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WORK TITLE: The Movie Version
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://emmawunsch.com/
CITY: Lebanon
STATE: NH
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 2016020655
Descriptive conventions:
rda
Personal name heading:
Wunsch, Emma
Found in: The movie version, 2016: ECIP title page (Emma Wunsch)
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AUTHORITIES
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20540
Questions? Contact: ils@loc.gov
PERSONAL
Married, husband’s name Nick; children: two daughters.
EDUCATION:Binghamton University, B.A.; Brooklyn College, M.F.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Educator and writer. Previously taught at River Valley Community College, Claremont, NH, and Brooklyn College, New York, NY; Dartmouth College Hillel, Hanover, NH, director of donor relations, 2013–.
WRITINGS
Has written movie reviews for the Washington Free Press and published short fiction and journalism in a variety of publications, including Bellevue Literary Review, Chiron Review, Fugue, Hanging Loose, Inkwell, LIT, Passages North, Wilmington Blues, and The Best of the Bellevue Literary Review.
SIDELIGHTS
Emma Wunsch earned her bachelor’s degree at Binghamton University and her master of fine arts at Brooklyn College. She has taught writing at Brooklyn College and at River Valley Community College, in Claremont, New Hampshire, and has penned reviews for the Washington Free Press. Her short fiction and journalistic pieces have appeared in a variety of publications, including the Bellevue Literary Review, Fugue, and Passages North. She works as director of donor relations at Dartmouth College Hillel, in New Hampshire.
Wunsch’s debut young-adult novel looks through an adolescent’s eyes at the issue of mental illness. Sixteen-year-old Amanda returns home after a summer away to find her older brother, Toby, smoking pot and acting bizarrely and erratically. He is eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia. Not quite knowing what to do, Amanda turns to her school’s film club and the object of her summer romance, Epstein, for solace. Wunsch described her thematic interests in an interview at Cari Luna’s Web site: “Whether it’s having a teenage narrator or writing from the perspective of a dad agonizing over his daughter’s anorexia, I’ve always written about family.” Writing at the Web site Pique: Beyond the Book, Wunsch noted that as a child, “instead of having an imaginary friend, I had an inner narrative about being a totally different kid.” In the film version of her own life, her alter ego, Jamie Johnson, was an entirely different person: physically fit, adventurous, and well liked. This way of imagining film-like scenes is how she thinks about her writing; she uses the scenes she envisions as her working models. While they may or may not find their way into her stories, she related, “they definitely help me get a deeper sense of my imperfect characters.”
Critics had mixed feelings about Wunsch’s first novel. A writer in Kirkus Reviews thought Amelia’s “frustrating unwillingness to admit Toby’s schizophrenia” leads to the brother’s problem being “ultimately depicted … as a catalyst for her personal growth rather than a nuanced mental illness.” The reviewer also lamented the lack of an accompanying list of resources on mental illness for readers who might want to delve deeper into this fraught issue. A correspondent at Publishers Weekly remarked, however, that Wunsch “gives Amelia a powerful voice, alternately raw, vulnerable, and witty in its honesty,” and called Amelia a “memorable, full-of-feeling narrator.” Lucy Schall, writing in Voice of Youth Advocates, observed that Amelia and her brother speak to each other in movie dialogue and that “she begins to see life in a documentary context rather than a fictional one.” Schall expressed reservations about the underdeveloped secondary characters and plot.
Kat Impossible, writing at Life and Other Disasters, was disappointed with the way Amelia handles her brother’s diagnosis and wished that the protagonist had educated herself better about the condition. The reviewer found Amelia unlikable: “Everything was about her and how this ruined her life, not once did I read her thinking how this must be a terribly difficult time for her brother as well.” School Library Journal reviewer Natalie Struecker noted that the first-person “narrative about a complex sibling relationship will resonate with readers” and found that the “secondary characters are different and distinguishable.” She recommended the book to readers who appreciate stories that delve into mental health concerns. At the Heart Full of Books Web site, a reviewer commented: “With a great sibling relationship, a mental health issue and the trials and tribulations of first love, this book ticked way more boxes than I thought it would.” The reviewer “appreciated the visibility this book gave to schizophrenia.” A critic at the Opinionated Book Lover “wanted more action” but recognized that “if you like character-driven books, you may enjoy this one.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, https://www.kirkusreviews.com/ (August 1, 2016), review of The Movie Version.
Publishers Weekly, August 1, 2016, review of The Movie Version, p. 71; December 2, 2016, review of The Movie Version, p. 100.
School Library Journal, October, 2016, Natalie Struecker, review of The Movie Version, p. 117.
Voice of Youth Advocates, October, 2016, Lucy Schall, review of The Movie Version, p. 71.
ONLINE
Cari Luna Web site, http://cariluna.com/ (May 16, 2012), “Writer, with Kids: Emma Wunsch,” author interview.
Dartmouth College Hillel Web site, https://dartmouthhillel.wordpress.com/ (April 22, 2017), author profile.
Emma Wunsch Home Page, http://emmawunsch.com (April 22, 2017).
Heart Full of Books, https://heartfullofbooks.com/ (September 21, 2016), review of The Movie Version.
Life and Other Disasters, https://lifeandotherdisasters.com/ (October 5, 2016), Kat Impossible, review of The Movie Version.
Opinionated Book Lover, http://opinionatedbooklover.com/ (February 13, 2017), review of The Movie Version.
Paging Serenity, http://www.pagingserenity.com/ (September 14, 2016), Emz Chang, review of The Movie Version.
Pique: Beyond the Book, http://piquebeyond.com/ (September 12, 2016), Emma Wunsch, “Imagining Jamie Johnson.”
About
Suggest Edits
INTERESTS
Favorite Books
Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh
Eleanore and Park, by Rainbow Rowell
The Penderwicks, by Jeanne Birdsall
Chilly Scenes of Winter, by Ann Beattie
Anything by Adriene Tomine
Anything by Raina Telgemeier
Bink and Gollie, by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
El Deafo, by Cece Bell and David Lasky
Dear Mr. You, by Mary-Louise Parker
Single, Carefree, Mellow, by Katherine Heiny
Love Nina, Nina Stibbe
The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary
Collected Stories, by Raymond Carver
CONTACT INFO
MORE INFO
About
Emma Wunsch is the author of The Movie Version.
Biography
Emma Wunsch has written movie reviews for The Washington Free Press, worked in a used bookstore, taught college-level writing, and published short fiction and journalism in a variety of publications, including The Best of the Bellevue Literary Review. She lives in Lebanon, New Hampshire, with her husband, two daughters, and dog Ruby.
Emma is represented by Rachel Orr, at Prospect Agency.
Gender
Female
Emma Wunsch has written movie reviews for The Washington Free Press, worked in a used bookstore, taught college-level writing, and published short fiction and journalism in a variety of publications, including The Best of the Bellevue Literary Review. She lives in Lebanon, New Hampshire, with her husband, two daughters, and dog Ruby.
Emma is represented by Rachel Orr, at Prospect Agency.
The Movie Version
Emma Wunsch’s whip-smart, heart-wrenching debut YA novel, about first love, first loss, and filmmaking, will delight fans of Jandy Nelson and Jennifer Niven. The Movie Version will be published in October 2016 by Amulet, an imprint of Abrams Books.
Emma Wunsch
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384 Park Place
Brooklyn, NY 11238
Phone:
(718) 399-3864
E-mail:
EmmaWunsch@yahoo.com
Publications and Prizes
Journals:
Bellevue Literary Review, Chiron Review, Fugue, Hanging Loose, Inkwell, LIT, Passages North, Wilmington Blues
More Information
Listed as:
Fiction Writer
Gives readings:
Yes
Travels for readings:
Yes
Born in:
New York, United States
Raised in:
NY, United States
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last updated: Feb 14, 2008
Emma Wunsch
Emma Wunsch
Emma Wunsch
Director of Donor Relations
Emma Wunsch, director of donor relations, joined the staff of Dartmouth College Hillel in October 2013; she produces brochures, the Kol Koreh, and is responsible for many of Hillel’s mailings.
For most of the past ten years, she has taught English Composition in New York City and New Hampshire. She also writes freelance articles and fiction.
Emma moved to the Upper Valley from Brooklyn almost seven years ago and lives with her family in Lebanon. Her husband, Nick, teaches photography at Colby-Sawyer College and they have two daughters.
Emma is excited to be in a position where she can work to successfully steward Hillel both within Dartmouth and the Jewish community at large. Emma has truly enjoyed getting to know Rabbi Boraz, Claudia, and, most of all, the wonderful students at Dartmouth. She can be reached at (603) 646-1288 or emma.l.wunsch@dartmouth.edu.
Writer, with Kids: Emma Wunsch
May 16, 2012 — No Comments ↓
ew pic
Emma Wunsch’s short stories have been published in: Lit, The Brooklyn Review, The Bellevue Review, Fugue, J Journal, and Natural Bridge. She is currently revising a YA novel.
Age of kids: Georgia 3.5 and Dahlia 22 months
What was your writing schedule (ideal and actual) like before kids, and how has that changed?
I’ve really never had a writing schedule—generally, I’ve scheduled time to write in between things. Even though it feels like its never enough time, I’ve always been more productive with structure. Before kids, I wrote when I wasn’t teaching adjunct English classes or working as an administrative assistant. Now, it’s generally a few hours a week when the kids are in preschool/with a babysitter. Since my oldest was six months, I’ve had between 4-10 hours a week of childcare. Because I don’t have a ton of time, when I do sit down to write/revise I’m fast. I’ve learned that when I’m away from the girls, I can only do two things. I can write and I can go to the gym, but I can’t also clean my car and get a haircut. The two-thing rule has helped me utilize my time better.
Also, since my husband teaches at a college, he’s around during the summer, which gives me more time to write.
How do you remain present for your family even when you’re sunk deeply into a current project?
It’s not a choice: even the most riveting character in my mind, can’t compete with a toddler’s meltdown or demands for an animal tea party. I’m okay with that. The stories will wait; the kids can’t. I tend to think about plot points when I’m swimming, doing yoga, or driving alone.
How has parenthood changed the work itself, if at all?
Whether it’s having a teenage narrator or writing from the perspective of a dad agonizing over his daughter’s anorexia, I’ve always written about family. There are younger children as minor characters here and there since they’re very good for details (snot-encrusted sippy cups for example), but I don’t think my writing has changed that much. I have an idea for a novel about a sick parent of a young child and I decided that I just couldn’t do it—too scary/ close to home at this time in my life. Maybe when my kids are older, I’ll write it.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a working artist and a parent?
Money. I’m lucky that I’ve been able to be home for almost four years, but I’m going to need a paying job soon. Having a job, raising kids, making time to hang out with my husband, and also trying to find the time to write seems really daunting.
Do you have any advice to other writers with kids or who plan to have them?
I’m not sure I’m the person to ask for advice since my books haven’t been published yet, but I’m okay with messy floors and unfolded laundry if it means I’ve spent nap-time reading a novel, frantically editing, or playing with my older child. I’d much rather have dust bunnies under the beds than miss out on my kids’ childhoods. Soon enough, they’ll be gone and it’ll be me and the stories in my head. And the dust bunnies since I’ll probably never get around to tackling them.
The Movie Version
263.49 (Dec. 2, 2016): p100.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
The Movie Version
Emma Wunsch. Amulet, $18.95
ISBN 978-1-4197-1900-4
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
High school junior Amelia Anderson is always comparing events in her life to what their "movie version" counterparts would be, joined in her habit by her equally film-obsessed older brother, Toby. Toby is the star of the family, and Amelia looks up to him like no one else, so when he begins acting strangely she panics and starts covering for his increasingly disturbing behavior. After Toby is diagnosed with schizophrenia, Amelia and the rest of her family are devastated, even as she embarks on a tentative relationship with Epstein, a jam-band-loving Manhattanite she met during a summer babysitting gig in Montauk. Debut author Wunsch gives Amelia a powerful voice, alternately raw, vulnerable, and witty in its honesty about everything from sex ("I don't even feel bad that I give my very first blow job right on the couch where my grandmother watches the evening news") to family events spinning out of control. With a memorable, full-of-feeling narrator at its helm, this moving exploration of the effects of mental illness and a family's new normal marks Wunsch as a writer to watch. Ages 14-up.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Movie Version." Publishers Weekly, 2 Dec. 2016, p. 100. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA475224691&it=r&asid=6d3fb678eee3f9b94cffcb082abf18d8. Accessed 9 Apr. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A475224691
Wunsch, Emma. The Movie Version
Lucy Schall
39.4 (Oct. 2016): p71.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
3Q * 4P * S * NA
Wunsch, Emma. The Movie Version. Amulet/Abrams, 2016. 368p. $18.95. 978-1-4197-1900-4.
High school junior Amelia works to overcome her older brother's dominance and find herself. The charismatic, charming, and intelligent Toby is a skilled manipulator whose social circle focuses on beer, pot, and casual sex. He steals from his mother and borrows from Amelia to support his habit. Toby's protection is the "Secret Sibling Society," a pact he created with Amelia that defines telling as betraying. Amelia returns from her successful summer babysitting job with a first-time boyfriend, Epstein. His New York upper-class social group also focuses on drinking, sex, and drugs. During a hometown party, Toby has a hallucinating episode diagnosed as schizophrenia. Amelia isolates herself from family and her old and new friends. Her mother pressures her to attend a support group where she begins to put Toby's control and disease into perspective, and focus on her own personality and goals.
Amelia and Toby communicate with movie lines. Amelia relates to or ignores problems by thinking of movie scripts. When she joins the film club, she begins to see life in a documentary context rather than a fictional one. Two-page Chapter 34 indicates that Toby's friends might be learning from his experiences. In the final chapter, Amelia affirms that life is not fiction, but dreams of a renewed, although perhaps different, relationship with Epstein. Supporting characters have limited development, and the plot seems thin. The graphic sex scenes and soap-opera drama will draw some female interest and, perhaps, protests.--Lucy Schall.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Schall, Lucy. "Wunsch, Emma. The Movie Version." Voice of Youth Advocates, Oct. 2016, p. 71+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA467831141&it=r&asid=63558a053eff0a5f42ee235ee237b855. Accessed 9 Apr. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A467831141
The Movie Version
263.31 (Aug. 1, 2016): p71.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
* The Movie Version
Emma Wunsch. Amulet, $18.95 (320p) ISBN 978-1-4197-1900-4
High school junior Amelia Anderson is always comparing events in her life to what their "movie version" counterparts would be, joined in her habit by her equally film-obsessed older brother, Toby. Toby is the star of the family, and Amelia looks up to him like no one else, so when he begins acting strangely she panics and starts covering for his increasingly disturbing behavior. After Toby is diagnosed with schizophrenia, Amelia and the rest of her family are devastated, even as she embarks on a tentative relationship with Epstein, a jam-bandloving Manhattanite she met during a summer babysitting gig in Montauk. Debut author Wunsch gives Amelia a powerful voice, alternately raw, vulnerable, and witty in its honesty about everything from sex ("I don't even feel bad that I give my very first blow job right on the couch where my grandmother watches the evening news") to family events spinning out of control. With a memorable, full-of-feeling narrator at its helm, this moving exploration of the effects of mental illness and a family's new normal marks Wunsch as a writer to watch. Ages 14-up. Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. (Oct.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Movie Version." Publishers Weekly, 1 Aug. 2016, p. 71. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA460285765&it=r&asid=012ca73d77a16a9e5af6a2ce32f14d83. Accessed 9 Apr. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A460285765
Wunsch, Emma. The Movie Version
Natalie Struecker
62.10 (Oct. 2016): p117.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
WUNSCH, Emma. The Movie Version. 368p. ebook available. Abrams/Amulet. Oct. 2016. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781419719004.
