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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
http://www.thewellreadredhead.com/2013/11/giveaway-and-book-review-whole-golden.html
What a gripping story! The first part of the book was a little slow for me, I will admit. But once I neared the end of part one I found myself devouring the words, I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. The book is told from three different women's perspectives, Morgan (the teenager caught having an affair with her married teacher), Dinah (Morgan's mother), and Rain (the teacher's wife). All three of these women's lives were turned upside down because of this affair. The Whole Golden World was wonderfully written and is a story that will stay with me for a long time.
I dont feel bad for anyone. Rain was an idiot for believing T.J. Morgan was a young girl just searching for live in the wrong places. T.J. is a perv and deserved everythi ng he got. Dinah, Morgand mom was understandable. she had 3 kids with a husband who didnt help much. than on top of it all they were all reenagers doing teenager things. parenting is hard.
The Whole Golden World means to shock, but more importantly it means to open up dialogue about maturity, the age of consent, the responsibility of adults versus of children, the meaning of love, and so much more. Can a teenager really be wiser than her years? Where is that line between age of majority and age of maturity? In cases of underage sexual exploitation, does the fault always lie with the adult? Should it? Ms. Riggle raises all of these questions and more as her story of Morgan’s and TJ’s relationship unfolds in all of its messy, complicated drama.
Ms. Riggle brilliantly captures the black-and-white labels the public immediately put on all parties involved in such scandals but more importantly the fact that any situation involving teenagers is not necessarily as clear-cut as the public wants it to be. The truly fascinating part of the story is the fact that had TJ been someone other than Morgan’s teacher, their relationship would have been completely legal in the state of Michigan. This point takes a complicated situation and makes it even more convoluted. Why is one type of relationship allowed and not the other? Does a teaching position really make one more responsible for exploitation? Regardless of how one feels about the scenario, such questions not only increase one’s interest in the book but also force readers to reevaluate the laws established to protect our children.
A reader’s sympathy veers widely from one character to another as the story unfolds. Rain’s preoccupation with having children explains TJ’s wandering eye, even if it does not necessarily excuse his actions. Dinah is such a ferocious mother bear that it is no wonder Morgan finally rebels. Readers will also waffle back and forth as to the guilty party. Is it TJ because of his marriage and his age? Is it Morgan because she is the instigator? Does it even matter? Is it even fair to place the blame on one individual’s shoulders? There are just so many questions that a reader has to answer based on his or her own beliefs and interpretation of the story, but therein lays its greatness.
Ms. Riggle’s latest novel takes a taboo scenario and flays it open to show the impossibility of discerning the guilt, innocence or even truth. There are few direct answers to the plethora of questions raised, but readers will not mind the chance for self-reflection and reevaluation of a forbidden relationship. That combined with excellent pacing, well-rounded characters, and a titillating plot make The Whole Golden World truly brilliant.
Ms. Riggle brilliantly captures the black-and-white labels the public immediately put on all parties involved in such scandals but more importantly the fact that any situation involving teenagers is not necessarily as clear-cut as the public wants it to be. The truly fascinating part of the story is the fact that had TJ been someone other than Morgan’s teacher, their relationship would have been completely legal in the state of Michigan. This point takes a complicated situation and makes it even more convoluted. Why is one type of relationship allowed and not the other? Does a teaching position really make one more responsible for exploitation? Regardless of how one feels about the scenario, such questions not only increase one’s interest in the book but also force readers to reevaluate the laws established to protect our children.
A reader’s sympathy veers widely from one character to another as the story unfolds. Rain’s preoccupation with having children explains TJ’s wandering eye, even if it does not necessarily excuse his actions. Dinah is such a ferocious mother bear that it is no wonder Morgan finally rebels. Readers will also waffle back and forth as to the guilty party. Is it TJ because of his marriage and his age? Is it Morgan because she is the instigator? Does it even matter? Is it even fair to place the blame on one individual’s shoulders? There are just so many questions that a reader has to answer based on his or her own beliefs and interpretation of the story, but therein lays its greatness.
Ms. Riggle’s latest novel takes a taboo scenario and flays it open to show the impossibility of discerning the guilt, innocence or even truth. There are few direct answers to the plethora of questions raised, but readers will not mind the chance for self-reflection and reevaluation of a forbidden relationship. That combined with excellent pacing, well-rounded characters, and a titillating plot make The Whole Golden World truly brilliant.
