Leviathan
by Scott WesterfeldIt is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and
Read ReviewBefore I Fall
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Sam Kingston is dead.
Except she isn t.
On a rainy February night, Sam is killed in a horrific car crash. But instead of seeing a tunnel of light, she wakes up in her own bed, on the morning of the same day.
Forced to live through the same events - the drive to school, skipping class, the fateful party - she struggles to alter the outcome, but wakes up again on the day of the crash.
What follows is the story of a girl who comes of age in a matter of days. Who discovers, through heartbreaking insights, the consequences of her every action.
Of a girl who dies young, but in the process learns how to live.
And who falls in love...a little too late.
(4 votes)
Reviews
Jul 18,2012
I thought Before I Fall was not only a gripping novel that really made you think but it also taught me so much about human interaction and the consequences that things such as bullying and essentiallly being "mean" can have on people. In the novel, Samantha Kingston, the protagonist, starts out as a rude, unaware, self-obsessed teenager, who belongs to the most popular group in school. She has the hottest friends, the hottest boyfriend and nothing really concerns her outside of her own little bubble. So far the novel sounds like a typical disney mash-up of every stereotypical American school. But Lauren Oliver is able to adress this issue in a refreshingly intense and intriguing way, adding a mixture of a "ground-hog/freaky friday" inspired twist. Samantha begins to relive the day that she dies, over and over and over again. But she is the only one who can tell. For everyone else, the day is as new a any other. As the story progresses, Samantha begins to discover the twist behind her death, and this isn't just the fact that it has been occurring every single day. This novel really confronts you and make you rethink your actions, especially of those towards other people. It stresses how important it is to respect other people and how brutally evil and even fatal the actions of people can be. Because not everyone has so many chances, like Samantha Kingston had, to change the life of someone else.
I would recommend this book to girls from the age 14. It is an easy read, although some adult themes surrounding the topic of drugs, sex, death and alcohol are to be cautioned, the message behind it truly is a powerful one.
Apr 23,2012
Before I Fall, written by Lauren Oliver, follows Sam Kingston, a rude and arrogant teenage girl, who is forced to relive the last day of her life over and over. I understood the book to be about Sam having to relive her last day until she makes the right decisions and ends up in the right place. The book is fairly modern and easy to follow although the music mentioned and environments used can make it hard to relate to for younger readers and readers from different countries. The storyline is easy to follow and very gripping. Lauren Oliver explores the idea that every action has a consequence through her changing story line from chapter to chapter. The ending is left very open ended which allows the reader to use their imagination, although I found it hard to understand and quite confusing. The ending was quite successful in the way that it had me thinking afterwards of the continuous possibilities. There was no fairytale ending which you started hoping and expecting for but I found that more realistic. Lauren Oliver did very well at changing your opinion on Sam as she transformed throughout the book. From being repulsed by her behavior at the beginning, by the end you start to feel sorry for her and want things to work out for her. I recommend this book to older teens (16 and over) due to the illegal activities such as drug use, underage drinking & sex and inappropriate relationships explored throughout the book.
Sep 06,2011
Although, just by looking at this book, one might think "Groundhog day", well.......they would be right!
It is definitely along those lines......but it's soo much more than that. After a bit of a shaky start in which I just wanted to yell at Samantha because she was such a spoilt brat, I really got into this story.
I loved the fact that so many lessons were learned by not only the main character, but those around her also.
Well written and gripping to the very end, I just could not put it down.
Apr 06,2011
If you had only one day left to live how would you spend it?
It's Friday February 12th and Sam is reliving the same day over and over again. But despite all she does and all she tries the day always ends the same; with death. As an eighteen year old Sam typically spends her Fridays at to school, or skipping it, and her Friday nights at parties and this day is no exception.
With each day that Sam relives she realises she has a choice and each choice leads her to discover something new about herself and those around her; to discover what is truly important. Things may not turn out as Sam might expect them to but she learns to accept that everything, good or bad, happens for a reason. For Sam who is still so young and has yet to live she is given only a handful of days to learn how to live, how to love and how to die.
If you had only one day left to live how would you spend it?
Before I Fall love will be found, too late the truth will be discovered, but just in time hope will be realised. Sometimes it's easy to forget that everyone has their secrets and their fears, that everyone just wants to belong. Our every action however insignificant to us affects those around us with consequence we cannot begin to realise. A reflective story that shows its never too late.
