If I Stay Author: Gayle Forman | Language: English | ISBN:
B0020BUWX2 | Format: PDF
If I Stay Description
The critically acclaimed, bestselling novel from Gayle Forman, author of Where She Went, Just One Day, and the forthcoming Just One Year. In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heartwrenchingly beautiful, this will change the way you look at life, love, and family. Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time.
- File Size: 280 KB
- Print Length: 320 pages
- Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition (April 2, 2009)
- Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B0020BUWX2
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray:
- Lending: Not Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,716 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #66
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teen & Young Adult > Literature & Fiction
- #66
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teen & Young Adult > Literature & Fiction
I have a feeling that If I Stay may be one of those books that sells millions of copies, wins numerous awards, and inspires people to pick up a pen and tell a story of their own.
It starts off with a lighthearted chapter that showcases the close relationship Mia shares with her Mum, Dad and younger brother Teddy. I instantly fell in love with these four characters, as they reminded me very much of my own parents and sister: happy, fun, and more like friends than family. However, by page eleven, the tone of the book shifts, and everything has changed.
Mia is left staring at her broken body, while her family lie sprawled around her. She finds herself in a kind of limbo, a limbo where she can see, hear and touch, but can't feel anything. From here she must make the difficult decision of staying on Earth and living, or dying and hopefully seeing her family again. This has to be one of the most difficult decisions anyone could ever be faced with, and I applaud Gayle Forman for writing about it so eloquently and vividly.
I loved how the past was interweaved with the present, as this allowed us to get a glimpse into Mia's life before the accident, and to really get to know her. Mia is a strong and appealing character, and one which I think a lot of people will identify with. I also have to mention Adam, Mia's boyfriend. He's caring, thoughtful and the kind of person that we should all get to meet at some point or another. In fact, I think he might be my favourite part of the whole book.
'Just Listen', Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.
The above sentence is one of my favourites. To imagine that anyone's voice could sound like shrapnel has to be one of the most effective ways to describe someone dealing with unimaginable grief and fear.
Mia is the odd one out in her family. Like Mia both of her parents are involved in the music world - the punk scene - while Mia finds her niche in the classical world. The first time she touched a cello in third grade music class she knew that she had found her passion. She quickly excelled and now, a senior in high school, has a specialized professor and surpasses most college students that she accompanies. She even hopes to go to Julliard in the fall, even if it means leaving her awesome boyfriend Adam behind.
Early on a February morning though life for Mia changes drastically. What was supposed to be snow day fun suddenly turned into the biggest nightmare that Mia has ever faced and it all happened in an instant. Now Mia has to make the biggest choice of her life, to hold on or let go.
I have to start off by saying; I'm going to try as hard as possible not to gush about this book, as it is truly great. I sat down and read it all at once, never taking my eyes off the page and just entranced by Mia's story, not wanting it to end. After I was done, my jaw literally fell open in awe of the greatness!
Let me start with the writing style. Gayle Forman managed to create this lyrical tone in the book that made the story dance through the reader's mind and implant itself in their heart. The words flowed off the page, just like they were notes coming off a cello. She created deep emotion in a short time and created a story that hits close to home, regardless of who you are or the experiences you have had.
The story itself was absolutely breathtaking. To have to go through what Mia does is heart wrenching. The decisions she has to make and the things she has to see are so vivid, that you feel like you are right there in her position.
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