Published: November 25th, 2012
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary.
Source: From the author
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/ Amazon
Add on Goodreads
Summary:
Everything in Arabelle's life is coming together. She has confidence, great friends, she's even dating Naak, a wealthy Thai socialite. But there are too many models in Bangkok. Arabelle’s broke, she can’t find an agent in New York, and Naak isn't as wonderful as he first appears. Slowly the Shadows creep back into Arabelle’s mind, bringing with them thoughts of hopelessness and despair. The vile Shadows know something Arabelle’s refusing to remember and, if she’s not careful, they’ll use it to destroy her. Based on a true story, Arabelle’s Shadows takes us on a journey through the struggles of growing up, not quite making it as an international model, and attempting to overcome a crushing depression.
My review:
Arabelle's Shadows is based on a true story. The story of author of this book, Fleur Gaskin. It is written in a form of a diary and it takes a reader through all of the hardships in life and hardships of overcoming depression. I honestly had a hard time finishing this book. I wanted to give up half way through the story. But I always finish the book that I started, usually to see it it gets any better. Did this one got better for me? Well it's hard to tell. The main problem I had of reading it, is because it felt like it was going in circles. She tried to make it big and just when she started to, she hit the bottom. She got back up and tried again and again she almost made it but something went wrong and she fall into depression again. Don't get me wrong the whole point and the messages of the book were great, it really got me into thinking after I finished it. But the going in circles thing and the characters! The characters, especially Arabelle's at some points I just couldn't stand her. Like the way she keeps making the same mistake over and over again, or the way she keeps talking about the guy Naak, or other guys and how she always date wrong ones. It was really annoying at times. Than what did I liked about the book?
Well like I said, I liked the message that the author tried to deliver, I think it was well delivered. Also how realistic she wrote about depression, and how she tried to deal with it. All of the feeling she wrote about, those parts of the book felt real to me. The way she put those feeling into words, also one of the things that amaze me.
"I imagine people think that being depressed is like being sad. It's not. Sadness is a pure, natural emotion. It helps you grieve; it can comfort you. Sadness comes from the memories of something great that's been lost. Depression is not sadness. Depression is hollowness, nothingness. Depression is hell.It's a pain of the mind that feels like every millimetre of your body is being stabbed by white hot needles all at once."
Since it was the first book author wrote and since it was written in a diary form, I think she did a good job. I feel like a lot of people will enjoy this book.
I would love to read this book! I love true life stories. Thank you for your honest review.
ReplyDeleteThis cover look interesting!
ReplyDelete