Reading Holding Up the Universe, there are most parts of the book I didn't enjoy and only few I felt there is so much potential to explore but it just didn't hold it up for me. Another, I kept wondering how does this title connects with the plot or even the characters itself.

Libby Strout has a past she wants to forget but she is going to make a difference this year because this year she is making a come back - going back to school. Jack Masselin has a secret - one he has kept since he was six after a fall from a rooftop. When both of them meet, it wasn't some thing that hits it off too well between the two and accepted by others - a girl once dubbed as 'America's Fattest Teen' and a boy who everyone thought knew. But their past has a connection and falling in love wasn't part of it.

There are times I did make a comparison to All The Bright Places, not because of the theme but the way Jennifer Niven writes. Its almost similar in some aspects - every thing falls into place, some of the character's exchange of dialogue feels unreal and the ending feels rushed. Holding Up the Universe has that streak, but towards the end, there's some thing special that really brings out the book - a little hint of reality. While it does cover topics of bullying, cruelty towards teens and the same kind of angst teenagers go through, I can't help but wonder how does this title relates much to plot. Maybe I don't see it but in many ways, how does it relate to it? While for me the first act was weak, I was brought to my attention as to how the author brings out some thing personal and real to the emotions of hurt on these characters. Sadly, Jack Masselin doesn't strike me as a character that has personality, compare to Libby, who has it. Then again, the surface written plot lines kills all that.

Reading this gave me some mix feelings. I can't say I didn't like it but I can't say that I do like it. There are some good parts and bad in this book - for example, Libby is a brave teen that comes out from her own isolation despite how, once, she was shameful about her physical appearance. On the other, there is nothing with strong attributes that gives Libby the confidence with reasons of coming out from her own isolation that she put herself into and going back to school. There are a few others I just can't seem to accept on my own but while the last act brings out the flaws of moving forward after a past, which is a good part that reflects on reality, there are times the weight of the book that is too surface, pulls it back under the sea. Overall - its an okay read for me but for other readers, it might be otherwise.

We have read this before in the newspapers. We heard it from other people. Its a subject of taboo that we do not want to talk about... suicide. There are many reasons that leads to such a choice and its commonly known and read how suicides among teens do happened, of their own private reasons. I had read one such book before reading All the Bright Places, which to me... I wonder then when I first bought it few years back many readers gave good ratings. Of course, not every one gave it that high... and I am one of them.

I had issues with this book from the beginning. I had a few more some where in the middle. It was not until I am reading towards the end, I realize this is a story not about Theodore Finch - its about Violet Markey and how they met that one change another's life forever. How Violet copes with lost, and how Finch manage to help her with it. Still, there is some thing I did not like from the beginning. It was superficial, it wasn't realistic and it tries hard to make a realization of the main theme. I had mixed feelings as I read and towards the middle, I never care about the characters any more. I just do not know what I should really care about as I go along. It was until the 3rd act that I had guessed where its headed and how this heading feels... too thin. Every thing is just surface. There's nothing deeper to it and that gave me a reason to push forward to end my reading quick.

I can't say its horrible at all, as its not really that bad too. On the one hand, its pretty much straight path. Although trying to keep me guessing (even for other readers), the closure for this was bittersweet. What spoils it was the beginning and middle. I do understand what Jennifer Niven is pointing out and on her notes, its through her experience. Still, it suffers a lot in some ways I just felt what's holding my reading was if I bother to finish it and I did.

Overall - I felt a 3.5 out of 5 is a given. It would have been better if the characters are explored and the reasons are properly executed or laid out. What suffers it is what I said from above.

So All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Stars : 4.5/5.

This book nearly made me cry which is why it's lacking half a star. Sometimes if the book was so good that it nearly made me cry, I don't give it the 5 stars that it deserves. I'm weird like that. 

This book was written very well. I was hooked from the moment i finished the first chapter. Violet was a character I could partly relate to, Finch not so much. 

I recommend this book to those people that are wanting a nice and easy flowing read. You have to keep in mind that this book does contain topics that involve depression. 

Overall: A VERY GOOD BOOK! 

Worum geht es und wie war es?

Jack & Libby. Libby & Jack. Erst einmal sind das nur Namen, aber Jennifer Niven füllt diese Namen mit Leben und mit einer je eigenen Lebensgeschichte. Jack ist  ziemlich beliebt, gut aussehend und ist mit dem hübschesten Mädchen der Schule zusammen. ABER er hat auch ein großes Geheimnis. Er ist gesichtsblind. Er ist zwar mit dem schönsten Mädchen zusammen, aber er kann sich nicht an ihr Gesicht erinnern, er sieht ihr Gesicht nie im Ganzen und würde sie auch nie in einer Menschenmenge wiedererkennen. Jack erkennt nicht einmal seine Eltern oder Brüder wieder. 

Also baut er sein Leben lang an einem Lügengerüst, damit niemand etwas von dieser großen Schwäche bemerkt.

Libby fällt auf, kann sich gar nicht unsichtbar machen, denn sie ist übergewichtig: genauer noch: sie ist Amerikas fettester Teenager gewesen, musste aus ihrem Haus herausgeholt werden mit einem Kran und geht nun nach vielen Jahren wieder auf die öffentliche Schule... wie wird der Neuanfang? Ist es ein Neuanfang, wenn einen doch die Geschichten und Erinnerungen von früher einholen?

Und dann gibt es da auch jemanden wie Jack, der ihr das Leben noch einmal schwerer macht und ihr als dem fetten Mädchen auch noch eine Zielscheibe auf den Rücken pinnt.

Eigentlich scheint es schwer, eine Liebesgeschichte um diese beiden Charaktere zu kreieren, aber Jennifer Niven ist es gelungen und sie konnte mich mit ihrer Geschichte gefangen nehmen, ABER leider kommt das Buch nicht an "All die verdammt perfekten Tage" heran. Das Buch war eindrücklicher, während "Stell dir vor, dass ich dich liebe" ein bisschen an der Oberfläche blieb und mir manches zu kurz kam und zu schnell aufgelöst wurde. 

Es war ein gutes Buch, aber eben auch nicht mehr, weshalb ich nur 4 von 5 Sternen vergebe.