Nora Decter
Autor von How Far We Go and How Fast
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I was so moved and impressed a few years ago by How Far We Go And How Fast, and this new novel didn’t disappoint either. If you want realistic contemporary YA, on the grittier side, this is absolutely an author to try.
Fifteen year old Bria spends most of a summer struggling emotionally and reaching out for trouble instead of help. Her heroine addict mom isn’t in the picture, as the book begins her dad is out of her life after drug dealing lands him in some kind of hot water, the exact details of which are kept from Bria so she doesn’t know much regarding his whereabouts or when or if he’ll be back for her. Bria’s staying with an aunt and cousins, working at a fast food place, having sex with a cruel controlling guy who is too old and too toxic, receiving unwanted explicit photos from an unknown source and falling deeper and deeper into a drug habit.
There are aspects of Bria I could identify with to some degree like feeling overwhelmed sometimes and wanting to squelch or push away upsetting thoughts rather than investigate them, however, the way Bria escapes those feelings, through drugs and entanglement with a dangerous guy, those kind of coping mechanisms are scary to me. But I think that’s a sign of quality writing, quality characterization, that I can be so different from Bria, yet over the course of the story feel like I had an understanding of actions and choices that I wouldn’t be at all compelled to make myself and ultimately feel so much more concern for this girl than judgment.
There is a lot of darkness in this story, the kind of stuff you should maybe be sure you’re in the right frame of mind for reading about, there is warmth here, too, though, in Bria’s relationship with her cousins (I loved Ains, wouldn’t mind a book focused on her), and an Aunt who never stops trying. As for the ending, I won’t say too much, just that I thought it concluded in a believably satisfying place.
I received this ARC via the publisher.… (mehr)
Fifteen year old Bria spends most of a summer struggling emotionally and reaching out for trouble instead of help. Her heroine addict mom isn’t in the picture, as the book begins her dad is out of her life after drug dealing lands him in some kind of hot water, the exact details of which are kept from Bria so she doesn’t know much regarding his whereabouts or when or if he’ll be back for her. Bria’s staying with an aunt and cousins, working at a fast food place, having sex with a cruel controlling guy who is too old and too toxic, receiving unwanted explicit photos from an unknown source and falling deeper and deeper into a drug habit.
There are aspects of Bria I could identify with to some degree like feeling overwhelmed sometimes and wanting to squelch or push away upsetting thoughts rather than investigate them, however, the way Bria escapes those feelings, through drugs and entanglement with a dangerous guy, those kind of coping mechanisms are scary to me. But I think that’s a sign of quality writing, quality characterization, that I can be so different from Bria, yet over the course of the story feel like I had an understanding of actions and choices that I wouldn’t be at all compelled to make myself and ultimately feel so much more concern for this girl than judgment.
There is a lot of darkness in this story, the kind of stuff you should maybe be sure you’re in the right frame of mind for reading about, there is warmth here, too, though, in Bria’s relationship with her cousins (I loved Ains, wouldn’t mind a book focused on her), and an Aunt who never stops trying. As for the ending, I won’t say too much, just that I thought it concluded in a believably satisfying place.
I received this ARC via the publisher.… (mehr)
I received this eARC from Orca Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Obligatory Summary
Jolene is struggling with the sudden absence of her brother while trying to go to school, eat, walk her dog, hang out with friends, and deal with her absent parents. The only thing that gets her through is her music. But when does a coping mechanism become a crutch, and when does the problem become too much to ignore? How will long until she can't stay in her hometown? How long until she joins Matt?
This is a story about sadness and loss and avoidance through action and inaction. It's a mystery and a coming-of-age and a drama. It's about the grieving process, and how it takes time to be okay, and how you'll never be the same again, but you can learn to love what you have and what you've lost too.
The Writing and Characters
I really enjoyed the writing in this book. It read it in mostly one sitting. It really just flowed well and drew me in deep rather quickly. I loved the plot and the pacing. The whole thing gave me some strong Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock feels with a dash of Sadie thrown in for good measure.
A unique aspect was the music and concerts Jo goes to. I love music and I honestly related to that part of the story so much (minus the drugs and alcohol)
All the characters felt so real. I know people like them. I love them. I hate them. I am them.
Jolene: She was so relatable it scares me a little. She's an overthinker to the extreme (hello, that's me), she avoids conflict (thanks for calling me out, Nora Decter), and she dresses like a hobo with some money stashed away (help me). She's self-deprecating and sarcastic, and I just want her to have good things (I want to have good things too).
Her relationship with Matt, her brother, was definitely one of the most interesting parts of the book. It just so happens that one of my WIPs is basically the same plot (but I a sci-fi setting) so to see it so wonderfully executed was both exhilarating and frightening.
Maggie: She's such a great character. She's awful, but also awfully human. She's not bad but not good and you have to love what she gives you
The Squad: Graham, Drew, and manicpixiedreamgirl were fun characters, and really liked them, but they were definitely the least interesting part of the book, though they did help move the plot along.
Ms Groves: She's honestly the Herr Silverman of this book and I loved her. She's sassy and unconventional and freaking loves tea.
Conclusion
I really appreciate this book. It's short and intense and will make you cry. Also, it's got a psuedo-psychic dog named Howl for goodness sake! Read it!… (mehr)
Around here anything can happen, and it very often does.
Obligatory Summary
Jolene is struggling with the sudden absence of her brother while trying to go to school, eat, walk her dog, hang out with friends, and deal with her absent parents. The only thing that gets her through is her music. But when does a coping mechanism become a crutch, and when does the problem become too much to ignore? How will long until she can't stay in her hometown? How long until she joins Matt?
This is a story about sadness and loss and avoidance through action and inaction. It's a mystery and a coming-of-age and a drama. It's about the grieving process, and how it takes time to be okay, and how you'll never be the same again, but you can learn to love what you have and what you've lost too.
I don’t know if I believe in time. I mean, I don’t believe it works for me the same way it works for other people. Other people can count on today turning into tomorrow and tomorrow turning into the day after that. But I can’t count on it at all.
The Writing and Characters
I really enjoyed the writing in this book. It read it in mostly one sitting. It really just flowed well and drew me in deep rather quickly. I loved the plot and the pacing. The whole thing gave me some strong Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock feels with a dash of Sadie thrown in for good measure.
A unique aspect was the music and concerts Jo goes to. I love music and I honestly related to that part of the story so much (minus the drugs and alcohol)
All the characters felt so real. I know people like them. I love them. I hate them. I am them.
Jolene: She was so relatable it scares me a little. She's an overthinker to the extreme (hello, that's me), she avoids conflict (thanks for calling me out, Nora Decter), and she dresses like a hobo with some money stashed away (help me). She's self-deprecating and sarcastic, and I just want her to have good things (I want to have good things too).
Her relationship with Matt, her brother, was definitely one of the most interesting parts of the book. It just so happens that one of my WIPs is basically the same plot (but I a sci-fi setting) so to see it so wonderfully executed was both exhilarating and frightening.
Maggie: She's such a great character. She's awful, but also awfully human. She's not bad but not good and you have to love what she gives you
The Squad: Graham, Drew, and manicpixiedreamgirl were fun characters, and really liked them, but they were definitely the least interesting part of the book, though they did help move the plot along.
Ms Groves: She's honestly the Herr Silverman of this book and I loved her. She's sassy and unconventional and freaking loves tea.
I can’t tell him how I’ve slowly stopped going to school, at first because everybody looked at me and now because they don’t look at me at all and it turns out maybe it’s worse that way. It’s what I wanted, but it’s worse. I can’t tell him that sometimes when I come over and we hang out, it’s been a day or two since I’ve said much out loud, and my voice sounds strange to my ears. I can’t tell him how much I want to leave or how I’m afraid I might someday, like tomorrow or the day after that. And how I’m afraid leaving might be like other things I thought I wanted and then, after I got them, it turned out I didn’t. I don’t tell him how afraid I am. Of everything. How I see danger everywhere. How sometimes when I try to sleep at night I see a roof collapsing on him at work, or the floor caving in, or I see him falling. How I see Maggie plowing the car into a tree or the river or something else that seems harmless until it’s not. I don’t tell him how sometimes I think I’m right when I’m wrong. Really right when I’m really, really wrong. And so it’s not just that I don’t trust other people. I don’t trust myself.
I don’t tell him these things so that he won’t say they’re amazing. Because Jim thinks everything is amazing. And everything is not.
Conclusion
I really appreciate this book. It's short and intense and will make you cry. Also, it's got a psuedo-psychic dog named Howl for goodness sake! Read it!… (mehr)
Diese Rezension wurde für LibraryThing Early Reviewers geschrieben.Decter's 'How Far We go and How Fast' is a compulsively readable book about a 16 year old coming to terms with losing her brother. Decter's writing of Jolene, the main character, is sympathetic, putting the reader into her head and painting a vivid picture of why she makes self destructive choices, and also why they are understandable at the time.
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The summer Bria Powers turns 16 she is living with her aunt Tash and bestfriend/cousin Ains because her mother is long gone, her father is in jail for drug-dealing, and his girlfriend she was living with died from an overdose. During the day Bria and Ains babysit Ains’s younger siblings. Then they both go to work at the Burger Shack. After work Bria is personally struggling with drugs, alcohol, a bad relationship with a man she calls Someboy, and trying to find her place in the world. As if that isn't enough, some male is texting her pornographic images.
Bria is not a likable or trustworthy narrator. She will, however, elicit your sympathy because she is such a mixed-up broken teen who needs more support than she is receiving from those around her. She is in a rough situation that would leave many teens struggling. The hot, dry summer and the plethora of insects invading the area help set the desperate tone.
The pace is steady, but slow. There is some dark humor, but I was left mostly feeling depressed by the novel. (It feels like a YA novel, although it is not presented as one.) The novel does succeed in capturing the sad social realites of fentanyl infiltrating the community and the descriptive passages concerning the natural events of the summer are quite well-written. It does have a satisfying ending. Thanks to ECW Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/03/whats-not-mine.html… (mehr)