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BOOK REVIEW: LOVE LETTERS TO THE DEAD by AVA DELLAIRA

If you have read Perks of Being Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, you’d want to read this one too. And I am sure, you’ll love it! This is my second debutante book this year (after Adelle Waldman’s Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.) and I am must say, it’s getting better the more I go for debutantes.

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira is an exceptional book. Written in the form of letters which begins as an assignment for English class, ‘Write a letter to a dead person’, Laurel, the narrator, chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, loved him. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them as an assignment to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while her sister was supposed to be looking out for her. I do enjoy books which are written in the form of letters or as journals, it makes me feel that I have some kind of connection with the book.

When I started reading it, it didn’t take me long to realize the a bit of similarity between Perks of Being Wallflower and this book. But as I read it more, I felt that it is better written and more expressive than the Perks of Being Wallflower. The plot is well structured, the writing- beautiful, almost lyrical at times and the characterization seems real at times. Reading through the narration of Laurel made me realized a lot of things which are simple yet a thought should be given to them. Death, though a five letter word, can affect a surrounding in a greater aspect and we all know that. The consequences are hard, difficult and can be problematic, deciphering in her own words, “The art of losing isn’t hard to master”, but life goes on. And that’s what Laurel do. She goes on to live with the truth. There is a very nice line about truth in the book. It goes like this: “Truth is beautiful, no matter what that truth is. Even if it’s scary or bad. It is beauty simply because it’s true. And truth is bright. Truth makes you more you”.

I finished this book in two days, though in between at times I felt that I am going offshore with it, and when it starts to feel a bit tedious, something drives me back to the book. I don’t know if it author’s writing or the innocence of the narrator, something drives me back to it everytime when I started to flow away from the text. And it did not happen once, it happened on and off, almost through the book, until I reached later chapters of the book. There is no doubt that Ava Dellaira has written the book beautifully and extraordinarily well and on reading it, a reader can easily feel the time and hard work of the author devoted, through her words. The book certainly one of it’s kind in the literature of 21 st Century.

4.5 out of 5 from me! Recommended!

This review appeared in Hindustan Times Brunch Magazine on June 22, 2014.

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Desiree B says: April 15, 2014 at 1:12 PM Wow this book had an interesting concept. I'll definitely look into it, thanks for sharing!
Hayley Knighten says: April 15, 2014 at 1:42 PM I loved Perks of Being a Wallflower and this book has such a unique concept that I am now very interested in it. Thanks for the recommendation!
booleangal says: April 15, 2014 at 1:47 PM You had me at Kurt Cobain. But seriously, I will chase this book down because of your wonderful review.
Karen says: April 15, 2014 at 4:54 PM Thanks for this review and recommendation!
Adelemm says: April 15, 2014 at 6:26 PM This is going straight on my 'to read' list, lovely review, thanks! And thanks for popping by my blog and liking my post. As a fellow readaholic I'm now your latest follower :)
Claudia H. Blanton says: April 15, 2014 at 7:01 PM that sounds like a book my daughter would enjoy, she loved Perks of Being A Wallflower! After this review, I might actually have to pick it up - if I ever find the time - great blog!
izniarifahshuib says: April 15, 2014 at 8:23 PM sounds good! will save the title and look for it at the bookstore. cant wait! well, im a readaholic too :)
elletodd says: April 15, 2014 at 8:52 PM Terrific review. I'm always on the lookout for new books to read, and you've given me one. Thanks! I'll be checking out more of your reviews in future!
susanddhavle says: April 16, 2014 at 6:32 PM Would like to read this book so highly recommended by you....
Darklittle says: June 30, 2014 at 10:21 PM I was so close to buying this today and then I didn't. I'm just not 100% sure about it :)

Wow this book had an interesting concept. I'll definitely look into it, thanks for sharing!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 15, 2014 at 1:13 PM You're welcome and I am sure you'll enjoy it :)

You're welcome and I am sure you'll enjoy it :)

I loved Perks of Being a Wallflower and this book has such a unique concept that I am now very interested in it. Thanks for the recommendation!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 15, 2014 at 5:44 PM You're most welcome Hayley. I hope you enjoy it while reading it :)

You're most welcome Hayley. I hope you enjoy it while reading it :)

You had me at Kurt Cobain. But seriously, I will chase this book down because of your wonderful review.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 15, 2014 at 5:45 PM Thanks for reading the review! I hope you enjoy it when you read it :)

Thanks for reading the review! I hope you enjoy it when you read it :)

Thanks for this review and recommendation!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 15, 2014 at 5:47 PM You're most welcome Karen :)

You're most welcome Karen :)

This is going straight on my 'to read' list, lovely review, thanks! And thanks for popping by my blog and liking my post. As a fellow readaholic I'm now your latest follower :)

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 15, 2014 at 6:28 PM Thanks to you for reading the post visiting here. You have a lovely blog! I'd be visiting soon... :D

Thanks to you for reading the post visiting here. You have a lovely blog! I'd be visiting soon... :D

that sounds like a book my daughter would enjoy, she loved Perks of Being A Wallflower! After this review, I might actually have to pick it up - if I ever find the time - great blog!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 15, 2014 at 7:03 PM Thanks Claudia for reading the review and visiting by. I am sure, your Daughter will enjoy the book :) It's a better than Perks of being Wallflower in my opinion!

Thanks Claudia for reading the review and visiting by. I am sure, your Daughter will enjoy the book :) It's a better than Perks of being Wallflower in my opinion!

sounds good! will save the title and look for it at the bookstore. cant wait! well, im a readaholic too :)

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 15, 2014 at 8:36 PM I hope you enjoy the book. Thanks for visiting buy :)

I hope you enjoy the book. Thanks for visiting buy :)

Terrific review. I'm always on the lookout for new books to read, and you've given me one. Thanks! I'll be checking out more of your reviews in future!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 15, 2014 at 9:00 PM Thanks a lot Elle to read the review and visiting blog :) I hope to add more books in your TBR through my reviews!

Thanks a lot Elle to read the review and visiting blog :) I hope to add more books in your TBR through my reviews!

Would like to read this book so highly recommended by you....

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 16, 2014 at 6:48 PM Thanks. I hope you enjoy it :)

Thanks. I hope you enjoy it :)

I was so close to buying this today and then I didn't. I'm just not 100% sure about it :)

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 30, 2014 at 10:24 PM Well it's a good YA. But a bit sad, more like The Perks of Being Wallflower. Actually, better. :)

Well it's a good YA. But a bit sad, more like The Perks of Being Wallflower. Actually, better. :)

Darklittle says: June 30, 2014 at 10:29 PM I like sad a lot but I don't need YA all the time. So there's the catch. What I find intriguing is the letter writing to the dead :)

I like sad a lot but I don't need YA all the time. So there's the catch. What I find intriguing is the letter writing to the dead :)

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 30, 2014 at 10:32 PM Yes, the title tells you that and it is what binds a reader to the story! :) Some day, give it a try!

Yes, the title tells you that and it is what binds a reader to the story! :)
Some day, give it a try!

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