Book Description
"Mom, where do babies come from?" Many parents live in fear of the day their child asks that question—which inevitably happens, often as early as the preschool years. Here is a picture book designed especially for young children who are becoming sexually aware but aren't ready to learn about sexual intercourse. Written with warmth and honesty, Amazing You! presents clear and age-appropriate information about reproduction, birth, and the difference between girls' and boys' bodies. Lynne Cravath's whimsical illustrations enliven the text, making this a book that parents will gladly share with their young ones.
Customer Reviews:
Todder and Adult friendly.......2007-08-16
I had dreaded the day that this topic would have to be tackled. My daughter knows all about her body but knew relatively nothing about the male body. I was happy that the book was not too graphic or complicated. My daughter understood without being scared or confused.I was also put at ease in explaining the male form to her. I only gave 4 stars because I did feel that breasts and nipples on both sexes should have been addressed. However, I do agree that perhaps the author left out those topics to allow parents the option.
Wonderful Introduction (to the body) Book .......2007-07-28
When my six year old boy became more curious about his body I came to Amazon to search for an appropriate book. I truly did not know it would be such a difficult task. After reading the reviews for a number of books I was very surprised (disgusted was more like it), especially when I learned of the books that promoted group masturbation as "ok" and "experimental". Finally I came upon this book. It was perfect for my boy. In fact, my seven year old girl and three year old son too enjoyed the book. They giggled at some of the pictures which made the book fun as well as educational. There are only two pages that were a bit too advanced for my children (the gargantuan penis complete with sperm and the oversized uterus). I gracefully skipped those two pages, they were just beginning to understand the maturing of the body and that was a bit much. However I will insert that back in, no pun intended, when I read it in the future. Lastly, I have spotted the book in all three of my childrens rooms. They went back on their own and have had a chance to read at their own pace. I recommend this book to conservative parents with young children.
LOVE THIS BOOK!.......2007-06-12
I have a very "inquisitive" 5 year old girl and this book seems to have helped subdue our "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" episodes. It is very descriptive in a biological sense, but the pics are all in cartoon-like depiction. Definitely recommend this book.
Found a little help.......2007-06-11
This was exactly what I needed to help me answer ALL the questions that my 6 yr old had about her/ girl's bodies without getting into the issues of intercourse.
After a lot of research, I came across this option and i was not disappointed. I have already recommended this for this age group.
age-appropriate, descriptive book.......2007-05-24
My son had many questions which were hard to answer on my own. This book made things clear and simple. Since reading this with my son there have been no more questions. I had a hard time finding a book on his 5-year-old age level. This one did the trick.
Book Description
Provocative essays on body image by black women.
Candid, witty, and insightful, Naked is a compelling collection of essays that captures what today's black women think about their bodies-from head to toe.
Tackling such issues as hair texture, skin color, weight, and sexuality, it follows women on their paths to acceptance-and enjoyment -of their unique features...to a place where it doesn't matter how big the breasts or how long the legs, only what is in the heart.
Includes contributions from women of all ages and walks of life, including such notables as:
- Iyanla Vanzant
- Jill Scott
- Kelis
- Tracee Ellis Ross
- Jill Nelson
- Hilda Hutcherson
- asha bandele
- Melyssa Ford
Edited by Ayana Byrd and Akiba Solomon
Foreword by Sonia Sanchez
Customer Reviews:
The Urban Book Source.......2007-08-13
Naked strips away all the mystery surrounding the thoughts held by black women about their bodies. Often raised in a subculture that is not tolerant of a woman sharing their fears, reservations and insecurities about their bodies African American ladies have had to long keep their thoughts to themselves, at least until now. Often over-sexualized in music and videos, Naked sheds a rainbow of light on the way black women from all walks of life, view their bodies, from Melyssa Ford and Jill Scott to a former prostitute and a house wife, this anthology has it all. With short essays like "My Tush" and "Ho Gear", this promises to be a quick enjoyable read for anyone.
1. What did you like best about this book?
I absolutely loved that this book was written by women, for other women. Some of the stories in here express thoughts and feelings that are often not talked about and mostly not accepted. It was very refreshing to see the stories of our women in print.
2. What did you dislike about this book?
I felt that the editors did a great job in being selective about what they put in the book but I still feel a few stories could have been left out.
3. How can the author improve this book?
I think the book would be even better if the editors could somehow swap out a few stories.
