A Tale of Two Emilys

And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard was an eARC from netgalley and it had a great cover and so I read it.  Again, I know as well as anyone not to judge a book by its cover, but in this case, I am glad I did.  And We Stay was a 5-Star read.  Heart-breaking and hopeful.  I didn't realize until I finished the book that the author's first book was Paper Covers Rock, which I really didn't like at all.  I didn't like it so much, that I doubt I would have given And We Stay a chance, had I remembered.  I'm glad I didn't remember, though, because And We Stay was beautifully written and realistic and I learned so much about Emily Dickinson.  The book is set in Amherst, Massachusettes, where Dickinson was born, lived a pretty much reclusive life and died.  The Museum itself actually figures prominently in the story. 
Emily Beam's ex-boyfriend, Paul commits suicide in their school library and Emily is dealing with all of the guilt and hell left behind.  In an attempt to heal, she transfers to a boarding school in Amherst.  The ghost of Emily Dickinson is all around and it helps Emily Beam to face the sorrows of her past.  Well drawn characters and a wonderful use of setting.  Great, heart-breaking story, with a lot of terrific, soul-ripping poetry as well.  Really enjoyed this book.

Paper Covers Rock but Nothin' Can Cover, Break or Cut Boring and Pretentious

Paper Covers Rock. What a tortuous read. Pretentious. Cliche-ridden. Predictable. Oh man, it tries to be so cool. And so insightful. And so edgy with atheism. And so ahead of it's time with it's attitudes. The main character is supposed to be southern. Not a hint of it in him. That was extremely disappointing. There are a great many books set in New England private schools. Here was a southern boys school. It would have been really cool to learn of the subtle differences in the culture. Nothing. The book could have been set on the moon.
The female teacher is ridiculous and the main character, Alex, is so full of himself, he actually believes he's bound for greatness, yet he'll have to carry this giant guilt around with him for his whole tortured life. In reality, he'll probably end up in the noble, but not romantic, profession of middle management. He imagines himself a tortured artist. Really he's just a typical, self-absorbed hormonal teenage boy. Not bad. Just very average. He really has no special qualities at all, except a handful of teachers tell him that he does.
Also the female teacher, I can't remember her name, is concerned that he'll give up on himself and go to public school!
Oh perish the thought!
No not dreaded public education!
Just what is this book trying to say anyway?
It samples as much as Hootie and Blowfish doing "I Only Wanna Be with You." So it doesn't say too too much on its own.
I can't even bother with the plot. I spent too much time on this already.