How I Live Now
by Meg Rosoff
I'm ashamed to admit that I was first drawn to this book after I saw the trailer for the movie...which I can't wait to see. I was surprised how small of a book it turned out to be. But let me tell you, at only 194 pages this bitty book still packs a punch. This is a story about Daisy who moves from NY to the English countryside just in time for war to break out. She is left with her cousins to make the most of their time together before they are left with the task of pure survival and trying to remain together.
This was a survival story and a love story and a story that will leave you breathless at moments. I'll admit that there were times I questioned the plot scenarios that the characters just happened to find themselves in. For example, the romance had me taken aback and the lack of parental figures and their magical way of life because it seemed a little too good to be true but all these things were brought up by Daisy just moments after I had the thought myself. Daisy had ownage for the absurdity of it all and it allowed me to suspend my disbelief for a bit longer.
I may be biased towards this book due to the fact that it may have one of my favorite quotes ever because it sums me up:
"I don't get nearly enough credit in life for the things I manage not to say."
pg. 77
Oh Daisy, I know exactly how you feel.
There are also moments that I love because they touch on very real life situations.
"I was glad I was too thin to get my period because that would have put me over the edge."
pg. 123
I appreciate this moment because not only does it deal with the real life issue of a period (something I have despised boys for lacking when I read books like The Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain when I want to imagine myself lost in the wilderness) but it also subtly deals with side effects of an eating disorder. Daisy's eating habits are brought up throughout the book and I appreciate the way it is handled. Overall this is an intense and heartbreaking story that will have me reading more by Meg Rosoff soon.
The movie seems to take some artistic liberties (I found myself anticipating moments I saw in the trailer that never happened) but I will still be checking it out.
**Source: I bought this book with my own sweet loot.
