Helpful Score: 2
Reviewed by Harmony for TeensReadToo.com
I finished reading MADAPPLE last night and, for the first time ever, I sat staring at the book in shock. For fifteen minutes. I was ready to laugh, to cry, and to scream in frustration. Never before have I read a book that left me feeling that way after finishing it. Sure, there have been books where I've laughed, cried, and been frustrated at different points as I read it (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS comes to mind) -- but to experience them all at once at the end of a book? Never.
Once the shock wore off, I began wondering how I was ever going to write a review of this book. Because a book that can cause emotions like that definitely can NOT be summed up in one paragraph, no matter how long. I could say that MADAPPLE was about flowers and plants. I could also say that it's about a girl who's a prisoner in her own life. I could also say that it challenges the religion of Christianity. I could say all of those things and so many more, but none of them would be correct. Yes, MADAPPLE is about flowers and plants. It's also about being a prisoner in your own life and it's even about Christianity. But it's also about so much more than that. More than even my mind can comprehend.
But I must warn you - MADAPPLE is NOT for everyone
Told in alternating chapters of the present and of testimonies being held at Aslaug's trial, MADAPPLE challenges the reader. It informs the reader. I, myself, though not a strong Christian, know by now that most Christians are offended when their religion is challenged. MADAPPLE does that. But I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing, for it never states that Christianity is wrong, and every single character has their own opinion on it. Heck, one of them even runs a church. But what it does do is explain how the birth and story of Jesus that the Christians follow is not the first in history. I'm not going to say more on that subject in fear of giving too much away, but I'll say this - if you're a Christian who is easily offended, I wouldn't read this. If you're a Christian who can handle a reasonable amount of things, pick up the book.
My feelings about MADAPPLE changed throughout the entire book. At first, I was intrigued, then confused, and then bored. Actually, I think I was confused up until the last page and then some. Even at this moment, I can't say whether I love or hate MADAPPLE. But I'm going to say that I love it because it's left me speechless, and the only other books to have done that are my favorites. The one thing, however, this book didn't do was make my stomach hurt. The character emotions just weren't there to make my heart break. All other aspects, besides that, which I love in books were there.
So do I recommend MADAPPLE? Definitely yes! But only if you're up for a challenging read. Only if you're mature enough to handle speculations about virgin and premarital birth. Only if you're ready to be blown away, because you will be, whether it's in a good or bad way. Only you can make that decision.
I finished reading MADAPPLE last night and, for the first time ever, I sat staring at the book in shock. For fifteen minutes. I was ready to laugh, to cry, and to scream in frustration. Never before have I read a book that left me feeling that way after finishing it. Sure, there have been books where I've laughed, cried, and been frustrated at different points as I read it (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS comes to mind) -- but to experience them all at once at the end of a book? Never.
Once the shock wore off, I began wondering how I was ever going to write a review of this book. Because a book that can cause emotions like that definitely can NOT be summed up in one paragraph, no matter how long. I could say that MADAPPLE was about flowers and plants. I could also say that it's about a girl who's a prisoner in her own life. I could also say that it challenges the religion of Christianity. I could say all of those things and so many more, but none of them would be correct. Yes, MADAPPLE is about flowers and plants. It's also about being a prisoner in your own life and it's even about Christianity. But it's also about so much more than that. More than even my mind can comprehend.
But I must warn you - MADAPPLE is NOT for everyone
Told in alternating chapters of the present and of testimonies being held at Aslaug's trial, MADAPPLE challenges the reader. It informs the reader. I, myself, though not a strong Christian, know by now that most Christians are offended when their religion is challenged. MADAPPLE does that. But I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing, for it never states that Christianity is wrong, and every single character has their own opinion on it. Heck, one of them even runs a church. But what it does do is explain how the birth and story of Jesus that the Christians follow is not the first in history. I'm not going to say more on that subject in fear of giving too much away, but I'll say this - if you're a Christian who is easily offended, I wouldn't read this. If you're a Christian who can handle a reasonable amount of things, pick up the book.
My feelings about MADAPPLE changed throughout the entire book. At first, I was intrigued, then confused, and then bored. Actually, I think I was confused up until the last page and then some. Even at this moment, I can't say whether I love or hate MADAPPLE. But I'm going to say that I love it because it's left me speechless, and the only other books to have done that are my favorites. The one thing, however, this book didn't do was make my stomach hurt. The character emotions just weren't there to make my heart break. All other aspects, besides that, which I love in books were there.
So do I recommend MADAPPLE? Definitely yes! But only if you're up for a challenging read. Only if you're mature enough to handle speculations about virgin and premarital birth. Only if you're ready to be blown away, because you will be, whether it's in a good or bad way. Only you can make that decision.
Helpful Score: 2
"Madapple" is a surprising novel; when i picked it up, I did not expect the book I ended up reading, and I was happily surprised.
Weaving in broad topics of nature, religion, and mysticism, child abuse, and kidnapping, "Madapple" is about a young girl named Aslaug. The story alternates every chapter between Aslaug's first-person narrative of her life living with her mother in the woods, and then aunt and cousins after her mother's death, and her on trial for the accused murders of her aunt and cousin. The straight-forward, spares, and largely emotionless chapters of the trial (set in the present) are a nice balance to the emotional and richly written chapters accounting her past leading up to the trial.
This book is not for everyone. I'm not a religious person, so the views some characters had about paganism, Christianity, and virgin birth didn't bother me, but there are definitely challenges to those with deeply held beliefs. That being said, the book never comes off as preachy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I recommend it to anyone interested in a challenging and interesting read.
Weaving in broad topics of nature, religion, and mysticism, child abuse, and kidnapping, "Madapple" is about a young girl named Aslaug. The story alternates every chapter between Aslaug's first-person narrative of her life living with her mother in the woods, and then aunt and cousins after her mother's death, and her on trial for the accused murders of her aunt and cousin. The straight-forward, spares, and largely emotionless chapters of the trial (set in the present) are a nice balance to the emotional and richly written chapters accounting her past leading up to the trial.
This book is not for everyone. I'm not a religious person, so the views some characters had about paganism, Christianity, and virgin birth didn't bother me, but there are definitely challenges to those with deeply held beliefs. That being said, the book never comes off as preachy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I recommend it to anyone interested in a challenging and interesting read.
I was lucky enough to get a pre-release copy of this book to read, and it blew me away! Truly a haunting novel, it explores some very provocative themes. The author's scholarship is impressive, and while the character development leaves a bit to be desired this is still an excellent debut novel. I couldn't put it down once I started it!
I really enjoyed this book. It's a little difficult to keep track of characters, but once you have them figured out, you'll love the book. One of my favorite aspects of the book is how much information it includes on the basis of Christianity. That might seem boring, but I was so intrigued by all the things I learned about my own religion.
