Love, Simon / Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

   "The book was better!" or was it? Contrary to popular belief, sometimes movies are better than the books, and that was definitely the case for this duo! However, the movie being better had nothing to do with the writing in the book! So, lets discuss.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (the book)

  When I saw the commercials for Love, Simon I knew I had to read the book first to get a little of background on mister Simon. This book brings out this really friendly vibe between the reader and Simon Spier. Becky Albertalli writes her characters in such a way that makes you want to know everything about them, even their huge-ass secrets. Further on the writing, I think Albertalli beautifully created a style of book that helped readers to really comprehend what happens within all her characters. I think that being able to fully comprehend what is going on with characters makes the storylines with each character so much more intense and lovable.

  The thing I loved most about this book, is that it was not over the top or stereotypical in any way. Simon's life is just... normal. He goes to school, goes to his play practice, drinks coffee with his friends, and falls in love. He is not abnormally wonderful or anything, he is just a normal teenage boy. Because Simon is so average, I think this really helps to emphasize the issues at hand. Simon is blackmailed by one of his fellow classmates - this classmate uses Simon's sexual orientation against him in order to gain higher status with a girl he likes. How unbelievably average, and at the same time so unique! Albertalli writes her novel in such a unique way of having average occurrences appear to be so much more magical than they are, while still maintaining their average-ness. Confusing right? I know. The only way to really understand what I mean is by reading this book!

  My only complaint about this book was the ending. I feel as though throughout the entire book there is a lot of attention to detail and readers can really feel everything. I certainly could. The ending to this book felt as though Miss Albertalli had grown bored with her book and wanted to move onto something better. In the end of the book, a love story occurs (which we all knew it would) and I was sooooo ready to see how Simon's story would unfold! However, I grew disappointed when the ending felt rather anti climactic. Maybe it is because the ending is so abrupt? I'm not entirely sure. I just did not love the end of this book.

   All in all, I will still give this book 9.5/10 because of all the importance within with Albertalli's words. This book is revolutionary. Seriously. Go pick up a copy for yourself at your local bookstore and see why Simon is changing the world.

Love, Simon (the movie)

   After reading Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda I was so freaking excited to go see Love, Simon! Weirdly enough, the movie theater I always go to is not playing the movie? Hm?! Explain yourselves! All that aside, I was more than willing to drive a bit longer to go watch Simon's story unfold before my eyes, rather than in my head! For those of you reading this in my area, the movie place by the mall has reclinERS!! How cool! So you can watch Love, Simon and be comfy as heck!

  Anyways, I cannot tell you enough beautiful things about this movie. Honestly, I am planning on going to see Love, Simon a million more times. The characters in this movie were played really well and were exactly as I pictured them, which is rare! Not only were they perfect matches, but the actors played their roles beautifully. One of my favorite parts of the movie did not happen in the book, which I think is really why I loved this movie so much. Jennifer Garners acting in this scene is so beautiful, every time I think about it I start to tear up! The scene I am talking about involves Simon and his mother after Simon has told his parents he is gay. The speech that Mrs. Spier gives her son is something that moved me beyond words.

   It goes without saying, I think, that the acting from Nick Robinson (Simon) is worth all the hype! Nick plays Simon with a certain finesse, I cannot imagine anyone else playing Simon. Robinson's performance is certainly one for the books (pun intended). Further, I think the fact that Robinson is a cisgender actor playing a gay teenager really helps set the tone for other male actors. On screen and off screen, the actors in this movie have create a movement and I cannot say enough about this whole movie!

   Another wonderful thing I adored about Love, Simon was the effort that goes in to the movie. Blue's identity throughout most of the movie is unknown, but the wardrobe crew seems not to want that! In the entire movie, Blue is always wearing blue!! Whaaaaaaaat!! The directors of the movie also included a lot of lighting changes around Simon the symbolize different points in his year. There are also some really wonderful shots at the local coffee shop that help to wonderfully represent Simon's circle.

   In the end, I quite prefer Love, Simon to Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda. However! This is not due to the writing of Becky Albertalli. I think this is due to the changes from the publishing of the book and the producing of the movie. A lot has changed around sexuality in these years, which makes it easier for the movie to hold more content than the book. I really admired all the knowledge that was placed into this movie, and I really think that all this information will help this society.