“Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you.”— Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Rating: 9/10"I think of a life without the doll store. For that one second I feel free." "I'm good at being alone. I've pretty much mastered it." "Even his eyes with their gold flecks remind me of his wealth." I think unhappiness comes from unfulfilled expectations." "It's so much easier not to have to depend on anyone else." "If he had known you he'd have never been able to leave." "No, Vivian is good at arguing with herself." "This is me facing failure. This is me putting eveyrhting on the line even though I know I might lose. And I'm terrified." | I'm a big fan of Kasie West. On the Fence and The Fill-In Boyfriend are some of my favorites. And The Distance Between Us was no different! I tend to like stories where opposites attract. Being quite average myself, it's heartwarming to see someone who's pretty average herself being sought out by someone more extraordinary. Coming together with her mother to help the doll store and restore her mother's health shows you that no matter what the hardship, you can get through it by sticking together with your family — even if you haven't talked to them for 17 years. I thought Cayman's father would be more part of the story in the way that he would actually physically appear in the story. But what he represented was enough I guess. It stemmed the reluctance to trust Xander fully, which was basically the story. I always like it when two people start off not knowing each other at all and then it grows to friends and then eventually just falls into place. he ease at which is happens just seems so right to me. You absolutely can't work as a couple without first working as friends. At least that's my philosophy. Then there's Mrs. Dalton, who I knew I would like from the start. I expected the rest of Xander's family, though, not to be so warm toward Cayman. But I guess they were the ones that believed she was rich, it was just Xander who didn't care. What tradition do you have for the boys? The thing I loved the most was Cayman's (and then eventually Sean's) humor. The dryness and sarcastic nature of it is very much like my own. And I knew her frustrations when sometimes people didn't understand it because my parents definitely don't appreciate my sarcasm like they should. Cayman's doubt in herself also reminds me of me. Did Mason mean to kiss me? Had I turned toward him when he was going in for a hug or something? She automatically assumes that no one would have meant to kiss her, so she tries to think of other explanations for the good things that happen to put her at ease. I find myself doing it a bit, and it's interesting seeing it done from someone else's eyes. From the small details like Xander's secret weapon smile ("He offers me his first smile of the day, and I'm suddenly glad he keeps that thing put away. It's more disarming than any weapon.") to the characteristics of the characters ("It's a very unguarded smile, unlike the rest of his appearance, which is a fortress."), West does a great job providing the reader with a picture of the story when he or she is reading. |