Title: When Reason Breaks
Author: Cindy L. Rodriguez
Pub Date: February 10th, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Page Count: 304
Although it had a promising start and kept my attention through a well paced middle, the ending wrecked a lot of what I expected from this book. - Nova @ Out of Time
When I first opened When Reason Breaks, I was a little confused. Both characters are called Emily and they're studying Emily Dickinson. Then we get clarification that one of the girls goes by Elizabeth [this is the girl with the attitude. Which yes, is how I remember her.] The characters in this book felt a little reminiscent of the ones in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. The premise too, if you think about it.
In Speak, there is an emotionally damaged girl who cannot reach out for help. But with the assistance of a teacher and the subject he teachers, the main character finds it inside her to, well... Speak. This is pretty similar to When Reason Breaks. The teacher, Ms. Diaz uses her class to teach the girls things that they relate to their own problems. Having loved Speak, I was a little let down by how this book didn't compare.
I really enjoyed the characters. They didn't give me heavy feels, but I wasn't getting nothing either. Emily and Elizabeth are so different and yet I could see so much connecting the two. The way they talked, acted and their point of views had something that I can't pinpoint, but it made me realize how people of any personality, any background can hurt over their own traumas.
I also really enjoyed the slight romance. I felt like it was executed well and didn't take from the story. Rather, it made the characters come to life and if the suicide had been written more to my taste, the romance aspect would've made it all the more crushing.
Bringing up that thought, yes, there is an attempted suicide. Unfortunately, I hated the way it was written. It was almost... random. I understand what the author was going for. When someone kills themselves, it feels random because you don't realize that they've been planning it for some time. Unfortunately, this gave me no time to sympathize. I was caught off guard, confused, barely knowing what was going on. It repelled me, which is sad because it was meant to be such a crashing reveal.
[Also: in the summary, this book is compared to Thirteen Reasons Why and that actually irritates me. Just because there's a suicide in a book does not mean that should automatically be compared to Thirteen Reasons Why. If anything, it should be compared to Speak.]
As a last note, there's an interesting way that Rodriguez writes. It's almost as if present and future [or past and present, if you want] merge. There are suicide notes right off the bat and after, that's when the story really begins. I really liked this style. It was easy to follow, drew my curiosity and if not for that horribly executed ending, this book would've received four stars.
Author: Cindy L. Rodriguez
Pub Date: February 10th, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Page Count: 304
13 Reasons Why meets the poetry of Emily Dickinson in this gripping debut novel perfect for fans of Sara Zarr or Jennifer Brown.
A Goth girl with an attitude problem, Elizabeth Davis must learn to control her anger before it destroys her. Emily Delgado appears to be a smart, sweet girl, with a normal life, but as depression clutches at her, she struggles to feel normal. Both girls are in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they connect to the words of Emily Dickinson. Both are hovering on the edge of an emotional precipice. One of them will attempt suicide. And with Dickinson’s poetry as their guide, both girls must conquer their personal demons to ever be happy.
In an emotionally taut novel with a richly diverse cast of characters, readers will relish in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and be completely swept up in the turmoil of two girls grappling with demons beyond their control.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Chapters Indigo
Although it had a promising start and kept my attention through a well paced middle, the ending wrecked a lot of what I expected from this book. - Nova @ Out of Time
When I first opened When Reason Breaks, I was a little confused. Both characters are called Emily and they're studying Emily Dickinson. Then we get clarification that one of the girls goes by Elizabeth [this is the girl with the attitude. Which yes, is how I remember her.] The characters in this book felt a little reminiscent of the ones in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. The premise too, if you think about it.
In Speak, there is an emotionally damaged girl who cannot reach out for help. But with the assistance of a teacher and the subject he teachers, the main character finds it inside her to, well... Speak. This is pretty similar to When Reason Breaks. The teacher, Ms. Diaz uses her class to teach the girls things that they relate to their own problems. Having loved Speak, I was a little let down by how this book didn't compare.
I really enjoyed the characters. They didn't give me heavy feels, but I wasn't getting nothing either. Emily and Elizabeth are so different and yet I could see so much connecting the two. The way they talked, acted and their point of views had something that I can't pinpoint, but it made me realize how people of any personality, any background can hurt over their own traumas.
I also really enjoyed the slight romance. I felt like it was executed well and didn't take from the story. Rather, it made the characters come to life and if the suicide had been written more to my taste, the romance aspect would've made it all the more crushing.
Bringing up that thought, yes, there is an attempted suicide. Unfortunately, I hated the way it was written. It was almost... random. I understand what the author was going for. When someone kills themselves, it feels random because you don't realize that they've been planning it for some time. Unfortunately, this gave me no time to sympathize. I was caught off guard, confused, barely knowing what was going on. It repelled me, which is sad because it was meant to be such a crashing reveal.
[Also: in the summary, this book is compared to Thirteen Reasons Why and that actually irritates me. Just because there's a suicide in a book does not mean that should automatically be compared to Thirteen Reasons Why. If anything, it should be compared to Speak.]
As a last note, there's an interesting way that Rodriguez writes. It's almost as if present and future [or past and present, if you want] merge. There are suicide notes right off the bat and after, that's when the story really begins. I really liked this style. It was easy to follow, drew my curiosity and if not for that horribly executed ending, this book would've received four stars.
Hmm...I'd be interested in reading this book, which I believe I have an ARC of. I actually found Speak a bit disappointing after hearing everyone rave about it, but I'd like to see how this one compares.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the seemingly random suicide would probably repel me, as you said, as well...I think I would enjoy the style of writing (the mix of past and present), though. I guess I'll just have to wait and see! Great review :)
Speak was a little strange with the time jumps IMO but I read it for school and I really liked it. It wasn't a LOVE because I read it for school [blech] but this one just felt lesser in comparison.
DeleteAlso, when you read it, feel free to chat me up on twitter about it. Let's discuss!
Hmm, I was really looking forward to this book, but "horribly executed ending" doesn't sound good! ): But I guess you still gave it three stars, and the characters and the romance sound pretty good. I haven't actually read Speak though, so maybe I should read that one if you like it so much more! :D
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd stop by your review and see what you thought, though you already told me a bit in your comment. I agree, it does give me a bit of a Speak feeling, especially the not being able to reach out for help. I have to say, I thought the suicide attempt was actually well done. I mean, if we look at the events that happened right beforehand, the worry the character feels, it makes a bit of sense on the suddeness. Though...something did bother me and I can't remember what....Oh, the poem/newspaper thing.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this is a nice review. :) You definitely touched on a couple things I forgot to mention in my own review.
--Amber