Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
I finally read this book and the wait was worth it.
I really enjoyed navigating two different timelines so we could understand the present with glimpses of the past.
The different relationship were and I loved the adults in the story (even though I was kinda mad at Paige's Mom for most of the book). It was sometimes a bit on the cliché Side but it eventually worked out.
I really enjoyed navigating two different timelines so we could understand the present with glimpses of the past.
The different relationship were and I loved the adults in the story (even though I was kinda mad at Paige's Mom for most of the book). It was sometimes a bit on the cliché Side but it eventually worked out.
Well what shall I say... The characters where adorable the setting in the wild west great. It took a bit too long until it got interesting and I really dreaded all the then chapters which got worse and worse, the ending seemed a bit rushed though I really liked it anyways :)
This book was amazing. It went to places that I didn't think it would, and I appreciate that. Full review to come within a few hours or so.
**Thank you so much to Entangled Teen for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!**
I went into Paint My Body Red only knowing that it had something to do with suicide. Other than that, I knew absolutely nothing. I think that may be partly why I ended up loving Paint My Body Red so much; it completely blew me away and touched on subjects that I didn't even think it would.
The story follows a girl named Paige who lives in California. In her town, teenagers have been mysteriously killing themselves by standing in the way of a train, though nobody knows exactly why. However, it's strange that so many people are committing suicide at the same time in the same way at the same exact place. For that reason, Paige's mother sends Paige away to spend time in Wyoming with her sick father. She's not looking forward to it all--she jut wants to go to Wesleyan and can't wait for summer to be over. In Wyoming, she finds that her father is way sicker than she thought. She also meets a boy named Jake who has been helping her father a lot.
Paige was a very interesting character. I felt horrible for her as I learned more of her story, which is told throughout the pages. She's been through a lot and is still very strong considering what she has had to endure. Plus, so many people at her school were committing suicide. It's rather scary. I'm glad that she met Jake. I loved their relationship; the two of them were great. Jake really helped Paige loosen up a bit which was nice to see. I know that she liked it too.
I love the way that this story was told, and I feel that it's worth mentioning. Paige loves writing and is actually going to college for creative writing. She keeps a journal in which she's been trying to tell her story of what she's been through. The reader actually gets to read about the past through entries titled "then" which are scattered throughout the "now" story. Sometimes I thought that I liked the "then" parts better, though the more I read, the more I knew that I honestly loved the "now" parts as well. That's why Paint My Body Red is an all-around amazing book that I won't cease recommending.
**Thank you so much to Entangled Teen for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!**
I went into Paint My Body Red only knowing that it had something to do with suicide. Other than that, I knew absolutely nothing. I think that may be partly why I ended up loving Paint My Body Red so much; it completely blew me away and touched on subjects that I didn't even think it would.
The story follows a girl named Paige who lives in California. In her town, teenagers have been mysteriously killing themselves by standing in the way of a train, though nobody knows exactly why. However, it's strange that so many people are committing suicide at the same time in the same way at the same exact place. For that reason, Paige's mother sends Paige away to spend time in Wyoming with her sick father. She's not looking forward to it all--she jut wants to go to Wesleyan and can't wait for summer to be over. In Wyoming, she finds that her father is way sicker than she thought. She also meets a boy named Jake who has been helping her father a lot.
Paige was a very interesting character. I felt horrible for her as I learned more of her story, which is told throughout the pages. She's been through a lot and is still very strong considering what she has had to endure. Plus, so many people at her school were committing suicide. It's rather scary. I'm glad that she met Jake. I loved their relationship; the two of them were great. Jake really helped Paige loosen up a bit which was nice to see. I know that she liked it too.
I love the way that this story was told, and I feel that it's worth mentioning. Paige loves writing and is actually going to college for creative writing. She keeps a journal in which she's been trying to tell her story of what she's been through. The reader actually gets to read about the past through entries titled "then" which are scattered throughout the "now" story. Sometimes I thought that I liked the "then" parts better, though the more I read, the more I knew that I honestly loved the "now" parts as well. That's why Paint My Body Red is an all-around amazing book that I won't cease recommending.
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
Heidi R. Kling is a new to me author, but after I read this blurb I was so intrigued. Paint My Body Red was unlike anything I have read before, and it was a really good story. Kling captured my attention right away, and I couldn't stop reading as I had to know what was going on. This book deals with a lot of touchy subjects, and yet I thought that Kling handled them masterfully. Before starting this story I would make sure that you take the time to read the blurb as some of the issues dealt with here could be possible triggers for some readers.
After a rash of suicides at her school, Paige's mom sends her to live with her sick father fearing that Paige will be the next. Those around her believe that she will be the seventh teenager to throw themselves in front of a train. So when Paige arrives at her father's ranch, she finds out that nothing is as she remembered it. Not only is her father sick, but he is actually dying. The ranch that had been passed down for generations is falling to pieces and is in danger of being sold and the boy she once knew is now a full grown sexy cowboy. Paige finds herself tired of running and is ready to face her secrets. But can she deal with her secrets and move forward, or will they be too much for her no matter where she is?
I was really interested in the characters of this story, and I thought that Kling did a great job of showing such depth for each of them. Paige was dealing with a lot, and it was clear that there was so much going on beneath the surface that no one knew about. Between her thoughts and her writing in her journal, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out everything that had happened both in the past and was happening in the present. Then you had Ty, her stepbrother. There was a lot to him as well, and I didn't always understand him or his choices. At times I really liked him and felt for him, and then at other times I was convinced he was a bad guy. He was definitely dealing with his own set of issues though, and I think that had everything to do with his actions. Then you have Jake, the sexy cowboy that Paige had known as a child. I liked him instantly, and I really thought that he was a great guy. There was such a huge gap in time from when Paige had known him before and the present, and I was just as curious as Paige was to find out all that had gone in in the years that she had missed. Jake had his own set of issues he was dealing with, but the more I got to know him the more I loved him.
Overall, this was a really interesting book. I know at this point I haven't said much about the actual story and have been pretty vague, that is on purpose though as I really think that this book needs to be read blind. There are so many things that could spoil everything if said that I am just going to say that this book was different and was unlike anything I have read. Not only does it deal with teen suicide but it also deals with so many more issues including illness and loss. I found the characters deep and interesting and their story is one worth reading. I think that a lot of people will really relate to this story and it is definitely one worth taking a chance on. I will definitely be looking for more from Heidi R. Kling in the future after reading Paint My Body Red, and I think that this is one of those books that will stick with me and having me thinking about it for quite awhile.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
Heidi R. Kling is a new to me author, but after I read this blurb I was so intrigued. Paint My Body Red was unlike anything I have read before, and it was a really good story. Kling captured my attention right away, and I couldn't stop reading as I had to know what was going on. This book deals with a lot of touchy subjects, and yet I thought that Kling handled them masterfully. Before starting this story I would make sure that you take the time to read the blurb as some of the issues dealt with here could be possible triggers for some readers.
After a rash of suicides at her school, Paige's mom sends her to live with her sick father fearing that Paige will be the next. Those around her believe that she will be the seventh teenager to throw themselves in front of a train. So when Paige arrives at her father's ranch, she finds out that nothing is as she remembered it. Not only is her father sick, but he is actually dying. The ranch that had been passed down for generations is falling to pieces and is in danger of being sold and the boy she once knew is now a full grown sexy cowboy. Paige finds herself tired of running and is ready to face her secrets. But can she deal with her secrets and move forward, or will they be too much for her no matter where she is?
I was really interested in the characters of this story, and I thought that Kling did a great job of showing such depth for each of them. Paige was dealing with a lot, and it was clear that there was so much going on beneath the surface that no one knew about. Between her thoughts and her writing in her journal, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out everything that had happened both in the past and was happening in the present. Then you had Ty, her stepbrother. There was a lot to him as well, and I didn't always understand him or his choices. At times I really liked him and felt for him, and then at other times I was convinced he was a bad guy. He was definitely dealing with his own set of issues though, and I think that had everything to do with his actions. Then you have Jake, the sexy cowboy that Paige had known as a child. I liked him instantly, and I really thought that he was a great guy. There was such a huge gap in time from when Paige had known him before and the present, and I was just as curious as Paige was to find out all that had gone in in the years that she had missed. Jake had his own set of issues he was dealing with, but the more I got to know him the more I loved him.
