Thursday, May 25, 2006

New Links on our web for the week of May 25, 2006 Computers and Internet Avant Browser Compatible with Windows 98. (SR) Leisure Gardening and Health "Collection of fact sheets on gardening health and safety topics, such as plant allergies, power tool safety, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, heat stress, sunburn and skin cancer, and protecting your hands, feet, knees, and back. From the Virginia Cooperative Extension." (LII) 10:38:12 AM     The Bitch Posse by Martha O’Connor I happened upon this particular book as I was browsing through a Books for Teens publication and the title was a Los Angeles Public Library Teen Favorite. Library Journal also stated that – “This debut novel will keep readers glued to the very last page.” After the first two pages, I was well aware why this novel would be a teen favorite – it is filled with taboos. Unlike the naivety of the book “Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret,” from my generation, this novel takes raunchy to a whole different level. The Bitch Possee covers the different time periods of three girls who befriend each other in high school – each seeking some type of normalcy and love which they do not receive from their so-called families at home. Each girl has “baggage” beyond normalcy and craves longingness either from sex, self-mutilation, drugs or all of the above in their adult life. They end up forming a pact with each other that dissolves after a terrible act of violence in their teen years. Each particular girl floats through adulthood trying to forget the terrible secret they have. In the end, they realize nothing physical can lessen the pain of their mistakes. I would not suggest this novel for anyone under the age of 18. It is filled with very graphic sexual content, drugs, alcohol, and acts of self-mutilation. It left me feeling very dark, gothic and somewhat on a depressive note. However, I had to finish this book and find out what the secret was in the end that messed up these three girls lives. It was a page-turner, in that, I could not believe the content was suggested for teens. As a mother, I cringe over the thought that my underage daughters might get their hands on this someday. WE 9:30:16 AM

© Copyright 2008 Jocelyn Shaw. Last update: 11/18/2008; 2:32:54 PM. Photo curtesy of Marjorie O'Brien