Have you ever read a book and thought, "Wow ... Now that was the epitome of teen voice. I mean, damn ... Why do I even bother when I have to compete with this level of awesome??"
It's a strange feeling, to be so in love with the voice of a book that you immerse yourself in it, live it eat it breathe it need it love it. I've had this feeling before, for instance, when I read LHA's Wintergirls. But there was something about Elizabeth Scott's Love You, Hate You, Miss You that grabbed hold of me and punched me in the gut.
The story was simple. Not a whole lot going on: girl's friend dies; girl goes to treatment center to get better; girl deals with the aftermath and finding her way in a world without the only thing in it that ever made sense to her. But what made this book for me was Amy's voice--how she spoke, how she acted, how she felt, her nonverbal cues ... It was all very real, authentic, raw, honest. Very teen, without all the "ya knows" and "likes."
If you haven't read it yet, you should. (Plus, it's so cheap on Amazon right now that it'd be crazy to pass it up!)
Now. I'm off to kidnap Elizabeth Scott, tire her up, and make her tell me her secrets.
(Elizabeth: If you've somehow stumbled upon this post, please know I mean you no harm. I'll feed you lots and make sure you watch all your favorite shows. Plus, I have tons of board games--Scrabble, Boggle, Clue, Monopoly ... If you're into that sort of thing. And of course I'll give you a pen and some paper, b/c the world would be a less lovely place if you stopped spreading your words with everyone. See? Told ya. Not bad for being kidnapped.)
8 comments:
I will purposely make my books suck, just for you.
LOL, I have Libba Bray downstairs in my basement typing on a p-touch label maker and used up legal pads.
Don't you love/hate how someone else's writing can make you feel so optimistic/suicidal? ;)
I love a book that makes me self-conscious about my own writing. Those are the people that inspire you to try harder and smack you in the face with their imagination. Love it.
Love this post and love the other comments. We can't even compete with them. But I will go pick up this book.
Ok, now I aspire to write a teen voice as awesome as Elizabeth Scott does... because I totally want to play board games with you!
i hear yah!
This is such a great post! I SO wish she would see it! now, I am definitely adding this book to my TBR list :-)
Elizabeth Scott is the bomb! cannot wait for The Unwritten Rule in 2 weeks!
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