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laclos's review against another edition
5.0
This book was such a crazy, amazing ride filled with a colorful cast of characters. The writing is as utterly gorgeous as the Arizona settling. At times this felt a lot like a YA Tom Robbins, at others, I was reminded of Rainbow Rowell. The pacing and arc are spot-on, and overall it's just an emotionally satisfying read. Highly recommend.
savannahsprice's review against another edition
4.0
*I recieved an ARC of WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM from the publisher.
I can easily say that WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM is one of the weirdest books I have ever read... but in a good way. (Maybe.) There were a lot of elements I had never seen before in a book, and while I found that really refreshing, the elements were... peculiar. Again, they worked very well together, but it was still odd.
Anyways! Let's get into the actual discussion.
W R I T I N G:
The writing was one of my favorite elements of WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM. It was descriptive but not boring; it kept me present in the story without dragging; it let me see inside Van's head and feel what she was feeling.
On the other hand, I feel like the writing was insufficient at times. There were certain spots where I honestly had no idea what was happening (), but those were few and far between.
P L O T:
Honestly, I still have no idea what the true plot of this story is. At first, I thought it was going to be about Van and her journey to find herself; while that was still present by the end of the story, the plot had changed to being more focused around Van's mom.
I feel like this novel's main plot is follow-the-characters. There's nothing really happening behind-the-scenes, and there's no big reveals or plot twists; it's mainly just centered around Van's experiences in this situation. I know that's how most novels are, but in those novels, there's usually other factors at work than only the ones we see through the characters' eyes.
It also really annoys me that we still don't know what Van's mom does. What is her job? I got the impression of interior designer, but I'm pretty sure that's not it. Oh well.
C H A R A C T E R S:
Van. I can't say that Van really developed through the course of WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM, but her experiences (and Van herself) were fun to read about. She had a fun personality and snarky comebacks; I highly appreciated that. What I didn't appreciate, though, was her tendency to blame her decisions on other people- "If they made me come with them, this never would have happened!"
Van's mom. Van's mom is very... interesting. Honestly, I want a whole other novel dedicated to her life and her backstory. I found her really intriguing and I just want to know more.
Ida. Ida was super fun. She was one of my favorite characters, and I'm glad we had her voice of reason throughout most of the novel.
Alex. Alex, while nice, was... well... boring. He didn't really intrigue me, and he's your typical YA love interest.
All in all, WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM was really enjoyable, but I had my own share of problems with it. It took me foreeeever to read it, but I think that was worth it (and that reading pace was due to my own decisions, but it was really easy to read when I sat down and did so). I would recommend it to anyone looking for a really good read that is (hopefully!) extremely quick.
I can easily say that WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM is one of the weirdest books I have ever read... but in a good way. (Maybe.) There were a lot of elements I had never seen before in a book, and while I found that really refreshing, the elements were... peculiar. Again, they worked very well together, but it was still odd.
Anyways! Let's get into the actual discussion.
W R I T I N G:
The writing was one of my favorite elements of WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM. It was descriptive but not boring; it kept me present in the story without dragging; it let me see inside Van's head and feel what she was feeling.
On the other hand, I feel like the writing was insufficient at times. There were certain spots where I honestly had no idea what was happening (
Spoiler
mainly, when Van was hallucinating/definitely not hallucinating in the desertP L O T:
Honestly, I still have no idea what the true plot of this story is. At first, I thought it was going to be about Van and her journey to find herself; while that was still present by the end of the story, the plot had changed to being more focused around Van's mom.
I feel like this novel's main plot is follow-the-characters. There's nothing really happening behind-the-scenes, and there's no big reveals or plot twists; it's mainly just centered around Van's experiences in this situation. I know that's how most novels are, but in those novels, there's usually other factors at work than only the ones we see through the characters' eyes.
It also really annoys me that we still don't know what Van's mom does. What is her job? I got the impression of interior designer, but I'm pretty sure that's not it. Oh well.
C H A R A C T E R S:
Van. I can't say that Van really developed through the course of WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM, but her experiences (and Van herself) were fun to read about. She had a fun personality and snarky comebacks; I highly appreciated that. What I didn't appreciate, though, was her tendency to blame her decisions on other people- "If they made me come with them, this never would have happened!"
Van's mom. Van's mom is very... interesting. Honestly, I want a whole other novel dedicated to her life and her backstory. I found her really intriguing and I just want to know more.
Ida. Ida was super fun. She was one of my favorite characters, and I'm glad we had her voice of reason throughout most of the novel.
Alex. Alex, while nice, was... well... boring. He didn't really intrigue me, and he's your typical YA love interest.
All in all, WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM was really enjoyable, but I had my own share of problems with it. It took me foreeeever to read it, but I think that was worth it (and that reading pace was due to my own decisions, but it was really easy to read when I sat down and did so). I would recommend it to anyone looking for a really good read that is (hopefully!) extremely quick.
sherlockk_'s review against another edition
3.0
Also posted on Thrice Read
The release date of Welcome to the Slipstream is June 6th, 2017
I received this book for review on NetGalley. The synopsis immediately captured my attention. I am a huge fan of books that deal with mental illness. The whole world of psychology is intriguing for me. So, I thought that this combined with a Las Vegas version of Eloise in the Plaza sounded perfect. I wasn't as big of a fan of this book as I hoped.
To be fair to this book I think I came into it with far higher expectations than I should have. I try to come in with no expectations and not being able to do that really hurt my experience with this book.
The beginning of Welcome to the Slipstream was wonderful. I was intrigued and found myself flying through the pages. Van was a character that I really loved. She was different from a lot of other contemporary main characters. Van is a girl who is sheltered yet strong. Looking through Van's perspective was fun and refreshing.
Another aspect I loved in this book was Ida. Oh my goodness Ida was a spitfire. Van's caretaker truly stole the show in my eyes. Her relationships with both Van and Sofia were endearing and honest. I could have read an entire book just about Ida and her life. Seriously, I loved her that much.
Unfortunately, this book had some things I did not enjoy in it. To be honest, I was not bothered by aspects of the book until the end. That's when the strange cult aspect came into play and I really got lost. Now, I love stories about cults. Honestly, I do. Just ask Eden or Caitlynn. But, the development of the group felt very forced and convoluted. I really wish this aspect had been omitted.
Were it not for the ending I would have rated this book higher than three stars. It was a great contemporary read. There was a great deal of emotion yet the pacing was fast and easy to get through. I would like to see more from Natalka Burian since I really enjoyed her writing style.
The release date of Welcome to the Slipstream is June 6th, 2017
I received this book for review on NetGalley. The synopsis immediately captured my attention. I am a huge fan of books that deal with mental illness. The whole world of psychology is intriguing for me. So, I thought that this combined with a Las Vegas version of Eloise in the Plaza sounded perfect. I wasn't as big of a fan of this book as I hoped.
To be fair to this book I think I came into it with far higher expectations than I should have. I try to come in with no expectations and not being able to do that really hurt my experience with this book.
The beginning of Welcome to the Slipstream was wonderful. I was intrigued and found myself flying through the pages. Van was a character that I really loved. She was different from a lot of other contemporary main characters. Van is a girl who is sheltered yet strong. Looking through Van's perspective was fun and refreshing.
Another aspect I loved in this book was Ida. Oh my goodness Ida was a spitfire. Van's caretaker truly stole the show in my eyes. Her relationships with both Van and Sofia were endearing and honest. I could have read an entire book just about Ida and her life. Seriously, I loved her that much.
Unfortunately, this book had some things I did not enjoy in it. To be honest, I was not bothered by aspects of the book until the end. That's when the strange cult aspect came into play and I really got lost. Now, I love stories about cults. Honestly, I do. Just ask Eden or Caitlynn. But, the development of the group felt very forced and convoluted. I really wish this aspect had been omitted.
