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Testimony by Anita Shreve
October 23rd, 2008
I’ve read a few of Anita Shreve’s novels and liked them. Testimony was no different. It’s a very powerful story that grabs your attention from the beginning and keeps you hooked to the end.
The beginning of the novel introduces us to a devastating videotape that involves two boys 18 years old, one boy 19 years old and a very young girl, aged 14. The tape shows them involved in very explicit sexual acts. They are all very clearly drunk. This tape ends up falling into the headmaster’s hands and he scrambles to keep it contained within the Academy’s walls. However, this doesn’t happen and from that point on everything spirals out of control.
The story is told in the form of testimony, hence the title of the book. This testimony comes from several different people from the man who sold alcohol to teens to the cafeteria staff and to those more intimately involved and finally on to those who committed the offense.
The boys involved all played on the school basketball team and were all very talented. They were to go on to college. They all came from decent enough homes. So this brings us to the question of how does this kind of thing happen? Is it something inherently wrong with the boys? Is it their upbringing? Or, was it instigated by the young girl as there will always be people who question this?
I felt of all the characters Silas truly felt disgusted with himself over what had happened. He couldn’t come to terms with it. His mother Anna and something she does is really a catalyst for all that happens. Not that anything could justify these horrendous acts but it really goes to show us how one act in a person’s life can have devastating effects on others and spiral into one disaster after another for so many others including themselves.
I found one section in the book that has stayed with me so I’d like to share it…
- “A single action can cause a life to veer off in a direction it was never meant to go. Falling in love can do that, you think. And so can a wild party. You marvel at the way each has the power to forever alter an individual’s compass. And it is the knowing that such a thing can so easily happen, as you did not know before, not really, that has fundamentally changed you…” —page 277
The only complaint I would have with this novel is the way it was written in testimony. I didn’t feel as if I really got to connect with anyone enough. That being said it is a gripping story and I read it quickly. Again, the story does contain sexual content and difficult subject matter so for some that may not be appealing. Many thanks to Miriam at Hachette Books for providing me with this novel to read. It was just released on October 21.
You can see other reviews of this novel at these lovely blogs: S. Krishna’s Books, Savvy Verse & Wit and Bermudaonion’s Weblog.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (30)
Ooh, Dar. This was delivered by the UPS man this afternoon – from Miriam at Hachette. I’ll be reading it after my current book. Then I’ll come back and read your review.
I really liked this book, and you’re right, it is very different from her other novels.
I’m reading this now, so I didn’t read your review – other than to see that you enjoyed it. So far, so good for me, too.
Mary and Joy, I can’t wait to see what you think.
Swapna, I meant to link your review and forgot. I’m so bad at remembering that stuff. I’m going to go read yours now as I didn’t before other than to see if you liked the book.
I love the quote you selected. The book really made me think about how one action can affect so many lives.
bermudaonion, isn’t that the truth. It is truly amazing how one incident can spiral so out of control yet we do see it happen all the time in our world now. I need to go back and read your review now too. lol.
This is one of those books that I had my eye on yet I knew nothing about it before this review. I’m not sure I would like the format. I’ll have to check it out.
ah…one more good review for this book. I guess i’ll just have to wait for it to get here in India. I am glad you enjoyed the book.
Another great review. I will be posting a giveaway on Fri and hopefully the review next week. I am so behind with reading:)
i just read another review of this book this week and it disturbed me intensely! i haven’t read any shreve novels though. have you? i might just start off with this one unless someone tells me something different:)
Great review! I love Anita Shreve and am anxiously awaiting my copy!
–Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Dar: I really loved this novel. Its among my favorites from Shreve. The testimony narrative didn’t bother me as much as it bothered other readers, but I find that Shreve is a master at switching POV.
I’ve linked to your review; here’s my link if you are interested:
http://savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com/2008/10/testimony-by-anita-shreve.html
Hi, I am a real fan of Ramya and have seen you post on her blog so I went and checked on yours. I am delighted to see you are a book lover, so am I. I can so understand the love for dog, mine is always near me his name is Oliver.
I read all of Anita Shreve’s novels and am waiting to read this new one. I like all of her books except 2 who’s titles escape me at this moment.
I am adding you to my blogroll
Ti, I wasn’t fond of the format but it still didn’t take away from the premise of the book. I wouldn’t make it a regular practice to read ones written this way but this one was good.
violetcrush, does it take a long time for books to get to India? Sometimes there are books available in the US that aren’t in Canada but thankfully not too many.
Tracy, I’m a bit behind too-no actually a lot behind. lol.
Ramya, if you’re just starting out with Shreve I would recommend The Pilot’s Wife.
Anna, I’ll be looking for your review.
Serena, I’m going back today to read reviews of it and I’ll add them to my post. I meant to do it when I was writing it and forgot. I’m getting old. lol.
Hi Madelaine, thanks for popping by. I too am a fan of Ramya. lol. I love meeting new book lovers and dog lovers. I’m off to check out your blog.
Thanks for the link!
Dar: You are not old! Thanks for the link.
Dar, you’re such a good girl getting this review done in the week the book was released!
I’ll be back to read your review after I finish the book. I’ll be reading it at the very end of October.
Shana
Literarily
Shana, lol. I saw the release date and brought it up to the top of the pile. It’s a fast read-won’t take you any time at all to get it done.
Wow, isn’t that the truth about one action can take your life in a different direction. I like Anita Shreve but I don’t think I have ever read a book written as testimony. It sounds intriguing.
Really? I thought it was the testimony style that made the book really special. Love to read about how others felt about this book. This would have made for an awesome book chat.
J.Kaye, yes it probably would make for a good book club book. I didn’t mind it but for me I still think I would have liked it to be more in book form. It seemed more choppy this way but then that’s just me. Many others, like you, have really liked it done this way.
This is an outstanding review as per your norm Dar. I agree with Shana… “way to go in getting out the review.” I have read three of Shreve’s book. This one sounds different and compelling. Another book to the list. I couldn’t resist reading the review even though I haven’t read it!
Dar, excellent review. I just finished reading the book tonight (couldn’t put it down since I began it this morning!). I’ll post my review in the morning.
Toni, thanks. Because of the way this one is written it’s really a fast read.
Mary, I read it quickly too but again it’s written in such a way that it is easier to do that even though the subject matter is difficult.
This one sounds so good! I won a copy in a contest not too long ago and am really looking forward to reading it. I’ve only read one Anita Shreve novel so far and really enjoyed it. I hope to read much more by this author in the future. Great review, Dar!
Wendy, thanks so much. I’ve read a few of hers and really liked them. I’ll be watching for your review of Testimony.
Too bad about the disconnect. I think that sometimes playing with the narrative can be a good thing, but I can see how this might be distracting and very surface level. Actually kind of sounds like something Picoult might use. I’m so on the fence about Shreve that I can’t decide whether I want to get this one or not. I think I’ve read 4 and have to more on the shelf, so I guess I’ll wait a while. Glad you find this one gripping.
Trish, you’re right. I could definitely see Picoult writing in this manner too. You should try winning the book, there’s a lot of copies out there up for grabs right now. I’ve got mine yet to give away in the future too.
The last Anita Shreve I read was Light on Snow, and I really loved it. This book sounds very interesting to me, and I would love to read it. Thanks for the chance to win!
P.S. I am giving away 6 books to 6 readers at my blog : )
throw my hat in the ring too please…sounds interesting.