All the Bright Places

by Jennifer Niven

Now a major Netflix film starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith.

A compelling and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who's drawn to death.

Theodore Finch tries to look for good things in the world, even if sometimes he doesn't always find them.

Violet Markey exists for the future, counting the days until she can escape her Indiana town and its painful memories of her sister.

When they meet on the ledge of a tower, what might have been their end turns into their beginning.

It's only with Violet that Finch can truly be himself - a funny guy who actually wants to experience the joy in life.

And when Violet's with Finch, she forgets to wish away the days and starts to live them.

But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink. He's trying to cling on to his bright places, but will it be enough this time?

'If you're looking for the next The Fault in Our Stars, this is it' Guardian

'This book is amazing - I couldn't put it down' Zoe Sugg aka Zoella

'A searingly honest and heartbreakingly poignant tale about the power and beauty of love' Heat

'Sparkling' Entertainment Weekly

• ISBN10: 0141357037
• ISBN13: 9780141357034
• Publish Date: 8 January 2015 (first published 1 January 2015)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 432
• Language: English

Reviews

[ellieroth]

Theodore Finch is too pure for this world

Original de: El Extraño Gato del Cuento



Ay, creo que me será difícil reseñar este libro, lo tengo postergando porque de verdad no sé exactamente qué poner. No solo porque me gustó demasiado, sino también porque tocó un tema demasiado personal.

Siempre se me hace un poco extraño encontrar similitudes con personajes como Theodore Finch, alguien que puede ser demasiado aventurero un segundo pero al siguiente no poder ni siquiera levantarse de la cama. Tuve un poco de recelo mientras avanzaba con mi lectura porque hay una línea muy delgada entre querer contar una historia con un personaje como Theodore Finch de la manera más realista y romantizar una enfermedad, que por experiencia sé es un infierno.

Por otro lado Violet me recordó a muchas de las personas que conocí hasta ahora, ese tipo de persona que queremos ayudar a pesar de que quizá somos nosotros lo que necesitemos ayuda.

El libro está narrado a dos voces por lo que sentirás lo diferente de los personajes, encariñarte y sufrir cuando las cosas sucedan.

Es un libro complicado, habla sobre muerte, básicamente Finch no sé pasa un párrafo sin alguna mención a ella, pero mientras vas leyendo ves como su percepción de la cosas van cambiando, como va evolucionando y te da la esperanza que las cosas salgan bien. Tanto Violet como Finch tienen problemas bastante serios que enfrentar. Y es tan doloroso ver como cada uno se está ayudando porque te hace pensar una y otra vez "Esto no acabará bien"


Al llegar al final tuve que dejar el libro un rato porque no quería afrontarlo, como dije al principio, está historia la sentí demasiado cercana. All the Bright Places es un libro complicado, si no se lee correctamente puede acabar en mal entendidos, como idealizar una enfermedad mental.

No quiero compararlo con los otros libros, para mí All the Bright Places es único, te muestra hasta donde una enfermedad que lamentablemente está menospreciada.

¿Algo más? Creo que no, me sido difícil escribir este poquito, si tienen la oportunidad de leerlo, háganlo. Siempre y cuando lo que quieran es terminar con el corazón roto.



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[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

Sometimes in your life, something will happen that will deeply affect you. Maybe it will be an event, something someone said, someone you meet, or a book you happen to pick up and read. I have been deeply affected by All the Bright Places by Jennifer Nevin. And I know there are no words I can say that will get across just how incredible this book is.

With the description above, I don't need to summarise the novel, it does it perfectly. All the Bright Places is undeniably one of the best books I have ever read. The first half to two thirds of the book are wonderful; I was inspired to go places and see things, I was inspired to create my own version of The Wall, where Finch pastes all his song ideas, quotes, or anything else that he likes or affects him in some way. It was fun, it was adventurous, it was funny, it was sweet! I fell in love with Finch right along with Violet. He's eccentric and quirky, and yes, he has a mental illness, but when things are good, he is really good! He's this wonderful, beautiful boy, and I was happy to go along for the ride All the Bright Places was taking me on, because I couldn't get enough of Finch.

But when things are bad, they're really bad. As the story goes on, we discover Finch has bipolar, though he doesn't like labels. He talks about his life as stages, when he's Awake and when he's Asleep. When he's Asleep is when things get bad; weeks of darkness. Even though I've read the book, I couldn't fully describe to you what Asleep is like, all I have is Finch's descriptions, and seeing him as he declines, and it's scary. It's terrifying. Watching this wonderful, beautiful boy fraying, coming undone, unravelling. You just want to hold all of him together before he completely comes apart. As the book is told from both Finch and Violet's points of view, we, the readers, know more about Finch's mental state than Violet does, and it leaves me so torn. She doesn't know, she doesn't know he needs help, but at the same time... the signs. I really struggled with Violet towards the end, I really did. But that's because I knew, and she didn't, and what can she do if she doesn't know just how bad it is? Finch is good at hiding. This brilliant boy is suffering, but does all these wonderful things for the grieving, immobile Violet. He brings her back to life as he fades from his own.

All the Bright Places broke me. It ripped my heart out, but in the best possible way. I am fighting back tears as I write, not only because of how heartbreaking this story is, but also because it's loosely based on Niven's own experiences from several years back. There was a Finch, and Niven was Violet. I don't know how much of the real people are in the characters, how many of the experiences they had actually happened, but you can tell from the Author's Note and the Acknowledgements at the end that there are a few things that are true. A boy who wrote a song for a girl who ran an online magazine. Things may not have happened exactly as they did in the book, but there was a boy. And I can't stop thinking about that boy, that real Finch, and it's just so painful. Niven is an incredibly brave, brave woman for writing their story, even fictionalised. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that must have been. But this boy, whoever he was, he lives in the pages of All the Bright Places, and together, Finch and Violet will touch countless lives.

I will never forget this book.

Thank you to Penguin for the review copy.

[Bianca]

You have been in every way all that anyone could be. If anybody could have saved me it would have been you.

This is the second book I've read in the past year that was described as THE FAULT IN OUR STARS meets ELEANOR AND PARK (the first one was SAY WHAT YOU WILL by Cammie McGovern), and the problem with comparisons like that is that the book is never the sum of it's parts. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and ELEANOR AND PARK are probably my two favorite YA books ever, so I feel like there is a built in disappoint when expectations are set so high. ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES (ATBP) may share some structural and thematic similarities with those two books (although the tone is much more like another of John Green's books, LOOKING FOR ALASKA), but doesn't hit the same emotional mark.

The beginning is where I think ATBP suffers the most by the above comparisons. It lacks the captivating dialog that Rowell excels at, and it failed to immediate ingratiate it's protagonists and plight the way Green does. Maybe the later is due to the fact that in FAULT, the characters are suffering from an external plight (cancer), and in ATBP, they are dealing with an internal one (suicidal tendencies). I do think that Niven did a very good job portraying the mindset of a suicidal person in a way that was sympathetic without overly romanticizing death.

Since I started this book with unrealistic expectations, it took me a little bit to let those go and just appreciate the book on it's own merits, once I did that, I started to enjoy ATBP immensely. Finch is, well, he's the star. I fell in love with him and for him and I felt everyone of his emotional peaks and valleys with him. He was like all the best and most tortured YA characters rolled into one. There are things he did in the book that I will always adore him for, and things he did that I'll never forgive him for. He is unforgettable. I enjoyed Violet as well, though I mostly enjoyed her love for Finch (another miss compared to Rowell and Green who have protagonist of equal weight).

Suicide is not something I've had personal experience with (I appreciated reading in the acknowledgment about how deeply personal Niven's experiences were), so I struggled a lot empathizing with the power it held for these characters. It was very frustrating to watch someone so alive almost long to snuff themselves out. Again, I appreciate Niven balancing both sides, expressing deep tragic sadness without mitigating anger and selfishness. There was a tunnel vision displayed by the suicidal characters and a consuming and deadly focus on self. It really was a stark contrast with Green's FAULT characters that I couldn't help dwelling on as I finished this book.

Ultimately, this is not an uplifting book. Back to the two comparison titles, they also dealt with heavy subject matter and deep sadness, but there was something triumphant and bittersweet with how they ended. I can't say the same about ATBP. I didn't sigh with longing or an overload of emotions when I finished this book in the way I had hoped. Again, I loved Finch, and I loved the deft writing that handled such sensitive subject matter, but this left me wanting...more.

[Jyc]

★★☆ // it was able to deliver the message that intends to say—about how we are ultimately in control of our lives. but at the end of the day, it’s just another young adult book that romanticize a very real problem.

[shannonmiz]

I am no longer speaking to any of the people who made me read this. I am off to go cry for 3-4 months.

[Nicole Lynn]

That moment a book changes you. This is that moment. This is one of those books.
--
*UPDATED: Finally posting the review from my blog :)*

This review was previously posted on my blog, PopCrunchBoom Books


My Review:


All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is the first book that I’ve read this year. I had a slower start to reading it and not because of the content, but just because of timing. I stayed up past 1 AM on Friday morning to finish it, because I was riveted to Violet and Finch’s story. From page one these characters crawled under my skin and found their resting place within my soul. They are now a part of me.

Upon completion, emotions were everywhere, but a single thought ran across my mind: I’ve been changed. This book changed me and where it might not change everyone, it will make you feel. I laughed with Violet and Finch, fell in love, experienced heartbreak, cried and found hope and healing. That is the power of Niven and her story. If you read only one book this year, make it this one. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this book as an ebook from NetGalley (thanks by the way!!) in exchange for an honest review. Before the novel began, there was a note from the publisher stating “You will not want to leave the extraordinary Violet and Finch behind, and you will certainly never forget them. Not possible you say? We defy you to try” (Wortche). That quote rings true for me, for I will not forget these characters, their story and my experience with All the Bright Places.

I’m grateful to Niven for writing this; sharing a part of herself and her personal experiences. It is scary branching out into a new genre, as All the Bright Places was Niven’s first YA novel. It takes even more courage to take on a novel a somewhat controversial topic, like depression. Niven does a wonderful job of doing both in her debut novel. She brings insight into living with depression, but even more she shows us the beauty of life and emotions, survival and strength and most of all hope and healing.

I was on a roller coaster of emotions in this novel. But while there were sad times, I was mostly smiling and laughing and wanting to do some wanderings of my own. I actually really wanted to visit Indiana by the end (especially when I found out some of those places were real!). It goes without saying that Niven created strong characters, but her plot wasn’t lacking either. Told through alternating first person point of views, All the Bright Places never once made me feel disconnected from the story or bored. Not every scene was action-packed or filled with heavy emotion, but I was riveted all the same. Niven’s writing was poetic, but also real. Through this novel she seemed a true master of her craft.

I encourage you to read this novel if you have time. I cannot assume that everyone will love it the way I did and I know that not everyone will be as impacted as I was by Violet and Finch and their story. However I do hope that everyone who reads it takes away something from it. All the Bright Places is worth the read. It was a hell of a novel to start 2015 off with and it will take a lot for a book to surpass it as my favorite of this year. I hope you get a chance to pick it up and read it soon!

[Kim Deister]

This book was... amazing.  For heart wrenching novels, this is right up there with The Fault in Our Stars and Love and Other Unknown Variable, two of my favorite novels of 2014.  It touches the soul, it touches the heart, and leaves you reeling.  I started it in the morning and didn't put it down again until I had finished it.  And then I sat there drained.  It was so beautiful in its own way.  I love that this book recognizes that happy ever afters don't always happen in life.  Life is messy, sad, funny, loving, and every emotion in between.  There is love and there is loss.

Theo is the guy that no one really understands, including himself.  Even his two best friends seem to know him only on the most basic of levels.  His family is largely a group of people living separate lives and I frequently thought that his little sister Decca was the most together of them all.  He has had a pretty troubled past and he struggles to figure out who he is.  Violet is the, on the surface, the popular girl with the "right" friends and the "right" boyfriend.  Inside, she is a mess, struggling to survive after losing her sister, her best friend.  She doesn't know how to move on, bogged down in her grief.  The two meet in the worst possible moment, two people who are seemingly totally different.  Yet they are drawn to each other and their story is beautiful.

There is so much depth to this story.  Yes, there are heart wrenchingly sad moments, but there are beautiful ones, too.  There is a ton of unexpected and witty humor, and so much sweetness from Theo that made him even more amazing.  But there is no denying that Theo's story also made me angry, as a parent.  Without giving too much away, it just angered me to see him as he was through much of the book.  If his parents had just opened their eyes and taken the time to BE parents, his story could have been so very different.  And that drove me insane.

My Recommendation:  This is a beautiful read.   The story is not light, but touches on real issues with compassion.  Not every story has a perfectly happy ending, but there is always a lesson to be learned and that is the case with this incredible novel.

[Kelly]

This will be the most remarkable, beautiful and poignant young adult contemporary that you'll ever have the privilege of reading.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2014/12/all-bright-places-by-jennifer-niven.html
Told from two different perspectives in Finch and Violet, the two teens understand a deep depression that most if us couldn't fathom, and at such a tender age. Violet has lost her sister in a tragic road accident in which she survived, but her grief is merely absorbed and she feels incredibly lonely. Her parents expect her to start maintaining a 'normal' life, although through their own despair, refuse to talk about their loss.

Finch hasn't experienced loss, but physical abuse at the hands of his father, his mother neglects her children and is bullied, beaten and broken each day at school. His thoughts are of the options he has to take his own life, but has never taken the next step. He is crying out for help in a home that ignores his pleas and a school system which sees his troubled behaviour as worthy of threats and punishment. Until he meets Violet.

Their adventures, chasing the beauty of Indiana and leaving a part of themselves behind was whimsical, spirited and carefree. But behind the joy and laughter was an underlying sadness, a darkness that returns when the brightness of day can no longer hide our inner thoughts. Neither Finch or Violet were understood, a cry for help simply being labelled as sadness or an excuse, when even in our own communities metal illnesses isn't always recognised or acknowledged.

I'm the freak. I'm the weirdo. I'm the troublemaker. I start fights. I let people down. Don't make Finch mad, whatever you do. Oh, there he goes again, in one of his moods. Moody Finch. Angry Finch. Unpredictable Finch. Crazy Finch. But I'm not a compilation of symptoms. Not a causality of shitty parents and an even shittier chemical makeup. Not a problem. Not a diagnosis. Not an illness. Not something to be rescued. I'm a person.

The prose throughout was lyrical and incredibly beautiful, even quoting passages of Virginia Woolf. This surpasses any novel John Green or Rainbow Rowell could have created. Jennifer Niven is a phenomenal storyteller, a breathtaking author and this could quite possibly be the story of a generation.

[Joséphine]

Read June 22–24, 2015 (Rating: 4 stars)
Alternated between audiobook and advanced reader copy (ARC)
Thoughts and review submitted under the audiobook edition