Trying to describe all that this book is about is difficult...it encompasses so much. It's about a girl named Terra and the birthmark on her face that has made her life so ugly. It's about a girl longing to be free, and wishing for someone to give her permission to be so. It's about relationships - the one you have with yourself, and the ones you have with others. It's about what the word "beauty" really means . . . and how that's not such a simple term to define.Justina Chen Headley has crafted a truly stellar novel in North of Beautiful. She managed meticulously the delicate balance of mixing dark with light in her story. Her talent for weaving various themes and imagery throughout a book is brilliant. It's a story that overwhelms you with truth; both characters and story ring with a painful, sweet honesty. The book made me cry, not because it was sad, but because it was good. I love books that inspire me, make me want to live . . . this one made me want to travel, and go geocaching, and make collages and art.
The joie de vie that defines Justina herself shines through in her writing. She without a doubt possesses the gift of writing beautifully, and I for one am so enthused as a reader to be a recipient of that gift.
9 comments:
Wow. You make me want to read this even more than I already do. <3 the review, too.
Adding this to my wishlist... :)
mm sounds really good..
I had a huge birthmark on my knee when I was little, and everyone was always saying things about it (it bothered me a little, though mostly I didn't care haha)
But I had two surgeries (6th and 7th grade, because it was so big) to take it off, and now I have a huge scar.
For a while it was hard to deal with, but then I realized it made me unique and I felt better :)
bit of background on me... haha
ANYWAY lovely review!
Erin -
Wow, this book sounds wonderful. And your own writing, in this review, is fabulous! I only recently began following your blog, and I'm very impressed with your writing skill and style. I love how you described how this book made you feel. I love books like that, too. I'm looking forward to reading this one now!
Sue
P.S. Geocaching is really fun! Our family loves to geocache and travel.
www.bookbybook.blogspot.com
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Yay, Justina and North of Beautiful!
I am SO SO SO excited! I won a free signed copy of this and all of Justina's books through her amazing blog blast tour. I'm itching to read this. ;)
Beautiful review, Miss Erin!
This book was great :D
Gosh I really loved this one too and it also made me want to go geocaching it seems fun! It would have inspired me to make art but I already do that hehe
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