Revolution
3Add to Favorites List
Editor reviews
Revolution
2010-12-23 00:00:00
Ed Goldberg
Report this review
Andi and Alex-Joined by a Diary
Andi lives in Brooklyn. Her younger brother, Truman, was killed in an auto accident and Andi blames herself. Her parents are divorced. Her father, Lewis, a famous DNA researcher, lives in Boston with his new young wife. Andi lives with her mother, Marianne, who has withdrawn into her art, painting picture after picture of Truman. Andi, alone with her guilt, has dropped from being an A student, to being on the brink of expulsion. The only thing keeping her somewhat sane is playing her music.
It is almost Christmas break when Andis father finds out Andi might be expelled. He arrives in Brooklyn to confront her. Seeing Mariannes condition, he hospitalizes her. Andi, unable to stay by herself for the holiday, has no choice but to accompany Lewis on a trip to Paris where he is going to do a DNA test on a heart, to see whether it belongs to Louis-Charles, the son of Marie Antoinette.
Lewis and Andi stay with G and Lily while in Paris. G is a noted historian and collector of historical memorabilia. He basically lives in a warehouse that he wants to convert to a museum. Knowing of Andis love of music and her talent, he shows her an old guitar and allows her to play it. While alone she fumbles with the guitar case, discovers a secret compartment and a diary written by Alexandrine Paradis in 1795, in the midst of the French Revolution. Andi begins reading the diary and cant stop. Shes entranced, almost transported back in time, living life as Alex would have lived it. I will tell you no more of this story, for to do so would spoil it for you.
Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award winning A Northern Light, has done it again&written an absorbing, almost addicting book. Her characters are wonderful, Andi and Alex as well as the secondary characters. The action both current day and through Alexs diary, is realistic and in the case of Alex, riveting. Donnellys switching between time periods is seamless. Of course, theres a touch of romance thrown into the mix.
It is obvious the amount of research that Donnelly put into the subject before writing Revolution. But the research alone would not make the book as wonderful as it is. Its the writing and plot that make this book shine. Regardless of whether youre an historical fiction buff or not, if you like a well written book with great characters and a wonderful storyline, then Revolution is a must read.
Was this review helpful to you?
00
User reviews
Average user rating from: 3 user(s)
To write a review please register or log in.
Revolution
2012-02-21 01:06:16
Alexia
Report this review
Top 10 favorite books
I loved this book.My favorite thing about the book was how it took place in different times and the French revolution parts.The writing was good.I got confused a little at the end but I still loved it.
Do You Recommend?
Yes
Was this review helpful to you?
00
Revolution
2011-11-25 04:40:30
Mia
Report this review
A Completely Honest Telling of Life, Love, and Loss
This book is just so incredibly human and real. It's one of the most honest books I've read about life, loss, and love. It's one that will stay with me for a long time.
Original review at: http://paperlanternreviews.blogspot.com/2011/04/revolution-by-jennifer-donnelly.html
Good Points
This is a absolutely stunning book filled with raw, vivid characters who will stay with you for a long time. Jennifer Donnelly's writing is reaches whole new levels of beautiful; it's simply one of the best I've ever read.
Donnelly did an insane amount of research for this novel and she manages to weave fiction with reality in such a flawless way, you don't even question once if the information she presented is factual. You honestly believe that some of it so real the way she paints it.
Donnelly did an insane amount of research for this novel and she manages to weave fiction with reality in such a flawless way, you don't even question once if the information she presented is factual. You honestly believe that some of it so real the way she paints it.
Bad Points
The book hits a slump in the middle where it's just journal entry after another. I really wish I had found them as captivating as the main character, Andi, but I unfortunately didn't. The ending warps up in a rather hasty way which is slightly unsettling as well but it didn't drive me insane.
Do You Recommend?
Yes
Was this review helpful to you?
10
Revolution
2011-03-01 00:00:00
a reader
Report this review
We Demand You To Go, Get & Read This Book
Reader reviewed by Gaby B
If you dont like us being demanding, then we politely ask you to
check out Revolution. But its rare when a story hits me so hard. I
read many books, and they make me laugh, cry and smile. Once Im done
with it, I give it little thought and move on to the next book. I
thought it would be the same with Revolution. Its in the middle of my
long list of books to read. But now that I have finished it, I cant
seem to move on from it. Revolution is a powerful story with history,
love, grief, and mystery beautifully woven together.
The story follows Andi Alpers, a Brooklyn native who is grieving the
loss of her brother, Truman. Wrecked by sadness and guilt, Andi stops
doing well in school, takes anti-depressants, and focuses only on her
music. Music seems to be the only thing that is keeping her alive. Her
usually absent father decides to give her an intervention. He sends off
her grief-stricken mother to a psychiatric hospital and takes Andi with
him to Paris for her Winter break. The deal is that she uses the time in
France to work on a thesis for a school project. While researching, she
stumbles upon the diary of Alexandrine Paradis, an actress who lived
during the French Revolution. As Andi reads Alexs diary, she becomes
enraptured with Alexs tales and cant help but find how much their
stories are alike.
The story focuses a lot on the French Revolution. If you dont know
too much about it, dont fret. Author Jennifer Donnelly provides enough
information to make it interesting and not like youre reading a history
textbook. I personally knew an overview of what happened during the
French Revolution. But I didnt know the little details. I found it so
fascinating how Donnelly was able to weave fiction and history together
so perfectly. She made Alexs story feel so real; every time I read her
one of her diary entries, I felt like I was right next to her living in
1790s France. Andis story is just as gripping. She is a girl on the
edge. Literally. When reading her thoughts, my heart felt pained with
her grief. I felt her annoyances, her sad moments, and her little
flickers of hope.
Revolution is a very human story. When we learn about history,
theres usually a detached feeling that comes along with it. Probably
because many of us didnt live through it. The story reminded me that
those wars, massacres, and general evilness affected real people with
the same hopes, dreams and feelings I have.
I wish I could go on and explain the sort of unexpected (yet
thought-provoking) message Donnelly relays through this story, but I
dont want to ruin the magic of the book. I want you to discover it on
your own. I will, however, say that it changed the way I look at the
world. Alex and Andi end their tales with the same line. Even as I woke
up this morning after finishing the book, I read the latest news and
that line proved itself so true. It makes me want to both cry and smile.
Reprinted here with author's permission. Original: http://www.theyoungfolks.com/?p=928
Was this review helpful to you?
00
Powered by JReviews
Twitter
Our Facebook Page
The YABC Blog
RSS Feed