Graffiti Moon [Hardcover]

Graffiti Moon is one of those books that really needs to be aborbed properly; you hear the words, and let them sink in for their full affect until you're completely wrapped up in this dreamlike contemporary story.

There were a number of things I really loved about Graffiti Moon, yet a few areas I found lacking. It's deeply moving at times, humourous at others, yet it still felt to me like it lacked a certain charm.

Reasons to Read:

1. Words that ebb and flow:

I'm so glad I listened to this one on audio, because the prose-like writing in some passages is totally meant to be read aloud. And the writing style really lends to the story's setting, because it gives the whole book this sort of dreamlike quality to it which is perfect for a book that takes place in the middle of the night. And I loved that there was this huge emphasis on art, and different kinds of art, and how it doesn't always have to be traditional.

2.Humour, anticipation, and romance:

First of all, this is definitly my kind of sense of humour. I loved the jokes, and the quirky little bits - like how Lucy punched Ed and broke his nose on their first date after he tried to make a move on her. I loved how they could laugh things off and (eventually) move on. And there's just so much build-up to all the various, mixed-up subplots that the anticipation just keeps building and BUILDING until you're waiting for it to explode. And for them to just make out already.

3.Very much a coming of age tale:

There's a strong theme of growing up and change which is prevelant in Graffiti Moon; and I just loved seeing how these various characters gradually evolved throughout the night and really got to know each other, and themselves, a bit better. And of course, this ultimately leads up to some drastic changes for a couple of characters.
And while I had hoped I would fall in love with this story much like most other readers had, I still felt like something was lacking. It took me a little while to get into the story and connect with the characters, because there felt like a few too many subplots were moving forward for me. I prefer to focus on one or two central, and keep the rest to a minimum. Otherwise it just feels like background noise.

But mostly I felt like there was all of this build up (which I loved)... but with very little by the end. I'd be anxiously listening, waiting to hear what happesn next, holding my breath... only to be caught off guard by rather small conclusions and responses taking place. It was like blowing up a balloon only to watch it slowly fizzle out.

So while I really did like it, especially the poetic writing style and phrases (which are gorgeous and I could read passages from this book without needing any context at all, just little snippets of prose) and I loved the emphasis on art and growing up- I didn't LOVE it. It failed to move me the way I had hoped it would.

Thoughts on the audio:

I'm a big fan of audio books that feature multiple narrators, so having three voices: one for Lucy, one for Ed, and one for Poet worked really well for me. Plus, they all fit the personality of each character SO well & I love listening to accents. No complaints here!

"We've got at least seven hours to get what we want before the sun comes up."
- Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

This book is gorgeous. It's an explosion of words and light and sounds and colours and images and everything else you could possibly ask for. And it all happens in one night, just one night to find Shadow, and possibly find so much more along the way. Every single character in this book is written so freaking perfectly. Lucy is brilliantly awesome, and her voice was so different from any character I've read before. She's got all these ideas and views and thoughts, and you get to hear them all as the night goes on. And then there's Ed, who's sweet and funny and has so much going for him, but he doesn't know it. And somehow, as well as writing these beautiful main characters, Cath Crowley also made sure that every other character, no matter how insignificant, had just as much substance - Poet and Jazz and Daisy and Dylan and Al and Bert and Lucy's parents and Ed's mom. Even though they may not be the main focus, they are written just as magnificently as Ed and Lucy, and they seamlessly weave everything together.

The writing in this book is so lyrical and gorgeous and beautiful, and it's like Cath Crowley took every single emotion and wove them all in to each sentence. Every single word is brilliant, like Cath Crowley just knew what needed to be said. And the plot... I love, love, love how everything happens at night, with the thick darkness all around you making you feel like you're right there with Ed and Lucy, and you just want to tell both of them what the other is thinking, and what's about to happen because the cool thing is you sort of know what's coming up, but Ed and Lucy don't and then suddenly it happens and you're either laughing hysterically or sobbing, right along with them.

I honestly don't know what else I can say about this book... Once you start reading it you just know, from the very first line, that you won't be able to stop until you finish this book. Cath Crowley's words are like rain after you've been living in a drought, and I just wanted to drink it all up.