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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
"Girlchild" is about Rory Dawn, the self-proclaimed "feebleminded daughter of a feebleminded daughter," and yet the first word I'm filled with when thinking of how to describe this book is "smart."
And there is so much more: heartbreaking and honest, fearless and unique, well-written and interesting, unflinching and real.
I'll say two things here: 1.) I have a feeling that this book, and more Hassman's style is not for everyone and 2.) the first 1/4 of the book takes patience, mostly due to that style.
Rory's tale is told in short vignettes and flashes, often out of chronological order and often through stories that contain small truths in underlying metaphors. It's choppy at first, but the more I pulled at the layers and the deeper I traveled into the story, the more I was hooked.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates language or a turn of phrase. Hassman's writing is intelligent and cutting. She creates an interesting style with Rory, preserving an open, childlike air and yet commenting with so much wit on life at the Calle. There was a particular chapter than ended with a description of how karma caught up to the Hardware Man, and her words there made me audibly, "wow." Any book that elicits a reaction that makes the strangers around you think you are crazy has something to say for itself.
If you are the type of reader that needs a meaty plot to be happy, perhaps this isn't the book for you. "Girlchild" is propelled forward by the characters, and you could almost say that very little "happens" comparatively. Characters, writing and style are key here, and they are all done well.
I'd be lying if I said that every little chapter or flash story felt essential. There were a handful of times when I felt the drag of a particular chapter, but those moments were few, far between, and very outweighed by all that was good.
Overall, one of the best novels I've read all year. I know I'm pretty tenderhearted, but this did a good job breaking my heart. I'll miss Rory Dawn, now that I'm done reading, and really, I don't think there is a better compliment to a writer.
And there is so much more: heartbreaking and honest, fearless and unique, well-written and interesting, unflinching and real.
I'll say two things here: 1.) I have a feeling that this book, and more Hassman's style is not for everyone and 2.) the first 1/4 of the book takes patience, mostly due to that style.
Rory's tale is told in short vignettes and flashes, often out of chronological order and often through stories that contain small truths in underlying metaphors. It's choppy at first, but the more I pulled at the layers and the deeper I traveled into the story, the more I was hooked.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates language or a turn of phrase. Hassman's writing is intelligent and cutting. She creates an interesting style with Rory, preserving an open, childlike air and yet commenting with so much wit on life at the Calle. There was a particular chapter than ended with a description of how karma caught up to the Hardware Man, and her words there made me audibly, "wow." Any book that elicits a reaction that makes the strangers around you think you are crazy has something to say for itself.
If you are the type of reader that needs a meaty plot to be happy, perhaps this isn't the book for you. "Girlchild" is propelled forward by the characters, and you could almost say that very little "happens" comparatively. Characters, writing and style are key here, and they are all done well.
I'd be lying if I said that every little chapter or flash story felt essential. There were a handful of times when I felt the drag of a particular chapter, but those moments were few, far between, and very outweighed by all that was good.
Overall, one of the best novels I've read all year. I know I'm pretty tenderhearted, but this did a good job breaking my heart. I'll miss Rory Dawn, now that I'm done reading, and really, I don't think there is a better compliment to a writer.
4.5 stars - I enjoyed this book primarily for its uniqueness. It is written in a very different style; while there is a main character (Rory), who is also the narrator, the bulk of the book is stream of consciousness musings from Rory. Some of the subject matter is uncomfortable, but the book was honest throughout and the quirkiness of it appealed to me.
One of the best books I've read in a long time. It's beautifully written, precise and doesn't waste a word. I'm terrible at book reviews. It's brutal and sad, but calm, fair, and honest, you can feel the space around the calle, how cut off they are from the rest of the world. Isolated wide open, struggling and vulnerable, but tough and smart and getting through it. And really fair, not a bullshit character in the bunch, everyone is really really well constructed and honest.
Again, horrible at book reviews, I turn into adjectives. But it's a beautiful book and you should read it.
Again, horrible at book reviews, I turn into adjectives. But it's a beautiful book and you should read it.
Girlchild takes place in the psyche of a young girl growing up in a trailer park. This book encompasses such a wide-range of difficult topics, but it does offer a sign for hope in the end. Written in the voice of Rory Dawn, the young girl, Hassman's story is difficult to follow in places and it can be a difficult story to empathize with. However, it offers compelling perspective on the issues of class, education, and governmental aid in a stark light.
Obviously I got this out of the library because of the cover image of a library check-out slip. I wasn't expecting quite so much darkness, but it was well written and Rory Dawn is a great narrator.
Trailer trash and sexual abuse. Yay! Somehow beautiful writing doesn't make tragedy any less depressing.
So. When the front of the book description says "Rory Hendrix is the least likely of Girl Scouts. She hasn't got a troop or even a badge to call her own. But she's checked the Handbook out from the elementary school library so many times that her name fills all the lines on the card..." you might expect more Girl Scout information sooner than you get it. I know I did and I was getting rather frustrated, but the pay off is so worth it.
This story is heart wrenching and difficult to read at times. The language and complexity of the chapters grows as Rory does. She reads the Handbook for tips on how to get off the Calle - the Reno trailer park where she lives with her mother. The advice in the Girl Scout Handbook is surreal when juxtaposed against the harsh realities of her life.
I won't give away whether she breaks free or not; you'll have to read for yourself. Time spent with this book is time well spent.
This story is heart wrenching and difficult to read at times. The language and complexity of the chapters grows as Rory does. She reads the Handbook for tips on how to get off the Calle - the Reno trailer park where she lives with her mother. The advice in the Girl Scout Handbook is surreal when juxtaposed against the harsh realities of her life.
I won't give away whether she breaks free or not; you'll have to read for yourself. Time spent with this book is time well spent.
This wasn't what I expected. Definitely not a feel-good, which I guess is what I wanted.
I really liked how this novel connected Rory's family and the family of the Bucks, who were sterilized because they were considered "genetically unfit." Rory's experiences were sometimes tough to read. Once or twice I had to put the book down and take a break. I might have liked the book more had the ending not been ambiguous.