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Dreaming of Antigone
Every star has its own path…
“I can’t ever be the blazing star that Iris was. I’m still just a cold, dark satellite orbiting a star that went super nova.”
Andria’s twin sister, Iris, had adoring friends, a cool boyfriend, a wicked car, and a shelf full of soccer trophies. She had everything, in fact—including a drug problem. Six months after Iris’s death, Andria is trying to keep her grades, her friends, and her family from falling apart. But stargazing and books aren’t enough to ward off her guilt that she—the freak with the scary illness and all-black wardrobe—is still here when Iris isn’t. And then there’s Alex Hammond. The boy Andria blames for Iris’s death. The boy she’s unwittingly started swapping lines of poetry and secrets with, even as she tries to keep hating him.
Heartwrenching, smart, and bold, Dreaming of Antigone is a story about the jagged pieces that lie beneath the surface of the most seemingly perfect life…and how they can fit together to make something wholly unexpected.
“I can’t ever be the blazing star that Iris was. I’m still just a cold, dark satellite orbiting a star that went super nova.”
Andria’s twin sister, Iris, had adoring friends, a cool boyfriend, a wicked car, and a shelf full of soccer trophies. She had everything, in fact—including a drug problem. Six months after Iris’s death, Andria is trying to keep her grades, her friends, and her family from falling apart. But stargazing and books aren’t enough to ward off her guilt that she—the freak with the scary illness and all-black wardrobe—is still here when Iris isn’t. And then there’s Alex Hammond. The boy Andria blames for Iris’s death. The boy she’s unwittingly started swapping lines of poetry and secrets with, even as she tries to keep hating him.
Heartwrenching, smart, and bold, Dreaming of Antigone is a story about the jagged pieces that lie beneath the surface of the most seemingly perfect life…and how they can fit together to make something wholly unexpected.
244 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2016
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1272 people want to read
About the author
Robin Bridges
9 books393 followersBy day, Robin Bridges is a mild mannered writer of young adult fiction. By night, she is a pediatric nurse, poking small children with needles for a living. She lives on the Gulf Coast with her family and an ever-growing menagerie of cats, dogs, tropical fish, and parrots. But alas, she still does not have a unicorn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
August 25, 2017
Este libro me atrapó con la portada, es hermosa y tal vez bastante parecida a otros libros que tratan el mismo tema, y seguro que con solo verlo ya saben a cual me refiero en particular.
En fin, el libro sí tiene un tema muy común, pero al menos para mi, fue tratado de una forma más real y humano, no nos ponen a a las típicas hermanas que una es perfecta y la otra es un caos, para nada. Desde el principio nos marcan la pauta con la disparidad de sus formas de ver y desenvolverse en el mundo, pero que sin darse cuenta van para donde mismo.
Es un tema difícil, pero logró que conexión con los personajes muy intima, sobre todo al incluir los poemas clásicos fue un gran acierto, incluso aprendí un poco sobre ese tema, algo que jamás me habría llamado, punto extra.
Una historia real y algo dolorosa que nos muestra el núcleo de una familia disfuncional y como los problemas si no son detectados o hablados a tiempo, pueden convertirse en una bola de nieve inmensa que aplasta y destroza a más de uno a su paso.
En fin, el libro sí tiene un tema muy común, pero al menos para mi, fue tratado de una forma más real y humano, no nos ponen a a las típicas hermanas que una es perfecta y la otra es un caos, para nada. Desde el principio nos marcan la pauta con la disparidad de sus formas de ver y desenvolverse en el mundo, pero que sin darse cuenta van para donde mismo.
Es un tema difícil, pero logró que conexión con los personajes muy intima, sobre todo al incluir los poemas clásicos fue un gran acierto, incluso aprendí un poco sobre ese tema, algo que jamás me habría llamado, punto extra.
Una historia real y algo dolorosa que nos muestra el núcleo de una familia disfuncional y como los problemas si no son detectados o hablados a tiempo, pueden convertirse en una bola de nieve inmensa que aplasta y destroza a más de uno a su paso.
March 7, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary story about a girl whose twin sister had died following a heroin overdose.
I thought that Andria was actually doing pretty well considering that her twin sister had died only 6 months previously. She seemed to be coping quite well, and even seemed to be able to hang out with her sister’s boyfriend, who she thought had gotten her sister hooked on the heroin to begin with.
The storyline in this was about Andria’s life following her sister’s death, and we also got storylines concerning hard hitting topics such as sexual abuse, drug abuse, suicide, and child abuse.
There was some romance in this, but it didn’t sit well with me. It just seemed odd that Andria would think it okay and appropriate to date her dead sister’s boyfriend, especially considering that he was the one who had gotten Iris involved with drugs in the first place.
The ending to this was okay, and we did get quite a few twists and revelations on the way there. The romance just didn’t quite do it for me though.
6.25 out of 10
“The last time I saw Alex Hammond, he was strung out of heroin, just as high as my sister. That was the night Iris died.”
This was a YA contemporary story about a girl whose twin sister had died following a heroin overdose.
I thought that Andria was actually doing pretty well considering that her twin sister had died only 6 months previously. She seemed to be coping quite well, and even seemed to be able to hang out with her sister’s boyfriend, who she thought had gotten her sister hooked on the heroin to begin with.
The storyline in this was about Andria’s life following her sister’s death, and we also got storylines concerning hard hitting topics such as sexual abuse, drug abuse, suicide, and child abuse.
There was some romance in this, but it didn’t sit well with me. It just seemed odd that Andria would think it okay and appropriate to date her dead sister’s boyfriend, especially considering that he was the one who had gotten Iris involved with drugs in the first place.
The ending to this was okay, and we did get quite a few twists and revelations on the way there. The romance just didn’t quite do it for me though.
6.25 out of 10
April 13, 2022
*Thank you very much Miss Robin Bridges for providing me a copy in exchange of an honest book review.
Actual Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
“And the heavens will shine down and we’ll kiss like a happy couple at the end of a Shakespearean comedy.
But I know it won’t happen. This is Greek tragedy. And I’m just as broken as he is.”
Dreaming of Antigone talks about the sensitive issue of illness, sexual abuse, drugs, and depression.
Andria’s twin sister Iris, died because of drugs overdoes. Now that her twin sister is gone, Andria is trying to keep her, her friends and her family from falling apart. But there is Alex Hammond, Iris’s boyfriend. The guy she doesn’t know she’s secretly swapping lines of poetry with. And the guy Andria blames her sister’s death with. But Andria is starting to feel something else aside from hatred for Alex Hammond. And truth about Iris’s death unfolds.
Alex Hammond and Andria Webb are both hunted by Iris’s death.
Andria Webb is a character who got my heart at the very first page. Andria is a deep, strong, and emotional person. She is the kind of gal I personally want to befriend – maybe we could just stare at the night sky together every night, while swapping lines of poetry. Andria, despite of being her twin sister’s shadow always tries to look at the bright side of everything and be strong.
Alex at first didn’t appear to be interesting for me. But as the story goes by, I saw how interesting he really is. And he’s in fact, hard not to love. Alex Hammond was almost the same as Iris - but he changed. Alex is not like those unrealistic male characters I always see. His flaws are always there.
At first, I was really not impressed and was a bit disappointed. Though, at the very first chapter I started loving it because it honestly made me euphoric. I am the kind of person who loves staring at the night sky especially when the stars are up there. And the scene Andria gave me at the very first chapter (and the preceding) made me love her immediately.But there comes the writing. There are times at the first few chapters where I found the writing weak and utterly unconvincing. But sooner, I saw how it developed and became better. The feelings in every words or lines are not constantly there, but when it does, it will hit you hard. I was in rage and in pain because of this book. It almost made my stomach turn at some point. It also almost made me cry – I honestly don’t know if it was because of sadness or hatred, maybe both.
The reading journey should be depressing - yes it is - but it is the opposite either. Aside from drugs, sexual abuse, illness, depression and troubled teenagers, it also brings us to the world of poetry and astrology. Which shouldn’t worked. But it did.
The thing about this book is, if the story will not work for you, the poems and constellations Andria can teach you will get you.
I enjoyed and love the information and terms Andria was giving me about poems and constellations. It honestly amazed me. How she can recognize comets, nebula, and other things you can see at the outer space’s names. And it made me research those things which I really enjoyed. I also searched for the meaning of Antigone and found out that it has something to do with Greek mythology (it’s also explained in the book). And what other things I have learned or discovered because of this book is actually cool. I don’t read much poetry but this book made me to. And I discovered a lot of poems - which I am actually memorizing now.
I like the ending. It is utterly heart-warming but I want to know more. And I want Andria and Alex to have more, they deserve more. It ends with a lot of questions desperately begging for answers. Like, what really happened to Alex and Andria? Are Andria and her mom will still move somewhere far from Athens? What will also happen to Trista and Natalie? And what about Craig? I did not like how there was not enough closure for many of the characters.
Overall, this book is really beautiful – on the inside and out. Robin Bridges just made imperfect characters that will surely touch every reader’s hearts. It is fast-paced and I just finished this book within a day. It’s heartfelt. Maybe at some point, it wasn’t exactly the words used that got me, maybe it was the thought. I honestly don’t know how all the negative and positive aspects of life worked altogether. It’s amazing how the darkest parts of life worked and blended with the most beautiful things in life.
“Someone like you just wouldn’t get poems by someone like her.”
“Someone like me? What makes you think you know me?” he asks quietly.
I recommend this to people who are finding a quick read with realistic and relatable characters that talks about sensitive issues in life. And also, if you are the type of person who loves poetry and astrology, I’m 100% sure you’ll enjoy this.
Perfect song for this book: Bring Me The Night
May 16, 2016
CONTENT WARNING: Drug overdose, suicide, paedophilia/child abuse.
