Tag Archives: Social Commentary

Kim’s Review of Easy by Tammara Webber

etwI mentioned in my review of Cora Carmack’s Losing It that I’ve become obsessed recently with the new adult genre.  After being blown away with how awesome that book was, I dove into Easy by Tammara Webber.  This book makes strong and amazing stances on the issues of rape culture and sexual assault and was a perfect choice to continue my tour of the new adult genre.

From Goodreads:

Rescued by a stranger.
Haunted by a secret
Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.

A groundbreaking novel in the New Adult genre, Easy faces one girl’s struggle to regain the trust she’s lost, find the inner strength to fight back against an attacker, and accept the peace she finds in the arms of a secretive boy.

NO MEANS NO.  It’s a statement that should need no explanation when put in a sexual context.  Unfortunately, all too often people are taken advantage of, left helpless, and not taken seriously when attempting to report a rape. Webber’s Easy blew me away with the stances it took on this hot button topic.  ”Rape culture” is a phrase that we’re hearing all too often these days, mostly in reference to the serious lack of knowledge about the topic of rape in younger generations.  The Steubenville rape case is a prime example of this.  Misconceived notions about virginity, consent, and a “slutty persona” fuel the dismissal of legitimate sexual assault cases.  So much of Easy pushes the notion of self-empowerment and the belief in helping others to stop the cycle.  Learning how to defend yourself (both physically and mentally), holding others accountable for their actions and words, and maybe most importantly, how to listen to others and knowing how to set boundaries are all important lessons learned in this book.  I think it should be a required read for those younger generations who are beginning to experiment with one another, going to parties and attempting to fit in.  In the midst of all the signals they receive, from the media, social networks, gossip in school, and their parents, they need to realize that there are boundaries that they cannot cross.  Easy teaches this lesson, and it is presented in a way that is easy to understand and relate to.  I am so glad that Webber is making a strong and unyielding stance on this issue, and sets the record straight on a lot of the various false ideas that are common in “rape culture.”  I applaud her a hundred times over for getting this message out.  Once this information spreads, we can hopefully eliminate rape culture once and for all.

I cannot speak highly enough about this book.  Lucas is seriously the most amazing male character I’ve ever read.  He is a freaking superhero of awesomeness and is the epitome of what men should strive to be.  He takes the shit life threw at him and somehow learns from it, turning his life into a constant state of pay-it-forward.  Jacqueline is also a woman to learn from.  She learns from her mistakes and with Lucas’ help transforms herself into a strong, independent woman who is no longer afraid of what the future can hold.  So, hopefully with the help of a book like Easy and positive role models that deliver the right message to younger girls, they too can become strong women that know that saying no really means no.

5 out of 5 Stars

Easy by Tammara Webber
Penguin Group (2012)
eBook: 336 pages
ISBN: 9781101618011

Adam’s Review of Tragedy and Triumph by Kathrin Rudland

ttkr“Family always comes first, no matter the situation. Your loyalty lies here, in our traditions.” Many people growing up often hear those words and often times take them to the grave. The discussions and themes behind family ties are one of the many pillars discussed in Tragedy and Triumph, a historical fiction novel written by Kathrin Rudland.

Truman Haden is only a boy the night his world his turned upside down and changes forever. He is sent away from his home because his parents are suffering from yellow fever and are close to their deaths. In a letter he receives from his father posthumously, his father preaches to him that he must do everything in his power to fight for the values that the South was founded on, and fight to protect the way of life in the South. The novel takes place before and during the Civil War in America, so these values would be slavery.  His world is changed when as a young lawyer he takes a trip to upstate New York to the small town of Elmira, a town known for its anti-slavery stance. There he meets an abolitionist woman named Elizabeth, who proves to be the polar opposite of his own views politically, but is a worthy match nonetheless. He loves debating her, and they often argue. As time goes by, the issue of slavery further divides the nation. Incidents happen that make Truman wonder whether or not he can stay loyal to the pledge he took as a boy, or whether he should consider changing. What unfolds while making his decision is an epic novel of loyalty and historical facts.

I will say that as a history major and history buff, I LOVED this novel. From the first chapter, beginning with how Truman’s life was turned upside down, to the promise he made, and finally to reading about his journey overall, I was completely enthralled. I enjoyed reading it so much that often times I kept finding myself saying “five more pages,” which turned into five more, and ended in me finally forcing myself to go to bed. Ms. Rudland paints just a vivid picture that allows the reader to see the story unfold right before his/her eyes and feel the true emotions of the characters. In the section describing the different abolitionists and detailing Elizabeth’s first time helping out with the underground railroad, I felt my heart beat out of my chest because I was nervous that she would be caught. The details of how people would get their next assignment on the underground railroad and how they had to be careful to avoid being watched was something I was not aware of. I was glad that these facts were included because it made the story that more realistic and really drew the reader in. I felt like I was in the story with Elizabeth waiting to get my assignment, wondering if someone was watching me as a spy.

The way the novel was written is very similar to a film such as Crash or 21 Grams, where there are many plots that all collide into one central plot. Many times a new character would be introduced, whether it be a slave, abolitionist, or soldier. I loved seeing the connection of this new character back to the main plot line or to Truman. Every time a new character was introduced, I had an “ahhh” moment when I was finally able to relate the character back to Truman, which helped the story evolve and took the story telling to another level. I loved seeing the different characters connect at different times throughout the plot. It really made me think of six degrees of separation. The author did an excellent job of introducing characters and making you care about each character, whether he/she had good qualities or bad. I often think that we don’t care about supporting characters (or characters who only have a couple of chapters dedicated to them) because we’re so focused on the main characters around whom the story revolves. However, because this story was so character driven, without those supporting characters the novel would’ve fallen asleep.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is just getting interested in the Civil War or someone who has a serious interest in American History. Although the main story is fiction, the facts are very real. The author’s writing style and the characters will make you invested in this book, so be prepared for some late nights.

6 out of 5 Stars

Tragedy and Triumph by Kathrin Rudland
iUniverse (2012)
Paperback 244 pages
ISBN: 9781475921700

Special thanks to Courtney at Author Solutions for my review copy!

#112 A Guest Review of Goodly Creatures by Beth Massey

My latest guest review is up on the Austenprose blog today!  My newest review is on the controversial Pride and Prejudice deviation Goodly Creatures by Beth Massey.

The events of the beginning of the book take place several years prior to Pride and Prejudice and are extremely dark.  Elizabeth is raped at the tender age of 15 and winds up becoming pregnant.  The dark events that follow lead our beloved characters down roads we could have never imagined.

A direct link to my review is here.

Sam’s Review of When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

When I fall for a book, I fall hard.  I can barely think about anything else.  I become consumed.  When I’m not reading the book, I’m researching things that the book makes me think about, or I’m texting my sister to tell her to pick up a copy, or I’m talking my husband’s ear off about one part or another.  It’s a sickness, really.  As of yet, I’ve found no cure for a good book, though admittedly I haven’t really been trying.

This happened to me most recently with a book called When She Woke, by Hillary Jordan.  It’s a tale of forbidden and doomed love set in a future where the right-wing religious folk have finally gotten their ducks in a row long enough to elect the right (but oh so wrong) people into power. Together, these people have criminalized abortions, deeming it murder, and have invented a nifty little drug that can actually pigment the skin. What this pigment allows them to do is change the color of a convicted criminal’s skin to match their infraction. For example for a misdemeanor, you become yellow, child molesters are blue, and the murderers are a dark scarlet red.

Enter Hannah Payne. A good girl who has fallen hopelessly and passionately in love with her Reverend, one Aiden Dale. Aiden is a sort of religious rock star, known and beloved by both his own Texas congregation and the entire God-loving world. But alas, Reverend Dale is already taken by the lovely and sweet Mrs. Alyssa Dale. Despite the obvious reasons why not, Ms. Payne and the good Reverend embark on an affair that leaves Hannah in quite a predicament. Pregnant, scared, and in love she does the only thing she can think of to save Aiden from the shame of exposing him for what he truly is. She gets an illegal abortion rather than bear his child and face the scrutiny of an angry public. When her crime is discovered, Hannah is arrested and forced to stand trial. Through it all she refuses to name both Aiden as the father and the man who preformed the abortion. Her sentence is sixteen years as a Red. Every four months for sixteen years Hannah will be injected with a virus that gives her skin the outward appearance of what society believes her to be, a murderer.

Hannah loses everything.  Her child, her love, her family, her dignity, and even her  faith in God.  And this is only the beginning.

It only takes a sentence or two to make the not so subtle connection between When She Woke to the beautiful and classic novel The Scarlet Letter, but Ms. Jordan’s story stands well on its own. The reason you still find The Scarlet Letter in classrooms today is that the story is still very real. Our society thrives on creating and ridiculing outcasts. Ms. Jordan shows the reader how a story conceived and distributed so long ago is still a part of our present and future.

As a reader I found myself fascinated by Aiden Dale. He has countless opportunities to expose himself to his wife and followers for who he truly is, but time and time again he begs Hannah to do it for him. He wants her to be the one to name him when she is questioned by police, when she is on trial, when she is running for her life. He cannot bring himself to tell the truth despite the fact that he knows it will bring him peace. He bears the weight of the world. When everyone looks to him to help them find salvation in God, he looks to Hannah to show him the way. She had to sacrifice their child and herself in order to save him. She gave everything. She knew he wouldn’t expose the truth. Knew that she had to protect his wife, his congregation. Hannah knew that their faith in Aiden was more important that their love. And so she bore the weight of their judgment. She let everyone hate her. She laid down the life of her baby so that the rest of the world could have Aiden Dale and believe.

As I said, I fell for this book. Hard. There is so much to think, wonder, question. I think I will go back to this story again and again. My next job will be to reread the original version of this story and bring to it this new perspective. I love that about reading.

Thank you Hillary Jordan for giving me a new look at an old favorite.

I’m giving this 4 out 5 stars. Partially because I can’t help but feel there’s something missing, and partially because I’m heartbroken that our relationship ended so soon.

4 out of 5 Stars

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill (2012)
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN: 9781616201937

Todd’s Review of Believe Like a Child by Paige Dearth

When I agreed to review Believe Like a Chile by Paige Dearth, I knew I was in for a bit of a tough story.  Just the synopsis of the book, which is in some ways like Ms. Dearth’s own background, as she explained in her email, was bracing and eye-opening.  The subject of child abuse and pedophilia are very tough subjects, but it was Dearth’s candor in talking about these subjects in her email that definitely caught my attention.  I decided then and there that this story needed a wider audience, as its message is very important.  So, albeit in a small way, I decided to review this book and promote it as best I could here on the blog.  So, here it is.

Dearth begins her book with a young girl named Alessa.  Alessa’s home life leaves a lot to be desired, with a mother that constantly berates her over her appearance (she is paler and lankier than her siblings) and her demeanor.  Although she does nothing to deserve it, Alessa is beaten by her mother with a wooden spoon.  This changes, however, when her Uncle Danny moves in with the family.  Although her earlier memories of the man are pleasant and fun, Uncle Danny becomes a very different person when he begins to live with Alessa.  At night he begins to psychologically manipulate and rape her, which continues for years unchecked.  Once, Alessa gathered the courage to tell her mother, but she was met with a barrage of insults and comments that she was a liar.  Eventually, Alessa befriends a schoolmate and is able to escape Uncle Danny more often, only to end up in a situation where she must leave her home due to something that occurs with this schoolmate (I won’t give too much away).  She flees to North Philadelphia with a train ticket and $2,000 in cash, and is able to secure a dingy apartment and a job at a discount store.  She soon befriends a woman named Tasha, who eventually introduces her to her brother, Harlin.  Harlin is a drug dealer and is known for his violence and protection he provides to those he deems worthy in North Philadelphia.  Although she is initially scared of Harlin, Alessa eventually begins to befriend him, and even thinks she may like him.  This all changes, however, when things again spiral out of control for Alessa and she is forced to flee again to save her own life.  What will become of her?  Will she ever be able to escape her demons?

