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Monday, August 25, 2014

Review: Words and their Meanings by Kate Bassett

Read (August 20-21, 2014)
Book: Words and their Meanings by Kate Bassett
Publication Date: September 8, 2014
Publisher: Flux
Number of Pages: 360
Genre/s: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Source: Publisher

Anna O’Mally doesn’t believe in the five stages of grief. Her way of dealing with death equates to daily bouts of coffin yoga and fake-tattooing Patti Smith quotes onto her arms. Once a talented writer, Anna no longer believes words matter, until shocking discoveries–in the form of origami cranes–force her to redefine family and love.

As Anna goes in search of the truth, she discovers that while every story, every human being, has a last line, it might still be possible to find the words for a new beginning.
- (source)

“It's only been a year and some change since Joe. And now, here I am again, waiting, trying to stop hoping. And drowning in what I could have done to save someone I love. ”
Words and their Meanings is a tough book to read. It's a kind of story that pleads silently for any comforting gesture but lashes out at the slightest of touch. It has sucker punched me in all my vulnerable places and I have no idea how I've survived it. Reading this book trapped me in an awful, depressing bubble that I don't know how to shake away, even now. I feel like doing my own coffin yoga, practice my own blank stare, and will away my existence, even just for a short while, because feeling all these feels is hurting me.
“You can't let emotions consume you. ”
— Ha, book! Are you referring to me?
Grief is the weirdest thing. I've seen it time and again. From people I don't know, from acquaintances, and from people who are close to me. Everyone reacts differently. Coping varies from one person to the next. One thing is a constant though, it never fails to make itself known. It might hit you the way a raindrop casually falls from an oncoming downpour or it might felt like being ran over by a bulldozer. In Words and their Meanings, I've suffered both and I am still not sure how and why.
“What I feel is not in the human vocabulary.”
Its intensity and rawness is unflinching in its pain. Its words carried a weight that begs to be endured and understood and absorbed. I cried—no, I leaked. My unrelenting tears was a direct result of the emotional gutting I've received from this sad, sob-fest of a story. But the most surprising thing was underneath the crushing waves of agony and sorrow, it was punctuated by tiny nuggets of hope and healing for these characters, which comes unexpectedly in hilarious moments. A minor respite but enough to fill me with optimism that they could come back from all these, stronger as a person and tighter as a family than ever.
“How do I say Mateo reminds me of the poem that cut deepest? The one so full of fear that one break in stillness is enough to bring joy and hope and life?

I don't.”
I feel obligated to talk about the characters' humanness, fragility and realness. I feel like I need to discuss the genuineness of the friendship, the family dynamics, and the wonderful portrayal of love and its complexity. I feel like I need a separate section for Mateo alone, or for Joe, or for Anna, or for Anna's parents or her Gramps, or her sister or her bestfriend. But I won't try. I don't have enough in me to try. But I was there for them and I hope that's enough.
“Think about how weird it is to feel broken and mended all at once. Sad and happy. Sappy.”
— Tell me about it, book. *sniffs*
I felt so drained. So emotionally exhausted. So wrung out. This book scared me with its darkness and pain. My head hurt, as what happens, when I cry too much and I don't think I could ever go through this again. But I might, I might just have to, because if every reread is equivalent to a pat on the shoulder, or an embrace, or even a simple nod of understanding, I'd do it all again for these characters and their story.
“Everyone gets one last line. But first lines, stories of love and loss and hope floating on backs of paper cranes? We choose how many of those we get to tell.

All we have to do is breathe deep. Breathe life in.

My eyes slip closed, and I do. I breathe. I breathe. I breathe.”
Cupid's Verdict:
5 Cupids

A copy was provided by the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
Quotes are taken from an uncorrected ARC and may change in the final copy.

36 comments:

  1. Is it me...or do you often read sad stories? :P
    You're totally right, grief is handled differently from one person to another although I never experienced it. YET, I guess.
    It's like your crying your soouuuul. Too much for me. ».«
    Beautiful review though, as always (and I mean it!)

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    1. I know! They just come to me like flies to honey. I don't think I can handle anymore heartbreaks for at least a month. Haha! Thanks, Lola! XO

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  2. Oh, this is a nice cover! I usually have the worst luck with Flux books, but I'm glad you loved it so much, Sarah! "I feel like doing my own coffin yoga, practice my own blank stare, and will away my existence, even just for a short while, because feeling all these feels is hurting me." LAWL! That must have been one hell of a book to influence you this way! "Coping varies from one person to the next. One thing is a constant though, it never fails to make itself known." This is beautifully said! I'm so happy that the characters touched your soul in the deepest ways! Heh. Crying when reading is the best kind of crying ;) And overload of feels. So happy you loved this story, lovely!

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    1. I think this is also the first Flux book I really loved. THIS IS ONE HELLUVA BOOK, SIIRI. Stay away if you know what's good for you. (Is my reverse psychology working? *sniggers*)

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  3. Oh dear, I don't think I'm up for such a depressing story. The last really emotional read for me was Rites of Passage and it drained me. I think I'd have to really gather my courage for this one. It sounds wonderful, however, pain and suffering notwhitstanding.
    Wonderful review!

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    1. Thank you! I think that's a good idea, Maja. I recently finished The Moment Collector before I read this one and I really believe that contributed to the feels I felt in this.

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  4. Awww, this sounds like a really endearing, heart-felt story. It's always hard for me to read books like this - I don't know why. I mean, I love a good cry, but reading such deep books usually encourage me to look deep inside myself, evaluate the person within, and I always get scared of what I will find.

    Beautiful review, Sarah!

    Faye at The Social Potato

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    1. Woah! Now that was deep, Faye. XD I think I prefer this kind of contemporaries/realistic fiction even though I feel like dying after I read them.

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  5. As much as you enjoyed this book, I don't typically enjoy being sucker punched by my books. Hehe I'm all for a good case of the FEELS when there's an HEA at the end of the tunnel, but after reading your review, I'm still not 100% sure if there even is one in this case. I can deal with a depressing beginning, but not so much ending-wise. I don't think this novel is for me. Wonderful review though!

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    1. Being sucker punched is my jam but I do understand how that wouldn't appeal to everyone. Heh. The characters are in a much more better place, but it's more of an open ending. I liked it because it made the ending more realistic.

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  6. Oh goodness...this sounds absolutely amazing. You've sold me. FOR SURE. I love books that really mess with your feels...pain. Lurve it. -_- And this sounds like it really gets to the heart of the matter. And that cover?! LOVE THAT COVER. *dashes to goodreads*

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    1. Glad to know I'm not the only who likes gutting reads. I didn't even realize how fab the cover was until some of you pointed it out. Read this, Cait, and cry with me.

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  7. This book sounds like it was completely intense, and full of lots of deep emotions, both sad, painful and also hope. I'm so glad it worked out wonderfully for you and gave you so feels. Your quotes that you pulled and shared are amazing and so heartfelt. Beautiful review, Sarah! :)

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    1. Thank you! I still feel strangely sad every time I think about this book. It's just so *sobs* but I know the characters are coping well now.

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  8. First of all, what is coffin yoga? I've never heard of that! I feel very out of the loop.

    Second, this story sounds brutal. Any book that sucker punches you right in the feels is a book that simultaneously terrifies me and makes me want to read it immediately. I have to be in the right mood for really emotionally intense stories like this and I'm not in that place at the moment, but this is going on my list for sure when I want something that's going to leave me thinking about it long after I finish reading:)

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    1. Oh coffin yoga is invented by Anna to cope with grief. She does it every morning. She lie still like a dead person to help her not feel anything.

      It is brutal, Jenny. I don't know why this book affected so much but it did and I can't even. *wipes tears*

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  9. Oh this book wasn't on my radar at all but I'm so thankful that you put it there now! First off I'm in love with the cover and the synopsis but reading your review and knowing it affected you so much makes me want to read it in hopes of crying too LOL (crying while reading is a good kind of cry) great review :)

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    1. I agree. Crying while reading is a good kind of cry. Glad to have put this up on your radar, Lily. :DD

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  10. Oh my gossssh, I have this too. Am I read for this emotions?! I love love your review, Sarah! It made me more excited. :)

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    1. Thanks, Paula. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE READY! I can't wait to discuss with you.

