By Lauren Oliver
Harper Teen
Publication date: March 2, 2010
ISBN: 9780061726804
I've been extremely excited about Oliver's debut book for a while. Reviews were fantastic, the plot sounded intoxicating; all I wanted to do was pick it up. Finally, this past week, I had the chance. I'm so glad I did.
Samantha (Sam) Kingston has amazing friends, a hot boyfriend, extreme popularity and a promising future. Cupid Day (a celebration of Valentine's Day) should be like any other day - only it turns out to be her last.
And then she wakes up. She has a second chance (actually, seven additional chances) to relive her last day and figure out the mystery surrounding her death. As she repeats the day over and over again, she learns more about those people she knows, and, ultimately, herself. Because only when she gets everything right can she take her next step.
With an amazing sense of style, Oliver creates a story that's both beautiful and haunting; painful and addictive. It's a stark look at high school - how popularity and perfection overrule feelings and truth. Through the carefully created plot, little intricacies are pulled apart to reveal the underlining actuality of it all.
As the days go on, Sam tests her new purgatory-like life and changes things step by step. What if she doesn't get into the car that crashes? What if she doesn't go to the party? What if she's nice to the girl that's always bullied? Every time Sam changes something, much like the butterfly effect, other events start to unfold before her eyes and she learns more about the entire situation. From a stuck up high school student, Sam becomes more human, more real, and utterly compassionate. She starts to see what's more important in the scheme of things. What's more important in life.
Her friends become more complex as well, as you see deeper and different sides of them. Flawed and tragic at times, yet real and passionate at others, you hate them and love them and completely understand why Sam would do anything for them. (I especially loved Kent - LOVED him.)
As the pages roll on, Sam talks directly to the reader, addressing them and almost dares them to defy her. She hints at what she learns, shows what's going on, yet never blatantly throws a lesson in your face. This subtlety is honest and wonderful and really makes you think. Everything beautifully wraps up in the end, lessons and actions, providing a truly satisfying (and tearful) conclusion.
Because for Sam, it's great to be popular, but as she relives her last day, she learns that popularity doesn't mean everything. Having the best boyfriend isn't a prize when he isn't what you want. And maybe that guy, that nobody who's actually quite nice, might be a better choice.
BEFORE I FALL is a book that stays with you. It makes you question each decision you make, whether big or small (as the book shows how the smallest of things - like taking a parking spot - could change the future). But it also dares you to look around and appreciate everything there is. Oliver's addictive prose makes the book so much more than a young adult version of Groundhog's Day; it shows the value behind every action, every thought.
Oliver has an amazing talent, and I can't wait for her second book to come out.
5 comments:
That looks like a book I need to add to my summer reading list. I was thinking "Groundhog Day" the whole time I was reading your review so I laughed when I got to the end.
I've been wanting to read this book for awhile. Now that I am in my mid-forties I have had plenty of time to reflect on how my life would be different if I had gone left instead of right. The concept of this book is really interesting to me. It is definitely on my list to read.
I was also thinking "Groundhog's Day" the whole time. Too funny.
Also, I may have finally found a literacy program to volunteer in - working with young adults. If I end up doing it, I'll probably be using some of these books. So, thanks! :-)
I had a chance to review this for a site I work with. I wasn't sure about it but after reading your review, it's one that I definitely want to give a go. Excellent review, Lauren. :D You make it sound so interesting.
http://lorxiebookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/before-i-fall-by-lauren-oliver.html just finished reading this book, i love your review :)
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