Book Description
At sixteen, Billie Weinstein has plenty of problems: She's the only Jewish girl living in the all-Italian neighborhood of West Berry, NJ; she's trying hard to please her know-it-all father who listens to opera at full volume and drives full speed, and her too-accommodating mother who is either taking care of Billie's father, or Billie and her sister, or the two dogs; and on top of everything else, her older sister Cassie goes off to college, leaving Billie to fend for herself.
And now Billie's studying for the SATs. The task her father has given her is to learn twenty words a day, read the New York Times at least twice a week and watch Masterpiece Theatre whenever he tells her to, mostly because he likes it. Then Billie discovers her sister's secret: Cassie is battling anorexia and Billie's parents excuse Cassie's weight loss as stress due to the competitive atmosphere at college. Billie knows something is drastically wrong with her sister; something that could be fatal.
This novel is touching and funny and moving, and it got great reviews. And Billie Weinstein is so wry and humorous a protagonist, she's the kind of girl every woman wishes she'd had as a best friend growing up.
Customer Reviews:
This was a really good book.......2007-04-23
I only realised a few weeks after I finished this book just how impressed I was by it. In the last few months I've read quite a few books dealing with the subject of Anorexia, and this was one of the ones that I thought gave the topic just the right mix of simplicity and horror. Simplicity because it is just so easy to slip into something like this and so simple, as a family, to not see what is right in front of you before it is - perhaps - too late; and horror because, out of so many things, anorexia truly attacks your mind, just as much as your body.
I thought this book was beautifully written.
I devoured this book.......2006-07-13
It's been a long time since I've picked up a book and read non-stop the way I read, "My Sister's Bones," by Cathi Hanauer. There are so many things I liked about it, but it was primarily the excellent, utterly readable writing. There is nothing excessive--each word counts in this first person story of Billie Weinstein and her struggle through family life as a sixteen year old girl. I assume this story takes place in the 1970s, given all the references, yet because it is written in first person and doesn't give off even a trace of nostalgia, I had the feeling that I was in the same room as Billie as she told her tale in present tense.
Billie's beautiful and intelligent older sister, Cassie, suffers from anorexia. Hanauer expertly details the emotions brought on by this disease on behalf of each of the family members: Billie's fear for her sister, her parents' denial and debate over treatment, and Cassie's deterioration. But this is not Cassie's story. This is Billie's story and it's about so much more than her sister's anorexia. Billie is a rather typical suburban teenager, coping not only with her sister's illness, but also with pressure from her parents to do well on the SAT test, learning how to drive, dealing with a popular boyfriend who wants more from her than she's willing to give, and a best friend with a colorful family who simply disappears one day . . .
One can't help but fall in love with Billie. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her story and because of Hanauer's talent for storytelling, I look forward to reading more of her work.
From the author of "I'm Living Your Dream Life," and "The Things I Wish I'd Said," McKenna Publishing Group.
Karen's Review of My Sister's Bones.......2005-12-09
The book My Sister's Bones by Cathi Hanauer is a compelling story about a sixteen-year old girl Billie and her life as she deals with her sister's anorexia, school, life and boys.
Billie has noticed that recently her sister Cassandra is acting strange. She is giving away all her clothes, acting frantic and loosing an unhealthy amount of weight at the college that she has recently started attending. Billie has trouble with this because Cassandra has confided in her and told her about her problems but Billie feels obligated to tell her parents.
Instead Billie tells her new Boyfriend Vinnie, and her best friend Tiffany. They try to comfort her but she is disturbed by images that she sees in a book about anorexia. Her sister ends up in a hospital and receives treatment for her disease. Billie's life starts to spin out of control as Vinnie pressures her to do things that she doesn't want to do. As a teenager in high school, Billie is desperate to fit in. She feels like she is the only virgin in her school. She wants to have sex to fit in and please Vinnie, but in her heart she knows that she is not ready to take a step like this. She is no longer able to confide in her best friend Tiffany because her and her family disappear without a trace. Billie is worried that they have gotten into some trouble with the law because Tiffany's father has a questionable business. Billie goes to Tiffany's house and discovers that nobody is there. It is a mess and it appears that they left in a hurry.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with or knows somebody who has anorexia. I liked this book because it dealt with many issues that teenage girls face such as body image, stress, sex, sisterhood, friendship, and growing up. I would recommend this book to teen-aged girls because it provides many examples of what to do and what not to do when dealing with the stresses of being a teen-ager. It is important for women to read this book because it provides us with perspective that we would not usually be able to see and allows us to see similarities to ourselves so that we can better change and understand our thoughts,feelings and actions.
Not Just a Story About Anorexia.......2005-08-12
I picked up this book expecting to read a book about anorexia told by the person with the disorder who focused solely on the effects of anorexia on herself. That is why when I discovered that Billie (the sister of Cassandra, the anorexic) was the narrator of the story, I was a little surprised.
Billie is sixteen when her sister Cassie goes off to college at Cornell, which is referred to in the book by Billie as 'Corn Hell', by the prompting of her docter father. A little before Christmas break, Billie recieves a phone call from Cassie that truly disturbs her. Over Christmas break Cassie looks way too thin and becomes withdrawn from all of her old friends and family. Her father blames it all on exams and the stress of college. Billie knows it is something more complicated.
Although the main point of this story is about how Billie and her family deal with Cassie's anorexia, My Sister's Bones is also about Billie discovering herself in a divided town when she has no upbringing true to any one race/religion (her father is Jewish by birth but he never raised his kids that way). She finds comfort in her best friend Tiffany, learns why giving up Vinnie was a mistake, and realizes that Dominick is not all what he seems to be.
The uncertainty of Billie is easy to relate to and the story line itself is definitely complex and compelling enough to scare anyone out of becoming anorexic. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs a thought-provoking novel or insight into how much anorexia really hurts the person and their family and friends around them.
Tough read.......2005-06-06
Eating disorders are close to my heart.
I had never heard of this book and read it at the suggestion of a friend. This was such a hard book to read. Usually I read memoirs written by the sufferer directly. This book gives a very in-depth look at how the family suffers right along with the person who has the disorder.
This was such a tough read - very thought provoking and scary.
Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.
My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.
Download Description
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult is widely acclaimed for her keen insights into the hearts and minds of real people. Now she tells the emotionally riveting story of a family torn apart by conflicting needs and a passionate love that triumphs over human weakness.
Customer Reviews:
Moving in many ways.......2007-10-02
I couldn't wait to read this book and am happy I did. Although, after reading it, I decided to put Jodi Picoult away for a bit. I read 4 of her books in a row and they have a way of getting you where it hurts. This book was very well written, as usual. I felt very bad for both sisters. I found myself emotionally tied to the entire family, with the exception of the mother. I felt she was very tunnel visioned and couldn't see Anna as any more than a "donor". All I know is for someone who doesn't cry, I bauled my eyes out at the end.
Loved It.......2007-10-02
I loved this book. fast moving, glib, cerebral, lovely and eloquent Jodi writes with a fierceness and simultaneousl eloquence.
I can't wait for the next book. If it's half as good as this one I'm a new fan.Cat's Cradle
Wow!...again, WOW!.......2007-09-28
I couldn't put this book down. Absolutely riveting. The story is told from each character's point of view. All well done for the most part, although occasionally Anna, the 13-year old, seemed on some level, way too old for her age, i.e. very eloquent at times which seemed a bit unbelievable to me. But maybe Anna's maturity was the point the writer was trying to make. Hint: Don't look to the last chapter until you get there.
A work of art........2007-09-20
An absolute work of art. I do not understand why people are complaining about the ending. Not every story has a happy ending; which is what makes this novel so riveting. It is based on what can happen in real life. Life is not a fairy tale. The novel is written beautifully and keeps the reader intrigued from the first page to the last.
My Sister's Keeper.......2007-09-18
Picoult tackles the touchy subjects of medical and parental ethics in this refreshingly original book about a family dealing with the disease of one of its own. Using multiple characters' thoughts and viewpoints, Picoult portrays the struggles of Kate, a teenager with leukemia, who must rely on her genetically altered younger sister, Anna, to keep her alive through regular blood transfusions and transplants. After years of invasive surgeries, Anna hires a lawyer to gain medical emancipation from her parents so she can stop being the guinea pig for her older sister and finally gain control of her own life. What follows is a rollercoaster ride of emotions as the two sisters, their brother Jesse, and their parents must essentially choose sides by supporting either Anna or Kate, thus nearly ripping the family apart.
With My Sister's Keeper, Picoult serves up a thought-provoking novel that fairly covers both sides of several hairy issues including genetic alteration, children's rights, and parents' allegiance to their kids. Although this book cannot be labeled as an ethical guidebook in any way, it can and does serve as a mediator between opposing viewpoints surrounding the aforementioned ethical dilemmas. By nature it forces the reader to take sides with or against each character in the book and evaluate one's own values and morals in the process using an intricate plot and intriguing character insight.
Whether one likes the book or not, this book's consequences will be felt by each reader. Although it may never alter the landscape of medical ethics, it has the power to change and shape the thought processes by which doctors and family members make tough decisions. By breaking down the case of Kate and Anna and making it into an emotional tale of family perseverance, everyone who reads this novel must evaluate their stance on each issue, making it more likely they will return to these evaluations in real life situations. Whether dealing with leukemia or a minor moral dillema, Picoult shows the reader how each can affect multiple characters and alter the outcome of a life. The life lessons found in the book can be used long after it has been finished.
Customer Reviews:
Give Ms. Brockmann a break!.......2004-12-24
This book rates 3 stars for being an average read in the romance genre, however, I wanted to say something about Ms. Brockmann's work as a whole -- which I feel rates 5 stars easily. I have been a fan of her writing since before she published any of her SEALs books; I read her when she was published by Loveswept and I bought Prince Joe the instant it first came out and realised that she had something really great in store for her readers. She hasn't really let me down over the years, but I have become disturbed by the rampant pigeon-holing I have read in the reviews for her non-SEAL books. One of the delights of her books is how varied her characters can be. Different types of men and women; different levels of physical health -- I think I remember one book where the hero was a paraplegic who raced specially made bikes; different personalities. It was the depth of feeling her characters showed and how open the male characters in particular were about how they felt that really set her apart for me. Occasionally she writes things where I simply cannot identify with the main characters, but you know what? Someone else might and her books are still a good read. Her heroines aren't always the perfect weight or the perfect height; they don't always have the perfect mindset or the perfect personality, but that makes the books more human to me, more real, and I admire her all the more for offering someone the chance to have "their own" love story told. In this book in particular, the woman's life isn't so great and maybe she made bad choices, but the point of the book isn't the choices she made in the past but where she goes from where she is. For someone whose life might be in the same state, it could be a great comfort and encouragement. So I say thanks a lot Suzanne for being a writer of vision, reaching out to everyone and not just supplying us with romantic fantasies of perfection. While such fantasies may be fun to read, there's no way they could have the same impact as reading about someone just like you finding love and happiness.
enough, already.......2004-04-30
This has to be one of Ms. Brockmann's early (earliest?) attempts at writing romance, updated with a nod to the internet and published for heaven knows what good reason. How many plot lines can you sandwich into one story? There's the fiance who loves the heroine's sister instead line. The old friend back in town line. The help me save my inheritance line. The cancer in remission line. The sterility line. The jealous friend line. The pretend marriage line, and to top it all off, a community musical? Pick three, and write a decent book instead of this silly mish-mash that ties up prettily with each character writing little notes to clear up the inconsistencies. Ms. Brockmann usually has complete control of seriously complex plots (in her Troubleshooters series), so this total train wreck was both a surprise and a disappointment.
Easy on the eyes and fun!.......2004-03-19
Scenes of Passion is a fun story, that is both easy on the eyes and loads of fun!
I am enjoying this series!.......2004-03-14
I am having such a fun time with this series! I love the characters!
Into The Night.......2003-12-29
This book was excellent, can't wait for Gone Too Far to come out in paperback. I Love all the Navy Seal Stories and the way each book interacts with the others. My only problem is that I read faster then Ms. Brockman writes the next in the series. Thank you for such interesting and serious thoughts on the Navy Seals.
Book Description
“International interest in this distinctive art form was renewed by Sherwood, whose personal collection is considered the world’s most comprehensive. Captivating and commanding, this opulent compilation superbly show-cases vivid new interpretations of familiar subjects.” —Booklist. “Equally important for both botanical and art collections.”—Library Journal.
Customer Reviews:
Reference .......2007-01-11
This book is very helpful, especially as a reference for anyone learning botanical illustration or anyone wanting to learn about specific botanical artists.
It's beautiful art work also makes it very nice as a "coffee table" book for others to admire.
Great Contemporary Botanical Art.......2005-05-07
As a rank beginner in watercolor and pen and ink I much appreciate the effort it takes to produce great illustrations of natural objects. Shirley Sherwood has brought together her remarkable collection of modern botanical paintings (and some ink renderings) in "A Passion for Plants: Contemporary Botanical Masterworks" and made them accessible to the public. It is certainly an impressive effort.
Unlike many styles of illustration, botanical art usually involved a finely detailed painting on a white background, occasionally with additional smaller drawings or paintings. Occasionally a background is also provided, but most have no background. The renditions of just about every artist featured are extremely well done and it is hard to pick a favorite. Kate Nessler's watercolor of Rose Hips & Oak Leaves, Mariko Imai's exquisite watercolors of carnivorous plants, Elizabeth Dowle's paintings of fruit, Francesca Anderson's detailed ink renditions of sunflowers and cacti, and John Wilkinson's ultra realistic (complete with insect damage and hover flies!) watercolor of Ligularia, are just a few of the treats in this magnificent book. It sure makes for a tough standard, but a worthy one, for us beginners!
A great book for artists, botanists and anyone interested in plant illustration!
A superb, international collection of botanical art........2002-05-30
This is an excellent collection of botanical illustrations reproduced in very detailed, rich color on quality paper. Artists from all over the world are represented with brief biographies of each one. I think this book is one of the best books to have if you love botanical illustration and would like to see examples done by highly skilled, scientifically accurate illustrators. Just as good or better than the first Shirley Sherwood collection book.
Average customer rating:
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Cue for passion;: A play in five scenes
Elmer Rice
Manufacturer: Dramatists Play Service
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
 United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
ASIN: B0007ECVTC |
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Commander Toad and the Voyage Home (Commander Toad)
Jane Yolen
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
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ASIN: 069811602X |
Book Description
After many long days in the dark of space, the crew of the Star Warts is thinking longingly of home. But when Mr. Hop sets a course for HOME, the spaceship zeroes in on an uncharted planet. The intrepid crew sets out to explore, and Commander Toad stumbles into an extraordinary discovery -- one that gives a new meaning to home. Join these much-loved characters in a toadally new adventure, full of groan-worthy puns and visual jokes.
Customer Reviews:
Serves it's purpose well.......2004-11-21
I'm a church planter in the south of France. I found this book to be not an excellent encyclopedia, but rather an excellent Manifesto of sorts possessing the revolutionary dynamite of Luther's "95" rather then the extensive and scholarly Calvin's "Institutions".
He sums up well the main points of the House Church movement while being respectful of those Christians who do not meet for worship in homes but rather special buildings. He chooses his words carefully and I therefore would want to recommend this book to anyone tiered with traditional models of church or who are looking to plant a new church.
Not as helpful as expected.......2004-09-06
Although I agree with the thesis of this book entirely, it did not live up to its billing. One would suppose that the author's PhD would equip him in some way to speak authoritatively on his subject, but his degree is in Mechanical Engineering! The book does not add anything significant to the literature on house churches. His treatment on the usage the New Testament word, "ekklesia" merely follows the traditional line. His statement that ekklesia is used in the New Testament to describe house church, citywide church, regional church and universal church ignores Robert Bank's research and shows inexperience in dealing with the New Testament text. At best, Zdero's book serves as a cursory introduction to the subject but its billing as scholarly is misleading. Even as an introduction, it contains errors, which further limits its usefulness. I would not be so hard on the book if my expectations had not been built up so high by those who recommended it and endorsed it. I guess this is a lesson to all Christian authors to show a little more humility in the promotion of their books.
the Finest House Church book yet.......2004-06-15
Outside of the Bible, I would certainly say that this book is the finest yet written on the subject of house church. It is informative and inpiring. It is rooted in history with an eye on the current situation of the world. It is Biblical and practical. In summary, n excellent read for anyone interested in the subject - at any stage of belief. Rad brings the subject home.
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- Nights in White Satin: A Laura Principal Novel
- Operation Shylock : A Confession (Vintage International)
- Oscar and Lucinda: movie tie-in edition
- Panther in the Basement
- Portraits: Talking with Artists at the Met, the Modern, the Louvre, and Elsewhere
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