By: Pinterest user KayCee K.
It’s 5:34pm and I just finished reading Nicola Yoon’s The Sun Is Also a Star even though I should be doing homework. Do I regret it? Nope, not one single bit. The perks of being a college student, procrastination, and having a “glimpse” of a book is normal. If you still don’t remember who Nicola Yoon is, then you might recall her best seller Everything, Everything, now a major motion picture. Now, back to “The Sun is also a Star”…well, what can I tell you about it? From: Author’s Page
Although the book has a good old “meet-cute” where young Natasha finds herself meeting Daniel, the love-story itself was not complex. There’s young love that spurts out from the middle of nowhere between two young and very different people. They bring out the indistinguishable intimacy that comes with attraction; every single event that happens brings them together and also forces them apart. It’s this constant face-off that brings out important themes, such as the struggle immigrants face in the United States, the displacement felt by families who immigrate, but most importantly, the façade that is the “American dream.” Natasha’s own father is enthralled by the idea of becoming a famous actor, but his dreams ultimately wither and become his own family’s downfall.
“America’s not really a melting pot. It’s more like one of those divided metal plates with separated section for starch, meat and veggies.” —-Natasha
Ohh, and the teenage romance. I’m not saying it’s bad, but it leaves the reader wanting a more thoughtful scheme as to how it develops. Digging into the customary ‘love at first sight’ scenario, the ordinariness of Daniel and Natasha’s encounter can be appreciated since it pretty much happens to everyone at some point in their lives. You meet someone really interesting, who peaks your interest and whom you can fully imagine ourselves having a future with, in those few hours shared and then for unknown reasons of the universe, your paths lead astray. Leaving you with forever promises hanging in the air, which will never truly be fulfilled, and the almost too perfect memories. But, in time everything fades and it starts to become a “could’ve been moment,” 20 years in and it’s no longer important getting safely locked in the back of your mind.
“. . . koi no yokan. It doesn’t mean love at first sight. It’s closer to love at second sight.” —-Daniel
The most fascinating detail of the book is how Yoon captured the essence of her characters. They are vibrant, alive, and full of insight. It is their continuous mingling with minor characters that brings out the enigma of this book. What goes on in the universe is we only watch the sun? Those mingling sessions that Natasha and Daniel go through as they make their way to their final destinies is what Yoon uses as her canvas, giving intimate details of science, the characters, even meaningless scenes that become the celestial bodies and make-up the bigger story. From: author’s Instagram page
If you didn’t already know, this book is soon to be movie blockbuster, and who knows, maybe it will surprise us all with a little spark of the universe. If you want to know more of the author and her upcoming events, follow her on twitter: @NicolaYoon, tumblr or instagram