Friday, January 21, 2011

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta


Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastians, a boys' school that's pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas who specializes in musical burping to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.

Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, along, and without an inkling who she really is. Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.


For the longest time, people kept telling me to read books by Melina Marchetta and for some reason I kept putting it off. When I dove into Saving Francesca, I wanted to read fifty pages and then go to bed. That wasn’t the actual case. I stayed up until the early hours of the morning to finishing reading this book.
Melina Marchetta has a refreshing but deep writing style that is incredibly addicting.
Marchetta took a simple topic that is pretty common and made it into something touching and beautiful and not at all simple or common. If I recall correctly (I read this book a few months ago) but when I was done or in the middle of reading Saving Francesca, I turned into my pillow and cried.
I cried because it was sad, because it was hopeful, because it was touching, because it was real. Melina Marchetta is a gifted writer that I am proud to have read.

FTC- Bought.

1 comment:

Zoe said...

this looks great!