Sunday, November 21, 2010

If I Stay, by Gayle Forman

Ok.  I cried.  I don’t often do that, but wow, this book was really touching.  It’s narrated by 15-year-old Mia, who gets in a car accident with her family and barely survives.  So she’s in a coma, but she’s “out of body” looking at herself and narrating what’s happening.
So, she has to decide if she should stay, or if she should let herself succumb to death.  That’s it.  It’s a simple premise, but powerfully written.  There are details – she’s a talented cellist, her boyfriend plays in a rock band, her parents are “cool", she has a best friend and a little brother.  All of this adds to the story, but it’s Mia’s narration that is special.  I don’t know how Forman could write something like this without having a near-death experience, but it’s vividly imagined and felt real to me.
Another book that might be a read-alike is Aftershock by Kelly Easton.  This is a quick read, and in my opinion, not to be missed.

4 comments:

  1. Another read-alike may be The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold; however it's a different kind of suspense compared to this one. I would probably cry at either outcome of this book, too!

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  2. Yea, I thought about Lovely Bones and also Aftershock by Easton -- but they're both already dead. But I would still consider them similar reads. Thanks.

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  3. Annette! Sorry if we've already talked about it, but have you read any Melina Marchetta books??

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  4. This one has been on my wishlist for a while. After reading your review I think I want it even more. You see I work at a Children's hospital, so these type of situations hit close to home. Sounds like the author did a wonderful job on authenticity. Looking forward to reading this book soon.

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