Review | It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Goodreads Summary

Ambitious New York City teenager Craig Gilner is determined to succeed at life - which means getting into the right high school to get into the right job. But once Craig aces his way into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School, the pressure becomes unbearable. He stops eating and sleeping until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness.

So I've picked this book up on a whim, I was feeling incredibly sad and unproductive that I needed somebody to be going through the same thing that I was going through and what better way to share an experience than with a book?
First off, this book was on my TBR for SOOO long and I couldn't find it anywhere where I lived. My bf knew that and he was amazing enough to get it for me as soon as he found it. (thank you♥, even though I know you aren't reading this). Anyways, so after months of having it on my shelves, I finally picked it up. 

I must say I would've enjoyed this book much more if I read it in 3 or 4 sittings, but it took me a month to finish it. I was extremely busy during the month April with finals and I had so little time for reading. Although it took me a long time, I felt the urge to sit down and read and not put it down, but I had to. So, it's not the book's fault at all.

This book deals with depression in a very clear and realistic way. It doesn't sugar-coat the experience nor exaggerate it. It's a depiction of a real life experience and that is what the book says at the back of it. As you might know, Ned Vizzini himself spent 5 days in an adult psychiatric ward before committing suicide. 

I loved the writing and I loved that the book was pretty much character driven. It was simple and easy to read and I found myself being completely indulged in the story. I loved the character development that Craig went through from start to finish. It shows how much a person can evolve and how somebody with so much issues resolves the situation and gets through the tough times, because life doesn't stop there.

At first, I was unsure about this, because it was just sad and it made me shed some tears, but the ending was very redeeming. I have to mention that in the beginning, it was much more interesting, but I couldn't stop smiling in the end. This is a book about depression that makes you happy. I loved that this was a guide on how to deal with depression and how you should take action in case you're suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts. 

Lastly, I admire the cover of this book and how it correlates with the story. When I found out the meaning of the cover, my smile grew bigger and I grew fonder of this book. Also, the color yellow resembles the walls and pretty much everything at the ward and I loved that they chose the color yellow, because it's just a very happy color.

If you have read this book, please tell me in the comments below! Or if it's on your TBR :)

Have an amazing day everybody♥

Book Review: Falling into Place by Amy Zhang

Goodreads synopsis: 

On the day Liz Emerson tries to die, they had reviewed Newton’s laws of motion in physics class. Then, after school, she put them into practice by running her Mercedes off the road. 

Why? Why did Liz Emerson decide that the world would be better off without her? Why did she give up? Vividly told by an unexpected and surprising narrator, this heartbreaking and nonlinear novel pieces together the short and devastating life of Meridian High’s most popular junior girl. Mass, acceleration, momentum, force—Liz didn’t understand it in physics, and even as her Mercedes hurtles toward the tree, she doesn’t understand it now. How do we impact one another? How do our actions reverberate? What does it mean to be a friend? To love someone? To be a daughter? Or a mother? Is life truly more than cause and effect? Amy Zhang’s haunting and universal story will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and Jay Asher.

I plainly state that this book will probably be one of my favorites of 2015. Maybe because it reminds me (somehow) of Looking for Alaska by John Green which is one of my favorite books? Maybe.  

I have picked this book out on a whim, I was in the mood for something sad and something that I will cherish forever and I thought, hey, I've just bought this book today and it fits my needs and maybe I'll just read it right away. And here I am, 24 hours later, done with it and in tears. AMAZING. 

This was one heck of an eye-opener. Falling into Place dealt with mental illness, family issues, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, eating disorders, etc. This book made me see behind the popularity, behind the facade that people put on and it makes me devastated that there are people out there who are suffering from so much and carrying the burden of depression and refusing to seek help or do not know how. It breaks my heart in every way possible that human beings believe what they see. Human beings do not dig deeper, they do not judge a person upon personality anymore. A person is nothing but what his outer appearance indicates and what he chooses to portray to others.. it surprises me how shallow, cruel and merciless us human beings have become. 

All the sadness and rawness of this book aside, I loved loved the characters. I related to most of them and I grew a strange connection to each and every one. Liz, Julia, Kennie and Liam; each carry a load that drowns ME in sorrow. This book had me in tears just because all the characters were so REAL. This is a perfect portrayal of life in general, as a teenager or even as an adult.

Can I mention that Amy Zhang, the author, is actually sixteen? She is two years younger than I am and she managed to write something so beautiful that had me experience the awesomeness of simply falling in love with a book and it captivating your whole being. Yes, that's how I feel towards Falling into Place. The plot twists, the serious issues addressed, and the characters added to the stunning cover and design of this book. Amy's writing is simple and captivating; you can't help but love it.

Throughout this book, I didn't quite understand who the mysterious narrator is. It is told from a perspective of an outsider and not Liz's. I finally pieced the bits and pieces together at the end and it made me fall in love with this book again and again. 

I flew through this; it was really fast-paced. The characters intrigued me and their stories were exciting to read. It is my most marked book and here is a quote that I really liked and memorized: 

"He believed in broken things."

It may not hit you as much as it hit me, but you'll understand me more if you read this book (which you totally should).

I will NOT include spoilers in this one, because I'm too heartbroken and engulfed in misery to even talk about it, but I'd love to discuss it with you if you have read it! Comment down below your thoughts or tweet me @BooksByJayy so we can cry together, haha. 

Have a great day or night! :)