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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence
This book explores the bond that grows between victims. It is harrowing, frightening and exquisite. This is a book that I have recommended multiple times over to friends. Not easy to digest, but worth every ache.
If you get a chance to see the movie, see it as well. I highly recommend reading the book first as it (not surprisingly) explores the emotional depth of the characters. This is a book that I have returned to again and again over the years and each time, I fall a little more in love.
If you get a chance to see the movie, see it as well. I highly recommend reading the book first as it (not surprisingly) explores the emotional depth of the characters. This is a book that I have returned to again and again over the years and each time, I fall a little more in love.
Niel and Brian are very different kids but were brought together by one incident that would shape their lives forever. This book follows the life of these boys as they grow and struggle with what happened to them.
Scott Heim dealt with some really hard concepts in this book. Child molestation isn't something that's easy to read but I have a whole lot of respect for how Heim had depicted it in this book. He spread this book out over a timeline in order to capture how this one incident shaped the lives of these boys, changing how they were viewed by others because their actions, and beliefs and morals stemmed from this experience. Brian shut down and Neil acted out, and it's heartbreaking knowing that one man's selfish lusting desires caused these boys' lives to be turned upside down and they had no say in the matter.
Of course in life, you never have a say in what happens to you. You can only do the best with the circumstances that you are in. However, doing what's best is easier said than done, especially when your view of the world becomes so skewered by what's been done to you, that the concept of right and wrong becomes blurred; and in the case of Neil and Brian, at such an early age too.
Heim also brings up the fact that some people, especially those that had been inflicted by such cruel circumstances at such a young age, can't even face what has happened to them, and so they shut it out, creating a scenario in their heads that alters the facts of what had truly happened to them. This alteration allows them to comprehend and cope with what had occurred so that they can keep living their lives like nothing had happened, or at least nothing as bad as what had truly happened.
This book was filled with so many convoluted characters and ideas. Its not an easy or alight read but it was an amazing book and this author has so much courage to try to breach a subject like this and handle it in such a mature manner. This kind of story is one that will tear at anyone's heart, because it is a book filled with outsiders; the kids that don't fit in and that struggle not only with their past, but their family life, and just being that awkward kid in school that has little to no friends. This book has its sad moments that wrench at your heart, but i loved how it hit home and how honest Scott Heim was.
This book is a dark book that deals with some really heavy subject matter and some very graphic scenes, but it is a book that has a remarkable character to it, in how it is fast paced and how it charms you with its characters and draws you in so that you feel every hurt that these characters go through as if it were you're own. THis is a story with so much brilliant honesty that if you know you can handle such dark subject matter, then this a new and refreshing story that you don't want to miss.
Scott Heim dealt with some really hard concepts in this book. Child molestation isn't something that's easy to read but I have a whole lot of respect for how Heim had depicted it in this book. He spread this book out over a timeline in order to capture how this one incident shaped the lives of these boys, changing how they were viewed by others because their actions, and beliefs and morals stemmed from this experience. Brian shut down and Neil acted out, and it's heartbreaking knowing that one man's selfish lusting desires caused these boys' lives to be turned upside down and they had no say in the matter.
Of course in life, you never have a say in what happens to you. You can only do the best with the circumstances that you are in. However, doing what's best is easier said than done, especially when your view of the world becomes so skewered by what's been done to you, that the concept of right and wrong becomes blurred; and in the case of Neil and Brian, at such an early age too.
Heim also brings up the fact that some people, especially those that had been inflicted by such cruel circumstances at such a young age, can't even face what has happened to them, and so they shut it out, creating a scenario in their heads that alters the facts of what had truly happened to them. This alteration allows them to comprehend and cope with what had occurred so that they can keep living their lives like nothing had happened, or at least nothing as bad as what had truly happened.
This book was filled with so many convoluted characters and ideas. Its not an easy or alight read but it was an amazing book and this author has so much courage to try to breach a subject like this and handle it in such a mature manner. This kind of story is one that will tear at anyone's heart, because it is a book filled with outsiders; the kids that don't fit in and that struggle not only with their past, but their family life, and just being that awkward kid in school that has little to no friends. This book has its sad moments that wrench at your heart, but i loved how it hit home and how honest Scott Heim was.
This book is a dark book that deals with some really heavy subject matter and some very graphic scenes, but it is a book that has a remarkable character to it, in how it is fast paced and how it charms you with its characters and draws you in so that you feel every hurt that these characters go through as if it were you're own. THis is a story with so much brilliant honesty that if you know you can handle such dark subject matter, then this a new and refreshing story that you don't want to miss.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts
fucked up. hard to read. worth the read. (the movie is awful in comparison don't watch it)
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced