Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Atria
Publish Date: October 18, 2011
Source: Library
Why You're Reading This Book:
- You're not afraid of trying new forms of writing.
- You like literary fiction.
- You're not afraid of not liking book characters.
From Goodreads.com: " In this emotionally powerful novel, three women face the age-old midlife question: If I’m halfway to death, is this all I’ve got to show for it? Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband? Then there’s Marissa. She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts. As one woman’s marriage unravels, another one’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s is reconfigured into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all three of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness before it is through."
My Two Cents:
I had heard a lot about Ellen Hopkins' young adult books but I haven't gotten around to reading any of them. I happened across Triangles on the "New Books" shelf at my library and decided to pick it up.
It wasn't what I was expecting (not in a bad way, mind you). First, I didn't realize that it would be written in sort of a poetry format. It took me awhile to get used to reading that way and it really forced me to slow down a little bit and take in what was going on in the story more.
Holly, Andrea, and Marissa are three very different women. Holly has a good life but wants something more so she loses a bunch of weight, starts writing erotica and cheats on her husband while things are falling apart with her kids at home. Andrea isn't really into the dating thing until Holly's perfect husband, Jace, becomes available once Holly starts cheating on him. Marissa has a son who has just come out, an alcoholic husband and a sick little girl who heavily relies on Marissa on a minute to minute basis. I didn't really sympathize with any of the women except for Marissa.
Even though I didn't sympathize with any of the women, I still really enjoyed the book and ended up really enjoying the poetic format. I took the metaphor of the poetry to resemble the innermost thoughts of each of the women. Somehow it seemed more personal than first person narration in a way.
Bottom line: If you can get with the format, this is a good read!
I really liked this one too. It was totally different from any other book I have read before and I really felt for Marissa, her story was heartbreaking.
ReplyDeletei ADORED this book. i just really felt like Hopkins fleshes out her characters really well, and that includes the ones that we don't like! her writing is so intensive but beautiful, and oh-so-powerful. i loved this book so much.
ReplyDeletethe YA books are a little more hard-core, but just as well-written. hooray for trying something new, right?
I've heard lots of good things about this book. I hadn't heard that the characters aren't all that likeable. Sometimes that's a big turn-off for me, but I'm willing to still give Triangles a try!
ReplyDelete@Anne Yeah, she was definitely one of the only characters that I could sympathize with!
ReplyDelete@Asheley (@BookwormAsheley) Exactly! Now I really want to read some of her YA books.
ReplyDelete@Kat @ NoPageLeftBehind Most of the characters were unlikeable but I still enjoyed being able to be inside their heads!
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