Fox Benwell

Seeing a young person's flame snuffed out before their time is a difficult subject matter to write about, regardless of the way the child/teenager dies. Watching them suffer due to a degenerative disease, cancer, or any other incurable illness is (possibly) worse. Whether it happens in real life or only in fiction is inconsequential. The subject is hard to write about, because it feels unnatural. After all, a child/teenager is supposed to easily adapt to their surroundings, to be almost-invincible, to be free while they can ... The Last Leaves Falling by Sarah Benwell is a story set in Japan, following the last few months of Sora - who has been diagnosed with ALS disease. Tragic, as far as plot-lines are concerned, The Last Leaves Falling promises a heartbreaking tale of epic proportions where a seventeen year old boy learns to live - and to accept - his lot.

The Last Leaves Falling is an emotional novel, and certainly worth a read, but I had some problems with it.

First off, the formatting of the book was poorly done in my opinion. Call me a purist if you want, but simply because a book revolves around social networking doesn't mean you have to convert the font to something even an 80's hacker would cringe at. With such a beautiful, clean cover, why sully the overall feel with unnecessary folly? Next, I felt that at times the story didn't capture the emotional aspects correctly. Don't get me wrong, there were many times when I truly felt for Sora, but he was difficult to connect with. In other words, if you're looking for a substitute for The Fault in Our Stars, keep looking.

I did, however, enjoy the setting (Japan) and the overall plot was good.

In other words, I'm in two about this book. It had its moments of utter meh, while other times I really thought it was a great read. The Last Leaves Falling is thus best suited for those who are in the mood for a heavier read and aren't as finicky about the technical stuff that makes or breaks a book.

Review originally posted on:
… (meer)

Well, this is the first time a book has made me cry in a long time. I don't read much about terminal illnesses - I haven't read a book like this since well before my grandfather passed from cancer, and it hit me a lot harder now that I can visualize the end of life.

I didn't connect to Sora as a teenager, though - I connected to his anguish about prolonging life artificially and his fear of dying without dignity. The writing was kind of stilted and I don't really know what to think of this as a British person writing a story about Japan, with Japanese characters discussing their culture often. Some language seemed very American, ("dude") so.

I also like the technological aspect of it and the message that online friends can be just as important.

Another thing: there was no sweeping love story, no dangerous adventures, no romanticizing a terminal illness. And that was so so good. The story that carried out was a lowkey and mild one. Also, I think I saw a jab at TFIOS.… (meer)

Four Stars for this well written, poignant tale of Abe Sora, a seventeen year old young man who is dying from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also know as Lou Gehrig's disease. Intelligent, loved by his family, he seeks answers to life's questions, primarily, he longs to know what will happen when he dies. Is there another life? Does he have the right to choose when this one should end?

Throughout his journey, rarely, if ever, does he sink to the depths of why me, why not someone else. Rather, he longs for friends, which he does eventually find through an internet chat room. And, he longs for relief from the fact that each new day brings less muscle coordination.

The author weaves a beautiful tapestry of the friendship of Abe and his two friends who gladly learn to see the world through his eyes. Each day is a blessing, and he and his friends try as best as possible to make each journey special.

The setting is Japan, and I very much liked the way in which the culture was portrayed throughout the story. With a strong bond of his mother and her parents, Abe walks a fine line between wanting them to answer some of his questions, yet not wanting to burden them.

With this wonderful book as the author's debut, I anxiously await another.… (meer)