So, with that short synopsis, you can see why this book is definitely an intense read.  What struck me most about Dearth’s writing style is that she pulled no punches, nor elaborated on any detail too profusely.  It read like a detached third person narrative, explaining the facts and nothing more in the worst sections of Alessa’s life, then providing a short section on how Alessa felt and how hopeless she felt after the repeated abuses.  It was definitely interesting, as it was in no way influencing the reader to feel a particular way, or encouraging him/her to feel bad for Alessa.  Obviously, I felt extremely bad for her, and in a way I think the bracing format that described everything exactly as it happened is a good way to go about telling these kinds of stories.  We’re often confronted with tales of sexual assault (e.g. Sandusky trial), yet often we talk about it in abstract ways, never actually describing the horrors the abused must endure.  By specifically stating what happens, Dearth is plainly laying out the facts and forcing us to deal with the gravity of the situation.  I applaud her for doing this, as it will start a dialogue that hopefully will end with better protection of young people from pedophiles and ensure that these crimes never happen again.  Until we really face this problem head on, instead of pretending it isn’t happening (e.g. Catholic Church scandals, Boy Scouts), we can’t adequately treat it.  I’m glad that Dearth was able to write this, as I believe it probably helped her heal as much as it helped me realize that these crimes aren’t something we can ignore.  So, if you aren’t moved enough to already do so, pick up a copy of this book and read it.  The help that Alessa eventually receives is enough to restore your faith in humanity.

5 out of 5 Stars

Believe Like a Child by Paige Dearth
CreateSpace (2011)
Paperback: 424 pages
ISBN: 9781461105671

Special thanks to Ms. Dearth for my review copy!

Todd’s Review of Hope by Victoria Ferrante

Although I’m not usually one to harp on a book’s cover (insert obligatory joke about judging a book by its cover), this one definitely caught my eye.  The tortured soul on the front cover of this book made me pause and wonder what would cause such pain.  I knew the book was about Autism, but I know that the spectrum of this disorder is so varied that I really had no idea what I was in for.  So, with so many looming questions, I decided to get right to it and dive in to the book!

Ferrante tells the story of Christina Borysowki, a woman from the Midwest who gives birth to a daughter with autism spectrum disorder in the early 1990′s.  Originally, Christina is overjoyed at her daughter’s birth and feels an incredible bond with her daughter, who has beautiful blue eyes and a bubbly disposition.  Over time, however, things begin to change.  Her daughter, optimistically named Hope, begins to become withdrawn.  She does not respond to her name, or any normal stimulus that children her age react to.  Her now gray eyes seem to have lost their sparkle, and Hope looks out with empty, emotionless eyes at the world.  Although most of her family and friends dismiss the idea that anything is seriously wrong with Hope, Christina eventually brings her to numerous doctors, eventually gaining a diagnosis of autism, a relatively new and unheard of disorder at the time.  Christina’s life then becomes a whirlwind of doctor’s meetings, questions, medications, and more, as she tries to give Hope the best life she can muster given the circumstances.  Although she often feels overwhelmed, Christina is motivated by a desire to find the passion that she knows is hidden in her daughter’s mysterious and ever-changing personality.  All this changes, however, at the dramatic twist at the end of the novel that no one sees coming.

As a disclaimer, I had a very hard time deciding what to write for this review.  I too have experience with a disabled family member, as my twin brother Dan has Cerebral Palsy and is a quadriplegic due to CP and other additional factors.  It is because of this fact that I viewed this book differently than someone who may not have a person in his/her life that is disabled.  I give Ferrante a lot of credit for writing this work; I understand that she has a child who is profoundly autistic herself and therefore may have used the writing of this story as a type of therapy or vehicle in which to create a story similar to her own.  These things are really important, as a support structure is vital to the family of someone with a disability as it helps them during the inevitable hard times.  The thing I took issue with, however, was the overall tone of the book.  I understand that Christina would be incredibly frustrated and alienated at times with having to deal with this disorder day in and day out.  It was the high amount of negativity that struck me, however, and made it harder to read as time went on.  Yes, I know that there were moments of brevity and connection between Christina and Hope, but they were few and far between.  Perhaps that was the point, that it’s not easy at all to have a profoundly autistic daughter.  And I would assume it is, although I have no direct experience in the matter.  I do, however, have direct experience with a brother that can’t do many of the things (both physically and mentally) that we take for granted.  And because of this, I know that it’s very, very important to focus on the positives.  It’s easy to question everything and get caught up in the negative, but it’s not the right way.  Every day is a gift, and we need to be reminded of this.  To majorly focus on the bad things and keep the plot development on a downward spiral was not helping.  I think the material may be there, but the focus of the work needed some tweaking.  I do applaud Ferrante for her honesty and ability to show us all the daily battles that go in to caring for someone with this type of autism through Christina’s story.  It can’t be easy and her writing definitely showed that.  I perhaps was just too emotionally invested in this type of story that I couldn’t give it an appropriate rating.

Hope by Victoria Ferrante
iUniverse Incorporated (2011)
Paperback: 232 pages
ISBN: 9781462062362

Special thanks to Author Solutions for my review copy!

#93 A Review of The Walking Dead (Hardcover Book Five) by Robert Kirkman

Todd and I want to apologize for the major gap that has occurred between our Walking Dead reviews!  If you need a refresher, here are our reviews of books one, two, three, and four.  To continue with the tradition, we’re doing a joint review of book five!

Book five of the series begins after the horrible battle at the prison and subsequent loss of many characters from the previous books in the series.  We’re reunited with Rick and Carl, who are on their own and separated from any other possible survivors of the massacre.  There is a particularly poignant scene where Rick comes down with a sudden infection and is rendered unconscious.  Carl asserts his independence and tells his dad (who is passed out) that he doesn’t need his help and that he’d be fine alone.  Soon thereafter, Carl realizes that he isn’t nearly as brave as he thought, and in a moment of panic almost shoots Rick as Rick slowly (and in a zombie-like manner) comes to.  After he recovers, Rick and Carl reunite with Michonne, and the three of them travel together until they stumble upon the remaining survivors of the prison attack.  After a brief moment of actual happiness in the post-apocalyptic doom, they then meet a group of three survivors who are traveling to Washington, DC: Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita.  Abraham, an army Sargent, challenges Rick as the head of the group, and is the focal point for the remainder of the novel.  What happens next though, catches everyone off guard, and puts all of their lives in immediate danger…

Kim: So I truly love the underlying social commentary themes that are woven into these books.  I like how in book five we focus a lot on the children who have survived to this point.  When we finished reading the book, Todd and I started discussing our thoughts and I said the following: I think that as adults we have the ability to adapt for survival faster than children do.  As adults we understand what we need to survive.  It’s an inherent trait in ourselves to adapt for our survival.  In the case of children, they are taken care of by adults.  A child does not inherently understand survival at the level an adult would.  In book five we begin to see the effects that this “zombie apocalypse” has had on them.  Sophia is looking at any of the females caring for her as her actual mother.  When Carl asks her about her birth mother Sophia acts like she has no idea who he’s talking about.  The trauma of her mother’s suicide, coupled with the rest of the events of the books have taken such a toll on her, that her mind has blacked out the traumatic events.  Consequently, Carl has a scare when Rick become so sick that he passes out for several days.  Carl acts like everything is fine and that he can take care of himself, but the reality soon sets in that he is a child and shouldn’t have to fend for himself.  It’s these transformations (and others) that makes these books the “must reads” I think they are.  They are so much more than just zombie novels.  They are true experimental evaluations of the human condition!

Todd: I definitely agree.  I think it’s interesting that Carl has to mature (physically and emotionally) in this world while all of the adults are obviously much older and have a greater frame of reference for a time that wasn’t infested with walking corpses.  Of course it accelerates Carl’s maturity, but in other aspects it makes him even more messed up, with little to no stability in his life to rely on.  Fortunately, Rick tries his best to be a good father figure, and for the most part it works, but the ever-mounting flood of death and destruction takes its toll, especially when Carl tells his father that he wanted to help him kill the man who almost molested him.  When he tells Rick that he is scared of the violence of his thoughts sometimes, it offers us a window into how his mind is adjusting to the new surroundings.  Rick perhaps puts it best: “We’re doing whatever it takes to survive… The people without the switch– those who weren’t able to go from law-abiding citizens to stone-cold killers… those are the ones shambling around out there– trying to eat us.”

Kim: Speaking of Rick’s mental state, it’s fascinating to see how the events at the end of book four have completely transformed him into a “mental patient”.  The conversations with his dead wife and his serious lack of confidence in himself and his decision-making skills showcase a Rick that we have never glimpsed before.  Kirkman’s ability to highlight a transforming psychological climate for all of these characters is truly what makes this series stand out, and why he’s still publishing new issues of this series monthly.

Todd: I think it’s interesting you bring up Rick’s mental state, because although this book wasn’t nearly as big on action as the previous one, I think it’s actually scarier.  To see what the continued toll of dealing with what has happened to them has on all the characters is really frightening.  We’ve always had Rick as the pillar of the group, right or wrong, and to see him in such a diminished state makes me nervous for what will happen in the future.  I hope the remaining survivors can pull it together!

Make sure you keep a lookout for the next review of book six in this series.  Although we haven’t read it yet, if the speed in which we read this book is any indication, you won’t need to wait long!

Todd’s Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Kim’s Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Image Comics (2010)
Hardcover 304 pages
ISBN: 9781607061717

Todd’s Review of Waiting For Daybreak by Amanda McNeil – Blog Tour

As the resident zombie expert at Reflections of a Book Addict, I feel compelled to give any novel that mentions our favorite half-dead friends a good read and review.  As I’ve stated before, it’s definitely one of my favorite sub-genres within the greater context of the postapocalyptic world genre.  Ever since reading World War Z and The Walking Dead graphic novels, I’ve been basically hooked.  Fortunately, Waiting for Daybreak by Amanda McNeill was a great addition to this genre.

Taking place in modern-day Boston, Waiting for Daybreak chronicles the life of Frieda, a twenty-something microbiologist who works in a diagnostic lab in a hospital.  Unfortunately for her, she is the only known survivor of an outbreak of an incredibly virulent virus that causes its hosts to transform into cannibalistic, half dead zombies.  For nearly a year, she has subsisted in her apartment on the fourth floor of an apartment building, using a combination of scavenging for supplies and growing a garden as a means of nourishment and survival.  As far as in the infected are concerned (or “the afflicted” as she calls them), Frieda has become skilled with the use of various knives and other non-projectile objects in luring the zombies to her and dispatching them when necessary.  All of this changes when her cat, Snuggles, becomes afflicted with parasitic worms, and Frieda must travel to the local ASPCA office to find medicine to treat her.  Unfortunately, the office is far from her current location, and Frieda faces untold dangers in getting there.  Most interesting, however, is what happens along the way.  She comes into contact with a man named Mike, the first uninfected person she’s seen since the outbreak.  What happens between them is predictable, but it’s what happens after that which is something no one could have seen coming.

I’ve always said (in regards to zombie movies/books/etc), that the lessons learned from this type of story are more about what happens to people after the rise of these zombies instead of what happens with the zombies themselves.  Basically, the terrifying effects created by the catastrophic destruction of society serve to strip down the survivors and find out what they’re really made of.  With no outside interference, people become who they really are, deep down.  In this case, Frieda has been diagnosed with a mental illness and struggles with feelings of self-doubt and low self-esteem.  However, the longer that she survives in the zombie apocalypse, the more clear-headed and confident she becomes.  This is interesting, as when the general public (that is also generally uneducated about mental illness) thinks about any kind of mental illness, they would assume that any kind of stress or isolation would serve to reinforce this problem and make it worse, rather than better.  In Frieda’s case, the time alone has given her an opportunity to think and do a lot of self-evaluation, which has made her come to the conclusion that she is a strong and self-sufficient woman, albeit with a good dose of self-doubt that kicks in every once in a while.  Despite this intermittent self-criticism, Frieda is doing better than she ever has before, and her interaction and eventual course of action with Mike only serves to reinforce the fact that this apocalypse has caused her to become the strong, resourceful person that she really always was, and just needed this external stimulus to bring out.

In all, it is an awesome read that really gets you in tune with Frieda’s struggle with the undead.  There are a few minor zombie-centric details, such as the believability of the actual virus and the way that the zombies act that could have used some reworking, but as I said before, zombie books are more about the live folks rather than the undead.  In that regard, McNeil did a wonderful job.

4 out of 5 stars

Waiting for Daybreak by Amanda McNeil
CreateSpace (2012)
Paperback: 172 pages
ISBN: 9781478153764

Special thanks to Ms. McNeil for the review copy.  To follow along with the rest of the blog tour, click on the image below.

Todd’s Review of The Psychology of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Edited by Robin Rosenberg, Ph.D. and Shannon O’Neill

If you’re like me, then the thought of psychological analysis makes you a little confused.  It’s not that I don’t understand the basic tenants of psychology (I did fairly well in psych 101 in college!), but the finer points of psychoanalysis make me glad that I’m not a psychologist or psychiatrist.  I’m used to hard data, such as percent oxygen, protein yields, and absorbance values.  To observe one’s character and make a complete analysis just based on personality traits or familial history alone is pretty cool.  I just have no idea how it’s done.  Hence, my decision to tackle this interesting field segued well into reading The Psychology of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Edited by Robin Rosenberg (also a contributor) and Shannon O’Neill, The Psychology of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo compiles the analyses of many experts on the subjects of psychology, psychiatry, medicine, and various other subjects to study the inner workings of the characters within Steig Larsson’s amazing The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. (You can read my joint reviews with Kim on Larsson’s books here, here, and here)  Chiefly, this focus on Lisbeth Salander, the main protagonist of the work, is a huge psychoanalytical undertaking.  Due to her troubled past and history of clashes with a society that attempts to subdue her, Lisbeth has trouble finding herself and finding peace.  The expert analysis begins with Lisbeth’s exterior, examining first why people alter their appearance, whether it be through dress, tattoos, piercings, or other modifications.  Then, the authors focused on Lisbeth, examining why her appearance is radically different than most “normal” individuals, encompassing images that are aimed at provoking others rather than trying to fit in.  After exploring Lisbeth’s appearance, the essays delve deeper into her personality, examining her past and focusing on those around her, both good and bad.  A good deal of work is put into analyzing the relationships that Lisbeth creates with those around her, especially Bloomkvist.  Finally, the work ends on a more positive note, outlining Salander’s achievements, and examining her as a sort of superhero.

Through reading this book I’ve found that there are a series of these works dedicated to analyzing the “psychology of … (insert popular book title here)”.  Although I think it’s an interesting idea, out of all the titles available I feel that this one has the most merit.  The subject material is ripe for psychoanalysis; just judging by appearance alone one can tell that Salander is different, and the types of people she has dealt with in her life are just as psychologically damaged and complex as she is.  A whole book could have been written for each major character, but I’m glad that the editors put most of the focus on Lisbeth, and after reading this work I definitely saw her in a new light.  I never considered her to be an exceptionally strong character (at least in the first book), and I viewed her more as a loaner who finally lets someone (Bloomkvist) in to her personal life.  However, after reading this book and finally elucidating the parts of Lisbeth’s childhood that made her the person she is in the first novel, it’s plain to see that she is an amazingly strong and resilient character who is several times smarter than the average individual.  I definitely have a new respect for her character, and in addition a new respect for Larsson’s work, in that he could create such an innovative and amazingly complex story that integrates all of these multi-layered characters.  In all, it’s definitely an educational read that would benefit those who are having a hard time understanding the motives behind the characters in the Millenium Trilogy.  Definitely give it a shot!

4 out of 5 stars

The Psychology of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo edited by Robin Rosenburg, Ph.D. and Shannon O’Neill
Smart Pop (2011)
Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN: 1936661349

Special thanks to Smart Pop books for my review copy!

#62 A Review of The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Years ago I had seen Sophia Coppola’s film The Virgin Suicides and fell in love with the oddness of it.  How unusual of a story that follows the dreary lives of five sisters, who all eventually commit suicide?  When I found out the film was based on a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides it was immediately added to my to-read list.  When Adam over at Roof Beam Reader created the TBR Pile Challenge I knew I had to sign up, and make this one of my choices.

Set in Michigan in the early 1970′s, The Virgin Suicides details the lives of the five Lisbon sisters.  Ranging in age from 13 to late teens, the sisters were raised in a rigid household that aimed to conform to all the social norms heaped upon a suburban family in that era.  The story is not told from their perspective, but rather from a retrospective look back through the eyes of a local boys who admired the sisters from afar. Told as a dark and uniquely complex coming-of-age tale, Eugenides book details the downward spiral of the sisters as they slowly become distant and disconnected after the suicide of their youngest sister, Cecilia.  After Cecilia’s death, the four sisters are pulled from school by their father in the belief that it will help them recover from what they have undergone.  Instead, the sisters become objects of intense fascination by the narrators and others in the town.  Their ultimate suicides are the culmination of immense pressure and speculation about what is happening to the girls, and their violent end is a fitting conclusion to this dark and interesting tale.

The best way to describe this novel is that it’s 100% a character driven drama, that tries to delve into the psyche of the Lisbon girls and the boys that loved them from afar.  I REALLY wanted to love this novel, but when I was reading it, it felt like I was going around in repetitive circles that never took me anywhere.  When the novel was finished I said to myself, “ok self, there was a point to this novel, I just don’t know what.”  I know that it is trying to take a look at suburban life in the 70′s and isn’t JUST about the girls.  While the story revolves around their short lives, it also reflects on the way the town and local media dealt with their suicides, how the neighbors reacted to living next door to the family, etc.  It makes bold statements about how the world keeps moving, never slowing and never stopping to heal from grief or allow for condolences.  An interesting side storyline in the novel is how there is a strike going on at the local cemetery.  When the girls kill themselves they have to be stored somewhere until the strike ends before they can be buried.  None of the striking grave diggers feel any remorse to allow for “scabs” to enter the cemetery to bury the sisters.  It’s little tidbits of information thrown into the story like this that highlight these bold statements about society that Eugenides has written.

The social commentary of the novel, as well as Eugenides thought-provoking writing style are its saving graces.  I’d recommend the novel for its unique story but forewarn those who do read it as it is a.) depressing and b.) extremely repetitive making it a very slow read.

3 out of 5 Stars

This is my first completed review for the TBR Pile Challenge

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Gardners Books (2002)
Paperback: 249 pages
ISBN:  9780747560593