The Rest of Us Just Live Here

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post to catch up.
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I loved the idea of exploring the lives of the “regular kids” in a high school characterized by heroes, legends, slayers, etc. Basically, the kids at Sunnyvale High who know that Buffy is saving their skin on a semi-regular basis who aren't Xander, Willow, Cordelia, etc. While Buffy is fighting vampires and the rest, these kids have family drama, fall in love, get rejected, worry about the future (assuming they don't get eaten by the Monster of the Week) and all the rest. She may be the hero in general, but they're the heroes of their own lives.

So Patrick Ness tells the story of one group of these students on the verge of graduation (while the world is being saved from a threat too complicated to talk about).

Great, great concept. The execution was . . . okay. I enjoyed it, but it didn't leave me dancing in the aisle or anything. This is only my second Ness, but it didn't feel like this was really his wheelhouse—maybe I'm wrong, maybe A Monster Calls is that thing that's out of the norm for him.

This book was another reminder of why I don't read young adult novels anymore. I thought most of the dialogue and story line, especially related to the romance parts, were immensely cringe. They were all so childish and dramatic. The writing was so focused on making the ‘indie' kids be super silly but them super important. Which I think was the point but I didn't enjoy it. The characters were also not very likeable, especially Michael. The concepts was good to start but focused too much on the wrong parts for my taste. Like why were the adults so quick to dismiss everything but then simultaneously vaguely mentioning their own histories with magical shit. Could've been really good, I was disappointed. 

Anyone watch the Joss Whedon tv show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer? You ever wonder what happened to the students that went to school with Buffy? This book takes a shot at answering that question. Exploding gymnasiums at graduation and all. The unique draw of this story is that we find out what the main characters are up to at the beginning of each chapter, and then the chapter goes on to narrate through the role of the side characters.

I forget how perfect Patrick Ness is. Loved the ironic humour of this book too.

It was an enjoyable book. I liked that it was basically the background of every YA fantasy novel set in modern times. That part was utterly hilarious.

I've been burnt out on reading Fantasy lately. My brain seems too tired to put itself into a world it can't recognize, which is frustrating as hell, given that I really enjoy fantasy lit. This seemed like a good compromise for “I need a book that's anchored in real life but I'd also like to be reading a fantasy story”. I forgot how sweet this is.

The ending was good and I got the message this book was trying to get across with accepting yourself with all your flaws and accepting your friends even if they sometimes choose to hide things from you because people are complicated and everyone lives different lives that we can't possibly begin to comprehend.

Buuut, I was thoroughly annoyed with all the drama in the middle of the book. Although, I did enjoy how Mike and his sisters were so close and open with each other. So it might not have been very enjoyable but it was fine as a one time read.

Entertaining enough. I smirked at certain spots, got giddy at the Buffy references, and I aww'd and cared about the main character but I just....didn't love it. It's overhyped. I still love Patrick Ness though and will continue binge reading his novels.

this book was one big disappointment. disjointed, boring, and all tell-no show. it's one redeeming point was the mental illness rep, which was only good for the one therapy scene with mikey and the doctor. i really, really didn't like it, i'm sorry to say.

2.5/5 stars. FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG https://literarymermaid.wordpress.com

I found the premise of this book to be really interesting, and different from anything I'd ever heard of before. The actual writing fell a little bit flat for me though. It wasn't a bad book by any means, I just think it could have been better. I didn't really get attached to any of the characters which made it more difficult for me enjoy the book. The fact that it took place following the everyday kids that aren't a part of the “hero” stories like SO many books are about was an interesting concept, and Ness was very good at the satirical moments that led each of the chapters, which made them pretty funny. The rest of the chapters, the parts the book was REALLY supposed to be about felt like they were trying too hard. I didn't really mesh well with Ness's writing this time, and wish I would have liked this book more than I did. So this book wasn't really for me, but I understand why people might love it. I can see the appeal. It just didn't hit me the way I wanted it to.

Une idée géniale pour commencer : et si on suivait les personnages communs, banals, ceux qui sont toujours en arrière-plan dans les histoires avec des héros et des élus qui sauvent le monde ? Cela donne un roman très drôle et passionnant du début à la fin. A dévorer !

I love the idea of a story based upon the normal population (not the Buffys or the Scooby gang, but the other kids).

Mostly compelling, although it took a little bit to get into it.

Interesting idea, so-so execution. Take away the off-screen action and you are left with a typical YA coming of age novel.

Loved this! Review to come. :)

FULL REVIEW:

So right from the start I thought the premise of writing about the regular people in a Chosen One story was pretty brilliant—and it turned out even better than I'd hoped. Ness doesn't just play with the Chosen One trope—he pokes fun at sooo many YA stereotypes, from the Chosen Ones having “cool” names, to the ridiculousness of some of the romantic plots, to Chosen One deaths and brave sacrifices, etc. etc. There were a lot of moments that made me actually laugh out loud, and it gave the whole book a really playful tone that I very much appreciated.

Then, of course, there's the anxiety rep. The protagonist, Mike, has OCD, and while my anxiety never pushed me into endless loops like his (though I am familiar with loops, and especially familiar with feeling the need to wash my hands “one more time”), there was a lot that felt really familiar and real while I was reading. Doubly so because like Mike, I once worked in a restaurant at the height of my anxiety breakdown and would wash my hands so many times there I'd leave with dry, cracked hands. This is just one example. I took pictures of other lines that really resonated with me, but point is, at least to me, the anxiety rep felt pretty solid. So solid that after the first night of reading I had to put the book down and take a deep breath because it was almost triggering. Of course YMMV, but for me, at least, the representation rang true.

So all that said, I really appreciated seeing some real, respectful anxiety/OCD rep on the page. The cast of characters is also super diverse, which was an especially great bonus.

All in all, I really enjoyed this one and would totally recommend it to those looking for a fun read with some neuroatypical rep. I will caution, though, that if you're likely to be triggered by vivid anxiety rep, you may want to skip this one or go in with eyes open at least. But now I'm going to have to read more Patrick Ness books because this was excellent.

Diversity note: The protagonist, Mike, has OCD. Other prominent characters include his sister, who has an eating disorder (but is in recovery), his friend and love interest who is Black, and his best friend who is gay.

well that didn't take long to read .... !
first off ! I really LOVe Patrick Ness , i got so freakin' pulled in by the book , that i forget that an actual human being , wrote it , with their hands , on paper . no joke .
It (again ) made me question what on earth I'm going to do in the future ?! ( questions are good things . )
the whole “ lets try and graduate before the school blows up guys !”concept was what kept me intrigued as well as the following :

+the teenagers had regular problems and were also diverse ! (#gorealisim)
+JARED WAS A LINE BACKER ( also math geek + g(y)ay
+a few tears were shed ( the characters cried too ,cmon)
+it ridiculously relate-able yet heart wrenching ( aren't most books ?)
+the cover and spine in general were quite pretty ( Quite , meaning quite artistic )
+I want to live in the world with all the indie kids and vampires and gods , even though college still exists there !! ( not forgetting exploding education facilities )
+ so much happened in under 400 pages
+Nathan ( drunk , dorky , hated ? ( why ?! ), loved )
+ going and convincing the world to read this book is now my sole purpose in life
+spooky deer and exploding cars are fun
+WHol book in general
+The never ending need for a sequel despite knowing what will happen to the characters .

Just about everything I adored about this book down in one review . * smiles* .
The book was the most perfect of perfect thing I have read in terms of contemporary books to date .

go forth , and read , . the book :) *

love , wordswolf

I have a weakness for a good pretentious meta-concept and this is sooo good omg

I just loved it

I'd give it to teens who are already big readers, they'll appreciate what Ness is doing with big YA tropes and characters here.

but also, content warning for eating disorders & mental illness–some readers are going to want it more for that of course, but you wouldn't necessarily expect to find it in this book so it might take some readers by unpleasant surprise.

also the god of cats <3

I got a little wince-y when I thought Jared was going to magically cure Mike's mental illness but I shoulda known betterrr

Poking fun at supernatural YA novels - what's not to love ;) Very enjoyable read.

Enjoyed the meta teen trope intros as the frame for the characters, they were always good for a knowing nod or chuckle. Really liked the exploration of gray areas in feelings and friendships. Ness's characters feel more like true teen thinking, not adults-as-teens, which can happen a lot in YA

I'm very conflicted on how to rate and review this book. But for now I'm going with 3.5 stars. This may change after I have some some to digest and write a full review. But I will say that while the plot was lacking and abrupt in many ways, the messages throughout the book were extremely important and made this book that much more.

Originally written:  September 8, 2016 
So this book idea sounded pretty cool - the POV of regular kids who aren't “the chosen ones”. But the whole thing fell flat. One of my main gripes was that the main character was not believable at all as a teenage guy. He spends the majority of the book lusting after “the love of his life” and then  when they finally have sex he realizes they are better off as a friends and is okay with it??. 

I also wanted to hear more from the indie kids. Learn more about them or have more interaction with them. I felt they could have kept the concept but at the same time highlighted the differences some more of their differences. 

Overall it was just an okay book. I think I'm disappointed because it COULD have been more, but it just “was”.

Faire un roman sur les gens qui vivent à côté des héros, un pari risqué (bon, si on oublie Willow, mais Willow c'est un héros, Willow elle est géniale, Willow.. oui bon voilà). Et il faut dire que j'ai eu du mal à rentrer dans le livre, vraaaaiment du mal. Mais je suis content de m'être accroché car, passé le premier quart, ce livre devient vraiment vraiment vraiment sympa, et extrêmement drôle (un point pour le quart-de-dieu-des-chats-homo).

Au final on obtient une histoire très différente, en marge des sauveurs du monde, des tueurs de vampires, ... Une histoire de lycéens qui tentent tant bien que mal de mener leur vie alors que le monde autour d'eux part complètement en vrille, ce qui n'était pas sans me rappeler Le Monde de Charlie. Le livre met aussi un point d'honneur à pointer certains écueils des récits bourrés d'élus et de sauveurs du monde, comme l'inexistence totale d'Internet dans leurs vies (sérieusement, ils soint coincés en 1985 ?), l'attitude de beaucoup d'adultes face à l'adolescence et à ses problèmes (le mal être, les problèmes rencontrés, ...), ... J'ai refermé ce livre avec un grand sourire aux lêvres, parce qu'il est profondément touchant, et qu'on finit par s'attacher (fort) aux personnages (traduction : j'ai pleuré. Oui, encore. Oui je sais.). Un bon moment à passer, et de la très chouette littérature jeunesse. Allez zou, on file l'acheter. TOI AUSSI AU FOND.

(Petite pensée pour l'édition française qui va devoir trouver un nouveau surnom pour la petite soeur Meredith Breath... diminuée en Merde Breath. Courage les gars !)