false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167343781m/22207.jpg 22207 5 A down-and-dirty debut novel, a harrowing recital of a young life, a funny, innocent, streetwise telling of life on the street--all of the above describe Heather O'Neill's <i>Lullabies for Little Criminals.</i> In an autobiographical essay included in the book, O'Neill, whose own childhood parallels rather closely the life of Baby, her book's heroine, says, "In <i>Lullabies</i>, I wanted to capture what I remembered of the drunken babbling of unfortunate twelve-year-olds: their illusions; their ludicrously bad choices, their lack of morality and utter disbelief in cause and effect." She accomplishes all of the above and more. <p> Baby is born to two 15-year-olds, and her mother dies a year later. Her father, Jules, is not a bad man, but he is a perpetual kid, without money, education, purpose, moral compass, or any idea of what being a parent is about or how ordinary people live. When the novel begins, Baby is almost 12, and her 12th year turns out to be a very big one indeed. She smokes pot, shoots heroin, loses her virginity, and lives in foster homes, a state detention home, and one seedy, squalid apartment after another. She comes under the spell of Alphonse, a neighborhood pimp, and is so hungry for male affection that she mistakes what he offers for love and care. <p> Baby and her equally neglected and abused friends long for adulthood, whatever that means. They look up to sophisticated druggies and efficient thieves. Baby says, "I don't know why I was upset about not being an adult. It was right around the corner. Becoming a child again is what is impossible. That's what you have a legitimate reason to be upset over." Baby is matter-of-fact about her predicament. She knows that other kids have lives very different from hers but says, "It never occurs to you when you are very young to need something other than what your parents have to offer to you." This poignant story is beautifully written, sprinkled throughout with humor, pathos, unbelievable privation, and, in the end, the hope of redemption. At least we know that Heather O'Neill grew up to be a writer of no mean accomplishment. <I>--Valerie Ryan</I> 23263 5 10 2006 Lullabies for Little Criminals: A Novel (P.S.) total:1131|5:351|4:448|3:230|2:80|1:22| 1131 4419 1681 266 5 10 false false Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 14 22:13:43 -0700 2009 Sun Sep 06 20:15:17 -0700 2009
The story is seen through the eyes of Baby, a 12 yr old who lives with her Dad in Montreal. Her Mom died when she was one...more...]]> 2 6 false false Thu Jun 21 08:06:09 -0700 2007 Thu Jun 28 11:10:50 -0700 2007
After ...more...]]> 5 3 false false Wed Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 21 15:26:06 -0700 2008 Sun Aug 03 09:28:49 -0700 2008
It's sneaky. You don't know you're getting attached to Baby, the main character, until it's too late. You don't realize you're emotionally invested in her, that you want to see her make the...more...]]> 5 3 false false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Wed Jan 09 04:14:21 -0800 2008 Wed Jan 09 04:14:45 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 3 true false Tue Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Jan 31 16:33:19 -0800 2008 Tue Feb 05 20:54:54 -0800 2008 more...]]> 2 2 true false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Jul 26 12:10:46 -0700 2007 Sun Jul 29 09:38:56 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 2 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Fri May 18 07:46:52 -0700 2007 Fri May 18 07:59:11 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 2 false false Thu Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 07 06:14:34 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 09 07:24:53 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false false Mon May 26 17:51:01 -0700 2008 Thu Aug 21 14:28:49 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Sat Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Feb 23 17:29:51 -0800 2008 Sat Jun 21 10:21:33 -0700 2008
There are images in this book that will blow your mind. Normally, I sort of roll my eyes when people type passages from the book on Goodreads, but ...more...]]> 5 1 false false Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Sep 27 13:34:02 -0700 2007 Mon Jul 28 09:48:39 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Tue Aug 28 20:25:10 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 28 20:35:23 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 1 false false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Apr 05 22:31:15 -0700 2007 Tue Jul 24 22:43:37 -0700 2007 Her protagonist, Baby, is a twelve-year-old ...more...]]> 5 1 false false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 09 13:08:37 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 09 13:21:15 -0700 2007 The books a struggle about growing up but still trying to keep your youth. Once it's gone, it's gone forever.
I read this book less then a week and it...more...]]> 5 1 false false Sat May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue May 06 05:25:38 -0700 2008 Sat May 31 07:01:52 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Thu Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Mar 31 15:16:00 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 31 15:23:05 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Oct 14 15:55:06 -0700 2007 Sun Oct 14 16:10:40 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Nov 16 12:12:17 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 16 12:12:27 -0800 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Tue Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 03 12:29:38 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 03 12:36:27 -0800 2009
This was my in person book club choice and I was the ...more...]]> 2 0 false false Thu Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 11 07:59:05 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 11 15:17:17 -0700 2009 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=22207