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14th out of 139 books
—
143 voters
Precise (Pulling Me Under 0.5)
by
Rebecca Berto (Goodreads Author)
Katie Anselin is a newlywed and hubby, Paul, is her life. He’s the only one who knows her family’s history and makes her finally feel happy—until the day she discovers she’s fallen pregnant.
By the time Katie started school, she’d been taught that she was the cause of her mother, Rochelle’s miscarriages. See, Katie has grown up knowing she shouldn’t be happy when she’s caus...more
By the time Katie started school, she’d been taught that she was the cause of her mother, Rochelle’s miscarriages. See, Katie has grown up knowing she shouldn’t be happy when she’s caus...more
ebook
Published
November 28th 2012
(first published November 2012)
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SPOILER FREE REVIEW -mature content reader discretion is advised.
3 STARS out of 5
Genre: New Adult Fiction
Whoa.. This was a head trip.
Three words
MOTHER FROM HELL
One Word
EVIL
SERIOUSLY she was a real BITCH. And she kinda reminded me of HER
Well, I have two words for her. Oh and I wrapped them in PINK!!
This may be a quick read but DAMN it packed a punch...
“You are still that worthless little girl.”
“Please, Mom,” I begin, but stop. I’m speaking out of turn again. Mom’s done when she tells you s...more
3 STARS out of 5
Genre: New Adult Fiction
Whoa.. This was a head trip.
Three words
MOTHER FROM HELL
One Word
EVIL
SERIOUSLY she was a real BITCH. And she kinda reminded me of HER
Well, I have two words for her. Oh and I wrapped them in PINK!!
This may be a quick read but DAMN it packed a punch...
“You are still that worthless little girl.”
“Please, Mom,” I begin, but stop. I’m speaking out of turn again. Mom’s done when she tells you s...more
Mental illness is never pretty, and Precise does not gloss over it. The story moves along slowly as it draws out scenes that depict the toxic attitude that a mother has on her only child.
The author skillfully makes the reader feel disjointed by the stream of consciousness style and the episodic nature of the chapters. She takes common scenarios, a Scrabble game, a trip to the park, and imbues horror elements into it with the stalking mother.
Kate tries to resolve her issues, but as in parental ab...more
The author skillfully makes the reader feel disjointed by the stream of consciousness style and the episodic nature of the chapters. She takes common scenarios, a Scrabble game, a trip to the park, and imbues horror elements into it with the stalking mother.
Kate tries to resolve her issues, but as in parental ab...more
Katie Anselin is affectionately known by those who love her as Kates. Ironically, Kates rhymes with hates, and that's just what she is, hated.... by her own MOTHER!!
Being brought up an only child of the insanely unstable Rochelle, Kates is blamed for everything wrong in her mother's life, namely ravaging her mother's womb and ultimately for the death of her unborn and stillborn siblings.
Paul, her husband and saviour, knows her family history well and is her only saving grace from the life of mis...more
Being brought up an only child of the insanely unstable Rochelle, Kates is blamed for everything wrong in her mother's life, namely ravaging her mother's womb and ultimately for the death of her unborn and stillborn siblings.
Paul, her husband and saviour, knows her family history well and is her only saving grace from the life of mis...more
My first reaction: Intervention! I want to take Kate away from her mother and help her recreate herself and understand that she is a person, not an object of hate.
My second reaction: Medication or no, that woman is the spawn of satan. No really, she is. No child should ever be treated the way Kate’s mother treats her. No twenty-two year old should have to put up with such degradation. I wanted to be mad at Kate, tell her she’s an adult and that her mother should no longer have any control over h...more
My second reaction: Medication or no, that woman is the spawn of satan. No really, she is. No child should ever be treated the way Kate’s mother treats her. No twenty-two year old should have to put up with such degradation. I wanted to be mad at Kate, tell her she’s an adult and that her mother should no longer have any control over h...more
Rating 3.5
First, I want to state if abuse is a trigger for you or bothers you on any level than this is not the book for you. Emotional and mental abuse is very prevalent in this story.
"Someone as defiant as you are would surely raise a bratty child; I'd have to step in to prevent you ruining your poor child's life."
When we become parents, we must base our decisions and our actions on the best interest of our child. Those decisions and actions are made even harder when you have been mentally an...more
First, I want to state if abuse is a trigger for you or bothers you on any level than this is not the book for you. Emotional and mental abuse is very prevalent in this story.
"Someone as defiant as you are would surely raise a bratty child; I'd have to step in to prevent you ruining your poor child's life."
When we become parents, we must base our decisions and our actions on the best interest of our child. Those decisions and actions are made even harder when you have been mentally an...more
This is a 3.5/4 stars read for me. Is an angsty, psychological almost literay read. writing the review tomorrow
Update - originally posted on my blog:
http://me-my-books-and-i.blogspot.ro/...
“I am kind and beautiful. I have a soul. It’s better to be known for what I am not. Isn’t that how the saying goes?”
I present you a heavy subject - mental illness - and an angsty, psychological drama - PRECISE, written by a young and talented writter. Rebecca Berto is a new voice in contemporary drama. Her st...more
Update - originally posted on my blog:
http://me-my-books-and-i.blogspot.ro/...
“I am kind and beautiful. I have a soul. It’s better to be known for what I am not. Isn’t that how the saying goes?”
I present you a heavy subject - mental illness - and an angsty, psychological drama - PRECISE, written by a young and talented writter. Rebecca Berto is a new voice in contemporary drama. Her st...more
When I began reading Precise, the first thing I wanted to do was find a way to protect this young woman known to her friends as Kates. I wanted to hug her and tell her it wasn’t her fault. The further I read, the more I had to know what happened, and I couldn’t wait to get to the end. I needed to see Kates happy. I did on occasion.
This is a wonderfully written book, and a touching story about a young lady living with psychological abuse from a mother who dislikes and blames her...for anything. T...more
This is a wonderfully written book, and a touching story about a young lady living with psychological abuse from a mother who dislikes and blames her...for anything. T...more
I often find it hard to rate a novella because I don't feel as thought you get enough of the story but I believe that this novella deserves a solid three stars.
Although I feel a little lost as to some important pieces of this story it seems as though this author will fill you in when the series continues. I think the author does a great job at painting pictures of quick little scenes to give you an idea of the whole but also leaves more to be desired so that the reader will most likely want to d...more
Although I feel a little lost as to some important pieces of this story it seems as though this author will fill you in when the series continues. I think the author does a great job at painting pictures of quick little scenes to give you an idea of the whole but also leaves more to be desired so that the reader will most likely want to d...more
After mulling it over for a while, I have to give the book a 4 out of 5 stars. This book `goes there' and discusses a topic that I haven't seen approached in a rather long time. Yes, we have a young love story, a young pregnancy story, but we don't have that ideal relationship between mother and daughter. Yes, I'm sure many people will disagree with me on this, but I see this as a topic that is considered unapproachable. What I mean is that this topic is almost considered taboo. Rebecca, I give...more
Since Natalie Merchant and the "10,000 Maniacs" railed against child abuse in the 1987 pop classic "What's the Matter Here?", the quiet murmur of a few radical reformers has turned into a populous uprising in a fevered pitch.
Rebecca Berto adds her voice to the din in this story Katie Anselin who struggles throughout the book to carve out a life for herself and her young family and break free of the grips of her controlling mother - Rochelle. Rochelle's abuse of her daughter is primarily psycholo...more
Rebecca Berto adds her voice to the din in this story Katie Anselin who struggles throughout the book to carve out a life for herself and her young family and break free of the grips of her controlling mother - Rochelle. Rochelle's abuse of her daughter is primarily psycholo...more
Wow. Talk about a strong debut. I was pulled in from the first page and found myself deeply engrossed in the story. Kates is a fascinating character. She lets the reader know in such a matter-of-fact way about her mother despising her, and yet she doesn't come off as a victim - simply a realist. This is the only reality she's ever known. The tension in the scenes where Kates and her mother interact was off the charts, and her mother's cold cruelty was almost palpable. The cover is PERFECT, by th...more
Precise is a psychological portrait of a vulnerable girl, deeply scarred by her mother’s hatred of her since birth. Mom Rochelle blames our MC “Kates” for her subsequent miscarriages and has pretty much made her life a living hell since then, with all the self-doubt, insecurity and anxiety you’d expect that would engender. Now that Kates finds herself pregnant, the impetus to escape the dark gravitational pull of her mother’s crazy is even stronger. Can she find the strength to do it?
This short...more
This short...more
I would give PRECISE three stars.
The story is about a young woman named Kates, who (at the beginning of the book) lives with her husband Paul and her abusive mother. The book confronts this abuse head on through the eyes of Kates, who struggles both with her own feelings of intense confusion and her desire to create a better life for her new daughter.
Kates was a very strong character throughout the story. Her need to build a new existence with Paul and baby Ella pushes her outside of the realm o...more
The story is about a young woman named Kates, who (at the beginning of the book) lives with her husband Paul and her abusive mother. The book confronts this abuse head on through the eyes of Kates, who struggles both with her own feelings of intense confusion and her desire to create a better life for her new daughter.
Kates was a very strong character throughout the story. Her need to build a new existence with Paul and baby Ella pushes her outside of the realm o...more
I should preface this review by saying one thing: I am not a fan of a poorly done prequel. I absolutely hate it when a book feels unresolved, when you're all 'Okay, now I need the next one as I have no sense of completeness.' (Fifty Shades, anyone?)
PRECISE does not do this. It is very much a complete story in it's own right, delving into the world of mental illness. This novelette gives a no holds barred look at three people suffering from mental and emotional disturbance as Kates, her mother an...more
PRECISE does not do this. It is very much a complete story in it's own right, delving into the world of mental illness. This novelette gives a no holds barred look at three people suffering from mental and emotional disturbance as Kates, her mother an...more
Precise is one of those books that you can't stop yourself from finishing. You don't only read it, you devour it. It is a story that holds your attention from start to finish.
