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Jedna wrona smutek wróży
Ponadczasowa historia o dojrzewaniu, która łączy w sobie elementy thrillera i powieści grozy.
Adam McCormick miał zaledwie piętnaście lat, gdy w lesie znaleziono ciało jego kolegi z klasy. To tragiczne wydarzenie sprawiło, że chłopak odnalazł sens w swoim życiu i zyskał nieoczekiwanego przyjaciela. Jamie Marks był chłopcem, na którego nikt nie zwracał większej uwagi i za którym prawie nikt nie tęsknił. Teraz, bardziej niż kiedykolwiek, potrzebuje przyjaźni. Jednak im dłużej Adam trzyma się ducha Jamiego, tym dłużej jego przyjaciel pozostaje w świecie, do którego już nie należy... i tym słabsze stają się więzi samego Adama z żywymi. Aby odnaleźć drogę powrotną, musi dowiedzieć się, co tak naprawdę znaczy żyć.
Adam McCormick miał zaledwie piętnaście lat, gdy w lesie znaleziono ciało jego kolegi z klasy. To tragiczne wydarzenie sprawiło, że chłopak odnalazł sens w swoim życiu i zyskał nieoczekiwanego przyjaciela. Jamie Marks był chłopcem, na którego nikt nie zwracał większej uwagi i za którym prawie nikt nie tęsknił. Teraz, bardziej niż kiedykolwiek, potrzebuje przyjaźni. Jednak im dłużej Adam trzyma się ducha Jamiego, tym dłużej jego przyjaciel pozostaje w świecie, do którego już nie należy... i tym słabsze stają się więzi samego Adama z żywymi. Aby odnaleźć drogę powrotną, musi dowiedzieć się, co tak naprawdę znaczy żyć.
328 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2007
109 people are currently reading
1865 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Barzak
62 books464 followersChristopher Barzak is the author of the Crawford Fantasy Award winning novel One for Sorrow which has been made into the Sundance feature film Jamie Marks is Dead. His second novel, The Love We Share Without Knowing, was a finalist for the Nebula Award and the James Tiptree Jr. Award. His third novel, Wonders of the Invisible World, received the Stonewall Honor from the American Library Association and most recently was selected for inclusion on the Human Rights Campaign’s list of books for libraries in LGBTQ welcoming schools. He is also the author of three short story collections: Birds and Birthdays, a collection of surrealist fantasy stories, Before and Afterlives, a collection of supernatural fantasies, which won Best Collection in the 2013 Shirley Jackson Awards, and Monstrous Alterations. His most recent novel, The Gone Away Place, received the inaugural Whippoorwill Award, and was selected for the Choose to Read Ohio program by the State Library of Ohio, the Ohioana Library Association, and the Ohio Center for the Book.
Christopher grew up in rural Kinsman, Ohio, has lived in the southern California beach town of Carlsbad, and the capital of Michigan; he taught English outside of Tokyo, Japan, where he lived for two years. He teaches creative writing at Youngstown State University, in Youngstown, Ohio.
Christopher grew up in rural Kinsman, Ohio, has lived in the southern California beach town of Carlsbad, and the capital of Michigan; he taught English outside of Tokyo, Japan, where he lived for two years. He teaches creative writing at Youngstown State University, in Youngstown, Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
February 14, 2018
One of my favorites. ;-)
December 5, 2016
Another wonderful story by Christopher Barzak. It's a ghost story, but also a beautiful coming of age story. If you have yet to read anything by this underrated author, I highly recommend giving one of his books a shot. He's an immensely talented story teller.
June 8, 2008
Everyone needs to read this book.
Every once in a while, I let myself get talked into thinking I need to read some "real" literature and just pick something, and generally I feel completely apathetic about it at best, or downright hate it at worst (Frangipani, Everything Is Illuminated). Sometimes however, a non-fantasy book will catch my eye. I'll just instinctively know that I need to read it. I was walking out of the bookstore, and One For Sorrow was on the very end of the shelf; I glanced it, stopped short, backtracked, read the blurb, and decided it needed to come home with me. I've been waiting for a chance to read it all at once, with minimal interruptions (which means I took it with me to work today--and of course it was the busiest Saturday I've ever had, but I still finished it half an hour before closing).
It was beautiful. The prose, the insights, even the angst and the teenage determination that all adults are clueless--just breathtaking. I don't want to spoil it by saying anything about the plot, read the blurb if you want to (it actually does the story some justice), but I know for myself it's best to not get too many preconceptions about something like this, and I just couldn't give any kind of in depth summary without doing that and spoiling it.
Every once in a while, I let myself get talked into thinking I need to read some "real" literature and just pick something, and generally I feel completely apathetic about it at best, or downright hate it at worst (Frangipani, Everything Is Illuminated). Sometimes however, a non-fantasy book will catch my eye. I'll just instinctively know that I need to read it. I was walking out of the bookstore, and One For Sorrow was on the very end of the shelf; I glanced it, stopped short, backtracked, read the blurb, and decided it needed to come home with me. I've been waiting for a chance to read it all at once, with minimal interruptions (which means I took it with me to work today--and of course it was the busiest Saturday I've ever had, but I still finished it half an hour before closing).
