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In the last few months I have read a NUMBER of yuri books – stories about women falling in love. They’re all cheesy easy reads. :)
Somehow I came across this book called “Pages for You”. I think I was going through the recommended books over at AfterEllen (can’t find the exact link!). I really liked the name of this book and was struck by the idea behind it. It carries with it a certain air of elegance.
It is called ‘Pages for You’ because it is written by a woman, years later, to her lost love. The notion is heartbreaking and even as I write it now (I finished the book last night), it brings tears to my eyes.
The first few opening lines of the book:
Prologue
What would happen if I wrote some pages for you? Each day a page, to show you that I am finding a story, the story of how we might have been together, once. Of how we could be.
It took me a long time before I took the plunge. I could sense the sadness waiting for me and I was worried it would become all too overwhelming. Like it would pull me from the fantasy world that I have been reading about in the other books.
Pages for You is written in four parts. A prologue and three parts which covers the initial attraction, the relationship and the breaking down. The story is between Flannery Jansen and Anne Arden. Flannery is an out of town 17 year old girl who is starting her first year in college. She’s a quiet and kind one, coming from a small town. She feels a bit overwhelmed and lost by her new surroundings. One day whilst having breakfast at a dingy diner, an older woman catches her attention, Anne. Anne, of french descent is attractive but has a cool guard with striking green eyes. Anne seems to carry the natural pull of attention from people but she’s not the type you would describe as sweet or kind. After a short case of embarrassment, Flannery dashes out of the diner but later to find herself bumping into the face again, unexpectedly. Anne is a graduate student at her college.
When I first read the book, I was a bit overwhelmed by the style of the writing – not in a good way. As Flannery is a student of literature, the writing is quite figurative. Another key difference to the other books I have recommended in the past. It took me a while to get the hang of it. Another problem I had was that I didn’t “get” the attraction. One of the things Flannery was drawn by was the way Anne smoked. However, having said that, once I got past part one, I was on a roll and was starting to get into the story.
At first Flannery seemed very unworldly to me and this was mentioned many times in the book by Anne as she was a few years older but half way through the book, I came to realise that Flannery was indeed an amazingly perceptive person. She sensed the warning signals and knew how to handle Anne (in most cases). By the end of the story I was blown away by Flannery’s strength and courage. In the last third part of the story, it becomes quite an emotional roller coaster. Get the tissues ready. Some of the things that Flannery says are like a blow to me. I would love to quote sections but I don’t want to ruin it for you guys. Maybe we can discuss later in the comments or I can have a separate post if you guys are interested.
By the time I finish the last page, I turned back to the Prologue to read it again. It makes more sense now and I just hope with all my strength that Flannery will move on.
Yasashii sekai... 
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