Survive

Aug 16, 2012 karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya

like This is Not a Test, this book seeks to answer the question of "what happens to suicidal characters when they are forced into life-or-death decision-making in a crisis situation?" unlike This is Not a Test, this book has zero zombies.

but it does do a good job of depicting a character who wants to throw her life away until she is placed in a situation with someone who really wants to live. jane has been born into a family tradition of suicide. three generations before her have had someone mak...more
like This is Not a Test, this book seeks to answer the question of "what happens to suicidal characters when they are forced into life-or-death decision-making in a crisis situation?" unlike This is Not a Test, this book has zero zombies.

but it does do a good job of depicting a character who wants to throw her life away until she is placed in a situation with someone who really wants to live. jane has been born into a family tradition of suicide. three generations before her have had someone make that decision, and jane feels like it is her turn. she has already tried once, which landed her in a facility for suicidal teens, and she has been savvy enough to trick her minders sufficiently with good behavior to earn her a trip home for christmas. on a plane. a plane in which she plans to kill herself. but then the plane crashes, oh nooo! and she is one of two survivors, the other naturally being a dreamy teen boy.

and now she must survive through the cold and the hunger and the wolves and the mountain climbing, and good lord why does the dust jacket say this:

but the wilderness is a vast and lethal force, and only one of them will survive.

because that's spoiler city, really. and in my head, reading that, for some reason, i thought it was going to be about a girl and a boy who were adversaries, because i read the synopsis quickly, and so i was kind of disappointed that this wasn't more like the movie the edge. it is not. no bears - raaaar.

and it is a really quick read, tense in parts, touching in parts, but at the end of the day, i have loved other survival books more than this one. there isn't anything wrong with it, other than a couple of questions i have that this review does a good job laying out so there is no need for me to repeat the quibbles.

it's fine, it just didn't blow my dress up. for me, books like Hatchet are superior because you actually learn practical survival techniques and not just "have mountain-climbing gear on hand."

because i am telling you right now, i will never have mountain-climbing gear on hand.(less)

51 likes · like · see review

Jun 13, 2012 Lyndsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1st-person, present-tense, about-survival, about-planes-or-plane-crashes, pov-primarily-female, content-drug-use, content-language, content-suicide-or-attempted, love-interest-twenties, content-heavy-violence-or-gore, content-depression, content-sexual-situations, about-dealing-with-grief, about-medical-institutes-or-asylums, e-n-y-t-h-e-a, made-me-misty-eyed, prose-straight-forward, romance-acquaintance, romance-rated-pg-13, standalone, genre-young-adult, genre-ya-thriller, rated-3-and-a-half-stars, quick-read, made-me-turn-pages-complusively, books-read-in-2012

The girl on the cover totally reminds me of a younger blonde version of Lori from The Walking Dead. She just has that look in her eye that Lori has. Like "I may look innocent, but I will bash your head in with a car hubcap if I have to."

11 likes · like · see review

Nov 29, 2012 Lettersalad rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: in-english

Jane Solis lebt seit Jahren in einer psychiatrischen Klinik. Als sie in ein Flugzeug gesetzt wird, um Weihnachten bei ihrer Mutter zu feiern, geht sie mit einem ganz speziellen Plan an Bord: Sie will sich während des Flugs umbringen. Sie zählt die Minuten bis es endlich losgeht und dies wortwörtlich. In jedem fünften Satz wird die Uhrzeit genannt, die Minuten runtergezählt, bis das Flugzeug startet. Nervig!
Als Jane dann endlich an Bord ist, läuft jedoch alles anders, als sie sich ausgemalt hatte...more Jane Solis lebt seit Jahren in einer psychiatrischen Klinik. Als sie in ein Flugzeug gesetzt wird, um Weihnachten bei ihrer Mutter zu feiern, geht sie mit einem ganz speziellen Plan an Bord: Sie will sich während des Flugs umbringen. Sie zählt die Minuten bis es endlich losgeht und dies wortwörtlich. In jedem fünften Satz wird die Uhrzeit genannt, die Minuten runtergezählt, bis das Flugzeug startet. Nervig!
Als Jane dann endlich an Bord ist, läuft jedoch alles anders, als sie sich ausgemalt hatte. Denn genau wie Jane, wird auch das Flugzeug sein Ziel niemals erreichen.

Das Buch ist unglaublich flach geschrieben und Jane eine Protagonistin, die einem von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite nur auf dir Nerven geht. Sie passt prima in diese bekannte Schublade: Kleiner, bockiger, verwirrter Teenager, gegen den sich sowieso die ganze Welt verschworen hat.
Jane denkt nicht eine Minute an andere Menschen, z.B. ihre Mutter oder auch die anderen Fluggäste und was sie denen mit ihrem Vorhaben antun würde. Zudem hat man das Gefühl, dass sie mit ihren Vorhaben sich umzubringen, lediglich Aufmerksamkeit auf sich ziehen will. Die wirklichen Gründe für einen solch drastischen Schritt sind weder sonderlich gut beschrieben noch glaubwürdig vermittelt.

Die Story selbst könnte nicht affektierter daherkommen. Den Absturz überlebt außer Jane und ihrer großen Liebe Paul, den sie eben erst am Flughafen kennengelernt hat, natürlich niemand. Soll wohl ironisch wirken, doch alleine der Umstand, dass Jane nachdem sie wieder zu sich kommt (nahezu unverletzt natürlich) sich erst einmal Sätze lang darüber amüsiert, wie sie in den Schnee pinkelt verleiht der Situation eine Komik, die einfach nicht angemessen ist. Leider kein einmaliger Ausrutscher, denn solche Szenen wiederholen sich auf den gerade mal 230 Seiten mehrmals.

Auch wenn die äußert kurzen Kapitel sehr angenehm zu lesen waren, so muss man Sätze, die mehr als einen Nebensatz aufweisen schon suchen. Das Buch liest sich wie eine Tagebuchaufzeichnung eines Teenagers.

Zu dieser vernichtenden Bewertung hat mich dann Letzen Endes diese an den Haaren herbeigezogene Liebesgeschichte geführt, die einfach völlig deplatziert wirkte. Schon nach einem Tag glaubt Jane, dass Paul „ihr Herz kennt“ und mitten in den verschneiten Rocky Mountains nach einem Flugzeugabsturz fallen die beiden fast übereinander her. Natürlich offenbart Jane ihm bereits nach wenigen Minuten, was sie im Flugzeug vorhatte, aber dass sie es natürlich niemals wirklich getan hätte. Na sieh mal einer an.
Aber auch der gute Paul wäre für die Geschichte ja unnütz, wenn er nicht selber ein traumatisches Erlebnis zu verarbeiten hätte. Ideale Voraussetzungen also für eine kleine Selbsthilfegruppe in 4000 Metern Höhe.

Spätestens ab diesem Punkt war die Story für mich zum Scheitern verurteilt. Die Tatsache, dass der englische Klappentext weit mehr verrät als nötig wäre, erweist dem Buch zusätzlichen einen Bärendienst.

Dümmliche, unlogisch agierende Charaktere sowie ein schwächelnder, unrealistischer Plot und das fehlende Feingespür des Autors, Ausnahmesituationen zu beschreiben sind in der Summe einfach zu viele Mankos, um dieses Buch am Ende mit mehr als einem (Mitleids-)Stern bewerten zu können.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 18, 2013 Emilija rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reads, i-don-t-know-how-to-feel-about-it, stand-alone

Review can be found at Madhouse Reads

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 12, 2012 Keertana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-the-hype

I feel as if you need to be a certain type of person to really like Survive and somehow, I just didn’t fit into that role. Not only have I never been depressed, known anyone who has committed suicide, or known anyone who has died from cancer, I’ve also read more than my fair share of survival stories. For me, Survive was one of those novels where the author threw you head-first into the conflicted emotions of a character and almost expected you to understand them opposed to making you unde...more I feel as if you need to be a certain type of person to really like Survive and somehow, I just didn’t fit into that role. Not only have I never been depressed, known anyone who has committed suicide, or known anyone who has died from cancer, I’ve also read more than my fair share of survival stories. For me, Survive was one of those novels where the author threw you head-first into the conflicted emotions of a character and almost expected you to understand them opposed to making you understand them, and that is where the majority of my problems lie with this story. While it has a fascinating premises, Survive simply does not work to create a rich and compelling novel about suicide and familial issues while simultaneously throwing in a plot of survival, which made my experience with this story far from exhilarating.

I think the plotline of Survive is quite standard and predictable if you’ve read a decent amount of survival novels and YA Romance stories. Jane, our protagonist, is flying home to visit her mother after spending some time in a facility where she has been fooling her doctors into thinking she is no longer suicidal. Just when Jane is about to kill herself on the plane though, the airplane crashes, leaving her stranded on a mountain during a blizzard with only one other passenger – her flight-mate, Paul. As Paul and Jane struggle to survive, Jane also slowly begins to realize the beauty and gift that living truly is, but just as she is beginning to want to live, the question of her survival in the wilderness hangs over her head like a plague.

I really enjoyed the premises of Survive, but I found the novel to be extremely hard to get into. In fact, the plane doesn’t even crash until nearly a third of the story is over and all we’ve actually learned in that time is that the only reason Jane feels compelled to commit suicide is because her father and grandmother and other members of her family have killed themselves too. Call me heartless, but I didn’t think that was enough of a reason to really want to kill yourself. I mean, generations of my family have had diabetes, but that doesn’t mean I’m stuffing myself with unhealthy food so I can get diabetes too! I just couldn’t connect with Jane on any level and found her narration to be difficult to read as well since my attention kept wandering. Furthermore, I couldn’t comprehend how Jane’s desire to kill herself evaporated once she realized that she and Paul were the lone survivors of their plane crash. While I do agree that life-threatening situations can really change a person’s outlook on the world, I felt as if her change of heart was too drastic to really be moving or realistic in the least.

Jane aside, I thought the romance in this story was quite unnecessary. I’ll admit that I liked Paul and enjoyed many of his conversations with Jane, but I wasn’t invested in this whirlwind love story at all. Plus, I found the ending of this story to be too predictable, not to mention the actual survival feats to be lame and disappointing. I’ve read much better survival stories than this one and really can’t recommend this to anyone, unless you haven’t read any survival stories in the past. If you’re looking for a survival story, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a deep and provocative read, also look elsewhere. I just don’t feel like this is a book I’d want anyone else to read – it was disappointing on way too many levels.

You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.(less)

11 likes · like · see review

Jan 25, 2013 Silent_count rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: commented, fiction, not_a_series

For what it is, this book is good but... if you've read the blurb hang around for a moment. If you haven't, go read it now and I'll just sit here twiddling my thumbs till you get back so you don't miss anything...

la di dah,
ba dum,
ba dum,
bum

... OK. You're back and you've read the blurb. I'd like you to perform a brief thought experiment: Look at the title, remember what you've read in the blurb, and bear in mind that it's a young adult novel. Now try picture the path which this story is going to...more

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 29, 2012 Kai (Amaterasu Reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teens, 2012-tbr-pile, for-review

Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

It was ironic how Jane wanted to die, but instead found herself fighting for her life, finding her will to live in the most unexpected time and place, amidst a frozen wasteland, with an insufferable guy as a companion. Jane was no stranger to death, it runs in the family. But her journey through the most torturous terrains, braving snowstorms and trudging through ice walls made her acknowledge not just her imminent death, but also those of her loved ones who died...more Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

It was ironic how Jane wanted to die, but instead found herself fighting for her life, finding her will to live in the most unexpected time and place, amidst a frozen wasteland, with an insufferable guy as a companion. Jane was no stranger to death, it runs in the family. But her journey through the most torturous terrains, braving snowstorms and trudging through ice walls made her acknowledge not just her imminent death, but also those of her loved ones who died before her. It is true that death changes people, and it changed Jane. It changed her anew now that she was staring it in the face. She wasn't as heartless as she thought she was, that even though she want to throw away hers, she still valued other lives. That she's also scared and hurting and she just wants all of it to stop.

I wish I hadn't met Paul. He was an innocent hiker who Jane yelled at when she panicked at the airport, her obsession with being on time winning over her. He shouldn't have sat beside Jane, pegging her for a philosophical girl. He shouldn't have been the other person who was spared when the plane crashed. He was just too good for it. If Jane thinks she's broken, then she found a kindred soul in Paul. He knew about death and is still learning how to deal with the losses he had. But he was there to help Jane get through the nightmare of her interrupted suicide, of feeling that it was her duty to die. He was there to share her pain, to understand her, to encourage her, and most of the time, to piss her off for being so arrogant one minute and caring the next. He makes me question a lot about living, about dying, about loving.

Who would expect these two people to fall in love? Maybe it was because they suffered life and death situations together, trying to stay alive, going through an excruciating journey that they both might not survive but the days and nights they were together led to sharing, to confessions, to sharing secrets, and that forged a strong bond between them. I expected it to happen, falling in love. It was so cliche, and yet it felt so unfair to have the two of them fall in love with each other because by then you'll expect to see them both happy together even when the situation is dire. The way they engaged with each other gave the story a little bit more life, and I found myself warming up to them both.

I admit it. I was drawn to this novel half expecting a fluffy story about a broken girl facing an unexpected challenge when the death she had so carefully planned for and craved was halted by another tragedy. I expected this book to be a little shallow, a little exciting, a little romantic and a little sweet. I was wrong. Very wrong.

What I got, instead, was a heart wrenching, unforgettable story of a girl who can't recognize herself for who she was, defined by tragedy and death. It was a story of a girl who just wanted to die, but found something to live for, to fight for, to ignore the voices for, to find the courage to trust herself, to be strong, to love. A girl whose life was changed by a plane crash and by that one person who gave her hope that things will be better, that she can be strong and face whatever life has in store for her.

I've always been a sucker for happy endings, and seeing Jane suffering all throughout her life from something that took away those that she loved made me desperate for her to find happiness for her own. She deserves it. And I felt like my heart was being ripped into two by how things ended in this novel. Is happy ending not for everyone? I was so desperate. I never got used to the painful feelings Jane and Paul had, and the only reprieve was those tender moments they shared. The feeling of hopelessness can be felt throughout this novel and you will just want it to end. The end, however, was surprisingly hopeful.

I have not been this emotionally invested in a novel for quite a while, and Survive just left me incapable of speech and by the time I was reading the last five pages, I was filled so much emotion. Alex Morel broke my heart with his writing. This novel made my heart ache so much it hurts by the time I finished it. It's beautiful. It's a novel that is intense and rich with emotions. It's a lot to take in at first, the sadness and all those depressing feelings but I loved how I felt Jane's and Paul's story as if it were my own. This is the kind of book you would want to pick up if you are looking for a sad, yet hopeful YA contemporary story every once in a while.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 28, 2013 Jasmine rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Desiree rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

What an intense book. Survive is one hell of an action packed read. In the very beginning I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get into it and I was starting to feel like I was going to be let down being as my hopes for survive were pretty high. But let me just say that I was terribly wrong. As soon as Jane and Paul's plane crashes it is a race to survive against the elements as well as their pasts. I cannot say how impressed I am with Mr. Morel's ability to paint a stark and debilitating...more

5 likes · like · see review

May 19, 2013 Sharons Bücherparadies rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Auf Grund des Klappentextes und es wirklich gelungenen Covers, welches mir schon sehr zusagte, entschied ich mich, das Buch zu kaufen.

Jane lebt im "Life House", einer Anstalt für suizidgefährdete Menschen.

Eines Tages beschließt sie, ihre Mutter zu besuchen und plant ihren Selbstmord auf der Flugreise zu jener. Als das Flugzeug jedoch abstürzt, sie als einziges überlebt und Paul kennenlernt, wird Jane zu einem völlig neuem Menschen.

Dieses Buch war wieder eines der Bücher, die mich sehr getroffe...more Auf Grund des Klappentextes und es wirklich gelungenen Covers, welches mir schon sehr zusagte, entschied ich mich, das Buch zu kaufen.

Jane lebt im "Life House", einer Anstalt für suizidgefährdete Menschen.

Eines Tages beschließt sie, ihre Mutter zu besuchen und plant ihren Selbstmord auf der Flugreise zu jener. Als das Flugzeug jedoch abstürzt, sie als einziges überlebt und Paul kennenlernt, wird Jane zu einem völlig neuem Menschen.

Dieses Buch war wieder eines der Bücher, die mich sehr getroffen und zum Nachdenken gebracht haben. Ich habe sogar eine Träne vergossen, da mich die Geschichte so sehr bewegt hatte und mich leider teilweise an mein eigenes Leben erinnerte.

Man wird automatisch aufgefordert über sein Leben und sein manchmal vielleicht dummes Handeln nachzudenken. Ich fragte mich sofort: "Ist es wirklich schlau, sich selbst umbringen zu wollen und das Leben, was einem geschenkt wurde einfach so wegzuwerfen und die Menschen zurück zu lassen, die einen lieb haben?" Man stirbt irgendwann sowieso von alleine.

Ich bin der Meinung, egal wie schlimm die Dinge sind und wie verzweifelt man ist, man sollte immer mehrfach über sein Handeln nachdenken. Wenn man im Leben keinen Sinn mehr sieht, dann sollte man psychologische Hilfe in Anspruch nehmen. Das Leben ist zu schön um es einfach so wegzuwerfen. Dies hat auch Jane in dieser Geschichte begriffen. Nicht nur durch den Flugzeugabsturz, sondern auch durch die Beziehung zu Paul.

Jane wirkte anfangs sehr schwach, emotional und zeigte absolut kein Selbstbewusstsein. Alles, was sie wollte war zu sterben. Doch nach dem Flugzeugabsturz wird aus ihr ein neuer Mensch, welcher mutig wird, Stärke beweist und ein völlig neues Gefühl in sich entdeckt: Liebe und Leben! Paul gibt ihr immer wieder diese Kraft.

Die Geschichte wurde vom Autor sehr gut beschrieben, auch die Charaktere wurden gut dargestellt und ich bin schnell in das Buch reingekommen und habe es flüssig durchlesen können. Wer also eine Geschichte lesen will, die viele Emotionen und Gedanken aufkommen lässt, dem lege ich dieses Buch ans Herz. Es lohnt sich wirklich total!!! Ich hoffe noch mehr von diesen Geschichten lesen zu dürfen.

Es bekommt von mir 5/5 Palmen!(less)

like · see review

May 16, 2013 Cat Crawfield rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Inhalt:
Jane Solis hat mit ihren gerade mal 16 Jahren schon eine Menge mitgemacht. 11 Jahre lang lebten sie und ihre Mum in dem Glauben, eine glückliche Familie zu sein, bis sich ihr Dad am Weihnachtsmorgen eine Kugel in den Kopf schoss. Warum er Selbstmord begangen hatte, weiß keiner. Doch er entstammt einer Familie, in der das nicht unüblich ist. Erst sein Großvater, dann seine Mutter und schließlich er selbst. Nun ist seine Tochter an der Reihe, die wegen ihres Selbstmordversuches seit einem J...more Inhalt:
Jane Solis hat mit ihren gerade mal 16 Jahren schon eine Menge mitgemacht. 11 Jahre lang lebten sie und ihre Mum in dem Glauben, eine glückliche Familie zu sein, bis sich ihr Dad am Weihnachtsmorgen eine Kugel in den Kopf schoss. Warum er Selbstmord begangen hatte, weiß keiner. Doch er entstammt einer Familie, in der das nicht unüblich ist. Erst sein Großvater, dann seine Mutter und schließlich er selbst. Nun ist seine Tochter an der Reihe, die wegen ihres Selbstmordversuches seit einem Jahr im „Life House“ ist, einer psychiatrischen Klinik. Doch sie macht gute Fortschritte und verdient es sich sogar, über Weihnachten nach Hause fliegen zu dürfen – was keiner ahnt: Jane plant bereits seit einem halben Jahr, sich während dieses Fluges umzubringen. Allerdings stürzt das Flugzeug ab und sie und ihr Sitznachbar Paul überleben als einzige. Nun gilt es, mitten auf einem Berg bei Minusgraden zu überleben und Jane stellt schon bald fest, dass ihr Lebenswille stärker ist, als ihr Todeswunsch.
Fazit:
„Survive – Wenn der Schnee mein Herz berührt“ ist der Debütroman von Alex Morel.
Ich möchte gar nicht lange um den heißen Brei herum reden – dies ist definitiv eines der schlechtesten Bücher, die ich je gelesen habe.
Der Plot… welcher Plot? Jane will sich umbringen, das Flugzeug stürzt ab, sie und Paul überleben und dann frieren sie, schmelzen Schnee, frieren, laufen, schlafen, schmelzen Schnee, frieren, laufen weiter, frieren, klettern, hopsen, schlafen, und – sie frieren! Die Dialoge wiederholen sich immer wieder und handeln von sinnlosen Dingen wie „wer geht als erstes pinkeln“ oder wie toll Jane doch ist und dass sie alles total super macht. Auf Seite 11 behauptet Jane, sie wolle im Flugzeug Kryptonit schlucken – tatsächlich hat sie dann aber eine bunte Mischung aus rezeptfreien Medikamenten zusammengestellt. Der Ski- und Surflehrer Paul entpuppt sich als Profi-Bergsteiger, der mit Holzstäbchen Steilwände hinauf klettern kann. Und das auch noch samt Gepäck! Auch mit einem gebrochenen Arm und einer gebrochen Hand ist dies absolut kein Problem – wer braucht schon zwei Hände beim Klettern? Dies und diverse andere Ungereimtheiten machen dieses Buch eher zu einem Witz, als zu einem hochdramatischen Überlebensroman, als der er scheinbar angedacht ist. Jane ist ein sehr depressives Mädchen, zeigt dies Paul gegenüber jedoch nicht. Innerlich hingegen führt sie ständig Selbstgespräche oder lauscht den Monologen ihres Psychodoktors. Ständig ist sie nur am Weinen, doch das liegt an ihren überkochenden Emotionen, die die Erinnerungen der Vergangenheit in ihr aufwühlen, und nicht an der Tatsache, dass sie mitten auf einem Berg in einer Toilettenkabine aufgewacht ist, um sich herum lauter Leichen, Blut und Trümmer.
Alle, die es nicht zerstückelt hat, sind bereits erfroren, aber Paul hängt putzmunter und unverletzt in einer Baumkrone samt seinem Sitz fest. Und dies, obwohl er nicht gerade warm angezogen ist…
Normalerweise versuche ich, bei Büchern, die mir nicht gefallen haben, wenigstens ein paar positive Punkte hervor zu heben. Bei „Survive – Wenn der Schnee mein Herz berührt“ ist dies allerdings nicht möglich. 253 Seiten, die sich zwar recht schnell lesen lassen, aber trotzdem überhaupt nicht überzeugen konnten.
Nur das Cover ist wirklich wunderschön und hat mich zum Kauf dieses Buches veranlasst.
Insgesamt ist dieses Buch eine herbe Enttäuschung voller Logik-Fehler, flach gestalteter Protagonisten, die psychisch noch in der Vergangenheit feststecken und einem sehr flachen Plot, der mich absolut nicht berührt hat. Schade!(less)

like · see review

Apr 10, 2013 Levian rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jane was a suicide seeker. she came from a family of depressives and suicidals, her father killed himself by putting a bullet through his brain, his own parents, even grandparents died unnatural death. after spending years in Life House, an mental institution specifically for disturbed teens. she earned points by being nice and predictable, knowing she had to cheat her way out of the place to be successful at her next attempt to kill herself. finally, Jane was sent home for a week, to spend Chri...more

like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Livi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Als das Buch ankam beherrschten erstmal zwei Gedanken meinen Kopf. Auf der einen Seite: "Wow, tolle Coveridee!" und "Es ist viel dünner als ich erwartet habe!" Ersteres sehe ich nach wie vor genauso und möchte ich auch lobend erwähnen. Zu Punkt zwei komme ich noch... :)

Der Schreibstil in diesem Buch ist schlicht und gut zu lesen. Er lebt von Janes trockener Art die Emotionen nur versteckt offenbart. Man rutscht gut durch die Geschichte, leider aber viel zu schnell. Janes anfängliche Selbstmordge...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 23, 2013 Obernstein18 rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was absolutely amazing! It combined suspense, drama, and thrill perfectly. Jane was a character that was crafted to perfection. What she was saying was not the only way to tell how she was feeling, you could really get inside her head. You knew what she was thinking all the time! This reminds me of another book I read, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, where the author really was able to show what the character was thinking. Especially with a character like Jane this is crucial because he...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 20, 2013 Kristina rated it 4 of 5 stars

So, I really did like this book.

Jane, our lead character, details her depression with fine precision in a way that is easy for others to sympathize with and understand. Then, seeing her thrown into a situation like this with a sarcastic yet survival savvy boy, it's really difficult to not feel something for her. Conflicted emotions and survival techniques are abundant in this story, and if you're a fan of either, then don't expect any disappointment.

Jane has finally gained her freedom from Life...more

like · see review

Jan 16, 2013 Aube D'été Holgate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: depressing-books, family-focus, favorites, lovely, romeos, sadness, suicidal, plane-boat-train-crash-survival, tear-spatter-faced

This book made me laugh, 3 stars; then it made me think hard 4 stars; the more than once it made me cry Five Stars!

Meet Jane. Jane is suicidal. Jane is hospitalized. Jane comes from generations of bonker-suicidees. Jane gets on plane. Jane meets Paul.

Meet Paul. Paul carries thoughtful weight on his shoulders. Paul can cover-up neatly. Paul comes from generations of cancer-fested die-hards. Paul gets on plane. Paul meets Jane.

It starts: Jane has a plan to end her life by sucking down a home-made-...more

like · see review

Jan 14, 2013 Marie-Claire rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wie durch ein Wunder überlebt Jane einen Flugzeugabsturz mitten in den Rocky Mountains. Ironie des Schicksals – genau für diesen Tag hatte sie ihren Selbstmord geplant. Außer Jane hat es nur noch ein einziger Passagier geschafft: Paul. Gemeinsam schlagen sich die beiden Teenager durch die eisige Wildnis, und dabei erkennt Jane zum ersten Mal seit Langem: Sie will leben. Das ist vor allem Paul zu verdanken, der ihr Bestes zum Vorschein bringt. Nie zuvor hat Jane so etwas für jemanden empfunden, u...more Wie durch ein Wunder überlebt Jane einen Flugzeugabsturz mitten in den Rocky Mountains. Ironie des Schicksals – genau für diesen Tag hatte sie ihren Selbstmord geplant. Außer Jane hat es nur noch ein einziger Passagier geschafft: Paul. Gemeinsam schlagen sich die beiden Teenager durch die eisige Wildnis, und dabei erkennt Jane zum ersten Mal seit Langem: Sie will leben. Das ist vor allem Paul zu verdanken, der ihr Bestes zum Vorschein bringt. Nie zuvor hat Jane so etwas für jemanden empfunden, und für diese unverhoffte Liebe wächst sie über sich selbst hinaus …

"Survive- Wenn der Schnee mein Herz berührt" von Alex Morel ist ein ergreifender Roman über den Kampf ums Überleben und eine Liebe in dieser dramatischen Zeit.
Diese Geschichte ist über die Maßen spannend und dramatisch erzählt. Ab der ersten Seite hat der Autor den Leser in die Materie geworfen und schafft es bis zum Schluss keinerlei Längen aufkommen zu lassen. Dies liegt unter anderem an dem straffen Erzähltempo, das keinerlei Langeweile entstehen lässt, sondern Kurzweil von Anfang bis Ende garantiert.
Trotz der anscheinend aussichtslosen Situation, scheint immer mal wieder ein Funken Hoffnung durch, der sich niemals unterbuttern lässt, sondern dieser Geschichte das gewisse Etwas beschert und dieses Buch nicht zu einem Selbstmordkommando in Düsternis mit depressiven Gedanken werden lässt.
Die Atmosphäre ist sehr kalt, im Sinne von Temperaturen, denn das Umfeld ist so eisig beschrieben, dass man das Gefühl bekommt, man stünde selber bei Temperaturen um die -20° in der Wildnis und kämpfe ums Überleben.
Weiterhin lassen die zarten Bande der Hauptprotagonisten diese Geschichte noch zusätzlich aufleben und verstärken die Dramatik umso mehr. Nach und nach entwickelt sich diese Atmosphäre von romantisch zu herzzerreißend dramatisch, behält aber stets den Hoffnungsschimmer bei.
Das Ende dieses Buches passt sehr gut zum Charakter der gesamten Handlung, alles andere hätte nicht gepasst und wäre unrealistisch und gewollt.

Trotz der Kürze dieses Buches entwickeln sich die beiden Hauptcharaktere äußerst vielschichtig und authentisch. Man kauft ihnen ihr Verhalten im Kampf ums nackte Überleben durchaus ab, mit all seinen Facetten, die so ein breites Spektrum abdecken, das nur als realistisch bezeichnet werden kann.
Allen voran Jane, die sich anfangs noch das Leben nehmen wollte, sich aber nach und nach zu einer echten Kämpferin entwickelt und beweist, das ihr das Leben doch nicht so egal ist, wie es noch zu Anfang den Anschein hatte.

Der Schreibstil des Autors ist äußerst packend und fesselnd. Er ist sehr einfach gehalten, dabei aber stets flüssig und voller Tempo zu lesen. Man fliegt förmlich durch die Seiten, sodass sich dieses Buch nach und nach zu einem echten Pageturner entwickelt, der nicht nur durch die Kürze des Buches schnell zu lesen ist.

