I reviewed Testimony by Anita Shreve back in October 2008 when the book debuted; you can read my review here. My mom is always looking for a new book to read, so I shipped my copy up to Massachusetts for her to read.She's here today to share her thoughts on the book with you. Welcome, my mom, Pat:
At Avery Academy, a prestigious New England boarding school located in Vermont, the headmaster, Mike Bordwin, finds in his possession a video tape--a disaster in a small package waiting to stir up trouble for the students at the academy. The sexual acts displayed on the tape involve four older students--juniors and seniors--and a freshman girl. The headmaster also engages in illicit activity following the incident and its fallout.
The events are set in motion, and Shreve uses testimony from all the students involved in the incident, the headmaster, and numerous other characters to tell her tale. These stories are woven together to show how this one incident impacts all the students involved as well as others in the book. Additionally, readers will get a glimpse into what happens in the lives of these students after the scandal breaks.
I give this book 4.5 stars and declare it is a must read.
16 comments:
I love that Pat and you share your books and your opinions!
My mom and I share recommend book titles, and when we visit, press books into each others hands. I've yet to convince her to write a review for my blog though! Maybe I'll just have to quote her spoken words :)
Great review, Pat. I really enjoyed this book, too. I thought about it long after I was through with it.
Very nice of your mom to stop by and post her thoughts on the book. It sounds like a great read.
So, it's mother/daughter approved :)
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
Dawn: I think she's happy we have something to share nowadays...and I have to ship them up to her in Mass. and she ships them down here to MD. It's fun...getting presents from each other every month or so.
Bermuda: Mom had a rough time at the beginning with it because of the graphic details...but she obviously liked it.
Naida: great comment...mother/daughter approved...maybe I should use that as a rating system. LOL
When my daughter is in need of a book, she seldom goes to the bookstore...she's makes a stop here first. I love the fact that we have similiar taste in books. So I know first hand how endearing that connection is.
After reading your mom's review and yours, the book has been added to my TBR list. Thanks for the recommendation. (Hugss)Indigo
Indigo: It's especially great for me since when I was growing up I spent a lot of time reading thanks to her mom, my nana, but my mom never read a thing. I think that's why I have a special place in my heart for James Patterson because ever since I gave her one of his books she started reading and she's reading things other than Patterson now...she's grown as a reader.
I love that we can share books now.
Thanks for the review Pat! The reviews of this book have really been all over the place and it seems that people either love it or hate it. I have it on my shelf and haven't read it yet, but I really enjoy Anita Shreve so I am looking forward to it.
Thanks for that review. I haven't read this book but I am definitely interested. :)
Thanks for the review Pat. I'm glad you liked the book so much. I did too although the way it was told wasn't the best for me.
It's great how you two share books. My mom and I have different reading tastes although there have been a couple we've both liked.
I think it's fantastic that you have common taste in books. My mom and I both read a lot but never the same books.
I do love Anita Shreve but haven't managed to get my hands on this one yet. I was so excited to lend a Shreve book to my MIL but she didn't like it. I was so sad!
I may have to give this author another chance one day. I can't remember what it was that I read of hers but I remember that it put me in a it of a book slump :(
LadyTink: I wonder what you did read....I had one anita shreve book that everyone raves about that I just couldn't get into...so I stopped reading her for a while.
I think it's great that you're sharing your blog with your mom. I really hope to get a chance to read this one soon...at least before my copy starts collecting dust.
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
I was really wondering what she was going to say about the book, since she told me she was having a rough time with the graphic images.
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