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The Taming
Katie likes to believe she's invisible. It seems much safer than being exposed as she is--shy, poor, awkward. So getting up on stage in the school production of The Taming of the Shrew should be complete torture. But as Katie tells it, something totally unexpected happened when she stepped on stage: "My head exploded. I loved it. Acting hit me like a sucker punch and I loved, loved, loved it! . . . Invisible Katie became visible Katharina."
Evan Cooper is, as they say, another story. He knows just what it takes to get noticed, and he uses every one of the skills he's honed after years of being the new kid. Like tossing the keys to his father's high-end Audi to a kid he's never met, first day of school. "I have insurance for car theft," he explains to a shocked Danny. "And there's a full tank." An abuse of the power that comes with privilege and money? Sure.
But more dangerously, is his romance with Katie another version of the same thing? Or is it the real thing?
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Evan Cooper is, as they say, another story. He knows just what it takes to get noticed, and he uses every one of the skills he's honed after years of being the new kid. Like tossing the keys to his father's high-end Audi to a kid he's never met, first day of school. "I have insurance for car theft," he explains to a shocked Danny. "And there's a full tank." An abuse of the power that comes with privilege and money? Sure.
But more dangerously, is his romance with Katie another version of the same thing? Or is it the real thing?
From the Trade Paperback edition.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2012
8 people are currently reading
482 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Toten
13 books211 followersMy earliest and most fervent ambition was to grow up and take my rightful place among the other mermaids. When cruel and insensitive adults crushed that dream by insisting that mermaids did not exist, I settled on the more mature aspiration of becoming an intergalactic astronaut. Then I realized that math would likely be involved. So, in the end, I went to Trinity College at the University of Toronto where I got a BA and then an MA in Political Economy taking great care not to take a single English or Creative Writing class. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was never ever going to be a writer. That would be silly, fanciful and well, unrealistic. And then I started to write...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 17, 2011
*Gratuitous sigh* Young love. It's great isn't it? The first time you see him across the hall...the first time you notice the hair flopping on his forehead...the silly way he makes you feel when he smiles at you...or how you tried, in vain, to calm your heart the first time he talked to you. Sigh. Oh to be young again.
Juxtaposing The Taming of the Shrew, I had images of Heath Ledger in all his badass glory serenading a very shrewd Julia Stiles in the stands. If you're not familiar with the movie, 10 Things I Hate About You is one of those must-see> movies that you can't afford to miss. It's romantic, funny, and hearfelt. I was sure this book would be fun. And it was...until I was hit by a streaking wrecking ball I never saw coming.
Katie and Evan's romance started off ideally enough. You have Katie, who works hard at blending into the walls of her high school and Evan, who draws attention anywhere he goes. There isn't anything spectacular about their first meeting - no fireworks (at least not on Evan's side) and the earth hardly moved. Somehow, perfect Evan was able to see the beauty in simple Kate and have developed a fierce attraction, much to Kate's surprise. Who wouldn't want the attention of this handsome new comer? He's gentlemanly, rich and not at all drawn to the usual popular crowd. He's perfect. And Kate would do just about anything to keep him.
I want you to read this. This book, pardon the language, fucked with my head. I was deceived. It started off funny and quirky with dialogues that brought out quite a few chuckles from me. I was duped and left to feel comfortable - too comfortable that I did not see that huge ass wrecking ball heading my way. If you'd ever had to do a complete, dissection of The Taming of the Shrew, then perhaps you'd realize that Shakespeare's comedy, is not all that funny. Let me put it this way, I've never seen it in this light. I'm dumbfounded. It was like finding out for the first time that Tiger Woods is a manwhore. Tiger Woods - whom I held in such a high regard for as long as I can remember. My opinion of him then, was that he was the most perfect athlete. Private, honest, family man. And then, bam! Elin Nordegren was chasing him with a golf club. Anyway, I'm rambling and probably not even making a whole lot of sense. My point is, not everything is what it seems.
The writing tag team of Toten and Walters did a phenomenal job of giving our main characters their genuine voices and personalities. This book is dark and what blew my mind was the lack of epiphany about the direction in which the authors were taking me at the time. They set me up. I credit the writers for this element of...surprise. If you guys read my status updates on Goodreads, you'd see how I was taken for a ride. My slow realization that, holy crap. I can't believe this shit is about to go down! This book is amazing! The ending left me feeling conflicted. I was happy and sad at the same time. Happy for Katie and sad for Evan. I wish that I could take Evan and put him in another book - change his one and only major flaw. This guy was perfect. I believe I even swooned many a times until I got to the part where...anyway. I can't say. I was sad for him. And knowing what I know about him, this probably doesn't paint a good picture of me. But I really can't help it. He was just...sad. I liked that once Katie realized what was going on, she didn't become one of those characters. I wish I could elaborate more but the beauty of this book was from the unexpectedness of what happened. It's making me feel guilty that I thoroughly enjoyed this book when the subject matters were awfully serious.
BITS & PIECES - The Goods.
Danny's inability to say Petruchio's name correctly. Variations include: PISTACHIO, PINOCCHIO.
Travis' undecipherable sexuality. Even he's confused himself. Picture a Jared Leto, complete with guyliner and goth wardrobe.
Josh's feeble capacity to understand the Shakespearean language. He's a terrible actor but an awesome athlete.
"It would help if I had a clue about what the hell they're talking about. Like, later, on the page they're talking about cocks. Can we do that?" - Josh
"Chickens," I wisphered so no one else would hear. "It's a rooster reference." - Katie
EVAN: "My father once said to me that the best thing in the world is a beautiful woman. But the worst thing in the world is a beautiful woman who knows she's beautiful."
Intelligent dialogues and witty banters.
Big thanks to Net Galley and Double Day Canada!
Juxtaposing The Taming of the Shrew, I had images of Heath Ledger in all his badass glory serenading a very shrewd Julia Stiles in the stands. If you're not familiar with the movie, 10 Things I Hate About You is one of those must-see> movies that you can't afford to miss. It's romantic, funny, and hearfelt. I was sure this book would be fun. And it was...until I was hit by a streaking wrecking ball I never saw coming.
Katie and Evan's romance started off ideally enough. You have Katie, who works hard at blending into the walls of her high school and Evan, who draws attention anywhere he goes. There isn't anything spectacular about their first meeting - no fireworks (at least not on Evan's side) and the earth hardly moved. Somehow, perfect Evan was able to see the beauty in simple Kate and have developed a fierce attraction, much to Kate's surprise. Who wouldn't want the attention of this handsome new comer? He's gentlemanly, rich and not at all drawn to the usual popular crowd. He's perfect. And Kate would do just about anything to keep him.
I want you to read this. This book, pardon the language, fucked with my head. I was deceived. It started off funny and quirky with dialogues that brought out quite a few chuckles from me. I was duped and left to feel comfortable - too comfortable that I did not see that huge ass wrecking ball heading my way. If you'd ever had to do a complete, dissection of The Taming of the Shrew, then perhaps you'd realize that Shakespeare's comedy, is not all that funny. Let me put it this way, I've never seen it in this light. I'm dumbfounded. It was like finding out for the first time that Tiger Woods is a manwhore. Tiger Woods - whom I held in such a high regard for as long as I can remember. My opinion of him then, was that he was the most perfect athlete. Private, honest, family man. And then, bam! Elin Nordegren was chasing him with a golf club. Anyway, I'm rambling and probably not even making a whole lot of sense. My point is, not everything is what it seems.
The writing tag team of Toten and Walters did a phenomenal job of giving our main characters their genuine voices and personalities. This book is dark and what blew my mind was the lack of epiphany about the direction in which the authors were taking me at the time. They set me up. I credit the writers for this element of...surprise. If you guys read my status updates on Goodreads, you'd see how I was taken for a ride. My slow realization that, holy crap. I can't believe this shit is about to go down! This book is amazing! The ending left me feeling conflicted. I was happy and sad at the same time. Happy for Katie and sad for Evan. I wish that I could take Evan and put him in another book - change his one and only major flaw. This guy was perfect. I believe I even swooned many a times until I got to the part where...anyway. I can't say. I was sad for him. And knowing what I know about him, this probably doesn't paint a good picture of me. But I really can't help it. He was just...sad. I liked that once Katie realized what was going on, she didn't become one of those characters. I wish I could elaborate more but the beauty of this book was from the unexpectedness of what happened. It's making me feel guilty that I thoroughly enjoyed this book when the subject matters were awfully serious.
BITS & PIECES - The Goods.
Danny's inability to say Petruchio's name correctly. Variations include: PISTACHIO, PINOCCHIO.
Travis' undecipherable sexuality. Even he's confused himself. Picture a Jared Leto, complete with guyliner and goth wardrobe.
Josh's feeble capacity to understand the Shakespearean language. He's a terrible actor but an awesome athlete.
"It would help if I had a clue about what the hell they're talking about. Like, later, on the page they're talking about cocks. Can we do that?" - Josh
"Chickens," I wisphered so no one else would hear. "It's a rooster reference." - Katie
EVAN: "My father once said to me that the best thing in the world is a beautiful woman. But the worst thing in the world is a beautiful woman who knows she's beautiful."
Intelligent dialogues and witty banters.
Big thanks to Net Galley and Double Day Canada!
July 13, 2018
Absolutely horrible. The characters were the worst, Evan was a total jerk and Katie is just so dumb. The dialogues were bad, just like the writing and the whole book made me cringe. I was furious throughout the whole book and it was a pain to continue reading it.
If you wanna read a good, heartbreaking story about abuse, go read It Ends With Us. It deals with it in a much better way.
If you wanna read a good, heartbreaking story about abuse, go read It Ends With Us. It deals with it in a much better way.
May 1, 2012
I hated this book. I had to force myself to finish it. Evan is a jackass. Katie is a dumbass. The whole time those phrases kept popping up in my head. I loved Lisa but unfortunately her role in this story was limited. I really felt like this book was trying to excuse why Evan was such a heartless piece of shit. He also flip flopped way too much. He must have bipolar disorder to a degree I have never seen before. The ending is so unrealistic to what Katie's character had portrayed herself to be. I just felt that this plot had a lot of holes in it and opposites trying to tell a story together
February 3, 2012
I wasn't totally sold on the sound of The Taming going in, but it was highly recommended by a good source so I thought it might be one of those guilty pleasure reads. Maybe it is for some, but not for me.
Teresa and Eric used the frame work of The Taming of the Shrew to tell an alternate story of "taming" by abuse. Unlike the Bards original there is no humor in this telling, instead they dive into the dark waters of verbal, sexual and physical abuse from both Katie and Evans alternating view points. They very carefully craft the slow entrapment of an abusive relationship, showing the slippery slide from one uncomfortable moment to the point of being constantly on guard. I especially liked how they illustrated the cycle, how Katie and Evan's past experiences came to bear on their own messed up relationship, and how hard it was for either of them to fight against those experiences.
That being said, I didn't like either Katie or Evan. Katie went from quiet and cautious to vapid and flip in a way I didn't understand. Although she's supposedly high on her relationship with Evan and the attention he lavishes on her, many of her comments and actions just seem ridiculous to me. Especially when she gets all doe eyed around Evan and makes comments like,
"Evan ordered for me and then showed me how to layer and properly fold a sizzling fajita. I felt so sophisticated...And it wasn't just about fajitas. Evan seemed to know everything about everything"
Honestly? Fajitas are sophisticated?
Evan is made somewhat unlikeable from the beginning, which didn't seem fair to me. As a victim of abuse himself, I felt like The Taming would have been more interesting if it showed his struggle more clearly too. Its touched upon off and on, but for the most part he's painted the villain, until the end when suddenly I'm supposed to have sympathy for him. But by that point I was just so sick of both of them I didn't care what happened, as long as I didn't have to be subjected to it anymore.
An interesting subject matter, told in a grating way I didn't enjoy at all, The Taming missed the mark for me.
Teresa and Eric used the frame work of The Taming of the Shrew to tell an alternate story of "taming" by abuse. Unlike the Bards original there is no humor in this telling, instead they dive into the dark waters of verbal, sexual and physical abuse from both Katie and Evans alternating view points. They very carefully craft the slow entrapment of an abusive relationship, showing the slippery slide from one uncomfortable moment to the point of being constantly on guard. I especially liked how they illustrated the cycle, how Katie and Evan's past experiences came to bear on their own messed up relationship, and how hard it was for either of them to fight against those experiences.
That being said, I didn't like either Katie or Evan. Katie went from quiet and cautious to vapid and flip in a way I didn't understand. Although she's supposedly high on her relationship with Evan and the attention he lavishes on her, many of her comments and actions just seem ridiculous to me. Especially when she gets all doe eyed around Evan and makes comments like,
"Evan ordered for me and then showed me how to layer and properly fold a sizzling fajita. I felt so sophisticated...And it wasn't just about fajitas. Evan seemed to know everything about everything"
Honestly? Fajitas are sophisticated?
Evan is made somewhat unlikeable from the beginning, which didn't seem fair to me. As a victim of abuse himself, I felt like The Taming would have been more interesting if it showed his struggle more clearly too. Its touched upon off and on, but for the most part he's painted the villain, until the end when suddenly I'm supposed to have sympathy for him. But by that point I was just so sick of both of them I didn't care what happened, as long as I didn't have to be subjected to it anymore.
An interesting subject matter, told in a grating way I didn't enjoy at all, The Taming missed the mark for me.
January 6, 2012
This book was great on so many levels. There was humour, innocence, deceit, betrayal, strength… Everything that a good book should have! I was totally cracking up throughout this book. Everything about it was just so cute! I was giggling at so many different points, and howling at other parts. For example, when they were talking about roosters and chickens in perspective to the play, The Taming Of The Shrew. As most of you know, my favorite point of view is first person point of view, especially when it jumps back and forth between chapters from one character to the next. The Taming was exactly that. The characters that were created were so believable and so loveable in their own ways.
I loved how Toten and Walters would subtly insert fragments of the secrets that Katie and Evan have. It was done in such a perfect way that it held my attention straight through to the end. They give just enough that I needed to continue reading in order to find our whatever secrets our main characters are hiding deep within.
There were various parts that I found myself smirking and smiling at the early interaction between Katie and Evan, whether it’s words that are being exchanged, or their own thoughts. Thinking back now, I can’t get over how much I chuckled at the dialogue in this book! Almost everything that came out Katie’s mouth, or thought, made me laugh. I mean, the date at the movies…I was literally laughing out loud! I could envision everything that was happening. It was almost like I was talking to my friends, the way the authors write. It was so enjoyable!
It kind of reminded me a little of the old short lived t.v. series (and yes, I’m totally dating myself right about now), My So-Called Life when Claire Dane’s character, Angela Chase and Jared Leto’s character, Jordan Catalano finally got together, and the narrative Katie has in her head as well as some of her mannerisms totally reminded me of Angela Chase. Maybe it’s just me who sees it…I totally miss that show!
And then, the happy times are replaced when a twist of all twists happens, and it completely came out of nowhere! I was seriously not expecting it. My jaw dropped, and I had to re-read a little further back to see if I missed anything, because seriously…I didn’t see it coming! My heart ached for poor Katie with everything she had to go through. I knew that there were deep, dark secrets, but I did not expect what happens. What was a coming of age teen t.v series seriously changed into something reminescent of the movie Fear with Mark Wahlberg...kinda sorta. I love, love, love the writing style in The Taming. Everything flowed so perfectly that the pages just flew right by.
Fantastic character development, and an unforeseen plot twist combined with an addictive storyline, this story made me want…no, NEED to keep on reading. I needed to know what was going to happen next, and how the characters would overcome.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mind warp, and wants to read a book that will leave an impact on you.
I loved how Toten and Walters would subtly insert fragments of the secrets that Katie and Evan have. It was done in such a perfect way that it held my attention straight through to the end. They give just enough that I needed to continue reading in order to find our whatever secrets our main characters are hiding deep within.
There were various parts that I found myself smirking and smiling at the early interaction between Katie and Evan, whether it’s words that are being exchanged, or their own thoughts. Thinking back now, I can’t get over how much I chuckled at the dialogue in this book! Almost everything that came out Katie’s mouth, or thought, made me laugh. I mean, the date at the movies…I was literally laughing out loud! I could envision everything that was happening. It was almost like I was talking to my friends, the way the authors write. It was so enjoyable!
It kind of reminded me a little of the old short lived t.v. series (and yes, I’m totally dating myself right about now), My So-Called Life when Claire Dane’s character, Angela Chase and Jared Leto’s character, Jordan Catalano finally got together, and the narrative Katie has in her head as well as some of her mannerisms totally reminded me of Angela Chase. Maybe it’s just me who sees it…I totally miss that show!
And then, the happy times are replaced when a twist of all twists happens, and it completely came out of nowhere! I was seriously not expecting it. My jaw dropped, and I had to re-read a little further back to see if I missed anything, because seriously…I didn’t see it coming! My heart ached for poor Katie with everything she had to go through. I knew that there were deep, dark secrets, but I did not expect what happens. What was a coming of age teen t.v series seriously changed into something reminescent of the movie Fear with Mark Wahlberg...kinda sorta. I love, love, love the writing style in The Taming. Everything flowed so perfectly that the pages just flew right by.
Fantastic character development, and an unforeseen plot twist combined with an addictive storyline, this story made me want…no, NEED to keep on reading. I needed to know what was going to happen next, and how the characters would overcome.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mind warp, and wants to read a book that will leave an impact on you.
May 4, 2015
This book wasn't what I thought it was going to be after reading the description from Goodreads. I was expecting a lighter story; a typical "rich boy goes after shy girl" type of story. Maybe I just didn't read the summary too carefully but the description on the back of the book was more accurate to what the story actually is.
The themes in the were darker as it deals with various forms of abuse but it was done in a way that is completely realistic and believeable.
The parallels to The Taming of the Shrew in the modern world really add to the story. Maybe because I am a Shakespeare-nut and am familar with the story that I can see what the authors were doing and appreciate it. Those who may not be too familar with the story may not get it right away but the major plot ideas from The Taming of the Shrew are explained in the book so you won't be completely lost.
I also liked the fact that the story was told in part by Evan. While I feel that Shakespeare's play focuses on the abuse of women, Evan's presence in the book shows the affect abuse can have on males and children living in abusive homes.
My only complaint about the book was the way it ended. I would have liked an epilogue or some sort of wrap-up because I really want to know how these characters grow from this.
In short, if you enjoy books that aren't filled with the typical "high school soap opera drama" and are comfortable reading about abuse in family and romantic relationships then this book is worth a read.
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
The themes in the were darker as it deals with various forms of abuse but it was done in a way that is completely realistic and believeable.
The parallels to The Taming of the Shrew in the modern world really add to the story. Maybe because I am a Shakespeare-nut and am familar with the story that I can see what the authors were doing and appreciate it. Those who may not be too familar with the story may not get it right away but the major plot ideas from The Taming of the Shrew are explained in the book so you won't be completely lost.
I also liked the fact that the story was told in part by Evan. While I feel that Shakespeare's play focuses on the abuse of women, Evan's presence in the book shows the affect abuse can have on males and children living in abusive homes.
My only complaint about the book was the way it ended. I would have liked an epilogue or some sort of wrap-up because I really want to know how these characters grow from this.
In short, if you enjoy books that aren't filled with the typical "high school soap opera drama" and are comfortable reading about abuse in family and romantic relationships then this book is worth a read.
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
February 24, 2014
I think, that this book could have been better. I found that there wasn't enough background on Evan, not as much as it could have. It was pretty good, the way it was written didn't make me want to throw it against a wall due to Katies "love" for Evan. It felt unreal because they fell in love too quickly in my opinion. And I would have thought she'd be more cautious because of how her mother relationships were like. I also think that the there could have been more interaction between Lisa and Katie. Make their friendship tighter. Also those parts with Evan. As I read further into the book, it became vaguer and vaguer to what his secret was. It should have been more revealing in my opinon. In the end, it was basically told to the reader, nothing really building up to that except for the fact that he abused her and hurt her. I think that Evan's character could have had a little more Oumph into it, he seemed really really... hollow. Not enough personality. All in all, it was okay.
February 20, 2012
You can read my review here: http://reederreads.com/2012/01/24/rev...
April 5, 2012
mixed feelings about this book, the characters were screwed up and the plot wasnt that interesting. BUT, i did manage to finish the book, so thats a point in its favour.
2.5
2.5
May 26, 2013
The Taming. I don't why I said the name of the book first but I feel that it gives my review a formal feel to it. To start off I just want to say I went through SO much with this book. Well not a maraculous amount of things, but lordhavemercy is was unnecessary. This is the mini story before the review. Basically I was reading this book like a year ealier and I was on the 6th chapter. But that was back in the day when I used to only read books at the bookstore and never buy them. Then for some unknown reason I stopped reading it, and decided to buy the ebook like two weeks later. But then I forgot the name of the book, and I tried to ask my friend what the name was because she read the book , and guess what? What. She didnt know the name either. So now I'm pissed. Then I started typing all these weirds things in into google like, the description of the book and the cover and just things I remembered, even the character's names. Didn't work. So I gave up and read another book. A year later, I'm sitting in my school library with my world history class working on our research papers and there it is "THE TAMING" in some teen romance novels display at my library. Then I screamed for joy, thanked my lord and saviour then went to go take out the book. Then I found out I owed money and there were books that I didn't return so I couldn't take it out. Pissed again. Seriously wtf. Then I just ended up buying the ebook,when I could've easily returned the books but at the time , nobody had time for that. Now it brings me to this review that is like long overdue. Here goes. So, The Taming. This book was really different and interesting. I mean like I loved it at first then hated it, then got confused, then loved it, then hated it, then like had a neutral feel to it, if that makes any sense. The whole story of the "The Taming", why do I keep quoting it?, was based on Will Shakespeares play "The Taming of the Shrew". So basically its about higschool aged girl and boy who meet through the play because the school is having the play and the girl is the female lead. But, the boy is not the other lead, he's a random rich kid who's new to the school. Any who,the story kind of follows the plot of the actual play by Willy Shakespeare and that makes you have an aha moment, because you expect it but the again you don't because the book itself distracts you then you realize it in the middle of the end of the book or the end of the middle of the book, however you grasp on to the aha moments of life. It really depends on the soul. Just kidding. Any way, I loved the character of Kate, hopefully that's the female main characters name because I'm to lazy to search it up. You know what,my review readers derserve better. I will search it. *searches characters names* Katie the character KATIE. I thought she was so cute, but damn. She was naive like no tomorrow. In a way it's not her fault but it is. I get that her life wasn't that great and her mom is crazy but she is so naive, like she believed everything that Evan told her. I think that she grew up alot in this book and definitely was able to realize the potiental that she had so, that was good. So Katie was the really shy, outsider type of girl that moves around alot, due to a crazy boyfriend obsessed mother, and has no friends but, is really pretty but, no one notices because, she's an outsider. Yes, one of them ones. Then suddenly when she gets the lead role of the play, on stage she becomes the cheetah of the jungle but in real life she's still Katie the fly on the wall. Now everyone notices her becuase she's in the play,even all the popular boys and ofcourse Evan. Evan,excuse my language,is one crazy ass motherfucker. I'm sorry but it had to be said, and if you read this book YOU were thinking it. Evan is one of those type of guys that is two faced,manipulative, charming, handsome and smart. The type of smart where,you're smart and you know it,so you're going to use your smart-ness to manipulate people and make them look dumb. He has some serious issues, and Daddy issues. No surprise. He's literally the stereotypical rich kid. He pissed me off.Like the amount of things that he did just really had me riled up and ouuuu, seriously I can't express the anger I had towards him. Probably just grunts will be my expression. The things that he did to manipulate Katie were so unnecessary ,he was the abuser of the abusive relationship they had. Back to his daddy issues. Basically his dad is horrible to his mother and just a horrible guy, and Evan can't do anything about it becaause he lives of his Dad's money and rich kids need their Daddy's money to survive their rich kids lives. The stereotypical ones,and no I don't judge. I love me a rich kid here and there. Any who,I think Evan did alot of growing up too,but it the end he was still DUMB. Like stupid,he literally thought he still going to get what he wanted, after he did what he did to Katie.Like why you so stupid?*chola accent* Overall I think that both characters were really messed up people, like I don't feel that they were ready to be in a relationship with each other,let alone anyone else. I think that they needed time to find themselves, get a reality check or two,in Evans case, and just be comfortable with themselves.I can say that Katie eventually found it but I'm not so sure about Evan,like he's crazy. He needs help. I think the book could've been better some how,in the end I was still searching for more. It was like,aftter all the bull I went through just to read the book I wasn't satisfied. But the book was cute, it had it's moments and then it didn't have its moments. I do reccomend people to read if you love off my boy Willy Shake, but even if you don't ,just read it to see if you like it. As I said this book was alright. But let me just say Katie is my girl,because in the end she put it down to the ground, came back up high to the sky, and flew into space and came back in place. Yeah, Katie do yo thang! Plus I need to be a poet, did anyone just take in the line I said. Please re-read the realness. Love you bye xx.
September 11, 2023
This books deals with very dark topics, which is important and these topics need to be discussed. I did find that there wasn’t a good balance with lightness, so I felt really uncomfortable the entire time I was reading this book. The end seemed to come to a resolution really quickly and I felt that Katie’s switch was sudden and unrealistic. I did feel that the romance was realistic because teens survive on hormones and always think every relationship is the one and will last forever. I also got sick of the constant comparison between the play and the story. I’m glad it’s a short book because I still feel icky.
May 8, 2017
This book was extremely hard to read because of the realism of abusiveness in teen relationships. I found myself really having to power through and thinking critically about all the characters and their choices. There were parts of this book that truly made me uncomfortable and icky. It is a well-written novel about some tough, difficult, and dark subjects that are unfortunately all too real in the world we live in today.
June 15, 2018
I was difficult to read, but I do think it handled things well.
October 4, 2023
I HATE THIS SOOOOOO MUCH !
Bad character development
Bad chronology
Super cringy
Ew
Bad character development
Bad chronology
Super cringy
Ew
July 10, 2024
Dark topic. Hard read. But very important, for teens especially.
January 17, 2026
The cover might make this book look like smut but it really isnt.
June 23, 2012
***Originally posted to: Bookish Book Blog |YA and Adult Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Guest Posts, Giveaways and news! ^___^
This is a powerful read. And by powerful, I mean, DEVASTATINGLY SO. I really loved this book, from the first page to last. I loved how readable it was, how captivating and intensely emotional. I absolutely loved the darker undertones of it, and how every chapter, every passage, every sentence of it pulls you deeper into its dark and sticky web of emotional abuse and toxic jealousy. It's a poignant, multilayered, and gripping tale that takes what seems to be a dominant theme in contemporary novels - a love story - and darkens it. At the same time, though, it has its lighter moments, humorous tension-breakers that perfectly balance it out. In other words, it's a truly phenomenal book. I was extremely glad to have discovered it and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Built around the school production of Shakespear's The Taming Of The Shrew, the plot of Teresa Toten's and Eric Walter's collaborative novel deals with some heavy (but very meaningful) subjects. This whole story - complete with the extremely well-drawn, believable characters - is just brilliant. I mean it. The main protagonists, Katie and Evan, are not only real and convincing, but also very complex. They're not some flat, black-and-white characters, they both have beating hearts, filled with emotions, dreams, fears and hopes. They're not perfect - they're perfectly imperfect, flawed, scared, overwhelmed by their personal problems. They both need love and acceptance, but they go looking for it in all the wrong places. They make mistakes, they get tangled up in each other, messy.. lost. Toten and Walters did a fantastic job capturing their complicated relationship (with all its intensity). I loved it! I thought the character building was masterful, and I just loved it. I especially loved the character growth in Katie. When we meet her, she's nothing but a shy, invisible grey mouse, she doesn't know how to assert herself, prefers to lay low and not attract any attention. And then she gets picked to play the part of Katherine in the school interpretation of The Taming Of The Shrew, and her world begins to change. When Evan asks her out, her heart practically bursts with happiness. At first, she can't even believe it. Evan? The most handsome, fabulous, and disgustingly rich guy in town wants to date her? How could she say no to that? How could she say no to anything that Evan wants from her?
Yes, you will probably feel very uncomfortable and anxious once you realize where the authors are going with the story, but you will also stop and think about the massage this book carries and how well the brilliantly weaved plot gets it across. This is not a happy first-love story and it shouldn't be approached as such. It's an eye-opening, thought-provoking, unsettling story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
What I loved the most about this book, though, is that although it's a dark tale, it's also one that ends with hope. I loved seeing the transformation that Katie's character underwent towards the end of The Taming. I liked that she became this strong-willed, assertive girl who could stand up for herself. I absolutely loved that she didn't let Evan break her, overpower her, tame her. And she didn't need saving, she found the power and will to save herself.
I also loved that the authors didn't make Evan to be this one-dimensional bad-guy. Instead, they provided enough background story and insight into his past for the reader to better understand his motives. That, of course, didn't make him a good guy, but it definitely made it harder to hate him. I came out of reading this book disturbed, with my head spinning, and very satisfied with its conclusion. I also felt a great deal of sympathy, and not only for Katie, but for both of them - for totally different reasons. If all that doesn't make a great read, than I don't know what does.
Teresa Toten and Eric Walter make a magnificent writing duo. They do awful and dark so well, and they get under your skin so deep, that you feel like taking a shower after reading some of the chapters of this book. It's draining and disturbing. Most of all, though, their writing is just absolutely fascinating. At least it was to me, I'm sure not everyone feeds on sad and scary as much as I do, but what can I say? I like my books to be dark, creepy and powerful. And the reason for this book being so sad and scary is simple: it's just all too real. It's disquietingly authentic, and that kind of authenticity is bound to resonate deep within.
This is a powerful read. And by powerful, I mean, DEVASTATINGLY SO. I really loved this book, from the first page to last. I loved how readable it was, how captivating and intensely emotional. I absolutely loved the darker undertones of it, and how every chapter, every passage, every sentence of it pulls you deeper into its dark and sticky web of emotional abuse and toxic jealousy. It's a poignant, multilayered, and gripping tale that takes what seems to be a dominant theme in contemporary novels - a love story - and darkens it. At the same time, though, it has its lighter moments, humorous tension-breakers that perfectly balance it out. In other words, it's a truly phenomenal book. I was extremely glad to have discovered it and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Built around the school production of Shakespear's The Taming Of The Shrew, the plot of Teresa Toten's and Eric Walter's collaborative novel deals with some heavy (but very meaningful) subjects. This whole story - complete with the extremely well-drawn, believable characters - is just brilliant. I mean it. The main protagonists, Katie and Evan, are not only real and convincing, but also very complex. They're not some flat, black-and-white characters, they both have beating hearts, filled with emotions, dreams, fears and hopes. They're not perfect - they're perfectly imperfect, flawed, scared, overwhelmed by their personal problems. They both need love and acceptance, but they go looking for it in all the wrong places. They make mistakes, they get tangled up in each other, messy.. lost. Toten and Walters did a fantastic job capturing their complicated relationship (with all its intensity). I loved it! I thought the character building was masterful, and I just loved it. I especially loved the character growth in Katie. When we meet her, she's nothing but a shy, invisible grey mouse, she doesn't know how to assert herself, prefers to lay low and not attract any attention. And then she gets picked to play the part of Katherine in the school interpretation of The Taming Of The Shrew, and her world begins to change. When Evan asks her out, her heart practically bursts with happiness. At first, she can't even believe it. Evan? The most handsome, fabulous, and disgustingly rich guy in town wants to date her? How could she say no to that? How could she say no to anything that Evan wants from her?
Yes, you will probably feel very uncomfortable and anxious once you realize where the authors are going with the story, but you will also stop and think about the massage this book carries and how well the brilliantly weaved plot gets it across. This is not a happy first-love story and it shouldn't be approached as such. It's an eye-opening, thought-provoking, unsettling story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
What I loved the most about this book, though, is that although it's a dark tale, it's also one that ends with hope. I loved seeing the transformation that Katie's character underwent towards the end of The Taming. I liked that she became this strong-willed, assertive girl who could stand up for herself. I absolutely loved that she didn't let Evan break her, overpower her, tame her. And she didn't need saving, she found the power and will to save herself.
I also loved that the authors didn't make Evan to be this one-dimensional bad-guy. Instead, they provided enough background story and insight into his past for the reader to better understand his motives. That, of course, didn't make him a good guy, but it definitely made it harder to hate him. I came out of reading this book disturbed, with my head spinning, and very satisfied with its conclusion. I also felt a great deal of sympathy, and not only for Katie, but for both of them - for totally different reasons. If all that doesn't make a great read, than I don't know what does.
Teresa Toten and Eric Walter make a magnificent writing duo. They do awful and dark so well, and they get under your skin so deep, that you feel like taking a shower after reading some of the chapters of this book. It's draining and disturbing. Most of all, though, their writing is just absolutely fascinating. At least it was to me, I'm sure not everyone feeds on sad and scary as much as I do, but what can I say? I like my books to be dark, creepy and powerful. And the reason for this book being so sad and scary is simple: it's just all too real. It's disquietingly authentic, and that kind of authenticity is bound to resonate deep within.
November 11, 2024
Wow such a plot twist at the end lol I’m so sad now but kind of not lol
March 19, 2012
"The Taming" was a very well-written novel indeed, however, too dark for my liking. Let me start off by saying that I have never read Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. And I am extremely sorry because I have heard that it was amazing and if this novel follows the same idea, I must read it in the near future.
Before I read the novel, I didn't even bother reading the synopis on the back, a first for me. I was captivated by the lovely cover, even more captivated by the fact that it was written by two authors, one of which, Eric Walters, is a favorite of mine. I assumed it was a love story. It was ... just not the way I expected it to be.
Katie and Evan, our two main characters, are complete opposites. Yet, as always, opposites attract and the two begin a relationship because they are "in love". But through their relationship, they struggle when abuse comes into the picture. The plot took a major turn and so did the feeling of the book. It started off as "sweet-and-sappy-love-story-with-a-dose-of-high-school-on-top" turned into "abusive-relationship-with-violence-and-even-sexual-abuse". The change was surprising but the foreshadowing and those little hints made the plot move seamlessly.
Reading the novel I said:
~ Awwww
~ Too cute
~ Something's up
~ No way
~ OMG
~ GIRL POWER!
I really liked Katie's character. She starts off as being very dependant on her boyfriend Evan and believing that to be in a relationship, she has to oblige to his every words. I loved seeing her development and eventually being able to stand up for herself.
I'd just like to add that the moral in this book is to be your own person, and essentially, don't change (or be tamed) by or for anyone. Girls, it's not "true love" if you're forced to do things you don't want to do or are being abused. If the person really loves you, he wouldn't put you through pain intentionally. The thing about us is that many of us believe that the person can change and there are second chances needed. If my boyfriend hit me and pressured me to have "it" with him, I would dump him. Don't give in! (Sorry for the little speech but I'm passionate about us girls having a backbone and not letting boys control our lives.)
Despite the darker themes in the novel, the dialogue managed to make laugh and the humor added a lighter feeling which was strongly needed.
I loved that the story was told in alternating first perspectives. Usually I am iffy about books like those because normally the jump from perspective is annoying but in this case, I really enjoyed it.
The writing was good too. Some of the ideas were a bit far-fetched (seriously Katie, are you a complete idiot sometimes?) but then the author quickly makes up for it with all the twists and turns.
Overall, a good book, a tad disturbing, but nonetheless, a goodread (yes, I have decided that the term 'goodread' is one word!)
I would also like to say that I met both of the authors during a book signing for and both were lovely individuals who honestly enjoyed hearing from their fans. It was a pleasure to meet them both and have them sign my book. It kinda went like this:
Me (to Eric Walters): Oh. My. God. I love your books and I love your writing and I cannot believe I'm actually meeting you in person and that you're from Mississauga like me and, oh yeah, my name is Sabrina.
Eric Walters: Laughs It's nice to meet you. Which one of my books was your favourite?
Me: Definitely "We All Fall Down". It was an amazing novel and helped me learned about the 9/11
Eric Walters: I'm glad you enjoyed it. Signs my copy of "The Taming". Thank you for coming out today.
Me: Thank you for writing!
I kinda went crazy when I first spoke to him (as you can see) and I rushed that entire run-on sentance. In my book, he wrote "Sabrina, I hope you enjoy the book and keep on reading. Eric Walters"
When I met Teresa Toten she was equally nice and my conversation with her was like this:
Me: Hi, I'm Sabrina! It's so cool to meet you!
Teresa Toten: You too!
Me: I loved "Me and the Blondes"! It was so funny!
Teresa Toten: Thank you. Sign my book I hope you like it!
What she wrote in my book though, was something that I want to end this review with. It's a message I want to tell all of you.
"NEVER BE TAMED"
Before I read the novel, I didn't even bother reading the synopis on the back, a first for me. I was captivated by the lovely cover, even more captivated by the fact that it was written by two authors, one of which, Eric Walters, is a favorite of mine. I assumed it was a love story. It was ... just not the way I expected it to be.
Katie and Evan, our two main characters, are complete opposites. Yet, as always, opposites attract and the two begin a relationship because they are "in love". But through their relationship, they struggle when abuse comes into the picture. The plot took a major turn and so did the feeling of the book. It started off as "sweet-and-sappy-love-story-with-a-dose-of-high-school-on-top" turned into "abusive-relationship-with-violence-and-even-sexual-abuse". The change was surprising but the foreshadowing and those little hints made the plot move seamlessly.
Reading the novel I said:
~ Awwww
~ Too cute
~ Something's up
~ No way
~ OMG
~ GIRL POWER!
I really liked Katie's character. She starts off as being very dependant on her boyfriend Evan and believing that to be in a relationship, she has to oblige to his every words. I loved seeing her development and eventually being able to stand up for herself.
I'd just like to add that the moral in this book is to be your own person, and essentially, don't change (or be tamed) by or for anyone. Girls, it's not "true love" if you're forced to do things you don't want to do or are being abused. If the person really loves you, he wouldn't put you through pain intentionally. The thing about us is that many of us believe that the person can change and there are second chances needed. If my boyfriend hit me and pressured me to have "it" with him, I would dump him. Don't give in! (Sorry for the little speech but I'm passionate about us girls having a backbone and not letting boys control our lives.)
Despite the darker themes in the novel, the dialogue managed to make laugh and the humor added a lighter feeling which was strongly needed.
I loved that the story was told in alternating first perspectives. Usually I am iffy about books like those because normally the jump from perspective is annoying but in this case, I really enjoyed it.
The writing was good too. Some of the ideas were a bit far-fetched (seriously Katie, are you a complete idiot sometimes?) but then the author quickly makes up for it with all the twists and turns.
Overall, a good book, a tad disturbing, but nonetheless, a goodread (yes, I have decided that the term 'goodread' is one word!)
I would also like to say that I met both of the authors during a book signing for and both were lovely individuals who honestly enjoyed hearing from their fans. It was a pleasure to meet them both and have them sign my book. It kinda went like this:
Me (to Eric Walters): Oh. My. God. I love your books and I love your writing and I cannot believe I'm actually meeting you in person and that you're from Mississauga like me and, oh yeah, my name is Sabrina.
Eric Walters: Laughs It's nice to meet you. Which one of my books was your favourite?
Me: Definitely "We All Fall Down". It was an amazing novel and helped me learned about the 9/11
Eric Walters: I'm glad you enjoyed it. Signs my copy of "The Taming". Thank you for coming out today.
Me: Thank you for writing!
I kinda went crazy when I first spoke to him (as you can see) and I rushed that entire run-on sentance. In my book, he wrote "Sabrina, I hope you enjoy the book and keep on reading. Eric Walters"
When I met Teresa Toten she was equally nice and my conversation with her was like this:
Me: Hi, I'm Sabrina! It's so cool to meet you!
Teresa Toten: You too!
Me: I loved "Me and the Blondes"! It was so funny!
Teresa Toten: Thank you. Sign my book I hope you like it!
What she wrote in my book though, was something that I want to end this review with. It's a message I want to tell all of you.
"NEVER BE TAMED"
May 7, 2012
Starting The Taming, I thought I was in for some teenage high school love story. The cover, and the synopsis set me up with those expectations. Katie, is a young girl who has done so much to become invisible in high school, to NOT become one of those "popular" girls. To her, she is as invisible as you can get. Until she becomes the lead in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and she sees that she loves the stage, she was meant for it. People start noticing her. No longer is Katie invisible.
Evan, the new guy from a prep school, who let me be honest here sounded like a great guy! He has the clothes, the car, the money and along with that, the nonchalant attitude; I mean he throws his car keys to the first kid he meets in school, saying "hey, take it! It's got a full tank!". Everybody notices Evan, he has that for him. But there is so much more to Evan than we're lead to believe.
Evan meets Katie, and things spark between them, and now more than ever, Katie is as noticeable. For Katie, this is all new. The lead in the play, the noticing and more importantly, the boyfriend. She has spent so much time with just herself and her two odd, quirky but very good friends and now all of a sudden she has this guy who can't get enough of her, is willing to take her on dates (and pay himself). He's buying her clothes that he thinks will suit her, telling her what her favourite flowers are and so on. Katie is in heaven. Then things start happening, and without giving too much away, from past situations, Katie blames herself for these events. This is where the book took the turn I was not expecting. Secrets are revealed and more secrets are kept and The Taming becomes a haunting story. So many times I wanted to yell through the pages at Katie or Evan (or their parents!) and try to help them. I felt so bad for Katie, and honestly, as the book went on I felt for Evan too. The things they had / have to endure separately with their family was heart breaking.
Walters and Toten collaborated with this book. Walters writing the POV of Evan and Toten writing the POV of Katie. I think it was really well done, their story tied really well with The Taming of the Shrew and flowed nicely. I have never read a book from either of these authors, but have heard wonderful things about Eric Walters. And after reading his writing in this, it may not be the last. The emotion and thought put behind each character was obvious. The character development was clearly there and the plot moved along smoothly with the said unexpected twist. My overall thoughts on the book? Well, apart from throwing me completely for a loop, it was addicting. I felt that if I kept reading, I could help them and because of that, I read it without hesitation. I enjoyed The Taming, and the way Katie changed drastically and became aware made it that much better.
Evan, the new guy from a prep school, who let me be honest here sounded like a great guy! He has the clothes, the car, the money and along with that, the nonchalant attitude; I mean he throws his car keys to the first kid he meets in school, saying "hey, take it! It's got a full tank!". Everybody notices Evan, he has that for him. But there is so much more to Evan than we're lead to believe.
Evan meets Katie, and things spark between them, and now more than ever, Katie is as noticeable. For Katie, this is all new. The lead in the play, the noticing and more importantly, the boyfriend. She has spent so much time with just herself and her two odd, quirky but very good friends and now all of a sudden she has this guy who can't get enough of her, is willing to take her on dates (and pay himself). He's buying her clothes that he thinks will suit her, telling her what her favourite flowers are and so on. Katie is in heaven. Then things start happening, and without giving too much away, from past situations, Katie blames herself for these events. This is where the book took the turn I was not expecting. Secrets are revealed and more secrets are kept and The Taming becomes a haunting story. So many times I wanted to yell through the pages at Katie or Evan (or their parents!) and try to help them. I felt so bad for Katie, and honestly, as the book went on I felt for Evan too. The things they had / have to endure separately with their family was heart breaking.
Walters and Toten collaborated with this book. Walters writing the POV of Evan and Toten writing the POV of Katie. I think it was really well done, their story tied really well with The Taming of the Shrew and flowed nicely. I have never read a book from either of these authors, but have heard wonderful things about Eric Walters. And after reading his writing in this, it may not be the last. The emotion and thought put behind each character was obvious. The character development was clearly there and the plot moved along smoothly with the said unexpected twist. My overall thoughts on the book? Well, apart from throwing me completely for a loop, it was addicting. I felt that if I kept reading, I could help them and because of that, I read it without hesitation. I enjoyed The Taming, and the way Katie changed drastically and became aware made it that much better.
January 20, 2012
Katie likes to believe she's invisible. It's much safer than being seen as who she is - shy, awkward, poor. Getting up on stage to play the lead in The Taming of the Shrew should be torture, but it's not. Something completely unexpected happens and she's transformed from invisible Katie to visible Katharina. Evan's another story. He knows what it takes to get noticed, and uses every one of those skills. Okay, sure, it might be an abuse of the power the comes with money and privilege. But is his romance with Katie another version of the same thing, or is it real?
The Taming was a unique re-telling or re-imagining, or at the very least a unique 'drawing on Shakespeare as source material.' There were realistic characters and setting and plot, plus humourous dialogue at odds with a story that slowly turns dark and subtly dangerous. I couldn't help but continue reading, I needed to know how the book ended.
There are two sides to this book, Katie coming out of her shell and Evan attempting to start over in a new place. When they come together, it's not necessarily surprising, but the path they take certainly was. So much of the plot was unexpected.
Katie slowly comes out of her shell by becoming Katharina and sees a new world over the one she's lived for years, one when she's invisible, wounded, walked over and put down by her mother. I kept waiting for that moment when she would spread her wings and fly.
Evan is flawed, entitled because of his father's money but hating him all the while because he's been forced to change schools. Seeing Katie act wakes him up, but he becomes overwhelmed to turn her into the perfect girlfriend, to make her Katharina instead of Katie. He's blinded by what she becomes on stage.
To me, Evan was the handsome but wicked prince, trying to turn Katie the innocent princess into something she's not, and it's up to her to fight her way free and find herself again before she completely loses herself.
As unexpected as this book was in terms of the plot twists and and darkness, it was still enjoyable, still a great story told by two great authors. I feel the need to push this book into the hands of every teenager I can find, boy or girl, visible or invisible, lost or found.
The Taming was a unique re-telling or re-imagining, or at the very least a unique 'drawing on Shakespeare as source material.' There were realistic characters and setting and plot, plus humourous dialogue at odds with a story that slowly turns dark and subtly dangerous. I couldn't help but continue reading, I needed to know how the book ended.
There are two sides to this book, Katie coming out of her shell and Evan attempting to start over in a new place. When they come together, it's not necessarily surprising, but the path they take certainly was. So much of the plot was unexpected.
Katie slowly comes out of her shell by becoming Katharina and sees a new world over the one she's lived for years, one when she's invisible, wounded, walked over and put down by her mother. I kept waiting for that moment when she would spread her wings and fly.
Evan is flawed, entitled because of his father's money but hating him all the while because he's been forced to change schools. Seeing Katie act wakes him up, but he becomes overwhelmed to turn her into the perfect girlfriend, to make her Katharina instead of Katie. He's blinded by what she becomes on stage.
To me, Evan was the handsome but wicked prince, trying to turn Katie the innocent princess into something she's not, and it's up to her to fight her way free and find herself again before she completely loses herself.
As unexpected as this book was in terms of the plot twists and and darkness, it was still enjoyable, still a great story told by two great authors. I feel the need to push this book into the hands of every teenager I can find, boy or girl, visible or invisible, lost or found.
March 31, 2012
Random House Canada Random Reader Challenge Young Adult
So the Challenge this time around was to read one of the following Adult fiction books:
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters
Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton
Flip by Martyn Bedford
For me the decision came down to which book became available first from my local library. The first book to win the battle was The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters from DoubleDay Canada 2012. It also ended up being my 24th read for the 50 Book Pledge.
The Taming is a book about high school students who meet and become involved while their drama class performs Shakespeare's The Taming of The Shrew. The Taming starts off strong with an introduction to Katie and her friends Travis and Lisa. The second chapter introduces us to
Evan who becomes Katie's boyfriend. There is a very distinct clash between different society classes. The novel switches between Katie and Evan's POV every chapter to give a rounded account of the story.
As the book continues there are several parallels to The Taming of The Shrew, however Katie goes from being a person who disappears into the background to a strong confident young woman able to stand up to and ultimately break up with Evan a very controlling boyfriend. This of course is the reverse of what happens in the play but it deals with a reality many teens face.
I found the turning points in the book to be when Katie's mom's boyfriend Joey tells Katie to be careful and that he suspects what is happening as well as when Katie goes to Lisa for help in "catching" Evan. It was wonderful to see Katie stand up to Evan and I got the impression even though he was making all the promises he didn't really change but was just a smooth operator like his father used to getting women to do whatever he wanted.
The Taming is a relatively easy read that explores the issue of controlling/abusive relationships in a subtle manner. I enjoyed the book and recommend to any young girl in such a circumstance or
a friend who wants to know how to support a friend in such a situation.
So the Challenge this time around was to read one of the following Adult fiction books:
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters
Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton
Flip by Martyn Bedford
For me the decision came down to which book became available first from my local library. The first book to win the battle was The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters from DoubleDay Canada 2012. It also ended up being my 24th read for the 50 Book Pledge.
The Taming is a book about high school students who meet and become involved while their drama class performs Shakespeare's The Taming of The Shrew. The Taming starts off strong with an introduction to Katie and her friends Travis and Lisa. The second chapter introduces us to
Evan who becomes Katie's boyfriend. There is a very distinct clash between different society classes. The novel switches between Katie and Evan's POV every chapter to give a rounded account of the story.
As the book continues there are several parallels to The Taming of The Shrew, however Katie goes from being a person who disappears into the background to a strong confident young woman able to stand up to and ultimately break up with Evan a very controlling boyfriend. This of course is the reverse of what happens in the play but it deals with a reality many teens face.