Can an Ancient Greek tragedy be translated into contemporary YA romance? Unfamiliar with the story of Antigone, I can't confirm how much Robin Bridges' Dreaming of Antigone sticks to the template, but Andria Webb's English class studies Sophocles' play. This inclusion affected my enjoyment, because I dislike when characters read/study texts that inspired their story. (Seems too obvious; banging readers over the head.)
The poetry also didn't work for me, though I understand its inclusion as it forms part of the characters' meet-cute. But it comes across as pretentious.
Since Dreaming of Antigone is based on a tragedy, Andria has a lot of problems in her life: She has epilepsy, her father committed suicide when she was young, her twin sister died from an overdose, and now her stepfather's in trouble with the law. I feel worse for Andria's mother, though - she can't catch a break. Meanwhile, Andria has friends, a poetry-reciting boyfriend, and a passion for astronomy.
(Also, we need to kill the trope of journals conveniently written to give insight and answers into a person's life and death. Seems too easy. Investigation would've been more interesting.)
Can an Ancient Greek tragedy be translated into contemporary YA romance? Unfamiliar with the story of Antigone, I can't confirm how much Robin Bridges' Dreaming of Antigone sticks to the template, but Andria Webb's English class studies Sophocles' play. This inclusion affected my enjoyment, because I dislike when characters read/study texts that inspired their story. (Seems too obvious; banging readers over the head.)
The poetry also didn't work for me, though I understand its inclusion as it forms part of the characters' meet-cute. But it comes across as pretentious.
Since Dreaming of Antigone is based on a tragedy, Andria has a lot of problems in her life: She has epilepsy, her father committed suicide when she was young, her twin sister died from an overdose, and now her stepfather's in trouble with the law. I feel worse for Andria's mother, though - she can't catch a break. Meanwhile, Andria has friends, a poetry-reciting boyfriend, and a passion for astronomy.
(Also, we need to kill the trope of journals conveniently written to give insight and answers into a person's life and death. Seems too easy. Investigation would've been more interesting.)
May 4, 2023
CW: Drug use, chronic illness, suicide, death of loved one, sexual assault
I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Andria is struggling to deal with her twin sister's death by overdose, while also counting down the days she can take her driving test which is an even bigger deal than normal due to Andria's epilepsy and doctor's orders she needs to be 6 months seizure free. As pressure piles up and even worse things come to light in connection to Andria's family and Iris's death, a boy from Iris's past comes back into Andria's life and she can't help having feelings for him.
This is a very typical YA book with a lot of angst and drama from boy troubles, over protective parents and what to do after school finishes decisions. But there are also a lot of serious topics covered in this book, some of which really surprised me from sucide, drug use and overdosing as well as sexual assault and child molestation. Plus we see experiences of living with a chroncic and often debilitating illness from Andria as well.
The writing in this was decent though I think there are part of the storylines that I'm just too old to really resonate with now. I felt some of the story was a bit of a shock at how hard it was considering it was a YA - from Iris's drug use being heroin (I don't know but I find a 16-year-old shooting up heroin a bit too hardcore to be believable - and for it not to be noticeable by the parents either), and then the rather shocking turn of events with the stepfather which I really did not see coming. I would have liked to have seen Andria finally go to proper counselling after everything particularly because the only thing we do hear about it is how Andria's mom is against counselling and airing out your issues which is not very healthy.
The romance was fine, and even sweet at times especially with the poetry - but I always find it a bit weird in books when characters go out with their dead sibling's boyfriends/girlfriends. It will never not have a bit of an ick factor to it.
I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Andria is struggling to deal with her twin sister's death by overdose, while also counting down the days she can take her driving test which is an even bigger deal than normal due to Andria's epilepsy and doctor's orders she needs to be 6 months seizure free. As pressure piles up and even worse things come to light in connection to Andria's family and Iris's death, a boy from Iris's past comes back into Andria's life and she can't help having feelings for him.
This is a very typical YA book with a lot of angst and drama from boy troubles, over protective parents and what to do after school finishes decisions. But there are also a lot of serious topics covered in this book, some of which really surprised me from sucide, drug use and overdosing as well as sexual assault and child molestation. Plus we see experiences of living with a chroncic and often debilitating illness from Andria as well.
The writing in this was decent though I think there are part of the storylines that I'm just too old to really resonate with now. I felt some of the story was a bit of a shock at how hard it was considering it was a YA - from Iris's drug use being heroin (I don't know but I find a 16-year-old shooting up heroin a bit too hardcore to be believable - and for it not to be noticeable by the parents either), and then the rather shocking turn of events with the stepfather which I really did not see coming. I would have liked to have seen Andria finally go to proper counselling after everything particularly because the only thing we do hear about it is how Andria's mom is against counselling and airing out your issues which is not very healthy.
The romance was fine, and even sweet at times especially with the poetry - but I always find it a bit weird in books when characters go out with their dead sibling's boyfriends/girlfriends. It will never not have a bit of an ick factor to it.
February 7, 2017
I requested Nowhere Girl and Dreaming of Antigone around the same time on NetGalley, noticing they had something in common. Both stories revolve around a pair of twin sisters, one dead and one alive, and the story is told through the eyes of the remaining twin as we see how they cope with this devastating and crippling loss. However, whereas Nowhere Girl made me feel a whopping total of nothing, it is Dreaming of Antigone that shines in comparison.
Andria is a brilliant main character. She’s not done mourning her sister Iris yet, even after all these months, and therefore she tends to lash out at people. She finds comfort in stargazing and poetry and dresses like a goth. Not because she’s a total stereotype or anything, it’s not to make a statement – rather, she finds comfort in the darker colours; they make her feel comfortable. She’s quite self-deprecating about it as well, which really made me laugh.
Imagine her surprise when, next time she sits at this particular bench, someone has erased her lines and replaced them with their own poetic quote. This becomes somewhat of a game to Andria, this exchange of poems, which is something I really enjoyed.
Then Alex Hammond returns from rehab and Andria finds herself in a tug-of-war with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, this is the guy who used to date her sister Iris; the guy who was there, stoned out of his mind, when Iris overdosed on heroin. On the other hand, despite wanting to hate this guy, Adria discovers that he’s actually really likeable and that they have quite a lot in common. It would be so easy to fall in love with him. And yet.
I was really hesitant about this pair-up at first, because I honestly didn’t expect to like the idea of them going out. I mean, he dated her twin sister. It’s weird. Still, Andria’s feelings for Alex develop in what I felt was a very natural and realistic way, and so the notion of their budding romance grew on me. (Although 2 weeks is definitely not long enough to start talking about love.)
The book isn’t exactly the most eventful one, but rather it’s character-driven by Andria, who’s this close to getting her driver’s license and so terrified she’ll have a seizure (and even worse: a seizure in front of her friends) and will have to start over again. Who’s initially isolated herself from the world, but is now slowly opening up to her friends and family again. Who somehow needs to find a place in this world, one where horrible secrets lie hidden and where the line between right and wrong is often blurry, but worst of all, one without her twin sister.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy
Andria is a brilliant main character. She’s not done mourning her sister Iris yet, even after all these months, and therefore she tends to lash out at people. She finds comfort in stargazing and poetry and dresses like a goth. Not because she’s a total stereotype or anything, it’s not to make a statement – rather, she finds comfort in the darker colours; they make her feel comfortable. She’s quite self-deprecating about it as well, which really made me laugh.
“I decide to share my favourite poem with the other poor souls that sit in this desk in other blocks. The teacher has her back turned, scrawling more nonsense on the chalkboard. I scribble on the desk:
Out of the night that covers me
Black as the Pit from pole to pole
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
There. Have a little goth with your binomial equations.”
Imagine her surprise when, next time she sits at this particular bench, someone has erased her lines and replaced them with their own poetic quote. This becomes somewhat of a game to Andria, this exchange of poems, which is something I really enjoyed.
Then Alex Hammond returns from rehab and Andria finds herself in a tug-of-war with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, this is the guy who used to date her sister Iris; the guy who was there, stoned out of his mind, when Iris overdosed on heroin. On the other hand, despite wanting to hate this guy, Adria discovers that he’s actually really likeable and that they have quite a lot in common. It would be so easy to fall in love with him. And yet.
I was really hesitant about this pair-up at first, because I honestly didn’t expect to like the idea of them going out. I mean, he dated her twin sister. It’s weird. Still, Andria’s feelings for Alex develop in what I felt was a very natural and realistic way, and so the notion of their budding romance grew on me. (Although 2 weeks is definitely not long enough to start talking about love.)
Natalie leaves the remaining cupcakes. "Take one a day as needed. With Diet Coke. Repeat in six hours if no results."
I roll my eyes. "What results?"
"Mom says cupcakes are the cure for unhappiness."
The book isn’t exactly the most eventful one, but rather it’s character-driven by Andria, who’s this close to getting her driver’s license and so terrified she’ll have a seizure (and even worse: a seizure in front of her friends) and will have to start over again. Who’s initially isolated herself from the world, but is now slowly opening up to her friends and family again. Who somehow needs to find a place in this world, one where horrible secrets lie hidden and where the line between right and wrong is often blurry, but worst of all, one without her twin sister.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy
May 20, 2016
Andria blames Alex Hammond for everything that went wrong six months ago. All those months ago, her twin sister Iris died of a drug overdose and she believes Alex was the one who introduced her to drugs. Now, Andria is trying very hard to keep everything around her from falling apart. She is struggling with her grades all the while trying to keep her friends and family from tearing apart.
She feels guilty that she - a freak with a frightening illness - is alive whereas her Iris is not. She keeps her days busy by star- gazing and reading books but nothing seems as an adequate distraction. Secrets start spilling over and everything that Andria thought she knew changes; potentially shattering her world.
