megana73's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite thing about this novel is the way it presents how the narrator (Caitlyn) moves around in her grief, rather than "through" it. Her process might be frustrating, especially to her parents (and readers, too, I'm betting) but it's what makes her character's growth impressive, gentle, and believable all at once. I'm also struck by the beauty and clarity of LaCour's writing -- especially how each moment and interaction seem to be in service to this story and her characters.
I imagine what would happen if everyone turned their regrets into wishes, went around shouting them. Signal lights would change at intersections, and as the people on opposite sides of the street stepped off the curbs, they would call to one another—Finish college! Exercise at least three times a week! Never start smoking! Tell your mother you love her! Wear a condom! Make peace with your brother! Don’t sign anything before you’ve met with a lawyer! Take your dog to the park! Keep in touch with your friends!
I imagine what would happen if everyone turned their regrets into wishes, went around shouting them. Signal lights would change at intersections, and as the people on opposite sides of the street stepped off the curbs, they would call to one another—Finish college! Exercise at least three times a week! Never start smoking! Tell your mother you love her! Wear a condom! Make peace with your brother! Don’t sign anything before you’ve met with a lawyer! Take your dog to the park! Keep in touch with your friends!
allyups's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful story with a dark and depressing backstory that shows that when someone you love kills themselves, they might be gone but the people they left behind are still there. It shows that when someone in pain dies, they leave their pain in others.
kalinicole's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars
“The sun stopped shining for me is all. The whole story is: I am sad. I am sad all the time and the sadness is so heavy that I can't get away from it. Not ever.”
Hold Still was both heartbreaking and inspiring and it touched me in a way I can't fully explain. As someone who has and still continues to deal with depression, I found my heart aching for both Ingrid and Caitlin. This story isn't just about depression and suicide. It's about friendship and picking up the pieces after someone so dear to you is gone.
I adored the writing of the book. The journal entries made the whole story feel so realistic.
“The sun stopped shining for me is all. The whole story is: I am sad. I am sad all the time and the sadness is so heavy that I can't get away from it. Not ever.”
Hold Still was both heartbreaking and inspiring and it touched me in a way I can't fully explain. As someone who has and still continues to deal with depression, I found my heart aching for both Ingrid and Caitlin. This story isn't just about depression and suicide. It's about friendship and picking up the pieces after someone so dear to you is gone.
I adored the writing of the book. The journal entries made the whole story feel so realistic.
turnthepagesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Grief
ireneac's review
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Grief
alexisneuville's review against another edition
3.0
Review: http://theliteraturelion.blogspot.com/2011/08/hold-still-by-nina-lacour.html
Caitlin spends her nights sitting in her car while she does her homework and has an old burned CD playing in the stereo. A few months ago, Caitlin used to be spending her time with her best friend, Ingrid, who was a natural artist- a photographer specifically. With Ingrid's recent suicide running through her veins, Caitlin doesn't know what to do besides close herself off and hate most of the things in her life. When she finds Ingrid's old journal that was left for her personally, Caitlin starts to develop and grow into her new life without her best friend.
Being left by your friend is a tough thing to go through, but when your best friend takes their own life it's even harder. Caitlin has always been a semi-dependent girl, but when the person she depends on, Ingrid, is no longer there for her, Caitlin is forced to become a bit more independent. It's nice to see that people can change, even if bad things have to happen for it to take place.
My favorite part of this book was the romance. I feel that it was the only exciting and amusing part of the story. The other portions were slow, hard to get through and lacking that richness you need in an emotional story like this. When the novel starts, it's like we're automatically supposed to feel sorry for Caitlin. Of course, I did feel sorry for her since her best friend committed suicide, but I didn't feel involved in the story at all. We did get some insights of what Caitlin and Ingrid's friendship was like in the story, but they weren't very emotion-triggering like other novels.
The story line was decent, the characters were typical, but the romance was the main asset that I liked most.
Caitlin spends her nights sitting in her car while she does her homework and has an old burned CD playing in the stereo. A few months ago, Caitlin used to be spending her time with her best friend, Ingrid, who was a natural artist- a photographer specifically. With Ingrid's recent suicide running through her veins, Caitlin doesn't know what to do besides close herself off and hate most of the things in her life. When she finds Ingrid's old journal that was left for her personally, Caitlin starts to develop and grow into her new life without her best friend.
Being left by your friend is a tough thing to go through, but when your best friend takes their own life it's even harder. Caitlin has always been a semi-dependent girl, but when the person she depends on, Ingrid, is no longer there for her, Caitlin is forced to become a bit more independent. It's nice to see that people can change, even if bad things have to happen for it to take place.
My favorite part of this book was the romance. I feel that it was the only exciting and amusing part of the story. The other portions were slow, hard to get through and lacking that richness you need in an emotional story like this. When the novel starts, it's like we're automatically supposed to feel sorry for Caitlin. Of course, I did feel sorry for her since her best friend committed suicide, but I didn't feel involved in the story at all. We did get some insights of what Caitlin and Ingrid's friendship was like in the story, but they weren't very emotion-triggering like other novels.
The story line was decent, the characters were typical, but the romance was the main asset that I liked most.
knihomolkazhavrasparu's review
5.0
Nemám slov. To jak autorka dokázala popsat emoce... tahle kniha mě opravdu zasáhla. Pokud hledáte knihu, kde se objevuje téma sebevraždy a srovnávání se smrtí někoho blízkého, pak je tahle ta nejlepší.
shogins's review against another edition
4.0
Caitlin's best - and only friend - Ingrid killed herself and now Caitlin has to go on living life, even though her old favorite teacher won't look at her anymore and her parents can't connect and classmates are disingenuous and making new friends seems like a betrayal. LaCour's debut follows Caitlin through a school year as she begins to put the pieces of her life back together. Finding Ingrid's journal under her bed helps start the process, and connecting with her classmates, including the new girl Dylan and her cute male classmate Taylor, help continue it. This book is moving and emotionally gripping, and might make a particularly powerful read for the artistically inclined.
cooslooksatletterssometimes's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
4.0
This book is about healing after suicide. It's a slow road back to normalcy for Caitlin. It's a well-written book. While reading this book, I wanted to learn more about the "why" behind Ingrid's suicide, and that's what this book isn't, which could lead the reader to be unsatisfied. It's hard not to compare it to "Thirteen Reasons Why," the book where you learn so much about the main character after she committed suicide.