Overall, this was a really interesting book. I know at this point I haven't said much about the actual story and have been pretty vague, that is on purpose though as I really think that this book needs to be read blind. There are so many things that could spoil everything if said that I am just going to say that this book was different and was unlike anything I have read. Not only does it deal with teen suicide but it also deals with so many more issues including illness and loss. I found the characters deep and interesting and their story is one worth reading. I think that a lot of people will really relate to this story and it is definitely one worth taking a chance on. I will definitely be looking for more from Heidi R. Kling in the future after reading Paint My Body Red, and I think that this is one of those books that will stick with me and having me thinking about it for quite awhile.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
4.5 stars
This was such an incredibly moving book; by the end of it, I was in tears. There were a lot of difficult topics at play in this book, and I thought they were all handled extremely well by the author.
“What made the difference between choosing to die and deciding to live?
Was it the weight of sadness that buckled them over and dragged them away from all sane, rational thoughts with an anchor of hopelessness so intense they just gave up fighting?”
The main issue in this book was teen suicide. Throughout the book, we learnt more about why Paige was so deeply affected by not only these suicides, but many other serious incidents. I don’t want to give parts of the story away, so I won’t say what some of these other topics are, but I felt that they all fit into the story really well. They were handled with grace, but weren’t sugarcoated. Everything was raw and real and in your face. I think this book has the ability to create a lot of discussions about all these really serious issues that many young people face.
When we first began to learn about how the suicides at Paige’s school started, it hit quite close to home. The first student to die was described as happy, popular kid, who seemed to have everything going for him. At my school last year, a boy just like that committed suicide. I didn’t know him, but no one could believe it; he had apparently been such a happy person who always had a smile on his face. So yeah, I think the message that the book is telling is incredibly important; you can’t know what people are feeling behind the wall they put up, the face they show the world.
I think what stopped me from giving this book five stars was that I had mixed feelings about the main character, Paige. I understand that she was dealing with a lot, but I did find her a little annoying at times. Generally, it was to do with her commentary on Jake – the oh-so-gorgeous cowboy. There was a bit of insta-love going on, which I am not a fan of, so that was probably why she frustrated me. As it got further into the book, I came to understand her a bit more, and I was a little less judgemental. If I were to read it again, I would probably be a bit more understanding, and enjoy the beginning of the book more.
I absolutely adored the last section of the book, as we found how exactly what had happened before Paige went to the ranch. I also loved how Paige had grown after her time at the ranch, and how her life was looking a little more hopeful. There was so much emotion in those last few chapters, and it was such a great ending to the story.
“Most importantly we live. We live like crazy”
Overall, I think this was an amazing story that handles tough topics with a lot of grace. I wasn’t too sure how much I would enjoy it based on the description, but I’m really glad I gave it a chance. I would strongly recommend it to people who enjoyed Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, as it has a very similar tone.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was such an incredibly moving book; by the end of it, I was in tears. There were a lot of difficult topics at play in this book, and I thought they were all handled extremely well by the author.
“What made the difference between choosing to die and deciding to live?
Was it the weight of sadness that buckled them over and dragged them away from all sane, rational thoughts with an anchor of hopelessness so intense they just gave up fighting?”
The main issue in this book was teen suicide. Throughout the book, we learnt more about why Paige was so deeply affected by not only these suicides, but many other serious incidents. I don’t want to give parts of the story away, so I won’t say what some of these other topics are, but I felt that they all fit into the story really well. They were handled with grace, but weren’t sugarcoated. Everything was raw and real and in your face. I think this book has the ability to create a lot of discussions about all these really serious issues that many young people face.
