if i stay
5 out of 5 so-glad-i-read-it stars
"This morning I went for a drive with my family. And now I am here, as alone as I've ever been. I am seventeen years old. This is not how it's supposed to be. This is not how my life is supposed to turn out."
I am so glad that I decided to read if i stay by Gayle Forman. I can't believe I was going to be one of those people that just watches the movie and never reads the book. The book is always better than the movie adaption; I must have had a serious lapse of judgement to forget this. I mean, I almost let an amazing story slip past me because of the film version. What was I thinking? Obviously I was not. I must thank Emily May of Goodreads (follow this link to see her reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4622890-emily-may?ref=ru_lihp_up_rv_6_mclk-up2393414703) for her review on this novel. When she says a book is worth reading, 9 out of 10 times she's right. Her review on if i stay made me say screw the movie, I'm reading this book. I am so grateful that I did.
"There's something comforting in that. To go down as a family. No one left behind."
Plot-Line:
As some of you may know from the movie trailer, if i stay is about a girl named Mia Hall who is involved in a terrible car accident. It was a day like any other, until it suddenly wasn't. Forman jumps right into the story, giving us a little bit of happiness with the family all together, only to rip the rug right out from under of feet. Bam -- car crash, dead parents, dying siblings. How could life change so suddenly, so horribly? There's some supernatural aspects to the novel, as Mia's body may be in a coma, but her mind is conscious -- or maybe this is her spirit? Mia is able to experience everything that is happening to and around her body; however, she cannot feel anything physically. She cannot walk through walls, or just wish herself somewhere and poof! be there. There are restrictions on what she can do. No one can see the Mia outside of Mia's body, and she cannot communicate with anyone, but she is aware of everything that is happening. Soon Mia realizes that it's her choice, whether to leave or to stay. How does she stay without her family, but how does she leave without Adam? This is a terrible burden that Mia has to suffer, and it is ultimately up to her what happens to her life.
"I'm not sure this is a world I belong in anymore. I'm not sure that I want to wake up."
Notable Parts:
There are many parts that I love about this novel. The relationship between Mia and her best friend, Kim, is developed wonderfully. The history they share just makes them even closer. Her relationship with Adam is not perfect, and they suffer many challenges ahead of them. Between Julliard and the rise of Adam's band, plus the differences in their personalities have them facing some hardships. Music is what brought them together, but is that enough? Also, Mia's insecurities are explained in such a realistic and relatable way in the novel. She's also not insecure all the time; she can and does stand up for herself, but it's understandable why she feels like the odd-one out of her family sometimes, why she feels like she doesn't fit in. Forman's writing has us experiencing every hardship right along with Mia, has us facing the same shocking decision: when your family is all gone, would you stay? Or would you go?
"I realize now that dying is easy. Living is hard."
Differences From the Movie:
There are many similarities in the novel and the film adaption; many scenes follow the book exactly. However, it's all in the execution. What seems cliche in the movie doesn't seem cliche at all in the book. Well, there's still that "play me like the cello" part, which, while at first made sense in the novel, did get a little weird when Mia says how she literally sawed her bow back and forth on Adam's stomach. Ummmmm what? This scene does help Adam and Mia get past the beginning stages of awkwardness in their relationship, so good for them that they overcame all the awkward I guess. Jamie Blackley is definitely the perfect actor to play Adam, although, after reading the novel, I'm not so sure about Chloe Grace Moretz. I still like her as an actress and think she did a wonderful job on the film, but I think her portrayal of Mia needs to be adjusted -- mainly to make Mia seem more secure, as Mia in the book is not as insecure as Moretz portrays her to be in the film. The movie adaption of if i stay is true to the novel, right up until the very end, but it's the way Forman writes out each scene that makes the novel so much better. Music is still a very important part in the novel like it is in the film, and Forman makes some really good references and choices of music in her novel. However, I just have to say that Willamette Stone is such a better band name than Shooting Star.
"Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you."
Overall:
It was a seriously screwed-up, failed experiment of mine to watch the movie and then read the book. I almost missed out on a great novel because I'm not too crazy about the film version. I always, always, read the novel first, and I'm never going to watch the movie first again. I don't know why I did in the first place. If I can't get my hands on the novel first, I'll just have to wait to watch the film adaption. Going to be as simple as that from now on. I am forever grateful that I picked up this novel and didn't let the movie adaption dissuade me from it for long, because if i stay is the type of novel that makes you think about your own life and what you would do if you were in a similar situation to Mia. It will stay with you for a long time. I cannot wait to start reading where she went and to find out what happens with Mia and Adam's story.
"If I stay. If I live. It's up to me."
And just because/wise words from Gayle Forman:
"Love can make you immortal."
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