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A review by coldlikeadqblizzard
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
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.