Review: Like Reading a Diary
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 2, 2012
Wake is so personal and raw. Jem and Willa are just like real people. Their actions really speak for who they are, and the dialogue between these two is fantastic. They had real conversations, be them funny or downright serious. Both characters are deeply flawed, which is why it makes sense that they fit. Neither of them needed sweet words or mushy comfort. They both needed sandblasters to reach their hearts. The development into these characters was perfect. This is a long book, but I believe each page was needed. As I said before, Willa and Jem are complicated and it took every word by the author to understand them. I loved reading about their experiences and pain and people who affected them. It made Willa and Jem even more real to see how they became who they are.Every character in this book is perfect. Jem's family was particularly well created. From his sister who did so much for Jem and didn't ask for anything in return, to his brother who was reserved but showed he cared for Jem in his own way. Some characters I found frustrating or unnecessary, but by the time I finished the book I realized they added to the story. Jem's old girlfriend, for example, was so annoying, but by putting her into the story Jem realized how much he liked Willa for being the exact opposite of his old girlfriend. I cannot express enough how much of a genius I think this author is for creating this amazing book and making each scene and character seem so important for the development of the story. This book was super long, but I found that I could not put it down because I always knew something important was going to happen next.Willa is a brave and tragic figure. She is strong but misunderstood. Her abrasive attitude is hard to swallow in the beginning, but by the end I found that she is one of my favorite characters ever written. She has some serious issues but is so understanding and accepting that she broke my heart. I love the way she is with Jem. Now this is a mature book, and there are some sexual actions and thinking that happen throughout the story, but I found that the sex-or lack of sex-meant more than passion in this book. There is one scene in particular that is raw and sweet and beautifully written. I didn't see it coming because it is not exactly hot. It is more emotionally breathtaking than anything because the scene is so meaningful to Jem. My respect for Willa grew enormously after it too.Reading this book really was like reading the diary of two people. The story is far from being a nice, simple read that will just give you the fuzzies. I loved it, and when I can brave the page count once more I will definitely read it again.