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Lacey Louwagie's Reviews > Before I Die
Before I Die
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I started this book wondering, "Why am I reading this?" and I ended it wondering, "Why did I read this?" But my two reasons for thinking these things were very different.
In the beginning, I felt like this book would be a repetition of "Skinny," a massive disappointment in which the author was enamored with the idea of a sick, frail, floundering heroine. The heroine in this book started out looking more or less the same: "I'm sick, I'm gonna die, the world sucks, so leave me alone."
Tessa begins the book by deciding that she wants to have sex before she dies. With the help of her friend Zoey, this begins Tessa's list of things to experience before she dies. [In case you're wondering, I decided to read this because I related to "the list."] She keeps the list written on her wall, which alarms her father when he sees the things she plans to do (break the law, try drugs, become famous etc.) And as cheesy as it's going to sound, this really did end up being a book about life in all its beauty and complexity. Tessa's world didn't stop because she was dying and I feel that Ms. Downham did a good job of capturing the complexity of emotions here -- Tessa's boyfriend's decision to move away for college so he wouldn't be reminded of her, Tessa's father constantly wavering between needing to discipline her and wanting to cherish his last months with her, her younger brother's inability to really process what was happening. So besides a few characters that could have been fleshed out a little more, the middle of this book is actually quite good.
Of course, we all know how the book is going to end. But I didn't know I was going to spend the last 30 pages sobbing. Poor Joker was so freaked out. And it was so painful that I asked why the heck I put myself through reading a book where I knew the main character would most likely end up dead.
But I did, and got about 3.5 stars out of it. I can tell you this: It ain't Lurlene McDaniel.
In the beginning, I felt like this book would be a repetition of "Skinny," a massive disappointment in which the author was enamored with the idea of a sick, frail, floundering heroine. The heroine in this book started out looking more or less the same: "I'm sick, I'm gonna die, the world sucks, so leave me alone."
Tessa begins the book by deciding that she wants to have sex before she dies. With the help of her friend Zoey, this begins Tessa's list of things to experience before she dies. [In case you're wondering, I decided to read this because I related to "the list."] She keeps the list written on her wall, which alarms her father when he sees the things she plans to do (break the law, try drugs, become famous etc.) And as cheesy as it's going to sound, this really did end up being a book about life in all its beauty and complexity. Tessa's world didn't stop because she was dying and I feel that Ms. Downham did a good job of capturing the complexity of emotions here -- Tessa's boyfriend's decision to move away for college so he wouldn't be reminded of her, Tessa's father constantly wavering between needing to discipline her and wanting to cherish his last months with her, her younger brother's inability to really process what was happening. So besides a few characters that could have been fleshed out a little more, the middle of this book is actually quite good.
Of course, we all know how the book is going to end. But I didn't know I was going to spend the last 30 pages sobbing. Poor Joker was so freaked out. And it was so painful that I asked why the heck I put myself through reading a book where I knew the main character would most likely end up dead.
But I did, and got about 3.5 stars out of it. I can tell you this: It ain't Lurlene McDaniel.
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Before I Die.
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Reading Progress
September 27, 2007
– Shelved
Started Reading
October 1, 2007
–
Finished Reading
October 12, 2007
– Shelved as:
youngadult
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Kathryn
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rated it 3 stars
Jan 06, 2008 02:03PM
You totally hit the issues as to why I gave this book a three as well. I was just so depressed by the time Tessa finally died that I couldn't handle it. I thought the beginning was a little trite, the middle was very good and the end was just too long and painful. Thank you for articulating my sentiments.
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Thanks for the comment!
"Tessa's boyfriend's decision to move away for college so he wouldn't be reminded of her" Wait, I totally missed that! Was that the boyfriend she had sex with?
Shaya wrote: ""Tessa's boyfriend's decision to move away for college so he wouldn't be reminded of her" Wait, I totally missed that! Was that the boyfriend she had sex with? "
Yup; it came near the end if I remember correctly. He was planning to go far away for college after her death.
I'm wondering if I missed something listening to it on audio book. Or if a track didn't copy onto my mp3 or something because Tessa never actually died... it ended after she goes to the hospital, is in serious condition and asks for strawberry ice cream and stuff.
Shaya wrote: "I'm wondering if I missed something listening to it on audio book. Or if a track didn't copy onto my mp3 or something because Tessa never actually died... it ended after she goes to the hospital, i..."Oh, yup, then you are missing some. This happens to me with audiobooks sometimes, too. I'd stick with your version, though; save yourself the emotional turmoil of vicariously experiencing the death!
agreed! good review!
