I actually loved this :) I read it on my way to Japan (where I am now,) and I think it's beautiful... I agree, though, it's simple. It kinda hits me like The Giver, where I'm seeing a portion of someone's story, and at the end, glad that I got that window into a life, without it being an epic or having a firm ending.
I think my expectations were just too high for this one, unfortunately. But I really like what you came away with: a simple story that gives you a slice of life. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!
I didn't read the spoilery bits, because I probably will pick this up eventually, but what you're experiencing here reminds me a lot of my experience with Libba Bray's Beauty Queens. It had a really cool concept, and I enjoyed it for the most part, but Beauty Queens was clearly a message novel, and the message was dealt with a very heavy hand. I can understand the need to want to put messages and big ideas in books (especially teen books), but figuring out how much that message needs to be pushed is a tricky balancing act.
I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on this then, to see if you also found the message a little too overbearing, or if I'm being a wee bit too sensitive. :)
While I tend to stay away from reviews while I'm in the middle of a book, I'm only 50 pages in and I already agree with your assessment. A was so effusive about his love for Rhiannon that it became off-putting for me; his frequent asides about the pull of her love really almost made me question his authenticity...it didn't feel genuine and organic to me. It became too preachy.
I pretty much agree with everything you said. I wanted more. I didn't like the girl as a person and really couldn't see why she was the one he was willing to change everything for. But what I really hated was how A was in, XXXL, Finn. I hated that the author was tolerant of every kind of life style but as soon as he got to someone overweight there was nothing redeeming about his life or himself at all? I found that disgusting. It really bothered me. Now i could have understood if he was complaining about a few things here and there about being fat (not being able to run, squeezing into a seat ect.), but the over all self loathing he had when he was Finn bothered me.
overall I loved the concept but I didn't like how it was executed at all. and i think that comes down to something you said. I also always thought of A as male, he should have not felt like any sex at all and that is just the perfect example on how the author missteped for me.
I hated that the author was tolerant of every kind of life style but as soon as he got to someone overweight there was nothing redeeming about his life or himself at all? I found that disgusting. It really bothered me. Now i could have understood if he was complaining about a few things here and there about being fat (not being able to run, squeezing into a seat ect.), but the over all self loathing he had when he was Finn bothered me.
Yeah, I don't know where the author was coming from when writing A in Finn's body... unless he spoke to people who used to be that big and then lost all the weight? But then again, as someone who has lost weight (and not THAT much), I know that you don't realize what you're really carrying until you don't carry it anymore. However, how different would we feel if see suddenly gained 200+ lbs overnight? I don't know. But I liked less Rhiannon's remarks: that she couldn't even see A in Finn's eyes. Really?
Comments 8
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
When you finish, come back to chat! :)
Reply
overall I loved the concept but I didn't like how it was executed at all. and i think that comes down to something you said. I also always thought of A as male, he should have not felt like any sex at all and that is just the perfect example on how the author missteped for me.
Reply
Yeah, I don't know where the author was coming from when writing A in Finn's body... unless he spoke to people who used to be that big and then lost all the weight? But then again, as someone who has lost weight (and not THAT much), I know that you don't realize what you're really carrying until you don't carry it anymore. However, how different would we feel if see suddenly gained 200+ lbs overnight? I don't know. But I liked less Rhiannon's remarks: that she couldn't even see A in Finn's eyes. Really?
Good point about the gender.
Reply
Leave a comment