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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I know that this book was really hard to get through, it was incredibly slow from the start and failed to pick up. I can't remember much else about it which speaks volumes about the impact it had on me...I'm sorry, I just think this book had too many flaws for my taste but it is a good concept and someone who is interested in a teen book that isn't the typical "girl meets boy and its a happy ending" should give it a go.
4.5 stars. I really liked this book. Here's the thing...I've never read a book where a relationship so closely mirrored my own. This book had that. I'd say the relationship that Clara and Christian had was almost identical to my "first love" relationship in high school. Abusive...yes. But more verbal than anything. The author captured the emotional feelings one goes through being in a relationship like this. It amazed me and brought back so many memories. It's been years since that relationship for me (over 20) and I often reflect on that relationship as being so full of passion and firsts and love etc. that I had forgotten all the bad. Being with someone that you constantly had to monitor what you said or did for fear of it setting the other person off is real. And it wasn't a fear of him physically hurting me, it was more of the fear of the devastation he felt. You love them so much and don't want to hurt them or their feelings that you lie about stupid shit to "protect them". And my old boyfriend, he would hurt himself all the time over stuff he "felt" I was doing, or when he was hurt, etc. It's a horrible, horrible thing to witness when you love someone so much and they do that to themselves. It really does make it feel like it's your fault. The author was so spot on, on relationships like this. Hard to explain, but this book nailed it. This is probably a book most teenagers should read.
This story was good. I couldn't put it down.
This story was good. I couldn't put it down.
I LOVED this book! It was really good.
Clara and Christian's relationship has always been intense. From the very begginning, they'd felt a strange connection between each other. But, when do those feeling become too much? Now, Clara needs to escape from Christian, before he destroys eveything. In a new place, Clara will discover secrets that will change her life, but most importantly, she'll discover herself.
The world is going to end (end of the word humor hehe). I'm not one of those overly emotional girls. Really. You usually never see me reading tons and tons of "chick-lit", because I don't. I don't usually cry in movies and books, no matter how emotional they may get (I have been known to get teary eyed though.). This book was the exception to the rule. This is my first Deb Caletti book, and hopefully not the last. I never knew what I was expecting, but it sure wasn't this. The only reason I OWN this book, is because I won it in a contest.
Stay by Deb Caletti delivers a beautiful message in a beautiful way. The words used to convey this message were alluring and captivating. This book drew me in from the very first sentence. The elegant prose and colorful descriptions were amazing. The setting was unreal. The book was perfect. Seriously, I didn't think a book like this could exist, but I found it perfect. Even with the way that the book was paced, I didn't WANT to end it. That's why I stopped at random pages and reread it until I committed that page to memory. This is a book that when you read it, you'll want to read it again immediately. When I turned the last page, I went quickly back to the first page and read the first sentence all oer again. I WILL keep reading chick-lit after all. 5 stars.
Clara and Christian's relationship has always been intense. From the very begginning, they'd felt a strange connection between each other. But, when do those feeling become too much? Now, Clara needs to escape from Christian, before he destroys eveything. In a new place, Clara will discover secrets that will change her life, but most importantly, she'll discover herself.
The world is going to end (end of the word humor hehe). I'm not one of those overly emotional girls. Really. You usually never see me reading tons and tons of "chick-lit", because I don't. I don't usually cry in movies and books, no matter how emotional they may get (I have been known to get teary eyed though.). This book was the exception to the rule. This is my first Deb Caletti book, and hopefully not the last. I never knew what I was expecting, but it sure wasn't this. The only reason I OWN this book, is because I won it in a contest.
Stay by Deb Caletti delivers a beautiful message in a beautiful way. The words used to convey this message were alluring and captivating. This book drew me in from the very first sentence. The elegant prose and colorful descriptions were amazing. The setting was unreal. The book was perfect. Seriously, I didn't think a book like this could exist, but I found it perfect. Even with the way that the book was paced, I didn't WANT to end it. That's why I stopped at random pages and reread it until I committed that page to memory. This is a book that when you read it, you'll want to read it again immediately. When I turned the last page, I went quickly back to the first page and read the first sentence all oer again. I WILL keep reading chick-lit after all. 5 stars.
4.5/5
Clara and Christian meet at a high school basketball game and fall instantly, and intensely, in love. They talk about marriage, children, and "forever." Soon, however, Clara realizes that Christian has crossed the line into obsession, turning their once dream relationship into a dangerous, violent, and unhealthy one. She wants to leave, but Christian makes it clear that he will do anything to make her stay. She and her father have left home for a quiet beachside community to escape Christian, and allow Clara the freedom to live again without fear. Soon, though, it becomes clear that she still isn't safe from Christian, who will do everything in his power to find her and bring her back.
What struck me most about this book was the writing: it's beautiful, eloquent, vivid, melt-in-your-mouth kind of writing. Does that make sense? It's so smooth and subtle.
