Book Nook Club: coming of age

Showing posts with label coming of age. Show all posts

January 25, 2012

The Dirty Parts of the Bible by Sam Torode

In this book, author Sam Torode imagines his grandparents living the the story of Sarah and Tobias from the Book of Tobit (which I have to admit to never hearing of before reading this novel) in the setting of the Great Depression. It's hard not to compare it to O Brother, Where Art Thou?, famously based on The Odyssey. Both stories are set during the depression, both are tales of a journey to find buried treasure, both have elements of magic realism, and both manage to do all this in an entertaining and redeeming fashion.

Tobias Henry is the sheltered young son of a Baptist minister. When his father snaps and loses both sight and position, he sends Tobias to retrieve money he had buried in his youth. Tobias confronts the real world for the first time, and immediately finds himself questioning his faith. There are too many things in the Bible, he realizes, that make no sense. Atheists are happier, he realizes, because they have no rules to follow except those they make for themselves.

As he ponders these things he loses his traveling money and finds himself riding the rails with a seasoned, endlessly knowledgeable hobo named Craw. In exchange for Craw's essential assistance, Tobias offers him a job on the family farm. Once they get there and are embraced by long last family, Tobias meets and falls in love with Sarah, who is cursed. But how can he help her if he doesn't believe in curses anymore?

The part of this book I enjoyed most was Craw's conversations with Tobias. The wisdom he imparts to his young friend is pertinent to anyone who has ever questioned their faith, or even the simple idea that our world is more than what we can overtly observe of it. This is a book to read with a mind opened to see past the literalism with which our society is so obsessed.

A caveat: this book does NOT qualify for the "Inspirational" category. There really are some Dirty Parts. I've read dirtier, but I know what the expectations usually are, so if you like your lit on the squeaky side you may want to pass on this one. ;)

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July 5, 2011

Kings of Colorado by David E. Hilton

How many times do you look back at times in your life and ask what if?

William Sheppard stabbed his father in the chest when he was thirteen. What happens after is a series of incidents that beg for the age old question, what if? After stabbing his father, Will is sent to the Swope Ranch Boy's Reformatory, a prison disguised as a ranch known for breaking wild horses. Set in the middle of the Colorado mountains, no one thinks of escaping Swope, just of surviving. It takes Will just a few months before he find the best kind of friends, ones that stick with you forever. Together, these four teenage boys try to find a way to make it out of Swope in one piece in the midst of violence-happy guards, teenage gang leaders, and wild horses.

I won't tell you anything else about what happens other than to say this book was fantastic. Like Hunger Games, this is a story about boys fighting for survival, a story that while heart-breaking and a little disturbing, I just couldn't stop reading. The sense of friendship and brotherhood that David Hilton develops is almost tangible and one that I'll definitely remember. My only complaint would be that since this book is set in a boy's reformatory, there is a lot of language and violence, actually too much language in my opinion that could have been done without. Other than the language, this is an incredible read and one I thoroughly enjoyed. 4 stars (lost one star for the language).

*I received a free copy of this book to review. The review is my honest opinion of the book.

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May 28, 2011

How Huge the Night by Heather Munn

When was the last time you had to make a decision that was really the difference between life and death? How about the choice between being popular and standing up for what's right? Did you make the right choice?

In Heather Munn's new novel How Huge the Night, the teen protagonist Julian faces both of those decisions, big decisions for a 15-year old who really just wants to play soccer. The novel is really broken up into two stories - the story of Julian as he learns the difference between right and wrong with his family and classmates, and the story of Austrian Jews Nina and her younger brother following the directions of their deceased father to run away as fast as possible and let know one know they are Jews.

Both set in the midst of World War II, as I followed these two stories that were happening simultaneously, it was really hard for me to believe that these two teens were living in the same world. As Nina and her brother were beginning for food and fighting for their lives, Julian was fighting to fit in and get away from his schoolmates taunting. They didn't quite face the same challenges, but I think that the challenges they each faced prepared them for when their two stories do eventually become one.

As I was reading, I kept wondering when their two stories would collide because that's the synopsis I'd been given. But looking back now I completely understand why Munn had to tell their stories separately first before bringing them together, and I think the book is better for it. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Knowing that is is based on the true story of a town in France that is admired for rescuing Jews during this troublesome time, makes it even better for me. It reminded me of the stories of other strong youth like Anne Frank and Elie in Night, and I recommend it to young and old. 5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. This review is my honest opinion.

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April 21, 2011

Ghellow Road by T.H. Waters

"Tomorrow could bring a brand new day and a fresh new start. But Mom would never see it like that. Instead she would move through it just like she always had, just as she always would. Living the moments of her life as though she had no past...or future."

This is the life that Theresa lives. A life with a schizophrenic mother, a brother who hates her, and a father who leaves her with just a late night drive to remember him by. Written by T.H. Waters about her true unique childhood experience, Ghellow Road is a different coming of age story different than one I've eve read before. It follows Theresa's daily life for almost twenty years as she struggles to find herself without ever really having a place or a family to call her own. The only real consistent element in her life is her mother, who floats in and out of Theresa's life, just like the voices in her mother's head.

There is just something about this story and about Theresa in general that made me want to keep reading to find out what would happen next. Over and over again Theresa jumped over obstacles that would stop most people dead in their tracks. I love her strength and fighting personality and just kept hoping that she would finally end up with some sort of permanent happiness. This book was inspiring and hopeful when in all reality it had no reason to be. Recommended for anyone but especially for anyone who has dealt with someone with a mental illness.

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April 7, 2011

One Day, By David Nicholls

One Day was recommended by one of my favorite book reviewers, Reeder. I've found some great reads thanks to her, so when I had a bookstore gift card to use up, I decided to check this book out.

Plot: Emma and Dexter have known each other throughout University, but they finally hang out (OK, hook up) on their last day, July 15, 1988. After resolving to remain friends, the reader is taken through the next 20 years, shown through glimpses of their lives on the same day, year after year.

What drew me to the book, aside from Reeder's great review, was the premise. I loved the idea of revisiting the same characters on the same day. After all, how often do we sit and think about what we were doing on this exact day one year ago? Two years ago? Five years ago? I bet if we did that, we'd truly begin to see the little decisions and course corrections that add up to the major life decisions and changes we deal with over the course of our lives.

Characters: There are a host of side characters that each have their clever quirks, but the book lives and dies on the backs of Emma and Dexter. It is so fun to watch their growth over two decades. Emma, a meek 20-something grows into this smart, strong and independent woman. But Dexter is the true study in character. He's tragically flawed, and at every poor decision and wrong turn, you just want to shake him. Because you know he's better than that. And in the end, you just want to know if he'll get his act together.

Structure: Each chapter takes place on the same day, one year after the chapter before it. The book is also divided into sections according to their age -- early twenties all the way through late thirties. For someone who loves a good chronology, it doesn't get much easier to follow than this. Of course, the narrative of each day weaves in what's come before in the lives of Dexter and Emma so that you still get a full picture of their story.

This is a great coming of age story that will leave you thinking about it for days. It's also soon to be a movie starring Anne Hathaway. I think the book will lend itself well to the big screen and I can't wait to see these two characters come to life. 4 stars.

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January 25, 2012

The Dirty Parts of the Bible by Sam Torode

July 5, 2011

Kings of Colorado by David E. Hilton

May 28, 2011

How Huge the Night by Heather Munn

April 21, 2011

Ghellow Road by T.H. Waters

April 7, 2011

One Day, By David Nicholls

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