BOOKS I WILL NEVER, EVER READ!

So today I felt like talking about books that I will never read. And the reasons will all vary. Maybe I just don't like the author's writing style, or maybe I just think the author is overrated, but I'll leave you guys with my honest opinions. And don't forget, you haven't got to agree with me. We're all human and have difference preferences.


HOLDING UP THE UNIVERSE BY JENNIFER NIVEN

It may seem like I'm bashing the author since I wrote a harsh yet honest review of her debut novel, All the Bright Places. But the honest truth is that I just don't get the hype about Jennifer Niven. Her writing is mediocre at best, but what mainly left me not wanting to read this book was it's original - and highly offensive - synopsis. The original synopsis came across so offensive because it read that Fat people aren't human at all, they're freaks. Not only that it also came across as being skinny gets you places in life, like your weight defines you has a person. And then it comes down to the other main character who has Cognitive Disorder

. What should be described as a serious condition comes across as Jennifer not giving a shit about who reads her story and describes the character as broken. What I've found is that Jennifer likes to label her characters as one thing and nothing else, and it's irritating.

 

WAKE. THE. FUCK. UP. JENNIFER! 

 

 

 

LOOKING FOR ALASKA BY JOHN GREEN

 

I don't need to mention the fact that I happen to think John Green is incredibly overrated. Sure, TFIOS was a somewhat enjoyable read but every time I've tried to read another of his books I get the exact same vibe from them, almost like they characters are carbon copies with different names and looks. And while I guess I could have chosen Paper Towns, I really don't care. Because I won't be reading any of his books. Unless he decides to write something that sounds interesting but I doubt it since he's all about filming the book to movie adaptations of his novels, which sadly I've also not been a fan of. In fact I thought both TFIOS and Paper Towns were some of the worst movies ever, beating Insurgent to the mix (Which seems impossible, highly impossible).

 

 

 

ONE WITH YOU BY SYLVIA DAY

 

I don't understand why she continued this series past a trilogy. For me 3 books was enough of Eva and Gideon. Just like her other readers, I loved them loads but their lives aren't that interesting to be continued over another 2 books. But I also understand why she wrote them: Money. They sell more than well enough, they're incredibly popular and it's even been optioned for TV............Which makes zero sense. But, yeah.....I won't be reading this one either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What books will you never read?

Let me know in the comments!

Review: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Title: All The Bright Places
Author: Jennifer Niven
Genre: YA Contemporary / Mental Health
Publisher: Penguin Books UK
Published: January 8th 2015
Page Number: 388
Rating: 1/5

Summary:

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it's unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the 'natural wonders' of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It's only with Violet that Finch can be himself - a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.

REVIEW

All The Bright Places was described as 'Eleanor and Park' meets 'The Fault in Our Stars', which is problematic in itself. While I LOVE 'Eleanor and Park' I actually disliked 'The Fault in Our Stars' and saw so many problems with it, especially the romance. And to be compared to such huge, well known authors is a statement, a statement that I disagreed with.

I so badly wanted to enjoy this book, especially since it's about Mental Health but I couldn't help but feel disconnected from the characters and their offish personalities. I couldn't see Theodore and Violet as real people because they had no personality, instead they became their illness, walking zombies in the midst of life. And in some aspects I understand it, but I found myself hating them both.

Depression, self-harm and suicide is something I'm very well known with, in fact I'd say we were best friends at one point. I was so depressed back in 2013-2014 that I scarred my arms for life, tried to overdose on medication and also tried to hang myself. Twice. I was in a dark place with no hope of seeing light, and while I'm aware that no depression story is the same, I just felt like Jennifer created the characters for the sake of having a story with mentally ill characters.

And to be honest, All the Bright Places is just another over-hyped book that fails on anything original. Mental Illness is not a trend, it's a serious problem and I just wished Jennifer Niven could have given it a more realistic portrayal.

 

Buy the Book (Wordery) | Buy the Book (Book Depository)

 

 

 

🎧: 'We Won't by Jaymes Young & Phoebe Ryan