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Synopsis (From the author):
Rose has changed. She still lives in the same neighborhood with her stepmother and goes to the same high school with the same group of kids, but when she woke up today, something was just a little different than it was before. The dogs who live upstairs are no longer a terror. Her hair and her clothes all feel brand-new. She wants to throw a party—this from a girl who hardly ever spoke to her classmates before. There is no more sadness in her life; she is bursting with happiness.But something still feels wrong to Rose. Because, until very recently, Rose was an entirely different person—a person who is still there inside her, just beneath the thinnest layer of skin.
Review:
I wasn't sure what this book was about at first. Given the description, I thought maybe this was a story where the main character somehow really changes places with someone. But this is just a metaphor for how this character is dealing with crippling depression. It is also a futuristic tale, where people can use technology to solve problems such as loneliness, anxiety, and fear. But these solutions can have unexpected side-effects...(I truly do not want to include spoilers so this is a really difficult review to write!)
What I will say is that this book presents an original voice in Rose, who is bright, optimistic, and never seems to be bothered by anything. But something in the back of her mind is nagging at Rose. Why is everyone around her so surprised by her behavior? Was she somehow different last week?
I think this book has a lot to say about how all of us see other people and think that their lives must be perfect compared to ours. This causes people to think if they just fixed themselves everything would be fine.
I really liked this book. I found the character of Rose to be tragic. What really makes a person an individual? Is it our personality, our memories, or our emotions? If any one of these things drastically change, then who are we then?
I can relate to this in my own life. When I was growing up my father was a loud, boisterous person. He was also rather volatile. When he was 55 my dad had a massive stroke which changed him forever. He recovered physically, but his personality was completely different. He was soft-spoken and even-tempered. For those of us who walked on egg shells around his moods, we saw this as an improvement. But it was also a loss because he lost so much of what made him him. He no longer was the fun, creative person who was the life of the party.
We all have easy and challenging aspects of our personalities. I hope when people read this they will reflect on how having both sides makes us more complex, interesting people. And that (even if we are dealing with difficulties) we do not need to erase what makes us unique in order to be happy.
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Rating:
Release Date: June 14th, 2016
Source: Irish Banana's Blog Tour and the publisher.
Format: Physical ARC
Recommendation: An unusual book that will make you think about what it is about each of us that makes us unique.
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Great review--I'm looking forward to reading this book--it has so much depth to it.
ReplyDeleteI wrote this review over a month ago, and now I am wondering why I only gave it four stars! It has grown on me over time. I think that is the mark of a wonderful book when you continue to think about it weeks later.
DeleteWhat a great and personal review! My grandfather also had a massive stroke in his late '50's. He went from being a strong tempered person to one who couldn't talk properly anymore, but was singing or humming all day instead. Just like with your father, it's good to get such a positive human being in return, but at the same time, you will always miss the old person. Both personalities are unique. I'm gonna have to read this book now as well ;).
ReplyDeleteThank you Anne. I'm sorry about your grandfather. My own dad was a hard person to live with, but he was also fun, creative, and a gifted musician. He couldn't play music after his stroke and I know we all missed that (he was a professional Jazz musician).
DeleteIt's hard when that part goes 'missing'. And a professional Jazz musician as well! Wasn't he very frustrated and angry about that? I remember my grandpa got sudden temper tantrums when he tried to do something and just couldn't anymore. He was a musician too btw! Like Bert from Mary Poppins, with all the drums and bells and whatnot :). I guess singing made up for that loss.
DeleteWell, I didn't live at home when this occurred, so if he got mad, I didn't hear about it. That's cool that your Grandfather had a drum set like that!
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