Monday, July 16, 2012

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Pages: 353pgs

The Story

What happens when happily ever after . . . isn't?

Delilah hates school as much as she loves books. In fact, there's one book in particular she can't get enough of. If anyone knew how many times she has read and re-read the sweet little fairy tale she found in the library, especially the popular kids, she'd be sent to social Siberia . . . forever.

To Delilah, though, this fairy tale is more than just words on the page. Sure, there's a handsome (well, okay, hot) prince, and a castle, and an evil gvillain, but it feels as if there's something deeper going on. And one day, Delilah finds out there is. Turns out, this Prince Charming is real, and a certain fifteen-year-old loner has caught his eye. But they're from two different worlds, and how can it ever possibly work?

Together with her daughter Samantha Van Leer, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult has written a classic fairy tale with a uniquely modern twist.

The Review

A big thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending me a review copy of this book!

I was pretty skeptical of this book when it landed on my doorstep. With not having read any of Jodi Picoult's previous work and not having a fair enough opinion of her work to then compare to it this young adult novel of her and her daughter's (I mean, seriously, how cool that her young daughter co-wrote this book with her mother!), I will have to admit that I would have probably not have read this book if it weren't for the publisher who'd sent me it to me. But boy oh boy, I'm so very glad they'd introduced this book to me because I ate this book right up from the beginning - the words, the illustrations, the fairy tale within itself - and it is one of the most unique books I've ever come across and it will remain one of the best titles that I've ever read.

BETWEEN THE LINES has this fairy tale vibe to it and you know how much of a sucker I am when it comes to my fairytales. Now with this book however, it is told between alternating two main characters and it's the kind of book that's a story within a story within another story which is the most exciting part of all. Firstly we have Deliah, a teenage girl who is in love with a fairy tale book and whom can't get enough of it, and secondly, we have another main character, Oliver, a charming prince of the actual fairy tale book and one of whom is so very real in the book. The thing I loved about Deliah and Oliver was how real they seemed to me. Deliah, for example, was someone who I could easily connect with, especially when it came to her love of books and reading. And Oliver . . . well, he was such a charming prince and I loved him to bits. The relationship Deliah and Oliver shared, no matter the cliche romance lying between them, but I adored them so MUCH! Together or not, they were such awesome characters and I just didn't want to let them go in the end!

Aside from the characters and the storyline, what really captivated me was the illustrations. The illustrations alone was what drew me in and it was what made this book so very unique. I mean, some of the pages were filled with fairy tale sketches of the prince in question, the full-size coloured printed variety kind of sketches and they were so "oh my god" beautiful. I just wanted to reach out and touch them, hoping for the magic to get to me too. Then there were other illustrations - the small and the black-and-white variety kind of illustrations, that were displayed on many edges of the pages and ones that translated to what was actually happening in the storyline which were equally as beautiful as the full-page coloured ones. Honestly, I just couldn't get enough of this book and everything single page in it. It wasn't just your average young adult read with a bit action here and a bit of romance there. It was and is a fairy tale book of magic all on its own and it made me want to be a child once more. Seriously it was that good.

Overall, BETWEEN THE LINES may be something you will overlook in a bookstore but it's definitely a read you wouldn't want to miss out on. Both adorable and out of this world, this book was the perfect escape for me and with a mother-and-daughter duo writing it together for the very first time, I'm sure you too will want to escape along with me and this book . . . it was so beautiful!

The Rating

5/5 stars

18 comments:

  1. What a great review! Wow, I can't wait to meet these characters! I love the idea of this book. A real fairytale prince? Eeeep! Lucky girl ;) Really excited to meet these characters and see these wonderful drawings people keep talking about! :)

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    1. Thanks Lisa! This book is absolutely amazing like you can tell from my review. hehe. I was REALLY impressed by it and the drawings . . . can't wait to hear your thoughts on this one!

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  2. Ahh I love Jodi Picoult! I really want to read this one and thanks for sharing your review :)

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  3. Ahhhh, Erin! <3 I love this review! You sound so impressed by this book and I consider you someone a bit tougher to win over so completely :) This book just sounds AMAZING. I love love LOVE fairy tales and lately I've just been wanting to read any and all novels that involve them! The illustrations sound fantastic too... I can't wait to see some of them! Thanks for the fabulous review, Erin!

    Sonia

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    1. Thank you, Sonia! Yes it takes a lot to win me over and this book . . . TOTALLY DID!

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  4. I really, really love my fairytales & retellings, so I can't wait to dive into this one. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about this book. Lovely review! ^^

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  5. Oooh! You know, I probably wouldn't have read this either, had I not just read your review! But it sounds so much better than I thought it'd be. I love fairy tales so much, and I like romance too so it's good to hear the romance in this book is a good one. Plus I'm definitely intrigues by the illustrations! Great review, much more excited about this book now :).

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    1. At first I didn't know what to expect from this book but that was until I read it . . . and boy did I love it. :)

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  6. Oh goodness... I love the idea of a main character who's a girl obsessed with fictional characters... sound familiar? Oh, Erin, this is the first review I've read, and this is me now: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Can't wait to read it--and seriously... those illustrations are SO pretty!

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    1. It definitely sounds familiar! hehe. I'm glad to have won you over with this book. It NEEDS to be read by everyone!

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  7. Wow, this sounds fantastic, Erin! I haven't read anything by Jodi and I was worried this might be a bit young but now I really want to get a look at these illustrations and meet the two realistic main characters!

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    1. Thank you! Everyone needs to read this book! It thought it would be for a younger reader too . . . but I think it can be for anyone wanting a great fairytale read.

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  8. FIVE STARS? Oh my goodness, Erin, I am officially sold! I know that everyone has been adoring this book before, but your enthusiasm and epic rating for this one has me turning this book into a MUST! I just love that the main character is in love with fictional characters -- that's something I can definitely relate to LOL! x) And this may make me a kid again, but I ADORE it when books have illustrations in them. It makes it even more wonderful!

    Really amazing review, Erin! :) <3

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    1. I think we can ALL relate to the main character and her fetish for fictional guys. hehe. Thanks Mimi!

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  9. Eeeeee! ERIN! I knew you loved this, but wow... this book REALLY captured your heart. This makes me SO excited and wanting desperately to bump it up on my TBR. I flicked through the illustrations when I first got it and they blew me away. The book itself is BEAUTIFUL and I'm so glad to hear the story lives up to the packaging.

    It was and is a fairy tale book of magic all on its own and it made me want to be a child once more. love this!! <3 Amazing review!

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  10. I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this book as much as you did. I have only read so-so or terrible reviews on it, which made me sad because I loved it so much. I completely agree with you on the illustrations. I had an ARC of the book, but when I saw the finished copy in the store with the beautiful pictures, I knew I had to get it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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