Voice in Speak

This is my first time reading this book, but I’ve actually seen the movie before! (Trailer below if you’re interested).

I have to say that I didn’t enjoy the movie and I’m not enjoying the book either. One thing I’m really having a hard time with in the novel is Melinda’s voice. I don’t find her to be a likeable character and her voice is harsh and grating.

I think there are a couple reasons why Melinda is written as she is:

1. to present her as an outsider even to the reader
2. to have her expression mimic her trauma
3. to unsettle and shock the reader

Reading this book is deffinatley unsettling, and it is very clear that Melinda has gone through some trauma.

One unique thing I think the author does, is create a character that really isn’t that relatable, at least at the beggining of the novel. The characters in the novel all hate and ostracize Melinda, and as a reader I feel really distant from her depite the first person narrative. She’s an outsider to me even though I’m in her mind.

Actually, something Taylor Swift said recently relates to this novel. She said, “It was like somebody switched the lights off in my personality,” about the radio DJ that groped her. This is kind of the impression I get from Melinda, that the trauma dd something to her personality, her identity and shes trying to fight for it back. The interesting part is she’s presented to the reader as kind of this bland, depressing character. However, as Melinda grows the reader is forced to understand her in new ways and grow with her.

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