Saturday, April 13, 2013

Review: Stay by Deb Caletti


StayStay
by Deb Caletti
Hardcover, 313 pages
Released: April 5th 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Purchase: Amazon
*Purchased a copy on Amazon.

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Clara's relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it's almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is and what he's willing to do to make her stay.
Now Clara has left the city and Christian behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won't let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....


I was looking for a story that was intense, thought provoking, and in general have me at the edge of my seat. Stay did not deliver the intensity I wanted, but it had an interesting story that was realistic in every sense.

Here we have a young girl running away from a frightening situation and trying to sort out her life; where to go next and what steps to take to get there. Her relationship with her father becomes challenged with buried secrets and old, as well as new, friends shake things up a bit. 

I really liked the realness of Stay and the subject matter upon which the story was written. Many young girls and women face the horrors of a relationship gone wrong but never seem to be able to find the courage to take a stand before it's too late. Clara blamed herself for the increased possession and psycho-mental behavior. Like many, she believed it was her fault why Christian got the way he did. That she let it happened. And the best aspect of the story was her coming to the realization that it was in fact not her doing. 

Clara's character was acceptable, but I didn't develop any sort of connection. I was simply going along with her story because I wanted to see the outcome. I waited patiently to see if or when Clara as well as her father would stop running from Christian as well as from other things in their lives. Because, like I've mentioned before, the story wasn't all about Clara's unhealthy relationship with Christian, there were other pressing issues at hand. 

There was something else I liked about Stay, and that was the blooming romance and sense of belonging that Clara and her father started to experience in her new life. The attraction wasn't pulling me in at first, but I understood that based on her past troubles Clara wanted to go slow. And Finn was the right kind of guy that wanted to take it easy and make her feel as comfortable, and safe, as possible. The same was for her father. He held on to the guilt of what happened with Clara's mother. So, it was refreshing for him to rekindle the magic of friendship and return to the world of intimacy and dating.

Unfortunately, there were bothersome factors.

What bugged me about the book was the pace and the author's constant method of going into details that seemed to go on for too long. Sadly, I strayed on several occasions, reading while nothing was coming through or sticking with me. At times I felt a scene was too draggy when it should have moved along to the next. Also, while I did like the addition of footnotes personalizing the story even more, there were times I felt they were a little unnecessary for certain descriptions. But other than those few things, Stay was a good read and once again, I liked the realistic subject matter because I haven't read much on such topic and this book has invited me to do so more often. 




About the Author
Deb CalettiDeb Caletti is an American writer born in San Rafael, California. She was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the recipient of other numerous awards including PEN USA finalist award, the Washington State Book Award, and SLJ Best Book award.

Deb went to Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Washington, U.S.A., and graduated in 1981. She earned a BA in Journalism/Communications from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1985. She currently resides in Issaquah, Washington.

A series of television films based on Caletti's novels is currently in production.






6 comments:

  1. Great review, this is one I have on my to-read list. I have read a few of the author's other books and while I never love them, they have all been enjoyable.

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  2. I've been meaning to read this for ages. I'm so glad you liked Stay, despite the lack of connection to the characters. Great review!

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  3. When I saw the names Clara and Christian I had a mini happy dance going on in my head. I mean... UNEARTHLY TEAM CHRISTIAN hehe:) But anyway, great review, I've heard many mixed thoughts on this so I may leave it for a later time but I like the sound of this book <3

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  4. Great review Shane. I haven't heard of this book before. I am glad you enjoyed it overall.

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  5. This sounds quite enjoyable - thanks for sharing what you liked and disliked when you read the book - it's good to know that there's a blooming romance.

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  6. I would like to pick this one up, it sounds like it would be a great book. Wonderful review.

    Jenea @ Books Live Forever

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