Bookish Chat – I’ll Give You the Sun

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Narrator: Jesse Bernstein, Julia Whelan
Published by Dial Books on 2014
Length: 12 hours 57 minutes
Genres: Death & Dying, Family, Love & Romance, Siblings, Social Issues, Young Adult
Pages: 371
Format: Audiobook
Source: Free audiobook download from Sync summer audio pairings
Goodreads

The New York Times Bestselling story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, Jenny Offill, Emma Straub, and Rainbow Rowell

Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

This radiant novel from the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.

It’s time for another Bookish Chat with Julie and Lynn. Where we chat about a book. Because it’s more interesting (and easier) than a review! Also, it is way more fun! So let’s jump right into our Bookish Chat on I’ll Give You The Sun.

 

    I was re-reading the description. And I really do not like when the book descriptions compare books to other authors. This was in no way Rainbow Rowell-ish.

    I don’t know that I’ve read enough Rainbow Rowell to know, but I agree. Stop with all the comparing. Let these books stand on their own.

    Not John Green, either. If that helps you.

    I think the comparisons just raise my expectations too high

    Yea and they can really affect our enjoyment of the book. Glad I didn’t read the blurb recently. I went by cover and the fact that I’ve heard of it before as justification for reading it.

    Also the free part.

    Yes. For me as well. Having heard of it. And the free part for sure. It’s on a lot of “read this” lists.

    I know that we both didn’t like this at first. Or well, were at least bored. What do you think was the turning point for you?

    It was weird at first. Purple puke and all. I had a hard time connecting with the crazy siblings with all the jumping in time. I think when Jude started working with the sculptor and we got some British hot guy humor, that was my turning point. That’s when some of the secrets started coming out.

    It was weird at first. For me, it was definitely when the two different narrations between Jude and Noah were starting to meet up. And yes, finally make sense. I thought it was great how the author weaved those seemingly disparate store lines together.

    But yes, also, hot British guy, Even his story line with Noah made Noah slightly more interesting.

    Yes I was hoping there would be more of him when we got the quick visit.

    Noah’s section introduced him well as a likable and interesting someone. But we didn’t know who he would become for us.

    I also really liked how Sculptor and Jude were both crazy and passionate and that helped make Jude more interesting for me.

    true about the sculptor and Jude. He really put her whole need to get the art out into perspective for me.

    I did find it especially hilarious that Jude was all worried about every disease. And that the sculptor really did help her relax.

    And cat Freda Kahlo. That’s a great name for a cat!

    Yea she needed her own crazy quirks. Her brother had near hallucinations of exaggeration, so she needed diseases. Messed up pair there heh.

    Haha yea that is a great cat name, and I like how she came to accept the disease-ridden thing haha

    Yes. Jude and Noah are definitely a pair!

    And she did warm up to the cat. And the dust. I’m glad.

    What did you think of Brian?

    I feel like his character wasn’t developed enough for me. We see him through Noah’s eyes, and a little bit of inner growth when Jude looks up his details later, but I feel like I got to know the other important characters more.

    Yes. Especially given that he was so important to Noah.

    But maybe because Noah didn’t know him well, we don’t? He was only there for the summer.

    I did like the bag o’ rocks that he carried around! That was pretty funny.

    Haha yea I almost forgot about his meteorites. He’s quirky too. I like how everyone had quirks of some sort.

    yes, for sure. and how he and Noah met – with the hanging out on the roof.

    Loads of quirks in these characters!

    Speaking of. The whole Noah and the portraits what a bit disconcerting at first. Like what the heck were all of those about? How Noah sees everything?

    Yea that’s how I took it. He imagines himself in those self portraits. And it kind of shows how his mind is just full of crazy purple puke!

    Maybe I just don’t get that, as I’m not an artist. But that might also explain the mural at the end. Getting all the art out of himself.

    I loved that mural at the end! that he didn’t completely give up on that part of himself.

    me, too! I was glad to see that the part of him that was really him was still there, all along!

    This is definitely a good book to come with illustrations though. I would love to see some of those self portraits and drawings of others. Like the British guy Jude gave up the sun for.

    time for a fan fic search!

    I guess fan ART not fic

    It was almost like both siblings put on disguises to hide their true selves. they didn’t want to be “that girl” or the artist who didn’t get into his dream school, even though the spirits warned him of such haha

    Omg speaking of… that crazy faith stuff that Jude was following from her Grandma’s teachings. That was the quirkiest quirk of all.

    that was the quirkiest quirk. And way past folk lore.

    I wonder though, if like you said about masking their true selves, this was how Jude coped with the grief. By only doing the things in the book. Like that would STOP the grief

    though I’m glad her seeing/talking to ghosts still leader to meet Sculptor and find out “where the hell is Ralph?”

    Maybe. She really did believe it, and thought it would save her from falling for Oscar.

    true. The ghosts at least pushed her

    And I still don’t get the Ralph thing. Yes, that was Oscar’s last name. But was that the “Ralph” the bird was talking about?

    that’s what Noah took it as

    as soon as he introduced himself as Oscar Ralph, Noah said well now we have our answer.

    And I took that too, as one of Grandma’s signs hehe

    oh – I didn’t think about it being Grandma’s sign. That kind of makes sense. And I guess I was trying to connect the dots in a straight line. And this book is definitely NOT a straight line kind of book.

    not even a little. It takes the windiest of paths to get to the point that by the time you get there you almost forgot what we were talking about.

    lol. Very true.

    I liked the Dad. He just was so no-nonsense. Upon learning the truth he’s like, ok, that makes sense. Even if the truth wasn’t what he was hoping for, it settled him better than a lie.

    He fit the bill for the mostly absent parent in YA, for sure.

    And his quirk of walking.

    Plus, I dig that he was interested in moving onto a house boat. That is super cool

    Yea that really was. I can’t imagine living on a boat!

    for sure. sounds like motion sickness waiting to happen. Constantly.

    But I was glad they were moving. Moving on. Moving to a new place. All moving forward.

    Yes they finally got their closure after all the truths came out. And they could try new adventures.

    yes. And what about Oscar and Jude. He wanted to wait til she’s older. But then she doesn’t. Their relationship looks like it might work out.

    I liked that he was thinking about being willing to wait. That was awesome. And I like how she took charge of that conversation.

    And earlier, stole his jacket.

    ending the boy boycott. Which I thought was a hilarious turn of phrase. The whole book.

    yes, that boy boycott was silly. wasn’t going to make up for what she did earlier, but was just punishing herself. I’m glad she allowed herself to be happy.

    Weird that both Jude and Noah did horrible things to their mother. And then she had that accident. I’m sure the guilt would be horrible. For both / either of them.

    Yea they did both feel awful guilt. for years! and so much anger. and their poor dad didn’t even know what was going on or how to help them through it.

    for sure. They didn’t even help each other. Which for twins, is probably unusual.

    Oh – what about this quote

“I gave up practically the whole world for you,” I tell him, walking through the front door of my own love story. “The sun, stars, ocean, trees, everything, I gave it all up for you.”

    The title! She gives up the sun. For a drawing of Oscar.

    That is pretty cool. And super romantic, if you ask me.

    YES! that’s why it was so awesome when they met and we the reader knew who he was and that she gave up so much for the drawing. And it was HIM!

    I know! I thought that tie together was so fantastic!

    and my fav scene with them was on the motorcycle

No hot guy should be allowed to have an English accent and drive a motorcycle. Not to mention wear the leather jacket or sport the cool shades. Hot guys should be forced into footie pajamas.

 

    haha! yes, some great quotables in this book. so pretty good writing. I’d read another of her books.

    I have not read any of her other books. Might need to now! I think by the end, I was really invested in the book. And the characters. It just took a circuitous route to get there. (pun intended.)

    yea! I read some other reviews when people gave up after 100 pages and said it was awful. And other reviews when people stuck it out and said they were glad they did. I think starting so strangely wasn’t doing that book any favors.

    agreed. I’m glad I powered through, as well. And that you were ahead of me to tell me to power through! I might have given up myself!

    No giving up on hot British dudes 🙂

    hahahahaha. That is very true!

    Verdict? The ending was so good I almost wanted to give it 4 stars, but the beginning was so weird that I ended up giving it 3 stars.

    I’m going with 3 1/2 stars. But I’d have to agree with you. Pretty close to a 4.

    Apparently they’re making a movie of this!?

    hah – I was reading that internet post. from 2014. Nothing more recent. It might make a good movie. All the art was very visual.

    If they don’t mess it up

 

Who else has read I’ll Give You The Sun? Any thoughts you want to add?

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