Mini Reviews: Saving Francesca & Jellicoe Road

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Source: Bought

   When I first started blogging one of the authors I became immediately aware of was Melina Marchetta. I'd never read any of her books before but everybody gushed about her writing. As a huge contemporary fan I decided to start with Saving Francesca. This turned out to be a smart decision.

   

   Francesca Spinelli's life just got complicated. She's having a hard time adjusting to her new school which just started allowing girls in. Nothing like a school full of guys to keep things interesting. On top of that, Francesca misses her old friends, her mom is acting weird and her dad isn't any help. What's a girl to do?

  Saving Francesca is a super quick read. I got sucked in right away and finished it in a day which is rare for me. Although she comes off rather aloof, I immediately identified with Francesca. She's smart, funny but lonely and unsure of how to let other people in. Thankfully its through some unexpected friendships that she begins to open up to others, most importantly her family. 

  

   Saving Francesca made me laugh, cry and well...feel all the feelings. It's definitely a book I'll read again and again. Sometimes you come across a book that feels like it was written just for you and for me, that book is Saving Francesca. I'll happily read anything Melina Marchetta writes from now on.

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Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Source: Borrowed from the Library

   Oh Jellicoe Road I really did want to love you. I kept hearing all these beautiful things about you and loved your author's previous book, but alas it wasn't meant to be.

   Jellicoe Road is a book that blends different genres; its a mystery, adventure, and a coming of age story. The novel starts by following Taylor, a girl who attends the local boarding school near Jellicoe Road as she leads her fellow students in a territory war against the townies that live in Jellicoe and the Cadets that come up from Sydney to train for six weeks. Taylor's life and the territory war is only half of what's going on though. Running parallel to that is the one Hannah (Taylor's guardian) is writing about five kids that met and became friends back in the 80's.

  I found this book extremely frustrating to read. The first half is completely confusing. I can honestly say I was never quite sure what the heck was going on. Why is there a territory war? Why aren't the adults doing anything about it? What's Hannah's deal? Ugh! The pacing is on the slower side and Taylor has a lot working against her as far as her likeability. Jumping between stories doesn't usually bother me but I found it jarring in this book.  

  Even with all its issues I keep reading Jellicoe Road since so many bloggers told me to stick with it. I'm pleased that I did since the last 100 pages were completely incredible. I think Jellicoe Road is one of only a handful of books that truly clicks at the end, like all the pieces of a puzzle falling perfectly in place. No plot holes, no useless characters, no extra crap...but the problem is getting there. The payout for this book is HUGE and I loved how it wraps everything up but I still have a problem with the entire first half. This prevented me from giving it a high score.
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