⋙ Libro Gratis Close Your Eyes Hold Hands A Novel Chris Bohjalian 9780385534833 Books

Close Your Eyes Hold Hands A Novel Chris Bohjalian 9780385534833 Books

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Close Your Eyes Hold Hands A Novel Chris Bohjalian 9780385534833 Books

Nuclear disaster; homeless kids; drunken parents; prostitution. Who wants to read a dark book covering these, as well as other related, inspiring topics? Well, with Chris Bohjalian, I was willing to take a chance. And it worked out just fine. In fact, "Close Your Eyes..." is on my best ten list for 2015. How did that happen?

For starters, and finishers, there's homeless Emily Shepard - whose parents caused a nuclear disaster and who goes by the pseudonym "Abby Bliss." At 17, Emily has hardly been a remarkable success at life, even before the nuclear blowout, and even though her parents have provided her with the amenities of an upper-middle-class life. But despite being a chronic underachiever, and in ways a "bad" girl, she's smart as a whip, has empathy for other kids, is a survivor, knows when she's made a mistake, and is remarkably savvy when it counts. Some readers might consider Emily unrealistically savvy - okay for a fictional character, perhaps, but hardly true to life. I don't agree with that view, however. She went through some pretty depressing scenarios, which I found amazing - as opposed to my often inadequate, clueless reaction when I see homeless people on the street. Instead, her experiences gave me a new outlook on the homeless, and convinced me there's a lot more to homeless existence than standing on the street corner begging for money. A lot of it bad - very bad. But some of it at least can be cause for contemplation on the "meaning of life," and/or what really matters.

Cameron, Emily's 9-YO compatriot, can tear your heart out, and the way Emily cares for him shows her best side. But she doesn't always show the best judgment. Does that make her human - or the author way over the top in how he depicts her. I'll choose the former. See what you think. I rated another recent Bohjalian book - "A Light in the Ruins" - 4-1/2 stars, and "Close Your Eyes..." cements him in the category of authors automatically to be read without hesitation.


Tags : Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands: A Novel [Chris Bohjalian] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <b>A heartbreaking, wildly inventive, and moving novel narrated by a teenage runaway, from the bestselling author of  Midwives</i> and  The Sandcastle Girls</i>. </b> Close Your Eyes,Chris Bohjalian,Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands: A Novel,Doubleday,0385534833,Coming Of Age,Family Life,Literary,Runaways;Fiction.,Teenage girls;Fiction.,Teenagers;Fiction.,BOHJALIAN, CHRISTOPHER - PROSE & CRITICISM,FICTION Family Life General,Fiction,Fiction Coming of Age,Fiction Family Life,Fiction Literary,Fiction-Coming of Age,GENERAL,General Adult,Runaways,Teenage girls,United States,Vermont

Close Your Eyes Hold Hands A Novel Chris Bohjalian 9780385534833 Books Reviews

I love this author. He never disappoints. This is a novel that will transport you to the northern part of Vermont - around the Burlington area - and it puts you in the mind and place of a young teen trying to survive after a nuclear plant meltdown for which her father, a plant engineer, might well have been responsible. It has the feel of the classic "On the Beach."
I think I liked the fact that it (the story) was written by a teenaged girl who went through so astronomically much horror in her life that she could look back and see the funny, silly, sad things that we always think are so earth shattering at the time. I don't know whom I would this book too except maybe someone who has gone through it and still lived. The writing was exceptionally good and that was what probably kept me drawn to the end. It was probably one of the saddest books I have ever read. I can no longer watch or read such things anymore. I'm only a Cinderella ending reader or watcher anymore as life can be too sad and we need to enjoy each day as ir comes.
Excellent book reinforcing you never know that you are capable of in a difficult situation. Being responsible for another makes you more responsible. Love Chris Bohjalian's books.
Although this could be classified as a Young Adult novel, it is now one of my favorite Chris Bohjalian books (and I like all of his work). An amazing (and timely?) turn of events takes our young protagonist, Emily Shepherd, from the burbs and all the ennui that entails for a typical American teenage - to hell on earth. How she struggles, the mistakes she makes, the compassion she tries to show for others, and the efforts she makes just to survive, are all compelling. I would want her by my side in a disaster because I know she'd get us through.
Chris Bohjalian writes the most interesting books about so many topics, and this is one I could not put down! It is the story of a teenager who suddenly becomes an orphan, homeless, & living on the streets of Burlington, VT, because the nuclear power plant where her father was the chief engineer has a meltdown. Life becomes totally different for this teen & hundreds of others because of this tragedy. The story is told in this girl's voice & well worth a read!
An intimate look inside the head of a teen-ager facing a sudden tragic loss alone reveals the struggles of all young adults who must master daily survival in ordinary situations without the help of adult caretakers . Pay attention if you want to know why teens turn to drugs and peers for support as they navigate high school social stigmas, sexual awakenings (theirs and others), and independence. This story takes you through the lives of homeless or disenfranchised young people and why they choose to cope the way they do. Won't come as any surprise that these young people are burdened by the sins of their elders in their struggle to find their way.

This is a suspenseful, entertaining read that rises above sentimentality to address consequences of bad choices between the smart way and the right way. The protagonist did what she had to do to survive and remain true to herself. This is above all a story about courage.
My father requested this book and enjoyed it very much. He was a voracious reader with broad tastes, from thick and esoteric, to what I call "airplane books" books that are diverting but not hard to read. I read the book after he was done. At first, I was a bit bored. The story seemed predictable and a bit juvenile (a perfect fit for Dad at the time because he was recovering from a stroke). Honestly, if there was something else to read I probably would have put this down. As I got further into it, the writing improved and so did the story and characters. This is indeed a post-nuclear disaster story but it has surprising twists to it. Can't say more than that or you'll miss out on the best aspects of this novel. All in all, worth a read!
Nuclear disaster; homeless kids; drunken parents; prostitution. Who wants to read a dark book covering these, as well as other related, inspiring topics? Well, with Chris Bohjalian, I was willing to take a chance. And it worked out just fine. In fact, "Close Your Eyes..." is on my best ten list for 2015. How did that happen?

For starters, and finishers, there's homeless Emily Shepard - whose parents caused a nuclear disaster and who goes by the pseudonym "Abby Bliss." At 17, Emily has hardly been a remarkable success at life, even before the nuclear blowout, and even though her parents have provided her with the amenities of an upper-middle-class life. But despite being a chronic underachiever, and in ways a "bad" girl, she's smart as a whip, has empathy for other kids, is a survivor, knows when she's made a mistake, and is remarkably savvy when it counts. Some readers might consider Emily unrealistically savvy - okay for a fictional character, perhaps, but hardly true to life. I don't agree with that view, however. She went through some pretty depressing scenarios, which I found amazing - as opposed to my often inadequate, clueless reaction when I see homeless people on the street. Instead, her experiences gave me a new outlook on the homeless, and convinced me there's a lot more to homeless existence than standing on the street corner begging for money. A lot of it bad - very bad. But some of it at least can be cause for contemplation on the "meaning of life," and/or what really matters.

Cameron, Emily's 9-YO compatriot, can tear your heart out, and the way Emily cares for him shows her best side. But she doesn't always show the best judgment. Does that make her human - or the author way over the top in how he depicts her. I'll choose the former. See what you think. I rated another recent Bohjalian book - "A Light in the Ruins" - 4-1/2 stars, and "Close Your Eyes..." cements him in the category of authors automatically to be read without hesitation.