Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Title: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Series: N/A
Page Count: 288
Review: 88/100, 4.5/5 Stars
Notes: Review may have spoilers.

NON SPOILER: If you have not read this book, I cannot recommend it enough. Honestly, it is so fantastic. Read it first then come back. Don't even read a summary or the blurb on the back, because that makes the book so much better. All you need to know about it is that it's about a girl who gets amnesia. Read this book :) 

This book had so many amazing aspects to it that I don't even know where to start.

The plot was beautiful. It flowed so nicely and always had something coming at you. There weren't any filler chapters that you had to trudge through, nor any dull scenes. The romantic interests were super neat. The way that Zevin was able to weave together the pasts (or the non-pasts) of Naomi and James in the way that both of their's were so untouchable was amazing.

Not many people could write this book, but Gabrielle Zevin did a beautiful job.

All of Naomi's interests were thorough, and her confusion about them after her losing her memory was heartbreaking and powerful.

I loved her relationship with Will and how much he knew about her and cared for her. It's the kind of friendship anyone would want.

I don't have any bad things to say about this book, but if I had to give some harder criticism, I would say that the relationship / fight going on with her mother could've been developed better. Especially when (SPOILER:  when she got her memory back,: SPOILER))  she could've dug deeper to find out more about why she didn't like her anymore.

Overall, this book was a fast-paced, beautiful read. (How many times will I be saying beautiful in this review?) I read it in two sittings (almost two and a half hours of reading total). It's the perfect book to read by the beach or out on the porch--even if summer is basically over. There aren't too many heavily emotional parts of the book, but some parts are a little sad and sometimes heavy, but that can be expected in every book.

I recommend this book to teenagers and to adults and to everyone. It's a really good book about finding yourself and knowing who you are and pushing through hard times.

Story Love

Hey everybody! Sorry I was gone for those couple days -- I went on a bit of a road trip and just got back today. Didn't read much (sadly), which is why there was a lack in reviews (or review) in these last couple days. I'll hopefully have one up very soon. Or at least this weekend. (I have another road trip tomorrow.)
Now, let's jump in to the topic of this blog.
Story love. The loving of the story.
For some writers, when they hear that (or see it), they most likely think of a story that they've written, come up with, or are in the midst of writing, that they absolutely love. I know that's the case with me.
When I think of story love, I think of my characters, their relationships together, their dialogue, their background stories, the plot of the story -- just everything. I think of the story that, once I get on a roll writing it, I never want to stop.
I had a moment of story love today. I was doing a NaNoWriMo word sprint that was 30 minutes long, and I wrote 1K words. I was also at a part in my story where the two main characters are starting to get to know each other and slowly fall in love, and all that jazz.
Anyways.
I love, love love love loved writing this scene between the two characters (Ember and Axel). It's the beginning of their relationship / friendship and all, and it's just cutesy and intimate and innocent and open and I love it. Of course, I wrote it in half an hour so it will all need to be reworked, but that's beside the point.
After writing this scene, I was on a sort of fictional high. I had this huge grin on my face, because, well --
I LOVE MY STORY!
I never really realized it before. I'm always thinking, yeah I'll get my words in for NaNoWriMo and all, but the story isn't good so I'll just drop it after. Maybe I'll rework it and try to rewrite it all another time. But now I'm realizing, I. Love. My. Story. And I wouldn't change the way it is for the world. Sure, it's terrible right now. But I am going to finish it, ignore my inner editor and any negative thoughts, and power through the story. I am determined to finish it and see how it goes. If I hate it, so be it. It's good practice.
And my unconditional story love will push me through it (even when I really hate my story).
My questions for you: Do you believe story love helps? Do you trust your story love to get you through your story? What story do you love the most--could be one that belongs to you or not?


<3 Sarah