This book made my heart ache so bad. I wasn't expecting it to be such an emotional read. Andria's mind was not a happy place but it was so honest and raw that you couldn't help but want more. The writing was stunning and like I said some parts just broke my hearts. I loved the fact that there were elements of Greek tragedy and the way they were integrated into a YA novel. ~Sonal
She feels guilty that she - a freak with a frightening illness - is alive whereas her Iris is not. She keeps her days busy by star- gazing and reading books but nothing seems as an adequate distraction. Secrets start spilling over and everything that Andria thought she knew changes; potentially shattering her world.
This book made my heart ache so bad. I wasn't expecting it to be such an emotional read. Andria's mind was not a happy place but it was so honest and raw that you couldn't help but want more. The writing was stunning and like I said some parts just broke my hearts. I loved the fact that there were elements of Greek tragedy and the way they were integrated into a YA novel. ~Sonal
March 23, 2016
I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley
Look at that cover - I mean, come on!
All my feels here
I didn't have any expectations when I went into this book and I think it might be why I enjoyed it so much.
Dreaming of Antigone is full of all the things that make a YA contemporary great: love, loss, family drama and friendships. What I really enjoyed about this book is that every character served a purpose. I usually find that the supporting characters in some YA novels are actually just fillers and therefore drag the story down for me; that is not the case here. I will say though that her friends, particularly Trista, need to shape up as they could come across as really insensitive at times.
Look at that cover - I mean, come on!
All my feels here
I didn't have any expectations when I went into this book and I think it might be why I enjoyed it so much.
Dreaming of Antigone is full of all the things that make a YA contemporary great: love, loss, family drama and friendships. What I really enjoyed about this book is that every character served a purpose. I usually find that the supporting characters in some YA novels are actually just fillers and therefore drag the story down for me; that is not the case here. I will say though that her friends, particularly Trista, need to shape up as they could come across as really insensitive at times.
March 30, 2016
I am the type of reader who doesn't typically reach for contemporary books with hard hitting issues. When I read a contemporary, I usually want it to be cute with sunshine and rainbows. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and read this book. I am glad I decided to do that, because I think it is important to try new things. However, I do have some mixed feelings towards this book.
I will say this book had some really sad moments. Some of my friends have gone through issues that were addressed in this book, and that caused me to cry a lot while reading about those issues. I think a lot of people would be uncomfortable reading about some of the issues brought up in this book. There was sexual abuse, child abuse, suicide, and drug abuse. It was a lot for me to handle. However, I do think they are important issues that need to be talked about.
I felt like some of these hard issues weren't addressed properly in this book. They were kind of just thrown in there, and I think they should have fleshed out and discussed more. Andria's reaction to some of this issues seemed a little odd, because sometimes it felt like she had no emotions towards the issue? It was a little strange.
I think the author did a great job of weaving poetry and mythology into the plot of this story. It was so interesting to learn about the mythology behind Antigone and how it related to the novel. The author picked some beautiful lines of poetry that tied in really well with the issues that the characters were facing.
I need to discuss Andria's "friends", Natalie and Trista. They were the worst friends ever. They constantly tried to turn Andria into her sister, and that drove me insane! Natalie and Trista would try to peer pressure Andria into doing things that she didn't want to do. THEY WERE SO INSENSITIVE TO THE SITUATION AND ANDRIA'S FEELINGS. Trista would make cruel jokes that made me angry and even uncomfortable.
I just was expecting more from Natalie and Trista. I wanted dimensional characters who were there to support Andria, and they were the exact opposite.
I was really looking forward to the romance in this story. I wanted to see Andria and Alex hate each other at first, then become friends, and finally fall in love. I also wanted them to grief together. This book had some of those things, but not as much as I was hoping. Andria and Alex had some sweet and tender moments together, but their relationship was underwhelming as a whole. I felt like their relationship needed more development. I couldn't really buy the romantic connection because I thought their relationship was too sudden. To be honest, the romance ended up feeling unnecessary.
I think part of my issue with the romance between Alex and Andria was that Alex was the last person to date Iris before she died. That made me feel uncomfortable. It felt strange to have Andria fall in love with her twin sister's ex.
However, as I did mention, Alex and Andria did have some cute moments together. It was really sweet to see them bond over poetry!
Even though I have listed things that bothered me, I still enjoyed this book. This book held my attention the entire time. There were plot twists that kept me glued to the pages. There was such an addictive quality to this book. Even though there were times when I was upset or annoyed, I could not put the book down. I also liked the main character, Andria. I thought she was a great narrator. She was flawed, but I felt like that made her more relatable. I also really liked Alex as an individual. He would be a character I would like to learn more about, because I think there is a lot more to him to be revealed.
There were a lot of storylines that weren't tied up at the end of this book. I hope the author will write a sequel so these storylines can be addressed. I would like to know what happens next!
3 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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I will say this book had some really sad moments. Some of my friends have gone through issues that were addressed in this book, and that caused me to cry a lot while reading about those issues. I think a lot of people would be uncomfortable reading about some of the issues brought up in this book. There was sexual abuse, child abuse, suicide, and drug abuse. It was a lot for me to handle. However, I do think they are important issues that need to be talked about.
I felt like some of these hard issues weren't addressed properly in this book. They were kind of just thrown in there, and I think they should have fleshed out and discussed more. Andria's reaction to some of this issues seemed a little odd, because sometimes it felt like she had no emotions towards the issue? It was a little strange.
I think the author did a great job of weaving poetry and mythology into the plot of this story. It was so interesting to learn about the mythology behind Antigone and how it related to the novel. The author picked some beautiful lines of poetry that tied in really well with the issues that the characters were facing.
I need to discuss Andria's "friends", Natalie and Trista. They were the worst friends ever. They constantly tried to turn Andria into her sister, and that drove me insane! Natalie and Trista would try to peer pressure Andria into doing things that she didn't want to do. THEY WERE SO INSENSITIVE TO THE SITUATION AND ANDRIA'S FEELINGS. Trista would make cruel jokes that made me angry and even uncomfortable.
I just was expecting more from Natalie and Trista. I wanted dimensional characters who were there to support Andria, and they were the exact opposite.
I was really looking forward to the romance in this story. I wanted to see Andria and Alex hate each other at first, then become friends, and finally fall in love. I also wanted them to grief together. This book had some of those things, but not as much as I was hoping. Andria and Alex had some sweet and tender moments together, but their relationship was underwhelming as a whole. I felt like their relationship needed more development. I couldn't really buy the romantic connection because I thought their relationship was too sudden. To be honest, the romance ended up feeling unnecessary.
I think part of my issue with the romance between Alex and Andria was that Alex was the last person to date Iris before she died. That made me feel uncomfortable. It felt strange to have Andria fall in love with her twin sister's ex.
However, as I did mention, Alex and Andria did have some cute moments together. It was really sweet to see them bond over poetry!
Even though I have listed things that bothered me, I still enjoyed this book. This book held my attention the entire time. There were plot twists that kept me glued to the pages. There was such an addictive quality to this book. Even though there were times when I was upset or annoyed, I could not put the book down. I also liked the main character, Andria. I thought she was a great narrator. She was flawed, but I felt like that made her more relatable. I also really liked Alex as an individual. He would be a character I would like to learn more about, because I think there is a lot more to him to be revealed.
There were a lot of storylines that weren't tied up at the end of this book. I hope the author will write a sequel so these storylines can be addressed. I would like to know what happens next!
3 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
April 4, 2016
2.5*
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was okay, really, but nothing more, to be perfectly honest. It didn't stand out to me in any way, it didn't have any emotional impact on me, the romance weirded me out more than I thought it was good. I actually am not sure if it is a healthy romance at all. I wasn't a big fan of this book.
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was okay, really, but nothing more, to be perfectly honest. It didn't stand out to me in any way, it didn't have any emotional impact on me, the romance weirded me out more than I thought it was good. I actually am not sure if it is a healthy romance at all. I wasn't a big fan of this book.
May 24, 2016
Not as amazing as that beautiful cover! Full review: http://heartfullofbooks.com/2016/03/1...
March 2, 2016
Dreaming of Antigone is the story of Andria, the girl who dresses all in black; the girl who has a scary illness; the girl whose outgoing, beautiful, popular twin sister, Iris, overdosed on heroin. Struggling to deal with her loss and confusion, Andria distracts herself by spending time with her friends, counting down the days until she can get her driving license, gazing through her telescope at the constellations above, and writing poetry on her desk in algebra - a class she’s barely passing.
One day, Andria’s poem is gone, and in its place is another poem. Intrigued, she writes another poem, only to find a different one in its place the next day. When Andria volunteers for an extra credit project at her school library, cataloging poetry books, she realizes that her mysterious poet is none other than Alex, the boy who Andria blames for Iris’s death. As she waffles between hate towards and curiosity about Alex, Andria’s world tilts once again, when she discovers something that makes her question her family, her sister’s death, and even herself. Can broken dreams – and people – ever be made whole again?
I struggled to come up with an appropriate rating for Dreaming of Antigone. On the one hand, I read it within 2 days and was certainly curious to know “what happens next,” but on the other, I felt ill-at-ease when I reached the end of the story. I was initially intrigued by the synopsis, and was hoping there would be something meaningful that I could draw from the story, which deals, on the surface, with teenage drug use and suicide. While I enjoyed the poetry and Greek mythology aspect, I became increasingly disturbed by the almost arbitrary nature in which serious, and at times, horrific subjects are introduced, and then addressed in a manner that do not do them justice.
Ultimately, what Dreaming of Antigone suffers from, is Do-It-All syndrome. Teen drug use, substance abuse, teen sex, sexual predators, illness, and teen suicide all make an appearance in the story. These are very real issues that teens and adults alike deal with on a daily basis. This should have been a compelling, raw, heartwrenching read, yet, I was left feeling a bit like a butterfly, flitting from flower to flower, not sure which one to care about or focus on.
Part of the difficulty I had in caring about the subject matter was my inability to fully connect with Andria, our main character. I enjoyed her interest in poetry and astronomy, and even Googled some of the constellations she mentions. I was also interested in her illness, and know that many readers who also suffer with it will be able to connect emotionally to this aspect. However, Andria's responses to various situations that she was put in were, at times, not realistic. I understand that we each deal with shock, guilt, shame, and pain in different ways, but because she generally didn’t respond with strength or conviction to the more severe situations, I did not feel compelled to take her, or them, very seriously. Which is unfortunate, both for the story and for its readers.
Of all the characters, I liked Alex the most, though I wish we had learned more about him. He had his own demons with which to struggle, and I felt his struggle was more real than Andria’s, despite Andria having gone through “more.” While I’m not sure I agree with the whole love-triangle-with-my-dead-sister’s-ex-boyfriend angle, I think some readers will enjoy the swoony bits. (Speaking of swoony bits, I thought describing a girl as riding her boyfriend like she’s a jockey in the Kentucky Derby was rather… gross… and not swoony.)
Andria’s two best friends, Natalie and Trista, were alternatingly disappointing and encouraging as characters. Encouraging in that they encouraged Andria to get out and start living again, and disappointing in that they both put a lot of unconscious pressure on her to be like her sister, and conscious pressure on her to be with Alex. What I disliked the most about this latter part was the idea that Andria and Alex could “fix” each other. To a certain point, our significant other should make us want to be a better person, but to be together to try to fix each other is a disaster waiting to happen.
It wasn’t until the end of the book that I felt more conviction, on Andria’s part, about everything that had happened up until that point, but by then, it was over, and rather hurriedly, too. I don’t expect my stories to be tied up with a nice, little bow, but I did want some more closure on certain subjects, and felt restless after I finished reading.
I wish I could be more explicit in my review, but I tend to shy away from discussing spoilery bits until the book has been available to the general public for more than six months. Dreaming of Antigone by Robin Bridges debuts on March 29, 2016. While it didn’t quite work for me, I can see why a lot of readers might enjoy it. My advice on this one, dear reader? Try it before you buy it.
Please visit my book review blog, ShelfishlyAddicted.com, for more reviews on YA, Adult, and Children fiction -- as well as bookish discussions, giveaways, author interviews, and more!
One day, Andria’s poem is gone, and in its place is another poem. Intrigued, she writes another poem, only to find a different one in its place the next day. When Andria volunteers for an extra credit project at her school library, cataloging poetry books, she realizes that her mysterious poet is none other than Alex, the boy who Andria blames for Iris’s death. As she waffles between hate towards and curiosity about Alex, Andria’s world tilts once again, when she discovers something that makes her question her family, her sister’s death, and even herself. Can broken dreams – and people – ever be made whole again?
I struggled to come up with an appropriate rating for Dreaming of Antigone. On the one hand, I read it within 2 days and was certainly curious to know “what happens next,” but on the other, I felt ill-at-ease when I reached the end of the story. I was initially intrigued by the synopsis, and was hoping there would be something meaningful that I could draw from the story, which deals, on the surface, with teenage drug use and suicide. While I enjoyed the poetry and Greek mythology aspect, I became increasingly disturbed by the almost arbitrary nature in which serious, and at times, horrific subjects are introduced, and then addressed in a manner that do not do them justice.
Ultimately, what Dreaming of Antigone suffers from, is Do-It-All syndrome. Teen drug use, substance abuse, teen sex, sexual predators, illness, and teen suicide all make an appearance in the story. These are very real issues that teens and adults alike deal with on a daily basis. This should have been a compelling, raw, heartwrenching read, yet, I was left feeling a bit like a butterfly, flitting from flower to flower, not sure which one to care about or focus on.
Part of the difficulty I had in caring about the subject matter was my inability to fully connect with Andria, our main character. I enjoyed her interest in poetry and astronomy, and even Googled some of the constellations she mentions. I was also interested in her illness, and know that many readers who also suffer with it will be able to connect emotionally to this aspect. However, Andria's responses to various situations that she was put in were, at times, not realistic. I understand that we each deal with shock, guilt, shame, and pain in different ways, but because she generally didn’t respond with strength or conviction to the more severe situations, I did not feel compelled to take her, or them, very seriously. Which is unfortunate, both for the story and for its readers.
Of all the characters, I liked Alex the most, though I wish we had learned more about him. He had his own demons with which to struggle, and I felt his struggle was more real than Andria’s, despite Andria having gone through “more.” While I’m not sure I agree with the whole love-triangle-with-my-dead-sister’s-ex-boyfriend angle, I think some readers will enjoy the swoony bits. (Speaking of swoony bits, I thought describing a girl as riding her boyfriend like she’s a jockey in the Kentucky Derby was rather… gross… and not swoony.)
Andria’s two best friends, Natalie and Trista, were alternatingly disappointing and encouraging as characters. Encouraging in that they encouraged Andria to get out and start living again, and disappointing in that they both put a lot of unconscious pressure on her to be like her sister, and conscious pressure on her to be with Alex. What I disliked the most about this latter part was the idea that Andria and Alex could “fix” each other. To a certain point, our significant other should make us want to be a better person, but to be together to try to fix each other is a disaster waiting to happen.
It wasn’t until the end of the book that I felt more conviction, on Andria’s part, about everything that had happened up until that point, but by then, it was over, and rather hurriedly, too. I don’t expect my stories to be tied up with a nice, little bow, but I did want some more closure on certain subjects, and felt restless after I finished reading.
I wish I could be more explicit in my review, but I tend to shy away from discussing spoilery bits until the book has been available to the general public for more than six months. Dreaming of Antigone by Robin Bridges debuts on March 29, 2016. While it didn’t quite work for me, I can see why a lot of readers might enjoy it. My advice on this one, dear reader? Try it before you buy it.
Please visit my book review blog, ShelfishlyAddicted.com, for more reviews on YA, Adult, and Children fiction -- as well as bookish discussions, giveaways, author interviews, and more!
March 8, 2017
Dreaming of Antigone was a beautiful story that was able to be a fun, light read while digging deeper to bring out those strong emotions from within.
Andria, our main character, is dealing with the aftermath of her twin sister's death that happened six months ago. Andria immediately pulled me in through her kind and even a bit sarcastic personality. Although she is easy to love she still has her flaws, and isn't dealing with her sister, Iris's death as well as her family and friends seem to be.
All of the characters we are introduced to are dealing with their own grief in different ways. I enjoyed learning about them and seeing how they brought something to the story in a way to represent different stages of grief. Besides Andria - I enjoyed getting to know Alex, who was Iris's boyfriend when she passed away.
There was poetry, romance, drama, and all the other things that make us love contemporary novels in the first place. And as the story continues, we find out the truth surrounding Iris’s death and every character is forced to finally deal with everything from their past and find a way to truly move on. It was a little heartbreaking at times, but the story wraps up in a beautiful way.
This was my first book that I’ve read from Robin Bridges, and I have to say that I’m now a fan because her writing was absolutely beautiful. It was able to pull me in from the first page and made this book enjoyable and easy to understand.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The story was great and full of interesting characters. It was a good representation of grief and all the tough issues it tackled throughout. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporaries!
READ FULL REVIEW HERE
Andria, our main character, is dealing with the aftermath of her twin sister's death that happened six months ago. Andria immediately pulled me in through her kind and even a bit sarcastic personality. Although she is easy to love she still has her flaws, and isn't dealing with her sister, Iris's death as well as her family and friends seem to be.
All of the characters we are introduced to are dealing with their own grief in different ways. I enjoyed learning about them and seeing how they brought something to the story in a way to represent different stages of grief. Besides Andria - I enjoyed getting to know Alex, who was Iris's boyfriend when she passed away.
There was poetry, romance, drama, and all the other things that make us love contemporary novels in the first place. And as the story continues, we find out the truth surrounding Iris’s death and every character is forced to finally deal with everything from their past and find a way to truly move on. It was a little heartbreaking at times, but the story wraps up in a beautiful way.
This was my first book that I’ve read from Robin Bridges, and I have to say that I’m now a fan because her writing was absolutely beautiful. It was able to pull me in from the first page and made this book enjoyable and easy to understand.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The story was great and full of interesting characters. It was a good representation of grief and all the tough issues it tackled throughout. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporaries!
READ FULL REVIEW HERE
August 26, 2017
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
This book was different than I expected. The poetry aspect I think was done pretty well. I'm not a huge fan of poetry but after reading this book I've found a new fondness for it.
What bothered me most about this book though and the reason I gave it an average rating was I found a lot of things quite bothersome. First was the romance. Yes people die everyday. People move on eventually. But Andria being in a relationship with Alex just didn't quite sit well with me. I would have been okay if the execution was done differently but the whole thing felt like Alex and Andria forgot about Iris way too fast. It didn't feel like they were too affected by what happened. Andria was Iris' sister. She's her sister. And that's my second issue. Andria didn't seem to care about some of the things happening around her. Aside from the constant nightmares she's having that scares her, Andria felt like too uncaring and unemotional about some of the issues she faced. And what was with her friends constantly comparing her with Iris? She is not Iris. Get over it. And Trista even made some really insensitive jokes about Iris that just grated on me. Lastly, I think the author handled the issues in the book too lightly. Maybe she didn't want to make the book too dark or heavy? I don't know. But I think it would have been better if the issues were given more emphasis and importance.
All in all the author did an amazing job in making Dreaming of Antigone an interesting read. I like her writing style because it's just so addictive. If it weren't for the things I mentioned previously I would have given this a five-star rating. Having said that I'm looking forward to reading more of Robin Bridges' books.
I received an e-arc from NetGalley for review.
This book was different than I expected. The poetry aspect I think was done pretty well. I'm not a huge fan of poetry but after reading this book I've found a new fondness for it.
What bothered me most about this book though and the reason I gave it an average rating was I found a lot of things quite bothersome. First was the romance. Yes people die everyday. People move on eventually. But Andria being in a relationship with Alex just didn't quite sit well with me. I would have been okay if the execution was done differently but the whole thing felt like Alex and Andria forgot about Iris way too fast. It didn't feel like they were too affected by what happened. Andria was Iris' sister. She's her sister. And that's my second issue. Andria didn't seem to care about some of the things happening around her. Aside from the constant nightmares she's having that scares her, Andria felt like too uncaring and unemotional about some of the issues she faced. And what was with her friends constantly comparing her with Iris? She is not Iris. Get over it. And Trista even made some really insensitive jokes about Iris that just grated on me. Lastly, I think the author handled the issues in the book too lightly. Maybe she didn't want to make the book too dark or heavy? I don't know. But I think it would have been better if the issues were given more emphasis and importance.
All in all the author did an amazing job in making Dreaming of Antigone an interesting read. I like her writing style because it's just so addictive. If it weren't for the things I mentioned previously I would have given this a five-star rating. Having said that I'm looking forward to reading more of Robin Bridges' books.
I received an e-arc from NetGalley for review.
March 3, 2016
(Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley, I received an ebook copy of this book for free to review.)
I need to start by saying the writing style of this book is truly stunning. The way the words flowed had me begging for more. It has been a while since I was absolutely in love with an author’s writing style, but now I found one.
This book deals with a lot of tough subjects, addiction, epilepsy, sexual abuse, death, grief, suicide and many more. Looking at all these topics written out makes me personally think the story should just not work, there is too much going on. Boy was I wrong, the author touched on each of the subjects with the knowledge and respect they deserve. You could tell either a lot of research was done or it was from personal experience. I commend the author for being brave enough to just go for it.
As for characters, I think they were all well detailed. Andria was portrayed in a way that I felt like she was one of my good friends, I was completely sucked into her life and I loved that. She was a pessimist for sure, but not to the point where I was getting annoyed with her. She lost her sister and was dealing with so many issues I feel the author could have easily over done it, but she didn’t. I think she did an amazing job with Andria as a whole.
Overall this book was just amazing. It’s a contemporary with less focus on the love more on tough subjects. I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it with no doubts.
I need to start by saying the writing style of this book is truly stunning. The way the words flowed had me begging for more. It has been a while since I was absolutely in love with an author’s writing style, but now I found one.
This book deals with a lot of tough subjects, addiction, epilepsy, sexual abuse, death, grief, suicide and many more. Looking at all these topics written out makes me personally think the story should just not work, there is too much going on. Boy was I wrong, the author touched on each of the subjects with the knowledge and respect they deserve. You could tell either a lot of research was done or it was from personal experience. I commend the author for being brave enough to just go for it.
As for characters, I think they were all well detailed. Andria was portrayed in a way that I felt like she was one of my good friends, I was completely sucked into her life and I loved that. She was a pessimist for sure, but not to the point where I was getting annoyed with her. She lost her sister and was dealing with so many issues I feel the author could have easily over done it, but she didn’t. I think she did an amazing job with Andria as a whole.
Overall this book was just amazing. It’s a contemporary with less focus on the love more on tough subjects. I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it with no doubts.
March 8, 2016
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
Andria was an okay character, but I couldn't warm to her enough to really like her.
This was an okay read, but it struggled to keep my interest at points, so there were times where it dragged slightly.
Overall, An okay read.
Andria was an okay character, but I couldn't warm to her enough to really like her.
This was an okay read, but it struggled to keep my interest at points, so there were times where it dragged slightly.
Overall, An okay read.
February 25, 2016
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.
Dreaming of Antigone focuses on so many issues - drug addiction, illness, sexual assault and abuse - that it honestly shouldn't have worked.
But it did.
It should have been a cluttered mess of stereotypical problems and causes.
But it wasn't.
Robin Bridges created a realistic look at troubled teens, the whys, and how to cope. I was blown away by how much it made me feel. This isn't an easy story to read. At times, I'm positive people will feel uncomfortable with aspects of Andria's life --- but life isn't always unicorns and rainbows. Sometimes people get the short end of the stick. I'd say this is one of those cases.
There is definitely angst in Dreaming of Antigone. Angst as you wonder when she will seize (because you just KNOW it's coming). Angst as you await Alex's relapse (again, you are positive it's coming). Angst at every interaction they have, because you want them to find happiness and light together.
I was on the fence about her 'friends.' Natalie seemed okay most times, but Trista left much to be desired. While I understand making jokes and teasing friends, often I felt they went too far or were slightly cruel and thoughtless. But then I suppose one can't dwell too long in the past. I guess I just thought Andria deserved better considering what she was dealing with. And it was A LOT.
There are a few pieces of the book that reminded me of others I've read in the past - the poetry exchanges on the desk, the abuse leading to suicide, etc. The first was one of my favorite things, and the latter made complete sense.
I felt so many emotions while reading this book. The only reason I took away one star from the rating was how things ended so abruptly. I think I'd have liked a little more for Alex and Andria. With all they had gone through, I felt they deserved more. As did we. I know that it feels as though they're together, but I was shocked at all the unknowns. Would Andria and her mother really move? Was Craig going to jail? Would Andria keep her friends? Would she ever get her license? WOULD ANDRIA AND ALEX STAY TOGETHER?
Dreaming of Antigone is a brilliant and emotional look at the imperfections of teenage life. Not everyone lives a charmed life, and this is just a small sampling of that truth.
Dreaming of Antigone focuses on so many issues - drug addiction, illness, sexual assault and abuse - that it honestly shouldn't have worked.
But it did.
It should have been a cluttered mess of stereotypical problems and causes.
But it wasn't.
Robin Bridges created a realistic look at troubled teens, the whys, and how to cope. I was blown away by how much it made me feel. This isn't an easy story to read. At times, I'm positive people will feel uncomfortable with aspects of Andria's life --- but life isn't always unicorns and rainbows. Sometimes people get the short end of the stick. I'd say this is one of those cases.
There is definitely angst in Dreaming of Antigone. Angst as you wonder when she will seize (because you just KNOW it's coming). Angst as you await Alex's relapse (again, you are positive it's coming). Angst at every interaction they have, because you want them to find happiness and light together.
I was on the fence about her 'friends.' Natalie seemed okay most times, but Trista left much to be desired. While I understand making jokes and teasing friends, often I felt they went too far or were slightly cruel and thoughtless. But then I suppose one can't dwell too long in the past. I guess I just thought Andria deserved better considering what she was dealing with. And it was A LOT.
There are a few pieces of the book that reminded me of others I've read in the past - the poetry exchanges on the desk, the abuse leading to suicide, etc. The first was one of my favorite things, and the latter made complete sense.
I felt so many emotions while reading this book. The only reason I took away one star from the rating was how things ended so abruptly. I think I'd have liked a little more for Alex and Andria. With all they had gone through, I felt they deserved more. As did we. I know that it feels as though they're together, but I was shocked at all the unknowns. Would Andria and her mother really move? Was Craig going to jail? Would Andria keep her friends? Would she ever get her license? WOULD ANDRIA AND ALEX STAY TOGETHER?
Dreaming of Antigone is a brilliant and emotional look at the imperfections of teenage life. Not everyone lives a charmed life, and this is just a small sampling of that truth.
December 19, 2017
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ok, I can't resist to this kind of blurb and cover. Buut, what's new about Dreaming of Antigone? I'm gonna be honest: Absolutely nothing. It's more of the same story: broken girl meets problematic/broken boy and fall in love, but there's something stopping them to loving each other... More of using poetry and Greek Myth as a try to give some depth to the story.
But that's not bad. It's entretening and I didn't see coming THAT revelation. It's not a different story, but it's ok for me. I love YA books and I'm always willing to read one more. I emphasize a couple of aspect and the background of Iris' character. Also, is easy to read, but the rest is meh.
I didn't connect with Andria, she was an indifferent character for me, same as Alex. The book practically focuses on their no-romance (you know, they like each other, but they don't accept it). My favorite character was OBVIOUSLY Iris. And, for me, that I think about conspiracy theories almost every ten seconds, that plot-twist about their death was a uttterly surprise. Poor baby Iris ;__;
My favorite parts were Andria's obsession with stars and constellations. That was very cute <3. Soooo, Dreaming of Antigone works for me. Obviously, I was expecting a lot more of the story, but overall I liked it.
March 9, 2016
review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is March 29th, 2016.
This is a story about grief and what happens to those left behind after someone is taken away suddenly. It deals with the inability to let go and move on, the void that is left and survivors guilt.
While I will say that this story is not entirely original in its concept as I have read others similar, it still managed to capture the emotions it was aiming for, particularly since this is for the YA genre.
As a twin, I could not imagine what it would be like to lose my other half. Andria's journey is something out of my worst nightmare.
The highlight of this story (potential spoiler, maybe) is the them of two broken people coming together to heal. It shows that no matter how damaged someone might be, they always need someone to lean on, and potentially that someone can turn out to be really good for them.
I will warn people, I almost shed tears at one point. It was the part with Sophie, I will say no more. Only those who read this story will know.
Overall I enjoyed this story.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is March 29th, 2016.
This is a story about grief and what happens to those left behind after someone is taken away suddenly. It deals with the inability to let go and move on, the void that is left and survivors guilt.
While I will say that this story is not entirely original in its concept as I have read others similar, it still managed to capture the emotions it was aiming for, particularly since this is for the YA genre.
As a twin, I could not imagine what it would be like to lose my other half. Andria's journey is something out of my worst nightmare.
The highlight of this story (potential spoiler, maybe) is the them of two broken people coming together to heal. It shows that no matter how damaged someone might be, they always need someone to lean on, and potentially that someone can turn out to be really good for them.
I will warn people, I almost shed tears at one point. It was the part with Sophie, I will say no more. Only those who read this story will know.
Overall I enjoyed this story.
March 10, 2016
At its heart, this is a very sweet and believable teen love story. A few things kept me from giving it a higher rating, however. First of all, for me, was the "framing" device of Antigone, which, I'm sorry, didn't work at all. Honestly, the only parallel is that there are two sisters, one of whom commits suicide. There's no particular thematic connection - the ethical concerns that drive Antigone the play are absent here, the conflict between religious beliefs and the laws of the state is not relevant, nor are the family relationships. I did, however, like the poetry that Andria and Alex used to communicate with one another - that was one literary device that worked. At the beginning of the novel, I found it a bit improbable that a girl of Iris' background would have overdosed from freebasing heroin and that no one could have seen it coming. However, plot developments that I won't discuss did provide more motivation as the novel progressed. I felt, on the whole, that the author's reach somewhat exceeded her grasp. Had she resisted the temptation to throw in all the bells and whistles I think she would have ended up with a more affecting novel.
I was given a copy of this novel by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was given a copy of this novel by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the free copy of this book I received!
I really wanted to like this book. And the thing is, I think what the author was trying to do could have worked if she had spent more time developing the characters, but this felt heavy-handed and not nuanced enough. However, I find star-gazing, poetry-reciting teenagers to be pretentious, so I may not be the best one to consult for an opinion.
I felt like the characters and the situations they were in were really forced. It was good that Bridges attempted to show some relevant controversial issues, but I think that when authors try to assess many of these issues at once, it makes the reader feel less of an impact as to the gravity of these issues.
I also thought the characters were hopelessly boring and cardboard-y. I couldn't really connect with any of them because they just seemed like background stock characters from every YA book I've ever read. The love story was very insta-love. And I didn't find the Antigone connection very interesting or original at all. However, there were some lines that made me giggle, and sometimes the author's descriptions were quite lovely.
I really wanted to like this book. And the thing is, I think what the author was trying to do could have worked if she had spent more time developing the characters, but this felt heavy-handed and not nuanced enough. However, I find star-gazing, poetry-reciting teenagers to be pretentious, so I may not be the best one to consult for an opinion.
I felt like the characters and the situations they were in were really forced. It was good that Bridges attempted to show some relevant controversial issues, but I think that when authors try to assess many of these issues at once, it makes the reader feel less of an impact as to the gravity of these issues.
I also thought the characters were hopelessly boring and cardboard-y. I couldn't really connect with any of them because they just seemed like background stock characters from every YA book I've ever read. The love story was very insta-love. And I didn't find the Antigone connection very interesting or original at all. However, there were some lines that made me giggle, and sometimes the author's descriptions were quite lovely.
March 10, 2016
What a tragic but beautifully written story.
I couldn't put it down.
I finished it in one evening.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this lovely book.
I absolutely loved it.
The ending was very moving.
I couldn't put it down.
I finished it in one evening.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this lovely book.
I absolutely loved it.
The ending was very moving.
April 22, 2020
This book deals with some pretty heavy topics, namely drug use, sexual abuse, and mental health issues. It seems almost every teen book these days deals with these subjects, to the point you grow tired of it. However, Dreaming of Antigone is one of the best I’ve read, that actually does realistic justice to the problems sadly faced by too many teenagers today. I was drawn in first by the cover, then the description. I’m a twin myself, so I thought it would be an interesting read with regards to survivors guilt, and i wasn’t wrong. I can’t even begin to imagine how I’d feel in the same situation. I’ve suffered from mental health issues myself, and I identified strongly with some of Andria’s coping mechanisms. Stargazing especially. All in all, I found this a beautiful, emotional read. Certainly difficult at times and a tragedy, but still recommended reading. And that cover! Beautiful.
March 15, 2019
Andria’s story is the story of Iris. Her twin sister. Andria’s story is one or mystery and sadness. With a touch of happy. With confusion and fright. Anger and madness.
Iris’ story isn’t to be taken lightly. Andria the poor girl, goes through so much, all she wants is to be able to take her damn drivers license test. But her seizures are stopping her. She had to be seizure free for six months. The last two weeks before she can see the doctor and hopefully take the test, everything slowly unfolds. What really happened to her sister and is the boy she thought responsible for negative influence really the one to blame? Or is he innocent in all of this?
Well what a deep ride. I teared up. Couldn’t put it down.
Iris’ story isn’t to be taken lightly. Andria the poor girl, goes through so much, all she wants is to be able to take her damn drivers license test. But her seizures are stopping her. She had to be seizure free for six months. The last two weeks before she can see the doctor and hopefully take the test, everything slowly unfolds. What really happened to her sister and is the boy she thought responsible for negative influence really the one to blame? Or is he innocent in all of this?
Well what a deep ride. I teared up. Couldn’t put it down.
February 29, 2016
Disclaimer: received an ARC copy from Netgalley.
Some mild spoilers.
Rating: 1.5 stars.
I just wasn't super impressed with this book. I was looking for a thought-provoking contemporary with interesting characters, but all I got was a standard contemporary with the awful, cringe worthy cliches. The book's worst offenses were: a trying-too-hard-to-be-unique MC and a romance that kinda grossed me out. The only thing that I liked about this book was the poetry element and the mythology of Antigone.
This is a contemporary novel about a girl named Andria, who is still reeling from her twin sister's death by heroin overdose. She's always been babied because she has epilepsy, but since this happened, it's gotten even worse. Andria is counting down the days to get her driver's license so she can go star gazing and is struggling to survive high school. But the normal life she's seeking becomes far out of reach when her sister's ex, the guy who got her on drugs, comes back into town and the truth about her sister's death comes to light.
First, I want to talk about the positives of this book. I really liked that this book decided to talk about Antigone. She is from an old Greek play and she represents choosing to stand up for her own beliefs. However, the author relates the character's story to suicide. Maybe I'm just really excited about this because I'm learning about the story of Antigone in one of my classes, but I was really liking the incorporation of this mythology into the book. I also kinda liked the poetry aspect of this book. Sure, poetry isn't the most unique thing in books, but this book featured a lot of good poetry about depression, stars and goodness.
Now, I absolutely didn't like the romance in this book. Bleh. (Disclaimer, a bit of a rant) Basically, I'm not okay with someone dating a sibling's ex, especially if the siblings are twins. I know a lot of books have love triangles featuring brothers but either way, falling in love with 2 siblings isn't something I like to read about. Something that made me angry was that Andria and the other characters even mention some of the reasons why it is gross. But you wanna know how they rationalize this relationship? They should be together because they can fix each other. No, just no. You shouldn't be with someone because you want to fix them. That's just not okay. Sure, relationships make us better people, but choosing to be with someone because they are broken isn't cool or healthy. (Sorry, rant over)
Okay, anyways, I wasn't really a big fan of Andria either. I couldn't really relate to her at all. She's a goth chick who likes stargazing and has epilepsy, which were traits that I thought were kind of interesting. But the author, as much as she tried, kind of failed in making these traits feel real. I liked the incorporation of epilepsy into the story, but Andria's personality just grated on me. Her voice was annoying when she talked about her feelings for the love interest and she could be a real awful person to her mother. And her friends? Yuck. They kept peer-pressuring her throughout the book and it just made me uncomfortable. I felt like they really weren't her greatest friends. They didn't seem to notice how stressed she was and they kept trying to make her into her twin sister. The weird part was that even Andria noticed this and seemed to do nothing about it.
Also, I was just not impressed that this book didn't really offer anything new to the genre. It follows the basic plot of any book that features suicide. It follows a character who loved the person who died and you see them follow a journey through grief and maybe, just maybe, forgiveness. This character gets sucked into an adventure trying to find out why this person died and finding clues and messages to the living. Yes, I think this is an important topic to discuss and explore, but I think the formulaic-ness of the genre needs to change. REALLY Change.
This book's cliche-list features: girl falls for bad boy (aka, he went to rehab), parents aren't around much, girl is kind of an outcast, girl is considered special and good by boy, love triangle (featuring a dead girl), mother is overprotective, girl doesn't drink or hook up and makes it known that she doesn't approve.
On that note, I'm going to say that this book wasn't the greatest. I think you might enjoy it more if you haven't read Gayle Forman's I Was Here or any other book featuring suicide. Even then, I think you might be a little put off by the messages expressed in this book. If you're looking for a good book that explores the topic of suicide, have a look at Falling into Place by Amy Zhang.
Some mild spoilers.
Rating: 1.5 stars.
I just wasn't super impressed with this book. I was looking for a thought-provoking contemporary with interesting characters, but all I got was a standard contemporary with the awful, cringe worthy cliches. The book's worst offenses were: a trying-too-hard-to-be-unique MC and a romance that kinda grossed me out. The only thing that I liked about this book was the poetry element and the mythology of Antigone.
This is a contemporary novel about a girl named Andria, who is still reeling from her twin sister's death by heroin overdose. She's always been babied because she has epilepsy, but since this happened, it's gotten even worse. Andria is counting down the days to get her driver's license so she can go star gazing and is struggling to survive high school. But the normal life she's seeking becomes far out of reach when her sister's ex, the guy who got her on drugs, comes back into town and the truth about her sister's death comes to light.
First, I want to talk about the positives of this book. I really liked that this book decided to talk about Antigone. She is from an old Greek play and she represents choosing to stand up for her own beliefs. However, the author relates the character's story to suicide. Maybe I'm just really excited about this because I'm learning about the story of Antigone in one of my classes, but I was really liking the incorporation of this mythology into the book. I also kinda liked the poetry aspect of this book. Sure, poetry isn't the most unique thing in books, but this book featured a lot of good poetry about depression, stars and goodness.
Now, I absolutely didn't like the romance in this book. Bleh. (Disclaimer, a bit of a rant) Basically, I'm not okay with someone dating a sibling's ex, especially if the siblings are twins. I know a lot of books have love triangles featuring brothers but either way, falling in love with 2 siblings isn't something I like to read about. Something that made me angry was that Andria and the other characters even mention some of the reasons why it is gross. But you wanna know how they rationalize this relationship? They should be together because they can fix each other. No, just no. You shouldn't be with someone because you want to fix them. That's just not okay. Sure, relationships make us better people, but choosing to be with someone because they are broken isn't cool or healthy. (Sorry, rant over)
Okay, anyways, I wasn't really a big fan of Andria either. I couldn't really relate to her at all. She's a goth chick who likes stargazing and has epilepsy, which were traits that I thought were kind of interesting. But the author, as much as she tried, kind of failed in making these traits feel real. I liked the incorporation of epilepsy into the story, but Andria's personality just grated on me. Her voice was annoying when she talked about her feelings for the love interest and she could be a real awful person to her mother. And her friends? Yuck. They kept peer-pressuring her throughout the book and it just made me uncomfortable. I felt like they really weren't her greatest friends. They didn't seem to notice how stressed she was and they kept trying to make her into her twin sister. The weird part was that even Andria noticed this and seemed to do nothing about it.
Also, I was just not impressed that this book didn't really offer anything new to the genre. It follows the basic plot of any book that features suicide. It follows a character who loved the person who died and you see them follow a journey through grief and maybe, just maybe, forgiveness. This character gets sucked into an adventure trying to find out why this person died and finding clues and messages to the living. Yes, I think this is an important topic to discuss and explore, but I think the formulaic-ness of the genre needs to change. REALLY Change.
This book's cliche-list features: girl falls for bad boy (aka, he went to rehab), parents aren't around much, girl is kind of an outcast, girl is considered special and good by boy, love triangle (featuring a dead girl), mother is overprotective, girl doesn't drink or hook up and makes it known that she doesn't approve.
On that note, I'm going to say that this book wasn't the greatest. I think you might enjoy it more if you haven't read Gayle Forman's I Was Here or any other book featuring suicide. Even then, I think you might be a little put off by the messages expressed in this book. If you're looking for a good book that explores the topic of suicide, have a look at Falling into Place by Amy Zhang.
June 22, 2017
I can not get over her wanting to even touch someone who helped in what occurred to her sister.
March 29, 2016
Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
I was first drawn in by Dreaming of Antigone's beautiful, star-filled cover that seemed to promise a swoon-worthy romance that would be unforgettable and would make me weak in the knees.
While it was a good, contemporary read (that had some romance to it), it was much more than that. It was a dark read - painful in some places, filled with drugs and sexual abuse - things that can be really difficult to write about.
When I got an ARC copy of this book from the publisher (thank you, Kensington!), I kind of sat and admired thow gorgeous it is (okay, did I mention I love the cover?) for a while, and I thought of how blown away I was going to be after I read it. Unfortunately, it kind of fell a little short for me in that department, and while I did enjoy it, I have to say that I found it a little lacking. It wasn't quite as pronounced as I had hoped - it didn't offer quite as memorable of a story as I had expected. But even though that, it was a great read, and I really found myself spending time getting absorbed into the story.
However, since it was a tough read (and I love contemporaries that deal with darker subject matter), it stuck with me, and it's definitely something I'll remember for a while (not to mention something I'll probably pick up and read again).
Iris and Andria are twin sisters. Iris has a boyfriend, goes to parties, a nice car - everything she could want. Andria, on the other hand, deals with seizures from her epilepsy, and she doesn't have the luxury of living on the wild side like her sister. However, Iris's life is less than perfect - she and her boyfriend are into drugs pretty heavily - and it's something that will end up costing Iris her life.
Left behind in the shadow of her sister's passing, Andria copes by stargazing and trying to make the most of her life, including trying to go on without the person who knew her best. When Iris's old boyfriend comes back to town after a stint in rehab, he appears to be completely clean, and while at first Andria doesn't even want to be near him, she soon finds herself interested in him - despite the fact that he had originally loved her twin sister. As the two of them spend more time together, Andria begins to develop an almost forbidden love for him, and since he feels the same way, Andria has to decide to take that leap.
"I smile up into the darkness. These are my stars. And I am sharing them with you, Alex Hammond."
When a scandal strikes town involving Adria's step-father, a new secret comes to light - something that Iris had been hiding for years that may have caused her to take drastic measures. Now Andria is left to try and figure out what had gone wrong in Iris's otherwise perfect life - and in discovering Iris's secret, Andria is left to confront demons of her
Dreaming of Antigone deals with a lot of heavy topics, and it does a number on your heart while reading. There are happy moments as well, and I couldn't help hoping against all odds that Andria and Alex would end up together. The writing was almost poetic in how beautiful it was. While at first it took me a bit to really get into this book, once I did, I found myself enjoying it quite a bit.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this, and if there is another book written in this style by this author, I'll definitely be reading it. If you enjoy contemporary, especially on that deals with darker topics, give this one a go.
Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was first drawn in by Dreaming of Antigone's beautiful, star-filled cover that seemed to promise a swoon-worthy romance that would be unforgettable and would make me weak in the knees.
While it was a good, contemporary read (that had some romance to it), it was much more than that. It was a dark read - painful in some places, filled with drugs and sexual abuse - things that can be really difficult to write about.
When I got an ARC copy of this book from the publisher (thank you, Kensington!), I kind of sat and admired thow gorgeous it is (okay, did I mention I love the cover?) for a while, and I thought of how blown away I was going to be after I read it. Unfortunately, it kind of fell a little short for me in that department, and while I did enjoy it, I have to say that I found it a little lacking. It wasn't quite as pronounced as I had hoped - it didn't offer quite as memorable of a story as I had expected. But even though that, it was a great read, and I really found myself spending time getting absorbed into the story.
However, since it was a tough read (and I love contemporaries that deal with darker subject matter), it stuck with me, and it's definitely something I'll remember for a while (not to mention something I'll probably pick up and read again).
Iris and Andria are twin sisters. Iris has a boyfriend, goes to parties, a nice car - everything she could want. Andria, on the other hand, deals with seizures from her epilepsy, and she doesn't have the luxury of living on the wild side like her sister. However, Iris's life is less than perfect - she and her boyfriend are into drugs pretty heavily - and it's something that will end up costing Iris her life.
Left behind in the shadow of her sister's passing, Andria copes by stargazing and trying to make the most of her life, including trying to go on without the person who knew her best. When Iris's old boyfriend comes back to town after a stint in rehab, he appears to be completely clean, and while at first Andria doesn't even want to be near him, she soon finds herself interested in him - despite the fact that he had originally loved her twin sister. As the two of them spend more time together, Andria begins to develop an almost forbidden love for him, and since he feels the same way, Andria has to decide to take that leap.
"I smile up into the darkness. These are my stars. And I am sharing them with you, Alex Hammond."
When a scandal strikes town involving Adria's step-father, a new secret comes to light - something that Iris had been hiding for years that may have caused her to take drastic measures. Now Andria is left to try and figure out what had gone wrong in Iris's otherwise perfect life - and in discovering Iris's secret, Andria is left to confront demons of her
Dreaming of Antigone deals with a lot of heavy topics, and it does a number on your heart while reading. There are happy moments as well, and I couldn't help hoping against all odds that Andria and Alex would end up together. The writing was almost poetic in how beautiful it was. While at first it took me a bit to really get into this book, once I did, I found myself enjoying it quite a bit.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this, and if there is another book written in this style by this author, I'll definitely be reading it. If you enjoy contemporary, especially on that deals with darker topics, give this one a go.
Note: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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March 7, 2016
First reviewed on [a cup of tea and an armful of books]. Check it out for more young adult literature reviews and book photos!
I want to tell everyone I meet about this book. It’s taken me several days to work up to writing a review purely because I was afraid that if I wrote it immediately it would only end up being solely composed of “ILOVETHISBOOKSOMUCH” and “YouHAVEtoreaditNOW”s. There will still be a fair amount of that, so this is your warning.
This is the first book in the contemporary young adult genre that I’ve loved unconditionally in a long time. Robin Bridges’ writing really reminds me of Deb Caletti’s style. Any time she comes out with a new book I read it because I know I’ll like it. But this. This. I’ve never read a Robin Bridges novel before, and in the middle of reading this I knew I had to read everything that she’s ever written and will write.
Dreaming of Antigone is about Andria, a girl who has recently lost her twin and who finds a kindred spirit in Antigone when they begin to read the tragedy in class. For a girl who lost her father when she was a baby and blames herself for the death of her sister, Antigone’s family tragedy is relatable. Andria has always been the weird twin, the one who looked more likely to have a drug problem with her all-black wardrobe. It wasn’t meant to be Iris, the one who had everything. She had her life put together. Like many things, what you initially see on the surface is not what lies beneath. As Andria rediscovers how to live in the wake of her sister’s death, not everything that appears perfect is as it seems.
Reading this book was so lovely. It’s young adult, it’s romance, it has a heavy amount of astronomy and stargazing, and there’s poems and Greek literature. As a writer and reader who was an English major, this made me so happy. Writing poems back and forth to a mysterious person was so romantic. I loved that there was such a focus on it. I was able to connect with Andria through that and her habit of sneaking out late to look at the stars.
