The List by Siobhan Vivian
An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.
It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.
This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.
Genre: YA Contemp
Source: library
Series? No
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Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~blog
I have wanted to read this one for some time because I was interested the the premise of this list that targeted the most beautiful and ugliest girl in each class. I wanted to see how the dynamics played out, how much bullying would come into play and wanted to know who is behind the list and why.
There is a shifting point of view and it is with all eight of the girls, so it took me a bit to remember the individual story line, what they were voted, and what role they play in relation to the others. They all had different story lines and motives, and it was a great look into how women view themselves and how easily they could be persuaded by others/popular opinion.
I wish that it would have had less characters and been able to go deeper, and for me to actually remember who was voted prettiest and ugliest, and what they were feeling about it.
But there was something compulsive about it. I didn't want to stop reading even through my character confusion. I wanted to know who was behind it. I wanted to know how this would bring together or separate the girls, and how they respond to being on their place on the list.
I felt like once the story got going and I was starting to get into the characters' stories and tell them from each other, it was over. And to me, at least, it didn't feel like a very complete ending.
My question to you, my lovely readers:
Did your high school have a strict heirarchy?
I have seen this one around and while the whole idea of this book sounds really good, I don't think I'd enjoy that much POVs either. Great review, Brandi :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, eight characters with their own storyline and stuff is freaking confusing. I get confused when there's more than three, unless they have unique voices or something you know you can tell them apart with, sounds like it didn't have that here though. Still, if you still wanted to continue and finish it even with that, doesn't sound too bad. :) Mine didn't actually- this is probably why when I read YA I find some situations and dramas in high school unrealistic because mine was nothing like it, at all. Okay, you had the more "popular" group, but nobody was mean to one another, everyone talked, no one got shunned.
ReplyDeleteKirsty @ StudioReads
I think it might be hard to keep up with who is who but bullying stories always suck me in and get me all emotionally involved. I don't know though, I didn't realize there were so many characters so I'll just hold off on this one for now.
ReplyDeleteThat is too bad that it has so many characters that makes it hard to connect with them. I was curious about this one
ReplyDeleteWhat a mean list :/
ReplyDeleteGah! I can't stand multiple POV's unless it's like 1000 pages or more that way the plot itself doesn't suffer from too many opinions, views, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you enjoyed it, Brandi. I've wanted to read this one too but I'm leery of the multiple POVs. It does seem as though it prevented a strong connection to the characters.
ReplyDeleteYou've been tweaking the blog...it looks good. I like the premise and I am glad you liked aspects of it even if it didn't wow you.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound interesting if not horrible in it's premise. That many POVs does no sounds fun though.
ReplyDeleteI can see why this might've been hard to keep up with. I'm betting I would enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteYou probably would
ReplyDeleteIt confused me and I think that it could have been either longer or told by just a few of them
ReplyDeleteThanks girl.
ReplyDeleteI still connected to a few
ReplyDeleteI can do two easily but eight
ReplyDeleteI had to look at the summary more than once to keep straight
ReplyDeleteI know! I would hate to have it or be on it
ReplyDeleteI had been for a long time as well with the premise. Its still worth a read.
ReplyDeleteBullying is such a hard aspect of real life.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about my high school not being quite as bad, but there was bullying there
ReplyDeleteIts hard
ReplyDeleteHmm I'm on the fence about reading this one. It sounds like there is a lot to keep up with! Glad you enjoyed it enough for 3 stars!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not much for books about bullying myself. Probably b/c my high school DID have a fairly strict hierarchy. I'm sorry this one wasn't all you were hoping for.
ReplyDeleteYikes! I didn't realize there were so many pov's. Eight does seem like a lot.
ReplyDeleteHm, I wish it had less characters because otherwise I know I won't like it much. 8 POV's is a bit too much! In my high school, we don't really. We have two groups - the popular who seem a bit fake and do weird and crazy stuff, but then gossip about each other. Another group which is mostly guys playing football and the like xD And then mine, a group of guys and girls who just have fun I guess ^^
ReplyDeleteI think it's about time I followed this blog by email because I read all the posts that catch my eye already xD It would be easier for me to get them in my inbox instead of shifting through my bloglovin xD