“Hello…..”
“I hope somebody is listening….”
For Alice Oseman,
I read your second novel ‘Radio Silence’ recently. I could say in a word about it — a ‘gem’. I read in one of your interviews that you don’t like comparing your work with your age. But it is quite a hurdle not to mention the beauty of the talent you hold in such a young age.
Turning each page, how quickly I fell in love with the book. The life of Aled Last and Frances Janvier was being absorbed into me. For a student like me, who is in college, pursuing engineering, still not able to figure out what to do in life, this book was like a gentle comfort. It is a tough to accept truth that universities drain your creativity and passion which in first place was made to provide insightful knowledge. From meeting deadlines after deadlines, at a certain point we forget our true selves. What we were as a person before university happened. You made me realize that nothing not even our educational system can have the right to make us feel unworthy. However tiny we may feel we all have our purpose in this world.
I loved that rather than placing the bond between Aled and Frances in the so called ‘romantic love’, it was deeply rooted in a meaningful friendship. It was weaved with care, concern and most importantly being there for each other when hard times occur. I felt so much awe in their team spirit and determination for creating something as beautiful as ‘Universe City’. The way you expressed the importance of mental health, sexuality and platonic friendships is noteworthy.
The book has my heart. I am grateful to you for making me and every other human realize that there is much more to life than just fitting into the words of society for finding our soulmate is the ultimate goal of life. And also making me accept that good grades doesn’t always assure you happiness and it is okay to not sort out everything you want to do in life.
I will definitely recommend it to everybody who is reading this. And I am eager to read all of your books.
With love,
A fangirl of yours
Shaba
