Tuesday, June 8, 2010

"No Language but a cry" by Richard D'Ambrosio

I saw another book at the library with the same title. The book I saw was by Bert Smith, and it looked like it was being tossed out. This made me sad. Then I looked up the title on Amazon and realized that it was not the same book that I had read many years before. The book that I had read talks about an abused girl, and the story is so horrendous that it has stuck with me for years and years. I probably read the book over 20 years ago, and hopefully I still have it in my archives somewhere. It's brutal, but it really made me strongly consider a career in social services and psychology. My heart just ached at the stories of the kids that have had a life far worse than mine.  Here's a little excerpt from Amazon:
"This is an inspirational, true story written by a psychoanalyst practicing pro bono work at a nun-run group home. He takes on the long, difficult task of trying to open up a very abused, troubled young girl. As a toddler, she was literally found by the police while her parents were cooking her alive in a frying pan. They're both in mental institutions now, but the girl, Laura, is left seemingly deaf and mute. She doesn't respond to almost any outside stimulus. She reacts to life as a vegetable....."

And it goes on from there....

ANOTHER Elizabeth Berg book!

This is probably a record for this blog. Last night I decided to read "Joy School" by Elizabeth Berg. I'd already checked it out of the library, and it was a very quick read. I read the whole thing in about 2-3 hours I think, just in one sitting. I guess I like this author's "voice". If someone had told me what the book was about beforehand, I might not have read it. I mean, the plot summary really doesn't grab me.
From Amazon :

"From School Library Journal

A 13-year-old girl falls in love with a 21-year-old garage mechanic who saves her life. From this unrequited love and other sorrows, she learns about the joys of life.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title."


(Yeah, doesn't grab me at all.)
Anyway, it was a good, quick read and it looks like I have some more of  her books in that bag of books that I checked out a while ago. I still have the William Kennedy book too, but I seem to be attracted to female authors by the looks of things and reading through those books first. We'll see if I get through the "Ironweed" book tonight though. You never know. It might happen. I seem to be reading quite a bit lately.