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472nd out of 850 books
—
648 voters
Drawing Breath
by
Laurie Boris (Goodreads Author)
Students often fall in love with their teachers. Despite warnings from her mother, that’s exactly what 16-year-old Caitlin Kelly does. But Daniel Benedetto isn’t just any art teacher. Not only is he more than twice Caitlin’s age, he rents the Kellys’ upstairs apartment and suffers from cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening disease. Caitlin watches in torment as other people,...more
Kindle Edition, 147 pages
Published
April 29th 2012
by Laurie Boris
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It's Saturday afternoon here in the antipodes and I find I can't get stuck into writing my book until I write about another book, a book I have just finished reading.
I have to get these thoughts and feeling down into words before they lose their force and become just memories.
The book is 'Drawing Breath' and it was written and published by Laurie Boris, an indie author and a female author. I make those points so that what I say next achieves full impact. 'Drawing Breath' is one of the best books...more
I have to get these thoughts and feeling down into words before they lose their force and become just memories.
The book is 'Drawing Breath' and it was written and published by Laurie Boris, an indie author and a female author. I make those points so that what I say next achieves full impact. 'Drawing Breath' is one of the best books...more
To say that this is a ‘coming of age’ story does not do Drawing Breath justice. Yes, Caitlin is only sixteen. Daniel, her art teacher and upstairs neighbor, is in his thirties. And Caitlin learns a lot about life and love. But there is more here. Laurie Boris has written a story that people of all ages will become engrossed in. She understands how each of her characters think. They become real to us, not only Caitlin and Daniel.
Boris treats each of her characters with a gentleness that speaks t...more
Boris treats each of her characters with a gentleness that speaks t...more
If you want a good, emotional story dealing with relationships - then this is an excellent choice. With the chapters skipping between the view points of Caitlin and Daniel, you will find yourself becoming drawn into their worlds, getting to know them and understanding why they think and feel the way they do. About each other, and about the world. The writing style is eloquent and convincing, and the author deals with Caitlin's crush and Daniel's health problems without either becoming too uncomf...more
Drawing Breath is an extremely well written story about an art teacher who has cystic fibrosis and his student and downstairs neighbor Caitlin. The point of view of the story alternates between Caitlin and Daniel who is tutoring her in art.
This is a powerful story which is compellingly told. At 34 years of age, Daniel is near the end of the road health wise. He lives alone with only the smallest amount of help from his over protective sister and too frequent hospitalizations for infections. Most...more
This is a powerful story which is compellingly told. At 34 years of age, Daniel is near the end of the road health wise. He lives alone with only the smallest amount of help from his over protective sister and too frequent hospitalizations for infections. Most...more
Without any illusion, I want to say that Drawing Breath is one of the best indie authored books I have ever read. No offense to others, Laurie Boris has delivered a masterpiece in a short 137 pages.
The story offers an insight into a chronic disease and how it plays into the life of an art teacher. The story itself is not about the disease, but the choices one makes when life is assured to end prematurely. This type love story is not my kind of thing, which proves the point that great writing tra...more
The story offers an insight into a chronic disease and how it plays into the life of an art teacher. The story itself is not about the disease, but the choices one makes when life is assured to end prematurely. This type love story is not my kind of thing, which proves the point that great writing tra...more
*Review contains spoilers*
I became interested in reading this book after seeing it on Goodreads Giveaways so I purchased a Kindle copy to read.
The author did a great job creating the character of Daniel-he was the reason why I finished the book all the way through.
As for the rest of the novel it was, well, lacking. Seriously lacking. The other main characters were sorely undeveloped especially Caitlin & Maureen. It seemed like every teenager cliche was used to develop Caitlin and her perso...more
I became interested in reading this book after seeing it on Goodreads Giveaways so I purchased a Kindle copy to read.
The author did a great job creating the character of Daniel-he was the reason why I finished the book all the way through.
As for the rest of the novel it was, well, lacking. Seriously lacking. The other main characters were sorely undeveloped especially Caitlin & Maureen. It seemed like every teenager cliche was used to develop Caitlin and her perso...more
Oh. My. Goodness. Drawing Breath (such a brilliant title) certainly drew mine—it left me breathless and quite speechless. Without any doubt at all, this is my book of the year. If I’m honest, after reading Laurie’s first novel, The Joke’s On Me, I don’t think I expected anything other than near perfection, but this was simply outstanding.
Daniel Benedetto is a 34-year-old art teacher suffering from cystic fibrosis, and Caitlin is his landlady’s daughter and his private pupil. She is 16 and hopel...more
Daniel Benedetto is a 34-year-old art teacher suffering from cystic fibrosis, and Caitlin is his landlady’s daughter and his private pupil. She is 16 and hopel...more
Title: Drawing Breath
Author: Laurie Boris
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic
Length: 137 pages
THE RUNDOWN
Not often do you find a coming-of-age story that takes you by surprise. Drawing Breath by Laurie Boris does just that. With her delicate, thoughtful prose, Boris weaves a world of discovery, love and illness that is both heartbreaking and full of depth.
The story follows Caitlin, a down-on-her-luck teenager and her art teacher, Daniel. Daniel lives upstairs from Caitlin and her mother and is the tal...more
Author: Laurie Boris
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic
Length: 137 pages
THE RUNDOWN
Not often do you find a coming-of-age story that takes you by surprise. Drawing Breath by Laurie Boris does just that. With her delicate, thoughtful prose, Boris weaves a world of discovery, love and illness that is both heartbreaking and full of depth.
The story follows Caitlin, a down-on-her-luck teenager and her art teacher, Daniel. Daniel lives upstairs from Caitlin and her mother and is the tal...more
I think this is the first book in a long time that has made me feel pain – not just in the mental sense, but also physically. The descriptions were so authentic and real. I couldn’t help but gasp every time poor Daniel coughed and struggled to breathe. I couldn’t help but clutch my chest, memories of my very first (impossible) crush flooding back, each time Caitlin longed for Daniel’s touch and acknowledgement as more than a neighbor, student, and teenaged girl.
I agree this is a romance, but it...more
I agree this is a romance, but it...more
A well-written and thought provoking story, Drawing Breath may be a disappointment to those who jump to conclusions after skimming the description and seeing mention of a 16-year old girl, an adult man, and something about falling in love. But those who don’t come to the story with misplaced expectations will discover a tale that should stick with them long after the afterglow of satisfying their prurient interests would have faded. Drawing Breath is a coming-of-age story that raises questions o...more
Don't bother spending time reading the few words, cobbled together into semi-coherent thought. Don't bother reading any of the other reviews, either. Just read the book. You'll be glad you did.
Still here? Still want to know more? Fine. This is one of the most beautiful, compelling, inspiring, heart-rending books I've ever read. Nevermind the usual drivel about characters and plot and well-crafted prose. This is the sort of book where you don't notice those things, because you're not just reading...more
Still here? Still want to know more? Fine. This is one of the most beautiful, compelling, inspiring, heart-rending books I've ever read. Nevermind the usual drivel about characters and plot and well-crafted prose. This is the sort of book where you don't notice those things, because you're not just reading...more
Will comment when come up for air. What I "knew" was going to happen in this book did NOT. Could've knocked me over. That's not easy to do. Cried. Thought about so many things. Need to process.
Disclaimer: I write primarily fantasy, and up to now, I've been reviewing fantasy novels. This book is not fantasy. It's not sci-fi, either. Read it anyway.
The book is told from the point of view of two distinct characters: Daniel, a thirty-four-year-old art teacher with cystic fibrosis, and Caitlin, a sixteen-year-old girl. Caitlin's mother has rented their upstairs apartment to Daniel; partly in exchange, Daniel agrees to allow Caitlin into the art class he teaches at the local community cente...more
The book is told from the point of view of two distinct characters: Daniel, a thirty-four-year-old art teacher with cystic fibrosis, and Caitlin, a sixteen-year-old girl. Caitlin's mother has rented their upstairs apartment to Daniel; partly in exchange, Daniel agrees to allow Caitlin into the art class he teaches at the local community cente...more
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I found Drawing Breath to be an enchanting book, for women of all ages. I would be happy to offer this book to a teen-age girl, even thou it is slanted to an older audience. I though it captured the sad love story of an older teacher and his talented art student to be tragic but beautiful. It may help a young woman understand her feelings, and help to cope with teen-older love.
I will certainly look forward to more writing by this amazingly talented author.
May I also say the cover is captivating.
I will certainly look forward to more writing by this amazingly talented author.
May I also say the cover is captivating.
This is a satisfying, somewhat sad, sweet story.
Boris' style and approach remind me of Jodi Piccoult's -- minus the ripped-from-the-headline plots, courtroom dramas, and startling (often perverse) last-minute twists. She moves from POV to POV smoothly and appropriately, taking us on part of a few characters' life journeys. If I tried to summarize the plot of this book, there'd be little to say -- but I'm very glad to have taken the trip.
Boris' style and approach remind me of Jodi Piccoult's -- minus the ripped-from-the-headline plots, courtroom dramas, and startling (often perverse) last-minute twists. She moves from POV to POV smoothly and appropriately, taking us on part of a few characters' life journeys. If I tried to summarize the plot of this book, there'd be little to say -- but I'm very glad to have taken the trip.
This is s surprising book. If I had not been pushed to read it, I would have missed a lovely and loving book about art and life. So don't let the off-putting premise allow you to miss this well-written read. I'm particularly impressed by Laurie Boris' ability to capture the fragility and changeable moods of her teenaged protagonist. It's not the disease-of-the-week melodrama I thought it would be!
A teenage girl is in love with her upstairs neighbor, an art teacher whose life will be cut short by Cystic Fibrosis. Jealous when another woman enters Daniel's life, Caitlin makes a rash decision. Drawing Breath is a heart touching story; one of those books that compels me to continue reading nonstop until the end. It's written in present tense, a style which usually throws me off of a story but in this case the author pulls it off seamlessly. Looking forward to reading other work by Laurie Bor...more
Potential Spoiler:
Very good book. I enjoyed the characters a lot. I know there is no changing the "end" for Daniel but I wish he and Caitlin had been able to talk before he passed. I think the longing for that is just another sign of how good the story was. I became very engrossed in their lives and became a huge cheerleader for them both. Very, very good.
Very good book. I enjoyed the characters a lot. I know there is no changing the "end" for Daniel but I wish he and Caitlin had been able to talk before he passed. I think the longing for that is just another sign of how good the story was. I became very engrossed in their lives and became a huge cheerleader for them both. Very, very good.
Lucked out and downloaded this for free. What a find! Wonderful story, heart wrenching, and very well written. Thank you, Laurie Boris. Will definitely read more from this author.
I WAS LUCKY TO RECEIVE A COPY OF DRAWING BREATH FROM GOOD READS. I READ IT IN ONE DAY. THE STORY WAS GOOD AND KEPT MY INTEREST. I WOULD READ MORE BOOKS FROM THE AUTHOR.
A sensitive story, difficult to read but even harder to put down.
Good book well written
![Michelle [Helen Geek]](http://d.gr-assets.com/users/1350347351p2/5557851.jpg)
Free on Amazon 05/12/2012.
The story was poorly developed....not that great.
(3.75 STARS)
May 11, 2012
Therese
marked it as to-read
$0.0
This lovely little novel is good for an afternoon read. Actually, for me, it was through the wee hours of the morning. It's been awhile since I couldn't sleep until I found out what happened. Poignant, beautifully written with vivid characters, it tells the story of a young girl grappling with her feelings for her terminally ill art teacher. If you enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars or Tell the Wolves I'm Home, it's a bit reminiscent of both.
I'm lost for superlatives. This book touches every aspect of what is to be young, to be sick, to hopeless...or hopeful. Every character is beautifully rounded, there is something to redeem the ones you dislike and something to annoy you in the ones you want to win through. I didn't want it to end and will be reading everything else by this author. Thank you for a remarkable tale of being human.
Oct 27, 2012
Krista
added it
Without being the point of the story, this story makes the point that people with a chronic illness are still human. The character Daniel has Cystic Fibrosis, but it is not the sum of who he is. His disease is almost secondary, because the book centers on the girl who is infatuated with Daniel the artist and the line she crosses in her mind.
May 01, 2013
Dale
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
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Absorbing story that intrigued me, with real, imperfect, engaging characters. It's this that gives Drawing Breath weight. It's rare to read such dimension in characters as they evolve with the story.
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Laurie Boris, freelance writer, former graphic designer, and closet stand-up comic, has had her short fiction published in small magazines and on the Web. The award-winning author of three indie novels, The Joke's on Me, Drawing Breath, and Don't Tell Anyone, she lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband, Paul Blumstein, a commercial illustrator and web designer.
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