Clean Reads discussion
Is it a clean book?
sorry, elsewhere. i've not read that one. i have one of my own to ask about: "marked" by pc cast. anyone read that series? clean, not clean? green, yellow, red? :)
I haven't heard of "Tomato Girl". I have "Marked" on my tbr pile, loaned to me by a friend. I believe that she said there were a few f-words and I can't remember exactly what she said about sexual content.
Morning, I have read the first 2 books of the Marked series by PC Cast and did not like it. I am fine with vampire stuff - it doesn't bother me, but the series left me feeling like I had wasted my time reading it. There were a few 'f' bombs to get over, quite a bit of other cussing, and an obvious rift between the thoughts that religion and destiny cannot mix. I don't agree. I'd advise you to spend time reading other stuff. I'd rate it yellowish moving into red in parts.
okay. i think i'll skip the 'marked' series. thanks, fellow booknerds!
what about poison study by maria snyder? i'm a couple chapters in, and frankly, i'm a little worried. how clean is it?
I read both Poison Study and Magic Study. Both of the books were a little disturbing, since they both had to do with rape. Magic Study had more sexual themes in it. Especially between Yelena and Valek. And the bad guy is a rapist/murderer. Poison Study was better, but as the poster above said, it's kind of explicit when it explains what happened to Yelena. I wouldn't recommend it to teens.
Here's another one I'm wondering about. I know lots of people LOVED the Kite Runner, but having not seen it in our bookshelves, I'm wondering if it's less than pristine. Anyone read it? Anyone had to put it down?Thanks as always for your help. I am LOVING our group here!
Tracy
I read it and LOVED it! One of the few books I've pulled an all-nighter to finish -- HOWEVER -- it is EXTREMELY GRAPHIC, and the content is disturbing. But it is still one of my favorite books. And my extremely conservative book club read it, and they liked it too. But it would definitely be an "R rated" book.
Thanks for your response Melissa. Can you elucidate on the graphic content? Is it violence? Sex? Other? Are there particular parts that I could skip over and be able to still get the point?
All of the above. There is sexual abuse; physical abuse; war violence; I don't remember there being "language" per se. But there is also this profound story of friendship, betrayal, redemption. It's hard to say if you could skip parts -- probably.
Thank you so much. I think I'll sit this one out based on your comments. I'm sad, because I've heard form numerous sources how amazing it is. But there are lots of other books out there. Thanks again. Loving our little network here!
Anyone read Beautiful Creatures? My brother is looking for a good, not-yet-trendy book to give his, erm, really good friend that's a girl. Ideas?
it's on my list, so if i get to it soon, i'll let you know. :) anyone else?
I'm new to your group, but wanted to give my two cents on a few of the books that were asked about... I read all three of the Magic Study books and each one made me a little more uncomfortable than the last. The third book had some scenes that I could have lived without. As for the Kite Runner... I had nightmares. Still do. My imagination is too good I guess... that book still haunts me.
I'm looking for something fun, light and clean to read over the holidays... any suggestions??
Sorry to double post here... but has anyone read "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold, "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen, "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel, "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell, "The Book Thief" by Marcus Zusak or "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett??These are the first few books that we are reading this year for our book club. In the past the girls have picked a few books that have been...um... questionable. And some, down right awful. Trying to get a broad picture of these books before I decide to put my time into reading them... any thoughts???
I've read Life of Pi, The Book Thief and The Help:Life of Pi: One of the best discussion of a book we've ever had; no language, no sex, some descriptive narrative re: animals eating each other.
The Book Thief: no sex; I don't remember any language -- but it's WWII; Jewish concentration camps; very heavy -- but loved it.
The Help: nothing offensive except one bizarre scene with a man in a garden; no sex -- no language; '60s racism; I'm one of the very, very, few that didn't like this book.
Life of Pi: I loved this one and so did our book group but I have known some who were bored with the first half and didn't get to the second. It's definitely clean though. The Lovely Bones: I would stay away from this one. Includes strong profanity, very graphic rape and murder scene as well as other sexual content. Interesting premise but not worth the junk.
The Book Thief: There is actually quite a bit of profanity but does not include the f-bomb. Lots of taking the Lord's name in vain. Despite the language, I loved this book.
The Book Thief is one of my absolute favorites of all times. You do have to be on top of it though, because there are words in German that are defined the first time but not the rest and I kept forgetting what they meant and it would throw me off. It's not too big a part though. It didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book at all.
I wasn't a big fan of The Book Thief. Maybe it was my grammar nazi coming out (pardon the pud) but I just had a hard time with it. The german wasn't correct (at least unless they were using a dialect that I don't know) and that really diminished my enjoyment of it. Unfortunately, I was so OCD on that that I don't even remember the plot! Maybe I should read it again ...
The Lovely Bones starts out cool, but has a really stupid climax. The basic conclusion of the book is that she gets to have sex with the guy she likes...don't bother.
Thanks for all the input! Sounds like I'll be avoiding The Lovely Bones for sure! I have The Book Thief on hold at the library... I think I'll give that one a try! :)
This is a great group! I just joined. I was wondering, has anyone read Sarah's Key?Is it good? and is it clean? Thanks!
Beth A - I have not read Sarah's key, but my neighbor who is a relatively clean book reader said she loved the first half of the novel, but the second half was trite and pathetic... Sorry I can't offer more!Has anyone out there read "Cutting for Stone"? Anyone know if it's clean? It's getting very high reviews....Thanks!
I haven't read it -- but a blog I follow -- Lucy at Life is a Spasm who flow -- wrote this about it:http://lifeisaspasmwhoflow.blogspot.c...
She also wrote about Sarah's Key:
http://lifeisaspasmwhoflow.blogspot.c...
Not sure if it will help or not...
Thanks Melissa - that was exactly what I was looking for about Cutting for Stone....it looks like from her review that I could probably handle the things she discusses with no trouble and that it's pretty clean. Thanks so much!
Tracy wrote: "Thank you so much. I think I'll sit this one out based on your comments. I'm sad, because I've heard form numerous sources how amazing it is. But there are lots of other books out there. Thanks aga..."Kite runner is a good movie. I have not read the book- nor want to, but the movie was pg-13 and I would let teens and above watch it without worryies.
I found a website that has ratings on books. http://www.commonsensemedia.org/ I looked at a few books and it had good information for why a book is rated why it is. Like what kind or how much of violence or sexual stuff, etc, is in it. It seems like a pretty good site.
thanks, erica! i had stumbled on that website awhile ago, but lost all my bookmarks when i switched browsers. glad to see that resource again.
Thanks for sharing that web site Erica. I'm so glad to see stuff like that out there.
A young friend just suggested that my husband read "Oxygen" by Carol Cassella. Are there any opinions out there on its content?
anybody out there read the wicked lovely series by melissa marr? it seems a little goth to me, and i'm wondering what the content, language, and general atmosphere will be like further in. plus... the facial piercings... ugh.help??
I only read the first book, Wicked Lovely. It has been a while since I read it, but I wouldn't recommend it. It is very goth-- the general atmosphere isn't positive or uplifting. There is teenage sex in it. I don't remember the language aspect. I am not planning on reading any more in the series.
hmm. that's plenty of info, katie. thanks! too bad, because the title is spectacular.
how about "gone" by michael grant?i'm leery of anything published by harper teen. this series could be interesting, though. anybody read it?
Joy wrote: "how about "gone" by michael grant?i'm leery of anything published by harper teen. this series could be interesting, though. anybody read it?"
I read it a few months ago, and I loved it. It's really intense and a good plot. There's non-sexual romance. However, there might be swearing (I tend not to notice it unless it's every other word) but I don't remember very much of it, if it's there. I'm not sure of your exact standards, but I wouldn't have been embarassed, I'm pretty sure, if Jesus had been reading it with me. Also, it's like a better version of The Lord of the Flies. A world without adults, etc, but much more positive.
Lanetta wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Thank you so much. I think I'll sit this one out based on your comments. I'm sad, because I've heard form numerous sources how amazing it is. But there are lots of other books out the..."I agree, I loved the movie....most is in subtiles. Watch the movie, skip the book. The movie was clean considering the movie is about war and hate between different races.
Joy wrote: "how about "gone" by michael grant?i'm leery of anything published by harper teen. this series could be interesting, though. anybody read it?"
I just read this a couple weeks ago, not much to add to what Christine said, unfortunately I also tend not to notice the swearing, but if there was any it wasn't much. I highly recommend it, it may possibly be my favorite book ever.
Is the Secret Life of the Bees a clean book?
Emily wrote: "Is the Secret Life of the Bees a clean book?"I haven't read it, but I checked it out on CD for my husband's commute and he sent it back to the library the next day because he said there were frequent vain references to Deity. I don't know how "frequent" or any other content.
this is totally a second-hand evaluation, as i've not read the book myself yet. it seems like the frequent deity references are probably more part of the southern dialect. it may not sound as harsh or sharp to our ears as readers from this part of the country as it would to others...
There's no sex in Secret Life of Bees but there is "barnyard language" as well as the Deity references. I don't think there are any f-bombs.I have a friend who couldn't read it because of a few descriptions of child abuse in the beginning. She had an abusive parent and it brought up too many feelings.
My relief society group read it and enjoyed it, some even went to see the movie together. I am from the South. The references to deity do exist but are part of the culture of the characters and are not meant to be offensive. Please note not all Southerns reference deity often. The way it is used in this book was not meant to hurt. It was a good read, and I feel bad that people think the book is unclean....
If you want a clean read, stay away from Sue Grafton's "A is for Alibi" mystery series. It is quite explicit in violence, language, and not as much for sexual matter. Otherwise, they are page-turners.
I just finished the Amen Sisters by Angela Brunson (think I got her name right). I throughly enjoyed it. Good Christian writing, not preachy and depicted true life Christians.
Remembering Isaac and Discovering Isaac are nice, clean books. The writing most certainly won't make them classics, but they're fun.
Lanetta wrote: "My relief society group read it and enjoyed it, some even went to see the movie together. I am from the South. The references to deity do exist but are part of the culture of the characters and are..."Our book club read it a while ago, and it was strange and I didn't like the madonna scenes.
Has anyone read "One Second After" by William Forstchen? I've started reading it for an online "book group" discussion, and I've noticed quite a bit more language than I'm accustomed to (I usually stick with YA fiction because it's usually safe). My question is, does it get beyond the PG-13 level I've seen in the first few chapters? I am really loving the story, and would hate to get really invested, and have to put it down for going over the line. Also, is there other ojbectionable stuff I may need to be aware of? There is a teenage romance blooming, and some adult flirtations at this point, and I worry about those getting racy somewhere down the line. Help? :)
Thanks all!
Tracy
The foul language is constant and continues all through the book. The violence increases. As for raciness, it pushes the envelope. The way the author sometimes described women, I find objectifying. You know better than I where you personally draw your line demarcating a clean read. Poemia's review of it on goodreads is here:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
You might find reading that review helpful as you decide whether or not to continue reading.
I havent read "Tomato girl" by Jayne Pupek .Does any one know if it is a clean book?