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A review by jenbsbooks
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
5.0
In one of my FB groups, a mom asked for recommendations for her son, something pretty easy for a reluctant reader, but had to be over 250 pages. This book was recommended with the caveat that it might not count, because while technically the pages are over 300, it's written in verse, LOTS of white space, quick read. Generally, I'm not a "verse" gal when it comes to books, but as I looked this up, it was available in audio (narrated by the author) and only an hour and forty-five minutes. I figured I'd give it a try.
Had I not known it was written in "verse" ... I wouldn't have, from the audio. It was not your standard story with complete and well-structured sentences, but there was no rhyme or structure either (free verse). Just a little stream-of-consciousness, right in the MCs head.
This was very Black - both in the writing and the author's narration/voice. I don't know if we are given a specific setting, but it does seem to be inner city, with gangs and drugs and all that goes with that.
There aren't really chapters, but the first 1/3 introduces us to Will, his family, the world, the tragedy that just happened. The last 2/3 happens on an elevator, and the long way down. The imagery of the cover, the simple statements that mean so much more than they appear, the idea ... it was pretty impactful!
As mentioned, I went with the audiobook (as I do for 95% of my books now). The narrator was the author, and his notes and an interview after added a LOT also, very interesting. He talks about how he felt like he had to narrate this, to get the emphasis, the spacing, the feeling, correct. More important with verse than with other writing. That even a digital copy might not be the same, as with font size adjustment and such, it can change the placement on the page, and the word placement was part of the process. I was so impressed by this, that although I had the Kindle copy, I also ordered a physical copy to have for the home library. I read it as the physical book after listening to it ... I also noticed a graphic novel edition, and had to check it out as well.
So don't let the thought that this is "poetry" turn you off ... I know that IS my first impression. This is just a story told a different way. A book I read a while back [book:Friends for Life|26186828] was one I liked a lot and got a couple of my boys to read (and they liked it) and my mom (she liked it). There were some similarities here - so I'll be encouraging my boys to read this too to see if they think there are things to compare between the books. That one I also ordered a physical copy (although we all originally listened in audio) and my son commented how he did enjoy picking it up, leafing through it, remember the parts of the story. Even more impactful in Long Way Down because of the presentation.
As for the story, short as it is, I think there would be a lot to discuss in a book club type setting. So many little things, quotes, references. There were discussion questions included in the print/ebook copy (not in audio) ... the audio, I really felt like the author's interview added a lot (included in audio, not in the text copies). This isn't the exact interview in the audio edition, but includes many of the points https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuXNsJvNaFs
The author says this book is basically "Boys n the Hood meets a Christmas Carol". If you look at the QUOTES section here on GoodReads, there are a lot of them saved. Profound. Can get emotional just reading through them. The open ending of the book is a gut-punch.
This is a world I only know from TV/movies and books - I wonder how it feels for those for whom this is all too familiar and real?
Ironically - in spite of the setting and situation, there was only one instance of the Fbomb. While there is violence and death, nothing gratuitous, the smallest mention of sex is actually a mother's indication that she hopes her son doesn't get his girlfriend pregnant. There is smoking and talk of drugs.
Had I not known it was written in "verse" ... I wouldn't have, from the audio. It was not your standard story with complete and well-structured sentences, but there was no rhyme or structure either (free verse). Just a little stream-of-consciousness, right in the MCs head.
This was very Black - both in the writing and the author's narration/voice. I don't know if we are given a specific setting, but it does seem to be inner city, with gangs and drugs and all that goes with that.
There aren't really chapters, but the first 1/3 introduces us to Will, his family, the world, the tragedy that just happened. The last 2/3 happens on an elevator, and the long way down. The imagery of the cover, the simple statements that mean so much more than they appear, the idea ... it was pretty impactful!
As mentioned, I went with the audiobook (as I do for 95% of my books now). The narrator was the author, and his notes and an interview after added a LOT also, very interesting. He talks about how he felt like he had to narrate this, to get the emphasis, the spacing, the feeling, correct. More important with verse than with other writing. That even a digital copy might not be the same, as with font size adjustment and such, it can change the placement on the page, and the word placement was part of the process. I was so impressed by this, that although I had the Kindle copy, I also ordered a physical copy to have for the home library. I read it as the physical book after listening to it ... I also noticed a graphic novel edition, and had to check it out as well.
So don't let the thought that this is "poetry" turn you off ... I know that IS my first impression. This is just a story told a different way. A book I read a while back [book:Friends for Life|26186828] was one I liked a lot and got a couple of my boys to read (and they liked it) and my mom (she liked it). There were some similarities here - so I'll be encouraging my boys to read this too to see if they think there are things to compare between the books. That one I also ordered a physical copy (although we all originally listened in audio) and my son commented how he did enjoy picking it up, leafing through it, remember the parts of the story. Even more impactful in Long Way Down because of the presentation.
As for the story, short as it is, I think there would be a lot to discuss in a book club type setting. So many little things, quotes, references. There were discussion questions included in the print/ebook copy (not in audio) ... the audio, I really felt like the author's interview added a lot (included in audio, not in the text copies). This isn't the exact interview in the audio edition, but includes many of the points https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuXNsJvNaFs
The author says this book is basically "Boys n the Hood meets a Christmas Carol". If you look at the QUOTES section here on GoodReads, there are a lot of them saved. Profound. Can get emotional just reading through them. The open ending of the book is a gut-punch.
This is a world I only know from TV/movies and books - I wonder how it feels for those for whom this is all too familiar and real?
Ironically - in spite of the setting and situation, there was only one instance of the Fbomb. While there is violence and death, nothing gratuitous, the smallest mention of sex is actually a mother's indication that she hopes her son doesn't get his girlfriend pregnant. There is smoking and talk of drugs.