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Before My Eyes
In Caroline Bock's powerful new young adult novel Before My Eyes ,
someone is falling in love...someone is popping pills...and someone is hearing voices and has a gun. But no one wants to see what is happening right before their eyes. Set at the end of a seemingly endless summer in Long Island, New York and narrated in turns by Claire, Max, and Barkley, Before My Eyes captures a moment when possibilities should be opening up, but instead everything teeters on the brink of destruction.
someone is falling in love...someone is popping pills...and someone is hearing voices and has a gun. But no one wants to see what is happening right before their eyes. Set at the end of a seemingly endless summer in Long Island, New York and narrated in turns by Claire, Max, and Barkley, Before My Eyes captures a moment when possibilities should be opening up, but instead everything teeters on the brink of destruction.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2014
21 people are currently reading
2870 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Bock
13 books96 followersCaroline Bock writes micros to novels. Her latest novel, and her first for adults, The Other Beautiful People, is a workplace love story about a movie-loving marketing executive, and it will be published on June 2, 2026, by Regal House Publishing. Her short story collection, Carry Her Home, won the Fiction Award from the Washington Writers' Publishing House. She is also the author of acclaimed young adult novels LIE and Before My Eyes from St. Martin’s Press. Currently, she is the co-president and prose editor at the Washington Writers’ Publishing House. Prior to focusing on her writing/editing, she was a marketing and public relations executive in the cable industry for two decades, most notably at Bravo and IFC. She is a graduate of Syracuse University where she studied creative writing with Raymond Carver, earned an MFA in Fiction from the City College of New York, and often leads writing workshops at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda. She lives with her husband in Potomac, Maryland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
December 4, 2013
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book is not what I thought it would be. The characters were abnormal yet normal at the same time. For once, an author took everyday people and put them into a novel. The first is overweight, one is autistic (although it is never specifically said), another is dealing with a mental illness, one is essentially raising her sister after her mother collapsed at home, and the last is trying to figure out who he is vs. who his parents expect him to be. These are all people I run into in my everyday life and I really enjoyed how the author made them all a part of her novel. The book is portrayed during Labor Day weekend - the last weekend of the Summer. The book starts with Monday morning then flashes back to to the beginning of the weekend. Throughout the weekend, their lives all intertwine and finally come together that Monday morning and are changed in an instant, forever. Caroline Bock doesn't leave anything out. The emotions, thoughts, and feelings of her characters all come alive in a beautifully written story about how fragile life really is.
This book is not what I thought it would be. The characters were abnormal yet normal at the same time. For once, an author took everyday people and put them into a novel. The first is overweight, one is autistic (although it is never specifically said), another is dealing with a mental illness, one is essentially raising her sister after her mother collapsed at home, and the last is trying to figure out who he is vs. who his parents expect him to be. These are all people I run into in my everyday life and I really enjoyed how the author made them all a part of her novel. The book is portrayed during Labor Day weekend - the last weekend of the Summer. The book starts with Monday morning then flashes back to to the beginning of the weekend. Throughout the weekend, their lives all intertwine and finally come together that Monday morning and are changed in an instant, forever. Caroline Bock doesn't leave anything out. The emotions, thoughts, and feelings of her characters all come alive in a beautifully written story about how fragile life really is.
July 18, 2014
"Then I run toward the sea, crash through the waves. Most girls I know don't like the ocean. They love the beach, not the water. The ocean whips your hair, leaves sand in the roots, ruins your makeup, and is oblivious to how good-looking you are or are not. Those girls are anchored to their towels. Those girls are moored near the lifeguard, half a beach away. I don't understand those girls and never have. But that's okay. I've always been invisible to them. The sea is mine."
Who'd think that a book with a pretty and calm cover like this will end up being a shocking plot-twist turner and thriller? That's exactly why we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Because we will end up completely wrong and will regret our prediction.
This book was really touching and captivating. It has a different premise that is sure to please every YA reader. It's a page-turner that leaves you shocked in the end, and most of all, it's real.
Claire has been struggling with her life for a while now. The summer is almost done, and all she has been doing is taking care of her six year old little sister, Isabelle. Her dad is too busy working and paying for their mother's insurance. Her mother is lying on a bed in rehab after suffering from a stroke. Claire has always felt like the outsider and is looking for change. She then meets Brent online. She loves his attention and finally feels loved. When she meets Max, the state senator's seventeen year old son, things get a little weird. Barkley is the third POV. He's a guy suffering from schizophrenia, and he works alongside Max at a beach snack shop. When his head orders him to take out a gun, everything turns into a catastrophe.
You see, I've never read the summary. The cover captivated me, and I've heard some things about how this book somewhat has to do with the subject of schizophrenia. I was immediately captivated because I've been lately looking for a darker contemporary read, and this was a perfect example. It was utterly creepy but sweet at the same time.
The concept was really well thought out. You can tell that the author has done her research for a variety of subjects that are put in this novel. It deals with loss, fear, illnesses, love, and disaster. Some parts were happy and fun, but as we moved on to the end of the book, I was shocked with the terrible event that was coming. It was unexpected and depressing. I ended up so depressed by the end of the book and ended up in a strong book-hangover.
And that person was ME. Yes, I cried a little in the end because Claire's depression really began to act up after everything happened so fast. She didn't deserve any of that, but Caroline Bock here shows that you can't control fate.
When beginning this novel, I was hoping for something a little more fast-paced, but as I went on, I realized that slow-pacing is the way that readers can be entertained by reading this book. You need a slow-pace in order for that big catastrophic event to happen. The plot was good. It was a little mildly weird at times, but it fit for this kind of premise. I recommend this if you like a light-then-dark plot.
My only exception for this wonderfulness was the characters. I hated Barkley and didn't enjoy his POV and felt like it wasn't needed at all (even though we got to be in the mind of a schizophrenic and killer). Same with Claire. I couldn't relate to the two of them and found them very unlikeable. I was all ?_? the whole time. The only person I actually liked was Max. Hehe, he gave me the fangirl squeals. He was hot and beautiful and awkward and hilarious... Just the type of man that I like. :)
By the end, I was very pleased with this book. It was fun, but scary at the same time. The feel was very real. Things like this have occurred all over the world, and it sucks. But having it occur in a story was beautiful. Recommended? Absolutely, but if you need 100% relatable characters, then I'd say to gear away from this.
Who'd think that a book with a pretty and calm cover like this will end up being a shocking plot-twist turner and thriller? That's exactly why we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Because we will end up completely wrong and will regret our prediction.
This book was really touching and captivating. It has a different premise that is sure to please every YA reader. It's a page-turner that leaves you shocked in the end, and most of all, it's real.
Claire has been struggling with her life for a while now. The summer is almost done, and all she has been doing is taking care of her six year old little sister, Isabelle. Her dad is too busy working and paying for their mother's insurance. Her mother is lying on a bed in rehab after suffering from a stroke. Claire has always felt like the outsider and is looking for change. She then meets Brent online. She loves his attention and finally feels loved. When she meets Max, the state senator's seventeen year old son, things get a little weird. Barkley is the third POV. He's a guy suffering from schizophrenia, and he works alongside Max at a beach snack shop. When his head orders him to take out a gun, everything turns into a catastrophe.
You see, I've never read the summary. The cover captivated me, and I've heard some things about how this book somewhat has to do with the subject of schizophrenia. I was immediately captivated because I've been lately looking for a darker contemporary read, and this was a perfect example. It was utterly creepy but sweet at the same time.
The concept was really well thought out. You can tell that the author has done her research for a variety of subjects that are put in this novel. It deals with loss, fear, illnesses, love, and disaster. Some parts were happy and fun, but as we moved on to the end of the book, I was shocked with the terrible event that was coming. It was unexpected and depressing. I ended up so depressed by the end of the book and ended up in a strong book-hangover.
And that person was ME. Yes, I cried a little in the end because Claire's depression really began to act up after everything happened so fast. She didn't deserve any of that, but Caroline Bock here shows that you can't control fate.
When beginning this novel, I was hoping for something a little more fast-paced, but as I went on, I realized that slow-pacing is the way that readers can be entertained by reading this book. You need a slow-pace in order for that big catastrophic event to happen. The plot was good. It was a little mildly weird at times, but it fit for this kind of premise. I recommend this if you like a light-then-dark plot.
My only exception for this wonderfulness was the characters. I hated Barkley and didn't enjoy his POV and felt like it wasn't needed at all (even though we got to be in the mind of a schizophrenic and killer). Same with Claire. I couldn't relate to the two of them and found them very unlikeable. I was all ?_? the whole time. The only person I actually liked was Max. Hehe, he gave me the fangirl squeals. He was hot and beautiful and awkward and hilarious... Just the type of man that I like. :)
By the end, I was very pleased with this book. It was fun, but scary at the same time. The feel was very real. Things like this have occurred all over the world, and it sucks. But having it occur in a story was beautiful. Recommended? Absolutely, but if you need 100% relatable characters, then I'd say to gear away from this.
March 21, 2014
I think all the lawmakers should be required to read this book before voting on many of today's issues. A great read for any English or Social Studies class---debate team--or mock trial group--promotes discussion of domestic issues we need to deal with in a way middle school to adult ages can comprehend. Wow! I had to finish this in one sitting. Excellent story. All that can happen in six days!
December 10, 2017
I am sad to say that I could not get through this book. I tried but it just wasn't for me. I'm going to try later on to give it another go.
August 31, 2016
Summary:
Each character narrates their own story. Claire's mother has had a stroke. This has left her disabled and in a rehab facility. Because of this, Claire has had to grow up fast and take on more responsibility at home. Not only is she cooking and cleaning, but she is also completely in charge of raising her six year old sister. As money is starting to run out, all Claire wants to do is have some one else care about her for a change. Max is the son of a senator who was suckered into working at the Snack Shack for the summer. His father thought it would be good for him and the family image when it came to election time. All Max wants to do is escape and do something fun with his friends. He hates that he has to always be a certain way for his father's political career. Finally, Barkley is another employee at the Snack Shack. He's much different than the other people that work there. He keeps to himself and seems to behave awkwardly. This may be the summer that he just gives in to those voices in his head. The three seem to be living fairly separate lives until they cross at a political rally where Barkley has brought a gun. What will happen on that faithful Labor day?
My thoughts:
This was much better than I had anticipated. I usually dislike when a story is told from too many different character viewpoints. In my opinion, there ends up being holes that are annoying. Anyways, I was happy that this was done well. Each character is fully developed and definitely has their own issues. There is a huge build up to the climax and I was never disappointed. There was a twist that I didn't see coming, which actually shocked me. Also, the ending is just fantastic. I'm happy that I read this and hope that it reaches many more.
Each character narrates their own story. Claire's mother has had a stroke. This has left her disabled and in a rehab facility. Because of this, Claire has had to grow up fast and take on more responsibility at home. Not only is she cooking and cleaning, but she is also completely in charge of raising her six year old sister. As money is starting to run out, all Claire wants to do is have some one else care about her for a change. Max is the son of a senator who was suckered into working at the Snack Shack for the summer. His father thought it would be good for him and the family image when it came to election time. All Max wants to do is escape and do something fun with his friends. He hates that he has to always be a certain way for his father's political career. Finally, Barkley is another employee at the Snack Shack. He's much different than the other people that work there. He keeps to himself and seems to behave awkwardly. This may be the summer that he just gives in to those voices in his head. The three seem to be living fairly separate lives until they cross at a political rally where Barkley has brought a gun. What will happen on that faithful Labor day?
My thoughts:
This was much better than I had anticipated. I usually dislike when a story is told from too many different character viewpoints. In my opinion, there ends up being holes that are annoying. Anyways, I was happy that this was done well. Each character is fully developed and definitely has their own issues. There is a huge build up to the climax and I was never disappointed. There was a twist that I didn't see coming, which actually shocked me. Also, the ending is just fantastic. I'm happy that I read this and hope that it reaches many more.
December 18, 2015
Today, (December 18, 2015) I heard about a bullying incident with someone who has special needs! The situation broke my heart and reminded me how we need more than ever to have our young adults read books that open their eyes. BEFORE MY EYES is that that novel! If you didn't know about this book, add it to your TBR list! It's IMPORTANT!
Three characters narrate this powerful story. One has schizophrenia, another is coping with a mother who suffered a series of strokes, and another uses prescription drugs to dull out the pain of his life. Issues of friendship, family, physical health, mental health, and bullying are hot-button issues in this novel. Brutally and unapologetically realistic, BEFORE MY EYES will open your eyes to some tough situations. It's an important book.
I read this novel a few weeks ago, so I've had some time to think about what else I wanted to add to this review. Here are few key issues that I have thought about:
1. Everyone has some issues they have to deal with in life. This novel covers the topics mentioned in the first paragraph in a symbiotic way that connects the characters to the readers.
2. How we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us can be two very different viewpoints.
3. Parents don't always have answers. They're sometimes figuring out life as much as a young adult.
4. Bad things happen, and it can appear to be completely random. Sometimes there aren't any answers. It's how you cope.
BEFORE MY EYES isn't an easy novel. It deals with some tough, tough issues. But it will open eyes, and that's immensely important.