I found the turning points in the book to be when Katie's mom's boyfriend Joey tells Katie to be careful and that he suspects what is happening as well as when Katie goes to Lisa for help in "catching" Evan. It was wonderful to see Katie stand up to Evan and I got the impression even though he was making all the promises he didn't really change but was just a smooth operator like his father used to getting women to do whatever he wanted.
The Taming is a relatively easy read that explores the issue of controlling/abusive relationships in a subtle manner. I enjoyed the book and recommend to any young girl in such a circumstance or
a friend who wants to know how to support a friend in such a situation.
March 26, 2015
I did not like this book at all. When I was a few chapters in I thought it was going to be about a girl overcoming her shyness on stage and learning more about herself through this Evan character, who I did not realize was going to turn out to be so completely evil. Like really, are people that black and white? His character was not complex at all, the author barely skimmed the surface about why he acted the way he did, other than showing his dad acting similar. He was unlikable right from the get go. I mean this guy raped another girl. This is serious stuff and I felt like the author barely touched that and chalked it up to Evan being an asshole. He seemed almost bipolar but that wasn't discussed either.
And Katie...hoo boy. Way to stand up for yourself girl. She was really pathetic and unfortunately the way she was written I couldn't stand her or care for her which is really too bad because generally in novels that deal with abuse you want your readers to be on the side of the victim but Katie was just TOO clueless. It was painful to read. And her character kept flip-flopping all over the place! At first she was this completely shy girl with only 2 friends in the whole world and no experience with boys, to suddenly being madly in love with Evan and constantly praising him - "like, wow you know how to cook fajitas! That is so totally amazing, I think I love you! - please gag me. And then suddenly, within one day, she suddenly became this strong, take-no-shit girl and finally told Evan off. As I was reading I was happy she was finally standing up for herself but there was seemingly no cause for it. From what I understand it is really hard to leave an abusive relationship and it took her one night and then she was seemingly fine with everything and left him.
And I don't even want to get into her mother and Lisa...that could have been developed SO much more! And Lisa was the only real interesting character in the whole novel, I wish they had talked more about her life.
I think this novel could have been a lot better but it just fell really flat, character and plot-wise.
And Katie...hoo boy. Way to stand up for yourself girl. She was really pathetic and unfortunately the way she was written I couldn't stand her or care for her which is really too bad because generally in novels that deal with abuse you want your readers to be on the side of the victim but Katie was just TOO clueless. It was painful to read. And her character kept flip-flopping all over the place! At first she was this completely shy girl with only 2 friends in the whole world and no experience with boys, to suddenly being madly in love with Evan and constantly praising him - "like, wow you know how to cook fajitas! That is so totally amazing, I think I love you! - please gag me. And then suddenly, within one day, she suddenly became this strong, take-no-shit girl and finally told Evan off. As I was reading I was happy she was finally standing up for herself but there was seemingly no cause for it. From what I understand it is really hard to leave an abusive relationship and it took her one night and then she was seemingly fine with everything and left him.
And I don't even want to get into her mother and Lisa...that could have been developed SO much more! And Lisa was the only real interesting character in the whole novel, I wish they had talked more about her life.
I think this novel could have been a lot better but it just fell really flat, character and plot-wise.
March 21, 2012
"The Taming" didn't quite hit the mark for me. Based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, this story does not quite have the humour of the original. Instead this version tackles a darker side including verbal, physical and even sexual abuse.
Katie and Evan are total opposites. Katie is shy, poor and awkward. Evan is rich, smart and charming. No one is more surprised than Katie when she is given the lead role in her school's production of The Taming of the Shrew. Even more surprising she catches the eye of the good-looking, popular Evan and before she knows it they are inseparable.
I do like the beautiful cover and I found it interesting that the story is told from the two main characters Katie and Evans' alternating view points.
The problem with this story for me at times is with the dialogue. ie. After Evan meets Katie for the first time he thinks to himself "Katie Rosario was no femme fatale, that was for sure." What seventeen year old guy thinks like that? Even Travis seems overdone - I get that he has a more flamboyant character but his dialogue at times just goes overboard. Here is an example: "I'm hoping the set will reflect the sensibility and subtle sensuality of the play, not that I want to impinge on your own creativity, but it needs to have a certain panache."
Also I didn't really like Katie or Evan's characters so it was hard to develop feelings for them. To be fair I'm not drawn to the shy, mousy, awkward type of personality because I just want to slap them upside the head and tell them to snap out of it. As for Evan he is made somewhat unlikeable right from the beginning, which is too bad because we never get to connect with him. A character can be flawed and still be endearing.
I think this story has great potential and with just a few minor tweeks could be so much better.
Katie and Evan are total opposites. Katie is shy, poor and awkward. Evan is rich, smart and charming. No one is more surprised than Katie when she is given the lead role in her school's production of The Taming of the Shrew. Even more surprising she catches the eye of the good-looking, popular Evan and before she knows it they are inseparable.
I do like the beautiful cover and I found it interesting that the story is told from the two main characters Katie and Evans' alternating view points.
The problem with this story for me at times is with the dialogue. ie. After Evan meets Katie for the first time he thinks to himself "Katie Rosario was no femme fatale, that was for sure." What seventeen year old guy thinks like that? Even Travis seems overdone - I get that he has a more flamboyant character but his dialogue at times just goes overboard. Here is an example: "I'm hoping the set will reflect the sensibility and subtle sensuality of the play, not that I want to impinge on your own creativity, but it needs to have a certain panache."
Also I didn't really like Katie or Evan's characters so it was hard to develop feelings for them. To be fair I'm not drawn to the shy, mousy, awkward type of personality because I just want to slap them upside the head and tell them to snap out of it. As for Evan he is made somewhat unlikeable right from the beginning, which is too bad because we never get to connect with him. A character can be flawed and still be endearing.
I think this story has great potential and with just a few minor tweeks could be so much better.
November 3, 2016
Katie Rosario is quiet and invisible or at least she believes this is true. She slips right under the radar until she is cast the lead role of Katherina in her school play of "The Taming the Shrew". The role comes so easily to her and she becomes Katherina on stage. Katie becomes noticable and finally visible. She feels powerfull but also more shy and vunerable to the world she has ignored for almost 16 years.
Evan on the other hand is the rich, bold, charming and smart new boy that just transfered schools. Katie can not believe when Evan asks her out on a date. She is blinded by love and cannot see that Evan has many dark secrets. He got kicked out of his private school because of a horrible mistake he made with a girl but he will not let that happen again. Evan makes sure Katie belongs to him and that he is incharge of her every second. He rips Katie away from her friends makes her feel like she has never before. They become inseperable, until Evan becomes to paranoid with their relationship. He must not let the past repeat itself and so he mis-treats Katie. Katie drunk on her first relationship with the cutest guy at her school, and does not stick up for herself. She lets herself be abused. One night Evan takes it too far and Katie and her friend Lisa confront Evan about his past and she finds that the power of love can conceal many dark truths.
IS IT THE POWER OF LOVE, OR A LOVE OF POWER?
I must admit I did not have high expections for this book but it proved itself. In the book The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters I actually enjoyed the whole plot. It is a short easy read that is good. The characters are both very well written and though it is one of your basic love, relationship and heart break stories it was suprisingly more interesting.
Evan on the other hand is the rich, bold, charming and smart new boy that just transfered schools. Katie can not believe when Evan asks her out on a date. She is blinded by love and cannot see that Evan has many dark secrets. He got kicked out of his private school because of a horrible mistake he made with a girl but he will not let that happen again. Evan makes sure Katie belongs to him and that he is incharge of her every second. He rips Katie away from her friends makes her feel like she has never before. They become inseperable, until Evan becomes to paranoid with their relationship. He must not let the past repeat itself and so he mis-treats Katie. Katie drunk on her first relationship with the cutest guy at her school, and does not stick up for herself. She lets herself be abused. One night Evan takes it too far and Katie and her friend Lisa confront Evan about his past and she finds that the power of love can conceal many dark truths.
IS IT THE POWER OF LOVE, OR A LOVE OF POWER?
I must admit I did not have high expections for this book but it proved itself. In the book The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters I actually enjoyed the whole plot. It is a short easy read that is good. The characters are both very well written and though it is one of your basic love, relationship and heart break stories it was suprisingly more interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2012
I received this book through the first reads program on goodreads.
