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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Before I Fall Review





Title: Before I Fall
Author:Lauren Oliver
Pages:470
Release Date:March 2, 2010
Genre: Realistic Fiction

From Goodreads:
What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

My review:
I read this book all in one setting, thanks to my boyfriend bailing on our plans for the day. Thanks, boyfriend. Even if he hadn’t bailed on our plans, I would have found it difficult to put this book down. It is entirely captivating. Lauren Oliver does a great job in her debut novel of capturing a self-centered and egocentric teenage voice but still manages to pull the reader in.

At the beginning of the novel, Sam is your typical popular high school girl (think The Plastics from Mean Girls) and I kind of hated her, and all her friends. I mean, seriously. Sam doesn’t even care that she gets a girl in trouble for cheating, or that she’s super mean to just about everyone. However, as the novel progresses so did my understanding of the characters, and I became more sympathetic.

At times the book comes off as preachy, but only slightly, addressing the reader with a very personal “you.” The novel does delve into serious territory, like suicide, sex and drinking (there was so, so much drinking in this novel, and discussions about having sex) but for the most part I thought it was handled well.

Readers who enjoyed Thirteen Reasons Why will like this book, and even those who didn’t (like me) will still find this as a worthwhile read. I would recommend this book, but it’s not one I’m dying to go out and buy. I am excited to read Oliver’s second book, Delirium, which came out in February.

Rating:

5 comments:

  1. I was just the opposite, I love 13 Reasons Why and couldn't stand Before I Fall, but I think part of that was because I listened to it on audio as part of an audio book challenge. I don't seem to be able to connect with the characters or the story in an audio book. Two other books like this are If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman. The second one isn't out yet, but they are supposed to be very good.

    On March 17th a group of about 200 bloggers will be giving away all kinds of book related things in a two day giveaway. You just have to be over 13 to enter.

    Heather

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  2. this book looks pretty cool, i would actually read this book, its not what i expected but i would read it...

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  3. I read this book several times. I love this book. Once I started reading it there was no way I could stop. I read this book in 2 days. It always leaves you wondering what will happen next. This book is unique and interesting. It keeps your mind turning. I just loved this book. I'm sure other people would enjoy reading it too.

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  4. I plan on reading Thirteen Reasons Why, but this book looks really interesting too! I think I would enjoy reading it.

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  5. it looks like it would be interesting but i highly doubt i would read it on my own so good review probably a good book just not my first choice.... or my second.... or my third...

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