precious

book: push

author: sapphire

completion date: 16/08/10

method: purchased

i was overwhelmed by this book. i thought after some of the things i had read i could handle anything, but this stretched my limit. i couldn't stand to put it down, but i wanted to. it just kicks you in the teeth over and over. part of what makes it so gripping is not the subject matter but that it is narrated by precious herself in precious's own dialect (i'm not quite sure what else to call it) spelling mistakes and all. it feels like you are reading a book that precious herself has written. example 'what' is spelled 'wut' there are very few pronouns or pluralizations. but as precious learns to read her narration improves. but sapphire writes it so well that it happens gradually. this book is crazy authentic. you hear her voice and feel so deeply for her plight.

the subject matter is terrifying as well. precious is a product of her terrible environment. abusive and uneducated mother and father. sexual abuse that began essentially when precious was born. being 18 and infected with HIV. everything just keeps piling up and there is almost no escape for her, except in school and the hope that she will get her GED and be able to go to college. and to have abetter life to give to her baby. her family even in a way abused her younger daughter who was born with downs syndrome. her grandmother just pretty much left her in a room. didn't sing to her, read to her or teach her anything. meaning that this disadvantaged child was given no assistance. its just tragic.

sometimes it makes me wonder how you write a book like this. how do you do the research? and where do these stories come from.

one of the most astounding part of this book is the final few pages. they are stories and poems written by the girls in precious's special class. all the girls are illiterate and learning to read and at the end they write stories and poems about their lives and families. its so devastating, but so beautiful. again, this is a hard book to recommend because it is so intense but i did enjoy it and i couldn't put it down.

xo-ellebee