When we first began to learn about how the suicides at Paige’s school started, it hit quite close to home. The first student to die was described as happy, popular kid, who seemed to have everything going for him. At my school last year, a boy just like that committed suicide. I didn’t know him, but no one could believe it; he had apparently been such a happy person who always had a smile on his face. So yeah, I think the message that the book is telling is incredibly important; you can’t know what people are feeling behind the wall they put up, the face they show the world.
I think what stopped me from giving this book five stars was that I had mixed feelings about the main character, Paige. I understand that she was dealing with a lot, but I did find her a little annoying at times. Generally, it was to do with her commentary on Jake – the oh-so-gorgeous cowboy. There was a bit of insta-love going on, which I am not a fan of, so that was probably why she frustrated me. As it got further into the book, I came to understand her a bit more, and I was a little less judgemental. If I were to read it again, I would probably be a bit more understanding, and enjoy the beginning of the book more.
I absolutely adored the last section of the book, as we found how exactly what had happened before Paige went to the ranch. I also loved how Paige had grown after her time at the ranch, and how her life was looking a little more hopeful. There was so much emotion in those last few chapters, and it was such a great ending to the story.
“Most importantly we live. We live like crazy”
Overall, I think this was an amazing story that handles tough topics with a lot of grace. I wasn’t too sure how much I would enjoy it based on the description, but I’m really glad I gave it a chance. I would strongly recommend it to people who enjoyed Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, as it has a very similar tone.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Update (July 8th 2017):
It took three trips to the post office: one civil talk with a lady who works there, one conversation that was on the verge of an argument with her younger colleague, and lastly talking to the controller at seven in the morning, to finally get this book.
Since I opened the package containing it, I haven't been able to put it down, the cover's mesmerizing, it keeps inviting me to stare at it.
This was the second time I read this book, and experiencing it again was somehow better than the first time around. I realized that I'm not too keen on the ending But I'm gonna push that all aside because all the other parts of this story are just perfectly done. It made me angry , it made me giddy with excitement, it brought me to tears a few times, it made me finally turn the laptop on to write a review about something (it was overdue). I love the mysterious part of the story, I think the way Mrs. Kling incorporated the past is amazing (cause I actually read it, and I find those parts dull and uninteresting in many novels), but my favorite part would have to be the dynamic between Jake and Paige. What can I say, I'm a sucker for romance.
I'm definitely gonna read this one again (especially since I own a physical copy, something I can't believe I foreshadowed in 2015).
Original review (October 23rd 2015):
Copy received through NetGalley
Review on my blog illbefinealonereads
Confession. While Goodreads will tell you that it took me three days to read this book, I actually didn’t start it until yesterday. I don’t know why. Maybe I’m in bit of a reading slump. Maybe I expect a completely different book after reading the summary. Actually, the second one is completely true.
But once I started reading it, I was drawn to continue by the mystery it carries throughout. Mrs. Heidi R. Kling writes with an incredible style that turned this dark story into the most positive and hopeful book you’ll read this year.
The message you’ll find within is what kept me up till 2 am, rushing to finish it, not just because of a deadline I had set up for myself, but also because of the urge to find out what happens to Paige, what will happen to the ranch, what’s the next wonderful thing Jake will do.
Read it. You won’t regret it. Recommended by yours truly.
P.S. This book is also going on my physical copy wish-list. And that is the ultimate compliment I can give any book. I love it so much, that I need a copy to own.
It took three trips to the post office: one civil talk with a lady who works there, one conversation that was on the verge of an argument with her younger colleague, and lastly talking to the controller at seven in the morning, to finally get this book.
Since I opened the package containing it, I haven't been able to put it down, the cover's mesmerizing, it keeps inviting me to stare at it.
This was the second time I read this book, and experiencing it again was somehow better than the first time around. I realized that I'm not too keen on the ending
Spoiler
No, I didn't expect Paige's dad to survive, I really wanted things between her and Jake (which had a lovely build up) to have a bigger climax, but it felt like a balloon slowly deflating, rather than popping, and no, the epilogue didn't do it for me.Spoiler
at TyI'm definitely gonna read this one again (especially since I own a physical copy, something I can't believe I foreshadowed in 2015).
