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