Monday, March 29, 2010

Sunday, March 21, 2010

A powerful novel on relationship abuse

Janet Tashjian is best known for her trilogy of satirical books about consumerism with her Larry series (Pick up The Gospel According to Larry right now!). That said, I just finished her novel Fault Line and loved it. Like Patrick Jones' Things Change, Fault Line looks at the life of a girl who falls in love with a guy who seems perfect but as a major jealousy issue. The novel delves into the fact that she does not see it and by alternating viewpoints with the boyfriend, we see the mindset of not only the victim but the perpetrator. The novel uses as a backdrop the fact that are heroin Becky is attempting to be a stand-up comedian, so there is much laughter to balance the dark reality of her life.

In the end, Tashijan does something that many writers don't do, write a book in a completely different style then her other work. The novel is refreshing, comic and real. A great pick for girls in high school, yet maybe even more important for boys.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

New books

I have read a few great books this past month or two. One is the funny Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff. This novel is a very funny and real look at an overweight student who suddenly leaves the world of the unknown when he he gets recruited for football. His transition is funny and the constant wonder of if he is being set up if well worth the wait. The ending, although rather far fetched, is satisfying and I hope this becomes oin of those big Coming of Age books.

Completely different is The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by W. Lockhart. In this book, a shy, quiet girl decides to change her persona by becoming the mastermind of a series of pranks. Although the book is funny, the underlying message of boys only clubs is bassed, deservingly so, as Frankie has all the boys, unknowingly, do her dirty work.

Read any great books yourself lately? Drop me a line.

And Megan, congrats on being the first to comment on this brilliant website.