Archive for ‘Gayle Forman’

May 5th, 2011

Book Recommendation — Where She Went

by Holly Dodson
Where She Went
By Gayle Forman

Where She Went (If I Stay, #2) 

Blurb from Goodreads: “It’s been three years since the devastating accident … three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever.  Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future – and each other.Told from Adam’s point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.”

Phew.  Okay, so, I loved If I Stay.  Let there be no question about that.  But I was terrified that Where She Went would disappoint me. 

I’m so happy to say:  It didn’t.  Not even a tiny bit.

Adam’s character is incredible.  The emotional intensity is incredible.  Everything about this book is incredible.

I keep typing up big comments about the book and then realize that no matter how I try to veil them, I’m spoiling the ending.  So, I’m not going to say anything direct about the story, because getting there is the most important part.

This is the kind of book that changes you.  I highly, and with most sincerity, recommend you read it.

Have any of you read it yet?  What’d you think?

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May 27th, 2010

Book Recommendation – If I Stay

by Holly Dodson
If I Stay
By Gayle Forman


The blurb: “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…

A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.”

A book hasn’t affected me like this in a very long time. I was weary of reading it to be honest, I’m quite emotional when it comes to kids, and wasn’t sure I could handle the premise. The thing is, the story is written in such a way that,…more This is a novel that you devour in one sitting, and spend the next few days thinking back on. It is haunting and beautiful, heartbreaking and uplifting all at once. This is the kind of book that makes you question yourself, and really think twice.

A book hasn’t affected me like this in a very long time. I was weary of reading it to be honest. I’m quite emotional when it comes to kids, and I wasn’t sure I could handle the premise.

The thing is, the story is written in such a way that, while sad, I didn’t cry. I felt like an observer — not a part of Mia’s world. It really helped to have that distance, because while I was emotionally invested in the story, I didn’t feel like the author was making my heart break just to keep my attention. She didn’t have to. And the result was this phenomenal, life-changing novel about Mia’s choice to live or die.
It really will leave you wondering, “What would I do?”
This is probably one of the best books I have ever read. Honestly. And I feel like I could read it 100 more times and never get tired of it, always come away with a new lesson.

Read it.

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