All the Bright Places
Author: Jennifer Niven
Published: January 6th 2015 by Knopf
Date Read: Feb 14 2020 - Feb 24 2020
Pages: 378
Rating: 2/5
Re-Read
Published: January 6th 2015 by Knopf
Date Read: Feb 14 2020 - Feb 24 2020
Pages: 378
Rating: 2/5
Re-Read
Quotes I Like
“The problem with people is they forget that most of the time it's the small things that count.”
“It's my experience that people are a lot more sympathetic if they can see you hurting, and for the millionth time in my life I wish for measles or smallpox or some other easily understood disease just to make it easier on me and also on them.”
“I learned that there is good in this world, if you look hard enough for it. I learned that not everyone is disappointing, including me, and that a 1,257-foot bump in the ground can feel higher than a bell tower if you’re standing next to the right person.”
“It's my experience that people are a lot more sympathetic if they can see you hurting, and for the millionth time in my life I wish for measles or smallpox or some other easily understood disease just to make it easier on me and also on them.”
“I learned that there is good in this world, if you look hard enough for it. I learned that not everyone is disappointing, including me, and that a 1,257-foot bump in the ground can feel higher than a bell tower if you’re standing next to the right person.”
Review
I think now that I have re-read this book as an adult I can see the problems in it a little more clearly then when I was just 18. Did I enjoy rereading this.... yes... is it as beautiful and enduring as I remember it being.... no. I wont lie in this reading process this book felt a lot younger and more problematic then it should have, it did not age well for me.
I remember LOVING Finch and wanting to find someone to love me like this. In re reading a lot of the things Finch does are a cry for help, it is him reaching out without knowing how too. I found this book very lacking in hope, and resources for teens and young adults who may be in need of them. This was a lot more bleak than I remember it being, and honestly maybe a little irresponsible of Jennifer Niven. I will say I think it's very important to write books about suicided and grief especially ones without happy endings. But I do think it's VERY important to ensure young readers know suicide is not the option they need to turn too, it is not romantic or beautiful and it does in no way make the people around you better. And I think this is where All The Bright Places lost me, the suicide portion is very romanticized and beautified but there is no hope offered for Finch or even Amanda. We have apathetic parents and counsellors which again is true to real life, but I think we should be trying to ensure youths know where to look for help. And honestly it's not with each other, of course friends are a huge area of support but teenager can't save teenager. I just wish there would have been less romanticization of suicided and more hope given to Finch and Violet. More counsellors and talking about suicide and not that weird treasure hunt of 'love' Finch left behind.
Overall this book is a fine read, I liked a lot of the characters I just think it missed the mark overall for me. When I was younger I LOVED this and I just don't anymore. My hope is though that this book is able to help even one person suffering then it has done its job.
I remember LOVING Finch and wanting to find someone to love me like this. In re reading a lot of the things Finch does are a cry for help, it is him reaching out without knowing how too. I found this book very lacking in hope, and resources for teens and young adults who may be in need of them. This was a lot more bleak than I remember it being, and honestly maybe a little irresponsible of Jennifer Niven. I will say I think it's very important to write books about suicided and grief especially ones without happy endings. But I do think it's VERY important to ensure young readers know suicide is not the option they need to turn too, it is not romantic or beautiful and it does in no way make the people around you better. And I think this is where All The Bright Places lost me, the suicide portion is very romanticized and beautified but there is no hope offered for Finch or even Amanda. We have apathetic parents and counsellors which again is true to real life, but I think we should be trying to ensure youths know where to look for help. And honestly it's not with each other, of course friends are a huge area of support but teenager can't save teenager. I just wish there would have been less romanticization of suicided and more hope given to Finch and Violet. More counsellors and talking about suicide and not that weird treasure hunt of 'love' Finch left behind.
Overall this book is a fine read, I liked a lot of the characters I just think it missed the mark overall for me. When I was younger I LOVED this and I just don't anymore. My hope is though that this book is able to help even one person suffering then it has done its job.