Monday, 24 September 2012
What Does Blue Feel Like? by Jessica Davidson
Published 2007 by Pan Macmillan Australia
Source: the library
Rating: 4.5 paws
From the blurb: Char is seventeen. She's in her last year of school. She's in a mess.She can't sleep, she can't eat. She feels... nothing. As Char deals with her parents, her boyfriend Jim, her friends, parties, school work and end-of-year exams, we feel just what it's like to be seventeen and so unsure that the future is anything more than just a concept of time.
What Does Blue Feel Like? is Australian author, Jessica Davidson's, debut novel. I borrowed it from the library after I read and loved her second novel, Everything Left Unsaid. The novel, written in verse, focuses on seventeen year old Char and from the beginning it's clear that she is not ok, often thinking to herself that she wants her life to be over. She can't remember when she started feeling like this but it's all she can think about. She teeters between feeling nothing to feeling ashamed and useless and often lies awake at night, planning her own death.
This book was so difficult to read in terms of of the theme yet so easy to read because it was written in verse. From the beginning I felt caught up in Char's thoughts and was immediately worried about her. It would be so tough to have the sort of thoughts she was having and even tougher as a teenager. There doesn't seem to be an incident that caused her depression and she definitely doesn't want to talk about it. Her parents have tried to be there for her and are quite understanding, as are her close friends at school, but no one can really understand what she's going through.
The story is character driven and we follow Char over the course of her final year in school. She can't see the point in anything and starts drinking and staying out late, eventually meeting Jim. Her best friend, Bronwyn, is dealing with her own problems, she's overwhelmed with negative thoughts about her body, and later Char meets another girl who self-harms.
I really felt for Char's parents, particularly her mum, Julie. Julie is so worried about her daughter but doesn't know what to do. She feels guilty and often lies awake listening to her daughter crying. There is a scene between them when Julie finally tries to take charge, it was a turning point for them, in that they finally communicated with each other.
What Does Blue Feel Like? is an emotionally charged book that touches on subjects such as depression, suicide, eating disorders, self harm, rape and teenage pregnancy. Jessica's writing was able to make me take on Char's thoughts and feelings and left me feeling quite sad, yet hopeful.
Bonus: Char goes vegetarian towards the end of the book (and author Jessica is a veggo too!)
Purchase : Booktopia / Fishpond
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26 comments:
This book sounds so good! I really enjoy inverse novels and this one sounds like a really tough book one that hits all your emotions while reading. Which I've noticed inverse novels do that. More so than normally written books. I definitely want to read this one. Great review Mandee!
Lovely review, and a 4.5 rating! It sounds thought-provoking and like a worthy read :)
Oh, Mands, this sounds fantastic!
Can you believe I've still never read a book in verse? :S
I'm always wary of novels dealing with depression or, really, any mental health issues. It's incredibly difficult to convey the authenticity of that desperation and hopelessnessnand how lost it leqves you feelingl, while still having some kind of story. You know, an actual *plot*. then there's also the danger of comic off preachy or really not conveying a message of hope and healing at all and *headdesk*
this actually sounds beautifully handled. Wonderful review! ♥
Cool-vegetarians!! :)
Yay vegetarians!! This book sounds really interesting as it's written in verse. As someone who has to deal with depression and anxiety at times, I appreciate when the subject is addressed in YA literature because a lot of time there is such a stigma involved.
This sounds heavy but so good! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Everything Left Unsaid (currently avoiding bookshops and the book aisle as I know if I browse and spot a copy, I won't be able to resist!) and until now, I didn't even know about What Does Blue Feel Like? I've only read one verse novel so far and loved it so I'm definitely eager to try some more.
Magnificent review, Mandee! Thanks for bringing this book to my attention ♥
Amazing review, Mandee!(: I have to admit though, I'd be SO scared to start this one as it deals with such a powerful subject. Yet, I feel like I'm reading more gritty contemporaries these days and this is one of those novels I'd feel too guilty to miss out on. It tackles such a painful subject but seems to have been written beautifully and character-driven novels are ones I love too, so thanks for bringing this one to my attention. I definitely want to try it out now! :)
Wow! I love books w/heavy themes and books written in verse. I think the story is one many people, whether they're teens or adults, can relate to. I am sort of dying to read WDBFL now. Thsnks for a lovely review!
