The Bookends discussion

Lordy ....... I won't be reading this one. This whole 'obsessive' stalker love stuff is just not for me. Any thoughts on this one?

You know what? I haven't even read Beautiful Disaster yet, but I won't be reading this one. I just read Hopeless and Losing Hope, and while they're great books, I didn't see the point of almost the exact same story told from a different POV. It felt like I was just reading the exact same book again. I've heard that Walking Disaster is the same situation, so I'm going to pass.

I'm a little sad on that Lindsay as I would have loved your take on it. I read a review today that was everything and more as to how I felt about it. Apparently it has even garnered attention from the author. It is a really in-your-face review and she spelt out everything about the novel that I found so awful - but with so much more panache!!! (and swearing). I'm shitty on linking or I would put it up .... any tips on how to do that? I'd love for you to read it.

Maybe some has it that would let you borrow it. You wouldn't have to read much before you have that vomit taste in your mouth.

I have a copy of Beautiful Disaster and I will be reading it as soon as I'm done with all my review books. I'm very slowly getting through the pile... I'll let you know my thoughts on it as soon as I'm done. :)
When you click on someone's full review, it will take you to a separate page. Just copy the web link, then paste it here. Should work?

I will try!! Thanks!

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Check it out!!!!

Yikes! Consider me WARNED! lol It reminds me a lot of Captive in the Dark. It's violent, abusive, and somehow, romantic? And yet, I still really enjoyed the book. Not because I think they make a great couple, or because I think it's the kind of relationship we should all aspire to, but because it's a peek into the darkest shadows of our curiosity.
And I have to admit, I am deeply curious about BD. It invokes such strong reactions from people, on both sides of the spectrum. I wonder which way I'll go.

Maybe because I'm 'older' .... or maybe because I have always had a really strong sense of self .... I just found this book repulsive. I understand the 'romantic' aspect of being desired or wanted soooo deeply or by two different guys - I get that. I don't like this book for how warped it is - or how it takes an ideal that most girls swoon for and just makes it wrong.

Like I said before - put your daughter in this place and read it through those eyes and tell me you don't have alarm bells going off and red flags flying.

Yeah, for sure! There is a very distinct line between fiction and reality, and it makes me sick that kids are reading these books, and then forgetting about that line. :(

How old were the characters in Captive in the Dark? Maybe that's another reason Beautiful Disaster bugged me .... the female lead was only 18... turning 19. He was moderately older.

I think they were 18 and 23 or something like that.

Oh, but the target audience is completely adult. That certainly makes a big difference!

That's true. I'd say the target audience for Beautiful *gakkk* Disaster would be 14 - 18 year old young women.

I was furious that women were letting their preteen daughters read Twilight, without bothering to discuss the fact that their relationship was dysfunctional. Oh, and that vampires were, in fact, FICTIONAL! I heard stories about these young girls actually letting their boyfriends drink their blood! Whether or not this story is true, it's believable enough when kids are so impressionable. So sad!

I think that is why I believe that reading all genres (especially YA) is important ..... It keeps your lines of communication open. I never heard about the blood sucking thingy - good Lord. I wouldn't be surprised if it had an element of truth behind it.

And again - that may be why I disliked the B.D. book so much ..... it was fictional, yes - but it didn't have pretend people as the characters (ie: the vampire and the werewolf). These characters were just 'normal' .... below normal in my mind, but your everyday quasi-average teenager that is looking for love and trying to sort their shit out. And this lifestyle was not normal. Nor should it be painted as desirable either. It's one thing to be wanted and desired but not like this.

I figure that we discuss books so rarely that I may as well just keep discussion to one thread. Each month, if you want to discuss any of our books, feel free to leave all comments here. Am I lazy? Probably.

I haven't bothered to read Walking Disaster this month. For one, I haven't managed to read Beautiful Disaster yet, and also, I'm a little scared that I'll hate it. I'm also scared that I'll enjoy it.

I don't think it matters one way or the other if you like it or not .... some books just hit you for better or for worse. I decided to listen to Beautiful Disaster as opposed to 'reading' it - my car commute is 40 minutes and a great way to fill in books - so I don't know if that was the deciding factor on my dislike for it. Sometimes when you 'hear' a story, you digest it differently. Or you actually hear the words .... or something. It's hard to put your finger on it.

I loved Beautiful Disaster but ended up skipping on Waking Disaster after reading the reviews. Still not sure if I'll read it eventually

I just finished BD. I can't even bring myself to leave a review yet b/c I have so many mixed feelings. I hated the glamorization of violence/abuse, and I felt the entire situation lacked believability (the whole "bed buddies" thing). And the plot took some strange turns (Vegas?).

That said, I couldn't put it down. I wish I could figure out why that was! I'm unsure on whether I'll try WD.

I think every woman is entranced with the thought of having a man desire her sooooo much that it is all encompassing. It's that raw need and masculine power that gets a girl all melty-like. Who doesn't want that?!

For me, fictional book or not, this story romanticized a true element of abuse in that guise and it made my stomach turn. Even the way it portrayed the other girls that would just spread their legs for him where ever and when ever had my blood boiling. The only smart one was the roommate that studied - and she was just shown as a loser.

So I FINALLY got around to finishing Beautiful Disaster. I didn't think it was as bad as you were saying Sue. The writing itself is actually pretty good, but the relationship is totally dysfunctional! I think that was kind of the point though.
The character I had the most problem with was America. She knew that Travis was trouble for Abby but still pushed them together. In fact, there was more than one occasion where she should have supported her friend, but instead seemed to be sabotaging her at every step. She was totally irrational in more than one scene - like when she attacks Travis for bringing a girl home. Seriously? They broke up! I get that Abby was hurt, but they were in HIS home. Anyway, I thought she was the craziest of them all!