Suicide Books

Very cute humor but...

Unless your getting this as a gift for someone or it's an inside joke you've been looking for your whole life, I don't recommend buying this book simply because it is too short. Cute though... Not for animal rights advocates.

If you are in anyway feeling a bit blue, take a look at this book!

For some reason, it's completely endearing and hilarious for bunnies to try to commit suicide. Perhaps it's because the ingenious and absurd machines, traps, and situations they put themselves in require a tremendously dark wit, and we don't expect these dandelion munchers to express such cynicism.

There are a number of people who try to imitate Andy Riley's bunny suicide comics, and they sometimes come out all wrong. For example, they tend to show the death of the bunny. This is unfortunate, because the joke is in the reader's mind, trying to figure what the bunny is thinking and how the suicide will work, not showing the reader the gruesome death.

People with a dark sense of humor will enjoy this book, and judging from the way it has been out of stock at some bookstores, there are a lot of us out there.

Bunnies are cute, fuzzy, and not very bright. And in Andy Riley's works, they're also suicidal.

In fact, you can guess just from the title of Riley's "The Book of Bunny Suicides" what the book is about -- wordless cartoons of bunnies offing themselves in unique, creative, and sometimes overly complex ways.

It's a running gag, but you'll never guess how many of these bunnies choose to off themselves -- they involve corkscrews, subway trains, stalactites, cigarettes, seppuku, airplane toilets, palm trees, pointy-nose jets, toasters, colanders, and many other seemingly harmless (or at least not VERY harmful) ordinary items.

There are even some pop culture references -- the bunny prepares to beam down from "Star Trek," sits atop the Wicker Man from the same-named movie, and one of the rare cartoons with dialogue, the death-pursuing bunnies infiltrate the legendary duel between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Hysterical.

Yeah, it's basically a one-gag book, but Riley manages to keep the chuckles rolling along through the book. Part of the humor is in the ridiculous stubbornness these bunnies have to off themselves, and Riley's creativity in coming up with surreal methods for suicide.

There are a few duds, admittedly -- the deli counter one took me several reads to understand, since you have to pay very careful attention to note the bunny in this one. And the overpass gag simply doesn't make much sense.

Riley's artwork is simple and clean, and his bunnies are amusingly stoic as they chase down death. And he shows a variety of bunny deaths -- some are gory, some are physically impossible, and some simply involve bunny parts flying bloodlessly. Some, in fact, only hint at the bunnies' demises -- and these tend to be the most hilarious of all.

"The Book of Bunny Suicides" is a fun quick comic book for people with a sick sense of humour and/or a hatred of bunnies. Darkly amusing.

Bunnies are sweet,loving,and innocent creatures and anyone who could write books with this sort of theme is a very sick person as are everyone who would find it funny!! If it was about children there would be a major outcry over it,but because its not its ok. Animals are just as helpless as children so if you wouldn't want books like this about children don't condone it about bunnies or any other animals!!

Stella's always been detached; two weeks before high school graduation, Princeton shining in the fall, she takes a look at her life and decides to kill herself. Stella's suicide isn't an act of defeat or desperation. Indeed, over the course of the novel various characters and circumstances offer alternatives and opportunities that in a more conventional book would cause her to change her mind. It's a credit to Seigel's beautiful writing and brilliant, subtly drawn characters and scenes that you end up hoping that Stella will carry though with her plans to die.

Freed from conventions by her impending death, Stella befriends Ainsley, the nearly invisible best friend of the school's queen bee, reconnects with her own ex-boyfriend, and confronts her apathetic foster mother. Stella's last two weeks are an affirmation and exploration of her life; you cannot disagree that at the end she has lived fully and truly.

I particularly enjoyed the first person point of view employed by Seigel, the book takes the form of Stella's journal. Stella's matter-of-fact take on her self and her surroundings invites the reader to consider what is not being said, and what it means about Stella that she does not think to say it.

This is a poignant, beautiful book. Read it.

I've always been an optimist, despite experiences with anxiety and depression. I've also always believed that when people are incurably sick they should have the right to end their lives the way they want, when they want. I'd never really thought about people that were mentally ill, but after reading this book I was stunned and speechless. If the main character where my friend I would have no idea what to say or do. The author does such a frighteningly good job of conveying the emptiness and inability to attach to anyone or anything that I could think of no other way for the book to end. I kept waiting for something to change, some magic intervention and it didn't come. And although I was sad, I was also profoundly respectful of an author that could not only make me feel for this character but didn't insult the book with a slap-dash happy ending. I didn't see this book coming. It's not really about depression, it's about meaninglessness. This book took a while to shake off.

Seigel's debut novel, Like the Red Panda, is written journal-style: a brilliant Princeton-bound high school senior attempting to explain why she is going to commit suicide. What can I say about this young author's first book other than "Wow." She takes on a heavy topic (or really, a number of them, as the protagonist has been orphaned, is friendless, lives a life that is basically invisibly to her odd foster parents, and dates a drug dealer) and without cheating the subject matter, keeps the read (for the most part) light and funny. Her writing is skillful and smart but unpretentious. I heard the term chick-lit thrown about as I read reviews for this novel -- it is no such thing. It is a moving coming-of-age novel, and, put simply, a worthy read.

Oh yeah, one final note: A couple of people have criticized the novel as basically a Catcher In The Rye rip-off. This is, in a word, stupid. Salinger's novel hits so many readers because the theme is so universal. How then can it be surprising that he has not been the only author to tackle that theme? Is Salinger (who incidentally IS one of my favorite authors) to have the final word on teen angst? Did he tackle the topic so thoroughly and definitively that there is nothing left to say? Of course not. Such a suggestion is absurd. Sure, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but some opinions are better left unheard. Seigel's take on the theme is both moving and entertaining.

I debated about reading this novel because I knew it dealt with suicide and that's not my favorite topic to read about. But I read this anyway and I'm glad I did.

The book is written in diary form, with Stella leaving it behind as her last memories of the world when she kills herself. She didn't seem that suicidal but rather bored with her life and wanting to do something that left behind a legacy. That made reading this all the more interesting, because she wasn't the typical depressed teen.

Each day she writes is filled with amusing observations and memories about the world around her and such insightful writing. I could not put this book down because it was written so well!! I wanted to know everything - will she kill herself? what will happen with the one gil who's becoming her friend? what's up with the guy she's sort of dating?

I know this book is darker than most - it's not candy-coated chick lit, but the writing is so much depper and so much more insightful that any of those books. I will be recommending this to everyone, and I'll have to buy the author's next book when it comes out!

I wish this book had been around when I was a teenager. Funny and sad all at once-- much like my own teenage years. Like the Red Panda is brilliant in its ability to address complex issue with simple, intelligent and wry prose. So yeah, buy the book, it's good.

Only a year or so ago, Louisa Bryce, a very intelligent woman, faked a suicide to run from the supposed murder of a very prominent, but very evil, man. Hired by Emma Ashton as a companion, someone to write her memoires, Louisa and Emma quickly become fast friends, where Louisa confesses all. In order to help, Emma is playing off Louisa as a distant cousin from the country who is now widowed. "Unimportant, unfashionable and excessively dull", Louisa manages to squeeze around the Polite World, uncovering deep secrets of the weathly Society ton. She is, after all, a journalist for the Flying Intelligencer, a notorious rag; pen name: I. M. Phantom. No one knows her background, and she intends to keep it that way.

Convinced that Elwin Hastings is up to no good, let alone a possible murderer, she sets off to investigate and find the truth. During a ball, she slips unoticed up the stairs to search his rooms. Leaving his bedroom, she is caught by Anthony Stalbridge, saving her from almost being caught by one of Hastings's personal hired guards. Seems that Anthony is convinced that Hastings murdered his fiancee, Fiona Risby. He's looking for proof - regardless if Hastings pays for his crimes, he still wants the proof. With a quick-witted discussion, the two become unlikely partners, both after the same goal.

And that's when the fun begins. Evidence is found in the way of business papers and one of Fiona's very expensive necklace (the one she was wearing the night she disappeared from a party); now Anthony and Louisa are sure there is more afoot and continue to dig. Louisa would like nothing more than to expose him to the Society he so desperately wants to belong to. Anthony wants him to confess to murdering Fiona. Will they get what they covet most?

Oh, you most certainly bet they do - almost more than they bargain for. Yes, you find out early on the who and what, but it's how the plot came about and to a close that keeps your attention. The more they dig, the more facts come to light, the more questions answered and more arise, that have you focussing on the story, and the main characters.

Louisa is a strong and intelligent woman, regardless of her naivete. She fights for what she believes is right, even if she's putting herself unknowingly in harm's way. Anthony is the only person in his family with a head for finances; seems his father, mother and sister are the eccentric artists of the family. Strong-willed and relentless, he had spotted Louisa right off and became intrigued by the unknown woman; he could see the intelligence in her eyes, no matter how dull she made herself seem in the form of dress and conversation. And the more time they spend together, the more they fall in love with each other. But Louisa believes that it can be nothing more than an illicit affair, especially knowing that, if anyone discovered her past, she'd be hanged for murder.

Quick-witted conversations, discussions and the hot passion they feel for each other will have you believing they are made for each other - two halves of a whole. I liked how Quick touched base on what it was like for woman in that day in age, where women were really considered the weaker sex, where they were valued for their looks, bloodline and money, not for their mind. I like how, not once but twice, Louisa rises above, first after her father dies, then after her faked suicide. It was nice to see Anthony falling in love with her, first and foremost, for her intelligence and integrity. Perfect match. Great climax to the story, even if you did see it coming. Couldn't have asked for better!

There is no suspense, Amanda quick-ly lets us know who the murderer is. Beyond that, the book is padded and padded and padded with extraneous info. I would rate it "I hate it," but the sex scenes are more true-to-life than most.

The River Knows was an excellent read. I enjoyed it as much as the many other Quick novels I've read. The only criticism I have is that I did not get to know Louisa Bryce or Anthony Stalbridge well enough. There was a great emphasis on the intrigue of the story which worked for me since I love mysteries, but I would have liked more details about who they were. I wonder if she will write other books featuring these characters. I hope so. If she writes another book, I hope she fleshes out the characters more so that we feel as though we really know them.

Quick/Krentz is the best of romantic lit--I find most of the other authors unbearable --but this is her shakiest work yet. I read this and promptly forgot it. The characters are 1-dimensional at best and I generally expect more from this author. I think it might be the worst of her works, but still considerably better than most romance novels.

Though this is a romance, shaken with a light dressing of mystery, there are some very serious topics tackled herein.

First off is the absolute inability of a woman in Victorian times to control her destiny. Employment opportunities for women were few and far between, and even honest employment could lead to very dangerous situations for a woman alone.

Also, this book directly addresses how justice was very different for the gentry than for the non-gentry. Even one with money was not as important as one of the right birth. And if a gentleman was suspected of wrongdoing, he could refuse to answer police questioning. Forget about warrants!

We've come a long way, baby.

Beyond all this, though, the book contains a wonderful romp. Louisa Bryce is an intrepid Lois Lane for a dime rag. She uncovers the wrongdoings of the "polite" world for all to see. She has her own secrets, however. Anthony Stalbridge is the bad-boy gentleman who, despite her unpromising plumage, becomes quite taken with Louisa. Together they solve a relatively complex mystery (which, at the end, you see pieces of have been cleverly alluded to all through the book, right from the prologue on down!)

There is evil, there is tension, and of course there is sex, but it is not horribly graphic, is relatively short in duration, and is easily skimmed without missing too much book. There is even a huge amount dedicated to tongue-in-cheek making fun of illicit passion in "ladies' novels".

I really, really enjoyed this book.

(*)>

Laurel, the teenage protagonist of The Hanged Man, has just lost her father to a lengthy illness, which she fears she may have "willed" upon him. Now that he is gone, she doesn't know what to feel. She is simultaneously relieved and grief-stricken, heart-broken and happy, and a myriad of other emotions she has no name for. During this difficult time, she is helped along by the enigmatic Jack, a man who will help her face her past and overcome it. Tarot symbology also plays an integral role in her story, guiding her and helping her understand what is going on around her.

Perhaps one of the reasons Block is one of my favorite authors is because of her ability to speak volumes without really saying much at all. Throughout the course of the story, it is never implicitly stated what Laurel is suffering from, or what her father did to her, but you catch subtle little hints here and there. To me, the fact that she is constantly running from these invisible demons which are never named makes the things she is going through that much more painful. So although the book is fairly short and can easily be read in a single sitting, it packs quite a punch. It's raw, painful, depressing and hopeful all at once. The tarot imagery also adds an interesting angle to this already compelling story. You don't really need to be a tarot aficionado in order to understand the symbolism and how it connects to the story, as Ms. Block includes the meanings to each card (although I think some knowledge would really help further your understanding.)

I firmly agree with other reviewers who say that that this book is very different from Block's other books. Whereas her other books are very surreal and dreamlike, this one is more realistic I guess you could say. It's still very good though, and definitely should not be missed. Tarot lovers would especially love it.

If you know you LOVE Francesca Lia Block's work, DO NOT go about reading this book first. I did, and got a twisted perception compared to what I think of her now. This book is very raunchy and deep, and you MUST be acquainted with her writing style before reading this book. It is, though, a splendid, dark book. Weetzie Bat should be the first book that anyone reads of Block's, for it is simple and delightful. Block exhibits her versatality in this book and has a knack for describing reality, as lurid as it is.

The book embodies the struggles of Laurel, who lives in Laurel Canyon with her mother. It is a bitingly emotional piece, yet, it also provokes pangs of relaxtion and understanding of what is and what is not. Laurel learns a lot about love, which is basically the thematic message. The descriptions are lush, accurate and inspiring. A good read for long-time fans.

The novel The Hanged Man by Francesca Lia Block is a tenderly intoxicating book. The Hanged Man evokes passion and yearnings. The main character named Laurel is an emotion girl that has many issues in her life. She is put in many situations with love, friend's family, and health.
The author writes about issues and concerns that teenagers can relate to today. A major problem Laurel has is she is not sure if she is pregnant. Though she isn't sure whether she is pregnant or not she handles situations in a calm manner. Laurel is into tarot cards and witch like things. She says when she looks into peoples eyes she sees images in their life but do not know what these symbols represent. One day she looks into her fathers eyes and sees blades and dark fog. Later she finds out that her dad is dying from cancer and she thinks she caused his disease to appear.
Laurel is experiencing a health called anorexia. Many girls today suffer form eating disorders and health issues. Laurel refuses to eat because the death of her father and she likes being skinny because it makes he feel better about herself. Her doctor says she doesn't eat because she is too stressed out.
Overall this book is a great for teenagers with any issues with relationships, pregnancy, family, and friends. This novel has you at the edge of your seat and is a page turner. Many people can relate to this book because the issues in this book are very common.

The Weetzie Bat books and I Was a Teenage Fairy are much better than this. It seems like FL just got lazy and some of the wording is nearly the same as it is in some of her other books. The book is very thin-I have no idea why she decided to cobble together a novela like this. I cannot recommend Dangerous Angels (Weetzie Bat Books) high enough.

