Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (2012), 384 pages
Description
Told in their separate voices, sixteen-year-old Prince Oliver, who wants to break free of his fairy tale existence, and fifteen-year-old Delilah, a loner obsessed with Prince Oliver and the book in which he exists, work together to seek his freedom.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AyleeArgh
In short: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer was a cute read, but ultimately too fluffy and lacking in substance for my taste.
Between the Lines was billed as Jodi Picoult's YA debut. And yet - except for the cover and the age of the protagonist - everything about this book read
I loved the concept of finding out that your favourite story is real and getting sucked into the pages, getting to meet the characters that you already know so well, reliving the scenes that you know by heart. And I really liked the imagery of the text of the book floating in the sky and the characters being whipped into place to act for their scene as the pages were turned. All very neat ideas that were executed well - and I credit Jodi Picoult's sixteen-year-old daughter, Samantha van Leer, for coming up with them.
Unfortunately, I would've appreciated the concept a lot more if the story hadn't been so fluffy and if the writing had been a bit more sophisticated. I am also split on the illustrations - some were quite nice, clearly expertly drawn, and could only be even more beautiful in colour in the finished copy of Between the Lines, compared to my ARC copy. Other little pictures that were included among the text seemed entirely random and unnecessary, however.
It's hard to criticize a book that just isn't your thing. Certainly, my biggest problem with Between the Lines - that it was too fluffy and young - might be the very same thing that some people would love about it. I have to say though that the ending was one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read, completely indefensible. This was my first exposure to Jodi Picoult, which is unfortunate because I know a lot of people love her books, so I would like to read something else of hers sometime to change my mind. I would recommend Between the Lines to younger MG readers who like cutesy Princess-type fluff stories.
Between the Lines was billed as Jodi Picoult's YA debut. And yet - except for the cover and the age of the protagonist - everything about this book read
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more like Middle Grade. The plot, the illustrations included in the text, the writing - all read very young. And that's fine - it's just not what I was expecting, nor is it really the type of Middle Grade fiction that I tend to enjoy. Some parts of Between the Lines were cute... but quite simply, this just wasn't the book for me.I loved the concept of finding out that your favourite story is real and getting sucked into the pages, getting to meet the characters that you already know so well, reliving the scenes that you know by heart. And I really liked the imagery of the text of the book floating in the sky and the characters being whipped into place to act for their scene as the pages were turned. All very neat ideas that were executed well - and I credit Jodi Picoult's sixteen-year-old daughter, Samantha van Leer, for coming up with them.
Unfortunately, I would've appreciated the concept a lot more if the story hadn't been so fluffy and if the writing had been a bit more sophisticated. I am also split on the illustrations - some were quite nice, clearly expertly drawn, and could only be even more beautiful in colour in the finished copy of Between the Lines, compared to my ARC copy. Other little pictures that were included among the text seemed entirely random and unnecessary, however.
It's hard to criticize a book that just isn't your thing. Certainly, my biggest problem with Between the Lines - that it was too fluffy and young - might be the very same thing that some people would love about it. I have to say though that the ending was one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read, completely indefensible. This was my first exposure to Jodi Picoult, which is unfortunate because I know a lot of people love her books, so I would like to read something else of hers sometime to change my mind. I would recommend Between the Lines to younger MG readers who like cutesy Princess-type fluff stories.
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LibraryThing member brandileigh2003
The first bit didn't suck me on the way I wanted it to. But once it got to Delilah's chapter, I liked her and her voice, and I was sold. I connected with her on a personal level with her being on the outside of social circles as well as the broken family vibe and of course being an avid reader, and
I often wish I could be a part of my stories and I have to admit that I have imagined what happens to my characters when I am not reading but it is usually life after the story, not the fact that the characters have separate lives and personalities once the book is closed, and the fact that they live the story over and over with each new reader.
I love how the dual narrative was done, mixing the fantasy with Delilah's more contemporary setting. It took me a bit to appreciate the actual fairy tale mixed in with Delilah and Oliver's chapters, because I preferred the real time and the voices and character that Delilah and Oliver brought to the story, their narrative and feeling instead of being twice removed with the fairy tale.
I also appreciate that it was written by mother and daughter and there are strong family ties in the book as well.
I liked the twist at the end and how it all played out. I didn't see that coming, and the ways that I kept thinking of to get Oliver out of the story didn't work out, but I never really thought about how they wrapped it up.
Bottom line: Light fantasy from dual perspective. Not your average Picoult novel.
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that she does it for escape. I often wish I could be a part of my stories and I have to admit that I have imagined what happens to my characters when I am not reading but it is usually life after the story, not the fact that the characters have separate lives and personalities once the book is closed, and the fact that they live the story over and over with each new reader.
I love how the dual narrative was done, mixing the fantasy with Delilah's more contemporary setting. It took me a bit to appreciate the actual fairy tale mixed in with Delilah and Oliver's chapters, because I preferred the real time and the voices and character that Delilah and Oliver brought to the story, their narrative and feeling instead of being twice removed with the fairy tale.
I also appreciate that it was written by mother and daughter and there are strong family ties in the book as well.
I liked the twist at the end and how it all played out. I didn't see that coming, and the ways that I kept thinking of to get Oliver out of the story didn't work out, but I never really thought about how they wrapped it up.
Bottom line: Light fantasy from dual perspective. Not your average Picoult novel.
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LibraryThing member elliedreams
I started this book because I was intrigued by the idea that characters in books had lives beyond the page, and the fact that Jodi Picoult wrote this with her teenage daughter. I am a teenager who is interested in becoming a writer, and that right there was enough to pull me in.
This story was
I would definitely reccommend this book, even though it's not the best book I've ever read in my whole entire life. Luckily, I've never actually read any of Jodi Picoult's work, so I didn't have to compare, like other reviewers are saying they did. I would read it, it's very intruiging and interesting and keeps you entertained.
This story was
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definitely interesting, and I wanted to know what was going to happen with Oliver and Deliliah. I liked reading from Oliver's perspective more, because I found Delilah irritating at times. And Oliver's perspective was more interesting, and something I've never read from before. I would definitely reccommend this book, even though it's not the best book I've ever read in my whole entire life. Luckily, I've never actually read any of Jodi Picoult's work, so I didn't have to compare, like other reviewers are saying they did. I would read it, it's very intruiging and interesting and keeps you entertained.
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LibraryThing member Annesanse
Before I picked this one up from my library, I'd read a lot of not very great reviews of it. However, I thought the story sounded cute and decided to give it a chance. Let me start off by saying that I've only read one other book by Picoult (and that was about 3 years ago) and so didn't have
I really enjoyed the story! It labels itself as a fairy tale, and so the few things that didn't quite make sense didn't really bother me. It tells the story of a girl, Delilah Eve McPhee, who is a bit of a loner and recently obsessed with a children's book and especially with the main character, Prince Oliver. The idea of the story was very original, and I found myself really intrigued by the situation of the characters. It didn't play out quite the way I expected it too, but the journey was a lot of fun.
The book itself was quite beautiful. It was told alternating between Oliver and Delilah's point of views, and it also included the actual children's book that Delilah is reading. I thought it was very well done and I really enjoyed the illustrations and various silhouettes scattered throughout the book.
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expectations based on her "style" of writing. I really enjoyed the story! It labels itself as a fairy tale, and so the few things that didn't quite make sense didn't really bother me. It tells the story of a girl, Delilah Eve McPhee, who is a bit of a loner and recently obsessed with a children's book and especially with the main character, Prince Oliver. The idea of the story was very original, and I found myself really intrigued by the situation of the characters. It didn't play out quite the way I expected it too, but the journey was a lot of fun.
The book itself was quite beautiful. It was told alternating between Oliver and Delilah's point of views, and it also included the actual children's book that Delilah is reading. I thought it was very well done and I really enjoyed the illustrations and various silhouettes scattered throughout the book.
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LibraryThing member Joyce.Leung
Before I read this book, I had never really thought about the pictures in storybooks – I had always assumed, really, that they existed just for the sake of existing. This book says differently though, it says that the characters have feelings too, and they have lives beyond the fairy-tale: the
I would say that Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer borrowed a concept from Harry Potter – that pictures too, have a life, but that is not strictly speaking true. Unlike Harry Potter, these character cannot traverse from book to book, or voice their opinions out, or spy on certain people. They have to follow a script, they have to rehears in their spare time, and they have to hope that someone will eventually pick this book up and read it. But what if one of the cast long for something more? Something beyond repeating the same actions, the same speeches, the same script over and over again? What if one of the characters long to be the person to pick the book up and read it?
That’s where Prince Oliver comes in. He plays the hero in the story, the knight on a white horse galloping in from the horizon to save the damsel in distress, the valiant champion who thinks nothing of an evil sorcerer, a dragon and a troll as he races to save the beautiful princess. Except his faithful companion has a crush on that princess. Except he really detests the princess. Except he longs for something more.
Hence, Delilah appears. She is a bit of a dreamer who is, for a reason still unknown, enraptured by a fairy-tale targeted for those way below her age range. But one morning, when she is reading the book yet again, she notices something – something that wasn’t here before – a tic-tac-toe board drawn on the sand where the prince and the princess have their happily-ever-after scene. She starts to suspect something is wrong, but it is only after Oliver successfully speaks to her on one of his solo scenes that she realizes that the characters have lives outside the story, and that Oliver wants to become part of her world – the human world.
After this revelation, Delilah and Oliver try a series of different ways get him to come out of the page in scale (on one of their earlier attempts, a butterfly came out of the book without growing in size, thus resulting in a tiny insect that was smaller than the smallest mosquito). Finally, they go to the author’s home to ask how to change the ending of the story, so that Oliver can come out when she explains that it cannot be changed, because the story is already etched into so many different people’s hearts, and the only way to even alter the plot is to add to it. They then meet her son, who appears to be physically identical to Oliver. He confesses that he wish he could swap places with Oliver – every single thing he had ever done in his life had been compared to Oliver’s achievements, and found lacking.
The ending of the story was pretty predictable, though still charming in its own way. Oliver’s companion, Frump, got a happy-ever-after with his crush, Princess Seraphima, and Oliver got his with Delilah. I would recommend this book for those who are looking for cute romances, or books without much tension in them.
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prince might not like the princess, the evil villain might have the kindest outside the story, and the troll could actually be the smartest character of them all!I would say that Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer borrowed a concept from Harry Potter – that pictures too, have a life, but that is not strictly speaking true. Unlike Harry Potter, these character cannot traverse from book to book, or voice their opinions out, or spy on certain people. They have to follow a script, they have to rehears in their spare time, and they have to hope that someone will eventually pick this book up and read it. But what if one of the cast long for something more? Something beyond repeating the same actions, the same speeches, the same script over and over again? What if one of the characters long to be the person to pick the book up and read it?
That’s where Prince Oliver comes in. He plays the hero in the story, the knight on a white horse galloping in from the horizon to save the damsel in distress, the valiant champion who thinks nothing of an evil sorcerer, a dragon and a troll as he races to save the beautiful princess. Except his faithful companion has a crush on that princess. Except he really detests the princess. Except he longs for something more.
Hence, Delilah appears. She is a bit of a dreamer who is, for a reason still unknown, enraptured by a fairy-tale targeted for those way below her age range. But one morning, when she is reading the book yet again, she notices something – something that wasn’t here before – a tic-tac-toe board drawn on the sand where the prince and the princess have their happily-ever-after scene. She starts to suspect something is wrong, but it is only after Oliver successfully speaks to her on one of his solo scenes that she realizes that the characters have lives outside the story, and that Oliver wants to become part of her world – the human world.