The romance in this novel was gentle. Both were looking for forgiveness and understanding as they tried to move on while also maintaining a balance of remembering the person whose death still haunts them. It was just the right amount of “aww”s without becoming corny. I honestly could continue reading about them even beyond what happens to them in the novel. The romantic relationship was written well, but it went beyond that. I felt that all the relationships in this book were realistic: Andria and her mom, Andria and her two friends who are also coping with Iris’ death in their own, different ways…this author really had a handle on how to write characters, relationships, and the different ways people handle grief.
The writing style was beautiful. I was able to get lost in the words. I really wish I could forget everything about this book in order to read it again. As soon as it comes out, I want to order a physical copy so I can read it all over again. And when I have to lug it around when I move in about a year and a half, that’s saying something.
Read this book if you’re a fan of other young adult contemporary romance novels and their authors. I feel that you won’t be disappointed.
5 stars.
I received a copy of Dreaming of Antigone from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It will be available March 29th, 2016!
I want to tell everyone I meet about this book. It’s taken me several days to work up to writing a review purely because I was afraid that if I wrote it immediately it would only end up being solely composed of “ILOVETHISBOOKSOMUCH” and “YouHAVEtoreaditNOW”s. There will still be a fair amount of that, so this is your warning.
This is the first book in the contemporary young adult genre that I’ve loved unconditionally in a long time. Robin Bridges’ writing really reminds me of Deb Caletti’s style. Any time she comes out with a new book I read it because I know I’ll like it. But this. This. I’ve never read a Robin Bridges novel before, and in the middle of reading this I knew I had to read everything that she’s ever written and will write.
Dreaming of Antigone is about Andria, a girl who has recently lost her twin and who finds a kindred spirit in Antigone when they begin to read the tragedy in class. For a girl who lost her father when she was a baby and blames herself for the death of her sister, Antigone’s family tragedy is relatable. Andria has always been the weird twin, the one who looked more likely to have a drug problem with her all-black wardrobe. It wasn’t meant to be Iris, the one who had everything. She had her life put together. Like many things, what you initially see on the surface is not what lies beneath. As Andria rediscovers how to live in the wake of her sister’s death, not everything that appears perfect is as it seems.
Reading this book was so lovely. It’s young adult, it’s romance, it has a heavy amount of astronomy and stargazing, and there’s poems and Greek literature. As a writer and reader who was an English major, this made me so happy. Writing poems back and forth to a mysterious person was so romantic. I loved that there was such a focus on it. I was able to connect with Andria through that and her habit of sneaking out late to look at the stars.
The romance in this novel was gentle. Both were looking for forgiveness and understanding as they tried to move on while also maintaining a balance of remembering the person whose death still haunts them. It was just the right amount of “aww”s without becoming corny. I honestly could continue reading about them even beyond what happens to them in the novel. The romantic relationship was written well, but it went beyond that. I felt that all the relationships in this book were realistic: Andria and her mom, Andria and her two friends who are also coping with Iris’ death in their own, different ways…this author really had a handle on how to write characters, relationships, and the different ways people handle grief.
The writing style was beautiful. I was able to get lost in the words. I really wish I could forget everything about this book in order to read it again. As soon as it comes out, I want to order a physical copy so I can read it all over again. And when I have to lug it around when I move in about a year and a half, that’s saying something.
Read this book if you’re a fan of other young adult contemporary romance novels and their authors. I feel that you won’t be disappointed.
5 stars.
I received a copy of Dreaming of Antigone from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It will be available March 29th, 2016!
July 24, 2016
Thank you so much Netgalley and Kensington Books for my e-arc!
Be aware that this story deals with topics such as suicide, abuse and addiction.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Dreaming of Antigone is a tragic story about a family surrounded by loss, heartbreak and secrets with Andria and her twin sister Iris at the center of it all. Iris died of a drug overdose six months ago, something Andria, her family and their friends are still struggling with. Andria is now trying to continue her life through her grief, in a world where she’ll discover that not everything is as it once seemed.
I loved this book so much more than I ever thought I would, it is a story that sticks with you and shows you how life can be filled with sadness, love and unexpected truths. I love how this story is so family and friendship oriented, and how all of these characters try to deal with the loss of Iris and what happened the night of her death. However, Dreaming of Antigone is a story that will break your heart but at the same time give you hope for the people who are left standing in the wake of tragedy and loss.
We also have Alex, the boy who is in the eyes of many to be blamed for Iris’ death. There are so many unexpected things about this story of Andria, Iris and Alex, which makes the story so much more complex than it first seems. There is so much about the seemingly perfect life we don’t see until everything is turned upside down. Nonetheless, it is a story that is magical all in its own way. Dreaming of Antigone is filled with beautiful poetry, due to a mutual interest between two characters, and it really adds something special to the story. It makes it such a wonderful and enchanting read. The important topics this book deals with makes it a perfect read for anyone who wants read a story that will give them a little more from their reading experience.
Be aware that this story deals with topics such as suicide, abuse and addiction.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Dreaming of Antigone is a tragic story about a family surrounded by loss, heartbreak and secrets with Andria and her twin sister Iris at the center of it all. Iris died of a drug overdose six months ago, something Andria, her family and their friends are still struggling with. Andria is now trying to continue her life through her grief, in a world where she’ll discover that not everything is as it once seemed.
Iris’s death was officially deemed an accident. Not a suicide. But don’t you have to have some sort of death wish to smoke heroin?
I loved this book so much more than I ever thought I would, it is a story that sticks with you and shows you how life can be filled with sadness, love and unexpected truths. I love how this story is so family and friendship oriented, and how all of these characters try to deal with the loss of Iris and what happened the night of her death. However, Dreaming of Antigone is a story that will break your heart but at the same time give you hope for the people who are left standing in the wake of tragedy and loss.
I'm trapped, and I push up on my hands, trying desperately to stay above him. His grasp tightens as he squeezes my waist. Nerve endings all over my body explode like fireworks, and suddenly I feel out of control. It feels wild. Intoxicating.
We also have Alex, the boy who is in the eyes of many to be blamed for Iris’ death. There are so many unexpected things about this story of Andria, Iris and Alex, which makes the story so much more complex than it first seems. There is so much about the seemingly perfect life we don’t see until everything is turned upside down. Nonetheless, it is a story that is magical all in its own way. Dreaming of Antigone is filled with beautiful poetry, due to a mutual interest between two characters, and it really adds something special to the story. It makes it such a wonderful and enchanting read. The important topics this book deals with makes it a perfect read for anyone who wants read a story that will give them a little more from their reading experience.
Blazing stars streak across the sky above us. I shake my head. Love keeps me warm.
August 24, 2017
http://literary-lion.tumblr.com/
"I am a terrible person. He was my twin sister's boyfriend."
Andria is still reeling from the loss of her twin sister, Iris, to a heroin overdose. She’s failing classes, her friends are distancing and she has to avoid having a seizure in the next few days if she wants a driver’s licence. Now, on top of everything, she’s starting to fall for the wrong guy.
Dreaming of Antigone had every opportunity to be exciting, but the best word for this book is bland. It’s a story that has been told a thousand times, and Bridges hasn’t really brought anything new to the table. The story uses well known character tropes, various writing clichés and sprinkles in some poetry for good measure.
There’s also the fact that Bridges chose to use the terribly cliched English project plot device using Antigone. Andria is able to look at her life and critically compare it to the characters in the play, which she finds resonates with her on a very personal level. Where this fad of using English class to explain the heart of the story to the readers started is debatable, but it’s lazy writing. Instead of showing us Andria’s feelings Bridges just uses Antigone to explicitly tell us how things are for Andria now.
The romance felt halfhearted and out of place. Andria dealing with Iris’s death was enough on it’s own without throwing in a boy. The poetry connection between them was strange, and there didn’t feel like there was any real chemistry. The relationship continues to develop on weak, shaky legs, and it never actually grows into something that feels plausible.
The book was predictable and weak, but it was enjoyable. Much like you might enjoy low-budget horror films, Dreaming of Antigone keeps you entertained. The standard stock plot and characters are familiar for readers. You know exactly what you’ll get out of this book when you pick it up, and while it’s nothing special it’s a fine way to spend an afternoon.
"I am a terrible person. He was my twin sister's boyfriend."
Andria is still reeling from the loss of her twin sister, Iris, to a heroin overdose. She’s failing classes, her friends are distancing and she has to avoid having a seizure in the next few days if she wants a driver’s licence. Now, on top of everything, she’s starting to fall for the wrong guy.
Dreaming of Antigone had every opportunity to be exciting, but the best word for this book is bland. It’s a story that has been told a thousand times, and Bridges hasn’t really brought anything new to the table. The story uses well known character tropes, various writing clichés and sprinkles in some poetry for good measure.
There’s also the fact that Bridges chose to use the terribly cliched English project plot device using Antigone. Andria is able to look at her life and critically compare it to the characters in the play, which she finds resonates with her on a very personal level. Where this fad of using English class to explain the heart of the story to the readers started is debatable, but it’s lazy writing. Instead of showing us Andria’s feelings Bridges just uses Antigone to explicitly tell us how things are for Andria now.
The romance felt halfhearted and out of place. Andria dealing with Iris’s death was enough on it’s own without throwing in a boy. The poetry connection between them was strange, and there didn’t feel like there was any real chemistry. The relationship continues to develop on weak, shaky legs, and it never actually grows into something that feels plausible.
The book was predictable and weak, but it was enjoyable. Much like you might enjoy low-budget horror films, Dreaming of Antigone keeps you entertained. The standard stock plot and characters are familiar for readers. You know exactly what you’ll get out of this book when you pick it up, and while it’s nothing special it’s a fine way to spend an afternoon.
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