loganshouldreadmore's Reviews (489)

Seeing Red was a unique book that definitely took me a while to get into. The novel started off very slow if I'm being completely honest, however once I hit the middle of the book (and I mean that literally, the pages were split dead even), the whole vibe changed. I understood that this novel was about more than just a tween learning to cope with his father's death, but also much broader themes that included racism, friendship, decision making and mystery. This book was completely unexpected for me and I'm thrilled to have not given up on it!

An absolutely shocking plotline. The entire time I read the book, I couldn't help but picture the Duggars and their perspective on life and the role of women in the household. I was slightly disgusted at the fact that there are women that feel as though their only option is the path their father lays out for them. As I type this, my mother came in to ask which shoe matched her outfit better. In this society, who cares? You'll be married off anyway, whether your outfit looks nice, or like you pulled it out of the trash. You're a wholesome, wonderful girl who is only to take care of the household and your future husband and children. You don't have a place of worth or a meaning to do anything but take care of your family. Education and success is raising healthy babies. It's like the dark ages again.

But aside from my own personal opinions of the plot, the book was very unique and well written. It was a lovely read and really (obviously) made me think about things.

Seriously one of the best love stories I've read recently. I fell in love with Delilah as a character, and Ockler as a writer portrayed her as the perfect, rebellious, teenage girl who would so absolutely despise going to Vermont for a summer. The only complaint I really had was the fact that I basically guessed what was going to happen at the end, as soon as I started reading it. It wasn't a very complex ending, but HOW she got to that ending is what kept me reading the entire time. Her style of writing is lovely, and incredibly descriptive and poetic at times (something that tends to keep my interests peaked).

I was thrilled with some of the quotes I got from this book and some of the issues that were tackled as well as the word 'love' actually wasn't said five-hundred times in the course of a chapter...as a reader, you just knew that it was implied without having to read it. And that I appreciate; Ockler wasn't looking as the reader as someone who didn't understand her characters or their motives. She said what they were thinking, but she left out things that I (as a reader) could add. I knew Delilah and Patrick and they didn't have to say everything.

By the time I got to the end of the book, I began questioning things in my own life, as Delilah did. I would drive past cemeteries and wonder who the people were and what secrets were buried with them. I tended to do that a lot but more frequently now, reading about someone who lost someone so full of hidden secrets and untold stories. I would definitely recommend this, and will be purchasing it, ASAP!