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Here Lies Bridget
They say that before you die your life flashes before you eyes.
You think it's going to be the good stuff - every kiss, every party.
Don't count on it.
I was Bridget Duke - the uncontested ruler of the school. If keeping the wannabes in their place meant being a mean girl, then so be it! I never thought there'd be a price to pay.
Until the accident.
Now, trapped between life and death, I'm seeing my world in a new light: through the eyes of five people whose existence I've made hell.
And I've got one chance to make things right. If I don't, I may never wake up again...
You think it's going to be the good stuff - every kiss, every party.
Don't count on it.
I was Bridget Duke - the uncontested ruler of the school. If keeping the wannabes in their place meant being a mean girl, then so be it! I never thought there'd be a price to pay.
Until the accident.
Now, trapped between life and death, I'm seeing my world in a new light: through the eyes of five people whose existence I've made hell.
And I've got one chance to make things right. If I don't, I may never wake up again...
219 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 18, 2010
28 people are currently reading
1968 people want to read
About the author
Paige Harbison
7 books564 followersA little bit about me...
I grew up in the Washington D.C. area, raised by a musician and a writer. I graduated high school early, and went to college in St. Augustine, FL. Then, between Freshman and Sophomore year, I wrote my first novel. Everything in my life changed when, the following semester, I signed my first contract at age nineteen.
I transferred schools three times for fun, and changed my major from Theatre to Painting in order to accommodate my new career. I graduated early from Towson University and continued to work on my first three published novels, all YA: Here Lies Bridget, New Girl, and Anything to Have You.
Throughout the next decade I worked as a bartender and ghostwriter, traveling as much as I could, living it up in the name of book inspo.
At the start of the pandemic, I moved with my family to Palm Springs, CA and finally slowed down enough to start thinking about my own next chapter, which led me to leave the service industry, take some opportunities in film and TV, and start work on my next book.
I am now based in Los Angeles, California, where I live with my dog, Tarot, my partner, Richie, and the 12-9000 uninvited spiders that live in and around our home.
I grew up in the Washington D.C. area, raised by a musician and a writer. I graduated high school early, and went to college in St. Augustine, FL. Then, between Freshman and Sophomore year, I wrote my first novel. Everything in my life changed when, the following semester, I signed my first contract at age nineteen.
I transferred schools three times for fun, and changed my major from Theatre to Painting in order to accommodate my new career. I graduated early from Towson University and continued to work on my first three published novels, all YA: Here Lies Bridget, New Girl, and Anything to Have You.
Throughout the next decade I worked as a bartender and ghostwriter, traveling as much as I could, living it up in the name of book inspo.
At the start of the pandemic, I moved with my family to Palm Springs, CA and finally slowed down enough to start thinking about my own next chapter, which led me to leave the service industry, take some opportunities in film and TV, and start work on my next book.
I am now based in Los Angeles, California, where I live with my dog, Tarot, my partner, Richie, and the 12-9000 uninvited spiders that live in and around our home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
February 22, 2016
I liked this for what it is as I am not it's demographic.
I enjoyed having a protagonist I hate and it was a nice fun read.
I enjoyed having a protagonist I hate and it was a nice fun read.
October 24, 2011
I had never even heard of this book before I picked it up at Tia’s house and I decided to read it on a lazy Saturday afternoon. One thing I got out of this. I just wasted my Saturday afternoon. I’m serious, this book was that bad. The only parts that I actually liked were when she stepped into the shoes and became someone else. Other than that. It was pretty bad. So why did I continue reading it? I really don’t know.
So what was this boring/terrible/annoying book about, tell us in a sentence? Here Lies Bridget is about Bridget, a girl who dies (or so we think) and she is forced to see why she was such a bitch. That’s basically the book in a sentence also there’s this new girl (who Bridget is totally jealous of) she turns out to be the one making all this happen.
What did you think of it? Kill me now! It was that bad.
Is that all you have to say? What about the writing? The plot? Really the writing was okay, it kept me reading and it was a good concept, I just don’t think the author pulled it off. I finished it, so the fact that I could finish it should be a good sign right?
What about the characters? I likedall none of the characters. They all just annoyed me, they were either too good or too bitchy. I guess I kind of did like the step mum. But that’s about it. Ooh, yeah. I also liked the relationship that played out between Bridget and what’s his face.
Overall, I have no clue who I would recommend it to. Not anyone really unless you want to waste a few hours of your life.
P.S. Sorry this review it all over the place, it’s been a couple months since I read the book.
So what was this boring/terrible/annoying book about, tell us in a sentence? Here Lies Bridget is about Bridget, a girl who dies (or so we think) and she is forced to see why she was such a bitch. That’s basically the book in a sentence also there’s this new girl (who Bridget is totally jealous of) she turns out to be the one making all this happen.
What did you think of it? Kill me now! It was that bad.
Is that all you have to say? What about the writing? The plot? Really the writing was okay, it kept me reading and it was a good concept, I just don’t think the author pulled it off. I finished it, so the fact that I could finish it should be a good sign right?
What about the characters? I liked
Overall, I have no clue who I would recommend it to. Not anyone really unless you want to waste a few hours of your life.
P.S. Sorry this review it all over the place, it’s been a couple months since I read the book.
January 30, 2011
I’m on the fence with this book because the premise is quite intriguing, but I feel like it didn’t come across as smoothly as it should have. Hence my three-star rating. Let me explain. The main character, Bridget, is a spoiled, controlling bitch. Normally I’m not one to throw words like that out there, but trust me when I say there are dirtier words I want to call her. I know it’s to show how awful this girl truly is, but it felt like pulling teeth—I literally wanted to reach through my Nook and choke her. She’s rude to all her friends, she treats her stepmother like she’s the evil witch of the west, and shrugs it all off like she’s so wonderful that her behavior is excusable. No—wait. That isn’t right either, because it’s as if she doesn’t even think she’s being mean. There is no excuse because what she’s doing isn’t wrong. Or mean. I guess what I’m trying to convey is that her meanness isn’t believable. Let me give you an example . . .
Bridget’s father is a famous sports announcer and is away from home the majority of the time. Because of that, her stepmother has become, basically, her sole guardian. This woman is sweet, kind, and always pleasant to her—overly even. Many times through the book you see this woman’s tender and endearing side shine. How Bridget treats her—this person who’s been in her life since she was in elementary school and taken care of her—is, like I said before, unbelievable. How anyone can be that blatantly mean blows my mind. Especially to someone who’s been there for you.
I also don’t understand how she can be so oblivious to everyone around her—emotionally I mean. I understand that her behavior was necessary so the author could get to the premise of the book: what happens when you are in limbo and everyone there wants you to go to hell? But did it really take 80% of the book to do that? No. Was it well written? Sure, absolutely. That’s not the point. The reason I wanted to read this book was because of how it was projected to me through the summary. Instead, I’m busy reading this book through the point of view of a person I detest. Not someone who’s having their actions shoveled back to them as they await the answer of Heaven or Hell.
Now, here’s where the book finally sunk its proverbial claws in. Bridget has to literally step into the shoes of those she has hurt and relive her snideness through them. It’s an eye-opener, of course. How she didn’t see it before this still blows my mind. This part of the book was my favorite. We get to see all these different points-of-view; this is where the book really picked up. I was turning pages quicker at this point, even though most of the first part of the book, or scenes from it, are relived, it’s always from the point-of-view of someone who isn’t as annoying as Bridget (thank you very much). Then came the decision. Or judgment, if you will. This part I felt was rushed but I enjoyed it nonetheless. And there was even a nice little twist at the end! Overall, this book was enjoyable. Other reviewers didn’t endure the issues I did with this book, but I can only take so much inconceivable idiocy and obvious disregard for what’s in front of a main character. That’s just a preference of mine, I suppose.
Bridget’s father is a famous sports announcer and is away from home the majority of the time. Because of that, her stepmother has become, basically, her sole guardian. This woman is sweet, kind, and always pleasant to her—overly even. Many times through the book you see this woman’s tender and endearing side shine. How Bridget treats her—this person who’s been in her life since she was in elementary school and taken care of her—is, like I said before, unbelievable. How anyone can be that blatantly mean blows my mind. Especially to someone who’s been there for you.
I also don’t understand how she can be so oblivious to everyone around her—emotionally I mean. I understand that her behavior was necessary so the author could get to the premise of the book: what happens when you are in limbo and everyone there wants you to go to hell? But did it really take 80% of the book to do that? No. Was it well written? Sure, absolutely. That’s not the point. The reason I wanted to read this book was because of how it was projected to me through the summary. Instead, I’m busy reading this book through the point of view of a person I detest. Not someone who’s having their actions shoveled back to them as they await the answer of Heaven or Hell.
Now, here’s where the book finally sunk its proverbial claws in. Bridget has to literally step into the shoes of those she has hurt and relive her snideness through them. It’s an eye-opener, of course. How she didn’t see it before this still blows my mind. This part of the book was my favorite. We get to see all these different points-of-view; this is where the book really picked up. I was turning pages quicker at this point, even though most of the first part of the book, or scenes from it, are relived, it’s always from the point-of-view of someone who isn’t as annoying as Bridget (thank you very much). Then came the decision. Or judgment, if you will. This part I felt was rushed but I enjoyed it nonetheless. And there was even a nice little twist at the end! Overall, this book was enjoyable. Other reviewers didn’t endure the issues I did with this book, but I can only take so much inconceivable idiocy and obvious disregard for what’s in front of a main character. That’s just a preference of mine, I suppose.
January 16, 2011
Oh, to describe Bridget. Loathsome. No? How about hateful? Self-absorbed? Spoiled? Or just plain old mean. I guess one word isn’t enough to describe how much I loathed to see her wrap everyone around her finger. Reading of her exploits reminded me of Lohan in Mean Girls. The similarity ends there because while the movie entertained me… had me laughing and empathizing with where the meannies were coming from, Bridget was another matter altogether.
The It girl’s meanness was too much for me.In the first half of this 200 plus page book, we read what she does, what she thinks, and how she justifies herself/her acts. IMO, the redemption part came a bit late; her meanness had been drummed into my head too effectively. And while everyone deserves a second chance, I just couldn’t budge myself into giving Bridget hers! My dislike for her had become too well-entrenched.
The only part that truly "clicked" for me was Liam+ Bridget’s POV. The big comeuppance that I expected did not materialize. I thought the ending was too pat. And while the book isn't terrible (because there were parts that did work) I'd go for something else especially if you're after a bad girl learns to better her ways.
The It girl’s meanness was too much for me.In the first half of this 200 plus page book, we read what she does, what she thinks, and how she justifies herself/her acts. IMO, the redemption part came a bit late; her meanness had been drummed into my head too effectively. And while everyone deserves a second chance, I just couldn’t budge myself into giving Bridget hers! My dislike for her had become too well-entrenched.
The only part that truly "clicked" for me was Liam+ Bridget’s POV. The big comeuppance that I expected did not materialize. I thought the ending was too pat. And while the book isn't terrible (because there were parts that did work) I'd go for something else especially if you're after a bad girl learns to better her ways.
