Reviews

Le noir entre les étoiles by Stefan Merrill Block

vassa's review against another edition

4.0

How can I keep on living and making decisions after that?

livvy_rose's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

anneaustex's review against another edition

3.0

This book takes the reader on an emotional journey after an unfortunate incident leaves Oliver Loving comatose. The story is told from multiple points of view and each character fills in their respective knowledge about what led up to Oliver's situation. The family is torn and broken and yet each, in their own way, holds on to a hope for something different. The situation is resolved on the final page of the book in a very complete and satisfying way.

I thought the story was told in a very interesting way and I liked it more and more as it went on, revealing bits of the backstory while adding character development. It is a dark and sad book yet I wanted to know more of these characters. There were times I wanted to yell out loud for one of them to respond in a different way or to take action so as to change the situation.

I feel this summary does not do the book justice but to talk about this book is to reveal too much that the reader needs to experience. If you like your books moody, atmospheric, dysfunctional and dark in all the best ways then this one might be for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron for the ARC.

nchinnici's review against another edition

I really wanted to like this; I've heard a lot of great things about it. Unfortunately this was just too wordy for my taste and I couldn't get into it. DNF.

*Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc of this edition via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

wadezone's review against another edition

4.0

Very emotional story. The story is worth reading, I did find areas where it seem repetitive and others drag on. Tighten up the writing and the story would make this better.

alisonj's review against another edition

4.0

This is a slow book (slow in the sense of slow food). Much of it is quite impressive, but I wasn’t able to lose myself in it — I even put it down halfway through and read two other books before picking it up again.

jadorelire's review against another edition

2.0

I was excited when I began the book, thinking it would explore what we mean by consciousness; instead, it dealt mainly with unsympathetic characters and how their failure to speak their truth caused them to be miserable.

mary_the_librarian's review against another edition

4.0

This is a very slow read, but I feel that it's well worth it. The unraveling of the story, the division (and mending) that tragedy can bring are all beautifully executed.

nietzschesghost's review against another edition

4.0

Oliver Loving, Stefan Merrill Block's second young adult novel, is a simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking look at the reaction and hardship of a Texan shooting in terms of its impact on both the local community and the victim's families. The pedestrian and unusual writing style takes a little getting used to but stick with it. This novel has everything going for it - it's deeply moving and poignant, with beautiful three-dimensional characters and a plot that is thoroughly engaging and has you invested in how events turn out. If you enjoy thought-provoking stories then this will be a sure-fire hit with you, no pun intended. Recommended.

Many thanks to Atlantic for an ARC.

lydiacatherine's review against another edition

4.0

Ridiculously beautiful writing but tge story was dragged out for way too long- the final third was not needed. Ended up skim reading it.