Book Title: Bright Young Things
Author: Anna Godbersen
Series: Bright Young Things #1
Series: Bright Young Things #1
Date Started: July 2nd 2013
Date Completed: July 7th 2013
Genres: Romance, Adventure, Historical
Rating: Four stars
Review:
I was taking a risk when I read this book, because the genre is so different to what I usually read, it's likely that if I'd hated it, I'd be discouraged from trying anything like it ever again. But actually, I really did enjoy it much more than I expected to.
Bright Young Things is set in the raging 1920s, where ambition and money is what drives America. Cordelia and Letty are desperate to escape their dreary lives in Ohio, so run away to New York, and overnight find themselves lost and unaware in this strange new city. After a childish argument, the two find themselves separated; one to go to a vastly rich estate of her mysterious newfound father's; and the other to carry on and follow her dreams of being on the stage. But how far do dreams and money get you in this evolving world?
I liked Godbersen's writing. I haven't really read anything like it before, since it has the narration from the 3rd person that fits the contemporary language perfectly - yet it still has the simplistic and humours nature found in most Young Adult books. It did throw me a little, when I began reading this story like it was written in such a time - but I liked it overall and it did help with the story.
I think it was a good call to write the book through 3rd person, since we're able to get a lot more important details, and the emotions of the characters are very obvious. I admit, this did annoy me a little, since I like to reading books where you have to work to get the full effect of the story. However, it did reflect the almost 'innocent' attitude most people showed in their behaviour and actions of the time, so it did actually contribute to the story.
I'm not sure if there's a fixed story I can evaluate. There wasn't really a plot, which I have to say was a draw-back. Not because I got bored - I didn't - but just because it's one of those things that a novel really needs to be absolutely amazing. Aside from the fact that these girls come to New York looking for a new life and identity, and go about finding it in different ways, there isn't a main plot that occurs during the story. A lot of events happen, but they don't link together consequently to create a purposeful story. It's much like you would expect someone's life to happen - although a lot more dramatic. This took a bit of getting used to for me, but I still found it enjoyable to read, nonetheless.
I wish it had had more thrills. It was all very nice learning about these girls and their new lives, but there were so many opportunities for drama that were just missed. Maybe I'm expecting something that doesn't happen in this genre, but I'm so used to reading action/adventure thrillers I just couldn't adapt to a simpler story.
The progression of the story to do with each character was very good, since all three stories linked together strongly, yet it didn't feel like any one was more important than another.
This book is very strongly character based. And luckily, there are some very good characters.
Cordelia, I feel, is probably the main character, since the biggest events, and first accounts, are told through her chapters. She wasn't the best protagonist I've ever read, but I've read very few books with protagonists just as Cordelia. I liked her little story, and I think she fitted into it very well. She's clearly a very ambitious, adaptable person, and I think that was really needed in the story to give it that little bit of attitude.
Letty was lovely, although she did get on my nerves a few times: I just felt like yelling at her to pull herself together or grow up, but at the end of the day, you couldn't really blame her for reacting the way she did. I just feel that her story is such a key part of the book, it would have been more interesting to read if there was a very strong character there instead.
Astrid is my favourite character. At first glance, she seems like a bit of a bitch, to be honest. But actually, I think she's very interesting and genuine in her reactions, because of the way she was brought up etc. I particularly liked her because of her wildness and carelessness which was just perfect for the 20s. The strange thing is, her story would have really annoyed me if it had been in another novel, since it mainly consists of romantic frustration, but actually I found it one of the most interesting of all the stories. I don't know why, maybe because it was the most dramatic thing happening in the whole book.
I love Charlie. I know he's supposed to be a jerk and an idiot and a horrible person but I really love him. I love the two sides of him he has around his sister, and then Astrid. His and Astrid's relationship was brilliant, in my opinion, and I loved the way neither ever seemed to trust the other one. He was just a really engaging character in the story that I felt was just perfect for the pace and plot line.
Darius I'm still undecided about.
Thom I'm confused about.
Grady I liked until the end.
You very rarely get a book that starts to decrease in pace. I'm sad to say that at the beginning of this book, I was literally hanging on every word because I loved it so much. But then it started to slow down, and did so so much that I was just left only reading small amounts at a time because it couldn't hold my attention longer.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely did enjoy it and I'll be recommending it a lot, I just felt that not a lot happened after the first 200 or so pages.
It was all very depressing at the end, I felt. Although there were quite a few silver linings, I felt the abundance of distress and betrayal and all that was a little overwhelming for what had been, up to then, a reasonably 'feel-good' book. It did pick up in the last chapter, which was good, and I really want to know what happens to them all next (especially Charlie and Astrid), so I probably will read the next book.
I would recommend Bright Young Things to anyone who likes historical fiction and romance primarily. Having said that, even though I'm not a huge enthusiast of romance, I still liked this book quite a lot. It's quite an easy read, although sometimes you may find it a little too easy. Overall, it's just a really nice read - perfect for something light for the summer.
Image Source: http://www.karenkincy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/brightyoungthings1.jpg
I was taking a risk when I read this book, because the genre is so different to what I usually read, it's likely that if I'd hated it, I'd be discouraged from trying anything like it ever again. But actually, I really did enjoy it much more than I expected to.
Bright Young Things is set in the raging 1920s, where ambition and money is what drives America. Cordelia and Letty are desperate to escape their dreary lives in Ohio, so run away to New York, and overnight find themselves lost and unaware in this strange new city. After a childish argument, the two find themselves separated; one to go to a vastly rich estate of her mysterious newfound father's; and the other to carry on and follow her dreams of being on the stage. But how far do dreams and money get you in this evolving world?
I liked Godbersen's writing. I haven't really read anything like it before, since it has the narration from the 3rd person that fits the contemporary language perfectly - yet it still has the simplistic and humours nature found in most Young Adult books. It did throw me a little, when I began reading this story like it was written in such a time - but I liked it overall and it did help with the story.
I think it was a good call to write the book through 3rd person, since we're able to get a lot more important details, and the emotions of the characters are very obvious. I admit, this did annoy me a little, since I like to reading books where you have to work to get the full effect of the story. However, it did reflect the almost 'innocent' attitude most people showed in their behaviour and actions of the time, so it did actually contribute to the story.
I'm not sure if there's a fixed story I can evaluate. There wasn't really a plot, which I have to say was a draw-back. Not because I got bored - I didn't - but just because it's one of those things that a novel really needs to be absolutely amazing. Aside from the fact that these girls come to New York looking for a new life and identity, and go about finding it in different ways, there isn't a main plot that occurs during the story. A lot of events happen, but they don't link together consequently to create a purposeful story. It's much like you would expect someone's life to happen - although a lot more dramatic. This took a bit of getting used to for me, but I still found it enjoyable to read, nonetheless.
I wish it had had more thrills. It was all very nice learning about these girls and their new lives, but there were so many opportunities for drama that were just missed. Maybe I'm expecting something that doesn't happen in this genre, but I'm so used to reading action/adventure thrillers I just couldn't adapt to a simpler story.
The progression of the story to do with each character was very good, since all three stories linked together strongly, yet it didn't feel like any one was more important than another.
This book is very strongly character based. And luckily, there are some very good characters.
Cordelia, I feel, is probably the main character, since the biggest events, and first accounts, are told through her chapters. She wasn't the best protagonist I've ever read, but I've read very few books with protagonists just as Cordelia. I liked her little story, and I think she fitted into it very well. She's clearly a very ambitious, adaptable person, and I think that was really needed in the story to give it that little bit of attitude.
Letty was lovely, although she did get on my nerves a few times: I just felt like yelling at her to pull herself together or grow up, but at the end of the day, you couldn't really blame her for reacting the way she did. I just feel that her story is such a key part of the book, it would have been more interesting to read if there was a very strong character there instead.
Astrid is my favourite character. At first glance, she seems like a bit of a bitch, to be honest. But actually, I think she's very interesting and genuine in her reactions, because of the way she was brought up etc. I particularly liked her because of her wildness and carelessness which was just perfect for the 20s. The strange thing is, her story would have really annoyed me if it had been in another novel, since it mainly consists of romantic frustration, but actually I found it one of the most interesting of all the stories. I don't know why, maybe because it was the most dramatic thing happening in the whole book.
I love Charlie. I know he's supposed to be a jerk and an idiot and a horrible person but I really love him. I love the two sides of him he has around his sister, and then Astrid. His and Astrid's relationship was brilliant, in my opinion, and I loved the way neither ever seemed to trust the other one. He was just a really engaging character in the story that I felt was just perfect for the pace and plot line.
Darius I'm still undecided about.
Thom I'm confused about.
Grady I liked until the end.
You very rarely get a book that starts to decrease in pace. I'm sad to say that at the beginning of this book, I was literally hanging on every word because I loved it so much. But then it started to slow down, and did so so much that I was just left only reading small amounts at a time because it couldn't hold my attention longer.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely did enjoy it and I'll be recommending it a lot, I just felt that not a lot happened after the first 200 or so pages.
It was all very depressing at the end, I felt. Although there were quite a few silver linings, I felt the abundance of distress and betrayal and all that was a little overwhelming for what had been, up to then, a reasonably 'feel-good' book. It did pick up in the last chapter, which was good, and I really want to know what happens to them all next (especially Charlie and Astrid), so I probably will read the next book.
I would recommend Bright Young Things to anyone who likes historical fiction and romance primarily. Having said that, even though I'm not a huge enthusiast of romance, I still liked this book quite a lot. It's quite an easy read, although sometimes you may find it a little too easy. Overall, it's just a really nice read - perfect for something light for the summer.
Image Source: http://www.karenkincy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/brightyoungthings1.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment