Reading Response #2: Lovely, Dark, and Deep

     Somehow, I'm still trying to finish Lovely, Dark, and Deep by Amy McNamara. Not because I don't like this book, because I do. I'm actually really enjoying reading it.

     So far in the book, we have met Wren, the main character and narrator. She has a lot of personal issues. She was involved in an accident which caused everything in her life to be changed. She lives with her dad and has met a new boy named Cal. Previously, she tried to shut Cal out of her life but she has started to let him in. Wren is trying to create a new "normal" despite several flashbacks and emotional outbursts. 

This little girl reminds me of Wren, how she's shutting Cal out.

      Something that really confuses me about this book is Wren's relationship with Cal. At first, she thinks Cal is trying to take her in as a "project". She fears that her father asked him to spend time with her and fix her, so she would stop moping around. I think Cal also reminds Wren of Patrick, her former boyfriend. She doesn't want those thoughts in her head, so she pushes him away however she can. She says, "I'm not getting tangled up in anything again. With anyone. Not like this. Especially because my parents planned it" (Page 80). It was actually pretty childish how she shuts him out. 

     PLOT TWIST! Wren feels an emptiness in her life and realizes that the void is where Cal should be. She craves his presence, and decides to make him a constant part of her life. She's afraid he will think she has gone off the deep end, because of her emotional problems; however, she is delighted to find out that Cal is still interested in her. She goes over to his house one day, and their relationship is rekindled. Their encounter was pretty sappy:

"He leans his head closer, touches my cheek. My heart is going to stop. "I'd really like to kiss you," he says. Looks at me. I couldn't say no if I tried. I lean toward him. I have nothing left to lose," (Page 104).

     This passage is significant because it shows how Wren's feelings about Cal have changed. Their relationship is kind of annoying because Wren can't decide what she wants. Sometimes, she blocks him out because she doesn't want to have feelings for anyone. Other times, she's obsessed with him and can't stop talking about him. She needs to make up her mind. It reminds me of a little girl with a flower, like the one in the photo, saying "he loves me, he loves me not." Puke. 

     Don't get me wrong, this book really is pretty interesting. Wren, the main character is very intriguing, even though her life is full of drama. With the exception of the teenage sappiness, it's realistic and even somewhat relatable.