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This Raging Light #1
This Raging Light
Can the best thing happen at the worst time?
Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother.
Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2015
About the author
Estelle Laure
13 books572 followersEstelle Laure is a Vonnegut worshipper who believes in love and magic and the power of facing hard truths. She has a BA in Theater Arts from New Mexico State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and thinks everyone should have to wait tables or work in a kitchen at least once in their lives. She lives in Taos, New Mexico with her children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,189 reviews
January 5, 2016
See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads
THIS RAGING LIGHT is one of those books where I go in thinking that it'll be my next favourite novel, and come out utterly disappointed.
Why it went wrong for me:
- Total ass of a best friend aka Eden. So Lucille has been going through a lot of shit - her father is crazy and had to be sent away, her mother left through the front door without looking back and she has a 9-year-old sister to look after and feed while having a job and doing her own homework. The last thing she needs is for her best friend to just suddenly stop talking to her for no good reason. A best friend is supposed to help their best friend through tough times, not just start giving them the silent treatment.
- Too many plot lines for such a short novel. I finished this book in less than 2 hours. In those 2 hours, there were about 5 million plot lines going on at once and none of them were really well dealt with. By the end of the book, I felt really lost because there wasn't any real conclusion given. Of course, if you're okay with books that are just left completely wide open, then you may enjoy this book more than I did; but I wanted a few more strings tied before the conclusion of the novel.
- Weird as romance between Digby and Lucille. I wanted to ship these two so hard but I just couldn't get past how cheesy and cringe-worthy it was.
Da faq? And let's not forget that Digby has a freaking long-term girlfriend and he CHEATS on both of them throughout the book. I don't understand how this guy is likeable.
- An overly dramatic main character. Lucille turns pretty damn insignificant things into these really dramatic scenarios - which is acknowledged in the book but IT BOTHERED ME, OK?
Full review to come closer to release date.
THIS RAGING LIGHT is one of those books where I go in thinking that it'll be my next favourite novel, and come out utterly disappointed.
Why it went wrong for me:
- Total ass of a best friend aka Eden. So Lucille has been going through a lot of shit - her father is crazy and had to be sent away, her mother left through the front door without looking back and she has a 9-year-old sister to look after and feed while having a job and doing her own homework. The last thing she needs is for her best friend to just suddenly stop talking to her for no good reason. A best friend is supposed to help their best friend through tough times, not just start giving them the silent treatment.
- Too many plot lines for such a short novel. I finished this book in less than 2 hours. In those 2 hours, there were about 5 million plot lines going on at once and none of them were really well dealt with. By the end of the book, I felt really lost because there wasn't any real conclusion given. Of course, if you're okay with books that are just left completely wide open, then you may enjoy this book more than I did; but I wanted a few more strings tied before the conclusion of the novel.
- Weird as romance between Digby and Lucille. I wanted to ship these two so hard but I just couldn't get past how cheesy and cringe-worthy it was.
'Your yard looks nice,' he says.
'So they tell me,' I say.
Touch me. Kiss me. I'm yours. Yours.
I know he won't though. He would not cheat.
I like his shoes. Vans. His long feet.
Da faq? And let's not forget that Digby has a freaking long-term girlfriend and he CHEATS on both of them throughout the book. I don't understand how this guy is likeable.
- An overly dramatic main character. Lucille turns pretty damn insignificant things into these really dramatic scenarios - which is acknowledged in the book but IT BOTHERED ME, OK?
Full review to come closer to release date.
June 17, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
“Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
Lucille’s life was pretty average, up to the point where her daddy went nutso and her momma skipped town . . .
“All she left me was her car and this house. And Wren.”
Ever since Lucille has been doing her best to keep it together, but when the little bit of money left behind runs out and the bills start piling up, she realizes things have to change. With some help from her best friend and a job offer from the localHooters high tipping Mexican joint, Lucille might just be able to keep her head above water and her family’s secret until her 18th birthday rolls around . . . that is if she remains focused and keeps her distance from her bestie’s (very taken) twin brother.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book months before it came out and failed to ever read it due to the “he has a girlfriend, but we just can’t stop our faces from smashing into each other every once in a while anyway” that I heard was featured in this book. Normally that’s something that just pisses me off to no end and I placed myself firmly in the category of . . .
But then I found myself looking for something YA to add into the mix and that damn 80% requested/reviewed ratio doesn’t generate itself so I took a gamble with This Raging Light. This story is apparently the exception that proves the rule when it comes to the cheater plotline, I guess, because after reading about poor Lucille and the shit sandwich she was served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner it was apparent that . . .
The entire story was solid and the characters realistic. Not only was Lucille’s best friend not accepting of Lucille’s deepening feelings for her brother . . .
“I thought your fixation was cute at first, but maybe a reality check? He has a girlfriend.”
Lucille’s reaction to her father’s brand of “crazy” was refreshing as well . . .
“Go to therapy for real. Figure yourself out. Figure out how to tell the truth, take some responsibility. What you did to Mom, the way you treated us, the things you said, none of it was okay. And you know what else? While you’re at it, grow up.”
I appreciate, maybe more than anything, stories that seem fresh and that push the envelope a little. This was a good one and I’ll definitely be looking for more stuff by Estelle Laure in the future. Oh, and another fresh thing? A leading male that wasn’t all sculpted abs, dark tan, and Cerulean blue eyes, but rather a ginger . . .
I can get on board with that.
ARC receivedeons ago from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
3.5 Stars
“Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
Lucille’s life was pretty average, up to the point where her daddy went nutso and her momma skipped town . . .
“All she left me was her car and this house. And Wren.”
Ever since Lucille has been doing her best to keep it together, but when the little bit of money left behind runs out and the bills start piling up, she realizes things have to change. With some help from her best friend and a job offer from the local
I received an advanced reader copy of this book months before it came out and failed to ever read it due to the “he has a girlfriend, but we just can’t stop our faces from smashing into each other every once in a while anyway” that I heard was featured in this book. Normally that’s something that just pisses me off to no end and I placed myself firmly in the category of . . .
But then I found myself looking for something YA to add into the mix and that damn 80% requested/reviewed ratio doesn’t generate itself so I took a gamble with This Raging Light. This story is apparently the exception that proves the rule when it comes to the cheater plotline, I guess, because after reading about poor Lucille and the shit sandwich she was served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner it was apparent that . . .
The entire story was solid and the characters realistic. Not only was Lucille’s best friend not accepting of Lucille’s deepening feelings for her brother . . .
“I thought your fixation was cute at first, but maybe a reality check? He has a girlfriend.”
Lucille’s reaction to her father’s brand of “crazy” was refreshing as well . . .
“Go to therapy for real. Figure yourself out. Figure out how to tell the truth, take some responsibility. What you did to Mom, the way you treated us, the things you said, none of it was okay. And you know what else? While you’re at it, grow up.”
I appreciate, maybe more than anything, stories that seem fresh and that push the envelope a little. This was a good one and I’ll definitely be looking for more stuff by Estelle Laure in the future. Oh, and another fresh thing? A leading male that wasn’t all sculpted abs, dark tan, and Cerulean blue eyes, but rather a ginger . . .
I can get on board with that.
ARC received
February 13, 2017
I won't go too into depth with this review as this debut novel won't be released until December, but I certainly have a few things to say about it! First of all I just want to thank NetGalley and HMH for this eARC! Already, this book has been receiving some praise so I was excited to see what it was all about!
It follows the main character as she tries to hide the fact that her mother left town and she's now the only carer for her 9-year-old sister. Their father is mentally unstable and they don't know where either of their parents are and are scared of coming clean for fear of being separated and put into foster care.
I loved the idea of this novel as it sparks some really strong emotions and questions. However, I was a bit let down by this book.
The writing was beautiful and metaphorical, but I found many other aspects of the book to be quite bland. I found that I didn't really connect to the characters or the story at all until one point that had me almost choking up at the kindness of some people. Other than that, I found it to be very predictable and some big aspects of the plot I found kind of unnecessary to the overarching theme and storyline.
I also have a huge problem with unresolved plot lines, and this was one of those, so be aware of that if you are like me and always need a complete resolution.
In the end, I didn't really find it that memorable or amazing, but it is a nice, hopeful little contemporary that might interest some of you!
It follows the main character as she tries to hide the fact that her mother left town and she's now the only carer for her 9-year-old sister. Their father is mentally unstable and they don't know where either of their parents are and are scared of coming clean for fear of being separated and put into foster care.
I loved the idea of this novel as it sparks some really strong emotions and questions. However, I was a bit let down by this book.
The writing was beautiful and metaphorical, but I found many other aspects of the book to be quite bland. I found that I didn't really connect to the characters or the story at all until one point that had me almost choking up at the kindness of some people. Other than that, I found it to be very predictable and some big aspects of the plot I found kind of unnecessary to the overarching theme and storyline.
I also have a huge problem with unresolved plot lines, and this was one of those, so be aware of that if you are like me and always need a complete resolution.
In the end, I didn't really find it that memorable or amazing, but it is a nice, hopeful little contemporary that might interest some of you!
January 18, 2016
Screw you, Barnes and Noble. Screw you for forcing me to impulse-buy this book becaUSE YOU DID NOT HAVE THE OTHER 4 BOOKS (4!!! BOOKS!!!) I INITIALLY WANTED TO BUY IN STOCK. I suffered for you. I cried for you. I'd do anything for you. I'd lie for you. You know it's true. BABY I'D DIE FOR YOUUUUU
Whoops. Off track.
Blarg. This Raging Light was the book equivalent of a starbucks loving, ugg wearing, brandy melville promoting, try-hard white girl. Everything was too much. Too many attempts at trying to be profound, too much weird, poetic dialogue, and too much POV FROM A PARTICULAR INCONSIDERATE, BITCHY TEENAGE MONSTER CHILD.
*deep breath*
As much as it pains me to admit, This Raging Light did not *wince* bother me *wince* the entire *wince* 270 pages. It started out *oh sweet Jesus* okay *WINCE CRY*, promising *UGLY SOB*, until about 50 pages in and then everything hurt. *manic grin, despite tear filled eyes, that tell a much different story*
I DESPISE, YOU LUCILLE WHATEVER-THE-HELL-YOUR-LAST-NAME-IS.
I will admit, damaged characters interest me. There is something so disturbingly enticing about reading from the mind of a protagonist who has a father in a mental institution & a mother who has ditched her family. Perhaps because I've never dealt with such loss in my life? Perhaps because I am looking for a story that touches my soul? Perhaps because I am a sicko? Perhaps the latter. Yeah, probably the latter.
Anyway, I was hoping for Lucille to be this strong, powerful, stoic protagonist, who kept her emotions locked away until one day the boy she loves finally bulldozes her walls down and she breaks down FINALLY and he holds her, passionately, in his gentle but oh-so muscular arms and can we talk about dat booty doe and-
*ahem*
So. That didn't happen.
She was basically just a bitch. Honestly.
Like, her neighbors, and BFF (oy) and BFF's twin (who she is TOATS in love with, even though he has a steady girlfriend, who is perfect, and they are def getting married) and her BFF's parents, they all cater to her every need, and help babysit her sister (LIKE EVERY DAY) and drive her to work, and wipe her ass, and Lucille practically pops an eye vessel every time she manages to VERY grudgingly utter the phrase "thank you".
Can we just:
"I don't think I can watch Wren for you on Halloween. I wanted to go trick-or-treating and everything with Wren, but now Elaine wants to spend some quality time together."
"But I told Fred I would work, even though it's a Friday. You said-"
"I'm sorry, Lucille, but-"
"No, it's fine, you should do that."
"Maybe we can both watch Wren for you."
"No thanks."
"Yeah, okay. Well, I'm sorry."
"Good night, Digby. Enjoy all your quality time."
Dis bitch!!!! Digby (the frak kind of name is that) has watched your sister almost every damn day, from 4 PM to 11 PM, and he prob hasn't seen his girlfriend since 50 B.C. and you have the NERVE to act like a little ungrateful snob!!! Boo you whore!!!! We better get yo ass to a correctional facility, and get you some MANNERS.
She is insufferable. I literally bitch slapped this novel so many times I'm surprised the ink didn't bleed.
Digby *stifled laughter* was your typical love interest. Caring, sexy as all hell, but oh-so-unavailable, he is sure to steal your heart with every flip of his hair and every weird (but sexy?) pinky finger arm stroke. And then he'll run away. And never mention it! But then you're making out on the couch even though he still has a GIRLFRIEND (who is perfect, if you remember) but its somehow okay and he's in love with you because apparently communicating once every year or so is enough to win a guy's
Eden was whatever. Best friend, probably the only one I agree with, since she ditched Lucille after she was a total ungrateful snot to her. But she ditched her to save Digby's *cackle* feelings? Or something? Idk. I'm just gonna pretend she did it because Lucille is a butt face.
Also - Eden smoked? Which apparently everyone is okay with? Even though she's 17 and has a very nice, mannerly, sophisticated family? Like, DA FRAK? I hate smoking. So why oh why, in a YA book, was Laure poking fun at Eden's smoking (oxygen jokes, illness jokes, yada yada yada) instead of maybe, I dunno, CONSIDERING IT AN ACTUAL ISSUE THAT IS A NEGATIVE INFLUENCE FOR YOUNG READERS?
So, on top of the characters, the storyline was downright laughable. About 200 pages into this novel it just turned into a total crapshoot. Pretty sure Laure's true passion is to be a soap opera writer. I mean, really? EDEN? COMA? SERIOUSLY?
*combusts*
Sigh. I can't anymore. I'm just gonna leave some quotes for y'all to feast upon.
Quotes for Y'all to Feast Upon:
.........
"All the blood in my body charges for the spots he touched.
A war.
A fight to the death."
This is after the aforementioned pinky finger arm stroke. Why is everything so dramatic? You're horny. That's it. Just, please, for the love of all that is holy, leave it at that.
"I had to give that stranger-girl the knife, even knowing how sharp it might be.
Digby holds one knife.
Eden another.
And now Shane.
That's a lot of knives."
"You know what I was thinking about?"
"What?"
"The paintings you used to make when you were little."
OMG SAME!!!!!! I always think of my friends' pastimes back when they were 4 years old! Great conversation starter. 5 stars for Digby! Remember when you used to finger paint using your own soiled diapers? So cute.
"Someone left a basket of potpies by the door!
Potpies? Are you freaking kidding me?"
Lucille is an ungrateful snob pt 2000
"Your yard looks nice."
"So they tell me."
Touch me. Kiss me. I'm yours. Yours.
"The air that comes out of him is sweet, and I take it. The tips of his fingers push. I hope my air tastes as sweet to him. The very edges of our lips touch, and shock after shock zaps me. My eyes are open and staring at his closed lids, and then they snap open and we are so close that he is a blurry Cyclops. I am sucked into his single eye."
"But I know the red, the orange, the yellow? That's me, burning. The blue, the green, the purple? That's Digby.
We are together in that painting, suspended."
BLLLLLAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG
There are no kisses. There is no touching. After he leaves, I find a a red pepper, sliced into strips arranged symmetrically, on a plate in the kitchen."
#romance
"You should check with a person before you go poking around in their personal things," I snap.
Digby gets that look again, like I hit him, and I suddenly want to. Really hard."
I know, right? I get the same feeling WHEN MY FRIEND BABYSITS MY SISTER EVERY NIGHT AND GETS SOME ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR HER FROM THE ATTIC BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO BE A RAINBOW FOR HALLOWEEN
"The respirator machine pumping air into Eden's lungs goes shakaaaawah, shakaaaawah, shakaaaawah-"
"Yes, honey, she is strong. But even so....."
"No, not like regular people. She's super-strong."
Janie starts to cry.
Janie needs to get out more.
And his clothes, the way they hang off of him, it's like there's room for someone to fit there, like there's too much room, and like they're comfortable, like being in them or next to them would be so good."
*silently sobs*
His heart beats against me like it's fighting for breath, like it's gone feral and wants to escape. I want to climb inside his chest and hold it in my hands. I want to stay here forever."
"I want you by my side when the zombies attack, okay? I wouldn't say that to anyone. Own that shit."
Poetry.
"Yeah, well, you're not in a relationship with him, Lucille. He doesn't owe you anything."
Stab. Stab. Double Stab.
Girl, same. (Also, let's conveniently make Digby's girlfriend be a rabid bitch! Because character development. And now we pity him! And it makes it easier for Lucille and Digby Ding Dong to wind up together. Ugh.)
"And then on top of everything you had to go and pull his sister out of the river."
RIGHT? I know. What a snob.
"And?" She looks like a teenager.
SHE JUST TURNED 10!!!
"I want to pull my skin off my body so I can crawl into in without the eyeholes and disappear into myself, never to emerge again."
DA FRACK?!?!?!?!
I CAN'T EVEN GIF THIS ONE OUT BECAUSE MY INTERNET IS SO FREAKING SLOW
*ENDLESSLY SOBS*
I DROPPED A HUSK OF CORN ON THE COB ON MY LAPTOP TOO AND NOW IT'S ALL GREASY BECAUSE ON THE BUTTER
WHY IS THE UNIVERSE WORKING AGAINST ME? WHAT HAVE I DONE?
PLEASE JUST PRETEND I ENDED THIS REVIEW IN A BEAUTIFUL, POETIC WAY
I can't anymore. I'm done. I need a hug. And chocolate. Stat.
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. It will cause you nothing but pain and sadness.
*falls into abyss*
*abyss has chocolate*
*god bless america*
December 12, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Hachette Children's Group and NetGalley.)
This was an interesting YA contemporary story, and it was about a lot more than just romance.
I felt really sorry for Lucille, to be abandoned by both your mother and father and left with a 9-year-old sister to look after and no money does not sound like much fun, and it was clear that Lucille was struggling despite her best efforts.
The storyline in this was about Lucille trying to look after her sister whilst left home alone by both of her parents. She then ran into money troubles, child-care problems, and other unforeseen problems, including problems with her best friend, and romantic problems with her best-friend’s twin brother, who had a serious girlfriend! Talk about being dropped in at the deep end!
The ending to this was hopefully, even though lots of things weren’t tied up.
7 out of 10
“How is it that one day Digby was Eden’s admittedly extra-cute brother, and then the next he stole air, gave jitters, twisted my insides up?”
This was an interesting YA contemporary story, and it was about a lot more than just romance.
I felt really sorry for Lucille, to be abandoned by both your mother and father and left with a 9-year-old sister to look after and no money does not sound like much fun, and it was clear that Lucille was struggling despite her best efforts.
The storyline in this was about Lucille trying to look after her sister whilst left home alone by both of her parents. She then ran into money troubles, child-care problems, and other unforeseen problems, including problems with her best friend, and romantic problems with her best-friend’s twin brother, who had a serious girlfriend! Talk about being dropped in at the deep end!
The ending to this was hopefully, even though lots of things weren’t tied up.
7 out of 10
February 7, 2017
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December 18, 2015I can usually tell if a book is going to be for me after the first few chapters, and this one had me worried from the get-go. I finished it, but my opinion didn't change: not for me. Here's the lowdown:
Voice-y, but in the wrong kind of way. If a book's narrative voice feels authentic, I'm in love, and if not, reading that book feels like hearing nails on a chalkboard inside my head for 300 pages. While I appreciated the attempt at poetic writing, it didn't often work for me. I also didn't think that Lucille's voice sounded anything like a real teenager. She would say things like "I made my whole self very still" that sounded more to me like something a small child would say. There were other characters (Fred, in particular) whose dialogue just about drove me up all four walls. To me, quirk is like salt: it's great until there's too much of it, and then everything is unpalatable.
Way too much plot. Lucille and her younger sister Wren have family trouble. Then there's a complicated romance. And friendship issues. And an accident. And a mystery. For me, it was way too much. At one point, one of the characters runs down all the stuff that's been happening and then says, "I have had enough." Me: slow clap.
Bad, bad romance. Not only does the main character fall in love with the twin brother of her best friend, the guy also has a very serious girlfriend. Ugh - why? Female characters, is it so much to ask that you find a guy who is single and available, rather than pining after a guy who's taken, then agree to be his secret side dish? The romantic scenes between the two of them struck me as super awkward and cringe-y. Maybe that was intentional (first love and all...) but I found those parts very hard to read.
Unresolved ending? After all that plot, almost none of it was resolved? Sigh.
I can see on my feed that this book is a divisive one. I love realistic fiction and I wish I'd come out on the other side on this one, but alas, I did not...
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Voice-y, but in the wrong kind of way. If a book's narrative voice feels authentic, I'm in love, and if not, reading that book feels like hearing nails on a chalkboard inside my head for 300 pages. While I appreciated the attempt at poetic writing, it didn't often work for me. I also didn't think that Lucille's voice sounded anything like a real teenager. She would say things like "I made my whole self very still" that sounded more to me like something a small child would say. There were other characters (Fred, in particular) whose dialogue just about drove me up all four walls. To me, quirk is like salt: it's great until there's too much of it, and then everything is unpalatable.
Way too much plot. Lucille and her younger sister Wren have family trouble. Then there's a complicated romance. And friendship issues. And an accident. And a mystery. For me, it was way too much. At one point, one of the characters runs down all the stuff that's been happening and then says, "I have had enough." Me: slow clap.
Bad, bad romance. Not only does the main character fall in love with the twin brother of her best friend, the guy also has a very serious girlfriend. Ugh - why? Female characters, is it so much to ask that you find a guy who is single and available, rather than pining after a guy who's taken, then agree to be his secret side dish? The romantic scenes between the two of them struck me as super awkward and cringe-y. Maybe that was intentional (first love and all...) but I found those parts very hard to read.
Unresolved ending? After all that plot, almost none of it was resolved? Sigh.
I can see on my feed that this book is a divisive one. I love realistic fiction and I wish I'd come out on the other side on this one, but alas, I did not...
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
February 20, 2019
Review to come soon.
September 8, 2017
DNF @ 26%
1 star
I can't even begin on where I hated or disliked this book
o The cover is shit
o It looks like a kid opened the "paint" thing on their computer and decided to "draw"
o Basically shit
o The MC, whose name I can't be bothered in remembering is dull
o And monotone
o And as interesting as a brick
o The writing style is dull
o and boring
o Basically everyone in this whole book is dull
o and boring
o And as interesting as a brick
o The hero's name is
o Wait for it.
o Digby.
o No offense to all the Digbys out there but I freaking hate this name.
o I mean seriously? Digby?
o I didn't even get to the romance yet and everything was boring
o Hell, I didnt even reach the 50% mark
o The ship is already my NOTP, and they haven't even gotten together yet.
o Plus any love triangle that isn't Jem-Tessa-Will isn't my thing. I'm sorry.
o And you see the blurb says something like a romance that happens at the bad time?
o Yeah, its a fucking bad time alright, considering your mother abandoned you, your dad is in prison or something and you have to take care of your little sister.
o Bad timing? FUCK YES.
