I have been sitting trying to figure
out what I want to say about this book. Love is not enough. If I
could give it 10 stars would be better. This series has been
breathtaking. I will say I am no writer so my thoughts are all
jumbled but here it is.
The characters are so wonderful. They
all seem to know exactly what I feel. It is not the blood in your
veins but the beating of your heart that makes people your family. It
is the people that make your heart beat even when your heart is
breaking that count.
Hummmm. Still struggling with words to
say how amazing this book series is. Let start with top 5 reasons.
1. Will, Layken, Kel, and Calder -
These 4 character have been through hell. They have all lost both
their parents and only have each other. The family unit that they
create is amazing to feel. Will older brother of Calder but he is
having to be brother and parent just like Layken now is to her
brother Kel. They laugh when they see the comedy of their little
brothers but have to also be the ones to say what is right and wrong.
This is something I have also had an experience in personally so
maybe that is why I found it profound.
2. Extended family... Eddie, Gavin,
Kiersten, and Sherry... These are the people who are there when you
need and don't need them. The ones that don't need to say anything
but you still feel them lending you strength. The addition of Sherry
as a mother figure was a great addition to the story. When she shows
Will the video of her true love's proposal I felt as if I was there.
It was described so brilliantly by the author. To find out what
happened in the end was so moving if I had not already been teared up
I would have been again.
3. Kiersten (yes, I know I mentioned
her in top 2 already) this character needs her own reason. I love
the girl. She is blunt, smart, sarcastic, warm, loving, just
amazing. Hell I should do a top 5 reasons I love Kiersten. Instead I
will give you a small taste of Kiersten...
“Your mother encourages you to cuss?”
Gavin says.
Kiersten nods.
“I don’t see it that way. It’s more like she’s encouraging us
to undermine a system flawed through overuse of words that are made
out to be harmful, when in fact they’re just letters, mixed
together like every other word. That’s all they are, mixed up
letters. Like, take the word ‘butterfly’ for example.
What if
someone decided one day that butterfly is a cussword? People would
eventually start using the word butterfly as an insult, and to
emphasize things in a negative way. The actual word doesn’t mean
anything. It’s the negative association people give these words
that make them cusswords. So, if we all just decided to keep saying
butterfly all the time, eventually people would stop caring. The
shock value would subside…and it would become just another word
again. Same with every other would become just another word again.
Same with every other so-called bad word. If we would all just start
saying them all the time, they wouldn’t be bad anymore. That’s
what my mom says, anyway.”
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Kiersten to Gavin later in book
"Anyway,
I think you should quit feeling sorry for yourself. You're acting
like a little bitch. You aren't even the one pregnant, Gavin. How do
you think Eddie feels? I'm sorry, but as much as the guy likes to
think he's got an equal part in these kinds of situations, he's
wrong. You screwed up when you got her knocked up in the first place.
Now you need to shut your mouth and be there for her. For whatever
she decides to do." She stands up and walks to the front door.
"And Gavin? Sometimes things happen in life that you didn't plan
for. All you can do now is suck it up and start mapping out a new
plan."
4. All the complex issues in the book.
The single parenting, education of all, young unexpected pregnancy,
friendships and how they change and grow, old loves, sex, and the
believing in the choices you make. Another thing that need a
sentence of it's own is bullying. Bullying should in no way be
condoned by schools or adults in authority at ALL. If there is any
suspicion or actions to suggest bullying is going on there should be
no can't prove it so ignore it happening anywhere.
The point of no matter what life
throws your way all you can do is pick yourself up, dust off, put
your best foot forward, and keep moving forward.
In the words
of Julia Layken's mom...
"Love is
the most beautiful thing in the world. Unfortunately, it’s also one
of the hardest things in the world to hold on to, and one of the
easiest things to throw away.
'Suck
and Sweet'
“Suck and sweet time?” Kiersten
asks, confused. Kel fills her in. “It’s where you have to say
your suck and your sweet of the day. The good and the bad. The high
and the low. We do it every night at supper.”
What an amazing concept. We used to the talk about your day thing
but this is so much better. I is like a gratitude journal and a way
to vent to let go of bad. I almost wish my kids were young and home
again so we could start this.
Stars of advice in a vase.
This is another amazing thing Julia did. To explain Julia was dying
and knew she would never be there to give advise, words of wisdom, or
a chance to make her child laugh when she needs it. So instead she
made hundreds of small origami stars that when opened was written a
quote, lyric, or parental advise on it. So whenever Will or Layken
was having a bad day or just needed a little pick me up they were to
reach into the vase and grab a star.
My
favorite star - "Strength
does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable
will."~Mahatma
Gandhi
So I should be
done at this point right. No actually there is more to be mentioned.
I had never heard of slam poetry but now I don't just know but am a
fan. I am a great fan of music. I believe music is the best thing
to mend a broken heart, celebrate a great day, calm your nerves, and
make anger disappear. To think I have gone all this time with never
hearing of The Avett Brothers makes me a bit sad. I have now changed
that fact in my life also. They are true artist with words.
"The
Perfect Space"
I
wanna have friends that I can trust,
that love me for the man I've
become not the man I was.
I wanna have friends that will let me
be
all alone when being alone is all that I need.
"All
My Mistakes"
I
made decisions some right and some wrong
And I let some love go I
wish wasn't gone
These things and more I wish I had not done
But
I can't go back
And I don't want to
'Cause all my mistakes
They
brought me to you
If you make the best choice and
read this series Slammed and Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover you
will also learn two important things...
1. Learn that you can not carve
pumpkins forever it can distract you for a while but in the end you
need to get face, get over and move through the problems.
2. To tell all the bullies in the
world ' Butterfly you!!!!'
