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This is Not Forgiveness
Everyone says that Caro is bad ...but Jamie can't help himself. He thinks of her night and day and can't believe that she wants to be his girlfriend. Gorgeous, impulsive and unconventional, she is totally different to all the other girls he knows. His sister, Martha, hates her. Jamie doesn't know why, but there's no way he's going to take any notice of her warnings to stay away from Caro. But as Jamie falls deeper and deeper under her spell, he realises there is more to Caro - much more. There are the times when she disappears and doesn't get in touch, the small scars on her wrists, her talk about revolutions and taking action, not to mention the rumours he hears about the other men in her life. And then always in the background there is Rob, Jamie's older brother, back from Afghanistan and traumatised after having his leg smashed to bits there. Jamie wants to help him, but Rob seems to be living in a world of his own and is increasingly difficult to reach. With Caro, the summer should have been perfect ...but that isn't how things work out in real life, and Jamie is going to find out the hard way. This taut psychological drama is the brilliant new novel from acclaimed Celia Rees.
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280 pages, Paperback
First published December 25, 2011
About the author
Celia Rees
44 books1,082 followersCelia Rees (born 1949) is an English author of children's, YA and Adult fiction.
She was born in 1949 in Solihull, West Midlands but now lives in Leamington Spa with her husband. Rees attended University of Warwick and earned a degree in History of Politics. After university, she taught English in Coventry secondary schools for seventeen years, during which time she began to write.
Since then, she has written over twenty YA titles. Her books have been translated into 28 languages. She has been short listed for the Guardian, Whitbread (now Costa) and W.H. Smith Children’s Book Awards. She is a regular tutor for the Arvon Foundation. She has been Chair of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group and on the Society of Authors’ Management Committee.
Her first book for adults, Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook, was published by HarperCollins in July, 2020.
She was born in 1949 in Solihull, West Midlands but now lives in Leamington Spa with her husband. Rees attended University of Warwick and earned a degree in History of Politics. After university, she taught English in Coventry secondary schools for seventeen years, during which time she began to write.
Since then, she has written over twenty YA titles. Her books have been translated into 28 languages. She has been short listed for the Guardian, Whitbread (now Costa) and W.H. Smith Children’s Book Awards. She is a regular tutor for the Arvon Foundation. She has been Chair of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group and on the Society of Authors’ Management Committee.
Her first book for adults, Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook, was published by HarperCollins in July, 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
November 25, 2011
This isn’t the kind of book where you fall in love with the characters and follow their story because you care about what happens to them. This is more of a psychological glimpse into some very real, very flawed characters. This Is Not Forgiveness focuses around war, terrorism, extremism, loyalty and love. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it certainly is compelling.
This Is Not Forgiveness is something new from Celia Rees, who usually writes historical fiction. Her wonderful Witch Child is still one of my favourite books ever since I first read it years ago, so I was excited to be able to read and review an ARC copy of her new contemporary novel.
Since finishing I must admit, it’s still the very first chapter that remains with me. It captured me immediately and was beautifully written. Some books will have a sentence or two that are just perfect. For whatever reason, these words just strike a chord and stay with you, which was how I felt when reading Rees opening pages,
‘This is not forgiveness. Don’t think that.’
It begins with a series of funerals (its unclear how many) and a cheap, uncared for, urn. Rees sets the tone of the book early, with just the right amount of information and mystery to tease the reader into reading on to discover exactly what led to this moment.
There is a subtle underlying tension throughout the story. The reader is aware something significant took place, as we backtrack through Jamie’s memories. As we begin to better understand the three principal characters in this book, Jamie, Caro and Rob, this tension builds.
Caro is a rebel, or likes to think she is anyway. With an absent mother who blames her for her father’s suicide and a self-destructive streak, Caro invites trouble into her life and we soon realise she is caught up with a group of extremists, and is eager to do something big for their cause. The sections of the book told from Caro’s point of view are brief but reveal a lot about her character. For the majority of the book Caro is plain unlikable, the way she treats Jamie makes her hard to empathise with. She is manipulative, uncaring, cruel and is clearly using him, and his brother, for some hidden agenda. But we also see hints of a girl who is vulnerable, lonely and has been let down by people in her life.
Rob is definitely the hardest character to care for. An alcoholic, he is traumatized from the war, but it’s also clear his violent streak and mental problems go way back. Putting a gun in this guy’s hand and teaching him to be a sniper was probably never a very good idea. His experiences (and it is suggested that something took place that had to be covered up), and the damage done to his leg, have made him even more emotionally unstable. With Caro whispering in his ear, we know its only a matter of time before Rob goes of the rails.
The majority of This Is Not Forgiveness is told from Jamie’s point of view, as he re-lives everything leading up to the unknown event and tries to make sense of it all. Jamie is nice, if a little boring, and certainly naive in his view of the world in contrast to his increasingly disturbing brother, which makes him the least interesting character of the three. I became frustrated with Jamie firstly, for taking so long to see that Caro was using him and then for allowing her to continue to do so. He’s a regular guy who is way out of his depth when it comes to Caro and Rob.
I felt the three different narratives worked well alongside each other. Rees is very good at writing words that flow seamlessly together and I don’t think This Is Not Forgiveness would have worked if simply told from one person’s perspective. The story unfolded at a good pace, and you are left in the dark as to what exactly Caro and Rob are up to right until the last moment, though there are plenty of subtle hints along the way. I feel this is one of those stories that reads very different the second time around. It would be interesting to see just how many hints are staring at you going into the story for a second time, while knowing the outcome.
I actually went into this book not knowing anything much about it, and after reading it I couldn’t help thinking that it didn’t quite have the impact I would have expected. While Rees has created these incredibly real characters, I didn’t particularly care for any of them. I found the scenes between Jamie and Caro a little slow and couldn’t get invested in their relationship. I also found the story, which comes nicely around in a full circle, slightly anticlimactic.
Saying that, I think this was really Caro’s story all along and what she does for Jamie in the end is the defining moment of her character. Though This Is Not Forgiveness didn’t have quite the impact I was expecting in the end, in terms of Caro’s progression I think everything unfolded perfectly.
This is quite a dark, gritty tale with some beautifully written parts, and a little slow in others. I thought the final paragraph was particularly lovely. Not a favourite but a strong contemporary all the same.
This Is Not Forgiveness is something new from Celia Rees, who usually writes historical fiction. Her wonderful Witch Child is still one of my favourite books ever since I first read it years ago, so I was excited to be able to read and review an ARC copy of her new contemporary novel.
Since finishing I must admit, it’s still the very first chapter that remains with me. It captured me immediately and was beautifully written. Some books will have a sentence or two that are just perfect. For whatever reason, these words just strike a chord and stay with you, which was how I felt when reading Rees opening pages,
‘This is not forgiveness. Don’t think that.’
It begins with a series of funerals (its unclear how many) and a cheap, uncared for, urn. Rees sets the tone of the book early, with just the right amount of information and mystery to tease the reader into reading on to discover exactly what led to this moment.
There is a subtle underlying tension throughout the story. The reader is aware something significant took place, as we backtrack through Jamie’s memories. As we begin to better understand the three principal characters in this book, Jamie, Caro and Rob, this tension builds.
Caro is a rebel, or likes to think she is anyway. With an absent mother who blames her for her father’s suicide and a self-destructive streak, Caro invites trouble into her life and we soon realise she is caught up with a group of extremists, and is eager to do something big for their cause. The sections of the book told from Caro’s point of view are brief but reveal a lot about her character. For the majority of the book Caro is plain unlikable, the way she treats Jamie makes her hard to empathise with. She is manipulative, uncaring, cruel and is clearly using him, and his brother, for some hidden agenda. But we also see hints of a girl who is vulnerable, lonely and has been let down by people in her life.
Rob is definitely the hardest character to care for. An alcoholic, he is traumatized from the war, but it’s also clear his violent streak and mental problems go way back. Putting a gun in this guy’s hand and teaching him to be a sniper was probably never a very good idea. His experiences (and it is suggested that something took place that had to be covered up), and the damage done to his leg, have made him even more emotionally unstable. With Caro whispering in his ear, we know its only a matter of time before Rob goes of the rails.
The majority of This Is Not Forgiveness is told from Jamie’s point of view, as he re-lives everything leading up to the unknown event and tries to make sense of it all. Jamie is nice, if a little boring, and certainly naive in his view of the world in contrast to his increasingly disturbing brother, which makes him the least interesting character of the three. I became frustrated with Jamie firstly, for taking so long to see that Caro was using him and then for allowing her to continue to do so. He’s a regular guy who is way out of his depth when it comes to Caro and Rob.
I felt the three different narratives worked well alongside each other. Rees is very good at writing words that flow seamlessly together and I don’t think This Is Not Forgiveness would have worked if simply told from one person’s perspective. The story unfolded at a good pace, and you are left in the dark as to what exactly Caro and Rob are up to right until the last moment, though there are plenty of subtle hints along the way. I feel this is one of those stories that reads very different the second time around. It would be interesting to see just how many hints are staring at you going into the story for a second time, while knowing the outcome.
I actually went into this book not knowing anything much about it, and after reading it I couldn’t help thinking that it didn’t quite have the impact I would have expected. While Rees has created these incredibly real characters, I didn’t particularly care for any of them. I found the scenes between Jamie and Caro a little slow and couldn’t get invested in their relationship. I also found the story, which comes nicely around in a full circle, slightly anticlimactic.
Saying that, I think this was really Caro’s story all along and what she does for Jamie in the end is the defining moment of her character. Though This Is Not Forgiveness didn’t have quite the impact I was expecting in the end, in terms of Caro’s progression I think everything unfolded perfectly.
This is quite a dark, gritty tale with some beautifully written parts, and a little slow in others. I thought the final paragraph was particularly lovely. Not a favourite but a strong contemporary all the same.
January 12, 2012
I'm giving up. There is little introduction, and I don't know, maybe I missed something vital, but I'm confused and I can't work out who the characters are and what they have to do with each other, and the plot is going nowhere and I can't see how it will go on, and I've no interest anymore... I think I've given it enough chance to grab me and hook me in, and unfortunately it just didn't. I may give it a go again in a few weeks times, but right now I'm going to put it back on my shelf and start something else... Sorry! A lot of other people absolutely loved it, so don't be put off by my one not-even-a-review review. If you're interested, don't let me stop you from reading it! :D
January 29, 2012
I have only read one other book by Celia Rees, Blood Sinister, when I was quite a lot younger, but I still connect Rees with historical and some horror stories. This book is very different from the subjects and style of what Rees has written in the past and I thought that it was quite ambitious.
The story revolves around three people - Jamie and Rob, who are brothers, and a girl who comes into both of their lives - Caro. Jamie is supposedly your typical teenage boy, who gets a little bit obsessive with Caro, and considers them to be in a relationship. At points, I found his focus on Caro to turn him into quite a weak-willed character. Often, he put Caro before anything or anyone else, and didn't seem very grateful to others who tried to befriend or help him. He only seemed to take Caro into consideration.
Caro herself is a very dark and mysterious character. Although she has a luxurious lifestyle to fall back on, she doesn't let this change her. I did enjoy learning about the rebellious, anarchist and very political side of Caro, I found it to give her a lot more complexity and it gave me some insight into her personality. However, Caro, in general, is not very likeable. She seems dangerous and has a bad attitude - this may have made her appeal to the men in the story, but it certainly didn't make her appeal to me.
Rob, Jamie's brother, could have been the most interesting character for me. He is back in England after being rather severely injured whilst fighting in Afghanistan. For the most part of the novel, we find out about him through transcripts of his online video diary. His dialect felt very authentic and his attitude really reflected his personality as well as how it changed due to fighting in a war. Whilst the basis was there, I think Rob could've been developed into a much deeper character. He was obviously very troubled, but with some research from the author, the portrayal of psychological effects could have been even better.
Martha is a fourth character who is featured in this book, but we do not read from her point of view. She is Jamie and Rob's sister and is obviously very opinionated when concerning her past with Caro. I think that she also could have certainly contributed more to the story as she was a strong character.
One of the main things that bugged me from this book was how the teenagers were portrayed. A lot of the book, at the beginning, focused on teen culture in a negative way. The book was full of swearing, alcohol, drug abuse and sex - it seemed like the characters lives revolved around these things and as I don't really have an interest in that lifestyle, I couldn't connect with them and found it to be a little immature - I would not recommend this for younger readers. At some points, I thought that these subjects actually distracted from much more important issues that could have been discussed.
The attempt to be political was interesting though, especially the parts about the Red Army Faction. I have studied the Baader-Meinhof, a group of urban guerrillas who disrupted Germany's system in the 70's, and found them very interesting. I was shocked and pleased that Rees included them in this book and did add a little bit of history to her story - this actually made the book a lot more enjoyable for me as it was fascinating to see how Caro almost idolised this group and how they influenced her.
This book definitely has a very powerful start, but from thereon in, it does slow down and then pick itself up again and again - at points, it almost felt rushed. I do think that the ending somewhat redeemed this book, and I did enjoy it. This book was definitely mixed for me though, as I've described. It was still a quite quick read, introducing some important issues and it did have some substance.
The story revolves around three people - Jamie and Rob, who are brothers, and a girl who comes into both of their lives - Caro. Jamie is supposedly your typical teenage boy, who gets a little bit obsessive with Caro, and considers them to be in a relationship. At points, I found his focus on Caro to turn him into quite a weak-willed character. Often, he put Caro before anything or anyone else, and didn't seem very grateful to others who tried to befriend or help him. He only seemed to take Caro into consideration.
Caro herself is a very dark and mysterious character. Although she has a luxurious lifestyle to fall back on, she doesn't let this change her. I did enjoy learning about the rebellious, anarchist and very political side of Caro, I found it to give her a lot more complexity and it gave me some insight into her personality. However, Caro, in general, is not very likeable. She seems dangerous and has a bad attitude - this may have made her appeal to the men in the story, but it certainly didn't make her appeal to me.
Rob, Jamie's brother, could have been the most interesting character for me. He is back in England after being rather severely injured whilst fighting in Afghanistan. For the most part of the novel, we find out about him through transcripts of his online video diary. His dialect felt very authentic and his attitude really reflected his personality as well as how it changed due to fighting in a war. Whilst the basis was there, I think Rob could've been developed into a much deeper character. He was obviously very troubled, but with some research from the author, the portrayal of psychological effects could have been even better.
Martha is a fourth character who is featured in this book, but we do not read from her point of view. She is Jamie and Rob's sister and is obviously very opinionated when concerning her past with Caro. I think that she also could have certainly contributed more to the story as she was a strong character.
One of the main things that bugged me from this book was how the teenagers were portrayed. A lot of the book, at the beginning, focused on teen culture in a negative way. The book was full of swearing, alcohol, drug abuse and sex - it seemed like the characters lives revolved around these things and as I don't really have an interest in that lifestyle, I couldn't connect with them and found it to be a little immature - I would not recommend this for younger readers. At some points, I thought that these subjects actually distracted from much more important issues that could have been discussed.
The attempt to be political was interesting though, especially the parts about the Red Army Faction. I have studied the Baader-Meinhof, a group of urban guerrillas who disrupted Germany's system in the 70's, and found them very interesting. I was shocked and pleased that Rees included them in this book and did add a little bit of history to her story - this actually made the book a lot more enjoyable for me as it was fascinating to see how Caro almost idolised this group and how they influenced her.
This book definitely has a very powerful start, but from thereon in, it does slow down and then pick itself up again and again - at points, it almost felt rushed. I do think that the ending somewhat redeemed this book, and I did enjoy it. This book was definitely mixed for me though, as I've described. It was still a quite quick read, introducing some important issues and it did have some substance.
February 2, 2012
This Is Not Forgiveness Review on K-Books
I really don't know where to start with this review. I was completely in shock and awe when I finished this book yesterday and really couldn't put my thoughts and feelings about it into words. Today, I am still unsure of how I can really write about this book. It was brilliant. I definitely did not expect it to be as good as it was. This is definitely not the kind of book that I usually read but I genuinely enjoyed every moment of it.
Jamie has seen the beautiful Caro around and always wanted her to notice him. When she does he can't believe his luck, she is everything he has ever wanted. But Caro holds some secrets, like what is really her relationship with Jamie's brother, the mysterious and disturbed Rob? Secrets, shocks and horror come together in this haunting Psychological tale, one this is for sure: After this summer, life will never be the same.
I really loved that the book was told from three perspectives. It is mostly told from Jamie's point of view but there are certain chapters where you get the story from Caro and Rob. I loved this since you really got an insight of what was happening with Caro and Rob and what they were thinking. One this is for sure, neither Caro nor Rob can really be called 'sane'.
These characters completely shocked me. All the way through the book I was diagnosing them in my head to different kinds of mental illness based on how they were acting. It is so difficult for me not to turn this review into a psychological analysis of these characters and it's inevitable for me not to mention it a little, after all it is a Psychological book. Caro was the character that I got the most reaction out of me. I hated her. I mean really really hated her. I don't think there's ever been a lead female I have hated more. She is deceiving and manipulative and knows exactly how to act to get people to do what she wants. She is the character that without a doubt confuses me the most. At times I thought she had to be without a doubt 'mentally ill'. No body would do the things that she does and be mentally stable but then there are times throughout the book where she really just acted like a normal person. This really frustrated me but I loved that about the book. It really kept me guessing all the way through.
I really love the way that Celia wrote this book. At first I wasn't entirely sure about the narration. To me it seems kind of simple but then the more I read the more I realised that the use of the simple sentences throughout the book was actually a genius thing to do. It really kept me hooked and I couldn't put the book down. I was hooked to the story right from the first chapter when it is hinted that something bad happened. It had me reading at a pace must faster than I usually read just because I couldn't wait to find out what had happened and what was going to happen.
I am definitely a fan of Celia Rees now. I think she is a phenomenal author and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
A brilliant book that really opened my eyes to this genre. It's a very dark gritty book for Young Adult but that's what makes it so brilliant. A must-read for any fan of Contemporary YA books.
I really don't know where to start with this review. I was completely in shock and awe when I finished this book yesterday and really couldn't put my thoughts and feelings about it into words. Today, I am still unsure of how I can really write about this book. It was brilliant. I definitely did not expect it to be as good as it was. This is definitely not the kind of book that I usually read but I genuinely enjoyed every moment of it.
Jamie has seen the beautiful Caro around and always wanted her to notice him. When she does he can't believe his luck, she is everything he has ever wanted. But Caro holds some secrets, like what is really her relationship with Jamie's brother, the mysterious and disturbed Rob? Secrets, shocks and horror come together in this haunting Psychological tale, one this is for sure: After this summer, life will never be the same.
I really loved that the book was told from three perspectives. It is mostly told from Jamie's point of view but there are certain chapters where you get the story from Caro and Rob. I loved this since you really got an insight of what was happening with Caro and Rob and what they were thinking. One this is for sure, neither Caro nor Rob can really be called 'sane'.
These characters completely shocked me. All the way through the book I was diagnosing them in my head to different kinds of mental illness based on how they were acting. It is so difficult for me not to turn this review into a psychological analysis of these characters and it's inevitable for me not to mention it a little, after all it is a Psychological book. Caro was the character that I got the most reaction out of me. I hated her. I mean really really hated her. I don't think there's ever been a lead female I have hated more. She is deceiving and manipulative and knows exactly how to act to get people to do what she wants. She is the character that without a doubt confuses me the most. At times I thought she had to be without a doubt 'mentally ill'. No body would do the things that she does and be mentally stable but then there are times throughout the book where she really just acted like a normal person. This really frustrated me but I loved that about the book. It really kept me guessing all the way through.
I really love the way that Celia wrote this book. At first I wasn't entirely sure about the narration. To me it seems kind of simple but then the more I read the more I realised that the use of the simple sentences throughout the book was actually a genius thing to do. It really kept me hooked and I couldn't put the book down. I was hooked to the story right from the first chapter when it is hinted that something bad happened. It had me reading at a pace must faster than I usually read just because I couldn't wait to find out what had happened and what was going to happen.
I am definitely a fan of Celia Rees now. I think she is a phenomenal author and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
A brilliant book that really opened my eyes to this genre. It's a very dark gritty book for Young Adult but that's what makes it so brilliant. A must-read for any fan of Contemporary YA books.
November 30, 2011
This Is Not Forgiveness ripped something out of me, and then squished it back in. In a good way. I think.
Written from three different, but irrevocably intertwined, perspectives, This Is Not Forgiveness explores the realities of war, political activism, first love, mental health, and how challenging clambering from teenager to adult (17-24ish?) can be if you scratch the surface. It is, in places, a challenging read, but even the most shocking descriptions are somehow rendered a beautiful piece of the whole.
If you have read any of the frankly awesome historical-ish books by Celia Rees, forget them. This Is Not Forgiveness is something utterly different. (Although, there are still subtle hints of `magic as real`!)
Jamie, or the less "poncey" Jimbo as his big brother Rob likes to call him, is a fairly average sixth form student. He's single, his summer job keeps his pockets lined, and he's as likely to be at home drinking coffee as to being on a night out. He intends on going to university - it's just what you do when you finish your A-Levels, right?
Rob is different, was different before he ever joined the army. Reckless, blokey (did I make that word up?), self-medicating *wink wink* and deeply scarred: inside and out. But he's fiercely loyal to his brother, in his own way. Martha, their sister, is typical in a different way to Jamie - with fake tan and freshly-straightened hair, she and `the girls` form a clique of gossip-lovers at every opportunity. She tries to protect Jamie, though, and seems to love him as much as most close-in-age teenagers love their siblings.
Caro... she's a beautiful roller-coaster; seemingly spontaneous, secretly obsessive. Terrified, but hides it under an attitude of free love and a come-no-closer shell. She creates chaos and compulsive behaviour as much as she craves it.
I'm not particularly one for politics, I can't quote speeches or name many names; nor am I one for sitting, considering all the evidence and making decisions about the usefulness, or indeed legality, of recent military actions. However, even I could relate to the characters who did get sucked into, or more-than-mildly infatuated with, such things. Particularly moving was the portrayal of the line between political activism as a useful tool for necessary societal change and terrorism: blurry, and all too easy to cross.
This is not a feel-good read. This is not an obvious journey.
Is this an important read? Hell yes, as far as I am concerned...
Written from three different, but irrevocably intertwined, perspectives, This Is Not Forgiveness explores the realities of war, political activism, first love, mental health, and how challenging clambering from teenager to adult (17-24ish?) can be if you scratch the surface. It is, in places, a challenging read, but even the most shocking descriptions are somehow rendered a beautiful piece of the whole.
If you have read any of the frankly awesome historical-ish books by Celia Rees, forget them. This Is Not Forgiveness is something utterly different. (Although, there are still subtle hints of `magic as real`!)
Jamie, or the less "poncey" Jimbo as his big brother Rob likes to call him, is a fairly average sixth form student. He's single, his summer job keeps his pockets lined, and he's as likely to be at home drinking coffee as to being on a night out. He intends on going to university - it's just what you do when you finish your A-Levels, right?
Rob is different, was different before he ever joined the army. Reckless, blokey (did I make that word up?), self-medicating *wink wink* and deeply scarred: inside and out. But he's fiercely loyal to his brother, in his own way. Martha, their sister, is typical in a different way to Jamie - with fake tan and freshly-straightened hair, she and `the girls` form a clique of gossip-lovers at every opportunity. She tries to protect Jamie, though, and seems to love him as much as most close-in-age teenagers love their siblings.
Caro... she's a beautiful roller-coaster; seemingly spontaneous, secretly obsessive. Terrified, but hides it under an attitude of free love and a come-no-closer shell. She creates chaos and compulsive behaviour as much as she craves it.
I'm not particularly one for politics, I can't quote speeches or name many names; nor am I one for sitting, considering all the evidence and making decisions about the usefulness, or indeed legality, of recent military actions. However, even I could relate to the characters who did get sucked into, or more-than-mildly infatuated with, such things. Particularly moving was the portrayal of the line between political activism as a useful tool for necessary societal change and terrorism: blurry, and all too easy to cross.
This is not a feel-good read. This is not an obvious journey.
Is this an important read? Hell yes, as far as I am concerned...
March 14, 2015
Until now, I had never read a novel by Celia Rees.
This Is Not Forgiveness isn't the sort of book I would usually read.
When I first picked up this novel, I'd said I wouldn't read it but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Never ever judge a book by it's cover or you'll miss out on some gems.
What I liked was that Celia used different fonts to identify different characters entry and obviously each of them had their own distinct voice.
The explanation and detail was so vivid, if you closed your eyes for a second you can imagine their voices.
It made the story stand out and it helped to identify each individual.
Throughout the novel I felt for the characters such as Jamie, all he's ever wanted is to fit in and to date the gorgeous Caro, but is she really the girl he wants her to be?
Jamie is a naïve character and I think that's what made me as a reader feel for him.
Jamie by far was my favourite voice, you were constantly hoping he'd be thrown a life-changing chance.
It was an intriguing read, it was kind of like reading a series of diary entries, so in a way it made you feel a little naughty like you were overlooking someone on the train/bus as they were writing their private thoughts and feelings.
I've never read a novel quite like this. I was truly amazed by Celia's writing and I found myself losing track of time whilst reading.
Most characters in this novel are strange, compelling and such an addiction.
I really wasn't expecting the ending, I gathered something would happen from the summary.
Celia has built the suspense for this novel so amazingly, I was left cursing and pulling strange facial expressions.
Resulting in me nearly screaming on my bus to work because of it.
If you're looking for a read with a difference definitely pick up a copy of This Is Not Forgiveness, It is also quite a short read
This Is Not Forgiveness isn't the sort of book I would usually read.
When I first picked up this novel, I'd said I wouldn't read it but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Never ever judge a book by it's cover or you'll miss out on some gems.
What I liked was that Celia used different fonts to identify different characters entry and obviously each of them had their own distinct voice.
The explanation and detail was so vivid, if you closed your eyes for a second you can imagine their voices.
It made the story stand out and it helped to identify each individual.
Throughout the novel I felt for the characters such as Jamie, all he's ever wanted is to fit in and to date the gorgeous Caro, but is she really the girl he wants her to be?
Jamie is a naïve character and I think that's what made me as a reader feel for him.
Jamie by far was my favourite voice, you were constantly hoping he'd be thrown a life-changing chance.
It was an intriguing read, it was kind of like reading a series of diary entries, so in a way it made you feel a little naughty like you were overlooking someone on the train/bus as they were writing their private thoughts and feelings.
I've never read a novel quite like this. I was truly amazed by Celia's writing and I found myself losing track of time whilst reading.
Most characters in this novel are strange, compelling and such an addiction.
I really wasn't expecting the ending, I gathered something would happen from the summary.
Celia has built the suspense for this novel so amazingly, I was left cursing and pulling strange facial expressions.
Resulting in me nearly screaming on my bus to work because of it.
If you're looking for a read with a difference definitely pick up a copy of This Is Not Forgiveness, It is also quite a short read
November 27, 2011
"I can't decide what to do with your ashes. It's been nearly a year now. Almost summer again."
...
"This is not forgiveness. Don't think that."
A powerful start. We know Rob is dead. We know there were funerals. We know Rob has done something that cannot be forgiven, not even by those closest to him. The story returns to the start of that summer. Jamie's interested in a girl, Caro, and doesn't have much time for his brother who has been discharged from the army following an injury in Afghanistan. Everyone knows Caro is a slag, expelled for an affair with a teacher, she spells trouble. Jamie's sister warns him off but he doesn't care, he's infatuated.
This is Not Forgiveness tackles the topical issue of how war can affect young people in two very different ways. For some the army is all they know and when injury forces young soldiers to return home they can struggle to fit into civilian life. Especially if they signed up to escape a life that didn't hold much for them in the first place.
Then those that haven't had direct contact with conflict can feel like they don't have a voice without violence. How easy it is to latch onto extremist political views because what they see and hear is wrong and they feel the need to bring about change.
This isn't a book where you'll love the characters but you will be gripped by the events and left thinking after the final page. The first chapter is a fantastic pull in and will keep you reading even when you are starting to hate some of the things the characters are doing. There are three narrators, Jamie, Caro and Rob so there is insight into each of their thoughts and reasoning behind their actions.
...
"This is not forgiveness. Don't think that."
A powerful start. We know Rob is dead. We know there were funerals. We know Rob has done something that cannot be forgiven, not even by those closest to him. The story returns to the start of that summer. Jamie's interested in a girl, Caro, and doesn't have much time for his brother who has been discharged from the army following an injury in Afghanistan. Everyone knows Caro is a slag, expelled for an affair with a teacher, she spells trouble. Jamie's sister warns him off but he doesn't care, he's infatuated.
This is Not Forgiveness tackles the topical issue of how war can affect young people in two very different ways. For some the army is all they know and when injury forces young soldiers to return home they can struggle to fit into civilian life. Especially if they signed up to escape a life that didn't hold much for them in the first place.
Then those that haven't had direct contact with conflict can feel like they don't have a voice without violence. How easy it is to latch onto extremist political views because what they see and hear is wrong and they feel the need to bring about change.
This isn't a book where you'll love the characters but you will be gripped by the events and left thinking after the final page. The first chapter is a fantastic pull in and will keep you reading even when you are starting to hate some of the things the characters are doing. There are three narrators, Jamie, Caro and Rob so there is insight into each of their thoughts and reasoning behind their actions.
March 31, 2013
Told in first-person narrative alternating between the voices of Jamie, his hot-tempered and rabble-rousing brother Rob, and Caro, the girl they’re both inexorably drawn to yet repelled by, This is Not Forgiveness takes a serious look at post-traumatic stress disorder and how families are torn apart by mental illness and violence.
Indecisive, predictable, empathetic, and closer to his sister and mother – Jamie is the opposite of Rob. Sometimes vicious and heavy-handed – Rob takes after their father. And this was before serving as a sniper in the Middle East. After serving multiple stints in war-torn Afghanistan, Rob returns injured, dejected, and explosive, victim of an IED roadside bomb and witness to too much death and devastation.
Unknown to Jamie, the brothers are both involved with a beautiful outcast called Caro; one brother is drawn to her sensuality and mystique, the other to her impulsive and radical actions. Caro, devoted to a group of fanatic revolutionaries, is playing a dangerous game that goes too far as she is forced to choose between her political activism and her heart. Tension mounts in this complex, finely woven account of three souls bound together by their wounds. In both families, violence has separated parents and children and threatens to tear apart the generations.
Highly recommended for older teens and adults due to mature language and subject matter. Readers can visit Rob, Caro, and Jamie’s online blog and videos at http://www.urflixstar.com/.
Indecisive, predictable, empathetic, and closer to his sister and mother – Jamie is the opposite of Rob. Sometimes vicious and heavy-handed – Rob takes after their father. And this was before serving as a sniper in the Middle East. After serving multiple stints in war-torn Afghanistan, Rob returns injured, dejected, and explosive, victim of an IED roadside bomb and witness to too much death and devastation.
Unknown to Jamie, the brothers are both involved with a beautiful outcast called Caro; one brother is drawn to her sensuality and mystique, the other to her impulsive and radical actions. Caro, devoted to a group of fanatic revolutionaries, is playing a dangerous game that goes too far as she is forced to choose between her political activism and her heart. Tension mounts in this complex, finely woven account of three souls bound together by their wounds. In both families, violence has separated parents and children and threatens to tear apart the generations.
Highly recommended for older teens and adults due to mature language and subject matter. Readers can visit Rob, Caro, and Jamie’s online blog and videos at http://www.urflixstar.com/.
February 18, 2012
The bulk of this novel centres on Jamie and is told in his voice. We know from the start that Rob is dead (Jamie is focusing on his ashes and thinking about his poorly-attended funeral), and that his was not the only death. Then we skip back in time, knowing we are being inexorably propelled to the catastrophic event that led to Rob's sorry little funeral.
Before long, we are involved in Jamie's life, with some chapters in Caro's or Rob's voice. These additional voices enrich the narrative and provide some context, but they do not divide our loyalties. Jamie is definitely the sympathetic character here. Yes, we feel some pity for Rob (with his clear PTSD and physical injuries), but our true sympathies are clearly drawn to Jamie. At least, that's my experience. I quickly lost count of the number of times I wanted to say "No Jamie! Don't ....!". Both Rob and Caro have reasons to act the way they do, and are subject to past hardships, but ultimately both behave in ways that are difficult to justify, especially towards Jamie.
As a thriller, this novel is totally absorbing. It's clear things are going to end badly, but we don't know the specifics, and that is what keeps us reading. The characters are all fully-fleshed, interesting, and believable, if we can't easily like them all. Each character's voice is clearly differentiated and reflects their personality; there is no way you could read this and be confused by the three narrators.
I haven't read any other Celia Rees novels (I know, I'm hanging my head typing this), but I certainly will. I understand that this is different to many of her other works, but regardless of topic, genre or setting, it demonstrates her ability to create compelling characters and an airtight plot with twists and turns.
Before long, we are involved in Jamie's life, with some chapters in Caro's or Rob's voice. These additional voices enrich the narrative and provide some context, but they do not divide our loyalties. Jamie is definitely the sympathetic character here. Yes, we feel some pity for Rob (with his clear PTSD and physical injuries), but our true sympathies are clearly drawn to Jamie. At least, that's my experience. I quickly lost count of the number of times I wanted to say "No Jamie! Don't ....!". Both Rob and Caro have reasons to act the way they do, and are subject to past hardships, but ultimately both behave in ways that are difficult to justify, especially towards Jamie.
As a thriller, this novel is totally absorbing. It's clear things are going to end badly, but we don't know the specifics, and that is what keeps us reading. The characters are all fully-fleshed, interesting, and believable, if we can't easily like them all. Each character's voice is clearly differentiated and reflects their personality; there is no way you could read this and be confused by the three narrators.
I haven't read any other Celia Rees novels (I know, I'm hanging my head typing this), but I certainly will. I understand that this is different to many of her other works, but regardless of topic, genre or setting, it demonstrates her ability to create compelling characters and an airtight plot with twists and turns.
July 3, 2012
Read to roughly halfway and realized I was forcing myself to go on. I don't care about these characters or the bare minimum of a plot that's being set-up in those 150 pages. I had been so excited to start this, but both Rees's writing style and her cast did nothing to convince me this is worth my time. This was choppy, confusing, boring, awful and with repellant characters.
No, thank you.
No, thank you.
May 6, 2022
The story begins with a scene that leads immediately into a flashback explaining how the teenager Jamie ends up possessing an urn of his brother's ashes. I found that a bit confusing, but quickly found my bearings in the following scenes set in England revolving around three characters, brothers Jamie and Rob, and Caro, the girl in which they are both involved. Sister Martha warns Jamie against dating Caro, though she doesn't elaborate on why. And sure, Jamie's heard warnings about her before. Still, he can't help but fall head over heels. He's obsessed, and their troubled romance is about all he can think about. He seems to overlook, or just plain ignore, the inconvenient parts, like her disappearing for periods of time with no explanation, the scars on her wrists, and her radical talk about fighting violence with violence. She appears to like him back, and that's enough for Jamie. Oh, young, naive, love. Older brother Rob is a war veteran back from Afganistan with an injured leg and, it appears, suffering from post traumatic syndrome. Jamie is taken aback to learn that his brother also knows Caro, though he isn't aware of their true relationship. Rob and Jamie have always had a tumultuous relationship, and Caro isn't helping alter that. Still, he is willing to overlook it, for the time-being. Caro manages to juggle the two brothers, using each for her own agenda. She appears cold and calculating, but there is also a sense of sympathy for her sad and non-existent family life. There is also sympathy for Rob's circumstances, but Jamie is the one the reader is going to be rooting for. The characters are well-developed and each narrates part of the story, but it is easy to lose track of who is currently telling the story if you aren't paying close attention. Listening to it as an audio, especially, with no indicators as to who is speaking other than the narrator's voice, it can take a moment to realize who is doing the telling. The ending is very suspenseful when the reader is finally let in on the plan Caro and Rob have cooked up during their secretive time together, and Jamie's role in that. Recommended for readers ages 16 and up due to mature themes such as drugs, sex, and language, and those interested in politics. The topic of school shootings plays a large part at the end so this could upset some readers. This is also suitable for adults who might be interested in the motivations behind the actions young adults take, as this book does a very good job in voicing those. I especially enjoyed listening to the audio version and Steve West's narration. Each character possessed a distinct and convincing voice and he made it easy to get lost in the story.
February 28, 2018
As I heard it, this is not Celia Rees as I have ever seen her before. I've been reading her books for years and this book could have almost have been written by a different Author - no Vampires, no Historical, no Witches? I had to have a copy of this and I admit, I practically dived on Bloomsbury when I heard there was a limited amount of copies. The book didn't quite live up to it's hype, but that's okay, I was expecting that.
The story follows three characters, all who get a say at some point. There's Jamie, who seems to be the main character but Caro, an easily influenced political activist, really steals the show. Rob, Jamie's brother has recently come home from Afghanistan and his mind is probably more injured than his body.
This Is Not Forgiveness is like a grown up Stargirl (Jerry Spinelli). Caro is obviously Stargirl, only much less likeable and not to put too fine a point on it, a huge slut. Leo and Jamie seem alike to me too, in the sense that both characters become obsessed with Stargirl/Caro. Rob? Nah, no-one in Stargirl I can compare him to!
There was another character that caught my attention and that was Jamie and Rob's sister, Martha. She added a lot to the story and I think she could have replaced Rob easily. During the aftermath of the big event that happens at the end of the book, I would have loved to have known her thoughts and what she was doing.
The plot didn't really thrill. To be honest I was almost bored, waiting for something to happen, after reading the beginning I could slowly piece together what was going to happen. Actually, at the beginning it took me a few chapters to work out which character was which. The story just sort of plods along, mostly centered around Jamie's obsession with Caro. He quite annoyed me with how she would tell him to drop everything and he would, no question, which seemed quite naive. I never got a feel for Rob's character and I'm not sure what drew him to Caro. The story picks up a little in places, telling you of Caro's past or Rob's thoughts in Afghanistan (which were chillingly brilliant). But when I got to the end, it felt quite rushed and cheesy, almost. I wanted fireworks, but I got a sparkler instead.
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The story follows three characters, all who get a say at some point. There's Jamie, who seems to be the main character but Caro, an easily influenced political activist, really steals the show. Rob, Jamie's brother has recently come home from Afghanistan and his mind is probably more injured than his body.
This Is Not Forgiveness is like a grown up Stargirl (Jerry Spinelli). Caro is obviously Stargirl, only much less likeable and not to put too fine a point on it, a huge slut. Leo and Jamie seem alike to me too, in the sense that both characters become obsessed with Stargirl/Caro. Rob? Nah, no-one in Stargirl I can compare him to!
There was another character that caught my attention and that was Jamie and Rob's sister, Martha. She added a lot to the story and I think she could have replaced Rob easily. During the aftermath of the big event that happens at the end of the book, I would have loved to have known her thoughts and what she was doing.
The plot didn't really thrill. To be honest I was almost bored, waiting for something to happen, after reading the beginning I could slowly piece together what was going to happen. Actually, at the beginning it took me a few chapters to work out which character was which. The story just sort of plods along, mostly centered around Jamie's obsession with Caro. He quite annoyed me with how she would tell him to drop everything and he would, no question, which seemed quite naive. I never got a feel for Rob's character and I'm not sure what drew him to Caro. The story picks up a little in places, telling you of Caro's past or Rob's thoughts in Afghanistan (which were chillingly brilliant). But when I got to the end, it felt quite rushed and cheesy, almost. I wanted fireworks, but I got a sparkler instead.
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October 13, 2012
The original review for this title can be found
HERE
on The Book Hookup.
Christina's Review:
**Note:** Christina was provided an e-galley of this title from the publishers via Net Galley. However, that did not influence her review in any way.
The Lowdown: From the prologue, we gather that a guy named Rob has died and so have others. We know that whatever Rob did has made him the villain and that his actions won’t earn him forgiveness any time soon, even from his own brother and family.
Then the story leaps back in time, to the beginning of the summer, and we’re introduced to the main narrator of the book, Jamie. He’s quiet and stays to himself; he’s a normal guy in his first year at uni working a summer job on a river. Jamie ends up falling hopelessly in love with the elusive and out-of-control Caro, despite his older sister and everyone else warning him that she’s no good. He can’t help it, he’s drawn to her despite the fact that she keeps him at arm’s length, only comes around when she wants, and that’s she known for being promiscuous.
We learn through Caro’s POV that she’s a free spirit, rules can’t confine her and she won’t be defined by the words people whisper about her on the street. Her main focus in life is politically driven- to bring the wrongs of terrorism and war to the home-front. She believes it’s her responsibility to help people realize that the soldiers are just a weapon used by the government to force their ideals of right and wrong on the world. She’s a radical activist, willing to prove her commitment to the cause by using extreme measures. Basically, she reads like a ticking time-bomb. The only thing she needs is a weapon of her own.
That brings us round to Rob, Jamie’s older brother. He’s an ex-solider, released from duty after he was wounded in combat in Afghanistan. We learn through his narrative that there is no adjusting to life at home after combat; that for him, there’s no transitioning back to only being a citizen. He joined the army like his father and grandfather before him and as a way to escape the nothingness that was his life. He felt most alive as a soldier, with his sniper in his hand and the enemy in his sights. With his rifle and his rank stripped away from him, he’s only left him with a black and bitter hole that fills him up from the inside. He wastes his days away with drugs and alcohol, only fearing sleep and the nightmares that come with it. He just needs a purpose to bring him back.
So, Caro finds her weapon in Rob and Rob finds his purpose in Caro’s convictions. Jaime falls into this web of destruction because he provides Caro with the perfect escape and keeps her grounded to the present. She likes his innocence and the game of toying with him, but it could be so much more. This Is Not Forgiveness a twisted and tangled tale of the romantic fantasies of a naive, love-drunk boy who falls for the wrong girl; the wrong girl with the power of persuasion that hopes to reach martyr status by using a lost soldier; and a lost soldier just looking for a reason to have a gun in his hands and battle to wage. But when the day of demonstration finally lands on their doorstep, who has the nerve to pull the trigger and who is the only one left to walk away?
Special Notes: I’m not sure if it was only in the eBook I was given or if there are plans to change this in the finished editions, but there wasn’t any separation or indication of which character was narrating at any particular time. It took a few sentences in to each chapter to discover who was talking and where they were and what was going on. It was distracting and tended to take me out of the story.
My Opinion: This book wasn’t at all what I thought (was hoping?) it was going to be, but I suppose I should have done more homework. When the blurb said “taut psychological drama” is meant it. This story has tremendous depth in regards to how some teenagers are ruled by emotions and the different routes it can take them on, depending on their environment and if they have “purpose.” For some, passion is harnessed and used to create art, music, love, charity, but to others, it can take up residence in political campaigns or larger movements. It also delves heavily into the psyche of veterans, soldiers, and those released from their service to their country. In short, it played out real-to-life emotions and scenarios, providing a bit of a dark entry into the world of war, terrorism, political activism, and betrayal. Admittedly, I’m not up to par as far as politics go and a majority of what Caro and the other activists talked about was way above my head. For that reason, it was harder for me to feel connected to the characters at all.
The majority of this story felt like you were trudging up this giant mountainside and at the top you expected bloodshed and turmoil, some kind of climatic end to stun you and help you understand the actions of everyone in the book. However, that wasn’t how it settled with me. I felt blindsided by Caro’s affection for Jamie after stringing him along for so long. I was confused and unsettled about Rob’s ability to become this monster that didn’t even let family ties get in his way. Nor did I feel Jamie’s loss or heartbreak at all. Most importantly, the ending- though poetic- didn’t fit the story to me. Not that I wanted bloodshed and gore, but that’s what it felt like the story was gearing up to showcase and then it didn’t deliver.
Verdict: I think this really is a case of “It’s not you, it’s me.” I think those that enjoy books with deeply-involved plots or novels centered around warfare and how if effects people, even our youth, would really like it, but it simply wasn’t for me. I can honestly say that the only real purpose for me reading it to the end, aside from hoping that I’d learn to love the characters at some point, was that I wanted to know what Rob did and I was let down by that as well.
♥ A very special thanks to Bloomsbury’s Children Books and Net Galley for allowing us to preview this title. It will be available on Tuesday, October 16th.
Christina's Review:
**Note:** Christina was provided an e-galley of this title from the publishers via Net Galley. However, that did not influence her review in any way.
The Lowdown: From the prologue, we gather that a guy named Rob has died and so have others. We know that whatever Rob did has made him the villain and that his actions won’t earn him forgiveness any time soon, even from his own brother and family.
“I can’t decide what to do with your ashes. It’s been nearly a year now. Almost summer again.”
…
“This is not forgiveness. Don’t think that.”
Then the story leaps back in time, to the beginning of the summer, and we’re introduced to the main narrator of the book, Jamie. He’s quiet and stays to himself; he’s a normal guy in his first year at uni working a summer job on a river. Jamie ends up falling hopelessly in love with the elusive and out-of-control Caro, despite his older sister and everyone else warning him that she’s no good. He can’t help it, he’s drawn to her despite the fact that she keeps him at arm’s length, only comes around when she wants, and that’s she known for being promiscuous.
We learn through Caro’s POV that she’s a free spirit, rules can’t confine her and she won’t be defined by the words people whisper about her on the street. Her main focus in life is politically driven- to bring the wrongs of terrorism and war to the home-front. She believes it’s her responsibility to help people realize that the soldiers are just a weapon used by the government to force their ideals of right and wrong on the world. She’s a radical activist, willing to prove her commitment to the cause by using extreme measures. Basically, she reads like a ticking time-bomb. The only thing she needs is a weapon of her own.
That brings us round to Rob, Jamie’s older brother. He’s an ex-solider, released from duty after he was wounded in combat in Afghanistan. We learn through his narrative that there is no adjusting to life at home after combat; that for him, there’s no transitioning back to only being a citizen. He joined the army like his father and grandfather before him and as a way to escape the nothingness that was his life. He felt most alive as a soldier, with his sniper in his hand and the enemy in his sights. With his rifle and his rank stripped away from him, he’s only left him with a black and bitter hole that fills him up from the inside. He wastes his days away with drugs and alcohol, only fearing sleep and the nightmares that come with it. He just needs a purpose to bring him back.
So, Caro finds her weapon in Rob and Rob finds his purpose in Caro’s convictions. Jaime falls into this web of destruction because he provides Caro with the perfect escape and keeps her grounded to the present. She likes his innocence and the game of toying with him, but it could be so much more. This Is Not Forgiveness a twisted and tangled tale of the romantic fantasies of a naive, love-drunk boy who falls for the wrong girl; the wrong girl with the power of persuasion that hopes to reach martyr status by using a lost soldier; and a lost soldier just looking for a reason to have a gun in his hands and battle to wage. But when the day of demonstration finally lands on their doorstep, who has the nerve to pull the trigger and who is the only one left to walk away?
Special Notes: I’m not sure if it was only in the eBook I was given or if there are plans to change this in the finished editions, but there wasn’t any separation or indication of which character was narrating at any particular time. It took a few sentences in to each chapter to discover who was talking and where they were and what was going on. It was distracting and tended to take me out of the story.
My Opinion: This book wasn’t at all what I thought (was hoping?) it was going to be, but I suppose I should have done more homework. When the blurb said “taut psychological drama” is meant it. This story has tremendous depth in regards to how some teenagers are ruled by emotions and the different routes it can take them on, depending on their environment and if they have “purpose.” For some, passion is harnessed and used to create art, music, love, charity, but to others, it can take up residence in political campaigns or larger movements. It also delves heavily into the psyche of veterans, soldiers, and those released from their service to their country. In short, it played out real-to-life emotions and scenarios, providing a bit of a dark entry into the world of war, terrorism, political activism, and betrayal. Admittedly, I’m not up to par as far as politics go and a majority of what Caro and the other activists talked about was way above my head. For that reason, it was harder for me to feel connected to the characters at all.
The majority of this story felt like you were trudging up this giant mountainside and at the top you expected bloodshed and turmoil, some kind of climatic end to stun you and help you understand the actions of everyone in the book. However, that wasn’t how it settled with me. I felt blindsided by Caro’s affection for Jamie after stringing him along for so long. I was confused and unsettled about Rob’s ability to become this monster that didn’t even let family ties get in his way. Nor did I feel Jamie’s loss or heartbreak at all. Most importantly, the ending- though poetic- didn’t fit the story to me. Not that I wanted bloodshed and gore, but that’s what it felt like the story was gearing up to showcase and then it didn’t deliver.
Verdict: I think this really is a case of “It’s not you, it’s me.” I think those that enjoy books with deeply-involved plots or novels centered around warfare and how if effects people, even our youth, would really like it, but it simply wasn’t for me. I can honestly say that the only real purpose for me reading it to the end, aside from hoping that I’d learn to love the characters at some point, was that I wanted to know what Rob did and I was let down by that as well.
♥ A very special thanks to Bloomsbury’s Children Books and Net Galley for allowing us to preview this title. It will be available on Tuesday, October 16th.
October 13, 2012
My original review for this title can be found
HERE
on The Book Hookup.
**Note:** Christina was provided an e-galley of this title from the publishers via Net Galley. However, that did not influence her review in any way.
The Lowdown: From the prologue, we gather that a guy named Rob has died and so have others. We know that whatever Rob did has made him the villain and that his actions won’t earn him forgiveness any time soon, even from his own brother and family.
Then the story leaps back in time, to the beginning of the summer, and we’re introduced to the main narrator of the book, Jamie. He’s quiet and stays to himself; he’s a normal guy in his first year at uni working a summer job on a river. Jamie ends up falling hopelessly in love with the elusive and out-of-control Caro, despite his older sister and everyone else warning him that she’s no good. He can’t help it, he’s drawn to her despite the fact that she keeps him at arm’s length, only comes around when she wants, and that’s she known for being promiscuous.
We learn through Caro’s POV that she’s a free spirit, rules can’t confine her and she won’t be defined by the words people whisper about her on the street. Her main focus in life is politically driven- to bring the wrongs of terrorism and war to the home-front. She believes it’s her responsibility to help people realize that the soldiers are just a weapon used by the government to force their ideals of right and wrong on the world. She’s a radical activist, willing to prove her commitment to the cause by using extreme measures. Basically, she reads like a ticking time-bomb. The only thing she needs is a weapon of her own.
That brings us round to Rob, Jamie’s older brother. He’s an ex-solider, released from duty after he was wounded in combat in Afghanistan. We learn through his narrative that there is no adjusting to life at home after combat; that for him, there’s no transitioning back to only being a citizen. He joined the army like his father and grandfather before him and as a way to escape the nothingness that was his life. He felt most alive as a soldier, with his sniper in his hand and the enemy in his sights. With his rifle and his rank stripped away from him, he’s only left him with a black and bitter hole that fills him up from the inside. He wastes his days away with drugs and alcohol, only fearing sleep and the nightmares that come with it. He just needs a purpose to bring him back.
So, Caro finds her weapon in Rob and Rob finds his purpose in Caro’s convictions. Jaime falls into this web of destruction because he provides Caro with the perfect escape and keeps her grounded to the present. She likes his innocence and the game of toying with him, but it could be so much more. This Is Not Forgiveness a twisted and tangled tale of the romantic fantasies of a naive, love-drunk boy who falls for the wrong girl; the wrong girl with the power of persuasion that hopes to reach martyr status by using a lost soldier; and a lost soldier just looking for a reason to have a gun in his hands and battle to wage. But when the day of demonstration finally lands on their doorstep, who has the nerve to pull the trigger and who is the only one left to walk away?
Special Notes: I’m not sure if it was only in the eBook I was given or if there are plans to change this in the finished editions, but there wasn’t any separation or indication of which character was narrating at any particular time. It took a few sentences in to each chapter to discover who was talking and where they were and what was going on. It was distracting and tended to take me out of the story.
My Opinion: This book wasn’t at all what I thought (was hoping?) it was going to be, but I suppose I should have done more homework. When the blurb said “taut psychological drama” is meant it. This story has tremendous depth in regards to how some teenagers are ruled by emotions and the different routes it can take them on, depending on their environment and if they have “purpose.” For some, passion is harnessed and used to create art, music, love, charity, but to others, it can take up residence in political campaigns or larger movements. It also delves heavily into the psyche of veterans, soldiers, and those released from their service to their country. In short, it played out real-to-life emotions and scenarios, providing a bit of a dark entry into the world of war, terrorism, political activism, and betrayal. Admittedly, I’m not up to par as far as politics go and a majority of what Caro and the other activists talked about was way above my head. For that reason, it was harder for me to feel connected to the characters at all.
The majority of this story felt like you were trudging up this giant mountainside and at the top you expected bloodshed and turmoil, some kind of climatic end to stun you and help you understand the actions of everyone in the book. However, that wasn’t how it settled with me. I felt blindsided by Caro’s affection for Jamie after stringing him along for so long. I was confused and unsettled about Rob’s ability to become this monster that didn’t even let family ties get in his way. Nor did I feel Jamie’s loss or heartbreak at all. Most importantly, the ending- though poetic- didn’t fit the story to me. Not that I wanted bloodshed and gore, but that’s what it felt like the story was gearing up to showcase and then it didn’t deliver.
Verdict: I think this really is a case of “It’s not you, it’s me.” I think those that enjoy books with deeply-involved plots or novels centered around warfare and how if effects people, even our youth, would really like it, but it simply wasn’t for me. I can honestly say that the only real purpose for me reading it to the end, aside from hoping that I’d learn to love the characters at some point, was that I wanted to know what Rob did and I was let down by that as well.
♥ A very special thanks to Bloomsbury’s Children Books and Net Galley for allowing us to preview this title. It will be available on Tuesday, October 16th.
**Note:** Christina was provided an e-galley of this title from the publishers via Net Galley. However, that did not influence her review in any way.
The Lowdown: From the prologue, we gather that a guy named Rob has died and so have others. We know that whatever Rob did has made him the villain and that his actions won’t earn him forgiveness any time soon, even from his own brother and family.
“I can’t decide what to do with your ashes. It’s been nearly a year now. Almost summer again.”
…
“This is not forgiveness. Don’t think that.”
Then the story leaps back in time, to the beginning of the summer, and we’re introduced to the main narrator of the book, Jamie. He’s quiet and stays to himself; he’s a normal guy in his first year at uni working a summer job on a river. Jamie ends up falling hopelessly in love with the elusive and out-of-control Caro, despite his older sister and everyone else warning him that she’s no good. He can’t help it, he’s drawn to her despite the fact that she keeps him at arm’s length, only comes around when she wants, and that’s she known for being promiscuous.
We learn through Caro’s POV that she’s a free spirit, rules can’t confine her and she won’t be defined by the words people whisper about her on the street. Her main focus in life is politically driven- to bring the wrongs of terrorism and war to the home-front. She believes it’s her responsibility to help people realize that the soldiers are just a weapon used by the government to force their ideals of right and wrong on the world. She’s a radical activist, willing to prove her commitment to the cause by using extreme measures. Basically, she reads like a ticking time-bomb. The only thing she needs is a weapon of her own.
That brings us round to Rob, Jamie’s older brother. He’s an ex-solider, released from duty after he was wounded in combat in Afghanistan. We learn through his narrative that there is no adjusting to life at home after combat; that for him, there’s no transitioning back to only being a citizen. He joined the army like his father and grandfather before him and as a way to escape the nothingness that was his life. He felt most alive as a soldier, with his sniper in his hand and the enemy in his sights. With his rifle and his rank stripped away from him, he’s only left him with a black and bitter hole that fills him up from the inside. He wastes his days away with drugs and alcohol, only fearing sleep and the nightmares that come with it. He just needs a purpose to bring him back.
So, Caro finds her weapon in Rob and Rob finds his purpose in Caro’s convictions. Jaime falls into this web of destruction because he provides Caro with the perfect escape and keeps her grounded to the present. She likes his innocence and the game of toying with him, but it could be so much more. This Is Not Forgiveness a twisted and tangled tale of the romantic fantasies of a naive, love-drunk boy who falls for the wrong girl; the wrong girl with the power of persuasion that hopes to reach martyr status by using a lost soldier; and a lost soldier just looking for a reason to have a gun in his hands and battle to wage. But when the day of demonstration finally lands on their doorstep, who has the nerve to pull the trigger and who is the only one left to walk away?
Special Notes: I’m not sure if it was only in the eBook I was given or if there are plans to change this in the finished editions, but there wasn’t any separation or indication of which character was narrating at any particular time. It took a few sentences in to each chapter to discover who was talking and where they were and what was going on. It was distracting and tended to take me out of the story.
My Opinion: This book wasn’t at all what I thought (was hoping?) it was going to be, but I suppose I should have done more homework. When the blurb said “taut psychological drama” is meant it. This story has tremendous depth in regards to how some teenagers are ruled by emotions and the different routes it can take them on, depending on their environment and if they have “purpose.” For some, passion is harnessed and used to create art, music, love, charity, but to others, it can take up residence in political campaigns or larger movements. It also delves heavily into the psyche of veterans, soldiers, and those released from their service to their country. In short, it played out real-to-life emotions and scenarios, providing a bit of a dark entry into the world of war, terrorism, political activism, and betrayal. Admittedly, I’m not up to par as far as politics go and a majority of what Caro and the other activists talked about was way above my head. For that reason, it was harder for me to feel connected to the characters at all.
The majority of this story felt like you were trudging up this giant mountainside and at the top you expected bloodshed and turmoil, some kind of climatic end to stun you and help you understand the actions of everyone in the book. However, that wasn’t how it settled with me. I felt blindsided by Caro’s affection for Jamie after stringing him along for so long. I was confused and unsettled about Rob’s ability to become this monster that didn’t even let family ties get in his way. Nor did I feel Jamie’s loss or heartbreak at all. Most importantly, the ending- though poetic- didn’t fit the story to me. Not that I wanted bloodshed and gore, but that’s what it felt like the story was gearing up to showcase and then it didn’t deliver.
Verdict: I think this really is a case of “It’s not you, it’s me.” I think those that enjoy books with deeply-involved plots or novels centered around warfare and how if effects people, even our youth, would really like it, but it simply wasn’t for me. I can honestly say that the only real purpose for me reading it to the end, aside from hoping that I’d learn to love the characters at some point, was that I wanted to know what Rob did and I was let down by that as well.
♥ A very special thanks to Bloomsbury’s Children Books and Net Galley for allowing us to preview this title. It will be available on Tuesday, October 16th.
August 2, 2020
This is a good book but i find all but the last couple of chapters very slow. This caused me to put off reading it. It took me a week to finish it because of it, but took me only two of those days to finish it .
Though it was quite slow i loved how different chapters are told by different people to get an insight to their thoughts. Overall it wasn't bad but could have had ore going on than just at the end.
Though it was quite slow i loved how different chapters are told by different people to get an insight to their thoughts. Overall it wasn't bad but could have had ore going on than just at the end.
February 9, 2012
4½ Out of 5 Stars
“I can’t decide what to do with your ashes.
…
“You don’t deserve to be liberated yet.
…
“This is not forgiveness. Don’t think that.”
Starting at the end with two funerals, we know Rob is dead. And that he did something those closest to him cannot forgive him for. The question is what?
Introducing Caro: mysterious, impulsive and dangerous. Meet Jamie: sweet, naïve and desperate for Caro to notice him, although he never thought she would. Finally Rob, wounded and damaged, a devoted solider who is no longer in the army.
It’s common knowledge that the beautiful Caro is trouble. Everyone warns Jamie not to get involved, but he’s under her spell.
Over the summer, these threes’ lives are entangled, with explosive consequences…
I’m a huge fan of Celia Rees – she is one of my favourite authors! I’ve become used to her historical fiction and the lyrical way she has of showing sometimes horrible events. This Is Not Forgiveness? The opposite. It was shocking – in such a good way. It was unlike anything I’ve read by her before, and like all her other books it has to be added to my favourites.
Caro was a complicated character, one I couldn’t figure out whether I liked or not for ages. She was mysterious, a “trouble maker”, independent and unpredictable. Although she was from a privileged background, I liked the three-dimensional aspect her political views and recklessness gave her. Overall, though, she wasn’t exactly likeable, as she was manipulative and extreme, but she wasn’t as bad as she first seemed. Well, not by the end, anyway…
Jamie was the average one, the ‘normal’ teenager. He was a little shy, but cute. However, the complete and utter obsession he developed for Caro? Yeah, not so sweet. It was like everyone else didn’t matter, only Caro: and let me tell you, the trait is as bad in a guy as it is in a girl. But he was sweet, and sensitive, and I did like him: he was probably the most likeable of the three characters, even if he wasn’t the most interesting.
Jamie’s brother, Rob, completes our trio. Now, Rob, for me, was the most complex and intriguing character for me. A former soldier who had been injured while in Afghanistan, he was scarred both inside and out. We got to see how being over there had changed him: it was astounding, and I think Rees portrayed it brilliantly. It really showed how fighting in the war changes your mind and way of thinking, and all of this and Rob’s believable and rough voice made him feel so real and completely interesting.
Rob and Jamie’s sister, Martha was someone I felt could have been used more, as a rather ‘impartial’ onlooker, not involved. She didn’t get to speak, but she made her thoughts known through her insistent warnings to Jamie. I think reading from her point of view may have made the whole story richer and that we could have seen more into the past of the three lead characters.
The characters were amazing and so strong, each vividly believable. They may not have been exactly loveable all the time, but each had charms that draw you in and getting into their heads gives us that exclusive inside peek. And at the end. Well, one completely shocked me, one pleasantly surprised me and one lived up to my expectations. Who is who? you may ask. Well, you’ll have to read it yourself and make your own opinions, because you definitely won’t regret it!
This Is Not Forgiveness tackles difficult issues effortlessly: war and how it affects those who have been there. Extremist views – ones developed right here in England – and how the ones who believe in them are willing to do anything to get attention. It also has sex, drugs and alcohol (no rock-n-roll, though) – maybe a little bit too much of those – that overall made the teens very teen. The story was powerful and intense, the subject brilliantly shocking. This may just be the best Celia Rees book ever!
I loved the writing, these three so distinct voices! All too often you find dual narratives who sound so similar you can’t tell them apart. This Is Not Forgiveness? Not one of those, not even in the slightest: even without the names at the start of the chapter, I would have been able to tell who was who. And the writing, well, I’ve always loved Rees’ style and it truly comes through in Caro. All the writing had all her classic addictiveness, the one that keeps me totally hooked. Beautiful, raw, edgy and so, so strong, it was perfect for the book and each voice was perfect for the character.
I was completely on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The beginning throws us in at the end and makes us desperate to know: How? What? Why? When? And the story? More powerful than anything I thought it would be. I was just sucked in by the plot, absorbed, unaware of the ‘real world’. The action started up and lasted until the end of the story, and God: I just couldn’t stop reading! And I did not see that final twist coming; actually, I didn’t guess most of the twists!
This was a powerful, hard-hitting book that had me completely and utterly under its spell all the way through. Different lives and feelings wove together to create a brilliantly written, intense and explosive story that left me reeling. Beautiful, terrible, shocking and moving, This is Not Forgiveness is not one I will be forgetting in a long, long time.
“I can’t decide what to do with your ashes.
…
“You don’t deserve to be liberated yet.
…
“This is not forgiveness. Don’t think that.”
Starting at the end with two funerals, we know Rob is dead. And that he did something those closest to him cannot forgive him for. The question is what?
Introducing Caro: mysterious, impulsive and dangerous. Meet Jamie: sweet, naïve and desperate for Caro to notice him, although he never thought she would. Finally Rob, wounded and damaged, a devoted solider who is no longer in the army.
It’s common knowledge that the beautiful Caro is trouble. Everyone warns Jamie not to get involved, but he’s under her spell.
Over the summer, these threes’ lives are entangled, with explosive consequences…
I’m a huge fan of Celia Rees – she is one of my favourite authors! I’ve become used to her historical fiction and the lyrical way she has of showing sometimes horrible events. This Is Not Forgiveness? The opposite. It was shocking – in such a good way. It was unlike anything I’ve read by her before, and like all her other books it has to be added to my favourites.
Caro was a complicated character, one I couldn’t figure out whether I liked or not for ages. She was mysterious, a “trouble maker”, independent and unpredictable. Although she was from a privileged background, I liked the three-dimensional aspect her political views and recklessness gave her. Overall, though, she wasn’t exactly likeable, as she was manipulative and extreme, but she wasn’t as bad as she first seemed. Well, not by the end, anyway…
Jamie was the average one, the ‘normal’ teenager. He was a little shy, but cute. However, the complete and utter obsession he developed for Caro? Yeah, not so sweet. It was like everyone else didn’t matter, only Caro: and let me tell you, the trait is as bad in a guy as it is in a girl. But he was sweet, and sensitive, and I did like him: he was probably the most likeable of the three characters, even if he wasn’t the most interesting.
Jamie’s brother, Rob, completes our trio. Now, Rob, for me, was the most complex and intriguing character for me. A former soldier who had been injured while in Afghanistan, he was scarred both inside and out. We got to see how being over there had changed him: it was astounding, and I think Rees portrayed it brilliantly. It really showed how fighting in the war changes your mind and way of thinking, and all of this and Rob’s believable and rough voice made him feel so real and completely interesting.
Rob and Jamie’s sister, Martha was someone I felt could have been used more, as a rather ‘impartial’ onlooker, not involved. She didn’t get to speak, but she made her thoughts known through her insistent warnings to Jamie. I think reading from her point of view may have made the whole story richer and that we could have seen more into the past of the three lead characters.
The characters were amazing and so strong, each vividly believable. They may not have been exactly loveable all the time, but each had charms that draw you in and getting into their heads gives us that exclusive inside peek. And at the end. Well, one completely shocked me, one pleasantly surprised me and one lived up to my expectations. Who is who? you may ask. Well, you’ll have to read it yourself and make your own opinions, because you definitely won’t regret it!
This Is Not Forgiveness tackles difficult issues effortlessly: war and how it affects those who have been there. Extremist views – ones developed right here in England – and how the ones who believe in them are willing to do anything to get attention. It also has sex, drugs and alcohol (no rock-n-roll, though) – maybe a little bit too much of those – that overall made the teens very teen. The story was powerful and intense, the subject brilliantly shocking. This may just be the best Celia Rees book ever!
I loved the writing, these three so distinct voices! All too often you find dual narratives who sound so similar you can’t tell them apart. This Is Not Forgiveness? Not one of those, not even in the slightest: even without the names at the start of the chapter, I would have been able to tell who was who. And the writing, well, I’ve always loved Rees’ style and it truly comes through in Caro. All the writing had all her classic addictiveness, the one that keeps me totally hooked. Beautiful, raw, edgy and so, so strong, it was perfect for the book and each voice was perfect for the character.
I was completely on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The beginning throws us in at the end and makes us desperate to know: How? What? Why? When? And the story? More powerful than anything I thought it would be. I was just sucked in by the plot, absorbed, unaware of the ‘real world’. The action started up and lasted until the end of the story, and God: I just couldn’t stop reading! And I did not see that final twist coming; actually, I didn’t guess most of the twists!
This was a powerful, hard-hitting book that had me completely and utterly under its spell all the way through. Different lives and feelings wove together to create a brilliantly written, intense and explosive story that left me reeling. Beautiful, terrible, shocking and moving, This is Not Forgiveness is not one I will be forgetting in a long, long time.
December 4, 2016
I almost declared this a DNF because I couldn't tell if the main story was one POV or many since they were barely introduced. Then there was the switching timeline, the unlikeable characters and plot that didn't make any sense. I guess it drew me in and I did finish it but I'm not really any wiser about the plot and the characters were flat. I didn't really care about what happened to them.
May 19, 2017
'This is Not Forgiveness' was nothing like how I'd expected it to be. This book is not a story full of characters who you can sympathise with and at times I did really hate them but it is an absolutely amazing psychological page-turner. At its heart are harrowing but important messages about violence, mental health and love.
December 7, 2017
I'm a big fan of Celia Rees' historical fiction so I thought I would give this book a go. As soon as I worked out which characters perspective I was reading from I was hooked.
February 10, 2018
This wasn't a bad book. I did quite enjoy it but it took me a few chapters to get into it. The beginning was a little messy and confusing but I'm glad I persevered.
September 1, 2018
1.5 stars
November 12, 2019
A waste of time! Started of ok but then it just dragged and by the time it got to the last few chapters it was just effort to read. Couldn't wait to finish it if I'm honest.
August 13, 2016
As someone who enjoys Rees's historical fiction, I was extremely disappointed by this offering. Her writing is always technically sound, and in this case, there's a good story in there somewhere. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it has been incredibly badly executed.
The pacing is slow, and the characters severely under-developed. Most of the time it isn't at all clear why they're doing what they're doing. The story is told with three voices, all of them un-engaging, particularly that of Jamie, who narrates most of the story. He has very little character, and what there is I do not like. He's weak and easily led, and doesn't seem to develop at all. As a narrator he's whingey, always complaining, never seeming to do anything about his gripes. He sometimes speaks as adults think teenagers speak, and sometimes doesn't bother. It's better when he doesn't bother. As a minor point, Jamie also talks way too much about his clothes. I find this annoying in male and female characters, and a creative writing teacher once told me that it's unrealistic in a male, so this was something that stood out for me in an overall irritating book. Similarly the specific references to guns are boring, and the mentions of current technology are too frequent and rather forced.
Caro is potentially interesting, and I'd have liked to read more from her. As it is, without the development and explanation she needs, it seems that everything she does is pretty low and there's no reason for any of it that I can see. She, in particular, lacks background and motivation. We first see her with her family, and then don't see them again throughout the entire novel - only hear what Caro thinks about them, very occasionally, with nothing to back it up. I'd have liked to see that developed, especially the potentially interesting relationship with her stepfather. But no. (Annoying when Jamie asks 'Don't you call him Dad?' when he, too, calls his stepfather by his first name - as do many people's stepchildren.) I did start to hope there was more to the parents' absence than met the eye, especially as Caro twice lied about their coming back as an excuse to get people out of the house. While I was waiting for something to happen, the story plodded on and then suddenly leapt to a climax that I found it impossible to care about after such a poor build-up.
Rob also has potential. He is perhaps the easiest of the three main characters to understand, with the hints of what he went through in the army, but again he is under-developed. We need to see more of his relationship with Jamie, to understand why it ends up where it does. The same can be said for Caro's interaction with both the two brothers. She forms intense relationships with both of them very suddenly, for no reason that I can see, and for their part there seems no better reason than the fact she's attractive. Realistic, possibly, but deeply unsatisfying in a novel that ought to be character-driven. If they were supposed to be attracted to her mystery, or intensity, or unconventionality, or anything like that, it wouldn't ring true because neither of them knew her at all when it started.
As for the secondary and tertiary characters, there is nothing to them. Overall, I'm afraid I feel that this story is astonishingly weak: disjointed, unclear and very boring.
The pacing is slow, and the characters severely under-developed. Most of the time it isn't at all clear why they're doing what they're doing. The story is told with three voices, all of them un-engaging, particularly that of Jamie, who narrates most of the story. He has very little character, and what there is I do not like. He's weak and easily led, and doesn't seem to develop at all. As a narrator he's whingey, always complaining, never seeming to do anything about his gripes. He sometimes speaks as adults think teenagers speak, and sometimes doesn't bother. It's better when he doesn't bother. As a minor point, Jamie also talks way too much about his clothes. I find this annoying in male and female characters, and a creative writing teacher once told me that it's unrealistic in a male, so this was something that stood out for me in an overall irritating book. Similarly the specific references to guns are boring, and the mentions of current technology are too frequent and rather forced.
Caro is potentially interesting, and I'd have liked to read more from her. As it is, without the development and explanation she needs, it seems that everything she does is pretty low and there's no reason for any of it that I can see. She, in particular, lacks background and motivation. We first see her with her family, and then don't see them again throughout the entire novel - only hear what Caro thinks about them, very occasionally, with nothing to back it up. I'd have liked to see that developed, especially the potentially interesting relationship with her stepfather. But no. (Annoying when Jamie asks 'Don't you call him Dad?' when he, too, calls his stepfather by his first name - as do many people's stepchildren.) I did start to hope there was more to the parents' absence than met the eye, especially as Caro twice lied about their coming back as an excuse to get people out of the house. While I was waiting for something to happen, the story plodded on and then suddenly leapt to a climax that I found it impossible to care about after such a poor build-up.
Rob also has potential. He is perhaps the easiest of the three main characters to understand, with the hints of what he went through in the army, but again he is under-developed. We need to see more of his relationship with Jamie, to understand why it ends up where it does. The same can be said for Caro's interaction with both the two brothers. She forms intense relationships with both of them very suddenly, for no reason that I can see, and for their part there seems no better reason than the fact she's attractive. Realistic, possibly, but deeply unsatisfying in a novel that ought to be character-driven. If they were supposed to be attracted to her mystery, or intensity, or unconventionality, or anything like that, it wouldn't ring true because neither of them knew her at all when it started.
As for the secondary and tertiary characters, there is nothing to them. Overall, I'm afraid I feel that this story is astonishingly weak: disjointed, unclear and very boring.
November 4, 2013
It's hard to tell which chapters change the point of view so have some pointers: Regular type is Jamie's point of view, bold type is Rob's point of view, and italic type is Caro's point of view. Rob's chapters have a URL by the page number and Caro's chapters have a quote or picture by the chapter number.
On to the actual review part, I have a love-hate relationship with this book. Firstly, the way 'This is Not Forgiveness' is written was very hard to follow. For the first few chapters I had no idea who was talking or when it was taking place or anything. The book alternates between the different characters' points of view at what seems like random. Even when I realized the type was the only warning, I still had difficulty following along with the alternating characters. There is also a problem of inconsistent punctuation that really bothered me throughout the book. This is the reason I give it four stars instead of five.
At first I expected one of those carbon copy romance plots. You know the one I'm talking about: troubled person finds a less troubled person and learns how not to be troubled anymore all while falling madly in love as they ride off into the sunset. But no. This isn't what 'This is Not Forgiveness' had planned. As someone who doesn't swoon over romance novels I liked that it wasn't focused on the romance. Instead, Rees took on some very harrowing subjects throughout this book—the effects of war, politics, and finding something to put your faith in. She tackled these topics brutally honest and that's the reason I loved this book so much. The way Rees pulled these three very different characters together and had them play their parts felt like magic.
Jamie is very ordinary—even dull. He just wants what any school boy wants and doesn't really stand out in any specific, original way. Rob is Jamie's older brother. Back from a war that wounded both his body and his mind, he's finding it difficult to slide back into everyday life. Caro is a very broken and lost eighteen year old girl who tramples her way into Rob and Jamie's lives and flip them upside down. She isn't vulnerable or misunderstood or any of those cliché female roles. She's manipulative and self-righteous and throughout the book I just wanted to jump in and wring her neck. However, I loved that. I loved hating her because it made me think.
Like many other reviewers pointed out, the characters of this book aren't there to fall in love with. These aren't the types of characters that you'll wish could come alive and talk to you over dinner. These characters are terribly flawed and terribly wounded, all in their own ways and they're extremely different from each other but they all have their important roles to play. These characters are real and honest, regardless of how hard it is for some readers to swallow.
'This is Not Forgiveness' didn't grasp me immediately, mainly because of the trouble I had following who was speaking, but as soon as it did I couldn't let go. The more time I had to think about it the more I liked it. At 280 pages it was a short, relatively easy read. Though I enjoyed reading it, I know that this isn't a book for everyone. I recommend it to pretty much anyone sixteen and older who enjoy reading fiction about politics, war, and anarchy.
On to the actual review part, I have a love-hate relationship with this book. Firstly, the way 'This is Not Forgiveness' is written was very hard to follow. For the first few chapters I had no idea who was talking or when it was taking place or anything. The book alternates between the different characters' points of view at what seems like random. Even when I realized the type was the only warning, I still had difficulty following along with the alternating characters. There is also a problem of inconsistent punctuation that really bothered me throughout the book. This is the reason I give it four stars instead of five.
At first I expected one of those carbon copy romance plots. You know the one I'm talking about: troubled person finds a less troubled person and learns how not to be troubled anymore all while falling madly in love as they ride off into the sunset. But no. This isn't what 'This is Not Forgiveness' had planned. As someone who doesn't swoon over romance novels I liked that it wasn't focused on the romance. Instead, Rees took on some very harrowing subjects throughout this book—the effects of war, politics, and finding something to put your faith in. She tackled these topics brutally honest and that's the reason I loved this book so much. The way Rees pulled these three very different characters together and had them play their parts felt like magic.
Jamie is very ordinary—even dull. He just wants what any school boy wants and doesn't really stand out in any specific, original way. Rob is Jamie's older brother. Back from a war that wounded both his body and his mind, he's finding it difficult to slide back into everyday life. Caro is a very broken and lost eighteen year old girl who tramples her way into Rob and Jamie's lives and flip them upside down. She isn't vulnerable or misunderstood or any of those cliché female roles. She's manipulative and self-righteous and throughout the book I just wanted to jump in and wring her neck. However, I loved that. I loved hating her because it made me think.
Like many other reviewers pointed out, the characters of this book aren't there to fall in love with. These aren't the types of characters that you'll wish could come alive and talk to you over dinner. These characters are terribly flawed and terribly wounded, all in their own ways and they're extremely different from each other but they all have their important roles to play. These characters are real and honest, regardless of how hard it is for some readers to swallow.
'This is Not Forgiveness' didn't grasp me immediately, mainly because of the trouble I had following who was speaking, but as soon as it did I couldn't let go. The more time I had to think about it the more I liked it. At 280 pages it was a short, relatively easy read. Though I enjoyed reading it, I know that this isn't a book for everyone. I recommend it to pretty much anyone sixteen and older who enjoy reading fiction about politics, war, and anarchy.
February 7, 2012
3.5 Stars
This Is Not Forgiveness is the first book I've read by Celia Rees so although I've been told it is very different to her usual books I can't make any comparison. The story is mainly told by Jamie with occasional chapters from his brother Rob or his girlfriend Caro's perspective. I've seen some people say that they found the switches in narrators confusing but I have to say I felt the author gave each character such a clear voice that I didn't have a problem keeping track of who was narrating at any one time. I think you actually needed all three characters to tell a portion of the story, if you hadn't got to know each of them quite so well then it would have been very hard to empathise with any of them - Rob and Caro in particular. That isn't to say I agree with what they were up to but seeing inside their heads at least gives you more of an idea how they ended up where they did.
It's been a long time since I disliked a character as much as I did Caro. You do get to see that she hasn't had the best upbringing but really there are a lot of people out there who have had things a lot worse than she has and don't turn out so selfish and uncaring. To a certain extent she has also been manipulated by the crowd that she falls in with who prey on her as a young, idealistic girl but I still found it hard to forgive her actions and wasn't happy with the secrets Jamie kept at the end (I can't say more about that without giving spoilers). Although I didn't like her even a tiny bit she did manage to surprise me at the end of the book - I never would have expected her to act in the way she did and that did go a little way towards redeeming her character for me.
Rob has returned from the army a broken man but although physically injured it is the emotional scars that have the strongest impact. The things that he has both seen and done have left their mark on him and it was quite disturbing to see how little help he had trying to adjust to civilian life. The more you learn about him and the way he acted even as a child the more you start to see that his problems didn't begin in the army though. I was actually left thinking that he probably should never have been allowed to sign up in the first place and that training him to use a gun wasn't really the best thing for him.
Jamie was completely different to his brother and has a very naive outlook on things. He was far too trusting and when it came to Caro he was easily manipulated into doing whatever she wanted. No matter how badly she treated him he kept coming back for more and while I can remember doing stupid things in the name of love as a teenage as an adult I find it hard to empathise with someone who is so weak willed. I felt sorry for Jamie but I spent a lot of time feeling incredible frustrated with him for not walking away from Caro while he had the chance.
The story is hard hitting and raises some interesting questions, it isn't a comfortable read but it is an interesting one. If you're looking for a YA book with a political edge to it that will make you think then I would definitely recommend This Is Not Forgiveness.
This Is Not Forgiveness is the first book I've read by Celia Rees so although I've been told it is very different to her usual books I can't make any comparison. The story is mainly told by Jamie with occasional chapters from his brother Rob or his girlfriend Caro's perspective. I've seen some people say that they found the switches in narrators confusing but I have to say I felt the author gave each character such a clear voice that I didn't have a problem keeping track of who was narrating at any one time. I think you actually needed all three characters to tell a portion of the story, if you hadn't got to know each of them quite so well then it would have been very hard to empathise with any of them - Rob and Caro in particular. That isn't to say I agree with what they were up to but seeing inside their heads at least gives you more of an idea how they ended up where they did.
It's been a long time since I disliked a character as much as I did Caro. You do get to see that she hasn't had the best upbringing but really there are a lot of people out there who have had things a lot worse than she has and don't turn out so selfish and uncaring. To a certain extent she has also been manipulated by the crowd that she falls in with who prey on her as a young, idealistic girl but I still found it hard to forgive her actions and wasn't happy with the secrets Jamie kept at the end (I can't say more about that without giving spoilers). Although I didn't like her even a tiny bit she did manage to surprise me at the end of the book - I never would have expected her to act in the way she did and that did go a little way towards redeeming her character for me.
Rob has returned from the army a broken man but although physically injured it is the emotional scars that have the strongest impact. The things that he has both seen and done have left their mark on him and it was quite disturbing to see how little help he had trying to adjust to civilian life. The more you learn about him and the way he acted even as a child the more you start to see that his problems didn't begin in the army though. I was actually left thinking that he probably should never have been allowed to sign up in the first place and that training him to use a gun wasn't really the best thing for him.
Jamie was completely different to his brother and has a very naive outlook on things. He was far too trusting and when it came to Caro he was easily manipulated into doing whatever she wanted. No matter how badly she treated him he kept coming back for more and while I can remember doing stupid things in the name of love as a teenage as an adult I find it hard to empathise with someone who is so weak willed. I felt sorry for Jamie but I spent a lot of time feeling incredible frustrated with him for not walking away from Caro while he had the chance.
The story is hard hitting and raises some interesting questions, it isn't a comfortable read but it is an interesting one. If you're looking for a YA book with a political edge to it that will make you think then I would definitely recommend This Is Not Forgiveness.
April 18, 2012
This Is Not Forgiveness is a dark, contemporary young adult novel exploring themes such as alienation, depression and extremism with a confronting message. The book opens as Jamie contemplates a small brown plastic urn that contains the ashes of his brother, Robert, and then traces the events that led to his death. The story unfolds through first person narratives from Jamie, Caro and Robert allowing the reader essential insight into the motivations of each and their role in the story. Caro is the catalyst for the novel, desperate for attention and with the need to matter, she is anxious to prove to her political activism group that she can make a difference. Swept away by idealism she plans an action that will draw attention to the cause. To ensure it's success, she needs the cooperation of Jamie and the skills of his brother, injured war vet Robert and she expertly manipulates the brothers to her own ends until the plan goes awry and Caro realises she is in over her head.
Jamie is a fairly average teenage boy but getting involved with Caro turns his world upside down. Blinded by infatuation he doesn't see Caro's faults, or chooses to ignore them. Jamie's obsession with Caro is difficult to comprehend but teens do stupid things in the name of love all the time so his behaviour is not unusual. Jamie is the character that invites sympathy, he is sweet and sensitive and is very nearly destroyed by Caro and his brother.
Caro is not really a sympathetic character, she is cold and capricious and her naivete is edged with ruthlessness. Yet she is young, idealistic and lonely, with a sad family background, so its difficult to not feel something for her, Caro's mothers neglect is a contributing factor to her daughters poor self esteem. Caro is a lost young woman and though she goes some way to redeeming herself in the end, it's not enough.
What strikes me most about This Is Not Forgiveness is how little would have been needed to avert the tragedy. Caro and Robert both represent people who are alienated from their families, peers and society.
Robert has recently been invalided out of the service after an traumatic leg injury sustained in Afghanistan. Rees hints that even before entering the army Robert had mental health issues and now he is finding it difficult to readjust to civilian life. Suffering from PTSD and depression, he feels he has lost his purpose so when Caro approaches him with her plan he grasps it. Robert's story is tragic and his story is confronting. It infuriates me that Veterans are largely ignored once they have returned home, the lack of care and support, particularly for injured servicemen, is disgraceful and Rees highlights the issue dramatically.
This Is Not Forgiveness is a remarkable book, unsettling and thought provoking, I feel it may be most suitable for mature young adults.
Jamie is a fairly average teenage boy but getting involved with Caro turns his world upside down. Blinded by infatuation he doesn't see Caro's faults, or chooses to ignore them. Jamie's obsession with Caro is difficult to comprehend but teens do stupid things in the name of love all the time so his behaviour is not unusual. Jamie is the character that invites sympathy, he is sweet and sensitive and is very nearly destroyed by Caro and his brother.
Caro is not really a sympathetic character, she is cold and capricious and her naivete is edged with ruthlessness. Yet she is young, idealistic and lonely, with a sad family background, so its difficult to not feel something for her, Caro's mothers neglect is a contributing factor to her daughters poor self esteem. Caro is a lost young woman and though she goes some way to redeeming herself in the end, it's not enough.
What strikes me most about This Is Not Forgiveness is how little would have been needed to avert the tragedy. Caro and Robert both represent people who are alienated from their families, peers and society.
Robert has recently been invalided out of the service after an traumatic leg injury sustained in Afghanistan. Rees hints that even before entering the army Robert had mental health issues and now he is finding it difficult to readjust to civilian life. Suffering from PTSD and depression, he feels he has lost his purpose so when Caro approaches him with her plan he grasps it. Robert's story is tragic and his story is confronting. It infuriates me that Veterans are largely ignored once they have returned home, the lack of care and support, particularly for injured servicemen, is disgraceful and Rees highlights the issue dramatically.
This Is Not Forgiveness is a remarkable book, unsettling and thought provoking, I feel it may be most suitable for mature young adults.
June 9, 2012
Brothers Rob and Jamie are nothing alike; Jamie is young and niaive, whilst Rob is still suffering from the traumas of being injured in the war against Afghanistan. But they do have one thing in common. The charismatic, elusive Caro. Jamie falls head over heels for her, despite warnings from his sister. And for good reason - Caro goes days without calling him, has a secret past and a dangerous taste for radical politics. Both boys will find themselves under Caro's spell and making decisions that will change things forever.
Review: The story started at the end, making it very intriguing as I wanted to know what happened to get to the end point. Told from each of the three characters perspective, each voice was presented in a different font and style, which was such a simple way to distinguish each of the characters. Having said this, Rees has written the characters so that each has their own distinct style and format, such as Rob's web pages and Caro's diary. Although Jamie primarily tells the story, I liked knowing what Rob and Caro were thinking and how they felt they could justify their behaviour.
I instantly liked Jamie. He was sweet and innocent, and far too nice for Caro. Despite being a manipulative, scheming and selfish girl, it's hard to deny that Caro was alluring and magnetic. She's the kind of girl that other girls would envy and boys would all idolise.
I did feel sorry for Rob. Yes, he seemed predisposed to enjoy violence and that's probably why he went into the Army in the first place, but after being injured he was mentally unstable with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and didn't seem to have enough support to cope with normal, civilian life. I didn't think he would have taken the path he did without manipulation and steering, and it seems such a shame that he was used for someone else's agenda.
This story touches on some serious issues such as mental trauma and post traumatic stress disorder, as well as political ideologies and radicalism. It's also very relevant to today's current political climate, with students and teenagers protesting and rioting. It will make you think though, about people that join the army, what it's like to live constantly under such duress, and the morals behind bold political statements and radical actions.
Having seen a few average reviews for this book, I figure you either have to be in the right mood for this book or its a bit like Marmite - you either get it or you don't. I really enjoyed it and read it really quickly. I thought the characters were interesting and the plot was like a rolling stone, gathering momentum.
This is not forgiveness is a compelling and compulsive read, with a thought provoking ending.
Rating: 5*
Review: The story started at the end, making it very intriguing as I wanted to know what happened to get to the end point. Told from each of the three characters perspective, each voice was presented in a different font and style, which was such a simple way to distinguish each of the characters. Having said this, Rees has written the characters so that each has their own distinct style and format, such as Rob's web pages and Caro's diary. Although Jamie primarily tells the story, I liked knowing what Rob and Caro were thinking and how they felt they could justify their behaviour.
I instantly liked Jamie. He was sweet and innocent, and far too nice for Caro. Despite being a manipulative, scheming and selfish girl, it's hard to deny that Caro was alluring and magnetic. She's the kind of girl that other girls would envy and boys would all idolise.
I did feel sorry for Rob. Yes, he seemed predisposed to enjoy violence and that's probably why he went into the Army in the first place, but after being injured he was mentally unstable with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and didn't seem to have enough support to cope with normal, civilian life. I didn't think he would have taken the path he did without manipulation and steering, and it seems such a shame that he was used for someone else's agenda.
This story touches on some serious issues such as mental trauma and post traumatic stress disorder, as well as political ideologies and radicalism. It's also very relevant to today's current political climate, with students and teenagers protesting and rioting. It will make you think though, about people that join the army, what it's like to live constantly under such duress, and the morals behind bold political statements and radical actions.
Having seen a few average reviews for this book, I figure you either have to be in the right mood for this book or its a bit like Marmite - you either get it or you don't. I really enjoyed it and read it really quickly. I thought the characters were interesting and the plot was like a rolling stone, gathering momentum.
This is not forgiveness is a compelling and compulsive read, with a thought provoking ending.
Rating: 5*
December 30, 2011
** For the full review please check out www.read2review.com **
This was my first step into the incredible world of Celia Rees, and what a step it is. After reading This Is Not Forgiveness I am incredibly excited to read other books by Celia.
I received This Is Not Forgiveness as an ARC (advanced reading copy) as it is not due for release until February 2012. The blurb on the back doesn’t give much, if anything, away although mixed with the excerpt on the front cover you know that someone dies, someone named Rob. However after reading the excerpt I expected a lot more deaths in the book. The indication is that something big happens but what is unclear.
The main story begins by introducing Jamie and Caro who meet in the Rendez, a café. Before that the prologue goes into a little more detail about the death of Rob but still not much is clear about what happens. What is clear is that Rob comes across as a bad person. The next section is an excerpt from Rob’s video diary and we find out that he is a war veteran that fought in Afghanistan.
The story is split into three sections, the main sections written by Jamie, then Rob’s video diary and Caro’s diary. With Rob’s video diary you read his thoughts and feelings and learn more about Rob as a person and his intentions.
As you get into the story Jamie and Caro start to see each other, and become an item in Jamie’s eyes. Caro claims she never loves anyone but in the end you know that she does as she saves Jamie.
I found the fact that Caro was playing both brothers gripping wondering if Jamie finds out and when he does wondering what he will do. Neither Rob nor Jamie fully knows where the other stands with Caro and that leads to interesting threads in the story.
The Red Army Faction added a sinister feel to the story; you knew because of them and because of Caro’s love for them something big was going to happen. I was literally on the edge of my seat not wanting to stop reading.
In the closing sections of the book the action really kicks off leading to the deaths mentioned in the beginnings of the story. I was left with a sense of sadness that things happened the way that they did but the reader also knows that the right thing happened in the end.
The story was very powerful, kept me turning the pages without realising how much I had actually read. Celia Rees’s writing style is easy to follow and easy to read. I loved the fact that there were the three separate sections to the story as I felt that it added intensity to the story.
**Read More At: http://read2review.com/our-reviews/c/...
This was my first step into the incredible world of Celia Rees, and what a step it is. After reading This Is Not Forgiveness I am incredibly excited to read other books by Celia.
I received This Is Not Forgiveness as an ARC (advanced reading copy) as it is not due for release until February 2012. The blurb on the back doesn’t give much, if anything, away although mixed with the excerpt on the front cover you know that someone dies, someone named Rob. However after reading the excerpt I expected a lot more deaths in the book. The indication is that something big happens but what is unclear.
The main story begins by introducing Jamie and Caro who meet in the Rendez, a café. Before that the prologue goes into a little more detail about the death of Rob but still not much is clear about what happens. What is clear is that Rob comes across as a bad person. The next section is an excerpt from Rob’s video diary and we find out that he is a war veteran that fought in Afghanistan.
The story is split into three sections, the main sections written by Jamie, then Rob’s video diary and Caro’s diary. With Rob’s video diary you read his thoughts and feelings and learn more about Rob as a person and his intentions.
As you get into the story Jamie and Caro start to see each other, and become an item in Jamie’s eyes. Caro claims she never loves anyone but in the end you know that she does as she saves Jamie.
I found the fact that Caro was playing both brothers gripping wondering if Jamie finds out and when he does wondering what he will do. Neither Rob nor Jamie fully knows where the other stands with Caro and that leads to interesting threads in the story.
The Red Army Faction added a sinister feel to the story; you knew because of them and because of Caro’s love for them something big was going to happen. I was literally on the edge of my seat not wanting to stop reading.
In the closing sections of the book the action really kicks off leading to the deaths mentioned in the beginnings of the story. I was left with a sense of sadness that things happened the way that they did but the reader also knows that the right thing happened in the end.
The story was very powerful, kept me turning the pages without realising how much I had actually read. Celia Rees’s writing style is easy to follow and easy to read. I loved the fact that there were the three separate sections to the story as I felt that it added intensity to the story.
**Read More At: http://read2review.com/our-reviews/c/...
March 5, 2012
I knew that this book was going to be different to anything that Celia Rees had written before but I was surprised just how different it was. I have loved Celia's previous historical novels and I was impressed by her ability to change to such a hard hitting contemporary novel that is very current and very real.
From the first couple of pages, you know this book is not going to end well. You just have to work through the harrowing experience that led to the events that came to be.
There is a real coldness about this book. Two of the main characters I really felt uncomfortable to be around. I know I should feel sorry for Robert, but I struggled to feel like that for him. I felt he was another victim who had been ignored, but should have been old enough to get the help he needed. My heart goes out to all the soldiers who fight in Afghanistan and I can't believe they are not supported better on returning to the UK. Was he fully aware of what he was doing? What really were his motivations? Was he just unhappy that his own military career had been ended; or did he really care about the issues involved? I just couldn't help but feel his actions were based upon his own situation, rather than the whole picture. I was also appalled by the way he treated his own brother, it was just awful.
Caro is the catalyst in the book and is obviously swept away with the romance and idealism of a life she really knows nothing about; one month she is into witchcraft, the next the Red Army Faction. It isn't until the end of the book that she begins to realise just how far she has gone. I have known a few young girls like Caro, and they used to irritate the hell out of me; they were so full of propaganda and knew nothing of reality. In this book she appears as a child neglected by her mother; who cannot see what is going on. The posters on her bedroom walls should have warning signals to her mother that her daughter might need some attention.
Now Jamie, I loved. For me, his innocence and trusting nature really glued the book together. When comparing him to his brother Rob, it is clear that he suffered a lot less than his brother did growing up. He wasn't aware of his father's true nature and never suffered at his hands.
This story is both gripping and compelling and shows how things can get out of hand; how an idea can catapult out of control to create disaster. If just one person had listened and taken an interest in both Caro and Rob; this situation could have been averted. With this book, Celia Rees really makes you sit up and think. If you loved An Act Of Love by Alan Gibbons, you will really enjoy this one too.
From the first couple of pages, you know this book is not going to end well. You just have to work through the harrowing experience that led to the events that came to be.
There is a real coldness about this book. Two of the main characters I really felt uncomfortable to be around. I know I should feel sorry for Robert, but I struggled to feel like that for him. I felt he was another victim who had been ignored, but should have been old enough to get the help he needed. My heart goes out to all the soldiers who fight in Afghanistan and I can't believe they are not supported better on returning to the UK. Was he fully aware of what he was doing? What really were his motivations? Was he just unhappy that his own military career had been ended; or did he really care about the issues involved? I just couldn't help but feel his actions were based upon his own situation, rather than the whole picture. I was also appalled by the way he treated his own brother, it was just awful.
Caro is the catalyst in the book and is obviously swept away with the romance and idealism of a life she really knows nothing about; one month she is into witchcraft, the next the Red Army Faction. It isn't until the end of the book that she begins to realise just how far she has gone. I have known a few young girls like Caro, and they used to irritate the hell out of me; they were so full of propaganda and knew nothing of reality. In this book she appears as a child neglected by her mother; who cannot see what is going on. The posters on her bedroom walls should have warning signals to her mother that her daughter might need some attention.
Now Jamie, I loved. For me, his innocence and trusting nature really glued the book together. When comparing him to his brother Rob, it is clear that he suffered a lot less than his brother did growing up. He wasn't aware of his father's true nature and never suffered at his hands.
This story is both gripping and compelling and shows how things can get out of hand; how an idea can catapult out of control to create disaster. If just one person had listened and taken an interest in both Caro and Rob; this situation could have been averted. With this book, Celia Rees really makes you sit up and think. If you loved An Act Of Love by Alan Gibbons, you will really enjoy this one too.
October 3, 2012
This is Not Forgiveness is darkly beautiful and draws you into this story with three main characters, all with their own voice and all with their own issues.
The opening wasn't what I expected and I needed to know what it was that Jamie couldn't forgive and if I agreed with him. So I began this heart breaking journey into Jamie, Caro and Rob's minds.
While I preferred the views from Jamie, I was drawn to Caro and Rob's stories like a trainwreck that you can't peel your eyes from. This is definitely an issues book, and I think that it is good that the majority of the book is from Jamie because of the perspective that he brings to the story. I didn't dislike being in the other's heads besides the nitpicky fact that when you are in Caro's head, it is in italics, and I don't really like reading in that format. It makes me feel weird. (Or weirder than usual)
I think that adding in those perspectives really just shows how deep their problems are and also gives a frame of reference for where they are coming from. This is a story with a lot of dark elements, and it was quite an adventure getting into the mind of a soldier with ptsd and some of the thoughts from war and dealing with the aftermath.
I think though that the blurb is a little misleading for Caro. It mentions scars on her wrists and that sort of caught me because that is more of the issues that I prefer to read about, but I didn't pay attention to the rest. She is into politics and making a statement, and that really is the forefront for her. She does have issues, and cutting is mentioned, but not in how I thought it would be.
Rob really broke my heart. The issues that he had to work with and all of the emotions he felt that he didn't really know what to do with. I think it is so important for me to read about and get a glimpse into what our soldiers to and how hard it is to adjust to being back.
Let me just warn you, in case you can't tell from the description, or if you don't get the sense from the first few pages... This story doesn't have a happily ever after. It is more true to life, and makes you think, hard.
Bottom line: Gritty and realistic story with three distinct main characters, beautiful and shocking.
Great quote:
p. 99 in earc
From down the hall, he's just a dark shape receding, sitting motionless, silhouetted against eh strong sunlight like a man in a photograph. His face is as familiar as my own in the mirrow, but he looks like someone I no longer know.
For more of my reviews, check out Blkosiner’s YA and Teen Book Blog: http://blkosiner.blogspot.com
The opening wasn't what I expected and I needed to know what it was that Jamie couldn't forgive and if I agreed with him. So I began this heart breaking journey into Jamie, Caro and Rob's minds.
While I preferred the views from Jamie, I was drawn to Caro and Rob's stories like a trainwreck that you can't peel your eyes from. This is definitely an issues book, and I think that it is good that the majority of the book is from Jamie because of the perspective that he brings to the story. I didn't dislike being in the other's heads besides the nitpicky fact that when you are in Caro's head, it is in italics, and I don't really like reading in that format. It makes me feel weird. (Or weirder than usual)
I think that adding in those perspectives really just shows how deep their problems are and also gives a frame of reference for where they are coming from. This is a story with a lot of dark elements, and it was quite an adventure getting into the mind of a soldier with ptsd and some of the thoughts from war and dealing with the aftermath.
I think though that the blurb is a little misleading for Caro. It mentions scars on her wrists and that sort of caught me because that is more of the issues that I prefer to read about, but I didn't pay attention to the rest. She is into politics and making a statement, and that really is the forefront for her. She does have issues, and cutting is mentioned, but not in how I thought it would be.
Rob really broke my heart. The issues that he had to work with and all of the emotions he felt that he didn't really know what to do with. I think it is so important for me to read about and get a glimpse into what our soldiers to and how hard it is to adjust to being back.
Let me just warn you, in case you can't tell from the description, or if you don't get the sense from the first few pages... This story doesn't have a happily ever after. It is more true to life, and makes you think, hard.
Bottom line: Gritty and realistic story with three distinct main characters, beautiful and shocking.
Great quote:
p. 99 in earc
From down the hall, he's just a dark shape receding, sitting motionless, silhouetted against eh strong sunlight like a man in a photograph. His face is as familiar as my own in the mirrow, but he looks like someone I no longer know.
For more of my reviews, check out Blkosiner’s YA and Teen Book Blog: http://blkosiner.blogspot.com
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews