books I read

[jade_sabre]

I READ SAVING FRANCESCA.








Also the Demon's Lexicon series and Team Human (which was surprisingly emotional at the climax and had some interesting characterization bits amid an otherwise shallow-but-entertaining read) and The Last Unicorn (which was beautiful and which I need to read in one sitting). I had to return all the others but I'll get them back, and I have Unspoken and The Marriage Plot and Code Verity

but

Saving Francesca

not only reminded me of how wonderfully lucky I have been in love

but also

just

so perfect.

flawless.

wonderful.

tightly plotted and everything is doled out at just the right moment and also it's hilarious and I care so much about all the characters and I'm so happy and

go forth and read it RIGHT NOW.

Comments

[willow-41z.livejournal.com]

Saving Francesca is so, so good. I love it. I reread it fairly recently. Her phrasing gets stuck in my head.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

UH HUH

UH HUH

THIS IS MY I-TOLD-YOU-SO MOMENT AND I AM LOVING IT (also Brandy's!)

It is so, so fantastic. I don't even know how many times I've reread it. Now you need to read The Piper's Son.

And I can't wait til you read Code Name Verity.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

LOOK I TOLD YOU I WOULD READ IT WHEN I GOT A CHANCE

I want to reread it immediately but I'm letting Quark borrow it.

CODE NAME VERITY it is in my bag waiting to be opened. :D

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

:D

SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO READ THAT.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW I STARTED IT.

At first I was like AUGH WWII BOOK and part of me is still squirming to get away from it, but oh my goodness when von Linden was like "dude, she's totally Queenie" I was like AH-HA I KNEW IT WAY TO HAVE THE BAD GUY POINT IT OUT I LOVE IT IT'S SO META and Maddieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and I'm not very far, I've just gotten to the part in the beginning where they run out of paper so she has to work in the kitchens/she and Maddie went to the pub, but AUGH THIS BOOK I AM GOING TO CARE SO MUCH. Part of what keeps me going is knowing that you wouldn't pick a nihilistic novel to love, so, I'M TRUSTING YOU, BETH.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

YAY

I mean, it's not "happily ever after" - but that would be odd for a WWII book. It's amazing. It really, really is.

And you will care so much. So much. I just love this to pieces. Some of it reminds me a little of the spying bits in Connie Willis's Blackout/All Clear (but I don't think you've read those?).

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

...

I emailed you.

♥

♥ ♥ ♥

hold me

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

♥

(I do know how you feel and *hugs*)

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

I also forgot to mention but it is not spoilery to say it

this book is about love

and love permeates its every page

aaaaaaaaaaaaand now I'm crying my eyes out brb kleenex

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

YES

I really love that it doesn't have romance, that it's really a friendship

also

"It's like being in love, discovering your best friend"

♥

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Yes! Sooooo so good! And yes! The Piper's Son! Awesome!

I'm wondering, did you read On the Jellicoe Road? I loved that one, too, but my brother didn't like it as much as I did. One of the all time great first sentences...

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

Apparently it is a sequel? WILL HAVE TO GET ON THAT.

I didn't get to it this time around, but it's on my list to go check out again once I finish what I do have left. :-)

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

One of the all time great first sentences...

*cries forever*

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

FINALLY!!!!

I'm so glad you liked it. This is actually my favorite Marchetta novel. So much so that when Chachic asked me to write a post for a Marchetta Madness event she had that's what I wrote it on. I also learned from that event that I'm in the minority when it comes to loving Will Trombal. What's wrong with people?

My love for these characters is why I like The Piper's Son better than Jellicoe Road (though it's good too).

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

HOW COULD YOU BE IN THE MINORITY WHEN IT COMES TO -+-LOVING WILL TROMBAL I loved him so so much. He was just a good kid, you know? A good, slightly awkward engineering Catholic boy. I count several of those among my friends. (And his speech at the end about breaking up with his girlfriend and thinking this is it with Francesca reminded me very strongly of my husband--sure, WP handled it better than Will did, but he was a college grad, not a senior in high school. Maybe that situation is why people don't like him? But I understood him and loved him dearly. Also, SOPHIA LOREN.)

I JUST CARED SO MUCH ABOUT ALL OF THEM. And I read your post--I was telling Willow that the thing about it is that even though things were bad, they were always looking up, even a little. I was SO HAPPY when she finally started becoming friends with everyone and the ENDING I was just so so so so so relieved--Francesca's relief was mine. I just loved them all so much.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

do you like those extra symbols in the beginning? ~courtesy Quark's dog who is whining despondently because she left to do a project and he's all alone. With me. Sigh.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

/hugs this whole comment

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

I don't know what it is that people seem to find off about him. I just find him awkwardly genuine. Which is refreshing in YA fiction. Most of the love for Marchetta's male characters goes to Jonah Griggs from Jellicoe Road and he seems far less realistic to me. I just don't get it. Even in that book he wasn't the boy I fell for.

YES ABOUT THE CARING ABOUT ALL OF THEM. Another reason for you to read The Piper's Son. :) And returning to Will, I can't see how anyone could read both books and not really really love him. He is great in that one in oh so many ways. In fact my favorite scene in that book is a scene between him and Tom.