kate_brauning's review against another edition
4.0
Gorgeous writing, magnetically compelling relationship, lovely story of self-discovery. The historical and musical elements make this incredibly rich storytelling.
esppperanza's review against another edition
5.0
This book has definitely earned it's spot as #2 on my favorites shelf. One of the best books I've ever read!!! I totally cried when The beginning was kind of boring but in the end it was such a beautifully crafted story.
Spoiler
Alexandrine died.garbutch's review against another edition
5.0
My copy of this book has a million sticky notes in it, underlines and slips of paper with notes tucked into the pages.
I have never read prose so poetic or compelling.
I read this book during a very difficult time in my life. I felt there was no hope and that everything around me was crashing. To know protagonists which can relate to that and make it through without glossing anything over is genuinely life-changing. To find some hope before certain oncoming doom, to create that hope for others as well. It's informed a lot of the way I live today, for the better, and the way I interact with others (again, for the better). No action is meaningless, no grand emotional gesture will ever be totally forgotten or at least it can't be pointless.
Anyway, definitely an all-time favourite, if not my top all-time favourite. I also discovered a lot of amazing music because of this book.
I have never read prose so poetic or compelling.
I read this book during a very difficult time in my life. I felt there was no hope and that everything around me was crashing. To know protagonists which can relate to that and make it through without glossing anything over is genuinely life-changing. To find some hope before certain oncoming doom, to create that hope for others as well. It's informed a lot of the way I live today, for the better, and the way I interact with others (again, for the better). No action is meaningless, no grand emotional gesture will ever be totally forgotten or at least it can't be pointless.
Anyway, definitely an all-time favourite, if not my top all-time favourite. I also discovered a lot of amazing music because of this book.
booksforbrooks's review against another edition
5.0
Not quite as good as [b:The Tea Rose|261331|The Tea Rose|Jennifer Donnelly|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327888567s/261331.jpg|1296201], but very enjoyable. 4.5 stars, but I'll be generous and round up.
ellasilver's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
theawkwardbookw's review against another edition
3.0
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCferU-BCL2dlFjWdD0rS75Q/videos?disable_polymer=1
Andi blames herself for her little brother's death almost 2 years ago. Her mother is grieving his death and Andi is at risk of being expelled from her high school due to poor grades. Her absent father swoops in and admits her mother to a mental hospital and demands Andi come with him to Paris for 2 weeks to work on her thesis. While in Paris, Andi finds an old diary in a hidden compartment of a guitar case. The diary belonged to a woman named Alex from the 18th century during the French Revolution.
First, this book is FULL of suicide attempts and pill popping, so if that is something you're concerned with, maybe don't pick up this book. The book does seem to drag on in my opinion, although I did find the information on the French Revolution interesting, it got to the point where it just felt like information overload. My favourite part of the book was Virgil, the love interest. He was such a precious cinnamon roll and I loved how much he cared for Andi. Andi drove me crazy at times with how she treated some people in her life, granted, she is hurting from the loss of her brother... but it came to the point where she was just plain rude for the sake of being rude. Overall, the story was entertaining and I'd recommend it if you like historical fiction books!
Andi blames herself for her little brother's death almost 2 years ago. Her mother is grieving his death and Andi is at risk of being expelled from her high school due to poor grades. Her absent father swoops in and admits her mother to a mental hospital and demands Andi come with him to Paris for 2 weeks to work on her thesis. While in Paris, Andi finds an old diary in a hidden compartment of a guitar case. The diary belonged to a woman named Alex from the 18th century during the French Revolution.
First, this book is FULL of suicide attempts and pill popping, so if that is something you're concerned with, maybe don't pick up this book. The book does seem to drag on in my opinion, although I did find the information on the French Revolution interesting, it got to the point where it just felt like information overload. My favourite part of the book was Virgil, the love interest. He was such a precious cinnamon roll and I loved how much he cared for Andi. Andi drove me crazy at times with how she treated some people in her life, granted, she is hurting from the loss of her brother... but it came to the point where she was just plain rude for the sake of being rude. Overall, the story was entertaining and I'd recommend it if you like historical fiction books!
clrvnzd's review against another edition
5.0
I think this book would normally appeal to those with similar problems or simply because they love music as much as I do. When Andi seems incapable to think of her actions thoroughly and what the outcome would be, like the times where she was really planning to plunge into her death, it shows how weak the main character is, but then finds strength just from reading and understanding the diary which belonged to Alex (She who lived two centuries ago). Hypothetically speaking, if you are definitely in love with Paris and its history this book is a great way to somehow understand the French Revolution that showed the scarcity of peace and yes the end made as much sense to me because it is true that the world we live in can be a "stupid and brutal world" even though we cease to exist.
mnemex's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Ok, 3 chapters in -- but the first three chapters are themselves a bad-ass high school character study that would not be ashamed to call themselves a short story.
Good. Not as good having ended it as it started, but still quite good.
Good. Not as good having ended it as it started, but still quite good.
jennfgarcia's review against another edition
5.0
Wish I could give this a million stars... an excellent read and so much more than I expected.
ama_reads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 for the story, which would have been a strong 4 except for the last part (no spoilers). 4.5 for the audio, which was fantastic.