Book Review | Everything Everything

Hi! It’s been a while since my last book review. 💔

If you have seen my TBR 2017, you probably noticed that Everything Everything is one of those books I bought last year that I didn’t actually get the chance to read because I was out of my zone. What made me finally pick it up was the fact that the movie will be shown in Philippine cinemas and I got a pass for advance screening. Thanks to Sam and Magic 89.9! 😍

Title: Everything Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon

The Blurb

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

I wasn’t aware of SCID. And here we go again with the YA clichés where the girl protagonist will fall in love with the guy next door; that he would understand her better than she even understands herself. Yes, we already heard that all before.

We must give some points to the cover, though. The doodles are great if you will look more closely. It really does compliment the characters of the story.

The Style

I love how this is a fast read. I finished it within a day. Maybe because the pages aren’t really filled with just words. Some of it are illustrations made by the female protagonist, Maddy.

What I also love about it is the title in each scene. It really does me good to remember the parts with it. Like “ah yes, that’s what happened in  yadda yadda yadda.”

I totally like how witty Yoon could get from “A TALE OF TWO MADDY” (we all know that’s a Charles Dickens reference) to “THE THIRD MADDY”. I love how she played with titles!

The Story

It is your typical YA book until it’s not. The story flows so smoothly. It’s light and it’s fun. Though, I must say that I was expecting more depth given Maddy’s disease. Or maybe because she is really still searching for what life is all about.

I must admit that I didn’t see that coming. I was having so much delight with the exchange of words between Maddy and Olly. I think it’s a little cheesy but cute. I was having so much laughter and pity for the budnt cake. I like how something can remind me of a whole book—in a form of pastry.

Characterization

The book probably just revolved around Maddy and Olly. Well, what do we expect when the protagonist has SCID? Maddy stayed at home her whole life. The only people she knows are her mom, Carla (her nurse) and her daughter, Rosa. It is typical for Maddy to be that naive in all decisions she made when he met Olly. It is so frustrating, though. Curiosity really does kill the cat after all. “Everything’s a risk. Not doing anything is a risk”. She might really took life for granted because she didn’t really know what is there to lose. It’s really different to live the life inside the books and to live it outside. I guess we can’t blame Maddy for wanting to live both. We do it too, anyway.

As for Olly, he was so carefree. He probably looks like a bird to Maddy—outside the cage. I just wish we learned more about his relationship with his family. All the things we heard from him and Maddy’s email exchange are  mostly just their interests about this book or this movie; their favorite color; what vices they have. Normal stuff. The only time they talk deep was probably when Olly mentioned about his family (I think that’s just once or twice).

I don’t know how I will relate to Maddy’s mother, though. I JUST CAN’T. But you will love Carla (or it’s just me. Let me know when you read the book).

Quote to Ponder

“I was trying so hard to find the single pivotal moment that set my life on its path. The moment that answered the question, ‘How did I get here?’

But it’s never just one moment. It’s a series of them. And your life can branch out from each one in a thousand different ways. Maybe there’s a version of your life for all the choices you make and all the choices you don’t.”

My Rating

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MOVIE REVIEW

WHAT I LIKE:

• I like how it sticks with the book for the most parts.
• I like how Maddy’s house looks like.
• I like Amanda and Nick as Maddy and Olly.
• I like how they make it look like Maddy and Olly was actually talking in person because that’s just what they did for like half of the book.
• I LOOOOOVE HAWAII and the Humuhumunukunukuapua`a. I still don’t know how to say that.
• I like the swim suit part. Watch out for it.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE:

• I was shookt when Rosa actually existed in the movie. She wasn’t meant to see Maddy and then there she was, visiting her at home.
• Carla is stout in the book.
• They emailed in the book. Not text. (I don’t like it when they change even this tiniest detail because the book isn’t that long to cut out/change things)
• I would really appreciate it if they include the Orrery because it will add more depth to the story. Though, I understand too because that one wasn’t really that much established on the book either. AAAAA I REALLY HOPE THEY DID ORRERY AND ALL THESE SPACE AND UNIVERSES JUSTICE.
• It has the same ending but I’m telling you, The Little Prince must still be included. That will give the whole ‘astronaut’ thing more significance.

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Who has read and seen it? Let me know if we have the same sentiments. I might realized more things when you share to me your thoughts.

 

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