Review: Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywood Henry
Help I don't know how to feel anything anymore.
Ok.
So.
This book is super complex, y'all. The characters are so well written and they are all pretty terrible people. Which is great. Everyone in this book committed some of the worst crimes imaginable. Yet by the end of the book you are like. Do they deserve to die though?
Honestly this book paints a very harsh view of humanity that I don't agree with. At every turn everyone does the worst action possible. I kind of thought this was just because we see the world as it is through Eternity's eyes, but after seeing the end author's note I am not so sure. After reading this book take a moment to look at all the good things going on in the world. It is easy to feel like everything, all the time, is horrible. I promise you it is not.
The books themes about race are very heavy-handed at times but I don't really mind that. Sometimes that is what is needed to make people listen.
A big point made in this book is how people's brains aren't fully developed until 25 or whatever. And with most crimes I could get down with that excuse. Like yeah, your poor impulse control and inability to think clearly about the outcomes of your decisions made you steal that purse or whatever. But I think at 18 you can probably know that hey. Maybe I shouldn't kill that little girl. You know?
Like, Eternity is such an interesting character, and by the end of the book you really do care for her, but I think it may be less than how the author cares for her. Yes, she had a horrible life. Yes, that sucks. No, I don't feel that bad for her. I am sorry but like again a lot of people go through horrific things and don't kill children about it.
HOWEVER I am also like hey maybe it is kind of crazy that the state of Texas gets to kill her. Like, maybe don't do that.
IDK man this book made me sad. It is very well written. It is so bleak and I don't think I would read it again. I do think you should read it though! I am so excited to start seeing reviews come in with people's opinions!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
Ok.
So.
This book is super complex, y'all. The characters are so well written and they are all pretty terrible people. Which is great. Everyone in this book committed some of the worst crimes imaginable. Yet by the end of the book you are like. Do they deserve to die though?
Honestly this book paints a very harsh view of humanity that I don't agree with. At every turn everyone does the worst action possible. I kind of thought this was just because we see the world as it is through Eternity's eyes, but after seeing the end author's note I am not so sure. After reading this book take a moment to look at all the good things going on in the world. It is easy to feel like everything, all the time, is horrible. I promise you it is not.
The books themes about race are very heavy-handed at times but I don't really mind that. Sometimes that is what is needed to make people listen.
A big point made in this book is how people's brains aren't fully developed until 25 or whatever. And with most crimes I could get down with that excuse. Like yeah, your poor impulse control and inability to think clearly about the outcomes of your decisions made you steal that purse or whatever. But I think at 18 you can probably know that hey. Maybe I shouldn't kill that little girl. You know?
Like, Eternity is such an interesting character, and by the end of the book you really do care for her, but I think it may be less than how the author cares for her. Yes, she had a horrible life. Yes, that sucks. No, I don't feel that bad for her. I am sorry but like again a lot of people go through horrific things and don't kill children about it.
HOWEVER I am also like hey maybe it is kind of crazy that the state of Texas gets to kill her. Like, maybe don't do that.
IDK man this book made me sad. It is very well written. It is so bleak and I don't think I would read it again. I do think you should read it though! I am so excited to start seeing reviews come in with people's opinions!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
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