I just wrote a really long review on this. I think I spilled all of my thoughts about right and wrong there so here I will discuss the characters.
Lochan and Maya both felt solid to me. They felt real, genuine, true. I was taken on a journey alongside them, rather than watching them from afar. I loved that about this story.
To be honest, I hesitated the first time I heard of this book. Incest? No, no thank you. I'm not interested. But then I wondered why? Why am I so close minded about this subject? This wasn't a topic I really cared about. I am aware that there are stories about it, especially in the bible. And there, it didn't seem like a big deal, so why couldn't I just pick it up and read it?
So I did. And I learned to see what the author truly wanted to showcase. A story about love. Simple as that. Or as simple as love can be. Which it isn't. Which is why this ending is so gut wrenching.
I loved loved Lochan. From the start, I immediately empathized. I have felt that social anxiety. And honestly, why not become anxious when interacting with other people? People are judgmental at best. It's hard not to feel like Lochan all the time. It is truly as hassle having to socialize because that is what we are here to do. It isn't socially acceptable to stay at home and away from people. We have a label for those people: losers. And Lochan had it so much worse, being a paternal figure in his messed up family.
Maya was very sweet and tender. She acted much older than her age. I really wondered how she had learned to be so motherly with the type of mother she had. Maya truly impressed me sometimes. Near the end especially. Honestly, yes, suicide is selfish and she was very dramatic but I could see where she was coming from. I wouldn't have blamed her for going through with it. But then she didn't, she proved to be a strong person, a warrior. She grew strength from love, the same love that doomed them.
Kit, that boy broke my heart. Yes, he was acting out. He wanted attention. He wanted a little bit of love without having to ask for it. He wanted to feel something so he went with the wrong crowd, even though deep down he just wanted to be a kid, to feel like a kid. He was misunderstood. I remember being 13, I remember feeling like the world was crumbling down when I realized my mom didn't care all that much about me. When I saw that she loved and stuck with my stepdad far more than she did with me. I remember that, and I remember rebelling. I lived that phase. I was Kit. I really just wanted someone to comfort him. I still do.
Tiffin was the one who caused the least trouble I think. My only consolation was that he had Willa. He had hobbies. He had a little more hope than most of them. It's shown in the last line of the book, when he talks about summer. I really liked him. I want to think he was the one who succeeded.
Willa broke my heart. The dislocated arm part made me hate Lochan a little bit. Children will put themselves in dangerous situations and the adult has to stay in control. He should have known better than that. Anyway, I really adored her. I like the way she was portrayed. Her innocence felt so pure and simple. It brightened up the book. I like listening to her talk, even when all she had to talk about was her day at school.
Their mother. I don't remember her name. Needless to say, she was terrible. I don't want to waste much time talking about her. I know people like her. Her personality and lack of interest didn't surprise me. She was predictable at best. And yet she was realistic. I don't know what else to say. And of course, their absent father didn't even show up so why waste anymore words?
I liked this book. It made me think. I'm glad it was written even though it was painful in so many ways.
Lochan and Maya both felt solid to me. They felt real, genuine, true. I was taken on a journey alongside them, rather than watching them from afar. I loved that about this story.
To be honest, I hesitated the first time I heard of this book. Incest? No, no thank you. I'm not interested. But then I wondered why? Why am I so close minded about this subject? This wasn't a topic I really cared about. I am aware that there are stories about it, especially in the bible. And there, it didn't seem like a big deal, so why couldn't I just pick it up and read it?
So I did. And I learned to see what the author truly wanted to showcase. A story about love. Simple as that. Or as simple as love can be. Which it isn't. Which is why this ending is so gut wrenching.
I loved loved Lochan. From the start, I immediately empathized. I have felt that social anxiety. And honestly, why not become anxious when interacting with other people? People are judgmental at best. It's hard not to feel like Lochan all the time. It is truly as hassle having to socialize because that is what we are here to do. It isn't socially acceptable to stay at home and away from people. We have a label for those people: losers. And Lochan had it so much worse, being a paternal figure in his messed up family.
Maya was very sweet and tender. She acted much older than her age. I really wondered how she had learned to be so motherly with the type of mother she had. Maya truly impressed me sometimes. Near the end especially. Honestly, yes, suicide is selfish and she was very dramatic but I could see where she was coming from. I wouldn't have blamed her for going through with it. But then she didn't, she proved to be a strong person, a warrior. She grew strength from love, the same love that doomed them.
Kit, that boy broke my heart. Yes, he was acting out. He wanted attention. He wanted a little bit of love without having to ask for it. He wanted to feel something so he went with the wrong crowd, even though deep down he just wanted to be a kid, to feel like a kid. He was misunderstood. I remember being 13, I remember feeling like the world was crumbling down when I realized my mom didn't care all that much about me. When I saw that she loved and stuck with my stepdad far more than she did with me. I remember that, and I remember rebelling. I lived that phase. I was Kit. I really just wanted someone to comfort him. I still do.
Tiffin was the one who caused the least trouble I think. My only consolation was that he had Willa. He had hobbies. He had a little more hope than most of them. It's shown in the last line of the book, when he talks about summer. I really liked him. I want to think he was the one who succeeded.
Willa broke my heart. The dislocated arm part made me hate Lochan a little bit. Children will put themselves in dangerous situations and the adult has to stay in control. He should have known better than that. Anyway, I really adored her. I like the way she was portrayed. Her innocence felt so pure and simple. It brightened up the book. I like listening to her talk, even when all she had to talk about was her day at school.
Their mother. I don't remember her name. Needless to say, she was terrible. I don't want to waste much time talking about her. I know people like her. Her personality and lack of interest didn't surprise me. She was predictable at best. And yet she was realistic. I don't know what else to say. And of course, their absent father didn't even show up so why waste anymore words?
I liked this book. It made me think. I'm glad it was written even though it was painful in so many ways.