I really enjoyed this book.Once agian francesca writes a poetic prose on topics that are very sensitive. Franseca tells the story of laurel. A girl who lives underneath the famous hollywood sign with her mother, a once beautiful woman that now cleans incessantly to keep the "disease" away. In the meantime laurel is thrown into situations of family, love, sex, and turmoil all to learn the one thing she should have learned from the beginning. To learn that in order to love, you must first learn to love yourself.


Read this book. Block makees you believe the most endearing lesson of all. The power of love.

...as it gives a much needed analysis as to the real reason for suicide terrorism. The Author did a wondrous job collecting data to support his theory.

Just a MAGNIFICENT work.

This book is a must read. An eye opener! A review would not do it. You should read it...

This book was obviously written to fit a preconceived and politically biased notion. Filled with one contradiction after the other, and often in the same sentence. I personally found this book not worth the time it took to read it.

Since the invention of the dynamite, the ruthless and reckless tyrants have been using the human soul for death missions.

It is not the oppression, but the ego of the leader that wastes human lives on death missions.

Since Ferenc Deak 1803-1876, it is clear that independence and freedom depends on ending the internal oppression and exploitation.

The death missions will not lead to victory, as seen in Japan, Gaza, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, only extend the misery there.

Inform, enlighten and resist. Death missions are good business for funeral homes, only.

i wrote one of the highlight reviews for this book when it first came out. it is a statistical study of all suicide terrorism from 1983 to 2003 and pape reaches excellent conclusions. this is not some security geek trying to explain islam... it is the real deal. i have read most books on this subject and nothing else compares.

The Odd Couple. Mutt and Jeff. Fire and Ice. That's what you get when you take a 300-pound protagonist (17-year-old Troy Billings) and a skinny-as-all-get-out guitar hero (Curt MacCrae). For Troy, a funny thing happens on the way to his Chapter One suicide. He meets Curt. And from there, first-time novelist K.L. Going fashions an unusually compelling story of a musical friendship.

Curt is a high-school drop-out based loosely on Kurt Cobain, and he doesn't play by the rules. Troy, on the other love handle, knows ALL the rules -- and they're all stacked against him. The magic comes when Curt not only overlooks Troy's blubber, he demands that "Big T" be his new drummer. As the young rock fans love Curt, they come to accept the previously reviled Troy, too. Only Troy is having trouble with the fact that he's supposed to become Ringo Starr in only a few short weeks. Then there's the reactions of his ex-Marine dad (who is appalled by Curt at first) and his younger "super jock" brother, Dayle. When Troy brings this dirty, smelly rocker home for dinner (he's basically homeless and half-starved), they cannot believe what they're seeing at the table.

This noisy novel speaks volumes for the silent suffering of the overweight. In Curt, Going creates a strong case for compassion and empathy as well. Unfortunately, the target audience (teenagers) is probably going to be restricted to older teens due to Going's heavy use of profanity and as well as the slight use of alcohol and drugs. Don't look for it in a middle school library any time soon, in other words.

Still, it's worth the ride, especially if you like strong secondary characters like Curt who rail against the establishment. Oh. And the Fat Kid's story is a compelling one, too. For a would-be drummer, his memorable debut is hard to beat.

Take one obese suicidal teenage boy and put him with an anorexic looking superstar of a guitar player, and what do you get? Apparently, a band named Rage Tectonic. Troy is considering the best way to kill himself when he is interrupted by Curt, a guitar player who is famous at Troy's high school. Curt decides he wants Troy to be the drummer for what will be the next breakout punk band, Rage Tectonic. There's only one problem: Troy can't play the drums. Undeterred, Curt pushes, cajoles, and manipulates Troy into thinking maybe he can learn. Are Curt's optimism and spunk enough to turn Troy from a fat loser into a punk rock drummer?

Life has never been easy for Troy. His mom is dead, his dad is a repressed ex-Marine, and his younger brother can't keep the contempt out of his voice when he speaks to Troy. What does Curt see in Troy? It turns out Curt has problems of his own. But Curt doesn't need anyone. He's a free bird. The characters are extremely lovable. The narrator is witty, lonely, and filled with pain. We learn who this fat kid is from the guts out.

Let me tell you, boys will love this book. Parents won't. Be very careful who you recommend this to. There is tons of language and sexual innuendo. Troy is a very sexually repressed teenage guy who has never been noticed by girls. He notices them a lot in this book. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone under the age of 16.

This book, an adventure of sorts, in which an overweight high schooler is befriended by a cool, punk rock homeless kid, is filled with great energetic passages, thumping with strong language and believable emotional moments. It is appropriate for anyone who's ever felt a little different (and who among us hasn't?). I really enjoyed Going's writing, especially the dialog which, unlike so many YA books you read, didn't have that precious, I'm too smart to really be a kid voice. It had a great balance of reality, emotion, and strong storytelling. Fat Kid rules!

Going has a talent for stepping into the shoes of her male characters and explaining what's "Going on" in their heads. Her writing is amusing and engaging. However, there's one thing I want to bring up which is really no big deal--okay . . . it's a big deal for me since I have an analytical mind which picks out little things and analyzes them to oblivion: Going could've used a synonym or two for the word "shift". My brain picked up one too many instances of this word within the first half of the book. I know you people must be rolling your eyes right about now but what can I do but report what I see and how it makes me feel. Ultimately, it means nothing, but I want her to be aware that there are some readers who have any eye for this sort of thing. Anyway, great book. I'll recommend it to my friends. This will go on my favorite books list. The one I keep in my head.

Troy knows that everyone is watching him. And laughing at him. Of course they are. At seventeen years old and almost 300 pounds, wearing what appears to be the same pair of tan pants daily, every move he makes is laughable. Will he be able to get out of the car? How many burgers will he eat? Even his effort to breathe is laughable as he huffs and puffs his way along.

He worries that he smells. You don't understand. It's not that he's a pig or anything, he just has a hard time fitting in the shower.

Poised over the subway tracks, Troy contemplates whether he can find a form of suicide that will be so serious, so severe, that no one will laugh. Enter Curt. Semi-homeless teen, school dropout, legend at his high school, and uber amazing guitar player, Curt attaches himself to Troy after saving him from the tracks. He's an itch that can't be scratched, a tick burrowing under the skin. Before Troy realizes it, he's agreed to buy Curt dinner and join his band as a drummer, even though he hasn't played since seventh grade.

Who is he kidding? He can't do this. He sees it in the eyes of his perfect kid brother, Dayle, as well as his military dad, the "disappointed dysfunctional parent."

But with Curt's help, Troy learns to look past himself. He finds support in unexpected places. But it's not until Curt is hospitalized that Troy finally has the guts to really take a risk.

This is a fast-paced book. K. L. Going immerses the reader in the world of punk rock through the eyes of the fat kid who yearns to have people really look at him. She has a great sense of humor that shines with lines of comparison, like when Troy compares himself to Dayle before the big gig. Troy thinks Dayle looks like he's "ready to win the Super Bowl, while I'm ready to heave into one." Ms. Going does an amazing job of getting into the psyche of the fat kid. There is a fair amount of rough language, but even so, this book rocks!

Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger

What would you do if were being bullied at your school? Would you go

and tell you're the problem? Well, Cameron Porter did something worse

in the book Shooter by Walter Dean Myers.

Cameron Porter is seventeen years old who goes to Madison High

School. Cameron is an African American who lives in Harrison County.

In his school he got tired of the problem that went on the school and you

Will find out.

Walter Dean Myers writes the book Shooter as if he were writing a play

With the characters names beside the line he speaks. My opinion is that I

Love the way he writes. I recommend this book who likes shootouts and

then you would actually feel that you were the main character

I got this book on tape from my local library. When I picked it up I hadn't immediately remember I'd heard the review for this. It was realistic yet clichéd. I'm tickled pink they actually used an African American voice actor for the role of the African American boy as well as Leonard. I'm sure Cameron's parent's felt they were doing their duty in trying to bring him up right but they never listened to him or valued his opinion. It's no wonder he'd hook up with Leonard who was equally as starved for attention.

I hadn't realized Myers is indeed African American. I feel he brings integrity to his portrayal of African American's in a way that I haven't experienced before. Not all African American's are illiterate, rap lovers with no ambition. It's possible to have too much ambition & no intuition.

I couldn't shake the feeling that I was listening to about a half a dozen composites of high school shootings. Been there, done that. It's still a good read/listen on my way to work. The last CD where we read or hear Leonard's diary thoughts is really amusing in a sick kind of way.

"Shooter" is the story of a school shooting told from the perspective of the two friends of the perpetrator, in interview format after the tragedy has occurred. Cameron Gray is the shooter's friend, and Carla is their mutual friend. Both teens have problems in the form of indifferent or abusive parents, bullying by peers, and in the girl's case, sexual abuse.
However, neither is as troubled as Leonard, who plots to blow up the school and eventually makes an attempt.

The book's strength comes from the fact that both Carla and Cameron are entirely believable teens. They don't speak in pop culture soundbites, they aren't endlessly snarky, and they don't have insight into their situation more appropriate for an adult of the author's age. I appreciated the fact that none of the young characters sounded as if they were on a primetime teen TV drama. The reader is given enough clues to piece together what happened and figure out why, without it being overly obvious or "message-y".

So why the semi-low rating? When it comes to the shooter, Leonard, himself, the author makes it impossible to figure out what is making this guy tick. Is he mentally ill? His diary entry has the language usage of someone suffering from perhaps either schizophrenia or manic depression. At times, I found it nearly unreadable, though that could have also been the font. While I felt sorry for the teen, I was unable to glean any insight into his behavior. While this is an interesting direction to take with a character, it removes a lot of responsibility for his actions, and makes the issue of bullying, bad parenting, etc., secondary. At least if you believe these conditions are caused by nature, not nuture.

"Give A Boy a Gun" by Todd Strasser uses a similiar format as "Shooter," only expanded to include interviews with the shooter's classmates and teachers. I think that might have helped provide more insight into the Leonard character.

It's a great book with suspense in every page! However it is not for kids.

This book was an exceptional book. Although it was very disturbing it had lots of good writing in it. It seemed to be based on Columbine with many of the themes the same. The way the book was set up was interesting, through many interviews with the people involved with the incident. It is about a boy named Len, who has numerous mental problems. He abuses prescription drugs, is bullied at school hates, and his parents. He has been arrested and suspended from school. His only friends are Cameron and Carla. Carla is his ex girlfriend and she hates him too after he reveals some information about her to the whole school. Cameron stays with him until the end but there he stops. Overall I highly recommend this book to people but probably ages 12 and over.
Jeremiah

I can honestly begin by saying I enjoyed this story very much. I read the last twenty pages in the car on my way to visit my mother and step-father in the hospital six hours away after experiencing a motorcycle accident a few days beforehand. My mother I knew would be fine but my doubts about the outcome of my stepfather were weighing on me. He was paralyzed from the waste down permanently and broke several vertebrae in his neck, upper, and lower back. He was on life support. He was non-responsive.
This book ventures over and over the question we all at some point ask God, society, ourselves: Why do bad things happen to good people?
Life is always difficult but with time you learn to deal with it better.
My only complaint (which really has no basis really as the point of view was in fact written from a teenage boy's perspective) was that it was written so elementary. But in retrospect it held a youthful poetic rhythm unlike any other book I've read.

It takes a lot of courage to write a book like this. Most people can not write so openly and honestly about their feelings, especially when they know they've done something to grievously hurt their family. But Brent Runyon can, and does.

As an eight grader, Brent set fire to himself in a suicide attempt. He suffered sever burns over 85% of his body, but, obviously, did not die. Brent's story takes us from the events immediately preceding his attempt and through the many months of his recovery.

Much of the narrative is taken up with the details and routines that anyone suffering such severe burns must endure, no matter how they occurred. But in Brent's case there is the ever-present knowledge that he brought this on himself.

Although I wish we could have learned more about why Brent attempted suicide in the first place, he says very plainly (through recounted sessions with assorted psychologists) that he doesn't really know why he did it, can't remember what could have made him so sad and desperate, and certainly isn't going to do anything like it again. A cautionary tale indeed for any teens thinking of committing suicide.

Great book and great story. Warning, this book is NOT PG-rated. Brent tells his story in a very compelling manner. Had to do some on-line research to find out more about him!

As a teacher, this book was rough to try and get through. The issues are heavy and gritty, but guys truly love this book. Girls that like the book - A Child Called It - really get into it as well. I would not recommend this book for students under grade nine because of some of the content unless the student is more mature than most.

Taylor Moody:
In the autobiography "The Burn Journals" Brent Runyon describes his traumatizing suicide attempt and his difficult recovery over the next year. Brent shows us his experience at a Burn Unit in a children's hospital where he underwent burn care and skin grafts. After his stay at the Burn Unit and a few psychologist meetings he then went to a rehabilitation hospital for intensive physical and psychological therapy. And then he finally arrived home and began high school.
In the beginning of the story Brent comes home one day after school with the thought of suicide on his mind. He was in trouble at school, his best friend was going out with the girl he liked, and he felt unwanted, unloved, and alone. He put on his black bathrobe stepped into his shower and poured gasoline on himself then he lit the match that would turn his life upside down. While engulfed in flames he made the decision to stop himself. He turned on the shower and the fire went out. He was rescued from his house and taken to the Burn Unit at Children's Hospital. At the hospital he discovers that he has burns over 85% of his body and undergoes intensive treatment. He makes friends with the nurses that take care of him and it makes his stay more enjoyable. Brent's burn scars have to be stretched or else he will lose almost all of his range of motion in his arms and legs.
After about 6 months at Children's Hospital he then moves to a rehabilitation center called DuPont. Here Brent goes through intensive physical and psychological therapy. Brent figures out after a few meetings with psychologists that he doesn't know why he tried to kill himself. He feels that none of the reasons he thought he was doing it for meant any sense anymore. Also at DuPont Brent took some school courses to try and get caught up with his peers who he would meet up with in high school. After DuPont Brent went to another rehabilitation facility where he stayed with other teens that had problems of their own. Here Brent and his family talked about the event and how it affected the family. Brent was then released from here after a short period of time and could now stay full time at home.
At home Brent caught up with some of his friends from eighth grade who were now in high school. He realized how much he'd missed and that he was going to have to struggle to find his way in high school. After a few weeks a t home Brent's psychologist decided he was ready to go back into the mainstream of life. Brent got on a bus, put his head on the window and rode the bus to this seemingly alien world which he knew nothing about anymore. Brent steps of the bus and starts a new beginning.
I thought the author did an excellent job of bringing the reader right into his head. I could relate to the character and his humor. The Burn Journals showed me how fragile life is and the psychological affects suicide has. I thought this book was a masterpiece and I would absolutely recommend this book to all of my friends and even some of my older family members.

Writing in the first person, Etsuko, now living in England, tells the story of her life in post war Japan. Ogata, her father-in-law, mourns the passing of the old ways, specifically the chauvenistic educational system and the subservient role of women. His son, Jiro, does not enjoy family life and willingly gives his being to his company. Jiro is not ready to embrace a new role for women and Etsuko, fulfilling her role as Jiro's dutiful wife, sees and accepts this.

Etsuko's new friend, Sachiko, who could flee to the ease and safety of her aristocratic in-laws, washes floors, serves noodles and risks everything to flee the stultifying old ways.

There is symmetry in the lives of Etsuko and Sachiko. While it's interesting to speculate on whether one is a metaphor for the other, I fastened on the theme of change.


The writing is spare, every word works. This is very well crafted prose.

I've read Remains of the Day before this, and I thought that book a masterpiece. This novel, however, is troublesome and vastly overrated. First of all, it's quite boring, the characters not very well-defined. Of course, some people might say this is purposeful--that the narrative is supposed to be unreliable. Well, yeah, that's true, but just because the narrative is unreliable doesn't mean it should be boring. Remains of the Day was vastly entertaining--witness the butler's visit to the English countryside where he is mistaken for a lord!--but this novel just plods along. Ishiguro never visited Japan before writing this novel, and it shows. Despite being ethnically Japanese, he writes Japanese characters as flat and nebulously defined.

Finally, the big revelation in the end that Etsuko and Sachiko might be the same person. Well, I didn't buy it simply because there are two parallel stories going on--Etsuko's home life with her husband and her father-in-law, and her friendship with Sachiko, who was husbandless and living in a shack. If Ishiguro's INTENTION was to show that they're the same person, it sure is a hamfisted way of doing it. My interpretation is Sachiko was disappointed with Frank, and Etsuko adopted Machiko at some time in the story. Whoopie do da!--the novel's still boring.

So I thought I had a few pages missing from my book, or something; that's how unfinished the story was/is to me. Didn't get it, not even remotely. We are introduced to a bunch of characters, none particularly random, yet all still disconnected from one another. Readable enough, but to what end? And I thought 'Artist' felt hollow; this book is the defination of boring. And anti-climatic to boot. I am rather confused; isn't this the same Ishiguro who gave us 'The Remains of the Day'?

Under the surface of apparently harmless conversations, the author uncovers Japan's `very strict and very patriotic' old world of `discipline, loyalty, such things held Japan together once. People were bound by a sense of duty. Towards one's family, towards superiors, towards the country.'

But, in fact, it was a rigid, cold world without pity (symbolized by the merciless drowning of the kittens), where `children were taught terrible things. They were taught lies of the most damaging kind. Worst of all, they were taught not to see, not to question'. It was a world without democracy, where women could not study.

It all ended in disaster: `And that's why the country was plunged into the most evil disaster in her entire history.' A general disaster of war ('Towards the end we were all living in tunnels and derelict buildings and there was nothing but rubble') and atom bombs (`I know it was a terrible thing that happened here in Nagasaki'), and painful personal and familial disasters (suicides, even of a child).

In his brilliant indirect, but nevertheless highly emotional, suggestive style Kazuo Ishiguro wrote a masterpiece.

Highly Recommended.

Kazuo Ishiguro illuminates a microcosm of Hiroshima from the atomic shadows of the post-WWII era, as he delves into the interpersonal relationships of a Japanese mother and her two daughters. Despite their move across the world to England, those shadows will always haunt as patriotism and loyalty clashes with the younger generation's psyche to move on, and how the equilibrium of life could be disturbed and turn people into shadows, memories into ghosts, the past into an obscure pale, yet powerful, view of Hills.

Minette Walters is known for the taut psychological thrillers that she pens, and this book is certainly that, but it is so much more. It reveals frightening family secrets that keep coming and never seem to end until the end of the book. It depicts a disfuncitonal family that is anyone's worst nightmare, and the whole is not truly revealed until the very last page. This plot is so twisted that I had to take a breath after I finished the book. And Ms. Walters is an accomplished writer. Her characters are so very real, the suspense so gripping and the secerts that she reveals so horrendous that I couldn't put it down. Mathilda Gillespie is a wonderful creation. Even though she is the murder victim, we find out more and more about her past life and present depravaties as we read the book. These are highlighted in the "before Chapter" excerpts from Mathilda's diaries. But Ms. Walters only reveals so much at a time. We have to wait until the very end to determine who and what occurences made Mathilda what she was when she was murdered. I can't believe that I've waited this long to get into Ms. Walters' books. I can't wait to read the rest of them.

The only thing that could possibly rival this book for the number of psychiactric problems per page would be a copy of the DSM-IV manual.

Walters clearly has a formidable intellect and develops characters that are complex studies in human behavior. The individuals in these pages are not shallow charicatures, nor are they what first meets the eye. No, the problem isn't Walters' ability to develop characters. It's her choice of characters to develop.

The real problem in this book is that Walters has given us almost nobody likeable. Some we come to pity, but none that we truly come to like. And when at long last we learn the identity of the killer, it feels less like a finale than a let down. The book, as one other reviewer has noted, is over-plotted. It comes across as too clever for its own good.

Here's a quick cast of characters. See if you can find anyone huggable in the lot:

* Dr. Sarah Blakeney: Sensible, attractive, and slightly overachieving physician, liked by most everyone in town. Slavish devotion to husband - a world-class skirt-chaser and free-loader. Would be a poster child for one of Dr. Laura Schlesinger's books on smart women who stay enmeshed in stupid relationships.

* Jack Blakeney: Sarah's husband. If he had his own line of clothing, it would be a black t-shirt that read "it's all about me." Spoiled, artistic snob who can't sell his paintings because "the world doesn't appreciate his genius," and believes monogomy would be a betrayal of his "inner hedonist."

* Tommy Cooper: local police detective. Nice enough fellow, and unexpectedly bright underneath a plain brown wrapper. But counsels a confused teenager to get an abortion which is somehow supposed to endear him to us for his remarkable sensitivity, insight, and modern sensibilities. Yeah, right.

* Mathilda Gillespie: Wealthy b**tch. Not much more to say here. Universally disliked by the entire town, her daughter, and her grand-daughter.

* Joanna Lascelles: Mathilda's daughter. Heroin addict and hooker. Abysmal mother. Physically gorgeous. Psychologically hideous.

* Ruth Lascelles: Joanna's daughter. Nervous, disrespectful, 17-year old going on 30. Spoiled materially - starved emotionally.

* Gerald Cavendish: Mathilda's uncle. Sexual predator. Village idiot.

* James Gillespie: drunk. Closet homosexual. Mathilda's estranged husband.

* David Hughes: Ruth's "boyfriend." Gang leader. Theif. Rapist. Pathological liar.

Shall I continue? I trust I've made my point. Now, imagine 300+ pages filled with the antics of this crowd when Mathilda dies and bequeaths her entire estate to Dr. Blakeney rather than her own offspring.

Walters takes what could have been an interesting mystery and wraps it with so many layers of truly unlikable characters that the real mystery here is how the book succeeds at all. It does quasi-succeed, but primarily in spite of this, not because of it.

Perhaps her other books are better - this is my first - but I just can't award this one too many stars. She is clearly capable of very good, highly intelligent writing. But the subject matter chosen here is about as depressing as it gets and the plot is full of too many "do you think he knows that we know he thinks we know" type convolutions.

When elderly Mathilda Gillespie is found dead in her bathtub in a ghastly parody of Ophelia, a scold's bridle on her head ("a primitive instrument of repression" used to "curb the tongues of nagging women in the Middle Ages"), her demise is first ascribed a suicide but later amended to murder by an enterprising policeman, Detective Sergeant Cooper of the Dorset Police. Leaving behind an avaricious daughter, Joanne Lascelles and granddaughter, Ruth, who have every expectation of assuming Mathilda's family inheritance, it is a great shock when the woman's latest will bequeaths the entire estate to GP Sarah Blakeney- "the only person... who came to her without prejudice and took her as she was"- who has only treated the deceased for chronic arthritis for the past year. Suddenly the truly unsavory Lascelles women are dependent on Sarah's goodwill to receive any remuneration, the town reeling with gossip about the physician, patients assuming Sarah is complicit in the old woman's death.

Besides dealing with her damaged reputation and the unreasonable demands of Mathilda's daughter and granddaughter, Sarah must also confront a whimsical, philandering husband, Jack, an artist who paints "personalities" instead of portraits and is a sly observer of human nature. Their relationship complicated by Jack's self-important genius and Sarah's inherent lack of confidence as a wife, Jack's familiarity with the deceased increases the subtleties of a plot rife with deception and cynicism. Deftly constructing some truly unlikable characters, Walters nevertheless provides a compelling story, part of the fascination the depravity of some of the major players. The image on the scold's bridle dominates the novel: the ramifications of the device and its symbolism in modern times (keep her quiet at all costs). Even worse is the abuse endured by the vulnerable, Jack outraged by the brutality of his gender and Sarah's groping for a resolution to a frightening moral dilemma.

Salted with homilies, much of the pleasure of this book is discovering Walter's appreciation of the foibles that bedevil her characters. An avid fan of the vagaries of human nature, Walters writing, for all that it is in the mystery genre, is blissfully sophisticated, while at the same time pragmatic and to the point. A gifted storyteller, this author cannot fail to entertain, a fountain of wry observation on man's inhumanity to man and occasional bursts of altruism. No matter the topic- in this case child abuse, incest and the pain wrought of family dysfunction- the author plunges beneath the surface of our expectations, revealing the complexities of her tormented characters and the generosity and confusion of unlikely protagonists. Like vintage wine, such novels are meant to be savored, filled with astonishing events and profound insights. Within two titles, The Ice House and The Scold's Bridle, Walters has found a willing addict, her fascinating characterizations and diabolical plots absolutely compelling. Luan Gaines/2007.

Intelligent and provocative story which offers insights into people's motives and behaviour. The cast of characters is interesting, and the writing (including changes in voice) was quite good. This mystery kept me turning the pages well into the night!

The Scold's bridle was winner of the CWA crime novel of the year, and after reading it, there is no doubt in my mind that it is worthy of its accolades. An old, crotchety shrew is found dead in the bathtub. Her wrists horribly slit, pills in her bloodstream, and an antique scold' bridle clasped firmly on her head. A medieval device used to silence nagging women in days of your...All signs point to suicide but for the contraption clamped onto her face, and the protagonist Sarah, her doctor, who said the old woman was emotionally stable. The reader is treated to many twists and turns as the police investigate the small town - only to find out that seemingly everyone had some motive to kill her, as she was entirely dislikeable. Enter the estranged and highly disgruntled family all looking for a share of the considerable family fortune, and you have a sure-fire method of staying up all night waiting for answers.

Read this book for hours of unbridled suspense, but don't do it on a night when you have to get up early, as you won't be going to sleep.

Relic113