I found the book My Absolute Darling was hard to read for me. The story line is realistic but it is difficult to see Turtle being abused by her father. Turtle in the end learned how to become self sufficient. Her thoughts are normal to her, but it was hard to read the brutal criticism from her father too. This,to me, sounds like Stockholm Syndrome. Turtle became used to the abuse and could not see a way out. I don't think this book should by read by a high school class unless it is used for a more mature reader as an independent read. Overall, the book was interesting and believable.
The book, The Sherlockian, was an interesting read. I am not familiar with any of the actual Sherlock Holmes books but I went into reading and had an idea of what to expect. The Baker Street Irregulars gathered each year, an interesting "club" in the modern age. As far as the story line, I found it easy to read. Henry's role in the book is believable and it was easy to follow along to solve the case. The way the story ended, after solving the case, was very abrubt and I think there could have been more to the story. It would be a good book for high school students as it was easy to read and the jumping back and forth between the two stories is an interesting approach that they might not be familiar with.
According to Goodreads . . . Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle.... But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognizing the love you d...
DECEMBER The Sherlockian by Graham Moore Moderator, Brad Craddock JANUARY My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallant Moderator, Shelley Davis Hurtling from present day New York to Victorian London, The Sherlockian weaves the history of Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into an inspired and entertaining double mystery that proves to be anything but "elementary." In December 1893, Sherlock Holmes-adoring Londoners eagerly opened their Strand magazines, anticipating the detective's next adventure, only to find the unthinkable: his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, had killed their hero off. London spiraled into mourning-crowds sported black armbands in grief-and railed against Conan Doyle as his assassin. Then in 1901, just as abruptly as Conan Doyle had "murdered" Holmes in "The Final Problem," he resurrected him. Though the writer kept detailed diaries of his days and work, Conan Doyle never explained thi...
Meeting: March 30 2:45 A 238 Moderator: Marcy Gamzon A brilliant novel and instant New York Times bestseller from the author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette , about a day in the life of Eleanor Flood, forced to abandon her small ambitions and awake to a strange, new future. Eleanor knows she's a mess. But today, she will tackle the little things. She will shower and get dressed. She will have her poetry and yoga lessons after dropping off her son, Timby. She won't swear. She will initiate sex with her husband, Joe. But before she can put her modest plan into action, life happens. Today, it turns out, is the day Timby has decided to fake sick to weasel his way into his mother's company. It's also the day Joe has chosen to tell his office -- but not Eleanor -- that he's on vacation. Just when it seems like things can't go more awry, an encounter with a former colleague produces a graphic memoir whose dramatic tale threatens to reveal a buried family...
I found the book My Absolute Darling was hard to read for me. The story line is realistic but it is difficult to see Turtle being abused by her father. Turtle in the end learned how to become self sufficient. Her thoughts are normal to her, but it was hard to read the brutal criticism from her father too. This,to me, sounds like Stockholm Syndrome. Turtle became used to the abuse and could not see a way out. I don't think this book should by read by a high school class unless it is used for a more mature reader as an independent read. Overall, the book was interesting and believable.
ReplyDeleteThe book, The Sherlockian, was an interesting read. I am not familiar with any of the actual Sherlock Holmes books but I went into reading and had an idea of what to expect. The Baker Street Irregulars gathered each year, an interesting "club" in the modern age. As far as the story line, I found it easy to read. Henry's role in the book is believable and it was easy to follow along to solve the case. The way the story ended, after solving the case, was very abrubt and I think there could have been more to the story. It would be a good book for high school students as it was easy to read and the jumping back and forth between the two stories is an interesting approach that they might not be familiar with.