(Book review from our TAB member Matylda! My apologies, she wrote this early in the summer)
I recently finished Gayle Forman’s “If I Stay” at approximately 11:45
p.m. last night. Needless to say, it was a good book. I have not seen
the movie or read the sequel (though I plan to do the latter,) but I
thought I might review it anyway. I do not plan to see the movie because
it was a very emotional book, and while reading it is one thing, seeing
it on a screen with real people is another. I would not recommend this
book to everyone, simply because it is just too emotional. There are
also some slightly gory/graphic scenes. The book was set up so for one
“chapter”, the main character narrated the present, while for the next
she had a flashback, which made me feel more connected to her and also
helped me understand the people around her and her connection to them.
There were, however, a few things I found odd. For example, Mia, the
main character, did not have her name revealed until page 24, and for
no reason in particular. And I know this is a minor annoyance, but in my
20% off edition purchased from Target, it ended on page 234 and then
had about 70 pages of “great bonus matter from Gayle Forman”. In the
beginning, the dialogue was also pretty dull. And I was unsure what
decade the story was set in, though I am sure a more experienced reader
than I could have deduced it. Aside from that, the story is beautiful
with complicated and realistic characters that you fall in love with and
is absolutely beautifully written. I mean that sincerely. I found
myself reading sections three times over to absorb it more. Gayle
Forman’s voice and description is absolutely stunning. I will definitely
read “Where She Went” the first chance I get.
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