"Theodore Finch wants to take
his own life. Violet Markey is devastated by her sister's death. They meet on
the ledge of the school bell tower, and so their story begins. It's only
together they can be themselves...But, as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins
to shrink. How far will Violet go to save the boy she has come to love?"
‘All the bright places’ is a
captivating novel by Jennifer Niven which tells the story of Theodore Finch and
Violet Markey. It's one of those books
that you just have to stay up until four in the morning
reading because you just can't put it down. The whole book is
an emotional roller coaster to be honest; one minute I was laughing and the
next I was crying!
Both characters are very likeable and
you feel that you can empathise with them. I love how this book is told from
the point of view of both Violet and Finch as it gives an insight into both of
the characters thoughts and feelings throughout. It’s beautifully written, and
really makes you think.
This is a very poignant novel, which
I feel has a vast amount of relevance today. There are many people in the world
who suffer from mental illness and this novel is perfect for raising awareness
of mental illness. One thing that I like about this book, other than the
story itself obviously, is the list of suicide helplines in different
countries. I think it was a great idea for the author to include this at the
back for those who may be thinking of suicide and need someone to talk to.
If you’re a fan of John Green, I
would recommend that you read this novel as the writing style is quite similar
to that of his. Finch is wonderfully weird, and as much as I love Augustus
Waters, I think Finch is one of my new favourite literary characters.
"You are all the colours in one, at full brightness." - Finch
Sarah-Michelle x
