Publisher:
Macmillan
Release
Date: 27th
March 2014
Edition:
UK paperback,
review copy
This
is the story of Amy and Matthew.
It’s
about being different.
It’s
about feeling alive.
It’s
about finding each other.
It’s
about falling in love.
Ever since copies of this Amy and matthew started dropping on
bloggers doormats all I’ve heard about it is how beautiful and affecting it is.
Although I do agree with that, there is also a part of me that doesn’t quite
know how I feel about it.
I loved the surprising equality
in Amy and Matthew’s relationship. While Amy is trapped in her body, she has hemiplegic
cerebral palsy; Matthew is trapped in his mind by his OCD. Amy can’t speak
without her Pathway and her movements are unpredictable; Matthew is ruled by
the voice in his mind telling him that he has caused improbable occurrences and
that he needs to wash his hands over and over and over again. They are both
battling with something that they have no control over, and trying to take
control of it. The struggles they face and the way they deal with them with
strength and presence is so empowering.
Even though Amy and Matthew is written in third
person, both protagonists have really strong, definitive voices. Their presence
is so vivid and they both have such vibrant personalities. Though I cared about
them both and I wanted them to get what they deserved and be happy, but I also
wasn’t really fussed by them at the same time. I can’t pinpoint why or what it
was that made me feel that way.
Cammie McGovern pushed a strong
message home with Amy and Matthew about
inner strength, making your own choices and path in life, not judging someone
by one factor of their personality or physicality and the almost life-saving
abilities of friends. It’s an incredibly powerful idea that will stay with me
for a long while.
Amy
and Matthew has
a cast of characters, ideas and themes that are commanding of your attention
and thoughts. It’s a powerful novel that will captivate many, many readers.
Thanks to Macmillan for sending
me a review copy.
Sophie
Wow, I've seen this around but had no idea it had such strong and different characters, it sounds really interesting!
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