Innocence

Rating:
Summary: Innocence.......I think not
Review: Jane Mendelsohn's INNOCENCE is an inrtiguing novel of horror. A young girl named Beckett just moved into Manhattan after her mother's death. The first person to even talk to her is a guy named Tobey who introduces her to the three most popular girls in school. The next night they are found dead in what looks like a triple suicide. Her father meets the attractive school nurse and they get married. At first Beckett thinks that Pamela, the nurse, is just a normal step mother. But when she starts finding bolood and getting akward stomach pains she starts getting suspicious. Her boyfriend Tobey is attacked in a bathroom at a diner and sent into a coma. From then on Beckett has to fight for her life even if some people she cares about are murdered by her evil step mother. In the very end it turns out to be a brutal battle of good versus evil. Beckett overcomes Pamela so she can never bother anyone in Manhattan or the world ever again.

Rating:
Summary: More beautiful than poetry
Review: Jane Mendelsohn's writing has a haunting, lyrical quality to it that makes you want to wrap yourself up in the words and never stop reading. Beckett's story of an evil stepmother, suicidal peers, a father she can't trust anymore and a boy she loves is vague at times, almost dream-like, but that's part of the effect. "Innocence" is a coming-of-age, conspiracy-riddled, horror masterpiece. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Imaginative and captivating
Review: Little Willow recommended this book to me..Oh, and in simple words, it is FABULOUS. Mendelson uses analogies to omnipotent Final Girl of horror fame, and Alice in Wonderland to convey a dark and deep feeling, so that the reader really is with Beckett. The words employed by Jane bring vivid pictures, making you want to devour it within seconds. A delicious coming of age with a unique twist, this no ordinary tale.

Rating:
Summary: Fluff and not even good fluff at that
Review: One of the most inane books I have ever read. About the only positive thing I can say is that it took only 3 hours to finish. I had to run out and buy a real book with some substance right away after reading "Innocence" and finding myself shaking my head in disbelief. I thought I saw early potential a few times so I stuck with it, however the farther into this story I got, the more I read just to laugh at the story line. Really bad. I was luke warm about "I was Amelia Earhart" but now this author is completely off my list. Who has time to waste on a book this bad?

Rating:
Summary: A terrible second novel
Review: Please. This is the same author who wrote I was Amelia Earhart??? How is that possible? If you like books about female middle-aged vampires preying on virginal but menstruating girls for their blood, you will love this one! I did finish it, but only because I had agreed to read. If you don't believe me, read the hilarious short review in the New Yorker, last week in August. A terrible book, one I wished I had never read. It is allegorical and that is the only reason to read it. Other than that, it reads like the movie treatment (and a bad one at that) that it was to begin with. Beware second novels...especially ones that had been earlier regected. There is probably a reason why!

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Written.
Review: Possibly the most loved novel on my bookshelf, among my friends, that is. Her usage of metaphors amaze me, and reading this reminds me of a long and descriptive journal entry. This inspires some of my writing as well. I recommend this to people who love creativity, dark and poetic.

Rating:
Summary: "Washed up on shore"
Review: The book I read was Innocence by Jane Medelsohn. Pros about the book would be how a lot of teens can relate to it, and in another sense they can loose the feeling of being insecure. "I walked into the cafeteria and saw them, mermaids washed up on shore...their hair swung down like rope...there I am sitting alone. I'm the ugly girl, the smart girl, the boyish girl, the loser. I'm the one who knows too much." [Pg.8-9] Then Beckett realizes her whole life was a false image and everything up until then was what was real. [Pg.64] My cons about the book are much stronger though. I think Jane Medelsohn got too carried away with the use of the thesaurus, personification, and sensory detail. "I wipe my hand across the sky. It turns dark blue. The moon stands out. It hangs between the branches like a silver egg now, a magical glowing orb. I walk through the garden by the light of the moon." [Pg.138] I know writers are encouraged to use good elements of writing, but I think it was all a game for her to show off to her readers. It honestly made me want to put the book down. The theme of the book is to never let things bring you down because there's always a way out. If you're trapped in situation friends, family, or even miracles can help you. I honestly can say that I do agree with that message. In all of my past experiences when I was about to breakdown and give up, out of nowhere a miracle happens. Some people believe in luck, but I believe it was the work of God. If I had to list all the times where I've been aided during my all time lows, I might as well write a novel. It's similar to the saying, "good things happen to those who wait." So you have to hang in there. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading about teen conflicts and issues. Also to anyone who can relate to problems dealing with lost of a family member. Once again if you're feeling insecure, read this book to find out how you can solve your problems. To find out what Beckett had to go against and how she managed to pull through.

Rating:
Summary: Innocence BS
Review: The writing in this book was very abstract, like an extended poem with a narrative. I couldn't feel much of an involvement towards the action or characters because they were abstract also. The entire book is like trying to make out a bad dream with all the symbolism. Beckett, our young heroine is entering puberty unto womanhood, and basically we have a long monotonous monologue of her feelings. What a waste of a good night's rest.

Rating:
Summary: oh, the angst of being a poor little rich girl
Review: There's not much to like about this book. The narrative is purposely disjointed, supposedly to mirror the mixed up state of mind of our narrator. Unfortunately, it's hard to feel very sorry for her since she doesn't seem to have it so bad. She's haunted by visions of bad slasher films with blood, bats, gore, ketchup, and has to be put on medication to get by day to day. Getting her period only seems to make things worse. There's a slight love interest with Toby, but there's so little character development that it's hard to care what happens. Overall, this book was tiresome to read and depressing as well. I did not think the writing was very noteworthy either. The only good thing is that it's not very long. Other than that, I can't think of much to recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Oh Those Poor Trees!
Review: This book is one of the worst that I've ever read in life. It doesn't have any person that you want to learn more about, in fact, by the end of this novel, you'll be glad Beckett finally shut-up. The novel seems to be writen in some horrible attempt at poetry at points and lacks a plot. In fact, it is not until near the end of the novel do we learn anything about the storyline. For a book that seemed to gain praise from many, it makes me sad that the trees, that were used to make this book died in vien. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this book. I'm just glad I only paid a doller for it.