Hello there guys!
Welcome to a new week, starting with a new Monday! And what better way to start the new week than with a new book review for Mark This Book Monday!
I was approved for this book via NetGalley and I have to give a big thanks to Penguin Random House UK for the approval! This is one book that I MUST recommend for everyone, even if I have to recommend that you stock up on tissues, comfort food and a strong cuppa tea!
This one is part of my 105 Challenge but not as part of my review shelf part of the challenge, but the one for Diversity, because there's still plenty of conspiracy of silence and stigma about mental health issues, and this book talks about them in a very raw and real and rather well done way.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had read plenty of reviews from my fellow bloggers warning me about the crying with this book, but I was not prepared to spend the last 10% of the book bawling my eyes out, connecting so much with the characters and feeling so much for them... It took me a good half hour to stop sobbing and then I was still feeling pretty gutted for the rest of the night.
All The Bright Places is told in dual point of view for the most part, following both Theodore Finch and Violet Markey who meet at the top of their school's bell tower, both thinking about jumping and both saving each other in a way at the time.
I was both fascinated by Theodore as well as worried sick after the first few chapters. My mental health knowledge is pretty basic since that's not my work speciality, but with what little I know, I could see so very clearly what was going on and what was likely to happen in the end, but seeing it coming didn't prepare me well enough for the emotional punch that I'd be getting. Theodore helps Violet through her loss and her insecurities, but he never feels like he can get help or accept other people's help.
There's such a stigma on mental health illnesses that people are afraid to speak up, to search for help, to ask for help that they end up fighting entirely on their own, and that's not always a battle you can win without help. But society as a whole still tends to ridicule or hide or ignore or a combination of all three when it comes to mental health, and books like this one are so important for all of us, but even more for young adults that might be dealing with something similar and don't even know what it is that they are fighting, and only get the "freak" treatment.
Be ready to be changed somehow by this book, Theodore Finch won't pass through your life and leave you as you were. We can all learn a few things from this boy that burns like the brightest star.
A wonderful and poignant book that is both relevant and intimate. More than well deserved 4 to 4.5 stars. Read it now, but buy some tissues first.
View all my reviews
Welcome to a new week, starting with a new Monday! And what better way to start the new week than with a new book review for Mark This Book Monday!
I was approved for this book via NetGalley and I have to give a big thanks to Penguin Random House UK for the approval! This is one book that I MUST recommend for everyone, even if I have to recommend that you stock up on tissues, comfort food and a strong cuppa tea!
This one is part of my 105 Challenge but not as part of my review shelf part of the challenge, but the one for Diversity, because there's still plenty of conspiracy of silence and stigma about mental health issues, and this book talks about them in a very raw and real and rather well done way.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer NivenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had read plenty of reviews from my fellow bloggers warning me about the crying with this book, but I was not prepared to spend the last 10% of the book bawling my eyes out, connecting so much with the characters and feeling so much for them... It took me a good half hour to stop sobbing and then I was still feeling pretty gutted for the rest of the night.
All The Bright Places is told in dual point of view for the most part, following both Theodore Finch and Violet Markey who meet at the top of their school's bell tower, both thinking about jumping and both saving each other in a way at the time.
I was both fascinated by Theodore as well as worried sick after the first few chapters. My mental health knowledge is pretty basic since that's not my work speciality, but with what little I know, I could see so very clearly what was going on and what was likely to happen in the end, but seeing it coming didn't prepare me well enough for the emotional punch that I'd be getting. Theodore helps Violet through her loss and her insecurities, but he never feels like he can get help or accept other people's help.
There's such a stigma on mental health illnesses that people are afraid to speak up, to search for help, to ask for help that they end up fighting entirely on their own, and that's not always a battle you can win without help. But society as a whole still tends to ridicule or hide or ignore or a combination of all three when it comes to mental health, and books like this one are so important for all of us, but even more for young adults that might be dealing with something similar and don't even know what it is that they are fighting, and only get the "freak" treatment.
Be ready to be changed somehow by this book, Theodore Finch won't pass through your life and leave you as you were. We can all learn a few things from this boy that burns like the brightest star.
A wonderful and poignant book that is both relevant and intimate. More than well deserved 4 to 4.5 stars. Read it now, but buy some tissues first.
View all my reviews
I'm not in a place where I'm ready to pick up a book that's going to gut me or make me cry Pili, but when I'm ready for something that's going to give me all the feels, I'm definitely going to pick this up. Thanks for the tissue warning my friend:)
ReplyDeleteI'm not even sure if I was ready for this book either, Jenny, but keep in mind for later on when you can go for cry books, because this is a very relevant book that must be read!
DeleteAww I hope you're feeling better now! *sends hugs I don't think I'm prepared for the feels in this book but I am interested to see how the author tackles the mental health aspect. I do want to try it some day :)
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazingly relevant book but yes, quite very tough to read!
DeleteThanks Eileen!
Hugs. <3 Awesome review Pili. I'm so glad you ended up enjoying this sad book :) I'm not sure it would be for me, doesn't sound that amazing to me, hiih, but I do like the sound of parts of it :) And so glad you liked it. <3 Thank you for sharing about it sweetie :D I do love that cover a whole lot. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you so much sweetie! The cover is super sweet and the book is a tough one to read, but great!
DeleteI *almost* regret not downloading this one for review when I had the chance, but ehhhh, I don't really like tough-issue contemporary novels, so I probably wouldn't have wanted to read it anyway. I think I did, before the official synopsis was released months ago, and then I was like naahhh. LOL. I'm so glad you loved this one, Pili!
ReplyDeleteExcellent review!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
I usually agree with you that tough issue contemporaries are not my thing, and this book had a deep emotional backlash to it, but it was brilliant and amazing and a very important thing to talk about and not hide under the rug.
DeleteThank you Alyssa!
I need to read this one! It sounds like such an emotional rollercoaster, and those are the kind of books I like. Also, the characters sound so realistic they could jump off the page, and are really unique in what they are all about as well. I can't wait to try this. Great review!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my post: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2015/01/editing-your-story-guest-post.html
It was a VERY emotional book and one I'd recommend everyone to read! I hope you'll give it a try, Olivia!
DeleteI absolutely love the sound of this one, and your review makes me really want to read it! But I'm not entirely sure I'll be able to handle it just yet. But I'll definitely be keeping it in mind now. Fantastic review, Pili! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a really hard book for me too, Samantha. But do keep it mind because it was quite great!
DeleteI really can't to read this book! I just haven't read because I'm having problem with my packages in the mail, and I want this hardcover.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked it, it makes me want to read it even more!
I've seen the hardcover and it's gorgeous too! I hope you can get it soon!
DeleteAnd I do hope all the mail issues get resolved soon!