Just before I left for two week's holiday, I signed up to The Summer Reading Challenge and received the first of four books to read. Thanks to the lengthy delays of a certain budget airline (another blog post entirely), I had polished off most of their first offering 'If I Stay' before the plane had left the runway.
WARNING! To any reader considering this book, do not read the second half whilst on a plane wedged between two male strangers. You will find yourself strangling sobs in a most unattractive fashion. When they both got on their phones as soon as we landed, I was expecting the sob police to greet me at passport control.
Yes, its a weepie but whilst there aren't any laugh out loud moments, there are joyous moments and the books themes - loss, the power of love are handled beautifully. It was originally written for the Young Adult market, but transfers genre to adult reading quite easily. In fact, it took me back. Like the main character, Mia, I too met a hugely important love when I was just seventeen, so I found myself remembering what that felt like. Hell, I know what it feels like - I married him!
I digress - 'If I Stay' is written in first person, present tense, which as a reader, is one of my favourite forms of narrative. It really feels immediate, helping to get right into the character's head. It works particularly well in the telling of this story, especially during 'The Scene' in the first twenty pages, during which I gasped aloud (hand to face, you know the type...Luckily I was still in the airport at that time)
If you like a story with a realistic, young main character whose life is filled with love and who is suddenly faced with total heartbreak and an unimaginably tough decision - read this book. The studio responsible for the Twilight Saga have optioned the rights and I suspect a film, in their hands, will be every bit as good.
I flew through it. Just remember the sob police may be watching. Or listening.
WARNING! To any reader considering this book, do not read the second half whilst on a plane wedged between two male strangers. You will find yourself strangling sobs in a most unattractive fashion. When they both got on their phones as soon as we landed, I was expecting the sob police to greet me at passport control.
Yes, its a weepie but whilst there aren't any laugh out loud moments, there are joyous moments and the books themes - loss, the power of love are handled beautifully. It was originally written for the Young Adult market, but transfers genre to adult reading quite easily. In fact, it took me back. Like the main character, Mia, I too met a hugely important love when I was just seventeen, so I found myself remembering what that felt like. Hell, I know what it feels like - I married him!
I digress - 'If I Stay' is written in first person, present tense, which as a reader, is one of my favourite forms of narrative. It really feels immediate, helping to get right into the character's head. It works particularly well in the telling of this story, especially during 'The Scene' in the first twenty pages, during which I gasped aloud (hand to face, you know the type...Luckily I was still in the airport at that time)
If you like a story with a realistic, young main character whose life is filled with love and who is suddenly faced with total heartbreak and an unimaginably tough decision - read this book. The studio responsible for the Twilight Saga have optioned the rights and I suspect a film, in their hands, will be every bit as good.
I flew through it. Just remember the sob police may be watching. Or listening.
7 comments:
Oh no, this sounds like a book that's too good to miss and I don't think my tbr pile can cope with another addition right now.
Never mind, I'm going to have to order this. Thanks for the brilliant review.
Great review - I loved it too, Fi. And 'that scene' I had to keep rewinding and re-reading in slo-mo... I couldn't QUITE believe it was happening. A fab book. Hope you had an (other than the delay and the snotty thing on the beach) a great break!
Sounds great. I'm up for a bit of discreet sobbing :o)
Thanks for the review, Fi, one to add to my list. I've never written first person present - I do like to read it though and may give it a try in a short story.
Hope you had a great holiday x
Great review, Fi - thanks.
Susiex
Great review, Fi. Really makes me want to get this. I think I've got quite a bit of form with the Sob Police already though. I only made it five minutes into Toy Story 3 yesterday before I went...
I think I'll add this to my Amazon wish list - already there are about 70 books on it, thanks to reviewers!!
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