It was beautiful. The prose, the insights, even the angst and the teenage determination that all adults are clueless--just breathtaking. I don't want to spoil it by saying anything about the plot, read the blurb if you want to (it actually does the story some justice), but I know for myself it's best to not get too many preconceptions about something like this, and I just couldn't give any kind of in depth summary without doing that and spoiling it.
January 5, 2009
A disappointing read. I didn't like the narrative voice of the POV character, though the author did succeed in carrying off writing as a teenaged boy (I don't really know if being good at writing from the viewpoint of a whingy, annoying kid is a good thing). The characters were tiresome and I couldn't connect with any of them, not even Jamie, who I guess I was supposed to feel sorry for.
I plodded through the book until about the last four chapters when I just couldn't take any more of it, and then began to simply skim through most of the passages. To be honest, by the time that the protagonist ran away from home to live in some lean-to shack in the woods, I was already considering putting it aside for my next planned read. I only soldiered on because I do hate putting aside books that I've already started.
Had I known that the ending would be so lackluster, and that we wouldn't get any definitive information as to who committed the murder of Jamie (this was one of the reasons that I went against my better judgment and continued reading), then I think I would have given up on this book when I first felt the urge to set it aside. I wish I had, because I could have been well into Jim Butcher's Fool Moon by now, and I love Jim Butcher.
I plodded through the book until about the last four chapters when I just couldn't take any more of it, and then began to simply skim through most of the passages. To be honest, by the time that the protagonist ran away from home to live in some lean-to shack in the woods, I was already considering putting it aside for my next planned read. I only soldiered on because I do hate putting aside books that I've already started.
Had I known that the ending would be so lackluster, and that we wouldn't get any definitive information as to who committed the murder of Jamie (this was one of the reasons that I went against my better judgment and continued reading), then I think I would have given up on this book when I first felt the urge to set it aside. I wish I had, because I could have been well into Jim Butcher's Fool Moon by now, and I love Jim Butcher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2008
Barzak's debut novel is a heavy hitter. It's a story of being a teenager in a dysfunctional family, going through the trials of the teenage life, of falling in love and having one's heart ripped out, of being confused about the world and about where you're supposed to be. It's about the emotional roller coaster that is the teenage years, dead friends, first loves, and trying to understand one's place in the world. It's the story of Adam, a fifteen-year-old boy who becomes friends with Jamie, someone much like Adam, but who has been brutally killed. But the longer Adam holds on to his friend, the more he seems to lose his touch with everyone around him. Thus begins an adventure of the emotional and the physical.
Perhaps what I most enjoyed about One For Sorrow is the fact that it is different from most everything I have read before. I found the story engrossing and the characters fascinating. I wanted to know from the very start what was going to happen to Adam, what he was going to do to survive it, and how it would all turn out. Essentially, I became emotionally invested in Adam's well being, which is almost always a good thing. I also particularly enjoyed the low-level genre content. The characters took over the story, not the fantastic elements (ghosts, floating out of one's own body, etc.). Most genre work these days is heavily plot oriented, which is great, but it is nice to see some writers pushing the boundaries in the genre. Barzak is certainly pushing the boundaries here by taking genre to a different place from his contemporaries.
I found few things to complain about with this book. Sure, it's not perfect. There were times when I literally had to yell at the characters as if they were real people, because they were absolutely driving me nuts with their realistic stupidity. But that's not necessarily a complaint. The only thing I can say might be a problem for some potential readers is that One For Sorrow doesn't pull punches. There's language and graphic scenes of a sexual nature--though not on the same level as erotica. If you're the type of reader that likes stories that sit more on that line of purity, then this isn't a book for you. Neither is it a book for people that like stories where everything is happy, or where the conflict is simplistic or easy on the emotions. One For Sorrow literally goes into the darker points of teenage existence, but not in that "emo" way: it's all disturbingly real and terrifying. These are things to consider when wondering if this book is the right one for you. Then again, I recommend reading it even if you are a bit on the sensitive side; pushing one's boundaries is always a good thing.
It's a gloriously complicated story, though. So much so I was rather surprised to find that this was a debut novel rather than a fifth or sixth novel. Barzak has a knack for deep character stories--stories that do what all fiction should be doing: discussing the human. Adam is a character you can root for, because even as things go horribly wrong and he makes loads of mistakes, you can't help wanting everything to turn out okay. Does it? You'll have to read the book to find out exactly what happens, but I would say that you should not expect tidy endings for this novel. If you want a story where the end is all flowers and puppies, this book isn't for you. But if you like leaving things a little open, for good reason, then One For Sorrow may be right up your alley. One For Sorrow is almost like life: the end of every great adventure is the start of another.
Perhaps what I most enjoyed about One For Sorrow is the fact that it is different from most everything I have read before. I found the story engrossing and the characters fascinating. I wanted to know from the very start what was going to happen to Adam, what he was going to do to survive it, and how it would all turn out. Essentially, I became emotionally invested in Adam's well being, which is almost always a good thing. I also particularly enjoyed the low-level genre content. The characters took over the story, not the fantastic elements (ghosts, floating out of one's own body, etc.). Most genre work these days is heavily plot oriented, which is great, but it is nice to see some writers pushing the boundaries in the genre. Barzak is certainly pushing the boundaries here by taking genre to a different place from his contemporaries.
