Good handling of a difficult subject - Spoiler Alert
587087
Maybe I should label this with "Spoiler Alert".  Before I retired, I worked in the Finance Dept. of a mental health clinic. While my duties were more administrative, in the environment, the elements of the condition cannot be avoided. This author clearly studied or has a family member, who is autistic. Very good handling of a difficult subject.
2163316
Giggling Boy is one book that I can honestly say was a tough read. Not because of the story or the writing being  difficult to understand, but because of the subject. Ra Lynn has touched on some extremely taboo subject areas, including sodomy and pedophilia. I thought this was an extremely brave move, one that worked.

Ra Lynn has covered his subject tastefully, enough to make sure his message hits home, but not enough to be offensive. I liked how he alternated each chapter between the living child victim, while he was young and in the middle of the experience, alongside his now deceased abuser. In the abuser chapters, his journey of learning about how his behaviour affected his victims, along with the brutality of said training. I hope that was entirely fictitious, I wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy!

The young victim, and his way of coping and even forgiving, is a lesson we all need to learn.

Overall, The Giggling Boy touches some difficult subject, but the lessons to be learned will benefit us all. Enjoy.

NB I received this book free for an honest review
2849823
While the plot is well-paced, the subject matter of child sexual abuse, pornography and kidnapping makes it a difficult book to really like. Still, if you can stomach the difficult subject matter, the book is well written. The only caveat to that is a spectral disturbance at a very dramatic moment that is out of place with the rest of the book. And the worse part is that it is totally unnecessary. The narrator of the book changes frequently from one character to another, and it is not until deep in the book that one can be sure which of the male characters are speaking, and while I found it interesting, others might find it irritating. One thing that I did like was that not every clue panned out. Some at first looked promising but didn't yield much. That seems more like reality to me, but on the whole, the book could have done with a bit less reality.
909545
This story, like the preceeding volumes in the series, presents a fascinating story line that explores important societal issues like genocide and philosophical questions of the nature of humanity.  The whole story series is well salted with scientific speculation, especially in the area of artificial intelligence.  The one significant negative is the tendency to get bogged down in interminable dialog scenes that detract from both the main plot and the important sub-plots. That detraction is what lowered my rating from 5 to 4 stars.  It's still a worthy read but the reader may want to begin skimming through some of the extended dialog earlier than I did.
464562
As another reviewer mentioned, I too had expected this story to be more of a macabre recollection of the main character's experiences growing up around a morgue.  In fact, dead people only played bit parts.  The crux of the story dealt with a dysfunctional family's dreadful display of abuse, denial, betrayal and incest.

I have to say that initially I wasn't in the mood for what the book turned out to be, however, I kept reading because it was so well done.  The characters were real, and so was my sympathy and hate for them.  At times it was a hard read due to the subject matter.

Overall I give it 4/5 because I felt it was a bit of a bait and switch on the title.  Think I would have enjoyed it more had I been in the mood for that type of book from the get-go.
3296726
This review was originally posted on my blog at kourtnireads.wordpress.com.
Trigger warning for sexual assault/rape, abuse, and death.

When I first read the blurb for this, I thought I was going to love it. Ive always enjoyed reading books about difficult topics like this one (although have recently been neglecting them). Then I started reading it and wasn't so sure. Luckily, it ended up getting much better from there on out and I ended up really enjoying it.

What I most appreciated about this book was that it showed just how difficult it can be to open up about a traumatic event not only to your friends and family, but even to yourself. Alexi really struggles with admitting to herself the severity of what happened. She makes excuses for her rapist and blames herself, believing that since she didn't outright tell him no that its her fault she was raped and that it was all just a big misunderstanding. Stevens did an excellent job portraying how difficult it can be to acknowledge things like this and to learn to cope and move on. Readers get to see how much the trauma affected Alexis life and how certain phrases or situations can be triggering and difficult to deal with.

I loved the friendship between Alexi and Bodee. They both have experienced trauma and are attempting to cope with it and both help the other do this. They draw strength from each other in a wonderful way. What I really liked was that neither one of them really expected the other to tell them everything that had happened, but instead respected that the other would tell them what had happened if/when they were ready. In the meantime, they offered their attention and time as a way to show they were there for each other and wanted to help/support their friend.

Faking Normal 1

I honestly really didn't like Heather, Alexis friend. Im not entirely sure what it was about her character, but she just came across as very self-centered and didn't really seem to respect Alexis boundaries and wishes. I didn't like Kayla, Alexis sister, very much either but she at least partially redeemed herself (which was a huge shock to me, to be honest).

One small complaint I have is that there were a couple of moments of slut-shaming of one character, Maggie. It didn't happen often enough for me to be really bothered by it, but there were two or three comments that Alexi made in the narration and to Heather looking down at Maggie for sleeping around. It didn't serve any purpose either, so it was not only a crappy thing to say but completely unnecessary.

If you start reading this and think you have everything figured out early on in the book: you probably dont. I remember at about 80 pages into the story, I thought I knew who had raped Alexi and I was getting really annoyed because I thought the book was too predictable. But I was completely wrong!

This is a good book about a topic that can be incredibly difficult to talk about, but is so important. As far as I can tell, it deals with the topic pretty delicately and accurately, but as I have never been a victim of rape, Im not the most qualified to make a statement on that. If you like reading books that deal with tough topics, I would absolutely recommend this to you. It deals with difficult situations but is ultimately a story of how with the support and strength of friends, you can get through anything no matter how impossible it may feel at the time.
3710078
I thought this was a good book, but difficult subject matter to read about.  I was in tears a couple of times, but towards the end of the book I was ready for her to let go and give him a chance.  He was definitely a saint for putting up with her through everything. I wished for more of an epilogue as well....
793321
This is a really difficult book for me to review, I've been sat debating what to put for a few days now and I'm still not sure, I really enjoyed the book and it's very well written but I'm not sure I can recommend it to anyone and I don't believe I know anyone who will enjoy it due to the level of violence.

If you think of a cross between Minority Report and The Running Man and then add in an extra pinch of violence then this will give you a good idea of what this book is like.

In the future a gene is discovered which shows that a person is more prone to violence and therefore more likely to murder - hence the name of the novel. The story centres around a father and son; Jay is tested and found to possess this gene and is immediately dispatched to Murderer City leaving his young son Kyle behind. Rather than be taken into care Kyle decides to fend for himself and concentrate on helping  his father escape.

The two stories run in parrallel, looking first at the fate of Kyle and then at Jay, each doing whatever it takes to try and get to the other. At times I struggled with Jay's storyline as I found that to be the more unrealistic simply becuase of his age (I'd like to think that neither of these is likely to happen but who knows with the state of our planet!).

The book looks at some difficult issues; although at it's heart is a story about family bonds, it also tackles the nature vs nurture debate - although predesposed to violence will these people actually commit murder if not forced into it by circumstance (ie in Murder City).

If you have a strong stomach then I think this is a very relevant and interesting novel to read, Aizen is obviously a very talented writer, I felt this was a strong first novel and I look forward to his later books - but would prefer it if I didn't have to try to block out images for half of the novel.
836219
I debated between three and four stars and went with the lesser of the two.  At times this book was hard to plow through, and it was even difficult to tell who was telling her story.  However, the last 1/4 of the book made all the plowing worthwhile with an amazing end product.  Descriptions of the people and their surroundings were good.  Since the book takes place in Great Britain, it was important for the reader to have the graphic descriptions of the countryside. I felt some irony since my mother is in a nursing home and there are many nurses assistants who work with her.  None, however, as caring as Jenny! I would probably read more of this author's works.
2593441
Good, but slightly less than the usual effort to keep the reader fully engaged and vested in the story
463269
I finished this book several days ago, but to be honest I needed time to process how I felt about it. In this story, Combs tackles a really tough topic and she tackles it in a hopeful way, which has to be hard to do. Unfortunately school shootings are something that we see far too often in the U.S., but that doesn't make it any less difficult to read about. While I had a few things that bothered me about The Light Fantastic, I do think that Combs handled this particular issue better than other YA authors I've read this year. Her writing is beautiful and I really did enjoy most of the characters (especially Gavin, Phoebe and April's stories). I loved how each character had their own voice. The writing style seemed to morph and change for each perspective and I honestly felt a connection to each person.

The story is told over a period of several hours through seven different perspectives and while I did enjoy some of them, others were underused, confusing, seemed to drag or provided a lot of unnecessary details. For example The Mastermind's chapter, while beautifully written, kind of bored me. I need led more details about his online activity, what drove him to his decision and what consequences did he face. Same for Phoebe and even Laura...although I enjoyed their stories (Laura's was told in Lincoln's chapters) and how they played out, I kept finding myself wanting more. I'm sad to say at the end of the book I wa slept slightly disappointed. While I applaud Combs for focusing on the character's experience, rather than the acts of violence themselves, I felt like she left me hanging. I suppose ultimately, my problem is that I didn't get the closure I needed and I had a lot of unanswered questions, which is frustrating because I actually felt invested in these characters.
4452860
I enjoyed this story and have recommended it to several book groups.  It begs discussion of the ramifications of emotional decisions, which we all make all the time.  It illustrates how enormous and catastrophic those decisions can become, taking on a life of their own and coloring one's world forever.  The story exposes racial prejudice, which is the underlying catalyst for the story line.  Then it takes the reader on an emotional journey that begs the question, "What if?"

