If I Stay (If I Stay, #1) in Reading with Style

Jan 13, 2013 Deidre rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is technically a Young Adult book, but there are some pretty well-illustrated themes to which older adults can relate. Forman writes a very personal, intimate account of a young girl whose world is shattered, and who is then forced into "choosing" whether to stay, or go. That overall implication of choices not really being "choices" at all but compulsions that we as humans can't help but question, weaves itself throughout the entire narrative.

Mia, the main character, is very well-developed This is technically a Young Adult book, but there are some pretty well-illustrated themes to which older adults can relate. Forman writes a very personal, intimate account of a young girl whose world is shattered, and who is then forced into "choosing" whether to stay, or go. That overall implication of choices not really being "choices" at all but compulsions that we as humans can't help but question, weaves itself throughout the entire narrative.

Mia, the main character, is very well-developed and fleshed-out in her first-person narrative. She has mature depth and perception, but nothing really past her own experiences, a subtle balance that is sometimes lost when adult writers take on adolescents, and one that Forman handled very well. Mia is likeable and realistic, a regular girl from a slightly quirky family with some hang-ups, but overall, a strong, independent and self-aware character.

The narrative tells the story from Mia's perspective, as it's happening in the hospital, and through her flash-backs, which flesh out the background of her life. I can't decide if I really enjoyed that choice or not, because while it played out well in terms of relating characters as they were brought into the story, it created a bit of a jarring feeling when the scene would switch from current to past. Intensity would go from high to low very quickly, and while I can see that working well for a television drama, in a reading narrative, it can be a bit clunky and mentally difficult to adjust.

Still, the narrative choice it did create a good setting through which relating the characters was realistic, and that worked. Perhaps it was the author's timing and sense of pace that created the jarring, and perhaps it was supposed to feel awkward and interrupted by design, but reading never felt entirely effortless.

Parts of the plot seemed a bit over-the-top and cliche, like the band in the hospital, and a few of the hospital panic moments (I'm probably one of very few people who would call that, since I just happen to have a background in the medical field and spent time on ICU units), but it did fit with the backdrop of quirkiness surrounding Mia's family, and the Pacific Northwest in general. (Even as I say that, looking back on them just seemed rather juvenile, anyway, so I can't entirely justify the cheesiness of all that, even if I do try.)

What Forman did VERY well was relating the music, the feelings within being an artist, and the feelings that come with loving the artists themselves. She captures the obsessive, unknown, magnetic nature of playing an instrument, of finding the solitary nature of playing intoxicating, yet also finding appreciation in the beauty of sharing it with others. Mia reminded me of myself when I was in high school and college, getting lost in the notes, the rhythms, and the melodies. It's a feeling most former musicians remember with nostalgia, happiness, and always a tinge of regret at not being able to experience it again. She did a exceptional job of writing that passion into her characters.

Still, the jilted writing in the narrative, and the awkwardness with some cliche aspects was something I couldn't quite get behind. Left behind a weird taste in my mouth, where I couldn't decided if I enjoyed the experience or not. So overall, worth reading, but nothing to get as excited about as I've seen other reviews get. ...more

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Jan 27, 2011 Ann rated it liked it

I made the mistake of reading this post-partum, and found it far too sad to be enjoyable. That said, it is well written and I am sure I would have loved this if I was closer to the age of the heroine.

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Jun 15, 2013 Chelsie drew rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book was definitely tragic. It was very emotional and sad. I loved the whole idea of existentialism and life and death. I loved the premise of what it is to live without a family. It made the book much more tragic and interesting, it also made me more eager to find out mia's decision. I am excited to read the second one. Kind of boring and It was hard to read some of the chapters, but I heard the second one is better so must give it a try! ...more

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Sep 05, 2014 Read Between The Lines rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult

I can understand why so many people like this story. It is emotional and the style is nice. But for me there were too many moments that seemed annoying or just not right. It's okay, but not the kind of books I usually enjoy reading.

Review on my blog - http://bookscoffeeandcake.blogspot.co... ...more

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