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A Girl in Parts
Approaching adolescence when her family moves to Washington State, Dottie, the daughter of a bartending mother and heavy drinking father, finds solace from her troubles in general misbehavior and school sports.
A first novel of adolescence that introduces a voice so fresh, so original, so pitch-perfect it seems destined to become a classic in the literature of coming of age. In the early 1980s in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Dorothy lives with her bartending mother, her bar-attending stepfather, and her sweetly precocious little brother. Dottie is nine, plagued by insomnia, asthma, earaches, and bad teeth. She is lonely and insecure, but her intelligence and keen perception enable her to see every vivid detail of her impoverished rural surroundings and the strange characters around her. When her family moves to eastern Washington State, Dottie--confused, petulant, feeling more alone than ever, and furious at her changing body--battles her way through junior high, where she finds some success and recognition in sports and academics. Her hard-won victories are tempered by her troubled family and friends and she finds solace and distraction in alcohol, cigarettes, and acting out. Dottie--nicknamed Utah by her teammates from the Colville Indian Reservation--becomes a star basketball player, falls in and out of love, and confronts a new, devastating emotional setback.
A first novel of adolescence that introduces a voice so fresh, so original, so pitch-perfect it seems destined to become a classic in the literature of coming of age. In the early 1980s in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Dorothy lives with her bartending mother, her bar-attending stepfather, and her sweetly precocious little brother. Dottie is nine, plagued by insomnia, asthma, earaches, and bad teeth. She is lonely and insecure, but her intelligence and keen perception enable her to see every vivid detail of her impoverished rural surroundings and the strange characters around her. When her family moves to eastern Washington State, Dottie--confused, petulant, feeling more alone than ever, and furious at her changing body--battles her way through junior high, where she finds some success and recognition in sports and academics. Her hard-won victories are tempered by her troubled family and friends and she finds solace and distraction in alcohol, cigarettes, and acting out. Dottie--nicknamed Utah by her teammates from the Colville Indian Reservation--becomes a star basketball player, falls in and out of love, and confronts a new, devastating emotional setback.
- GenresFictionYoung Adult
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 15, 2022
A unique coming of age story. We see the main character Dottie from the age of 7 to 14. Little snippets of her life where she goes through loneliness, insecurity, anger, and just being a sneaky and rebellious teenager. She finds comfort in belonging and finally finds a friends who totally gets her. They indulge in their parents cigarettes and alcohol.
This wasn’t great but it also wasn’t that bad. I was quite annoyed at how the story was written however, there is some cohesiveness to it all. With every chapter Dottie is a year older and is served more on her plate. A broken family, moving around from house to house every holiday or summer, identifying as a boy or girl; to name a few.
One shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but, let’s be real, we all do. I did so with this particular one. It’s not what i was expecting. At all. Though, the title itself rings true to how the book is written. In parts.
This wasn’t great but it also wasn’t that bad. I was quite annoyed at how the story was written however, there is some cohesiveness to it all. With every chapter Dottie is a year older and is served more on her plate. A broken family, moving around from house to house every holiday or summer, identifying as a boy or girl; to name a few.
One shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but, let’s be real, we all do. I did so with this particular one. It’s not what i was expecting. At all. Though, the title itself rings true to how the book is written. In parts.
February 8, 2009
In parts is right--this book is told completely via vignettes.
And the annoying thing about that is that the book skips around and doesn't always go into detail where you'd like some.
Some of the vignettes were funny, and some made me want to slap the writer for writing drivel. It is a coming of age story of sorts, but the main character doesn't really seem to change much.
And what's the point of moving her from WV to WA? Note to the author: If you wanted to talk about a white girl growing up with Native American friends; just start the book in WA. The few WV portions were unnecessary to have taken place there--and there was no real explanation as to why the family moved (which annoyed me a great deal).
This book could have been more well-thought out to begin with--the vignettes only add to the choppiness that made this book hard to read by the end.
And the annoying thing about that is that the book skips around and doesn't always go into detail where you'd like some.
Some of the vignettes were funny, and some made me want to slap the writer for writing drivel. It is a coming of age story of sorts, but the main character doesn't really seem to change much.
And what's the point of moving her from WV to WA? Note to the author: If you wanted to talk about a white girl growing up with Native American friends; just start the book in WA. The few WV portions were unnecessary to have taken place there--and there was no real explanation as to why the family moved (which annoyed me a great deal).
This book could have been more well-thought out to begin with--the vignettes only add to the choppiness that made this book hard to read by the end.
April 26, 2020
The story is told in little events. It seems disjointed at first but as you continue reading it does come together. It relates to how disjointed life can be for adolescents. What was unusual for me, having grown up in the fifties was how much these kids knew, what they thought about people and their situation. The writing is good and has some nice descriptions and phrases. It might fit better in the young adult section.
December 30, 2007
This wasn't the best book I've read. This wasn't the worst. It was okay, though not on my list to recommend to anyone. It was a complete "Judge a book by it's cover" pick from the library. Occassionally, I'll just pick a nice looking cover and read the book based on that. I've found some good books over the years. I've also found some duds.
This was a coming of age story for a girl that has a somewhat dysfunctional homelife. She also has some gender identity issues that aren't really addressed. That would've made it a bit better of a read. And she's somewhat confused on her sexual orientation as well that's never quite addressed. It was okay...not great, but not horrible.
This was a coming of age story for a girl that has a somewhat dysfunctional homelife. She also has some gender identity issues that aren't really addressed. That would've made it a bit better of a read. And she's somewhat confused on her sexual orientation as well that's never quite addressed. It was okay...not great, but not horrible.
February 19, 2013
3.78 stars*
This book was pretty good but in an unusual writing style. It was told not a one long story but as many short stories. All of them capturing a moment or snapshot of Dorothy's life. At some points this book was a page turner and at others I had to put it down for a while because it got tiring. This is the story of Dorothy's (Dottie) life from when she was nine to almost fifteen. She deals with the common problems of adolescents, who she is, her changing body, her beginning to be attracted to people, her parents, overreacting and trying to fit in. In this book Dottie is introduced to love, bras, drugs and alcohol. This overall is a story of growing up and learning about life.
This book was pretty good but in an unusual writing style. It was told not a one long story but as many short stories. All of them capturing a moment or snapshot of Dorothy's life. At some points this book was a page turner and at others I had to put it down for a while because it got tiring. This is the story of Dorothy's (Dottie) life from when she was nine to almost fifteen. She deals with the common problems of adolescents, who she is, her changing body, her beginning to be attracted to people, her parents, overreacting and trying to fit in. In this book Dottie is introduced to love, bras, drugs and alcohol. This overall is a story of growing up and learning about life.
June 11, 2007
A very lovely coming of age story, centering on Dottie, a child of divorced parents. The story is told in a series of nearly 100 vignettes, each of which is filled with wit and vulnerability. During the course of the novel, Dottie struggles with moving, poverty, an alcoholic stepfather, questioning her sexuality, race relations, playing sports, and her relationship with her mother, half-brother, and stepsister. Her character exhibits amazing grace and presence of mind as she continually questions the world around her.
April 20, 2011
I don't know if I read this at the absolute perfect time in my life or if it was just THAT good, but I bawled through this entire book and upon finishing it, I picked up a pen, re-opened it and started reading it again, marking passages left and right.
I'm not sure if I'd feel the same way reading it today (as years have passed) but that's ok. It left its mark and that's all we can ever hope to get out of a good read.
I'm not sure if I'd feel the same way reading it today (as years have passed) but that's ok. It left its mark and that's all we can ever hope to get out of a good read.
October 11, 2011
I really dislike when a book doesn't just grab me in...I especially dislike it when I am reading a book that is "just ok" while I'm on vacation.
I was interested enough to finish it (I shouldn't have) but it really isn't worthwhile. There is no point to this story. It's just about a girl in her pre-teen/teenage years. Again, there is no storyline here at all.
I was interested enough to finish it (I shouldn't have) but it really isn't worthwhile. There is no point to this story. It's just about a girl in her pre-teen/teenage years. Again, there is no storyline here at all.
January 4, 2008
This is a brilliant book by a brilliant author. Time and again I find myself pulling this book from my shelf, relishing the perfectly crafted anecdotes told by the book's young heroine as she faces the trials and tribulations of family, friends, and self throughout her youth.
February 23, 2010
I loved this book, which was written from a young teenage girl's perspective and voice. Her poignant story was one of a very grounded and intelligent girl who is very in touch with herself, while others around her are not.
November 11, 2010
The author's disjointed style gives the reader "snapshots" of the main character's life as she moves through ages 6 to (I think) about 14. Almost like short stories - but all starring the main character.
June 27, 2015
Really liked this book a lot - a great coming-of-age story. I was especially taken by the love that the main character (A Girl) had for her half-brother as a baby and as he was growing up. The love just shown through in the writing.
January 16, 2016
Discovered this book by accident while browsing at my local library. I enjoyed the grittyness and the unexpected queer moments. it was a quick coming of age read. coming from the pacific northwest i also enjoyed some of the very real feeling depictions of small west coast towns.
December 30, 2007
good story.
Read
September 11, 2008A bit Dorthy Alison-esk. Really liked it, wasn't expecting to. Hate the title and cover art.
Loved reading it.
Loved reading it.
August 21, 2009
This book is very choppy. By far not the best book I've ever read, however it was just good enough to keep reading. There are some funny parts, but that's about it.
January 21, 2010
My favorite line: "Your hat! Your hat! Your hat! Goddammit! Goddammit! Goddammit!"
December 12, 2010
if i would've read this in my pre teen years i would've started sneaking beers from my mother too.
July 25, 2011
very good
May 13, 2012
Good, but I was anxious to finish it do I could start on something more hooking. This one felt like a time waster.
November 7, 2012
This book took me FOREVER to read. I thought the way it was written was choppy and sometimes annoying and the content was boring. =[
July 6, 2013
An excellent read. It kept me engaged throughout. It's a coming of age story with a hitch in that the "coming of age" takes place in a mental hospital. It's disturbing and fascinating.
July 9, 2014
Choppy, uneven, didn't grab me in. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for 5 years so maybe the interest was never there. Not impressed with the writing and wouldn't recommend.
July 18, 2014
Painful....I know no other words!
May 23, 2008
YA- great read for myself AND my teen daughter
May 1, 2017
Really choppy read that seemed to focus mostly on how many times the MC threw up. Noped it out of there by about the fourth or fifth puking scene.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews