Status Updates From This Side of Salvation

Named after Tod the grim reaper… from Soul Screamers?

this isn't the most engaging read, but I am interested in it

This is starting off quite promising which is great as many YA contemporaries I've read lately have really bombed.

FINISHED. this book was okay, Idt I was completely satisfied because it was anticlimactic, but I guess realistic in that way. Like, this is no WACO. The author's note makes me want to listen to Arcade Fire though. The end was a bit preachy, I thought the dad's turnaround was too abrupt. In the middle I thought I'd end up liking it more. I'm glad the kids get to be kids, go to school and little money problems.

Im a bit bummed we didn't get a road trip bit, but I guess that's what we sacrifice for the flashbacks. I've also realized that I don't think I've read a book where it's the guys first time and not the girls, so that was a nice change that she checked on him. I thought bother Johns death and their feist time were lackluster. But that was kind of the point of Johns. It didn't really make you feel though.

(241) u still think this book is okay. I can't believe parents can be so selfish through their desperation. I'm glad that David and Bailey didn't sleep together just for the sake of it. So many lives are ruined over this Rush thing. Families are destroyed. I wonder if this will get dangerous... I like that David is religious but isn't a judgmental prick. I wonder why the adults in David's life didn't try to help more

Okay, this book is growing on me. I like the characters, I like that David and Bailey actually do good and it doesn't seem forced, like they volunteer because they want to, but also because it gives them an excuse to be around each other. The romance is actually well done, not really eye-rolly. Even though the dialogue is unrealistically profound, I still think it's okay. I think they're going on a road trip.

Should've changed the page number on the last post. I enjoy this book more than I did Paper Towns. Sometimes I have to reread bits because the descriptions or metaphors aren't something that I instantly relate to or recognize. I wish I was a bit more into this, but it seems like I'll be reading 50 pages at a time. I rarely have that feeling when I can't put a book down, I want to feel it again soon.

Did John shoot himself? David questions whether his dad is better than "him"? This is looking like it will be a bit John Green-esque. I think we'll get a road trip, at least I like those people. Even though the dad is a bit of a religious fanatic, and kind of the mom, the kids are christian in an accessible way and it seems natural, like the concert and all. It would be more realistic if Mara had a bff there too.

Something that's bugged me about this book is that everytime someone is described they've had colored eyes and light hair. I don't know if this is just early 2000's writing, but it's irritating. Plus, we are casually introduced to the main characters best friend who happens to be gay and I was like yay, no homophobes, but then it happened. At least he's getting a personality that's more than he's gay.