Book Details
Title: Snowflake Obsidian
Author: The Hippie
Publisher: iUniverse.com
Release Date: December 15th 2010
Source: pumpupyourbook.com (I received an autographed copy from the author)
About The Hippie
The Hippie received a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Utah and worked briefly as a licensed mental health therapist before leaving her job to pursue writing. She prefers ice cream in the winter, beanies in the summer, and only plays sports when properly guilt-tripped. She currently lives with her husband and two dogs in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit her atwww.thehippiewriter.com.
About Snowflake Obsidian
Willow is nineteen, naïve, and Mormon. She genuinely sucks at having relationships with the opposite sex, thanks to her daddy issues—as in she has a dad and wishes she didn’t. Her only perfect relationship is with her best friend, Jo. But when Willow and Jo fall for the same guy, Willow finds herself friendless and falling in love with a drug addict. Feeling confused, guilty, and alone, she turns to cutting herself as a way to cope.Snowflake Obsidian is a memoir about one girl’s transformation from being naïve due to living in a protected religious culture, to understanding the many faces of love in this paradoxical journey. As Willow steps into the world outside her religious ideals she finds herself in situations she’d never imagined: getting a body piercing at a parlor full of sex-toys; purchasingthe morning after pill for a friend who had been raped; attending a support group for co-dependents; putting all her faith in a snowflake obsidian stone when she can’t cope with her depression ; and living with her boyfriend while trying to remain abstinent on this journey that ultimately illuminates Willow’s dark side which fully allows her to know the light. Her intelligent and humorous voice bluntly shares her story with the perfect blend of nostalgic observance and cynical optimism in this witty memoir about life, love and learning .
Book Trailer:
My Review:
3/5 Diamonds - It Was Okay
My Review:
Snowflake Obsidian really deals with a tough issue: depression and cutting. I think that is why it was a little hard for me at times to read this book. It did take courage for her though to write about her life and tell the world and I give her a lot of credit for that.
Willow doesn't have the perfect life. Her father yells at her so much. He was in the Vietnam war, so maybe that is why he is so disconnected with her. It seems like the only thing he loves is the TV. She tries to tell him that she loves him, and he thinks that she just wants money. Willow really is neglected by her parents. She even calls them by their first names. At least she has quite a few very good friends though. One of them is Jo. Jo seems to end up liking every one of Willow's boyfriends and taking them away from her. She finally talks to River and finds out they have so much in common.
Depression is a horrible thing, but I just don't know what it is like to feel so depressed that I would want to cut myself. The Hippie really brought you into her world to see what she was going through to bring her to that point. I was surprised at how her and her friends were always in her bed and spooning each other. I felt sad for her that her parents paid her no attention. I can't imagine parents that would just let this go on!
Since this was a memoir, I think The Hippie did a great job recalling the events of her life. I just really didn't feel a connection with this book like I was hoping that I would.
This review is only my opinion, and I recommend that you visit Bookshipper's blog to read her review of this book. She gave it 4/5 stars and said "Addiction and recovery is a subject that is very close to my heart. Because of this, I have read my share of books on just about every subject, including cutting and Snowflake Obsidian was one of the most raw and real books I have read in a long time."
Quote (p.112):
My eyes happened to glance down at the orange handled scissors that lay on the counter. With out much thought I picked them up with my right hand, brought my leg to the counter, resting my foot on the edge of Beloved I rolled up my pant leg. I softly opened the scissors in my right hand thinking for a moment of sawing them into my leg. It only took a moment for my thought to turn to action as the dull blade of the scissors viciously rubbed against my ivory skin.
My Rating:I stopped only once I saw blood. The blood somehow startled me. As if that wasn't the result I was looking for.
3/5 Diamonds - It Was Okay
Disclaimer: I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist. They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to read this one Cheryl. Cutting is such a serious issue and this one seems to have tried to deal with it in an honest way.
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