Before I Fall
By: Lauren Oliver
Published By: HarperCollins
Published Date: March 2010
Pages: Hardcover 472
Tags: Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction, Speculative
First Line: They say that just before you die your whole life flashes before your eyes, but that's not how it happened for me.
Why the Mad Scientist read this book: I bought Before I Fall at a great discounted price when my local Borders was going out of business. It was a sad day but I picked up over 40 books. Yikes! Plus, I read and enjoyed Delirium.
Concoction of a review:
Lauren Oliver wrote this book in such away that it makes you think about your life and how you should cherish life. You may just never know when the plague will come through and take you away.
Samantha Kingston is an high school girl who has everything she could want, besides a parasol. She is popular, has friends, a boyfriend whom she liked for years. On cupid day, February 12th, everything changes for her.
She wakes up and finds herself repeating the day. Odd is what the Mad Scientist was thinking, intriguing even. Sam was thinking Deja Vu. However, throughout the book she slowly learns that the repeat of the day is not just fate playing a twisted game with her. After some time, the purpose of it all becomes more clear to her.
In the beginning Sam Kingston was not a very likable character and the Mad Scientist did not connect with her. This would draw many people away just for that. Except in this case, as Sam goes through the repeat of the day we get to watch her change and grow into a person we all enjoy seeing at that beginning of our books. Throughout these repeat days she learns how a girl was tortured by her & a friend, kisses a teacher, ditches school, spends time with a sibling, watches a friend die, dumps her boyfriend and many other things.
The story was bold, the emotion was powerful, & above all the character's development was impressive. Oliver creates a teenager that attaches to you because you do watch her grow so wonderfully while adding in a shocking end. More traumatic and startling then the beginning. Emotions are piled up at the end and you cannot help but shed a tear or too into your handkerchief.
Dislikes? The Mad Scientist was completely caught off guard on this one. Here is a time that I wish I would of known a bit more about the book. I think I would of read this book at a different time that better fit my mood. I also think that I was getting a bit tired of reading about the same day throughout the whole book. Yes, there were changes, yes she changed, yes it was an emotional ride... Just a day or two less would of been perfect.
I hadn't read this book only because I was avoiding anything sad, as is always my story. However it sounds okay. But....is the ending okay? As the reader, were you happy about the ending? Did you feel it was thet perfect way to end it. Should I read it?
ReplyDeleteYou know me and hay endings, lol!
Jen
I've had this one sitting on my shelf for a little while and I suppose I too am waiting to be in the right mood to read it. Oliver's writing in Delirium really impressed me and I heard that in that aspect this one is as good.
ReplyDelete(Also have to mention I *love* the blog redesign - dynamic and delightful!)
I really enjoyed this one - loved the Groundhog Day effect and yes, I did tear up at the end... :) Looking forward to reading Delirium next!
ReplyDelete@Jen, I don't think this is a book for you. The ending was actually pretty good. I like the beginning and ending. The middle is where it drew out for me. However, I would recommend her other book, Delirium. I really think that one is more your style ;)
ReplyDelete@Lisa, I would of enjoyed it more if I did wait to read it until I was ready but the story for the most part was pretty bold. Blog redesign is temporary. I wanted to try something different & ended up with this. So, I hired someone else to take over the creation. LOL! I hope it will be up before BEA!
@Coffee, yum coffee, where? The ending was def emotional. Delirium is better, but it is so different then Before I Fall. More delightful and the way she builds up the world and tears it apart is just beautiful skills!
Great honest review. I had a difficult time connecting to the main character as well.
ReplyDeleteAGREED, I loved Delerium, it was such a good book, so i decided to try this book. But I did not really like this book at all. There were a few good moments but in order to get to them you have to wade through a ton of slutty content. I expected a little of obj content but this was way overboard for my tastes and not enjoyable to read
ReplyDelete