ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES. When I came up with this event, the first book that came to my mind was this one. I knew that I have to feature it and try to interview Ms. Jennifer Niven. Luckily, I was able to. THANK YOU SO MUCH, Ms. Jennifer for everything that you've done for me! I'm sure you know what I mean! I tell you, guys, she's a very awesome author who really takes time to email back bloggers and her readers.
If you're a friend of mine on Facebook or you're following me on Twitter/Blog, I'm quite sure you've read my posts (even heard me wailing) about this book! It was late November 2014 or early December 2014 when I came across ATBP. I saw some bloggers tweeting about it and I was like, "What's this book about? Is it already released? Blah blah blah". Instead of asking them, I consulted Goodreads. I read its synopsis and scrolled down to check some reviews. I ended up being stunned. Wait. Hold up. Wow. This is a YA debut novel of Jennifer Niven and almost all of the ratings from the first page is alternating between a 4 and 5 stars. It only means that it's a great and beautiful book! Starting from that point ATBP ranked really high on my anticipated 2015 releases and I did everything that I can to secure an ARC of it. And yes, I was able to.
This is what I typed in when I finished reading an ARC of ATBP last December 31st:
"I guess I'll be celebrating my New Year's Eve with puffy eyes. *sighs* *sobs* Do me (do yourselves a favor) and add this book on your 2015 TBR list.
Forever. Changed. Theodore. Finch."
I still haven't posted my full review because I want to let everything that happened in this book and all of my feels sink in. Plus, I want to read it again. But I tell you, guys, you really need to check this book out. Jennifer Niven was able to breathe life into these characters and at the same time slowly and carefully tread into issues that needs to be addressed in YA books too. Not many authors brave themselves out and try to deal with issues like with what ATBP have. If you're thinking that this book is going to be a very dark one because I mentioned "dealing issues", uh nope. I think it's balanced and it was certainly beautifully written.
Will you need to prepare tissues by your bedside table? Oh yes, please do that.
Okay, read along now. Check the synopsis for All the Bright Places and my interview with Ms. Jennifer! She chats with me a little bit about herself, All the Bright Places, ATBP movie adaptation and playlists! I'm sure you'll enjoy it! <3
Title: ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES
Publication Date: January 6, 2015
Publisher: Knopf
SYNOPSIS
The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this compelling, exhilarating, and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death.
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.
Pre-order links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
Q: Before I proceed in asking you questions about your upcoming book, All the Bright Places, I shall ask you
first a little bit something about yourself. What’s your favorite food?
Favorite color? Pet peeve/s?
A: Favorite food: popcorn. Favorite color: violet, lavender, and other
shades of purple. Pet peeves: lying, prejudice, and cruelty of any
sort. I also don’t like
passive-aggressiveness. And I hate it when people don’t use turn signals or
when they try to enter an elevator before the people inside exit!
Q: Who’s your favorite
author/s and what is your favorite book/s? How did this particular author/s and
book/s influence you as a person and as a writer?
A: I love Flannery O’Connor, Shirley Jackson, Ray
Bradbury, and Harper Lee. One of my favorite books is In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. I also get a lot of inspiration from
filmmakers. Charlie Chaplin in particular. All of these artists taught me the
importance of being succinct but expressive, and of saying a great deal in the
most straightforward way.
Q: Have you always dreamed of
becoming a writer? Who or what inspired you to become one?
A: Yes, I always dreamed of being a
writer. I was lucky enough to grow up with a writer mom, who taught me that I
could be or do anything I wanted to be or do. I’m an only child, and when I was
a little girl, we used to have “writing time.” From her, I learned to find the
story in everything, and I learned never to limit myself or my imagination. I
also saw firsthand how difficult and stressful and unpredictable the business
was. And I saw the commitment it
took. Even during the toughest, saddest
times of her life, she wrote. In so many
ways, she was my hero. I think many people go into the business of writing with
unrealistic expectations—not realizing that it is, in fact, a business, and
that you have to be ready and willing to do it in spite of everything else.
Q: When you aren’t writing,
where would we most likely find you? What are your hobbies aside from writing?
A: I’m almost always writing, but when
I’m not you can find me reading, playing with friends, hanging out with my
fiancé and our three cats, hiking, exploring Los Angeles (my favorite city), traveling
the globe, binge-watching TV shows, fangirling over Supernatural, or belly dancing!
