Book Summary...
Richard and Liz Bergamot leave their lives in Ithaca to live in Manhattan with their two children...15 year old Jake and 6 year old Coco. Richard has just received a fantastic job offer. They will begin living the New York good life. Both children happy and in private schools...everyone living a fantastic life...well...almost everyone. Liz is a bit at loose ends with this move and still adjusting but the family is hopeful and excited by this new venture...until everything begins unravelling. Jake receives an explicit sexual video from a 13 year old friend and innocently sends it on to a friend who sends it on to more friends until the video is viral and out of control.
My Thoughts...
I read this book in sort of shock and awe. It was amazing to me how this family's life could spiral out of control in such a short time. The book is beautifully written and told from the point of view of Liz, Richard and Jake. It was sometimes profoundly difficult for me to read this book because every downward spiral was just so sad. We see the way Liz dealt with the move and what happened to Jake...she spent hours looking up pornography on her laptop in addition to watching the video that was sent to Jake to try to understand what was going on and why Jake did what he did. Richard had to take a leave from his beloved job because of what Jake did. Even Coco was affected by what happened by accidentally seeing some videos on Liz'z laptop. Jake seemed to not quite get that what he did was the cause of all of this...and in my mind he seemed to devalue himself and make choices that would affect him for all time.
The most amazing part of this book was the last chapter or so when we learned what really happens to the future of this family.
This book was thought provoking to say the least and not really a comfortable book for me to read. I hated Liz's ways to deal with her life. She was either picking up Coco stoned or bringing her home from a sleepover at The Plaza literally drunk. I could be totally wrong but while reading this I felt that Liz felt that she was an amazing mother but when Jake's crisis hit...she reverted to staying in bed and doing weird things on her laptop.
Just my thoughts.
And I wasn't crazy about Liz's relationship with her husband.
They couldn't seem to get past this and it made me feel as though they had hidden parts of them from each other...
Again...
Just me dealing with this kind of book.
That sounds like a story plucked from the headlines. I have a feeling I'd find it disturbing, but compelling.
ReplyDeleteIt was all of that...
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it will be too aggravating for me to read. The premise is similar to EXPOSURE by Therese Fowler that was inspired by her son receiving naked photos from an underage friend. I did enjoy that book though. The family didn't fall apart, thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower...thanks, Brenda!...very interesting blog! I look forward to getting to know you! Congrats on your award!
ReplyDeleteMcGuffy's Reader
http://www.mcguffysreader.blogspot.com
Sounds like something out of "Lifetime" movie on T.V.
ReplyDeleteNot my kind of book, but sounds very real of what is happening today. I see plenty of this true story being unfolded on "Nancy Grace" nightly news!
BTW-Patty, I signed you on to be receiving e-mail subscription of my posts, still could not find the right widget to post on my blog, but it's in the program!
Have a wonderful Sunday!
xoxo
Things like this happen all the time. I see it a lot in the workplace. One bad move and your life is royally screwed. I'm not sure I'd like to read about it in a boo though. Seems almost too raw of a topic to enjoy in any way.
ReplyDeleteInteresting review, actually has me intrigued and I may have to research this title a bit more.
ReplyDeleteNew follower...found you in Brenda Youngerman's blog posts..:-)