The Truth.......2007-08-12
I thought the majority of these essays we so true. Sadly, the truth provided me with some comfort because I was able to think, "Thank God I'm not the only one who feels this way!" I identified with a lot of these storied and it's given me hope that one day I can overcome my issues with my self and body image.
Illl finish by saying I am SORRY.......2007-06-19
I am a black man. Five days ago I received a copy of this book from by cousin. I've only reached half way but I HAD to stop.
There were some passage about how BLACK WOMEN felt hurt and unwanted by verbal abuse of men when they were walking in the streets and I felt bad, because I am one of those guys cussing when a women doesn't give in to my advances. I walk around with friends and I often cuss just as to show off to my friends that "hey that B*** didn't hurt me with her stupid attitude".
The thing I never thought about is how they felt when I cuss them out. Even if my intention was not to add yet another blow to her lowself-esteem. I might sound green by now to some readers but I first off come from the carribean. And there the inferiority complex is not that extreme over there since the majority of the population and business owners are black. But I must add, ormaybe confess I would be more likely to cuss a black women then any other race. And that alone shows that I am part of the problem.
For those who need more convincing argument of the dilemma which Naked exposes, BLACK SKIN WHITE MASK, by Fanon is a support to this book.
But I have to agree with some essay where they says the media, hell society has a fix definition of what beauty is and should look like. Even disney movies like Cinderella, snow white, etc..... brings to our children mind what is expect of their physical appearance to be considered attractive.
I'll try to mustard courage to finish this book AND I'll finsih by saying I am SORRY to all those women I hurt with my foul words. A change is definitely needed '
naked..............2007-04-03
I also finished most of the essays in Naked, soon after purchasing it. The various thoughts, and emotions that the women in this collection have gone through are both shocking, and yet not surpising at all. Having dealt with my fair share of black women, I've come to almost accept their multitued of "lets say" spiritual ailments. Far too often, we allow the outside world to dictate who we are, and what beauty is...I'd definitly suggest everyone to pick up this book. As a man, I can honesetly say that I have more appreciation for the sane sista's that I've come across after reading Naked.
Could not put this down! Highly recommended.......2007-02-28
I picked this up on a whim at my library. This book offered way more than I originally expected.
The various narrations revealed a glimpse into the many insecurities many women of all nationalities face each and everyday. Particularly the plight of the African American woman. Who is often perceived as strong willed and to have a "don't take no mess" attitude. We suffer from the same insecurities, eating disorders, mental illnesses and sense of inferiority that our White sisters often are more vocal about.
Its a double edged sword being a woman in a man's world as well being Black in a White world.
This book upon reading it gave me a significant boost in my self esteem (I'm a Mom to a two year old and still have yet to lose the "baby" weight).
As women, we are sometimes our worst critic and sometimes you just have to be reminded that you are beautiful no matter what others outside your world believe.
Book Description
Most
Dungeons & Dragons game players are men, yet storytelling and roleplaying come so naturally to women. So where are all the female gamers? The answer is - everywhere!
Confessions of a Part-time Sorceress is a smart, humorous examination of the
Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game from a female gamer's point of view. The book delves into the myths and realities of gamer stereotypes. It explains how to build a character for a
D&D game, how to shop for gear, how to play, and how to find the perfect gaming group, all the while exploring the things that make the
D&D game a rewarding and recurring social experience for both men and women.
Customer Reviews:
The Paris Hilton's guide to D&D.......2007-10-02
I'm a professional young woman, I've been playing RPGs for almost 6 years. My boyfriend, who is also a player, gave me this book as a little present.
** Girls: although the author does a good job breaking the stereotype of "only geeks and nerds play D&D" she imposes another one: that any other girl that is not a geek is the equivalent of Paris Hilton. The author tries so hard to be fun that she spends the whole book making comparisons with the contemporary and superficial world of someone like Paris Hilton: Designer brands, purses, shoes, manicures. Not that we don't like that, but for God's sake, is she going to guide us or what? She also spends some pages with the unintelligent remarks she made on her first game sessions. I don't know how many times does she mentions shopping, shoes, purses, malls, manicures, etc.
If you're never played D&D and you're interested, get D&D for Dummies instead. You're just new to the game, not a dumb superficial chick.
** Guys: From a gamer to another gamer... don't give this book to your girlfriend. I don't know what was in the mind of Wizards when they edited this book. And the reviews! I've lost some respect for the authors that reviewed this book as a must have for girls new to the game.
In the book the author spends her first session asking when are the going to shop... if there's a cheesecake factory nearby, if she can have a Balenciaga (famous designer) purse for her sorceress. I know it's supposed to be a fun book full of "self-mockery" as they say in the back cover, but one thing is an entertaining style and another thing is treating girls like they're just superficial beings.
She doesn't even get the atmosphere. She spends so many words making comparisons with our contemporary time that she hardly mentions the medieval-fantasy setting in which D&D is set.
(Hope my english is understandable)
Dungeons for Divas .......2007-09-26
Wizards of the Coast (publishers of the Dungeons and Dragons game)attempts to target-market hip young women to get in on the game.
If you're a female considering playing D&D, this book could prime you up on some basic game concepts, as well as equip you with a mindset that D&D "isn't just for nerdy male teens anymore!".
It's a fun, breezy read littered with lists and factoids, with a humorous touch. Unfortunately the book's agressively hip, chick-lit tone is pretty cloying, attempting to shoe-horn Dungeons and Dragons into a world of Manolos, martinis and pedicures.
Nice design and illustrations.
Fun!.......2007-09-20
Are you a woman who's never played Dungeons & Dragons but has always been curious about it? Do you have a friend/husband/boyfriend who plays, and who has maybe invited you to play, but you were intimidated by the stereotypes about nerds and geeks, or thought it would to be too hard, or have too many rules, or take too much time? Well if so, Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress is the book for you.
Author Shelly Mazzanoble writes from the point of view of an extremely (even hyper-) girly young woman who loves to shop, watch soaps and get mani-pedis- and who also loves participating in the ongoing campaigns of Astrid the elf and her band of adventurers. She wants to convince women that D&D isn't all about smelly geeks in a basement casting arcane spells and speaking with cheesy British accents while dressed in chainmaille and Ren Faire outfits. Her thesis is that it's just about groups of friends coming together on a regular basis for a fun, wholesome activity that fires the imagination, fosters social skills and helps participants gain confidence.
Okay.
Let me just say up front that I am exactly the sort of person towards whom this book is aimed. My husband is an avid D&D player, as have been many of my male friends throughout my life. I always thought it was a boy thing- a little seedy, a little smelly, and just a little weird. I was in college before I knew any women who played, and they weren't, uhm, people I could relate to. So I just thought, this isn't for me, and put it aside. So when this book came along I thought, okay, let's see if this woman can sell me on D&D. Cause if she can sell me, she can sell anyone.
Most of the book consists of a girly primer on the basics of D&D. She writes about spells, points, character sheets and dice; she includes cute illustrations and quizzes, and even some recipes of suggested appetizers to serve at your own D&D party. The tone is light and breezy, and peppered with pop-culture and fashion references, and the dominant color is pink. It's cute. It's informative. I liked it when she talked about her own story of how she came to play and how she seems like someone I can relate to. Even though the stereotypes aren't the whole story, there is still a lot of truth to them and they do put people like me off the game. I mean, most of the reason I've rejected the idea of playing is that I think I just wouldn't fit in in most groups. But maybe I'm wrong.
As far as actual game-play, the rules and regs aren't as intimidating or as difficult as I thought. And I like the idea that it's not competitive. I like Mazzanoble's tone and style, and I think the information is presented in a way that's easy to understand. Her "I'm an outsider who became an insider" approach helps, too. And there's lots of humor and silliness, too. I love the little features like "Top Ten Spells Every Woman Should Know", quizzes, cute recipes and the appendix with a sample character sheet. All in all a fun little read. Did she sell me on playing D&D? Well, let's just say I'm not as hostile to the idea as I used to be. And every once in a while I catch myself checking out dice...
Chick-lit meets Players Guide.......2007-09-19
This book is just wonderful! As a veteran Dungeons and Dragons player, I was instantly attracted to the conversational, humorous and down-to-earth style of this book. Informative and a great read, this book brings Dungeons and Dragons to life and allows the reader to experience the game through another gamer's eyes. For a very long time, Dungeons and Dragons has been a male-oriented game. This book draws us women into the game as never before and explains why women are love to play it once we try it out. Buy this book for yourself! Or for your wife, girfriend, or grandma!
Book Description
When Raider takes Rosie to England she finds no living kin—and long buried family secrets. When Raider offers to take Rosie to New Orleans, she sees no other option. But it is a journey that brings her closer than ever to the daring buccaneer who has captured her heart…yet farther from the romantic dream that torments her. As the war rages at sea, Rosie once again watches Raider sail into battle, driven by the obsession that consumes him, and taking with him the love that has become the very soul of Rosie's life.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful read!!.......2007-04-11
I originally read this series years ago. They have a great sense of adventure and a fast paced reading style. LOVE THEM!! Get all three in the series!
i love this book and i'm a 42 year-old mom,.......2004-03-20
i bought the 2nd book by chance at a used-book store, i gave it to my daughter, and she loved it, soon we after, we went to the library and requested the 1st and 3rd books, funny we fought over who got to read what first. it was SOOOOO good, since then both me and my daughter have read the entire trilogy more than once. i wish some holywood hot shots would get a wind of this and make a movie, gotta love it :)
a great book.......2003-03-11
I loved this book! It was the best out of the three and when I was done I found myself wanting a relationship (not all the hard times they had) like Rosie and Raider had. it really ties together everything and you can't help but be happy at the end of the book for Rosie and Raider.
This is my favorite book in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2002-04-22
I love this book, i read this one forst one first not knowing that it was the last one in a trilogy. This is the classic story of misunderstood love. Rosie loves Raider, but thinks he loves someone else. He askes her to marry him on the excuse that he wants to make sure she is safe. Now Raider is Half Mad! will love triumph over all, or will she go back to a quiet life without anyone to love her? Guess you'll have to read to find out! :-)
the best series.......2002-04-12
I loved this series. I had to buy it. I have read them over and over again. I am so hooked on them. The perfect romance and mystery book. The first time reading it, I was taken by
surprise by the cool ending. I LOVE IT!!
Average customer rating:
- Charming
- Charming, clever, witty, and slight
- An excellent read.
- World War II Fairy Tale
- Brilliant!
|
Part of the Furniture
Mary Wesley
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| Classics
| Contemporary
| General
| Historical
| Humor
| Letters & Correspondence
| Middle
| Old
| Poetry
| Renaissance
| Shakespeare
| Short Stories
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Historical
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Literature & Fiction
| Large Print
| Formats
| Books
Similar Items:
-
A Sensible Life
-
Second Fiddle (King Penguin)
-
Harnessing Peacocks (King Penguin)
-
An Imaginative Experience
-
The Camomile Lawn
ASIN: 0140266283 |
Amazon.com
The heroine of Mary Wesley's latest novel, Part of the Furniture, is 17- year-old Juno Marlowe, a girl possessed of both extraordinary innocence and remarkable courage. We first meet Juno during the World War II blitz of London; she is suffering the twin effects of rape and having to sleep next to a dead stranger during an air raid. Other novelists might have chosen to plumb these traumatic events for several chapters at least, but Wesley gives them no more time than she thinks they deserve and then moves quickly on to the heart of her story, which takes Juno far away to the western corner of England to deliver a letter from the dead man to his family. Here Juno meets the stranger's father, a man considerably older than herself, and finds her soulmate.
If there's such a thing as a steely-eyed romantic, Mary Wesley is one. On the one hand, she deals with death, rape, and other horrors with unsentimental straightforwardness and humor as black as a coal cellar; on the other, she is a firm believer in love's ability to heal even the deepest wounds. The pleasure of reading Part of the Furniture is observing this surprising marriage of love and pragmatism, as well as the unexpected twists and turns Wesley throws into her tale of loving during wartime.
Book Description
When Juno Marlowe finds herself caught in the middle of a London air raid, she is quickly rescued by an elegant gentleman who offers her shelter and a mysterious invitation to his father's country estate. The next morning he is dead, and she is once again alone with nowhere to go. At seventeen, Juno is used to feeling invisible, but now, without family and friends, she finds herself desperately in need of companionship, some warm clothes, and above all, a life as more than part of the furniture. How Juno finds this and more is beautifully related in this irresistible novel from one of our most enchanting writers.
Customer Reviews:
Charming.......2007-06-09
Juno Marlowe is a very young and innocent 17 year old in the early days of WW2. As a child, she tagged along behind two older boys, cousins, like an adoring puppy and when she came with them to London when they were called up to enlist, accepted that these two arrogant youths had the right to rape her, one after the other, as their introduction to sex. Left alone on a London street during an air raid, she is rescued by Evelyn Copplestone who offers her shelter in his home but who dies of natural causes before she leaves the next day. He had given her an introductory letter to his father who lives on a large farming estate in Cornwall, and is happily accepted as an extra farm hand. When it becomes evident that she is pregnant, it is generally accepted the Evelyn was the father of her expected baby, and so his father is happy to keep her on at the farm.Juno is enchanted by country life and develops a great rapport with the farm hands and neighbours who all accept that she never speaks of the father of her unborn child. The book is filled with wonderful descriptions of local characters and animals and covers the year between the beginning of the story and its' conclusion, with gentleness and understanding without delving too deeply into unnecessary angst and violence. It's a charming, gentle book, just perfect for when one is in the mood for a gentle read.
Charming, clever, witty, and slight.......2001-04-14
This is one of those charming, clever, and witty English novels that writers -- especially women -- have been turning out since the days of Jane Austen. A lonely 17 year old girl caught up in the blitz meets a man who dies. She searches out his family home and finds contentment and love. The cast consists of mildly eccentric country types in a World War II setting. But the novel didn't teach or tell me anything of value. It's just a story.
An excellent read........1999-05-17
It is so nice to read a wonderful romance novel without all the hot detailed sex scenes that American authors seem unable to write without. The was my first Wesley novel -- but it won't be my last.
World War II Fairy Tale.......1999-01-07
The only negative thing anyone can say about Mary Wesley's novels is that there are so few of them! Not one of England's most prolific authors, Wesley is nonetheless one of its most unique writers. Each novel is a gem! (Harnessing Peacocks is my all-time favorite.) This bittersweet fairy tale concerns the intrepid Juno, who, betrayed by her girlhood heroes (a pair of beastly cousins off to fight WWII) in the worst way imaginable for a young, impressionable woman, goes on to survive and prosper, surrounded by love and affection. A triumph of the human spirit, it's a May-December romance readers will hold dear to their hearts.
Brilliant!.......1998-08-31
I am so happy to have discovered Ms. Wesley. You must read this work of fantasy, romance and historical fiction. It is a treasure and superbly executed! I am in love with her style.
Product Description
Natalie loves love. Fairy tale endings; rose petals on the bed; a ring at the bottom of a champagne flute: the mythological promises of love that women like Nat come to expect, to want and miss. It's an idea that has gestated for most of Nat's thirty-five years. But having never been surprised with a thousand daisies on her front door, or a proposal written among the clouds, Nat clings to the hope for love, the Possibility. It's this lure of Possibility that inspires her to drive nearly 2,000 miles to surprise her high school sweetheart. She starts out with a singular vision of what love is: What it looks like, tastes like, acts like -- what it simply must be. But her meticulously planned itinerary is almost immediately thrown off course by a collection of gender-bending characters (and experiences) that continually contradict, challenge, and compromise Nat's firm grasp of What Love Is. Through confessions of others, pasts revealed, and epiphanies about herself, Nat's belief system, her picture of the prize is completely deconstructed, leaving in its wake the terrible realization that Love, as she has believed it should be, is nothing more than a figment of her own imagination; just another Big Girl Lie; as tangible as the image of the Blessed Virgin on a garage door somewhere out in the Valley. "She's the Girl" is a funny tale of a woman who learns the hard way that love is never what it appears to be.
Customer Reviews:
Extraordinary novel!.......2004-10-16
Natalie, we are told on the back cover of SHE'S THE GIRL, loves love. But the reader quickly learns that Natalie loves more than just love: she loves life, which appears to come at her at truly dizzying speeds. Natalie's road trip starts out in the tamest of ways: a quest to find True Happiness With An Old Boyfriend (who hasn't been down that road, be honest!); and I have to admit that I was initially a trifle disappointed in her motive and quest. However, it is quickly apparent that Natalie herself has no idea what she really wants, and her journey allows her to sample from a veritable smorgasbord of ideas, lifestyles, relationships, and emotions. Some might say that she grows up -- but what I see is her growing *into* herself, into the person that she is in the act of becoming. And there's nothing more fascinating than that to observe.
Brooks' style is no less eccentric -- and captivating -- than the evolution of her protagonist. Her sentence structure frequently (and one has to think intentionally) ignored the rules of style as her words appear to tumble over each other in their eagerness to be read.
A thoroughly wonderful book, SHE'S THE GIRL will both comfort and provoke. I cannot recommend it enough.
A unique journey of personal growth and truth.......2004-06-08
She's The Girl is one of the most enjoyable adventure novels I've read in a long time. It is also an emotional journey from start to finish that will leave you wanting more. I was drawn in from the first page and had a hard time stopping so I could go on about my day. The style of author Susan M. Brooks is prolific, realistic, whimsical and a no nonsense approach that speaks volumes to anyone considering how love affects them.
This story is infectious and smart. We are introduced to some dynamic characters, offering their own life story and experiences along the way. These inhabitants could be your friends and neighbors or the people you only dream of getting to being acquainted with. The journal-like novel follows our main character Nat on her travel to North Dakota in hopes of marrying the man she has dubbed as her soul mate. Along the way she comes in contact with some of the most eccentric people she's ever known, who in turn draw her into their unique yet complex lives. We first meet Trina, a carefree wild child hitching a ride in the rain to marry a convict. As the pages turn we learn of attention-seeker Madeline, Mexican Bob, and Ivy an older woman with her own ideals of love and how it fits into our lives. Everyone has quite a tale to tell.
She's the Girl isn't your typical love theme by any means, but instead gives us insight into one learning about themselves and gathering a wealth of knowledge about the one subject that eludes us all; love. Through Nat we learn there are no right or wrong answers in love, and sometimes it's the illusion that gets in the way of reality.
I appreciated the author's ability to bring the reader in and create so much compassion for the characters. Here is a story that is genuine, down to earth, quirky, and filled with more emotional prose than one could imagine. It's real, raw, and will make you laugh out loud. It's a book that will be talked about and remembered for its sheer honesty and a drive that will surpass time. There is so much more here than meets the eye. I tried to put it down and but found it difficult to not find out what was going to happen next. Read and enjoy and look forward to more from such a talented writer.
You'll be glad you read it........2004-05-22
What a great book. Terribly stimulating and funny. It keeps you hooked from page one. I swear I was there riding in the car. Susan M. Brooks can write. She has an easy flowing style, not like many I've read in a long time. She keeps you captivated. 292 pages and I was done in 3 days. Working days! I didn't want to put it down. You want to know what's going to happen next. Parts of the book brought back memories of schoolhood that I had forgotten about. You'll laugh out loud and maybe even cry a little bit. Remember the "fresh girls"? You will!!
I recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Susan M. Brooks.
A funny, moving story........2004-03-01
She's the Girl is a quick moving road trip with delightful characters and unforeseen twists that really kept my attention. The scenes are depicted vividly with such clarity, I felt as if I was with the characters in the moment. Brooks has a colorful sense of humor along with subtle wit that helped lead me to see the deeper more complex side of how a young woman sees love. I was hooked on the story from the first chapter. I believe each reader can relate to some aspect of his/her real life experience with that of a character in She's the Girl. I applaud Brooks for her unique, descriptive style and thank her for sharing it in She's the Girl.
you must read this!.......2004-03-01
There are not many books that can draw me in so much, that I end up reading the entire book in one day. This book however, did just that-I became so enamored with the story, that I needed to find out what Natalie was going to do next, what character she would run into, and more importantly, how the story would end.
What I love about this book so much, is that I'm able to see everything that Brooks describes. It becomes so real, as if I'm apart of the story, eavesdropping on a conversation between Nat and Trina. "She's the Girl" is a book that I know will not be sitting on my bookshelf, never being touched again. It's a book that I'm going to read again and again and still like it as much as I did reading it for the first time.
Everyone has had their experiences in life, realizing that it's not at all what they had planned it to be--not finding a sports car in your driveway with a big bow on it for your sixteenth birthday, that your twenties will never turn out to be like an episode of "Friends", and having that perfect man you have fantasized about for about ten years is just that, a fantasy. Life is full of unexpectations and "She's the Girl" is a book that captures that rule so well.
Average customer rating:
- more than 5-star book
- LOVED IT!!!
- Food for thought
- Searing and endearing --
- Underrated piece of work!
|
A Girl, in Parts: A Novel
Jasmine Paul
Manufacturer: Counterpoint Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Classics
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Classics
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 158243218X
Release Date: 2002-08-06 |
Book Description
The exciting debut of a young voice that tells nothing but the truth in exacting, charming, and often harrowing detail.
In the early 1980s in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Dorothy lives with her bartending mother, her bar-attending stepfather, and her sweetly precocious little brother. Dottie's nine, plagued by insomnia, asthma, earaches, and buckteeth. She is lonely and insecure, but her intelligence and keen sense of perception enable her to see every vivid detail of her impoverished rural surroundings and the strange characters around her. When her family moves to Eastern Washington State, Dottie--confused, petulant, and feeling more alone than ever, furious at her changing body--battles her way through junior high, where she finds a measure of success and recognition in sports and academics. But her hard-won little victories are tempered by her troubled family and friends and she finds solace and distraction in alcohol, cigarettes, and general misbehavior. Dottie--nicknamed Utah by her teammates from the Colville Indian Reservation--becomes a star basketball player, falls in and out of love (more than once), and finally confronts a new, devastating emotional setback. But Dottie is indomitable: she emerges triumphantly as a young woman with limitless dreams and confidence in an uncertain world.
Gritty and realistic, A Girl, In Parts is never sentimental about either poverty or childhood. Dorothy is a tough and winning character, a true-to-life heroine perfect for the twenty-first century. First novelist Jasmine Paul has crafted an elegant story in ninety-seven perfectly told vignettes.
Customer Reviews:
more than 5-star book.......2004-12-01
This is a great book!! It is certainly an underrated novel, and should be on display everywhere books are sold.
The only bad part about the book is the ending, only because that means that I have no more to read about Dorothy!
I can't wait for the next book.
********cans of yoohoo!*********days working in the movie theatres********driving home with friends after graduating college********The Doors movie********zima********whiskey and the battlefield**********
%%%%%%%%%% you bet!!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I really can't wait for the next book, and the one after that, and the one after that......
LOVED IT!!!.......2004-05-25
I loved this book. The characters practically jumped off the page, they were so alive. I couldn't put it down. Great beach read.
Food for thought.......2004-05-14
This was truly an enjoyable read and I'm not a huge reader. I was hooked from the start and the character of Dottie continued to draw me in. Very revealing about how young female minds work - similar to An Egg on Three Sticks which I highly recommend.
Searing and endearing --.......2004-04-28
This book took me by surprise - I couldn't put it down. Narrator sounds like a real teenager who ages convincingly chapter by chapter. Both funny and heartbreaking. if you liked this book, you'll probably like "Feeling Sorry for Celia (J. Moriarty)," "Shadow Baby (A. McGhee)," and "Durable Goods (E. Berg)."
Underrated piece of work!.......2003-01-27
I cannot believe that this book hasn't gotten the attention that it deserves. A Girl, In Parts is one of the most impressive debuts I've ever read. Jasmine Paul uses (apparently) simple language when she chronicles Dottie's growing pains. The realistic situations Dottie encounters -- sibling rivalry, hatred toward parents, crushes, experimentation -- as she grows from a precocious nine-year-old to an insecure adolescent are beautiful and poignant. I savored the final pages of this novel like fine wine -- I hated to see it end. I cannot recommend this novel enough. Book clubs would marvel at the excellent prose and sharp dialogue. A Girl, In Parts deserves a spot in every reader's library...
Books:
- Amrita Sher-Gil: A Life
- Apocalypse and the Writings on Revelation (The Cambridge Edition of the Works of D. H. Lawrence)
- As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man's Escape from a Siberian Labour Camp and His 3-Year Trek to Freedom
- Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions (Picture Puffin Books)
- Best of Ann Landers: Her Favorite Letters of All Time
- Black Rose: In the Garden Trilogy (In the Garden)
- Blues People: Negro Music in White America
- Body of Lies: A Novel
- Boundaries: When to say Yes, When to Say No, To Take Control of Your Life (Inspirio/Zondervan Miniature Editions)
- Breaking Ranks II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- On Call In Hell: A Doctor's Iraq War Story
- Live from Jordan: Letters Home from My Journey Through the Middle East
- Chicago Then and Now
- Details in Contemporary Architecture
- History: Fiction or Science
- Heard on the Street: Quantitative Questions from Wall Street Job Interviews
- Lady with the Little Dog and Other Stories, 1896-1904
- Ragnar's Guide to the Underground Economy
- FE Review Manual: Rapid Preparation for the General Fundamentals of Engineering Exam
- The Haunted Abbot: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland
Your Body Belongs to You
Changing You: A Guide to Body Changes and Sexuality
What's the Big Secret?: Talking about Sex with Girls and Boys
The Right Touch: A Read-Aloud Story to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse (Jody Bergsma Collection)
My Body Is Private (Albert Whitman Prairie Books)
