VeganYANerds: Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams

7:00 am | Posted by Mandee | | Edit Post

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams

Published May 1, 2012 by Simon and Schuster

Source: ARC sent to me by Magan

Rating: 4 paws

From the blurb: Growing up in Africa and Latin America as the children of missionaries, London and Zach were as close as could be. And then Zach dies, and the family is gutted. London’s father is distant. Her mother won’t speak. The days are filled with what-ifs and whispers: Did Zach take his own life? Was it London’s fault?

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams is the story of London Castle, a teenage girl who has recently moved to Florida with her former missionary parents. About nine months ago her old brother, Zach, died and since then her family has been falling apart. Her mother no longer speaks to her, her father spends all of his time working and her former best friend ignores her. Then she makes some new friends and develops a crush on a new boy while also questioning her faith.

I felt for London as soon we she was introduced, I could tell that she adored her older brother and they relied on each other because they were best friends as well as siblings. Now she’s lonely, angry, sad and I was really disappointed in her parents, mostly her mum but also her dad for ignoring what was going on. Her mum blames London for Zach’s death and now ignores her completely. As the book went on my dislike her for became really intense, she’s a really good example of a horrible YA parent. I didn't understand how she could ignore the child that she still had.

I always enjoy books in verse because I find they allow me to get close to the narrator, I feel as if I'm sharing their thoughts and I could feel London’s pain, and even though she wasn't perfect, I really liked her. I found the book easy to read and the writing flowed really well, I was unable to put this down

I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding Zach's death so I was happy when we finally find out what happened to him. My respect for Taylor increased, he was such a good guy and always there for London and I was happy with her family situation by the end, but I still felt her dad owed her an apology for letting everything get out of hand.

Waiting is a really sad yet compelling story that left my heart a little broken. I'd recommend it to fans of books written in verse and hard-hitting, emotional YA books.

Thanks to Magan for sending this to me via a book swap!

Labels: 4 stars, Carol Lynch Williams, contemporary fiction, realistic fiction, review, verse, YA

27 comments:

Bailey said...: Oh this book sounds and looks so good! I love that cover! I too really enjoy books written in in verse. They always hit me right in the center of the heart that's for sure. They have a way of making you feel all the feels when reading them. And this one doesn't sound any different. Great review Mandee! Can't wait to read this one. I'm curious about what happened to Zach.; 23 October 2012 7:05 am
Adriana (BooksOnHerMind) said...: I have yet to read a book in verse that I really enjoy. I've read Williams' - Glimpse and I wonder if she had a bad relationship with her mother because in that book her mom was a jerk and basically unfit.
I just saw this book right before I looked at your review not a minute before on an article. Weird O_0
I think I'll try it out even if I didn't completely like Glimpse because she could be potentially a great author with me.
She’s Got Books on Her Mind; 23 October 2012 7:33 am
Britt said...: You can definitely get a bit closer to the characters in a verse novel. Glad you enjoyed this one. It was such an emotional read, but lovely. There was one scene in this novel that was just so well written and just killed me.; 23 October 2012 8:02 am
Keertana said...: I've heard so many mixed things about this one, so I opted not to read it, but this definitely sounds like one I don't want to miss out on. I haven't read too many verse novels, so I think I'll enjoy this style, and the subject matter is very profound too, so onto my TBR this goes! Fantastic review, Mandee! :D; 23 October 2012 8:42 am
Shooting Stars Mag said...: sounds like a great book for me. I really do love novels that pack an emotional punch. I do want to read more books in verse too. i've always liked poetry (I used to write a lot when I was younger) so I find it quite intersting to read a book full of it.; 23 October 2012 11:10 am
Erin W. said...: I don't do well with sad books, even though I still end up reading them but this one sounds great. Though can't say I'm a huge fan of books written in verse. Anyway fab review!; 23 October 2012 12:07 pm
Leanne said...: I wasn't a big fan of this book but I'm pleased you liked it regardless, Mandee! I loved Carol Lynch William's writing style and her previous novel- The Chosen One- is one of my favourites. I guess it was just a reader/reviewer incompatibility with this one... Great review. :); 23 October 2012 12:12 pm
Alison Can Read said...: I feel bad for the girl, being stuck with a name like London Castle :-) I went to school with a girl named Magic House. Her parents were hippies.

Anyway, this does sound like a powerful read. I'll have to look for it.; 23 October 2012 12:26 pm
Alex (A Girl, Books, OtherThings) said...: Sounds like the book is really good, I like the idea of it and that you connected with London pretty early on. :) I hadn't heard of WAITING before but I shall try to read it :D; 23 October 2012 2:10 pm
Sarah said...: Somehow I didn't realize that this was a novel in verse... Hmmmm, now my curiosity is piqued.; 23 October 2012 3:47 pm
Renu said...: I haven't read a book written in verse before. This sounds great, and I love the sound of London. Will have to check it out! Great review. ^^; 23 October 2012 9:13 pm
Magan @ Rather Be Reading said...: Hi Mandee! Finally back at my computer, able to comment for you! :) I am so very glad you enjoyed Waiting. I was addicted to it, too. I think what I learned while reading this book was that I like the ability to read a book in verse and be engaged in a completely different way. I would definitely like to try working in more verse books into my reading life because it was such a welcome and refreshing change. If you've got any recommendations, let me know!; 24 October 2012 2:54 am
TheBookSlayer said...: This is my first time hearing about this book. It sounds very emotional (in a good way). I totally feel bad for London as well, her parents sound horrid. I'm glad the ending let off on a sweeter note. Great review :); 24 October 2012 11:13 am
Andrea @The Bookish Babes said...: Waiting sounds like such an emotionally charged story, and everything I love about YA. Then, when you said it's written in verse....that completely SOLD me! I definitely hope to read Waiting. Lovely review!; 25 October 2012 12:43 am
Carly said...: Oh, this does sound like one that will tug on those heart strings. I'm glad you enjoyed this so much, I think I would enjoy it too, so I will prob check it out. Great review! :); 25 October 2012 1:21 am
Melissas Eclectic Bookshelf said...: This one is new to me...but a book that can evoke an emotional response is alays a winner!; 25 October 2012 2:55 am
Katja Weinert said...: Sounds like a wonderful tear-jerker, that tackles the tricky subject of faith. Love the sound of 'Waiting', thanks for sharing :); 25 October 2012 3:16 am
Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...: Books in verse are wonderful and they amaze me! I know this would be good but I hate getting my heart broken :(; 25 October 2012 5:10 am
Shirley said...: Awwwwww this sounds both heartbreaking and incrdibly sweet! While I havent had good encounters with verse novels...i still really want to give this a go! Awesome review Mandee<3 I'm so glad you enjoyed this :); 25 October 2012 12:00 pm
Novels On The Run said...: I must read a book in verse! Really Slammed and Point of Retreat with their slam poetry is the closest I have gotten and I really looked forward to reading those parts.

So glad you enjoyed this. I have not heard of this book:D

Michelle; 25 October 2012 3:17 pm
Kristen Evey said...: I've never read a book in verse! o.O I need to rectify that, and this sounds like the perfect book to do it with. Sounds like something I would definitely enjoy. Great review Mandee! :D; 27 October 2012 7:08 pm
Rachel said...: I've really enjoyed the verse novels that I've read so far. This sounds like a real tear-jerker. Doesn't it seem like a lot of verse novels are heart breakers? Lovely review Mandee. I'm going to check this one out. :); 28 October 2012 10:13 am
Flannery (The Readventurer) said...: Hmm, this sounds like an interesting one. I like the plot but I still have yet to try a book in verse. Also, the parents sound like a nightmare. Have you ever read Sisters in Sanity by Gayle Forman. I still think about how angry I was at that dad. Sounds like this mom might be a good match for him;-) As usual, I want to know what happened to the brother, but I think I will start with another book by this author. I've heard good things about a few other ones.; 29 October 2012 12:52 pm
Natalie said...: I've had this book on my to read list for a while, but I wasn't quite sure about it. After reading your review, it definitely sounds like one I need to check out. I'm intrigued about how the family situation will work out. Great review!; 30 October 2012 12:26 am
Anna @annascottjots said...: I've only ever read one book in verse and it was rather good, so I'm surprised I haven't read any more! This looks like an interesting read, but I hope the parents aren't too one dimensional...; 2 November 2012 10:30 am
Heidi said...: I read my first book in verse a couple of weeks ago and surprisingly really enjoyed it. I've never been a fan of poetry, and thus have avoided verse books like the plague, but having given one a shot I'm more inclined to look for other books--like this one! This sounds so heartbreaking. I honestly can't imagine anything worse than losing a child, and it has to be so terrible to lose your sibling and best friend when your parents have such horrid reactions. I know many couples don't make it through the loss of a child, and so while the reaction of her mom seems maddening, it's also probably fairly realistic. Lovely review, Mandee!; 3 November 2012 5:25 am
Sana said...: I really just added Waiting to my to-read because of the enchanting cover and didn't read the synopsis. However, Waiting sounds like a compelling book and then there's the verse aspect which I've never come across yet.

Thoughtful review, Mandee. I'll have to tackle Waiting from my to-read list soon now!

Sana @ artsy musings of a bibliophile; 4 December 2012 10:14 pm