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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
I have mixed feelings while writing this review. After finishing the book, I went back to reread the book descriptions to see what I might have missed when choosing this book. I felt a bit betrayed, as the description didn’t exactly fit the story I read.
“Stray” is author Tanya Marquardt’s sharing of her teenage history, told from the vantage point of twenty years later and viewed with older and wiser eyes. Yes, the rebellious spirit of a young teenage girl shines through, one that emerges from a broken home and two parents using their children to hurt a former marriage partner. Ms. Marquardt leaves the home of her mother while remaining in the same town and living with friends, eventually winding up in the same city she started at and living with her father.
The main part of the story tells of the author’s years away from her parents, detailing endless parties and clubbing. We are privy to her thoughts, running the gamut of what she enjoys about drinking as well as her intimate nervousness concerning young men and sex.
I kept waiting for an epiphany, something that happened that caused her to change direction and head toward a life with more promise. After all, Ms. Marquardt has authored a book and, truth be told, she demonstrates a writing skill that flows well and is engaging.
I never felt the epiphany came, or at least, it wasn’t revealed in any detail. Ms. Marquardt’s senior year flew by in a matter of a few pages and the path to her eventual future is laid out in a few paragraphs. Details of her partying accompanied by teenage angst thus encompasses the majority of the book. These, according to the author, were “…sourced from my memories, diaries, letters, and recollections.”
I am not sure if the author’s intentions were to leave readers with a feeling of dissatisfaction, but that was my take by the end of the book. Though well-written, I found the tone to be more teenage reflections than what the book description referred to as “gritty.” If you are seeking a book about someone trying to escape her earlier life while drinking herself into self-proclaimed blackout states, this might be a book for you. The author’s talented writing kept me reading all the way to the end, which unfortunately didn’t contain the closure I was looking for. Three-and-a-half stars.
Note: This was a Kindle First (or First Reads) book.
“Stray” is author Tanya Marquardt’s sharing of her teenage history, told from the vantage point of twenty years later and viewed with older and wiser eyes. Yes, the rebellious spirit of a young teenage girl shines through, one that emerges from a broken home and two parents using their children to hurt a former marriage partner. Ms. Marquardt leaves the home of her mother while remaining in the same town and living with friends, eventually winding up in the same city she started at and living with her father.
The main part of the story tells of the author’s years away from her parents, detailing endless parties and clubbing. We are privy to her thoughts, running the gamut of what she enjoys about drinking as well as her intimate nervousness concerning young men and sex.
I kept waiting for an epiphany, something that happened that caused her to change direction and head toward a life with more promise. After all, Ms. Marquardt has authored a book and, truth be told, she demonstrates a writing skill that flows well and is engaging.
I never felt the epiphany came, or at least, it wasn’t revealed in any detail. Ms. Marquardt’s senior year flew by in a matter of a few pages and the path to her eventual future is laid out in a few paragraphs. Details of her partying accompanied by teenage angst thus encompasses the majority of the book. These, according to the author, were “…sourced from my memories, diaries, letters, and recollections.”
I am not sure if the author’s intentions were to leave readers with a feeling of dissatisfaction, but that was my take by the end of the book. Though well-written, I found the tone to be more teenage reflections than what the book description referred to as “gritty.” If you are seeking a book about someone trying to escape her earlier life while drinking herself into self-proclaimed blackout states, this might be a book for you. The author’s talented writing kept me reading all the way to the end, which unfortunately didn’t contain the closure I was looking for. Three-and-a-half stars.
Note: This was a Kindle First (or First Reads) book.
I thought this memoir was very well written and intriguing. It left me wanting to know more about the author.
Good writing
I liked the writing and the style but the story was just boring. Nothing outrageous. Pretty typical of any atypical kid growing up when she did. The most shocking things she didn’t have any feelings about and the things she had the most feeling about were not that interesting.
I liked the writing and the style but the story was just boring. Nothing outrageous. Pretty typical of any atypical kid growing up when she did. The most shocking things she didn’t have any feelings about and the things she had the most feeling about were not that interesting.
This was my pick for the month of August with Amazon First Reads. Stray comes out officially on September 1, 2018.
Raw. Powerful. Emotional. Heart wrenching. These are all the feelings I felt reading Stray. In this memoir Tanya Marquardt takes us on her journey when she was a teenager finishing up high school. She decided to run away from home when she was 16 because the police in Canada could not do anything about it.
Her childhood left me so sad. Marquardt has overcome a lot in her life. She survived through abuse, a rough relationship with her divorced parents, and poverty only to relive it by writing about it. This book reads a lot like a general non-fiction novel and I had to remind myself that this was in fact a true story. My heart kept breaking with every turn of the page.
The ending is anti-climactic but again, it is a memoir. I would have liked more closure at the end of the book, but, that is my opinion. Overall this book was a powerful, insightful read. I really commend Marquardt for staying focused on her education throughout her rough spot in her life. Any more details about this book and it would be giving it all away.
I am giving this book 3 stars. This book was well written and kept my interest. It saddened me to think that there are children, innocent children, out there that live this life. The ending just lacked and I would have appreciated to know the outcome of her transition from high school to college. Obviously, she became successful as she wrote a book but the book just ends with her at an interview for college. I felt like I went on this journey with her for a better life and she left me hanging. It was a bit of a letdown after such a tremendous, powerful read.
Raw. Powerful. Emotional. Heart wrenching. These are all the feelings I felt reading Stray. In this memoir Tanya Marquardt takes us on her journey when she was a teenager finishing up high school. She decided to run away from home when she was 16 because the police in Canada could not do anything about it.
Her childhood left me so sad. Marquardt has overcome a lot in her life. She survived through abuse, a rough relationship with her divorced parents, and poverty only to relive it by writing about it. This book reads a lot like a general non-fiction novel and I had to remind myself that this was in fact a true story. My heart kept breaking with every turn of the page.
The ending is anti-climactic but again, it is a memoir. I would have liked more closure at the end of the book, but, that is my opinion. Overall this book was a powerful, insightful read. I really commend Marquardt for staying focused on her education throughout her rough spot in her life. Any more details about this book and it would be giving it all away.
I am giving this book 3 stars. This book was well written and kept my interest. It saddened me to think that there are children, innocent children, out there that live this life. The ending just lacked and I would have appreciated to know the outcome of her transition from high school to college. Obviously, she became successful as she wrote a book but the book just ends with her at an interview for college. I felt like I went on this journey with her for a better life and she left me hanging. It was a bit of a letdown after such a tremendous, powerful read.