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Sunday, May 3, 2009

More YA Obsessive Reviews!!!

I've given myself just 1 hour to get this post done (because it's so nice outside!!) so I'm going to make it short and sweet. These next two books were absolutely FANTASTIC!!!!
So here they are:

If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Published: 2009 Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 199
Genre: YA

Short blurb about book: In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

My Thoughts:
This book quite simply put, is breathtakingly beautiful. I loved every single page and how the author went back and forth between Mia's past, so that you could see her life as it was, and the present, to what she would be waking up to. That is if she decides to wake-up. I've always believed that people in comas can sense others around them, can hear people talking to them, and I also believe in out-of-body experiences. Right around the time I finished this book, a co-worker's mother was on her death bed. She hung in there for two weeks while she was in the hospital, towards the end she said she wanted to GO HOME. She hadn't been inside her own home in almost a year. They took her home on a Thursday evening and she died Friday morning. I believe people can will themselves to die and will themselves to live. This book will touch you.......and make you look at the after-life with a different slant of light.

Other Reviews:
Presenting Lenore- I'm so glad that Lenore is out there in the blogging atmosphere because I would've missed out on this fantastic book if it weren't for her beautiful review....thank you Lenore!!
The Bookbind
A Patchwork of Books
The Story Siren


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Wintergirls
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Published: 2009 Viking Juvenile
Pages: 282
Genre: YA

Background:
Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

My Thoughts:
What can I possibly say that hasn't already been written? Anderson has always been one of my favorite authors ever. I've loved and recommended every single one of her books. Why? Because she writes with an unflinching honesty that draws teens, children and adults to her words. Wintergirls is no different. It's dark, gritty, emotional, heartbreaking, and unfortunately all too REAL. There are no answers in this book, only the deepest, rawest emotional experience of Lia as she journeys through her own personal hell to learn how to live again, to learn how to WANT to live again. I have never flagged so many passages in one book and there are far too many to list. Click here to visit my other blog if you're interested in reading all the passages that struck me so hard. But I am going to leave you with one of my favorite:

I inscribe three lines, hush hush hush, into my skin. Ghosts trickle out.

p.61


If you have never read a Laurie Halse Anderson book then you must! It's just that simple...go find any of them....they're all great, but don't let another day go by without experiencing this truly gifted author.

Other reviews:
A Patchwork of Books
Book Addiction
Presenting Lenore
Devourer of Books
The Compulsive Reader
Stuff As Dreams Are Made On

12 comments:

  1. Two more fantastic reviews :) Wintergirls was so so good...I almost want to go back and read it again already! And I have If I Stay out from the library right now...I've heard great things about that one..looking forward to it!

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  2. I won Wintergirls from Lenore and can't wait to read it.

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  3. I want to read them both! I still haven't read anything by Laurie Halse Anderson, but I have Speak on my tbr pile, so that'll change soon.

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  4. Staci, your blog looks WONderFUL!! You have given me several more books to add to my "to-read" list!!

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  5. Sounds like too heavy books, but I'm going to read them! I love YA too. It was beautiful this afternoon over on this side of the State and I spent it outside reading!

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  6. I just added all four of these books to my TBR list. These were great mini-reviews Staci and sounded really interesting. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on them!

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  7. Staci, two great reviews! I already wanted to read both of these and now with your thoughts added in I really do. Two more for the already collapsed pile of books. I'm glad you liked both.

    It was beautiful here yesterday. I spent the day outside and got myself an little suntan. lol. Today you could get blown away.

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  8. I haven't read anything by Laurie Halse Anderson and must change that after reading your high praise along with other wonderful reviews.

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  9. Ooh, I've both of these books in my pile! Now I can't wait to read them! Thanks for the reviews! :)

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  10. Fabulous reviews. I'm adding If I Stay to my mountainous TBR pile

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  11. I need to get my hands on this one soon. I read Speak recently and loved it.

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  12. I just got If I Stay on audiobook from the library to listen to after I finishe Drums of Autumn. Great review!

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