Scan barcode
merryvote's review
4.0
Liked this book a whole bunch more than I figured I would. I like the first chapter, but it took me a while after the first chapter to really get into it. I like that it took place in Wisconsin, being from there and all. It had twists and turns that were predictable, but happened in a way that was unexpected. Bick does a good job of building the relationships and keeping them interesting until the book reached the critical points fairly close to the end. While this book is not the happiest thing i have ever read, I feel like Jenna had a optimistic voice. This book was a really good read.
heykellyjensen's review
Wow.
Just.
Wow.
This is a story about very, very broken people in very, very terrible situations and the drastic, desperate attempts they make to help themselves (and one another). Jenna's voice is knock out, and it's exactly what you'd expect it to be for someone who has dealt with the immense amounts of pain she's dealt with. I'm not sure if this is worth putting a spoiler up on, since I won't in a longer review, but just in case: Spoiler there's an illicit relationship between a girl and her teacher, and it's one that you question not only as a reader because you know it's wrong, but you question it right as Jenna questions it, too. Is it real? Is it authentic? Or is she being toyed with? She comes up with the answer, but even after finishing the book I'm wondering .
All I wanted was for someone to reach out a hand to this poor girl. Spoiler Which I guess happens in the end, literally but making me feel that much for a character is impressive.
I'm a bit enamored and horrified by the setting, too. Because it's done so well and since I know these places, I can picture them too well, too. And there's the whole bit about how people here (in Wisconsin, in the midwest) are different than those in other places -- that's said by Mitch -- and it's so, so spot on and relevant to everything else that happens in the story. Bick really infuses the story with a local angle that I appreciate greatly, but it's not at the expense of making any readers who don't "get" it feel like they're missing anything.
I found myself tearing up a couple times while reading, too. I really have a heart for broken people, I think, but moreso Spoiler when all I want for them is to be loved and to love themselves which...that stuff tears at me .
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/02/drowning-instinct-by-ilsa-j-bick.html
Just.
Wow.
This is a story about very, very broken people in very, very terrible situations and the drastic, desperate attempts they make to help themselves (and one another). Jenna's voice is knock out, and it's exactly what you'd expect it to be for someone who has dealt with the immense amounts of pain she's dealt with. I'm not sure if this is worth putting a spoiler up on, since I won't in a longer review, but just in case: Spoiler there's an illicit relationship between a girl and her teacher, and it's one that you question not only as a reader because you know it's wrong, but you question it right as Jenna questions it, too. Is it real? Is it authentic? Or is she being toyed with? She comes up with the answer, but even after finishing the book I'm wondering .
All I wanted was for someone to reach out a hand to this poor girl. Spoiler Which I guess happens in the end, literally but making me feel that much for a character is impressive.
I'm a bit enamored and horrified by the setting, too. Because it's done so well and since I know these places, I can picture them too well, too. And there's the whole bit about how people here (in Wisconsin, in the midwest) are different than those in other places -- that's said by Mitch -- and it's so, so spot on and relevant to everything else that happens in the story. Bick really infuses the story with a local angle that I appreciate greatly, but it's not at the expense of making any readers who don't "get" it feel like they're missing anything.
I found myself tearing up a couple times while reading, too. I really have a heart for broken people, I think, but moreso Spoiler when all I want for them is to be loved and to love themselves which...that stuff tears at me .
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/02/drowning-instinct-by-ilsa-j-bick.html
averywindyday's review
5.0
I received Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick via a giveaway that Goodreads hosted so thank you Goodreads and Ilsa J. Bick for the opportunity to read and review this book. Drowning Instinct opens in the ER where Detective Bob Pendleton gives Jenna Lord a recorder because he “need[s] the story…need[s] the truth” (3). Jenna, already demonstrating the fact that she will be an unreliable narrator, replies to this by stating: “Like the two are the same thing” (3[ Jenna’s unreliability as a narrator is further cemented with such lines as: “Another thing therapy teaches you, Bob, is how to read between the lines and then feed people and then feed people answers they’ll accept. It’s like makeup, Bob; there’s an art to smoothing on enough truth so those ugly zits don’t show. Or scars, for that matter” {276}]). Thus, the format of the rest of the novel is Jenna speaking to Detective Pendleton through the recorder. This structure is wonderful for the novel because it creates an opportunity where the reader is constantly in contact with Jenna’s unique voice and simultaneously wondering how much what she is stating is truth or fabricated falsehood. Throughout Drowning Instinct, the reader is constantly analyzing Jenna, the other characters of the novel, and the events of Jenna’s past. While some of the answers of the mysteries of the plot one can guess pretty early on (i.e. Jenna’s brother and Mr. Anderson’s character and lies), overall the novel is a page turner that makes the reader want to seek answers; answers that might or might not be answered.
