Tell the Wolves I'm Home in Busy as a Bee Books

Aug 11, 2012 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, _own-ebook, _own-home-library, all-time-favorite, read-in-2012

I think that I've found my favorite book of 2012. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. IT CANNOT BE MISSED. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone and everyone. It's beautiful - the writing, the story, the characters, and everything else. It's all beautiful.

Books rarely make me FEEL something. But, this one really connected to me in a way that I didn't expect at all. I was so taken with every single aspect of this book. I can't recommend it highly enough. It resonated with me on so many levels. It's a coming I think that I've found my favorite book of 2012. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. IT CANNOT BE MISSED. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone and everyone. It's beautiful - the writing, the story, the characters, and everything else. It's all beautiful.

Books rarely make me FEEL something. But, this one really connected to me in a way that I didn't expect at all. I was so taken with every single aspect of this book. I can't recommend it highly enough. It resonated with me on so many levels. It's a coming of age story but its also a story about compassion, family, love, friendship and growing into yourself.

The main character, June, spoke to me in so many ways - she has such a unique and beautiful voice! She is unlike most people and that is what I really love about her. She knows who she is and she's OK with who she is. She is comfortable in her own skin in a way that I wish we all were.

I am not going to say much because I don't want to ruin the book. All I can say is this - don't miss this book, it's beautiful, it's a GREAT read, and the writing is so good. If you don't read another book this year, read this one. Seriously. It's worth taking the time to read. In fact, its so worth it, that I plan to buy this one and re-read it. I feel like I have to have a copy nearby so I can revisit the story again one day. I rarely (ok, usually never) re-read books. With the exception of Beach Music by Pat Conroy which I have read numerous times. This one is right up there with Beach Music for me - a book you want to revisit again because it gets under your skin!

After finishing it, I immediately called several friends to tell them that they HAVE to pick it up and read it. I loved it that much. I highly recommend it. Without a doubt, this is my favorite book of this year. And I cannot wait to see what Carol Rifka Brunt has coming in the future.

And I also want to note that this book has one of the best explanations of how it feels to be shy (introverted) in an extroverted world ... it hits the nail on the head for me! THIS is how I feel at social events and parties -

“That's what being shy feels like. Like my skin is too thin, the light too bright. Like the best place I could possibly be is in a tunnel far under the cool, dark earth. Someone asks me a question and I stare at them, empty-faced, my brain jammed up with how hard I'm trying to find something interesting to say. And in the end, all I can do is nod or shrug, because the light of their eyes looking at me, waiting for me, is just too much to take. And then it's over and there's one more person in the world who thinks I'm a complete and total waste of space.
The worst thing is the stupid hopefulness. Every new party, every new bunch of people, and I start thinking that maybe this is my chance. That I'm going to be normal this time. A new leaf. A fresh start. But then I find myself at the party, thinking, Oh, yeah. This again.
So I stand on the edge of things, crossing my fingers, praying nobody will try to look me in the eye. And the good thing is, they usually don't.” ― Carol Rifka Brunt, Tell the Wolves I'm Home

What are you doing??? GO READ THIS BOOK!!! :) ...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Loretta rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bees, books-i-own, my-5-star-reads, 2014, boston-public-library, diverse-reads-lgb

Wonderful. In addition to the beautiful story and June's lovely voice, I think one of my favorite things about this novel was the truly authentic sense of time and place--having been in New York in the 1980s (though much younger than June), the author's sense of the city and the surrounding suburbs really struck me and is something that will stay with me.

5 stars. ...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Carly Svamvour rated it it was amazing

September 20th, 2k13 - going for a second read (audio). It's for Book Freaks ... I don't mind doing this one over again - really loved the story.

September 27th, 2k3 - and it feels like I've been reading it for longer than a week. I think it's because I went over and over some parts.

I liked it better the second time.

I like the way the author makes you wait for a long time before you know what the title means.

**********************

This was an excellent tale of a young woman's feelings, an impossib ...more

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Jun 18, 2013 Garlan ✌ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2013-reads, coming-of-age

This was a really captivating coming-of-age story about a 14 year old girl whose uncle dies of AIDS. It deals with young love, family ties, loss and heartbreak, but ultimately about self discovery and hope. Ms. Brunt is a gifted writer and this debut novel cements her role in contemporary fiction. This is really closer to a 4 1/2 star read for me. I highly recommend it.

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Jul 27, 2012 Liz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars, bees-neez

Exquisite writing. Truly touching.

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Jan 09, 2013 Ashley FL rated it liked it

The story was so evocative of that time period in New York, and particularly of the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and the fears and misunderstandings that went with that. That part brought back many memories for me, good and bad.

The rest of it was a let-down for me. I think the emphasis (view spoiler) was jarring and repeatedly took me out of the story. Is the reader supposed to believe she actually had a great love by age 14? I initially tho ...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Karli rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bee-books, nook, ya

This story is set in 1987 - AIDS is big and scary, and June is losing her uncle to this terrifying thing and she is struggling with the loss of the most important person in her life. At 14 she has more independence than she's really ready for, and virtually no support system to help her deal with this loss.

This story is about a coming of age not just for the 14 year old girl June, but also for her family. They all need to learn to see beyond their own struggles and needs to find what is right, w ...more

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May 25, 2013 Barb rated it really liked it

3.5 upgraded to a 4. Really enjoyed this one, loved the main character, June, and her imagination. This book did a good job expressing the feeling of isolation you have as a teenager. Stayed up late to finish this one.

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Dec 10, 2012 Alison rated it it was amazing

Shelves: hive-challenge

If there was ever a book that I wished Goodreads would allow me to give more than five stars, this is it. I loved this book. It was so tender and painful and wonderful all at once. I got about 1/3 of the way through and I had to pause because I never wanted it to end. I loved ALL of the characters in this book, from June to Toby and Finn right on down to Danni and Greta. This is an amazing coming of age story, and I feel blessed that Carol Rifka Brunt shared it with us. I've read a lot of books ...more

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Apr 05, 2020 Deanne Townsend rated it it was amazing

This book was beautiful. It’s a story of love, acceptance, and relationships. It’s set in the 1980s and follows 14 year old June whose uncle is dying of AIDS. It isn’t a happy book, but there are happy moments. I don’t usually like stories that deal so much with sickness, death, and loss, but it was just so human and real without wallowing in sadness. I truly fell in love with the characters. They were each flawed, but genuine and did what they thought was best.

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Jul 24, 2012 Kirsten rated it liked it

Shelves: bee-books

A coming of age story that takes place in the 1980's that focuses on 14-year-old June Elbus and her relationship with her Uncle Finn who dies of AIDS as well as her other family members.
The book is well-written and thought provoking. I know a lot of people who have read and loved this book, but it just didn't do anything special for me. It was a middle-of-the-road read - I just didn't really connect with any of the characters. ...more

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Jun 24, 2013 Adonica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Amazing! This took place during my childhood years. I remember the AIDS epidemic. Amazing the way views have changed. I shudder to think of what those poor victims suffered through because of social views.

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