Saying It Out Loud

Rating:
Summary: Mediocre
Review: I didn't actually like this book. It is written in a stream-of-consciousness style, which isn't so bad, but the way this author does it it is rather difficult to tell the difference between the present and flashbacks. She should have just had and extra space between paragraphs to give us a hint. This took much enjoyment from me in the reading because I was too concentrated on figuring what was actually happening at the moment. I also found much of what is said to be confused, which would be understandable for a girl to think, but not easy to understand what is happening in the story.

It is a story about a 16-year-old girl whose mother is diagnosed with cancer. Her father is distant and can't even hold a proper conversation, but she has a best friend who very is supportive. She remembers the fun things and the melancholy things and the story builds on itself giving you a feeling of "yes, I remember that too". The problem here though is that if this were a true story these anecdotes would be very nice and nostalgic, but being fiction they just aren't very interesting. I didn't feel the little girl was completely believable in her reactions and actions. So, while I wouldn't say this was a bad read or was terribly written I didn't enjoy it very much. If you like memoirs or have lost someone to cancer you might like it more than I did.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent -- moving, funny, very real.
Review: I read Go And Come Back and was excited to discover Abelove's second novel. It is surprising what a departure this book takes from her first in terms of setting and subject; but like her first book, Saying It Out Loud is a wonderful read. It shifts back and forth between current and past memories, despair and hope, pain and humour. I found myself smiling through my tears at many points in this book. Although the plot, a mother dying of cancer, is decidedly dark, the story manages to be sweet and funny and tender and sad without being maudlin. Saying It Out Loud definitely has a lasting impact.

Rating:
Summary: Changed the way I think of my mother
Review: I was having a lot of conflicts with my mother when I bought this book. I am glad I got it. It made me laugh and cry. I have read it many times! It is easy to read and best of all it makes you think twice about people you dislike.

Rating:
Summary: Gone but not forgotten
Review: Mindy has just realized that her mom has a brain tumor. Throughout the book, Mindy reflects on the past events with her mom, and how much she has ignored her mom throughout her life. Mindy has to learn how to live with her mom's brain tumor and her dads neglectance. Gail, Mindy's best friend, helps her through many rough times, and helps her feal as if she belongs. Even though Midny is supposed to be concentrating on collage applications, she can not get her mind off of what is happening in her life.

Saying It Out Loud makes you think about how much you would miss someone, and how you only miss some people when they are gone. This book relates to life by showing the ups and down of life. Through out my life I have not liked my mom being in my life, but and having second thoughts about it.

Rating:
Summary: Gone but not forgotten
Review: Mindy has just realized that her mom has a brain tumor. Throughout the book, Mindy reflects on the past events with her mom, and how much she has ignored her mom throughout her life. Mindy has to learn how to live with her mom's brain tumor and her dads neglectance. Gail, Mindy's best friend, helps her through many rough times, and helps her feal as if she belongs. Even though Midny is supposed to be concentrating on collage applications, she can not get her mind off of what is happening in her life.

Saying It Out Loud makes you think about how much you would miss someone, and how you only miss some people when they are gone. This book relates to life by showing the ups and down of life. Through out my life I have not liked my mom being in my life, but and having second thoughts about it.

Rating:
Summary: A realistic, different story of death & family interactions.
Review: Mindy's mother has been diagnosed with a brain tumor,andsuddenly Mindy finds her world changed. Alienated from her fatherand separated from her mother, Mindy's supposed to be thinking ofcollege applications - but can't accept her mother's illness and demise. A realistic, different story of death affecting family interactions.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect!
Review: This is such a surprising and wonderful book. It's about Mindy's search for solid ground while her mother is dying. I cried and I laughed, but more than that, I marveled. No sentimentality, but plenty of real feeling, real heart, and real insight. I was stunned when I read about Mindy, combing her mother's hair in the hospital while worrying about jiggling her mother's brain tumor. I was delighted by the report by Mindy's friend's younger brother about "The Three Told Sloth." There are dozens of perfect moments like these woven through SAYING IT OUT LOUD. I'm richer and wiser for having read this book, and you will be too.