Book Review: Stay by Deb Caletti

Happy Day!


I can't believe that January is almost over! Only 2 more days until another month for 2013 :/ . What I hate most is how the months go by so fast, but that is life (:. In 2012, I was able to read this awesome novel 'Stay' by Deb Caletti, and I haven't made a book review for it yet, so here it is ^_^ .


                                 



First let me just say that this book cover is amazing! The picture of a young girl looking into the ripples of the ocean as she steps in while in front of her is a wonderful scenery of green shrubs and heavy clouds. I was fascinated by the detailed descriptions of the setting that Clara narrated. She really gave me a good imagery of the setting and her new summer home by the beach. The story focuses on Clara’s intense relationship with Christian; a boy that she met at a baseball game. But the story also puts a focus on Clara’s relationship with her dad and also the uncover of his and her mother’s history. As Clara’s relationship with Christian grows more intense and Christian gets too suspicious and crazy about Clara, she and her dad choose to move to a new house by the beach. Christian apparently finds out where Clara is now living, and decides to go after her with his crazed obsession of her.

First of all, I totally understand why Clara would leave him. After accusing Clara several times of cheating, she was fed up of how he didn’t trust her. During the summer in their new house, Clara meets a young sailor named Finn who becomes very close to her. I think Finn is a very funny and cool character that really shows his affection for Clara in a very friendly and NOT insane way, unlike Christian.Clara and Finn eventually become close and soon things turn a different way when Christian begins too stalk Clara.

I’ll give this book a 9/10 because it was very creative and well written. There are some things I would of wished had more emphasis to make the story a little more engaging. Although Christian is more of a crazy and obsessed character in the story, I think that we should of at least had read a good side of him somewhere before the story ended. Especially after his outbursts and signs that he might commit suicide, I at least wanted to know how he was doing before the novel ended. This is an awesome novel anyways, and if there is any chance it could be made into a sequel, then that'll sure make my day! My favorite scenes from this novel was of Clara with her father, because they were always funny. I was also very into finding out about her father's past and the whole secret he'd been keeping from her.

This book showed me that although our pasts can be dark, our futures can be bright. This book also showed a beautiful father and daughter relationship as we read about the adventures of her and her father as well. This will be a loved story for teenagers and even adults.

My favorite character from this novel would probably have to be Clara's dad. He is very adventurous and full of imagination (since he's a writer) and I really love how although he is protective and all, he can still be a fun and cool dad. (:

While reading this story, I imagined myself next to the ocean sitting on the warm dry sand and watching and listening to the ripples and waves float by. I also imagined myself at the lighthouse by the souvenir store that Clara worked at.

                               
           (This photography was taken by Greg Marchand. This picture is from Tech-shizzle.com. No   copyright intended)


Favorite Quote(s) from this novel:

“It's strange, isn't it, how the idea of belonging to someone can sound so great? It can be comforting, the way it makes things decided. We like the thought of being held, until it's too tight. We like that certainty, until it means there's no way out. And we like being his, until we realize we're not ours anymore.”

“Sometimes that´s all you need…, to know it´s not broken. To know you’re still whole and that you’ll heal.” 

“Look right at it. Know you can." Dad said. "Look right at that fear. Fear is the biggest bullshitter.”


-Lia <3