The Commencement
The use of figurative language heavy on the metaphors and imagery begins on the first page, less than a hundred words into the narrative. This language usage sets the stage for what is to come. This is a novel constructed upon a solid foundation symbolism-laden descriptive prose and dialogue:
“They are falling in space, spinning away from their ship, two pointillist specks on an infinitely dark canvas. `We’re going to be fine.’ He looks around, but there’s nothing out here for them: nothing but the bottomless black universe on their left, the Earth suspended in glorious Technicolor to their right.”
The Downside of the Infinite
The infinite expanse of space can be a bit overwhelming. Just fighting the effects of gravity and how it has unknowingly defined your every physical reaction is enough, probably, to motivate the conscious mind to start loosening its grip on the subconscious mind's desire to mix things up a little bit:
“She doesn’t say anything, and Max looks as if he wishes the confession would fall back into his mouth.”
Waves
Wave imagery is a good choice for metaphor and simile in this story. Its setting in the great beyond out there among the stars places it firmly within the scientific realm of things which literally take the form of waves. So, things which take only the metaphorical form is a good fit:
“A wave of upset and rage washed over her, rising from her feet and running up her legs.”
We have a Tagline!
Word of caution: if anyone out there thinks they are going to be making a splash with a review that suggests this novel seems as it were written specifically as a treatment for an inevitable movie adaptation, get ready for disappointment. You won’t be the first to make that insinuation. In fact, the next person to do so will probably be that lucky millionth customer. Not only does the novel read like a framework for a film adaptation, it even comes with a built-in metaphorical tagline:
“…first love can break you. But it can also save you.”
The Much Better Tagline
The tagline above is, unfortunately, the kind of thing that if Mordecai said it on The Regular Show, Rigby would reply with “Barf!” There is actually another similar sort of hybrid literal/metaphorical observation made elsewhere that would work much better for a tagline, especially if the movie is an indie project rather than a big studio’s hope for a summer blockbuster:
“Being hit with toilet waste really is a kick in the teeth in this situation.”
