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A review by kim_c
The Music Of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg
3.0
CAWPILE Rating: 6/10
STAR Rating: ★★★
Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, Abusive parent, Racism.
This is a book about complicated relationships and heavy subjects (Including rape, trauma, racism and abuse). Both characters had their own struggles to deal with, and I felt like they were conveyed well.
However, I couldn’t help but feel that the ending was abrupt. I can still feel the emotional whiplash a few days later. I feel like Jordan never got any closure surrounding his relationship with his mother. Similarly, the dynamic between Jordan and his friends was only bearable to me because I felt like it was going somewhere. They constantly cross the line, don’t respect his boundaries, make fun of his mother’s mental illness and yet Jordan doesn’t ever get to address those issues with them. That boy needs better friends for real.
A minor gripe but … Brother in Christ, the audiobook. This thing really does a disservice to Jordan. The voice Jordan used for Max's lines sounded like a parody. I did NOT buy that these two were in love, when I couldn’t help but feel like he was mocking him with every sentence. I think if I ever revisit this one, it’ll be via ebook.
STAR Rating: ★★★
Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, Abusive parent, Racism.
This is a book about complicated relationships and heavy subjects (Including rape, trauma, racism and abuse). Both characters had their own struggles to deal with, and I felt like they were conveyed well.
Spoiler
Max struggling to keep up his “Super Max” persona while dealing with the aftermath of his assault was handled with care and sensitivity. One line from Jordan in particular stood out to me, while watching Max’s mother console him.“I have this incredible, awful, sad realisation. That if this was me, if I’d been raped and this was my mom, I’d be hugging and consoling her. She would make this all about her.”
However, I couldn’t help but feel that the ending was abrupt. I can still feel the emotional whiplash a few days later. I feel like Jordan never got any closure surrounding his relationship with his mother. Similarly, the dynamic between Jordan and his friends was only bearable to me because I felt like it was going somewhere. They constantly cross the line, don’t respect his boundaries, make fun of his mother’s mental illness and yet Jordan doesn’t ever get to address those issues with them. That boy needs better friends for real.
A minor gripe but … Brother in Christ, the audiobook. This thing really does a disservice to Jordan. The voice Jordan used for Max's lines sounded like a parody. I did NOT buy that these two were in love, when I couldn’t help but feel like he was mocking him with every sentence. I think if I ever revisit this one, it’ll be via ebook.