Book #20 of 2016: The Rest of Us Just Live Here

[thistle_chaser]

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Rating: Hated (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)

Comments

[hamsterwoman]

That's kind of an interesting take on the supernatural YA genre, from, like, a meta perspective. But does sound like it would be a very frustrating book to read, especially if one wanted ACTUAL supernatural YA!

[thistle_chaser]

I believe that was his intent -- meta, satire, that sort of thing. It was a good idea, but a bad book.

I wasn't even looking for actual supernatural, but I didn't want... not-supernatural either, if that makes sense. If he had wanted to write "slice of life" teenage stuff, he could have done that without the one-paragraph-per-chapter mention of supernatural stuff at all, and just advertised the book as that. As it stands, this book felt like a slight of hand, a cheap trick.

[resonant]

I like that you post warning reviews, not just reviews of good books.

[thistle_chaser]

Thanks! Though hopefully I'll get some reviews of good books in soon...

[orangerful]

aw, sorry you didn't like it. I loved this book and I'm not usually one for angst, but I thought they handled a lot of stuff really well. But I knew it wasn't about the supernatural side of things so I wasn't frustrated.

[thistle_chaser]

I'm glad you were able to enjoy it! Usually I like his books, so this one was an exception for me. His Chaos Walking trilogy is still high on my list of best books ever.

[thistle_chaser]

Hahaha I hate it when authors do that. It's sadly, annoyingly not uncommon in YA 'end of the world' books!

I DO NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT JUST PLAIN TEENAGERS IN THE JUST PLAIN WORLD. DO NOT TEASE ME WITH PLAGUES AND ENDS OF THE WORLD, AUTHOR, THEN NOT DELIVER!