The four stars may be misleading.  I listened to the audio version of this book through Blue Tooth in a car full of women from my book club.  The voice of the reader is difficult to understand, as he speaks in a Australian accent.  About half way through the story, I became the reader and it was a much better experience.  That said, I felt the first half of the story, the set up, was somewhat slow.  Once reading from my Kindle, I couldn't put it down.
687434
This is an excellent book that takes up a difficult issue.
1513293
Good book... I simply have a bit of an issue with a plot device.  I find it a bit much to swallow that one of the characters would not have used a bit of knowledge earlier than it was unveiled.  Outside of this the characters are fun and  relatable... the protagonist is my kind of smart-ass.  Worth the read.
4492976
Proponents of the novel appreciate Peters' poignant way of addressing the complex topics of bullying and suicide. Critics find it disturbing and morbid, wondering at the details offered for various methods of suicide and the romanticism of the whole thing.

The entire topic is complex, and I can't quite decide which camp I fall into. As a writer, I can't deny its literary merit. The story is deeply moving and troubling. That it continues to be the topic of debate concerning teens and bullying and suicide speaks to the powerful way in which it addressed the issues. As a writer on end-of-life issues, I commend the author for sparking the conversation about suicide (or "bullycide", a term coined for suicide provoked by bullying).

As a reader, I had trouble getting through this story. I could overlook what some thought to be "morbid", because simply discussing pain, suicide, or death is not morbid. It's real and honest. What's difficult to accept is the unreliable narrator. Peters does such a fantastic job of conveying the misguided, cynical, torn mind of a troubled teenager that I, the reader, found myself at odds: I wanted to argue the flaws in the girl's twisted view of the world at the same time I pitied her for all the pain it caused her.

Often in a story about suicide or death, a ray of hope runs through the entire narrative, and we are rooting for the main character to "snap out of" her gloom and see the brighter side to life. I desperately wanted to root for Daelyn, because the pain of a girl so beaten by life is difficult to witness. But Peters makes this difficult to do, regularly reminding us of Daelyn's commitment to her plan as the chapters count down the days to her "date of determination".

How can we have hope for a character who has no hope for herself?

This, I think, is what lands this book square in the spotlight of controversy over the sick lit genre for teens. Daelyn's experience is not sugar-coated. There's no Everything's gonna be alright message to go out on. The reader, in fact, is left wondering whether Daelyn committed the final act or not. This is no PSA. Peters honestly portrays the messiness and uncertainty of the issues -- and that will always leave some feeling just a bit uncomfortable.

I'll certainly call this a recommended read for anyone, as it opens the door for a wider conversation on death, depression, suicide, and teen bullying. The issues can't be swept under the rug or viewed through rose-colored glasses. They are dark, painful, and gritty -- and they are a reality in many lives. A great read for teens and adults alike, though I recommend reading for teenagers be accompanied by an open discussion with adults (parents, teachers, librarians) about the issues introduced in the novel. A discussion guide and list of resources follows the story to help you along.

(This is an excerpt of my review of the book for SevenPonds.com)
888560
When I was first asked to do this review I had mixed feelings but welcomed the challenge. Generally as a consumer of media I tend to resent and avoid stories that include heavy romantic plots or typical heteronormative tropes. A lot of it comes from cynicism and criticism of the way that relationships dynamics and conversations are portrayed. I think my personal history lends to the high standards that I view romance portrayed in media. So this book was certainly a good challenge, and in part I hoped that maybe Id finally find a healthy and realistic relationship portrayed in books. One big problem, other than Shonen Ai manga, I have no idea what to expect from a romance novel!

With that consideration Im reviewing this book as someone with the condition of Dissociative Identity Disorder portrayed in the book, rather than someone who typically peruses the romance section of the bookstore. Despite my open mindedness I experienced a lot of resistance as I continued reading. By chapter 4, 6, and 8 I almost stalled out and put the project away all together. In no small part from assumptions that I was making about how the conflicts being set up would eventually resolve themselves. My first disappointment was that I was expecting this to be from the perspective of someone with the disorder, and that unchecked distaste followed me through the main-characters development of admiration for the person-of-interest (Oryn). My initial notes as I was reading along were quite scathing. The reason I mention this is because I encourage analytical and aromantic readers to give the book a chance past chapter 8, if a sense of injustice for perceived sexualization arises I ask you to take a break and come back, but please do come back! Im glad I did.

Ultimately this book was a slow climb as the characters and setting were developed and shown to the reader. Truly I ended up falling in love with the characters as well as their dynamic, and development. The exploration of Oryns system was sensitive and insightful. Some of the scariest parts of the disorder were addressed through the eyes of someone who could love, appreciate, and respect the challenges, delights, and progress of someone with DID. The kicker for me is that the struggles of the main character were not minimized or ignored. There were no signs of toxic romantic idolatry in my first read through. If anything I would recommend it to partners and loved ones for a truly insightful and revolutionary fictional story of loving and living with a Multiple.
509648
The book deals with difficult subjects and handles them well. There will obviously be many more sad situations in the future, but that is part of real life too.
It is a tearjerker in the last 100 pages, just like a good movie.