I just finished reading it a few days ago. I'm not much for writing book reviews but I somehow feel compelled.
This novel is about a young girl who gets into irresponsible situations with men because her High School English teacher destroyed her innocence. He basically took advantage of her as a child by using literature as his weapon to seduce her. Then, he left her. While he was gone, she went into this "finding what she lost phase" with all of these different derelicts. Eight years later, the shithead teacher comes back to her, with new insight to his mental state. He quickly begins pulling her down into this torrent of sexual delinquency.
Throughout the entire book, you root for this damaged soul to escape from the life of sexual cruelty posed against her. She tries to escape, but just doesn't make it. What a disappointment. The ending of the book was such a let down that I almost cried. Not because she didn't make it out of that life, but because I don't know if she ever makes it out of there. I guess Ms. Maguire is either a fantastic writer or just missing something. I still can't figure it out. I wanted this female protagonist to emerge from her circumstance successful. I just don't know what happens to her. It just kind of ends right in the middle of her turmoil. Did I miss something? Am I supposed to create and alternate ending? Will there be a part two? I'm not sure.
The writing in this novel is rich and descriptive, almost to a fault. I mean, I really didn't need all that sexual detail...A little left to the imagination would be nice. True, I'm all for 'dirty books' and all and sexual content can be a treat. I am no prude, that's for sure. However, it was quite disturbing at most junctures in the book. The things she endured, Christ. It was unreal.
All in all it was a page turner. Which is why I was so disappointed in the end. I am sure however, that I will reach for another Emily Maguire book when I see it on the shelves. I am a sucker for a page turner. And I will continually hope that her other books have complete endings.
Interested?
6 comments:
Sounds depressing. With a book like that, you are just willing for it to be a happy ending. I'd have been ticked, too. There are enough sad ones in the real world....
I've just started reading a novel called "Tolstoy Lied" in which the main character is an English professor who notes that in order for a novel to be considered real literature, it must be tragic. So perhaps the author wrote her first draft with a happy ending, and then was reminded by her editor that if she wants to be considered for a major book award, she had better hack off the happy ending.
Ooo you have me intrigued .. sounds like an interesting plot!
I hate unhappy endings! But the book still sounds riveting just the same. c",)
Wow I miss reading books!
Actually it sounds like my kind of book. I love depressing and disturbing plots. Dark comedy is good too.
Post a Comment