1 star
I can't even begin on where I hated or disliked this book
o The cover is shit
o It looks like a kid opened the "paint" thing on their computer and decided to "draw"
o Basically shit
o The MC, whose name I can't be bothered in remembering is dull
o And monotone
o And as interesting as a brick
o The writing style is dull
o and boring
o Basically everyone in this whole book is dull
o and boring
o And as interesting as a brick
o The hero's name is
o Wait for it.
o Digby.
o No offense to all the Digbys out there but I freaking hate this name.
o I mean seriously? Digby?
o I didn't even get to the romance yet and everything was boring
o Hell, I didnt even reach the 50% mark
o The ship is already my NOTP, and they haven't even gotten together yet.
o Plus any love triangle that isn't Jem-Tessa-Will isn't my thing. I'm sorry.
o And you see the blurb says something like a romance that happens at the bad time?
o Yeah, its a fucking bad time alright, considering your mother abandoned you, your dad is in prison or something and you have to take care of your little sister.
o Bad timing? FUCK YES.
July 1, 2016
5 Words: Friends, family, love, school, abandoned.
I honestly wasn't so impressed by this. I went in thinking that it was going to be amazing and heart-breaking and that it would change my life a little... But it all fell flat.
This is a very short book that would ordinarily be a quick read. I thought I'd finish it in one sitting. But I found it too easy to put down, not easy enough to pick up again.
I couldn't connect with the characters, they were all complete idiots. They were Not Nice People and I couldn't understand why they were friends or how such people could even get friends. It just felt so contrived and I couldn't believe the relationships.
That said, I can understand why some people would love this. Some people would love Lucille and Eden and Digby. They would love the forbidden love, the triangle, the betrayal.
I wanted so badly to love it, and I think I set my expectations too high.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
I honestly wasn't so impressed by this. I went in thinking that it was going to be amazing and heart-breaking and that it would change my life a little... But it all fell flat.
This is a very short book that would ordinarily be a quick read. I thought I'd finish it in one sitting. But I found it too easy to put down, not easy enough to pick up again.
I couldn't connect with the characters, they were all complete idiots. They were Not Nice People and I couldn't understand why they were friends or how such people could even get friends. It just felt so contrived and I couldn't believe the relationships.
That said, I can understand why some people would love this. Some people would love Lucille and Eden and Digby. They would love the forbidden love, the triangle, the betrayal.
I wanted so badly to love it, and I think I set my expectations too high.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
February 26, 2016
3.5 stelline
Mi è piaciuto.
Mi ha commossa.
Mi ha emozionata.
Mi ha fatta piangere e arrabbiare.
Il finale purtroppo mi ha delusa un pochino. Ma ve ne parlerò meglio sul blog a presto con la recensione.
Mi è piaciuto.
Mi ha commossa.
Mi ha emozionata.
Mi ha fatta piangere e arrabbiare.
Il finale purtroppo mi ha delusa un pochino. Ma ve ne parlerò meglio sul blog a presto con la recensione.
February 21, 2016
Vorrei avere il coraggio di Lucille, la sua immensa forza d'animo, la tenacia e la sua incantevole dolcezza.
Vorrei un briciolo di tutta la determinazione che la spinge, giorno dopo giorno, ad alzarsi e prendersi cura di tutto e tutti, non curandosi minimamente di quello che desidera il suo cuore.
Mi dispiace ma ora arrivano i calci in culo:
-Il padre oltre ai calci aggiungerei anche due sprangate in faccia.
-La madre le concedo di scegliere se farsi appendere per gli alluci o le orecchie.
-Eden avrei qualche remora, ma anche per lei qualche calcio ci sta XD.
Questa ragazza è circondata da gente immatura che, invece di prendersi cura di lei, le scarica addosso responsabilità enormi...
Adorabili vicini, datore di lavoro e colleghe...
Dolcissimo e teneramente indeciso Digby ❤️
Poi c'è Wrenny che è da mangiare di baci!!!
Una storia dolc'amara che racconta la forza e la maturità di un adolescente, e mette in luce la mediocrità e l'inettitudine di certi adulti!
Vorrei un briciolo di tutta la determinazione che la spinge, giorno dopo giorno, ad alzarsi e prendersi cura di tutto e tutti, non curandosi minimamente di quello che desidera il suo cuore.
Mi dispiace ma ora arrivano i calci in culo:
-Il padre oltre ai calci aggiungerei anche due sprangate in faccia.
-La madre le concedo di scegliere se farsi appendere per gli alluci o le orecchie.
-Eden avrei qualche remora, ma anche per lei qualche calcio ci sta XD.
Questa ragazza è circondata da gente immatura che, invece di prendersi cura di lei, le scarica addosso responsabilità enormi...
Adorabili vicini, datore di lavoro e colleghe...
Dolcissimo e teneramente indeciso Digby ❤️
Poi c'è Wrenny che è da mangiare di baci!!!
Una storia dolc'amara che racconta la forza e la maturità di un adolescente, e mette in luce la mediocrità e l'inettitudine di certi adulti!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2016
"La magia de las pequeñas cosas" es un libro de esos que calan hondo. De los que consiguen hacerte pensar en lo que de verdad importa en la vida.
Es una historia dura, y muy real, en la que nos ponemos en todo momento en la piel de nuestra protagonista Lucille.
Ella se ve abandonada de la noche a la mañana, y aunque tiene pánico, no se lo piensa dos veces y se lanza a hacer todo lo posible por criar a su hermana.
Lucille se ve obligada a madurar de golpe por las circunstancias, y es de admirar ver que ante las dificultades que se encuentra y toda la presión a la que está sometida, sigue hacia adelante y nunca se rinde. Lucille tiene un corazón generoso, una fuerza de voluntad admirable y una entereza y valentía únicas.
Reseña completa: http://serendipia-aazul.blogspot.com....
Es una historia dura, y muy real, en la que nos ponemos en todo momento en la piel de nuestra protagonista Lucille.
Ella se ve abandonada de la noche a la mañana, y aunque tiene pánico, no se lo piensa dos veces y se lanza a hacer todo lo posible por criar a su hermana.
Lucille se ve obligada a madurar de golpe por las circunstancias, y es de admirar ver que ante las dificultades que se encuentra y toda la presión a la que está sometida, sigue hacia adelante y nunca se rinde. Lucille tiene un corazón generoso, una fuerza de voluntad admirable y una entereza y valentía únicas.
Reseña completa: http://serendipia-aazul.blogspot.com....
September 28, 2015
***I received an eARC of this book from the publisher (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group) in exchange for an honest review. This is an uncorrected galley; any quotes used are subject to change.
This book follows a girl Lucille whose father was in a mental institution while her mother left town leaving her with her little sister, Wren. Their mother left Lucille with nothing but her younger sister to look after; bills and taxes to pay for; and heaps of responsibilities to shoulder on. Lucille Bennett is just another 18 year old girl who’s supposed to worry about her education and not about how to raise and support her entire family. She was forced to do things more than she can manage. Wren Bennett, on the other hand, is a cute and intelligent 9-year old girl who also suffers one of the greatest blows of misfortune in the annals of their family history.
At the first part of the story, I was literally glued because the storyline was so damn intriguing and so stirring, I didn’t know what the f*ck is happening. There’s always a lump on my throat every time I’m reading it.
Lucille’s situation will definitely break your heart; you just wanted to go there and hug her. Taking care of her younger sister and working everyday to pay the bills have become a ball and chain that ties her down. As a result, Lucille has no other choice but to bite off things more than she can chew because her own mother forgot about parental responsibility and legal obligation.
I was so frustrated with their mother and I just want to meet her even in the middle of nowhere and give her a high five in the face and just simply ask her these three short words: “What the hell?”
Lucille and Wren’s mother left them for some stupid “quest to find herself” sugar-coated as “holiday break.” When somebody says, “I needed a break” when all they want to say is, “I needed some space without you in it,” it pisses me off. Seriously, that was the most ridiculous excuse I have ever heard.
SCENE 1:
LUCILLE'S MOTHER:
ME:
TRIVIA: She left her children with one hundred bill. How fascinating!
THE GOOD PARTS
I loved the title and its book cover.The title was flawlessly linked to the content of the book.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It wasn’t draggy or tedious because of the narration style and its fast-paced writing.
The book was beautifully written. The author’s writing style was authentic, raw, powerful and partially abstract (also lots of sentence fragments). Lucille has a very strong character which I really admired. The internal monologue was indeed very convincing.
Has a realistic and honest portrayal of family dysfunction.
THE NOT-SO-GOOD-PARTS
LUCILLE
DIGBY
He’s an ambivalent guy who can’t get around with things and be committed even for a second. So in the entire story, he always had to sneak: sneak kisses, sneak tight grips, sneak bear hugs and sneak physical comforts. He always had an inconsistent predilection for romance.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The book has so many loose ends. There were just too many questions that demanded an answer. I found the ending a bit noncommittal. Resolution was suspended in thin air or was the answers purposely left off the hook? Perhaps to keep someone wondering purposely?
LESSONS LEARNED:
Not all parents are dependable.
Not all teenagers are consistent trouble-makers. Not all of them are footloose and fancy free youngsters and irresponsible party animals.
No matter how bad your heart is broken, when a friend cries out to you, you will always find yourself lending a hand.
Sh*t happens. The world will never get tired of upsetting you.
Lastly, I just wanted share this quote to you. I think it’s perfect for the book, though I don’t know who to credit but I’ll say it anyway: “Sometimes you just have to give up on people, not because you don’t care but because they don’t.”
Book Cover: *4/5
Plot: *4/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Ending/Denouement: *2/5
Thank you to Netgalley.com and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for sending me a copy of this book.
“Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
This book follows a girl Lucille whose father was in a mental institution while her mother left town leaving her with her little sister, Wren. Their mother left Lucille with nothing but her younger sister to look after; bills and taxes to pay for; and heaps of responsibilities to shoulder on. Lucille Bennett is just another 18 year old girl who’s supposed to worry about her education and not about how to raise and support her entire family. She was forced to do things more than she can manage. Wren Bennett, on the other hand, is a cute and intelligent 9-year old girl who also suffers one of the greatest blows of misfortune in the annals of their family history.
At the first part of the story, I was literally glued because the storyline was so damn intriguing and so stirring, I didn’t know what the f*ck is happening. There’s always a lump on my throat every time I’m reading it.
Lucille’s situation will definitely break your heart; you just wanted to go there and hug her. Taking care of her younger sister and working everyday to pay the bills have become a ball and chain that ties her down. As a result, Lucille has no other choice but to bite off things more than she can chew because her own mother forgot about parental responsibility and legal obligation.
I was so frustrated with their mother and I just want to meet her even in the middle of nowhere and give her a high five in the face and just simply ask her these three short words: “What the hell?”
“What kind of person doesn’t come back? I don’t know. What kind of person leaves in the first place?”
Lucille and Wren’s mother left them for some stupid “quest to find herself” sugar-coated as “holiday break.” When somebody says, “I needed a break” when all they want to say is, “I needed some space without you in it,” it pisses me off. Seriously, that was the most ridiculous excuse I have ever heard.
“Said she needed a break from everything (See also: Us)”
SCENE 1:
LUCILLE'S MOTHER:
ME:
TRIVIA: She left her children with one hundred bill. How fascinating!
THE GOOD PARTS
I loved the title and its book cover.The title was flawlessly linked to the content of the book.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It wasn’t draggy or tedious because of the narration style and its fast-paced writing.
The book was beautifully written. The author’s writing style was authentic, raw, powerful and partially abstract (also lots of sentence fragments). Lucille has a very strong character which I really admired. The internal monologue was indeed very convincing.
Has a realistic and honest portrayal of family dysfunction.
THE NOT-SO-GOOD-PARTS
LUCILLE
“How does a barely noticeable star become your very own sun?”
DIGBY
He’s an ambivalent guy who can’t get around with things and be committed even for a second. So in the entire story, he always had to sneak: sneak kisses, sneak tight grips, sneak bear hugs and sneak physical comforts. He always had an inconsistent predilection for romance.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The book has so many loose ends. There were just too many questions that demanded an answer. I found the ending a bit noncommittal. Resolution was suspended in thin air or was the answers purposely left off the hook? Perhaps to keep someone wondering purposely?
LESSONS LEARNED:
Not all parents are dependable.
Not all teenagers are consistent trouble-makers. Not all of them are footloose and fancy free youngsters and irresponsible party animals.
No matter how bad your heart is broken, when a friend cries out to you, you will always find yourself lending a hand.
Sh*t happens. The world will never get tired of upsetting you.
Lastly, I just wanted share this quote to you. I think it’s perfect for the book, though I don’t know who to credit but I’ll say it anyway: “Sometimes you just have to give up on people, not because you don’t care but because they don’t.”
Book Cover: *4/5
Plot: *4/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Ending/Denouement: *2/5
Thank you to Netgalley.com and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for sending me a copy of this book.
June 10, 2015
*slow clap* THANK YOU, BOOK, FOR MAKING ME FEEL ALL THE THINGS. I LOVE YOU. LIKE SO MUCH. (Also, just to be clear to everyone- Digby Riley Jones, of the clearest of greenest of eyes and wearer of perfect freckles, is my new book boyfriend. Hands off.) Full review tk.
April 26, 2017
DNF - 13%
I convinced myself I was curious enough about the mom (found out it wasn't even discussed in the book wtf) to keep on reading but then subtle racist and homophobic comments appeared.
"She’s all dark and exotic and self-confident but accessible." Is she "exotic" or are you just ignorant?
"'You gay?'
'No!'
'Homophobic?'
'Oh my gosh!'
She makes fun. Giggles."
Oh, because being gay is offensive (so is homophobia, as implied. great! pat on the back for the author) and sometimes funny.
Those are soft blows (compared to outright racism and homophobia) but it all starts from the little things and it's still something.
Also Lucille??? and her undying swoony "love" for the Whiter than White boy??? I'm headstrong but GODDAMN THAT BOY'S GOT MY PANTIES IN A BUNCH Honestly, I don't even know anymore. I feel insulted as a woman.
The writing style also felt flat, it was always this and that and nothing more. The main character's feelings and problems are described. Oh no, what am I gonna do my mommy's gone! I feel so lost and empty. The other characters' actions and appearance are described. Wrenny looks like hell because our mommy is gone. Digby is HAWT I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHTKEJEEIES A random fact is thrown in. I'm sitting in Eden's room and she has this poster saying some words I don't give a damn about.
To put it plain and simple, it's exactly that, plain but lowkey insulting.
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and NetGalley for giving me access to an eARC. (super duper late, I know)
I convinced myself I was curious enough about the mom (found out it wasn't even discussed in the book wtf) to keep on reading but then subtle racist and homophobic comments appeared.
"She’s all dark and exotic and self-confident but accessible." Is she "exotic" or are you just ignorant?
"'You gay?'
'No!'
'Homophobic?'
'Oh my gosh!'
She makes fun. Giggles."
Oh, because being gay is offensive (so is homophobia, as implied. great! pat on the back for the author) and sometimes funny.
Those are soft blows (compared to outright racism and homophobia) but it all starts from the little things and it's still something.
Also Lucille??? and her undying swoony "love" for the Whiter than White boy??? I'm headstrong but GODDAMN THAT BOY'S GOT MY PANTIES IN A BUNCH Honestly, I don't even know anymore. I feel insulted as a woman.
The writing style also felt flat, it was always this and that and nothing more. The main character's feelings and problems are described. Oh no, what am I gonna do my mommy's gone! I feel so lost and empty. The other characters' actions and appearance are described. Wrenny looks like hell because our mommy is gone. Digby is HAWT I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHTKEJEEIES A random fact is thrown in. I'm sitting in Eden's room and she has this poster saying some words I don't give a damn about.
To put it plain and simple, it's exactly that, plain but lowkey insulting.
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company and NetGalley for giving me access to an eARC. (super duper late, I know)
October 23, 2015
Read on the WondrousBooks blog.
After her dad goes mad and her mom, too depressed to look out for her two children, goes on a vacation she never comes from, Lucille is left to take care of her 9-year-old sister. Lucille is still in high school, she has no job and absolutely no idea how to be the grown up her sister needs. On her journey to becoming that person many different people come to her aid and help her realize that not everyone leaves and that some people love you no matter what.
Now that you've read this, you realize that the theme of This Raging Light has been used and abused in YA fiction. There are entirely too many books for abandoned teenagers or ones which do have a family or a single parent, but are in a very dysfunctional and even abusive relationship with them. This being said, in order to succeed with a story like this, the author has to be very good, both in terms of writing and in the terms of the special twist that each book possesses. Estelle Laure was unable to sell the story to me.
→ There are certain moments in the book which had me guffaw:
Example 1:
WHAT IS THIS EVEN? "Trace me forever"? I realize that this is an attempt at very beautiful and artistic writing, but to me something like "Trace me forever" sounds so dramatic and ridiculous.
Example 2:
???????????
"I like his shoes"?? "Vans"??? "His LONG FEET"???? And I'm not even going to comment on the other bolded line. I never sound like this in my head. I would be ashamed to think something as melodramatic. And I would also be ashamed to write this and have it published.
→ The characters were... for the lack of better description, "MEH". What do I care? The main character, Lucille, is a queen of drama and an ungrateful brat. She acts like her best friend, Eden, is her girlfriend and like Eden owes her something. Let me put it into a context: After working for a couple of hours, Lucille comes home where Eden and Digby, Eden's brother, have been taking care of Lucille's sister, her house is full of goods given to her by an anonymous friend, she has made money, her sister is sleeping, everything is good. Then her friend tells her that because she is failing in her ballet classes, she can no longer take care of Lucille's sister(and it's not like it's her job to do it, either). What does Lucille do? She starts screaming and shouting for them to leave her, get out of her house. A couple of pages later, though, she is curious why Eden isn't speaking to her. Nice.
The rest of the characters were had so little personality that I didn't even bother with remembering their names until I wrote the review. Sorry. But not really. Because the entire book is the childish musings of the hysterical main character. Dude, your life is hard, but there are people doing so much worse.
→ Last but not least, there were so many unresolved plots: What happened with Lucille's mom? I actually do want to know and I hate the fact that the author completely skipped the answer to that. What happened with the sister? Her teacher called Lucille to tell her her sister is acting out and being a bit psychotic, writing odes to Digby's mom, so what happened there?
This books suffers from "the small book syndrome". Too much is going on and ultimately nothing is going on. The book ends and you haven't had the time to care and to make sense of what is happening and where the characters are going and who they are as people at all.
After her dad goes mad and her mom, too depressed to look out for her two children, goes on a vacation she never comes from, Lucille is left to take care of her 9-year-old sister. Lucille is still in high school, she has no job and absolutely no idea how to be the grown up her sister needs. On her journey to becoming that person many different people come to her aid and help her realize that not everyone leaves and that some people love you no matter what.
Now that you've read this, you realize that the theme of This Raging Light has been used and abused in YA fiction. There are entirely too many books for abandoned teenagers or ones which do have a family or a single parent, but are in a very dysfunctional and even abusive relationship with them. This being said, in order to succeed with a story like this, the author has to be very good, both in terms of writing and in the terms of the special twist that each book possesses. Estelle Laure was unable to sell the story to me.
→ There are certain moments in the book which had me guffaw:
Example 1:
"Then his fingers are on my arm and touching light, tracing slowly, and my lungs are huge, bigger than they ever have been. I don't ever want it to stop.
Trace me forever."
WHAT IS THIS EVEN? "Trace me forever"? I realize that this is an attempt at very beautiful and artistic writing, but to me something like "Trace me forever" sounds so dramatic and ridiculous.
Example 2:
"Your yard looks nice," he says.
"So they tell me," I say.
Touch me. Kiss me. I'm yours. Yours.
I know he won't though. He would not cheat.
I like his shoes. Vans. His long feet.
???????????
"I like his shoes"?? "Vans"??? "His LONG FEET"???? And I'm not even going to comment on the other bolded line. I never sound like this in my head. I would be ashamed to think something as melodramatic. And I would also be ashamed to write this and have it published.
→ The characters were... for the lack of better description, "MEH". What do I care? The main character, Lucille, is a queen of drama and an ungrateful brat. She acts like her best friend, Eden, is her girlfriend and like Eden owes her something. Let me put it into a context: After working for a couple of hours, Lucille comes home where Eden and Digby, Eden's brother, have been taking care of Lucille's sister, her house is full of goods given to her by an anonymous friend, she has made money, her sister is sleeping, everything is good. Then her friend tells her that because she is failing in her ballet classes, she can no longer take care of Lucille's sister(and it's not like it's her job to do it, either). What does Lucille do? She starts screaming and shouting for them to leave her, get out of her house. A couple of pages later, though, she is curious why Eden isn't speaking to her. Nice.
The rest of the characters were had so little personality that I didn't even bother with remembering their names until I wrote the review. Sorry. But not really. Because the entire book is the childish musings of the hysterical main character. Dude, your life is hard, but there are people doing so much worse.
→ Last but not least, there were so many unresolved plots: What happened with Lucille's mom? I actually do want to know and I hate the fact that the author completely skipped the answer to that. What happened with the sister? Her teacher called Lucille to tell her her sister is acting out and being a bit psychotic, writing odes to Digby's mom, so what happened there?
This books suffers from "the small book syndrome". Too much is going on and ultimately nothing is going on. The book ends and you haven't had the time to care and to make sense of what is happening and where the characters are going and who they are as people at all.
August 14, 2017
Hate.
Let me tell you just how much I've come to hate this book since I finished reading it.
There are 100 million little neurons of microscopic size that fill my turgid body. If the word "Hate" was engraved in each iota of those millions of neurons, it would not equal one millionth of the hate I have for this book at this micro instant.
Hate.
Hate.*
I hated this book. I absolutely do not like using the word hate, but I cannot find myself even giving this book the 2 stars many claim it deserves. I found it so abominably terrible and nothing about it redeeming.
Everything in this book is spontaneous and boring. The romance is spontaneous, the relationships with other characters are spontaneous...everything in this book happens with LITTLE TO NO REASON.
Everyone in this book is either dim-witted or extraordinarily dull and boring. These are some of the most pathetic excuses for "characters" I have ever read in a book. They all act the same, sound the same, and the main character, despite having many loving people trying to help her out through her difficult times, still acts like a bitch and is NEVER thankful about anything her friends do for her. She's the most lame, yawn-inducing, bitchiest characters I've ever had to be the POV of. I was expecting a more interesting heroine who was trying to better the life of her and her young sister after having parents abandoning her...but no. She's just a boring girl who bitches about her life and has the hots for a guy who BARELY has any character development. Are you guys tempted to read this yet?
To make things worse, you're expected to believe that this is tragic. It certainly would be, but this book is written so poorly and is so utterly BORING that it comes out as a slog, instead. This author must not believe in development at any degree, because all of this felt so rushed I was astounded this could be sold as a "YA Novel". I bet this is why the sentences were spaced so far apart, because if they weren't this book would only be about 80 pages long.
This would be a book marketed to really young adults if the author didn't slip an F-bomb in there to, you know, make it more "mature". Laure didn't even use the F-bomb correctly, so the attempt to make a pseudo-Mature novel was thrown by the wayside.
This book attempts to tackle mature themes and sound edgy and poetic, but whenever the author starts doing so it always ends up sounding like a jaded teenager rambling about their misgivings or just not saying much at all. WHY IS THIS BOOK SO BORING?!?!
I can't even imagine how a book about child neglect, abandonment, lost feelings, darkness, having a teen character work at an "Adult Venue", and some random romance sprinkled in could turn out so terribly. If there had been more development in terms of plot and characters, than this definitely would have gotten a higher rating from me.
I hope to never have to use the words *hate* and *boring* so liberally in a Goodreads review ever again.
*I feel like an asshole for spoofing a quote from a much better story to show how much I loathe a book that I found to be absolutely terrible.
Let me tell you just how much I've come to hate this book since I finished reading it.
There are 100 million little neurons of microscopic size that fill my turgid body. If the word "Hate" was engraved in each iota of those millions of neurons, it would not equal one millionth of the hate I have for this book at this micro instant.
Hate.
Hate.*
I hated this book. I absolutely do not like using the word hate, but I cannot find myself even giving this book the 2 stars many claim it deserves. I found it so abominably terrible and nothing about it redeeming.
Everything in this book is spontaneous and boring. The romance is spontaneous, the relationships with other characters are spontaneous...everything in this book happens with LITTLE TO NO REASON.
Everyone in this book is either dim-witted or extraordinarily dull and boring. These are some of the most pathetic excuses for "characters" I have ever read in a book. They all act the same, sound the same, and the main character, despite having many loving people trying to help her out through her difficult times, still acts like a bitch and is NEVER thankful about anything her friends do for her. She's the most lame, yawn-inducing, bitchiest characters I've ever had to be the POV of. I was expecting a more interesting heroine who was trying to better the life of her and her young sister after having parents abandoning her...but no. She's just a boring girl who bitches about her life and has the hots for a guy who BARELY has any character development. Are you guys tempted to read this yet?
To make things worse, you're expected to believe that this is tragic. It certainly would be, but this book is written so poorly and is so utterly BORING that it comes out as a slog, instead. This author must not believe in development at any degree, because all of this felt so rushed I was astounded this could be sold as a "YA Novel". I bet this is why the sentences were spaced so far apart, because if they weren't this book would only be about 80 pages long.
This would be a book marketed to really young adults if the author didn't slip an F-bomb in there to, you know, make it more "mature". Laure didn't even use the F-bomb correctly, so the attempt to make a pseudo-Mature novel was thrown by the wayside.
This book attempts to tackle mature themes and sound edgy and poetic, but whenever the author starts doing so it always ends up sounding like a jaded teenager rambling about their misgivings or just not saying much at all. WHY IS THIS BOOK SO BORING?!?!
I can't even imagine how a book about child neglect, abandonment, lost feelings, darkness, having a teen character work at an "Adult Venue", and some random romance sprinkled in could turn out so terribly. If there had been more development in terms of plot and characters, than this definitely would have gotten a higher rating from me.
I hope to never have to use the words *hate* and *boring* so liberally in a Goodreads review ever again.
*I feel like an asshole for spoofing a quote from a much better story to show how much I loathe a book that I found to be absolutely terrible.
November 21, 2015
I picked up “This Raging Light” early yesterday morning and read half of it in one big gorgeous gulp, had to go to work, cursing all the way because I had to put the book down, then came back and read the other half of it, glaring fiercely at anyone who attempted to interrupt me. It was very very good.
Lucille is living on the edge of reason – her father is gone, her mother too – left in charge of her younger sister, not daring to reach out for help lest they are parted, she is also battling her ever growing feelings for Digby and wondering what happened to her actual life.
Filled with emotionally resonant characters and telling the tale of one girl and her headlong forced entry into adulthood, I was immersed all the way as Lucille stumbles her way through enforced parenthood, falls in love and finds hope and aid in unexpected ways. It speaks to both the inherent selfishness and the opposite inherent kindness that human nature gives us and wraps it up in one remarkably addictive novel.
Some of it is incredibly sad, a lot of it incredibly heart warming – some of it frustrating, Eden for example, sister to Digby and best friend to Lucille, I occasionally wanted to poke with a stick but also loved with a passion. This is not a long read, but it is fascinating, clever and very truthful in its feelings and intentions – a snapshot of a life thrown into turmoil and the different ways those close to us can react – really insightful writing,beautifully done.
This Raging Light is simple in its brilliance – storytelling with a realistic edge – if you like every issue resolved in a nice neat package by the end then you may find that this annoys you – for me it was perfect because it was life. Sometimes there are no actual answers to it, you just have to live it. Lucille comes to some conclusions, solves some immediate problems but when you leave her behind it is with a lot of life still to live and a lot of things still to learn about herself and the wider world. As such this story will remain with me, I will think sometimes of Lucille and how she and the rest of the cast may be doing as if they are real people. And there is the true art of storytelling right there.
Highly Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
Lucille is living on the edge of reason – her father is gone, her mother too – left in charge of her younger sister, not daring to reach out for help lest they are parted, she is also battling her ever growing feelings for Digby and wondering what happened to her actual life.
Filled with emotionally resonant characters and telling the tale of one girl and her headlong forced entry into adulthood, I was immersed all the way as Lucille stumbles her way through enforced parenthood, falls in love and finds hope and aid in unexpected ways. It speaks to both the inherent selfishness and the opposite inherent kindness that human nature gives us and wraps it up in one remarkably addictive novel.
Some of it is incredibly sad, a lot of it incredibly heart warming – some of it frustrating, Eden for example, sister to Digby and best friend to Lucille, I occasionally wanted to poke with a stick but also loved with a passion. This is not a long read, but it is fascinating, clever and very truthful in its feelings and intentions – a snapshot of a life thrown into turmoil and the different ways those close to us can react – really insightful writing,beautifully done.
This Raging Light is simple in its brilliance – storytelling with a realistic edge – if you like every issue resolved in a nice neat package by the end then you may find that this annoys you – for me it was perfect because it was life. Sometimes there are no actual answers to it, you just have to live it. Lucille comes to some conclusions, solves some immediate problems but when you leave her behind it is with a lot of life still to live and a lot of things still to learn about herself and the wider world. As such this story will remain with me, I will think sometimes of Lucille and how she and the rest of the cast may be doing as if they are real people. And there is the true art of storytelling right there.
Highly Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
December 6, 2015
This Raging Light is one of a kind, you will not have read anything like this before; it’s emotional, uplifting at times, shows true strength and courage for one unfortunate teenager and packs one hell of a punch.
Seventeen-year old Lucille is the talk of the town, everybody knows her as the daughter of a man who snapped and attacked her mother. After her Dad was carted away to god-knows where, her Mother slowly started to abandon Lucille and her sister Wren, leaving them to fend for themselves. When word finally comes from Lucille's Father it’s only to tell them that he doesn't want to contact his family ever again, this is the final straw for Lucille's Mother, she decides she needs to go away and get help; to ultimately be a better parent for Lucille and Wren-- only she doesn’t come back. Lucille with nothing but 100 dollars must now take care of herself and her little sister, pay bills, taxes, clothes and food.
“Sometimes you just have to give up on people, not because you don’t care but because they don’t.”
It’s safe to say that straight away you sympathize for Lucille and her current situation, I don’t think any teenager who has relied on her parents for so many years can suddenly adapt to becoming a parent, a caregiver and grow up over night. It’s not until you read this book that you realize how hard and truly heartbreaking this situation is, Lucille sacrifices everything in order to keep Wren, the neighbors, school teachers and her own friends from discovering that her Mother isn’t coming home, she won’t allow social service to take her sister away from her.
"Explain to me what the point of living is if you aren't willing to fight for the truths in your heart, to risk getting hurt. You have to rage."
The story is an incredible coming of age story, Lucille grows up so much and this would have been a 5 star book for sure if that were all it was about. However this wasn’t the case, we had a romance that started of so sweet with a requited childhood crush but turned into something more, it’s here that I had my issues. While I enjoyed the relationship between Lucille and Digby, I just wasn’t able to buy and invest in it, to me in didn’t progress as a realistic rate and when you throw in his current perfect, lovely and sweet girlfriend, - which surprised me because in YA they are usually of the slut-shaming type – the book stayed in a type of 'limbo' state.
“How does a barely noticeable star become your very own sun?”
Regardless of my thoughts on the romance I would highly recommend this book because it was a touching read and I really enjoyed all of the character’s involved, they’re wasn’t any that I hated. The book touched on a family dynamic that you don’t read about much but shows a powerful insight to a truly strong MC who you can’t help but admire. The plot along with the witty and compelling writing led to a short, simple and enjoyable read but the only thing that really let this book down was the unresolved ending.
Literary-ly Obsessed
Seventeen-year old Lucille is the talk of the town, everybody knows her as the daughter of a man who snapped and attacked her mother. After her Dad was carted away to god-knows where, her Mother slowly started to abandon Lucille and her sister Wren, leaving them to fend for themselves. When word finally comes from Lucille's Father it’s only to tell them that he doesn't want to contact his family ever again, this is the final straw for Lucille's Mother, she decides she needs to go away and get help; to ultimately be a better parent for Lucille and Wren-- only she doesn’t come back. Lucille with nothing but 100 dollars must now take care of herself and her little sister, pay bills, taxes, clothes and food.
“Sometimes you just have to give up on people, not because you don’t care but because they don’t.”
It’s safe to say that straight away you sympathize for Lucille and her current situation, I don’t think any teenager who has relied on her parents for so many years can suddenly adapt to becoming a parent, a caregiver and grow up over night. It’s not until you read this book that you realize how hard and truly heartbreaking this situation is, Lucille sacrifices everything in order to keep Wren, the neighbors, school teachers and her own friends from discovering that her Mother isn’t coming home, she won’t allow social service to take her sister away from her.
"Explain to me what the point of living is if you aren't willing to fight for the truths in your heart, to risk getting hurt. You have to rage."
The story is an incredible coming of age story, Lucille grows up so much and this would have been a 5 star book for sure if that were all it was about. However this wasn’t the case, we had a romance that started of so sweet with a requited childhood crush but turned into something more, it’s here that I had my issues. While I enjoyed the relationship between Lucille and Digby, I just wasn’t able to buy and invest in it, to me in didn’t progress as a realistic rate and when you throw in his current perfect, lovely and sweet girlfriend, - which surprised me because in YA they are usually of the slut-shaming type – the book stayed in a type of 'limbo' state.
“How does a barely noticeable star become your very own sun?”
Regardless of my thoughts on the romance I would highly recommend this book because it was a touching read and I really enjoyed all of the character’s involved, they’re wasn’t any that I hated. The book touched on a family dynamic that you don’t read about much but shows a powerful insight to a truly strong MC who you can’t help but admire. The plot along with the witty and compelling writing led to a short, simple and enjoyable read but the only thing that really let this book down was the unresolved ending.
Literary-ly Obsessed
January 22, 2016
This Raging Light is a beautiful, riveting story, dazzling with brilliance.
July 3, 2020
I read this a while back. It was quite bad. Also cheating=romance because that's how we do it here. Eden was the only likable character. I get Lucille was going through some stuff, but come on.
August 21, 2018
Although this book is essentially quite a sad story and you do wonder how this young girl is coping with her life, warmth just emulates from every page.
It is a comforting coming-of-age story, and all those emotions you get when you’re 17, mixed in with a handful of emotions no 17 year old should have to feel, makes this a really emotive and relatable read.
I read it in one sitting and it’s easily worthy of a 4 star rating :)
It is a comforting coming-of-age story, and all those emotions you get when you’re 17, mixed in with a handful of emotions no 17 year old should have to feel, makes this a really emotive and relatable read.
I read it in one sitting and it’s easily worthy of a 4 star rating :)
March 2, 2016
3 stelle e mezzo
È la rabbia a parlare, la rabbia e la pignoleria.
Lucille, 17anni, si ritrova sola, con una sorellina di 9 anni a carico, una casa a cui badare, una vita da portare avanti e la scuola, le bollette, la spesa, tutte quelle piccole, grandi cose che si fanno nella vita quotidiana. Una vita che è però supportata da una famiglia che si divide i dovuti compiti. Ma la spensieratezza di Lucille è morta la notte in cui suo padre è uscito di testa e ha lasciato lei sua sorella e sua madre da sole. Una madre che non riesce a reggere il peso delle responsabilità e che preferisce fuggire, lasciandosi tutto alle spalle, comprese le figlie. Così, Lucille è costretta a balzare subito nel mondo degli adulti.
Non può piangere, non può pensare, deve solo andare avanti, trovarsi un lavoro e cercare, come può, di trovare la soluzione ad ogni problema che incontra. E i problemi di una vita da adulti, per un’adolescente sola, sono molti. La paura più grande è perdere la custodia della piccola Wren, l’unico membro della famiglia che le è rimasto.
Ho adorato la trasformazione che la Laure mette in atto su Lucille. Alla fine del libro la ragazzina si è trasformata in donna, pienamente consapevole delle sue forze, pronta a tutto per proteggere chi ama e pronta, soprattutto, a non farsi più ferire dalle persone che dicono di amarla. Lucille, grazie ad un percorso difficile e alla vicinanza della sorellina (anche lei costretta a crescere troppo in fretta) e all’aiuto i altri improbabili angeli custodi, riesce a trovare un equilibrio e, soprattutto, a perdonare i propri genitori per tutto il dolore che le hanno causato, e questo, è un messaggio meraviglioso. Mi sono commossa, sono stata schiacciata da questo fatto, perché è simbolo di una forza, una bontà, una determinazione immensa.
Quelli che mi hanno deluso sono proprio gli amici di Lucille, le persone che avrebbero, più di tutti gli altri, dovuto amarla e che, invece, la feriscono di continuo.
Prima di tutti Eden, la sua migliore amica. Eden fa sentire Lucille non all’altezza di tante cose, soprattutto quando si parla d’amore. Per me, leggendo, è stato come ricevere una pugnalata vera. In più, gli ultimi capitoli dedicati al “caso” Eden sono stati insoddisfacenti, quasi inutili. Avrei preferito vedere Lucille in un ambito diverso, intenta a lottare con le difficoltà della vita quotidiana, piuttosto che al capezzale di un’amica acida.
Altra enorme delusione, è stato Digby. Si, dolce, tenero, bello e gentile ma anche confuso e, per molti versi, incapace di prendere per davvero la situazione tra le mani e risolverla da solo senza ferire Lucille. Ed è invece proprio Lucille, che con grande maturità mette in chiaro la situazione, da la scossa necessaria per far ragionare Digby, per farlo muovere e scegliere, ma questo dopo aver sofferto in silenzio, aver pianto tutte le sue lacrime… e mentre leggevo non ho potuto fare a meno di pensare che questi uomini, sempre così indecisi e confusi, sono quasi una piaga per le donne. Invece Lucille, da vera femmina qual’ è, trasforma il dolore in un punto di forza, in un nuovo inizio. Ed io, questo fatto, l’ho letteralmente ADORATO.
Un libro che parla di cadute, della capacità di rialzarsi, di forza, bontà, amore, perdono, di vita.
Bello!
È la rabbia a parlare, la rabbia e la pignoleria.
Lucille, 17anni, si ritrova sola, con una sorellina di 9 anni a carico, una casa a cui badare, una vita da portare avanti e la scuola, le bollette, la spesa, tutte quelle piccole, grandi cose che si fanno nella vita quotidiana. Una vita che è però supportata da una famiglia che si divide i dovuti compiti. Ma la spensieratezza di Lucille è morta la notte in cui suo padre è uscito di testa e ha lasciato lei sua sorella e sua madre da sole. Una madre che non riesce a reggere il peso delle responsabilità e che preferisce fuggire, lasciandosi tutto alle spalle, comprese le figlie. Così, Lucille è costretta a balzare subito nel mondo degli adulti.
Non può piangere, non può pensare, deve solo andare avanti, trovarsi un lavoro e cercare, come può, di trovare la soluzione ad ogni problema che incontra. E i problemi di una vita da adulti, per un’adolescente sola, sono molti. La paura più grande è perdere la custodia della piccola Wren, l’unico membro della famiglia che le è rimasto.
Ho adorato la trasformazione che la Laure mette in atto su Lucille. Alla fine del libro la ragazzina si è trasformata in donna, pienamente consapevole delle sue forze, pronta a tutto per proteggere chi ama e pronta, soprattutto, a non farsi più ferire dalle persone che dicono di amarla. Lucille, grazie ad un percorso difficile e alla vicinanza della sorellina (anche lei costretta a crescere troppo in fretta) e all’aiuto i altri improbabili angeli custodi, riesce a trovare un equilibrio e, soprattutto, a perdonare i propri genitori per tutto il dolore che le hanno causato, e questo, è un messaggio meraviglioso. Mi sono commossa, sono stata schiacciata da questo fatto, perché è simbolo di una forza, una bontà, una determinazione immensa.
Quelli che mi hanno deluso sono proprio gli amici di Lucille, le persone che avrebbero, più di tutti gli altri, dovuto amarla e che, invece, la feriscono di continuo.
Prima di tutti Eden, la sua migliore amica. Eden fa sentire Lucille non all’altezza di tante cose, soprattutto quando si parla d’amore. Per me, leggendo, è stato come ricevere una pugnalata vera. In più, gli ultimi capitoli dedicati al “caso” Eden sono stati insoddisfacenti, quasi inutili. Avrei preferito vedere Lucille in un ambito diverso, intenta a lottare con le difficoltà della vita quotidiana, piuttosto che al capezzale di un’amica acida.
Altra enorme delusione, è stato Digby. Si, dolce, tenero, bello e gentile ma anche confuso e, per molti versi, incapace di prendere per davvero la situazione tra le mani e risolverla da solo senza ferire Lucille. Ed è invece proprio Lucille, che con grande maturità mette in chiaro la situazione, da la scossa necessaria per far ragionare Digby, per farlo muovere e scegliere, ma questo dopo aver sofferto in silenzio, aver pianto tutte le sue lacrime… e mentre leggevo non ho potuto fare a meno di pensare che questi uomini, sempre così indecisi e confusi, sono quasi una piaga per le donne. Invece Lucille, da vera femmina qual’ è, trasforma il dolore in un punto di forza, in un nuovo inizio. Ed io, questo fatto, l’ho letteralmente ADORATO.
Un libro che parla di cadute, della capacità di rialzarsi, di forza, bontà, amore, perdono, di vita.
Bello!
May 19, 2021
Eigentlich wollte ich die Rezension mit einem Zitat beginnen, aber ich finde es nicht mehr. Top!
Irgendwie hab ich das Gefühl, dass ich in letzter Zeit bzw. das ganze Jahr 2021 bisher nur durchschnittliche oder "okaye" Bücher gelesen habe, es gab erstaunlich wenig 4 Sterne Bücher und richtige Highlight erst recht nicht. Liegt es an mir? Oder lese ich gerade einfachd die falschen Bücher?
Bei diesem Titel war es ähnlich wie bei anderen, die ich dieses Jahr bereits gelesen habe, dass ich während des Lesens dachte: "Es wird ein 4 Sterne Buch" und das Ende hat das dann leider kaputt gemacht. Und als ich beim Beenden gesehen habe, dass es noch ein Sequel dazu gibt, hat mich das auch nicht wirklich gefreut, da ich der Meinung bin, dass dieser Inhalt in einem Band auserzählt werden kann, aber nur auf eine andere Weise hätte geschehen sollen.
Bevor ich mit meiner Kritik beginne und rummeckere, möchte ich aber noch ein paar positive Aspekte hervorheben. Zuerst einmal Wren. Was ür ein tolles Kind, ein wirklich enzückendes Mädchen und eine tolle kleine Schwester. Auch Lucille war mir sympathisch und ich bewundere sie dafür, wie sie mit der gesamten Sitaution umgegangen ist und wie stark sie war. Auch der Schreibstil hat mir sehr gut gefallen, das Buch kann man locker an einem Nachmittag weglesen. Auch die Thematik fand ich interessant und auch ansprechend, doch jetzt kommt das große "Aber":
Während mir Wrenny und Lu sehr nah waren, konnte ich zu den anderen Charakteren keine Beziehung aufbauen, vor allem Eden war mir sehr unsympathisch. Ich fand den Aspekt der "Schutzengel" zwar recht niedlich, aber die Umsetzung war auch wieder eher so "mäh". Und so ging es mir mit dem gesamten Verlauf der Geschichte. Idee gut, Umsetzung eher so semi. Zudem wird am Ende noch ein weiterer Aspekt hinzugefügt, den es, meiner Meinung nach, nicht gebraucht hätte und der auch irgendwie vom eigentlichen Konflikt abgelenkt hat. Zudem war das Ende dann auch ziemlich unspektakulär.
Fazit: Gute und interessante Idee, eine semigute Umsetzung, aber ein toller Schreibstil. Band 2 werde ich lesen, weil es mich interessiert, wie Lu’s Geschichte weiter geht und ich hoffe sehr, dass diese nicht zu "rosarote Kitschwelt" und zu unrealistisch wird.
3,5/5
Irgendwie hab ich das Gefühl, dass ich in letzter Zeit bzw. das ganze Jahr 2021 bisher nur durchschnittliche oder "okaye" Bücher gelesen habe, es gab erstaunlich wenig 4 Sterne Bücher und richtige Highlight erst recht nicht. Liegt es an mir? Oder lese ich gerade einfachd die falschen Bücher?
Bei diesem Titel war es ähnlich wie bei anderen, die ich dieses Jahr bereits gelesen habe, dass ich während des Lesens dachte: "Es wird ein 4 Sterne Buch" und das Ende hat das dann leider kaputt gemacht. Und als ich beim Beenden gesehen habe, dass es noch ein Sequel dazu gibt, hat mich das auch nicht wirklich gefreut, da ich der Meinung bin, dass dieser Inhalt in einem Band auserzählt werden kann, aber nur auf eine andere Weise hätte geschehen sollen.
