My second finished book of the year was a random book selected from the shelf. I state this because my yearly books will be made up of random books, books suggested to me and book club selections.
I read 40 books last year based on challenging myself to read more. This year I have challenged myself to read 50!
Marlena by Julie Buntin is a fiction novel. The story revolves around 2 families of 2 teenage girls. Both girls live on the same property and are friends based on proximity and income. One is only slightly better off then the other. Both girls missing a parent in their life but the similarities end there.
One girl Catherine whom is enchanted with the older and more rugged Marlena form a unbreakable bond that gets them feeding danger together. School becomes unimportant. Trips to vacant hotels, church tunnels and doghouses are just part of the day. Eventually too much school skipping is found out all because of a spontaneous pizza lunch.
The teens indulge in drugs and alcohol. Catherine is concerned with her friend but, still follows the bad behavior of her friend. The setting in a rural town with minimal entertainment other then finding trouble makes the drug abuse seem almost expected.
This book gives you a glimpse of teens and drugs. Misguided teens, unsupervised teens. It's kind of a sad story when you read about the drug abuse and how it's obtained, made and sold to other teens.
There is tragedy and more tragedy and as much as I would like to state comedy I can't think of one spot. You don't know where the book is going to take you from start to finish; so you have to read it to the end.
It was a good book. The plot was easy to follow. There was a point to the whole book. All in want from my books is to not get me lost. It ends not the way you expect. The two girls do part ways and you don't expect that from bestfriends either.
Now I will end with that I have not spoiled the book if you choose to pick it up! I'm off to read book number 3!
Sounds like a good book, nice to know it is one where you don't get lost while reading. I will add this to my list
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book to read! I am always looking for new recommendations. You definitely have me hooked on this one!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds a great book. This will be helpful for parents too, to guide their children. I like reading eBooks too, sometimes when I read some of this kind of book, I feel weak. I hope it has a good ending.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good book. I’m always looking for something new to read but I’m very fussy! If I don’t love something after a few pages then I stop. I should really start giving it more of a chance
ReplyDelete40 books in one year?! That is really inspiring! Marlena sounds like an interesting book, but I'm more of a fan of 'lighter' books. Nowdays we hear so many bad things on television, so I like to read something that makes me calm. Thank you for sharing your review.
ReplyDeleteyou've done a great job with books, 40 books you read in 2017, and targeted for 50 books this year! I'm sure you're doing the best thing in your life. Coming to this book, it seems it gives a good read in the form of teen and drugs and should be must read for parents and teen kids as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's great you have increased the number of books as your goal for this year! I once read around 30 books in a summer because I had all summer to myself and not many plans. I loved it! Also, the book sounds really interesting with a very appealing theme. Good luck with the rest of the books!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a good book. I like that we have to read the book till the end and that it does not end the way we expect it to.
ReplyDeleteI love what you said here. I think there is such a beautiful thing about getting lost in a good book. And then allowing it to take you places you have never been. I will have to check this one out.
ReplyDeleteI love easy reading of some serious topics, especially something like drug abuse. Glad it suited you even though it was a sad topic, but we all learn something about it. I will definitely be adding this to my list.
ReplyDeleteI've also challenged myself to read more this year. 2 books a month is my challenge. Interesting idea to just read random books, I am sure it expands your horizon.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me want to set myself a reading challenge for the year... but I just don't think I'll be able to find the time. Maybe I'll at least start by picking up a real book to work on!
ReplyDeleteI love to read and always looking for good books. This looks like a good read !
ReplyDeleteI love that you read so many books! I wish I read so books which maybe I’ll make it a goal this year. This sounds like a book I would read so I will have to look into finding it locally
ReplyDeleteThis is a very nice review. I would pic this one up and give it a read. Keep up the good work ^^
ReplyDeleteI hardly get time to read much but I think I should start reading some good books this year. 50 books is a great goal but for me, it will be overwhelming :)
ReplyDeleteSeems a good read..have not read it yet but read it soon .Thank you for an insight
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