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May 05, 2011

Rakisha rated it:

*sigh*

I picked up the book Towelhead: A novel because I was intrigued by the New York Times' review of the movie directed by Alan Ball (of Six Feet Under and American Beauty). I also picked it up, because I'm always interested in how authors' portray the burgeoning sexuality of preteen and teen girls especially now that teenagers seem more sexualized than ever. Towelhead did a good job of exploring 13-year-old Jasria's sexuality. The proof is by how uncomfortable I felt reading this More...

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Dec 16, 2009

Alecia rated it:

Warning: it contains graphic language.
Warning: it will break your heart.
The main character is a 13 year old girl who experiences moving to a new state, having no one to turn to when her body starts to grow and change, parents of different races in an ugly divorce, being the target of racism, and physical and sexual abuse all in the course of one school year.
There is a lot of dialogue and it's a VERY FAST READ. I couldn't put it down. I love this book. My heart was truly br More...

0 comments like (9 people liked it)

Jul 10, 2008

LARRY rated it:

As posted in [http://www.amazon.com]:

Wow! I'm not sure if I'm supposed to like the book because of the style of writing and the bold approach of a topic or if I'm supposed to hate it because of a sensitive topic. I can say one thing...that Erian didn't hold back her creative juices. It's so good I thought that it was actually a memoir.

Feeling threatened by her daughter, especially when her boyfriend spills a revelation, thirteen-year-old Jasira is sent to live with her L More...

0 comments like (6 people liked it)

Mar 10, 2010

Tony rated it:

towelhead is spectacular.

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jan 18, 2009

Sara rated it:

Wry, risky, intensely readable. I've never read a more earnest narrative voice that depicted the inner life of a thirteen year old girl. Even though Jasira's adolescent experience was nothing like mine, Erian's crystalline writing made it mine. I cringed for her, I was angry for her, I loved her and wished her well when I had to leave her. I worried as I got to the climax that the wheels were going to fall off but it ends with such a lovely, hopeful moment that I really can't fault Erian for a l More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Sep 11, 2008

Marnie rated it:

I laughed out loud several times during this book, but maybe it was more of a nervous chuckle. I don't really consider myself a prude, but this was one of the more sexually explicit books I've read in awhile dealing with the "eww" factor of an adult and a young, young girl, so while I was reading this on the bus, I have to admit that I got embarrassed and uncomfortable. That was after I was uncomfortable reading the book on the bus because of the title; I had to go out and get a book More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 15, 2007

Jamie rated it:

Coming-of-age story starring an extremely sexually precocious thirteen year old whose father is a control freak and whose mother is immature and irresponsible. She sends Jasira to live with her father because she perceives that her boyfriend is paying too much attention to her daughter. It is difficult to read this without wanting to place blame on one parent or the other for how Jasira behaves with men; however, Jasira too seems to be responsible for some of what happens to her. Although in th More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 29, 2008

Kayla rated it:

I picked this book up really not knowing what I was getting myself into. The further I read, the more I questioned whether or not I should continue. I did finish it, however, probably because of my incessant curiosity on how a story will end.

I am not exactly sure whether or not I really enjoyed this book. I do know I will not be recommending it to anyone because of the sensitive material. At times I really felt like the protagonist was beyond naive and the other characters were u More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2008

Emily rated it:

This is very powerful book telling a modern day story of culture clash, family dysfunction, child abuse, sexual self-discovery, and finally, redemption. It is "Lolita" told from the girl's point of view - and not a pleasant one at that. Jasira tells her shocking story in a graphic & plainspoken manner that lends a sense of pathos to the escalating events. It's a quick read, with a hopeful ending. I'll probably read it again, and recommend it my teen mom book group too.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 04, 2008

Anina rated it:

I really liked this and I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down...I even missed Project Runway. Anyhow, it's not for everyone which is why I gave it 4 not 5 stars. It's from the perspective of a 13 year old girl who is sexually abused/confused by all the people who are supposed to be taking care of her. However she is very clever and there's a lot of dark humor in it so it's not terribly depressing really. There is sex on every page, I thought it was an accurate portrayal of horm More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jun 17, 2008

Monica rated it:

Man. What can I say about this book? It was kind of an emotional roller-coaster ride. I read the whole thing in about a week and a half, so if you're looking for something that will keep your interest, this will not disappoint. But be prepared to feel violated. I was so disturbed by every single one of the characters (our heroine included) and could not decide who to get behind. As soon as I would start to feel the slightest bit of empathy for the girl, or her father, or her boyfriend, or More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 18, 2008

Sarah rated it:

I'm very eager (and also a bit anxious) to see what Alan Ball's film version of this book will be like. The story had elements of 'American Beauty' (older man/young girl, suburbia, racial issues, the military, etc) but unlike the former, young Jasira is such an innocent that I found myself cringing to read page after page of how she has been taken advantage of. The novel is written from her point of view, which makes her innocence even more realistic and brutally honest. At times I felt like I w More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 19, 2010

Fiona rated it:

This book is heavy going, and I found it very upsetting to read. Jasira is an extremely real and believable character. She is thirteen years old, going through puberty, and starting to think about who she is. She's open, and trusting, and really wanting to have some trusted adults around that she can talk through her feelings and thoughts. But all around her the adults let her down in big ways and small, refusing to talk about difficult issues like body image, sexuality and race identity. All th More...

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Feb 18, 2009

Steve rated it:

I downloaded the movie on Xbox live a couple months ago and thought it was interesting. It was directed by Alan Ball, creater of Six Feet Under and writer of American Beauty. Rifat, Jasira's father seemed to be channeling a sinister Raul Julia from the Adam's family.

A couple weeks ago, I was browsing through all the books in Spanish in a Puerto Rican bookstore when I ran across the original novel. The movie had stuck with me, so I picked it up hoping there was something more to the More...

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Jan 11, 2009

Banafsheh rated it:

Jasira, a 13 year old Arab-American girl has been sent by her mother to live with the Lebanese father she barely knows. Jasira is not happy living with her father; he alienates her with his strict rules, harsh punishments and lack of affection. Alone and confused about her rapidly changing body she looks to people around her to fill the void. She meets her neighbour Melina who becomes Jasira’s confidant and protector, taking on the parental responsibilities neglected by Jasira’s parents. She als More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 10, 2011

Abbey rated it:

Alicia Erian’s Towelhead completely enraptured me, never once leaving my hands. Whether I was in second period geometry or waiting for a train, I was constantly sneaking a peak at what was to come next, gobbling up page after page of the engrossing novel. The story began with the main character, Jasira, explaining why she had been sent to live with her Lebanese father, Rifat, in Houston, Texas. After her mother’s boyfriend, Barry, confessed to Jasira’s mother, Gail, that he had sexual feel More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jun 15, 2011

Benji rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 03, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

I don't even know were to start with this book. Jasira is 13 and by her mother to live with her Arab father in Texas because her mother's boyfriend is kind of abusing her and her mother would rather get rid of her child then boyfriend.

Characters like this pretty much sums up the book.

In Texas, Jasira becomes obsessed with her neighbor, a grown man with a family. She tries to find any excuse to hang out with just him and of course, he rapes her. In school, she thinks the only More...

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May 21, 2011

Maria rated it:

At first, I was surprised and disappointed. Thinking it was more about the experiences of Arab-American teen-agers, rather than a coming-of-age, sexually aware thirteen year old girl's search to feel "loved"; and not recognizing when an adult is abusing her. Her experiences are sexually graphic and disturbing. She confuses abuse for love and feels sorry for the people who hurt her the most. To boot, she's at an age where she needs her mother's guidance the most yet her mother sends her More...

