Friday, September 5, 2014

Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang (Review + Giveaway)

Releases: 9/9/14
Publisher: GreenWillow Books 
Format: Print ARC 


On the day Liz Emerson tries to die, they had reviewed Newton’s laws of motion in physics class. Then, after school, she put them into practice by running her Mercedes off the road. 


Why? Why did Liz Emerson decide that the world would be better off without her? Why did she give up? Vividly told by an unexpected and surprising narrator, this heartbreaking and nonlinear novel pieces together the short and devastating life of Meridian High’s most popular junior girl. Mass, acceleration, momentum, force—Liz didn’t understand it in physics, and even as her Mercedes hurtles toward the tree, she doesn’t understand it now. How do we impact one another? How do our actions reverberate? What does it mean to be a friend? To love someone? To be a daughter? Or a mother? Is life truly more than cause and effect? Amy Zhang’s haunting and universal story will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and Jay Asher.



Thoughts:

I'm still trying to collect my thoughts on this book really. I was so excited to read this one because a lot of my blogger friends had been raving about how AMAZING it is, but I ended up being a little less impressed than they were. :( 

The book was written beautifully, and I mean so beautiful it was dang near poetic. The writing was one of my favorite parts of this book, which will definitely make me open to picking up the next book from Amy Zhang for sure. I also really enjoyed the characters and their back stories. It was really interesting learning about Liz's life and who meant what to her. Unfortunately, I found myself being very detached to the story and not being able to connect emotionally. Since this book is one that is meant to be emotional, that caused an issue. O.O 


Another problem I had was the mysterious narrator. It just absolutely did not work for me. Early on I was pretty sure I knew who it was but I kept saying...NAH, no way...alas, it turned out to be just what I thought. I can't really pinpoint why it didn't work for me without spoiling the book but I think this particular narrator is what honestly kept me from being emotional connected to the story. It felt just like the story was being told...well by a narrator. O.O It would have been nice to maybe be inside Liz's head, maybe see the story more from her point of view and tap into all her emotions like that, instead of being on the outside looking in.


I do think that if you are a fan of IF I STAY you will absolutely LOVE this book. I gave IF I STAY a 3 star, so I wasn't thoroughly impressed by it and also had troubles connecting emotionally with that one. This book reminded me a lot of IIS ONLY because of how I was so disconnected to it.


Anyways, I do still say if you like contemporary stories with a deep rooted issue story-line I would definitely still give this a try, I seem to be the black sheep on this one.



Rating:
♥♥♥ 1/2



(Thanks to HarperTeen with providing me with this ARC)




8 comments:

  1. I heard a lot of great stuff about this one! I'm sad to hear that you couldn't connect with the characters and I know that I wouldn't enjoy the book either when the characters aren't likeable or if I couldn't understand the reasoning behind their actions. At least you could enjoy the writing :) Maybe her next release will be more up your alley :P Awesome review!

    Roy @ Phantom Reads

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    1. It wasn't that the characters weren't like-able, because they actually were. Outside of the reading, the characters were my next favorite part. It was just the story being told from this particular narrator made me emotionally detached, I think it would have worked better for me if they story had been told by someone else. Thanks for reading :)

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  2. Hi Crystal! Is the giveaway open via commenting or will you be doing a rafflecopter?

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  3. Intriguing ... I might have to check this one out just to see what she did!

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    1. It was definitely a unique spin, and I have no doubt in my mind that some will absolutely LOVE it.

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  4. I think I'll pass on this one. I've seen it around on goodreads and other places and it doesn't seem like I would care for it, either.

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  5. Everyone's been raving about this book, so I'm sorry to see that you didn't like it! I hate it when I can't connect emotionally with the story (most of the time, it kind of ruins the experience), especially if it's one that should make you feel. I love contemporaries with deep issues, so I'll be sure to still check this one out. I haven't read If I Stay either, even though I definitely want to before watching the movie. I just hope the hype doesn't kill it.

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    1. I didn't dislike as much as just didn't connect with it like I felt I should. I hope you like If I Stay more than I did! I'm still definitely planning to watch the movie.

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