Skip to main content

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavour - Book Review

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavour is the much-awaited sequel to Hank Green’s first novel An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. The story picks off right where AART ended, but unlike the first book where our protagonist April May was our only narrator; we have five POV's in the sequel. This is a very subtle but effective way to beautifully incorporate the core message of the novel into its structure. The core message of this story is that the most important thing that we can do with our power is to almost always give it away. And letting people tell their story in their own words is reflective of that ideology.

With an unpredictable but bittersweet ending, Hank Green takes us on a journey in understanding our best and worst instincts. I'm reminded that we humans are radically collaborative, profoundly empathetic, and deeply communal. I came out of this book hopeful and deeply respectful of my own human existence and that of others; along with a deeper understanding of the nature of power, and how none of us are really immune to it. But along with that, I came out of this book understanding love and friendship better than ever before. April, Maya, Andy and Miranda are beautifully crafted characters and there’s definitely one character that you might deeply connect with, and see yourself in; and that’s just beautiful inclusive writing that values the diversity of people and imagines them complexly.

Being a nerdfighter for many years, I see this book as an amalgamation of the values and lessons that Hank has learned during his journey of creating, and being a part of this community. And these lessons are told through a fascinating story which entices the reader with its pace and structure. 
I am reminded of the value of communities and people in general, but especially of this community and the people in it. 

There are three quotes in this book that will ring in my ears long after I have put the book down.

1. You will always struggle with not feeling productive until you accept that your own joy can be something you produce. It is not the only thing you will make, nor should it be, but it is something valuable and beautiful.

2. None of us have forgotten that the Carls changed our minds, but it’s important to remember that we all change each other’s minds all the time. Any good story is a mind-altering substance.

3. I think part of the point of loving someone is being able to deal with their brokenness.



Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

forever might be short

I’m living each moment like I’m going to be here forever  Buying furniture like we’re building a home together  Getting a mortgage like we’d never split the difference  Flying like Icarus, wings spread, soaring towards the sun.  But we’ve both been through these roads before forever would be short this time again But each time we pause, I wish for a night  where dusk turns to dawn, and the memory stays like the songs of my youth, I remember every word from. 
Read more

A voice is here, telling me what to say. A voice is here guiding my way.

  The place you once called home is now a stranger place than the outside world. And you’re wondering what went wrong; what changed that you’re having to wager so much trying to be sane. This is getting difficult, there’s no way out. But there’s a voice telling me what you want to hear. And I bring forth kindness and love, comfort food and soup that we’ll reheat and share. I’ll tell you stories of times before that I’ve heard from someone else. There’s something holding you down, but you don’t want to go there. And I’ll hold you and tell you, there’s nothing else you need to do but stay. We’ll solve puzzles together and I’ll make you hot tea or coffee. We’ll sit outside and stare at gardens, till the end of daylight. Times have been difficult and being strong isn’t easy. You’ve found ways to survive but we’re meant for more than just breathing. All essentials taken care of, what would you like more of? A while we play, and sing. A while we listen to some music. But alas I leave, ...
Read more

This is a poem about romanticising love as an escape from adult everydayness

As I step into adulthood, this slow and unwished  crawl; I yearn for conversations  that focus on the ‘it-ness’ of it all. Where you calmly say to me  ‘It’s been a rough week and I yearn for more peace  where I can walk beneath the trees without a rush’.  And I say “I feel like I’m getting pulled from all sides,  although all of this is my choice.  I am grateful for my life. To have a job,  and a family who loves me. But I am tired.  And I can’t be grateful when I’m tired.”  I yearn for conversations at the end of the day,  or in the middle, when days have ceased to exist,  and we count our lives as the breaks                 between   work.  And I ring a reminder of the truth that ‘I  love you. I’m glad I have this love that provides a respite  from the chaos and the hurry-ness of this world.”  Although we both know, that we will rush  this convers...
Read more