Group Discussion: Before I Fall

Hello dear readers!

Today's post is a reflection of my group's discussion of Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver.  If you need a refresher, the original review of the book can be found here.  And as always, this will contain spoilers.

One of the biggest things we talked about in my group was whether or not Sam was actually reliving each day.  One girl proposed that maybe Sam was comatose and the whole thing was happening in her head.  I hadn't thought about it like that.  The group was then pretty evenly split between those who thought that was the case and those who thought she was really reliving each day.

For me, the story loses something if she's in a comatose state.  The changes in Sam's life aren't as impactful and it makes me wonder what the point was.  So I believe, for the sake of my own reading sanity, that she really was reliving each day.

Another thing that came up was how impressed we all were at the fact that this is Lauren Oliver's first novel.  It's incredibly complex and a bold move for a first book.  Which is why we believe it got picked up and published; the concept is huge.

We also talked about the compassion aspect as well.  The big thing all of us took away from the book is that it is never too late to change how you treat people, to be a kind human being.  You never know how your actions will affect those around you, and it's so important to be kind and compassionate.  It could save someone's life.

Finally, we discussed some things we wanted to ask Lauren at our upcoming Skype session.  We decided we wanted to ask about whether or not Sam really was reliving each day and about her writing techniques and practices.

(Note:  I was really sick the day of the Skype session.  If I had been there, it would have it's own blog entery.  What I gathered from those who were there is that Lauren was very positive that Sam did in fact relive every day in reality.  She also gave some great advice about writing, specifically setting a word count goal.  Her's is currently 1000 words a day, but she recommended that you start at 80 a day and work your way up.  So disappointed I missed!)

Overall, all of our group members really enjoyed the book.  We would recommend it for all high school students and adults alike.

~Meaghan

The Lauren Oliver Novel: Before I Fall

Hello dear readers!

Today I am reviewing the young adult novel Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver.  (Lauren Oliver is an up and coming young adult writer, and actually writes a wide variety of genres.  I highly recommend you check out her website if you get the chance.)

Before I Fall is a novel that follow a high school girl named Samantha, or as she prefers, Sam.  Sam is one of the popular girls and can get away with just about anything.  Her clique that she hangs with can be mean (they bully one girl, Juliette, relentlessly) and snobbish.  Think of that group of girls we have all known from high school - you know the ones.

Almost from the get go of the story, Sam ends up in a car crash and dies after we've seen a typical day for her.  But she is given a second chance.  And a third.  And a fourth.  In the end, Sam ends up reliving the day of her death a total of seven times.  Each time is a chance for her to change things: to change how she lives, how she loves, and how she dies.

The novel is incredibly interesting.  We see Sam go from a horrible, selfish girl to a compassionate one who changes the people around her for the better.  In the end, Sam still dies.  But her death is no longer a freak accident of a mean girl.  Instead, it becomes a meaningful death in the place of someone else.

Before I Fall is one of those books I struggled with, but in a good way.  At the start of it, I hated Sam with a passion.  Memories of the girls who teased me in elementary school (before I was homeschooled) came back and I wanted to punch her in the face.  But by the end of the book, her transformation was so amazing that I was bawling my eyes out when I finished.  If that doesn't tell you it's worth a read, I don't know what else will.

I do recommend Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver.  I think adults and high school students alike should read it.  It's Oliver's first novel as well, so now I'm incredibly interested in reading the rest of her writing to see how it grows and changes.  I highly encourage you to check out Lauren Oliver and especially Before I Fall.  It will be worth your time.

~Meaghan