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Dec 19, 2010

Taneka rated it:

Never have I felt such emotion while reading a book. I was so angry with Jasiras' parents. The author did an excellent job in writing this book. I had to remember what it was like when I was a teenager and wanting attention from my mom and dad only to fall short for their affection. As a teenager all you want is to be accepted and loved. I felt that her parents acted more like kids than Jasira. What parent sends their kid away because they feel they are competition? Or abuses their kid bec More...

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Aug 13, 2010

Leila rated it:

This is the coming of age story of Jasira, a blossoming Lebanese-American, who is sent to live with her Lebanese father after her mother's boyfriend comes on to her. While with her father, she develops relationships with various people in her neighborhood and at school, one of them a pedophillic Army reservist. It is clear that this girl is searching for love and acceptance, but she does it in self-destructive ways.

This was a disturbing novel. It made be feel "icky" while r More...

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Aug 11, 2010

Radhika rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Jul 09, 2010

Christina rated it:

"I can't believe how a book with such horrific, terrible issues and taboos can be so laugh-out-loud funny..." that's what a newspaper reporter reviewed on this book, and what made me read it in the first place.
This book really is horrific and terrible and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time... it's got issues that should be keeping you up at night, worried, and should make you go into actions about such awful things happening, not just to this young girl starring in this story, More...

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Aug 20, 2009

Hugh rated it:

I loved this book! What I liked about it was the "greyness" of it. I first saw the movie on TV...or part of the movie and it made me too uncomfortable, but there definitely was something to it, so I thought I'd read the book. Now I'd like to see the movie again. Really, there are no perfectly "good" characters, and no really "bad" characters, including the young girl who was the center of the story. Lots of sexual content, and not for the faint of heart! What di More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 21, 2009

Suvara rated it:

The story of Jasira is not that uncommon amongst immigrants or younger people who's parents are from another country; the strictness of a traditional background often conflicts with what is learned outside of the house and what your community finds acceptable.

Jasira struggles with wanting to make everyone around her happy and neglecting at times to make herself happy. Her decision to remove herself from her Father's care and move in with Melina was the best thing for her, it shows he More...

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Jul 10, 2009

Cynthia rated it:

This book is not for everyone. There are really graphic concepts and images in this book. If you can't handle it, this is not the book for you.

This book is about a 13 year-old-girl who is starting to learn about herself. While going through this process she has to deal with a mother who is jealous of her daughter going through puberty, her mother's boyfriend who is enjoying her going through puberty, being shipped off to live with a father who wants his daughter to be asexual, a More...

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Sep 26, 2011

Carolyn rated it:

This is the first novel that I've read which deals with adolescent female sexuality in a way that is honest and realistic. Though still child-like in her thoughts and behavior, Jasira's body has nonetheless matured into that of an adult woman. She has been neglected and ignored by both her parents, which leaves her craving attention and approval, and vulnerable to abuse. Erian does a good job of exploring the complexities of adolescent female sexuality. On the one hand, Jasira is excited to lear More...

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Feb 13, 2010

Jessica rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Sep 22, 2011

Dale rated it:

An honest, raw, and beautifully rendered account of a troubled 13 year old Arab/American girl's sexual awakening set in Texas during the Gulf War. It so perfectly captures the end of innocence in puberty which, as in this girl's story is usually comprised of a mix of desires and behaviors (from masturbation and innocent homoerotic yearnings to illicit sexual acts) that are in conflict with the mores and taboos of ones parents and society. The body in conflict with the mind.

It's writ More...

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Sep 29, 2011

kelly rated it:

Even though this book is an easy read (there's a lot of dialogue), it's a very hard book to get through. There were parts of it I really didn't want to read because they were so heartbreaking or just plain disturbing. Racism, sexual abuse (including rape), and physical abuse are all abound in Towelhead. I think that Erian captures the thoughts and emotions of her 13 year old protagonist very well, even though I found myself practically banging my head against the wall in complete disbelief of th More...

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