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sam_hartwig's review against another edition
5.0
This is why I love Cath Crowley. Her writing takes you away and into the lives of her characters. Even though this was written about 15 years ago, it will still resonate with teenagers today.
This book has so much heart, sorrow but overall it's the growth and friendship of Charlie and Rose. Two girls who seem to be from polar opposites, end up needing each other to learn about life.
I know if I didn't have a toddler I would've gobbled this book up in a day, it just needed to be read in one sitting.
I feel all warm and fuzzy inside now.
This book has so much heart, sorrow but overall it's the growth and friendship of Charlie and Rose. Two girls who seem to be from polar opposites, end up needing each other to learn about life.
I know if I didn't have a toddler I would've gobbled this book up in a day, it just needed to be read in one sitting.
I feel all warm and fuzzy inside now.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those sweet novels that when I read the last page I just want more. This was not a fast-paced novel. There really wasn't any action, and there wasn't a lot going on either. It was more of an internal story--a story about two girls realizing who they are and who they can be.
I really liked Charlie from the beginning. She was a great character. Rose took awhile to grow on me. I felt like she was selfish and snotty, but in the end I liked her. In fact, I liked all the characters in one way or another.
There were times I thought the writing might be a little too flowery for me. Things like the sunset being like a cello playing. I think in real life if someone talked to me like that, I would think they were maybe a bit pretentious, if I'm being honest. But it works for this story, and it didn't really bother me.
I would recommend this to fans of YA. I liked it a lot better than I thought I would.
I really liked Charlie from the beginning. She was a great character. Rose took awhile to grow on me. I felt like she was selfish and snotty, but in the end I liked her. In fact, I liked all the characters in one way or another.
There were times I thought the writing might be a little too flowery for me. Things like the sunset being like a cello playing. I think in real life if someone talked to me like that, I would think they were maybe a bit pretentious, if I'm being honest. But it works for this story, and it didn't really bother me.
I would recommend this to fans of YA. I liked it a lot better than I thought I would.
stephxsu's review against another edition
5.0
Who could've guessed that such an unassuming book could be so lyrical, so haunting, so memorable? But so it is. A LITTLE WANTING SONG blew me away. More than simply pretty words or a classic coming-of-age summer story, Cath Crowley’s impressive novel is beautiful inside and out in its own quirky way, just like its characters.
Cath Crowley clearly has the heart of a poet. Words feel like her beloved; there is a simultaneous ease and depth with which she writes, stringing phrases together that, at first glance, don’t look like they would work, but when you look closer, you realize could not have been better expressed. This is one of my favorite passages (and you know it’s an unusual day—and review—when I’m actually quoting from the book):
There’s rhythm and music and a sort of profound understanding of humanity all here. It’s like magic. There’s no other way to describe it.
But, of course, a book cannot just stand on one excellent aspect alone, and the characters in A LITTLE WANTING SONG are that slick combination of too-cool-for-us and one-of-us. Maybe it’s the way Cath writes, which makes me feel like Charlie, Rose, Luke, and Dave live in this world that’s much cooler than mine, even though it’s technically the same world, and they certainly don’t think they’re living in poetry. However, I adored the dialogue, and the way they were all distinct, and the way I could half recognize them and half be fascinated by their “otherness.”
It’s hard for me to review A LITTLE WANTING SONG, as its beauty cannot be imitated, and must be experienced to be believed. Perhaps I’ll just leave with saying that, as soon as I get my hands on a finished copy, I know this will be a book that I’ll reread when I need inspiration, and I know that I’ll always be able to find something new to love each time I do.
Cath Crowley clearly has the heart of a poet. Words feel like her beloved; there is a simultaneous ease and depth with which she writes, stringing phrases together that, at first glance, don’t look like they would work, but when you look closer, you realize could not have been better expressed. This is one of my favorite passages (and you know it’s an unusual day—and review—when I’m actually quoting from the book):
"I stand under the waterfall while it smashes at rocks and skin and memory. Gus and Beth take me to bands when they can, when it's underage or they know the people running the gig. You walk inside, and the music's so loud the world shatters and the things that didn't make sense before still don't make sense but they don't have to while you're in there. That's what it's like here. The water makes everything ice and cracks. I'm standing under bits of falling me. Dave and Rose are screaming, but I can't hear them. I scream back all the things I want in this world that I can't have. The water's making me cold and Dave's making me burn and I'm writing songs played with strings of sun and ice and honey." p. 113 (ARC version)
There’s rhythm and music and a sort of profound understanding of humanity all here. It’s like magic. There’s no other way to describe it.
But, of course, a book cannot just stand on one excellent aspect alone, and the characters in A LITTLE WANTING SONG are that slick combination of too-cool-for-us and one-of-us. Maybe it’s the way Cath writes, which makes me feel like Charlie, Rose, Luke, and Dave live in this world that’s much cooler than mine, even though it’s technically the same world, and they certainly don’t think they’re living in poetry. However, I adored the dialogue, and the way they were all distinct, and the way I could half recognize them and half be fascinated by their “otherness.”
It’s hard for me to review A LITTLE WANTING SONG, as its beauty cannot be imitated, and must be experienced to be believed. Perhaps I’ll just leave with saying that, as soon as I get my hands on a finished copy, I know this will be a book that I’ll reread when I need inspiration, and I know that I’ll always be able to find something new to love each time I do.
janina_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Ahhh, I adore Cath Crowley's writing and she definitely managed to lure me in again after the great read that was Graffiti Moon. A lovely coming of age story told in alternating points of view, music, summer (I love me my summer books), boys, friendship. The star of this novel for once wasn't the devoloping relationship between Charlie and Dave, but much more the friendship between Charlie and Rose, two girls who couldn't be any more different. The book has this wonderful melancholic feel to it that comes with summer ending, growing up and letting go, but also with new possibilities and fresh starts. LOVE! Not quite as good as Graffiti Moon, but still a great read.
#12 Aussie YA Challenge 2011
#12 Aussie YA Challenge 2011
ohlainey's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
zippy_julz's review against another edition
4.0
This would be a 5 if I hadn't read Graffiti Moon. I suspect that this book is the same as A Little Wanting Song. Really enjoyed it.
nklosty's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed the story especially the way the song lyrics shared what Charlie was thinking and feeling.
cashewmilk's review against another edition
If I have to read one more music-based simile I’m going to lose my mind oh my god.