Gantos, Jack. The love curse of the Rumbaughs.GANTOS, Jack. The love curse of the Rumbaughs. Read by Lisa Datz. 4 cds. 4.75 hrs. Listening Library. 2006.0-7393-3559-6. $38.00. Vinyl; plot, author, reader notes. S From the review of the book in KLIATT, May 2006: "Young Ivy, the protagonist and narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. , is part of a lineage LINEAGE. Properly speaking lineage is the relationship of persons in a direct line; as the grandfather, the father, the son, the grandson, &c. of children who obsessively love their mothers, and since they have taxidermy taxidermy (tăk`sĭdûr'mē), process of skinning, preserving, and mounting vertebrate animals so that they still appear lifelike. skills ... well, the results are inevitable. Ivy goes through her teenage years in stages of shock and finally acceptance of this unique family practice as her own beloved mother dies. Although beautifully, almost lyrically written the story is unappealing since it deals with societal misfits who do weird things for bizarre reasons. Perhaps morbid morbid /mor·bid/ (mor´bid) 1. pertaining to, affected with, or inducing disease; diseased. 2. unhealthy or unwholesome. 3. teenagers will find the black humor black humor, in literature, drama, and film, grotesque or morbid humor used to express the absurdity, insensitivity, paradox, and cruelty of the modern world. Ordinary characters or situations are usually exaggerated far beyond the limits of normal satire or irony. fun, or possibly the story could spark a good classroom discussion on societal mores." Datz brings to life the morbid fascination Ivy has with both the curse and the practice of taxidermy as a way to keep alive the unconditional and disconcerting dis·con·cert tr.v. dis·con·cert·ed, dis·con·cert·ing, dis·con·certs 1. To upset the self-possession of; ruffle. See Synonyms at embarrass. 2. love she has for her mother. Listeners will experience a skin-crawling sensation as Ivy discovers that, try as she might, her fate is undeniable and unavoidable. An uncomfortable and twisted listening experience that is sure to appeal to those who are themselves fascinated with looking more deeply into the darker side of extreme emotions and attachments to others. While this story is not for everyone, Datz's narration is disturbingly realistic and the audio is one that will stay with listeners long after they hit the stop button. Stephanie Squicciarini, Teen Svcs. Libn., Fairport PL, Fairport, NY S--Recommended for senior high school students. |
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