The Infinite Moment of Us
Lauren Myracle
316 pages
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: August 27th, 2013
Rate: Average
The Infinite Moment Of Us is a story about finding your soulmate, growing up and getting to know that person that's suppose to be your forever-partner. I think that what makes this a good story is that it feels real from the first instant.
The main characters, Wren and Charlie, have been to the same high school, yet they have never talked. Charlie has been in love with Wren since, well, forever, and Wren has not dated anyone, ever.
Wren is the perfect daughter. Her parents always tell her what to do, so she follows the rules. They even tell her what she likes or not likes. It's kind of annoying and Wren has had enough. She tries to bring all the courage to say no for the first time. No to the college her parents want her to go and no to everything she's supposed to like and not like. And yes to Charlie. Sweet and charming Charlie.
She represents the innocence of not knowing anything about a relationship, because she has never had one. And she also represents the courage to stand up for herself and saying no for the first time. I admire her for release herself from the chains her parents put her on: all responsibility, always being the perfect daughter, the future doctor, following the steps of her parents... Although sometimes doubted her decisions and believe he was being a bad daughter. At those moments I wanted to shake her and scream at her that it was her life and she was the one to make the decisions and in which way to go.
Charlie has had a difficult life. Being in the system was not easy and knowing that your mother is still out there is painful. He has the perfect foster parents now, but Charlie does not want to be a burden for them. Being eighteen meant to give everything back, returning the grand favor to his foster parents. It was his time to take care of his brother, too. Or so he feels that way.
I felt kind of sad when he wasn't able to see the great family he has. The foster parents he has now, they are beyond fantastic: attentive, the perfect representation of parents and caring. I didn't quite understand why Charlie did not see how bad they wanted him to be part of the family, like for real, with Charlie believing it.
It was so sweet how he thought of Wren and how he's in love with her, to the point of not considering himself good enough for Wren. Not saying for a girl like Wren, because he thinks that Wren is unique. Isn't that sweet?
However their story is not about how Wren struggles to get Wren. Their story is about meeting a person you like or that you want to be with and exploring the path of falling in love and the difficulties of making it last. Because when we all grow up, responsibility comes knowing on our door, and, sometimes, even though you have found the perfect person to spend your life with, we all have different paths to follow. For Wren is South-America, to help in a school. For Charlie is college.
Between Charlie's parents and Wren's parents? Definitely Charlie's. I wanted to slap Wren's father. Always making feel Wren bad for choosing for herself and reminding her what a bad daughter she was. And Wren's mom? Not better. She's so shocked that her daughter has something to say for the first time. She does not understand the sudden change and is more preoccupied by how she would face people at Wren's college than why her daughter is screaming inside.
Charlie's foster parents, on the other hand, are the definition of sweet. They take care of their kids and worry about them, although they are not their biological kids. They took care of Charlie and his brother, who's in a wheelchair. I cried for how good they were and how they took care of Dev. How they called them kids and wanted to be all a family and, above all, they respected the decisions of their kids and wanted what's best for them.
And which character made this book a memorable one? Dev, Charlie's brother. I truly cried when I read his story. He's in a wheelchair because when he was a baby his biological father punched him. Who does that? A heartless inhuman person. That broke my heart. But reading about some boys bullying him? To the point of setting fire to his legs? That's not funny. I hated them all and cried. A lot. I wanted to punch those guys myself.
However, that's not the only reason that makes Dev be the One for me, in this story. He's such an amazing person and great guy that you want to be a better person. He always tries to be the bright side of things and tries to do something for his brother. He has had a second chance in life and has found a great family who loves him and takes care of him. And she's happy with it.
Despite all of this, I was expecting more. I was eager to read this book. Definitely one of my more expected books. But felt a little bit disappointed in the end. I don't know. I was expecting a story that would really impress me, but it didn't. When it ended it was another story to remember, and I wanted more for The Infinite Moment Of Us. And I was also expecting a different ending. I had to make sure I was reading right, like five times. You cannot end a emotional book like that! (*My heart is still suffering, so maybe that's my emotions talking*). There was no happiness for me. I felt like I didn't know a thing about the main characters ending! Still asking myself: "But... yes or no? Please, somebody tell us the truth!"
That's why I'm giving this book a three and a half gorjuss dolls. With such a great plot, characters and a memorable and real story, I was expecting an impact, earth-shattering level, and didn't feel it. However, the story is a great one and I encourage all of you to read Ms. Myracle's novel, because reality comes knocking on our door, too, and Wren and Charlie's love story is not as different as our own story.
Lauren Myracle is the author of numerous young adult novels. She was born in 1969 in North Carolina. Lauren Myracle holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. she has written many novels, including the famous IM books, ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.
Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One) .
No comments:
Post a Comment