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coldlikeadqblizzard's review against another edition
5.0
This is a haunting little book.
I didn't expect to be very impressed by this read due to it being YA fiction revolving around very real problems, including death. I don't read a lot of YA books or many "dark" fiction books anymore. That was why, when I started this book, I was surprised that I had a hard time putting it down. Vera has such a poignant voice, and the depth of her loss and longing pours through each page.
I was entranced by the mysteries behind Charlie's death and the demise of their friendship prior. I liked the gimmicky story telling - words from Charlie, Vera's father and the pagoda gave the story well-rounded dimension. With the combination of easy prose and an intriguing story, Please Ignore Vera Dietz had me hooked from the first few pages.
As the story unfolded and all of the characters came to surface, I felt closer to Vera and more distanced from others in the book. There are so many flawed character and relationships, all coming together due to a lack of action by our protagonist (and others). I was horrified by some of the memories Vera recalls from the end of her friendship with Charlie, and Jenny's behavior after his death. I found myself feeling so sad for Vera and Charlie, each trying desperately to change their destinies and make the right decisions. But they don't and everything spirals out of control until their friendship is ruined and Charlie becomes his father.
I found myself wondering how things turned out the way they did. What would have happened if Vera had spoken up about Charlie's parents or his relationship with Jenny? What would have happened if Vera and Charlie were able to cultivate their love? What if she listened to Charlie's final pleas and called the police to the scene? Whatever really happened to Charlie? Vera was taught her entire life to just ignore things that didn't concern her, and it turns out to be the downfall of her relationship with Charlie and possibly the cause of his death.
This book left me with a lot of unanswered questions and unsettling thoughts bouncing around in my head. I finished reading this days ago and still find my mind wandering over to the characters in the novel and the mistakes that were made. Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a wonderfully written, well planned novel with dynamic characters and gripping events. I really enjoyed this book and I was surprised by the depth of its message. I hope to re-read someday.
I didn't expect to be very impressed by this read due to it being YA fiction revolving around very real problems, including death. I don't read a lot of YA books or many "dark" fiction books anymore. That was why, when I started this book, I was surprised that I had a hard time putting it down. Vera has such a poignant voice, and the depth of her loss and longing pours through each page.
I was entranced by the mysteries behind Charlie's death and the demise of their friendship prior. I liked the gimmicky story telling - words from Charlie, Vera's father and the pagoda gave the story well-rounded dimension. With the combination of easy prose and an intriguing story, Please Ignore Vera Dietz had me hooked from the first few pages.
As the story unfolded and all of the characters came to surface, I felt closer to Vera and more distanced from others in the book. There are so many flawed character and relationships, all coming together due to a lack of action by our protagonist (and others). I was horrified by some of the memories Vera recalls from the end of her friendship with Charlie, and Jenny's behavior after his death. I found myself feeling so sad for Vera and Charlie, each trying desperately to change their destinies and make the right decisions. But they don't and everything spirals out of control until their friendship is ruined and Charlie becomes his father.
I found myself wondering how things turned out the way they did. What would have happened if Vera had spoken up about Charlie's parents or his relationship with Jenny? What would have happened if Vera and Charlie were able to cultivate their love? What if she listened to Charlie's final pleas and called the police to the scene? Whatever really happened to Charlie? Vera was taught her entire life to just ignore things that didn't concern her, and it turns out to be the downfall of her relationship with Charlie and possibly the cause of his death.
This book left me with a lot of unanswered questions and unsettling thoughts bouncing around in my head. I finished reading this days ago and still find my mind wandering over to the characters in the novel and the mistakes that were made. Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a wonderfully written, well planned novel with dynamic characters and gripping events. I really enjoyed this book and I was surprised by the depth of its message. I hope to re-read someday.
pragreads's review against another edition
4.0
Look, if there were two words I could say to [a:A.S. King|1651879|A.S. King|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1323437957p2/1651879.jpg], they would be fuck you. Or alternatively, thank you. This book is a literary masterpiece™.
Don't mind me. I'll just sit here, staring out my window, cogitating, ruminating.(Did you see what I did there? I have some Vocab up my sleeve too.) [b:Please Ignore Vera Dietz|6665671|Please Ignore Vera Dietz|A.S. King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1394240671s/6665671.jpg|6860540] is a journey.
Look, it's not a love story.
It's about denial.
