Monday, June 10, 2013

Anthem for Jackson Dawes


Anthem for Jackson Dawes by Celia Bryce
3.5/5 stars
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2013
231 pages
YA Contemporary Cancer

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book called to me because of its genre: contemporary aka my favorite genre! I assume I knew it featured a protagnoist with cancer when I requested the title as it says so in the synopsis and I had read a few other reviews but when I opened the book, I found that a bit unclear at first although it is soon emphatically clear.

For me, the big failing for this book was my inability to form a connection to any of the characters. You might think that main character and narrator Megan would have clicked with me somehow. Or surely the titular Jackson Dawes tugged on my heartstrings? Or any one of the hospital staff, her family, or her friends? Nope; I didn't hate any of the characters but I felt disconnected to all of them. Compounding that was my feeling that the story itself was very disjointed with scene lurching to next scene instead of smoothly flowing. Other reviews have mentioned this jumping so I know I'm not alone in feeling that.

I did think there were some great descriptions in this book and feelings were well captured. Some examples were Megan's conversations with her grandfather, when she realizes her hair is falling out and gets wigs to replace it, and her realization of the great divide between her shallow friends and herself now. That last one did really get to me and I enjoyed the way the friendships played out from that point.

Overall: This is a fine book-it's just not one I can get excited about. People who are craving contemporary or a quieter story may find more to enjoy; I think it might lean even toward literary fiction, which is not something I tend to appreciate.

Other Opinions:
Amaterasu Reads
Blkosiner's Book Blog
Library Mosaic

14 comments:

  1. Aw sorry that you didn't connect well with the characters, I think I did more than you and therefore liked it a bit more. Glad that you found other things to at least enjoy in this one though

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    1. I think you connected more too-I just felt so separate for whatever reason.

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  2. I definitely have had that experience -- just didn't click with either the characters or the writing style and, as a result, didn't love the story. Haven't read this one, but maybe I'll give it a try…

    You can find me here: Jen @ YA Romantics

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    1. If you do have a chance to check it out, I hope you enjoy it more than me or can provide better reasons for not liking it.

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  3. Oh I don't think this one is for me. I would have to connect to the characters especially with a theme this one has. Still, it sounds like an important issue that might resonate with others. Hopefully your next is better. Great review!

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    1. I figured it would be really easy to connect with so emotional a premise and yet...

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  4. It is always no fun when you don't connect, well with any of the characters. I tend to stay away from books that have this subject matter, to emotional for me to read personally. I am glad that you found some good qualities in this and enjoy that.


    Jenea @ Books Live Forever

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    1. Cancer books aren't my favorite but I've read quite a few and usually read enjoy the emotionality-this one was kind of an exception.

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  5. I hadn't heard of this before somehow but the fact that you didn't connect with the characters has me thinking that I probably wouldn't pick this up. It's too bad cause it sounds good otherwise!

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    1. Well I think other people have enjoyed it-I just can't recommend it myself.

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  6. I'm not the biggest fan of literary fiction, but I have read more of it recently so that aspect might not bother me. However, I normally am all about characters so your lack of connection to them doesn't bode well.

    Thanks for your thoughts!

    -Lauren

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    1. I feel like this is less literary fiction than other YA I've read but I'm never quite clear on the distinction.

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  7. I've not heard of this but it sounds pretty good. Sucks that you didn't connect with the characters all that much though. Great review!

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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    1. If you give it a shot, I'd love to see your review-I'm sure it has many merits that I'm just not fully appreciating.

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