Blog Tour: My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

I am so happy to be part of this blog tour, today Jasmine shares her influences on writing this book & I have my review of this fantastic book. Thank you Jasmine!

Jasmine on her influences when writing 'My Heart and Other Black Holes'

As I state in the Author’s Note in the back of My Heart and Other Black Holes, I began to write the book in January 2013, a few days after the death of one of my very closest friends. I found myself in a place of deep grief and working almost compulsively on the manuscript was one of the ways in which I dealt with those feelings. And while the manuscript is a complete work of fiction (in no way based on me, my friend, or anyone else I know), I do think my own personal grief served as a chief inspiration.

But really what poured out from my grief, I believe, is love. The book was mostly inspired by the desire to explore the transforming and life-changing qualities of love in all its forms (friendship, self-love, family, and yes, romantic). My friend I lost was one of the people in my life who had helped me to see myself differently and so I set out to write a story about the people in our lives that help us to accept ourselves for who we are; sometimes our friends help us to find strengths where we used to see only weaknesses, beauty where before we saw only ugliness.

One of the things the main character Aysel struggles to accept about herself is her Turkish heritage. I am the daughter of an immigrant and empathized with her character about how difficult it can be to look (and simultaneously feel different) from your classmates and peers. I was inspired to write a book that realistically portrayed diversity, but also was about more than just Aysel’s ethnic background. To me, Aysel’s Turkish heritage informs her character, but does not drive the entire story. I can’t remember ever reading a book with a character who physically resembled me until I was at least eighteen; and so while Aysel is by no means a perfect role model, I do know that it would have meant a lot to adolescent-me to read about someone like Aysel.

I could ramble on and on about the many different inspirations behind MY HEART (poems, songs on the radio, one-sided conversations with my cat!), but I would like to close with the idea of empathy. I very much wanted to write a story that honored the power of empathy and understanding. Sometimes a small act of kindness can make all the difference. So on that note, I really do hope that readers who pick up MY HEART AND OTHER BLACK HOLES will be inspired to be kinder and more understanding of others as well as of themselves.

Review

Synopsis

I’m getting higher and higher and I feel the swing set creak.
‘Be careful,’ he says.
‘Why?’ I’m not thinking about being careful. I’m thinking about one last push, of letting go, of flying, and of falling.
‘You aren’t allowed to die without me,’ he whispers.

Aysel and Roman are practically strangers, but they’ve been drawn into an unthinkable partnership. In a month’s time, they plan to commit suicide – together. 

Aysel knows why she wants to die: being the daughter of a murderer doesn’t equal normal, well-adjusted teenager. But she can’t figure out why handsome, popular Roman wants to end it all….and why he’s even more determined than she is. 

With the deadline getting closer, something starts to grow between Aysel and Roman – a feeling she never thought she would experience. It seems there might be something to live for, after all – but is Aysel in so deep she can’t turn back? 

Review

Recently I’ve really wanted to read more Young adult books and this one really stood out to me. It’s not a topic I have read about before, at least told by the viewpoint of the people who want to commit suicide.

This book is wonderfully written. It had me hooked from the very first paragraph, which is quite poetic and set the tone for the whole book. The topic of suicide is handled with care, and I think that Jasmine has got the mind-set of Aysel and Roman well. Both characters evoked such sympathy; you can genuinely feel their turmoil. This book without doubt can break your heart at times.

Aysel is just beautiful. Her love of Classical music, and Physics is quirky and unusual; their inclusion adds a certain something special to this book. I completely understand why she feels the way she does and why she feels so alienated, not helped by how her mother has handled Aysel moving back with her and her ‘new’ family.

Roman is also in so much pain and again, I cannot help but love him. Aysel and Roman’s relationship, while made in unusual circumstances was an absolute delight to read.

I was left guessing at what would happen in the end of the book and it is exactly right for this book. This book bought me out of a reading slump. Heart-warming, poetic and powerful, this book is an effortless read where you don’t notice the time fly by as you’re compelled to just read and read and read it until you reach the very beautiful end.

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Published by: Hodder
Gratefully received from the Publisher for review.