Book Review :: "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

I’ve gotten into the habit of scanning the teen literature section of my town’s local Target store whenever my mom and I visit. Even if we’re only there for one or two things, I always go back and scan through the books. If any of them catch my intrest, I write them down and look them up the next time I’m at the library.

It was through this procedure that I stumbled across the book “If I Stay” by Gayle Forman.

The name didn’t hit me at first, but after after grabbing the book from the library, I recognized the hardback-cover as one of the books that had been discussed during the most recent writing club. It had gotten a good, but very sketchy, review. So I put aside the other book I had been reading (“Girl in the Arena” by Lise Haines), and began to enlighten myself as to why the review had been so empty.

Novel::

“If I Stay” by Gayle Forman

Summary::

Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, adoring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. Then, in an instant, almost all of that was taken away from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left -- the most important decision she'll ever make.
Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting, and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, and loving.

My Thoughts::

“If I Stay” was another one of those books that grabbed me with the first few lines. Of course, it also revolved around music, even from the very beginning, so that was definitely a quick and easy attention-grabber.

This novel was a roller coaster ride of emotions. In a good way, of course, but a severe ride nonetheless. One moment things were going good -- everyone’s outlook was great, smiles all around, jokes in the air, and then disaster strikes and it’s like fighting a losing battle.

The main idea doesn’t exactly show its face until about a third of the way through the story, but once it appears, everything makes sense. My favorite part, the best part, the key to everything:

“It’s okay,” he tells me “If you want to go. Everyone wants you to stay. I want you to stay more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.” His voice cracks with emotion. He stops, clears his throat, takes a breath, and continues. “But that’s what I want, and I could see why it might not be what you want. So I just wanted to tell you that I understand if you go. It’s okay if you have to leave us. It’s okay if you want to stop fighting.”

I don’t often get emotional over books. Movies? Sure. Books? Not so much. But this. This... It was phenominal. I finished that paragraph and tears had begun prickling at my eyes. I finished the remainder of that section and I was crying those silent tears of deep, sorrowful ache.

“If I Stay” is most definitely a must-read.

Rating::

FIVE out of FIVE stars!!

And that’s all for now. Maybe I’ll post a rant or something later?

I’ve seen several decent and not-so-decent movies in the past few weeks. ... And college begins in less than three weeks. So there’s that, too. XDD

How It Ends -- Review

I can finally write a review for this. Finally. It took a solid day to gather my thoughts... But I did it. :] So let's take it from the top. :]

Novel::

"How It Ends" by Laura Wiess

Summary::

All Hanna's wanted since Sophomore year is Seth. She's one out with other uys, even ained a rep for being a flirt, all the while hoping cool, guitar-playing Seth will choose her. Then she gets him -- but their relationship is hurtful, stormy and critical, not at all what Hanna thinks a perfect love should be. Bewildered by Seth's treatment of her and in need of understanding, Hanna decides to fulfill her school's community service requirement by spending time with Helen, her terminally ill neighbor, who she's turned to for comfort and wisdom throughout her life. But illness has changed Helen into someone Hanna hardly knows, and her home is not the refuge it once was. Feeling more alone than ever, Hanna gets drawn into an audiobook the older woman is listening to, a fierce, unsettling story of passion, sacrifice, and devotion. Hanna's fascinated by the idea that such an all-encompassing love can truly exist, and without her even realizing it, the story beings to change her. Until the day when the story becomes all too real...and Hanna's world is spun off its axis by its shattering, irrevocable conclusion.

My Thoughts::

"How It Ends" hit me hard and hit me fast. It might have been because I know how Hanna felt in the proloue. I've been through a tough time that eventually did lead to a divorce, and like any young child would, I blamed myself. And I felt an immediate kinship with Helen who had to create a fictional world to keep young-Hanna happy. Being an older sister to a younger brother took a lot out of me, especially when his questions went on and on and on.

As the years went on, Helen reminded me distinctly of my own grandmother, now deceased, who would also take in the stray cats (once-owned by people who decided that dropping them in the middle of BFE was a good idea) from the area and feed them and slowly gain their trust.

And as the story progresses, you see that Seth is... Well. He's a pain. Simply put, be glad he's not real. Sure, there are guys like him out there... But after reading this, you'll know who they are and what they're reeeally doing. And you can slap a hazard stickeron him, or something. >:]

More than likely, if I reveal too much more, I'll spoil the whole story... So go and check this book out and read for yourself "How It Ends".

Hah. :D Play on words, see? ... Well. It was corny. But I tried. =P

Seriously though, go read it.

Rating::

FIVE out of FIVE stars!

Well. Time to skip out...

I have pie to eat, after all. >:D

Ever Yours,
The Night Thief