What do you think?
Rate this book
Tattered
"In 'Tattered,' Dorsch takes us into the dark and dangerous world of addiction. Her stark descriptions, interspersed with humor and film trivia, will leave you turning page after page."
- Brian Katcher, Author of Stonewall Book Award-winning novel 'Almost Perfect'
"Tattered" is a compelling novella by Carietta Dorsch that delves into the raw and emotional journey of Salem Moon Richardson, a young woman grappling with the traumatic aftermath of her parents' tragic deaths. Set against the backdrop of Asheboro, the story is a poignant exploration of grief, resilience, and self-discovery. Salem's life is irrevocably altered when her father, driven to despair by her mother's addiction and subsequent death, takes his own life. Left to fend for herself at seventeen, Salem must navigate the tumultuous waters of young adulthood while haunted by her past. The narrative is rich with Salem's introspective musings and her struggle to find stability and purpose.The novella begins with Salem's introspective recounting of her father's suicide and her mother's addiction, setting a somber tone that underscores the gravity of her experiences. Despite the weight of her past, Salem's determination to rebuild her life leads her to the Casanova Theater, where she secures a job and begins to carve out a new path for herself. Her interactions with quirky co-workers and her immersion in the world of cinema provide a semblance of normalcy and a much-needed escape from her haunting memories. Dorsch's writing is both vivid and evocative, capturing the essence of Salem's internal battles and her moments of fragile hope. The narrative is interspersed with references to popular culture, adding layers of relatability and depth to Salem's character. As she navigates her new job and forms tentative connections, Salem's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of self-reinvention."Tattered" is a touching and thought-provoking novella that resonates with anyone who has faced loss and sought to find meaning in the aftermath. Carietta Dorsch's portrayal of Salem Moon Richardson is a heartfelt ode to the strength it takes to confront one's demons and emerge stronger on the other side.
- Brian Katcher, Author of Stonewall Book Award-winning novel 'Almost Perfect'
"Tattered" is a compelling novella by Carietta Dorsch that delves into the raw and emotional journey of Salem Moon Richardson, a young woman grappling with the traumatic aftermath of her parents' tragic deaths. Set against the backdrop of Asheboro, the story is a poignant exploration of grief, resilience, and self-discovery. Salem's life is irrevocably altered when her father, driven to despair by her mother's addiction and subsequent death, takes his own life. Left to fend for herself at seventeen, Salem must navigate the tumultuous waters of young adulthood while haunted by her past. The narrative is rich with Salem's introspective musings and her struggle to find stability and purpose.The novella begins with Salem's introspective recounting of her father's suicide and her mother's addiction, setting a somber tone that underscores the gravity of her experiences. Despite the weight of her past, Salem's determination to rebuild her life leads her to the Casanova Theater, where she secures a job and begins to carve out a new path for herself. Her interactions with quirky co-workers and her immersion in the world of cinema provide a semblance of normalcy and a much-needed escape from her haunting memories. Dorsch's writing is both vivid and evocative, capturing the essence of Salem's internal battles and her moments of fragile hope. The narrative is interspersed with references to popular culture, adding layers of relatability and depth to Salem's character. As she navigates her new job and forms tentative connections, Salem's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of self-reinvention."Tattered" is a touching and thought-provoking novella that resonates with anyone who has faced loss and sought to find meaning in the aftermath. Carietta Dorsch's portrayal of Salem Moon Richardson is a heartfelt ode to the strength it takes to confront one's demons and emerge stronger on the other side.
187 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2024
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 15, 2024
After the loss of her dad, Salem is left alone. With both her parents gone, she now has to navigate life yet she feels lost. She takes on a new job at a movie theater, has a couple of friends, even goes on a date with a cute guy from work, but something is missing. She smokes weed to relax herself but that soon turns to heavier drugs. It's not until she meets Lily where she discovers a new side of her she never knew existed.
