Book Review: Saving Francesca

Title: Saving Francesca
Author: Melina Marchetta
Publication Date: March 31, 2003
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian’s, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and 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, alone, and without an inkling of 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.

MY THOUGHTS
Francesca Spinelli transferred from her all-girls' school, St. Stella's to St. Sebastian's, because her parents thought it would be convenient for her and her brother to be in the same school now that St. Sebastian is starting to accept female students. Unfortunately for her, the female classmates she had back at St. Stella's weren't the same group who transferred with her to St. Sebastian's. And not only is Francesca trying to adjust to her new life in a new school, she's also trying to find her own person. Things at home aren't looking good with her mom's depression and her dad not knowing what to do.

Melina Marchetta once again delivered a story that gripped my heart. I don't know how she does it but I hope she continues to do it in her upcoming books. I read The Piper's Son first when I should've read Saving Francesca instead. TPS took place years (...? Or maybe just a year. I haven't been keeping track on the EXACT date.) after SF and even if you could still read TPS without the need to read SF because the book could still stand on its own with its story, it's still a nice thing to read SF because it will give you a

Saving Francesca revolves around Francesca finding herself because all her life she has this "picture" of who she is courtesy of her mother and her friends from St. Stella.

I want to be an adjective again.
But I'm a noun. 
A nothing. A nobody. A no one.

I don't know how many times Marchetta's books have hit home (meaning have my feelings in knots). This one really had me because of Francesca's relationship with her mom. I had to send my mom a text message after I finished the book and told her I love her (I'm away from home, that's why). Depression is such an ugly and scary thing. I couldn't even begin to describe it but I've lived through it and I never want to back to that place. Her mom's well-being really tested their family's strength to hold on and I couldn't hold back my tears every time Frankie talks to her mom but her mom isn't the same as before. And it hurts to read when she had to argue with her dad and that time when she ran away.

The depression belongs to all of us. I think the family down the road whose mother was having a baby and they went around the neighborhood saying, "We're pregnant." I want to go around the neighborhood saying, "We're depressed." If my mum can't get out of bed in the morning, all of us feel the same. Her silence has become ours, and it's eating us alive.

I had to give it to Marchetta on how she tackled depression in this book. She clearly put it here that it's not something you get over overnight. It's not something you are prepared for, like Frankie's mom was in high spirits the other day and the next, she didn't have the energy to even get out of bed. Frankie, herself, was even fighting the feeling that she felt like is crawling inside her to take over.

Now on to the lighter side of the story: the friendship between Frankie, Siobhan, Tara, and Justine. 

I am always weak for friendships, especially female friendships. These girls didn't start out as friends and they're all so different from each other that it marvels you how they got along and formed this beautiful bond that will likely last a lifetime.

I think I'm a bit in love with these girls. They make me feel giddy. Like I haven't a care in the world. Like I'm fearless.
Like I'm used to be.

And I just have to add these three guys: Will Trombal, Thomas Mackee, and Jimmy Hailler. Bless them and their existence because they also play a big part in this book and I have come to love all of them.

This was honestly so heartwarming and bittersweet with a side of romantic and funny. Another great read from Melina Marchetta that is bound to land in my reread shelf.


MY RATING

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Book Review: The Piper's Son

Title: The Piper's Son
Author: Melina Marchetta
Publication Date: March 01, 2010
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon

The award-winning author of Finnikin of the Rock and Jellicoe Road pens a raw, compelling novel about a family’s hard-won healing on the other side of trauma.

Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca - but five years have passed, and now it’s Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can’t forget. Shooting for oblivion, he’s hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper’s Son redefines what it means to go home again.

MY THOUGHTS
Marchetta delivered a very emotional story that tackled loss, grief, heartbreak, hope and love in The Piper's Son. We follow Tom's life after the death of his uncle and how it affected him and his family.

I read this before Saving Francesca and how I wish I could unread it so I can read SF first. I was kind of spoiled of some stuff here, no matter how little some are, and it was an unfortunate thing for me. Nevertheless, I still loved the story and there were a lot more going on with Tom and his family so my focus was on that.

Throughout the story I felt Tom's hurt and I actually understand him regarding his feelings over his "broken" family. It was heartbreaking to know how a tight-knit family like his crashed down when his uncle died and everyone is unsure of wanting something. I could even feel his aunt Georgie's grief and the things that she's been dealing with in her life.

What made me love The Piper's Son was Marchetta's take on family relationship, friendship and mental health. Though this can be said to her other books too. The way she writes these grip your heart and attention that it sucks you into the story. It also gives you a view of life because these events also happen in the real world where it's a present


MY RATING

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Series Review: Lumatere Chronicles

Series Title: Lumatere Chronicles
Author: Melina Marchetta
Books: 

• Finnikin Of the Rock
• Froi Of the Exiles
• Quintana Of Charyn

Publication Dates: 

• Book #1: September 29, 2008
• Book #2: October 3, 2011
• Book #3: September 26, 2012

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon (book 1)

Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.

Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.

But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself.

MY THOUGHTS
I flew through the Lumatere Chronicles and it was an adventurous reading experience. This will be a short review of the series and each book. I only put the first book's description since it's how this series all started.

Finnikin Of the Rock: Finnikin and Evanjalin's bickering was one of the highlights in this book and it gave me a sense of humor in the midst of the angst and pain the characters are in... or just the story in general. Note at the description that the royal family was murdered and kingdom isn't in good condition and they're on the search for the lost heir so you can definitely tell how much the characters are hurting every time they recall the good times and how everything fell apart. But when the secrets were out, I knew this book was gonna be a favorite of mine. I love how it surprised me and that I really didn't expect anything. I had this gut feeling, but it wasn't it. And Evanjalin is one of my instant favorite characters.

Froi Of the Exiles: Book two was just as shocking as the first one and there were more events that took place and more characters are introduced. Froi grew on me in this book and I'm glad Marchetta didn't brush the thing he did in the first book under the rug. As for the other characters, Quintana was one of the characters introduced and like Evanjalin, she became one of my favorites. My heart broke for this girl and the only thing I could think of while flipping the pages was that I want to protect her and cherish her and tell her that she deserves to be loved and treated with respect. Another character was Phaedra and I can't stress enough how I admire her. The way she stands for others, be it her people or not, is something I definitely salute her of.

Quintana Of Charyn: A great book to wrap the series. The last book was no different than the first two when it comes to excitement, surprises, angst and smiles. There were so many things going on and how the characters were clashing here and there, but those what made this very entertaining to read.

Overall: Lumatere Chronicles is one of the well-plotted stories I've read and it's definitely reread-worthy. Enough to make you smile, laugh and get your heart broken. I also want to say how much I love Marchetta for writing her female characters with defining strengths and personalities.

The ring's a promise of peace and I'm greedy with hope. It's a song that we sing in a tongue that we share. And though you say it's a gift from a king to a king, I say it's a sign from a queen to a queen.

MY RATING 

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