did we even read the same book?

i would have really liked to read the book that gabrielle zevin had in her head; clearly, this was meant to be a masterpiece, and it seems it succeeded with very many people. i’ve never read any of her other work, but this read to me like a dupe of a little life by a less skilled author.

my biggest gripe is just how many issues and elements this author tries to introduce without ever touching upon them ever again. it all came across as very sensational and lacking depth, included primarily for shock-value. i also didn’t find the characters super well-developed; feelings are changed suddenly and with no real explanation other than “they felt this way the entire time and only just realized it.” things made much more sense when i found out the author also works as a screenwriter; this book was written like it really wanted to be a screenplay.

i’m glad this touched so many other readers, but i came away not knowing what i was supposed to feel or anything about what the author wanted to convey. i had high hopes for this book, and all im left with is a profound sense of disappointment.