Were it not for the ending I would have rated this book higher than three stars. It was a great contemporary read. There was a great deal of emotion yet the pacing was fast and easy to get through. I would like to see more from Natalka Burian since I really enjoyed her writing style.
bookishly_faith's review against another edition
2.0
Rating: 1.5 stars.
I received an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. (Thanks!)
You know that feeling you get sometimes when you are watching a foreign film? The feeling that something of the importance that is happening is a bit lost on you because you're missing that context? That's sort of how I feel about this book. I would say that this novel was definitely unique, but I just wasn't knocked off my feet by it. I'm sure some people will like it, but I just don't think the writing was for me.
[b:Welcome to the Slipstream|32164715|Welcome to the Slipstream|Natalka Burian|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484027023s/32164715.jpg|52802187] is about Van, a girl who moves a lot because of her mother's mental illness. Van's mom is a genius, but her mental illness makes her a bit difficult for people to deal with so she constantly changes jobs. The constant in Van's life is her surrogate grandmother, who helps to keep her mother sane. They move to Vegas, where Van discovers her dream of being in a band. But when her mother goes off to a self-help cult, Van has to drop everything to save her.
I think my favourite part of this book was the cult scenes. Unfortunately, this part wasn't described in too much detail, but I did like what I saw. I like that mental illness was part of this book, but I don't think it was handled that well. The characters' mental illnesses were never really addressed by the characters and I would have liked to see them gain some progress towards healing.
I think one of the main issues I had with this book was Van. She comes off very distant, mostly because she really only socializes with tutors and her immediate family. I really don't like reading books where you really can't understand the character because it feels like there is a brick wall between you. I want to know what this character's favourite things are so I can relate to them and understand how they react to things. THEN I can follow your character's crazy adventures.
If you like YA books about cults, like [b:The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly|17185496|The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly|Stephanie Oakes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412065594s/17185496.jpg|23634541] or [b:This Side of Salvation|18038539|This Side of Salvation|Jeri Smith-Ready|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1370488612s/18038539.jpg|25310565], you might be interested in reading [b:Welcome to the Slipstream|32164715|Welcome to the Slipstream|Natalka Burian|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484027023s/32164715.jpg|52802187]. This book is out now, so go grab it if you're interested!
I received an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. (Thanks!)
You know that feeling you get sometimes when you are watching a foreign film? The feeling that something of the importance that is happening is a bit lost on you because you're missing that context? That's sort of how I feel about this book. I would say that this novel was definitely unique, but I just wasn't knocked off my feet by it. I'm sure some people will like it, but I just don't think the writing was for me.
[b:Welcome to the Slipstream|32164715|Welcome to the Slipstream|Natalka Burian|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484027023s/32164715.jpg|52802187] is about Van, a girl who moves a lot because of her mother's mental illness. Van's mom is a genius, but her mental illness makes her a bit difficult for people to deal with so she constantly changes jobs. The constant in Van's life is her surrogate grandmother, who helps to keep her mother sane. They move to Vegas, where Van discovers her dream of being in a band. But when her mother goes off to a self-help cult, Van has to drop everything to save her.
I think my favourite part of this book was the cult scenes. Unfortunately, this part wasn't described in too much detail, but I did like what I saw. I like that mental illness was part of this book, but I don't think it was handled that well. The characters' mental illnesses were never really addressed by the characters and I would have liked to see them gain some progress towards healing.
I think one of the main issues I had with this book was Van. She comes off very distant, mostly because she really only socializes with tutors and her immediate family. I really don't like reading books where you really can't understand the character because it feels like there is a brick wall between you. I want to know what this character's favourite things are so I can relate to them and understand how they react to things. THEN I can follow your character's crazy adventures.
If you like YA books about cults, like [b:The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly|17185496|The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly|Stephanie Oakes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412065594s/17185496.jpg|23634541] or [b:This Side of Salvation|18038539|This Side of Salvation|Jeri Smith-Ready|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1370488612s/18038539.jpg|25310565], you might be interested in reading [b:Welcome to the Slipstream|32164715|Welcome to the Slipstream|Natalka Burian|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484027023s/32164715.jpg|52802187]. This book is out now, so go grab it if you're interested!
camilleareads's review
4.0
Reminiscent of Janet Fitch’s White Oleander but with a little more light heartedness, WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM, Natalka Burian’s debut novel, is an exploration of love, mental illness, and family.
The narrative is very simple, told from the perspective of a teenager about her life with her mother and her nurse. In short, I wasn’t prepared enough for this novel. Looking at the cover I expected it to be cheerful, or in the least, a breeze to read through.
I loved being proven wrong.
Our narrator, Van, is such a complex character. You cannot help questioning her, judging her actions, and eventually loving her. Even though the story focuses on heavy emotions Burian doesn’t dump information on the readers; through Van’s experience we begin to understand the complicated situation she’s been in. As a reader, we begin to catch on to things and honestly, I didn’t know who I felt for sadder for.
Was it Van? Or Sofia?
The one caught in her mother’s whirlwind? Or the woman who wanted to feel wanted and special?
It really twisted up my emotions, this book.
Reading things from Van’s perspective, it’s easy for the reader to judge her for not helping her mother enough, for being selfish, and also for being insensitive. But as I read it, a part of me asked myself, “Is this how I am?” Now, I’m not at Sofia’s level where I run off to the desert and join a cult, for me, it was more of “To what extent does my own mental illness affect others?”
WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM illustrates how it is possible to love someone and yet still step away from them. That’s really an important aspect to remember when it comes to issues of mental illness. We expect our loved ones to follow us, to always be there for us without thinking of the consequences. This isn’t to insult those suffering, but to use it as an eye opener to become more aware of our actions.
A thoughtful blend of humour and grimness, Natalka Burian writes a poignant and yet blunt narrative drawing clear lines between love and self love, between support and letting go.
Follow me at Camillea Reads and on IG: biblio.khaleesi for more bookish adventures.
The narrative is very simple, told from the perspective of a teenager about her life with her mother and her nurse. In short, I wasn’t prepared enough for this novel. Looking at the cover I expected it to be cheerful, or in the least, a breeze to read through.
I loved being proven wrong.
Our narrator, Van, is such a complex character. You cannot help questioning her, judging her actions, and eventually loving her. Even though the story focuses on heavy emotions Burian doesn’t dump information on the readers; through Van’s experience we begin to understand the complicated situation she’s been in. As a reader, we begin to catch on to things and honestly, I didn’t know who I felt for sadder for.
Was it Van? Or Sofia?
The one caught in her mother’s whirlwind? Or the woman who wanted to feel wanted and special?
It really twisted up my emotions, this book.
Reading things from Van’s perspective, it’s easy for the reader to judge her for not helping her mother enough, for being selfish, and also for being insensitive. But as I read it, a part of me asked myself, “Is this how I am?” Now, I’m not at Sofia’s level where I run off to the desert and join a cult, for me, it was more of “To what extent does my own mental illness affect others?”
WELCOME TO THE SLIPSTREAM illustrates how it is possible to love someone and yet still step away from them. That’s really an important aspect to remember when it comes to issues of mental illness. We expect our loved ones to follow us, to always be there for us without thinking of the consequences. This isn’t to insult those suffering, but to use it as an eye opener to become more aware of our actions.
A thoughtful blend of humour and grimness, Natalka Burian writes a poignant and yet blunt narrative drawing clear lines between love and self love, between support and letting go.
Follow me at Camillea Reads and on IG: biblio.khaleesi for more bookish adventures.
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