My first book from Kristina and I found it very intriguing. Her writing style is capturing but the book could have been a little short, a little exaggerated.
There are three things that are beautiful about this book.
1. The cover.
2. The deckled edge pages.
3. The way this perfectly bound paperback opens effortlessly, without breaking the spine.
As for the story, it was well written and thought provoking. I experienced so many emotions while reading this book, the main one being anger. This book also made me uncomfortable. A beautiful story, it is not.
Character development was superb.
If you enjoy character driven stories, this is a must read for you. You definitely feel the pain these three women endure. You really see how the action of two people, destroy everyone around them. But you also encounter how the human sprint cannot be crushed.
1. The cover.
2. The deckled edge pages.
3. The way this perfectly bound paperback opens effortlessly, without breaking the spine.
As for the story, it was well written and thought provoking. I experienced so many emotions while reading this book, the main one being anger. This book also made me uncomfortable. A beautiful story, it is not.
Character development was superb.
If you enjoy character driven stories, this is a must read for you. You definitely feel the pain these three women endure. You really see how the action of two people, destroy everyone around them. But you also encounter how the human sprint cannot be crushed.
What if you were almost 18, getting ready to graduate from high school and you had completely outgrown the small town you grew up in? Then you meet a 29-year old man who treats you like an adult and you fall in love? But, he is your high school calculus teacher and your love is against the law? What happens then? This is a well-written character study of the impact on every family touched by a teacher-student relationship. A must-read for Jodi Picoult fans.
Probably really a 3.5. A surprisingly engaging book when there is not a likeable character to be found within.
I'd give this book 4.25 Stars ;-) (Trying to be more critical!).
I read it because of an recommendation and it's just a topic that I like to read about in general. (Teacher & student relationship, no...I'm not a pervert :P)
At first I thought that this might be quite similar to other books in that genre and I was a bit taken aback because we get to know about the outcome of everything in the first chapter already. But, at the same time it's a book that's quite different.
First of all, the story is told from the point of view of three women. The student, her mother & the wife of the teacher. It's certainly no New Adult erotica or anything. It really deals with the emotional rollercoaster you go through when you are a teenager and think you are on top of the world and trying to behave like an adult. But deep down, you are not, and you only see it this way when you are older and are able to reflect on your feelings for a while.
I really loved that it's not just a lovey dovey romance, but focuses more on what stays after & how it all influences the life of the people around you.
I read it because of an recommendation and it's just a topic that I like to read about in general. (Teacher & student relationship, no...I'm not a pervert :P)
At first I thought that this might be quite similar to other books in that genre and I was a bit taken aback because we get to know about the outcome of everything in the first chapter already. But, at the same time it's a book that's quite different.
First of all, the story is told from the point of view of three women. The student, her mother & the wife of the teacher. It's certainly no New Adult erotica or anything. It really deals with the emotional rollercoaster you go through when you are a teenager and think you are on top of the world and trying to behave like an adult. But deep down, you are not, and you only see it this way when you are older and are able to reflect on your feelings for a while.
I really loved that it's not just a lovey dovey romance, but focuses more on what stays after & how it all influences the life of the people around you.
This was my first Kristina Riggle book and I very much enjoyed it.
As the synopsis says, it's told from three different perspectives (Morgan, her mom Dinah and TJ's wife, Rain) although I think they spent the least amount of time with Rain.
I liked Morgan and both of the women, although they could all be infuriating, as well. I didn't get TJ's appeal, which made it hard to understand why Morgan loved him so much and why Rain was willing to believe him and stay with him. It would have been nice if there had maybe been a little more attention given to that.
Of course, it also makes sense that, as a 34-year-old, I would be better able to say, "Yeah, that guy's a creep" than 17-year-old Morgan.
At any rate, this is an engrossing novel and I look forward to working my way through Kristina Riggle's backlist (eventually).
As the synopsis says, it's told from three different perspectives (Morgan, her mom Dinah and TJ's wife, Rain) although I think they spent the least amount of time with Rain.
I liked Morgan and both of the women, although they could all be infuriating, as well. I didn't get TJ's appeal, which made it hard to understand why Morgan loved him so much and why Rain was willing to believe him and stay with him. It would have been nice if there had maybe been a little more attention given to that.
Of course, it also makes sense that, as a 34-year-old, I would be better able to say, "Yeah, that guy's a creep" than 17-year-old Morgan.
At any rate, this is an engrossing novel and I look forward to working my way through Kristina Riggle's backlist (eventually).