Comments on: Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

By: Cybils Reading Update & Fiction Picture Book Nominations | Maw Books

Cybils Reading Update & Fiction Picture Book Nominations | Maw Books — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:04:02 +0000

[...] Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas [...]

By: Jackie (Farm Lane Books)

Jackie (Farm Lane Books) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:10:32 +0000

I don’t mind reading books about abuse, as long as the topic is handled sensitivley. This sounds like a very different book. I’m not sure it is for me, but I might have a quick read if I spot a copy in a book shop. You never know – I may be hooked from the start.

By: Mark David

Mark David — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:33:51 +0000

This sounds like quite a poignant story. Though I have to say that the premise sounds reasonably disturbing, that idea of the protagonist feeling jealous of her abused sister is an interesting concept. And it's quite believable too. I imagine this as something that actually happens in real life, as scary as it may sound. Normally, I'd stay "far far away" from stories like this as I may not be able to take them, but your review does make me want to read it. And I've never read a free-verse novel before, so that really makes it interesting. I guess I'll have to see when I find it in the bookstore. Anyway, Natasha, I've chosen you as one of my recipients for a blogger award. I hope you pick it up from my site: http://absorbedinwords.blogspot.com/2009/09/gracious-gifts.html

By: frootjoos

frootjoos — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:20:24 +0000

If you want a hopeful verse novel, read Rubber Houses by Ellen Yeomans. It’s short, sweet, and redeeming. Starts out very sad, though: the topic is grief, the death of a younger sibling (cancer).

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:56:59 +0000

I’ve read this one as well. But I’ve read other YA books that were more difficult to handle–emotionally. Have you read any Ellen Hopkins??? She writes verse novels as well.

By: S. Krishna

S. Krishna — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:32:24 +0000

This sounds really interesting, though I don’t know if I’d be able to pay attention while reading a free verse book. I would be willing to read a book about abuse, though I wouldn’t want ALL the books I read to be about such depressing topics.

By: frootjoos

frootjoos — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:04:01 +0000

I just recently read Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott, another great book on this topic. I think books on abuse are absolutely necessary, not just for the sake of victims, enablers, and abusers but for outsiders (who are uninvolved and then suddenly are confronted with a situation involving abuse) to know and understand what’s going on. It happens all the time, and I don’t think it will ever stop, but having books like these make it harder to ignore–and that’s a good thing.

By: Jenn M

Jenn M — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:40:43 +0000

Well…I went from laughing at the title when looking at your review on my google RSS feed to holding my breath while reading your review and excerpts.

I’ve read a few books about abuse, both retellings by victims and realistic fiction. Sometimes they are the hard books to read, but almost always a book I feel that I needed to read. I always feel like I have learned something or enlightened myself when I read a book about real-life situations.

By: Alipet813

Alipet813 — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:25:40 +0000

I can read about the abuse, but it makes me sick to my stomach. I don’t avoid it though. The abuse and illness of children is something I have a hard time accepting in relation to my faith.

I have never read free verse. I don’t know if it would keep my attention, but for this one I would be willing to try.

By: melissa

melissa — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:14:58 +0000

It is definitely a hard topic to read about. I know I avoid many books that deal with it, but not everything. There are exceptional books that deal with it in very careful ways – those I would read. But, it is very hard to go into a book knowing that is what it is about. Especially when it involves children.