May 3, 2016
Kutipan Terfavorit
"... semua orang memang harus berubah, walaupun waktunya berbeda-beda. Dan, jika kau mau berubah, lakukan saja. jangan menghabiskan waktu untuk mengkhawatirkan apakah seluruh dunia akan memaafkanmu. Meskipun tak ada orang yang kau kenal mau memaafkanmu, jangan khawatir. Kau akan bertemu orang-orang baru. Kau akan memperlakukan orang-prang baru itu dengan lebih baik" (halaman 219)
Review lengkap :
http://deebacalah.blogspot.co.id/2016...
"... semua orang memang harus berubah, walaupun waktunya berbeda-beda. Dan, jika kau mau berubah, lakukan saja. jangan menghabiskan waktu untuk mengkhawatirkan apakah seluruh dunia akan memaafkanmu. Meskipun tak ada orang yang kau kenal mau memaafkanmu, jangan khawatir. Kau akan bertemu orang-orang baru. Kau akan memperlakukan orang-prang baru itu dengan lebih baik" (halaman 219)
Review lengkap :
http://deebacalah.blogspot.co.id/2016...
February 6, 2011
Bridget's supposed to be a bitch. That's the whole point. It's a tale of redemption. I CERTAINLY understand why some readers didn't warm to her right away, or perhaps ever, but as authors we don't always aim to make you relate to the main character...just to make you wonder what happens to him or her. So my question to anyone who didn't like Bridget is this: did you read the whole book to see what happened? If so, score!
Also, I need to read BEFORE I FALL now, as the reference has been made a few times and it's intriguing. But book production schedules run at about two years and that book hasn't been out one year yet, so any similarities are coincidental.
Though, the truth is, you could give two authors the EXACT same outline and tell them to write the book and the books would be very different. Kind of like how the Beatles' "Lady Madonna" was their attempt to be Elvis....
HERE LIES BRIDGET is a great book -- laugh out loud funny, uncomfortable at times, and with moments that are unbelievably poignant. I wish I'd written it!
Also, I need to read BEFORE I FALL now, as the reference has been made a few times and it's intriguing. But book production schedules run at about two years and that book hasn't been out one year yet, so any similarities are coincidental.
Though, the truth is, you could give two authors the EXACT same outline and tell them to write the book and the books would be very different. Kind of like how the Beatles' "Lady Madonna" was their attempt to be Elvis....
HERE LIES BRIDGET is a great book -- laugh out loud funny, uncomfortable at times, and with moments that are unbelievably poignant. I wish I'd written it!
March 28, 2016
The characters in this annoyed me quite a few times, so I can't say I liked them.
There were a few parts in this where I felt a bit bored, but it was an okay read overall.
There were a few parts in this where I felt a bit bored, but it was an okay read overall.
September 20, 2022
The premise sounded so good.
You die, but not quite, you have second chance sort of to make things right.
Well I was hooked.
Until I started reading.
One thing I did not like was Bridget herself.
The story was well enough written for me to read the book but it was not very enjoyable.
Since I was so curious about the description I am glad I did read it though.
You die, but not quite, you have second chance sort of to make things right.
Well I was hooked.
Until I started reading.
One thing I did not like was Bridget herself.
The story was well enough written for me to read the book but it was not very enjoyable.
Since I was so curious about the description I am glad I did read it though.
December 21, 2010
My opinion: I absolutely ADORED this book! I was sucked in by the first chapter and just could not put it down! Everyone needs to read this! Ok, so it starts out with Bridget Duke describing recklessly driving her car because she is so upset by the turn of events in her life. As she goes of the road, she goes back in her life story to explain how she got to that point. She was basically the mean girl of her high school (a prep school). Everyone wanted to be her friend, either because they wanted to be part of the "in" crowd or because they were absolutely terrified of her. She is constantly late to her classes, she tries to cheat her way through just about everything, and she treats her stepmom horribly. Her best friends seem to be Michelle and Jillian and she doesn't even show them one iota of respect either. Through the course of the first half of the book, she gets one of her teachers fired, gets a fellow student suspended, and manages to terrorize her "friends", family, and anyone else who comes into contact with her. Her mom died in a car accident when she was younger, and it has been hard for her to adjust after that. She starts to spiral out of control; her ex-boyfriend, Liam, had broken up with her because she just wasn't herself anymore. She became someone that no one really liked, although it was hard for her to see that. When everyone starts to turn on her, she decides to take a reckless drive that will reveal to her who she has truly become, whether she likes it or not.
I'm trying so hard not to give away anything too important in my review. It's hard because it was such an excellent read. Bridget is definitely a character you love to hate, and hate to love. She's arrogant, snobby, and selfish; she never takes anybody's needs or feelings into account. But she's also very witty, she tries to care about her friends' problems (sometimes) even though her advice and comments usually come out wrong and hurt rather than help, and you can assume that not having her mother around has had a large effect on who she has become. The few interactions she has with Liam, you can tell her still cares for her, and wishes that they could be together, but you certainly can't blame him for not wanting to be around the new her. When she (literally) gets to walk in the shoes of the people she hurt, it's nice to see her gradually realizing how much her actions and words hurt everyone around her and the horrible things she has done. She finally feels guilt, regret, and compassion. The revelation about her mom was definitely an "Aha!" moment for me when I figured out what was going on. I definitely recommend this book to everyone, because I don't think there is anyone who couldn't relate to this book in some way or another. My favorite read in a long time, bravo!
My rating: 5/5 stars
I'm trying so hard not to give away anything too important in my review. It's hard because it was such an excellent read. Bridget is definitely a character you love to hate, and hate to love. She's arrogant, snobby, and selfish; she never takes anybody's needs or feelings into account. But she's also very witty, she tries to care about her friends' problems (sometimes) even though her advice and comments usually come out wrong and hurt rather than help, and you can assume that not having her mother around has had a large effect on who she has become. The few interactions she has with Liam, you can tell her still cares for her, and wishes that they could be together, but you certainly can't blame him for not wanting to be around the new her. When she (literally) gets to walk in the shoes of the people she hurt, it's nice to see her gradually realizing how much her actions and words hurt everyone around her and the horrible things she has done. She finally feels guilt, regret, and compassion. The revelation about her mom was definitely an "Aha!" moment for me when I figured out what was going on. I definitely recommend this book to everyone, because I don't think there is anyone who couldn't relate to this book in some way or another. My favorite read in a long time, bravo!
My rating: 5/5 stars
December 10, 2013
Synopsis: Bridget Duke has it all. A famous father, all the clothes and friends money can buy, and the entire school at her feet. But does she really have it all? Maybe all Bridget truly has is a distant dad, a deceased mother, and a broken heart. Minutes away from her death, Bridget is about to face the truths she's always be hidden from. Take a journey down the roads of life in Paige Harbison's clever and harrowing novel that shows just how broken one girl can be.
Here Lies Bridget was... so much more than I thought it would be. I was expecting a light, contemporary novel, but I was not expecting all these EMOTIONS. I have so much to say about this book, but I don't think I can really capture the true essence of this novel in one review. But I can try? Here I go.
Characters: Bridget seems like your average mean girl; spoiled and unrelenting. But she was so much more than that! She learned to love and she learned to mourn loss. She dealt with things that made her feel sad and lonely, and put her childhood had put her on the wrong track for her teenage years. This doesn't excuse her behavior towards the people she like to terrorize, but I had real compassion for Bridget.
I have to admit that I never hate the mean girls in books. I have read so many books starring these types of characters that I've learned not to judge too much and to try to see their sides of the story. Sometimes, this doesn't always work out and I DON'T see a reason to feel bad for a certain character, but Bridget just kind of struck my heart.
I don't really have much else to say about the other characters, mainly because I either liked them or I didn't. Bridget's friends had problems too, and I didn't try to dwell on that, because to be honest, most of them were no better than Bridget herself.
Writing: Through Paige's fabulous writing, I was able to connect with Bridget, and I was so glad to be able to see her opinions and her thoughts. I understood her, and why she acted the way she did. At the end, she became a much-loved character, and for me, this is the sign of an amazing author.
Plot: Here Lies Bridget had a very interesting storyline. It starts off with Bridget going through her days leading up to the car accident. Then, in between moments of life and death, she has to relive the events of the past couple of days through other people's eyes. I found this really intriguing and original. Not only did Paige allow us insight into Bridget's mind, but also the minds of other people as well. This concept in itself is fascinating, and I wish other YA contemporary writers would write a story like this.
Conclusion: I was so impressed with this book by Paige Harbison, who is definitely an author to watch. Like I said before, Here Lies Bridget is a clever and harrowing novel that will be on your mind for days to come.
Here Lies Bridget was... so much more than I thought it would be. I was expecting a light, contemporary novel, but I was not expecting all these EMOTIONS. I have so much to say about this book, but I don't think I can really capture the true essence of this novel in one review. But I can try? Here I go.
Characters: Bridget seems like your average mean girl; spoiled and unrelenting. But she was so much more than that! She learned to love and she learned to mourn loss. She dealt with things that made her feel sad and lonely, and put her childhood had put her on the wrong track for her teenage years. This doesn't excuse her behavior towards the people she like to terrorize, but I had real compassion for Bridget.
I have to admit that I never hate the mean girls in books. I have read so many books starring these types of characters that I've learned not to judge too much and to try to see their sides of the story. Sometimes, this doesn't always work out and I DON'T see a reason to feel bad for a certain character, but Bridget just kind of struck my heart.
I don't really have much else to say about the other characters, mainly because I either liked them or I didn't. Bridget's friends had problems too, and I didn't try to dwell on that, because to be honest, most of them were no better than Bridget herself.
Writing: Through Paige's fabulous writing, I was able to connect with Bridget, and I was so glad to be able to see her opinions and her thoughts. I understood her, and why she acted the way she did. At the end, she became a much-loved character, and for me, this is the sign of an amazing author.
Plot: Here Lies Bridget had a very interesting storyline. It starts off with Bridget going through her days leading up to the car accident. Then, in between moments of life and death, she has to relive the events of the past couple of days through other people's eyes. I found this really intriguing and original. Not only did Paige allow us insight into Bridget's mind, but also the minds of other people as well. This concept in itself is fascinating, and I wish other YA contemporary writers would write a story like this.
Conclusion: I was so impressed with this book by Paige Harbison, who is definitely an author to watch. Like I said before, Here Lies Bridget is a clever and harrowing novel that will be on your mind for days to come.
November 5, 2018
O tejto knihe sa nedá veľa písať. Dokonale ju vystihne veta „Bridget je mrcha!“ A to sa niekomu páči a niekomu nie. Podľa doterajšieho hodnotenia na goodreads (3,44 pri 507 ratingoch ku dňu 13.2.2012) to s knihou nevyzerá ružovo. No mne sa páčila. Veľmi! To, že Bridget nebola dokonalá a vlastne ani typicky kladná hrdinka bolo osviežujúce. Bolo to iné. Kontroverzné. To je to správe slovo, ktoré vystihuje túto knihu. Kontroverzné.
Bridget je sviňa na všetkých naokolo. Bridget umrie. Bridget prežije kľúčové momenty 5 osôb zo svojho okolia, ktorých tyranizovala. Bridget dostane druhú šancu pokúsiť sa to napraviť. A je len na nej zapôsobiť na toho, kto bude súdiť jej posledný výkon. Ak to pokašle, skončila. Navždy.
It was unsettling to hear my voice. Just like listening to an answering machine recording of your voice and realizing that you sound almost exactly like Kermit the Frog.
(pozn. – postavička zo seriálu Muppets)
Druhá zvláštnosť tohto dielka. Väčšinou sa predpokladá, že aj napriek všetkým nástrahám, nebezpečenstvám a prekážkam akéhokoľvek druhu nakoniec hlavná hrdinka prežije. Veď je to predsa hlavná hrdinka doparoma! No tu budete od začiatku na vážkach. Nechá ju prežiť? Umrie? Ako to s ňou bude? Až kým neodzneje posledná bodka, nebudete vedieť ako to s ňou dopadne. Či sa vám koniec bude páčiť je len na vás. Ja sa musím priznať, že mne sa páčil. Pretože som ten typ človeka... Ale bola by som spokojná aj s druhou alternatívou.
I didn’t look as cool and collected as I hoped. Instead I looked a lot like deer in headlights.
Podľa môjho názoru druhý najčastejší dôvod odsúdenia tejto knihy je fakt, ako poukazuje na chyby, ktoré robíme všetci. A nie veľmi pekným spôsobom. To ako si neuvedomujeme ako čokoľvek, čo povieme, môže druhého zasiahnuť až tak hlboko. A ľudia nemajú radi, keď sa tak verejne a bez okolkov poukazuje, čo robia zle. Pretože radi vyzerajú dokonale. Aj keď predsa každý vie, že nikto nie je dokonalý. No to už zabieham do úvahy, ktorá by nemala byť súčasťou tejto minirecenzie.
Doporučujem si knihu prečítať a vytvoriť si na ňu vlastný názor. Teraz už viete čo máte čakať. A možno vás to pripraví. A nebudete takí prekvapení. Možno. No ja si myslím, že by ste Bridget mohli dať šancu. Každý si ju zaslúži.
Bridget je sviňa na všetkých naokolo. Bridget umrie. Bridget prežije kľúčové momenty 5 osôb zo svojho okolia, ktorých tyranizovala. Bridget dostane druhú šancu pokúsiť sa to napraviť. A je len na nej zapôsobiť na toho, kto bude súdiť jej posledný výkon. Ak to pokašle, skončila. Navždy.
It was unsettling to hear my voice. Just like listening to an answering machine recording of your voice and realizing that you sound almost exactly like Kermit the Frog.
(pozn. – postavička zo seriálu Muppets)
Druhá zvláštnosť tohto dielka. Väčšinou sa predpokladá, že aj napriek všetkým nástrahám, nebezpečenstvám a prekážkam akéhokoľvek druhu nakoniec hlavná hrdinka prežije. Veď je to predsa hlavná hrdinka doparoma! No tu budete od začiatku na vážkach. Nechá ju prežiť? Umrie? Ako to s ňou bude? Až kým neodzneje posledná bodka, nebudete vedieť ako to s ňou dopadne. Či sa vám koniec bude páčiť je len na vás. Ja sa musím priznať, že mne sa páčil. Pretože som ten typ človeka... Ale bola by som spokojná aj s druhou alternatívou.
I didn’t look as cool and collected as I hoped. Instead I looked a lot like deer in headlights.
Podľa môjho názoru druhý najčastejší dôvod odsúdenia tejto knihy je fakt, ako poukazuje na chyby, ktoré robíme všetci. A nie veľmi pekným spôsobom. To ako si neuvedomujeme ako čokoľvek, čo povieme, môže druhého zasiahnuť až tak hlboko. A ľudia nemajú radi, keď sa tak verejne a bez okolkov poukazuje, čo robia zle. Pretože radi vyzerajú dokonale. Aj keď predsa každý vie, že nikto nie je dokonalý. No to už zabieham do úvahy, ktorá by nemala byť súčasťou tejto minirecenzie.
Doporučujem si knihu prečítať a vytvoriť si na ňu vlastný názor. Teraz už viete čo máte čakať. A možno vás to pripraví. A nebudete takí prekvapení. Možno. No ja si myslím, že by ste Bridget mohli dať šancu. Každý si ju zaslúži.
January 11, 2011
I did find similiarities in the main characters however between Before I fall and Here Lies Bridget. Bridget, lets face it was a mean girl! As you read you almost want to say that she deserves what she gets, but really nobody deserves to die, no matter what. Of course this book takes on a different look at bullying in schools that really needs to be acknowledged more. It's explained really easily in this story, it's just her behavior and she is really just not aware of how her behavior is viewed by other people, not only peers but her elders as well. It was a great read and books like this should be considered required reading for any school-aged child, honestly.
Read
February 21, 2011I struggled with this book and in the end I couldn't finish it. The whole mean girl story line is really not my thing and also I just couldn't connect with Bridget. There are a lot of positive reviews for this book on goodreads so I really think this was just a case of not my type of book rather than the writing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harquelin for providing me with a copy.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harquelin for providing me with a copy.
August 1, 2015
Lässt sich sehr gut lesen und ist auch eine gute Story. Empfehlenswert !
December 1, 2014
Der erste Satz:
Ich trat das Gaspedal durch.
Meine Meinung:
Inhalt
Bridget ist eins der beliebtesten Mädchen in ihrer Schule. Alle bewundern und beneiden sie. Dies ändert sich jedoch schlagartig, als Anna neu in die Schule kommt. Plötzlich scheint Bridget in ihrem Schatten zu stehen, was sie sich unter keine Umständen bieten lassen kann. Sie fängt an, aus allen Situationen das Beste für sich herauszuholen und geht dabei über Leichen. Wie es den anderen dabei ergeht, interessiert sie nicht. Ihr eigenes Wohl steht an erster Stelle. Irgendwann wendet sich jedoch das Blatt und alle scheinen plötzlich gegen sie zu sein. Verzweifelt fasst Bridget einen Folgen schweren Entschluss, der ihre Denkweise, sowie ihr gesamtes Leben auf den Kopf stellen wird.
Plötzlich war ich nicht mehr der Mensch, der ich gewesen war, zumindest nicht die Bridget, als die ich mich die ganze Zeit definiert hatte. Mein Stern war gesunken.
Das bildete ich mir nicht nur ein. Meiner Erfahrung nach hörten die Leute immer auf mich und taten, was ich sagte. Die Dinge liegen für mich glatt, egal, ob es Glück oder Zufall war.
Zitat aus "Zur Hölle mit Bridget"
Charaktere
Bridget ist das Nonplusultra. Jedenfalls denkt sie dies über sich, was einiges über ihren Charakter aussagt: Sie ist arrogant, eingebildet, selbstsüchtig und verdammt egoistisch. Nur nach ihrer eigenen Auffassungsgabe ist sie natürlich das tollste Mädchen überhaupt und kann es daher auch überhaupt nicht verstehen, wenn irgendjemand ihr tatsächlich mal widersprechen sollte.
Liam ist Bridgets Ex, der sich erst vor Kurzem von ihr getrennt hat. Bridget fiel aus allen Wolken.
Meredith, Bridgets Stiefmutter versucht alles, um ihr irgendwie näher zu kommen. Das Verhalten ihrer Stieftochter empfindet sie als anmaßend und doch versucht sie stets einen guten Draht zu ihr herzustellen.
Jillian und Michelle sind Bridgets beste Freundinnen. Sie hören ihr zu, geben keine Widerworte und tanzen stets nach ihrer Pfeife... Bis sich das Blatt wendet...
"Wenn du dich wirklich ändern möchtest - und das müssen wir alle an bestimmten Punkten im Leben -, dann tu es einfach. Verschwende keine Zeit damit, dich zu fragen, ob der Rest der Welt dir vergeben wird. Selbst wenn dir niemand verzeihen möchte, den du kennst, dann wirst du neue Leute kennen lernen,. Und mit diesen Menschen kannst du dann neu anfangen und es besser machen."
Zitat aus "Zur Hölle mit Bridget"
Gesamt
Ich bin immer noch ziemlich erschüttert von dem Nachbeben, was dieses Buch bei mir ausgelöst hat. Schrecklich, dass es solche Zicken tatsächlich gibt.
Aber mal von Anfang an:
Das Buch ist im Grunde genommen in drei Teile aufgeteilt. Im ersten Teil, dem Prolog erfahren wir, in welcher Situation sich Bridget gerade befindet. Im zweiten Teil, wie es dazu gekommen ist und im Dritten, was sie mit ihrer Situation anstellt.
Gerade im zweiten Teil sehen wir eine Bridget, die der Hölle entsprungen zu sein scheint. Ihr schweres Schicksal sei mal dahin gestellt: So verhält man sich einfach nicht. Stellt euch euren schlimmsten Widersacher in der Schule vor und macht ihn noch tausend Mal schlimmer und schon habt ihr die Protagonistin dieses Buches. Bridget ist die Beste, Bridget ist die Tollste, Bridget ist das Nonplusultra. Ich habe selten eine so nervige und selbstsüchtige Protagonistin erlebt, wie in diesem Buch. Paige Harbison hat sie so stark gezeichnet, dass ich sie irgendwann regelrecht gehasst habe. Was sie anstellt, wünsche ich wirklich niemandem. Wer sie zur Freundin hat, braucht keine Feinde mehr. Es ist der Autorin vorzüglich gelungen zu beschreiben, wie manche Personen ticken. Alle schlechten Eigenschaften, die jemand haben kann, hat sie Bridget verpasst. Ich habe wirklich nicht die geringste Zuneigung für die empfunden, was bei den ganzen Taten, die sie im ersten Teil vollbringt auch absolut nicht verwunderlich ist. Sie ist so dermaßen von sich überzeugt, dass sie gar nicht merkt, was sie ihrem Umfeld damit antut. Die Emotionen der Anderen gehen ihr mal eben schlank am Allerwertesten vorbei. Es spricht für die Autorin, dass sie mir alles so gut vor Augen führen konnte, dass ich eine regelrechte Hasskappe auf Bridget entwickelt habe.
Ihre Freundinnen taten mir an jeder Stelle Leid, in der sie ihre Zeit mit der Prota verbringen und wieder einmal von ihr zurecht gewiesen wurden. Egal was sie machen, es ist ihr niemals recht. Oft habe ich mich gefragt, warum sie sich das überhaupt gefallen lassen und ob sie noch nie etwas von wahrer Freundschaft gehört haben. Dann ist mir aber der Gedanke gekommen, dass sie einfach Angst vor ihr hatten. Angst davor, was passieren würde, würden sie sich gegen sie stellen. Ist das nicht furchtbar?!