This was new for me but I enjoyed it. There's a lot of movie references that were fun. Watching Salem struggle with addiction was sad but you root for her. When she has her self discovery, it made me really happy to see. Yes she struggles to accept it but in the end, it's worth it. I enjoyed the characters. I enjoyed the writing in this also. If you're looking for a coming of age, lgbtqia+ representation with lots of humor, give this read a try.
This was new for me but I enjoyed it. There's a lot of movie references that were fun. Watching Salem struggle with addiction was sad but you root for her. When she has her self discovery, it made me really happy to see. Yes she struggles to accept it but in the end, it's worth it. I enjoyed the characters. I enjoyed the writing in this also. If you're looking for a coming of age, lgbtqia+ representation with lots of humor, give this read a try.
September 1, 2024
Let me start off by saying, I am familiar with Dorsch's writing as a indie Splatterpunk author. With that being said, it was enlightening to see her versatility with expanding outside of her genre while still keeping the integrity of her writing. As a reader, I was excited to see a different side to her writing with the same exquisite prose that I have ultimately been spoiled with reading her other works.
This read was a heartwarming coming-of-age story that followed a young woman in her journey through loneliness, drug abuse, friendships, and exploring her own sexuality. There is a strong presence of LGBTQIA+ representation, which I was thrilled to see. Beyond that, there is also a unique added element of movie references as our main character is a movie buff and works at a theater.
All-in-all, an excellent feel-good read that shows the beautiful complexities that life has to offer.
This read was a heartwarming coming-of-age story that followed a young woman in her journey through loneliness, drug abuse, friendships, and exploring her own sexuality. There is a strong presence of LGBTQIA+ representation, which I was thrilled to see. Beyond that, there is also a unique added element of movie references as our main character is a movie buff and works at a theater.
All-in-all, an excellent feel-good read that shows the beautiful complexities that life has to offer.
February 24, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Rounded to 5 ⭐️
Romance is not usually my cup of tea, but I love the authors writing and given the opportunity to give this one a read, why not? Well, I’m glad I did! This was such a sweet coming of age story. Salem, now completely on her own, tries to navigate life by herself. She works at a movie theater, goes on a few dates , but feels unfulfilled, something is missing. She begins smoking but it soon leads to harsher substances.
When she meets Lily, everything changes and she is able to begin discovering a new side of her.
This was a fantastic read with a lot of humor thrown in, and some fantastic LGBTQIA+ rep! Tattered is a feel good read with some fantastic character arcs and great writing
Romance is not usually my cup of tea, but I love the authors writing and given the opportunity to give this one a read, why not? Well, I’m glad I did! This was such a sweet coming of age story. Salem, now completely on her own, tries to navigate life by herself. She works at a movie theater, goes on a few dates , but feels unfulfilled, something is missing. She begins smoking but it soon leads to harsher substances.
When she meets Lily, everything changes and she is able to begin discovering a new side of her.
This was a fantastic read with a lot of humor thrown in, and some fantastic LGBTQIA+ rep! Tattered is a feel good read with some fantastic character arcs and great writing
November 24, 2024
This book was a great story of overcoming hardships and trying to find your place in the world.
As we follow Salem, trying to come into her own and finding her "self" We see her face addiction and falling in love and not knowing how to handle all of this, as she experiments with different drugs during this journey. This story is one that feels so real and could relate to many younger people as they face all that is thrown in their paths. The movie references were so much fun and worked in perfectly as part of the storytelling.
As we follow Salem, trying to come into her own and finding her "self" We see her face addiction and falling in love and not knowing how to handle all of this, as she experiments with different drugs during this journey. This story is one that feels so real and could relate to many younger people as they face all that is thrown in their paths. The movie references were so much fun and worked in perfectly as part of the storytelling.
August 31, 2024
I really enjoyed this story and absolutely loved all the movie references throughout! I loved the characters and even though there were a few different struggles for the FMC, it was nice to see it all come together and relate to one another by the end. I just wish it had been longer!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews