Sign in with Facebook
Nina's Reviews > Burned
Burned (Burned, #1)
by
by
** spoiler alert **
The format in which the book is written is, to say the least, slightly on the brilliant side. The content was intense and emotional. I love this book, because I hate it. Let me explain why. At first as I read the book I got too cozy with it, I assumed like with so many other books, that this one would end up happy, that somehow the main character would get out of her own personal hell and have a better life. I was in for a bitter and harsh awakening.
The further I got into the book the more upset I got, how could people betray anyone the way that these characters betrayed Pattyn (main character). How could a community allow that kind of abuse. Then it hit me. This is real.
In a way, the context is a bit misconstrued, a lot of people got upset over the fact that it misrepresented a Mormon community. A few months after reading it I was able to step back from the book and see that this book was not focused on it being a Mormon community. It was part of the lifestyle and description but being Mormon wasn't the focus. People had misinterpreted it. What it's really saying is "If this can happen in such a supposed tight knit community, it must happen anywhere". Of course some of the details in the book seem a bit extreme but that's more likely for entertainment purposes, to keep the reader in it. Abuse happens in every culture. Even the ones that think themselves far too refined for such a thing.
Now back to why I fell in love with hating it. It's the kind of book that makes you so emotional and upset that even after you've read the ending, even after you've gotten the roughest blow to the gut, you go back and read the ending over and over again hoping you missed something, hoping you might find something that says "hey it's ok" but it doesn't because life isn't always pretty and it doesn't always end up ok. I found that really damn depressing, but if a book can make me so angry I throw it against a wall, it's a damn good book. The purpose of literature is to incite emotion, to make you either hate or love the characters, and if you're really lucky, you'll find a book that does both. This is really one of those books, but I don't suggest reading it unless you've taken your Xanax for the day. You're going to need it.
The further I got into the book the more upset I got, how could people betray anyone the way that these characters betrayed Pattyn (main character). How could a community allow that kind of abuse. Then it hit me. This is real.
In a way, the context is a bit misconstrued, a lot of people got upset over the fact that it misrepresented a Mormon community. A few months after reading it I was able to step back from the book and see that this book was not focused on it being a Mormon community. It was part of the lifestyle and description but being Mormon wasn't the focus. People had misinterpreted it. What it's really saying is "If this can happen in such a supposed tight knit community, it must happen anywhere". Of course some of the details in the book seem a bit extreme but that's more likely for entertainment purposes, to keep the reader in it. Abuse happens in every culture. Even the ones that think themselves far too refined for such a thing.
Now back to why I fell in love with hating it. It's the kind of book that makes you so emotional and upset that even after you've read the ending, even after you've gotten the roughest blow to the gut, you go back and read the ending over and over again hoping you missed something, hoping you might find something that says "hey it's ok" but it doesn't because life isn't always pretty and it doesn't always end up ok. I found that really damn depressing, but if a book can make me so angry I throw it against a wall, it's a damn good book. The purpose of literature is to incite emotion, to make you either hate or love the characters, and if you're really lucky, you'll find a book that does both. This is really one of those books, but I don't suggest reading it unless you've taken your Xanax for the day. You're going to need it.
Sign into 欧宝娱乐 to see if any of your friends have read
Burned.
Sign In 禄
Reading Progress
Started Reading
August 1, 2006
–
Finished Reading
June 22, 2007
– Shelved
June 22, 2007
– Shelved as:
reality-bites
Comments Showing 1-21 of 21 (21 new)
date
newest »
newest »
Very well written and well thought out review, Nina. Thanks!
I completely agree, many people don't understand what I mean when I say "I loved that book because I hated it". I love when a book or a character can get such a strong reaction out of me.
i agree with your review and feel the same way!
I know what you mean to i think you said what i couldn't have said but realy want to. When i read this reveirew you wrote i was blown away like their was another me. I'm with you on the ending of the book. I got too confy and it the next thing i knew it gave me a heart ack. It hit me real hard. Great book though.
I love this book and hate it as well. I hate what happens to Patty, I can't stand it. I want to help her, I want to save her. I want everything to be ok for her. But I want to read about the horrible things that happen to her. I love the ending even though I could feel exactly how she did. I would never change a thing about his book. Even though it was terrible, I wanted her life
i agree completely! i loved it, but at the same time i hated it.
I agree with you all the way. In your words I love his book because I hate it.
About the Mormon thing- about 90% of the non-Mormons that talk about the Mormon religion are totally wrong about whatever it is that they say. I would know. I'm Mormon. I'm just sayin'. Lots of people say things about it that are TOTALLY wrong. It causes a lot of prejudices and rumors and all kinds of nasty misperceptions. So if you want to know anything REAL about Mormons, ask a Mormon. Don't even Google it.
Hannah C. wrote: "About the Mormon thing- about 90% of the non-Mormons that talk about the Mormon religion are totally wrong about whatever it is that they say. I would know. I'm Mormon. I'm just sayin'. Lots of peo..."While I can certainly agree that there are misconceptions about the Mormon community, and the way it is often depicted by the media is a very skewed and erroneous vision of what might really and truly be there, your response doesn't really target the message that this review wants to convey, and instead comes off as a bit accusatory and aggressive. I don't think that any religion should always be viewed by its negative interpretations from people far outside of the equation, but I feel as though in this case, you only saw 2 sentences of the post and felt emotionally attached to a context that has been placed on the term "Mormon" by a larger society of people willing to disregard it. I am not one of those people. Feel free to comment on any of my reviews, but please maintain a sense of cordiality and a healthy perspective. Keep in mind that your faith has some beautiful aspects to it, and that sadly, some people, even within that faith, taint its actual meaning and intention.
Do not carry the burdens that others toss on you as if they are your own stones. Every religion has a crazy zealot, and every race. It's a matter of maintaining perspective and proving others wrong by showing your side of reality without resorting to defensiveness and aggression. Your point comes out a lot better if it doesn't look like you're taking everything right through the heart.
I hope this didn't offend but its the best I could do on no sleep and at 8am.
I as well really enjoyed the way it was written , the set up of each page made it really enjoyable to read. Though I am not mormon or know much about the mormon religion i agree that the fact that she is mormon is not the focus of the book, I liked to think of it as a way of showing you need to fight and work hard to find who you are and your future is not made for you, it is what you make of it. Pattyn really struggled with finding herself and no one, especially her family, gave her room to grow and find what she wanted. They seemed to always have a plan for her, and depended on her when she should have been spending her time being a teenager and having fun, which she finally got to do when they sent her to be with Aunt J. One thing that really broke my heart was how alone she felt after her boyfriend and unborn son died, she had no where to turn, and the one person who took her as she was was ripped away from her. This book is so hard to love for all of the hard topics it covers, abuse, loss of direction, being exiled, love and loss. I cannot wait to read more of Ellen Hopkins writing.
The formatting was brilliant. I believe all Ellen Hopkins books' are amazing. I love how they are written; there's clever writting. You can cleary see she spent time and dedication towards her books. This is how writers should be. I loved every piece of this master piece!
Couldn't have put it better myself. And Xanax. Good one lol.
You summed up my exact thoughts on this book.
I agree with how much this book gets depressing as you read it, the feelings that you get while reading it are crazy. I have never been so emotional over a book in my life. Life isn't always all happy and beautiful. It has its moments, but in the end it all gets crushed. I thought everything was going to be better, and that everything was going to turn out in a happy ending. The ending left me empty and wandering. It was a feeling I've never felt before because of a book. This book is amazing at showing vivid and emotional feelings.
this was the first ellen hopkins book i read and i was hooked. i know picking up any one of her other stories is going to involve a rollercoaster of emotions that likey wont end nicely but its so raw. unlike many of the other options available.
I am sitting here after just finishing the book... and I feel exactly the same way. I am shocked. I am aching. I am FURIOUS... for all the right reasons. What a fantastic book. Also... as a side note, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called Mormons), and this character has every reason to feel the way she did in her specific situation because while I know of the beauty and love and goodness of my own experience with the church, I also know of the tainted experiences that others like Pattyn have suffered by people who twisted and the church as a weapon. There are abusers everywhere. And to be honest... Ellen Hopkins picked a church that works really well for this scenario. Because if you take the beliefs and culture and demonize them, this story is absolutely plausible. It sucks, but I can鈥檛 deny it.
I really really want to read this book but I wished your comment on the ending would've been hidden. I hate knowing that a book ends bad, before I've read it. I'm not sure I will read it now.
Trust me, Mormon culture creates people who can easily be abused and people who would rather betray their closest friend than do anything Even slightly against what the leaders say. It makes me sick.
my sentiments exactly