Wednesday 31 December 2014

ARC Review: Before I Go by Colleen Oakley


As this is a review of an Advanced Reader Copy, I am required to refrain from using quotes from this novel until the finished product is released in stores and published on February 1st, 2015.

I will be honest, as soon as I found out that the extent of this novel was 309 pages, I was a bit hesitant as I began reading this. I could not have been more wrong. Reading the blurb, I was left expecting a depressing, self-reflective experience that would leave me tearing up relentlessly and trying to avoid wetting the pages of this book. However, as I began to really get into this novel, I found myself laughing out loud more than anything. This novel is heart wrenching, no doubt, but as we are able to see the ups and downs of an aggressive form of Stage IV cancer coming back through our protagonist, Daisy's eyes, we are able to get a glimpse of her priorities and witty observations at this time as well. I was amazed at how something so deep and profound could have been told by Daisy in the form of the joke and loved the book more for it.

Reading about marriage really opens your eyes. You never quite expect an author to be so honest about the rocky road that married couples travel after being together for so many years, and it is this brutal honesty that leaves you in awe of how Colleen Oakley is able to speak through this novel in such a realistic way and still grip your attention until the very last page. It was astounding how the simplest of actions, such as buying caulk from the store, could leave me entirely engrossed in this novel. It felt like being led along like an apprehensive and cautious stray dog, hoping against hope that every word in this novel holds meaning and that it will lead to the conclusion you have been so desperately waiting for. Colleen Oakley, you did not disappoint.

The voice in this novel was so confident and shy at the same time. This may seem like it doesn't make a lot of sense if you think about it, however, if you choose to read this novel, you will see that it is the perfect way to describe Daisy's narration throughout this novel. As her cancer progresses, Daisy takes it upon herself to try and find her husband a new wife, knowing that he is certainly not the most reliable and independent person in the world. Her husband, Jack, is not aware of this and finds himself rather confused as to why his wife is pushing him away. This results in a series of misunderstandings told from Daisy's point of view that, as they unfold, make readers feel as though they are riding an emotional roller coaster. As Daisy grew frustrated, I grew frustrated. As Daisy became confused, I, too, became confused. It got the point, three-quarters of the way through the novel, as to where I couldn't put the novel down. I had to solve these issues that Daisy was having, Jack had to graduate and gain his degree, Daisy had to plant hydrangeas in her flower bed.

The dialogue in this novel served as a vessel through which readers were able to gain knowledge about the side characters of which wasn't provided through Daisy's inner thoughts about them. Kayleigh, in particular, was a favourite. She was witty, irresponsible and at times, even infuriating. However, despite all of this, she was a fantastic friend that really added to this novel. Before I Go certainly wouldn't have been the same without her. She is a helping hand to Daisy throughout this journey and an irreplaceable right hand man (or woman) in Daisy's mission to help find a new wife for Jack. The story line was simple, and yet was able to instill such complicated feelings. The characters were endearing, and yet infuriating at the same time. I loved this book. Even when the pace seemed slow, you knew that it was the right pace for this novel. Daisy is only 27 years old, and she is dying. She wants to cherish every moment she can before she passes on. Every moment counts. That is one of the central themes in this book, and one that is very prominent throughout the novel. 

You can never forget that Daisy has a time limit and a seemingly endless to-do list. That is what drives this novel, and is essentially what the main story line is built around. The way this novel is broken up makes you aware of how much time Daisy has left at any given point in the novel. Daisy is aware of it, we are aware of it too. As events get more heated and tensions rise, the urgency of the time limit increases and things seem more and more hopeless for our unfortunate protagonist, Daisy.

Tensions rise, relationships falter and although the road was filled with tears, laughter and frustration, readers are satisfied as Colleen Oakley leaves us with a conclusion that makes us cry and yet still leaves us with an inexplicable feeling of warmth inside. That was what it was like reading this book, and I would not have changed a single thing about it.


Overall Rating: 5/5 stars

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