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A review by stilestastic
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
1.0
I've had this book for four days and I got to page 4. That's how long it took me to decide that enough was enough, and I couldn't handle it anymore.
I wanted to like this book. I really did! The fact that the ratings were so high made me really hopeful, but the writing style did not click with me at all. I kept getting lost with all the sentences that seemed to run on and on. The metaphors were confusing instead of inspiring.
Maybe the fact that a thirteen year old got a hard-on for a boy who was about to throw him off a cliff was what got me. I just think that's incredibly unrealistic. I'm straight, but I wouldn't have that type of reaction if a super hot guy was manhandling me and about to throw me in the water if I couldn't swim. I would just be wondering if I was about to freaking die.
[Edit: I’m certainly not trying to speak for the LGBT+ community here, but it seemed to perpetuate the stereotype that gay people (men in particular) are pedophiles/only in it for The Sex and seem to take everything in a sexual manner. Again, this is just what I felt and it made me extremely uncomfortable to see that— especially in the opening pages of such a well-renowned novel.]
It takes a lot - and I mean a LOT - for me to leave a book unfinished. This one just did not work for me at all.
I wanted to like this book. I really did! The fact that the ratings were so high made me really hopeful, but the writing style did not click with me at all. I kept getting lost with all the sentences that seemed to run on and on. The metaphors were confusing instead of inspiring.
Maybe the fact that a thirteen year old got a hard-on for a boy who was about to throw him off a cliff was what got me. I just think that's incredibly unrealistic. I'm straight, but I wouldn't have that type of reaction if a super hot guy was manhandling me and about to throw me in the water if I couldn't swim. I would just be wondering if I was about to freaking die.
[Edit: I’m certainly not trying to speak for the LGBT+ community here, but it seemed to perpetuate the stereotype that gay people (men in particular) are pedophiles/only in it for The Sex and seem to take everything in a sexual manner. Again, this is just what I felt and it made me extremely uncomfortable to see that— especially in the opening pages of such a well-renowned novel.]
It takes a lot - and I mean a LOT - for me to leave a book unfinished. This one just did not work for me at all.