All the Bright Places in Our Shared Shelf

May 04, 2017 Lacey Louwagie rated it really liked it

Shelves: youngadult, book-club

This is one of those books that inspires complicated feelings. Is it possible to write a book about teens and suicide that doesn't inspire complicated feelings? I've certainly never read one -- but it's something writers need to keep writing about, and that we need to keep talking about.

My biggest qualm with YA suicide books is that I always fear they run the risk of romanticizing the issue, and that is particularly true when the suicide is contextualized within a romantic relationship as it is This is one of those books that inspires complicated feelings. Is it possible to write a book about teens and suicide that doesn't inspire complicated feelings? I've certainly never read one -- but it's something writers need to keep writing about, and that we need to keep talking about.

My biggest qualm with YA suicide books is that I always fear they run the risk of romanticizing the issue, and that is particularly true when the suicide is contextualized within a romantic relationship as it is here. And so what made me most uncomfortable about this book was that Finch and Violet's suicide attempt in the same place on the same day was essentially reduced to a "meet-cute" (this isn't a spoiler, it's the opening chapter.) And the road-trippy aspects of the story also made the whole thing seem kind of fun and sweet and exciting rather than truly harrowing. The book didn't make me cry, which considering the subject matter seems like a bit of a fail.

At the same time, the things that I can be most critical about in this book can also be interpreted as some of its greatest strengths. Dealing with mental illness does not mean your entire existence is bleak, or that there aren't moments of beauty and adventure and wonder. It doesn't mean that life doesn't continue to unfold around you. I thought that Niven handled Finch's mental illness in a way that was believable and nuanced. I was less impressed by her depiction of Violet. Violet was damaged in her own way, still grieving the loss of her sister, but I kept feeling distracted by the fact that her parents didn't seem to be grieving along with her. In some ways they seemed too "perfect" and "together" for parents who had gone through the tragedy of losing a child, but at the same time it was nice to see some responsible, competent adults in a YA book.

My book club spent a lot of time dissecting how things could have been different if this or that circumstance might have been changed, and although the book loses points for not tugging at my heartstrings the way it maybe should have, it gets those points back again by being the kind of book you keep chewing on for quite a while after the final page has been read. ...more

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Apr 09, 2015 alana rated it it was ok

Shelves: audiobook, young-adult, teachers-and-pupils, romance, depression, mental-health, addicted-to-ya-2015

Agh! Too many heavy reads all at the same time! I finished Hausfrau just before this *on the same day.* Yiiiikes. First up, All the Bright Places might be my first encounter with a manic pixie dream boy. True, you get some of the story from Finch’s perspective, but his role is really to pull Violet out of her unhappy funk and make her happy with all his whimsy, charm, vigor, and – of course – his crooked smile. *smalleyeroll*

I think YA lit does need books that raise awareness of mental illness Agh! Too many heavy reads all at the same time! I finished Hausfrau just before this *on the same day.* Yiiiikes. First up, All the Bright Places might be my first encounter with a manic pixie dream boy. True, you get some of the story from Finch’s perspective, but his role is really to pull Violet out of her unhappy funk and make her happy with all his whimsy, charm, vigor, and – of course – his crooked smile. *smalleyeroll*

I think YA lit does need books that raise awareness of mental illness and the challenges and feasibility of maintaining mental health. It’s a bit disconcerting then that All the Bright Places is more a cautionary tale than a success story. The book is a call to parents, friends, and teachers to be accountable for helping those who show warning signs of depression, self-harm, suicide, and violent tendencies….while at the same time showing the deception, shame, and denial that many go through in response to their suffering. (view spoiler)

I’m starting to understand why I love genre YA rather than realistic fiction. The real stuff is just so painful. I happily picked up A Thousand Pieces of You last night and sighed over time-travel amulets and shiny jackets with built-in keyboards.
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Jan 13, 2015 eb added it

Shelves: young-adult, fiction, i-gave-up, realistic, male-protagonist, female-protagonist, multiple-viewpoints, print

First attempt: March 2015

I tried to read this for 2 months. I couldn't get into it. Something about the voices felt contrived, which is a huge turn off. Genuine teen voices are necessary for a heavy book but Violet in particular I j u st couldn't get behind. ...more

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