Rating: 
Summary: The chicken brain
Review: (my friend picked out the title.) Anyway, about the book. Well, I'm 13 years old and guess what? I totally loved it, it wasn't even one of those adult books that you can't even understand ANYTHING. I thought the plot was very touching and heartbreaking, but kind of unrealistic. What made me buy this book was the cover. It was really pretty and it looked like a good book. It wasn't the cover above, it was a really colorful one. I find that if I judge a book by its cover, it's usually a good book. I donno. I'M 13 FRICKIN YEARS OLD! I just like the book!
Rating:
Summary: Not for the faint of emotion
Review: Evening News is one of the top five best books I've read in the past year. Swick has mastered the art of subtle writing style. Because some of the writing is so understated, the emotions and impact of a scene in the book will creep up on you, leaving you unable to concentrate on anything else, even after you have put it down. Swick has also sculpted some wonderfully rounded and knowable characters in this book. No one is completely innocent, no one is completely wrong, contributing to the overall theme, "is it in human nature to want to blame someone for a tragedy?" She puts so many quirks and random qualities into the characters, that their personalities seem to rise above the pages. This book is so indescribably good, that I am unable to write a review on short notice that is worthy. If you like Bobbie Ann Mason, Ann Lamott, or just enjoy a good read, buy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: good attempt at analyzing family tragedy
Review: From my experience in dealing with death, everyone in the family responds differently and Swick does a good job illustrating that in this book. I also like it that she writes Teddy's experiences from Teddy's point of view, in his voice. You can relate to Teddy much better and understand his frustration in what he's done. The only thing is, I don't think I would respond the same way as Giselle, and it made the story a little less believable for me. In the story, she is relatively calm after her daughter dies and she pretty much goes back to her life. She even has the energy to put on makeup for her daughter's funeral. I find that a little unbelievable, but then again, I'm not a mother and everyone deals with death differently. It's a good story, but not everyone will relate to the characters because death is such a personal thing and in my opinion, Swick hasn't done enough to make us relate to each of her central characters. It looks like it'll make a good made-for-TV-movie, but as a book, it's lacking in deep analysis and full character development.
Rating: 
Summary: Good analysis of family tragedy
Review: I learned something very important from reading this book: everyone grieves in different ways and they are all legitimate. It was interesting to see how people in the same household can react so differently to the same tragedy. I especially enjoyed the part from Teddy, the 10 year old boy's perspective. His was the most tender because he was not yet even old enough to comprehend the magnitude of what he did, although there was no doubt in his mind that it would change his life forever. I appreciated that this was not a sappy story. It wasn't written to draw tears from the reader. It was a real character-study on how different people can react to extreme tragedy and how each is able to move on from that point. Each character had his/her own flaws and you can relate better to them because of that. I thought the set-up of the story was really well-thought out: brother kills half-sister, stepfather harbors hatred for stepson, mother caught in the middle, real father wanting to take away the boy to protect him. It's a very real situation and a very difficult one to write about in so many voices and Marly Swick did a good job at it.
Rating:
Summary: Heartfelt Writing
Review: Marly Swick knows how to capture her readers. I found the characters entirely empathetic and her poignant style of writing is perfect. Not too sappy, just perfect. The struggle that envelops this family right after a tragic accident paints a beautiful picture of a family slowly reconfiguring themselves
Rating:
Summary: Read it in one sitting.
Review: Someone gave me this book and it didn't sound like anything I'd want to read, I'm usually a mystery, thriller type person. I thought I'd just read the first few pages to see what it was about, I could not put it down. This is a book every mother will relate to. This book will rip your heart out. I love the way the book has the childs point of view, what he is thinking. Very well written.
Rating:
Summary: Read it in one sitting.
Review: Someone gave me this book and it didn't sound like anything I'd want to read, I'm usually a mystery, thriller type person. I thought I'd just read the first few pages to see what it was about, I could not put it down. This is a book every mother will relate to. This book will rip your heart out. I love the way the book has the childs point of view, what he is thinking. Very well written.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting story that is well written.
Review: The plot of this book could be ripped from any headline in today's newspapers. Swick has written a tough story about a 9 year old, Teddy, who has accidentally shot his half-sister, Trina. It is a gripping novel and one that is hard to read considering the subject matter. She has done a great job however in her portrayal of the characters. Giselle is the mother of both Teddy and Trina. Dan, her second husband, is Trina's father. The book deals with the theme of tragedy and how everyone grieves differently. Dan blames his stepson for his daughter's death and cannot move past this. He uses self-help books and therapy groups to ease his pain while Giselle self-medicates with alcohol and sleeping pills.Teddy is the character who stands out on his own. He knows that everyone, whether they admit it or not, blames him. He is a young boy who has to endure a tragedy and loss that no one should have to deal with. We watch his struggle to come to terms with his loss and the ultimate demise of his family. Swick has written Teddy's scenes from his own point of view and I found these to be the most haunting. This is a wonderfully written story that deals with an incredibly tough subject. The debate for gun control will inevitably drag on but I think that this novel shows the tragic results that can occur from a split second incident. Such pain can only endure a lifetime...and maybe time doesn't heal all wounds.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting story that is well written.
Review: The plot of this book could be ripped from any headline in today's newspapers. Swick has written a tough story about a 9 year old, Teddy, who has accidentally shot his half-sister, Trina. It is a gripping novel and one that is hard to read considering the subject matter. She has done a great job however in her portrayal of the characters. Giselle is the mother of both Teddy and Trina. Dan, her second husband, is Trina's father. The book deals with the theme of tragedy and how everyone grieves differently. Dan blames his stepson for his daughter's death and cannot move past this. He uses self-help books and therapy groups to ease his pain while Giselle self-medicates with alcohol and sleeping pills. Teddy is the character who stands out on his own. He knows that everyone, whether they admit it or not, blames him. He is a young boy who has to endure a tragedy and loss that no one should have to deal with. We watch his struggle to come to terms with his loss and the ultimate demise of his family. Swick has written Teddy's scenes from his own point of view and I found these to be the most haunting. This is a wonderfully written story that deals with an incredibly tough subject. The debate for gun control will inevitably drag on but I think that this novel shows the tragic results that can occur from a split second incident. Such pain can only endure a lifetime...and maybe time doesn't heal all wounds.
Rating:
Summary: A disturbingly real piece of "fiction".
Review: This book was incredibly upsetting to read. Considering that on the third page, a toddler is dead and a little boy is left holding the smoldering gun, you know you're in for a tough ride. Over and over, as I read the book, I would stop and moan to my boyfriend about how rattled the book made me. His response was, "Then STOP reading it! Don't be sad!" But that was the last thing I could do. Every page shocked me, shook my emotions, and made me feel nothing but pity for this family. The scariest part? This family could be anyone I know. It could be the family down the street, who seem to be so happy. Who knows what will happen to them tomorrow? This book is not for the faint of heart, that is certain. But it is beautifully written, heart wrenching, and honest. Not all of it is sad, there are many moments of humor and happiness...Just, not a lot. Pick it up, you might never be the same.
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