A review by hiba59
And Now You Can Go by Vendela Vida

2.0

"You can divide the world into two types of people, I decide, as I stand on the train, holding on to a steel pole. Those who would take their lives if they thought things were bad enough, and those who even if they were on the brink, like the man from the park, would see their error and turn back, sprinting fast and humming with relief."

I don't know what to make out of this novel, I assumed it was a debut novel, but it still didn't justify why I felt so perplexed reading it.
The events felt so detached, and I think the novel could've been better, a lot better if the author knew how to elaborate in the events in a way that they feel synced with the trauma-causing incident of the park. It felt extremely promising with that kickoff, but then settled into a boring unsettled rhythm, and I felt so disappointed because I expected so much more from it.

The story revolves around Ellis, a twenty-one-year-old student who while in the park one afternoon encounters a man who points a gun at her and tells her he wants to die, with her. She, fortunately, gets out of the incident physically unharmed but is left with a shaken personality, and we follow her as she drifts here and there, letting unsuitable partners swoon around her.
Then she leaves everything behind and goes in a volunteering mission to the Philippines with her mother. Back to the States, she is put face to face with her assaulter, but she skips on taking revenge.

The writing, similarly to the story is very disorienting and irritatingly so because we know that Ellis was the emotionally unstable girl seeking refuge in different areas and people, and the incident just adds to it. And that is how she ends up dumping everything and everyone and joining her friend in Ireland.

I don't know if I should give a chance to more books by Vendela Vida, because starting off with this one is not very promising.