The story starts when Daisy, 15-year-old girl, arrives in London airport from New York. She has been sent to see her Aunt Penn. Although it is never said in the book Daisy is a troubled young, starving herself and rebelling against her father and stepmother who is expecting their baby. 

Aunt Penn lives in remote farm with cousins who Daisy has never seen before. Daisy is introduced into whole new life in the farm including nature and animals. Before long, the unexcpected happens and Daisy falls in love with her cousin Edmond. 

Eventually the war starts when London is bombed and England is occupied by unknown enemy. Aunt Penn has to leave the children in the farm alone. Eventually, the distant events of war reach their remote village and farm, forcing Daisy to flee with her cousins.

The story

The story itself is told from Daisy’s point of view. The writing style is very unique and sometimes it feels like we are listening to conversation rather than reading text. The narrative gives picture of Daisy’s thorny and sometimes sarcastic character with all side notes and comments in the text. Although the two books are completely different, i also found little similarities to the story of Into The Woods at the beginning where war is yet something distant and cousins are surrounded by nature.

Although How I Live Now is not post-apocalyptic fiction, it gives interesting view of teenagers in middle of national crisis. The story also includes sensitive topics such as love between cousins and eating disorder. Although the book is titled as young adult literature, How I Live Now can be recommended to anyone interested in subject.

Movie adaptation of How I Live Now was made 2013 starring Saoirse Ronan. If you liked the book you should definetly check the movie version also!

 

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