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| Source: GoodReads |
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Series:
Version Reviewed: Finished, Paperback.
Website: www.madwomanintheforest.com
*This book was borrowed from a friend.
GoodReads Summary:
Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country.
Speak is one of those books you just have to read. There's so much controversy surrounding it as well as admiration and fandom that it's really a no brainer. You're drawn in and you have to at least check it out to see what all the fuss is about. It seems to be a book that most people like.
A few people got the chance to read the book while in school. My husband got the opportunity, but I was not one of the lucky few. I had never even heard of this book until after I graduated and started the blog. I saw a lot of reviews and posts about it during Banned Books Week and immediately put it on my list to read. I didn't have the book, but after searching in the top shelf of our closet (which is full of books), I realized that Jess owned a copy. A very battered and beaten copy, but it was there for me to read. For some reason, I never picked it up and actually sat down to read it. But Jess and I were watching TV one night and the movie, starring Twilight's Kristen Stewart, came on. Jess had seen it, but I never had, so I settled in and watched the entire thing. By the end of the movie, I grabbed the book and read. I read over half the book in one sitting and then finished it the next day while on my lunch break at work.
And now I understand.
Speak is a very raw and emotional book. It takes you on a journey through Melinda Sordino's freshman year in high school. Basically an outcast, she has no real friends and is pretty much hated by her ex-best friends. What no one knows is that Melinda has a secret. A secret that has basically led her into a depression, though she never really admits to herself that she is depressed. She acts out in school and has a bit of a rocky home life.
Melinda's character was very relateable and her life is very real and easily identifiable. A lot of kids in high school can relate to her actions and thoughts. I enjoyed this book immensly. The only thing I sort of had a problem with was the way it was written. It's not written like a normal novel. It's a bit different and at first I was kind of uneasy with it. But it was extremely easy to get sucked into the book and once I did, I realized that I wouldn't have written it any other way. The writing style fit perfectly for the story and it made sense. It just worked.
A few people got the chance to read the book while in school. My husband got the opportunity, but I was not one of the lucky few. I had never even heard of this book until after I graduated and started the blog. I saw a lot of reviews and posts about it during Banned Books Week and immediately put it on my list to read. I didn't have the book, but after searching in the top shelf of our closet (which is full of books), I realized that Jess owned a copy. A very battered and beaten copy, but it was there for me to read. For some reason, I never picked it up and actually sat down to read it. But Jess and I were watching TV one night and the movie, starring Twilight's Kristen Stewart, came on. Jess had seen it, but I never had, so I settled in and watched the entire thing. By the end of the movie, I grabbed the book and read. I read over half the book in one sitting and then finished it the next day while on my lunch break at work.
And now I understand.
Speak is a very raw and emotional book. It takes you on a journey through Melinda Sordino's freshman year in high school. Basically an outcast, she has no real friends and is pretty much hated by her ex-best friends. What no one knows is that Melinda has a secret. A secret that has basically led her into a depression, though she never really admits to herself that she is depressed. She acts out in school and has a bit of a rocky home life.
Melinda's character was very relateable and her life is very real and easily identifiable. A lot of kids in high school can relate to her actions and thoughts. I enjoyed this book immensly. The only thing I sort of had a problem with was the way it was written. It's not written like a normal novel. It's a bit different and at first I was kind of uneasy with it. But it was extremely easy to get sucked into the book and once I did, I realized that I wouldn't have written it any other way. The writing style fit perfectly for the story and it made sense. It just worked.
Favorite Character: Melinda
Rating: 5 Stars.
If I remember correctly I also quit reading this book because I wasn't very comfortable with the writing style. Although I have seen the movie I believe I will give this book a second chance since it comes highly recommended by my friends too!
ReplyDelete- Gayatri @ Drooling Over Book Covers