Review: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Title: Jellicoe Road
Paperback, 432 pages
Author: Melina Marchetta
Publisher: HarperCollins (in US)
Publication Date: March 9, 2010 (in US)
Source: Purchased
Buy: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Book Summary from Goodreads.com:
At age eleven, Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother. At fourteen, she ran away from boarding school, only to be tracked down and brought back by a mysterious stranger. Now seventeen, Taylor’s the reluctant leader of her school’s underground community, whose annual territory war with the Townies and visiting Cadets has just begun. This year, though, the Cadets are led by Jonah Griggs, and Taylor can’t avoid his intense gaze for long. To make matters worse, Hannah, the one adult Taylor trusts, has disappeared. But if Taylor can piece together the clues Hannah left behind, the truth she uncovers might not just settle her past, but also change her future.
Review:
The book perhaps recommended to me the most, Jellicoe Road has been on my radar for over a year. I purchased a copy months and months ago and finally decided it was time to read it.
As with most readers, I was very very confused for a long while in the beginning. I kept reading, waiting for things to click – and I think it actually took me longer than most. If the book hadn’t received raved reviews, I likely would have given up buttttttttt.
As I reached the second half, I finally started to weave together the story, and that’s when I was able to start to see a glimmer of why many people claim this to be their favorite contemporary. You spend so much time figuring out what’s going on that you are quite invested in the characters by the end.
Unfortunately, I will not be declaring Jellicoe Road my new favorite – but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. I think if I were to read it again I would connect with it even more… though I’m not much of a re-reader so I’m not sure this will happen. Melina Marchetta is certainly an excellent author, and I look forward to reading something else she has written. And I’ll be keeping Jellicoe Road on my shelf just in case I get the reread feeling.
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Golly your comment box and fields are super large. I feel like I am writing in all caps and yet I am not! ;)
So… should I read this? I am not a huge contemp fan normally, but I have seen this book raved about all over the gosh-darn place. Is it a mystery type thing? I can never tell and I am too scared to pick up a copy for myself in case I don’t like it. I’m a chicken about contemps!
Cat @ Beyond Books recently posted..Announcement: I’m the New Wednesday Interrobanger!
It’s hard for me to recommend or not recommend this one, honestly. I don’t think I connected with it in the way that other people did. If I had to recommend a contemp I would be more likely to go with Courtney Summers or something along those lines. So, my answer is: I don’t know :p
Twitter: BookwormAsheley
As a person who is not totally the biggest contemporary fan ever, admittedly, I promised Ashley (@BasicallyBooks) that I would stick with this book no matter what and finish it and BOY am I glad I did. I haven’t really read enough contemporary to declare anything my favorite, but I do know that I felt ALL THE THINGS when I read this one and that Melina Marchetta is one awesome writer. I agree, it was completely confusing at first, but it came together well by the ending and just WOW.
Asheley (@BookwormAsheley) recently posted..My Thoughts On: Matched by Ally Condie
I have been wanting to read this book for a few months. Glad you enjoyed it!
Twitter: heylisarenee
good to know i wasn’t alone in my tough start to this.
i shall give it another go!
Lisa recently posted..Book Love from Tara
I’m glad that you were able to enjoy this book in the end. It is one of my favorites but agree it took a while to get into it and really understand what was going on. But once there, greatness.
Michelle recently posted..Win a Critique Through Book Wish Foundation
I read this book on Ashley’s recommendation, too! I stuck with it even when I normally would have given up on a book. The beginning was SO frustrating to me figure out. I couldn’t understand how the italics fit in with the story. Who’s POV was it? Was it a story? A dream? Grrr. I’m glad I finished it. Well written and A LOT to think about but not a favorite.