Extraordinary Means

Remarkably cleverly written book about teenage love, life threatening diseases, and being true to one's self.

This was VERY good. Enjoyed immensely.

4/5 stars We were all ghosts at Latham House, because we were all haunted by lives that were no longer ours.

It's books like this that remind me that I suck at reviewing. So much happened, yet I have nothing to say. So I'll give it my best shot, and hope I hit some inch of the target.

I don't know what possessed me to pick this up. I have around a hundred books on my shelves and on my phone that are calling my name, very loudly in fact, and up until maybe a week or so ago this wasn't one of them. I hadn't heard that much talk about it from anywhere, and only a few of my Goodreads friends had read it. Yet, I saw it on my kindle screen and my fingers tapped it's cover before I realized what they were doing. I read it, I enjoyed it, and I was honestly very surprised.

Extraordinary Means is about sick children. I knew this going in, and so the first few chapters I trudged through, I found The Fault in Our Stars comparison swimming through my brain. Yet, after a few pages one thing became absolutely clear: this was not the Fault in Our Stars. In fact, it reminded me more of another John Green novel, but because of the fact that no one should go into a book with expectations of it being like another, I'm gonna keep the title out of it. Go figure it out yourself if you're that damn curious.

Yes, Extraordinary Means is suppose to be about sick children, but it morphs into a story of friendship, youth, and experiencing something new. Perhaps this book isn't a four star book, but something made me boost up the rating. I personally did find the characters bland at time, but they were so relateable and attachable that their faults were easily overshadowed. The writing was simple, and average, but still unique. This book may or may not be a story for everyone, but I enjoyed it. And since this is my review, that is all that really matters.

This was a pretty good book. It did have some Fault in Our Stars qualities, but still held its own and was enjoyable. I did like the idea of a drug resistant disease that we've supposedly cured. Interesting take on what a modern day sanitarium might be like too, but for people who have the money or insurance to pay for it. Likable characters and we'll written.

The Beginning of Everything is one of my favorite books of all time, so I was excited for this, but while I don't think it was a bad book, I don't love it either. Some moments were wonderful, but I kept getting distracted or needing breaks from it. I had a hard time ever being fully in it with the characters for some reason. Some moments I was, but then it would lose me. I'm really not sure I could even pinpoint what it was about this book I didn't love, just something off about it. I still love Schneider's work and I'm excited for her next one, but this one didn't hit the mark with me.

Tenía ganas de leer algo que conmoviera incluso a alguien sin corazón como yo. Según muchas reseñas, Extraordinary Means sería el libro indicado, creo que no he leído alguna reseña negativa en ninguno de los dos libros publicados por Robyn Schneider. ¿Por qué no logré que Extraordinary Means me encantara?

Para mí fue al empezar, los primeros capítulos no me generaron ningún tipo de conexión con los narradores o incluso algún interés en lo que les fuera a pasar. No sé si fue una cosa de la escritora, el que los personajes luego tuvieran un desarrollo y madurez al final, el problema fue que me se me hicieron muy antipáticos, los dos. ¿Quizá fue porqué no era el momento indicado para leerlo? Quizá, por eso lo dejé unos cuantos días y leí otra cosa.

El libro es sobre una enfermedad: La tuberculosis. Mi problema, para creerme completamente el libro fue que conozco a una persona con tuberculosis y por momentos sentía que los problemas del libro era el típico estadounidense dónde se ahogan en un vaso con agua, haciendo drama por todo. Al terminar de leerlo tuve un poco más de idea sobre la enfermedad y mis pensamientos iniciales no cambiaron totalmente pero me educó un poco. Aún así sigo teniendo la sensación de exageración. Soy latina, vengo de una cultura dónde se sale a trabajar incluso si tienes el brazo roto.



ok, quizá no así... Pero se entiende.

Luego del tiempo que dejé en pausa el libro y lo retomé, me fue más fácil continuar la historia. Lamentablemente no lo disfruté al nivel que quería, no logré encariñarme con los personajes tampoco, pero la narración se vuelve sencilla de seguir, no me aburrí como al inicio dónde me salté varios párrafos.

En conclusión: se me hizo interesante la historia por momentos, no logré emocionarme al nivel que esperaba, o sea al nivel tan alto como quién lo ha leído me decía. Reseña que leo, reseña que dice lloro su vida al terminarlo.

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