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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
(full disclosure...I listened to this as an unabridged audio book so I can't comment on the formatting or design choices that seem to have put some people off this book).
Rory Hendrix has not had a very charmed life, she's by no means a "girl scout" with all the time she spends in bars looking for her mom. But she is a good kid in a bad situation. So she turns to her girl scout handbook to guide her through it.
What makes this book unique is that each chapter seems to be set out as a lesson (or more accurately those little badge requirement pages you find in the girlscout handbooks) and Rory finds herself going through various required tasks as she grows up (none of which actually get her a badge).
It's hard to like or dislike her mother and grandmother or the other nonexistent (for most of the book) family members. But more than anything else this is the story of how one girl has coped with growing up and made it through about as unscathed as she can.
The format is strange and takes some getting used to (I can only imagine the print book is even more difficult) but it is worth the push. Hassman has done something really unique here.
Rory Hendrix has not had a very charmed life, she's by no means a "girl scout" with all the time she spends in bars looking for her mom. But she is a good kid in a bad situation. So she turns to her girl scout handbook to guide her through it.
What makes this book unique is that each chapter seems to be set out as a lesson (or more accurately those little badge requirement pages you find in the girlscout handbooks) and Rory finds herself going through various required tasks as she grows up (none of which actually get her a badge).
It's hard to like or dislike her mother and grandmother or the other nonexistent (for most of the book) family members. But more than anything else this is the story of how one girl has coped with growing up and made it through about as unscathed as she can.
The format is strange and takes some getting used to (I can only imagine the print book is even more difficult) but it is worth the push. Hassman has done something really unique here.
This was a great read. I am always looking for books to recommend that feature strong women in bad situations (such as Glass Castle, Fierce, Girls Guide to Homelessness). I usually prefer memoirs, but this novel reads like snippets of a real journal, and it reminded me of Push by Sapphire. I would have liked a hint of what Rory Dawn does with herself in the future (or should I expect a sequel?)
I read this one in a day because I could not wait to get back to it. Also, I thought the Girl Scout elements worked really well with the story, but I remain a little confused as to the storyline with little Viv.
Mostly, I am just glad to have found an author who is new to me and I look forward to more.
I read this one in a day because I could not wait to get back to it. Also, I thought the Girl Scout elements worked really well with the story, but I remain a little confused as to the storyline with little Viv.
Mostly, I am just glad to have found an author who is new to me and I look forward to more.
Perhaps a bit too simplistic -- one of those books that toes the line between "adult" and "young adult." But I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and thought it demonstrated the difficulties of breaking the cycle of poverty.
I loved this book, the style it was written in and the poignant story inside. What knocked me over was the ending, full of hope. Thank you Tupelo Hassman.
I cannot say enough good things about this book and about Rory Dawn. You will have to read it for yourself.
I think I can't finish this book. The writing is gorgeous and the format is compelling and I really wanted to love it, but the abuse Rory suffers (which has only been implied at this point in the reading) is more than I can take right now.
Difficult story at times of childhood tragedy and abuse. Some redeeming relationships and a positive ending.
I have had Girlchild on my TBR for awhile - it sounded like something right up my alley and that cover just drew me in! Add in the Girl Scout mentions in the description and I'm hooked! If only the reading of this novel lived up to my expectations!
I did not love this one and almost put it down halfway through the novel but forced myself to finish it in case there would be something at the end that would pull it all together for me and redeem all the time I spent reading it! Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
For a book about poverty, abuse and the dark side of life, I found myself not caring one bit about any of the characters or their experiences. I didn't find their stories compelling or their experiences interesting. I really wanted to like Rory (the main character) but I just never 'got her.' She seemed so far removed from the story that I just didn't connect with her or her experiences.
The style of the book is definitely unusual - a series of vignettes that are almost stream of consciousness at times. Ultimately, I found the vignette style to be a bit choppy. Not at all cohesive, which was disorienting to me. Perhaps that is exactly what the author wanted given the subject matter, etc. Either way, I didn't love that aspect of the book.
All in all, the book was ok but I didn't find it to be as interesting or compelling as I expected! But, many others have loved this book so perhaps it just wasn't the book for me!
I did not love this one and almost put it down halfway through the novel but forced myself to finish it in case there would be something at the end that would pull it all together for me and redeem all the time I spent reading it! Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
For a book about poverty, abuse and the dark side of life, I found myself not caring one bit about any of the characters or their experiences. I didn't find their stories compelling or their experiences interesting. I really wanted to like Rory (the main character) but I just never 'got her.' She seemed so far removed from the story that I just didn't connect with her or her experiences.
The style of the book is definitely unusual - a series of vignettes that are almost stream of consciousness at times. Ultimately, I found the vignette style to be a bit choppy. Not at all cohesive, which was disorienting to me. Perhaps that is exactly what the author wanted given the subject matter, etc. Either way, I didn't love that aspect of the book.
All in all, the book was ok but I didn't find it to be as interesting or compelling as I expected! But, many others have loved this book so perhaps it just wasn't the book for me!
EXCELLENT GREAT BOOK. Reminded me of Bastard Out of Carolina in some ways.
I loved the narrator of this novel and the author did such an interesting job of how she told the story in chapters that were only 2-3 pages each.