Published - 29th January 2015
Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Format - Kindle
Synopsis -
This characteristically
powerful novel follows eighteen-year-old Cody Reynolds in the months
following her best friend's shocking suicide.
As Cody numbly
searches for answers as to why Meg took her own life, she begins a
journey of self-discovery which takes her to a terrifying precipice, and
forces her to question not only her relationship with the Meg she
thought she knew, but her own understanding of life, love, death and
forgiveness.
After the recent blockbuster If I Stay, originally a novel by Forman, I think I can safely say this book will do wonderfully and i'm so glad of that. I will be honest and say that I was a little hesitant about reading it as I loved the book I mentioned above. From what i'd heard and read about I Was Here, it sounded too similar and I felt like maybe this book was trying to cash in on what Gayle was already becoming popular with, but I was so wrong.
I learned a few valuable lessons from this book. The main one was to stop pigeon-holing authors; whether that's expecting them to be good from previous books or otherwise! One book does not make an author. Secondly, is that all of my preconceived ideas about books dealing with mental health issues are absolute rubbish. During my hiatus on here, I popped back to review an incredible book I read by Ned Vizzini (which can be found here if you're interested). I guess I didn't learn my mistake then, but i'm definitely thinking differently now.
I Was Here, takes us on a journey with Cody as she tries to discover why her best friend took her own life. From the outside, Meg was bright and full of the joys of life but obviously, not all was as it seemed. I thought that this book would brush aside the minute details of such an illness and focus on Cody's ability to move forward in the face of tragedy. Although that's true to an extent, that's not actually what happened at all. I Was Here is actually quite graphic and in your face and I loved that. The small details of Meg's decision were the focal point of the book for me and nothing was shied away from.
I'm in agreement with most reviews about this book though in one aspect. The romance factor just didn't seem real and nor did it really serve a purpose. It broke up the story in a way that wasn't called for. I understand that perhaps it was to show that Cody's life without Meg isn't empty and could be fulfilled but I think that message came across regardless.
I Was Here is powerful and beautifully written. It probably sounds strange to hear (read?) but i'm actually inspired. I would love to read more books that focus on mental health issues and also body disorders. It's a pretty unexplored genre for me and i'd love to learn more. If anybody has any suggestions then please let me know in the comments.
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Published -13th May 2010
Publisher - Black Swan
Format - Paperback
Synopsis -
Life can change in an instant. A cold February morning . . . a snowy road . . . and suddenly all of Mia's choices are gone. Except one. As alone as she'll ever be, Mia must make the most difficult choice of all. Gripping, heartrending and ultimately life-affirming, If I Stay will make you appreciate all that you have, all that you've lost - and all that might be.
If I Stay was an impulse buy (Brianna's, not mine!) after I told her i'd read good reviews and the plot sounded really original and, well, pretty awesome. I wasn't wrong - so thanks bloggers! ;)
I'd never read anything by Forman before so I had no idea of her writing style etc but it was so easy to just jump in. After a couple of pages it didn't feel so much of a story as an experience.. however cheesy that sounds! Mia's life could easily be the same as any reader. She has a close and friendly relationship with her family but she still feels like a bit of an outsider. She loves music, her best friend and her gorgeous, rockstar boyfriend. Okay some some bits are just an imagined realism ;). It felt like a shock when tragedy struck Mia and yep, I cried. I'm okay with admitting that, mostly.
If I Stay is so incredibly powerful and emotional and really did make me stop and think about the choices I have made, should make, would make but not in a pushy kind of way. It was honest and real and I felt really connected to the story. The book flitted between past & present scenarios but it wasn't confusing as I thought it might be at the beginning. They worked really well together. A few people have said that they felt there was no real 'plot' but I totally disagree. Sometimes it was a little fragmented and seemed 'off topic' if you will, but I think that only adds to what Forman is really trying to get across. Making decisions, no matter the importance of them is difficult and IS fragmented. I guess I just loved the way she wrote and how it worked itself out as the book progressed.
This edition of the book also had an interview, backstory, playlist information etc at the back of the book which I did actually read and definitely added to the book as a whole. I'm looking forward to coming across more by Gayle Forman.