Der dritte Teil hat mir Bridget letztendlich wieder, oder endlich, ein bisschen näher gebracht, denn er zeigt ihr reflektierend ihr wahres Gesicht. Eines, was sie ansonsten niemals erblickte, wenn sie in den Spiegel sah. Dieser Teil hat mir besonders gut gefallen, weil ich dort endlich mehr Bezug zu der Protagonistin hatte. Sie entwickelte so was wie Gefühle und hat mir plötzlich Leid getan. Es war unfassbar spannend für mich zu lesen, wie sie sich wohl weiter entwickeln würde und ob sie letztendlich einsieht, was für eine mega Zicke sie gewesen ist. Und natürlich auch, ob man ihr das jemals verzeihen könnte.
Viele Dinge haben mich gerade in diesem letzten Abschnitt überrascht und auch ein bisschen fassungslos gemacht. Besonders als eine Sache ans Licht kam, habe ich tatsächlich Mitleid mit Bridget gehabt. Mit allem hätte ich gerechnet, aber damit auf keinen Fall.
Das Ende fand ich gelungen, wenn auch ein bisschen zu überhastet. Es kam mir ein bisschen zu unglaubwürdig rüber, denn ich konnte mir nicht vorstellen, dass jemand wirklich so reagiert hätte, wie es am Schluss gelaufen ist. Trotz dieses kleinen negativen Aspektes hat mich das Buch sehr gut unterhalten und auch zum Nachdenken gebracht: Wir sollten allgemein mehr über unser Handeln nachdenken, bevor wir es schließlich ausführen.
Fazit:
Positiv
Die Protagonistin ist großartig gezeichnet. Ich konnte mich zwar nicht mit ihr identifizieren, sondern habe sie stellenweise abgrundtief gehasst, doch genau so sollte man bei Bridget auch empfinden.
Die Nebencharaktere haben allesamt ebenso viel Farbe abbekommen wie die Hauptprotagonistin. Ich konnte sich gut in sie hineinversetzen und hatte sogar Mitleid mit ihnen.
Der Schreibstil ist sehr flüssig und gut zu lesen. Ich war ziemlich schnell mit dem Buch durch.
Das Cover passt einfach hervorragend.
Überraschende Wendungen haben mich manchmal sprachlos gemacht.
Besonders den dritten Teil empfand ich als besonders gut gelungen, weil Bridget dort mit den Augen ihrer "Opfer" sehen konnte, wie sie sich verhalten und wie sie die Anderen mit ihrem Verhalten verletzt hat.
Negativ
Das Ende war mir ein bisschen zu überhastet und auch ein bisschen unglaubwürdig. Ich hätte mir an der Stelle vielleicht noch einen abschließenden Epilog gewünscht um die Geschichte in bisschen besser abzurunden.
© www.mybooksparadise.de
Ich trat das Gaspedal durch.
Meine Meinung:
Inhalt
Bridget ist eins der beliebtesten Mädchen in ihrer Schule. Alle bewundern und beneiden sie. Dies ändert sich jedoch schlagartig, als Anna neu in die Schule kommt. Plötzlich scheint Bridget in ihrem Schatten zu stehen, was sie sich unter keine Umständen bieten lassen kann. Sie fängt an, aus allen Situationen das Beste für sich herauszuholen und geht dabei über Leichen. Wie es den anderen dabei ergeht, interessiert sie nicht. Ihr eigenes Wohl steht an erster Stelle. Irgendwann wendet sich jedoch das Blatt und alle scheinen plötzlich gegen sie zu sein. Verzweifelt fasst Bridget einen Folgen schweren Entschluss, der ihre Denkweise, sowie ihr gesamtes Leben auf den Kopf stellen wird.
Plötzlich war ich nicht mehr der Mensch, der ich gewesen war, zumindest nicht die Bridget, als die ich mich die ganze Zeit definiert hatte. Mein Stern war gesunken.
Das bildete ich mir nicht nur ein. Meiner Erfahrung nach hörten die Leute immer auf mich und taten, was ich sagte. Die Dinge liegen für mich glatt, egal, ob es Glück oder Zufall war.
Zitat aus "Zur Hölle mit Bridget"
Charaktere
Bridget ist das Nonplusultra. Jedenfalls denkt sie dies über sich, was einiges über ihren Charakter aussagt: Sie ist arrogant, eingebildet, selbstsüchtig und verdammt egoistisch. Nur nach ihrer eigenen Auffassungsgabe ist sie natürlich das tollste Mädchen überhaupt und kann es daher auch überhaupt nicht verstehen, wenn irgendjemand ihr tatsächlich mal widersprechen sollte.
Liam ist Bridgets Ex, der sich erst vor Kurzem von ihr getrennt hat. Bridget fiel aus allen Wolken.
Meredith, Bridgets Stiefmutter versucht alles, um ihr irgendwie näher zu kommen. Das Verhalten ihrer Stieftochter empfindet sie als anmaßend und doch versucht sie stets einen guten Draht zu ihr herzustellen.
Jillian und Michelle sind Bridgets beste Freundinnen. Sie hören ihr zu, geben keine Widerworte und tanzen stets nach ihrer Pfeife... Bis sich das Blatt wendet...
"Wenn du dich wirklich ändern möchtest - und das müssen wir alle an bestimmten Punkten im Leben -, dann tu es einfach. Verschwende keine Zeit damit, dich zu fragen, ob der Rest der Welt dir vergeben wird. Selbst wenn dir niemand verzeihen möchte, den du kennst, dann wirst du neue Leute kennen lernen,. Und mit diesen Menschen kannst du dann neu anfangen und es besser machen."
Zitat aus "Zur Hölle mit Bridget"
Gesamt
Ich bin immer noch ziemlich erschüttert von dem Nachbeben, was dieses Buch bei mir ausgelöst hat. Schrecklich, dass es solche Zicken tatsächlich gibt.
Aber mal von Anfang an:
Das Buch ist im Grunde genommen in drei Teile aufgeteilt. Im ersten Teil, dem Prolog erfahren wir, in welcher Situation sich Bridget gerade befindet. Im zweiten Teil, wie es dazu gekommen ist und im Dritten, was sie mit ihrer Situation anstellt.
Gerade im zweiten Teil sehen wir eine Bridget, die der Hölle entsprungen zu sein scheint. Ihr schweres Schicksal sei mal dahin gestellt: So verhält man sich einfach nicht. Stellt euch euren schlimmsten Widersacher in der Schule vor und macht ihn noch tausend Mal schlimmer und schon habt ihr die Protagonistin dieses Buches. Bridget ist die Beste, Bridget ist die Tollste, Bridget ist das Nonplusultra. Ich habe selten eine so nervige und selbstsüchtige Protagonistin erlebt, wie in diesem Buch. Paige Harbison hat sie so stark gezeichnet, dass ich sie irgendwann regelrecht gehasst habe. Was sie anstellt, wünsche ich wirklich niemandem. Wer sie zur Freundin hat, braucht keine Feinde mehr. Es ist der Autorin vorzüglich gelungen zu beschreiben, wie manche Personen ticken. Alle schlechten Eigenschaften, die jemand haben kann, hat sie Bridget verpasst. Ich habe wirklich nicht die geringste Zuneigung für die empfunden, was bei den ganzen Taten, die sie im ersten Teil vollbringt auch absolut nicht verwunderlich ist. Sie ist so dermaßen von sich überzeugt, dass sie gar nicht merkt, was sie ihrem Umfeld damit antut. Die Emotionen der Anderen gehen ihr mal eben schlank am Allerwertesten vorbei. Es spricht für die Autorin, dass sie mir alles so gut vor Augen führen konnte, dass ich eine regelrechte Hasskappe auf Bridget entwickelt habe.
Ihre Freundinnen taten mir an jeder Stelle Leid, in der sie ihre Zeit mit der Prota verbringen und wieder einmal von ihr zurecht gewiesen wurden. Egal was sie machen, es ist ihr niemals recht. Oft habe ich mich gefragt, warum sie sich das überhaupt gefallen lassen und ob sie noch nie etwas von wahrer Freundschaft gehört haben. Dann ist mir aber der Gedanke gekommen, dass sie einfach Angst vor ihr hatten. Angst davor, was passieren würde, würden sie sich gegen sie stellen. Ist das nicht furchtbar?!
Der dritte Teil hat mir Bridget letztendlich wieder, oder endlich, ein bisschen näher gebracht, denn er zeigt ihr reflektierend ihr wahres Gesicht. Eines, was sie ansonsten niemals erblickte, wenn sie in den Spiegel sah. Dieser Teil hat mir besonders gut gefallen, weil ich dort endlich mehr Bezug zu der Protagonistin hatte. Sie entwickelte so was wie Gefühle und hat mir plötzlich Leid getan. Es war unfassbar spannend für mich zu lesen, wie sie sich wohl weiter entwickeln würde und ob sie letztendlich einsieht, was für eine mega Zicke sie gewesen ist. Und natürlich auch, ob man ihr das jemals verzeihen könnte.
Viele Dinge haben mich gerade in diesem letzten Abschnitt überrascht und auch ein bisschen fassungslos gemacht. Besonders als eine Sache ans Licht kam, habe ich tatsächlich Mitleid mit Bridget gehabt. Mit allem hätte ich gerechnet, aber damit auf keinen Fall.
Das Ende fand ich gelungen, wenn auch ein bisschen zu überhastet. Es kam mir ein bisschen zu unglaubwürdig rüber, denn ich konnte mir nicht vorstellen, dass jemand wirklich so reagiert hätte, wie es am Schluss gelaufen ist. Trotz dieses kleinen negativen Aspektes hat mich das Buch sehr gut unterhalten und auch zum Nachdenken gebracht: Wir sollten allgemein mehr über unser Handeln nachdenken, bevor wir es schließlich ausführen.
Fazit:
Positiv
Die Protagonistin ist großartig gezeichnet. Ich konnte mich zwar nicht mit ihr identifizieren, sondern habe sie stellenweise abgrundtief gehasst, doch genau so sollte man bei Bridget auch empfinden.
Die Nebencharaktere haben allesamt ebenso viel Farbe abbekommen wie die Hauptprotagonistin. Ich konnte sich gut in sie hineinversetzen und hatte sogar Mitleid mit ihnen.
Der Schreibstil ist sehr flüssig und gut zu lesen. Ich war ziemlich schnell mit dem Buch durch.
Das Cover passt einfach hervorragend.
Überraschende Wendungen haben mich manchmal sprachlos gemacht.
Besonders den dritten Teil empfand ich als besonders gut gelungen, weil Bridget dort mit den Augen ihrer "Opfer" sehen konnte, wie sie sich verhalten und wie sie die Anderen mit ihrem Verhalten verletzt hat.
Negativ
Das Ende war mir ein bisschen zu überhastet und auch ein bisschen unglaubwürdig. Ich hätte mir an der Stelle vielleicht noch einen abschließenden Epilog gewünscht um die Geschichte in bisschen besser abzurunden.
© www.mybooksparadise.de
April 1, 2018
Yeah, this was pretty crap. Just a whole lot of caricatures and a none-too-amazing storyline. Fairly predictable, boring, and very of its time. Harbison does show promise as a writer, but her talents are not well-utilised in such a story.
Read
April 23, 2023Dnf @ 42%
This was really well written and had compelling characters, but it wasn't for me. It would definitely appeal to the younger audience it was intended for.
This was really well written and had compelling characters, but it wasn't for me. It would definitely appeal to the younger audience it was intended for.
December 17, 2014
Was Bridget will, setzt sie durch. Immer. Zuhause macht sie ihrer Stiefmutter das Leben zur Hölle, in der Schule tanzen alle nach ihrer Pfeife. Bis eine Neue auf die Winchester Prep kommt: Anna Judge - Judge wie Richterin. Und mit Anna ändert sich alles: Die Lehrer fallen nicht mehr auf Bridgets Masche rein, ihr Fan-Club verkleinert sich blitzartig. Als eines Tages sich auch noch ihr Freund Liam abwendet, baut Bridget, total irritiert, einen katastrophalen Unfall! Sie ist nicht tot - aber auch nicht lebendig. Stattdessen ist sie in einer Schattenwelt gefangen, in der ihr Anna Judge zeigt, was für eine Mega-Zicke sie war. Bridget hat genau eine Chance, das zu ändern und ins Leben zurückzukehren. Oder für immer zu gehen.
Das Buch beginnt mit einer Szene aus der Mitte der Geschichte, einem Autounfall. Anschließend wird zuerst erklärt, wie es zu dieser Situation kam und wie es danach weitergeht. Und genauso zweigeteilt wie das Buch ist auch meine Meinung dazu.
In der Beschreibung steht es schon: Bridget ist eine absolute Zicke, die jeden in ihrer Umgebung tyrannisiert. Meinetwegen, das habe ich erwartet. Was mich aber genervt hat, ist, dass Bridget sogar hin und wieder Schuldgefühle empfindet, die sie aber jedes Mal unterdrückt. Wieso bloß? Denn dadurch, dass sie wusste, dass sie den Menschen unrecht tut und es trotzdem tut, erschien sie mir viel unsympathischer. Tja, zweigeteilt. Ich sage nur soviel: In der zweiten Hälfte des Buches erging es mir anders. Bridget wurde sympathischer und sobald sie mal nicht ständig überall die Überhand haben will, sieht man, dass sie eigentlich ein ganz nettes Mädchen ist.
Ich mochte also, wie eben schon erwähnt, die zweite Hälfte des Buches viel lieber. Da muss Bridget mal in die Fußstapfen ihrer Opfer treten, und zwar wortwörtlich, und sieht aus ihrer Sicht, was sie ihnen, zum Teil sogar unbewusst, angetan hat und welche weiten Kreise das mit sich zog. Bridget und damit auch wir Leser erleben einige Situationen aus ihrer Sicht und lauschen ihren Gedanken und Gefühlen. Und das zähle ich schon zu „Mehrere Perspektiven“, das ich so mag, auch wenn es hier auf eine andere Weise als gewöhnlich gestaltet ist. Ich finde es sehr gelungen.
Das Buch regt zum Nachdenken an. Nachdem ich Bridget gesehen habe, habe ich angefangen, ein wenig darüber nachzudenken, wie mein Handeln bei anderen Menschen ankommt und wie es sie beeinflusst. Auch wenn ich keine solche Machtposition innehabe wie unsere Protagonistin, nehmen auch wir Einfluss auf die Leute, mit denen wir zu tun haben, das wird einem dabei umso bewusster.
Aber von der Idee her ist es eigentlich nichts neues. Bridget erinnerte mich sehr an Sam aus Lauren Olivers „Wenn du stirbst“. Beide haben einen ähnlichen Charakter und Beide machen eine ähnliche Veränderung durch. Die Weise, wie die Geschichte erzählt wird, gefiel mir bei Bridget aber deutlich besser, einfach weil die zweite Hälfte, das Nach-dem-Unfall, mich überzeugt hat.
Über die Autorin:
Geboren als Winterkind im Dezember 1989, schloss Paige Harbison 22 Jahre später ihr Studium an der Towson University in Baltimore ab. Seit 2009 schreibt sie, mittlerweile ist ihr dritter Roman bei Harlequin Teen erschienen. Spannend: die Filmrechte für „Zur Hölle mit Bridget“ liegen in Hollywood. Paige Harbison lebt im sonnigen Florida.
Fazit
„Zur Hölle mit Bridget“ ist wirklich zweigeteilt. Durch die erste Hälfte muss man sich teilweise sogar ein wenig kämpfen, doch die zweite macht das wieder wett. Aber gerade weil die zweite Hälfte mir gefallen und bei mir einen viel stärkeren Eindruck hinterlassen hat, kann ich Bridget ihre Art verzeihen. Es lohnt sich, ihre Tyranneien zu ertragen, denn dann bekommt man als Leser eine schöne und zum Nachdenken anregende Geschichte geboten.
Das Buch beginnt mit einer Szene aus der Mitte der Geschichte, einem Autounfall. Anschließend wird zuerst erklärt, wie es zu dieser Situation kam und wie es danach weitergeht. Und genauso zweigeteilt wie das Buch ist auch meine Meinung dazu.
In der Beschreibung steht es schon: Bridget ist eine absolute Zicke, die jeden in ihrer Umgebung tyrannisiert. Meinetwegen, das habe ich erwartet. Was mich aber genervt hat, ist, dass Bridget sogar hin und wieder Schuldgefühle empfindet, die sie aber jedes Mal unterdrückt. Wieso bloß? Denn dadurch, dass sie wusste, dass sie den Menschen unrecht tut und es trotzdem tut, erschien sie mir viel unsympathischer. Tja, zweigeteilt. Ich sage nur soviel: In der zweiten Hälfte des Buches erging es mir anders. Bridget wurde sympathischer und sobald sie mal nicht ständig überall die Überhand haben will, sieht man, dass sie eigentlich ein ganz nettes Mädchen ist.
Ich mochte also, wie eben schon erwähnt, die zweite Hälfte des Buches viel lieber. Da muss Bridget mal in die Fußstapfen ihrer Opfer treten, und zwar wortwörtlich, und sieht aus ihrer Sicht, was sie ihnen, zum Teil sogar unbewusst, angetan hat und welche weiten Kreise das mit sich zog. Bridget und damit auch wir Leser erleben einige Situationen aus ihrer Sicht und lauschen ihren Gedanken und Gefühlen. Und das zähle ich schon zu „Mehrere Perspektiven“, das ich so mag, auch wenn es hier auf eine andere Weise als gewöhnlich gestaltet ist. Ich finde es sehr gelungen.
Das Buch regt zum Nachdenken an. Nachdem ich Bridget gesehen habe, habe ich angefangen, ein wenig darüber nachzudenken, wie mein Handeln bei anderen Menschen ankommt und wie es sie beeinflusst. Auch wenn ich keine solche Machtposition innehabe wie unsere Protagonistin, nehmen auch wir Einfluss auf die Leute, mit denen wir zu tun haben, das wird einem dabei umso bewusster.
Aber von der Idee her ist es eigentlich nichts neues. Bridget erinnerte mich sehr an Sam aus Lauren Olivers „Wenn du stirbst“. Beide haben einen ähnlichen Charakter und Beide machen eine ähnliche Veränderung durch. Die Weise, wie die Geschichte erzählt wird, gefiel mir bei Bridget aber deutlich besser, einfach weil die zweite Hälfte, das Nach-dem-Unfall, mich überzeugt hat.
Über die Autorin:
Geboren als Winterkind im Dezember 1989, schloss Paige Harbison 22 Jahre später ihr Studium an der Towson University in Baltimore ab. Seit 2009 schreibt sie, mittlerweile ist ihr dritter Roman bei Harlequin Teen erschienen. Spannend: die Filmrechte für „Zur Hölle mit Bridget“ liegen in Hollywood. Paige Harbison lebt im sonnigen Florida.
Fazit
„Zur Hölle mit Bridget“ ist wirklich zweigeteilt. Durch die erste Hälfte muss man sich teilweise sogar ein wenig kämpfen, doch die zweite macht das wieder wett. Aber gerade weil die zweite Hälfte mir gefallen und bei mir einen viel stärkeren Eindruck hinterlassen hat, kann ich Bridget ihre Art verzeihen. Es lohnt sich, ihre Tyranneien zu ertragen, denn dann bekommt man als Leser eine schöne und zum Nachdenken anregende Geschichte geboten.
April 30, 2011
Bridget Duke is the girl everyone loves to hate. She might think everyone worships her and wants to be her, but deep down they're all afraid of her. Even her best friends, Jillian and Michelle. But Bridget has a secret: underneath all that make-up and couture, she's just an angry, insecure girl. That's why she lies, manipulates, and causes trouble wherever she goes.
Bridget's status as the Queen Bee is jeopardized when new girl in school Anna Judge wins over her classmates--just by being nice to them! Unable to deal with the competition (let's be fair to Anna; Bridget is the only one competing), Bridget gets in an accident that leaves her in limbo. Now for the first time ever, Bridget will literally get to step into the shoes of those she has hurt the most. Has Bridget learned her lesson far too late? Will she even get the chance to go back and try to make things right?
Paige Harbison is a genius at creating the ultimate "mean girl". Bridget isn't just one-dimensional, though; she has many layers, and depending on which snippet of her life we're viewing, she's also relateable and (gasp!) even likable. Bridget's father is basically absent, and she resents her stepmother Meredith, who is anything but the evil stepmother. Bridget idolizes her birth mother, even though there is more to the story than she even knows. She's built up a wall around herself meant to keep out anything that could possibly hurt her. In the process, she's pushed away those who are able to see through her flaws and who love her despite them--especially her childhood best friend and now ex-boyfriend, Liam.
At times, this book can be really difficult to get through because Bridget is just so awful. I literally gasped out loud in several places, hardly able to believe that Bridget had just said or done that evil, evil, thing. At 220 pages, this is a really quick read, but I needed distance and space from Bridget.
Harbison started to lose my interest once Bridget entered limbo, however. Scenes that I'd already read were retold from the perspective of the other people involved: Meredith, her stepmother who she has never truly appreciated; Brett, the boy whose future Bridget nearly ruined; Mr. Ezhno, the teacher who lost his job because of a vicious rumor; Michelle, the friend whose self-esteem Bridget destroyed; and Liam, the boy who missed his best friend. I didn't find it all that necessary to repeat the same dialogue while interjecting the thoughts and feelings of others involved. I think this section of the novel would have been more powerful if Harbison had come at it from a different approach.
Though I really didn't want to, I started to want the best outcome for Bridget. I wanted her to reconnect with Liam (who is totally amazing!), bond with her stepmother (who is seriously an angel!), and fix her problems at school. Bridget's issue with Michelle was resolved exactly as I hoped it would be, and I'm totally on Michelle's side here with what was decided.
Now if only all of the "mean girls" out there could really go through what Bridget went through--not only to find themselves, but to also get an idea of how truly terrible they are to others.
