Helpful Score: 3
THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN is the first book by ELLEN MARIE WISEMAN that I've read. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of Lilly and Julia, how they were raised and how it affected their lives. I give it 4.5 stars because I felt that the ending was a bit rushed and somewhat vague. But I just found another author to add to my favorites list.
Helpful Score: 3
Along the lines of "Water for Elephants" a look at long hidden family secrets and the dark side of carnival life in the 1930's. Lilly was locked in her family's attic all her life because she wasn't "normal or perfect". Unbeknownst to her father, she is sold to the traveling circus by her mother. The abuse and humiliation and friendship she finds among the carnies is hard to read at times. The focus on animal cruelty, while I'm sure is true, is also difficult. Overall, a good read.
Helpful Score: 1
I absolutely hated this book with every ounce in me.
This is literally the most depressing book I've ever read---there is absolutely nothing redeeming about it whatsoever. No positive spins, no lighthearted anything, just depression on top of oppression. It's a disgusting story about child abuse and evil-possessed people and I won't even dignify it with details...except for this one that has turned me off this author forever:
At the back of the book, there's an "interview with the author". The second question says, "what looks like a story about child abuse ends up being about animal cruelty too." The author goes on to address the issue of animal abuse. No where in this interview does she ever address child abuse. The discussion questions that come after are flippant about the issue. This book is disgusting and no one wants to talk deeply about it. It's sick that someone could read this and get their kicks.
NEVER will I read or recommend this author. I'm crawling back into my hole---this world disgusts me.
This is literally the most depressing book I've ever read---there is absolutely nothing redeeming about it whatsoever. No positive spins, no lighthearted anything, just depression on top of oppression. It's a disgusting story about child abuse and evil-possessed people and I won't even dignify it with details...except for this one that has turned me off this author forever:
At the back of the book, there's an "interview with the author". The second question says, "what looks like a story about child abuse ends up being about animal cruelty too." The author goes on to address the issue of animal abuse. No where in this interview does she ever address child abuse. The discussion questions that come after are flippant about the issue. This book is disgusting and no one wants to talk deeply about it. It's sick that someone could read this and get their kicks.
NEVER will I read or recommend this author. I'm crawling back into my hole---this world disgusts me.
A book that kept me up late devouring the story. Could be because it was a circus plot, and I love those books. Bit of a mystery, easily seen, but that didn't matter. A well-written, interesting tale with mostly likeable characters. (Obviously, except for the villains.)
When I first heard of this book (at a Random House book promotion at the local library where I got an advanced reader's copy free. Thanks RH, sorry I have very little nice to say) I thought it was probably a cheap take off of Water for Elephants. There was that, of course, the vulnerable and somewhat clueless protaganist, the justified preference of animal company over human, the violent and evil owners, the parental loss and the depression era circus train.
The book was even worse than I expected. The plot was self-consciously cruel with unnecessary violence both physical and mental, as if the author thought we were reading for melodrama rather than storyâa first novel sort of error. On top of this the plot twists are easily spotted and simplistic, in spite of the fact they are contrived and not real life probable. I am bored with the stock stereotype of Vicious Christian from the left. In this book it was particularly nauseating probably because there was no character development beyond that.
Thanks for the free book Random House, but sadly it was worth even less than I paid.
The book was even worse than I expected. The plot was self-consciously cruel with unnecessary violence both physical and mental, as if the author thought we were reading for melodrama rather than storyâa first novel sort of error. On top of this the plot twists are easily spotted and simplistic, in spite of the fact they are contrived and not real life probable. I am bored with the stock stereotype of Vicious Christian from the left. In this book it was particularly nauseating probably because there was no character development beyond that.
Thanks for the free book Random House, but sadly it was worth even less than I paid.
Perhaps this book was the wrong genre for me. I found both main characters highly annoying. They had terrible parents, with a mother who was cold and domineering, and a distant, weak father. There was little redemption in their live. It took 165 pages before it began to become interesting. Then it was okay, right up to its tragic end. I don't think I'll read any more by this author. D.
I loved this book. It was well written and a fascinating account of these lives. It was also haunting and I have been thinking about it ever since I finished it, to the point of it affecting my sleep!
Very sad and depressing book. At the same time it was a well written story. I felt so strongly for Lilly. No matter what happened it seemed she was always given a raw deal. The story of the circus and how Lilly came to work there was very interesting. It also had the story of Julia in which both stories tie in together. I would've given it 4 stars if the ending didn't feel so vague. It was satisfying all the way through the book but at the end I felt it could've tied together better. All in all I highly recommend the book only if you can handle a sad read.
Interesting, but sad, account of a girl in a difficult family who is sold to the circus.
