All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

*Possible Spoilers*

All the Bright Place
by Jennifer Niven

Read: April 15-16
Published: January 6, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Fiction

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. (Amazon)



_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why did you read this book?
          It's been on my To-Read list pretty much since it's been published, I just haven't gotten around to reading it. I was at the library with my sister last weekend and she took it off the shelf and said, "I kind of want to read this." Because she already had three books and I only had one, I took it from her, of course. "Me too," I said.

My Review:
          This review will not be like the others because I cannot simply write what I liked and what I didn't like because I liked and didn't like everything about this book. I honestly don't know how to go forward the the review because it has left me emotionally bereft, but also full of emotions. How am I supposed to write about that?
          I suppose I'll start with the characters. In the beginning of the book, I really felt like I related to Finch. He is someone that thinks about death frequently, but doesn't want to die. He is so kind-hearted and he truly cares about other people, but he can't help but fall into episodes where he doesn't feel anything. However, in the latter half of the book, I related more to Violet. She was learning how to live outside the emptiness of her grief. She was learning how to be happy again.
         Of course, I can't go much further into it without spoiling anything. This book made me cry ugly tears, not the ugly sobbing when I read The Fault in Our Stars for the first time, but worse because I saw myself in it.

If you like this...
          ...I would recommend Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, or Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin.

Bottom-Line:
          I don't know if I will ever read it again. It was just that emotionally traumatizing for me. However, I do strongly recommend it to everyone I know perhaps ages 16 and up. I'm sorry I didn't write more, but this, I think, is something that everyone just needs to experience for themselves.





"The great thing about this life of ours is that you can be someone different to everybody." -All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride
by Cary Elwes


Read: April 10-12, 2016
Published: October 14, 2014
Genre: Biography/Memoir

From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes a first-person account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner.

The Princess Bride has been a family favorite for close to three decades. Ranked by the American Film Institute as one of the top 100 Greatest Love Stories and by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 100 screenplays of all time, The Princess Bride will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.

Cary Elwes was inspired to share his memories and give fans an unprecedented look into the creation of the film while participating in the twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion. In As You Wish he has created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of set secrets and backstage stories. (Amazon)

____________________________________________________________________________

Why did you read this book?
The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies, how couldn't it be with the action, comedy, swashbuckling, true love, miracles, and adventure? I could watch this movie over and over and over again. I also just recently read the book, which was just as enchanting (I didn't do a book review on that one because I couldn't write about the book without talking too much about the movie. Basically, it was great and I'd recommend it to anyone). Also, I just love behind-the-scenes stuff. The several hours of extras on the extended Lord of the Rings DVD's? Watched it all. I have a problem...but I digress.

What did you like about this book?
First off, I liked the tidbits added in throughout the book from Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Christopher Guest, Billy Crystal, and the other cast members that contributed, along with William Goldman (screen writer, and author of the book) and Bob Reiner (Director). All of the information in this book was genuinely interesting to me. I loved the way Cary wrote about his experience. It was easy to tell that it was a treasured time in his life and he wouldn't soon forget what a wonderful time it was and the wonderful people he worked with. It made me wish I had been there (although I hadn't been born yet), but also feel like I had been there with them all (which, of course, I wasn't). I usually don't get into books that don't have a plot with exciting twists and turns, or emotional climaxes, but this one captured me just as easily as if it had those features. Also, it was actually pretty funny. I found myself laughing out loud a few times, something that is pretty rare for me while reading.

What didn't you like about this book?
As much as I loved it, there were things that got a tad repetitive. Not that I wanted the book to shorter, but it could have been. There were many instances where Cary would repeat himself about how The Princess Bride is a classic, even if it didn't start so well. He repeatedly say how lucky he was to have been a part of that experience and how none of them knew it would become the cult classic it is now (which were excellent things to talk about, just not every other chapter). It also started a bit slow, beginning with pre-production and how he got the part and meeting Bob Reiner. It was all interesting, of course, but I was more interested in the period of time during filming.

If you like this...
...I'd recommend, not a book, but the TV series 'Galavant'. It also has romance, adventure, action, and comedy...and it's also a musical! There are two (very short) seasons and there's unlikely to be a third, but I highly suggest it. Also, Alan Menken did the music and he's like a Disney music legend, so there's incentive for you.

Bottom-Line:
I loved it and I thought it was a fantastic companion to the movie. However, if you haven't seen or read The Princess Bride or for some reason don't like it, this probably isn't the book for you. If you don't like The Princess Bride, I strongly encourage with utmost affection to change your mind.



"It's true in life, as in the movies, that the greatest highs are often followed by the lowest lows."-As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes