Nov 08 2012

Book Review: Willow by Julia Hoban

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  • November 8, 2012

  • 4 mins to read
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Book Review – “Willow” by Julia Hoban

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen-year- old Willow’s parents drank too much wine and asked her to drive them home. They never made it. Willow lost control of the car and her parents died in the accident. Now she has left behind her old home, friends, and school, and blocks the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when Willow meets Guy, a boy as sensitive and complicated as she is, she begins an intense, life-changing relationship that turns her world upside down.

Told in an arresting, fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl’s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy’s refusal to give up on her. – Speak

I remember reading about “Willow” a couple of years ago on a book blogger’s recommended books list. (I can’t recall the name of that blog; if I did, I would give the blogger proper credit for bringing this book to my attention.) The dark theme of cutting appealed to me as it’s not something I know much about, and I love reading dark realistic novels. “Willow” doesn’t disappoint in this regard.

Where Hoban succeeds best is giving us a character we can empathize with, even if most of us don’t have to face the enormity of committing a horrible deed. Willow is in a fragile state, and the overwhelming pain she feels is relieved by, ironically enough, cutting herself. The subject of cutting is taboo; you don’t hear much about it and it carries with it a certain stigma. I’ve wondered how such an act can possibly bring someone relief but the third-person narration convinced me of just how much of an unburdening it can be—with descriptions of razors cutting the skin and the blood prickling underneath demonstrating it as a release from psychological hurt. No one has a clue about Willow’s secret, because she takes great care not to draw attention to herself in any way. Riddled with guilt, she already feels like a burden to her brother David and his wife, with whom she lives.

As likeable as Willow is, I like Guy even more. She meets him at the library where she works, and they quickly start spending time together. It’s easy to see why they would—they are both tender-hearted and sensitive people. Guy discovers her secret early on, and his reaction is one of repulsion and horror, a perfectly reasonable reaction even if he can’t fathom why she would want to mutilate herself. I don’t know how I feel about him keeping her secret, though, because, shouldn’t an adult be aware of what she’s doing, especially David? At the same time, though, I respect Guy’s loyalty, because he wants to get to know her and learn why she self mutilates. We don’t get a satisfactory answer about this, and that’s something I feel was missing from this book.

If I have any complaints about Guy as a character, it’s that he can come off as the male version of a Mary Sue—he appears to have no real flaws and is always compassionate and patient. This annoyed me to some extent because perfect characters are boring (not to mention unrealistic), but I was able to overlook it because Willow so desperately needed someone to look after her. She would’ve been easy to take advantage of in her fragile frame of mind.

The dialogue between Willow and Guy gives us some poignant moments, some of which brought tears to my eyes. The deal they make with each other—she has to stop cutting or he will reveal her secret to David—helps Willow to envision a life without cutting. Having Guy watching over her like a protector is the great motivator to stop.

When I finished reading “Willow,” I was disappointed to see some situations left open-ended. We do get the big talk between Willow and David (which was much needed), when they both reveal their deepest fears about losing each other. The sense of closeness was quite palpable, and I think Hoban does justice to both characters’ struggles. It’s clear she cares a great deal about them.

I recommend “Willow” for anyone who’s interested in exploring dark themes, and those who know someone who self injures. Chances are, you know someone who does.

 

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Juana

My favorite forms of escapism are books and telly/film. I require plenty of solitude.

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