rangerinblack's review
2.0
What an unbelievably shocking waste of time. I cannot understand why this has such high ratings and reviews.
choeyjane's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kacsunshine's review
3.0
I'd really rather give this a 3.5 instead of a 3, but Goodread's doesn't do that. Ah well. Its a very interesting read for sure and had me stuck to this book until I finished it. I would definitely recommend this book to people. What I would tell them is that it is similar to 13 Reasons Why without the utterly sad emotional overbearing. While reading it, I was enamored with the story and needed to know the truth. After finishing it, I was left with more questions than answers and I'm not sure if I should feel sorry for the main character or mad at her. I also feel that the story tried very hard to be just like 13 Reasons Why, but comes up short. I don't feel for the character as much nor did I need to stop reading at any point because it just got emotionally overwhelming. Long story short, if you are looking to read 13 Reasons Why, but just can't bring yourself to read it because you're not a fan of ridiculously depressing stories, read this one.
meetlyss's review against another edition
4.0
Drowning Instinct: 4 1/2 stars
Upon finishing this book, the only thing I could think of was: wow.
However, after giving myself a few minutes of breathing and thinking, I can now write my review.
Drowning Instinct is about a girl named Jenna who has been through a lot. Her mother is a drunk, her father is a raging psycho, and the two of them together is a total mess. After so many hardships in her life, she resorts to cutting herself to deal with the pain. However, when her secret comes out, she is institutionalized.
Finally, after being released, Jenna is forced to start at a new school, where she meets the one and only, Mr. Mitch Anderson - the perfect teacher. Mr. Anderson does everything possible to make Jenna feel welcome, going above and beyond to help her settle in. At first, she resists, running from him and keeping her distance. But something about him draws her in, and the more time they spend together, the more rules they start to break. But how far will Mitch and Jenna go? How far is too far?
So, I related to this book in more ways than I'd like to admit. In fact, I'm not going to go into details on how easily this story mirrored my own in some aspects. But I will say that this story gripped me and held on tight to my attention; I couldn't put it down. The book begins in the aftermath of a terrible accident, and so I obviously was spurred on to figure out what the heck happened. The whole story is told by Jenna speaking into a tape recorder, sort of like Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why.
So, needless to say, I found this book to be exciting and wildly interesting. And the ending? Oh, wow, the ending...
Upon finishing this book, the only thing I could think of was: wow.
However, after giving myself a few minutes of breathing and thinking, I can now write my review.
Drowning Instinct is about a girl named Jenna who has been through a lot. Her mother is a drunk, her father is a raging psycho, and the two of them together is a total mess. After so many hardships in her life, she resorts to cutting herself to deal with the pain. However, when her secret comes out, she is institutionalized.
Finally, after being released, Jenna is forced to start at a new school, where she meets the one and only, Mr. Mitch Anderson - the perfect teacher. Mr. Anderson does everything possible to make Jenna feel welcome, going above and beyond to help her settle in. At first, she resists, running from him and keeping her distance. But something about him draws her in, and the more time they spend together, the more rules they start to break. But how far will Mitch and Jenna go? How far is too far?
So, I related to this book in more ways than I'd like to admit. In fact, I'm not going to go into details on how easily this story mirrored my own in some aspects. But I will say that this story gripped me and held on tight to my attention; I couldn't put it down. The book begins in the aftermath of a terrible accident, and so I obviously was spurred on to figure out what the heck happened. The whole story is told by Jenna speaking into a tape recorder, sort of like Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why.
So, needless to say, I found this book to be exciting and wildly interesting. And the ending? Oh, wow, the ending...
mr_cain's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It really fucked me up. I had several panic attacks while reading it. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping