Sunday 11 May 2014

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Pages: 201
Released: April 2009
Genre: Contemporary
Favourite Quote:“Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you.”
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Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel. I open my eyes wide now. I sit up as much as I can. And I listen. Stay, he says. Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind? Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters. If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

My Review

Initial Thoughts: If I Stay is one of the most moving book I have ever read. It made me question my decisions in my own life and has taught me not to take my life for granted. This book left me with tears of both happiness and joy.

If I Stay follows Mia - a seventeen year old chello player. After a horrific car crash that leaves her loved ones and herself in the hospital, Mia has to decide if she will stay on earth with the possibility of not having them with her or leave and die.

If I Stay does touch on delicate subjects such as death but I loved how Gayle Forman was able to do it in a way that wasn't difficult to read. I loved how the whole story wasn't about her time in the hospital, watching over herself and contemplating her decision. However a lot of the story was about her past, reminiscing on past events such as her first date with her boyfriend Adam.

The Pros: What made this book different for me was how Gayle Forman showed how Mia and Adam's romantic relationship was not perfect. A lot of books I've read don't focus too much on the fights that the two people have. It is only touched on, with the rest showing the happily ever after they have finally gotten together. This was different. Gayle Forman made it very obvious that Mia and Adam's relationship was not perfect. They fought. They had different goals. They were different, yet similar at the same time. It was very refreshing to read about a relationship that was not perfect. It was also good how Forman didn't just focus on Mia's boyfriend. There were a lot of scenes with her family and her thinking about her future.

The Cons: Nothing is coming to mind. Just that cliffhanger. I honestly cannot wait to read Where She Went

Would I recommend this book?  Yes of course. I would recommend If I Stay to everyone because a) the movie is coming out soon and b) it really moves you and makes you appreciative of what you have 

 

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