Alyssa’s Comments (group member since Dec 25, 2010)

Alyssa’s comments from the The Lit Express YA BOOKS group.

Yay! I'm expecting it in my mailbox tomorrow. It sounds like this book is going to be full of suspense -- I can't wait! :)

Hi all. Post here anything you'd like to say about this book before we begin reading. :) What are your hopes and expectations?

Awesome! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts about it, Katie.

Rane, overall, I liked it. There were some things that bothered me about it, but I thought it was well done. Just because of the way the book is set up, the audiobook was amazing. They got two narrators (a guy and a girl) for the different parts, which worked out really well.

Okay, I got the audiobook version of this from my library (it's the only one they had), and now I'm almost done! It's a really short book, which is nice. At least, it's shorter than Revolution.

Yes! Hooray for a real relationship! I want to write Donnelly a praise letter just for that.

Okay, there were times during Alex's entries when I'd be like, "Wow, that's really familiar." But I thought I was just tired, so I ignored it lol. Totally didn't catch they were actually repeated. Agreed, that's way too forced and unrealistic. I also had trouble believing she was able to get through handwritten, old French in such a short amount of time -- she'd HAVE to be genius to do that!

Rane, I'm jealous. This novel would be totally awesome with real life context.

I am okay with Andi being a genius, since there has to be a reason she's going to such a stuffy school. Even with money, that's hard to do. Veejay's mother totally annoys me and is way too cliche, but I love Veejay. He's different -- a little edgier than geeks normally are.

I have! I can't stop reading!

I'm really liking this book. I think Andi's emotions are getting to a more manageable level for me to handle. I do have to say: there is one teeny tiny history flub concerning The Rights of Man. The diary mentions something about it not being for women, but that's not true. What made it so amazing was that it tried to promote gender equality. It didn't do very well, but it tried. Anyway, I digress.

How hot is Virgil?! I really like his character, and the fact that she made him a Tunisian-French guy instead of the typical white French guy. Way to add depth with so simple a trait.

And how cool is Yves?! I admit, if I met him in person, I'd probably be annoyed, but he's hilarious. Also, I want to visit that library. I'm thinking that Paris is my next vacation so I can do a follow-along with this novel.

Hmmm. This post turned into a strange love rave. I'll try to post again with more literary/insightful things to say. :P

This book has some seriously good writing (and lines!). What are your favorite lines/passages from it?

Here are some of mine:

CHAPTER 32, Page 200:

"I don't like hope very much. In fact, I hate it. It's the crystal meth of emotions. It hooks you fast and kills you hard. It's bad news. The worst. It's sharp sticks and cherry bombs. When hope shows up, it's only a matter of time until someone gets hurt."

CHAPTER 41, Page 248

"And that's why I did it. Why I served him. Why I stayed.

Because God loves us, but the devil takes an interest."

CHAPTER 47, page 271:

"I will rain down silver and gold for you. I will shatter the black night, break it open, and pour out a million stars."

Seriously! He doesn't call or talk to her at all? Then he has the nerve to go crazy on her because Andi and her mom are struggling. Hello! Where has he been? I was totally with Andi on this one. What gives him the right to take charge like that after basically going missing from their lives?

I think he does have a girlfriend, Rane. I did think it was strange he could just send his ex-wife to the hospital like that. Maybe because he's rich and famous and knows people? I don't know. Weird.

Agreed on Andi. I think Donnelly is trying way too hard to establish her internal conflict. It would be better if she followed the "less is more" rule.

*SPOILER ALERT (Only for Chapters 1-4)*

It's so hard to comment about the beginning of a book. But, here are my thoughts:

So far, I'm intrigued. I like the setup. It's not rushed, nor is it dragged out. And I feel like I can really relate to Andi. It's the music. That makes her totally real for me. I know how it is to have the one thing that can make everything better (for me, it's writing), no matter what. And Donnelly makes it sound legit. She doesn't just mention that Andi likes music and shows her playing -- she weaves it in. The songs Andi studies and is inspired by become part of the story. I really love that.

What did everyone think about her seeing her dead brother? I'm not sure it worked as well as it could have. Too soon, maybe. I think he could have been introduced a different, less melodramatic way.

I can't wait to find out Alexandrine's story. The French Revolution was an intense period in Paris's history (to say the least), and I want to know how she dealt with it. Also, I want to see how Andi reacts to what Alexandrine went through.