After first reading the premise of this book I was excited. A story about young love that can conceal darker truths. And trust me, these truths are dark. Evan and Katie a high school couple. Katie is shy and wants to remain invisible, Evan is the ultra charming new kid. When they start dating it's only a matter of time before things seem a little off. It remained fairly close to it's source material, Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew in some respects.
This is not a book that shies away from covering difficult topics just because it is aimed at young people. It is centered around an abusive relationship asking the questions what happens when person is only searching for power? It was difficult to read at points because it was so dark, but I think it's important that these topics are discussed.
The book is well written and can draw you in. There are points when you want to shake Katie and slap Evan, but that makes sense given the subject matter. The characters feel real. They aren't so over the top that you can't picture them walking down the halls of a high school.
The story is told through the two main character's alternating perspective. It is an interesting choice that adds to the story. The reader can see two perspectives of the same event. It is an effective method. They give you just enough information about their pasts to keep you hooked. I had to find out what happened and how it would affect the present.
There were points in time that the book dragged. Deep into the story I felt as if some of the words had become too repetitive as did the sentiments behind them. However, it was, overall, a fantastic book that everybody, young adults and adults alike, should read.
After first reading the premise of this book I was excited. A story about young love that can conceal darker truths. And trust me, these truths are dark. Evan and Katie a high school couple. Katie is shy and wants to remain invisible, Evan is the ultra charming new kid. When they start dating it's only a matter of time before things seem a little off. It remained fairly close to it's source material, Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew in some respects.
This is not a book that shies away from covering difficult topics just because it is aimed at young people. It is centered around an abusive relationship asking the questions what happens when person is only searching for power? It was difficult to read at points because it was so dark, but I think it's important that these topics are discussed.
The book is well written and can draw you in. There are points when you want to shake Katie and slap Evan, but that makes sense given the subject matter. The characters feel real. They aren't so over the top that you can't picture them walking down the halls of a high school.
The story is told through the two main character's alternating perspective. It is an interesting choice that adds to the story. The reader can see two perspectives of the same event. It is an effective method. They give you just enough information about their pasts to keep you hooked. I had to find out what happened and how it would affect the present.
There were points in time that the book dragged. Deep into the story I felt as if some of the words had become too repetitive as did the sentiments behind them. However, it was, overall, a fantastic book that everybody, young adults and adults alike, should read.
April 1, 2016
As a rebelling of The Taming of the Shrew, Toten and Walters ask readers to consider the disturbing and abusive reality at the base of a well-loved story. For that, it gains respectability. For just about everything else, it gains a cringe.
Readability: 2 stars. Books that switch POV already set themselves up for suspicion because that ploy often marks a lazy writer, one who would rather reveal character through each persona rather than face the difficulty of doing it through one voice. While this book maneuvered fairly well through this trap, it failed to mark whether Katie or Evan spoke. It wasn't until several chapters in that I noticed a change in don't between the two voices. Before that, I had to figure what other characters were mentioned to get some context. Poorly played. Not only that, but also the voices themselves suggest that neither author tried to empathize with the thought process of a teenager. Admittedly, I'm 20 and a couple years off the mark of the intended audience, but even when I was 16, I would have easily marked the immaturity lacing Katie's voice. With tags like "I joked" cluttering dialogue, the writing feels shallow, missing the complexity that this subject matter and audience deserve.
Characters: 3 stars. I give them that many not because of the main characters, but because of some of the supporting ones. Katie's mom's boyfriend, Joey, provided a much needed redeem-ability factor. Evan's mom, too, was refreshingly kind. However, many of the other characters, including the two stars, had an extremity of behavior without an adequate explanation.
Story: 4 stars. The plot line itself has interesting aspects, especially as a cautionary tale, which I appreciated.
Readability: 2 stars. Books that switch POV already set themselves up for suspicion because that ploy often marks a lazy writer, one who would rather reveal character through each persona rather than face the difficulty of doing it through one voice. While this book maneuvered fairly well through this trap, it failed to mark whether Katie or Evan spoke. It wasn't until several chapters in that I noticed a change in don't between the two voices. Before that, I had to figure what other characters were mentioned to get some context. Poorly played. Not only that, but also the voices themselves suggest that neither author tried to empathize with the thought process of a teenager. Admittedly, I'm 20 and a couple years off the mark of the intended audience, but even when I was 16, I would have easily marked the immaturity lacing Katie's voice. With tags like "I joked" cluttering dialogue, the writing feels shallow, missing the complexity that this subject matter and audience deserve.
Characters: 3 stars. I give them that many not because of the main characters, but because of some of the supporting ones. Katie's mom's boyfriend, Joey, provided a much needed redeem-ability factor. Evan's mom, too, was refreshingly kind. However, many of the other characters, including the two stars, had an extremity of behavior without an adequate explanation.
Story: 4 stars. The plot line itself has interesting aspects, especially as a cautionary tale, which I appreciated.
March 23, 2012
Katie goes through life wanting to be invisible but now that she’s been cast as Katerina, the lead character in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, everyone is starting to notice her. Evan is the new boy in town. Rich and good looking--he seems to have it all. The two start dating and Katie is over the moon. How can someone like him be interested in her? Evan is the perfect boyfriend and Katie would do anything to please him.
Katie is very shy and wants to go through life being invisible. Something did happen in her past that has her thinking this way. She doesn’t have the best relationship with her mom but she does have two close friends that are always supportive of her. I actually thought Evan was okay in the beginning but the more saw of him the more his real personality appeared. He wants everyone around him to see him the perfect gentlemen and the golden boy when he’s anything but. Once he and Katie are together you can see how he tries to change her and Katie goes along thinking that he’s so great by lavishing all these gifts on her. That’s when I finally figured out that this story was headed in a darker direction.
Love the plot twist as the story centers around an abusive relationship. Its something I don’t read a lot of and is something that all teens should read about.
Cover: I was totally fooled by the cover thinking that there would be a “happy” romance and boy and girl would end up happily ever after.
Katie is very shy and wants to go through life being invisible. Something did happen in her past that has her thinking this way. She doesn’t have the best relationship with her mom but she does have two close friends that are always supportive of her. I actually thought Evan was okay in the beginning but the more saw of him the more his real personality appeared. He wants everyone around him to see him the perfect gentlemen and the golden boy when he’s anything but. Once he and Katie are together you can see how he tries to change her and Katie goes along thinking that he’s so great by lavishing all these gifts on her. That’s when I finally figured out that this story was headed in a darker direction.
Love the plot twist as the story centers around an abusive relationship. Its something I don’t read a lot of and is something that all teens should read about.
Cover: I was totally fooled by the cover thinking that there would be a “happy” romance and boy and girl would end up happily ever after.
February 20, 2013
If this book was not on the White Pine book, or co-written by Eric Walters I never would have read it. The two people kissing on the cover, the phrase "over the course of their relationship" on the back would have made me put the book down. I do not like romances at all, so this influences the review a lot. I do not consider Romance to be a plot line, so I found this book OK. This book was not completely romance, but I feel it would have been better if they tried to make it just a romance. This book also mentions Shakespeare a lot, something that doesn't gain you points on my scale. Through out the story there was a tiny little sub plot of their pasts. Personally for the amount that I was interested in this sub plot, there wasn't enough of it. Their past is told entirely through conversations to each other or mentions in their thoughts. One MC did have semi flash backs. These flashbacks weren't full out, so they weren't the best. I think that this sub plot should have been more as it would have taught us more about the characters (and less romance). This book does try to make a greater point, but I felt that it was lost within the romance. Remember though that because this is a romance, everyone else who read this book will probably disagree with me.
February 10, 2012
An insecure young woman meets a golden boy and much to her shock, he is interested in her. It is clear from the start that she has been abused & it seems likely that he has too, in one way or another. But while she gains confidence from their romance, he only becomes manipulative and controlling. As they also act out The Taming of the Shrew in their high school drama class, we are supposed to see parallels between the 2 stories.
Kate was real enough that I wanted to know what happened to her. But I never fully believed in Evan as a character. This was due in part to some clunky writing and bad editing which I hope was fixed before the book came out. (I read an Advanced reader's copy). The plot idea is a strong one, if rather didactic. I'm disappointed that it wasn't better handled.
Kate was real enough that I wanted to know what happened to her. But I never fully believed in Evan as a character. This was due in part to some clunky writing and bad editing which I hope was fixed before the book came out. (I read an Advanced reader's copy). The plot idea is a strong one, if rather didactic. I'm disappointed that it wasn't better handled.
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