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charms1976's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately I was unable to enjoy this book as much as others.
I had to force myself to finish reading it, and I feel bad for even admitting that.
Its not that the writing was bad - or even the plot- its just that I couldn't seem to connect with the characters enough to even want to keep reading chapter after chapter.
Maybe I will try again at a later date.
I had to force myself to finish reading it, and I feel bad for even admitting that.
Its not that the writing was bad - or even the plot- its just that I couldn't seem to connect with the characters enough to even want to keep reading chapter after chapter.
Maybe I will try again at a later date.
whatsmacksaid's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know anything about the Beatles, or John Lennon, or Yoko Ono, which is how I know I missed some of the more subtle stuff in this book. It was still incredible, though--well written and emotionally true from start to finish. I loved the dual POV. It fit better and contributed to the story more than any other multi-POV story I can think off offhand.
alboyer6's review against another edition
2.0
I gave it 100 pages. The description described the teens forming a band. I think it needs to be described differently or the first 100 pages should have more going on in it. Wanted to like it, but at times it didn't feel like the book knew what it was. A YA? an adult book flashing back to growing up?
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This book did not take me anywhere that I expected, and I loved it. As a white person who did not grow up in the 80s nor liked The Beatles any more than the very casual fan, this book was a little out of my depth in terms of...well, a lot. Told between two narratives, Give Me Some Truth shines some light on what it's like to grow up on a reservation in the 80s. Carson has grown up on the reservation for his life, and finds a renewed sense of purpose while preparing for the Battle of the Bands. Maggi, however, returns to the reservation, and discovers that she doesn't quite fit in with the rest of them--even though she knows all the same laws and understands the severity of race relations. And, they both really love John Lennon, so perhaps a first love is in store.
For seventeen year old Carson, that would be Maggi, and for Maggi, that would be Jim, the 30 year old white man who might be able to take her off the reservation in just a couple years. And, you know those characters that you know the moment they step on the page that you're going to dislike? Yeah, that's Jim. I mean, what business does a 30 year old man have to do with a girl half his age? He's even worse than the racist burger joint owner--at least the racist dude knows he's being shitty. Jim is somehow a victim of doublethink--both manipulative and knowledgeable of the power dynamic and helplessly in love. But alas, they are both necessary characters to this narrative. They're the kind of characters you love to hate.
In a similar vein, Carson is also a little unlikeable, though he's entirely necessary to the plot. He's your average seventeen year old who thinks he's done everything right in terms of romance--and doesn't get the girl. In fact, he gets a good ol' talking to by Maggi and his best friend Lewis, who he treats pretty poorly.
What isn't necessarily necessary, but is a whole lot of fun is the multi-media aspectof this book. Between the parts and interludes are Maggi's experimental beading artwork, and at the end of the novel is a playlist and discography of all the songs referenced to in Gansworth's book. I'd never seen that before, and it was a wholly creative move.
Overall, this book is long but worth it, especially if you're invested in Own Voices literature and Native American literature--there's a lot to be both learned and enjoyed, especially as a historical fiction and musical novel.
Review cross-listed here!
For seventeen year old Carson, that would be Maggi, and for Maggi, that would be Jim, the 30 year old white man who might be able to take her off the reservation in just a couple years. And, you know those characters that you know the moment they step on the page that you're going to dislike? Yeah, that's Jim. I mean, what business does a 30 year old man have to do with a girl half his age? He's even worse than the racist burger joint owner--at least the racist dude knows he's being shitty. Jim is somehow a victim of doublethink--both manipulative and knowledgeable of the power dynamic and helplessly in love. But alas, they are both necessary characters to this narrative. They're the kind of characters you love to hate.
In a similar vein, Carson is also a little unlikeable, though he's entirely necessary to the plot. He's your average seventeen year old who thinks he's done everything right in terms of romance--and doesn't get the girl. In fact, he gets a good ol' talking to by Maggi and his best friend Lewis, who he treats pretty poorly.
What isn't necessarily necessary, but is a whole lot of fun is the multi-media aspectof this book. Between the parts and interludes are Maggi's experimental beading artwork, and at the end of the novel is a playlist and discography of all the songs referenced to in Gansworth's book. I'd never seen that before, and it was a wholly creative move.
Overall, this book is long but worth it, especially if you're invested in Own Voices literature and Native American literature--there's a lot to be both learned and enjoyed, especially as a historical fiction and musical novel.
Review cross-listed here!
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
5.0
Carson tries to start a band so he can win a trip to NYC. Maggi falls for her sleaze-bag boss and plans to lose her virginity to him. Chapters are titled with John and Yoko songs.
bsmorris's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the alternating point of view and the interesting characters. The Native American perspective is much needed in literature and I'm considering adopting this one for the classroom.
erainbow8's review against another edition
3.0
This book was okay, fine. I think ~100 pages of it could be edited out without losing much. I appreciate having more books available by indigenous authors as part time main stream literature, especially for teens. I enjoyed the threads of history and pop culture woven throughout. Carson and Magpie, the narrators, were not my favorite characters in the story or the most interesting, in my opinion. Ultimately, I kept waiting for something more significant to happen, but nothing really lived up to the buildup. The storyline between Magpie and Jim Morgan made my skin crawl (as it should).
librarianboy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
knunderb's review against another edition
Just not in the mood for this book. And I didn't care much for the narrators.
daffodill37's review against another edition
(Audio)
3 stars
This was an interesting perspective story, since I'm not very familiar with Res Life and Native stories in general. However, the pacing was off. I wasn't really sure where the story was going until about 75% of the way through. I was intrigued by the characters pretty quickly.
3 stars
This was an interesting perspective story, since I'm not very familiar with Res Life and Native stories in general. However, the pacing was off. I wasn't really sure where the story was going until about 75% of the way through. I was intrigued by the characters pretty quickly.