Book: Forbidden
Author: Tabitha Suzuma
Pages: 432
Publication Date: May 27th, 2010
Rating: 5/5
I find this to be one of the most challenging books to review this year because I'm not sure if it's okay to love a story about incest. But from a professional point of view, the story, characters, and writing style were excellent! After reading the final page, I had a twisting feeling in my stomach that left me unsettled yet awestruck by the raw emotion evoked from the many passionate passages in the story. Summary: Lochan is a shy scholar at the top of his graduating class. Maya is sweet and beautiful girl loved by all her peers. Aside from their high school lives, Lochan and Maya are forced to raise three younger siblings left behind by a father and a mother who rarely comes home sober. Although switching between student and parent is an almost impossible task, both Lochan and Maya accept the responsibilities and struggle to keep their already severed family together. They are each other's best friend, and all the hardship they endure together leads to something more. They are more than brother and sister. More than friends. They are lovers. They are soulmates.
Review: There's something adventurous and daring about "forbidden romances." Stories like Romeo and Juliet. But Forbidden is not your typical romance story. Brothers and sisters aren't supposed to fall in love. It's taboo. Throughout the story, I kept asking myself "Why?" I might have been over-analyzing Lochan and Maya's thought processes, but the concept was just so intriguing. What could have caused them to develop a "more than just siblings" relationship? Overall, I concluded that the pressure of premature parenthood was what pushed them together. Also, Lochan's extreme phobia of speaking in public causes him to be a misunderstood misfit in school. Maya is the only one with whom he can freely speak, and she is the only one who understands and shares the unreasonable burden thrust upon them.
Review: There's something adventurous and daring about "forbidden romances." Stories like Romeo and Juliet. But Forbidden is not your typical romance story. Brothers and sisters aren't supposed to fall in love. It's taboo. Throughout the story, I kept asking myself "Why?" I might have been over-analyzing Lochan and Maya's thought processes, but the concept was just so intriguing. What could have caused them to develop a "more than just siblings" relationship? Overall, I concluded that the pressure of premature parenthood was what pushed them together. Also, Lochan's extreme phobia of speaking in public causes him to be a misunderstood misfit in school. Maya is the only one with whom he can freely speak, and she is the only one who understands and shares the unreasonable burden thrust upon them.
Once I overcame the initial disgust of siblings engaging in sexual contact, I found the story to be oddly beautiful. I've read many books about older siblings being forced to care for younger family members, but Forbidden takes teenage parenting to a whole new level. Something about it was so raw and sincere. Everything about Maya and Lochan seemed wrong, yet at the same time, it seemed right. Despite everything, this broken family wanted nothing more than to stay together, even if it meant defending their incompetent mother and hiding a forbidden relationship. Everything Lochan and Maya endured, was for their family. Absolutely everything. It breaks my heart to read about the sacrifices and inner turmoil both teenagers suffered because of their ultimate love for their family, and for each other. It was darkly beautiful.
This story will force you to question every rule society has conjured. Can a love so honest, be a love between siblings?
This book was very thought-provoking. It broke my heart, too, but I did enjoy the story up until the end. Great review. :)
ReplyDeletethis book is on my TBR list! I have heard awesome things about it and can NOT wait to get my hands on it! awesome review!
ReplyDeleteTHis kind of reminds me of Flowers in the Attic and the rest of that series by VC Andrews. I loved the story, but felt really weird rooting for a brother/sister couple...
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds interesting in a twisted way. Sounds very heartbreaking. I've never read Flowers in the Attic even though I've heard of it before. . I did read Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments, but I knew they would turn out not to be related.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, this sounds like a very intiguing read and it's something I haven't read and unique. I read The Flowers In The Attic in highschool and fell in love with the story even though it did feature incest. I can't wait to read this
ReplyDeleteI absolutely fell in love with this book! It completely flayed me alive. Such a raw book. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about this book. I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. I was disturbed by first reviews, but think I'll give it a look now:)
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely DYING to read this book, and plan on ordering it pretty soon. I think that the subject matter may be difficult to handle, but as a reader, it can also be an insight into the psyche of the characters, and could be very fulfilling. I think most people have admired the characterization, and that the author has made these characters relatable despite the taboo subject involved, which I think is an awesome feat for an author. I'm definitely looking forward to reading this book.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the wonderful review! :D
~Hira~
GFC Follower: ~Enamored Soul~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Ooo I cant wait to read this i loved this review good job!
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