: Testimony
Author: Anita Shreve
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 305
My mom bought the book a while ago, and she just read it so she then recommended it to me. I have never heard of the book before then and since she enjoyed it, I thought I should give it a try and see what it was like.
The book is about a bunch of people that all their lives have changed to one video tape. The three boys that are involved in the video are three very talented basketball players. The boys are Sila whose eighteen years old, Rob who is eighteen years old, and J.Dot who is nineteen years old. These boys got drunk at a school dance took a girl named Sienna up to there dorm room. Sila had a girlfriend at the time named Noelle. They went to J.Dot's dorm. They then all recorded a very sexual video of them all doing such dirty things with the girl, who at the time was only fourteen. She later claimed the boys raped her, but as you read on you can tell she knew what she was doing. The video tape fell into the wrong hands, ended up on the internet, and got to the headmaster. Scholarships were dropped, dreams were shattered, hearts broken, jobs lost, and evenone life taken all due to this one night of some "drunken fun."
The audience of this book I think should be adults, and teenagers. The events in the book can be at times disturbing and tragic. But over all the book is a good lesson teacher. Especially, about partying, drinking, and one night stands. You never know what could happen after that, just like the girl didn't know that there was a video type that was recording while she was being "taken advantage of" yet so willingly.
The author's style at times can be quite confusing, each chapter is a new character that in some ways links to the situation that is taking place at Avery Academy. "..So you take all those hours and you put them up against one hour of getting wasted and acting like a jerk, and that one hour defines your life? Forever?" (pg.45) This is a passage from J.Dot's perspiction of the situation.
One passage that stuck to me through out the book is "Take away the alochol. If you suspect a problem, there is a problem. Don't let them get away with even the very first lie. Be vigilant." (pg.57) This passage was said by Michelle. Michelle is the mother to Rob, one of the boys that was in the type. The reason this passage stuck with me was because she noticed her son lying at such a young age and did nothing about it, but it made me wonder is there anything she could have really done for him?
The second passage that stuck with me is "And, oh god, I so wish you were here with me, and I would tell you I was sorry a hundred thousand times, and I would not ask you to look at me or let touch or even let me say I love you, I would just tell you how sorry I am that this had to happen to you." (pg.225) This passage was said by Silas, and the reason it stuck with me was because he was talking about his girlfriend, Noelle, and I was so shocked he wouldnt talk to her about the events taking place that were affecting his life and it bothered me, because of the outcome situation that happened in the end. The third passage that stuck with me was "I'm sorry to say that he was found an hour ago. He was..." "Silas has passed away" "Nooo." (pg. 263)
This third passage was Mike, the headmaster, telling Noelle that they found Silas dead in some nearby woods by his house. The passage then stuck with me because Noelle knew nothing that was happening in Silas life and personally I think she would have been there for him even though he made such a big mistake.
I enjoyed the book a lot, when I find a good book such as this one I have an extremely hard time putting it down. I enjoy books that could happen in real life, and this scandel could definatly be one that really happens. I hated some of the characters in the book, but I think thats bound to happen everytime you read a book, you take sides.
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I think that this would be a book that I would enjoy reading. This book seems as though it is written for teens and it (might) be easy to relate to, in a sense. The third passage struck me because death had occurred, which could be an exciting climax in the story for whoever reads it. This book seems like it would teach you a lesson after reading it, or at least make you think about some of the decisions that you make.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds very intense and I am very intrested in it. Just by reading your response, I feel like I can relate to it. Being an athlete in highschool is tough because you go out and sometimes will be surrounded by alochol. Your taking a big risk by messing with the law. The quote about Silas being found dead made me sad because it seemed that he had a lot of problems, but nobody knew about them. I really want to read this book now.
ReplyDeleteI think that this book sounds rather interesting, just because it seems like the author is constantly keeping you busy between one scene and the next. It also seems very realisitc because in a real highschool people do get drunk, and do have partys, so stuff like this does happen unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThis book seems like a real page-turner. This kind of novel is always a little bit hard to read, but even harder to put down. Not only does this book seem to relate a terrible fictional tale, but also deliver a meaningful message to the youth of today. It seems like it should be a real wake-up call for many irresponsible teenagers.
ReplyDeleteHow terrible. One night can change everything. I agreee 100% with Steph. Those passages really do make you want to stay home instead of going out. When people are in love it hurts when they do things, such as cheat, but then not even tell their girlfriends or boyfriends. "And, oh god, I so wish you were here with me, and I would tell you I was sorry a hundred thousand times, and I would not ask you to look at me or let touch or even let me say I love you, I would just tell you how sorry I am that this had to happen to you." (pg.225)Poor Noelle didn't a things and her boyfriend died with terrible lies hidden behind his death.I would read this book anyday.
ReplyDeleteFrom the summary of this book, it sounds like a book I would really enjoy. The novel seems very intense and tragic. I feel like I can relate to this book, even though I'm not in college. Being in high school is difficult to not fall under pressure of "fitting in" and partying. From the passages and the summary it seems as though this book really opens people's minds to the reality of teenagers lives, and how drinking can lead to situations you don't want to find yourself in.
ReplyDeleteBrian Chieco-
ReplyDeleteThe plot of this book seems very interesting. I agree with you that I also enjoy books that could happen in real life. It sounds realistic and hard to put down. I just wonder if the author's confusing writing style would make me frustrated and stop reading.
This book seems very intense. It definitely seems like something I would want to read. Even though the writing style of the author might be confusing, the plot of the story seems to be something I would be interested in. It is scary to think that this could actually happen in real life. I think that this book could teach a good lesson to high school kids.
ReplyDelete