Monday 15 September 2014

Book Review: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.

 
I cannot emphasise how beautiful this book is. It is going straight onto my 'best books I've ever read' list. I hope you enjoy this review and have a read yourself.

It is about a 17 year old high school student Lennon Walker, nicknamed Lennie or Len, who's struggling through the loss of her sister Bailey who died by arrhythmia. Lennie, Gram and Uncle Big are taking it day by day in this deep depression and Lennie's comforts are nature and the band at school as well as leaving notes and poems throughout the town. Written down on these notes are conversations she once had with her sister and poems about her heartache. During all of this, she begins a secret relationship with Bailey's fiancé, Toby and they grieve and lament over the loved one they've lost. Not only that, a new boy appears in school called Joe Fontaine, a half French/musically talented/sweet boy who takes on Lennie's sorrow and helps her resulting in a relationship between the two of them at the same time as the relationship between Lennie and Toby.

The Sky is Everywhere is narrated by Lennie herself and this allows the reader to be taken on a journey that explores her grief and anguish at first hand. This does have its disadvantages because I found myself not liking Lennie at first just because of the silly mistakes and actions she does that left me frustrated and wanting to shake her. Although she is lost in grief, her actions can often be seen as selfish and she can lie pretty well which didn't make me trust her at all. Eventually however I found myself really feeling for her character and seeing that she is just confused, alone and heartbroken. Her notes and poems are on the beginning page of each chapter and they're really heart wrenching to read.

The other characters really play their parts well within this book. Gram, who is essentially a hippy, wafts around with her famous flowers and her paintings.. you find yourself really falling love with her and her weird antics. She really is vital person in Lennie's life and tries to help keep the every day routine going despite her internal suffering. Uncle Big, the five times married pothead is a rather funny and sometimes philosophical man, you just can't resist him. They helped make this book a magical, special one as it showed you how grief affects everyone in different ways and how they deal with it. It shows you and Lennie how not alone you really are when it comes to losing a loved one.

The controversial storyline of Lennie kissing Toby while also forming a relationship with Joe really bugged me at first. I don't know if that was Jandy's idea from the start but I really found myself disliking Lennie for allowing herself to try and elope with her dead sister's boyfriend. I mean, we've all grieved at some point in our  lives but we haven't found ourselves wanting to suddenly start making moves on your loved one's partner. But in a way, as you go further into the book, you find yourself understanding her confusion and desperation. For her, Joe takes her out of her sorrow and makes her forget just for a minute how unbearable life is without her sister while Toby comforts her in the moments when it all gets too much.

This book also really gets the tears going at some parts. Obviously when the inevitable happens when Joe sees Lennie kissing Toby, while she desperately tries to resolve things with him and decide what she really wants with Toby she sort of suffers a breakdown. The writing becomes so fast paced that you feel the speed of Lennie's thoughts and emotions as she breaks down. I certainly got teary eyed at that part, it really moved me.

The only criticisms I have of this book is the sophistication of the characters for their ages. I certainly didn't declare my undying love for anyone at the age of 17 like Lennie and Joe did! The romance did become a little too intense for my liking after Joe planned to "deflower" Lennie after like 3 days into the relationship. And at times, I didn't see how lust and grief could concide that extremely for Lennie to do the things she did.

Either way, this book is really beautiful and takes you back to the times you have grieved over someone. Lennie's moments of mourning alone in her room really hit home with you. Jandy Nelson's style of writing is great and I look forward to reading some more of her books in the future.

Have you read this? What did you think?
Please leave any of your thoughts in the comments below.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

53 comments:

  1. Sounds very lovely, I would love to read! :)

    http://sbr-fashion-fashion.blogspot.com/

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  2. I haven't read this yet, but the book sounds promising. Not usually a big fan of love triangles, but the Uncle Big character sounds like a hoot:)

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    1. Yeah I'm not either really but this one was different! Thanks for reading!

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  3. I truly hope, that I can find this book from here too, in Finland. That sounds so good.

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    1. If not, you can order it from www.amazon.co.uk, maybe? Good luck and thanks for reading!

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  4. Sounds like a perfect read to me! Though probably not the easiest as it seems like it may pull on a few emotions (and I am a huge crybaby!) and I'll probably want to throttle the protagonist too lol. Adding to my "To Read" list now.

    Sxx
    www.daringcoco.com

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    1. Yeah it wasn't an easy read at times and I did feel like throttling Lennie at times haha. Thankyou for reading!

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  5. definitelly sounds great!!! :D
    I`ll read it!
    you have a beautiful blog :)

    have a nice day
    keep in touch

    kisses :)

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    1. Thankyou very much, that's very sweet of you! x

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  6. Replies
    1. Hope you like it as much as I do then! Thanks for reading x

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  7. This sounds like a fantastic book. Great review, well done.
    http://www.sweetwordsprettypictures.com

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    1. It is a fantastic book. Thankyou for reading and commenting :)

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  8. I haven't read this but thanks for the review! It sounds like a really dramatic yet sweet book. Love your blog! xx

    -M
    The Life of Little Me

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  9. I guess I'll have to get this book. Love the review. Great post and keep up the good work.

    LEJA

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  10. Oh this is why blogging is bad for me! I now have a list of books I wish to read, but so little time!! Great review, I will definitely be going buying it, and at some point reading it, along with all the others I have heard about from other people's posts!
    Tara x

    http://lovetarababii.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Ooh I know how you feel haha. I constantly read other peoples reviews of other books and had to my already huge list.. Need help haha! Thankyou very much for reading. x

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  11. Great review. :)

    www.socialmediablooms.com

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  12. wow, this book does sound really good, yet really sad. It's a shame the characters are 17, I agree I didn't think I completely loved someone at that age xx
    LauraThinksAbout

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    1. Yeah I feel they're a little too young to be that in love personally but you never know weirder things have happened! Thankyou for reading x

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  13. you have a lovely blog here and i love your design

    if you have a secound would be great to see you over on my blog

    http://myroutinesjade.blogspot.co.uk/

    have a loveey day

    Jade

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  14. Sounds like a great read. Thanks for sharing.

    Eye See Euphoria : http://eyeseeeuphoria.com/post/tales-from-orlando

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  15. great review xo
    www.vicariousLA.com

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  16. Really great review! I've never read this book but I'll def be adding it to my list now :)

    http://ramyun-pie.blogspot.com

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    1. Aw thankyou so much for reading, hope you enjoy it :)

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  17. Great review Laura! The plot sounds amazing!
    XO
    Jeanne
    http://fashionmusingsdiary.blogspot.fr

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  18. Hi Laura,
    thank you for your nice comment on my blog..and for following me..i will follow you back but later as cant see your follow via GFC ..its just my Pc..i will do it at home...thanks again..
    jolahogg.blogspot.ie

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  19. Helloo :*

    Lovely Post!

    I'm new.. follow for follow?

    Amanda x

    The Malteser

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  20. great post :)

    thansk for the comment on my blog. i'm now following you on bloglovin :)

    //N.K.L
    www.nkl-fashion.dk

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  21. hi Laura! Just found your blog, and love it already :) loved the review.. I've never read this one, but it seems very nice.

    I am your new follower! If you like my blog, will you please follow me back?

    xoxo

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  22. amazing blog :)

    love your design

    would love to see you on my blog

    http://myroutinesjade.blogspot.co.uk/ have a nice day

    jade

    :)

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  23. I'm definitely going to be buying this book! I had to stop reading this post half way through as I didn't want to stumble across any spoilers! Thanks for this!

    The Velvet Black // UK Style, Beauty & Lifestyle Blog

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    1. Don't worry I never post any spoilers haha. But I hope you enjoy it! Thankyou for reading :)

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  24. This is a book I will certainly add to my books to read. :) Thanks for the recommendation.

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Thankyou for your comments. They are appreciated so much, I am very grateful and I will reply to every single one whenever I can. x