“You are all the colors in one, at full
brightness”“What a terrible feeling to love someone
and not be able to help them.”
—Jennifer
Niven All the Bright Places
Overall rating: 9/10
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and
he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something
good, no matter how small, stops him.
Violet Markey lives for the future,
counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the
wake of her sister’s recent death.
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of
the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on
a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and
Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be
himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And
it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start
living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
This is an intense, gripping novel perfect
for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny
Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.
Thought:
This book is described as The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park. If you think this is a cheesy romantic read, you are WRONG. This book deals with serious issue which is committing suicide. I, again, didn't know what it is about when I read this book, i just saw everyone is putting this as their most anticipated book of 2015 and I think I may give this a try.
When Finch is ‘normal’, like the happy
Finch, what he does with Violet is romantic. This Finch is brave and doesn’t
care about what people may think. He just does whatever he wants. Like that
time that they have to pair up for the Geography project, he just goes straight
for Violet in front of the whole class. He is also very encouraging. He slowly helps
Violet to step out of her comfort zone after her sister’s death. Both characters
basically want to die, if not, why would they end up in the bell tower? However,
when they fall in love with one another, they don’t want to die. It seems like
love could heal any wounds. Just when I think: oh these characters would live a
happily life ever after with one another by their side, no no no, story twist
is coming.
I think I have to talk about the scene
where Finch dies. I absolutely didn’t see that coming. Even when Mrs. Finch
says “I hate to ask you, but can you go? I’m just so-worried, and-I don’t think
I could- I mean, in case something were to- or if he were.” And she started
crying. That basically means that whatever happens, do bring Finch’s body back.
When Violet goes and searches for Finch, I have a glimpse of hope that she will
find Finch and they will go home together and fix his problem. Then she really
finds Little Bastard (Finch’s car) and his clothes on the bank. I still do not
see that coming, but then she called 911 and the Sheriff and the fire
department arrive and start searching for Finch under the water. I thought
maybe Finch has already gone to another place, he is definitely not going to be
found. Even when they bring the body up, swollen and bloated and blue, I thought
it was just another man. It is not Finch, he cannot die just like that. How many
people die from drowning? A merely 2%! Even Finch knows- or knew- that. When the
sheriff asks if Violet can identify the body, she says she knows that isn’t Finch,
I still think Finch isn’t dead yet. I don’t know why I feel like that but Finch
just seems to me that he wouldn’t end his life this way. But then all my hopes’
gone because Violet says ‘i'm sorry’ repeatedly and the paragraph: ‘may your eye
go to the Sun to the wind your soul… You are all the colours in one, at full
brightness’ I’m so shock because I didn’t come to this book knowing there’s
somebody dying. I thought it would be a cheesy romantic story. Then I realize why
it is compared to The Fault in Our Stars. And tears fall down my cheek.
Some people may think that the ending dragged
a bit. I don’t feel that way though, I think it is a fair way to end the story
with Violet visiting the remaining wandering spots and see what Finch has left
for her. With every remaining spot Violet goes, I cried thinking that Finch has
gone there alone and left something for her to see after his death. I hate and
love it at the same time; hate because Finch is so selfish here that he left
Violet wandering alone when it is supposed to be THEIR project, they should do
it together; love just because of the idea that even Finch is dead now, Violet
can still kind of find his existence in their Wanderings.
The only thing that I don’t like about this
book is that I sometimes do not understand what Finch is doing. He is so
complicated that I can’t decipher. I feel like the author didn't write clear
enough about his feeling or whatever he is doing. Although someone may think it’s
totally alright to not clearly apprehend all the main characters’ thoughts but I
really need that. Maybe it’s because English is not my main language that I often
already find it hard to comprehend some little details in books. So I would
find books which give out clear direction much more appealing. This may be the
reason I can’t give this book a higher rating.
Oh, I am also very looking forward to this
movie adaptation. Elle Fanning is known to be playing Violet Markey, but the
cast for Finch is still unknown. I like Logan Lerman but will he fits for this
role? Let’s see!