I found few things to complain about with this book. Sure, it's not perfect. There were times when I literally had to yell at the characters as if they were real people, because they were absolutely driving me nuts with their realistic stupidity. But that's not necessarily a complaint. The only thing I can say might be a problem for some potential readers is that One For Sorrow doesn't pull punches. There's language and graphic scenes of a sexual nature--though not on the same level as erotica. If you're the type of reader that likes stories that sit more on that line of purity, then this isn't a book for you. Neither is it a book for people that like stories where everything is happy, or where the conflict is simplistic or easy on the emotions. One For Sorrow literally goes into the darker points of teenage existence, but not in that "emo" way: it's all disturbingly real and terrifying. These are things to consider when wondering if this book is the right one for you. Then again, I recommend reading it even if you are a bit on the sensitive side; pushing one's boundaries is always a good thing.
It's a gloriously complicated story, though. So much so I was rather surprised to find that this was a debut novel rather than a fifth or sixth novel. Barzak has a knack for deep character stories--stories that do what all fiction should be doing: discussing the human. Adam is a character you can root for, because even as things go horribly wrong and he makes loads of mistakes, you can't help wanting everything to turn out okay. Does it? You'll have to read the book to find out exactly what happens, but I would say that you should not expect tidy endings for this novel. If you want a story where the end is all flowers and puppies, this book isn't for you. But if you like leaving things a little open, for good reason, then One For Sorrow may be right up your alley. One For Sorrow is almost like life: the end of every great adventure is the start of another.
March 26, 2018
. : ☾⋆ — 1.5 ★
huh. okay, but like, all jokes aside, this book was like having a fever dream from start to finish.
One for Sorrow follows our main character, adam, who finds out he can see ghosts after a classmate’s body is found in the woods. jamie, the ghost, latches onto adam like his life depends on it (no pun intended), but in doing so he begins to corrupt adam’s life, his mental well-being, his family, and his personal relationships. both boys must learn what living means, and how to let go.
now, listen, that sounds like a good and fine plot (and in theory, it is) except for the fact that this book was so beyond weird that it completely missed the point, mark, whatever you want to call it. having read Christopher Barzak’s other book, Wonders of the Invisible World, (and having absolutely LOVED it) i already knew his writing style and his quirky ways of going about plot devices and tropes, especially in regards to magical realism, which in Wonders of the Invisible World i found really charming and endearing. so, i understand where One for Sorrow was coming from and where it wanted to go (or where it wanted to take you as a reader) but i think it kinda got lost in the way. or at least, it lost me on the way.
i’m not lying when i say that this book was like having a fever dream. some scenes where arranged in such a bizarre manner that you honestly had to read back a few pages because this book constantly made you go, “wait, did i miss something?”. but no, you didn’t miss anything. that’s just the book. most of the dialogue was delivered awkwardly and just generally in a very strange way. the characters’ relationships also went inexplicably unexplored to the point where it was just plain stupid that these characters were interacting or saying heavy stuff like “i love you” to somebody, when they’d only know each other for like a day and a half and 3/4 of that day and a half had been spent crawling in holes or looking at rocks.
i think part of why One for Sorrow is this way is because of our main character. truth be told, most of the book to him is also a fever dream, and i understand his mental health and his family and jamie’s intervention in his life are also mostly why this book is as weirdly delivered as it is. but........ still. it wasn’t charming or endearing or relatable and i didn’t understand why 70% of the things that happened in this book, happened. it also didn’t help that adam was the most unreliable narrator i’ve ever encountered in my life.
i also watched the trailer for the movie (i didn’t know this book had been made into a movie, lmao) and it has SUCH a different vibe, feel, and atmosphere from the book that it almost made it completely unrecognizable?? which makes me think i totally missed something when reading the book, but okay.
a huge part of why this book was such a miss for me as well is because it didn’t leave me with anything. i didn’t love (or understand) the plot or the characters or the ending or anything that happened in the book, so i leave this experience with my only reward being a new book added to my reading challenge. sucks to suck, One for Sorrow.
huh. okay, but like, all jokes aside, this book was like having a fever dream from start to finish.
One for Sorrow follows our main character, adam, who finds out he can see ghosts after a classmate’s body is found in the woods. jamie, the ghost, latches onto adam like his life depends on it (no pun intended), but in doing so he begins to corrupt adam’s life, his mental well-being, his family, and his personal relationships. both boys must learn what living means, and how to let go.
now, listen, that sounds like a good and fine plot (and in theory, it is) except for the fact that this book was so beyond weird that it completely missed the point, mark, whatever you want to call it. having read Christopher Barzak’s other book, Wonders of the Invisible World, (and having absolutely LOVED it) i already knew his writing style and his quirky ways of going about plot devices and tropes, especially in regards to magical realism, which in Wonders of the Invisible World i found really charming and endearing. so, i understand where One for Sorrow was coming from and where it wanted to go (or where it wanted to take you as a reader) but i think it kinda got lost in the way. or at least, it lost me on the way.
