Customer Reviews

Because I am Furniture

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Books written in verse are interesting. You would automatically think they would be easier to write because there are less words etc but I think they are actually harder to write. Having to get across just as much information and emotion with fewer words, each word holds greater meaning. I think this book does a wonderful job of telling a very emotional and important story with so few words.

I thought this would be really hard to read, and while it was it was also an empowering and hopeful book. To watch a young girl find her voice and not be afraid to use it, it was powerful. It was also interesting to see inside of this house, with all the terror and abuse that happens that no one ever say anything or ask for help. That's just the way the family was and they would rather deal with it that privately than make a change to their family. I thought the author did a great job of revealing the mentality of this family and made it easy to understand and believe.

I haven't read many books in verse and I still struggle with them a little bit. At least for me, sometimes things don't come off as clearly as they could, I get the basic idea but sometimes wonder if I'm always understanding everything correctly. Maybe that's just me! All in all a powerful and important book that really packs an emotional punch.

I picked Because I Am Furniture off a cart of books being processed this afternoon and started paging through it. I was a little put off by the "in verse" style, but after reading the book jacket, decided to give it a try.

Wow. Although this is a heavy subject, the book is easy to read. I am in awe of Chalta's storytelling; every word counts and there is no filler. We are in Anke's head, and it's not an easy place to be. She is vaguely aware of the abuse her father piles on her mother and two older siblings, but the family is in a conspiracy of silence. She understands that it's pathetic to feel left out of the abuse, but one can't help what he or she feels. Being spared means being ignored, being ignored means being worthless.

Entering high school, she defies her father by joining the volleyball team. This decision has unforeseen consequences on the entire family. Once Anke discovers her sense of self-worth, she becomes a force to be reckoned with.

Highly recommended!

Smashingly well done. The verse takes you into the story in a most unexpected way, what you might imagine if being allowed to step into another person's mind for a visit. Hauntingly authentic, inspiring and a must read.

Because I am Furniture is a lot of things, but original is not one of them. The style has been done before, by the likes of Sharon Creech and Ellen Hopkins. So has the story, also notably by Ellen Hopkins and others. The point of view may be slightly new (outsider rather than the one being abused), but it's still nothing amazingly good. While it is realistic and honest and narrated in a tone that is only reminiscent of death itself, this book has been written before. It is annoyingly predictable, and the ending was way to abrupt and cheesy. This is one instance where happily ever after just doesn't work. I do not recommend you take the time to read this, pick up Identical, which you may recall, I wasn't even that big a fan of, and you'd get a better story.

Rating: 2/5

Anke's father abuses her brother and sister, but he never touches her. Behind his back Anke tries out for volley ball at school. She makes the team and learns volleyball along with many other things. She learns how to step up and be heard. She learns it's up to her to make her father stop.

This was a very fast read since it was written in prose poetry. It was a tale of such horribly epic proportions, but offered hopeful empowerment. I enjoyed the little snippets of volleyball a lot. It reminded me of when I played in high school and how thrilling it was and how pumped you could get. Anke feels jealous that her father chooses to abuse her siblings, because at least they get his attention. This is an emotion that is completely justified, though a little strange from the outside looking in. This book was heartbreaking but has such a powerful message that may help people in similar situations. Sometimes it's easy to loose hope and you will to be heard. This book tells of how Anke finds the voice she needs to make sure she's not just another piece of furniture.

First Line:

"I am always there."

Favorite Line:

"I grimace guilty apologies."

Anke's father is abusive to her siblings but not to her - she's thus a witness to his horrors warranting no attention. She's passive and frightened, until she joins the volleyball team at school and learns how to build confidence and her own voice both on the court and at home. A different story of abuse and recovery evolves in a strong young adult tale of courage and exactly how it takes shape.

Anke lives in a house full of fear. Fear of her father. His temper can flair at any moment and everyone around him suffers. Anke's brother and sister take the physical abuse and Anke is, for the most part, ignored in the house. She feels she has no choice but to sit back and witness what is going on around her. Sometimes she even feels jealous of the attention her brother and sister get, no matter how horrible that attention is.

Anke has one bright spot in her day - volleyball. Against her father's wishes, she tries out and makes the team. Volleyball gives Anke confidence and a small circle of friends.

At the beginning of the school year, Anke develops a crush on Kyler, a tall, blonde soccer player. She tries to be where he is during the school day and hopes to attract his attention. She also has a confusing relationship with Jed, a boy who lives across the street.

Between her family's dynamics, volleyball, school, and boys, Anke has a lot on her mind. Will she ever get the courage to say something about the abuse at home?

BECAUSE I AM FURNITURE is written in verse. It doesn't take long to read and although the subject matter is very serious, the point of view is coming from an onlooking Anke so it isn't graphic. It's a good read, but the ending wraps up a little too quickly and there is a loose end that will leave you wondering about one of her relationships.

Reviewed by: Karin Librarian

Thalia Chaltas' BECAUSE I AM FURNITURE is on a short (very short) list of books that have impacted me as a person, not just a reader. I was hooked from dedication to final line and had to read the book buried under my covers. The novel is a chilling look at abusive relationships and I hope other girls will read it and find their voice.

Eagerly awaiting Thalia's next novel.

Anke plays a small role in her household--she's almost nonexistent to her father, who doesn't even care about her enough to offer any sort of attention...not even the bad sort of attention. While Anke's mother, brother, and sister endure their father's abusive behavior day after day, Anke is ignored, her importance reduced to that of furniture. But once she starts high school, Anke learns to become noticeable. She joins the volleyball team, and makes friends. And as the weeks go by, she not only gains confidence and independence, but a loud and strong voice as well.

Bright, poignant, and powerful, Thalia Chaltas reveals one family's struggles through her intricate and moving poetry. Ranging from frank and straightforward to thoughtful and contemplative, Chaltas' portrayal of Anke's journey to discover the courage and self-assurance she needs to right the wrongs in her life is surprisingly real and tangible as the story encompasses more than just her home situation, but also highlighting other aspects of teenage life: crushes, rejections, first dates, and making friends. The poetry is uncomplicated and enjoyable to read; it reads like a compelling mix of Ellen Hopkins and Sonya Sones, and its slightly elusive and strangely beautiful arrangement allows Anke's voice to ring out loud and clear to the reader. This surprisingly quick story is empowering, sweet, and highly affecting.

I always find it hard to say a lot about verse novels so this will be a short review.

Because I Am Furniture is one of those books that once you start, you lose track of time until you flip the final page. It's powerful, emotional, and, unfortunately, will hit home with some readers. This is the first time I've read anything where the MC was only an on-looker to abuse at home and I'd never really thought about it before.

Anke is a character easy to relate to, especially since we don't know that much about her. Characterization doesn't really happen in verse novels so you never know anything about the characters that isn't extremely pertinent to the plot. However, the plot moved fast enough that none of the characters fell flat.

The ending of Because I Am Furniture is my favorite because everything fell together but still left a lot of room for you to imagine what happened next. The appearance of Kyler was also very nice. =)

Definitely recommended.