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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deep Down (some spoilers), November 10, 2011
I gave this book 5 stars inspite of the fact that I think there are a few weak passages (particularly the end), but as I would have liked to give it 10 stars in the first place, I think the 5 are justified. ...spoilers... This book gives one man's insight into sexual abuse at a level where normally we'd only be reading non-fiction and the opinion of psychiatrists who are dealing with such cases. Burgess has taken (sexual) abuse and explained its effects in as brutal, honest and direct a way as you can ever imagine. He has relativised some of what so-called delinquents do (what the hell is some truancy in comparison to sexually abusing or beating or depriving a boy?) and shown how violence kills positive emotions and the ability to emotionally connect other than through violence. As such I find it worthy of notice especially in countries like England or the USA where rebellious youngsters may be tried like adults from the age of ten or twelve on or are shown just how harsh the state can come down on them (recent riots in London etc.) by shoving them into what amounts to normal adult prisons, without the manpower to guard their tender butts from what is pretty much inevitable in such places. This book made me realise that I can't eat enough for the vomiting I need to do these days. Deeply moving, a phantastic piece of work! Read only if you are prepared for some understanding of the mechanics of human nature.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A dark, powerful story., February 1, 2011
This book tells the story of Nicholas Dane and how his life gets de-railed. It's disturbing and not an easy book to read. Make no mistake, this is not typical teen fare, and best read by those 16 and older. Nicholas is a somewhat typical kid from the poor side of town. He's not perfect, and neither is his mother. He is loved and cared for, so when his mother dies and he is shipped off to social services "care", he quickly finds that he lost not only his mother but also his entire life.
This book is set in Manchester, England during the early 80's. It's disturbing to think that the torture, abuse and manipulation endured by Nick could actually be a reflection of things endured by young men during that time, but the author's searing depictions have a ring of truth and authenticity that are absolutely chilling.
Nicholas is an interesting character. At times he seems much older than his 14 years, and other times his naivete makes him seem even younger. The reader can't help but feel for him even though the author seems to want to keep us at arms length. The story sometimes slips back and forth between the characters and the author's omniscient narrative voice. I found these frequent shifts to be a distraction and sometimes prevented the story from being as suspenseful and dramatic as it should have been.
This is such a bleak novel. It is very worthwhile, but at page 100 or so I found myself wondering just how much misery young Nicholas could take and how much I could take as well! The author delves masterfully into character motivations later in the book when we get to meet other boys and men at different stages of the same trail to destruction that Nicholas is traveling. His explorations of what happens when fear, pain and love all get commingled are well worth reading.
The author ends the story on a painfully realistic note, giving perhaps a glimmer of hope, but no easy answers. There are some lessons to be learned here and if given to the right teen reader this book has the potential to be a comfort to survivors of abusive situations. Not an easy read, but a powerful one. Recommended.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Heartbreaking Story, May 22, 2011
Nicholas Dane is a modern retelling of Oliver Twist. Fourteen year old, Nick, after his mother dies of a heroin overdoes (a problem Nick wasn't even aware she had) is sent to Meadow Hill, the worst place a young boy could be sent to. While there, Nick is beaten, whipped and tortured. Tony Creal, head of Meadow Hill promises to help Nick get out there (Unbeknownst to Nick, him mom's best friend as well as a long lost great Uncle are willing to help him), while secretly making sure that no one can help this "troubled and disturbed boy" as he calls him to Nick's family. One night, Mr. Creal gives Nick a hand job. Nick is so surprised that he doesn't do anything about it until it is over, and anger overpowers him. As punishment, Creal, as well as two other men brutally rape him, forever changing Nick.
Nicholas Dane, is a heartbreaking story. I stopped counting how many times I had to put the book down to compose myself. This book is so sad and tragic. It wasn't just Nick either, all of the boys in this story deeply affected me, especially Oliver. Oliver is a few years younger then Nick and has been at Meadow Hill for a number of years already. He has been raped over and over again, first by his mothers boyfriend at age three, then by wardens and janitors in other group homes he was in, and finally by Creal and Creal's friends. Oliver knows nothing but pain and links pain with affection. His story broke my heart even more then Nick's.
This book was good, but some of the story dragged on for me. I would only recommend it if you understand what you are getting yourself into. This book will make you cry, over and over again.
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