All the Bright Places in 2017 Reading Challenge

Jan 16, 2016 Jasmine rated it really liked it

The hype for this book was intense. I had seen so many gushing reviews about how emotional this book was and that it led to crazy tears – quite along the lines of The Fault in Our Stars. I loved the FioS
However this book? Not so much, I can't really describe it, I enjoyed reading it but I can't say I loved it. In this novel the two main characters count their days different. Finch is counting up, from when he was last asleep (what he calls having a very strong depressive period of time where he The hype for this book was intense. I had seen so many gushing reviews about how emotional this book was and that it led to crazy tears – quite along the lines of The Fault in Our Stars. I loved the FioS
However this book? Not so much, I can't really describe it, I enjoyed reading it but I can't say I loved it. In this novel the two main characters count their days different. Finch is counting up, from when he was last asleep (what he calls having a very strong depressive period of time where he does literally nothing… it’s like he ceases to exists). So basically he is counting the days he is awake. Violet on the other hand is counting the days down to graduation when she can be done with school. It was interesting to see how their counting changed as time went along.

This book does a wonderful job of showcasing the differences between depression and grief. . It shows us what it means to lose someone. It shows us what it means to live – truly live. It shows us what we are worth, what people might remember about us, and ways that we can do good in this world whether it is a big difference or small. It nailed it.

But still, it didn't amaze me, it was a heartfelt book but it didn't wow me, there was no Pizz-azz no amazing factor however I am glad that I've read it. Am I different now to what I was before? No
Am I glad I read it? Yes.
Why?
I'm not sure, perhaps it was the explanation and differences between grief and depression and having dealt with depression myself I found the insight into grief was interesting.

The ending is bittersweet, to say the least. I know that a lot of people have cried from this book, but I feel like it made me just so deeply sad that I was beyond tears Even though the crying (for most people) starts around eighty percent of the way through, we follow the end of the road trip that the kids had mapped out for their school project.

It is wonderfully written to explore the relationship between two people who are ‘broken’ and looking for ways to heal. The struggles of someone feeling suicidal and just trying to make sense of the world that they live in. The importance of just being there for people is hammered home.

I've given it 3* because I'm glad I have read it, I can't say I would read it again but it's definitely one of those books that you read that make you "feel" and "think"
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Jan 07, 2015 Chris rated it really liked it

This book was recommended to my by my son, Mike because I had enjoyed The Fault in our Stars. This was a well written YA book dealing with teenage angst,depression and suicide. The characters of Violet and Finch touched my heart. Such a sad story. Have your tissues ready. Looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out.

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Mar 20, 2015 Theresa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

another book that made me cry. loved it

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Jan 31, 2015 Cathy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, ya-tearjerker

Powerful story that left me in tears and in deep, emotional contemplation.

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Apr 21, 2015 Emily Ruth rated it really liked it

A very well written book. I almost didn't give it a rating because I didn't know how to rate it given my range of emotions. But the writing was good and I couldn't stop reading it. ...more

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Jan 08, 2015 Jennifer Devenuti marked it as to-read

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