Since You've Been Gone *MILD SPOILERS*
Posted: 22 Jul 2016, 15:13
I am having trouble thinking of words to describe this book. Phenomenal I think would be a good one. This is my first official (long) review and I'm really trying not to screw up. So anyway this book is about a girl named Emily whose best friend (a girl named Sloane) just ups and moves away one summer without telling her. Said best friend leaves behind a list of things she wants Emily to do. The rest of the book follows Emily as she checks off each task one by one with the help of unexpected friends.
Character Development: I actually really liked the character development in this book. Emily at the start was just this shy girl who followed her best friend around like a loyal puppy. But over the course of her story she learns to be more than that. She breaks her shell away little by little until she no longer has a shell to speak of. Sloane seemed like a big character in the story since the big question is: where is she? and why didn't she tell Emily anything? At the end she goes from being this cool character (albeit a little shady) to a very angsty and complicated girl who is no longer able to connect with anybody because she knows she'd have to say goodbye sooner rather than later. Frank Porter (Emily's unexpected friend/love interest) starts off as this guy who can do no wrong (in other words the guy mama would love for you to bring home). As the story goes on the lines separating right from wrong start to blur for him until he realizes what he thought was wrong was actually right and what was right was actually wrong. Get what I'm saying? It's this that makes his character development a little different, by that I mean a good kind of different. He learned that being a good person doesn't always mean walking a straight line. Which is a lesson I think can do all of us a lot of good if we take it to heart.
Storytelling: I love the style of story telling Morgan Matson used here. In my opinion an already good story can be made that much better by adding other elements besides the words (as long as it contributes to the story of course). Matson uses music playlists throughout the book which make the experience of reading this book that much better. As I write this I am listening to playlist number 1 and wow is it amazingg so far. The playlists not only help you get inside Emily's head but if you need something to listen to during your morning jog I can guarantee the songs on these playlists will get you on your feet (except for the bonus playlist of course that's for a different occasion). I thought the use of these playlists was a nice change and a brilliant move on Matson's part.
All in all: This was a great read. Character development was on point and the storytelling style was pretty awesome. My only critique is that it needs more music hehe. I recommend this to anyone, especially if you need a good summer read. On my personal rating scale this one definitely gets a 10/10 heck yeah I'm rereading it and listening to them playlists because it's just worth it.
Anyway lemme know what you think
Until next time, BookSavvy90
Character Development: I actually really liked the character development in this book. Emily at the start was just this shy girl who followed her best friend around like a loyal puppy. But over the course of her story she learns to be more than that. She breaks her shell away little by little until she no longer has a shell to speak of. Sloane seemed like a big character in the story since the big question is: where is she? and why didn't she tell Emily anything? At the end she goes from being this cool character (albeit a little shady) to a very angsty and complicated girl who is no longer able to connect with anybody because she knows she'd have to say goodbye sooner rather than later. Frank Porter (Emily's unexpected friend/love interest) starts off as this guy who can do no wrong (in other words the guy mama would love for you to bring home). As the story goes on the lines separating right from wrong start to blur for him until he realizes what he thought was wrong was actually right and what was right was actually wrong. Get what I'm saying? It's this that makes his character development a little different, by that I mean a good kind of different. He learned that being a good person doesn't always mean walking a straight line. Which is a lesson I think can do all of us a lot of good if we take it to heart.
Storytelling: I love the style of story telling Morgan Matson used here. In my opinion an already good story can be made that much better by adding other elements besides the words (as long as it contributes to the story of course). Matson uses music playlists throughout the book which make the experience of reading this book that much better. As I write this I am listening to playlist number 1 and wow is it amazingg so far. The playlists not only help you get inside Emily's head but if you need something to listen to during your morning jog I can guarantee the songs on these playlists will get you on your feet (except for the bonus playlist of course that's for a different occasion). I thought the use of these playlists was a nice change and a brilliant move on Matson's part.
All in all: This was a great read. Character development was on point and the storytelling style was pretty awesome. My only critique is that it needs more music hehe. I recommend this to anyone, especially if you need a good summer read. On my personal rating scale this one definitely gets a 10/10 heck yeah I'm rereading it and listening to them playlists because it's just worth it.
Anyway lemme know what you think
Until next time, BookSavvy90