Bridget's status as the Queen Bee is jeopardized when new girl in school Anna Judge wins over her classmates--just by being nice to them! Unable to deal with the competition (let's be fair to Anna; Bridget is the only one competing), Bridget gets in an accident that leaves her in limbo. Now for the first time ever, Bridget will literally get to step into the shoes of those she has hurt the most. Has Bridget learned her lesson far too late? Will she even get the chance to go back and try to make things right?
Paige Harbison is a genius at creating the ultimate "mean girl". Bridget isn't just one-dimensional, though; she has many layers, and depending on which snippet of her life we're viewing, she's also relateable and (gasp!) even likable. Bridget's father is basically absent, and she resents her stepmother Meredith, who is anything but the evil stepmother. Bridget idolizes her birth mother, even though there is more to the story than she even knows. She's built up a wall around herself meant to keep out anything that could possibly hurt her. In the process, she's pushed away those who are able to see through her flaws and who love her despite them--especially her childhood best friend and now ex-boyfriend, Liam.
At times, this book can be really difficult to get through because Bridget is just so awful. I literally gasped out loud in several places, hardly able to believe that Bridget had just said or done that evil, evil, thing. At 220 pages, this is a really quick read, but I needed distance and space from Bridget.
Harbison started to lose my interest once Bridget entered limbo, however. Scenes that I'd already read were retold from the perspective of the other people involved: Meredith, her stepmother who she has never truly appreciated; Brett, the boy whose future Bridget nearly ruined; Mr. Ezhno, the teacher who lost his job because of a vicious rumor; Michelle, the friend whose self-esteem Bridget destroyed; and Liam, the boy who missed his best friend. I didn't find it all that necessary to repeat the same dialogue while interjecting the thoughts and feelings of others involved. I think this section of the novel would have been more powerful if Harbison had come at it from a different approach.
Though I really didn't want to, I started to want the best outcome for Bridget. I wanted her to reconnect with Liam (who is totally amazing!), bond with her stepmother (who is seriously an angel!), and fix her problems at school. Bridget's issue with Michelle was resolved exactly as I hoped it would be, and I'm totally on Michelle's side here with what was decided.
Now if only all of the "mean girls" out there could really go through what Bridget went through--not only to find themselves, but to also get an idea of how truly terrible they are to others.
June 3, 2011
I'm still slightly reeling from the bevy of emotions that this book made me go through. I only hope that this review turns out to be coherent enough for you to read. If for some reason it's not, let me start out with saying this: Bridget is NOT easy to love. Let's put it this way...Bridget is....well I'd love to use a choice expletive here, but I have young readers so, yeah. Bridget is a witch. Let's just start out with that.
When I first opened the pages of Here Lies Bridget I couldn't get over how perfectly Paige Harbison has crafted the ultimate "mean girl". See Bridget isn't just mean, she isn't just conniving, she's the popular girl who needs to be popular no matter what the consequences for others. I don't use this word often, but I literally hated her from page one. The things that she does and says in this story are just so downright evil that I wondered how one person could have so much anger pent up inside of them. Then, I read on.
As I read I saw a whole other side of this character. Although a mean girl on the surface, and trust me she's good at it, there is a lot beneath that as well. Paige Harbison has created a character that has so much depth, it's hard to explain. Without giving anything away I can tell you that Bridget's past has some skeletons in the closet, and that her father just doesn't know how to have a girl. Her stepmother does her best, but really who can replace a girl's real mother? Especially when there are such fond memories at the surface of her mind?
Here Lies Bridget is the perfect example of the "bad girl" who doesn't finish first. If you're wondering what I mean, you'll have to read the book. This plot is so perfectly written that it will suck you in and not let go. First you will despise Bridget, then you learn about her life and her insecurities, and then....oh and then....the ending. The ending took my breath away. I haven't sobbed this hard during the ending of a book in a long time. It fits the story fantastically, and I couldn't stop thinking about this book even after I put it down to move on to something else.
I'd love to say more. I'd love to tell you about sweet Liam, awkward Michelle and all the other characters, but I really think this is a book you need to go into without any spoilers. Truth be told I didn't even read the synopsis before I opened this book and I'm glad I didn't. The less you know before you start Bridget's journey with her, the more you'll really feel every aspect of it. Please don't be put off by her attitude, I promise you that Paige Harbison is only crafting that mean girl to show you how much people can learn about themselves. You'll fall in love.
When I first opened the pages of Here Lies Bridget I couldn't get over how perfectly Paige Harbison has crafted the ultimate "mean girl". See Bridget isn't just mean, she isn't just conniving, she's the popular girl who needs to be popular no matter what the consequences for others. I don't use this word often, but I literally hated her from page one. The things that she does and says in this story are just so downright evil that I wondered how one person could have so much anger pent up inside of them. Then, I read on.
As I read I saw a whole other side of this character. Although a mean girl on the surface, and trust me she's good at it, there is a lot beneath that as well. Paige Harbison has created a character that has so much depth, it's hard to explain. Without giving anything away I can tell you that Bridget's past has some skeletons in the closet, and that her father just doesn't know how to have a girl. Her stepmother does her best, but really who can replace a girl's real mother? Especially when there are such fond memories at the surface of her mind?
Here Lies Bridget is the perfect example of the "bad girl" who doesn't finish first. If you're wondering what I mean, you'll have to read the book. This plot is so perfectly written that it will suck you in and not let go. First you will despise Bridget, then you learn about her life and her insecurities, and then....oh and then....the ending. The ending took my breath away. I haven't sobbed this hard during the ending of a book in a long time. It fits the story fantastically, and I couldn't stop thinking about this book even after I put it down to move on to something else.
I'd love to say more. I'd love to tell you about sweet Liam, awkward Michelle and all the other characters, but I really think this is a book you need to go into without any spoilers. Truth be told I didn't even read the synopsis before I opened this book and I'm glad I didn't. The less you know before you start Bridget's journey with her, the more you'll really feel every aspect of it. Please don't be put off by her attitude, I promise you that Paige Harbison is only crafting that mean girl to show you how much people can learn about themselves. You'll fall in love.
November 29, 2010
Here Lies Bridget is the story of teenage Bridget who rules her small town high school by fear. She's manipulative, catty, superior, and is used to getting what she wants, when she wants it, and from whom she wants it. She never thought anyone would dare to argue back. When a series of her lies and manipulations spirals out of control and she begins to lose her grip as queen bee, Bridget makes a rash decision landing her in a limbo with a jury of her peers. Can she redeem herself in time, or will she pay the ultimate price for her actions?
I've been really excited to read Here Lies Bridget for a while now, and I was so excited to see it was on NetGalley. The story of teenage bullying is, by no means, a new story, but Here Lies Bridget takes a different approach and tackles the question of whether or not there is redemption for these bullies. Written by Paige Harbison, this story takes a new approach with an engaging voice and completely unique insight into a bullying teenager's mind.
I've got to be honest. I'm on the fence about Here Lies Bridget. In theory, it's a great story. That said, I absolutely hated Bridget. I rarely, if ever, actually hate the MC. This story presented a unique challenge for me though. Written in first person, I had to somehow get inside the head of a character I loathed. Then, as I watched her make these calculating decisions, never giving a crap thought to what her actions might cost her, suddenly when the situation turns on her, she recants. Her sudden change in demeanor...I just couldn't reconcile myself with it in such a short period of time, and I only saw it as self-preservation. I also have to admit that the character of Anna through a wrench in the plot for me because, while I thought it was unique, I'm still confused about her interaction with the other characters. I would have loved to see more of Liam though...he was a high point for me.
Here Lies Bridget is a quick read, and it's really not bad, but I can't give a rave review about it. I think the ultimate problem was a pacing error. If we're meant to hate a character and see a transformation, I need time to see that transformation come about, and I just didn't. I give Here Lies Bridget a 3 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to fans of YA and contemporary fiction. This book releases on Februrary 1, 2011.
I received this book free of charge from Harlequin Teen and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
I've been really excited to read Here Lies Bridget for a while now, and I was so excited to see it was on NetGalley. The story of teenage bullying is, by no means, a new story, but Here Lies Bridget takes a different approach and tackles the question of whether or not there is redemption for these bullies. Written by Paige Harbison, this story takes a new approach with an engaging voice and completely unique insight into a bullying teenager's mind.
I've got to be honest. I'm on the fence about Here Lies Bridget. In theory, it's a great story. That said, I absolutely hated Bridget. I rarely, if ever, actually hate the MC. This story presented a unique challenge for me though. Written in first person, I had to somehow get inside the head of a character I loathed. Then, as I watched her make these calculating decisions, never giving a crap thought to what her actions might cost her, suddenly when the situation turns on her, she recants. Her sudden change in demeanor...I just couldn't reconcile myself with it in such a short period of time, and I only saw it as self-preservation. I also have to admit that the character of Anna through a wrench in the plot for me because, while I thought it was unique, I'm still confused about her interaction with the other characters. I would have loved to see more of Liam though...he was a high point for me.
Here Lies Bridget is a quick read, and it's really not bad, but I can't give a rave review about it. I think the ultimate problem was a pacing error. If we're meant to hate a character and see a transformation, I need time to see that transformation come about, and I just didn't. I give Here Lies Bridget a 3 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to fans of YA and contemporary fiction. This book releases on Februrary 1, 2011.
I received this book free of charge from Harlequin Teen and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
January 3, 2011
Here Lies Bridget was a very fast read with a really great concept. Bridget is the Queen Bee in her high school and she treats people horribly even her closest friends. We've read about this type of characters before in other books but in this one we get the story from her point of view, we get to see what the mean girl really thinks and why she acts the way she does.
I thought Paige Harbison did a great job on Bridget, she created a very realistic mean character that you can't help but really hate from the very beginning. This girl is just so awful and she seems to think that she has a right to treat people like this and that she's not doing anything wrong. Ugh! I felt like slapping her most of the time, but I guess that's the point, to really get to know Bridget and dislike her.
Over half of the book focuses on getting to know Bridget and how she is towards other people, until a new girl comes along and starts taking the spotlight away from her. Once Bridget gets into a car accident and goes into limbo the story starts getting a little more on the emotional side, we get to see things from other people's perspective. Bridget literally gets into their shoes and sees the things she's done, how she's hurt and ruin so many people's lives, and sees herself the way other people see her. We also get a bit of background on why Bridget became the way she is and her childhood, which were my favorite parts in the book.
I liked that the author gets the reader to really hate this girl but then turns everything upside down for her that you begin to feel a little sorry for Bridget a couple of times, just a couple, I pretty much hated her through most of the book. The concept like I mentioned was a great one, I loved how Bridget gets to see everything from other people's point of view and how she comes to realize the bad things she's done and wants to fix them. The only thing that bothered me was that I thought she got out of her problems way too easy towards the end, I wish she would've had a bit more difficulty trying to redeem herself and really working hard for it, instead everything just resolved way too fast. Here Lies Bridget was a quick entertaining story, with just a bit of intensity in it that I would recommend if you love contemporary reads.
