(
) This is a different theme from what I usually read. It revolves around a homeless veteran, who, after serving 25 or so years in the British marines, comes back with terminal lung cancer and a worsening alcohol addiction. He has no resource for treatment. His best friend is also a street-dwelling addict. The Vet has made some selfish choices that he attempts to fix before he dies; unfortunately, most of them only end up making the situations worse. E.g. he's been absent for most of his son's life, but the son doesn't want to have anything to do with him now.
There's no real lesson to the story except that maybe if you try to screw someone over, you'll probably also get screwed over. Also, maybe, that there are rarely happy endings.
It's a depressing, disappointing, but seemingly honest and believable story. Though the beginning can be a bit tedious and confusing. The main character doesn't have the clearest perspective to read from since he's usually intoxicated.
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) A suspenseful story for sure, and with a twist ending packaged in. This tale combines love, passion, crime, and mystery all in one. The first person narration that is switched between different characters makes it all the more interesting.
So the plot is: two near-middle-aged individuals working in relation to law enforcement are engaged to be married. One is caught in the middle of an odd hostage bank robbery. Here, the robbers aren't of your average intelligence, and are not predictable even to the professionals. Soon there are casualties, and they learn of explosives being involved. The engaged woman trades herself for her fiance in the hostage negotiations in order to try and save his life.
The end is not what you'd expect, and not exactly hope-filled. But it's not a horrendously depressing either. A very "in between" conclusion. This book is good for thrill-readers, not so good for those who put more value on a lesson, unique idea, or main point being communicated across their reading.
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) There are a lot of certified "organizations" out there today that are actually forms of cults. This book writes about a particular religious one affecting a high school girl.
Dorry is a new girl at school and hasn't been successful at making friends in three weeks. Spontaneously, a girl invites her to eat with her group at lunch. She finds out they're all members of a "Fishers" church group. Before she knows it, she's being invited to weekly parties and receiving help from people she doesn't even know. She leaves for a 'retreat' with her friends, and is 'converted'.
She has to follow the rules of the Fishers, which are strict. Some include that she has to fast on Thanksgiving (since she's overweight) and has a quota of converts she must produce. She has to pray at least an hour a day and report to her "discipler" every night. Because of this, she loses the respect of her family, her friends, she loses her job, and her grades plummet. She becomes anorexic and hates herself. She eventually realizes the evil in this organization, and gets out; though she's pounded with harassment during the exiting process.
Later, she finds out the lies and scandal from the organization that she was previously blinded from.
It's a good lesson for young adults to never get wrapped up in anything that asks to have more control over your life than you.
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) This is one of the best books I've ever read. Not because it's jammed-packed with suspense and shock, though it is, but because it brings you into the eyes of a small, innocent, highly abused and traumatized child.
And it's a true story written by the child as an adult! Do not pass down the opportunity to read this book.
As I said, it follows the life of a boy suffering at the cruel hand and evil mind of his mother. He is forced to do everything dehumanizing and horrendous that you can imagine, including eating feces and being the family's slave. He is also denied everything that keeps him living; this includes sleep, food, and basic hygiene.
With late intervention by an outsider, this boy just survives, and comes out of this struggle with larger-than-life battle scars. He turns his experience around for good, and writes this book to help educate others. Child abuse is real, prevalent, and very serious. There are warning signs, and it is not to be taken lightly. This book is a testimony to that fact.
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) This story takes place in Benevolence, Florida. The main character is a fifteen-year-old girl named Dove. She's grown up in Benevolence; here, her father owns a section of orange groves. Life is going good for Dove: she's forming her first love and exploring life's possibilities. But mysterious fires are breaking out, and Dove is just starting to become aware of the dangerous racial disparities surrounding her. Things are getting weird, and Dove's incessant curiosity gets the better of her.
Dove finds out what's up, but when she does, she wishes she didn't. Her friends are getting death threats, and she is shocked to learn of a long-kept secret murder[er]. It is soon evident that the KKK is involved, and the least likely people in her life are members.
Never in her life could she have even imagined this kind of thing to be prevalent in her little town.
But it is, and hits way too close to home. Her involvement becomes more than a quest for truth, but a protection of the values and people she holds dearly. This can have deadly consequences.
This reader explores an era of extremist racism through this terrific narrative. It's a great book for anyone interested in social inequality, or just deeper read.
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) Ashley seems like an all-around wholesome girl. She takes care of her very ill mother and doesn't go to parties or get involved with boys. But, as we all know, a girl has got to have her escape. Ashley has hers: at night she does astounding graffiti around her neighborhood. Most of her work is a juiced-up tag of her code name, Cindy. Nobody knows Ashley's secret night-time hobby except her best friend, Vikki. Of course, Vikki eventually blabs. Somehow the word gets out to the most notorious gang leader around, Eddie. Eddie soon takes an interest in Ashley; he recruits her as a pawn in his game where he plays the town's "ringmaster". However, Ashley's wholesome side gets to her - she won't have it. But Eddie's notorious for his dangerous friends and past 'fixes' in the town. Ashley's trying for the courageous, but hazardous route. How will it end?
I can't possibly describe this book as well as it is written. It doesn't seem as enticing in the beginning, but the alluring, suspenseful parts occur quickly after. It gives another outlook on the cult-ish/Nazi-ish formations that can occur around a central leader.
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) Jordan has the sob-story of an especially troubled teen: at thirteen he found his father after he had shot himself. Now three years later, at sixteen, he's managed to lose the majority of whatever friends or interests he had; his life has become somewhat meaningless. He is void of emotion and is indifferent to everything around him. But this changes when a neighbor with a smooth, show Corvette begins going out with his mom. Before Jordan knows it, he's beginning to seek thrills in illegal ways. With the consequences of this, he discovers that looking at the past is the only way to clear a path for the future. He also realizes that no, life isn't fair, but people do love, care, and try to do their best for one another.
It's an okay read that emphasizes the impact that trauma can play in a young person's life, and the importance of trust and love.
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) The setting is in a city infested with gang violence. The main characters are two gang-member girls who are joined at the hip. They dance competitively at the night clubs and never fail to win. One night while walking back home, an opposing gang drive-by occurs that leaves one of the girls dead. The girl who dies, Ana, was also pregnant - but it wasn't her boyfriend's. From this scandal, twisted chaos ensues and leaves Kata (the second girl) questioning her own identity and worth.
It's alright, but a lot of it doesn't coincide with reality - at least in terms of normal gang behavior. However, I'm not a gang member myself, so I only go from outside sources to judge this. It does help educate the ignorant about this environment though. It's an okay read, but nothing special.
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) Another perspective of institutionalization as told from the experience of the author. The setting is in an expensive, possibly private institution where many people are placed for psychological treatment.
It is based around an overweight, 16-year-old girl named Anna. Her parents place her in the institution (by surprise) due to her depression and mild panic attacks at school. Oddly enough, it helps, but seems to be most aided by the close-knit design of the patient community - not the hospital's methods of medicinal cures. While there, Anna loses weight, gains confidence, and even gets her first kiss.
It's an okay read; definitely interesting. Very modern and in tune with technology and music. It was published in 2007, thus making it easier to relate to.
(
) Same author as
Running With Scissors. Tells the author's story of alcohol abuse, rehab, and relationship difficulties. Puts a personal spin on addiction that can make almost anyone relate.
It starts off following Augusten through his social and professional life, both of which are continually interrupted by his alcohol abuse. It isn't until a work intervention that he is put into rehab. The rehab center first seems like a joke, but it's purpose and effective strategies soon become clear. When he gets out, everyone around him seems to be relapsing. Also, a coworker is harassing him. But even through this, Augusten remains somehow strong and sober. It isn't until a close friend, once lover, leaves Augusten's life forever that the real internal conflict occurs.
It's a good story that lets us see through the eyes of an addict, and view almost-firsthand the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
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) This book was not all that spell-binding, however I suppose the New York Times Best Sellers List says otherwise. The story starts off incredibly slow with a main half-
Asian and half-
Caucasian speaker. She
reminisces between tales of her current
marriage woes, her weird family life, and her even weirder adopted-but-half-blood-related Chinese sister. The sister tells many tales from "past lives" that are also written in first person throughout the book. They are somewhat illogical and tragic, but also linked with the present and future. The sister,
Kwan, also claims to have "Yin" eyes, which can see ghosts of the dead. And even more perplexing is that many of the stories seem to be backed by evidence.
The book can be a little confusing, and it is
incredibly slow
until 3/4
ths into the book. When it finally gets interesting is when
Kwan, the main character, and her
sort-of-ex-hubby go on a trip to China together to fulfill a prior
commitment. Things go awry and the real plot starts to take place. It's not horrible;
it's one of those books that would make a fantastic movie, but I would not
recommend it as a leisurely read.
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) This is the world as seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old female, Haitian refugee. She pours herself into her class work and deals with the typical issues of bullying and popularity at school. The catch is that she has far more threatening, secret experiences in her past that she is dealing with. Since then, her only ways of coping have been to quietly damage herself and shut her mouth. Only the surprise appearance of her trustworthy uncle brings anything out, and only then does she start to realize her independence and own will!
Reading stories told from less-common immigrant perspectives are always a joy. This book does that and more by revealing some of the horrors refugees have to live with in their pasts. It's witty, insightful, and personal. Definitely a very enriching, thought-provoking read!
Won the Golden Kite Award
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) The basic premise of this book is based around a special education teacher and one of her students. The student is a young girl who never responds, even physically, to anything. Tests show she physically can, but won't. The teacher is passionate about her work and never gives up on her, including spending loads of personal time trying to initiate help in the family. She makes small breakthroughs with connecting and initiating rare responses from the child. Soon though, it becomes clear there is some form of abuse occurring in the home. The girl, Venus, is rushed unconscious to a hospital. I won't give away the ending, but it is a great read that is completely realistic in nature and inspiring in its tale.
(
) This is a different theme from what I usually read. It revolves around a homeless veteran, who, after serving 25 or so years in the British marines, comes back with terminal lung cancer and a worsening alcohol addiction. He has no resource for treatment. His best friend is also a street-dwelling addict. The Vet has made some selfish choices that he attempts to fix before he dies; unfortunately, most of them only end up making the situations worse. E.g. he's been absent for most of his son's life, but the son doesn't want to have anything to do with him now.
