Monday, January 14, 2013

My Beautiful Failure GIVEAWAY!!

Seems like a good time for a giveaway....
Up for grabs is a book I just read and reviewed-
My Beautiful Failure By Janet  R. Young
This ARC was sent to me by Simon and Schuster and I  have their permission to pass it along.
Summary taken from Goodreads-A haunting account of a teen boy who volunteers at a suicide hotline and falls for a troubled caller. Billy is a sophomore in high school, and twice a week, he volunteers at Listeners, a suicide hotline.
Jenney is an “incoming,” a caller, a girl on the brink.
As her life spirals out of control, Jenney’s calls become more desperate, more frequent. Billy, struggling with the deteriorating relationship with his depressed father, is the only one who understands. Through her pain, he sees hope. Through her tears, he feels her heart. And through her despair, he finds love. But is that enough?
GIVAWAY RULES**
1. Please enter contact information in comment section.
2. This giveaway runs from January 14th to February 1st.
A winner will be selected on February 2.
3. You must be 13 years or older to participate.
4. If you are selected as the winner, you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.
5. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Book Review -MY BEAUTIFUL FAILURE

MY BEAUTIFUL FAILURE
By Janet R. Young
2012
320 Pages
Summary taken from Goodreads-
A haunting account of a teen boy who volunteers at a suicide hotline and falls for a troubled caller. Billy is a sophomore in high school, and twice a week, he volunteers at Listeners, a suicide hotline.
Jenney is an “incoming,” a caller, a girl on the brink.
As her life spirals out of control, Jenney’s calls become more desperate, more frequent. Billy, struggling with the deteriorating relationship with his depressed father, is the only one who understands. Through her pain, he sees hope. Through her tears, he feels her heart. And through her despair, he finds love. But is that enough?
My Thoughts-
My Beautiful Failure is heartbreaking and haunting. This story doesn't hold back-the issues of depression and suicide are in your face-raw and emotional.
We first met the Morrison family in The Opposite Of Music where the mental breakdown of of Bill Morrison happens. My Beautiful Failure picks up the story about a year later.
Sixteen year old Bill Jr. (Billy) and his family are still recovering from the aftermath of Bill's breakdown.
Billy, the main character is still in care-taking mode and worries endlessly about his dad. When his father, an artist decides to start painting again it drives a wedge between the two of them. The thought of his father failing or worse being unable to handle failure gnaws at Billy constantly.
Billys' best friend Gordon suggests that Billy volunteer at a suicide prevention center to help him focus on something other than his dad and because of his experience dealing with his dad's depression. The job seems perfect for Billy until he goes against the hotline rules and starts to take a personal interest in frequent caller, Jenney.
Billy is my favorite character because he's so hard to love. I completely connected with his fears and worries. He's had to grow up very quickly during the past year, shouldering the responsibility of his father's depression as well as go to school and look after his mother and little sister.
 It tells the story of how the entire family is affected by depression. It's now been about two weeks and the characters are still fresh in my mind along with the emotions I felt after completing this story.
My Beautiful Failure stays with you long after it's finished.
My thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending me this ARC and giving me the opportunity to read and review it.