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Ooooh, that would make a great bookshelf! It could sit right next to "Go Ask Alice."

if you never grew up poor, black and female in a dysfunctional family, or even a woman that has experienced rape/sexual assualt, then it is easy to write this off as a bad, uncomfortable novel.

trust... precious' experience is, unfortunately, not uncommon.

i actually found a great deal of power in the novel - not so much "exploitation of human suffering." if precious could survive all of this and become empowered with a positive outlook on life, then i feel like there is a lot of hope for a lot of women who have shared simliar struggles.

Uh, the baby didn't have AIDS. It specifically said that neither of Precious's children were infected with the virus.

Also, your chronology is mixed up here -- her first baby had Downs Syndrome, not the second.

Sorry, I guess I didn't devote enough energy to remembering the details of a book I utterly detested.

Chris. Woah. I mean if it was Samuael Delaney's HOGG or some other book that's really trying to push the comfort zone, I could understand your protestations of emotional manipulation here. But the plot in PUSH is not contrivance. Every one of those real, messed up things happens to women and girls every day. And believing that all of them in succession would happen to a poor and uneducated girl of color born into a cycle of ignorance, poverty and incest is not a stretch at all... not at all.

I found your comment so trite. It's like 6th grade wit. You are complaining about the contrivance of the book. A book completely based on a true story by the way. We live in a world of baby rape and incest and abuse and horrible things happening to young girls all the time. It really sucks. For the record, I don't think "old fashioned" is the right terminology for chosen denial and selective sight.

I am sorry -- you are right, my review was somewhat trite. I disliked this book so much that I find it hard not to be glib, but you are correct to call me on it, as it is not fair. Not that I feel any need to be fair to "Push", but the topic of child abuse and my fellow readers deserve better.

My real problem with the book is that it is badly written. I have read (and enjoyed) many books, non-fiction, memoir and fiction, which deal with the "real, messed up things" that happen in this world every day. Child abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and the horrible experiences that young girls and boys, both of color and white, experience are truly horrific and are not only suitable topics for books, but obviously should be written about in order for more people to be educated about them.

However, the fact the the book is "based on a true story" does not save it from having to work as a good book. Had it been published as a non-fiction account, I would judge it by one set of standards. It was, however, presented as a novel, and I evaluated it as such. Saphire is a terrible writer, and the fact that she failed to elicit my compassion while writing about such an obviously sympathetic topic only goes to show how terrifically she failed as an author.

I think of this book when I read Richard Wright's afterward to Native Son, in which he tells of how after publishing a book titled Uncle Tom's Children: "I realized I had made an awfully naive mistake. I found that I had written a book which every bankers' daughter could read and weep over and feel good about. I swore to myself that if I ever wrote another book, no one would weep over it; that it would be so hard and deep that they would have to face it without the consolation of tears."

As a public high school teacher in the Bronx, I have many a Precious Jones in my classroom: girls who have been raped by relatives, Freshman who have to miss school to have their second baby, a student who travels two hours to school by subway from the foster home where she was placed by the city, students who have to do their homework at emergency shelters. Each of them has my compassion and my heart - my job kills me a little everyday, even though it is the greatest job in the world.

As I white, middle-class male, I am acutely aware of the fact that I can never truly know the world that many of my students have been unfairly forced to experience, and yet I feel they deserve something more than "Push."

Books that are emotionally manipulative and exploitative incur my strongest feelings of wrath. (And not just books - you couldn't have asked for a more exploitative, or more successfully exploitative, movie than Crash.) Worse than simply being bad, they convince people that being about events that really do occur means that they are untouchable. No reader should feel that a book shouldn't be called out as poorly written, however tragic the subject matter is. And when tragic subject matter is misused to manipulate readers into a false emotional response, the offense is all the greater - against good writing and also against the truth about the tragedies upon which the work is "based."

Chris - it is truth and you speak it. Hooray for you!

fantastic. copping to the triteness in ourselves. a good step. Subject matter aside. I loved this book. I thought it was brave and blunt and I think all my feelings were my own and that I was master of them... admittedly it was many years ago that I read it, but I thought it was fantastic. Dialectically speaking it evoked Zora Neal Hurston and Langston Hughes but in this great dirty urban and modern way. I didn't find it manipulative at all. I found it tragic. And tragedy is not what I want to read every day, but it has it's place. It's a great and immersive book.

Yeah, and chiding a Bronx public school teacher that he just doesn't get it is pretty rich, too.

i loved this book. i thought her voice felt real. i haven't had her same experience but i could relate to her journey of finding her voice and her power... it's been years since i read it too, but i really appreciated this story being out in the world. i like books that make me cry, not out of pity but because i can relate something in myself to the experience of the protagonist and release it. and i liked her poetry.

mulzer? honey. if that isn't the big-snide-pot calling the kettle snide...
oh there I go again... well, yes, there I go. I find this whole thing both trite and snide and my participation in it equally so. Basically, I walked into a snark fest. And snarked back. I am not proud of this. So, Bronx public school teachers, people with time to sit around and write book reviews... people who say that disagreement is patronizing, obnoxious, or chiding...whoever you all are. Thank you and good night.

I'm not sure how "this whole thing is both trite and snide." My last comment was thoughtful, honest, and specific (and I'm pretty sure it came across as such) as were all the comments that followed. No one, not one single person on this thread, has ever accused anyone for being "patronizing, obnoxious or chiding" because they disagreed, only when the tone of their comments were patronizing, obnoxious, or chiding. I admitted my first review was and then stopped - Ida, everything you have written has had a tone of condescension to it.

If you find the act of sitting around and writing book reviews to be overly privileged, self-indulgent, or pointless, I have a simple solution to your problem -- don't do it. No one here thinks they're doing anything special or great, we just like sharing opinions on books. I was enjoying the debate; I found it a valuable practice to try to articulate, in an intelligent, thoughtful manner, why I disliked Push so much rather than merely dismissing it with a wave of my hand and a sarcastic review. If you don't appreciate that (and there's no reason you have to or even should), don't be involved.

I'm sick of people on goodreads -- a web-site whose sole purpose is so that people can share their opinions on books -- who find the act of sharing opinions to be hostile and who feel that holding books up to literary standards is obnoxious. I'm tired of having a meta-debate every time I get involved in a discussion.

If you find the act of criticizing, sharing, and discussing to be a waste of your time, go spend it in a way you find more productive. Otherwise get back to giving me reasons you liked the book.

And with that, I'd like to officially forbid anyone from posting anymore comment that don't directly relate to the book at hand or related literary concepts (authenticity of voice, whether being based on real events changes one's reading, the roll of tragedy and pathos, etc.). If anyone has anything to say to a person on this thread -- myself, Ida, Mulzer, Tracy with her non-sequitur -- please send them a message directly. If you have something else to say about Push, please do so.

excuse me? saphire is a terrible writer? hear the rhythm tone deaf, if you don't feel the heart beating in her words i am so sorry for you.
put this book Push down respectfully and pick up something else. please. now. thank you.

I thought I'd made it clear that I wanted to have a literary discussion, not a condescension fest.

Dusty, if you think Saphire is a wonderful writer, give me some reasons -- perhaps an example, a quote, at least a general description of what she does that you find so compelling and beautiful.

Telling me you feel "sorry" for me falls a bit more in the realm of "pointlessly condescending" rather than intelligent. And explaining that pity with "hear the rhythm tone deaf" is just confusing.

As for putting down Push, I did that years ago.

well i guess i don't know how to have a conversation with someone who gave push one star. that is so off my map. but i will say this: yes hard things happen in this book, very hard things, but it is a book about hope, renewal, change healing. an unbroken spirit despite it all. to get the book you have to feel the rhythm, the syncopated beat time you call "bad writing." saphire's poetry has changed my life. who's writing has changed yours?

Thank you -- your description of the writing actually make me want to look back at the book and see if I missed anything about the style. I remember not liking how it was written, but its been so long I can't really remember. I might still dislike it, but we can at least have the discussion; perhaps we won't understand one another and end up confused (and even disappointed) in one another's taste, but we'll never know without trying.

I'm sorry I can't be more specific as to why I didn't like the writing. Having called on you to give me an example I feel I should do the same, but it's been so long I can't. I will find a copy at the library and see if I can explain (or I realize I was wrong. I'll keep all options open).

As for writing that has changed my life: T.S. Eliot, Gabrial Garcia Marquez, Nabakov, Tolstoy, Gunter Grass, The Beowulf poet, Richard Wright, Italo Calvino, Borges, Malcolm X . . .

I actually liked PUSH (or did when I read it, some years ago when it was first published), but that's partially because I admit to a voyeuristic fondness for some parade-of-horrible literature ("She's Come Undone" being a notable exception) and partially because I liked the narrator's voice. I can certainly see why someone wouldn't care for it, or why people would find it to be overbearing or cloying or manipulative.

Anyway, I know that Chris will be the very first person in line for the movie version of this book, to be produced by Mo'Nique. Ha ha, I slay me.

