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A Certain Age
'I lost my virginity to a twenty-five year-old man. And on a schoolnight, too.' Sex with an Older Man Parents who don't understand Politics in the playground Blowjobs behind the bike-sheds Skinning up in the schoolyard It's what happens when you reach a Certain Age. Just the hormones kicking in. We've all been there . . . haven't we? A CERTAIN AGE - the reality behind the problem pages. It's what Just 17 never told you about growing up.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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March 7, 2012This won't be a typical book review. It actually won't be a book review at all. It wasn't one of those experiences that I would jump up and down and scream, YOU MUST READ THIS!
I talked to you last week about some censorship issues forming between Pay Pay and Smashwords and as a result, my friend Pavarti has issued a Questionable Book Challenge, that I accepted. The first book I read was Pure by Rebbecca Ray. Like I said, I'm not going to review this book in the traditional sense, rather, I'm going to defend this book's right to be written and sold, regardless of the subject matter. I can't say that I loved it, that I would have chosen it for any other reason but for the book challenge, I can't say I would recommend it. I can't even say I loved the characters. What I can say is that the author, Rebbecca Ray was honest.
Pure is on the questionable book list because it's about the relationship between a pedophile and his victim. She is 14 he is 31 and in the mind of the victim, they are dating. In the abuser's mind, they are dating and in her parents mind, they are dating. The world the victim lives in, her daily life, is hard. Her parents don't get along, she's not close to her brother, she has no close friends. These aren't excuses for the "relationship", they are an honest portrayal of the reality this child lives in.
The language is harsh and telling. The characters are unhappy people living in unhappy circumstances. And it shows and it was hard to read and yet I couldn't take my eyes from their story. I so appreciated the fact that Rebbecca Ray in no way attempted to sell me on the fact that this "couple" was in love, that they belonged together and were good together and for each other. In no way did she represent this relationship as anything but what it was, pedophile and victim.
There were sex scenes. In no way were they titillating, sexy, lovely or beautiful. I was thankful that there weren't many, and those that were in the book I felt were purposeful and thought provoking. You might ask what purpose a pedophilic relationship in a book could have, but Rebbecca used these scenes to understand her main character, the fourteen year old girl at the center of this. To understand what she truly felt about the relationship, about her life and most importantly, how she felt about herself. I suppose too, it added more insight into the pedophile, though I didn't need anymore help disliking him.
As I read the book, I wanted to see it to the end. I hoped that someone, anyone, would put a stop to this relationship. I wanted to believe the parents could put aside their own miserable lives and do what they should do to fix the situation. But the reality was that with all the characters that the girl had in her life, there was only one who tried, who cared enough to try and stop it, but as it turns out, she was the 14-year-old friend. It left me feeling cold and numb, with the assumption that for some kids, this was probably reality.
By the standards of others, this book is a questionable book, one that will no longer be allowed to be sold on Smashwords, due to the subject matter. Unfairly, I might add, because in reality, it is a well written and thoughtful book. It left me thinking, about my own children and how I would protect them. And isn't that the purpose of books? To lend a voice to the victim, to spur us to action, to make us think?
A book shouldn't be judged by very strict guidelines. They should be looked at as a whole, on their own, with thoughtfulness and consideration. I can't say I enjoyed the book, but I am glad that I read it. And I'm so appreciative that Rebbecca Ray didn't try to make it something other than what it was.
I talked to you last week about some censorship issues forming between Pay Pay and Smashwords and as a result, my friend Pavarti has issued a Questionable Book Challenge, that I accepted. The first book I read was Pure by Rebbecca Ray. Like I said, I'm not going to review this book in the traditional sense, rather, I'm going to defend this book's right to be written and sold, regardless of the subject matter. I can't say that I loved it, that I would have chosen it for any other reason but for the book challenge, I can't say I would recommend it. I can't even say I loved the characters. What I can say is that the author, Rebbecca Ray was honest.
Pure is on the questionable book list because it's about the relationship between a pedophile and his victim. She is 14 he is 31 and in the mind of the victim, they are dating. In the abuser's mind, they are dating and in her parents mind, they are dating. The world the victim lives in, her daily life, is hard. Her parents don't get along, she's not close to her brother, she has no close friends. These aren't excuses for the "relationship", they are an honest portrayal of the reality this child lives in.
The language is harsh and telling. The characters are unhappy people living in unhappy circumstances. And it shows and it was hard to read and yet I couldn't take my eyes from their story. I so appreciated the fact that Rebbecca Ray in no way attempted to sell me on the fact that this "couple" was in love, that they belonged together and were good together and for each other. In no way did she represent this relationship as anything but what it was, pedophile and victim.
