All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven — A Book Review
We as readers realize that a good book is a blend of various elements, such as subject, characters, the feel, and how the author conveys all that to the masses, especially if the audience is young.
Honestly, I picked All the Bright Places on an impulse since I could not decide what to read next, but to my surprise, the book had more to offer than I bargained for.
You see, books with depth and meaning come with valuable lessons and something to ponder long after you finish them.
If you loved reading John Green’s work, you have all the good reasons to go for All the Bright Places. As it perfectly matches the style and most subjects of his books.
It took me a little time to gather my thoughts on this one, and finally, here is what I think —
About the Book
All the Bright Places is a young adult written by Jennifer Niven and published on January 6, 2015.
The author has set the story in the small Indiana town of Bartlett, which revolves around two main characters: Theodore Finch and Violet Markey, and is told from their viewpoint switching between them.
In this narrative, Finch is suicidal and thinks of ways to kill himself, whereas Violet is secretly fighting a past trauma of losing her sister in a car accident and coming out of it with the help of Finch. Oh, the irony!
The two meet on top of a bell tower of their school, both trying to attempt suicide — however, ending up saving each other, making it look like Violet saved Finch as the guy is already called a freak by his peers, and Violet is famous in the school.
Later, they become school project partners that require them to visit different unusual places in their hometown, Indiana. The wandering, as they call it, turns them into friends and then lovers.
All the Bright Places is a story of two young people fighting mental illness; how it affects them and the surrounding people.
As the story progresses, you can see a change in Violet as she heals from the trauma, but things don’t look too bright on the other side as Finch’s depression worsens.
Although Finch tries to get help from a support group in a nearby town, what happens next is not what Violet and the readers expected.
My Thoughts
All the Bright Places carries a sensitive issue that takes you on an emotional roller coaster where you might need a box of tissues.
However, I loved how the characters were narrating their parts of the story, which helps you get into their heads and understand their point of view.
The book imparts a powerful take-home message — what it feels like to handle something that is not in your control and to feel you can’t turn to anyone for help.
All the Bright Places is a good reminder for us to be compassionate and kind towards others. You never know who is fighting a silent battle of their own.
The book is written in a way that connects with you and lets you feel the character’s emotions. Though, at some point, the plot gets mysterious, especially when the lights are on Finch — suffering from a mental illness and not letting anyone know.
Niven also showed how he hasn’t been able to help himself or doesn’t know how to control what goes inside his head.
Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book –
The problem with people is they forget that most of the time it’s the small things that count.
Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places
To sum it up, I would say All the Bright Places is a beautifully written book discussing the prevalent mental illnesses through two completely different people, Violet and Theodore Finch, and two completely different incidents causing the issues.
And so, if you haven’t read this one already, you must try it.
Happy reading!
If you find the story interesting, you can buy me a coffee to show your support. It would mean so much.
Thanks