i’m not lying when i say that this book was like having a fever dream. some scenes where arranged in such a bizarre manner that you honestly had to read back a few pages because this book constantly made you go, “wait, did i miss something?”. but no, you didn’t miss anything. that’s just the book. most of the dialogue was delivered awkwardly and just generally in a very strange way. the characters’ relationships also went inexplicably unexplored to the point where it was just plain stupid that these characters were interacting or saying heavy stuff like “i love you” to somebody, when they’d only know each other for like a day and a half and 3/4 of that day and a half had been spent crawling in holes or looking at rocks.
i think part of why One for Sorrow is this way is because of our main character. truth be told, most of the book to him is also a fever dream, and i understand his mental health and his family and jamie’s intervention in his life are also mostly why this book is as weirdly delivered as it is. but........ still. it wasn’t charming or endearing or relatable and i didn’t understand why 70% of the things that happened in this book, happened. it also didn’t help that adam was the most unreliable narrator i’ve ever encountered in my life.
i also watched the trailer for the movie (i didn’t know this book had been made into a movie, lmao) and it has SUCH a different vibe, feel, and atmosphere from the book that it almost made it completely unrecognizable?? which makes me think i totally missed something when reading the book, but okay.
a huge part of why this book was such a miss for me as well is because it didn’t leave me with anything. i didn’t love (or understand) the plot or the characters or the ending or anything that happened in the book, so i leave this experience with my only reward being a new book added to my reading challenge. sucks to suck, One for Sorrow.
January 24, 2015
I found "One for Sorrow" by accident. As it turns out, a movie I want to see---"Jamie Marks Is Dead"---is based on this novel. Boy am I glad I found it. "One for Sorrow" is one of the best books/stories I've ever read. Now there were some parts that dragged a bit. Not many, but some. However, you could say the slower parts were essential to the novel because of the great detail and character background they provided. As a whole, "One for Sorrow" touched me in a way I never expected. Even though I saw where the story was headed, it still struck an emotional chord with me---in a good way. Once the end hit, I was in tears. As the dialogue between the two main characters came to a close, I cried. I actually had to put the book down a few times as I cried and let what was happening sink in. Just processing the raw emotion of it got to me. Most likely, "One for Sorrow" will never be considered a "masterpiece" in the canon of coming-of-age, supernatural stories, or books about teenage characters. But I've read some "masterpieces" of literature before. And I'm here to tell you...NONE of them had the effect on me that "One for Sorrow" did. When I finished reading it, when it was over, I remembered that love---true love is possible even if coming from the most improbable place. I am not embarrassed to say that I forgot what love was, what loss was. "One for Sorrow" reminded me that both exist. That Love can be forever. But that Loss can be temporary. Love goes beyond the boundaries of the human body, the earth, and our lives. It resides in our souls. What is "forever?" I believe a person's soul is forever. That "goodbye" doesn't have to be forever. And true love, however long or short, follows our souls and guides us as we meet our true love...again.
December 13, 2008
This book moved me. I believed it. I believe in the characters. It was so sad and beautiful and _honest._
It was also an incredibly creepy and interesting view of life and death. His ideas about what/where ghosts go, and their interactions with people . . . I believed Adam, and I believed _in_ him, and I believed his family and his town and his
random angry desperate wandering.
He is a lost boy in a town that everyone else has forgotten, and his family is unhappy and confused, but this is still a beautiful, beautiful book.
It was also an incredibly creepy and interesting view of life and death. His ideas about what/where ghosts go, and their interactions with people . . . I believed Adam, and I believed _in_ him, and I believed his family and his town and his
random angry desperate wandering.
He is a lost boy in a town that everyone else has forgotten, and his family is unhappy and confused, but this is still a beautiful, beautiful book.
September 25, 2023
I am about to reread this book again and i have decided to write this review about it since i have lost count on how many times i have read it over the last 6+ years. I first discovered this book through the movie adaptation because i was watching through cameron monaghan’s filmography. the movie was good and i saw that it was based off of this book. i bought the book second hand and i cant even begin to describe how i felt when i read this for the first time. it is the most beautiful piece of literature i have EVER read in my entire life and i have been reading chapter books for almost 20 years. whenever i am in a bad headspace, i read this book as an escape and it brings me back to life every time. this book means everything to me and the second i finished it, i bought the rest of the books he has written (which are all 5 stars to me). every thing about this book is perfect to me and i will not accept any criticism on it. i have read it so many times that my copy is all beat up and full of highlighted quotes and tabs. i even bought a journal when i read it the second time around so i could write about my favorite parts of the book. i wish i still had the journal. i am so thankful that this book exists and i will continue to recommend and talk about it for as long as i live.
January 6, 2016
He leído bastante libros que sus críticas las comparan con el guardián entre el centeno, pero aun gustandome esos libros no se le acercan ni queriendo. Del camino al final si es un acierto, es un libro que más se asemeja con el de Salinger, pero teniendo voz propia. La historia cuenta con tres personajes principales, Adam que es el prota, un chico dulce y a la vez rebelde, conforme avanza el libro le vamos conociendo más, entendiendolo, se vuelve más complejo. Jamie, el chico asesinado, que Adam puede ver su fantasma, cada vez que aparece es capaz de poner tensión e incomodar, pero siempre quería que apareciera . Y Gracie una chica solitaria y rara que colecciona piedras. Es un libro sobre transición, transformación y crecimiento. Sobre la tristeza, la muerte, la vida. El protagonista nos guía por esa tierra de nadie, ese viaje autodestructivo, para renacer y encontrarse a sí mismo.
Lo recomiendo, aunque no es un libro para todo el mundo.
Lo mejor: Los personajes, los sueños Oníricos, la historia
Lo peor: A veces puede volverse pesado, pero esa parte es necesaria para entender el concepto del libro.
Lo recomiendo, aunque no es un libro para todo el mundo.
Lo mejor: Los personajes, los sueños Oníricos, la historia
Lo peor: A veces puede volverse pesado, pero esa parte es necesaria para entender el concepto del libro.
January 30, 2008
One for Sorrow is a unique ghost story that goes in some unexpected directions. When Adam McCormick's classmate, Jamie, is killed, Adam finds himself obsessed with Jamie's death and the friendship that the two of them could have shared if they hadn't both been so hesitant. When Adam learns that Gracie, the girl who found Jamie's body, has been seeing Jamie's ghost, he purposefully seeks her out. What follows is a strange almost-love-triangle, as Adam is torn between his loyalty to Jamie and his love for unpredictable Gracie.
There's so much stuff going on in this novel that it occasionally feels a bit bogged down, but in the end it's a wonderful coming-of-age story. The rural Ohio setting feels very real, and the characters are quirkily interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing what Barzak does next.
There's so much stuff going on in this novel that it occasionally feels a bit bogged down, but in the end it's a wonderful coming-of-age story. The rural Ohio setting feels very real, and the characters are quirkily interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing what Barzak does next.
May 16, 2013
This was a good book, part young adult, part coming of age story. When Jamie Marks is found murdered, his would-be friend Adam becomes the only thing that keeps the murdered youth tethered to this life. But the tether that gives Jamie life sucks the life from Adam. Adam must decide to choose life and after that, must choose how to live. It starts with death and ends with life. Read it now so that when the movie comes out you have a comparison.
March 26, 2010
Great book. A lot of sadness without a clear cut happy ending, but a glimmer of hope nonetheless.
March 20, 2021
A comfort book for me. The book and movie adaptation complement each other well. I read this book every year since I found it.
June 23, 2022
"My breath shuddered in my throat as her lips went down, down, down the length of it and suddenly I couldn't feel the rest of my body. I was dick. Just dick. Everything else disappeared."
That about sums it up.
People who are not me love this book. I am me. I do not love this book. End review.
That about sums it up.
People who are not me love this book. I am me. I do not love this book. End review.
April 26, 2022
The novel One for Sorrow is written by Christopher Barzak. It revolves around Adam McCormick, a 15 year old boy who tries to overcome the conflicts he faces in his daily life. Adam befriends Jamie Marks, who is soon after found murdered in the woods. With the death of Adam’s grandmother, his mother being paralyzed, and living with a neglectful father who makes Adam feel unloved, he just couldn't take the death of his friend. Adam needed Jamie, and so he found a way to see him, even if he had to see him as a ghost. Seeing Jamie as a ghost made their connection much stronger. Jamie was always right next to Adam, even when he slept. Both of them were lost in their own “lives”, with only each other to talk to. Things progressively got worse for the both of them, and they decided to run away together. They desperately tried to run from their problems, but no matter where they ran to, they couldn't escape them. Throughout their journey together, Adam began to lose connection with his sanity, and with the human world.
The book included themes that I didn't expect to be interested in, but ended up enjoying. Themes such as death, desire to escape life, and loss of innocence. As Adam went off on his own, he realized how dark of a place the world can be, that life didn't get any easier. Regardless of where he was, darkness always seemed to find him. The character development Adam went through was incredible. He went from being suicidal, relying on Jamie to be his happiness and his only reason for existing, to being able to accept himself/his life, admitting to his faults and facing his problems. The writing in this novel was high quality, in the sense that the great amount of detail allowed you to picture everything clearly as you were reading. Although there was some disturbing content, and it was upsetting to picture murders and abuse in my head, it made the book more powerful and meaningful. I liked how the author didn't hold back depressing details and forced you to try and understand difficult situations. The book made me feel sympathetic for the main characters. I felt anger towards how unfair and difficult Adam’s life was. It was full of suspense, and it left me wanting to know if things would ever get better.
I can’t find much that I didn't like about this book; overall it was one of the best books I have ever read. One thing that I didn't like/found annoying was that the chapters were very long (25 pages or more). The long chapters made it seem like the book was never ending, and caused me to lose interest while I was reading. Another thing that bothered me was Adam’s ability to make proper choices and analyze situations. A number of terrible scenarios could have been easily avoided, provided that Adam thought out his decisions more carefully.
One for Sorrow is an intense and tragic novel, it makes you think of concepts you may not ever want to think about. It makes you question life’s purpose, and will leave you thinking for days, maybe even weeks. There were times where I wanted to stop reading. Most of the content was frightening, depressing, and most of all discomforting, but that is what made it so amazing. I forced myself to read until the end, and I was not disappointed. It was so different from what I was used to, and I am glad I got to experience reading a book so unique. I would definitely recommend this book to others. However, if you are sensitive to disturbing content, I would not recommend this book to you. If you want to challenge yourself to read something new, something to make you think, I am confident that you will be more than satisfied with the book.
The book included themes that I didn't expect to be interested in, but ended up enjoying. Themes such as death, desire to escape life, and loss of innocence. As Adam went off on his own, he realized how dark of a place the world can be, that life didn't get any easier. Regardless of where he was, darkness always seemed to find him. The character development Adam went through was incredible. He went from being suicidal, relying on Jamie to be his happiness and his only reason for existing, to being able to accept himself/his life, admitting to his faults and facing his problems. The writing in this novel was high quality, in the sense that the great amount of detail allowed you to picture everything clearly as you were reading. Although there was some disturbing content, and it was upsetting to picture murders and abuse in my head, it made the book more powerful and meaningful. I liked how the author didn't hold back depressing details and forced you to try and understand difficult situations. The book made me feel sympathetic for the main characters. I felt anger towards how unfair and difficult Adam’s life was. It was full of suspense, and it left me wanting to know if things would ever get better.
I can’t find much that I didn't like about this book; overall it was one of the best books I have ever read. One thing that I didn't like/found annoying was that the chapters were very long (25 pages or more). The long chapters made it seem like the book was never ending, and caused me to lose interest while I was reading. Another thing that bothered me was Adam’s ability to make proper choices and analyze situations. A number of terrible scenarios could have been easily avoided, provided that Adam thought out his decisions more carefully.
One for Sorrow is an intense and tragic novel, it makes you think of concepts you may not ever want to think about. It makes you question life’s purpose, and will leave you thinking for days, maybe even weeks. There were times where I wanted to stop reading. Most of the content was frightening, depressing, and most of all discomforting, but that is what made it so amazing. I forced myself to read until the end, and I was not disappointed. It was so different from what I was used to, and I am glad I got to experience reading a book so unique. I would definitely recommend this book to others. However, if you are sensitive to disturbing content, I would not recommend this book to you. If you want to challenge yourself to read something new, something to make you think, I am confident that you will be more than satisfied with the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2016
2,5*
“Sometimes you've got to be able to listen to yourself and be okay with no one else understanding.”
I was really looking forward to the “as hunting as The Lovely Bones” suggestion on the blurb but turns out this was not what I expected. It sounded way much better in my head than it did on paper.
I can’t quite put my finger on it but there’s just something about this story rather than the book itself. I liked the first half all right: Adam’s family dynamics, his relationship with Gracie, which gathered most of the beautiful phrasing done in this book – oh, the sunflowers! -, and some of the Jamie parts too. I think the connection Adam made with his ghost was unfounded considering they weren’t really friends in life nor does it justify the fact that he held on to him as long as he did. I get why it happened, and believe me, I really liked the idea of it, but for it to be truly meaningful it would’ve had to have some serious character development which it clearly lacked.
I’m also thinking this might have been a metaphor for finding meaning in life after death and finally letting go in order to move on. Seen from this perspective, Adam’s journey of self-discovery takes on a whole new meaning.
I think it’s definitely an original ghost story - Jamie feeding off words taken from Adam was an interesting concept – but ultimately, it wasn’t compelling.
What kept me turning pages up until about the last couple of chapters faded away, much like Adam in the last moment, and I lost interest. He runs away a second time and to me that was over and done with. It became repetitive and tiresome and the end was a total cop-out leaving out a significant part of the story: the mystery of Jamie’s death.
The movie adaptation Jamie Marks Is Dead isn't without its own flaws but it sheds some light on Jamie's death and it also gives the closure I didn't get with the book so I'd say they go well along together.
“Sometimes you've got to be able to listen to yourself and be okay with no one else understanding.”
I was really looking forward to the “as hunting as The Lovely Bones” suggestion on the blurb but turns out this was not what I expected. It sounded way much better in my head than it did on paper.
I can’t quite put my finger on it but there’s just something about this story rather than the book itself. I liked the first half all right: Adam’s family dynamics, his relationship with Gracie, which gathered most of the beautiful phrasing done in this book – oh, the sunflowers! -, and some of the Jamie parts too. I think the connection Adam made with his ghost was unfounded considering they weren’t really friends in life nor does it justify the fact that he held on to him as long as he did. I get why it happened, and believe me, I really liked the idea of it, but for it to be truly meaningful it would’ve had to have some serious character development which it clearly lacked.
I’m also thinking this might have been a metaphor for finding meaning in life after death and finally letting go in order to move on. Seen from this perspective, Adam’s journey of self-discovery takes on a whole new meaning.
I think it’s definitely an original ghost story - Jamie feeding off words taken from Adam was an interesting concept – but ultimately, it wasn’t compelling.
What kept me turning pages up until about the last couple of chapters faded away, much like Adam in the last moment, and I lost interest. He runs away a second time and to me that was over and done with. It became repetitive and tiresome and the end was a total cop-out leaving out a significant part of the story: the mystery of Jamie’s death.
The movie adaptation Jamie Marks Is Dead isn't without its own flaws but it sheds some light on Jamie's death and it also gives the closure I didn't get with the book so I'd say they go well along together.
April 2, 2020
Livro de estréia do autor, One for Sorrow (um para tristeza em tradução livre) traz Adam, um garoto que consegue ver o fantasma do colega Jamie que sofreu um homicídio, Jamie, que após morrer não consegue se desligar da vontade de estar vivo e Gracie, a menina que encontra o cadáver de Jamie e também consegue enxergar o fantasma.
Como eu já li um livro do autor (Wonders of the invisible world) eu estava esperando mais que uma simples história de fantasmas, e realmente esse livro é muito mais do que isso. O grande assunto do livro é a morte. Adam passa por um momento extremamente turbulento a partir do momento que passa a ver o fantasma de Jamie, eles constroem uma amizade muito forte que não teve tempo de acontecer quando ambos estavam vivos. Enquanto Adam passa mais tempo ao lado dos mortos que dos vivos, sua percepção de felicidade, realidade e estar vivo vai se modificando e se sobrecarregando de tal forma que a narrativa fica incrivelmente triste.
É um livro que me deixou muito pra baixo. Todas as reflexões sobre família, solidão, fé, amizade, amor, culpa e autoconhecimento são profundas e eu com certeza absorvi muita coisa desse livro. É aquele tipo de leitura que toca o leitor de um modo diferente porque não é nada sutil. E toda essa situação que estamos vivendo agora foi um catalisador pra todos esses sentimentos conturbados aflorarem mais ainda.
A história traz o sobrenatural, tem um toque de magia, fala sobre o poder das palavras e, na minha concepção, ilustra o que é uma depressão profunda, uma tristeza interna que não tem escapatória. Ou será que tem? Infelizmente nenhum dos livros do autor são publicados por aqui, porém este livro tem uma adaptação em filme que se chama "Jamie Marks is dead". Tô preparando o coração pra assistir.
Como eu já li um livro do autor (Wonders of the invisible world) eu estava esperando mais que uma simples história de fantasmas, e realmente esse livro é muito mais do que isso. O grande assunto do livro é a morte. Adam passa por um momento extremamente turbulento a partir do momento que passa a ver o fantasma de Jamie, eles constroem uma amizade muito forte que não teve tempo de acontecer quando ambos estavam vivos. Enquanto Adam passa mais tempo ao lado dos mortos que dos vivos, sua percepção de felicidade, realidade e estar vivo vai se modificando e se sobrecarregando de tal forma que a narrativa fica incrivelmente triste.
É um livro que me deixou muito pra baixo. Todas as reflexões sobre família, solidão, fé, amizade, amor, culpa e autoconhecimento são profundas e eu com certeza absorvi muita coisa desse livro. É aquele tipo de leitura que toca o leitor de um modo diferente porque não é nada sutil. E toda essa situação que estamos vivendo agora foi um catalisador pra todos esses sentimentos conturbados aflorarem mais ainda.
A história traz o sobrenatural, tem um toque de magia, fala sobre o poder das palavras e, na minha concepção, ilustra o que é uma depressão profunda, uma tristeza interna que não tem escapatória. Ou será que tem? Infelizmente nenhum dos livros do autor são publicados por aqui, porém este livro tem uma adaptação em filme que se chama "Jamie Marks is dead". Tô preparando o coração pra assistir.
February 16, 2017
This book is, for lack of a better word, bizarre on many levels but riveting at the same time.
October 7, 2015
My experience with this novel was comparable to sinking into a lonely, surreal, bitter sweet dream; that of someone I know but have never met. It lulled me from the first word and and had me captivated until the last, and with any successful book, the story doesn't end on the final page.
Barzak's ideas are original, fascinating, and tap into that lost, confused, lonely part of the soul we've all experienced. It's written beautifully, and every word, paragraph and chapter leads seamlessly into the next whilst hardly any time passes at all, just like a dream. The best one you've ever had.
I was expecting to enjoy this novel, but not love it. It was deeply layered in ways I didn't expect and took me in directions I didn't see coming. The perspective of Adam is easy to identify with and novel has a uniquely soothing, comforting lull I can't compare to anything else.
Barzak's ideas are original, fascinating, and tap into that lost, confused, lonely part of the soul we've all experienced. It's written beautifully, and every word, paragraph and chapter leads seamlessly into the next whilst hardly any time passes at all, just like a dream. The best one you've ever had.
I was expecting to enjoy this novel, but not love it. It was deeply layered in ways I didn't expect and took me in directions I didn't see coming. The perspective of Adam is easy to identify with and novel has a uniquely soothing, comforting lull I can't compare to anything else.
March 13, 2008
The one where a kid is murdered and Adam befriends his ghost. I gave it 65 pages.
I had two problems with it: style and motivation. The style is a little too true to the way a fifteen-year-old might tell a story -- which is to say, meandering, repetitive, and trite. (In fact, all the actual fifteen-year-olds I know would probably do a better job than this, though maybe not on the first draft, which is what it reads like.)
And I couldn't make sense of why any of the characters made the choices they made, not even our first-person narrator, who doesn't tell the readers any more than he tells his parents. What did you do in school today? Nothin'. What made you think it was a good idea to consort with a ghost? Nothin'.
[Locus: 2007 recommended YA booklist]
I had two problems with it: style and motivation. The style is a little too true to the way a fifteen-year-old might tell a story -- which is to say, meandering, repetitive, and trite. (In fact, all the actual fifteen-year-olds I know would probably do a better job than this, though maybe not on the first draft, which is what it reads like.)
And I couldn't make sense of why any of the characters made the choices they made, not even our first-person narrator, who doesn't tell the readers any more than he tells his parents. What did you do in school today? Nothin'. What made you think it was a good idea to consort with a ghost? Nothin'.
[Locus: 2007 recommended YA booklist]
March 2, 2015
<<¿Cómo se puede querer algo y tenerle miedo al mismo tiempo? Seguro que era la sensación más estúpida del mundo. Seguro que era el tipo de sensación que hacía que la gente perdiera el sentido común.>>
Un libro que descubrí gracias a su película "Jamie Marks is dead" la cual me gusto mucho y decidí que tenia que leer el libro.
Nos encontramos con la historia de Adam quien tiene una relación con el alma de un compañero de colegio Jamie, quien fue asesinado recientemente. Una historia de amor y amistad, donde nos encontraremos con la capacidad que tiene una persona al querer aferrarse a algo que ya se fue y como afecta a la misma persona.
Lectura recomendada.
Un libro que descubrí gracias a su película "Jamie Marks is dead" la cual me gusto mucho y decidí que tenia que leer el libro.
Nos encontramos con la historia de Adam quien tiene una relación con el alma de un compañero de colegio Jamie, quien fue asesinado recientemente. Una historia de amor y amistad, donde nos encontraremos con la capacidad que tiene una persona al querer aferrarse a algo que ya se fue y como afecta a la misma persona.
Lectura recomendada.
January 14, 2024
REREAD REVIEW:
I'm not always a big magical realism (?) fan but I liked it here. I really should watch the movie again.
INITIAL REVIEW:
I bought this three or four years ago right after watching Jamie Marks is Dead and only just around to reading it now. I liked the pacing of the movie better and Gracie wasn't as much of an annoying bitch. The relationship between Jamie and Adam was sweeter in the book and the ending was more devastating. Book Adam is a bisexual disaster and I love him.
I'm not always a big magical realism (?) fan but I liked it here. I really should watch the movie again.
INITIAL REVIEW:
I bought this three or four years ago right after watching Jamie Marks is Dead and only just around to reading it now. I liked the pacing of the movie better and Gracie wasn't as much of an annoying bitch. The relationship between Jamie and Adam was sweeter in the book and the ending was more devastating. Book Adam is a bisexual disaster and I love him.
August 2, 2014
A fascinating novel that is hard to classify: part ghost story, part love story, part family drama, part coming-of-age story. The writing is lovely. The story wanders a little in the middle but gets back on track by the end. I hope the forthcoming movie can preserve the lyrical feel of the novel.
July 29, 2014
It dawned on me, as I neared the end of this book, that I might be reading a so-called Young Adult novel. I'm glad to report that categories of ALL types eluded the reading experience. Barzak is a fine writer. Period.
March 24, 2024
Wow... This is one hell of a good book. Brave, startlingly original, true and deeply moving.
September 7, 2024
One of the best books I have read in a long time!
May 5, 2024
This book is hard to define. It had a hint of magical realism, it was part ghost story, and it was a coming-of-age novel. When a classmate of Adam’s is found murdered, this seems to unhinge something in Adam. Though he and Jamie were just casual acquaintances, Jamie’s death deeply affects Adam, so much so that Adam starts interacting with Jamie’s “ghost.” Eventually he hooks up with the girl who found Jamie’s body, as they both feel connected by Jamie.
But underneath all the romance and paranormal weirdness, this is really about Adam’s deeply unhappy home life, his overall dissatisfaction with life, and the trauma of his friend’s death. As he wanders aimlessly through the Ohio countryside (he even appropriately references The Catcher in the Rye), he confronts his inner turmoil. It was at times poignant, but Adam never seems tethered to this world and is happy to leave it. Really, I think despite the haunting, the superstitions, and the brushes with death, this is a book about mental health. It was the overall lack of any solid resolution that kind of irked me, but Adam does put forth some effort in the end. It was a strange, haunting little book…
But underneath all the romance and paranormal weirdness, this is really about Adam’s deeply unhappy home life, his overall dissatisfaction with life, and the trauma of his friend’s death. As he wanders aimlessly through the Ohio countryside (he even appropriately references The Catcher in the Rye), he confronts his inner turmoil. It was at times poignant, but Adam never seems tethered to this world and is happy to leave it. Really, I think despite the haunting, the superstitions, and the brushes with death, this is a book about mental health. It was the overall lack of any solid resolution that kind of irked me, but Adam does put forth some effort in the end. It was a strange, haunting little book…
August 24, 2017
I really liked this book, but it is very dark and brings a sadness to your heart. Very well written.
Want to read
March 12, 2019ok i need this
christopher barzak?? mORE MAGIC REALISM WITH PERFECT CHARACTERS AND LEGENDARY WRITING???
sounds abt right
christopher barzak?? mORE MAGIC REALISM WITH PERFECT CHARACTERS AND LEGENDARY WRITING???
sounds abt right
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