poignant silence and the depth of his feelings. He was such a pure and lovely character, despite his large size, his character brought out so many protective feelings in me.
My only issue with his character was that he didn't seem realistic, a fun character but too perfect for this world. But [a:Francesca Zappia|7009633|Francesca Zappia|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1413677497p2/7009633.jpg] did a splendid job in writing her characters, they grew as the story went along and so much more of their personalities and truths surfaced. She had the strange and beautiful ability to make me love the characters one moment, and be ready to strangle them the next.
Wallace was a character who I thought I had made within the first couple chapters but because of the secrets and fears he had, ended up changing the story.
There are so many characters in literacy right now—especially YA—that make being shy or dealing with social anxiety seem cool and trendy, something that attracts people to you instead of making you seemly cold and aloof. I’ve always hated that something I suffer with everyday isn’t portrayed in books well, I am a person who feels alone in a room and can’t seem to get a handle on that simple ‘talking’ thing that so many people excel at. I am a spiral thinker, I think about every scenario I might ever be placed in and every possible outcome. Except the one that comes true.
And then I obsess about how I failed to come across as ‘normal’.
I get Eliza, and I love that she isn’t made to be a ‘cute and adorable’ character that people find endearing; some people thought she was weird and didn't understand, and that’s reality. But Zappia showed that there are people who get it, who relate and who build meaningful relationships and friendships on it.
After I finished this book I rant typed a freaking novel about my feelings on the ending (which I'll spare you all lol). I didn't know how I felt about this book, it was without a doubt five stars, but I wasn't sure I ever wanted to pick it up again. And I'm still not sure.
This book tackled some very heavy subjects, which I wasn't aware of going in and it was a raw experience for me. I related to so much of the story and the difficulties, despite being older and out of high school myself. I think the mark of a good novel for me, is one that effects me to my core, and lingers with me.
As I was reading this, I was mopey and down. When I finished it I was mad and lonely, I felt like I had just lost my friends with the end of this book.
This was a different kind of book for me, one I think will stick around for a long time to come.
_________
fuck me. I read this in one day, barely any breaks and many bouts of tears. i cannot compute. i relate too hard and now i think i may have a shattered heart, so review may take awhile.
um,
feelings. this book made me have them. and my body can't handle them.
It’s rare that a book speaks to me early on, I often have to get halfway through before I become truly invested in characters and story line. But within a chapter I knew that Eliza was special—at least to me. I related to her feelings of not having people who truly understood her in real life, and having an important and vivid online life.
And she was just so damn funny.
“but there comes a point in every girl’s life where she reaches a crossroads: a night alone with her sweatpants and her favourite television show, or a party with real, live, breathing people.”
In the beginning I believed Wallace was such a beautiful creature, with his poignant silence and the depth of his feelings. He was such a pure and lovely character, despite his large size, his character brought out so many protective feelings in me.
My only issue with his character was that he didn't seem realistic, a fun character but too perfect for this world. But [a:Francesca Zappia|7009633|Francesca Zappia|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1413677497p2/7009633.jpg] did a splendid job in writing her characters, they grew as the story went along and so much more of their personalities and truths surfaced. She had the strange and beautiful ability to make me love the characters one moment, and be ready to strangle them the next.
Wallace was a character who I thought I had made within the first couple chapters but because of the secrets and fears he had, ended up changing the story.
There are so many characters in literacy right now—especially YA—that make being shy or dealing with social anxiety seem cool and trendy, something that attracts people to you instead of making you seemly cold and aloof. I’ve always hated that something I suffer with everyday isn’t portrayed in books well, I am a person who feels alone in a room and can’t seem to get a handle on that simple ‘talking’ thing that so many people excel at. I am a spiral thinker, I think about every scenario I might ever be placed in and every possible outcome. Except the one that comes true.
And then I obsess about how I failed to come across as ‘normal’.
“I don’t want to be the girl who freezes when confronted with new friends, or the outside world, or the smallest shred of intimacy. I don’t want to be alone in a room all the time. I don’t want to feel alone in a room all the time, even when there are other people around.”
I get Eliza, and I love that she isn’t made to be a ‘cute and adorable’ character that people find endearing; some people thought she was weird and didn't understand, and that’s reality. But Zappia showed that there are people who get it, who relate and who build meaningful relationships and friendships on it.
After I finished this book I rant typed a freaking novel about my feelings on the ending (which I'll spare you all lol). I didn't know how I felt about this book, it was without a doubt five stars, but I wasn't sure I ever wanted to pick it up again. And I'm still not sure.
This book tackled some very heavy subjects, which I wasn't aware of going in and it was a raw experience for me. I related to so much of the story and the difficulties, despite being older and out of high school myself. I think the mark of a good novel for me, is one that effects me to my core, and lingers with me.
As I was reading this, I was mopey and down. When I finished it I was mad and lonely, I felt like I had just lost my friends with the end of this book.
This was a different kind of book for me, one I think will stick around for a long time to come.
_________
fuck me. I read this in one day, barely any breaks and many bouts of tears. i cannot compute. i relate too hard and now i think i may have a shattered heart, so review may take awhile.
um,
feelings. this book made me have them. and my body can't handle them.