Gr 9 Up--Amelia can't wait for her junior year of high school to start. Her brother Toby, a popular senior, will make the year awesome. There will be parties, friends, and movie marathons. Amelia can't wait to tell Toby she may have a boyfriend. Nothing happens the way she imagined. Her sibling hides in his room and spends his days smoking pot, writing in a notebook, reading "Lord of the Rings," and listening to the Beatles. Amelia covers for him when he skips classes and when he hallucinates after drinking. While this is happening at home, the protagonist is trying to deal with school and her first boyfriend and struggling in a world without Toby as the star. Toby's breaking point occurs in the cafeteria, and Amelia tries to come to terms with his diagnosis. When he is sent to a treatment center, Amelia has to learn what kind of person she can be without her brother. Told in the first person, this narrative about a complex sibling relationship will resonate with readers. There are references to teenage drinking, cigarettes and marijuana, and sex. The secondary characters are different and distinguishable, but Amelia and Toby take center stage. VERDICT Recommend to fans of realistic fiction that focuses on mental health issues.-Natalie Struecker, Atlantic Public Library, IA
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Struecker, Natalie. "Wunsch, Emma. The Movie Version." School Library Journal, Oct. 2016, p. 117. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466166988&it=r&asid=704dd5d3e5e2449051bb6d8f191e069e. Accessed 9 Apr. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466166988
Review – The Movie Version by Emma Wunsch
Posted September 14, 2016 by Emz Chang in review / 0 Comments
I received this book for free from NetGalley, ABRAMS Kids in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Review – The Movie Version by Emma Wunsch
TITLE: The Movie Version
AUTHOR: Emma Wunsch
Publisher: Amulet Books
PUBLICATION DATE: October 11th 2016
Source: NetGalley, ABRAMS Kids
Review:
The Movie Version is about… wait, hold on, I need to think about this for a second. Um, The Movie Version is about Amelia and how she deals with her brother’s mental illness?
I was not overly impressed with The Movie Version. First of all, the synopsis was seriously misleading. It lead me to believe that I should expect a cute self-discovery novel about a girl falling in love for the first time. That is what you would expect from a synopsis that claims it is a “YA novel about first love, first loss, and filmmaking”, no? What I got instead was a whole modge podge of things. First love (so, so awkward), friendship, family, mental illness (does this count as “first loss”?), and filmmaking (if you call movie references and the existence of a film club filmmaking…).
First love. Oh god. This was so incredibly awkward to read about. And it wasn’t a cute awkward. More like cringe-worthy, love at first sight, awkward. Not only did it feel forced, it also felt really superficial. It seemed really basic and not developed at all.
Okay, so I admit, maybe one of the many reasons why I didn’t like the romance in The Movie Version is because I didn’t love Amelia, the main character. Amelia reminded me of some girls I had the misfortune of knowing in high school. I could understand her and her logic, but she was so annoying. She made me facepalm at least every other chapter.
Another problem is that while I have so much in common with Amelia, she was still very hard for me to connect to. She was like a flat character that only went through a little growth, and only in the last few characters. And maybe it’s okay to not like the protagonist that much. But in my opinion, it is kind of necessary for the main character to be at least somewhat likable in a character driven book, like this one.
I had a really hard time reading The Movie Version. While the writing embodied the teen spirit of Amelia, it failed me in many ways. I kept waiting for it to pull me in and make me care about the story. But it never happened. In fact, I almost DNFed this book a couple of times. I also didn’t like how unrealistic it became at times and how it dealt with certain situations.
And then there’s how The Movie Version dealt with mental illness. I was not pleased. While I am still debating if mental illness was used as a plot device intentionally, I cannot stand behind how it was represented in this book. I will admit that as disgusting and ignorant the reaction of Amelia and her family was, it was, sadly, realistic. That being said, beyond the last few chapters, The Movie Version does nothing to fight the stigma attached to mental illness. In fact, it’s just more proof why society needs to change the labels we associate with them.
In Conclusion…
With a terribly awkward romance, annoying main characters, and the aggravating way it dealt with mental illness, The Movie Version isn’t a novel I would read again or recommend to friends. It does have a few highlights (movie references, childhood flashbacks, and how it captures teen spirit), but they, unfortunately, do not outweigh the lows for me.
Final Rating
Characters
2 Stars
Pacing
2 Stars
Plot
1.5 Stars
Romance
1.5 Stars
Writing
3 Stars
Overall: 2
Review: The Movie Version by Emma Wunsch
Published on September 21, 2016
cover92310-medium
The Movie Version by Emma Wunsch
Genre: Contemporary
Published by: Amulet Books
Pages: 368
Format: ARC e-book
Rating: ★★★★
The idea of a character that constantly compares real life to the movies, and how it would be better if it was a movie, sounds like my kind of thing. I feel like I’m constantly quoting films or bringing them up in conversation, whether it alienates other people or not. So, The Movie Version was setting itself up to be good, but I didn’t realise it would be so great. With a great sibling relationship, a mental health issue and the trials and tribulations of first love, this book ticked way more boxes than I thought it would.
Things I loved about this book in no particular order:
The movie references – I may not have understood all of them but like I said, I can always appreciate a good film reference. My particular favourite was the shout out to Mary Kate and Ashley movies, When in Rome and New York Minute (personal faves for obvious reasons.) It didn’t feel like an outlandish and forced quirk either because I’m testament to the fact that people quote films in real life all the time.
Best friends who care – I thought that Ray, Toast and Muppet were a great selection of besties for Amelia. I’m the kind of person that likes to give my characters weird nicknames based on foods, so I appreciated Toast on a different level. They weren’t pushing Amelia to talk about her brother or her feelings but they were interested enough to ask about him and check up on her wellbeing. Ray was my personal favourite. A cinnamon bun selling actual cinnamon buns at a mall food court. I loved that she didn’t get annoyed when Amelia lost her purse, or didn’t immediately tell her when she lost her virginity. She was very chill and great because of it.
Sibling relationships – The bond between Amelia and Toby was special. I thought the little film script moments that gave you flashbacks to their childhood and showed what an awesome brother Toby was, were sweet and well integrated.
Reading about how a mental illness affects everyone around the sufferer – Normally, when I read a book with a mental illness in it, said mental illness is usually affecting the main character, like Evie in Am I Normal Yet? Or a parent, like in Where You’ll Find Me. It was really interesting to read about a sibling suffering, because that’s something you can’t walk away from. They’re part of your family and probably close to your age. It’s important to consider how mental health has a rippling affect.
Sex scenes that weren’t romanticised – As well as being a book about a sister dealing with her brother getting diagnosed with schizophrenia, before all that happens, Amelia leads a regular life with a new boyfriend, Epstein. Although in other reviews I’ve read, some people didn’t think the romance subplot fit with the rest of the novel, I thought it was an excellent contrast to the emotional intensity, post diagnosis.
Abdi – arguably the best character, who was kind of like Abed from ‘Community’ (maybe it’s not a coincidence that their names are so similar??) He helped Amelia realise that she had more than a surface level interest in films and was a great addition to the cast of best friends.
Things to be weary of:
There’s only one real thing to note: how accurate a representation this is of schizophrenia. I can’t be sure, as I know very little about it myself, and don’t really feel like I can comment. There were a few episodes and scrapes that were really serious and I think I’ll wait until more people have read the book before making a decision about the mental health element.But, I definitely appreciated the visibility this book gave to schizophrenia, an issue I haven’t seen at all in YA so far.
Review: The Movie Version by Emma Wunsch
February 13, 2017 No Comments
The Movie Version by Emma Wunsch
The Movie Version is a YA contemporary book that is much more character-driven than I was hoping. It’s written in first person from Amelia’s point of view. She is a high school junior, who hero-worships her older brother, Toby. He’s kind of an ultimate cool guy, who does a little more drinking and drugs for my taste. Toby and Amelia share a love of movies. They’re always quoting movies to each other instead of having actual conversation. And they imagine the “movie version” of their lives. I really liked the premise of this book.
In execution, I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I wanted more action, less character development. It takes 1/3 of the book before the major event takes place. I won’t reveal what it is, but it’s hinted at in the book description, so avoid that if you want to be surprised. Also, Amelia drove me nuts! I couldn’t stand being inside her head. She was so blinded by her love of Toby. I found it quite nauseating.
I did really enjoy her romantic encounters and her relationship with her best friend. They discussed the DTR (“define the relationship” talk) a lot, and it brought me right back to high school. I had forgotten all about that expression.
If you like character-driven books, you may enjoy this one a lot more than I did.
Rating: 2 Stars
Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact does not in any way impact my thoughts/feelings about the book.
The Movie Version by Emma Wunsch (Arc Review)
October 5, 2016 Kat Impossible14 Comments
tmv
Publisher: Amulet Books
Page Count: 368
Publishing Date: October 11, 2016
**I was provided with an eArc by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**
I read this with fellow Blogateers Cátia and Cristina, which is a good thing, because there was a lot of ranting to be done. And when I say “a lot”, I really mean it this time! Their reviews aren’t up yet, but you should check back on their blogs (by clicking on their names) to read about their experience with the book.
I am just going to say it straight away, this book is about mental illness, schizophrenia to be exact. I feel like that’s something you can’t really gather from the synopsis, which is a shame, because then you go into The Movie Version with completely wrong expectations. There’s nothing wrong with the topic itself, I usually quite appreciate books that take on such an important and quite frankly complex theme, but it simply didn’t work for me here.
Right from the beginning something felt off. Most of it is probably due to me not connecting with the main character, Amelia, at all. She lived in this oblivious bubble of her movie-life. More than once I wondered, if she chose to ignore her brother’s alarming behaviour, if she really didn’t think it was all that odd or if she thought she was actually “protecting” him. I do understand that siblings are supposed to cover for each other, but what she did was in no way helpful. Then, when her brother Toby finally got diagnosed and the help he needed, I could stand her even less. Again, I tried to understand her actions, telling myself that there would probably be a period of denial and then she would get on the case and educate herself about schizophrenia. But nope, that was not the case and it was maddening.
Bildergebnis für shame gif
Everything was about her and how this ruined her life, not once did I read her thinking how this must be a terribly difficult time for her brother as well. All her friends, even the most flaky ones, knew more about schizophrenia than she did, simply because she refused to talk about it. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed for, yet that is exactly how she acted. She lashed out at anyone who wanted to talk and maybe comfort her, telling them and herself that they wouldn’t understand, even though they were far from overbearing and really just concerned. She showed a little growth towards the end, which justifies my 2-star-rating, but ultimately her behaviour just made me sad. I even cried while reading, because I was so disappointed in Amelia. Yes, this is difficult for the family members as well as for the person concerned, but she didn’t even try to talk to Toby or try to understand what was happening. She just wanted her old brother back.
Amelia’s side-story about her love-life wasn’t helpful either. At most times it felt random or awkward at best. I did not feel any chemistry and she kept complaining about a certain feature of his, that I could not imagine being such a big deal. One thing is for sure, this book did not show the movie-version of life. However, I don’t think it portrayed reality either, at least I really don’t hope so.
Fazit: 2/5 stars! Not what I would have wanted to get from a story like this.
2stars