Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt.

"A coming of age story that follows the path of one teenager who's close relationship with her Uncle leads to a burgeoning friendship with his "special friend" Toby, after her Uncle's death."

3 Stars

Pros: It was interesting to have the setting be in the mid-late 80s when the AIDS epidemic was ravaging the Country and people didn't know how to react.

Cons: The relationship between June and Finn was a little odd at times/Greta was an obnoxious, self destructive beast through most of the book but aren't all teenagers?

Full Review:

Finn Elbus' dying wish is to paint a portrait of his two nieces, Greta, the talented, pretty, actress and June, the younger, insecure, awkward one. Finn is dying of AIDS, a sickness that the Country is currently attempting to wrap their heads around and most people think that it's being used as a weapon, that people are giving each other AIDS purposely and thus killing them. It shows how close minded people are and always will be.

With the death of her Uncle Finn, June is at a loss. She had a close relationship with him. He was her Godfather and they would spend hours together touring the city of New York. June loved her Uncle, in some ways that were a little creepy at times. But she feels what she feels. At Finn's funeral, there's a man there that Greta points out is the man that killed Finn. It's his "special friend" Toby. He leaves, once he's spotted but a few weeks after the funeral, June receives a tea pot that was Finn's and a note from Toby, asking if he'll meet her. All he wants is to get to know her.

It's a story that's bound to have a slightly sad ending, since Finn had AIDS, Toby has it too and it's already established to the reader that Toby will die. Their friendship at first is strained and awkward, June's not even sure why she goes to meet him. But after awhile, they do become friends. She keeps all of this a secret from her family, since her Mother is convinced that Toby killed Finn and hates the man. It all comes to a head of course and characters show their true selves.

Overall it was an okay read but, the character of June herself and her relationship with her Uncle was a little off putting. I understand, it's more or less supposed to be a coming of age story but, some parts were just a little too off for me. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it. I'm glad I read it but as with a lot of books, I read it and I'm satisfied, no glowing review, no deep loathing, it was just a book that I read and that's about it.

Comments

Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

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Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

“Rick Deckard is a Bounty Hunter who's on the trail of six "Andys" (Androids) who have come to Earth illegally. His job is to track them down and "retire" them. Something he found easy to do until he met her, Rachael Rosen. The Android that does the impossible, passes the "Voight-Kampff" test. The story quickly devolves into a slow, drawn out and frankly boring mystery that was putting me to sleep by the end." ⭐⭐ Pros: I was more interested in comparing it to the film, "Bladerunner."/At first I kind of liked the drab, dreary atmostphere but it soon became soporific. Cons: I had no real idea what was going on with Mercerism/The end there had me blinking in bewilderment, like with Herbert's 29th Dune Book/There was a lot of idle chit-chat while they were in murderous/intense situations, it just seemed odd. Full Review: Rick Deckard, a Bounty Hunter, contracted with the San Francisco Police Department hunts down and retires rogue ...

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King

“The tale of Andy Dufresne and how he served his time at Shawshank prison, as told through the eyes of his friend and fellow inmate, Red. Dark and disturbing but also compulsively readbale. I finished it in 2 days. Also enjoyable is Frank Darabont's 1994 film adaptation, "The Shawshank Redemption." ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pros : Red has a soothing, drawl, making the reading easy and flowing/Since I saw the film first, I couldn't help but compare the book though I was pleased to find that the two were very similar. Cons : Things got a bit rambling a bit at the beginning/Since I saw the film first I couldn't help but compare the book but this ended up not being a con. Full Review: The state of Maine has a prison. Shawshank Redemption. And Red is the guy that can get you things. He also happens to be the only guilty man in Shawshank but that's netiher here nor there. He meets Andy Dufresne for business purposes at first and he finds him to be a calm, cool man and Red likes him i...

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