When Everything Feels Like The Movies (Governor General's Literary Award Winner, Children's Literature) Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Winner, Governor General's Literary AwardFinalist, Lambda Literary Award and Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBT Fiction"Raziel Reid is a really extraordinary guy. He's got a great thing going."—Anne RiceSchool is just like a film set: there's The Crew, who make things happen, The Extras who fill the empty desks, and The Movie Stars, whom everyone wants tagged in their Facebook photos. But Jude doesn't fit in. He's not part of The Crew because he isn't about to do anything unless it's court-appointed; he's not an Extra because nothing about him is anonymous; and he's not a Movie Star because even though everyone know his name like an A-lister, he isn't invited to the cool parties. As the director calls action, Jude is the flamer that lights the set on fire.Before everything turns to ashes from the resulting inferno, Jude drags his best friend Angela off the casting couch and into enough melodrama to incite the paparazzi, all while trying to fend off the haters and win the heart of his favourite co-star Luke Morris. It's a total train wreck!But train wrecks always make the front page.Raziel Reid is a graduate of the New York Film Academy. He currently lives in Vancouver.
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press (April 14, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1551525747
ISBN-13: 978-1551525747
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.6 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #932,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #73 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Performing Arts > Film #332 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Social & Family Issues > Bullying #566 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Gay & Lesbian
Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Level: 6 and up
This was a really difficult book for me to rate, and I still havenât fully made up my mind on it, which is why itâs taken me a while to put my thoughts into words since reading it. Whilst there were some areas of the book that I didnât connect with, there were also aspects of it that I completely fell in love with. For once, Iâve found a book that has left me stumped for words.Firstly, what Iâm thankful for is the real events that this book is raising awareness of. The genuine story of Lawrence Fobes Kings is utterly heart-breaking, and Iâm glad that Raziel Reid was inspired to write this book because of it. Regardless of what I thought about the book as a whole, there is no denying that itâs an important story.When Everything Feels Like The Movies follows teenager Jude through his difficult times at school. He is open about his sexuality and his identity, he is proud of who he is, acting and dressing however he wants to. But not everyone is accepting of Jude, and the people around him can be devastatingly cruel. Instead of letting this ruin him, Jude views his life as a movie, and everything around him is part of it. The locations are the sets, the people are the extras and the crew. Itâs constant lights, camera, action.Whilst the idea of the story definitely interested me, the first few chapters failed to draw me in. Straight away, the overall tone of the novel didnât appeal me. I wasnât enjoying the dialogue, and I wasnât connecting with the characters. There were some funny moments, especially between Jude and his best friend, Angela, but they alone werenât enough to make me desperate to keep reading. I was also left feeling confused about the age of the characters, because as far as Iâm aware, it was never made clear in the story. The real life people that these characters were based on were around 14-15, however the characters in this book read much older. They felt more like seniors in high school.The language and actions in this book are quite vulgar, but that wonât shock the audience that itâs written for. These troupes are becoming familiar in the YA genre. At times though, it felt a little too much. It was written to come across as realistic, but it actually felt overdone to me.Whilst I wasnât overly keen on the first half of the book, the second half really stepped up the game. The more I got to read about Judeâs home life, the care he had for his brother, and the relationship between his mother and her boyfriend, Ray, the more the story drew me in. This was the side of the story that I utterly fell in love with. The second half had way more interesting storytelling and I felt like I was finally connecting with the characters. I also enjoyed the scenes between Jude and Angelaâs brother, Abel. Though it was far from a fluffy romance, the moments they shared were touching, well-written, and painfully realistic.Considering I hadnât enjoyed the first part of the book, I completely didnât expect to end up adoring the second half of it. Once I hit that half way point, I was compelled to keep reading. So this is where I get confused with my overall thoughts! The ending of this book was incredible and heart-breaking, and it was so much better than anything in the first half of the novel. I just wish that itâd been this strong a story from the very start, because I couldâve easily given up on the book. Obviously, after reading the later chapters, Iâm glad I didnât.So, Iâm still torn. Did I love it? Did I not?? Who knows. What I know for certain is that Iâm happy I kept with it and read to the end. This is definitely a book that might not be to everyoneâs taste, but there is some fantastic storytelling in the later parts, and as I keep saying, it really is an important story.
No question. The author is a very very gifted writer. But I was really happy when i finished his text. I didn't liked any character in this book, not any. I guess one is expected to feel some empathy with the main character and his hopeless situation, but I couldn't. I don't know what to do with a characters who dreams of Hollywood, who wants to become famous, for whom everything is superficial, but dramatic insofar he can make a post out of his misery. Everybody is using one other........boah! Fall in love with someone who loves you back! Much more better.
The strangest, weirdest, most shocking and disturbing, yet beautiful, funny, honest, surprising and heartbreaking novel I've read in a long time.
A heart wrenching tour de force! It hits you like a punch in the gut. The raw cruelty of a homophobic middle school reminds us to accept those who dare to be themselves against all odds.
When Everything Feels Like the Movies has left me completely speechless. And I don't mean that in a good way.I admit it is a well-written book and I can see why it would win prizes. But, to me, it's the characters that completely let the book down. They were all just so unrealistic and unlikeable. Nobody acts like that. Yet, I couldn't stop reading.Jude is an absolutely awful person. Self-obsessed and a complete stalker. I don't condone bullying in any way, but to be perfectly honest, it's no wonder his classmates were so defensive against him. He does everything in his power to goad them. He obviously needs a reality check and to grow up. His friend, Angela, is just as bad. Why do parents never have any control over their offspring in these books?!?And apparently, these children are supposed to be in Middle School. From what I understand, that's 11 to 13 years old. I'd be worried if kids in High School acted like these characters, never mind those in Middle School. They are drinking, partying, having sex with everyone, sexually harassing others⦠It's disgusting!However, I did like Jude's relationship with his little brother. He is great with him and it is quite cute.When Everything Feels Like the Movies is definitely not a book for me. Would I recommend it? No, but I'd say give it a go if you really want to.I received a copy of When Everything Feels Like the Movies via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Difficult subject matter; quite graphic. Didn't see the end coming; very alarming! Wish there could have been some strategies embedded for dealing with bullying.
The two main characters are so over the top that it is hard to believe they are only in grade 8. Totally dysfunctional and extreme in their supposed acting out, they come across as mentally ill rather than poster children for LGBTA youth. One mentions having sex with barbie dolls along with a friend at the age of 12, of using Grindr at the age of nine. The other has already had multiple abortions before the age of 15. I don't find the characters believable nor sympathetic, but bizarre and deeply disturbed cartoon characters.I don't know of too many schools that will be stocking such a vulgar and profanity ridden novel for their YA section. I know that I won't be buying it for my teen age kids. None of them act this way, nor do their friends, including the LGBTA ones.
different and interesting approach to a challenging subject.
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