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Jenny rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Perla
by Carolina De Robertis (Goodreads Author)

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Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com

I chose to read this book because I have been interested in learning more about the Argentinean "Dirty War". I feel like it's a piece of world history that I haven't actually heard much about. Perla was...more Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com

I chose to read this book because I have been interested in learning more about the Argentinean "Dirty War". I feel like it's a piece of world history that I haven't actually heard much about. Perla was certainly a beautifully written book that did well at demonstrating one aspect of this war. Yet, though I enjoyed it, I didn't adore it as much as I've seen other bloggers have.

Perla tells the story of a girl who has grown up with her parents in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She's been raised to doubt the claims made by the families who claim mistreatment during the war as well as lost family members. She learns that her father took part in the "alleged" crimes, though to her family it was an act of patriotism. Nevertheless, this affects her friendships as she grows up, and she experiences constant worry of rejection when others find out about her family. This book starts out when Perla is a young woman house sitting for her parents who are on vacation, when a man shows up mysteriously in her home, soaking wet, and unable to care for himself. This ends up jump starting a journey of self-discovery that Perla was likely to have begun anyway but for which his presence will have a significant impact.

There were both things I liked and things I didn't care for as much with Perla. What I did like was that the writing was beautiful. It's very literary, and you shouldn't be fooled by its 236 pages because it was a thorough read. I also thought the author took on the telling of this historical event from an interesting perspective. In it, we learn about the fates of "The Disappeared", the thousands (?... can't remember the exact number) of people who were taken by the government and never returned. It was interesting how the author chose to tell the story by taking it on from a side angle rather than telling the story straight from beginning to tend.

Part of what I didn't care for isn't the fault of this book specifically: that was that I would like to learn about this topic from a more straightforward viewpoint only because I don't know much about it. This book was not confusing, but I'm thinking I should look into a non-fiction about it. Now, while the book was beautifully written, I sometimes felt it was too much (I dislike intensely long sentences), and that sort of distracted from the actual story for me. The main thing, though, that I didn't care for was the paranormal aspect... I'm not into that genre typically and when I find it in what I expect to be a "regular" fiction I get very picky. In this case it was pretty integral to Perla's story, but it was weird too.

So overall, it was beautifully written and I enjoyed the take on this girl's experience with this war. But while I would still recommend this to some, I also would not recommend this to everyone. I think this book is good for those who enjoy the specifically literary and paranormal elements this book provides.(less)

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These Days Are Ours
by Michelle Haimoff (Goodreads Author)

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Jenny rated a book 4 of 5 stars

Every Day a Friday: How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week
by Joel Osteen

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Jenny joined the group Oprah's Book Club 2.0 (Official)

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We Need to Talk About Kevin
by Lionel Shriver

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Jenny rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Dwarf: A Memoir of How One Woman Fought for a Body-and a Life-She Was Never Supposed to Have
by Tiffanie DiDonato

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Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com

I first saw this book while perusing the local Barnes & Noble and was instantly drawn to it. There's often a lot of inspiration to be found in learning about how someone has overcome struggles in the...more Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com

I first saw this book while perusing the local Barnes & Noble and was instantly drawn to it. There's often a lot of inspiration to be found in learning about how someone has overcome struggles in their lives. I didn't realize it, but the author was on Good Morning America in 2008 discussing her experiences. (Not sure how I missed it since I have been a GMA aficionado for years). But anyway, here is the video if you're interested.

Watch More News Videos at ABC | 2012 Presidential Election | Entertainment & Celebrity News

What is discussed in the video is the controversial bone lengthening procedures Tiffanie went through multiple times to add inches to her height. Her experiences with those surgeries were the meat of her memoir as she discusses why she chose that route, others' reactions, and how she endured it despite experiencing excruciating pain. This woman is brave, courageous, and independent -- that is for sure! While I completely relate to the desire for as much independence as possible, I could never have made the decisions she did medically because I would have been too terrified!

Now, her decisions also come with a high degree of skepticism and controversy because of a belief that she has rejected her dwarfism and sent the message that even very risky surgery is worth changing who she was born as. I can certainly understand this position as well, because the surgery comes with the risk of many complications and is not medically necessary, though I don't fault Tiffanie in her decision making either. I did find this memoir interesting, and I did find it inspirational, but I could also see where for some it might not be because it was about overcoming through drastic measures rather than learning to accept oneself just as is.

As for the writing itself, I did feel like certain parts seemed a little lengthy. In the first half of the book I also felt a couple messages became repetitive such as Tiffanie's never having realized that she was labeled a dwarf or that there was really anything different about her. I understood after the first couple examples. I also thought it delved in to the cheesy a couple times.

That being said, I also cried or became very teary eyed multiple times while reading this - once in public which I never do. One of the most powerful parts of this memoir were the relationships presented. Tiffanie's parents had starkly different reactions and responses to supporting their daughter. One side of the family completely rejected her, even, while the other supported her wholeheartedly. She talks a lot about a best friend she had throughout her adolescence who meant a lot to her. It was the dynamics of these interactions that I think got to me the most.

Dwarf was an interesting read about how one person dealt with their struggles, but it also has a lot of controversy surrounding it and will make you question your own beliefs.(less)

Jenny rated a book 3 of 5 stars

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
by Heidi W. Durrow (Goodreads Author)

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Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com

I was drawn to this because of the social issues it was supposed to present about race and class. The main character, Rachel, is biracial. Though it hasn't ever been a significant issue for her, it becom...more

Jenny rated a book 3 of 5 stars

Life of Pi
by Yann Martel

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Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com

This is one of those books that has been on my list forever. It's one of those books that I felt, and other readers have agreed, is one of those books that we should read. Though it was just written in 2...more

Jenny rated a book 3 of 5 stars

On Writing
by Stephen King

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Jenny is now friends with Rhonda Ostromek
Apr 09, 2013 07:21pm · like
Jenny rated a book 3 of 5 stars Perla by Carolina De Robertis (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com I chose to read this book because I have been interested in learning more about the Argentinean "Dirty War". I feel like it's a piece of world history that I haven't actually heard much about. Perla was...more
Jan 13, 2013 12:30pm · see review
Jenny added These Days Are Ours by Michelle Haimoff (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 13, 2013 12:20pm
Jenny rated a book 4 of 5 stars Every Day a Friday: How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week by Joel Osteen	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 13, 2013 12:19pm
Jenny joined the group Oprah's Book Club 2.0 (Official)
Jan 13, 2013 12:17pm · like
Jenny added We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 13, 2013 09:31am
Jenny rated a book 3 of 5 stars Dwarf: A Memoir of How One Woman Fought for a Body-and a Life-She Was Never Supposed to Have by Tiffanie DiDonato	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com I first saw this book while perusing the local Barnes & Noble and was instantly drawn to it. There's often a lot of inspiration to be found in learning about how someone has overcome struggles in the...more
Dec 20, 2012 06:50pm · see review
Jenny rated a book 3 of 5 stars The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com I was drawn to this because of the social issues it was supposed to present about race and class. The main character, Rachel, is biracial. Though it hasn't ever been a significant issue for her, it becom...more
Dec 20, 2012 06:49pm · see review
Jenny rated a book 3 of 5 stars Life of Pi by Yann Martel	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com This is one of those books that has been on my list forever. It's one of those books that I felt, and other readers have agreed, is one of those books that we should read. Though it was just written in 2...more
Dec 20, 2012 06:48pm · see review
Jenny rated a book 3 of 5 stars On Writing by Stephen King	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 20, 2012 06:47pm

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