Bevor ich mit meiner Kritik beginne und rummeckere, möchte ich aber noch ein paar positive Aspekte hervorheben. Zuerst einmal Wren. Was ür ein tolles Kind, ein wirklich enzückendes Mädchen und eine tolle kleine Schwester. Auch Lucille war mir sympathisch und ich bewundere sie dafür, wie sie mit der gesamten Sitaution umgegangen ist und wie stark sie war. Auch der Schreibstil hat mir sehr gut gefallen, das Buch kann man locker an einem Nachmittag weglesen. Auch die Thematik fand ich interessant und auch ansprechend, doch jetzt kommt das große "Aber":
Während mir Wrenny und Lu sehr nah waren, konnte ich zu den anderen Charakteren keine Beziehung aufbauen, vor allem Eden war mir sehr unsympathisch. Ich fand den Aspekt der "Schutzengel" zwar recht niedlich, aber die Umsetzung war auch wieder eher so "mäh". Und so ging es mir mit dem gesamten Verlauf der Geschichte. Idee gut, Umsetzung eher so semi. Zudem wird am Ende noch ein weiterer Aspekt hinzugefügt, den es, meiner Meinung nach, nicht gebraucht hätte und der auch irgendwie vom eigentlichen Konflikt abgelenkt hat. Zudem war das Ende dann auch ziemlich unspektakulär.
Fazit: Gute und interessante Idee, eine semigute Umsetzung, aber ein toller Schreibstil. Band 2 werde ich lesen, weil es mich interessiert, wie Lu’s Geschichte weiter geht und ich hoffe sehr, dass diese nicht zu "rosarote Kitschwelt" und zu unrealistisch wird.
3,5/5
August 4, 2015
My thanks to HMH Books for Young Readers
--------------------------------------------------------------
Point of View: Single (Lucille)
Writing: First Person | Present Tense
Setting:
Genre: Young Adult | Realistic Fiction
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This book is AMAZING! Just read it and you'll find out why.
I loved everything about. Absolutely everything.
I loved that this book made me smile and cry countless of times. It was emotional, but there were always glimpses of hope which made it not too depressing to read. Because of all the emotional scenes, it warmed and broke my heart at the same time.
I loved that the characters were well-written. They were realistic and I felt the connection with the main character right from the start. Lucille had to shoulder so much responsibilities; her strength and persistence made me love and root for her.
I loved how the book ended and made me want to BAG for more! There wasn't any cliff-hanger, but still I want to know what is going to happen next. I seriously mean it. If there were a sequel to this book out there right now, I would do anything to get my hands on it.
In short, I loved this book because it was amazing.
February 24, 2016
Delizioso *-*
Recensione: http://wefoundwonderlandinbooks.blogs...
Recensione: http://wefoundwonderlandinbooks.blogs...
March 21, 2016
Molto carino. Adoro i romanzi che mi fanno tornare adolescente, con tutte quelle emozioni che ti prendevano lo stomaco, così estreme e totalizzanti, quell'amore che pensavi ti avrebbe ucciso se non corrisposto... aaaahhhh! Bei tempi!
Recensione scritta per il blog NEW ADULT ITALIA
Ammetto che nonostante la pioggia di pareri positivi su questo libro, ho titubato a lungo prima di leggerlo. Perché? L'odore di triangolo nella trama. Io odio i triangoli, ok? Li detesto profondamente e qui veniva già preannunciato dalla sinossi. Ma come resistere a quei giudizi a cinque stelle? Non chiedetelo a me, perché non ne ho la più pallida idea, infatti La notte che ha dipinto il cielo ha finito per allietare il mio piovoso weekend.
Lucille ha diciassette anni e si ritrova all'improvviso senza genitori, non perché siano morti eh... niente di così banale, fatto sta che non ci sono e lei deve affrontare la situazione: le bollette da pagare, la spesa da comprare, una sorellina di dieci anni da accudire. E' un bel personaggio, l'amore per Wrenny le darà la forza e la determinazione per non mollare, per mantenere una facciata di normalità nonostante il suo mondo le stia crollando addosso.
Ha la fortuna di non essere sola. Eden, la sua migliore amica, e Digby, il gemello di Eden, la aiutano come possono. Inoltre qualche misterioso benefattore le aiuta di nascosto, celando la propria identità, ma salvando loro le chiappe in più di un'occasione.
La storia è uno young adult a pieno titolo, perché la nostra Lucille ha tutti gli ormoni in fermento per il timido e gentile Digby. Quel ragazzo che fino a pochi mesi prima per lei non rappresentava altro che una mera estensione della sua migliore amica, da qualche tempo a questa parte le cose sono cambiate e ogni volta che si trova in sua presenza, non riesce a spiccicare una parola. Peccato che lei sappia di non avere nessuna possibilità con lui, visto che è fidanzato con la ragazza perfetta dalla notte dei tempi. Perché dovrebbe lasciarla per mettersi con un disastro totale come lei?
Leggere le sue emozioni raccontate in prima persona mi ha fatto tornare ragazzina, quando l'amore era il sentimento più potente, totalizzante e devastante sulla faccia della terra, quello che ti faceva sentire sulla cima del mondo, per poi gettarti all'inferno un attimo dopo. Quello che ti fa sentire di morire, se non corrisposto.
In questo l'autrice mi è piaciuta molto, saper emozionare profondamente il lettore è un dono prezioso che non tutti possiedono. H apprezzato tanto anche la caratterizzazione dei personaggi. Adolescenti che si comportano da adolescenti, senza quegli atteggiamenti anacronistici che ormai stanno invadendo il genere: diciottenni che conoscono più posizioni di Rocco Siffredi, discorsi sul senso della vita che nemmeno Umberto Eco, pace all'anima sua, o atteggiamenti da psicopatici bipolari che si sono dimenticati di assumere il litio. No. Finalmente niente di tutto questo. Solo giovani adulti confusi, insicuri, ma pieni di buone intenzioni, come dice il saggio Digby. Lo ammetto, c'è stata una svolta nel comportamento di Eden che mi ha fatto storcere parecchio il naso (Eden cara, sai cos'è l'amicizia? vatti a rileggere un po' il significato sul Zanichelli, va... che è meglio...), ma nel complesso la trama è semplice ma ben costruita. Gli avvenimenti non sono molti, ma viene lasciato un giusto spazio all'introspezione.
Per concludere un buon romanzo young adult, dolce, emozionante, vero. Mi sento di consigliarlo a tutte quelle mamme che non sanno cosa regalare alle loro figlie adolescenti. Mamme, comprate questo, date retta a me, e mettete giù After. Almeno qui citano Dylan Thomas.
Recensione scritta per il blog NEW ADULT ITALIA
Ammetto che nonostante la pioggia di pareri positivi su questo libro, ho titubato a lungo prima di leggerlo. Perché? L'odore di triangolo nella trama. Io odio i triangoli, ok? Li detesto profondamente e qui veniva già preannunciato dalla sinossi. Ma come resistere a quei giudizi a cinque stelle? Non chiedetelo a me, perché non ne ho la più pallida idea, infatti La notte che ha dipinto il cielo ha finito per allietare il mio piovoso weekend.
Lucille ha diciassette anni e si ritrova all'improvviso senza genitori, non perché siano morti eh... niente di così banale, fatto sta che non ci sono e lei deve affrontare la situazione: le bollette da pagare, la spesa da comprare, una sorellina di dieci anni da accudire. E' un bel personaggio, l'amore per Wrenny le darà la forza e la determinazione per non mollare, per mantenere una facciata di normalità nonostante il suo mondo le stia crollando addosso.
Ha la fortuna di non essere sola. Eden, la sua migliore amica, e Digby, il gemello di Eden, la aiutano come possono. Inoltre qualche misterioso benefattore le aiuta di nascosto, celando la propria identità, ma salvando loro le chiappe in più di un'occasione.
"Le persone sono buone" insiste Eden. "A volte"
"No" risponde Digby. "Le persone hanno buone intenzioni. Il che è tutta un'altra storia."
La storia è uno young adult a pieno titolo, perché la nostra Lucille ha tutti gli ormoni in fermento per il timido e gentile Digby. Quel ragazzo che fino a pochi mesi prima per lei non rappresentava altro che una mera estensione della sua migliore amica, da qualche tempo a questa parte le cose sono cambiate e ogni volta che si trova in sua presenza, non riesce a spiccicare una parola. Peccato che lei sappia di non avere nessuna possibilità con lui, visto che è fidanzato con la ragazza perfetta dalla notte dei tempi. Perché dovrebbe lasciarla per mettersi con un disastro totale come lei?
Leggere le sue emozioni raccontate in prima persona mi ha fatto tornare ragazzina, quando l'amore era il sentimento più potente, totalizzante e devastante sulla faccia della terra, quello che ti faceva sentire sulla cima del mondo, per poi gettarti all'inferno un attimo dopo. Quello che ti fa sentire di morire, se non corrisposto.
"La luce, lui è come la luce. Mi ha toccato il braccio con la mano e io ne sento ancora il calore, Eden. Abbiamo mangiato un cheesesteak insieme. Si ricordava il mio cibo preferito. Mi ha fatto ascoltare della musica. Ha le labbra più perfette del mondo, come di seta. Mi bacia come se mi conoscesse da sempre. Quando mi dà una mano, è il migliore aiuto che potrei ricevere. Quando va via, mi sento sola al mondo."
In questo l'autrice mi è piaciuta molto, saper emozionare profondamente il lettore è un dono prezioso che non tutti possiedono. H apprezzato tanto anche la caratterizzazione dei personaggi. Adolescenti che si comportano da adolescenti, senza quegli atteggiamenti anacronistici che ormai stanno invadendo il genere: diciottenni che conoscono più posizioni di Rocco Siffredi, discorsi sul senso della vita che nemmeno Umberto Eco, pace all'anima sua, o atteggiamenti da psicopatici bipolari che si sono dimenticati di assumere il litio. No. Finalmente niente di tutto questo. Solo giovani adulti confusi, insicuri, ma pieni di buone intenzioni, come dice il saggio Digby. Lo ammetto, c'è stata una svolta nel comportamento di Eden che mi ha fatto storcere parecchio il naso (Eden cara, sai cos'è l'amicizia? vatti a rileggere un po' il significato sul Zanichelli, va... che è meglio...), ma nel complesso la trama è semplice ma ben costruita. Gli avvenimenti non sono molti, ma viene lasciato un giusto spazio all'introspezione.
Per concludere un buon romanzo young adult, dolce, emozionante, vero. Mi sento di consigliarlo a tutte quelle mamme che non sanno cosa regalare alle loro figlie adolescenti. Mamme, comprate questo, date retta a me, e mettete giù After. Almeno qui citano Dylan Thomas.
"Non andartene docile in quella notte buona. Infuriati, infuriati contro il morire della luce."
July 28, 2016
Rating: 2.5/5
Nu știu cum se face, dar în fiecare vară parcă tind mai mult să lenevesc decât să citesc. O fi de la căldură, sau de la senzația că vara este perioada când toată lumea își ia liber sau are vacanță, nu știu. Tot ce am dedus este faptul că în această perioadă nu mă pot concentra îndeajuns de mult pe lectură.
