My attempt at the 2009 100+ Reading Challenge starts here.
Fate has brought you to this sketchbook - a slice of life behind the eyes of a seventeen-year-old Filipina residing in sunny England.
Title: Forever
Author: Judy Blume
Rating: 3.5/5
Book 6 of 100: (The 100+ Reading Challenge)
Katherine and Michael meet at a party. The attraction between them is instantaneous. Attraction grows to love, and to an intense and exclusive relationship. And when they decide that their love is forever they have sex. But the future is not as simple as they want it to be. For Katherine’s parents insist that she and Michael spend the summer apart…
When I picked this book up, I didn’t give a thought on what I might get myself into. Seriously - this novel is just too, uhm, graphic for my taste. I wouldn’t really consider this a young adult novel - but I did get this from the teenage shelf anyway.
The way it is written makes it a light and enjoyable read - it’s very conversational. I guess the author is very detailed at describing things - a little too detailed that I had to cringe at some pages. But it’s a good story, nonetheless.
A story of first love - and first heartbreak - it gives the reader a sense of how love is among teenagers. The older generation may think of it as good ol’ puppy love, but to the younger ones, it is forever. I did not cringe just because of the graphic details on how Katherine and Michael make love - I cringed because I’m not really into this forever stuff. Sure, I am a romantic and all that - but I prefer to take things slow. Just because you held hands the other day, it doesn’t mean you need to have sex tomorrow. You get the idea? But that’s my opinion only - I’m sure others may disagree with me.
At the end of the book is a brief reading guide in case the reader is up for discussion. I read somewhere along there that this book caused quite a fuss when it was first published - it was banned from children’s libraries due to its sexual content. And I couldn’t agree more. I mean, I like the story but maybe it just isn’t one that a typical teenager would prefer to read. Having said that, I still think it is very educational as it encourages teenagers to use protection not just to prevent unwanted birth but also to reduce the chances of contracting diseases.
I liked the ending, though. It gave the sense of a new beginning after a heartbreak. Which is true. Forever may be a long time - but it may not be infinite. New beginnings, on the other hand, are most likely always available but people tend to coward away from it.