Original review (October 23rd 2015):
Copy received through NetGalley
Review on my blog illbefinealonereads
Confession. While Goodreads will tell you that it took me three days to read this book, I actually didn’t start it until yesterday. I don’t know why. Maybe I’m in bit of a reading slump. Maybe I expect a completely different book after reading the summary. Actually, the second one is completely true.
But once I started reading it, I was drawn to continue by the mystery it carries throughout. Mrs. Heidi R. Kling writes with an incredible style that turned this dark story into the most positive and hopeful book you’ll read this year.
The message you’ll find within is what kept me up till 2 am, rushing to finish it, not just because of a deadline I had set up for myself, but also because of the urge to find out what happens to Paige, what will happen to the ranch, what’s the next wonderful thing Jake will do.
Read it. You won’t regret it. Recommended by yours truly.
P.S. This book is also going on my physical copy wish-list. And that is the ultimate compliment I can give any book. I love it so much, that I need a copy to own.
Paige soll ihren Vater auf seiner Ranch in Wyoming besuchen, bevor sie aufs College geht. Dort soll sie die Ereignisse in San Francisco verarbeiten, die Paiges Welt erschüttert haben. Dort trifft sie auf ihren Kindheitsfreund Jake und der ihr die schönen Seiten von Wyoming zeigt. Zwischen den beiden entwickelt sich sehr langsam etwas was über Freundschaft hinausgeht.
Paige war mir zu Beginn überhaupt nicht sympathisch, da man sie erst einmal kennenlernen musste. Man erfährt erst im Laufe der Geschichte mehr über sie und was in San Francisco passiert ist und dadurch konnte man sie auch besser verstehen. Ich habe dann endlich verstanden, warum sie so war und wie sie zu der geworden ist, die sie zu Beginn war. Sie hat sich selbst aufgegeben und das was sie durchgemacht hat, hat es mich verstehen lassen. Es war nachvollziehbar, wie sich das Vertrauen langsam aufbaut und nicht sofort kam, denn das wäre ziemlich unpassend gewesen.
Jake ist ein junger Cowboy, der auf der Ranch von Paiges Vater arbeitet und den Paige aus ihrer Kindheit kennt. Er war genauso wie ich mir einen Cowboy vorgestellt habe. Er hatte immer einen Hut auf, war ruhig und geduldig und liebte die Natur. Ich fand seine Art und seinen ganzen Charakter einfach klasse. Er war einfach immer da und wirkte sehr reif und ich hätte gerne selbst einen Cowboy wir ihn.
Das Cover wirkt leicht und verspricht eine süße Geschichte, aber es gab so viel mehr. Sie hatte viel mehr Tiefe und war viel ernster als es das Cover und auch der Klappentext vermuten lässt. Ich wurde von der Geschichte wirklich überrascht und es war so viel ernster, als ich es erwartet hatte.
Der Schreibstil ist mitreißend und fesselnd und ich konnte nicht aufhören. Ich wusste einfach nicht genau wohin mich die Geschichte führen würde und was noch passieren würde. Ich hatte zwar meine Vermutungen, aber ich lag genauso oft daneben, wie ich richtig lag. Überraschend trifft es wohl am besten.
Abgesehen davon, dass ich am Anfang nicht so mit Paiges Art klar gekommen bin, der aber im Nachhinein genau so wie er war perfekt war, gab es nur eine Sache, die mich an dem Buch etwas gestört hat. Da ich hier nicht allzu sehr spoilern will, werde ich es nur kurz anschneiden. Ich fand die Entwicklung der Beziehung zum Ende hin nicht so toll. Es hat mir zwar gefallen, aber irgendwie hatte ich einfach auf mehr gehofft.
Insgesamt ist 'Mit dir unter dem weiten Himmel' eine wundervolle Geschichte, die mit Tiefe überrascht und eine interessante Story besitzt, die mitreißend und emotional ist. Obwohl es kleinere Schwächen hatte, würde ich es doch weiterempfehlen, vorallem wer mal etwas lesen möchte, dass nicht unbedingt leichte Kost ist.
