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Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about Alicia Erian's TOWELHEAD.
Deb1teach@aol.com
What other authors do you read?
I read a variety of authors and genres. I read Danielle Steel, Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, Greg Iles, F. Paul Wilson, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Fannie Flagg, Kristin Hannah and many children and teen authors.
What did you think of TOWELHEAD?
TOWELHEADwas a very unusual read. Even though I thought thirteen-year-old Jasira's sexual thoughts were unusual to read about, I found that I couldn't put the book down. She is a teenager looking for something in adult men that she cannot get from her father. She wants love and attention so badly that she looks to anybody who will give her attention in any way possible. I found the racism in the book to be blunt, but honest. I found the book compelling to finish.
Would you ever read a future book by Alicia Erian?
I would read a future book.
informationwiz@yahoo.com
What other authors do you read?
I also read Augusten Burroughs, Nora Ephron, Z. Z. Packer and Joyce Maynard.
What did you think of TOWELHEAD?
I really enjoyed TOWELHEAD. To me, it was a powerful coming-of-age tale combined with the sexual awakening of a young half-Lebanese girl in Texas. While the book's explorations of shifts in power and intimacy in burgeoning relationships is universal, Jasira also faces discrimination and ignorance as well as being alienated from her family as well as from an American or international community.
She is very much placed in the middle of her divorced parents' fighting, and seeks out female closeness with a pregnant neighbor. Everyone seems to tell Jasira not to be too much: not too outspoken, attractive, desirable, tempting or needy.
Would you ever read a future book by Alicia Erian?
I would definitely read a future book by Alicia Erian.
JCoop2Sew@aol.com
What other authors do you read?
I read a wide variety of authors from Tony Hillerman to Margaret Atwood to Alexander McCall Smith. I can't produce a short list.
What did you think of TOWELHEAD?
TOWELHEAD was an interesting story with an appealing protagonist. As a grandmother, a college instructor and part of the leading edge of the "Baby Boom" generation, my point of view may be skewed, but the characters felt real to me. The most real point was the way in which adults made pronouncements without explanations and followed with "do you understand?" I find that people in general are prone to that style of communication. How confusing for youngsters, who have little experience with the world, to decode the requirements of society.
Jasira and her parents had many of the same needs [to be loved, given attention, valued] and were universally unable to meet the needs of the others. The idea that family is where you find it and friends can be the support you need, is well-developed in this story, leading to a hopeful conclusion.
Would you ever read a future book by Alicia Erian?
I would be very likely to read another book by Alicia Erian.
MJWeish@kc.rr.com
What other authors do you read?
I read a variety of authors. Lately, I have read books by Jodi Picoult, Alice McDermott, Alice Hoffman, John Grisham and Chris Bohjalian.
What did you think of TOWELHEAD?
I thought the book was well-written. Alicia Erian is excellent on developing characters. The characters are definitely not flat. There are parts you like them and then there are parts you want to strangle them. Even Mr. Vascuso is likable in the book at different times. I did think there were a lot of dysfunctional characters for one book.
Would you read any future books by Alicia Erian?
I would probably try another book by her.
blufairy@webtv.net
What did you think of TOWELHEAD?
I read the book and found it to be slow, jumpy and seemed to be written by a high school student with not much writing ability. I did not care for the book --- it just seemed too into herself and enough going on with anyone else. Her lack of expressionism seemed to befall the characters, but then again, I am not a professional writer so I could be wrong. In my opinion, I really did not care for the book but I may read something again from her if given the chance. Who knows, her next one could be a bestseller.
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