OO this book looks nice! I'll definitely check it out :)
Krazyyme @ Young Readers
It seems like this would be a very hard book to read but for all the good reasons.
Thanks for this review ;)
This certainly sounds interesting and I like that it handles tough topics. Fab review, thanks for bringing it to my attention. :)
Wow, this touches on a lot of serious issues. I can't help but shy away from this type of read sometimes. I need to get in the right mood before I make an attempt. A beautiful review, Mandee! I'm so glad you were impressed with this. :)
I loved the title. I have only read one book in verse and they amaze me. This is a subject that is close to my heart as I have many family members in my extended and even my immediate that suffer from depression and I know how dehabilitating it is. I would very much love to check it out. Depression is hard on everyone, the victim and the family!
The premise sounds like it would translate very well to verse format. Heavy reads are so powerful in verse. And yay for vegetarians :) Thanks for introducing this one, Mandee! Lovely review.
I really liked EVERYTHING LEFT UNSAID, and this one sounds like it's not to be missed, too! I have often have trouble with books written in verse, but you just never know.
Darn you Aussies, you are so bad for my TBR list...and pocketbooks.
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
Oh I love this review. Very specific and intriguing. And the book definitely sounds like something I'd like. I could stick it right next to 13 Reasons Why on my bookshelf. :0)
I'm always surprised by how much can be conveyed by novels in verse. I really enjoyed Thanhha Lai's Inside Out and Back Again, which also dealt with difficult topics. I already know the relationship with the mother is going to break my heart. And AUGH, I hope I haven't reached the point where I'm identifying with the PARENT and not the MC!! Great review, Mands!!
-Maggie
I am interested in reading more verse novels, I have had my eye on Karma for a while. Great review!
I love verse novels and this sounds incredible! I'm going to have to order this one!
Really great review! I feel like what you captured from the book really translated into something I really want to read!
Wow. This book sounds epically emotional. Suicide and self-harm are two extremely intense things. I'm glad that the author seemed to handle these with care and insight. Wonderful review! I've only read a couple verse novels and they've both been great.
Jessica Davidson is clearly genius at evoking an emotional reaction from her readers. First with Everything Left Unsaid, and now this. I've still yet to read ELU, but you're driving me further and further toward my copy!
I hadn't heard of What Does Blue Feel Like? before, so thanks for adding yet another incredible read to my wishlist. The fact that it's also written in verse AND Char and the author is vegetarian... yeah, DEFINITELY bonus points! :D Wonderful review!
I love this title. This book seems to have a lot to talk about. Thanks for reviewing it. It sounds like a really intense but great read.
Beautiful review Mandee! You've managed to add another great Aussie book to my list! Davidson's Everything Left Unsaid was already on my list to acquire after the glowing reviews. And the fact that this is a verse book? I love verse novels! Thanks for putting this book on my radar! :)
This book sounds exceptionally good. :) I love Aussie YA and I love it when books pull on my emotional strings and touch on gritty, raw topics, so this book definitely looks like something for me. :) Plus, there's something about that title that's intriguing (it's different, like "Cinnamon Rain", "The Reluctant Hallelujah", "Friday Brown" ~ bizarre yet awesome Aussie titles, eh?) Beautiful review, love. :) Thank you for the recommendation! :)
I have not read a book written in verse before. I must do this. I do enjoy a book that makes me 'feel' whether it is good or bad emotions, i love the 3d extra effect a book can give me:D
Glad you enjoyed this!!!
Mich
Yay for the protagonist going vegetarian! That needs to happen more often in YA :) Does she turn vegetarian for ethical reasons, or is it more of a health-related thing, or something else?
"Emotionally charged" sounds like a fantastic way to describe this book. The topics tackled are intense! Sounds perfect for my Psychtember event :D
Also, neat that the reader gets to see a bit of what the mom is feeling – that's not too common in YA but here it sounds like it adds another layer to the whole situation.
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