By Michael Thomas Ford
Genre YA Contemporary
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis
15 year old Jeff wakes up at the hospital on New Years Day after a suicide attempt. Frustrated at being held in the psych ward with a bunch of teens he considers nuts, he'll discover a lot about himself and that maybe crazy isn't so crazy after all.
First Sentence
I read somewhere that when astronauts come back to Earth after floating around in space they get sick to their stomachs because the air here smells like rotting meat to them.
Who knew a book about attempted suicide could be so amusing. Now, mind you, it wasn't amusing in a make-fun-of-suicide way but in a this-character-is-so-sarcastic-and-funny way. I was giggling like crazy through the first half of this book.
Things took a more serious turn in the middle of the book and at one point I just sat there, stunned, not believing what I was reading. I can't say what happened because I think if you choose to read this one you need to go into it blind like I did but just know that there are several graphic....very graphic events that happen in this book. Why the author chose to go into such detail I have no idea. I think he could have revealed things just as clearly without all the details but that's just me.
So, on the one hand I adored how funny this one was, the writing is the type of writing I wish I could replicate, but on the other hand you had some very graphic scenes that I found completely unnecessary that almost ruined the story for me.
In the end, I'd still recommend this one because I thought it dealt with a serious subject with humor and warmth without pushing an agenda.
Should you read it?
Like I said, I'd still recommend it unless you absolutely cannot handle graphic descriptions of sex.
That is random there were graphic scenes. If you don't feel they were needed, why include them... Guess sex sells is becoming an even bigger thing.
ReplyDeleteI think this book sounds interesting, but I have to admit, I hate that graphic sex is creeping into more and more YA novels where I don't think it belongs. I still might read this one, though. :)
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of this, but weirdly it does sound like something I'd like. Adding it to my list!
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that your commenters automatically assume that the graphic detail is sex. It could be graphic suicide.
ReplyDeleteWhile I love funny and sarcastic characters, I don't think this is the book for me because of the subject matter. Thank you for your honest review!
ReplyDeleteI was actually thinking that you meant graphic suicide scenes until I read your last sentence! I think having graphic suicide scenes would definitely fit more with a book of this nature to kind of shock people into the realities of the subject whereas graphic sex scenes don't serve to much in particular. I do enjoy sarcastic characters, though, so I'm thinking I'll give this one a go! Lovely review, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteLaura @BlueEyeBooks
Ew, that first sentence! Ha! Gross.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed this one, save for the graphic scenes, but I don't think this one is for me.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very surprising and mixed review there. Humor and suicide? I don't think I'll read this one. Does the book every explain why astronauts think the air smells like meat?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very interesting book! The subject matter is pretty heavy but it sounds like it is handled well, except obviously for the graphic scenes you mention. I haven't heard of this but it does sound good on balance. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I love great writing, but not graphic sex scenes, especially in YA books. I'll skip this one. Thanks for the warning!
ReplyDeleteHmm, not really a fan of graphic sex but I'm intrigued by the concept. I have too many books to get to, anyway, so I probably won't read it but I enjoyed your review.
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