Three characters narrate this powerful story. One has schizophrenia, another is coping with a mother who suffered a series of strokes, and another uses prescription drugs to dull out the pain of his life. Issues of friendship, family, physical health, mental health, and bullying are hot-button issues in this novel. Brutally and unapologetically realistic, BEFORE MY EYES will open your eyes to some tough situations. It's an important book.
I read this novel a few weeks ago, so I've had some time to think about what else I wanted to add to this review. Here are few key issues that I have thought about:
1. Everyone has some issues they have to deal with in life. This novel covers the topics mentioned in the first paragraph in a symbiotic way that connects the characters to the readers.
2. How we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us can be two very different viewpoints.
3. Parents don't always have answers. They're sometimes figuring out life as much as a young adult.
4. Bad things happen, and it can appear to be completely random. Sometimes there aren't any answers. It's how you cope.
BEFORE MY EYES isn't an easy novel. It deals with some tough, tough issues. But it will open eyes, and that's immensely important.
April 6, 2014
Absolutely loved it. Although the main characters are older teens (and a 21 year old) and the book is marketed as a YA book, it did not read like a typical YA novel. One thing I really enjoyed was the lack of predictability in the novel; although the novel begins with the viewpoint of Barkley,who brings a gun to a state senator's campaign event (so that you know the end will either involve a shooting or someone talking the shooter, Barkley, from using his weapon), the novel charts the lives of the tree teens who are all connected, in different ways, to this incident. It is refreshing to read a YA novel where there the ending is not something easily anticipated. I also liked how the three different narrators have different voices. Often, in novels told from different characters' viewpoints, each character sounds the same. I have one small quibble--the ending seemed a little didactic. I think that's partially because issues of responsibility and "what could I have done to stop this" are common responses, and have an inner life of their own, so that treating them in a more detailed manner might necessitate a much longer novel.
Still, I recommend it highly.
Still, I recommend it highly.
April 30, 2014
I liked the different perspectives. I didn't feel as though it was told from 3 perspectives because Caroline Bock felt like it. The different POVs really added something to the story. I would actually get bored during Barkleys, but that was the most interesting, but I at times I was wandering off. I got bored at the beginning and set the book aside for a little bit. The end got unexpectdedly intense, but I liked the way it played out. The ending I like and dislike. It doesn't give more information than you need, and ends on a solid scene. But... I kind of want to know if Jackson became friends with Max again, and if Claire's mom had any more strokes, and how the whole North/South worked out. So while I wish there was an epilogue or something, I'm glad it ended where it did. It would have been weird if it ended anywhere else. So, overall, not amazing, but I don't regret reading it.
May 22, 2016
This could have been so much more, but it just didn't come together. The premise attracted me right away--a young man with paranoid schizophrenia and a shooting at the beach--but for such an emotional, intense idea, the story lacked both emotions and intensity. It moved incredibly slowly at times, and there were several instances of repetition that felt either accidental and out of place or awkwardly intentional. I found myself engaged only a couple times--mosly when our multiple narrators actually interact, which happens far too little. Disappointing.
October 9, 2014
A departure from the usual YA lit, this is a startling and honest read captured by three perspectives about the last few days of summer leading up to an unexpected event that changes everything. It starts off a little removed but as the characters develop, you become curious to learn more about the actions leading up to the event and its aftermath.
3.5
3.5
September 2, 2014
i didnt want to put it down. the characters intrigued me and it was a shocking reality that things like this happen everyday.
September 1, 2016
Contemporary Fiction can take on many forms, it can be lighthearted and fun, but it can also be very dark and deal with situations that many would not like to read about. And Before My Eyes is the later version. This book is dark, but also has moments of lighthearted-ness, told in three perspectives, it tells the story of three teens who are troubled in very different ways, yet somehow have commonalities.
Claire is a young woman dealing with the aftermath and guilt of witnessing her mothers stroke and not being able to do much about it. And the fact that her father had pretty much left her in charge of the house and her little sister, something she would rather not have to deal with. Reading her story made me feel extremely bad for, and yet I understood her fathers point of view as well. Her mother was in rehab, the money was short and he did not have time to take care of everything else. Yet Claire, being only a teenager only saw it as him abandoning her and her sister. And reading her hatred for him and in some ways her mother, was hard.
Max is a completely different story to Claire, yet similar in some respects. He is the son of two very powerful Politicians who seem to care more for the campaign then they do their son. And Max also being addicted to pain killers after a soccer accident doesn't help things much. Although his story is not as tragic as some other, it is still hard to read. His parents seem to care more about their public life then their home life and Max seems to be the one left out of the equation.
Barkley was probably the hardest character to read because he was the catalyst for this entire story. He is the beginning middle and end. We first meet him as he is walking through Max's fathers campaign tent with a gun in his pocket, ready to make everyone understand him. Yet it is what happens in the middle of the story that is the most gut wrenching. In the middle if the story we are brought back to the summer before the campaign and it is here that we read how disturbed Barkley was, and how much he was seeking love and attention from those around him. I think the hardest part about reading his point of view was the fact that as readers, we knew he had a mental disability, yet everyone around him just seemed to think he was odd. Even his parents did not pay that much attention to him, and did not see the signs and I think that is what broke me the most.
This story is not one to be taken lightly, it is hard to read in places, yet uplifting in others. I loved the way that these three characters intertwined into each other's life and changed each other forever. It is not every day that you read a book that changes you, but this one will.
Claire is a young woman dealing with the aftermath and guilt of witnessing her mothers stroke and not being able to do much about it. And the fact that her father had pretty much left her in charge of the house and her little sister, something she would rather not have to deal with. Reading her story made me feel extremely bad for, and yet I understood her fathers point of view as well. Her mother was in rehab, the money was short and he did not have time to take care of everything else. Yet Claire, being only a teenager only saw it as him abandoning her and her sister. And reading her hatred for him and in some ways her mother, was hard.
Max is a completely different story to Claire, yet similar in some respects. He is the son of two very powerful Politicians who seem to care more for the campaign then they do their son. And Max also being addicted to pain killers after a soccer accident doesn't help things much. Although his story is not as tragic as some other, it is still hard to read. His parents seem to care more about their public life then their home life and Max seems to be the one left out of the equation.
