Customer Reviews

Ash

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Using colloquial language typical to small-town Mainers, which can only be referred to as "Hillbilly-Boone" talk, Wesley Libby pains a vivid picture through his journal entries of how he and his family live their everyday lives with their special son, Ash. Ash, who was once the smart, tough, loving and musically talented older brother that Wesley admired had now turned into Mr. Hyde. Now he has become violent, uncivil, and insulting, which makes Wesley uneasy around his presence. But what caused this Dr. Jekel/Mr. Hyde personality? Schizoid tended. Now, through his daily diary entries, Wesley plays detective and tries to figure out what sparked Ash's schizoid tended. All in an attempt to get his former older brother back. On one account, Wesley recalls a moment when he saw Ash banging his head against a door in order to stop the voices in his head. In order to witness first hand how the entire Libby family deals with the bizarre change in their son with their feelings of confusion, sorrow and guilt, read the 160 page book Ash: A Novel, by Lisa Rowe Fraustino (Grass and Sky).
In this novel, Lisa Rowe Fraustino writes the book in the mindset of a 15 year old, small-town Maine resident with bad grammar, which makes you feel as if you were reading an actual dairy. With the jokes made by Wesley in order to poke fun at his older sister Deena, the book pulled me in and made me picture what the sister looks and acts like. So by the end of the novel, I felt as if I had already met the family. It's mainly because of the bad grammar, which played a significant role in bringing the book to life, that I enjoyed the book as much as I did.
If you like books that grab you attention from the begining, yet are not to complicated to understand, then Ash: A Novel by Lisa Rowe Fraustino is the book for you. Even though the book is 160 pages, the ending is not a flat cut-off.

ASH is a novel written as a journal told by Wes, who writes about, his family and his brother Ashton and the problems they were going through. Drugs, kids, and religion. The main conflict was between Ashton and his family. Ashton had problems with drugs and finding himself spiritually.

Something in the book taht struck out to me was, the reality of the things the family went through. For example, Ashton had a problem with drugs and religion. He left home one night and wasnt heard from for a couple of weeks. His familywas worried sick. But, then he sent them a postcard saying how, "God's peices were spread around the world and I have to put them back toghether." He was really lost. I think that Wes, the younger brother writing the journal learned alot form the problems and experiences he and his family went thtough.

I thought ASH was a good as well as inspirational book. As i was reading this book, i realized all the tings that people go through. But, also how things can turn out alright. For example, Ashton was put through a program and gradually stopped taking drugs and learned to deal with his problems. I would recamend this book to anyone having problems with their parents, siblings, or life.

ASH is a novel written as a journal told by Wes, who writes about, his family and his brother Ashton and the problems they were going through. Drugs, kids, and religion. The main conflict was between Ashton and his family. Ashton had problems with drugs and finding himself spiritually.

Something in the book taht struck out to me was, the reality of the things the family went through. For example, Ashton had a problem with drugs and religion. He left home one night and wasnt heard from for a couple of weeks. His familywas worried sick. But, then he sent them a postcard saying how, "God's peices were spread around the world and I have to put them back toghether." He was really lost. I think that Wes, the younger brother writing the journal learned alot form the problems and experiences he and his family went thtough.

I thought ASH was a good as well as inspirational book. As i was reading this book, i realized all the tings that people go through. But, also how things can turn out alright. For example, Ashton was put through a program and gradually stopped taking drugs and learned to deal with his problems. I would recamend this book to anyone having problems with their parents, siblings, or life.

This was a wonderful novel for any age. It's hard to belive that real families can have this very same thing happen to them.

I found the book to be interesting but not one I would read again. . But the subject matter of living with an illness in the family made me read on. ..

If you liked this book, or want to read one that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift!