Hey friends,
Today I have a combo for you, a book and movie adaptation review rolled into one! I listened to If I Stay on audio in December and I had a chance to check out the movie as well! Be sure to watch the coordinating video on my Book Tube channel!
Today I have a combo for you, a book and movie adaptation review rolled into one! I listened to If I Stay on audio in December and I had a chance to check out the movie as well! Be sure to watch the coordinating video on my Book Tube channel!
Get the audiobook here! Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: April 9, 2009
Format: Audio MP3
Pages: Hardcover: 201 pages/ Audio Length: Approx 5 hours
Narrator: Kirsten Potter
Source: Library Borrow
Genre: YA Contemporary
Review Date: February 4, 2015
Rating: 3 bookmarks
Synopsis: Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?
Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.
Release Date: April 9, 2009
Format: Audio MP3
Pages: Hardcover: 201 pages/ Audio Length: Approx 5 hours
Narrator: Kirsten Potter
Source: Library Borrow
Genre: YA Contemporary
Review Date: February 4, 2015
Rating: 3 bookmarks
Synopsis: Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?
Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.
If I Stay is the first of a book duology by Gayle Foreman. Overall I enjoyed the book. I liked that the main character Mia was so smart and talented, I liked how she was able to pull strength from memories of her family and friends and move past the horrific accident that changed her life. The story was complete with its mere 201 pages, and that’s always good. When the book is so short sometimes I wonder if the story is fully fleshed out, but it is in this case Foreman did a good job telling a story without dragging it out. Not many authors can do that successfully. While there were aspects that I enjoyed in the story, I did find it a little slow at times.
I listened to this on audio, and again, I overall liked it. The narrator did a good job, unfortunately the narrator didn't help the pacing of the story. At this point, I’m unsure if I will continue on with Where She Went, which is the second book in the duology. If I do, I'll probably read it instead of listening on audio. Maybe that will make a difference.
While this book wasn't my favorite, it was okay and I liked it enough. If you enjoy young adult contemporary novels, this may be a good option for you to check out.
I listened to this on audio, and again, I overall liked it. The narrator did a good job, unfortunately the narrator didn't help the pacing of the story. At this point, I’m unsure if I will continue on with Where She Went, which is the second book in the duology. If I do, I'll probably read it instead of listening on audio. Maybe that will make a difference.
While this book wasn't my favorite, it was okay and I liked it enough. If you enjoy young adult contemporary novels, this may be a good option for you to check out.
| Now what about the movie….I rated this movie 2.5 out of 5 stars. I felt very similarly about the movie as I did about the book. I loved that the plot followed the book closely. I enjoyed the actor/actresses that the selected for the roles. Even with those positives, I also felt the movie was slower than I’d like. Not only was it slow, it was dark and dreary. Visually, I didn't find it stimulating and I think the grayness of it all made it even more boring. Honestly, if I weren't already vested in the story, I probably wouldn't have liked the movie. If you loved the book as is, then I believe you’ll love the movie. If you had any issues with the book, they won’t be remedied with the movie. The bottom line is some will like it some will hate it. Me? I’m right in the middle. It was “okay” and unfortunately it hasn't made my list of recommended BTMA’s (book to movie adaptations). Please share with me your thoughts on the book and/or movie. I'd love to get your perspective. Happy Reading & Listening, ~Tamara On a mobile device? Watch the coordinating video here! | |
