Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion
Shatter Me
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Writing Style
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Ashlee
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May 31, 2015 04:05PM
What did you think of Tahereh Mafi's unique writing style? Have you ever seen something like this before? What did it tell you about Juliette's character?
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I found her writing style overly florid. The descriptions seemed over the top.The crossing out was an interesting idea - it shows how the character censors herself.It's very realistic in that everyone does that to some extent - censor their own thoughts. But, it seemed to me that it petered out as she started to interact with more people.
Keep in mind, I listened to only the beginning of the audio book so I don't know how things looked in a paper book. It's possible that I may not have the same reaction to the descriptions if I were reading them and not listening to them.
I'm almost finished with Ignite Me, and I love Mafi's writing style. The cross-outs bothered me at first but then I started enjoying them once I understood her character better. The way she writes really grasps you with Juliette's feelings. It actually entices me to read more and quickly. I keep rereading some sentences because I'm so caught up in it, I feel like I'm reading too fast. I have a hard time putting her books down because of the way she writes, not necessarily because the story is perfect.
Grace wrote: "It's possible that I may not have the same reaction to the descriptions if I were reading them and not listening to them. "So, here I am replying to my own post. I briefly borrowed the (paper) book from the library and just skimmed through the beginning to see how the cross-out text looked. In the process I re-read some of the text and found that the style isn't over the top when read in one's mind. I might have gone further in the book if I hadn't tried the audiobook first. It's possible, too, that a different narrator, one with a more mature and lower pitched voice, might have done justice to the author's writing style.
I agree with Miranda. In the beginning, when reading Book 1, I kind of got annoyed with the cross-outs. It wasn't until midway through Book 3 that I realized the purpose of it. I was able to look back and reflect on just how much Juliette's character had grown through the series. How Book 1 is littered with the cross-outs, signifying her timidness and (maybe even) borderline psychotic nature. Book 2 had significantly less, with the majority of them being at the beginning. Book 3 had none. I think this is the first series I've read that had me looking back and being like, "Wow. OK. I get it." And while I can't say that I always loved Juliette's character, I can say that it's one of the best series I've read where you really can see the progression of the main character, step by step - but not in such a way where it's blatantly obvious and in your face.
Kim wrote: "I agree with Miranda. In the beginning, when reading Book 1, I kind of got annoyed with the cross-outs. It wasn't until midway through Book 3 that I realized the purpose of it. I was able to loo..."I had a similar reaction with Tally's character progression when I read the Uglies series.
Miranda wrote: "Kim wrote: "I agree with Miranda. In the beginning, when reading Book 1, I kind of got annoyed with the cross-outs. It wasn't until midway through Book 3 that I realized the purpose of it. I was..."I haven't read Uglies yet. Would you recommend it?
Kim, I would recommend it! It was one of the first dystopians I read. The world Westerfeld built was really interesting. I wouldn't so much the 4th book Extras, which follows a new character and storyline though.
Miranda wrote: "Kim, I would recommend it! It was one of the first dystopians I read. The world Westerfeld built was really interesting. I wouldn't so much the 4th book Extras, which follows a new character and st..."OK. I'll give it a go! I'm always looking for good recommendations! Thanks!
