Thursday, September 19, 2013

Review: Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts

Tumble & Fall
Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts

A novel about the end of days full of surprising beginnings
The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.
Alexandra Coutts's TUMBLE & FALL is a powerful story of courage, love, and hope at the end of the world.

”add

Publishes in US: September 17th 2013 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) MacMillan
Genre: YA
Source: MacMillan
Series? No.

Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble  IndieBound  Book Depository

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter

 
   Overall this is a good story, and I love the premise of a week until the end of the world, and what these characters will do with their time. 
   Lots of things worked really well, I liked the presence and theme of family in this one. Given there are some really dysfunctional ones between the characters, but when it comes down to the end of the world, I like to see who is surrounding and left standing by your side. I also really connected with Sienna and her depression. It is something that I battle with myself and I think it was portrayed pretty well and I def. understood where she was coming from. We get off to a sad and gripping start with her, and she was my favorite of the three. 
    I also thought that Zan's loss of Leo, her boyfriend was a powerful motivator in the story, and I just wish that it was written in first person, because I think that I would have been more invested in the characters than I already was. 
    With the beginnings of new love, questioning things you thought were certain, love whether romantic, friendship or familial, healing and grief are all pushed to the max when you try to cram everything that's important into the last week with the end of the world staring you in the face. 
     There was some insta-love, but I guess given the circumstances, anything the characters felt would be amped up, so I guess I can excuse it. And I will go back to the third person as another reason that I didn't fully feel Sienna and Owen together. I wanted to really root for them and be invested in their blossoming relationship but I just didn't quite as much as I wanted to. 
    What I really loved though was seeing what was important--finding truth, forgiveness, and being around those you love--all showed itself in different ways in the characters. They all seem so disconnected when the story started, but I liked seeing everything coming together. Seeing how they all handled the last week, their feelings, and their lives so differently, but there are still similarities that seemed to be universal. 
    I also was a little disappointed that Zan and Sienna's voices weren't more distinct, and again I will go back to my preference for 1st person, because I think that would have given them a greater chance to have their own personalities and for their voices to shine through. But as it was, I didn't have the smoothest transitions as it switched back and forth between their stories because I was getting details confused. 
    Tumble and Fall really caught me at the beginning, though it did slow some for me in the middle it was still enough to keep it going. But I thought the ending was spectacular. I think that all of the elements worked together so well, and I couldn't imagine it all turning out so fitting for the story. 

Bottom Line: Things working both for and against it, but I couldn't put it down.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Where would you want to spend your last 5 days?
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26 comments:

  1. I'm totally in love with that cover. Might have to check it out just for that!

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  2. Most of the reviews for this have been very "meh", so I am glda to see you enjoyed it. Great cover!

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  3. The cover does pull you in! The book also sound interesting! The idea of a week before the end of the world.. mmm. definitely interesting! Though the character's voices could of been more distinct, this does sound like a nice read.

    Great review!!

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  4. Good review. Thanks for reminding me I need to read this one :)

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  5. This book oddly reminds me of Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. I like the premise, the ending, not so much. It sucks though that it didn't keep to its story pace.

    As for your question, I'll be with my family. In the basement surrounded by books. :)

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  6. Thanks for sharing that you found the ending spectacular. From the few reviews that I've read, I thought the characters weren't related - it's good to know that you liked how all the elements tied in with one another. Loved what you shared!

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  7. I think I'd like this if it was 1st person and only focused on one person...then you could really invest in them.

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  8. I much prefer 1st person as well, especially when the alternative is voices that are too similar. But overall, this sounds very interesting.
    Great review.

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  9. I'm glad you liked the ending and it was a perfect fit for the story:) I have heard more bad than good things about this one so I'm happy you enjoyed it as a whole!

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  10. For and against, but still that good..hm

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  11. I absolutely love the cover of this book. I really want to read this book. I am curious about how I would relate to the characters written the way they are. I also am super intrigued by the end of the world/only one week left aspect. It could be interesting!

    Thanks for the review,

    ~Sara @ Just Another Story

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  12. I'm an ending girl, so if the ending is so good, I don't mind the slowness in the middle. I also don't hate insta love unless it is so obvious it is painful. Doesn't sound that way here. Hm... I might have to try this one!

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  13. I heard mixed things about this one. I have it on my Kindle and I love the cover, but hesitant to start it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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  14. Good thing the ending redeemed some of its not so attractive qualities. Insta love? I think I'll still pass.

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  15. I have this and started and stopped some many times, I wasn't sure if it was just my mood or the story, so I tabled it rather than do a complete DNF. Honestly I am still not sure...I am glad you liked parts of it.

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  16. I tend to have problems with books when the povs are confusing. But I'm glad you still found enjoyment in the book :)

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  17. You make some nice points for and against the book. Thanks for reviewing =)

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  18. Hmmm, I've read mixed reviews of this one. I'm not sure how I would like a book where no one was trying to stop the end of the world. It would definitely be very different.

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  19. This does sound like one that would benefit from being narrated in first person. I've been pretty curious about this one, so thanks for the review!

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  20. I have heard mixed things about this one. Too bad the writing wasn't so good but I like the sound of the characters, especially Sienna :)

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  21. I haven't heard too many great things with this book but I am happy you enjoyed some of it. I still want to read it.

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  22. Like Jennifer, I haven't heard many great things about Tumble and Fall, but I'm glad you liked it! The concept seems really interesting - a great question to think about. I'd probably spend my last five days with my friends and family. And books. Of course.

    Chri @ Fathomless

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  23. It's nice that despite some little things it was still good and interesting, I hope the others will be better!

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  24. Great review. <3 thank you for being honest :) I, however, did not like this book. Sigh. It just did not work for me. But oh, the cover is so so pretty :)

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  25. I think it's so intense to just have 5 days left. I've heard mixed reviews from this book but I keep thinking I may like it!

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  26. I think first person would have been very helpful to hammer home the immediacy and urgency of the story-instead I felt oddly distanced from everything that was happening and that they were fearing.

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