Laura Buzo

This book resonated with me on so many levels. Amelia, with all of her social awkwardness and insecurity, reminded me so much of my younger self, which often resulted in me cringing as I read, because I knew from first hand experience that some of her choices were not going to end well. There were times I wished I could have transported myself into the book just to give her a shoulder to cry on and tell her that it will get better, to be that older female presence in her life that she so show more desperately needed.

Chris, on the other hand, is just like my present self, minus the drunkenness and occasional use of illicit substances (please, I tried to drink some white wine last night as I made risotto, and that stuff was nasty. I don't think I could possibly drink to excess if it involved that taste all the time). He's in this holding period, caught somewhere between childhood and adulthood, watching all his friends move on with their lives, while he's stuck in his parent's house about to graduate with a degree that may or may not result in lucrative employment. I can understand his loneliness and desperation, his desire for independence at whatever cost because I'm there right now.

And then there is the burgeoning attraction between Chris and Amelia, despite the rather large gap in their ages. If only she was older, 'but she ain't,' rues Chris and I could tell it cost him to admit that. Folks who like happily-ever-after, tied up in a neat little bow endings might be dissatisfied with the way this novel concludes, but I thought it fitting, given the parallels in their relationship with that of the characters from the literature the pair of them discussed during their down-time at Coles.

If you like books that run you through the gamut of emotions, don't hesitate to give Love and Other Perishable Items a go. show less

Originally reviewed at: http://www.flyleafreview.com/2013/01/book-review-love-and-other-perishable.html

Well, it is no secret that I am a RAGING fan of contemporary Australian young adult fiction. I read as much as I can, even though some of it is notoriously hard to get a hold of here in the States. So when I heard that Laura Buzo's Good Oil, was picked up by Knopf BYR and being repackaged as Love and Other Perishable Items for an American audience, I was BESIDE myself. I had already read show more many raving Aussie reviews of Buzo's book, several of which compared her to my favorite author from that country, Melina Marchetta. Needless to say, Love and Other Perishable Items ranked quite high on my 2012 TBR list.

And, surprise, surprise, I was NOT disappointed. Those Aussie's are so bloody clever when it comes to writing authentic YA fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed Love and Other Perishable Items just as much as I hoped to. High five for meeting all my expectations, Laura Buzo!

Here is something I didn't know when I started reading: Love and Other Perishable Items is a dual narrative, told from both 15 year old Amelia and 21 year old Chris's POV. And though we hear from Amelia in 1st person, Chris's are written epistolary style, through journal entries. Guys, having Chris offer up his perspective in this fashion was really, really awesome. And smart on the part of the author. There comes a part of the story where Amelia herself gets to read these entries, and that, was my favorite apart of the entire book. What if you had an unrequited crush on someone when you were a young adult (and come on, we have all been there haven't we?) and then that person, who you have always wondered if they have even a fraction of the feelings that you harbor, let you read his private thoughts. Who wouldn't like to get into the mind of their first love?

Amelia is 15, and totally endearing. She's bright, she's funny, she's serious and she's a bit awkward. And she is head over heels in love with Chris. She obsesses and fantasizes about him. He is the center of her world and in her every thought. He is everything she wants in a guy: cute, funny, smart and most importantly, he takes Amelia seriously.

"The yawning six year chasm between my age and Chris's is not the only fly in the proverbial ointment of this "loving Chris" business. I'm not even sure what "getting" Chris would involve; all I know is I want him. I want to be enfolded by him somehow, and to possess him. To have unfettered and exclusive access to him all the time. To feel how I feel around him all the time. To know that he loves being around me too. To feel more of his skin on my skin."

And Chris doesn't really treat her like a kid. He listens to her. They have amazing conversations about things she doesn't talk to anyone else about. Not her parents, or her friends, and certainly not the boys her age.

"Each conversation with Chris seemed to prompt an exhausting mix of excitement an forehead-slapping embarrassment at my inability to keep up with the references and in-jokes. Real or perceived. I go to an all-girls school where people are bent on studying. I wasn't used to talking to boys at all, let alone grown-up ones with university essays to write and incredible charisma. So, so far out of my depth."

Chris is 21, and completely charming in a self absorbed, slacker kind of way. Chris has sort of been on autopilot ever since his break-up with his first, true love, Michaela. He still lives at home even though all his mates are getting their own places. He has the very definition of a dead end job with graduation and "the real world" looming just over the horizon. And he longs to find the perfect woman. One he can really talk to and laugh with and build, perhaps, some kind of future-something with. Oh, and have sex with. Because he and Michaela had amazing sex. In short, he is, in many ways your typical 21 year old, soon to be college graduate. He parties with his mates, works and studies just enough to get by, and is prone lately to moping around, feeling sorry for himself, and waiting for something "life changing" to happen to him.

And of all the people working with him at The Land of Dreams (Chris's nickname for the local grocery store he and Amelia work at) Amelia, the "Youngster", is by far his favorite to talk to. Unlike stoner Ed, or she's-big-she's-blonde-she-works-in-the-deli Georgia , or Street Cred Donna (yes, those are Chris's apt descriptions of some of their co-workers,) Amelia is smart. She's got serious, passionate opinions about all kinds of things, from classic literature to feminism. She's pretty mature and has a lot of good advice to give on certain subjects (like his screwed up love life.) Basically Amelia is the ideal woman that he is looking for. If only she was a few years older...

"I really like talking to her. I like how she turns everything over and over in her mind, and that she doesn't censor herself. Being with her is easy. I seem to laugh...

...If she were even just two years older, she'd be leading the field....

...But she ain't."

Guys, never has there been a more perfect example of meeting the right person at the wrong time. And you know what is also pretty cool about this book? Even though the age difference between Amelia and Chris is VAST (there is a world of difference between a 15 year old and 21 year old in terms of life experience, am I right?), Laura Buzo has written a book that makes you REALLY wish they could work it out somehow, some way (even though you know that it won't because that would be kind of GROSS, not to mention highly illegal) because the two of them have so much in common. There is MORE than a little potential between them romantically speaking. I guarantee you will find yourself kind of rooting for them even though you know you really shouldn't.

What I really love about this book is that it takes a realistic look at two young adults at very different stages of their lives. As an adult I have survived both stages. I have been that 15 year old girl crushing something fierce on an older guy I have no hope in hell of ever landing. I've been that girl who daydreams about love and finding that sensitive, yet hot, guy that TOTALLY gets me, like no one else does.

And I have been that college kid, staring down my last semester of college and wondering "what in the heck am I going to do next?" and "how I am I going to find a job to pay off all my student loans?" and "how will I make my mark on this world?"

And I have been that broken person, the one that has just been sucker punched by the person I thought loved me most, the person I thought got me. I've been that person who who wants nothing more then to move on, and in the same instant, wants nothing more than to go back.

So I both smiled and cringed at some of things that Amelia says and does. I've been there, remember? And I sighed and I ranted, and I shook my head sadly at some of the things Chris says and does. Again, been there. Done all of that.

That is the power of this quiet book. The power to relate to these simple and common life experiences. It is a true coming of age story in that it examines those pivotal moments we all face as we move from childhood to adulthood. There aren't any major dramas to be found in Love and Other Perishable Items. No one dies. No one goes to jail. No one has abusive families. That's not to say that those everyday, common moments don't seem big at the time. While you are living them they feel monumental. And Love and Other Perishable Items captures all of those moments that feel so monumental just beautifully.

And another plus, Laura Buzo doesn't cast off the other relationships in the lives of young Amelia and Chris as she tells their story. Chris's close knit family is represented. As is Amelia's strained relationship with her best friend Penny, and her life at home with her parents and baby sister. An interesting little side story concerning Amelia's parents, and the differences that each shoulder in regards to domestic responsibilities, is also examined. That tangent did tend to swerve off a little from the main story at hand, but I really liked that it was another topic of discussion between Amelia and Chris and further fleshed out each of their character's personal philosophies. Besides, any time an author can insert some relevant social issues (like division of labor on the domestic front) into a book targeted for a young adult audience I say, BRAVA.

So, how does it all end? Do they find a way to work out the age difference? Or do they just remain friends? Does Chris find a way to move on and mend his broken heart? Or does he break Amelia's heart in the end? I won't give any of it away but I will say that I personally loved the ending. It was absolutely pitch perfect and had it ended any other way I don't think I would have liked this book as much as I did. That is not to say that I would turn my nose up at a future sequel featuring Amelia and Chris... :) I'll say no more on that note (but if you have read the book and want to talk further about YOUR thoughts on the ending or a possible sequel, I'd be happy to elaborate on mine:)

In summary, I found Love and Other Perishable Items to be a funny and touching look at those everyday moments in life that we all experience: falling in love, having your heart broken, and figuring out who you are as a person outside of your family, school and work. Once again, I'm blown away by yet another contemporary Australian author. I'm planning on picking up Buzo's sophomore effort Holier Than Thou as soon as I can. show less

I don't think I've fallen in love with a book as quickly as I did with Good Oil/Love and Other Perishable Items

It's possible that my opinion might be biased since I feel as this book was written just for me. I've never been able to relate to a book so much in my entire life. I feel as if someone took me and two of my biggest crushes and made us into Amelia and Chris. Okay, let me break down what I loved it.

The Setting:
The author is Australian, so we are treated to an Aussie setting, show more refreshing break from all the stories set in NYC or LA. And the thing is that it feels like Australia without the author overwhelming us with details. The little things paint a big picture such as Amelia going to an all girl-school or the public transportation. Hell, even the fact that Amelia can take a train for four hours to visit her sister feels very Australian to me. Plus when they're talking about sixteen being legal. Anyway, I don't know why but the setting just made the story all that much interesting to me. Plus, the characters all had a very peculiar way of talking.

The Characters/POV:
I must say, some characters fell a little flat like Kathy or Bianca and her minions. Maybe it was because of that I didn't like them. I don't know. Even Penny, the ever-supporting best friend, felt a little flat. She was good at trying to bring Amelia back to reality. Amelia and Chris and their families were excellent characters, though. First of all, another great thing about this novel was seeing Amelia interact with her parents. It's not the best of relationships but it's normal and natural. Her mom is a very frustrated lately and Amelia even erroneously blames feminism for it. I love it. Also, she loves her little sister a lot which is very adorable. Chris also has interesting relationship with his family. It seems his relationship with his father is rather strained, but god, let's not even talk about his uncle. Eep! Talk about a jerk. Later on in the book, we notice that Chris and his mom do have a close relationship. Same with him and Zoe, his older sister.

Now, to Amelia, herself. Amelia is 15, fiery, and very mature and immature all at once. I worried about not being able to relate to her...but turns out I didn't have to worry at all. I was Amelia at age 15; Hell, I was Amelia at age 16. I probably still am a little Amelia. The fact that when I was 16, I started to hardcore crush on my 21 year old friend, didn't help with the whole, "gasp! I am Amelia." Much like Amelia, I've fallen for boys who are too old for me, and usually, it ends up with me crying. I was fiery and opinionated at her age. And just like me, Amelia is an idealist and a romantic. A really naive, delusional romantic, but a romantic nonetheless. Bless her heart, she tried. Chris...well, Chris struck a chord with me since Chris reminds in fact of two 21 year olds I fell for...maybe all 21 year olds are the same? Perhaps, perhaps. Chris is very emotionally broke and like he put it himself, stuck in this limbo. I was afraid of not being to relate to him as well, but I was able to. I'm 18 and ready to go off to college and I don't want to be him. I don't want to be living with my parents. I want to go away for a while. To own something that's mine, like he said. He's a very lovely 21-year-old. He's a sociology/english major, so he and Amelia always enjoy talking about social issues and books. He's not a bad guy. It's just that all of them had really shitty circumstances.

Plus I was pleasantly surprised that the author included Chris's POV in a form of diary. That really helped me like him more and see him beyond Amelia's idolization of him.

The Premise:
The premise itself made me buy the book. I mean, a 15 year old and a 21 year old, how controversial can you get? Even if Australia's age of consent is 16. I feel like part of this made me quite intrigued. And poor Amelia...I mean, she stands no chance, does she? Hm.
I think what I loved in itself was the special friendship that occurred between Chris and Amelia. Yeah, dating is rather off-limites but they genuinely seem to enjoy each other. Chris sees a little of himself in Amelia, and Amelia finds Chris fascinating and charming and lovely. I dunno how to explain it. I've experience this friendship so this is why it was such a big deal for me.

Relativity
And the thing that made this book for me was how much I was able to relate. I felt that I was too old to relate to Amelia and too young to relate to Chris. I felt my in-between age of 18 wouldn't allow me to relate toe either one, but god, I related well. A little too well. I've been in Amelia's position. I was eager and fell in love with older boys. The guy struck up a special friendship that we still have. I think this is why at times I had to stop to breathe and have a good cry. And to be honest, it also mirrors a failed relationship I had a few months ago.

Like these two examples. They're spoilers.

They both get drunk and he kisses her and she gets all excited and think they'll date. Then she calls him and he seems angry and he calls her again and says they can't be in a relationship.

And he says this to her:

"Because you're fifteen, and I'm twenty-two, we have nothing in common socially and are at completely different stages in our lives."

It's very poignant and beautiful and honest and heartbreaking. Or when he's leaving for Japan and she stars crying.

"Youngster. Amelie, it wouldn't have worked."
"You don't know that."
"Really, I do."
'You DON'T!"

Ah, this is my life ladies and gentleman.

OVERALL
This book broke my heart yet I love it so much. It's honest, truthful, and force us to see reality for what it is. It'll forever be one of my favorites. show less

Creí que sería una buena idea escoger un libro al azar, sin leer reseñas ni nada, como hacía antes de conocer Goodreads. Este fue el resultado de ese experimento, y no, no fue una buena idea.

Amelia, la protagonista, tiene 15 años y es tan madura y tan intelectual y lee taaanto. Así que, ¿qué mejor forma de demostrar lo mucho que sabe de literatura que contándonos TODA la trama de El Gran Gatsby? (Alerta de spoilers de El Gran Gatsby de aquí en adelante)



Lo primero que pensé show more después de leer eso fue:


Lo segundo que pensé fue: seguro es algo intencional con algún significado para la trama, tal vez alguien la corrige más adelante, porque por supuesto, que ningún editor permitiría un error de ese tamaño, Gatsby es un clásico, alguien se hubiese dado cuenta, ¿no?

Pues no, parece que no. Porque unas paginas más adelante Amelia y Chris tienen esta conversación:







GATSBY NO SE SUICIDA. LO MATAN.

Después de eso, comencé a saltarme partes porque Amelia lee Otelo y Grandes Esperanzas y le parece que es una buena idea contar toda la trama de esos libros también. Lo que me molestó porque: 1) si hubiese querido saber en detalle que ocurre en Otelo y Grandes Esperanzas, hubiese leído Otelo o Grandes Esperanzas; y 2) porque después de lo de Gatsby no podía confiar en que lo que dijera fuese cierto.

Y como si eso no fuera suficiente, también está el pequeño detalle que durante todo el libro NO PASA NADA. En serio, absolutamente nada. Lo que tenemos es un montón de pensamientos, prejuiciosos y superiores por parte de Amelia y deprimentes por parte de Chris. No hay trama. Solo dos jóvenes quejándose de sus inconformidades. Y de lo injusto que es que no puedan estar juntos por culpa de la edad. Y todo es tan increíblemente aburrido.

Ni siquiera hay un final, simplemente termina así de pronto, pero realmente ¿cómo podía tener un final sino hay un desarrollo? Así que en las ultimas paginas los personajes están en el mismo lugar en el que comenzaron: no crecen, no maduran, no aprenden.

Lo más triste de todo es que hay reseñas que lo advierten, si tan sólo las hubiese leído a tiempo. Pero he aprendido mi lección. Gracias por existir, Goodreads. show less