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A review by taliahsbookshelf
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Don't let the title fool you - though it may seem like this book is about death, it is in fact the opposite. This book is full of life. This book is about life. What happens when you live? Although they both die at the end, they both live before.
While reading this book, I found myself often grappling with the concept of mortality - what does being alive really mean? What impact do we have on other people even though we have no idea? How do the tiniest interactions we have with the people around us affect their daily lives in more profound ways than we can even imagine? These are all questions that I was asking as I read Silvera's work. Profound, though not difficult, I think everyone should read this book at least once, if even just to appreciate the tiny details that set it apart from other works in the same realm.
My recommendation to everyone is to follow along the characters using Instagram as a tool - Silvera did wonderfully with connecting a real Instagram account and posts that match everything that happened perfectly, and it made immersion so much better. Although it broke from the story, the feeling of really seeing what was going on made it incredibly worthwhile.
But that wasn't the only symmetry I appreciated - although our two main characters both receive a call that today is their End Day, there are so many other characters who get a piece of the story. We see their lives through their own eyes, but also through the eyes of our two main characters as they find themselves going through their final day. The symmetry between each of the chapters of everyone who didn't receive a call is stunning, and it faces the reality of death head-on.
As I write reviews for books, I do my best to find the flaws in a book - what did I like, what didn't I like, and why didn't I like it? Because everyone has different tastes, some may like a book I don't, and vice versa. However, for this particular book, I recommend it to everyone, regardless of your typical taste in literature. This was a journey that forced me to come to grips with some of life's most profound questions, the kind of questions people typically put off until those questions arise right in front of them. It's been more than a month since I finished this book, and I still think about it regularly and come back to those questions I mentioned at the beginning of this review. Give it a read - see what life really means to you.
Favorite quotes:
While reading this book, I found myself often grappling with the concept of mortality - what does being alive really mean? What impact do we have on other people even though we have no idea? How do the tiniest interactions we have with the people around us affect their daily lives in more profound ways than we can even imagine? These are all questions that I was asking as I read Silvera's work. Profound, though not difficult, I think everyone should read this book at least once, if even just to appreciate the tiny details that set it apart from other works in the same realm.
My recommendation to everyone is to follow along the characters using Instagram as a tool - Silvera did wonderfully with connecting a real Instagram account and posts that match everything that happened perfectly, and it made immersion so much better. Although it broke from the story, the feeling of really seeing what was going on made it incredibly worthwhile.
But that wasn't the only symmetry I appreciated - although our two main characters both receive a call that today is their End Day, there are so many other characters who get a piece of the story. We see their lives through their own eyes, but also through the eyes of our two main characters as they find themselves going through their final day. The symmetry between each of the chapters of everyone who didn't receive a call is stunning, and it faces the reality of death head-on.
As I write reviews for books, I do my best to find the flaws in a book - what did I like, what didn't I like, and why didn't I like it? Because everyone has different tastes, some may like a book I don't, and vice versa. However, for this particular book, I recommend it to everyone, regardless of your typical taste in literature. This was a journey that forced me to come to grips with some of life's most profound questions, the kind of questions people typically put off until those questions arise right in front of them. It's been more than a month since I finished this book, and I still think about it regularly and come back to those questions I mentioned at the beginning of this review. Give it a read - see what life really means to you.
Favorite quotes:
"Stories can make someone immortal as long as someone else is willing to listen."(116)
"When someone puts their journey out there for you to watch, you pay attention - even if you know they'll die at the end."(33)
"Entire lives aren't lessons, but there are lessons in lives."(334)
"No matter when it happens, we all have our endings. No one goes on, but what we leave behind keeps us alive for someone else."(303)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Cursing and Suicide
Minor: Biphobia, Child death, Drug use, Homophobia, Car accident, and Death of parent