The best way to describe Precise? It is the story of Katie Anselin, who has carried fear and grief inside her for her entire life. Why? Because her mentally ill mother, Rochelle, blames her for the death of her siblings. In a horrible way, Rochelle makes Katie the scapegoat and punching bag for all of the things she can't d...more
The best way to describe Precise? It is the story of Katie Anselin, who has carried fear and grief inside her for her entire life. Why? Because her mentally ill mother, Rochelle, blames her for the death of her siblings. In a horrible way, Rochelle makes Katie the scapegoat and punching bag for all of the things she can't d...more
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this novelette. It’s not the type of story I’m immediately drawn to and I wouldn’t label this book as "romance" but it certainly holds your attention as cringe-worthy as it may be. This is the story of a gal who is scarred in every sense of the word by her mother and I just wanted to scream the famous line, “NO WIRE HANGERS” from the movie Mommy Dearest. This is that book. It’s so intense that it makes you absolutely uncomfortable.
Rebecca Berto...more
Rebecca Berto...more
From the first page of this novelette, I was hooked. Rebecca Berto is a master storyteller that is able to weave her plot and characters into your mind in such a way that they leave a lasting impression.
We are introduced to Katie Anselin in this novelette (affectionately called Kates by her nearest and dearest) and immediately the reader wants to follow her journey with her husband Paul, their daughter Ella and her mother who suffers badly from mental health problems.
The reader finds themselve...more
We are introduced to Katie Anselin in this novelette (affectionately called Kates by her nearest and dearest) and immediately the reader wants to follow her journey with her husband Paul, their daughter Ella and her mother who suffers badly from mental health problems.
The reader finds themselve...more
PRECISE by Rebecca Berto is not an easy or comfortable read, but it is a worthwhile one. At the beginning of the novella, our protagonist Katie still lives with her mentally ill, emotionally abusive mother, even though Katie is in her twenties and married. The reader soon learns that Katie's mother controls nearly every aspect of her daughter's life, and when Katie discovers she's pregnant, her mother tries to control that as well. However, having a child may provide the impetus Katie needs to f...more
There are books you read for escapism. There are books you read for entertainment. Then there are the rare books that make you cringe with their raw power and their unflinching truth. Precise is the last type of book. Rebecca Berto strips your emotions down to the bare soul. She does not promise "pretty" with this story. Rebecca Berto will grip you with this story. Her characters are not cut from cookie-cutter fiction. Her characters are carved out of the raw truth of survival. The story deals w...more
I love the raw honesty of this book. I love that the author refuses to gloss over the dark places mental illness and family dysfunction take us all. It's real.
If I were to criticize anything, I wanted more detail. I wanted the author to slow down, hold my hand and show me how we got there. This book is a page-turner - intense and angsty - just the way I like them.
Overall, an excellent freshman effort. I look forward to reading more from this author.
If I were to criticize anything, I wanted more detail. I wanted the author to slow down, hold my hand and show me how we got there. This book is a page-turner - intense and angsty - just the way I like them.
Overall, an excellent freshman effort. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Precise is definitely one of a kind and beautifully written. It touches upon subjects that aren't as common in stories, especially mental illness. It was a bit difficult to read at times because of the hardships that this character experiences, but I feel it was very realistic. Berto has a very poetic and literary way of writing, and I enjoyed it. I also liked how this was a quick read (although that bites you in the rear end later because you don't want it to end!)
The story is also captivating,...more
The story is also captivating,...more
I found this book hard to follow and had to reread several parts...as if the writing wasn't fluid. I am, however, intrigued by the first chapter of her next book that I read.
Katie's mother is psychotic. I kept turning the pages just to see how long it would take for Katie to tell her where to go. I did find it difficult to understand how Katie put up with her mom's abuse for so many years. That woman should have been barred from coming within a hundred yards of Katie and her family.
Precise is a compelling read. Once you start, you won't be able to put it down.
Precise is a compelling read. Once you start, you won't be able to put it down.
Review coming soon.
May 16, 2013
Debra Klein
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Eliza De carvalho
is currently reading it
May 14, 2013
Nicky
added it
May 13, 2013
Jamie Lynn
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Peggy
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Junkies: I am a junkie and am shamelessly proud. What are you? | 21 | 30 | Dec 18, 2012 12:27am | |
| Goodreads Librari...: Please change the number in my series | 3 | 46 | Oct 22, 2012 04:27am |
Rebecca Berto is a new adult contemporary romance author. She is also a freelance editor.
She writes stories that are a bit sexy, and straddle the line between Literary and Tear Your Heart Out. She gets a thrill when her readers are emotional reading her stories, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She’s strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably...more
More about Rebecca Berto...
She writes stories that are a bit sexy, and straddle the line between Literary and Tear Your Heart Out. She gets a thrill when her readers are emotional reading her stories, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She’s strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably...more
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“I am kind and beautiful. I have a soul.It’s better to be known for what I am not. Isn’t that how the saying goes?”
—
3 people liked it
“Still speaking over me,' she says, meeting my eyes and scoffing. 'You are still that worthless little girl.”
—
2 people liked it
More quotes…
Jan 27, 2013 04:07pm
Thanks Blacky!!!
Jan 27, 2013 04:14pm