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November: Still Life with Tornado by A.S. King
By Jenna · 7 posts · 105 views
By Jenna · 7 posts · 105 views
last updated Dec 20, 2016 05:03PM
What Members Thought
I'm finally accepting that I can't really write a full review for this one. For one thing, it's been too long and for another, I don't think I felt too terribly strongly about it. Definitely a well-written story with a really nicely built plot and a good dash of magical realism in there. I don't know why, but I didn't connect with this one as much as I thought I might. I think there were just a few small details that didn't work for me. I'll be curious to see if I feel the same way about her oth
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Told in first person with flashbacks from the present (Vera is a senior in high school who delivers pizzas) to the recent past (episodes with her recently deceased best friend Charlie) and a few interruptions from her dad, who provides funny flow-charts of his opinions, as well as some chapters told from the point of view of the dead Charlie, AND from the point of view of The Pagoda! That's a local landmark and popular makeout/hangout spot in town. Vera is trying to figure out how her friend die
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I was eager to read A. S. King's latest novel, as I absolutely adored The Dust of 100 Dogs. Vera Deitz did not disappoint. It just won a 2011 Printz Honor.
Vera Dietz has just lost her best friend, Charlie, who died from an overdose of alcohol and drugs. Vera grew up with Charlie and they were inseparable, until Charlie hooked up with Jenny, a detention queen who despises Vera. Vera is also struggling with drinking too much, and with a father who has dealt with alcoholism, she worries that she ha ...more
Vera Dietz has just lost her best friend, Charlie, who died from an overdose of alcohol and drugs. Vera grew up with Charlie and they were inseparable, until Charlie hooked up with Jenny, a detention queen who despises Vera. Vera is also struggling with drinking too much, and with a father who has dealt with alcoholism, she worries that she ha ...more
Is it okay to hate a dead kid? Even if I loved him once? Even if he was my best friend? Is it okay to hate him for being dead?
Vera and Charlie have been neighbors and best friends since they were little kids. As high school seniors, their relationship seems to be on the brink of growing into something more than friendship – until Jenny Flick comes into the picture. Jenny hates Vera and tries to come between the two friends by telling Charlie that Vera has been spreading rumors about his family. ...more
Vera and Charlie have been neighbors and best friends since they were little kids. As high school seniors, their relationship seems to be on the brink of growing into something more than friendship – until Jenny Flick comes into the picture. Jenny hates Vera and tries to come between the two friends by telling Charlie that Vera has been spreading rumors about his family. ...more
So I read this mainly because Goodreads included it on so many of my recommendations. I gave in and listened to the audio. The story is narrated mainly by Vera Dietz, a girl who lost her best friend, twice. It is not a spoiler to say that she lost him ultimately by his untimely death. I was interested in the heavy, drama-filled story line that was told in a very light-hearted and often comical way. Vera is a character for high school girls to look up to, which is the appropriate audience for thi
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I read this in one sitting - simply wonderful.
The plot could sound like a classic YA problem novel - yawn - but the story is so well executed that the whole things feels fresh. In a depressing sort of way. The darkness didn't always make for an easy read - Vera has her problems, and Charlie had his problems, and the whole town seems to have problems - but the mystery at the heart of the story kept everything moving along, and the occasional breaks into other voices besides Vera's worked surprisingly well (the Pagoda, for example).
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3.5
Nov 03, 2013
Dan
marked it as to-read
Jul 01, 2011
Laura5
marked it as to-read
Nov 17, 2010
Megan
added it
Feb 23, 2011
Julie
marked it as to-read
