Customer Reviews

Teach Me

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I suppose I'm unable to give true constructive criticism to this book simply because I love it too much. I was highly dismayed when I read the editorial review saying that Nine was hard to identify with because she thinks she is better than everyone else. I couldn't disagree more.

I was originally drawn to the book because it resonated so deeply with what I feel. The thoughts that I have in my head, I feel that so many people I know will never even get past thinking of day-to-day ideas, and it scares me. Basically, I could identify so deeply with Nine that it scared me. She's not aloof, she's a visionary.

The main reason I love it so much, however, is R.A. Nelson's writing. Aside from telling a beautiful story, there are times when the writing just oozes poetry. I think my favorite line in the book that I can remember now is: "There is not a name for what I'm feeling. There is no description for it. To call it yearning would be like calling an ocean water." I don't know of anybody who hasn't wanted something so much it hurts.

I'm done. Any words I write down here can not match the book. I know I sound like I'm raving mad, but read the book, and maybe you too will discover the sweetest madness there is.

R. A. Nelson's debut novel has certainly caused quite a stir since its publication in September. With its salaciously taboo subject matter (a doomed love affair between teacher and student) and an unrelenting pace that keeps readers gripped until the very last word, TEACH ME approaches the line of what defines groundbreaking, controversial YA fiction --- and barrels right through it. With plenty of passion, intensity and reckless behavior throughout, this tornado of a book illuminates a number of haunting life questions and shocking answers that will gnaw away at readers' consciences long after the final page has been turned.

Seventeen-year-old Carolina "Nine" Livingston is what most adults would call "a good kid." She excels in school, doesn't drink or do drugs, and gets along with her parents. She has one friend (Schuyler Green, a boy) whom she's known since grade school, and spends much of her time thinking about the universe and reading poetry. For most of her life, she has lived a fairly normal existence until the day she locks eyes with Mr. Mann, her English teacher --- the split second when everything changes forever.

From that moment on, Nine and Mr. Mann are inseparable. From the classroom to the bedroom, the two exchange more than their fair share of witty banter and clandestine touches (including Nine's virginity, when she is safely eighteen), until Mr. Mann's decision to end the affair with an abrupt "Everything has to stop." Naturally, Nine is heartbroken --- especially when she finds out that he is getting married to a girl she's never heard of before.

It is at this point that the novel gets interesting, albeit twisted. Aside from the shocking ending that verges on the unbelievable, TEACH ME's premise is not that far-fetched and poses a number of questions that are relevant to teens today. It presents an honest and somewhat grotesque picture of what is possible between a grown man and a young girl (however implausible to some more conservative readers), and illuminates what could happen when that connection gets out of hand.

Nelson's first novel is a mouthful to digest, and one that certainly should be taken seriously both as a crossover work of fiction and as a commentary on what's possible in the world today.

--- Reviewed by Alexis Burling

This is a YA novel that uses language beautifully, but has some issues in terms of plot. The writing is poetic and often hits the nail right on the head in terms of capturing emotions or moments. The relationship between Nine and her teacher is discussed in a very real, honest way, and I liked that Nine's emotions were the main focus of that aspect of the story. It's not afraid to be sexy, but the book is also much more interesting for placing the focus on Nine's bliss and destruction rather than on the nature of her relationship with her teacher (meaning it's not so much an Issue Book as it is a story about this girl's experience). There's some problems with that focus, too. The story is occasionally too melodramatic, and some of the plot points (especially those related to Nine's reactions to events in the story) are really unbelievable or portrayed as less bizarre than they are. That made empathizing with Nine difficult at times, and removed me from the story entirely at others.

Despite its flaws, I enjoyed this book and read it very quickly. I think it's worth reading, as long as you're willing to suspend disbelief now and then at times when you normally shouldn't have to.

This book is truely amazing. The love they share is utterly breath taking. I reccommend it very much! In the beginning it's a little slow. The middle and ending parts kept me guessing each word I read. It's such a powerful book.

This is one of my favorite books, because it lifted me out of the rut of the ordinary teen novel. This was a book I found in a bin for 4 bucks. I was bored and I thought that it would be just another book to take my time to read. The truth is it pulls you into the story. All of the characters are interesting very few were cliche and all of them were rounded.

Some may find the plot "inappropriate" but if you are a mature enough reader, it should be OK, it doesn't urge the reader to jump on the first teacher they see. In fact the story is so smooth and linguistic it makes you forge the age difference of Nine and her teacher.

The only down point is that at a certain point of the novel, Nine's character changes and he plot gets a bit unbelievable at the the end, but Nelson handles it well enough and the reader isn't taken out of the fictional dream. It urges you to read on.

I felt the end was kind of so so compared to the rest. But I don't feel the end is worth forgetting the book,

Overall great book.

To start off, this is one of those books that is so emotionally gripping, you don't stop thinking about it until long after you finally put it down. It's like a melting pot of all the emotions people don't like to feel: anger, pain, sadness...and rarely happiness.

Of course, although this is a beautifully written, somewhat haunting book, I was a bit hesitant to read it at first, because of the taboo relationship between teacher and student. However, I put aside any reluctance I had and picked up a copy. And I was so pleased that I had.

It's an intriguing, inspiring work thats's so well-written, it makes it feel like the story is happening to YOU. What surprised me the most was that after I researched more about the author, it turns out...R.A. Nelson is a MAN. Now, I don't know if not knowing was just me being ignorant, but I was stunned that he could write the emotions of a pubescent girl so well while never experiencing them first-hand!

This book was also filled with witticisms. Sometimes, they were a bit hard to understand, but others mentioned hit me right atop the head and made me laugh in appreciation. I had never read such an interestingly-written book before. Perhaps the most absorbing arc was what happened to the main character, Nine, after the relationship unraveled.

After all, as playwright William Congreve once said, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

This book was quite an intriguing read. It was smart. It was funny. It was unique. I would be lying if I said it was an entirely unpleasant experience.

However, I caught myself rolling my eyes a great deal while reading this book. The unique language and style often morphed into a poor gimmick during crucial points of the plot, masking the lack of depth in the characters and the situation. The book itself is highly aggresive and melodramatic, rarely slowing down to give any insight whatsoever. The plot drops off halfway through the book, opting for the hackneyed revenge arc of a scorned woman instead of exploring realistic repercussions of the characters' actions. The book concludes without any real lesson learned, loose strings tied together in an appropriately clichéd way.

Overall, an interesting but highly sensationalized read. I'd consider it little more than fanciful entertainment.

. . . . . . before you start this absorbing, intelligent, funny, scary, infuriating and thought-provoking read by newcomer R.A. Nelson. It is one of those books you will not want anything to get in the way of you finishing. There is a ton of plot here, but most memorably there is Nine, a super smart girl who makes one dumb mistake after another, learning the hard way that even those "top-heavy in the sciences" can be blindsided by good poetry. Nelson has drawn her so vividly, don't be embarassed if you start yelling at her to stop what she's doing. I did.

I loved this from the very beginning. Personal experiences made me look into the book to begin with but everything the author writes comes from a real place and the story definitely takes an extreme point of view on the subject.

I've read so many novels about student/teacher relationships, so I was a little skeptical about this one, but I just after the first chapter, I knew it was going to be different.

The entire story is told through Carolina`s, or Nine as she's nicknamed, point of view. She's probably one of the most unique and different characters I've ever read. Her thoughts aren't ever really focused on one thing. She's what you call a scatter-brain, but it works very well. Her story is full of completely off-topic ramblings, but it only makes her character much more entertaining to read.

It was one of those stories where I got so wrapped up that I'd actually start to feel. For example, when Mr. Mann, Nine's dreamy new poetry teacher, breaks up with her out of the blue, my chest literally throbbed for Nine. Another reason Nine was so different to read about- she didn't sit down and take it. After awhile, Nine's love and heartbreak for Mr. Mann turned into a full obsession. He hadn't given her an excuse for breaking her heart, and she won't stop until she gets one.

This isn't the story of a student/teacher relationship and how it came to be. This is a story about the aftermath of such. Though I felt some negativity towards both of the main characters, Nine and Mr. Mann, the book left me in a content with them, and their relationship.

It's not recent, but I definitely recommend it. I can guarantee you that it's the most diverse student/teacher story you'll ever read about, and it'll probably become your favorite as well!