Golden Boy
by Abigail Tarttelin
Golden Boy is Gold (1/30/2013)
I sat down on Saturday morning to read a few chapters and realized that I hadn't stopped for four hours. Golden Boy is a gut-wrenching novel about an Intersex boy coming to terms with who he is after an extremely traumatic event.
Tarttelin weaves a beautiful narrative of a seemingly perfect family that has been hiding a deep, dark secret and how that secret is forced into daylight after their intersex son, Max, is raped by a close friend.
Golden Boy is told through first person narratives, so we as the reader see into the minds of each of the characters. We feel Max's pain and shame, we understand why his parent's chose to hide the problem, why everyone in the Walker family is constantly seeking perfection. The novel is gut-wrenching and at times you want to put it down, I found myself crying on several occasions, you just can't stand to feel the pain these characters are feeling. But it is so beautifully written and compelling that you can't walk away.
My one criticism is of the voice of Daniel. While I understood why Tarttelin wanted to bring another voice into the book, one who wasn't completely entrenched in the secrets, I felt as though Daniel's character was a little off-putting. Initially when I began the book, I thought that he was somewhere on the spectrum of autism, I realized that he was just emotionally immature with some behavioral issues. Max's character needed a brother, or at least someone that he could just sit with an be, but at times I thought Daniel's character didn't fit.
I loved this novel and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great book.
Sharp: A Memoir
by David Fitzpatrick
A Phoenix (7/10/2012)
A wonderfully written book that tells the tale of one man’s two decade struggle with mental illness and self-mutilation, Sharp is a must read. David Fitzpatrick takes you on a journey into the depths of his broken psyche and shows you the inner workings of his mind. As someone who has watched friends and family members struggle through mental illness, Fitzpatrick does a wonderful job of explaining how he feels, why he has these compulsions to harm himself and what he is thinking as he’s doing these terrible things to his body.
Sharp is dark, it is depressing and at times it's downright brutal, but is ultimately a story of triumph. Fitzpatrick has talent and has been able to channel his life into a story worth telling. It gives hope to all of those people struggling with debilitating mental illness, that with time and patience and effort, you can claw your way out of the rubble and emerge a version of yourself you could never have imagined.
The Age of Miracles: A Novel
by Karen Thompson Walker
Miraculous (6/6/2012)
From start to finish, I found this book riveting. The Age of Miracles tells the story of young girl coming of age right as the world as we know it, ceases to exist. The impossible becomes possible and rotation of the earth begins to slow, days become longer, nights become colder, the laws of gravity fail us and all through these miraculous times, Julia still experiences the normal growing pains of a young girl. The lose of friendships, her first crush, buying a bra and everything in between.
The world around Julia may be changing, but her story is timeless.
The Age of Miracles is a fantastic read and I look forward to reading more books from Ms. Walker
The Land of Decoration: A Novel
by Grace McCleen
What Happens When the End Really is Near (3/14/2012)
A beautiful story of imagination, faith and the end of times. Judith has grown up in a world of unwavering faith, and the belief that the end is near. While other children play, Judith, her father and their small church, roam the streets of their town knocking on doors to proselytize their neighbors. Rather than play with friends, she creates a model of The Promise Land in her room made from garbage she finds. And one day, her unwavering faith pays off, and Judith becomes the Hand of God. But as we have always learned, be careful what you wish for, it just might come true. This is a story about loss, love, faith and family. The Land of Decoration is a beautifully moving story that you won’t be able to put down.
Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected - A Memoir
by Kelle Hampton
Good story, average writing (2/23/2012)
My husband opened the book when it came in the mail and said, "Don't read it. Please, don't read it. You're going to cry for an entire week." And of course, he was correct. I had to stop reading the book several times because I was in hysterics. There were moments when I was reading this book that right next to the author; I was to feeling her heart break and her pain. Ms. Hampton writes honestly and from her heart; she doesn’t hide her emotions, rather she wears them proudly. I found her outlook on life enchanting and something that more people should follow.
With that being said, there are faults in the book. I do enjoy a memoir that makes me feel like I’m sitting in a conversation with the author. However I felt like this was a little too cozy and unpolished. To me a book is supposed to draw you in, make you feel a part of the characters’ lives, but have words that are sharp and polished. I felt that this booked lacked that finesse.
Defending Jacob: A Novel
by William Landay
Surprisingly Good Read! (10/24/2011)
I'm not normally a crime drama reader and because of that, I thought reading and reviewing Defending Jacob was a good way for me to step outside of my wheelhouse. I was convinced this was going to be a run of the mill thriller but I was pleasantly surprised to find it well written, smart and riveting.
Defending Jacob dances around the ideas of nature vs. nurture, making the reader question if it is possible to escape genetics.
Initially slow moving, the story is told though the eyes of Andy Barber, Assistant DA, son of a murderer and father of the accused. Told though a combination of court transcripts and Andy's voice, you learn the extent to which a parent would go to protect their child and how blinded we can be by love.
A fast and enjoyable read, Defending Jacob will make you question everything you thought you knew about the people you love.
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