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  11. Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh. Where can I find this book? OH MY GOODNESS. I don't care if it'll destroy me. I want to read it so bad! Amazing review, Sarah!

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    1. Heehee. Achievement unlocked! *fist pump of victory* Be wary of your feels if you come across this one, Marianne. Don't say I didn't warn you. (:

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  12. YEAH! SARAH HAS RETURNED FROM THE DEAD! Welcome back! <3 ;)

    Anyhow, WOW. JUST WOW. This sounds like such a powerful but rewarding book! To be honest, I'm probably in the minority, I actually like books that play at my feels because that means that the author is doing something right, you know? And the characters sound wonderful - so realistic and genuine.

    Definitely going to give this a try, and, as always, BRILLIANT review Sarah! <3

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

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    1. *high five* Thanks, Zoe. *blushes*

      I completely agree. I want my feels to be at the author's mercy as well. I hope you like this one, Zoe. I'll try to rein in my disappointment if you didn't. XD

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  13. Oh um wow! This sounds so intense and emotional, Sarah. Just reading your review got me so sad. I don't know if I have the stomach to read books that are so upsetting despite them being very well written. I'm one of those people who tends to shy away from sad books as silly as that sounds. I'm so glad you loved this book so much.
    Beautiful review! :)

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    1. I know. I would not have picked this one up since I've just been wrecked by The Moment Collector. Now I need to heal for like a month. Haha! Thank you, Nick!

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  14. 5/5? O_O WOW.

    This sounds so raw and heartbreaking and I'm wondering if it's going to be the first book to make me fully cry. Only a couple of books have ever made me have glistening eyes, which is quite an achievement haha.

    The characters here sound so genuine and beautifully flawed. It's amazing the author managed to create a story that resonated with you so much!

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    1. Sigh. I still ached for them, Allie, but I'm glad to have read this book. It's amazing, really. I hope it would be the one to finally make your tears flow. Heh. :P

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  15. Drained? Emotionally exhausted? Sar, you got me in! Is it strange that I want to cry and grieve and feel disastrous? But I really think that this book would really do that to me, so that's a reason why I'm going to go for it once it releases, and because of your opinion, obviously. I'll definitely read this on a day when flaws don't matter to me, or when I'm pissed at something, because this book'll probably ruin my mood, but in a good way I guess. Phenomenal review, hun!

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    1. Mich, is that you? Is it really you? *squeaaals* And thank you, sweet girl!

      No, there's absolutely nothing strange in wanting to grieve and going for the disastrous path. I totally approve! I hope you enjoy (why yes. I meant it in a morbid way) this!

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  16. Sounds like you read an emotional punch to the gut. I have to gear up for these type of reads to take it, but to be honest, I don't do them very often. I like to be uplifted and happy when reading. It's my entertainment and even if the story is wonderful I still feel depressed after something like this. Btw, what the heck is coffin yoga? Actual yoga in a coffin? That would be extremely odd. Lol! Great review, Sarah. :)

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    1. I would have geared up if only I knew what's going to hit me. I wasn't aware that this would be a deeply emotional read. I understand. I like to be entertained too but most of the time I find entertainment in being sucker punched. Heehee.

      Haha. Not in a coffin, Rachel. Just lying on a bed like a dead person will do. XD

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  17. What a beautiful review. What a lovely book. I'm completely sold, Sarah. I need this book in my life. I love books that could gut me and make me cry, weirdly enough. Words and Other Meanings sounds exactly like the kind of book that would take me on an emotional journey and I'm totally looking forward to reading it! <3

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    1. Thank you so much, Hazel. Looking forward to a gutting read sounds oddly morbid but go for it. I totally approve! :D

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  18. I love the cover on this one, for some reason it reminds me of the Jennifer Jones series, although they look nothing alike. I'm always looking for those gut wrenching emotional reads that leave you crumpled, they're a great source of letting out that frustration of everyday life and able to break down and have a cry, with a reason to. 5 stars? I'm sold. I need this book too.

    *big hugs* thanks for sharing Sarah, a simply beautiful review <3

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    1. You know what, that must be why I was affected so much by this. I needed a good cry! Thank you, Kelly! *hugs you back*

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