Barkley was probably the hardest character to read because he was the catalyst for this entire story. He is the beginning middle and end. We first meet him as he is walking through Max's fathers campaign tent with a gun in his pocket, ready to make everyone understand him. Yet it is what happens in the middle of the story that is the most gut wrenching. In the middle if the story we are brought back to the summer before the campaign and it is here that we read how disturbed Barkley was, and how much he was seeking love and attention from those around him. I think the hardest part about reading his point of view was the fact that as readers, we knew he had a mental disability, yet everyone around him just seemed to think he was odd. Even his parents did not pay that much attention to him, and did not see the signs and I think that is what broke me the most.
This story is not one to be taken lightly, it is hard to read in places, yet uplifting in others. I loved the way that these three characters intertwined into each other's life and changed each other forever. It is not every day that you read a book that changes you, but this one will.
February 18, 2015
3.5 of 5 stars
A political rally. A gun. A twenty-one year old paranoid schizophrenic. A plan that only makes sense in his jumbled mind. Shots.
BEFORE MY EYES starts off with a literal bang. We know that Snack Shack worker Barkley brings a gun to the reelection rally of his coworker, sixteen-year-old Max's state senator father. Arriving at the rally just in time for the rally, Claire, Max's crush and the object of Barkley's obsession.
Told in the POVs of Barkley, Max and Claire, Carolyn Bock has created three very different characters who interact over Labor Day weekend with tragic consequences. I was drawn into the story immediately, curious who had been shot, who lived and who did not survive. I connected most with Claire, who has spent the summer watching her energetic six-year-old sister after their mother's stroke. Although she presented a depressed and weary POV, her voice seemed appropriate. Max was my favorite character, the most complex who had the most growth over the long weekend. Having worked with paranoid schizophrenics as a psychologist, I thought Barkley's chapters showed too much organized thinking for someone on the cusp of a psychotic break. He showed almost no clinical paranoid that was mentioned. His chapters should have been shorter and more disorganized or perhaps written in 3rd person with his jumbled thoughts in italics. I also thought Barkley should have either been obsessed with Claire or with making his political point to be more clinically accurate. Most unmediated schizophrenics in his state wouldn't be organized enough to switch back and forth between focuses. Bock did a good job explaining that the mentally ill aren't more violence that the general population (if fact, they're more likely to be victims and perpetrators of violent crimes). My biggest criticism is that Barkley's parents were caricatures of old stereotypes of parents who were thought to have caused their children's mental illnesses.
BEFORE MY EYES held my interest from beginning to end. I cared about Max and Claire and their journeys. I couldn't connect to Barkley, but I think that was Bock's idea, to illustrate his difficulty relating to others and developing relationships.
Themes: schizophrenia, mental illness, parent and teen relationships, drug abuse, bullying.
I recommend BEFORE MY EYES as an interesting, quick read, but not as a primer for understanding schizophrenia.
A political rally. A gun. A twenty-one year old paranoid schizophrenic. A plan that only makes sense in his jumbled mind. Shots.
BEFORE MY EYES starts off with a literal bang. We know that Snack Shack worker Barkley brings a gun to the reelection rally of his coworker, sixteen-year-old Max's state senator father. Arriving at the rally just in time for the rally, Claire, Max's crush and the object of Barkley's obsession.
Told in the POVs of Barkley, Max and Claire, Carolyn Bock has created three very different characters who interact over Labor Day weekend with tragic consequences. I was drawn into the story immediately, curious who had been shot, who lived and who did not survive. I connected most with Claire, who has spent the summer watching her energetic six-year-old sister after their mother's stroke. Although she presented a depressed and weary POV, her voice seemed appropriate. Max was my favorite character, the most complex who had the most growth over the long weekend. Having worked with paranoid schizophrenics as a psychologist, I thought Barkley's chapters showed too much organized thinking for someone on the cusp of a psychotic break. He showed almost no clinical paranoid that was mentioned. His chapters should have been shorter and more disorganized or perhaps written in 3rd person with his jumbled thoughts in italics. I also thought Barkley should have either been obsessed with Claire or with making his political point to be more clinically accurate. Most unmediated schizophrenics in his state wouldn't be organized enough to switch back and forth between focuses. Bock did a good job explaining that the mentally ill aren't more violence that the general population (if fact, they're more likely to be victims and perpetrators of violent crimes). My biggest criticism is that Barkley's parents were caricatures of old stereotypes of parents who were thought to have caused their children's mental illnesses.
BEFORE MY EYES held my interest from beginning to end. I cared about Max and Claire and their journeys. I couldn't connect to Barkley, but I think that was Bock's idea, to illustrate his difficulty relating to others and developing relationships.
Themes: schizophrenia, mental illness, parent and teen relationships, drug abuse, bullying.
I recommend BEFORE MY EYES as an interesting, quick read, but not as a primer for understanding schizophrenia.
February 17, 2014
Claire desperately wants to be a normal seventeen year old girl. Max desperately wants to be a normal seventeen year old boy. Barkley desperately wants to be understood and respected. Each has serious impediments standing between them and their desires.
Claire's mother had a stroke and is in a rehab hospital, but the insurance money has run out. She's been stuck taking care of her six year old sister Izzy all summer, while her father practically lives at the hospital. While she loves Izzy, she really wants to be a teen, not an adult and it might be nice to have someone care about her, too.
Max has been stuck working at the Snack Shack all summer, instead of having fun like all his preppy friends. It was his father's idea because it would make the family look good during Dad's re-election campaign for the state senate. It doesn't help that his back is killing him and he's had to resort to stealing his father's pain pills, nor does working with Trish and Peter help his self-esteem. Communication at home is pretty bad and he feels adrift.
Barkley also works at the Snack Shack, but doesn't interact much, or fit in at all. He spends most of his time in his head, listening to a voice that urges him to act on an impulse that's really scary. He was expelled from the local community college after attacking a teacher. His days involve avoiding bathing or drinking water, playing violent video games on his computer and sending letters and emails about environmental issues.
Told in alternating chapters, the book takes readers inside each of the three main characters' heads as they move toward a terrible event on Labor Day. By the time the story reaches its climax, you have a very good understanding of all three characters as well as most of the minor ones. Developmentally disabled Peter and overweight Trish become both likable and very sympathetic players near the end. Part unusual love story, part portrait of a person succumbing to a serious mental illness, this is a griping read that has moments of violence that might make younger teens very uncomfortable. For everyone else, it's a very well-crafted and hard to put down read.
Claire's mother had a stroke and is in a rehab hospital, but the insurance money has run out. She's been stuck taking care of her six year old sister Izzy all summer, while her father practically lives at the hospital. While she loves Izzy, she really wants to be a teen, not an adult and it might be nice to have someone care about her, too.
Max has been stuck working at the Snack Shack all summer, instead of having fun like all his preppy friends. It was his father's idea because it would make the family look good during Dad's re-election campaign for the state senate. It doesn't help that his back is killing him and he's had to resort to stealing his father's pain pills, nor does working with Trish and Peter help his self-esteem. Communication at home is pretty bad and he feels adrift.
Barkley also works at the Snack Shack, but doesn't interact much, or fit in at all. He spends most of his time in his head, listening to a voice that urges him to act on an impulse that's really scary. He was expelled from the local community college after attacking a teacher. His days involve avoiding bathing or drinking water, playing violent video games on his computer and sending letters and emails about environmental issues.
Told in alternating chapters, the book takes readers inside each of the three main characters' heads as they move toward a terrible event on Labor Day. By the time the story reaches its climax, you have a very good understanding of all three characters as well as most of the minor ones. Developmentally disabled Peter and overweight Trish become both likable and very sympathetic players near the end. Part unusual love story, part portrait of a person succumbing to a serious mental illness, this is a griping read that has moments of violence that might make younger teens very uncomfortable. For everyone else, it's a very well-crafted and hard to put down read.
May 27, 2014
Told through the eyes of three young people, Before My Eyes gives a spellbinding account of an event which will change their lives. Covering the timeline of a single weekend, the narrative loops back from the climax, giving insight into the little details of events and personalities leading to that point. We see characters and action in turn from the points of view of Claire (an artistic girl whose family is struggling to cope with her mother's near-fatal stroke), Max (a shy teen trying to find his own identity apart from his parents' political lives), and Barkley (chillingly drawn by Bock in the midst of his burgeoning paranoid schizophrenia).
The trio's lives intersect a number of times over the course of the weekend: at Snack Shack where Max and Barkley have summer jobs, online as Claire posts her poetry and Barkley (posing as Brent) responds, in a dramatic surf rescue and later at Max's party in lead up to the political campaign event where the drama unfolds. While each character is fragile in ways not uncommon to teenagers, the driving force of the narrative isn't the burgeoning romance (or even the love triangle), but Barkley's unravelling mind.
In deftly written narrative, each voice distinct and clearly identifiable, the suspense builds scene by scene. (The only hiccup for me was the explanation of paranoid schizophrenia, no doubt inserted to inform teenage readers.)
Trapped outside the action, we alone as readers see the triangulated viewpoints. We watch as parents become alarmed, struggle to put interventions in place, then realise in horror the unfolding catastrophe.
The apt title, Before my Eyes' gives a direct message to the reader: 'There is so much more to everything that what meets the eye.' It raises many questions: What is 'seeing'? What is 'knowing'? There are many facets to this beautifully written story which will stay with me, along with its vividly drawn, believable characters.
Consider reading this excellent novel alongside "We Need to Talk about Kevin' by Lionel Shriver, or Jodi Picoult's 'Nineteen Minutes'. It's a chilling expose of mental illness.
4 1/2 stars
The trio's lives intersect a number of times over the course of the weekend: at Snack Shack where Max and Barkley have summer jobs, online as Claire posts her poetry and Barkley (posing as Brent) responds, in a dramatic surf rescue and later at Max's party in lead up to the political campaign event where the drama unfolds. While each character is fragile in ways not uncommon to teenagers, the driving force of the narrative isn't the burgeoning romance (or even the love triangle), but Barkley's unravelling mind.
In deftly written narrative, each voice distinct and clearly identifiable, the suspense builds scene by scene. (The only hiccup for me was the explanation of paranoid schizophrenia, no doubt inserted to inform teenage readers.)
Trapped outside the action, we alone as readers see the triangulated viewpoints. We watch as parents become alarmed, struggle to put interventions in place, then realise in horror the unfolding catastrophe.
The apt title, Before my Eyes' gives a direct message to the reader: 'There is so much more to everything that what meets the eye.' It raises many questions: What is 'seeing'? What is 'knowing'? There are many facets to this beautifully written story which will stay with me, along with its vividly drawn, believable characters.
Consider reading this excellent novel alongside "We Need to Talk about Kevin' by Lionel Shriver, or Jodi Picoult's 'Nineteen Minutes'. It's a chilling expose of mental illness.
4 1/2 stars
January 17, 2014
I received this book through netgalley.com. Thank you to netgalley.com, St. Martin's Press, and Caroline Bock.
This book was told in the alternating perspectives of Claire, Max, and Barkley. Each of the characters is struggling with their own personal issues while trying to fit in and be a "normal" teenager. In their struggles, the world slowly teeters out of control.
Max is the son of a senator who is forced to work an ordinary job at the Snack Shack during the summer. This, like everything for his parents, is for the image that it portrays - the average, non-privileged working man. He struggles with his friendships with his coworkers (an overweight girl, a special education student, and an outsider) because they are not people from his upper class side of town. Claire is an ordinary girl who's life is suddenly turned upside down when her psychologist mother has a stroke. Claire is forced to take responsibility for her younger sister while her mother is hospitalized and her father is away at the hospital. She longs to be free...and to be noticed. Barkley is hearing voices and steps further and further away from sanity as the book progresses. He is a potential time bomb unless someone notices and intervenes.
Peter and Trish, although secondary characters, added a lot of depth to the story in my opinion. I loved their kind-hearted nature and their roles in the story. The book just wouldn't be as wonderful without them.
I loved that the characters in this book were flawed and very normal. Everyone's life has it's own struggles and, like these characters, sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves that we forget to notice the people around us. I struggled with the ending a little bit because it was just question upon question and there was no real closure for me. Although, in real life, there would be no ending but rather a continuation so I suppose it was appropriate.
I highly recommend this book in the YA category.
This book was told in the alternating perspectives of Claire, Max, and Barkley. Each of the characters is struggling with their own personal issues while trying to fit in and be a "normal" teenager. In their struggles, the world slowly teeters out of control.
Max is the son of a senator who is forced to work an ordinary job at the Snack Shack during the summer. This, like everything for his parents, is for the image that it portrays - the average, non-privileged working man. He struggles with his friendships with his coworkers (an overweight girl, a special education student, and an outsider) because they are not people from his upper class side of town. Claire is an ordinary girl who's life is suddenly turned upside down when her psychologist mother has a stroke. Claire is forced to take responsibility for her younger sister while her mother is hospitalized and her father is away at the hospital. She longs to be free...and to be noticed. Barkley is hearing voices and steps further and further away from sanity as the book progresses. He is a potential time bomb unless someone notices and intervenes.
Peter and Trish, although secondary characters, added a lot of depth to the story in my opinion. I loved their kind-hearted nature and their roles in the story. The book just wouldn't be as wonderful without them.