It's about coping.
It's about surviving.
It's about living.
It's also about being brave enough to stand up for others. About not ignoring it when your best friend's father beats his mother. About not ignoring that kid bullying you at school. About not ignoring that girl passing rumors. About not ignoring that sexist geometry teacher who says girls shouldn't go to college because they will only ever pop out babies and get fat.
The last napkin I find, unattached to the others, has been crumpled and then straightened out again. It says, I wish we could go back in time and climb trees together again. I love you, Vera. I always will.
Don't mind me. I'll just sit here, staring out my window, cogitating, ruminating.
Look, it's not a love story.
It's about denial.
It's about coping.
It's about surviving.
It's about living.
I have gone from invisible Vera Dietz to invincible Vera Dietz.
It's also about being brave enough to stand up for others. About not ignoring it when your best friend's father beats his mother. About not ignoring that kid bullying you at school. About not ignoring that girl passing rumors. About not ignoring that sexist geometry teacher who says girls shouldn't go to college because they will only ever pop out babies and get fat.
I'm sorry, but I don't get it. If we're supposed to ignore everything that's wrong with our lives, then I can't see how we'll ever make things right.
victoriagf's review against another edition
3.0
I read so many good reviews on this book but wasn't super into it. It was enough to keep me listening to the audiobook but I didn't love it. I say more like 3.5 stars
buhbird's review against another edition
5.0
I devoured this book. I loved it. Vera was one of the best narrators I've read in a while and the story tore my heart into tiny pieces and then set those pieces on fire.
jakkofclubs's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I understand and can fill in what the author was aiming for but I think it wasn't explored to its fullest capacity.
A. S. King does do a very good job making you feel things for the characters. Makes you want to shake them until they don't make the same mistakes you did or would and hug them until they have a moment to relax. The character building was excellent.
A. S. King does do a very good job making you feel things for the characters. Makes you want to shake them until they don't make the same mistakes you did or would and hug them until they have a moment to relax. The character building was excellent.
masch212's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
eatingwords's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't really know what the story was about. I was just told by so many people that I should read it and so I finally did. And I was definitely not disappointed.
I don't really want to go into detail what the story is really about. It is contemporary YA, it's about a eighteen year old girl, who is grieving about her formerly best friend. And if you want to know what the story really is about, you have to go and read it!!
I loved this novel from the first page. The writing, the characters and the plot were great. It was one of those books I had to read and read and couldn't stop reading because 1. I wanted to know how the story continues and 2. because I could emphatize with Vera and wanted to know about her and the circumstances surrounding Charlie's death and her life generally.
I loved how Vera used her Vocab words from class to form a sentence with one of this words in it in quite a few chapters.
Also the change of point of views a few times had a nice touch and gave insight into the lives of others in Vera's life.
The ending was heartwarming and I had tears in my eyes as the story came to an end.
I don't really want to go into detail what the story is really about. It is contemporary YA, it's about a eighteen year old girl, who is grieving about her formerly best friend. And if you want to know what the story really is about, you have to go and read it!!
I loved this novel from the first page. The writing, the characters and the plot were great. It was one of those books I had to read and read and couldn't stop reading because 1. I wanted to know how the story continues and 2. because I could emphatize with Vera and wanted to know about her and the circumstances surrounding Charlie's death and her life generally.
I loved how Vera used her Vocab words from class to form a sentence with one of this words in it in quite a few chapters.
Also the change of point of views a few times had a nice touch and gave insight into the lives of others in Vera's life.
The ending was heartwarming and I had tears in my eyes as the story came to an end.
kirstenrose22's review against another edition
4.0
When I started, I thought this was going to be another typical coming-of-age with quirky characters type of book (of which there are PLENTY in YA) - but I was quickly disabused of that notion. I *love* the way the narration switches around. Fantastic believable characters, with whom I could really identify. The ending seemed almost too pat, but not quite.
clittleford3's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I didn’t enjoy this book. It felt tedious and tortured. Lots of drinking, swearing, and sexual references. I would have stopped after the first 1/3 if I wasn’t using it for a reading challenge.
I upped my rating only because I think writing about grief is incredibly difficult to do well. The author didn’t shy away from complex messy characters and relationships.
I upped my rating only because I think writing about grief is incredibly difficult to do well. The author didn’t shy away from complex messy characters and relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
theallmightyme's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75