That sounded a lot more dramatic than it was meant to. See? Novel writing is following me. (I just finished my first dramatic scene. Let's just say it involved blood and demons and secrets.)
I AM SO EAGER TO PRESENT THIS BOOK TO YOU SO LET'S GO:
The Program by Suzanne Young
Pages: 405
Favourite Quotes: "After all, suicide is contagious." "Some things are better left in the past, and true things are destined to repeat themselves." "The only real thing is now."
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane's parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they'll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who's been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone - but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He's promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they've made to each other, it's getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.
And The Program is coming for them.
I am really eager to write about this book, not only because it is such an interesting and mind-blowing novel, but also because I have never heard of it prior to reading it. Ever. I literally stumbled across it on BookDepository and then just yolo'ed it. It wasn't like I was deeply entranced with the book at first, or anything. It wasn't love at first sight. I didn't really have an opinion on it, even. It was more like, meh, let's just shove a bunch of books into my cart and hope for the best.
I don't know what exactly the best was, but this definitely beat it.
I opened the book and BAM. Hooked. Gone. Don't even try to talk to me, I'm out of this world. And if I wasn't reading it, then I was curled up in a corner with some stuffed animals and my blankie, bawling my eyes out.
I feel like I should warn you all now - this book is a hardcore ride. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Anyhow, to the actual book. As the blurb says, it's about a world where suicide is considered an epidemic, and anyone under 18 is closely watched for the 'signs' - if you are considered as infected, you are 'flagged' and sent to the Program. And, that is NOT something you want - because whoever enters the Program isn't the same person that leaves it. Why? They're memories are erased.
Obviously, James and Sloane are trying their hardest to stick it out, hold up a happy front, until they're 18 and the Program loses its jurisdiction over them. The story is narrated in first person, from Sloane's point of view, and I personally believe that this was executed beautifully. Her character changes a lot during the novel - it has to - and you can see the change happen before your eyes, so gradually that sometimes you are taken aback when you finally notice it. I think the best thing about this book is not just how realistic the characters are - all of them are individual fireworks, unique, three dimensional and so, undeniably human - but with how we see those characters evolve throughout the book. It's hard enough to paint a realistic world with realistic characters, but it's another thing entirely to take those characters, unravel them, and put them back together in a way that doesn't destroy them or the story. It's this that I feel in love with in the book. Basically, you get to know these characters, James and Sloane, and their relationship, as they themselves fall apart. You see them while they're healthy and you see them unraveling, being affected, and build up again. You see their memories as they forget them and you see them try to navigate around those lost memories, around the rules and careful eyes that follow them. And you cry. Because, although they can't, you can. It even feels like that - like you have to cry because they can't. As if they shove all their own emotions on to you. And not in a bad way, of course. In a you-give-me-the-feels-I-swear-you-can't-be-fictional.
I mean, just look at the relationship between Sloane and James. That was beautiful. The memories you see, they way they are together, everything. It's just beautiful. It felt like a real relationship. Not a twilight, obsessed, unhealthy, ridiculous relationship, but just complete. They just were. Not rushed or forced or idiotically written. In fact, this was perhaps the best written relationship I ever had the luck to read about. And it was fun. Despite everything, it was genuinely fun to read about them, not only together, but also individually.
It's always difficult to accurately write about themes such as suicide. And usually, the books that do write about them glorify the subjects. They focus on the strength of the people that go through and, basically hero-fy characters with these issues. This book does not do that. In fact, it does not specifically delve into the issue at all. Now this can be a good or bad thing, but in this case, it was a good thing. By not delving into it, Suzanne Young refrained from giving the issue any special meaning. And, sure, it's important to discuss these issues but I felt that with, not quite rendering it unimportant, but, I suppose, removing the hype around suicide, the author was able to just simply tell us a story. And I think that's important, to see people have this disease without focusing solely on it. I suppose, what I am trying to say and what I think the message of this book is, is that suicide does not define a person. The book simply gave the reader insight on it. In a very well written manner, I might add.
I don't have anything negative to say against this book. I think my greatest problem with it is the fact that the sequel doesn't come out in, oh, another six months. (It's called The Treatment, by the way).
Recommendation? READ IT. DEFINITELY READ IT.
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