I thought Paige Harbison did a great job on Bridget, she created a very realistic mean character that you can't help but really hate from the very beginning. This girl is just so awful and she seems to think that she has a right to treat people like this and that she's not doing anything wrong. Ugh! I felt like slapping her most of the time, but I guess that's the point, to really get to know Bridget and dislike her.
Over half of the book focuses on getting to know Bridget and how she is towards other people, until a new girl comes along and starts taking the spotlight away from her. Once Bridget gets into a car accident and goes into limbo the story starts getting a little more on the emotional side, we get to see things from other people's perspective. Bridget literally gets into their shoes and sees the things she's done, how she's hurt and ruin so many people's lives, and sees herself the way other people see her. We also get a bit of background on why Bridget became the way she is and her childhood, which were my favorite parts in the book.
I liked that the author gets the reader to really hate this girl but then turns everything upside down for her that you begin to feel a little sorry for Bridget a couple of times, just a couple, I pretty much hated her through most of the book. The concept like I mentioned was a great one, I loved how Bridget gets to see everything from other people's point of view and how she comes to realize the bad things she's done and wants to fix them. The only thing that bothered me was that I thought she got out of her problems way too easy towards the end, I wish she would've had a bit more difficulty trying to redeem herself and really working hard for it, instead everything just resolved way too fast. Here Lies Bridget was a quick entertaining story, with just a bit of intensity in it that I would recommend if you love contemporary reads.
June 15, 2011
Bridget Duke is the queen bee of her high school. She has pretty much everything she wants, except for her mother (who died), her boyfriend (who broke up with her) and her father (who's a popular sports announcer and rarely home). Still, she has friends, a nice house, throws great parties and is totally hot and idolized by everyone. Everything starts going downhill though when a new girl arrives at school. The new girl is a genuinely sweet person and everyone likes her better. And of course once one thing goes wrong, other things tend to follow until your whole life is completely ruined and maybe even over.
The opening section of Here Lies Bridget is definitely an attention grabber. Bridget is driving recklessly, thinking of how everyone might react should she die. Awful and sad those these sentiments are, they are all the more powerful for being something most high schoolers can relate to (although many probably don't act on their macabre fantasies). The second chapter goes back to explain what brought Bridget, the most notorious girl in school to the contemplation of suicide. The framework definitely sucks the reader into the plot, curious to find out what exactly she did.
About at the halfway point, the plot catches up to the opening and the real point of the story arrives. Bridget, through some aspect of the crash, ends up in some place where she is being judged for her ways in a very Christmas Carol-y way. Only, she just goes to the past and sees her behavior through the eyes of others. This part was pretty cool and did a good job of getting the point across without taking too much time or repetition. The plot is entirely straight forward, but still nifty.
The fantasy aspect of the story was definitely my favorite, but I am a bit confused/puzzled/stymied/bothered by what happened. It just doesn't make sense. What in the world transpired here? I think that perhaps some additional pages spent in the denouement might have helped. The ending was rather abrupt, at least in the galley version which I read.
This is a good, super quick read. The story is predictable, but a good message and not like many of the other books I have read recently. If you're looking for something quick, fun and a little bit quirky, give this a try!
The opening section of Here Lies Bridget is definitely an attention grabber. Bridget is driving recklessly, thinking of how everyone might react should she die. Awful and sad those these sentiments are, they are all the more powerful for being something most high schoolers can relate to (although many probably don't act on their macabre fantasies). The second chapter goes back to explain what brought Bridget, the most notorious girl in school to the contemplation of suicide. The framework definitely sucks the reader into the plot, curious to find out what exactly she did.
About at the halfway point, the plot catches up to the opening and the real point of the story arrives. Bridget, through some aspect of the crash, ends up in some place where she is being judged for her ways in a very Christmas Carol-y way. Only, she just goes to the past and sees her behavior through the eyes of others. This part was pretty cool and did a good job of getting the point across without taking too much time or repetition. The plot is entirely straight forward, but still nifty.
The fantasy aspect of the story was definitely my favorite, but I am a bit confused/puzzled/stymied/bothered by what happened. It just doesn't make sense. What in the world transpired here? I think that perhaps some additional pages spent in the denouement might have helped. The ending was rather abrupt, at least in the galley version which I read.
This is a good, super quick read. The story is predictable, but a good message and not like many of the other books I have read recently. If you're looking for something quick, fun and a little bit quirky, give this a try!
March 24, 2011
Bridget Duke is the queen bee of her school. She decides who is cool or uncool, and everybody is jealous of her. So she thinks. After a few key events where she treats others cruelly, and a new, perfect girl enters school, she starts to lose control of those around her. People who were her friends begin standing up for themselves, and her classmates go from worshiping her to ridiculing her. In a fit of anger, she races her car with reckless abandon…and ends up in a kind of purgatory where she must literally walk in the shoes of those whom she has affected. Bridget has to make a choice, and that choice will decide whether she lives or dies.
Here Lies Bridget is not an original story. At its heart, it is much like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. A bad person is shown how their choices affect the ones around them, and is given a choice about how to continue in life. I did not mind the predictable story, though, because where this book really shines is in the storytelling. I felt compelled to read on, and to see how the events would unfold that would take Bridget to her ultimate judgment. It was also very satisfying to see how things would unfold in the other points of view–that of the people Bridget affected.
Bridget herself was a complicated character. She’s completely hateable for most of the book. Bridget is surprisingly self-aware as far as her behavior is concerned, but she makes a real effort to push aside any guilt that she feels. As the plot progresses, we’re slowly shown the reason behind Bridget’s insecurity and aggression. We also see that Bridget could be a good person if she could let go of her issues.
The writing in this book is fast-paced, and the dialog is realistic and effective. I’d recommend this one to people who liked 7 Souls by Barnabas Miller and Jordan Orlando, or The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade. Here Lies Bridget was a very strong debut for Harbison, and as a young woman, I’m sure she has a lot more great writing to do.
Here Lies Bridget is not an original story. At its heart, it is much like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. A bad person is shown how their choices affect the ones around them, and is given a choice about how to continue in life. I did not mind the predictable story, though, because where this book really shines is in the storytelling. I felt compelled to read on, and to see how the events would unfold that would take Bridget to her ultimate judgment. It was also very satisfying to see how things would unfold in the other points of view–that of the people Bridget affected.
Bridget herself was a complicated character. She’s completely hateable for most of the book. Bridget is surprisingly self-aware as far as her behavior is concerned, but she makes a real effort to push aside any guilt that she feels. As the plot progresses, we’re slowly shown the reason behind Bridget’s insecurity and aggression. We also see that Bridget could be a good person if she could let go of her issues.
The writing in this book is fast-paced, and the dialog is realistic and effective. I’d recommend this one to people who liked 7 Souls by Barnabas Miller and Jordan Orlando, or The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade. Here Lies Bridget was a very strong debut for Harbison, and as a young woman, I’m sure she has a lot more great writing to do.
January 7, 2011
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read and review Here Lies Bridget, it was beautiful!
Bridget Duke knows what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. Literally.
Bridget rules over her school with no mercy, stripping them of their self-esteem with her double-edged remarks, feeding on their insecurities. Almost everyone loves her, only because they’re afraid not to. Even those that Bridget calls friends are hurt by her careless remarks and gestures. So what happens when a new girl arrives at the school and slowly strips Bridget of her title?
Funnily enough, Bridget gets herself killed… or half killed. She’s stuck in limbo and the only thing that’s stopping her from being killed completely is the judgement of those that she’s hurt…
Bridget steps into each of their shoes, reliving the moments when she hurts them most with her actions, feeling their emotions and hearing their thoughts but not being able to do anything about it.
So when she’s given until midnight to right her wrongs. Bridget feels as though it’s a God send, but with only a few hours to fix years of hurt, can she really accomplish such a feat?
At first I thought that Here Lies Bridget would be a retelling of the story A Christmas Carol, where the old man is visited by the ghosts from the past, present and future. And in a way it is, but it’s also more than that, it’s also another completely different story.
Here Lies Bridget is a beautiful that is very powerful and full of emotions. It tells of the consequences of each and every hurtful act that is inflicted upon someone… The main character Bridget is at first very annoying, she’s just another selfish brat that bullies others for entertainment. But as the book progresses you find out that there are reasons behind why she acts likes she does, and that’s what keeps you turning pages!
Bridget Duke knows what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. Literally.
Bridget rules over her school with no mercy, stripping them of their self-esteem with her double-edged remarks, feeding on their insecurities. Almost everyone loves her, only because they’re afraid not to. Even those that Bridget calls friends are hurt by her careless remarks and gestures. So what happens when a new girl arrives at the school and slowly strips Bridget of her title?
Funnily enough, Bridget gets herself killed… or half killed. She’s stuck in limbo and the only thing that’s stopping her from being killed completely is the judgement of those that she’s hurt…
Bridget steps into each of their shoes, reliving the moments when she hurts them most with her actions, feeling their emotions and hearing their thoughts but not being able to do anything about it.
So when she’s given until midnight to right her wrongs. Bridget feels as though it’s a God send, but with only a few hours to fix years of hurt, can she really accomplish such a feat?
At first I thought that Here Lies Bridget would be a retelling of the story A Christmas Carol, where the old man is visited by the ghosts from the past, present and future. And in a way it is, but it’s also more than that, it’s also another completely different story.
Here Lies Bridget is a beautiful that is very powerful and full of emotions. It tells of the consequences of each and every hurtful act that is inflicted upon someone… The main character Bridget is at first very annoying, she’s just another selfish brat that bullies others for entertainment. But as the book progresses you find out that there are reasons behind why she acts likes she does, and that’s what keeps you turning pages!
December 20, 2010
I did not like this book at all. The main character leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I just couldn't get over how spoiled, rude, selfish, thoughtless – I could go on and on – she was. She was so very bad, so very clueless about just how HORRIBLE she was, that I couldn't find it in me to have ANY sympathy for her. None at all, not even once she had to see things from others' perspectives. I didn't see much change in the way she thought between the beginning and the after parts. Everything was still all about HER. While I think she might have learned her lesson about how her actions affect others, I didn't get the feeling that she had truly changed. While she said it wasn't the case, I got the feeling that she was feeling the way she was and doing what she did more for HER own benefit than anything. Sure, she'll set things right because she feels bad about what she did. And maybe she'll be more thoughtful in how she acts in the future. What really would have made this a redemption story, in my opinion, would be if she stopped thinking so much about herself.
Fortunately, this book is short and a quick, easy read. I don't feel like I wasted too much time on it. I kept reading, hoping the end made it all worthwhile, but I don't feel it did. I wanted more remarkable change from her. And, at the very least, I wanted her to wake up in the hospital after her accident, and picking up where she left off. I didn't like things continuing as if nothing had happened. I had a hard time placing her after she came back. I'm guessing it was maybe the Friday before she had thrown the party in the beginning of the book, but I'm not entirely sure about that. I don't like feeling confused at the end.
In all, I'm glad I got to read this as an ARC – glad I didn't spend money on it. Glad I get to send it on. Hopefully those after will like it better. And, no, I don't intend to read this one again. Once was more than enough.
Fortunately, this book is short and a quick, easy read. I don't feel like I wasted too much time on it. I kept reading, hoping the end made it all worthwhile, but I don't feel it did. I wanted more remarkable change from her. And, at the very least, I wanted her to wake up in the hospital after her accident, and picking up where she left off. I didn't like things continuing as if nothing had happened. I had a hard time placing her after she came back. I'm guessing it was maybe the Friday before she had thrown the party in the beginning of the book, but I'm not entirely sure about that. I don't like feeling confused at the end.
In all, I'm glad I got to read this as an ARC – glad I didn't spend money on it. Glad I get to send it on. Hopefully those after will like it better. And, no, I don't intend to read this one again. Once was more than enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2011
I hated Bridget. Really, I loathed her, which shows just how well written she is. At the very beginning, I felt a little sorry for her but as the ages kept turning and the story unfolded I just wanted to slap some sense into her. And some morality. She was just such a bitch to everyone and spoiled little princess that in any other book it would make you stop reading... but Bridget’s train wreck of a life was like those gruesome scenes that you just couldn’t tear your eyes away from.
The entire first half of the novel I was just waiting for Bridget to get hers – a part which kept me reading – and when it finally happened I was relieved and relished in her character’s turmoil over it. That more than likely makes me sound like a horrible person, but once you read this book I’m sure that you’ll agree. Bridget is that sort of character that you love to hate, though, so these types of emotions are warranted. At least I think so...
Anyways, after the mid-way point I started to almost empathize with Bridget and wanted her to honestly become a better person. But I still didn’t like her much. She’s just one of those characters.
The story itself was great and had a fantastic concept that I don’t think can ever be overdone – it’s very similar to last year’s debut Before I Fall in that respect. This was wonderfully written to the point where it made me, as the reader, be emotional over it. If you want a good novel to read for a few hours, this would be a good choice. This is great debut novel and if this is the set bar I can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next. I give this an 8/10.
The entire first half of the novel I was just waiting for Bridget to get hers – a part which kept me reading – and when it finally happened I was relieved and relished in her character’s turmoil over it. That more than likely makes me sound like a horrible person, but once you read this book I’m sure that you’ll agree. Bridget is that sort of character that you love to hate, though, so these types of emotions are warranted. At least I think so...
Anyways, after the mid-way point I started to almost empathize with Bridget and wanted her to honestly become a better person. But I still didn’t like her much. She’s just one of those characters.
The story itself was great and had a fantastic concept that I don’t think can ever be overdone – it’s very similar to last year’s debut Before I Fall in that respect. This was wonderfully written to the point where it made me, as the reader, be emotional over it. If you want a good novel to read for a few hours, this would be a good choice. This is great debut novel and if this is the set bar I can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next. I give this an 8/10.
January 5, 2011
I decided to request Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison because it sounded very similar to Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall, one of my favourite reads of 2010.
Harbison’s novel begins with a prologue in which Bridget is speeding and crashes her car before taking the reader back a few weeks in time to reveal how she got into her current predicament. In the present moment then, Bridget ends up in limbo and has to walk in the shoes of some of her friends and stepmother to see the consequences of her thoughtless words and actions on them. Here Lies Bridget therefore does a good job of showing how a person’s deeds matter and the tremendous impact they can have on somebody else even without realization.
What I didn’t like about the novel though was that the transformation of Bridget seemed a little too sudden. Right from the start, I disliked Bridget – I mean, she was speeding in the prologue and hoping to die just so everyone would be sorry! – and as the story progressed, I started to hate her. I kind of wished she would die because she was such a horribly mean character! So, when Bridget does feel remorseful after seeing the effects of her interactions on those she knows and is eager to fix her mistakes, I couldn’t fully believe that she wanted a second chance entirely because she was repentant and not also because she didn’t want to die.
As well, the character of Anna confused me because initially I thought that she was a new student who Bridget feels is taking over her place at school. It doesn’t turn out to be as simple as that, and so I was left wondering who/what was Anna.
Harbison’s novel begins with a prologue in which Bridget is speeding and crashes her car before taking the reader back a few weeks in time to reveal how she got into her current predicament. In the present moment then, Bridget ends up in limbo and has to walk in the shoes of some of her friends and stepmother to see the consequences of her thoughtless words and actions on them. Here Lies Bridget therefore does a good job of showing how a person’s deeds matter and the tremendous impact they can have on somebody else even without realization.
What I didn’t like about the novel though was that the transformation of Bridget seemed a little too sudden. Right from the start, I disliked Bridget – I mean, she was speeding in the prologue and hoping to die just so everyone would be sorry! – and as the story progressed, I started to hate her. I kind of wished she would die because she was such a horribly mean character! So, when Bridget does feel remorseful after seeing the effects of her interactions on those she knows and is eager to fix her mistakes, I couldn’t fully believe that she wanted a second chance entirely because she was repentant and not also because she didn’t want to die.
As well, the character of Anna confused me because initially I thought that she was a new student who Bridget feels is taking over her place at school. It doesn’t turn out to be as simple as that, and so I was left wondering who/what was Anna.
February 14, 2017
MINIRECENZIA NA BLOGU
Bridget je bitch. Nedávno som videla krásny preklad tohto slova do slovenčiny - beštia. Takže Bridget je beštia. Nie je to blonďatá-prsatá kráľovná strednej školy - stačil jej titul princeznej. Je to ten typ dievčaťa, čo púta všetky pohľady, dav na chodbách sa pred ňou rozostupuje, je z bohatej rodiny, usporadúva najpopulárnejšie párty, manipuluje svojimi priateľkami, je drzá, egoistická, zahľadená do seba, klame, okato flirtuje, a hlavná hrdinka ju od prvého stretnutia nenávidí.
Oh, hups, Bridget je hlavná hrdinka.
A už v prológu sa dozvedáme, že je pravdepodobne mŕtva.
Prvú polovicu knihy Bridget rekapituluje posledných pár týždňov života. Pekne podrobne sa dozvedáme, aká strašná beštia Bridget je. Tú druhú sa príbeh vracia ku prológu. Bridget - dočasne mŕtva - je donútená prežiť všetky už zmienené udalosti v koži tých, ktorým svojou beštiálnosťou ublížila. Bridget aj čitateľ teda získavajú pohľad do zákulisia, ktorý stmelí hromadu navonok nepodstatných momentov z prvej polovice.
Už len tým, aká strašná Bridget je je táto kniha úplne jedinečná. Keď si zhruba prejdete recenzie tak zistíte, že to hrozne veľa ľuďom vadilo (mne naopak - hrdinka, ktorá nie je ako z cukorničky, yay!). Autorka píše skvelo, a kniha sa číta fakt dobre. Môj jediný a naozaj jediný problém je koniec, ktorý skončí v očakávanom klišé. Ale po celkovom dojme z knihy - nevadí.
Priemerne 3.38? Nedocenené a podhodnotené. Až do cca záverečných 30-40 som zvažovala 5 hviezdičiek. 8/10
Bridget je bitch. Nedávno som videla krásny preklad tohto slova do slovenčiny - beštia. Takže Bridget je beštia. Nie je to blonďatá-prsatá kráľovná strednej školy - stačil jej titul princeznej. Je to ten typ dievčaťa, čo púta všetky pohľady, dav na chodbách sa pred ňou rozostupuje, je z bohatej rodiny, usporadúva najpopulárnejšie párty, manipuluje svojimi priateľkami, je drzá, egoistická, zahľadená do seba, klame, okato flirtuje, a hlavná hrdinka ju od prvého stretnutia nenávidí.
Oh, hups, Bridget je hlavná hrdinka.
A už v prológu sa dozvedáme, že je pravdepodobne mŕtva.
Prvú polovicu knihy Bridget rekapituluje posledných pár týždňov života. Pekne podrobne sa dozvedáme, aká strašná beštia Bridget je. Tú druhú sa príbeh vracia ku prológu. Bridget - dočasne mŕtva - je donútená prežiť všetky už zmienené udalosti v koži tých, ktorým svojou beštiálnosťou ublížila. Bridget aj čitateľ teda získavajú pohľad do zákulisia, ktorý stmelí hromadu navonok nepodstatných momentov z prvej polovice.
Už len tým, aká strašná Bridget je je táto kniha úplne jedinečná. Keď si zhruba prejdete recenzie tak zistíte, že to hrozne veľa ľuďom vadilo (mne naopak - hrdinka, ktorá nie je ako z cukorničky, yay!). Autorka píše skvelo, a kniha sa číta fakt dobre. Môj jediný a naozaj jediný problém je koniec, ktorý skončí v očakávanom klišé. Ale po celkovom dojme z knihy - nevadí.
Priemerne 3.38? Nedocenené a podhodnotené. Až do cca záverečných 30-40 som zvažovala 5 hviezdičiek. 8/10
Read
March 29, 2011I was a bit hesitant to read Here Lies Bridget, I must admit. I was warned beforehand that it is definitely not for everyone. But I was in the mood for a quick contemporary read, and Here Lies Bridget looked like just the book I needed. In the end, I am overwhelmingly happy I read it, even if there were times where I couldn’t stand it.
The plot is one that has been done time and time again, but there was something about Bridget’s story that I found different from the rest of the books like this. It was interesting to be able to see how awful Bridget was to everybody, and then get to see how it truly affected them.
I really did enjoy Paige Harbison’s writing style. There was something about it that kept me reading even when I thought it would kill me. If she is able to keep me reading a book with a main character that is positively cruel, I don’t know if there is anything she can’t do.
Be warned: you will hate Bridget when you read this book. But if you keep going, you will appreciate how terrible she is. She was written perfectly for this book, and now that I have read the book, I wouldn’t have her any other way. The rest of the characters are very, very well written and relatable. They all share their own separate problems, and you can relate to each and every one of them.
In the end, I definitely recommend reading Here Lies Bridget. You probably will want to throw the book out the window during the first half, but you will be so happy that you read this heartbreaking and heartwarming novel if you read it from start to finish.
The plot is one that has been done time and time again, but there was something about Bridget’s story that I found different from the rest of the books like this. It was interesting to be able to see how awful Bridget was to everybody, and then get to see how it truly affected them.
I really did enjoy Paige Harbison’s writing style. There was something about it that kept me reading even when I thought it would kill me. If she is able to keep me reading a book with a main character that is positively cruel, I don’t know if there is anything she can’t do.
Be warned: you will hate Bridget when you read this book. But if you keep going, you will appreciate how terrible she is. She was written perfectly for this book, and now that I have read the book, I wouldn’t have her any other way. The rest of the characters are very, very well written and relatable. They all share their own separate problems, and you can relate to each and every one of them.
In the end, I definitely recommend reading Here Lies Bridget. You probably will want to throw the book out the window during the first half, but you will be so happy that you read this heartbreaking and heartwarming novel if you read it from start to finish.
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