Hey Guys! What caught my eye was that the front cover of my book has an intriguing cover, three redheads with three completely different hairstyles. The book I am reading is called "Unbecoming" by Jenny Downham. This bestselling author also had written the book "Before I die", which is an amazing book as well. When I started reading this book one thing I found really neat was that it is written in 3 different perspectives through different times in their lives. This is a story about family and the various trials and tribulations each of them goes through. The main characters are Mary Todd (grandmother), Caroline (mom), and Katie (the daughter).
The book beings with Mary in the hospital after her husband died. She suffers from Alzheimer's disease so she is confused when she is told she has to live with her daughter and her family. She spends most of the first chapters trying to figure out how she ended up there. We all have that person that tells us stories like "when I was your age", we may not have appreciated it then but it is truly amazing how people got by with hard work. Mary also tells Katie, the granddaughter and her little brother many stories of when she was young. Her memory degrading has caused her to forget why she left her daughter many years ago. Being left is a horrible feeling, how would you feel if someone near and dear to you left? I could definitely understand why her daughter would feel so angry. Caroline was very unhappy to find out that her mom was staying with them for a little while. Caroline, in the beginning even calls up many nursing homes, desperate to get her mom out of her life. So far, I don't know the real reason to why Mary left her daughter Caroline. I'm hoping that the truth will be revealed later in the story. But Katie on the other hand, is a insecure teenager who gets bullied daily at her school. Her best friend ditched her to join the popular girls. Yikes!, some friend she got there :( Her life is pretty miserable... that is, until she met her grandmother. All three women have crazy pasts, and secrets that will be uncovered. I believe the past, however dark or bad it might be shapes us into becoming who we are. Do you have anyone in your life that turned your world around and made you see things in a new light? What do you think?
Wow Ashley I really enjoyed this intro of the story! I may just want to read this book next. It catches my attention That they all are going through struggles. But i would want to know if they are related or if they some how meet up together. I guess that would have to be for me to read about. I also enjoy the meaning behind the story. The persevering through hardship. I have not yet had any really life changing points in my life that have changed my point of view in the world. But I am most definite that, that will happen many times in my future. To test my strength, to find my weaknesses and how to make myself a better person. And to be happy with the life I am living!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kelsea! Yes,they are related. So Mary gave birth to Carline and left her many years ago. And Caroline had a daughter named Katie. So they both are blood related. Your absolutely right, it's interesting to see how three women in very different stages of life deal with hardships and obstacles that come their way. I have had a couple life changing moments, but just like you said, everything we are is because of our past and mistakes. I hope you will reach your goals and be happy in life.
DeleteThis book seems very interesting. The story plot you explained is very detailed and easy to follow. Based on the blog post, it seems as if Mary is in the archetypal "hero's journey. What do you think? I believe she follows the hero's journey. Something i wonder is whether or not Mary, Caroline, or Katie have any similarities. They seem to be different based on the blog post, but they may have underlying characteristics that link them all to each other. Do you agree?
ReplyDeleteIt all comes down to how you interpret the meaning. The author wrote the book in a way that makes it seem that "Mary, Caroline, and Katie" all went through the hero's journey but in their own special way. But yes I understand what you mean. Mary is quite a character, having dementia and forgetting that her husband died and living in the past is hard to deal with. That is an interesting question because I believe that Katie the new generation girl and her grandmother have the same drive, that spontaneous "i don't care what people think" attitude. While Katie's mother is more worried, stressed and less happy all the time.
DeleteFirst of all Ashley, the way you began your blog was amazing. Makes me want to reconsider all mine. You might not know the answer but I am just curious if the 3 red heads on the front of the book are Mary, Caroline, and Katie. My boyfriend has made me see things from a different light and changed my world around. Not to sound cliche but I think he has had the biggest impact on my life. Some things that i don't quite understand he explains them into a deeper meaning and gets me thinking more about little things and even real life problems and i thank him for opening up my eyes to see the light.
ReplyDeleteHaha awe thank you for catching that Kyla! Yes, the three heads on the front of the cover are Mary, Caroline, and Katie. I loved how the author showed that they are from different generations by the different hairstyles. Wow, that's amazing that you have your boyfriend in your life to show you a whole new world, and to see things in new perspective. Cherish your loved ones, because they come once in a lifetime.
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