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hijinx_abound's review against another edition
1.0
The writing style was jerky and often meandered into an almost manifesto like feel. Perhaps it was more my high expectation if the book than the book itself but I was disappointed.
cervella's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is really tragic and hard to read but I couldn’t put it down. I feel like I need a cleanse now to purge the negativity of the narrator.
redlikeroses's review against another edition
1.0
Ahh, this book.
This is one of the few books I just couldn't get through and did not finish, so take this review as you will.
I suppose some people would like how philosophical and meandering the book was but I did not. I found it to be annoying and made it hard to read because of how heavy handed it was. This might have been due to the fact I was expecting a more plot-heavy book that wasn't a commentary on society as a whole, but I still felt a teensy mislead by the description. The commentary in the book was extremely nihilistic in my opinion but if that's your cup of tea you'll probably have no problem with this piece. I would also like to warn some people about the more political aspects I remember. This book has more than it's share of political statements and if you do not like politics in your books, I would not recommend this book. Maybe it gets better, but from what I read it was constant.
I am not saying this book is trash by any means. No book is truly trash in my eyes because like a painting, an author has put work into it. This piece just wasn't my cup of tea and it might be yours for all the reasons I disliked it. Nevertheless, I am giving it one star because of my preferences and thoughts on it.
This is one of the few books I just couldn't get through and did not finish, so take this review as you will.
I suppose some people would like how philosophical and meandering the book was but I did not. I found it to be annoying and made it hard to read because of how heavy handed it was. This might have been due to the fact I was expecting a more plot-heavy book that wasn't a commentary on society as a whole, but I still felt a teensy mislead by the description. The commentary in the book was extremely nihilistic in my opinion but if that's your cup of tea you'll probably have no problem with this piece. I would also like to warn some people about the more political aspects I remember. This book has more than it's share of political statements and if you do not like politics in your books, I would not recommend this book. Maybe it gets better, but from what I read it was constant.
I am not saying this book is trash by any means. No book is truly trash in my eyes because like a painting, an author has put work into it. This piece just wasn't my cup of tea and it might be yours for all the reasons I disliked it. Nevertheless, I am giving it one star because of my preferences and thoughts on it.
andieevalee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kathrynje's review against another edition
5.0
I kept being amazed, while reading this book, that the author was a man. This is the story about a school shooting only in that the shooting sets the stage for an examination of sexism, racism, gun violence platitudes, fear-mongering and acceptable ways to mourn in public in America. If any of the above topics are triggers for you, do not read this book. The writing is direct and scathing and totally worth all the discomfort it produces. I can't say I "liked" it, but I am very glad I read it.
Anna Crawford and recently dismissed English teacher is at home when the shooting happens. Initially she considered a suspect as a possibly disgruntled ex-employee. It soon comes out that she had nothing to do with it, but microscopic scrutiny and sexist bile is already squarely aimed at her. Even after being exonerated there are people who refuse to believe she's innocent. That she adamantly resists the baggage being assigned to her is admirable. The men in her life try and help, but they fail to grasp that their platitudes engender (pun!) more of same. Her observations and inner monologue are the sorts of things you hope you'll have the courage and wit to say yourself. I found myself trying to memorize them for future use. Here are a couple of examples:
"When a Muslim man did the killing, the TV showed videos of groups of angry Muslim men, shouting at cameras and waving guns in the air. The pundits debated whether it was possible to trust someone who believed in the god they believed in. When a black man did the killing, they asked why other black men weren't doing more to stop them. They interviewed sociologists about what had caused such corruption in the souls of young black men. When a white man did the killing, they called him a lone wolf. The white male lone wolf is an apex predator. Lone wolves stalk our suburbs and our schools and they aren't in sheep's clothing, they are out in the open."
Then we have pithy observation when 10 were injured and six killed in a truck attack in Rome:
"On the news, they called it a bloodbath. The average body holds eight pints of blood and the average bathtub holds 40 gallons of liquid. For something to be rightly called a bloodbath, then 320 pints of of blood would need to be spilled, or 40 whole humans' worth. The truck attack barely qualified."