After this revelation, Delilah and Oliver try a series of different ways get him to come out of the page in scale (on one of their earlier attempts, a butterfly came out of the book without growing in size, thus resulting in a tiny insect that was smaller than the smallest mosquito). Finally, they go to the author’s home to ask how to change the ending of the story, so that Oliver can come out when she explains that it cannot be changed, because the story is already etched into so many different people’s hearts, and the only way to even alter the plot is to add to it. They then meet her son, who appears to be physically identical to Oliver. He confesses that he wish he could swap places with Oliver – every single thing he had ever done in his life had been compared to Oliver’s achievements, and found lacking.
The ending of the story was pretty predictable, though still charming in its own way. Oliver’s companion, Frump, got a happy-ever-after with his crush, Princess Seraphima, and Oliver got his with Delilah. I would recommend this book for those who are looking for cute romances, or books without much tension in them.
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LibraryThing member JackieBlem
This is the collaboration of best selling author Jodi Picoult and her teenage daughter Samantha Van Leer. In this a very imaginative tale about a book of fairy tales, and what happens when the covers close. It seems that this book is sort of a long running play, with the characters jumping into
Fifteen year old Delilah is a bit of an outcast, preferring books to people by and large. She finds Prince Oliver's book misshelved in the school library, and falls in love with it despite it being a bit young for her. Then, one day, she hears a voice--Prince Oliver has found a listener to his tale. And the two begin to try to figure out a way to get Oliver out of the book.
This is lots of fun for the 12+ crowd that is fresh and amusing even for old ladies like me! After all, I've often wished I could pull a character off the page in to my life, so this book was right up my alley.
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place at the first sign of light as the book is opened by a reader. They do their thing, over and over. However, when it's closed, though are just "regular" people, with their separate lives. Most are content, but one of those characters desperately wants out of the book. Prince Oliver has been trying to get help from the book's readers for years, but no one can hear him.Fifteen year old Delilah is a bit of an outcast, preferring books to people by and large. She finds Prince Oliver's book misshelved in the school library, and falls in love with it despite it being a bit young for her. Then, one day, she hears a voice--Prince Oliver has found a listener to his tale. And the two begin to try to figure out a way to get Oliver out of the book.
This is lots of fun for the 12+ crowd that is fresh and amusing even for old ladies like me! After all, I've often wished I could pull a character off the page in to my life, so this book was right up my alley.
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LibraryThing member arielfl
I have 5 Jodi Picoult novels sitting on my shelf and have yet to read one of them but somehow I got around to picking up this fairy tale. I think that it's very sweet that she wrote the book with her daughter because sometimes kids have the best ideas. This however is for a very young readers as it
The story is based on the concept that the people in books carry on regular lives when the book is closed. When there is a reader present they act out their parts, the same way every time the story is read. One day the book is picked up by Delilah who uses it as an escape from her real life teen problems like an absent father and snotty girls at school. To her surprise she finds that she can talk to the lead character of the novel, prince Oliver. Of course they fall for each other and try various remedies to get Oliver out of the book. At one point Delilah is even dragged into the book. The story is told in three parts. The story the way it is written in the book, Olivers perspective, and Delilahs perspective. Like all good stories, this one has a twist at the end resulting in the proper "happily ever after". The concept of the story is quite clever and the illustrations are beautiful. With a little more story sophistication I think this could have appealed to a wider audience.
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lacks the complexity of the kind of new YA stories that are hooking the adults as well as teens. This would probably be best 9-11 year old girls. Still fairy tales are in right now, as evidenced by Once Upon a Time and the updated Beauty and the Beast on TV so this will probably hook a few mom and daughters readers. I read it thinking that I could share it with my thirteen year old daughter but after her enjoyment of hunger Games and Harry Potter, this was just too young for her. The story is based on the concept that the people in books carry on regular lives when the book is closed. When there is a reader present they act out their parts, the same way every time the story is read. One day the book is picked up by Delilah who uses it as an escape from her real life teen problems like an absent father and snotty girls at school. To her surprise she finds that she can talk to the lead character of the novel, prince Oliver. Of course they fall for each other and try various remedies to get Oliver out of the book. At one point Delilah is even dragged into the book. The story is told in three parts. The story the way it is written in the book, Olivers perspective, and Delilahs perspective. Like all good stories, this one has a twist at the end resulting in the proper "happily ever after". The concept of the story is quite clever and the illustrations are beautiful. With a little more story sophistication I think this could have appealed to a wider audience.
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LibraryThing member TeamDewey
It took me a little bit to get into this book but once I did I was glad I struggled through the beginning. This is not my normal type of book and that may be why I was struggling.
LibraryThing member KarenBall
"If I had the chance, I'd do anything to not know what tomorrow's going to bring."
"People in the real world would kill for a happily ever after, and you're willing to just throw it away?"
"It's hardly a happily ever after when you wind up right back at the beginning. I've never experienced 'after'
Oliver is the prince in a children's fairy tale book entitled Between the Lines. Every time the book opens and a reader begins, the characters all fall into place, happily playing their parts over and over. Except for Oliver... who wants to know what else is out there. And when Delilah discovers the book tucked away in her school library, she connects with Oliver, because like her, he's missing a father. Of course, his died in battle with a dragon and hers left to go marry someone else and start "a new improved family" elsewhere, but Delilah still feels a need to read the story over and over again. When Oliver decides to see if this lovely Reader notices anything different, he draws a chessboard in the sand on the beach. With that one choice, he sets into motion a rollicking love story in which two world collide and Delilah has to figure out how to get him out of the book and keep people from thinking she's crazy. If she can get him out, though, how on earth will she EXPLAIN where he came from and why he behaves so strangely (and doesn't know what detention is)? What if the process works backwards and she ends up trapped in the story? This mother-daughter author collaboration is a lighthearted romance and great fun! 7th grade and up.
"People in the real world would kill for a happily ever after, and you're willing to just throw it away?"
"It's hardly a happily ever after when you wind up right back at the beginning. I've never experienced 'after'
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at all."Oliver is the prince in a children's fairy tale book entitled Between the Lines. Every time the book opens and a reader begins, the characters all fall into place, happily playing their parts over and over. Except for Oliver... who wants to know what else is out there. And when Delilah discovers the book tucked away in her school library, she connects with Oliver, because like her, he's missing a father. Of course, his died in battle with a dragon and hers left to go marry someone else and start "a new improved family" elsewhere, but Delilah still feels a need to read the story over and over again. When Oliver decides to see if this lovely Reader notices anything different, he draws a chessboard in the sand on the beach. With that one choice, he sets into motion a rollicking love story in which two world collide and Delilah has to figure out how to get him out of the book and keep people from thinking she's crazy. If she can get him out, though, how on earth will she EXPLAIN where he came from and why he behaves so strangely (and doesn't know what detention is)? What if the process works backwards and she ends up trapped in the story? This mother-daughter author collaboration is a lighthearted romance and great fun! 7th grade and up.
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LibraryThing member KarenBall
"If I had the chance, I'd do anything to not know what tomorrow's going to bring."
"People in the real world would kill for a happily ever after, and you're willing to just throw it away?"
"It's hardly a happily ever after when you wind up right back at the beginning. I've never experienced 'after'
Oliver is the prince in a children's fairy tale book entitled Between the Lines. Every time the book opens and a reader begins, the characters all fall into place, happily playing their parts over and over. Except for Oliver... who wants to know what else is out there. And when Delilah discovers the book tucked away in her school library, she connects with Oliver, because like her, he's missing a father. Of course, his died in battle with a dragon and hers left to go marry someone else and start "a new improved family" elsewhere, but Delilah still feels a need to read the story over and over again. When Oliver decides to see if this lovely Reader notices anything different, he draws a chessboard in the sand on the beach. With that one choice, he sets into motion a rollicking love story in which two world collide and Delilah has to figure out how to get him out of the book and keep people from thinking she's crazy. If she can get him out, though, how on earth will she EXPLAIN where he came from and why he behaves so strangely (and doesn't know what detention is)? What if the process works backwards and she ends up trapped in the story? This mother-daughter author collaboration is a lighthearted romance and great fun! 7th grade and up.
"People in the real world would kill for a happily ever after, and you're willing to just throw it away?"
"It's hardly a happily ever after when you wind up right back at the beginning. I've never experienced 'after'
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at all."Oliver is the prince in a children's fairy tale book entitled Between the Lines. Every time the book opens and a reader begins, the characters all fall into place, happily playing their parts over and over. Except for Oliver... who wants to know what else is out there. And when Delilah discovers the book tucked away in her school library, she connects with Oliver, because like her, he's missing a father. Of course, his died in battle with a dragon and hers left to go marry someone else and start "a new improved family" elsewhere, but Delilah still feels a need to read the story over and over again. When Oliver decides to see if this lovely Reader notices anything different, he draws a chessboard in the sand on the beach. With that one choice, he sets into motion a rollicking love story in which two world collide and Delilah has to figure out how to get him out of the book and keep people from thinking she's crazy. If she can get him out, though, how on earth will she EXPLAIN where he came from and why he behaves so strangely (and doesn't know what detention is)? What if the process works backwards and she ends up trapped in the story? This mother-daughter author collaboration is a lighthearted romance and great fun! 7th grade and up.
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LibraryThing member knitwit2
The story of Delilah, a 15 year old social pariah ( she broke the knee and nose of a cheerleader - 2 different episodes) with only one friend she becomes obsessed with a children's fairy tale. Her mother worries when she claimsthat she can speak to the prince in the tale. The story follows the
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Prince Oliver and Delilah strategize to get hime freed from the pages of the book. The characters in the book lead interesting lives when the pages of the book are closed, just as actors are quite different from their on-stage roles and lead interesting lives away from work. The best character is Frump the Basset Hound who is a boy under a curse that made him a dog, he is in love with the princess in the book. I"m not sure why it is classified as young adult I think 10-12 year olds will love it, older kids will find it a little childish. Show Less
LibraryThing member Nebraska_Girl1971
I typically love Picoult's books, but I did not enjoy this one. It was sweet that her and her daughter wrote this book together, but this is not one for adults - but would be a great one for the 11 - 15 age group. It is a "fairy tale story" through and through!
LibraryThing member RivkaBelle
Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com
I really, really, really wanted to like this book. The premise was awesome, a true booklover's dream: A favorite character in a book comes to life and interacts with the reader. I mean, come on, who hasn't had the fleeting thought of
While the development of the story is neatly done, I just had a really hard time getting into it. I'm not sure why either, because the idea was intriguing, and the interweaving of the stories is well done. (I particularly loved Oliver's parts, and the color illustrations). Maybe I just picked it up when I had too many other reading distractions?
I really, really, really wanted to like this book. The premise was awesome, a true booklover's dream: A favorite character in a book comes to life and interacts with the reader. I mean, come on, who hasn't had the fleeting thought of
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wishing Mr Darcy or Gilbert Blythe was real? Also, the book itself is gorgeous. It's told in three-parts, with full-color illustrations and different fonts and colors for the three voices (the "actual" fairy tale; Delilah, the reader; and Prince Oliver, the character).While the development of the story is neatly done, I just had a really hard time getting into it. I'm not sure why either, because the idea was intriguing, and the interweaving of the stories is well done. (I particularly loved Oliver's parts, and the color illustrations). Maybe I just picked it up when I had too many other reading distractions?
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LibraryThing member Berly
First, let me say that I love Piccoult. I usually get her books in hardback because I just can't wait. This book is a collaboration with her daughter and it's bent is very different from the usual moral issue exploration. In fact, it's a fairy tale. What would happen if you could actually talk to
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one of the characters in your book? What if they had lives beyond the written words on the page? This is a charming YA book and I read it in nothing flat, but it is definitely not Piccoult's usual fare. Not bad, but not as great. I'd recommend it, but only in paperback. 3.0 Show Less
LibraryThing member LemurKat
I enjoyed this book and devoured it within 24 hours, but overall it is quite a shallow read. The fairy tale nature to it is delightful - and the illustrations are gorgeous and I also rather liked the concept. The idea that the characters in a book are desperate to escape is an original one.
Also, whilst I did initially like Delilah as a character - the lonely outsider that seeks solace in books, and would rather fantasize about imaginary "perfect" boys than real world (and thus imperfect) ones, her selfishness and stubborness grated on me after a time. She becomes so obsessed with Oliver, a fictious character, whom she barely knows, that she abandons her best friend, upsets her mother and skips out of school. Still, she is a teenager.
Overall, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading and had some quite amusing moments. A decent read, but nothing to rave about. It felt kind of fluffy, the sort of teenage fantasy that one might develop should one be a teenage girl with few friends and a love of literature. Oh wait, it is.
There were some cute quotes and nice observations about books too - that once the book is written it ceases to be the author's and becomes the reader's, for example.
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However, the storyline was instrinsically stagnant - the entire book is devoted to finding ways to get Oliver out of the book, with the majority of them failing miserably, when I think the more exciting story would be: what happened next? How is a prince from a fairytale kingdom where nothing ever chances, going to adapt to life in the vast and strange world that is Earth? Also, whilst I did initially like Delilah as a character - the lonely outsider that seeks solace in books, and would rather fantasize about imaginary "perfect" boys than real world (and thus imperfect) ones, her selfishness and stubborness grated on me after a time. She becomes so obsessed with Oliver, a fictious character, whom she barely knows, that she abandons her best friend, upsets her mother and skips out of school. Still, she is a teenager.
Overall, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading and had some quite amusing moments. A decent read, but nothing to rave about. It felt kind of fluffy, the sort of teenage fantasy that one might develop should one be a teenage girl with few friends and a love of literature. Oh wait, it is.
There were some cute quotes and nice observations about books too - that once the book is written it ceases to be the author's and becomes the reader's, for example.
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LibraryThing member krystal_osmond
I was so looking forward to reading this book, and had high expectations. Maybe that's what I did wrong. Never expect the unexpected. Mrs Picoult is known for her stories and her ability to tell a story. She is my favourite author, with her talent for writing and creating an unforgettable story.
I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it either. Delilah, the main character was a young girl that I could relate with on some levels. She loves books, and live books. She brings characters to life (literally, in this book!), she lives the stories. Other than those points, I had a hard time with the characters. There wasn't much development with any of them, or between any of them before they fell madly in love and that was unfortunate. I just didn't get it. What I did get, and enjoyed were the different point of views, and the illustrations throughout the story. Both these aspects added a little something to the book.
There was a quote in Between The Lines, "An author makes a house, the reader makes it a home" (quoted from ARC, do not quote me on this) that I loved! It is so true and it really hit home for me. I've said things like that before, that the author is the one to tell the story and it is up to us, as readers to make it more. So to see that this quote was in this book, it was awesome.
In the end, Between The Lines was missing a lot for me. The story just didn't come alive for me, the characters didn't so anything for me. And the writing wasn't what I expected. I was really looking forward to reading this highly anticipated YA novel written by Jodi Picoult and her daughter Samantha Van Leer, but it fell flat for me.
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Unfortunately, this didn't happen here. I'm not quite sure what role she had in writing this book, but it didn't seem like she had any. There was nothing in Between The Lines that was screaming Jodi Picoult.I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it either. Delilah, the main character was a young girl that I could relate with on some levels. She loves books, and live books. She brings characters to life (literally, in this book!), she lives the stories. Other than those points, I had a hard time with the characters. There wasn't much development with any of them, or between any of them before they fell madly in love and that was unfortunate. I just didn't get it. What I did get, and enjoyed were the different point of views, and the illustrations throughout the story. Both these aspects added a little something to the book.
There was a quote in Between The Lines, "An author makes a house, the reader makes it a home" (quoted from ARC, do not quote me on this) that I loved! It is so true and it really hit home for me. I've said things like that before, that the author is the one to tell the story and it is up to us, as readers to make it more. So to see that this quote was in this book, it was awesome.
In the end, Between The Lines was missing a lot for me. The story just didn't come alive for me, the characters didn't so anything for me. And the writing wasn't what I expected. I was really looking forward to reading this highly anticipated YA novel written by Jodi Picoult and her daughter Samantha Van Leer, but it fell flat for me.
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LibraryThing member LoftyIslanders
I found the idea for the plot original.
LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: This was a really cute book with romance, friendship, and fun characters. I would recommend it for a younger audience, but it is a fun light read.
Opening Sentence: Once upon a time in a land far, far away there lived a brave king and a beautiful
The Review:
Have you ever fallen in love with a character in a book? Well Delilah has and she can’t stop reading his fairy tale story. Delilah is 15 years old and has never really fit in at school. She has always been somewhat of a social outcast and her family life isn’t ideal either. Her father left when she was little and now he has a whole new family. She only talks to him a few times a year and her mom has never really recovered from him leaving. To escape her life she reads books. She recently found a children’s fairy tale from the school library that she is able to really relate to. She knows that she is too old to be reading it but she can’t help herself. Prince Oliver is the perfect guy, and there is no way she will ever find anyone like him in real life. Then one day Oliver starts talking to Delilah. Is she going crazy or is her fairy tale prince real?
Prince Oliver lives in a book. While someone is reading the story he acts out his part, but when the book is closed everyone goes back to normal life. He has always wondered if there is something beyond his little world. Where are the people who read the story? Is there any way for him to become a part of their world? Then Oliver meets Delilah and he can’t help but be smitten with her. Together they embark on a journey to see if they can set Oliver free from his fairy tale prison.
The story is told in three different parts. The first part is the fairytale that Oliver is in and Delilah keeps reading. Then you enter into Oliver’s head. Oliver is funny, smart and cute. He is a likeable character and he has a lot of redeemable qualities. Delilah is a sweet young girl that has a lot of insecurities. I loved that to escape she goes to books, because that is what I do as well. I am guilty of falling in love with swoony boys from books too. Overall, she was a fun character and I liked reading her story. The only thing with the characters is they were a tad bit forgettable and after I finished the book they didn’t leave a much of an impression on me.
This was a fun read for me. The idea was very unique and entertaining. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their stories. There were parts that dragged a little, but overall the pacing was good. The romance was sweet, but it was a little too fast for my liking. I’m not a big fan of instalove and this has that a little bit. The story was fun, but it was a little immature for me. I think that a younger group of people would love this book. It is really clean and a light easy read. Overall, I did enjoy this and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys fairy tales and wants a light read.
Notable Scene:
Okay , first of all, this is not happening.
My mother is right. I need more sleep. It’s bad enough that I’m talking to a book, much less entertaining the thought of how to get a character out of it.
“I don’t think it works that way,” I say. “It’s not like springing someone out of jail-“
“I’m hardly a felon!”
“No, you’re a two-dimensional, inch-high illustration,” I point out. “If you were to get out, what would you do? Live in a shoe box? Be Flat Stanley?”
“Who’s Flat Stanley?”
“Another fictional character,” I say. I have a sudden flash of second grade, when my teacher had us take our cutouts of Flat Stanley all around the world during spring break. My mother and I took pictures of him in Boston, eating clam chowder and waving at the seals in the aquarium.
So maybe Oliver isn’t the first fictional character with a hankering to travel.
“You don’t know that I’d stay this size. Perhaps I’d be scaled to fit your worlds, if I were lucky enough to reach it.”
“Why are we even discussing this?” I explode. “You can’t take a character out of a book!”
FTC Advisory: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Between the Lines. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: This was a really cute book with romance, friendship, and fun characters. I would recommend it for a younger audience, but it is a fun light read.
Opening Sentence: Once upon a time in a land far, far away there lived a brave king and a beautiful
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queen, who were so much in love that wherever they went, people stopped what they were doing just to watch them pass.The Review:
Have you ever fallen in love with a character in a book? Well Delilah has and she can’t stop reading his fairy tale story. Delilah is 15 years old and has never really fit in at school. She has always been somewhat of a social outcast and her family life isn’t ideal either. Her father left when she was little and now he has a whole new family. She only talks to him a few times a year and her mom has never really recovered from him leaving. To escape her life she reads books. She recently found a children’s fairy tale from the school library that she is able to really relate to. She knows that she is too old to be reading it but she can’t help herself. Prince Oliver is the perfect guy, and there is no way she will ever find anyone like him in real life. Then one day Oliver starts talking to Delilah. Is she going crazy or is her fairy tale prince real?
Prince Oliver lives in a book. While someone is reading the story he acts out his part, but when the book is closed everyone goes back to normal life. He has always wondered if there is something beyond his little world. Where are the people who read the story? Is there any way for him to become a part of their world? Then Oliver meets Delilah and he can’t help but be smitten with her. Together they embark on a journey to see if they can set Oliver free from his fairy tale prison.
The story is told in three different parts. The first part is the fairytale that Oliver is in and Delilah keeps reading. Then you enter into Oliver’s head. Oliver is funny, smart and cute. He is a likeable character and he has a lot of redeemable qualities. Delilah is a sweet young girl that has a lot of insecurities. I loved that to escape she goes to books, because that is what I do as well. I am guilty of falling in love with swoony boys from books too. Overall, she was a fun character and I liked reading her story. The only thing with the characters is they were a tad bit forgettable and after I finished the book they didn’t leave a much of an impression on me.
This was a fun read for me. The idea was very unique and entertaining. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their stories. There were parts that dragged a little, but overall the pacing was good. The romance was sweet, but it was a little too fast for my liking. I’m not a big fan of instalove and this has that a little bit. The story was fun, but it was a little immature for me. I think that a younger group of people would love this book. It is really clean and a light easy read. Overall, I did enjoy this and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys fairy tales and wants a light read.
Notable Scene:
Okay , first of all, this is not happening.
My mother is right. I need more sleep. It’s bad enough that I’m talking to a book, much less entertaining the thought of how to get a character out of it.
“I don’t think it works that way,” I say. “It’s not like springing someone out of jail-“
“I’m hardly a felon!”
“No, you’re a two-dimensional, inch-high illustration,” I point out. “If you were to get out, what would you do? Live in a shoe box? Be Flat Stanley?”
“Who’s Flat Stanley?”
“Another fictional character,” I say. I have a sudden flash of second grade, when my teacher had us take our cutouts of Flat Stanley all around the world during spring break. My mother and I took pictures of him in Boston, eating clam chowder and waving at the seals in the aquarium.
So maybe Oliver isn’t the first fictional character with a hankering to travel.
“You don’t know that I’d stay this size. Perhaps I’d be scaled to fit your worlds, if I were lucky enough to reach it.”
“Why are we even discussing this?” I explode. “You can’t take a character out of a book!”
FTC Advisory: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Between the Lines. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member MomsterBookworm
My love of reading and books started with the classic fairy tales, which found their natural progression into books by Enid Blyton. I remember being fascinated with toys which came to life in the nursery, at night or when no one was there. (Before there was 'Toy Story', there was Amelia Jane.) I
It is on a somewhat similar premise that this book is based: a book character wanting to be more than just the role he plays in the story, and of a teenage reader who reads between the lines and sees beyond the printed page, who attempts to set him free.
Despite being marketed as a teenage / young adult read, there are some morsels of philosophical food-for-thought. (WARNING: *Some* disclosure (not spoiler) which you might not want to read before the book, in which case, skip the rest of this paragraph) -------- When the book is closed, the characters in the fairy tale live lives outside of the plot written for them in the story. They are imbued with abilities and personalities not evident or contradictory to the roles cast for them in the fairy tale. The observation was made (by one of the protagonists) that when the creator (author) penned those words, the characters were also woven with abilities and knowledge inherent in the author. This made me think of us mere mortals 'programmed' with innate gifts and talents (blessings) from our Creator, to be actualized outside of the day-to-day roles we play.
