There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.
I loved this book. The author took us to a place of fantastical realism so simply and so tenderly that the book was impossible to put down. The protagonist, A, is living and surviving the only life he knows how with unwarranted maturity for a 16-year-old boy. In my opinion, the book stands in the YA category only because of the many lives he inhabits that deal with the “hot topic” teen problems that face them: obesity, depression, gender issues, rules, sexuality etc. Those issues are completely upended by A’s plight to fall in love and be “normal” as best he knows how. Highly recommend!
Quotes I liked:
I feel such a tenderness for these vulnerable nighttime conversations, the way words take a different shape in the air when there’s no light in the room.”
– “Justin appears to hanging on my every word, but he isn’t listening at all.”
– “I know our nakedness means something. I know our nakedness is as much a form of trust as it is a form of craving.”
– “I wanted love to conquer all. But love can’t conquer anything. It can’t do anything on its own. It relies on us to do the the conquering on its behalf.”
– “Ultimately, the universe doesn’t care about us. Time doesn’t care about us. That’s why we have to care about each other.”
Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor. I try to ignore how Nina makes a... read more
Review:The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar is another excellent example of creating a novel with richly layered characters while comparing Indian and American lifestyles. In this story, Remy returns to Bombay, which he has dubbed the museum of failures, as he sees his native country through the lens of his American life. He’s there to meet his friend’s niece with the hopes of adopting her baby, as he and his wife are unable to conceive. This innocuous trip turns into a much more complex time as Remy is hit with roadblocks time and time again.It’s the story about Remy and his mother that really got to me. He lived a life of never measuring up and feeling quite unloved by her. Through their time together in Bombay, he learns critical information that allows him to see her in a more thoughtful and understanding way. This time away has brought what’s left of his shattered family back together.His trip extends much longer than anticipated and he realizes the value of being home. His American wife Kathy seemed too good to be true, but I did like their relationship, born of trust and equality. Remy’s life as a poet was buried away, but through his visit in India, he realizes the importance of doing work you love, not just working for a higher paycheck.Overall, this was a satisfying read and one that fans of Umrigar will appreciate. Her last book, Honor, along with The Space Between Us, are my two favorites of hers. I haven’t met an Umrigar book I didn’t enjoy!@thrity_umrigar @algonquinbooks 📘: Do you dress up for Halloween? If yes, what's your costume of choice? If not, what's a scary book you've read? ... See MoreSee Less
this book seems great. such an interesting premise. thanks for the suggestion goodbookfairy!!