Paige war mir zu Beginn überhaupt nicht sympathisch, da man sie erst einmal kennenlernen musste. Man erfährt erst im Laufe der Geschichte mehr über sie und was in San Francisco passiert ist und dadurch konnte man sie auch besser verstehen. Ich habe dann endlich verstanden, warum sie so war und wie sie zu der geworden ist, die sie zu Beginn war. Sie hat sich selbst aufgegeben und das was sie durchgemacht hat, hat es mich verstehen lassen. Es war nachvollziehbar, wie sich das Vertrauen langsam aufbaut und nicht sofort kam, denn das wäre ziemlich unpassend gewesen.
Jake ist ein junger Cowboy, der auf der Ranch von Paiges Vater arbeitet und den Paige aus ihrer Kindheit kennt. Er war genauso wie ich mir einen Cowboy vorgestellt habe. Er hatte immer einen Hut auf, war ruhig und geduldig und liebte die Natur. Ich fand seine Art und seinen ganzen Charakter einfach klasse. Er war einfach immer da und wirkte sehr reif und ich hätte gerne selbst einen Cowboy wir ihn.
Das Cover wirkt leicht und verspricht eine süße Geschichte, aber es gab so viel mehr. Sie hatte viel mehr Tiefe und war viel ernster als es das Cover und auch der Klappentext vermuten lässt. Ich wurde von der Geschichte wirklich überrascht und es war so viel ernster, als ich es erwartet hatte.
Der Schreibstil ist mitreißend und fesselnd und ich konnte nicht aufhören. Ich wusste einfach nicht genau wohin mich die Geschichte führen würde und was noch passieren würde. Ich hatte zwar meine Vermutungen, aber ich lag genauso oft daneben, wie ich richtig lag. Überraschend trifft es wohl am besten.
Abgesehen davon, dass ich am Anfang nicht so mit Paiges Art klar gekommen bin, der aber im Nachhinein genau so wie er war perfekt war, gab es nur eine Sache, die mich an dem Buch etwas gestört hat. Da ich hier nicht allzu sehr spoilern will, werde ich es nur kurz anschneiden. Ich fand die Entwicklung der Beziehung zum Ende hin nicht so toll. Es hat mir zwar gefallen, aber irgendwie hatte ich einfach auf mehr gehofft.
Insgesamt ist 'Mit dir unter dem weiten Himmel' eine wundervolle Geschichte, die mit Tiefe überrascht und eine interessante Story besitzt, die mitreißend und emotional ist. Obwohl es kleinere Schwächen hatte, würde ich es doch weiterempfehlen, vorallem wer mal etwas lesen möchte, dass nicht unbedingt leichte Kost ist.
Paint My Body Red is a captivating page turner. The protagonist tells her story in alternating turns of then and now. I felt that this really helped to build the suspense and helped to balance some happiness of the budding romance in the now with the dark actions that take place in the past. I was really drawn in and did not want to stop reading until I found out exactly what all had happened and where it was all going to lead dear Paige now.
There was quite a bit going on in this book with what might seem like it should be more than one story but rather than seeming overdone it somehow works. This book does deal with some very serious subjects such as teen suicide, depression,and sickness so I would take into consideration if your a sensitive reader. I will say that I felt that all subjects were dealt with with both honesty and sensitivity and I respect that. Paint My Body Red is powerful and emotional, if you like YA books that deal with real issues then you should definitely give this one a try. I for one look forward to checking out more books from this author.
** I received a digital copy of this book for review purposes. **
There was quite a bit going on in this book with what might seem like it should be more than one story but rather than seeming overdone it somehow works. This book does deal with some very serious subjects such as teen suicide, depression,and sickness so I would take into consideration if your a sensitive reader. I will say that I felt that all subjects were dealt with with both honesty and sensitivity and I respect that. Paint My Body Red is powerful and emotional, if you like YA books that deal with real issues then you should definitely give this one a try. I for one look forward to checking out more books from this author.
** I received a digital copy of this book for review purposes. **