I loved that the characters in this book were flawed and very normal. Everyone's life has it's own struggles and, like these characters, sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves that we forget to notice the people around us. I struggled with the ending a little bit because it was just question upon question and there was no real closure for me. Although, in real life, there would be no ending but rather a continuation so I suppose it was appropriate.
I highly recommend this book in the YA category.
March 10, 2014
Received a copy from NetGalley for a review.
This book is told in alternating perspectives between Barkley, Max, and Claire. I knew the lives of these three people were going to mesh but I honestly was not sure how since each of them had such different circumstances.
You know right from the start that there is an issue with a gun. You can eventually guess what is going to happen but you don't know how, or why, or who or the magnitude of it. I actually kept thinking that things were going to be different than what happened.
The pain of the characters at the end really made this book for me. The grappling of why?! Why did this happen? Could I have stopped it? Was there something more I could have done? How did I contribute to it? The survivor's guilt of the characters was emotional.
The book can easily be led into a discussion. The issue of mental illness is at the forefront. Could someone have done something? Could they have gotten him some help? Did anyone see any signs that there was something wrong? Was his mental illness really the cause for what the did?
The next issue the book can have in a discussion is gun control. People will ask how he got the gun? If they knew about his mental illness, could he have still gotten the gun? Why was the security so lack?
Then there are the background issues of isolation, bullying, loneliness, trying to be someone you are not, friendship, comfort, family issues, and so on and so on. Caroline Bock really tackles a lot of issues in this book and i think that is what made it so poignant. There are many things to think about and many ways this book could have gone. It was a great read and I highly recommend it for anyone...especially if they want to discuss it!
This book is told in alternating perspectives between Barkley, Max, and Claire. I knew the lives of these three people were going to mesh but I honestly was not sure how since each of them had such different circumstances.
You know right from the start that there is an issue with a gun. You can eventually guess what is going to happen but you don't know how, or why, or who or the magnitude of it. I actually kept thinking that things were going to be different than what happened.
The pain of the characters at the end really made this book for me. The grappling of why?! Why did this happen? Could I have stopped it? Was there something more I could have done? How did I contribute to it? The survivor's guilt of the characters was emotional.
The book can easily be led into a discussion. The issue of mental illness is at the forefront. Could someone have done something? Could they have gotten him some help? Did anyone see any signs that there was something wrong? Was his mental illness really the cause for what the did?
The next issue the book can have in a discussion is gun control. People will ask how he got the gun? If they knew about his mental illness, could he have still gotten the gun? Why was the security so lack?
Then there are the background issues of isolation, bullying, loneliness, trying to be someone you are not, friendship, comfort, family issues, and so on and so on. Caroline Bock really tackles a lot of issues in this book and i think that is what made it so poignant. There are many things to think about and many ways this book could have gone. It was a great read and I highly recommend it for anyone...especially if they want to discuss it!
March 18, 2014
Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
3.5 stars
I write this review after finishing this book 3-4 days ago, and it definitely gave me some much needed perspective. As much as I really enjoyed this book, it can definitely be a little generic with its young adult tropes (present in the minor characters and narrative structure of putting the end at the beginning). Additionally, some of the character's behavior really bothered me, although this may have been the author's way of showing their humanity. It's also easy to see how forgettable this book is, especially since its already fading rapidly from my memory.
Despite my complaints, this book has a really great, unique concept of a love triangle. It stayed interesting throughout, and maintained and added tension masterfully. The writing style is simple and very young adult, but occasionally the author's style showed through in a beautiful way. This book has its moments of brilliance throughout, and I saw the author as possibly getting into more adult fiction.
My favorite thing about this book was that it didn't do the horrible quick wrap-up at the end. If you've read any of my other reviews, you'll see that I complain about this constantly, even with some of my favorite books (A Wrinkle in Time). This book really took its time to wrap up, wander through the character's emotions and reactions, and explain everything concisely.
Overall, if you like romantic/suspenseful young adult fiction, I would definitely recommend this book. It isn't mind-blowing or genre-breaking, but it's very interesting and is more unique than most young-adult romance novels.
3.5 stars
I write this review after finishing this book 3-4 days ago, and it definitely gave me some much needed perspective. As much as I really enjoyed this book, it can definitely be a little generic with its young adult tropes (present in the minor characters and narrative structure of putting the end at the beginning). Additionally, some of the character's behavior really bothered me, although this may have been the author's way of showing their humanity. It's also easy to see how forgettable this book is, especially since its already fading rapidly from my memory.
Despite my complaints, this book has a really great, unique concept of a love triangle. It stayed interesting throughout, and maintained and added tension masterfully. The writing style is simple and very young adult, but occasionally the author's style showed through in a beautiful way. This book has its moments of brilliance throughout, and I saw the author as possibly getting into more adult fiction.
My favorite thing about this book was that it didn't do the horrible quick wrap-up at the end. If you've read any of my other reviews, you'll see that I complain about this constantly, even with some of my favorite books (A Wrinkle in Time). This book really took its time to wrap up, wander through the character's emotions and reactions, and explain everything concisely.
Overall, if you like romantic/suspenseful young adult fiction, I would definitely recommend this book. It isn't mind-blowing or genre-breaking, but it's very interesting and is more unique than most young-adult romance novels.
April 8, 2014
"Before My Eyes" opens with a relatively normal scene: a white tent, in a park, during Labor Day weekend. It becomes clear early on that Barkley threatens to change all of that.
Through the eyes or Max, Barkley, and Claire we get to witness how events unravel. Max is the privileged son of a politician, who works at the Snack Shack, and is addicted to pills. Barkley also works at the Snack Shack, but spends more time counting water bottles then helping beach goers. Claire escapes her overwhelming home life by swimming in the ocean, and writing poems.
As the story unfolds, these three seemingly unrelated narratives become more entangled as the summer comes to a chilling end.
Why I picked it up: Caroline Bock was a guest author of my book club, and I won a free copy. I thought that it being inspired by the 2011 Arizona shooting that left six dead and gravely injured U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was enthralling.
Why I finished it: Claire was by far the most likable character out of the bunch, and I found her poetic voice and circumstances to be the driving force behind the story. The alternating narratives can get a little old.
Who I’d give it too: I’d give this to anyone who is fascinated with mental health, especially the downward spiral an individual experiences when they have schizophrenia. Anyone interested in messed up families, or likes to read or write poetry might also like this.
Happy Reading!
Through the eyes or Max, Barkley, and Claire we get to witness how events unravel. Max is the privileged son of a politician, who works at the Snack Shack, and is addicted to pills. Barkley also works at the Snack Shack, but spends more time counting water bottles then helping beach goers. Claire escapes her overwhelming home life by swimming in the ocean, and writing poems.
As the story unfolds, these three seemingly unrelated narratives become more entangled as the summer comes to a chilling end.
Why I picked it up: Caroline Bock was a guest author of my book club, and I won a free copy. I thought that it being inspired by the 2011 Arizona shooting that left six dead and gravely injured U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was enthralling.
Why I finished it: Claire was by far the most likable character out of the bunch, and I found her poetic voice and circumstances to be the driving force behind the story. The alternating narratives can get a little old.
Who I’d give it too: I’d give this to anyone who is fascinated with mental health, especially the downward spiral an individual experiences when they have schizophrenia. Anyone interested in messed up families, or likes to read or write poetry might also like this.
Happy Reading!
February 24, 2014
It's Labor Day weekend. Max is the privileged boy-next-door forced to put on a smile and help his dad win the big election. Barkley is fighting the voices in his head and checking and double checking the gun he has purchased remains in his desk drawer. Claire fights to forget her dad is absent and her mom is sick and she is left to deal with the house and the bills and her little sister and all she really wants is to enjoy a day at the beach like all the other kids her age. At first glance, it would appear these three don't have much in common, besides narrating this story, but their lives are weaved together in unexpected ways. Unfortunately, I didn't much care for any of these characters or their stories. It could have been intriguing, but it just wasn't. The last twenty or so pages really were the highlight of the book (and not just because it was almost over), but by then it was almost too late. I wish the story had started there instead and tied the pieces together with short flashbacks. The author could have written a brilliant piece about the exploration of mental illness and teens, but it was really only given a few pages instead. Reading the description of this book, looking at the cover, and thinking about the title conveys a much more light-hearted book than what this really is. A lot of it just doesn't add up and falls short.
March 3, 2014
I absolutely loved this book. In a story like this, multiple narrators could be tricky, especially given the fact that one of them is mentally ill, but Bock pulled it off quite well.
I also appreciate the fact that Barkley wasn't a caricature. He obviously has mental issues (an undiagnosed case of paranoid schizophrenia) but he's not portrayed as over-the-top. He's just a little off, the kind of thing that is so easy to misconstrue as quirkiness or a slight oddity.
I especially loved Max and Claire, two characters that were forced to grow up long before they wanted to. Max has the pressure of trying to be the perfect son as his dad campaigns for re-election and Claire is pretty much raising her sister after her mom was hospitalized for a stroke and her dad works long hours to keep the family going (and pay for his wife's hospital/rehab stay). I also love how both characters are realistic. They accept their lot in life and perform the duties they're expected to, but they aren't saints about it.
I had such a sense of dread reading this book. From the synopsis, we know what's coming but we don't know how bad it will be. I kept hoping that someone would figure out what was going on in time to stop it.
Highly recommended.
I also appreciate the fact that Barkley wasn't a caricature. He obviously has mental issues (an undiagnosed case of paranoid schizophrenia) but he's not portrayed as over-the-top. He's just a little off, the kind of thing that is so easy to misconstrue as quirkiness or a slight oddity.
I especially loved Max and Claire, two characters that were forced to grow up long before they wanted to. Max has the pressure of trying to be the perfect son as his dad campaigns for re-election and Claire is pretty much raising her sister after her mom was hospitalized for a stroke and her dad works long hours to keep the family going (and pay for his wife's hospital/rehab stay). I also love how both characters are realistic. They accept their lot in life and perform the duties they're expected to, but they aren't saints about it.
I had such a sense of dread reading this book. From the synopsis, we know what's coming but we don't know how bad it will be. I kept hoping that someone would figure out what was going on in time to stop it.
Highly recommended.
January 19, 2014
Gun control or not to gun control?
When Barkley stops bathing, starts hearing voices, and buys a gun you can be pretty sure that the summer by the shore is going to be explosive.
When Matt, who's senator father wants him to be a great kid, as long he's able to campaign and not embarrass his politically power drunk mom, wants to buy prescription drugs from Barkley to get him through a soccer injury, you can guess this summer is shot.
When Claire's mom has a stroke and her father becomes physically and emotionally unavailable, Claire has to assume responsibility for the household and her sister. Claire starts getting email from an online stranger who "LOVES" her poetry blog. She's so excited to meet him face-to-face, but you guessed it, this summer is going to end with a bang.
It all culminates in an angsty teen drama that will keep you tapping your thumb on your Kindle for just one more page.
The characters are well drawn and the interactions between them are dead on.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley with no provision for a good or bad review.
Top Hat Reviews
When Barkley stops bathing, starts hearing voices, and buys a gun you can be pretty sure that the summer by the shore is going to be explosive.
When Matt, who's senator father wants him to be a great kid, as long he's able to campaign and not embarrass his politically power drunk mom, wants to buy prescription drugs from Barkley to get him through a soccer injury, you can guess this summer is shot.
When Claire's mom has a stroke and her father becomes physically and emotionally unavailable, Claire has to assume responsibility for the household and her sister. Claire starts getting email from an online stranger who "LOVES" her poetry blog. She's so excited to meet him face-to-face, but you guessed it, this summer is going to end with a bang.
It all culminates in an angsty teen drama that will keep you tapping your thumb on your Kindle for just one more page.
The characters are well drawn and the interactions between them are dead on.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley with no provision for a good or bad review.
Top Hat Reviews
February 6, 2014
This book almost kept me up all night. I managed to wrest some control away from the screen of my Kindle at about 1 a.m. though, and I was somehow able to keep from finishing it all the way until the next afternoon. To say that I enjoyed this book would not be entirely true – it’s sad and scary and not altogether enjoyable, exactly – but I still couldn’t stop reading. The characters felt real, even more so because of Bock’s decision to filter the action through three narrators. The crooked timeline also helped the character development, because sometimes seeing the effect before you understand the cause makes you even more eager to find out what’s going on in the hearts and minds of the characters. In the wake of mass shootings that have come more and more frequently in the last few years, I was impressed that Bock managed to write a book with a violent teen as a central character without it coming off as preachy or cheesy. Instead of feeling like a caricature, Barkley just felt real. Some YA authors have trouble speaking in the voice of young adults, but Caroline Bock is not one of them.