În ultima vreme nu prea am citit așa de mult (după câte ziceam), iar una dintre cărțile pe care o începusem recent nu a reușit să mă ajute să ies din acest reading slump, ci chiar m-a adâncit mai mult în el. Vorbesc despre Magia lucrurilor simple de Estelle Laure, o carte care m-a atras extrem de mult prin coperta ei atunci când a apărut la Editura Epica. Până m-am apucat de ea, am auzit o serie de păreri nu foarte bune despre ea, însă nu m-am lăsat până nu mi-am încercat și eu norocul.
În centrul cărții o avem pe o tânără de 17 ani, Lucille, care are o viață destul de grea. După ce tatăl său își pierde mințile atunci când fata era mai mică, aceasta, alături de sora sa și mama ei, rămâne singură, sperând la tot ce e mai bun de la viață. Însă toată situația din familia lor pare să se înrăutățească, cele două surori fiind părăsite și de mamă, fără niciun motiv.
Subiectul cărții mi s-a părut unul interesant și important, copiii fiind de multe ori abandonați din diverse motive, problemele familiale fiind lucruri reale prin care toți trecem la un moment dat. Mi-a părut foarte rău că nu am simțit așa cum ar trebui seriozitatea cu care autoarea ar fi trebuit să trateze acest subiect important.
Am apreciat puterea de care Lucille a dat dovadă atunci când s-a văzut nevoită să se angajeze pentru a avea grijă de sora ei, însă cred că lucrurile ar fi decurs mult mai bine dacă Laure nu ar fi introdus în cadru o așa zisă poveste de dragoste.
Apariția lui Digby, fratele sexy al celei mai bune prietene, nu m-a făcut să mă apropii mai mult de vreun personaj. Am simțit chiar nevoia să pun cartea jos, să mă detașez și mai mult de lectură, și să realizez că ceea ce citesc nu mă atrage în vreun fel. Digby mi s-a părut, la fel ca și Lucille, un adolescent care nu ia deciziile cu mintea, ci cu... sufletul (nici cu sufletul nu consider că le-a luat)?
Am asistat la un triunghi amoros între Lucille, Digby și iubita lui (da, ce credeați că un băiat ca el e singur?), și nu am putut să simt vreo milă sau dorință de a-i vedea împreună pe primii menționați.
Bonusurile cărții cred că au fost subiectul pe care autoarea l-a abordat și unele momente care m-au făcut să mă gândesc la greutatea prin care trece protagonista (ah, și coperta genială).
Personajele principale nu m-au impresionat în niciun fel (doar lupta lui Lucille de a supraviețui alături de sora ei), lăsându-mă de multe ori dezamăgită. Eden, prietena lui Lucille, mi-a displăcut în unele momente, mai ales când se supără pe L, lăsând-o cu fundul în baltă într-un moment extrem de greu din viața ei. Singurul personaj care mi-a lăsat un zâmbet pe buze a fost Fred, șeful lui Lucille, care m-a uimit când el a dorit să îi fie fetei alături, să îi înțeleagă situația și să o ajute. Concepția lui conform căreia toți angajații săi sunt ca o familie mi s-a părut un lucru demn de admirat, și consider că așa ar trebui să simtă orice șef sau om pentru cei cu care interacționează des.
Nu a fost o carte rea, dar am simțit-o extrem de plictisitoare, cu prea multe idei începute și neterminate. Mi-ar fi plăcut ca măcar să am parte de o finalitate după ce am terminat lectura, însă a fost una dintre acele cărți care rămâne interpretabilă.
Nu știu cum se face, dar în fiecare vară parcă tind mai mult să lenevesc decât să citesc. O fi de la căldură, sau de la senzația că vara este perioada când toată lumea își ia liber sau are vacanță, nu știu. Tot ce am dedus este faptul că în această perioadă nu mă pot concentra îndeajuns de mult pe lectură.
În ultima vreme nu prea am citit așa de mult (după câte ziceam), iar una dintre cărțile pe care o începusem recent nu a reușit să mă ajute să ies din acest reading slump, ci chiar m-a adâncit mai mult în el. Vorbesc despre Magia lucrurilor simple de Estelle Laure, o carte care m-a atras extrem de mult prin coperta ei atunci când a apărut la Editura Epica. Până m-am apucat de ea, am auzit o serie de păreri nu foarte bune despre ea, însă nu m-am lăsat până nu mi-am încercat și eu norocul.
În centrul cărții o avem pe o tânără de 17 ani, Lucille, care are o viață destul de grea. După ce tatăl său își pierde mințile atunci când fata era mai mică, aceasta, alături de sora sa și mama ei, rămâne singură, sperând la tot ce e mai bun de la viață. Însă toată situația din familia lor pare să se înrăutățească, cele două surori fiind părăsite și de mamă, fără niciun motiv.
Subiectul cărții mi s-a părut unul interesant și important, copiii fiind de multe ori abandonați din diverse motive, problemele familiale fiind lucruri reale prin care toți trecem la un moment dat. Mi-a părut foarte rău că nu am simțit așa cum ar trebui seriozitatea cu care autoarea ar fi trebuit să trateze acest subiect important.
Am apreciat puterea de care Lucille a dat dovadă atunci când s-a văzut nevoită să se angajeze pentru a avea grijă de sora ei, însă cred că lucrurile ar fi decurs mult mai bine dacă Laure nu ar fi introdus în cadru o așa zisă poveste de dragoste.
Apariția lui Digby, fratele sexy al celei mai bune prietene, nu m-a făcut să mă apropii mai mult de vreun personaj. Am simțit chiar nevoia să pun cartea jos, să mă detașez și mai mult de lectură, și să realizez că ceea ce citesc nu mă atrage în vreun fel. Digby mi s-a părut, la fel ca și Lucille, un adolescent care nu ia deciziile cu mintea, ci cu... sufletul (nici cu sufletul nu consider că le-a luat)?
Am asistat la un triunghi amoros între Lucille, Digby și iubita lui (da, ce credeați că un băiat ca el e singur?), și nu am putut să simt vreo milă sau dorință de a-i vedea împreună pe primii menționați.
Bonusurile cărții cred că au fost subiectul pe care autoarea l-a abordat și unele momente care m-au făcut să mă gândesc la greutatea prin care trece protagonista (ah, și coperta genială).
Personajele principale nu m-au impresionat în niciun fel (doar lupta lui Lucille de a supraviețui alături de sora ei), lăsându-mă de multe ori dezamăgită. Eden, prietena lui Lucille, mi-a displăcut în unele momente, mai ales când se supără pe L, lăsând-o cu fundul în baltă într-un moment extrem de greu din viața ei. Singurul personaj care mi-a lăsat un zâmbet pe buze a fost Fred, șeful lui Lucille, care m-a uimit când el a dorit să îi fie fetei alături, să îi înțeleagă situația și să o ajute. Concepția lui conform căreia toți angajații săi sunt ca o familie mi s-a părut un lucru demn de admirat, și consider că așa ar trebui să simtă orice șef sau om pentru cei cu care interacționează des.
Nu a fost o carte rea, dar am simțit-o extrem de plictisitoare, cu prea multe idei începute și neterminate. Mi-ar fi plăcut ca măcar să am parte de o finalitate după ce am terminat lectura, însă a fost una dintre acele cărți care rămâne interpretabilă.
June 4, 2016
Full 5 out of 5 stars, no question. This is my favorite read of the year.
I am so happy a book with this storyline exists. Luce's struggle was so real and got into specific detail about what a 17-year-old in a situation like that would actually go through... which made it tough to read, but also refreshing.
I loved Luce's relationship with her little sister, Wrenny. I thought Wrenny was a wonderfully individual little girl with smarts and unique tastes/interests. She remained easy for Luce to take care of, and understood the situation going on more than Luce realized for most of the book. I liked the development of both of the sisters' characters - Luce from a completely unsure and closed off individual to a freaking amazingly strong and loving one; and Wrenny from a somewhat oblivious and scared girl to an intelligent and open one. These two never stopped loving each other, and although they hit some rough patches and sometimes struggled to communicate, their love for each other was constant, ever present, and never wavering.
I liked reading about a story about a teenaged girl who has to learn how to survive with deadbeat parents. Getting into the specifics of paying bills, keeping up with schoolwork, getting new clothes, learning how to appropriately harden yourself to the world, a lack of leisure time - all of it is so true and most books about this topic tend to not go into detail like this about the realities young people in this situation face. In particular, Luce's exasperation and anger over the immaturity and stupidity of both of her parents got to me.
I read this book in one sitting; the pacing is perfect. You get serious character development and really get into the mind of Luce and get to really know the people around her. At the same time, this book is not boring. Things keep happening, but they don't happen at an unnaturally fast pace.
I will say the one thing I didn't so much enjoy about this book was the romance with Luce and Digby. It felt like it was inappropriate to be included in the story because so many other things were happening, and those other things were much heavier and more important that a romance story was unnecessary. But I suppose that's the point; it was a horrible time for Luce to fall in love with someone, the timing couldn't have been more wrong because she had so much else on her plate. So that is a reflection of what is actually going on with Luce.
I also spent most of the book wishing Eden would stop being dumb and allow Luce back in her life. It was petulant - clearly Luce is having a rough go of things and has priorities and tough effing situations all around her... Eden couldn't be a BIT more sympathetic and not so butthurt? When they were friendly and talking I loved Luce & Eden's friendship though. They fit very well and they just got each other. They were family, not just friends, and were even intricately involved in each others families as well.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone, especially if you like YA contemporary but are looking for something a bit different within that genre.
I am so happy a book with this storyline exists. Luce's struggle was so real and got into specific detail about what a 17-year-old in a situation like that would actually go through... which made it tough to read, but also refreshing.
I loved Luce's relationship with her little sister, Wrenny. I thought Wrenny was a wonderfully individual little girl with smarts and unique tastes/interests. She remained easy for Luce to take care of, and understood the situation going on more than Luce realized for most of the book. I liked the development of both of the sisters' characters - Luce from a completely unsure and closed off individual to a freaking amazingly strong and loving one; and Wrenny from a somewhat oblivious and scared girl to an intelligent and open one. These two never stopped loving each other, and although they hit some rough patches and sometimes struggled to communicate, their love for each other was constant, ever present, and never wavering.
I liked reading about a story about a teenaged girl who has to learn how to survive with deadbeat parents. Getting into the specifics of paying bills, keeping up with schoolwork, getting new clothes, learning how to appropriately harden yourself to the world, a lack of leisure time - all of it is so true and most books about this topic tend to not go into detail like this about the realities young people in this situation face. In particular, Luce's exasperation and anger over the immaturity and stupidity of both of her parents got to me.
I read this book in one sitting; the pacing is perfect. You get serious character development and really get into the mind of Luce and get to really know the people around her. At the same time, this book is not boring. Things keep happening, but they don't happen at an unnaturally fast pace.
I will say the one thing I didn't so much enjoy about this book was the romance with Luce and Digby. It felt like it was inappropriate to be included in the story because so many other things were happening, and those other things were much heavier and more important that a romance story was unnecessary. But I suppose that's the point; it was a horrible time for Luce to fall in love with someone, the timing couldn't have been more wrong because she had so much else on her plate. So that is a reflection of what is actually going on with Luce.
I also spent most of the book wishing Eden would stop being dumb and allow Luce back in her life. It was petulant - clearly Luce is having a rough go of things and has priorities and tough effing situations all around her... Eden couldn't be a BIT more sympathetic and not so butthurt? When they were friendly and talking I loved Luce & Eden's friendship though. They fit very well and they just got each other. They were family, not just friends, and were even intricately involved in each others families as well.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone, especially if you like YA contemporary but are looking for something a bit different within that genre.
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