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A review by renuked
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
5.0
I can't stop thinking about this book, so this review is going to be a little different. People told me it wasn't their favorite Marchetta book, or that it bored them. But for me, it might be my favorite of her contemporaries. Because maybe it's a little slow. But, personally, I felt like I was reading about me.
Let's get personal. As I type this review, I am in eleventh grade. I have no clue what I'm doing with my future. I have a little brother I love. And so many other parallels. I get confused just like Francesca. She's a little lost. But she has friends who love her and a family who is so special. It was just startling to read this. It made me feel really grateful, but also very aware of how everything can change in an instant if I'm not careful.
Moving past all my love for this book, let's talk about the book itself. Like I said Francesca is a little lost. She has a vibrant mother who plunges into depression, and the rest of her family struggles to function. Her school is majorly boys - and so with her fellow female classmates she battles sexism and favoritism. But she doesn't know herself. She is bland and she is afraid that one day she will slip into nothing. Isn't everyone?
The characters are so fresh and funny. Thomas, Tara, Siobhan, Justine, Jimmy, and of course, Will. I loved them all from feminist Tara, to bully Jimmy, to slutty Siobhan, to shy Justine, all the way to disgustingly funny Thomas. Loved 'em. They were just regular kids, goofing around and dealing with the pressure of growing up.
Ahh the writing is classic Marchetta. A little slow, a little lyrical, and very reflective. I feel like all of her writing changes based on the characters too. It's funny for Thomas, languid for Francesca, and inflamed for Tara. Her writing is the character. She's just fantastic.
Finally. Will Trombal is a cutie pie. That's all I have to say.
I'm sure that not everyone is going to understand this book. Not many other people are going to go "Wow Francesca is ME". But think for a second about a book where you just related and connected to the main character. This was that book for me, and I could not have read it at a better time in my life. I will recommend this book until the day I die, and I don't care if it doesn't speak to you. It will connect with someone, someday, somewhere feeling a little unsure like me, and that is what makes this book special.
Let's get personal. As I type this review, I am in eleventh grade. I have no clue what I'm doing with my future. I have a little brother I love. And so many other parallels. I get confused just like Francesca. She's a little lost. But she has friends who love her and a family who is so special. It was just startling to read this. It made me feel really grateful, but also very aware of how everything can change in an instant if I'm not careful.
Moving past all my love for this book, let's talk about the book itself. Like I said Francesca is a little lost. She has a vibrant mother who plunges into depression, and the rest of her family struggles to function. Her school is majorly boys - and so with her fellow female classmates she battles sexism and favoritism. But she doesn't know herself. She is bland and she is afraid that one day she will slip into nothing. Isn't everyone?
The characters are so fresh and funny. Thomas, Tara, Siobhan, Justine, Jimmy, and of course, Will. I loved them all from feminist Tara, to bully Jimmy, to slutty Siobhan, to shy Justine, all the way to disgustingly funny Thomas. Loved 'em. They were just regular kids, goofing around and dealing with the pressure of growing up.
Ahh the writing is classic Marchetta. A little slow, a little lyrical, and very reflective. I feel like all of her writing changes based on the characters too. It's funny for Thomas, languid for Francesca, and inflamed for Tara. Her writing is the character. She's just fantastic.
Finally. Will Trombal is a cutie pie. That's all I have to say.
I'm sure that not everyone is going to understand this book. Not many other people are going to go "Wow Francesca is ME". But think for a second about a book where you just related and connected to the main character. This was that book for me, and I could not have read it at a better time in my life. I will recommend this book until the day I die, and I don't care if it doesn't speak to you. It will connect with someone, someday, somewhere feeling a little unsure like me, and that is what makes this book special.