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A review by razreads
Just in Case by Meg Rosoff
2.0
Complete review available: Just In Case
This books has required a lot of thought on my part, and not because it's about some uber-philosophical theory. I have truly stuggled to see the reasoning behind this book - what is the story? what is it saying? I've spent time debating the character of Fate, trying to see the book as one bigger metaphor, and attempting to find some meaning in some of the events. I'll save you the effort - there is nothing bigger. The book is as it seems (which leaves me reeling a little as it was a Carneige medal winner, up against the likes of Marcus Sedgewick!)
I'm not saying there's no storyling - there is. The only problem is that if it truly is what it appears to be (a book dealing with ideas of life, fate and a teenage mid-life crisis), then there are whole regions that I just don't get. The language I'm happy with, characters not so much (particularly the obnoxious nature of Fate) and the storyline I'm at war with. Parts are perfectly stable, but other sections veer off so horrifically that any and all respect or reputation is lost - take, for example, the rabbit scene, or Boy.
It didn't score 1 star, no, because underneath some horrific chapters, there was some potential if it were reattempted (the whole book wouldn't necessarily need reconstruction). But it was not a pleasant 3 star read by far. Unless you have a burning desire, I'm not too sure it's worth crawling through...
This books has required a lot of thought on my part, and not because it's about some uber-philosophical theory. I have truly stuggled to see the reasoning behind this book - what is the story? what is it saying? I've spent time debating the character of Fate, trying to see the book as one bigger metaphor, and attempting to find some meaning in some of the events. I'll save you the effort - there is nothing bigger. The book is as it seems (which leaves me reeling a little as it was a Carneige medal winner, up against the likes of Marcus Sedgewick!)
I'm not saying there's no storyling - there is. The only problem is that if it truly is what it appears to be (a book dealing with ideas of life, fate and a teenage mid-life crisis), then there are whole regions that I just don't get. The language I'm happy with, characters not so much (particularly the obnoxious nature of Fate) and the storyline I'm at war with. Parts are perfectly stable, but other sections veer off so horrifically that any and all respect or reputation is lost - take, for example, the rabbit scene, or Boy.
It didn't score 1 star, no, because underneath some horrific chapters, there was some potential if it were reattempted (the whole book wouldn't necessarily need reconstruction). But it was not a pleasant 3 star read by far. Unless you have a burning desire, I'm not too sure it's worth crawling through...