Ein Satz noch zum Cover: Es ist wirklich ein optischer Hingucker und spiegelt auf eine wunderschöne Weise den Charakter der Handlung extrem gut wieder.
(less)

like · see review

Jan 13, 2013 Kendall {Book Crazy} rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book I knew that I wanted to read it and I do have to say that I really enjoyed Survive! I read it in one sitting in about an hour and a half because I just kept wanting to read on! I will admit that I was slightly confused at the beginning but after a certain point I started being able to follow the storyline! The plot of this book was just a big action adventure! I just couldn't stop reading it because all different sorts of thing kept happening! I do ha...more

like · see review

Nov 22, 2012 Molly TheAmazing rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book was so dreadful. Im like WTF!! This is how the book went.
Girl: Im on a plane gonna commit suicide!! lalalalala
Plane crashes
Girl: oh my the plane has crashed what shall i do??? *pulls down pant and pees in the snow* :)lalala
Guy: helllp!!
Girl: are u okay??
Guy: help me up!
Girl: u need help??
Guy: -.- nooo*sarcasm*
*Helps the guy up*
Guy: Okay we should try and stay warm lets sleep together in this sleeping bag *wink*
Girl: Im not cold..But Okay! *Obviously retarded*
Next day
Girl: I was gonn...more

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 15, 2012 Kwinks rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have always loved a good survival novel. I can add this one to the list of good ones. While it took a bit to get to the mountain (and considering the flap had already told me what was coming), once it got there it was surprising, informative, and page flipping action. I have always judged a survival novel unfairly, I expect to see the characters to learn and use actual survival skills (I guess I am thinking that a reader may pick something up that may be useful to them in a similar situation)...more

like · see review

Sep 06, 2012 Pamela Kramer rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Survive" by Alex Morel is the story of a suicidal teenage girl who, when she is one of only two survivors in a plane crash, learns that she really wants to live. Jane, the protagonist, has decided to kill herself on the plane ride home from the facility where she resides and gets treated for her mental health disorder.

Jane has meticulously planned her suicide. She has counted the minutes to arrive at the airport ostensibly for her visit home. She has purchased the correct combination of drugs t...more

like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: death, depression, families, friendship, romance, travel, weather, writing, ncbla2013

Jane Solis has laid out her plans carefully, and this time she won't fail in killing herself. Depressed after her father's suicide and despite repeated treatment attempts, she has connived her way into a trip home for Christmas. Just as she prepares to swallow the pills that will kill her, her plane crashes in a wilderness area with only Jane and her annoying seatmate, Paul Hart, surviving. Just as much as she had wanted to end her life, Jane now wants to survive, and she and Paul walk and climb...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 06, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hey-i-just-met-you-this-is-crazy, found-love-in-a-hopeless-place

3.75/5

you can always read this review on wakeupatseven, if you're feeling particularly daring.

I went into this book a bit cynically, thinking it was going to be a typical YA cautionary "appreciate life" tale. Not that there's anything wrong with those tales, but being that I'm not brimming with teen angst and adolescent insecurities like I used to be, I didn't think it would resonate as deeply with me as it I imagined it would with someone younger. Boy was I wrong, she typed furiously through he...more 3.75/5

you can always read this review on wakeupatseven, if you're feeling particularly daring.

I went into this book a bit cynically, thinking it was going to be a typical YA cautionary "appreciate life" tale. Not that there's anything wrong with those tales, but being that I'm not brimming with teen angst and adolescent insecurities like I used to be, I didn't think it would resonate as deeply with me as it I imagined it would with someone younger. Boy was I wrong, she typed furiously through her tears.

In any case, this story is a little different from most of the teen books centered around suicide that I've read. Most of them present you with a character you automatically feel very sorry for. They're fresh off an unimaginable tragedy or their depression is explained in such stark and emotional detail that your heart aches for them right from the get go. That wasn't the case (for me, at least) when it comes to our main character, Jane. At first she simply seems detached and bored with life and the reader doesn't exactly know why. It's obvious she's got some anxiety and supressed issues but I remember reading a line about her "miserable" life and thinking, what's so bad about your life, kid? Come on, now. Only to be rewarded with that very information pages later. Ahhh, I get it now. Clever writing. I loved the bitter irony of a girl who thought she had nothing to left to live for being thrown into a situation where she now has to fight not only for her life, but someone else's as well.

This book is quite short, sad, and sweet. It managed to take me on a rollercoaster from somewhat indifference, to yearning, to hope, and to tears in the span of 272 pages. And in that way I felt like I sort of developed as a reader in the same way that Jane developed as a character. Corny, I know, but it was an emotional experience. As I've said countless times before, I'm a character girl. If you get me to care about your characters, you've got me. And this book really got me. Even as sparse as this book was, I felt for Jane and Paul as if their characters had been fleshed out for ages. Definitely worth the read. The only thing I'll warn any potential readers against is that fact that it is a short read (though this may be preferable to some) and the "hatchet meets lost" tagline surrounding this book. I get the effort to draw in readers that way, but I think if you go into this book thinking you're going to get something as complex as Lost or as gritty as Hatchet, you might be a bit disappointed. Survive is it's own story, I don't think it needs any half-hearted comparisons to make it stand out.

(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 11, 2012 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Do you remember that song, Ironic by Alanis Morrissett? That song played through my head while I read this book! This is not your carefree, fun read. This book talks about big issues such as death, suicide, love and of course, survival. That being said, I thought this was a very interesting book and I thought it a little ironic. Here is a girl that WANTS to die and yet she is one of the only survivors of a plane crash...

Jane lives at Life House, a mental hospital for kids. Jane was sent their af...more Do you remember that song, Ironic by Alanis Morrissett? That song played through my head while I read this book! This is not your carefree, fun read. This book talks about big issues such as death, suicide, love and of course, survival. That being said, I thought this was a very interesting book and I thought it a little ironic. Here is a girl that WANTS to die and yet she is one of the only survivors of a plane crash...

Jane lives at Life House, a mental hospital for kids. Jane was sent their after an "incident". Her incident was a suicide attempt. You see, Jane's grandmother and her father have both committed suicide. Jane has been dealing with depression and suicidal tendencies and they come naturally to her. Jane is also a planner. In fact, she has planned how she is going to end her life this time. It's a good plan too.

Jane has earned enough "points" to go home for Christmas. This is part of her plan. She is going to get on the plane, take a lethal dose/mixture of sleeping pills and be dead before the plane hits the ground. She has planned every little detail from earning her points, to getting the pills, to making sure none of the staff at Life House suspect a thing. What she doesn't plan is for the plane she is on to crash. She also didn't plan to be one of only two survivors. Now Jane and Paul must figure out how they are going to survive.

I had mixed feelings about Jane. As someone who has had to deal with depression for many years, I know what it is like and thought I would connect with her a little more. Now, I haven't dealt with suicidal tendencies so I knew I wouldn't understand that part but Jane blames her suicidal thoughts on the fact that it's in her family. That's it. No other reasons there. I just didn't buy it. Once she is put in the position of fighting for her life (and wanting to live), I felt better about her. I thought she was a stronger character and she obviously did want to live. She could have thrown in the towel a few times and I was glad to see her fight.

Paul was a great character too! He was funny and he was good for Jane. I really liked how there was no "insta-love"! That made the story much more realistic for me. His experience dealing with his brother's death helped Jane deal with her father's death a little more too, I think. I really enjoyed watching Jane and Paul's relationship grow and be something more than just your "love at first sight" romance. Plus, the romance obviously didn't take over the story.

This was a fast paced and exciting read. Not a fun and carefree read but one that is definitely worth picking up. There were some things left unanswered for me but for the most part, I enjoyed this one.(less)

like · see review

May 03, 2012 Mollie Goz rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book made me cry. There is something so gripping and edgy about it that I just couldn't put it down. From the very beginning we're thrust into the rawness of Jane's emotions and can't help ourselves but to invest in the survival of this beautiful, tortured girl. But it's really the relationship between Jane and Paul that make this novel. As the only two survivors of the crash, their relationship is put on a fast track as they go from apparent dislike to friendship to love. Instead of showin...more

5 likes · like · see review

Aug 04, 2012 Anastasia & Amelia is currently reading it

Judging the Book by its Cover

First things first, the girl on the cover looks cold. (See what we did there?) Cold as in, she'd kill a baby polar bear, just so she could have her next meal.

Judging by the cover, we're assuming that this takes place somewhere there's snow, and mountains. The "frosty" cover also adds to the cover's already intense-looking design.The title gives us the impression that she'sstrugglingto get by? Survive, huh? Well wedefinitelywon't be able to survive until we have t...more

like · see review

Aug 03, 2012 Kat Young rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Ok so probably more like 3.5 stars.

HERE BE SPOILERS!!!!! Read on at own risk!!!

Many many small plot holes, like one second shes describing trees and the next she says she cant see anything around her at all, or why would airport security allow Paul to bring a knife on the plane??

Also a few issues with character emotion. It seemes Jane only felt she had a duty to comit suicide because it ran in her family, she never seemed all that upset about her father. I was also distracted for a while with...more

7 likes · like · see review

Jul 30, 2012 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-i-own, 2012-release, 2012-100-book-challenge, 2012-debut-author, mundie-moms-reviews

Survive is an intense, incredibly fast paced read that's full of triumph, tragedy, heartbreak, and will power. It's that will to survive that will aid Jane through the darkest moment of her life.... I'm not just talking about her desire to follow in her father's footstep to commit suicide. With all odds stacked against her, and the other survivor of a deadly plane crash in the middle of the mountains, Jane finds the hope, love and the strength to live. The book's title, SURVIVE has more than one...more Survive is an intense, incredibly fast paced read that's full of triumph, tragedy, heartbreak, and will power. It's that will to survive that will aid Jane through the darkest moment of her life.... I'm not just talking about her desire to follow in her father's footstep to commit suicide. With all odds stacked against her, and the other survivor of a deadly plane crash in the middle of the mountains, Jane finds the hope, love and the strength to live. The book's title, SURVIVE has more than one meaning in this book, and I loved two different meanings it has in Jane's story.

Alex Morel did an awesome job with keeping his story's darker, and sometimes hard to write about subject deep, without going over board. Despite the fact I had a hard time connecting with Jane during the first part of the book, I loved her during the second half. Alex did a wonderful job at allowing me to see the changes in Jane. The first part of the book was spent on providing what Jane's agenda was (why she was flying home etc), how she got into the mental facility she's in, and her struggle to come to terms with all she's gone through, and why she's set on taking her life. Though Alex allowed me to understand why Jane was set on taking her life, I didn't connect with her during this time. I had a lot of issues with her reasoning behind wanting to do this. Despite that, it wasn't until the second half of the book, when the plane crashes did I start to connect with her.

Talk about gut wrenching, this story is brimming with emotion on a whole different level. I thought I was prepared with what to except with Jane's story, but this story entails way more than I was anticipating. During the second half of the story, which takes places during and after the plane crash, I felt that Jane completely transforms into a much stronger character, and was much more engaging for me. She all the sudden had this spark of life in her, and had this incredible desire to live, and over come all the odds stacked against her. I loved the role Paul, the snarky, broken boy who's also had his fair share of heartbreak, plays in Jane's life on the flight and especially after the crash. Though they had only met on their flight, he changed the way Jane felt, and how she viewed life. He pushed her like no one else had before.

WOW, Alex created an incredibly engaging, and realistic crash site. Every emotion and the danger that encompasses this part of the book felt real. I grew up loving Hatchet, and I know this story has been compared to a modern day, older version of that book. Normally I'm not a fan books being compared, but I definitely agree with that comparison. It's well written, fast paced book, with the right amount of length to hook you. I will warn you, there is an incredibly heartbreaking scene in this book that will leave you a little broken, but it's oh so worth picking up the book. You'll miss out on all that happens leading up to that point. One a side note, there is some minor language, and this book does talk about suicide, a lot, and in a very tasteful manner. If you're a fan of survival stories, you must pick this one up!

Be sure to visit the blog on Saturday when Alex Morel stops by to talk about his debut, and enter to win one of 3 copies I'll be giving away.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction, teen-fiction, website, romance, death-dying-grief

Jane has a Plan. She has been working on her Plan for a while now. The Plan is to fly home for Christmas and not survive the flight. Jane is suicidal; she has been living at Life House for the past several months because she has had a couple of "incidents". But she has convinced the staff and built up enough points to take a trip home for Christmas. She has a combo of sleeping pills that she plans to take on the flight so she never wakes up. Simple plan. Only she doesn't count on the plane crash...more Jane has a Plan. She has been working on her Plan for a while now. The Plan is to fly home for Christmas and not survive the flight. Jane is suicidal; she has been living at Life House for the past several months because she has had a couple of "incidents". But she has convinced the staff and built up enough points to take a trip home for Christmas. She has a combo of sleeping pills that she plans to take on the flight so she never wakes up. Simple plan. Only she doesn't count on the plane crashing and being one of the only survivors. The other survivor is Paul, the guy who sits beside her on the plane. Now Jane has to decide if she wants to live or if she really wants to die.

Jane was a difficult character. It was hard to like or identify with her in the beginning of the book. It seemed like she was suicidal because she thought she was supposed to be. Her father and grandmother both committed suicide so therefore she was expected to? Her only reason given for being depressed seemed to be her father's suicide. I really didn't buy into her depression or suicidal tendencies. They didn't seem real for some reason. Maybe it just needed better explaining in the book to make me believe.

Once the plane crash occurred, the story did pick up and the action was a bit more believable. I did have a few problems with the storytelling, mainly from lack of details. For instance, when they decide to move from the crash area up the mountain it seems from the writing that they just go; they don't pack their things or prepare in anyway. But once they get to the top of the mountain they have all their supplies. There are little instances like that throughout the book where the details seem to be missing from the narrative. I wondered the entire time they were climbing the mountain how they were doing it with their supplies; guess that was too much detail to deal with in the writing.

Jane and Paul seem like a good match for the mountain. I didn't really like either of them, but I found myself rooting for them to survive (I did feel a little cheated knowing only one would survive...the cover says so!). They made a good team and I did believe their friendship. Not sure I believe love grew in such a short amount of time, but stranger things can happen in such dire circumstances.

Overall this was a good survival book. Not sure it should be compared to Hatchet or Lost but it was an entertaining and very fast read.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher at PLA Conference 2012.(less)

like · see review

Sep 13, 2012 Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, contemporary-realistic-ya

Whoa buddy, Survive by Alex Morel was the biggest surprise I’ve had in a long time. It pretty much came out of nowhere! I haven’t seen a lot of reviews floating around, and that is a cryin’ shame, y’all. This is a book that deserves to be noticed.

First of all, let me caution you to avoid Survive’s horrid synopsis. It basically tries to read the book for you, so unless you want to save a little time and skip to the end in two paragraphs or less – RUN FOR YOUR LIFE. (That being said, even though t...more Whoa buddy, Survive by Alex Morel was the biggest surprise I’ve had in a long time. It pretty much came out of nowhere! I haven’t seen a lot of reviews floating around, and that is a cryin’ shame, y’all. This is a book that deserves to be noticed.

First of all, let me caution you to avoid Survive’s horrid synopsis. It basically tries to read the book for you, so unless you want to save a little time and skip to the end in two paragraphs or less – RUN FOR YOUR LIFE. (That being said, even though the ending was all but completely spoiled for me, there might have still been an ugly cry…)

So, Jane is on a plane that crashes. Not terribly original, I grant you. But still, it is a plot line I love. I also love when it can be carried out realistically without any Lost-style crazy business (not that I didn’t like Lost, because I did). Survive is a book that doesn’t need any time travel, smoke monsters or immortal gods to make you sit up and take notice.

Jane is such a complex character, and the fact that so many layers were built within such a short time (this book doesn’t even hit 300 pages, y’all!) is pretty stellar. She is in the middle of her “treatment” at a mental institution for being suicidal, and she decides this plane ride is the perfect chance to swallow some pills and follow the light. When things don’t go quite as she planned, she discovers that her soul carries a lot more depth and purpose than she ever imagined.

I’m not always a big fan of “issues” books, I have to be in a pretty specific mood to take one on. Because of this, I went into Survival with almost no expectations of loving it. And let me tell you, Jane definitely isn’t an easy character to love – but Alex Morel made me do just that. Even when she was sitting on the plane, feeling sorry for herself and getting ready to end it all, I was invested.

So, Jane can’t believe that she is one of the only two people to survive the crash. She also can’t believe that the other person so chosen is Paul, the seatmate that got on her nerves. To say this book is the opposite of insta-love is an understatement. But, factor in survival-based-adrenaline, loneliness, fear and teamwork? Cue in character and relationship development out the wazoo. Alex Morel, I bow down to you for working it all out in a realistic way that didn’t make me want to roll my eyes with disbelief.

To Sum it Up:

-Shock and awe – this was not a book I expected to love, you guys.

-Short length? Who cares! Characterization is still pretty darn fantastic.

-“Issues” book + plane crash survival story might sound like a train wreck waiting to happen, but everything just works. Trust me.(less)

like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
Crazy for Young A...: Survive by Alex Morel → Start Date: May 25, 2013	18	13	May 20, 2013 04:00pm
book chat	5	10	Dec 20, 2012 04:26pm

title link	preview: Survive
avg rating	preview: Survive Goodreads rating: 3.60 (999 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12926806-survive?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331912778l/12926806.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12926806-survive?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Survive by Alex Morel[/url]

Survive

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (8)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Survive

Quotes from Survive

Survive

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (8)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Survive

Quotes from Survive

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (8)