The Infinite Pieces of Us
The Infinite Pieces of Us
By: Rebekah Crane
I read this book because I received it as an Amazon Prime first-reads book. And it is not my kind of book. I typically don't mind the YA genre, but this book was just over the top. Literally almost every sentence was meant to be some sort of metaphor, symbolism, or profound dual meaning.
I appreciate a good metaphor and a profound realization, but they just got tiresome and cliché and pretty unrealistic for the cast of characters. No offense high schoolers, I was one of you too, but I know that this portrayal for this age group is off- high schoolers don't think or talk that way, especially every time they open their mouths.
This story made me more curious about Rebekah Crane than her characters- I wonder what personal experiences she had with Christianity to cause her to write it into her book the way that she did. I don't know what encounters she had, but if what she wrote in the book is indicative of what she thinks being a Christian is, then I would love for her to see the truth.
It was frustrating to me to read all of Esther's "complex math problems" and to experience Esther's clear confusion on truth and worth and purpose and to know that she would find all her answers in Scripture and in the truth of God's love. In Crane's defense, there are terrible things done and said under the guise of Christianity- because, well, people are sinful but those things are not what is taught in the Bible.
The journey to 'her truth' that Crane decided to put Esther and her friends on is sad because it will not really lead them to truth or fulfillment but instead will keep them on an unending cycle of being let down by themselves or other people. I hope for more than that for people.
I couldn't help but read the book juxtaposed with what I assume Crane's heart to be, and it was like watching what I imagine my 2 year old daughter trying to put together a 1000 piece puzzle would be. I just kept thinking "That's not gonna work... Nope... try again... terrible idea...that's not how it works... that sounds nice but you can't create a picture you don't have the pieces for."
Regardless of my differing opinion than the author on Christianity and truth, I still wouldn't have liked the book on the basis of the 'trying too hard' poetic writing style and the unrealistic portrayal, personalities, and 'maturity' of the high-schoolers that made me want to roll my eyes.
They're all so brilliant and profound but they still make really immature decisions. All in the name of love and happiness. Without any regard for the consequences or how it affects others. The latter is spot on, but the former is just a nice sentiment that makes for pretty words in an effort to make the reader believe fantasies are real.
Not a book I relished reading.