Title: The Probability of Miracles
Author: Wendy Wunder
Publication Date: December 8th 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Read synopsis: Goodreads
Rating: 3.5 stars
If it wasn't for the last third of this book, which was really beautiful and heartwarming, I might have really given this a 2 or 2.5 stars. Cam's too cynic attitude really didn't help me to like her and her story right away. Instead of being sympathetic of her I was a bit annoyed and frustrated. I understand her situation and what she'd been enduring for so many years and yes, it was awful and I was sorry and sad with all of that but this girl was just so so negative. Usually, I would have loved a heroine who's sarcastic, smart-mouthed and tough. I would have admired her attitude and how she handles and put up on things but in Cam's case I was like hopeless. She doesn't believed in miracles, well, I'm okay with that but what was really depressing was that she doesn't let any positive thing to come in her short remaining life. I was so tempted a lot of times to drop this book unfinished. I was so hopeless of her, and I was like this girl should have met Augustus Waters! I even told myself that I won't cry if she died in the end. But I ate back all those words. Because I did. A lot.
So I'll be straight here, I didn't like the first and second thirds of the book. I was frustrated, annoyed and hopeless. But the last thirds? I LOVED it. It was beautiful, poignant and very moving. It made me forget all my frustrations on the earlier parts and I finally found myself loving Cam and the wonderful person inside her. It was touching to see her letting things through, even if she doesn't believe in miracles she started believing that great things could still happen without needing an explanation. I love how she finally opened up and find happiness and true love before it's too late. All those things that happened in this part were really moving and I appreciated every second of it. The romance is definitely a thumbs-up, it was sweet, swooning, and definitely heartwarming. And all the characters were really wonderful, they all have been a very good part of the story making it more inspiring and enriching.
The ending was so beautiful it hurts. I was so moved and touched that fat tears started coming out of my eyes. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. And yes, I loved it. Even if it left me like a mess. I was satisfied and I was glad I didn't give up on this book and continued reading it. I just wished that Cam's change of heart started a bit earlier since I really struggled during the first two-thirds of the book. But all in all, this is a very heartwarming and inspiring story and I did enjoy it. I would still love to recommend this.
The last part of the book does sound amazing but it's a shame it wasn't brilliant all the way through. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sam. Yup, I could have given this a 5 if everything were as good as the last part. :))
DeleteThe Probability of Miracles (thankfully containing no actual math) leaves it to the reader to decide whether the strange things that happen are truly miracles or just odd coincidences. Campbell Cooper, our sixteen-year-old dry wit protag, is prone to erring on the side of caution. There are no miracles. Cam's had a pretty bad run of life--her parents' divorce, followed by her father dying from cancer, followed by her getting cancer . . . and all while living at the Happiest Place on Earth. That's right: Walt Disney World, where Cam's mom, Alicia, works.
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