I picked up this book because I am a fan of Jodi Picoult's and was curious to see how different this one would be, being that it was co-authored with her daughter, and a deviation from her usual genre. For a book with such a simple premise, it certainly had enough twists and turns -- which while I was reading, I kept thinking that I would not have thought about that (twist).
I say this book is for the young-at-heart, for those who dream of stories coming alive, or for those who find themselves easily lost in the stories they read.
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often imagined about the lives of Saucepan Man and Moon-Face atop the Magic Faraway Tree, and when I was not reading about them, I wondered what they were up to and dreamt about joining them on their adventures. But I digress...It is on a somewhat similar premise that this book is based: a book character wanting to be more than just the role he plays in the story, and of a teenage reader who reads between the lines and sees beyond the printed page, who attempts to set him free.
Despite being marketed as a teenage / young adult read, there are some morsels of philosophical food-for-thought. (WARNING: *Some* disclosure (not spoiler) which you might not want to read before the book, in which case, skip the rest of this paragraph) -------- When the book is closed, the characters in the fairy tale live lives outside of the plot written for them in the story. They are imbued with abilities and personalities not evident or contradictory to the roles cast for them in the fairy tale. The observation was made (by one of the protagonists) that when the creator (author) penned those words, the characters were also woven with abilities and knowledge inherent in the author. This made me think of us mere mortals 'programmed' with innate gifts and talents (blessings) from our Creator, to be actualized outside of the day-to-day roles we play.
I picked up this book because I am a fan of Jodi Picoult's and was curious to see how different this one would be, being that it was co-authored with her daughter, and a deviation from her usual genre. For a book with such a simple premise, it certainly had enough twists and turns -- which while I was reading, I kept thinking that I would not have thought about that (twist).
I say this book is for the young-at-heart, for those who dream of stories coming alive, or for those who find themselves easily lost in the stories they read.
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LibraryThing member smheatherly2
I loved this story! What an intriguing plot line. What if the characters in the books you read were real, and they were just putting on a show each time you read the words? What if those same characters had a desire to escape their pages and become a part of your world. Oliver is stuck inside the
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pages of a fairy tale he was written to, never thinking he could be heard, until one reader, Delilah, sees him as a person, not a fictional character. Their lives intertwine as they search for a way to get Oliver to escape his pages. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mirandalg14
3.75 stars. I think this is a fun book to recommend for younger teen girls. And I thought the multiple view points and use of color and illustrations added a nice feel to the story. I didn't have any expectations for this going in so I may have enjoyed it more than those expecting more.
LibraryThing member atreic
This book is sweet and funny. A girl falls in love with the handsome prince in a fairy story, and has to work out how to free him from the book.
There is nothing hugely unexpected about this story, and it felt slightly longer than it needed to be. I also felt sorry for Edgar - he runs away deeper to
There is nothing hugely unexpected about this story, and it felt slightly longer than it needed to be. I also felt sorry for Edgar - he runs away deeper to
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live in a fantasy world, as the price of Oliver's freedom. The love is very teenage, OMG Emotions - Oliver doesn't do much to make Deliah fall for him other than be handsome and in need of help. Well, I guess story-Oliver is clever and daring, but the whole point of the book is that story-Oliver is not real-Oliver, so that doesn't help. It's a nice analogy if you view it as someone who falls in love with a character in a movie getting together with the movie star though. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jennifer35k
I think just about every little girl out there loves a good fairy tale. One that has the typical happy ending where the prince and the princess ride off into the sunset together. Wouldn't it be interesting though if the fairy tale were just a little bit different? What if you opened up a fairy tale
I truly enjoyed this book! It was such a different spin on the standard fairy tale story that it was very refreshing. I loved the concept and it was incredibly unique. The illustrations in the book are fabulous and really add something special to the story. I found myself really rooting for Delilah! I have to recommend this story and would actually say that if you do not read this book then you are missing out on a new genre. It was very different from most young adult novels that I have read and would love to see more stories like this. I think if there were more books like this than they would be bought up. Great job authors!
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and the characters came alive? In fact they had there own unique world when the book was closed and considered themselves actors when it was opened? This book is one such story about a girl named Delilah. A girl that finds herself abandoned by her father and a burden to her mother. Trying to forget her pain she buries herself in a fairy tale and begins to imagine the main lead character come to life. Is she having a nervous breakdown or is there something really special about the story? I truly enjoyed this book! It was such a different spin on the standard fairy tale story that it was very refreshing. I loved the concept and it was incredibly unique. The illustrations in the book are fabulous and really add something special to the story. I found myself really rooting for Delilah! I have to recommend this story and would actually say that if you do not read this book then you are missing out on a new genre. It was very different from most young adult novels that I have read and would love to see more stories like this. I think if there were more books like this than they would be bought up. Great job authors!
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LibraryThing member ccathee17c
Title : Between the Lines
Series : -
Author : Jodi Picoult
Pages : 358
Release Date : June 26th
Publisher : Simon Pulse / Simon & Schuster Canada
Format : ARC
Source :
**An ARC was provided by S & S Canada in exchange of an honest review
My Opinion :
I plainly loved this book. I could seriously marry it.
I actually haven't read any other books by Jodi Picoult (I know, I know, shame on me, but they were all Adult books! And this books is Young Adult... and I was going to buy myself a copy when I received an ARC.... I am telling you, I was screaming with joy and happiness. I know that I'm not the only one who doe that when receiving books ;D
Between the Lines is, by far, one of the awesomest books I have read in 2012 yet. It was so refreshing and just plainly entertaining.