March 9, 2014
This book will be staying with me for awhile...the premise about teens engulfed in their own problems during summer vacation really results in can't put it down reading when a fellow worker explodes with a gun during a campaign event. The way the author, Caroline Bock, uses three voices to narrate this life altering event over a few day period was compelling. Barkley, the shooter, and Claire, hero and victim, and Max, hero and victim, are forever changed by Barkley's actions. They blame themselves for not seeing Barkley's erratic behavior and alerting adults, police, etc. to his psychosis. But Claire and Max have their own problems that causes them to withdraw into themselves and not really be aware of what others are thinking, feeling and saying. In the end, my three favorite characters who are GOOD throughout the book are my heroes- Trish, Peter, and King, Max's dog. During the crisis, they were motivated by bravery and action and did not think about themselves, but only how to help others that fateful day. This book will generate much discussion about teens, paranoia, mental illness, family, and friends.
April 9, 2014
I enjoyed LIE, so when I heard that Caroline Bock had a new book out, I wanted to read it. Told from 3, very distinct perspectives, Bock tells a story that takes place over Labor Day weekend, a moment in time that marks the end of summer and the beginning of school, senior year for Max and Claire, and everything else that this period of life means. But Barkley's actions may put any hope they had for the future in the trash.
I enjoyed the story, particularly the way in which Bock structures the narrative with part of Sunday's events told T the beginning of the story and then rewinding the characters and reader to a few days earlier. I was thoroughly scared of Barkley several times, and liked the way the author marks the distinction between South and North Lakeshore, not only because of their sports rivalry, but also because it also distinguishes the have nots from the haves and the rules about who or whom one can spend their time. These rivalries mean that Max doesn't always behave in a positive way, but it ultimately works.
Great allusions to various literature, including Emily Dickinson's "Because I could not stop for Death," etc
I enjoyed the story, particularly the way in which Bock structures the narrative with part of Sunday's events told T the beginning of the story and then rewinding the characters and reader to a few days earlier. I was thoroughly scared of Barkley several times, and liked the way the author marks the distinction between South and North Lakeshore, not only because of their sports rivalry, but also because it also distinguishes the have nots from the haves and the rules about who or whom one can spend their time. These rivalries mean that Max doesn't always behave in a positive way, but it ultimately works.
Great allusions to various literature, including Emily Dickinson's "Because I could not stop for Death," etc
May 28, 2014
Trigger warnings for violence, addiction, mental illness, body issues, and questionable poetry.
This book grabs you right from the opening sequence. I found the characters a little hard to sympathize with, but their stories are compelling. The dramatic irony produced by how their varied perspectives and how their lives overlap one another made me want to turn the pages faster. It’s difficult as a reader to see an ending coming that everyone is missing the signs for, but it does make for a suspenseful read.
One of the characters is suffering from a major mental illness which is portrayed very realistically even though the end result is an uncommon one. The unreliable narration in his section was fascinating.
My one complaint is that the whole book takes place over the course of one weekend and the climatic moment does not get very much page space. The aftermath is barely touched upon. I would have really liked to have seen the characters over a more spaced out period, especially in the time immediately after where Bock chose to end her story.
This book grabs you right from the opening sequence. I found the characters a little hard to sympathize with, but their stories are compelling. The dramatic irony produced by how their varied perspectives and how their lives overlap one another made me want to turn the pages faster. It’s difficult as a reader to see an ending coming that everyone is missing the signs for, but it does make for a suspenseful read.
One of the characters is suffering from a major mental illness which is portrayed very realistically even though the end result is an uncommon one. The unreliable narration in his section was fascinating.
My one complaint is that the whole book takes place over the course of one weekend and the climatic moment does not get very much page space. The aftermath is barely touched upon. I would have really liked to have seen the characters over a more spaced out period, especially in the time immediately after where Bock chose to end her story.
August 28, 2014
'BEFORE ME EYES" sounds like a very good read. I can already see the author is highly influential as well as claims a specific dynamic which has obviously been anchored in her work. The story itself appears to be highly interesting as it is more about topics of today. I am glad I don't see much about the topic of romance, which sends a ripple of comfort. It looks like a dramatic tale where secrecy is a copious player in the foreground of this very detailed story. I would recommend it easily, especially concerning the realistic dynamic regarding mental illness and family interplay that can often come close to home for some readers; again being specifically acclaiming in the realm of realistic emotion and insight into the human condition and where temptations are far from hidden amidst this obviously insightful story.
Very good; a thumb's up!
Lama Milkweed L. Augustine PhD
author, artist, pacifist leader, religious leader
Her Holiness; The Most Venerable Lama Rimpoche, Miss Prof. Milkweed L. Augustine PhD DD
author of 14 books
Very good; a thumb's up!
Lama Milkweed L. Augustine PhD
author, artist, pacifist leader, religious leader
Her Holiness; The Most Venerable Lama Rimpoche, Miss Prof. Milkweed L. Augustine PhD DD
author of 14 books
August 16, 2014
I was fortunate to win this wonderful novel in a Goodreads giveaway and I have to say it was one of the best gifts I have ever been given!
Before My Eyes is a young adult story that reads like fine literature - Caroline Bock's prose is lyrical, but understated. She captures the emotions in the main characters, all of whom are flawed, but sympathetic young people in bad situations.
I grew to love Claire and Izzy, Max and even demented Barkley. But most of all, I loved Peter and Trish - background characters who popped out into the foreground.
Set in the summer months in Long Island, Before My Eyes changes all these young people in ways they never dreamed of.
It also changed me .....
Before My Eyes is a young adult story that reads like fine literature - Caroline Bock's prose is lyrical, but understated. She captures the emotions in the main characters, all of whom are flawed, but sympathetic young people in bad situations.
I grew to love Claire and Izzy, Max and even demented Barkley. But most of all, I loved Peter and Trish - background characters who popped out into the foreground.
Set in the summer months in Long Island, Before My Eyes changes all these young people in ways they never dreamed of.
It also changed me .....
January 14, 2016
This book was a bit of a contradiction for me. Familiar in some ways, very different in others. It's nothing new to write about violence, mass shootings in particular. And we've become accustomed to reading about young people committing these atrocities. But this story veers off the traditional path a bit. The story opens with a tragedy occurring, although the specifics are not given at the time. The author then takes us back, gives us a glimpse into events leading up to the climax. We're allowed to view the story through the eyes and minds of the three main characters. And honestly, not all of them are likable. Which one ends up being the shooter? I thought I knew, but the author still had me guessing. A good read!
November 13, 2013
After a surfeit of dystopian/fantasy/sci fi I was ready to read something realistic. I found that the three characters in Before My Eyes were all believable and compelling. In particular the character of Barkley, the disturbed 21 year old loner, was very well drawn. The book starts with Barkley going in to a Labour Day political gathering with a Glock in his pocket and the momentum continues to build. After the initial chapter Bock takes us back a few days and we find out how all three got to that day. I managed to keep myself from flipping to the end of the book to see how it ended and I was glad as it was so well told that I read it in one sitting.
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