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sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
Lily's sister Jane unexpectedly died her senior year and this novel explores the sister's path to acceptance and healing.
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
3.0
Jane and Lily are sisters who are very close as children, but start to grow apart as teenagers. Jane creats vivid imaginary worlds and prefers her imagination to real life. Lily prefers the real world and is popular and outgoing.
When her family finally realizes that Jane is mentally ill, she starts taking antipsychotics and talks with a therapist. The diagnosis was not explicit, but I thought her symptoms sounded like schizophrenia.
As Lily becomes more and more a part of the outside world, Jane feels increasingly isolated. When Jane decides to stop taking her meds in order to feel "normal," she ends up dead.
The novel is narrated in alternating chapters from each sister's point of view, even though one is alive and the other is dead.
I found this one difficult to get interested in, but if you can make it past about the first 40 pages, Jane's character becomes compelling. The ending is gorgeous (and sad) as each sister comes to terms with their relationship and is able to move on.
When her family finally realizes that Jane is mentally ill, she starts taking antipsychotics and talks with a therapist. The diagnosis was not explicit, but I thought her symptoms sounded like schizophrenia.
As Lily becomes more and more a part of the outside world, Jane feels increasingly isolated. When Jane decides to stop taking her meds in order to feel "normal," she ends up dead.
The novel is narrated in alternating chapters from each sister's point of view, even though one is alive and the other is dead.
I found this one difficult to get interested in, but if you can make it past about the first 40 pages, Jane's character becomes compelling. The ending is gorgeous (and sad) as each sister comes to terms with their relationship and is able to move on.
bookishdea's review against another edition
3.0
I was pretty "meh" until the end, but the end was good, so I turned out liking the book. It was an interesting story, and I felt bad for both sisters.
baileyneal's review against another edition
3.0
I loved this book, it had a good storyline and all.. but the ending! that is possibly the strangest ending I've ever read. still overall a pretty good book.
jessiejom's review against another edition
2.0
I finished this short novel with so many questions unanswered. It bothers me that in the end, there really isn't a deeper meaning to it; or maybe there is but I'd have to go back and reread it again and take notes to find it.
iceangel9's review
3.0
Griffin's books are strange and haunting and this one is no exception. Jane and Lily are sisters and were always very close until it became clear that Jane was not like everyone else. For Jane the boundary between make-believe and reality is cloudy at best. When Jane dies Lily must learn to cope with her memories and a world that has changed. But is Jane really gone, or is she still watching from the other side? A poignant tale of living with a sibling who has a mental illness. The point of view in this story switches between Lily (1st person) and her dead sister Jane (3rd person). This book can be confusing, but it is worth the effort to read.
bookishdea's review
3.0
I was pretty "meh" until the end, but the end was good, so I turned out liking the book. It was an interesting story, and I felt bad for both sisters.