"Women do not own their bodies. Men take pictures of us when we are not looking. They surreptitiously record videos of our legs on the bus and masturbate. We wore a dress that day because it was hot outside, because we had a date, because we felt entitled to dress however we liked. They gather in groups on corners and follow us home with their eyes. They leave residue of their vision on our bodies. They tell us they love us because they love their mother and their sister and their daughter."
Not a safe read, but certainly an edifying one and one I would reservedly recommend depending on your person history.
Anna Crawford and recently dismissed English teacher is at home when the shooting happens. Initially she considered a suspect as a possibly disgruntled ex-employee. It soon comes out that she had nothing to do with it, but microscopic scrutiny and sexist bile is already squarely aimed at her. Even after being exonerated there are people who refuse to believe she's innocent. That she adamantly resists the baggage being assigned to her is admirable. The men in her life try and help, but they fail to grasp that their platitudes engender (pun!) more of same. Her observations and inner monologue are the sorts of things you hope you'll have the courage and wit to say yourself. I found myself trying to memorize them for future use. Here are a couple of examples:
"When a Muslim man did the killing, the TV showed videos of groups of angry Muslim men, shouting at cameras and waving guns in the air. The pundits debated whether it was possible to trust someone who believed in the god they believed in. When a black man did the killing, they asked why other black men weren't doing more to stop them. They interviewed sociologists about what had caused such corruption in the souls of young black men. When a white man did the killing, they called him a lone wolf. The white male lone wolf is an apex predator. Lone wolves stalk our suburbs and our schools and they aren't in sheep's clothing, they are out in the open."
Then we have pithy observation when 10 were injured and six killed in a truck attack in Rome:
"On the news, they called it a bloodbath. The average body holds eight pints of blood and the average bathtub holds 40 gallons of liquid. For something to be rightly called a bloodbath, then 320 pints of of blood would need to be spilled, or 40 whole humans' worth. The truck attack barely qualified."
"Women do not own their bodies. Men take pictures of us when we are not looking. They surreptitiously record videos of our legs on the bus and masturbate. We wore a dress that day because it was hot outside, because we had a date, because we felt entitled to dress however we liked. They gather in groups on corners and follow us home with their eyes. They leave residue of their vision on our bodies. They tell us they love us because they love their mother and their sister and their daughter."
Not a safe read, but certainly an edifying one and one I would reservedly recommend depending on your person history.
sarahrberry's review against another edition
3.0
The aftermath of a school shooting. The aftermath of a life, a suspect, a community, a society in question. How do you move on? More security. More cameras. More vigils. More monuments. More patriotism. But how can you be safe? You can’t. It’s always there.
kathy5307's review against another edition
2.0
I originally thought the premise of this book was going to make a really good story and perhaps be insightful into the headlines of today. It started out ok. As it started getting a little “out there” i was sure it was just to bring the concept home. But it kept going out there somewhere. There were interesting spots along the way but overall I was disappointed. Perhaps because I envisioned a different direction than the author.
bookjedi98's review against another edition
4.0
Can we be safe, when our world is full of terrible dangers? How To Be Safe by Tom McAllister attempts to answer this question. A great novel dealing with tough subject matter and conveying a powerful, and relevant, political statement.
For the full review, visit https://www.projectbooklist.com/2019/01/howtobesafe.html
For the full review, visit https://www.projectbooklist.com/2019/01/howtobesafe.html
srlemons42's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this book was fantastic, which is a weird thing to say about a book about a school shooting, but I really found it very interesting.
The writing was sharp, pointed, scathing, and thought-provoking. Maybe my favorite book I’ve read in months? Yes indeed.
The writing was sharp, pointed, scathing, and thought-provoking. Maybe my favorite book I’ve read in months? Yes indeed.