Dawn by Kevin Brooks

Published:November 1st 2010

Pages: 272
Format: Paperback (New)
Stars: ★ ★ ★ 


Magical realism and gritty mystery meet in Brooks's provocative dissection of family, friendship, and faith.

Dawn Bundy lives in a cave. In her head. Where she's been hiding for two years. Hiding behind headphones. From the two hottest girls at school, in their impossibly short skirts and unbearably tight tops, their skin close enough to touch. Not talking to her mother, not about what matters. Not thinking of her dad, the drug addict, the ex-con, born-again but far gone. Two years is a long time. Enough for the cave to grow so small that her breath feels like stone in her throat. Two years is no time at all. Nowhere near enough to forget. To pretend that nothing happened. Deep one perfect morning.


I've been a fan of Kevin Brooks since I was about 14 years old (give or take a year or two) and I love most of the books that I've read by him but I have to say, Dawn is by far my least favorite by Brooks so far. While I could somewhat relate to Dawn, I just really feel like this book was lacking a real solid plot and there was NO character development whatsoever. Yes it was a tragic book but at the same time, it's something that I feel can and will be easily forgotten after reading. So if you want to try out a Kevin Brooks' book, I would not recommend starting with Dawn. I personally recommend Lucas which was my first and still my favorite book by Brooks so far.

John Belushi Is Dead by Kathy Charles

Published: August 24th 2010
Pages: 320
Format: PaperBack (New)

Stars: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★


IN THE END WE ALL FADE TO BLACK.

Pink-haired Hilda and oddball loner Benji are not your typical teenagers. Instead of going to parties or hanging out at the mall, they comb the city streets and suburban culs-de-sac of Los Angeles for sites of celebrity murder and suicide. Bound by their interest in the macabre, Hilda and Benji neglect their schoolwork and their social lives in favor of prowling the most notorious crime scenes in Hollywood history and collecting odd mementos of celebrity death.

Hilda and Benji’s morbid pastime takes an unexpected turn when they meet Hank, the elderly, reclusive tenant of a dilapidated Echo Park apartment where a silent movie star once stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors. Hilda feels a strange connection with Hank and comes to care deeply for her paranoid new friend as they watch old movies together and chat the sweltering afternoons away. But when Hank’s downstairs neighbor Jake, a handsome screenwriter, inserts himself into the equation and begins to hint at Hank’s terrible secrets, Hilda must decide what it is she’s come to Echo Park searching for . . . and whether her fascination with death is worth missing out on life.

I saw someone do a haul featuring this book a few months ago on Youtube. It seemed like a book that was just my taste and fairly easy/quick read. I was exactly right. I could totally relate to Hilda in a lot of ways and the characters were great. Also very believable. It's a very touching story that deals with a lot of death but really, it's a book all about living. So if you think this is a book you'd enjoy, make sure to give it a try. If you are thinking about it reading it but aren't sure, do it.