Comments on: Before I Die by Jenny Downham http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:12:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Leslie http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/comment-page-1/#comment-2113 Leslie Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:47:39 +0000 http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/#comment-2113 Gosh... I don't see how that book was liked. I read it, and while I was reading it... guess what? I FELL ASLEEP! I was morbid. Just completely boring. If you want a good book check out "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher. Its such a better book than this one, and better written. If you liked this one, you'll like mine. Gosh… I don’t see how that book was liked. I read it, and while I was reading it… guess what? I FELL ASLEEP! I was morbid. Just completely boring. If you want a good book check out “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher. Its such a better book than this one, and better written. If you liked this one, you’ll like mine.

]]> By: zandile http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/comment-page-1/#comment-2092 zandile Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:19:59 +0000 http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/#comment-2092 omg thats the best book like ever i thnk its so cute how adam stays with her till the very end and i so think the should make it into a fil i dive it ***** and tessa is a really strong person :) omg thats the best book like ever i thnk its so cute how adam stays with her till the very end and i so think the should make it into a fil i dive it ***** and tessa is a really strong person
:)

]]> By: Jen Hubert http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/comment-page-1/#comment-1787 Jen Hubert Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:43:31 +0000 http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/#comment-1787 Lauren, I'm so glad you liked it! This is one that stays close to your heart--truly unforgettable. I'm also glad your school library had it available for you to read it asap! Lauren, I’m so glad you liked it! This is one that stays close to your heart–truly unforgettable. I’m also glad your school library had it available for you to read it asap!

]]> By: Lauren http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/comment-page-1/#comment-1784 Lauren Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:32:16 +0000 http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/#comment-1784 I just finished this book about two minutes ago. After seeing it on here I went looking for it at my school library. It is probably the best book I have ever read. I would definitely recommend it to all of my friends. Thankyou so much for this. xo. Lauren I just finished this book about two minutes ago. After seeing it on here I went looking for it at my school library. It is probably the best book I have ever read. I would definitely recommend it to all of my friends.

Thankyou so much for this.

xo.
Lauren

]]> By: Lanna http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/comment-page-1/#comment-1719 Lanna Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:20:22 +0000 http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/#comment-1719 I bawled at the end of the book. I kept reading the last six or seven pages over and over and It was so sad. But it was totally worth my time. I loved it. :) I bawled at the end of the book. I kept reading the last six or seven pages over and over and It was so sad. But it was totally worth my time. I loved it. :)

]]> By: Shannon http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/comment-page-1/#comment-1649 Shannon Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:23:54 +0000 http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/#comment-1649 I'm sorry to all the people who did enjoy this book, but I thought it was awful. Horribly immoral, and I didn't like the writing style or sense of humor (rather - lack of sense of humor). I didn't like it at all. I’m sorry to all the people who did enjoy this book, but I thought it was awful. Horribly immoral, and I didn’t like the writing style or sense of humor (rather – lack of sense of humor). I didn’t like it at all.

]]> By: Megan http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/comment-page-1/#comment-1240 Megan Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:10:58 +0000 http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/#comment-1240 As the other Megan said, this book is completely rooted in the "real-world" and very close to home. My older sister has AML, another type of leukemia, so obviously I was bound to cry---outside of that, however, the way Tess was so perfectly crafted as a character...she might as well have been my closest friend. I really got to know these people, and so the pain at the end was heartbreaking. As the other Megan said, this book is completely rooted in the “real-world” and very close to home. My older sister has AML, another type of leukemia, so obviously I was bound to cry—outside of that, however, the way Tess was so perfectly crafted as a character…she might as well have been my closest friend. I really got to know these people, and so the pain at the end was heartbreaking.

]]> By: Kelly http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/comment-page-1/#comment-1237 Kelly Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:11:13 +0000 http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/#comment-1237 This book is amazing. It is a must read. Must read it before you die. This book is amazing. It is a must read. Must read it before you die.

]]> By: Cara Hope http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/comment-page-1/#comment-1206 Cara Hope Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:24:55 +0000 http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/#comment-1206 You'll cry. I hate crying. I hate anything sad. I loved this book! You’ll cry.
I hate crying.
I hate anything sad.
I loved this book!

]]> By: Megan http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/comment-page-1/#comment-1191 Megan Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:51:20 +0000 http://www.readingrants.org/2007/09/02/before-i-die-by-jenny-downham/#comment-1191 It's so funny that I'm reading the summary for this book while it sits in front of me as I'm re-reading it for my schools book club. I read it on your suggestion of course Jen and loved it...but not at first. I love this about it now, but at times it could be very sharp and very unexpected. Like on the third page when Cal snickers, "I'm gonna miss you". He says this to his dying sister while laughing at her. I realize that this is what makes this book so real. In the 'real' world something like this might seem innapropriate but here as in normal relationships it's perfectly normal. Rarely do you find a book with truly flawed characters. People who have problems and unabashedly talk about them and grit thier teeth to get through them. Sure Tessa's dying and sure that's really sad and all but....but is it wrong to kind of want to be Tessa? To have a real reason - a deadline really - to do what you've always wanted? To fill up all the dark little spaces in your life with color and music and love? Sorry this got so long, it's just one of those books that makes you think really hard. Not sure why but it reminds me of 'A Countess Under the Stairs' by Eva Ibottson. Not that they're anything alike or Countess is nearly as sad, it just has one page I could over and over and never stop being moved...Sometimes I'll just read a few passages from each book when I need a good outlet to vent. Countess is also a really good book, I reccommend it. It’s so funny that I’m reading the summary for this book while it sits in front of me as I’m re-reading it for my schools book club.

I read it on your suggestion of course Jen and loved it…but not at first. I love this about it now, but at times it could be very sharp and very unexpected. Like on the third page when Cal snickers, “I’m gonna miss you”. He says this to his dying sister while laughing at her. I realize that this is what makes this book so real. In the ‘real’ world something like this might seem innapropriate but here as in normal relationships it’s perfectly normal.

Rarely do you find a book with truly flawed characters. People who have problems and unabashedly talk about them and grit thier teeth to get through them. Sure Tessa’s dying and sure that’s really sad and all but….but is it wrong to kind of want to be Tessa? To have a real reason – a deadline really – to do what you’ve always wanted? To fill up all the dark little spaces in your life with color and music and love?

Sorry this got so long, it’s just one of those books that makes you think really hard. Not sure why but it reminds me of ‘A Countess Under the Stairs’ by Eva Ibottson. Not that they’re anything alike or Countess is nearly as sad, it just has one page I could over and over and never stop being moved…Sometimes I’ll just read a few passages from each book when I need a good outlet to vent. Countess is also a really good book, I reccommend it.

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