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jen_the_librarian13's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
At first I thought the book was just ok. It's kind of a weird topic to tackle in a book, and really interesting that they combined student/teacher relationship in with a tragic event like this. I felt like really more could have been done with the relationship aspect, but by the middle of the book I knew I had to finish.
It was a quick read and not terribly written at least.
At first I thought the book was just ok. It's kind of a weird topic to tackle in a book, and really interesting that they combined student/teacher relationship in with a tragic event like this. I felt like really more could have been done with the relationship aspect, but
Spoiler
since the relationship never actually happened (and truthfully I still am confused as to what Haddings was feeling for her in the end),It was a quick read and not terribly written at least.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book I have read by this author. Just like the first one, I really could not stop reading this book. I felt all of the raw emotions that the characters were experiencing through the whole sad situation. I like that the family was not out for blood and justice but actually thought about Haddings as a person too. Everything that everyone said or did in the story whether good or bad was real. Another thing that I enjoyed about this book is that the crush that Sarah had on Haddings did not take center stage. So there was no creepy vibes happening in the story. Also, I have to admit that when I read stories with poems in it that sometimes I tend to skip them as I just don't really get them. I read every poem in this book. They were great and did help tell the story. I look forward to reading the next book by this author. "Hit" was a hit with me.
golden_lily's review against another edition
2.0
Well someone wants to be Gayle Forman so bad it hurts.
Updated 10/13/14:
Read This Review & More Like It At Ageless Pages Reviews
Hit is a combination of If I Stay and a Lifetime original movie about student teacher relationships. The premise sounded intriguing, and I think it has promise, but unfortunately the execution is lacking. The prose didn’t resonate with me because it was marred by sophomoric writing. Metaphors were mixed, dialogue was stilted, and scenes were hard to visualize due to clunky descriptors. (“Her wild black bun bobs around her head like a boxer’s fist”.) Characters in this book say each other's names more in one scene than I say my husband's in a month.
Not only is that lazy exposition, regarding Chantelle, it’s all redundant and boring to read. There are instances of characters licking their own cheeks and American characters using “flat” for apartment. I could forgive some of these issues, but not all of them, not from an author publishing for ten years.
I wanted some mystery to Sarah and Haddings’ relationship, but the dual POVs very quickly remove any suspense. Haddings is an unreliable narrator, but stalking the girl, sending her red roses, being disappointed at her ultimate choice, all point to his true feelings. If it had only been Sarah’s point of view, especially with the false memories from her trauma, it might have lent the book some depth. Or not, considering how little their relationship actually plays into their lives.
I also think the book takes place on too small a scale. There are no legal ramifications, no real emotional struggles. The book only takes place over three days. Everything happens too fast, too neatly. There’s too much emphasis is placed on how hideous Sarah looks after her surgery, but not enough on her possible brain damage. I would say 90% of her and her mother’s interactions are about Sarah’s ruined beauty.
The end was the biggest disappointment. As I said, it’s too neat. Characters undergo insane amounts of growth and discover forgiveness through faith in an unnatural way. And then there’s the paragraph where Sarah actually sums up all of the literary ideas in the story. Well it’ll make it easy for anyone who’s writing a book report.
In the end, the book doesn’t work for me at all. I wish it did, but unfortunately I recommend a pass.
Updated 10/13/14:
Read This Review & More Like It At Ageless Pages Reviews
Hit is a combination of If I Stay and a Lifetime original movie about student teacher relationships. The premise sounded intriguing, and I think it has promise, but unfortunately the execution is lacking. The prose didn’t resonate with me because it was marred by sophomoric writing. Metaphors were mixed, dialogue was stilted, and scenes were hard to visualize due to clunky descriptors. (“Her wild black bun bobs around her head like a boxer’s fist”.) Characters in this book say each other's names more in one scene than I say my husband's in a month.
“It’s going to be all right, Luke, …Oh, Cydni and her mother, Chantelle are here?... Sarah is going to be fine, Janet,” …
“Mark, listen --”
“Have you seen Sarah or the doctor?”
“Yes, Mark. … Sarah’s having brain surgery.”
Not only is that lazy exposition, regarding Chantelle, it’s all redundant and boring to read. There are instances of characters licking their own cheeks and American characters using “flat” for apartment. I could forgive some of these issues, but not all of them, not from an author publishing for ten years.
I wanted some mystery to Sarah and Haddings’ relationship, but the dual POVs very quickly remove any suspense. Haddings is an unreliable narrator, but stalking the girl, sending her red roses, being disappointed at her ultimate choice, all point to his true feelings. If it had only been Sarah’s point of view, especially with the false memories from her trauma, it might have lent the book some depth. Or not, considering how little their relationship actually plays into their lives.
I also think the book takes place on too small a scale. There are no legal ramifications, no real emotional struggles. The book only takes place over three days. Everything happens too fast, too neatly. There’s too much emphasis is placed on how hideous Sarah looks after her surgery, but not enough on her possible brain damage. I would say 90% of her and her mother’s interactions are about Sarah’s ruined beauty.
The end was the biggest disappointment. As I said, it’s too neat. Characters undergo insane amounts of growth and discover forgiveness through faith in an unnatural way. And then there’s the paragraph where Sarah actually sums up all of the literary ideas in the story. Well it’ll make it easy for anyone who’s writing a book report.
Spoiler
A thousand thoughts flood my brain. University of Washington. Mills College. Guilt versus attraction. Duty versus love. Friendship wit Haddings or being alone, at least for the foreseeable future. School versus guy relationships. Forgiveness versus anger. Me versus us, when there never really was an “us”, although I won’t give up that I caught his eye. Finding out who I am now versus trying to return to who I was. Good versus bad. Right versus wrong. Ultimately, what’s best for me solely.
In the end, the book doesn’t work for me at all. I wish it did, but unfortunately I recommend a pass.
adw7984's review against another edition
1.0
There was not a single character that I liked. Everyone was so self-involved and so focused on the weirdest things. The supporting cast was a horrific bunch, especially her mother. I certainly did not care about Sarah or Haddings and I was quite uninterested in their non-relationship.
The dialogue was written so poorly, it was incredibly awkward to read. Thankfully it was a short book.
*Purchased this e-book on Amazon with my own dollars.
The dialogue was written so poorly, it was incredibly awkward to read. Thankfully it was a short book.
*Purchased this e-book on Amazon with my own dollars.
michellesantiago's review against another edition
3.0
I almost gave up on this one halfway through because I was not connecting with any of the characters but the ending saved it for me. Full review to come.
roseice's review against another edition
2.0
A quick read that was an exercise in patience; the ending was ultimately unsatisfying after listening to Sarah's family whine and blame a guy who had absolutely no control over what happened the whole book. Humans are imperfect, and this book is a good yet annoying illustration of the type of people who refuse to forgive such imperfections, yet, were they in his shoes, they would likely demand forgiveness themselves. I understand the emotion that goes hand-in-hand with such unforgiveness and the powerful need to blame someone, but this was just retarded, and all the more so because some people actually act like this in real life.
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
Beautiful cover, intriguing story, but it didn't work out for me. I'm not a huge fan of teacher/student books to begin with but this one sounded different and interesting. However, the writing is too choppy and I can't focus on the story. :/
lindakay99's review against another edition
3.0
Fast-paced novel but ended way too soon. It felt unfinished.
ashtynhuber's review
3.0
I liked the idea of the story but I feel like there was no depth to it. It was very short and I felt like it needed an epilogue or another book.