I'm not usually one that likes book that hop from present to past, but I did like this one. It's the story of a slave and her attempt to escape, and attorney who is struggling with her relationship with her father. It's an easy read but very well written.
I really really liked this book. It's another one of my string of "struggling out of an intense childhood" books-a memoir. A family split up in as many ways as possible-father leaving, grandparents (really step-grandmother raising her), mother unable to be in her life, and many siblings that had been put up for adoption as infants. It is heart-wrenching but what is always amazing to me is how these children who grow up neglected, hungry, sometimes abused, really rarely know no different-and how that usually ends up helping them survive, but also comes back to haunt them when they discover it wasn't all ok. And almost always, they want their family-they want it to work, to find a way to not be torn from what they know. It's so much to think about.
I loved this book-another memoir. Cea is raised by a "hippy" teen mother and grandparents that are honestly, just crazy. The drugs, the free love (there are parts of what she witnesses as a child that are very graphic-just a warning), and the most extreme lifestyle (living in a teepee in the middle of nowhere for most of her childhood), and she survives this from an infant until she can make an escape as a young teen. Finding her way and sometimes failing as an adult-it all caught up with her eventually emotionally-and her way back to understanding and forgiveness and making sense out of it all-it's an incredible story. And a very well written, very truth-telling raw, book. I couldn't put it down. I will really never forget this story.
Thank you again for all your book suggestions last "book post". I have a list a mile long that makes me very happy!
A long time ago you asked for children's book as well, last week I found a movie from 2006, based on a book I loved when I was a child. Well, I had 2 favourite writers, Jan Terlouw and Thea Beckman. I borrowed all of their books and read them all.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the original movie was in English, so it made me realize that the book's been translated too:
Crusade in Jeans, by Thea Beckman. I think I was around 10 years old when I read it, but I plan on rereading it.
Another favourite is apparently translated as "How to become a King", by Jan terlouw. Also one on my reread list, mainly because my mom pointed me at that time at a "double, political meaning", which I didn't really understand at that time. For me both books, well all those books, were mainly exciting with in a historical setting. "Winter in Wartime" by Terlouw was also good, 'bout the 2nd world war. It's one of the books even my husband read.
No idea if those books are readily available, but maybe your boy(s) might enjoy them too. :)
Jolien, "How to become a king" is $86 on Amazon, edition of 1978. It doesn't look like a lot of Terlouw's books have been translated into English.
DeleteI loved North of Normal as well!! So good!!! Will have to pick up the other two. Thanks!!! Hope you had a great Mothers Day!!
ReplyDeleteI need to pick these up thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteSophie xx
www.sophobsessed.com
I am always on the look out for good book recommendations but I am so split about this type of books now. Yes, heart wrenching has its merits, it reminds us to be compassionate and aware of all the suffering around us. But I just can't bring myself to experience this suffering, reliving it with the characters. Maybe it is cowardliness. Maybe I am disregarding the uplifting power of these books. I have recently read "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" with my daughter and loved it in spite of all the sorrow...
ReplyDeleteI totally get it Mila. I've always been one to love a "pull yourself up by the bootstrap" book (immigrant, Depression etc) but purposeful neglect, abuse, drug addiction-those I avoided for years-especially after I had babies-no way could I read those. I think now that I have older kids too, I am more into the psychology of what makes the difference in child rearing-how to some make it through terrible circumstances, and others have the "perfect" childhood but end up creating hell for themselves-to me it's still hard to read these types of books, but there is something about the strength of character some are just born with, and then just luck colliding. It's incredible how we can make tiny differences in the lives of those around us, especially children, just by caring, helping and being kind. To me that's the uplifting part.
DeleteAlso just so you know in between these books I've read some major chic lit, but really balanced out the heaviness of these types of books. :)
I haven't read Edward Tulane but I'll put it on my list-I think we even have it in the house somewhere!
That's a good point, Sarah! It is indeed fascinating how some people (real or fictional) build themselves up against all odds, and yet others self-destroy. I am inclined to think parents/immediate circle play a crucial role in how a child turns out. Those who succeed in spite of the poisonous environment are rare, an exception to the rule.
DeleteIs The Sound of Gravel on your list?? That story was heart wrenching...I hated and loved reading it at the same time. It often helps me to not despair reading these books when you know they came out of a horrible situation...but still mind blowing to me that somewhere kids are living through horrific conditions and experiencing such awful childhoods at the hands of adults who are supposed to nurture them.
ReplyDeleteThat book has popped up when I found the others-I will order it. The summary reminds me a little of The Distance Between Us. Another great book.
DeleteNorth of Normal was intense. So strange to me because it was such a different world- I just don't get it, I guess, how some parents can be so clueless. I felt for the lady (the author), though, because what could she do about being born into a really wacky family? Nothing. And it made me kind of feel that no matter what we are doing "wrong" in raising our kids, we are not half bad, haha. I also recently read The Sound of Gravel. That was also very good.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate these book recommendations. I've taken to bringing a list of them with me to the library. I just started The House Girl and it's great so far. Thank you for sharing.
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