There were sex scenes. In no way were they titillating, sexy, lovely or beautiful. I was thankful that there weren't many, and those that were in the book I felt were purposeful and thought provoking. You might ask what purpose a pedophilic relationship in a book could have, but Rebbecca used these scenes to understand her main character, the fourteen year old girl at the center of this. To understand what she truly felt about the relationship, about her life and most importantly, how she felt about herself. I suppose too, it added more insight into the pedophile, though I didn't need anymore help disliking him.
As I read the book, I wanted to see it to the end. I hoped that someone, anyone, would put a stop to this relationship. I wanted to believe the parents could put aside their own miserable lives and do what they should do to fix the situation. But the reality was that with all the characters that the girl had in her life, there was only one who tried, who cared enough to try and stop it, but as it turns out, she was the 14-year-old friend. It left me feeling cold and numb, with the assumption that for some kids, this was probably reality.
By the standards of others, this book is a questionable book, one that will no longer be allowed to be sold on Smashwords, due to the subject matter. Unfairly, I might add, because in reality, it is a well written and thoughtful book. It left me thinking, about my own children and how I would protect them. And isn't that the purpose of books? To lend a voice to the victim, to spur us to action, to make us think?
A book shouldn't be judged by very strict guidelines. They should be looked at as a whole, on their own, with thoughtfulness and consideration. I can't say I enjoyed the book, but I am glad that I read it. And I'm so appreciative that Rebbecca Ray didn't try to make it something other than what it was.
April 27, 2007
I read this book in high school and I have never so vigilantly begged other people not to read a book- but the damn title seems to be too alluring to pass up.
Obviously it's been years since I have read it, so I don't feel fully qualified to comment on the quality of the writing, but the story and situations are consistently sad, eerily violent, and filled with dissatisfaction and unhappiness. By the time you reach the end it feels like many bad things happened yet nothing much really happened at all. It did give me an insight into life in English suburbia, but otherwise made me grateful to live in my sheltered boring American town (which, upon talking to any of my friends, you'll learn is quite a feat)
Obviously it's been years since I have read it, so I don't feel fully qualified to comment on the quality of the writing, but the story and situations are consistently sad, eerily violent, and filled with dissatisfaction and unhappiness. By the time you reach the end it feels like many bad things happened yet nothing much really happened at all. It did give me an insight into life in English suburbia, but otherwise made me grateful to live in my sheltered boring American town (which, upon talking to any of my friends, you'll learn is quite a feat)
July 30, 2007
I've never willingly thrown a book away. But this one went straight into the garbage can as soon as I finished it. (Why did I finish it?!) And I didn't just give it away like I normally might because a). I didn't want anyone else to have to endure it, and b). I was that upset about how much of my time this book had stolen out of my life. What a terrible book. I guess I just hoped eventually it would get better...that it had to...
December 18, 2007
I loved this book; I love that the author was like 17 when she started writing it. It's a little clunky and the ending left something to be desired, but hey, who needs perfection?
**Update** Wow, I just saw Pure listed on the "Unpopular" shelf; it appears I am among four others who actually LIKED this book. What spectacularly poor ratings! In retrospect...I still really like this book. I didn't find it boring, nor did I think the writing sucked. And honestly, I thought that, given her tender age, the author displayed a remarkable capacity for understanding...and articulating...human motivations.
I'm always impressed when anyone, but most especially "young 'uns", can see past the end of their nose. I mean, I can't, usually.
**Update** Wow, I just saw Pure listed on the "Unpopular" shelf; it appears I am among four others who actually LIKED this book. What spectacularly poor ratings! In retrospect...I still really like this book. I didn't find it boring, nor did I think the writing sucked. And honestly, I thought that, given her tender age, the author displayed a remarkable capacity for understanding...and articulating...human motivations.
I'm always impressed when anyone, but most especially "young 'uns", can see past the end of their nose. I mean, I can't, usually.
December 17, 2008
This one is hard to rate. On one hand it’s a powerful and painful snapshot of what happens when parents suck and a girl has no outlet to create her identity. I really responded to the girl’s emotional blankness and how she wants everything to be perfect, but keeps herself detached from everything that happens to her. I’m also impressed that Ray was sixteen when she started writing it.
It’s not the type of book that you can say you liked because so many horrible things happen, but it’s the type of book that stays with you and gives you the creeps when you think about it, and I think that’s the mark of some seriously good writing. It also made me think about how effed up I was at 14 and some of the decisions I made by choosing not to make a decision at all.
Seriously, if you can make an alcoholic pedophile the good character, you’ve written something really amazing.
Oh, and this is one of those books where the back cover description sucks, sucks, sucks. It's like they tried to describe the book to make it look like it was G Rated when this is a big ole R.
It’s not the type of book that you can say you liked because so many horrible things happen, but it’s the type of book that stays with you and gives you the creeps when you think about it, and I think that’s the mark of some seriously good writing. It also made me think about how effed up I was at 14 and some of the decisions I made by choosing not to make a decision at all.
Seriously, if you can make an alcoholic pedophile the good character, you’ve written something really amazing.
Oh, and this is one of those books where the back cover description sucks, sucks, sucks. It's like they tried to describe the book to make it look like it was G Rated when this is a big ole R.
December 30, 2013
This book is definitely not for the weak. It is raw. I judged this book by its cover initially and knew it would be raw. But what I liked most about it was the style of writing. The nameless main character talked about things we only talk about in our heads for milliseconds in time. Her descriptions of feelings of pain and pleasure made me feel like I was experiencing it myself. The book took me took me to a very dark place but also made me feel blessed for anything I had made it through. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to hear more from this author.
December 19, 2009
For the love of all that is holy - DO NOT read this book.
I have never said this about a book before, this being my one and only BAD review, but I did not find one redeeming quality in this book.
Aside from the super creepy "ick factor" of having parents that are "OK" with their 13 year old daughter dating someone twice her age, I had many issues with this book.
Although many people have what is oft-labeled a "dysfunctional" family nowadays, this family takes the cake. Their relationships are so messed up, I didn't even like being the fly on the wall. As a reader, this is our guilty pleasure - liking watching a car wreck you can't look away from, and there is some perverse entertainment value there, as un-PC as that statement is.
This just made me feel REALLY uncomfortable.
I understand the author was young when she wrote this and it is quite an accomplishment for someone to get published that early on, but that alone cannot save a book as bad as this one.
Don't even get me started on the ultra-disjointed relationship the poor girl has with boyfriend, (AKA: the pedophile), Oliver. He is a drug-using loser, working in the local electronics store, with a horrible temper and no morals or admirable qualities that I could find. I think the main attraction for the girl was that he was male and semi-interested. Period.
No caring, warmth, understanding or sharing some type of common ground. Nothing. What a train wreck- AGGHH!
I didn't learn a thing reading this girl's journey, and the characters certainly didn't seem to learn, grow, or develop at all throughout this book. It left me feeling depressed, with a sick feeling in my stomach and the thought that I could never get back the 2 days I spent slogging through it, determined to finish it because I've never stopped a book midway.
I wish I had with this one.
I have never said this about a book before, this being my one and only BAD review, but I did not find one redeeming quality in this book.
Aside from the super creepy "ick factor" of having parents that are "OK" with their 13 year old daughter dating someone twice her age, I had many issues with this book.
Although many people have what is oft-labeled a "dysfunctional" family nowadays, this family takes the cake. Their relationships are so messed up, I didn't even like being the fly on the wall. As a reader, this is our guilty pleasure - liking watching a car wreck you can't look away from, and there is some perverse entertainment value there, as un-PC as that statement is.
This just made me feel REALLY uncomfortable.
I understand the author was young when she wrote this and it is quite an accomplishment for someone to get published that early on, but that alone cannot save a book as bad as this one.
Don't even get me started on the ultra-disjointed relationship the poor girl has with boyfriend, (AKA: the pedophile), Oliver. He is a drug-using loser, working in the local electronics store, with a horrible temper and no morals or admirable qualities that I could find. I think the main attraction for the girl was that he was male and semi-interested. Period.
No caring, warmth, understanding or sharing some type of common ground. Nothing. What a train wreck- AGGHH!
I didn't learn a thing reading this girl's journey, and the characters certainly didn't seem to learn, grow, or develop at all throughout this book. It left me feeling depressed, with a sick feeling in my stomach and the thought that I could never get back the 2 days I spent slogging through it, determined to finish it because I've never stopped a book midway.
I wish I had with this one.
October 14, 2016
Harrowing. It was very, very unsettling to read .
Mostly because it felt more like a memoir than a novel.
Grim and bleak but not in a cathartic way.
It's a shame really because this is a very well written book .
January 7, 2017
... what the hell kind of ending was that? (spoiler-it wasn't). No. if you're thinking of reading this, don't. Just... No.
April 7, 2012
I first read Pure when I was working in a used bookstore in Brooklyn. It was around when the book first came out and I was able to get my hands on a Galley Copy. I remember shirking all responsibility at the shop the day I found it in the New Arrival's section. It needed to be shelved, much like the other titles it had been packaged with, but I was too engrossed to bother with working that day.
At the time I was reading a lot of dirty literature and from the title I thought this was going to be a fun and titilating novel. I was wrong. PURE is about a lot of things. And when you first read it it's easy to think it's about a girl's coming of age. There's a lot of sex talk and even some sex (although titilating it decidedly is not). However, what PURE is really about is abuse.
The narrater (name is never given which is an interesting and successful choice) has grown up in a home where the father rules all. His abusive language toward the mother has shaped the way both children regard her and has turned them into tiny abusers themselves. In a home where nothing s ever right, nothing is ever good enough and eggshells cannot be avoided, the narrater has turned all of that hate and self deprication inward.
There is nothing about herself that she values which leads her from one bad decision to the next. Even the very first line of the book shows how she ust doesn't care about herself. "I was about 13 when I started letting the boys feel me up." From drug to domestic abuse, to dating a man 17 years her senior to self mutilation, the narrator continues on a path of self destruction which is not only tragic but within the pages of PURE is completely understandable.
This book isn't for the faint of heart, but it is brilliantly written. The slow boil and intimate prose creates a world where by the end you don't even know who you are rooting for.
At the time I was reading a lot of dirty literature and from the title I thought this was going to be a fun and titilating novel. I was wrong. PURE is about a lot of things. And when you first read it it's easy to think it's about a girl's coming of age. There's a lot of sex talk and even some sex (although titilating it decidedly is not). However, what PURE is really about is abuse.
The narrater (name is never given which is an interesting and successful choice) has grown up in a home where the father rules all. His abusive language toward the mother has shaped the way both children regard her and has turned them into tiny abusers themselves. In a home where nothing s ever right, nothing is ever good enough and eggshells cannot be avoided, the narrater has turned all of that hate and self deprication inward.
There is nothing about herself that she values which leads her from one bad decision to the next. Even the very first line of the book shows how she ust doesn't care about herself. "I was about 13 when I started letting the boys feel me up." From drug to domestic abuse, to dating a man 17 years her senior to self mutilation, the narrator continues on a path of self destruction which is not only tragic but within the pages of PURE is completely understandable.
This book isn't for the faint of heart, but it is brilliantly written. The slow boil and intimate prose creates a world where by the end you don't even know who you are rooting for.
November 2, 2012
This is an amazing coming of age story of the pressure to fit in with other teens, smoking and alcohol, domestic relationships, sex and of course, falling in love with and older man.
This was one of those 'must not put down' books. It's a very easy read and I could relate to some of the things mentioned in the book.
It is a truly amazing book and I would definitely recommend it if you like young adult boots. Rebbecca Ray excelled herself in this book.
This was one of those 'must not put down' books. It's a very easy read and I could relate to some of the things mentioned in the book.
It is a truly amazing book and I would definitely recommend it if you like young adult boots. Rebbecca Ray excelled herself in this book.
August 31, 2021
Back of the book says she left school at 16 to write this novel. She should have stayed in school. Terrible
March 25, 2024
No. Just…no. A quick dnf
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April 10, 2020I read this book when I was 13 and it's graphic sexual content imprinted on my brain. I need to see if I can find a copy to reread.
April 29, 2012
This book never really caught my imagination. I managed to get about 2/3 of the way through it, but I never felt like I really had to finish.
This is basically a slice-of-life narration by a fairly ordinary British teenager. She has a family, they're quirky. She has a boyfriend, and then another one, each of them are quirky. They have quirky sex. She has a best friend, she's quirky. They're all quirky, all about evenly so. It all ends up being a kind of background noise of eccentricity that fails to make any of the characters truly notable.
If anything actually happened, especially if anything happened that the main character actually cared about in a meaningful way, then the book might have held my interest.
Hell, even the sex scenes were quirky.
Our reading group read this book for the "questionable content" aspect of the underage sex, but if there was any eroticism to the sex it was totally lost on me.
This is basically a slice-of-life narration by a fairly ordinary British teenager. She has a family, they're quirky. She has a boyfriend, and then another one, each of them are quirky. They have quirky sex. She has a best friend, she's quirky. They're all quirky, all about evenly so. It all ends up being a kind of background noise of eccentricity that fails to make any of the characters truly notable.
If anything actually happened, especially if anything happened that the main character actually cared about in a meaningful way, then the book might have held my interest.
Hell, even the sex scenes were quirky.
Our reading group read this book for the "questionable content" aspect of the underage sex, but if there was any eroticism to the sex it was totally lost on me.
January 9, 2024
its shallow and its flawed and the narrator is mean and weird and awful and she WANTS to be all of these things but i think thats why i liked it so much when i first read it and why its stuck with me since and why itll stick with me forever. its RAW. nothing will ever capture THAT certain age the way that this did. is it a masterpiece??? absolutely fucking not. but she really fucking MEANT what she wrote and thats close enough..... orrrrrr maybe this is just a shitty book that i am very biased about because it is very dear to me and i dont know what the fuck i am talking about. I am so fucking crazy when it comes to a certain age. I genuinely need putting in a straitjacket just thinking about it. one of the only ever books to make me tear up oh em geeml. im getting a little teary just thinking about it. No matter what happens rebbecca ray i get u girl and i know youve got me too
January 11, 2014
It wasn't even the context or the material that I found hard to handle - it wasn't too much or too graphic - it was just … badly written. It could have been better executed and taken to another level. It had potential to be interesting, and it sadly was not.
August 21, 2021
while the writing wasn’t bad, the subject matter was. i was hoping the ending would redeem it, and someone in her life would come to their senses, but nobody did. the fact that the author was 16 when she wrote it makes me genuinely concerned for her. would not recommend for anyone.
August 14, 2023
It’s been a long while since I have read this book and I plan to reread it. It isn’t for the weak- it’s raw and disturbing. It definitely shows how ‘effed up the world can be.
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July 30, 2024Read as a pre-teen/ teen and never forgot it. Not sure whether it was good or bad but it was slightly traumatic.
January 24, 2025
guys pls don’t read this book 😭😭😭 (btw there’s spoilers but read this anyway and just PLS don’t read this book) it was literally so messed up, the main character was literally mental. like the whole book was about how the 14 year old main character is dating a pedophile. i didn’t even finish the book and i had to skip so many parts because it was so bad, like she goes over to his apartment a ton and ofc her parents are just fine with it?!? she literally drinks and smokes and does drugs with him. and her parents hate each other and fight all the time and she pretends like it’s fine, then cuts herself and thinks it’s pretty. her dads an alcoholic and her bf is a pedophile so yk… also i’m the beginning of the book she has a different boyfriend who’s like her age (THIRTEEN at the beginning) and they’re like hooking up and she’s giving him head at school and it was like SO bad. then she like starts going insane and turns her room into an asylum. the whole setting was insanely depressing. I don’t think that I can express how much I hated this book while using child friendly language 😭😭 also like the writing was so bad, and there weren’t even chapters so it was super confusing. and the ending was SO BAD, it like wasn’t even a real ending bro. also it was INSANELY explicit, like it had the most vile, sickening spice ive ever seen!!! plus there was cussing literally every sentence. this author is SERIOUSLY psychotic. I don’t know what this author went through but it must have ben badddddd 😬 -100,000,000,000,000 ⭐️ don’t read this book for your own mental sanity
November 22, 2019
Anyone thinking of reading this book needs to approach it with an open mind. It is very dark and gritty, features self-harming and different forms of abuse. Plus, of course, the central plot of a relationship between a 31 year old and a 14 year old.
I found this a very thought provoking book. I really liked how the author portrayed the father of the main character (she is not given a name). She idolizes him at the start of the book and gradually the relationship changes as she develops and can see how he is viewed by others -Oliver (the 31 year old) in particular. I honestly was expecting a plot twist to be that he was having an affair with Dawn, the friend of the character, and they certainly have an odd relationship, and it took a while for Dawn's motivation to register. In some ways he is the most important character after the narrator and viewed in that light I found the ending became less of a problem.
Not an easy read, but a good one.
I found this a very thought provoking book. I really liked how the author portrayed the father of the main character (she is not given a name). She idolizes him at the start of the book and gradually the relationship changes as she develops and can see how he is viewed by others -Oliver (the 31 year old) in particular. I honestly was expecting a plot twist to be that he was having an affair with Dawn, the friend of the character, and they certainly have an odd relationship, and it took a while for Dawn's motivation to register. In some ways he is the most important character after the narrator and viewed in that light I found the ending became less of a problem.
Not an easy read, but a good one.
January 18, 2011
I really can't remember how or why I decided that this is a book I should read? Perhaps I read reviews of it recently? I don't remember. On a whim, I decided to choose a random book off my shelves to read and my hand landed on this one. I knew from the outset that it was a book with a very inappropriate relationship between a 14 year old girl and a 27 year old man and that I would struggle with reading about such a thing, but I found that I struggled with a lot more than that as well. This isn't a book that I enjoyed very much and I'd have a hard time recommending it. Perhaps it's saying something about society? I'm really not sure. If it is, I'm not smart enough to pick up on it.
The main character of this book is 14, she isn't treated very well in school. In fact, as a way of fitting into a crowd of kids that don't really accept her, she allows herself to be felt up and kissed by some of the boys. This leads to an abusive and controlling relationship with another boy. Which in turns leads to the relationship with the older man. At the same time, she's dealing with an embarassing friendship with a very needy girl and how to balance that out with her 'cool group of friends.'
You can also see how that her relationship with her parents is very central to the story. Her parents argue a lot, she gets stuck in the middle. Her father seems very domineering and controlling as well as belittling to both our main character and to his wife. It isn't pleasant reading at all. Everything about the book sort of drips with unpleasantness from her sexual partners, her friendships, her parents.
The part where I nearly gave up the book is when she tells both parents about her new boyfriend. And that's he's 27. The way in which her parents are accepting of this and seem to have little concern over this fact is very troubling. Perhaps that's the point of the novel? To shock readers with all of the issues in the book? I don't know. It didn't quite work for me.
The main character of this book is 14, she isn't treated very well in school. In fact, as a way of fitting into a crowd of kids that don't really accept her, she allows herself to be felt up and kissed by some of the boys. This leads to an abusive and controlling relationship with another boy. Which in turns leads to the relationship with the older man. At the same time, she's dealing with an embarassing friendship with a very needy girl and how to balance that out with her 'cool group of friends.'
You can also see how that her relationship with her parents is very central to the story. Her parents argue a lot, she gets stuck in the middle. Her father seems very domineering and controlling as well as belittling to both our main character and to his wife. It isn't pleasant reading at all. Everything about the book sort of drips with unpleasantness from her sexual partners, her friendships, her parents.
The part where I nearly gave up the book is when she tells both parents about her new boyfriend. And that's he's 27. The way in which her parents are accepting of this and seem to have little concern over this fact is very troubling. Perhaps that's the point of the novel? To shock readers with all of the issues in the book? I don't know. It didn't quite work for me.
July 9, 2012
I passed up this book ages ago when coming across it in a bookstore. The Lolita-esque storyline appealed to me, but a hesitant feeling held me back. Recently, I found it again in an old, used-bookstore. So far, about 1/3 of the way through, it's reading like the poor man's version of the film "Thirteen". This novel has gotten real love/hate reviews though, which intrigues me perhaps more than the story itself. Will follow through and see which side of the fence I fall on...
Well, I didn't hate it. However, after 200 pages of f-this and f-that along with a slew of the most despairing, doomed characters one would ever want to meet, I decided to read that last 10 pages and spare myself before I started slitting my wrists (insert wry smile here). I'd like to think that I can handle "tough" stories, as I've read my share of them. I often scoff at readers who complain a book was "too depressing" because, after all, me learn most through pain do we not? However, for the ones that said so of "Pure", I am right there with them.
The biggest problem that I have with "Pure" is that- unlike other, similar tales that are written from the perspective of an adult who has lived through hell and is now writing from a reflective, enlightened perspective- the novelist seems to remain smack dab in the thick of her confusion, manic-depression, and hopelessness. There is no coming-out-of-the dark, there is no meaning given to all this pain. it merely exists. It is living hell...literally. Devoid of beauty, compassion, understanding.
That said, I think any psych-major would find the book riveting. Between parents who invite their child's abuser over for Christmas dinner and lunatic Dawn, this cast was a Criminal Minds waiting to happen.
Well, I didn't hate it. However, after 200 pages of f-this and f-that along with a slew of the most despairing, doomed characters one would ever want to meet, I decided to read that last 10 pages and spare myself before I started slitting my wrists (insert wry smile here). I'd like to think that I can handle "tough" stories, as I've read my share of them. I often scoff at readers who complain a book was "too depressing" because, after all, me learn most through pain do we not? However, for the ones that said so of "Pure", I am right there with them.
The biggest problem that I have with "Pure" is that- unlike other, similar tales that are written from the perspective of an adult who has lived through hell and is now writing from a reflective, enlightened perspective- the novelist seems to remain smack dab in the thick of her confusion, manic-depression, and hopelessness. There is no coming-out-of-the dark, there is no meaning given to all this pain. it merely exists. It is living hell...literally. Devoid of beauty, compassion, understanding.
That said, I think any psych-major would find the book riveting. Between parents who invite their child's abuser over for Christmas dinner and lunatic Dawn, this cast was a Criminal Minds waiting to happen.
November 27, 2016
What can I say about this book? I could say a lot really and unfortunately not a lot of it any good. Rebbecca Ray wrote this when she was young and that much is obvious. Perhaps if her editor made her cut this thing more it would be better. The author loves to write long novels, I mean Newfoundland by her is over thousand pages long.
To get this long drawn out books Ray really loves describing in detail everything that happens. The dialogue never flows. Every few lines of dialogue are interrupted so the girl can tell us what everyone is doing with their hands. The faces they're making and how she feels. And the narrator often feels stuff in the pit of her stomach, or this and that. The whole novel is simply overwritten. We don't really need to know every movement of someone's hands when they're talking to the protagonist. Perhaps if she followed Elmore Leonard's advice, 'Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip,' then this might be a better book.
While some people seem to have problems with the content, I don't find it all that shocking. The sex parts are at least not glorified. One of the biggest problems of the book, other than the length is that nothing ever gets resolved. It's left hanging, it might work for some novels but a young adult fucked-up coming of age story deserves some closure and honestly I felt none was given.
It took me way too long to fight my way through this book and to be honest I was skimming and speed-reading towards the end because I couldn't take it anymore.
To get this long drawn out books Ray really loves describing in detail everything that happens. The dialogue never flows. Every few lines of dialogue are interrupted so the girl can tell us what everyone is doing with their hands. The faces they're making and how she feels. And the narrator often feels stuff in the pit of her stomach, or this and that. The whole novel is simply overwritten. We don't really need to know every movement of someone's hands when they're talking to the protagonist. Perhaps if she followed Elmore Leonard's advice, 'Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip,' then this might be a better book.
While some people seem to have problems with the content, I don't find it all that shocking. The sex parts are at least not glorified. One of the biggest problems of the book, other than the length is that nothing ever gets resolved. It's left hanging, it might work for some novels but a young adult fucked-up coming of age story deserves some closure and honestly I felt none was given.
It took me way too long to fight my way through this book and to be honest I was skimming and speed-reading towards the end because I couldn't take it anymore.
September 10, 2016
A really poor book, but a great insight into the lives of the bourgeois creative classes in Great Britain and their massive contradictions. Coming from a similar rural background in Britain I could relate to some of the things she describes. The people you read about while obviously fictitious are a true reflection of what really goes on behind closed doors in the houses of Britain. My only question to her is has the peodophile that her parents seemed so happy to let date their daughter been questioned by the police or is he too middle class to be labelled one?
That aside I feel the book has been written by a very angry well privileged young girl (we have lots of them in the U.K.) who just turns out to be an attention seeker lashing out by being controversial and sleeps with anyone she deems worthy even if their character is questionable. And that's why I hate this book, I hate the author having never met her and I despise all the characters contained within it.
If that was the reaction she was looking for then well done you, but to be honest this is just a poor diary with nothing to like about anything within it. Poor, poor, poor!
That aside I feel the book has been written by a very angry well privileged young girl (we have lots of them in the U.K.) who just turns out to be an attention seeker lashing out by being controversial and sleeps with anyone she deems worthy even if their character is questionable. And that's why I hate this book, I hate the author having never met her and I despise all the characters contained within it.
If that was the reaction she was looking for then well done you, but to be honest this is just a poor diary with nothing to like about anything within it. Poor, poor, poor!
July 7, 2014
Never have I read a book whose back cover was such a bad description.
The story is depressing, certainly, but that in and of itself doesn't necessarily make it a bad book. What makes it a bad book is that nothing ever changes. There is no character growth or change. Nothings is really different at the end of the book than at the beginning; except maybe things are a bit worse. There is plenty of interpersonal conflict, but zero conflict between the characters and their goals. In fact none of the characters seem to be striving towards anything, they have no goals that are apparent to the reader, which means the narrative never goes anywhere.
I read the book in one setting because I kept hoping something would change. It was a bit like watching the fucked up family on your block, hoping they'd get their shit together and figure things out, only they never do/did.
It very much feels like the author was trying to write a novel that would shock people, as if she is saying, "Look how naughty I can be, aren't you shocked?" Not really, just disappointed I wasted so much time on a book that turned out to be badly crafted.
The story is depressing, certainly, but that in and of itself doesn't necessarily make it a bad book. What makes it a bad book is that nothing ever changes. There is no character growth or change. Nothings is really different at the end of the book than at the beginning; except maybe things are a bit worse. There is plenty of interpersonal conflict, but zero conflict between the characters and their goals. In fact none of the characters seem to be striving towards anything, they have no goals that are apparent to the reader, which means the narrative never goes anywhere.
I read the book in one setting because I kept hoping something would change. It was a bit like watching the fucked up family on your block, hoping they'd get their shit together and figure things out, only they never do/did.
It very much feels like the author was trying to write a novel that would shock people, as if she is saying, "Look how naughty I can be, aren't you shocked?" Not really, just disappointed I wasted so much time on a book that turned out to be badly crafted.
March 6, 2011
As a 14 year old British girl myself, living in a very much similar type society as the protagonist (whose name we never know...I actually questioned if this was somewhat based on Ray's on life but I doubt it) I can say I found this book somewhat lovely. So pure, an innocent girl, mixing with a so much older man. The things she says, and the things all the characters say, they're so so so familiar to me...such common 'British' language, I guess, which made it all the more relatable for me.
However, I was not too keen on how the girl's parents seemed so completely not bothered by the fact their daughter was dating a much older man! This actually made me a bit angry, because I know the majority of 'normal' parents would not be too pleased at this at all because essentially, the man's a paedophile...but then again, as many others have said, this girl's life is not exactly 'normal' .... but then again, on some levels, it is.
Despite this though, there are many aspects which are relatable, and I found the writing very nice and just so simplistic, so fitting for the story.
However, I was not too keen on how the girl's parents seemed so completely not bothered by the fact their daughter was dating a much older man! This actually made me a bit angry, because I know the majority of 'normal' parents would not be too pleased at this at all because essentially, the man's a paedophile...but then again, as many others have said, this girl's life is not exactly 'normal' .... but then again, on some levels, it is.
Despite this though, there are many aspects which are relatable, and I found the writing very nice and just so simplistic, so fitting for the story.
August 13, 2012
I feel compelled to write a review on this harrowing novel and I'm not sure why.
I first picked up the book at a charity shop at the age of seventeen and to be frank it horrified me and I avoided the book for five years.
I re-read it again more recently and still found it harrowing but also very interestingly written. As an English student you would think I would notice the narrative voice didn't have a name however I didn't until I read another review.
It is not a cheery coming-of-age tale and if you are looking for a book with a light-hearted message this is not the one for you.
This is a depressing insight into a deeply unhappy character with emotional and intimacy issues stemming from her own parents unhappy marriage and relationship.
The whole story is a bit like watching a car crash. You're committed to watching fascinating and horrible happen even though it's not pleasant.
The best part of the novel is the depth of the characters and the meandering but intriguing way in which it is written.
It is not for the faint hearted.
I first picked up the book at a charity shop at the age of seventeen and to be frank it horrified me and I avoided the book for five years.
I re-read it again more recently and still found it harrowing but also very interestingly written. As an English student you would think I would notice the narrative voice didn't have a name however I didn't until I read another review.
It is not a cheery coming-of-age tale and if you are looking for a book with a light-hearted message this is not the one for you.
This is a depressing insight into a deeply unhappy character with emotional and intimacy issues stemming from her own parents unhappy marriage and relationship.
The whole story is a bit like watching a car crash. You're committed to watching fascinating and horrible happen even though it's not pleasant.
The best part of the novel is the depth of the characters and the meandering but intriguing way in which it is written.
It is not for the faint hearted.
May 14, 2015
I can certainly see why people would dislike this book due to how disturbing it is but personally I really enjoyed it (for want of a better phrase, considering how chilling it was). The narrative perfectly depicted the main character's numb and apathetic state of mind. I suppose you could say the writing was very devoid of emotion, yet so much pain still managed to seep through. Despite the anonymity surrounding the narrator, I really connected with her and the way her detatchment from everything and everyone led to terrible decisions. We never learn the name of the fourteen year old who narrates the book, and I thought this worked excellently in adding to the sense of detatchment and lack of care she had for herself. The parents in this book were shockingly terrible, making little wonder that the narrator was as messed up as she was.
I was unaware until after I'd finished this book that Ray began writing it at such a young age, making me all the more impressed. Pure isn't for everybody but if you're looking for something raw and hard-hitting, it's well worth a read.
I was unaware until after I'd finished this book that Ray began writing it at such a young age, making me all the more impressed. Pure isn't for everybody but if you're looking for something raw and hard-hitting, it's well worth a read.
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