Oh, this is a hard book to review and I know that I won’t make it justice so I won’t even try that much.
One word: awesome! Why?
Because it is so complex and beautiful, and the characters are amazing and smart and funny, and the drama is not overwhelming (oh, well… it is, but in a good way), and the story makes you laugh and shudder (and some say that they even cried – later edit: the first time I didn’t, I guess I was in too much of a shock for that to happen), and you say ‘wow’ a lot of times, and when you think that you have it all figured out something changes drastically, and your head is spinning around from so much information but you just enjoy it more and keep reading until the end and then you say ‘wow’ again.
I was told that the beginning was hard and they were right about it. For many, many pages I didn’t know about the 3 perspective thing (dream/present/past) and there were so many characters and I felt so lost, but the writing was so good and kept me reading so I don’t regret even that part. Then I understood and there were things that I even knew before the character found about them, but there were plenty of other surprises too so it didn’t feel that predicable at all.
Some say that this book changed their world, I won’t lie, it didn’t – but it won my heart, slowly it became part of my being. I can’t imagine a world without this book – it was a really great book and it deserves a lot more than 5 stars.
There is drama on so many levels:
“My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die. I counted.”
But there is also love:
“If you weren’t driving, I’d kiss you senseless,” I tell him. He swerves to the side of the road and stops the car abruptly. “Not driving anymore.”
There are some funny moments:
“Great to know that I’m in love with a girl with a cool name.” “It’s Taylor’s middle name”
And there are some thoughtful ones:
“And life goes on, which seems kind of strange and cruel when you’re watching someone die.”[/cite]
Sometimes it’s all heartbreaking :
“Do you think I don’t want him to be gone more than you do? I do. Because I need to know that I can still breathe properly when he’s not around. If something happens to him, I have to know that I won’t fall apart […]”
And sometimes it all feels as casual as your own story:
“Girls under the age of fourteen are the most frightening creatures I have ever come across”
And at the end it makes you think about it all over again:
“Is a person worth more because they have someone to grieve for them?”
Rating: 5 full stars!
Wow… just wow..
Note: A Romanian version of the review can be found here.
Reread – May 2013:
UPDATE: I’ve decided to write a full review for this book and I featured it separately: Review: On The Jellicoe Road [re-read] as there was too much to say, too much love to spread.
. It feels like delivering heart on a silver platter, all I hope is that you could feel the same while reading the book, because this story is simply that awesome!
On The Jellicoe Road [re-read]
Reading (at least one of) Marchetta’s stories should be one of the “10 things to do in your lifetime”.
Seriously, this woman is one of the most creative people alive, one of the most amazing writers I came across and I wish I could put into words the actual awesomeness of this book, but I feel a bit at a loss for words – well, once again.
Visual quote:
The Jellicoe Road:
Awesome review! You made me want to pick up a copy ASAP!
Thank you! I loved this book and I hope that you will as well 😀
So now I’m going through you’re favo’s to find something to fill that horrible void (yes… days of Blood and Starlight) and notice another of my alltime favorites. Aw, I just filled the void of this one, and it took so long … Because, well you know, Daughter of Smoke and Blood …
This one was … quirky, I suppose. It’s been a while, but I remember constantly thinking that I’ve never read a book like this, written like this, about things like this. Just reading the synopsis I knew I had to read it. And I fell in love so bad … To think it took Finnikin of the Rock to get me to read this … Wait … Aw man, that’s up here too. Both of these books could get quite harsh, Finnikin more than Jellicoe, but still. But both didn’t flaunt it, as books about, uh (avoiding the spoiler minefield here) certain of these subjects often seem to do.
My quest for a voidfiller is meeting some well known bumps here 😉 I can’t re-read Finnikin or Jellicoe Road again can I? I’m usually REALLY not a re-reader but these two made the exceptions list. Twice.
Wait… off to Angelfall review, whispers reached my I ear that it just *might* get close to the aforementioned books …
So you did read the Lumatere Chronicles after all ;))
I started my Marchetta-love phase with Jellicoe and it is still my favorite for some reason. But the other series is quite as strong, probably even more imaginative and the plot and characters just as well developed. I am a big fan here, as you can see!
The last time I read Jellicoe was a few weeks ago – and I read it twice in a row, because the first time I was just as confused and I wanted to enjoy it again after I had all things figured out – once more ;))
PS: “Angelfall” was pretty great, I can’t wait for the sequel now ;))
I can’t wait for the rest of the secondary review.
This book must be really good for you to want to take the time to ‘re-review’ it ;))
Anyways, it sounds amazing so far and I’ve read many reviews saying the same – that it is a must read. Hopefully I’ll love it too! 😀
Yes, you are right. This is my favorite book in the whole world and I feel that I love it a bit more every time I get to read it.
I hope that you will enjoy it just as much and I would love to hear what you think of it. 🙂