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What Members Thought
May 05, 2017
Xanthe
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
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I just recommended this book to someone in one of my book clubs as something they absolutely had to read and then picked it up again, trying to see it as if reading it for the first time again, wondering what kind of impression it would be make after my impassioned recommendation. Would she immediately love it as much as I wanted her to? Saving Francesca starts rather slowly, and Francesca herself is not terribly likeable, complaining about her new school, the girls she's forced to pal around wi
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This is a reread for me.
First read when it first came out.
This is a fantastic snapshot of a young girl of Italian heritage, my mum is Italian, so much of this is so familiar to my memories. In particular Nonno and Nonna, the news-addicted grandparents. They are such a lovely secondary character couple.
This is a book based on experience of mental health in a family and how it pervades the whole life.
Marlena Marchetta is a genius at young adult, without delving into YA tropes. This is real, heart ...more
First read when it first came out.
This is a fantastic snapshot of a young girl of Italian heritage, my mum is Italian, so much of this is so familiar to my memories. In particular Nonno and Nonna, the news-addicted grandparents. They are such a lovely secondary character couple.
This is a book based on experience of mental health in a family and how it pervades the whole life.
Marlena Marchetta is a genius at young adult, without delving into YA tropes. This is real, heart ...more
I ad this book in one day after seeing it recommended by others who had read Jellicoe Road. The writing is fantastic. Marchetta has created a teenage character who feels authentic without being annoying. Her representation of mental illness and the ways it affects families is raw and real in the best possible ways. I highly recommend this book!
Saving Francesca is definitely on my top 10 YA novels EVER! The first time I read it back in 2005, I immediately started back at the beginning. Okay I was on an airplane, but I did have another book. I love Francesca and her unlikely friends; I love her brother Luca; I love St. Sebastian's; I love that Francesca learns first-hand the Mary Oliver poem, "The Journey," which ends with the lines
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper ...more
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper ...more
Eh. I'm amazed that this is the same woman who wrote Finnikin of the Rock. Those are some hefty writing chops to be able to write in a way that your books resemble nothing of each other. I can't say that I was as impressed with Ms. Marchetta's realistic fiction. Her fantasy books are on a whole 'nother level.
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I was just very frustrated with the writer's treatment of depression in this book. Very accurate depiction, but I think they (Francesca and her dad) should have tried to get more outside help for the mom instead of just being so against antidepressants and counseling. Okay read otherwise.
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I understand the hype about Melina Marchetta. I'll have to see if it works as well for Jellicoe Road. This book was heart wrenching, even though it's really just a small family story. But family is so important, and Francesca's family is so important to her.
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Started slow and wrapped up perfectly. I was so into the characters that I didn't want the book to end. I can't wait until we finally get the sequel in the states.
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Dec 20, 2010
Cynthia Paschen
marked it as to-read
Jul 18, 2011
Katie
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Aug 25, 2012
Raewyn Sangari
marked it as to-read
Feb 19, 2013
Michelle
marked it as to-read
Apr 01, 2016
Novena
added it
Apr 12, 2016
Aimee
marked it as to-read
Apr 02, 2018
ainsley
marked it as to-read
