All The Bright Places
By: Jennifer Niven
Release Date: January 6, 2015
Spoiler Free Review by Rachel
Synopsis:
An exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death. Every day he thinks of ways he might die, but every day he also searches for—and manages to find—something to keep him here, and alive, and awake.
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her small Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's death.
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school—six stories above the ground—it's unclear who saves whom. And when the unlikely pair teams up on a class project to discover the "natural wonders" of their state, they go, as Finch says, where the road takes them: the grand, the small, the bizarre, the beautiful, the ugly, the surprising—just like life.
Soon it's only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a bold, funny, live-out-loud guy, who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet forgets to count away the days and starts living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.
This is a heart-wrenching, unflinching story of love shared, life lived, and two teens who find one another while standing on the edge.
My Review:
This book is YA, which for some adult readers is a deal breaker on its own. DO NOT LET THAT BE A DEAL BREAKER! If you're one of those people, I implore you to put those preconceived notions aside and give this remarkable novel a shot. It's one I will read over and over again.
When a book completely consumes you, engulfs your mind and soul into a black hole of emotions, you know you've found something great. 'Something great' sounds so minute in comparison to the thoughts that All The Bright Places evoked in me. To say that it's a "great book" doesn't do it justice in the least.
When a book completely consumes you, engulfs your mind and soul into a black hole of emotions, you know you've found something great. 'Something great' sounds so minute in comparison to the thoughts that All The Bright Places evoked in me. To say that it's a "great book" doesn't do it justice in the least.
"May your eye go to the Sun, To the wind your soul......
The story begins, as the synopsis states, with high school seniors, Finch and Violet, on the ledge of the school bell tower, both contemplating what it'd be like to hurl themselves off the edge. An unlikely friendship blossoms and quickly morphs into much more. More is the key word for me in this novel. It's SO. MUCH. MORE.
Violet is learning to navigate life as it, unfortunately, continues on in the wake of her sister's untimely death. Finch is a misunderstood, brilliant soul; who visits the counselors office on a weekly basis to monitor his behavior and grades as a means to avoid being expelled.
Finch and Violet's story, told in dual POV, is full of laughter, heart-wrenching emotion, wonder, and most importantly, wander. I have post-it notes scattered throughout the book as there are numerous quotes that I never, ever, want to forget. It hurt, it tore me open, it left me raw and utterly broken.
Jennifer Niven weaves a story so true, bold, and honest, it's hard to put it down. Her writing flows beautifully and captures the essence of each character as she puts you right inside the world as they're seeing it. All The Bright Places leaves you with a heart full of sorrow, but also understanding. You will laugh, and you will most definitely cry. I hope you'll read this book with an open mind and an open heart and truly soak it in. So many people live through trials on a daily basis, just like Finch and Violet. You truly never know what others are going through, no matter how close you are and how much you believe you know someone.
How many of us have felt utterly shattered, almost tortured, by the loss of a loved one, and wondered how everyone around you can continue on as if everything is fine. This book will bring all of those feelings out and more. Although it's painful, it's lovely, and it's MORE.
Jennifer Niven weaves a story so true, bold, and honest, it's hard to put it down. Her writing flows beautifully and captures the essence of each character as she puts you right inside the world as they're seeing it. All The Bright Places leaves you with a heart full of sorrow, but also understanding. You will laugh, and you will most definitely cry. I hope you'll read this book with an open mind and an open heart and truly soak it in. So many people live through trials on a daily basis, just like Finch and Violet. You truly never know what others are going through, no matter how close you are and how much you believe you know someone.
How many of us have felt utterly shattered, almost tortured, by the loss of a loved one, and wondered how everyone around you can continue on as if everything is fine. This book will bring all of those feelings out and more. Although it's painful, it's lovely, and it's MORE.
******
"Your hope lies in accepting your life as it now lies before you, forever changed. If you can do that, the peace you seek will follow."
******
Website for Author Jennifer Niven
The page linked above has numerous extras such as, What's on Violet's bookshelf, Finch's Wall of Ideas, and Germ Magazine.
The page linked above has numerous extras such as, What's on Violet's bookshelf, Finch's Wall of Ideas, and Germ Magazine.
And most importantly, if you or anyone you know suffers from suicidal thoughts, please click here.
There is also invaluable information on the Germ Magazine website.
No comments:
Post a Comment