Precious by Sapphire.
Precious,
based on the novel Push by Sapphire,
read by Bahni Turpin.
If you’ve heard about Precious or watched the movie derived from it, you’ve heard that it’s rough, with almost no
smooth corners. It’s hard to write about this book and it was hard to listen to
this story of a pregnant teenager with no love or human kindness in her life.
But, I think this story should be shared, and this audiobook is a wonderful way
to experience it.
Warning—language is raw, raw,
raw. Subjects are raw, raw, raw. No need to pick this one up if you prefer to
listen to cozy mysteries or Mitford novels. The violence in Precious makes The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series seem like gentle reads, but
it is not Precious who is acting violently. It is violence perpetrated on her
as a child and as a teen: rape, physical and emotional abuse, bullying. No
wonder Precious wonders “why me?”
I’m not naive about rape or
incest statistics in this country, but it is still hard for me to imagine a
life as truly horrific as Precious’. I can’t imagine rising out of her life, no
matter how brilliant my teacher is. Do kids like this manage to resurrect their
lives? Sadly, not often. We don’t all have the guts and willpower to remake
ourselves.
Why is this story appealing?
It’s because despite everything that is stacked against her, Precious is
determined to learn to read and write, to become independent, to get her GED
and attend college. And, most importantly, she never gives up.
Bahni Turpin’s narration
really sells this story—she’s not to be missed as a recorded books reader. For
example, she narrated The Immortal Life
of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Sloot, among others. You can find a list of
her recordings by typing her name in the “main words in author” search box in
our catalog.
Anne Shirako, Reference Librarian, Ukiah Branch, 463-4493
Labels: book reviews
posted by Staff of the Mendocino County Library | 11:41 AM
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