Rating:  Summary: Just read it Review: It's a wonderful book...I really loved it. I don't think it glamorizes heroin at all, and I think by the end of the book they've lost a lot. Tar especially will never be the naive and trusting boy he once was. No they didn't die at the end, they lost their innocence and naivety, and thats something they'll never get back. The way love and drug addiction are intertwined is amazing...I love this book!
Rating:  Summary: kept my attention... Review: eh... but, it was a little hard to understand at times. maybe it was just my own stupidity and not knowing some of the english slang. dont get me wrong, it was really good. and it made me cry a little, seeing how heroin can rip love and friendships right at the seams. i just wish there was a more um... americanized version. heh.
Rating:  Summary: 'Smack' Reads Itself Review: 'Smack' is an intriguing story of teenage-anarchist-runaway-punks in England. Because of strong content and language, the book is for more mature readers. A grotesque look at the downward spiral of heroin addiction, with no romanticising of the subject and no softening of the truth, this is not a book for any reader. It is not a light read either! However, I personally could not put it down. There is a new twist every time the reader feels like taking a break- the attention of the reader is demanded. This is definately a book for any reader who prefers experiencing the seedier aspects of life through a character in a book or movie.
Rating:  Summary: Hard to take, but very worth it Review: I read this book this past year in my class, "Materials for Young Adults." I was shocked, not at the lurid subject matter and grittiness, but at how well written it was and how much I really enjoyed it. People may have objections to the sex and to the drug use, (and the girl with the see through dress), but at its heart, this book in NO way glamorizes drug use. Must we put a moral thermometer on everything? This is just a book about two young kids who run away from home and get caught up in the English world of squatters and heroin. I like how this book shows that not all squatters are a bunch of junkies. In fact, many of the squatters try and stop our "heroes" from getting involved with the wrong crowd. The squatters form a type of family, and drugs tear them apart in the end.There has been a lot of controversy about this book, and whether or not it has a place in the classroom. (Some of this has been around whether a child should just READ this book on their own time.) I say the more who read it, the better. This book is much more than a cautionary tale; it's a darn good read in and of itself. And yes, it is perfectly well suited for adults as well.
Rating:  Summary: hard to put down Review: The first word that I uttered after reading "Smack" was WHOA. Smack takes us deep into the lives of two heroin addicted teens and it shows its ups and all of its downs. I felt so much for Tar that it was scary. He was definetly a very strong and realistic character and his story will affect almost anyone that reads it. Gemma on the other hand is a really annoying brat who leaves her house for all the wrong reasons and ruins her life and (I believe) Tars. Gemma made me mad throughout the whole book! This is a true must read.
Rating:  Summary: An Outstanding Book! Review: I absolutely LOVED this book! I could not put it down. It is so detailed on the lives of teens in trouble! Even though I am not in this category it is neat to read about the problems that people my age could have. What the characters have to endure is tremendous, and they way the over come there differences and problems is uplifting! This is a definte must for anyone. I recommend it to anyone between the ages of 13 and adult. It is just one of the most amazing books I have read. I would definitly read again and again!
Rating:  Summary: One of my favorite books.. Review: I found this book to be intoxicating. I've read it over and over again, and I still get caught up in it. The story of Tar and Gemma breaks my heart and fascinates me at the same time. It is a love triangle between the two teenagers and smack, a love story that will keep you riveted until the last paragraph. I definitely recommend this book!
Rating:  Summary: A riviting and exciting book Review: Smack, was by far, one of my favorite books. Burgess takes you through the life of a junkie girl and you grow with her, seeing and feeling what she does. I recomend this book to people who like books likes Junikie, Go Ask Alice, A Child Called It, or anybook relating to drugs and recovery. A great book.
Rating:  Summary: a must read book! Review: When I first heard about this book and I found out it took place in England, I was debating if I should read it. I am a teen from the United States, so I thought I couldn't relate to them, because they are completly different atmospheres. I decided I would give it a try and I did. I read this book in two days, I couldn't put it down. I could relate to all the characters in some way. Even if it wasn't the same experiences that I went through. At times they were feeling low or happy and I could relate to that. This book is very realistic, not just some made up story that the author didn't know anything about.I like in the book how they capture the different sides and feelings of the characters in a situation . I like the ending of the story it wasn't a very happy ending, but it was real. I really recommend this book to teenagers, no matter who you are.
Rating:  Summary: the best book i have ever read Review: This book was absolutley amazing. It has it all. I can really relate to it. It touched me very deeply. I was so into this book and all of it's characters, especially Gemma.I am not one for reading books, but Smack had me up at four in the morning reading. Once you pick this book up, it's hard to put it down. It was sad, funny, scary, unbelievable, and shockingly true to life. Melvin Burgess is an absolute genius, and I hope he continues to produce amazing literature. I would love to be able to thank him for touching my heart.The only bad thing about this book is that it had to come to an end.
|