On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
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What do you want from me?” he asks. What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him. More. Taylor Markham is not a popular choice. She is erratic, has no people skills and never turns up to meetings. Not to mention the incident when she ran off in search of her mother and only got halfway there. But she’s lived at Jellicoe School most of her life and as leader of the boarders that’s her greatest asset. Especially now the cadets, led by the infamous Jonah Griggs, have arrived. The territory wars between the boarders, townies and cadets are about to recommence. But Taylor has other things on her mind: a prayer tree, the hermit who whispered in her ear, and a vaguely familiar drawing in the local police station. Taylor wants to understand the mystery of her own past. But Hannah, the woman who found her, has suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but an unfinished manuscript about five kids whose lives entwined twenty years ago on the Jellicoe Road.
Here’s the deal. A few months ago I tried to read this book but just could not get into it. I had other books to read so I put zero effort into trying to read more. I took it back to the library and that was that. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I read and Totally Loved! Finnikin of the Rock. It was impossible not to like it. So I get online to look for more books by the same author and see that the authors name is Melina Marchetta…. the very same person who wrote On the Jellicoe Road.
I admit that sometimes I get things wrong (please, please no more protests! I know it is so very hard to believe). I decided to look more into the book (without actually getting any details or spoilers) and saw that reviews were very good. The only people that didn’t seem to like it were those (like me) who couldn’t finish it. As a side note, it’s not that the book starts out bad. For me, it was just that I didn’t know where it was going and I couldn’t get into it. Back to the book: I looked at the reviews and I knew that I loved her other book. Surely, it could not be that bad. I checked the book out again and still had a hard time (but I remembered nothing from my first reading). I went to one of my fave online book groups where I was assured that the book gets better at around page 139 or so. A was at page 150 and I still didn’t think it was that great. 2 stars at best, but still I kept reading. After noticing on page 196 that I was sitting in the bathroom reading so that I wouldn’t be bothered, I knew that this book had sucked me in. The book totals 419 pages. Was is worth it to read a book that took me nearly 200 pages to get into? Without a doubt, yes. I would read it all over again if I could.
I don’t know how it’s possible to be so confused about liking a book the first 200 pages and still ending up giving it 4 stars in the end. But it happened, and I’m proof! Those first 200 pages were so interesting though. Now that I think about it, I felt the same way about The Book Thief, but in the end I loved that one, too. At first, I did not like Taylor. Really. She came off as self-absorbed and selfish. She didn’t seem to care about anyone but herself. But then I saw how the others reacted to her and stood by her and I couldn’t do anything but like Taylor. I liked her friends. I liked reading about The Five Friends.
It saddened me to see the state of some of the kids and the adults in the books. I wanted to, I don’t know, do something. Make a difference, hug someone, hug my kids, just do something. So do I recommend this one? Yes! Yes, I do! It is sooooo good and so sad. But it so real, too.
I would recommend this one to anyone who loves reading. If you get the chance, read it. Even if you don’t know where it’s going, you should finish it. Yes, it was just that good. I can’t even think of anything else to say.
Final Verdict: 4.9 out of 5
The first few chapters are really hard to get into, especially since this was the first book set in Australia that I ever read. It’s totally worth it to stick with the story though. Such a wonderful book.
You should read Saving Francesca as well! It’s different but I really liked it too. I hope Finnikin becomes available here soon.
Chachic recently posted..Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Chachic I am going to find a way to get you Finnikin. It is such an awesome book, I love it!
I have this on my TBR pile, too, after all the good reviews I’ve heard about it. I’ll take note of the slow start, though — it’s a good thing I don’t easily give up on books.
Tina recently posted..In My Mailbox 8- Zombies and shoes
It’s not that bad in the beginning. I’m just usually a a little impatient with books. The ending for this one is so worth it. So, so worth it. You have to move it up on your pile!
Your blog was mentioned on “Sunday Kickoffs” at http://readerrecommended.blogspot.com/. I really enjoyed your reviews and am a new follower . . .
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Cool! Thanks Annette for following us. That makes 10
Pretty soon we’ll be up there though. Hahaha. We follow you back!
YAY! I finally got this book! I’ll be reading it verrry soon. Then I will add my thoughts, Peep.
I’m still not sure I could keep going with a book for 200 pages even if the second half was fabulous. Maybe I should find out for myself and grab a copy?
The Slowest Bookworm recently posted..In My Mailbox 10 – On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Yes! It is really worth it. It is just so good, it’s hard to put into words. You could try getting it from the library, that way you won’t be out any money. But I do recommend you read it. The first two hundred aren’t too bad. I just usually require instant action.