Perhaps a bit too quote heavy? But I personally blame Rainbow Rowell and her amazing writing for that. It was super hard having to leave out so many amazing quotes…
I just finished reading All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven and wanted to share some thoughts. I had high expectations for this book, because NPR named it one of their best of the year. I don’t think it quite met my expectations, but it was pretty good. (Then again, NPR also called Mosquitoland one of their best of the year, and I hated that, so I’m starting to lose faith in them.)
I would give it 3.5 stars out of five. I don't think the TFIOS/Eleanor and Park comparisons it’s been given are accurate. It reminded me more of Looking for Alaska and 13 Reasons Why. The writing was good, but not great - not quite at Rainbow Rowell levels.
I really enjoyed the voices of the two narrators, especially Finch, and I liked the alternating perspectives. I found the literary references throughout kind of random - The characters did seem smart, but you never really saw them reading or doing other literary activities that would explain their habit of randomly quoting poetry. It felt a little forced. In fact, a lot of the novel felt random and forced. For example, at one point, Finch and his little sister cut bad words out of books - this seemed very random, and like it was just stuck in there so the writer could make a point. I also thought the whole "exploring Indiana" thing was kind of random, and I wasn't that interested in it. And I felt sometimes that the relationship between Finch and Violet didn't entirely make sense, especially in the beginning - they just kind of fell in love with each other, and that was that.
Probably my biggest problem with the book, however, is that I just didn't really feel emotionally connected to either character. I don't know if this is my problem or the book. But it seemed like, for all the emotional things happening in the book and the expressions of emotions by the characters...I don't know, I never felt like it went too deeply into the characters' emotions, or maybe it just didn't express them in a way that felt real to me.
HOWEVER - I thought it did a good job of portraying mental illness. I liked how falling in love didn't solve either of the character's problems entirely. And I thought many of the choices the author made throughout, especially how she choose to end the book, were unusual in a good way and made the book stand out from similar stories. Also, I honestly couldn't stop reading it. Also, there were many sweet parts. I especially enjoyed the part with the glow in the dark stuff in the closet. Okay, now some spoilery stuff about the ending...
**Spoilers**
I thought it was a very interesting choice, the way she ended it. I really respect her for ending it the way she did. It felt true to life, even though it was sad. HOWEVER...I thought the whole Finch-leaving-clues-everywhere thing was kind of weird and unrealistic and just...I didn't like it. I don't like all these books with elaborate suicides. I've never heard of someone leaving someone a scavenger hunt before killing themselves. It seems just...I don't know what the word is...iffy. AND it felt like the book went on this scavenger hunt instead of really delving into Violet's feelings. Yes, there was some stuff about her feelings but...I don't know. It felt like a cop out and also just weird.
I drew this a couple nights ago. One of my favorite quotes from Eleanor and Park by @rainbowrowell.
P.S. I’m going to try to be better about posting on here more. I always forget how much I like tumblr, and then I come back and then remember, oh yeah, tumblr is awesome.
Honestly, I wish I had been blogging all through this pastyear, because it’s been quite an interesting year. But I couldn’t have known that at the time…
When I graduated from Library School in May, I thought I would have a “real” job by June, July at the latest. Well, it didn’t quite work out that way…but it’s been fun and totally unexpected!
After graduation, I sublet my apartment and drove up to Maine to volunteer at Hog Island. I figured I could stay there – for free! – while I looked for something. I put most of my belongings in storage and packed up one red suitcase….little did I know, I would be living out of that one red suitcase for 11 months (and counting!).
Once in Maine, I got offered a job at an education center/store. It seemed like a good opportunity, something to do while I kept looking for a real job, and a way to keep living in Maine, so I spent the summer talking about birds and pushing puffin merchandise!
Besides that, in the past 11 months I have:
Lived in a beautiful, old house overlooking the ocean
Lived by myself in the middle of the woods
Lived by myself in someone else’s house in Brunswick
Stayed in a stranger’s house
Volunteered on an organic farm
Slept on an air mattress in my parent’s apartment in Arizona
Gone sledding on a big hill overlooking the ocean!
Worked remotely for an online class
Worked as an SAT tutor
Been unemployed
Spent a few days in DC
Spent a few days in Worcester, Mass
Spent two nights in a glamorous hotel in Boston
Stayed in a rustic hotel on Monhegan Island with no electricity and only kerosene lamps
Written another YA novel (Set in Maine, of course! And heavily featuring birds…)
Experienced my first blizzard
Eaten a jellyfish
Been in a wedding...
…And more!
I hope to write about all these experiences here on my blog, and keep you up-to-date about my new experiences as they happen.
It’s been hard at times, to be constantly looking for a “real” job, to be constantly moving around, but I’ve also learned so much and grown a lot. And I’ve got to spend most of the year in Maine!
My current goal is to get a job as a school librarian next year. I hope it works out. I have been subbing in schools and volunteering in several school libraries. Now I just have to wait and see if there are any openings….Unfortunately, there aren’t many each year! Those librarians get in a job and stay there…for a long time! One librarian I know is still working at 68. It’s great that they all love their jobs…but I also hope some of them leave so I can get my turn.
I am also trying to get my book published, which is a long and complicated process….But – and maybe I’m naïve – but I really think it might happen. I’ve read a lot of YA novels, and I think mine is at least as good as what’s out there. But will anyone else think so? We shall see…
I will be writing about all this and more here, so stay tuned!
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