The story line itself was, of course, fantastic as well. I've read a few stories about stalker/obsessive types of relationships (such as Stalker Girl, by Rosemary Graham, another great book), but there doesn't seem to be too many books on the market about this topic... and it's fascinating! The story is told in alternating chapters between the present, of Clara and her father in a small beachside town where they have run to escape Christian, and the past, in which Clara and Christian's story unfolds from a blossoming and intense love to a dangerous, violent obsession. I found myself looking forward to and anticipating the chapters on their relationship. I loved watching it unfold and crumble. Maybe 'loved' isn't the right word... I would say I was very captivated by it though. While the chapters taking place in the present were important for the story in order to see the relationship's after effects, I wasn't as enchanted or interested in them.
One thing I didn't necessarily love was... the writing. Yes, I know I said it was beautiful, and it really was, but at times, it felt like the details were dragging on when I really just wanted to hear more of the story itself. I feel like some of the story was overdetailed in describing things that were irrelevent to the story, such as trees or scenery. I was just dying to know what would happen next and those long, drawn out details were holding me back from knowing right away.
So, all in all, an intense and fascinating story with just a minor gripe.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Clara and Christian meet at a high school basketball game and fall instantly, and intensely, in love. They talk about marriage, children, and "forever." Soon, however, Clara realizes that Christian has crossed the line into obsession, turning their once dream relationship into a dangerous, violent, and unhealthy one. She wants to leave, but Christian makes it clear that he will do anything to make her stay. She and her father have left home for a quiet beachside community to escape Christian, and allow Clara the freedom to live again without fear. Soon, though, it becomes clear that she still isn't safe from Christian, who will do everything in his power to find her and bring her back.
What struck me most about this book was the writing: it's beautiful, eloquent, vivid, melt-in-your-mouth kind of writing. Does that make sense? It's so smooth and subtle.
The story line itself was, of course, fantastic as well. I've read a few stories about stalker/obsessive types of relationships (such as Stalker Girl, by Rosemary Graham, another great book), but there doesn't seem to be too many books on the market about this topic... and it's fascinating! The story is told in alternating chapters between the present, of Clara and her father in a small beachside town where they have run to escape Christian, and the past, in which Clara and Christian's story unfolds from a blossoming and intense love to a dangerous, violent obsession. I found myself looking forward to and anticipating the chapters on their relationship. I loved watching it unfold and crumble. Maybe 'loved' isn't the right word... I would say I was very captivated by it though. While the chapters taking place in the present were important for the story in order to see the relationship's after effects, I wasn't as enchanted or interested in them.
One thing I didn't necessarily love was... the writing. Yes, I know I said it was beautiful, and it really was, but at times, it felt like the details were dragging on when I really just wanted to hear more of the story itself. I feel like some of the story was overdetailed in describing things that were irrelevent to the story, such as trees or scenery. I was just dying to know what would happen next and those long, drawn out details were holding me back from knowing right away.
So, all in all, an intense and fascinating story with just a minor gripe.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The great Huntley Fitzpatrick (I <3 her) recommended Deb Caletti to me. I mean, Huntley can't seem to write fast enough to suit me, so I guess I'm going to have to look elsewhere, right?
This was my first book by Caletti. I was not disappointed (But you're still my girl, Huntley!).
She had me from the opening paragraph:
“First off, I’ve never told this story to anyone. Not the entire thing anyway, and not entirely truthfully. I’m only telling it now for one reason, and that’s because an untold story has a weight that can submerge you, sure as a sunken ship on the bottom of the ocean. I learned that. This kind of story, those kind of things kept secret – they have the power to keep you hidden forever, and most of all from yourself. The ghosts from that drowned ship, they keep haunting."
This novel is about obsession. And first love. And what happens when those two concepts collide. But it's also about father/daughter relationships. About how hard it is to be honest – both with others and with yourself. And it's about learning to trust your instincts.
Clara's father is a famous crime author so of course she loves words and is super smart. This fact made her lyrical word choice and keen insight into people's motives believable -- she was raised around it. If her father was a janitor, these traits might have felt false to the reader. I loved our heroine. She's made some bad choices, but she's not afraid to admit it and the way she explains it, you can understand why.
I'm giving this a solid 4.5 stars. It's great. And it should be required reading for all teenage girls so they might learn that what starts out as jealousy and attentiveness CAN turn into something dangerous. Be on the lookout ladies!
This was my first book by Caletti. I was not disappointed (But you're still my girl, Huntley!).
She had me from the opening paragraph:
“First off, I’ve never told this story to anyone. Not the entire thing anyway, and not entirely truthfully. I’m only telling it now for one reason, and that’s because an untold story has a weight that can submerge you, sure as a sunken ship on the bottom of the ocean. I learned that. This kind of story, those kind of things kept secret – they have the power to keep you hidden forever, and most of all from yourself. The ghosts from that drowned ship, they keep haunting."
This novel is about obsession. And first love. And what happens when those two concepts collide. But it's also about father/daughter relationships. About how hard it is to be honest – both with others and with yourself. And it's about learning to trust your instincts.
Clara's father is a famous crime author so of course she loves words and is super smart. This fact made her lyrical word choice and keen insight into people's motives believable -- she was raised around it. If her father was a janitor, these traits might have felt false to the reader. I loved our heroine. She's made some bad choices, but she's not afraid to admit it and the way she explains it, you can understand why.
I'm giving this a solid 4.5 stars. It's great. And it should be required reading for all teenage girls so they might learn that what starts out as jealousy and attentiveness CAN turn into something dangerous. Be on the lookout ladies!
My all time favorite book by Deb Caletti. It seriously changed my life and it was just as well since I read it at a bad stage in my life. I liked this book if just drifted from the usual chick lit/ young adult stories you know? It was different and tragically beautiful. :)
Surprisingly non-irritating for a YA book - I often find they can be either overly wacky (a la Bumped) or overly preachy/teachy. This was just a nice simple story. I found the footnotes a little irritating and wasn't sure they added much, and thought the ending was a bit lickity-split, but overall I enjoyed reading it.
I am so, so disappointed that I didn't like this book. I LOVE Deb Caletti. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her. "The Nature of Jade" is way up there on my list of favorite books, as is "Honey, Baby, Sweetheart," and I've never read anything by her that I didn't like. Until "Stay." I really wanted to like "Stay." It was an interesting concept and I always love Caletti's books, but I just couldn't connect with any of the characters, and I just couldn't get into the story. Caletti's prose seemed stretched and overly dramatic. I'm so sad to say that I'm really glad that I borrowed this one from the library instead of buying it as I'd originally intended.
Stay is a beautiful book. It's real and sad and thoughtful and just gorgeous.
Clara had a great life, a normal life. Then she meets Christian. Everything seems amazing at first, there seems to be a deep connection between them, and he's so nice, but slowly things start to change.
I think Deb Caletti did such a great job with Clara and Christian's relationship. I've never really understood why anyone would stay with a controlling or abusive boyfriend, but I think I do now. Clara reminds me of me a lot. She reacts to Christian almost exactly the same ways I would (although I do hope I'd see things more clearly than she does), and that's what makes this book so scary and real. There's a scene near the end where Clara is so panicked and afraid, and I found myself getting that way too; even my heartbeat picked up a bit.
There were so many beautiful and meaningful passages that just seemed so true and simple and poetic. Also, I really liked how Clara was the narrator, it just made the story seem more personal, and the footnotes were a nice touch.
Stay was mostly told in alternating chapters, from Clara's past with Christian, and the present at Bishop Rock. I think that added more to the sort of mystery of how their relationship got to the point that it did, and since Clara is narrating, you see all the little clues that she missed.
The atmosphere was also really great. I loved Bishop Rock, and I can just picture it in my mind really clearly. The names of everything was a nice touch too hah. I loved Clara's dad too, he's just really fun and they seem very close ,at the beginning of the book at least, and I loved their little conversations and banter.
The relationships Clara has with the boys in the book are soo different. Christian is serious, jealous, controlling, cold at times, and Clara has to work so hard with him. Finn is carefree, warm, easygoing, and a sailor!! :) I like sailors. Ahem, anyway. I really liked him.
I'll definitely be picking up more books by Deb Caletti, and I'd recommend this book to anyone really, it was just gorgeous. :)
Clara had a great life, a normal life. Then she meets Christian. Everything seems amazing at first, there seems to be a deep connection between them, and he's so nice, but slowly things start to change.
I think Deb Caletti did such a great job with Clara and Christian's relationship. I've never really understood why anyone would stay with a controlling or abusive boyfriend, but I think I do now. Clara reminds me of me a lot. She reacts to Christian almost exactly the same ways I would (although I do hope I'd see things more clearly than she does), and that's what makes this book so scary and real. There's a scene near the end where Clara is so panicked and afraid, and I found myself getting that way too; even my heartbeat picked up a bit.
There were so many beautiful and meaningful passages that just seemed so true and simple and poetic. Also, I really liked how Clara was the narrator, it just made the story seem more personal, and the footnotes were a nice touch.
Stay was mostly told in alternating chapters, from Clara's past with Christian, and the present at Bishop Rock. I think that added more to the sort of mystery of how their relationship got to the point that it did, and since Clara is narrating, you see all the little clues that she missed.
The atmosphere was also really great. I loved Bishop Rock, and I can just picture it in my mind really clearly. The names of everything was a nice touch too hah. I loved Clara's dad too, he's just really fun and they seem very close ,at the beginning of the book at least, and I loved their little conversations and banter.
The relationships Clara has with the boys in the book are soo different. Christian is serious, jealous, controlling, cold at times, and Clara has to work so hard with him. Finn is carefree, warm, easygoing, and a sailor!! :) I like sailors. Ahem, anyway. I really liked him.
I'll definitely be picking up more books by Deb Caletti, and I'd recommend this book to anyone really, it was just gorgeous. :)