You know how some books you'd recommend to somebody who wanted to get into reading, like The Hunger Games, or Harry Potter... well, that's how I felt for this book. I felt like recommending it to EVERYONE. But, of course, it's not like I've got that much bookish people I know in real life... so that's why I got you guys! *tackle hugs*
Between the Lines is about Delilah, kind of a loner; she's got only one friend, and has been reading the same book over and over again. And, it's not just any book, but it's a FAIRYTALE... I mean, can it be weirder? Some teenagers read Pride & Prejudice again and again... but for her it'S a Fairytale called BETWEEN THE LINES (which is, as well, the title of this books ;D). But, then, she discovers that the characters in the book are alive. And, she falls in love with Oliver *giggles*
I loved the writing. It was just so good; fast-paced, action-packed, great, awesome, and really fun to read. I literally (no, not literally, Jackson Pearce XD) could marry him.
My favorite character HAS to be Oliver. I just loved him sooooo much. I thought it was cute how he didn't know anything that we think is normal, like Algebra, detention, homework, swim practice. It was so cute ;D
I also loved Delilah; she was a strong and determined character, and she was just greatly developed. She was entertaining.
Between the Lines will be, I hope, a favorite that will go on for years!
I would love to see this made into a movie; it would just be so cool! I can totally see the potential!
RATING
5 ROSES!
Series : -
Author : Jodi Picoult
Pages : 358
Release Date : June 26th
Publisher : Simon Pulse / Simon & Schuster Canada
Format : ARC
Source :
**An ARC was provided by S & S Canada in exchange of an honest review
My Opinion :
I plainly loved this book. I could seriously marry it.
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Seriously.I actually haven't read any other books by Jodi Picoult (I know, I know, shame on me, but they were all Adult books! And this books is Young Adult... and I was going to buy myself a copy when I received an ARC.... I am telling you, I was screaming with joy and happiness. I know that I'm not the only one who doe that when receiving books ;D
Between the Lines is, by far, one of the awesomest books I have read in 2012 yet. It was so refreshing and just plainly entertaining.
You know how some books you'd recommend to somebody who wanted to get into reading, like The Hunger Games, or Harry Potter... well, that's how I felt for this book. I felt like recommending it to EVERYONE. But, of course, it's not like I've got that much bookish people I know in real life... so that's why I got you guys! *tackle hugs*
Between the Lines is about Delilah, kind of a loner; she's got only one friend, and has been reading the same book over and over again. And, it's not just any book, but it's a FAIRYTALE... I mean, can it be weirder? Some teenagers read Pride & Prejudice again and again... but for her it'S a Fairytale called BETWEEN THE LINES (which is, as well, the title of this books ;D). But, then, she discovers that the characters in the book are alive. And, she falls in love with Oliver *giggles*
I loved the writing. It was just so good; fast-paced, action-packed, great, awesome, and really fun to read. I literally (no, not literally, Jackson Pearce XD) could marry him.
My favorite character HAS to be Oliver. I just loved him sooooo much. I thought it was cute how he didn't know anything that we think is normal, like Algebra, detention, homework, swim practice. It was so cute ;D
I also loved Delilah; she was a strong and determined character, and she was just greatly developed. She was entertaining.
Between the Lines will be, I hope, a favorite that will go on for years!
I would love to see this made into a movie; it would just be so cool! I can totally see the potential!
RATING
5 ROSES!
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LibraryThing member br13almu
In Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer, Delilah is an average student, average grades, average everything. At home, life isn’t much better, her father left her when she was younger and her mother is the only family left living in her home. Her mother and her have a very
This is the first Jodi Picoult book I have read and it was extremely good. She has is a very good describer and gives you a lot of details, but not overly descriptive. Also her idea and plot was very good and unique, it was a twist on the traditional, the-girl-finds-out-she-is-a-princess-boy-goes-to-saves-her-they-fall-in-love-and-marry. It still had the idea but there were many challenges that made it a lot trickier. Also it showed that a girl can also try to save the prince, not the way most if it is where the prince has to save the girl.
The one thing I didn't like about Between the Lines was the repetitiveness. Jodi Picoult would come up with a solution to get Oliver out, and this is how it would go. Think of a solution, consult with each other about it, agree to advance with it, test it, watch it fail, cry and think again.
I also didn't like how they would read the story inside the story, that part was very boring, and I found myself skimming sometimes.All in all though, I did find Between the Lines an exciting adventurous tale.
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awkward relationship which makes her life extremely boring. That changes one day when she is eating in her normal lunch place, the library. She finds a one-of-a-kind child book called Between the Lines. She instantly falls in love with it. She has it checked out for many, many, many months, until she figures out its secret. The characters are real, live beings. Oliver the main character is desperate to get out and meet real people, get out of doing a cycle, the same boring routine. When he meets Delilah, he knows this is his chance. He realizes she is the way out, and she is as desperate as he is. They work night and day to figure out the one solution. They try endless possibilities that end in failure. But will they give up hope? Will Delilah be stuck by her lonesome self and Oliver in his cycle?This is the first Jodi Picoult book I have read and it was extremely good. She has is a very good describer and gives you a lot of details, but not overly descriptive. Also her idea and plot was very good and unique, it was a twist on the traditional, the-girl-finds-out-she-is-a-princess-boy-goes-to-saves-her-they-fall-in-love-and-marry. It still had the idea but there were many challenges that made it a lot trickier. Also it showed that a girl can also try to save the prince, not the way most if it is where the prince has to save the girl.
The one thing I didn't like about Between the Lines was the repetitiveness. Jodi Picoult would come up with a solution to get Oliver out, and this is how it would go. Think of a solution, consult with each other about it, agree to advance with it, test it, watch it fail, cry and think again.
I also didn't like how they would read the story inside the story, that part was very boring, and I found myself skimming sometimes.All in all though, I did find Between the Lines an exciting adventurous tale.
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Awards
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2015)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
384 p.; 6.18 inches
ISBN
1444740962 / 9781444740967
Similar in this library
DDC/MDS
| 813.54 |