Marie wrote: "Chris - it is truth and you speak it. Hooray for you!"

This book SUCKS so bad it's beyond words. Yuck. It's disgusting. Th book has no rhythm- it has NOTHING but the word 'breast' said as 'bresses'. Or 'father' like 'fahver'. Yeah- amazing writing right there.
I read A LOT of urban fiction and THIS SUCKS.

Listening to it out audio books and have already said outloud " oMG!"...not sure if it's harder to 'listen' or harder to 'read'... let alone
( Sidebar: Just as soon as i type that last line, I hush, as I know this is someone's experience)

Dusty wrote: "excuse me? saphire is a terrible writer? hear the rhythm tone deaf, if you don't feel the heart beating in her words i am so sorry for you.
put this book Push down respectfully and pick up somethi..."

I threw it too- right to Goodwill. What a disgusting p.o.s.

Vibrarian Chic wrote: "Listening to it out audio books and have already said outloud " oMG!"...not sure if it's harder to 'listen' or harder to 'read'... let alone
( Sidebar: Just as soon as i type that last line, I hus..."

I know "know" this was anyone's experience. It sounded unreal and disgusting to me. I've known plenty of women who have deal with similair/same instance and situations who don't go around using the word "bresses" for breasts. If she wants to be a REAL writer than she should learn how to WRITE. The book is a piece of crap, possibly the biggest p.o.c. I've ever read!

The film doesn't look half bad:



I've read somewhere that the director plays up the dark humor in the book (which I've never finished). I'm thinking about going to see it when it comes out here, even though the Evangelizing Teacher Movie and the Downtrodden Person Who Just Needs A Little Encouragement Movie are two of my most loathed clichés, particularly when they're employed in terms of people of color.

Chris wrote: "I am sorry -- you are right, my review was somewhat trite. I disliked this book so much that I find it hard not to be glib, but you are correct to call me on it, as it is not fair. Not that I fee..." Thank you for what you do every single day as a teacher...you are a hero, and I bet you have a huge impact on the kids you teach. You live this world every day. Loved your review. I'm avoiding this book (and the movie) for the very reasons you stated.

why give a book a 1 star when it doesnt even appear you read the thing? The baby didnt have aids and the first child was the one with Downs soooo, my friend Meaghan was right. I just wanted to add another 2 cents. But hey, you are entitled to your opinion and that is what makes this country of our great!

I am not writing to negate or support any one person's comment. When I first began reading Push, I was a bit confused and disturbed too. My aunt asked me to read it, so I continued. I realized that it is written in a way to help you understand Precious's struggle. For that, I thought it was well written. I appreciated how the spelling became clearer as Precious learned to read and write. It made the story as real as it was. Having dealt with being molested as a child, raped by a cousin, and raped again in college I understood her struggle. What happened to Precious is not just reserved for the poor, uneducated and poverty-stricken because it happens to all women. Perhaps I am biased but I really enjoyed the book.

Oh, Dita. I'm so sorry you had to suffer through all those horrible things. Hugs to you.

I found it offensive and in poor taste too....everyone has their own opinion....and I didn't think this book was "moving" like it was made out to be....i thought it showcased a lack of humanity and explioted utter ignorance

Chris wrote: "Sorry, I guess I didn't devote enough energy to remembering the details of a book I utterly detested."

I agree. I detested this book as well. I didn't need the lowly details involved in the story to be compassionaite for someone who had such a horrible life to be positive and make it through. In fact, I would probably have had more compassion if some of the thoughts were kept in her head and I wasn't made to feel like I had been the subject of the abuse. Still trying to get it out of my mind....

Nichol wrote: "I found it offensive and in poor taste too....everyone has their own opinion....and I didn't think this book was "moving" like it was made out to be....i thought it showcased a lack of humanity and..."

I agree with this as well. I am so glad there are others out there who understand my point of view. So many people loved this book and I can't see why. I've read so many books about abuse and rape and anythign else you can think of that did not make me feel so utterly disgusting. Why would you want people to feel that? So many books out there relay a powerful message with much less shocking horror and still make your veins crawl.

My favorite part about Push was that it is a reality check. The writing style MIMICS the way the illiterate, underprivileged amongst us speak. I didn't view this as poor writing style, I viewed this as incredibly brave.

I work with the indigent population in my state, and believe me this is a portrait of their lives. I am a criminal defense lawyer and I represent the perpetrators of these horrors (please reserve judgment on that, I really hate defending myself about a job I love dearly). To step inside the head of a victim- to hear her thoughts the way she would actually think them- was amazing. This book was amazing.

Thanks for your personal insight, Eliza. I work in an inner city and see the same kinds of things you see, only not as up-close-and-personal.

I still have this book at home and haven't had a chance to read it yet. But I will definitely read it soon.

Chris wrote: "I am sorry -- you are right, my review was somewhat trite. I disliked this book so much that I find it hard not to be glib, but you are correct to call me on it, as it is not fair. Not that I fee..."

I am 3 years late to this discussion but, Chris...I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

While I haven't read the book, I saw the film. And always the movie differs from the book. However, I will say this. It hit close to home. I know what its like to have your own mother be verbally, mentally, and physically abusive towards you and your siblings. My mom tried to kill my brother. I had him placed in foster care. My sister was raped twice. Once by my step-dad at age 13 (I saw that one coming. I even tried to convince her to sleep in my room), and when she was 7 by a cousin who was just released from prison. I was almost raped while living in Germany by 5 teenage boys. I was 8 then. The sad thing on that one was, I knew who they all were. Isn't that what they say, we are often taken advantage of by people who are in a position of trust? Then, my mom almost put me in a coma. She busted my head open with a can. All in all I can appreciate ANY book that shows what life is like. I have read all the books that were written by Dave Pelzer. Remember him? He wrote the books A Child Called It, The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave. Even after he was removed from the home, his brother went through the same things he did. Then his mother lost both kids. So anyone who have never had to endure what so many children have been through or is going through at the moment will never learn to appreciate any book that was written from within the eyes of a person who was emotionally, physically, and sexually abused. This is what life is, this is whats going on behind closed doors. And who is going to tell their story if they don't survive to tell it?

Barbara, I'm so sorry you went through all this abuse. It's so sad the way that children's innocence is taken from them by people who are supposed to keep them safe. I'd give you a comforting hug if you were standing in front of me. I hope you have found a more peaceful life as an adult.

I did read A Child Called It and it was such a painful read I couldn't bring myself to read the others.

Eliza wrote: "My favorite part about Push was that it is a reality check. The writing style MIMICS the way the illiterate, underprivileged amongst us speak. I didn't view this as poor writing style, I viewed t..."

I completely agree with you, I think Sapphire's writing style was a way to connect with Precious. A way to show that she is, in fact, illiterate. And the bluntness, though sometimes hard to swallow is to help us grasp the traumatizing experiences that Precious encountered. That is actually a reason why enjoyed the book; her lack of verbosity relates to the character and her environment; where as in other novels the text is written beautifully and their story is about some downtrod area in NY run by thugs and drug dealers. See my point?

Anytime an author can reach into your soul and put you in the place of the subject, make you feel like YOU are there, then is NOW, and it is REAL .... then the author has accomplished their task.

Wish I had read your review before I read the book. I didn't like the book, but forced myself to finish it, in the hopes that it would get better. It didn't.

I don't mean my comment to be offensive, but I am not surprised that a white male who may (or may not) have grown up with loving parents and money would not connect with the book, or believe that so many terrible things could happen to one person.

I find the book and the story entirely plausible. What I found less plausible was that there would be a school that helped. I did find it a little less possible that a girl could make it all the way to 16 without being able to even recognize numbers. I think if you just sat in the most basic classroom and didn't pay any attention at all, you'd at least walk away with your ABCs and 123s, even if you didn't really understand how to use them properly, but I'm willing to concede that I could be wrong.

I did find it a little - unrealistic - to think that each girl in the school has been molested, but then I think back to the fact that there was criteria for entry into the school. We're never told what that criteria is, so...that could be part of it.

At any rate, maybe you just don't have the exposure to the reality of life in Harlem from the perspective of a young, black female.

Nevertheless, one is entitled to one's opinion, and certainly, there are books I didn't like, just because the subject matter was unappealing.

yeah we should stop exploiting the jews too with all those museums and monuments...human misery is a fact of life that people should be aware of. Anyway it was a book not an amusement park or a lunch box.

For those who are interested, Sapphire, herself, is an incest survivor, and she was a teacher in a program very much like the Each One Teach One program in her book. In interviews she has said that the things that happen to Precious in the book are all things that have happened to her students. Push is not about gawking at bad things happening to poor people...it is about listening to the voices of people like Precious...marginalized people whose experiences we deem "too depressing", whose triumphs do not look like ours because we move in a bubble of privilege. Push ends with excerpts from the students' own writing because, in the end, it is about these women finding their voices. It's about power of the written word to give power to the oppressed.
Whether you thought the book achieved that or not is a matter of opinion. But it's hard for me to believe that someone could read this book and not know that this was the intent.

To each his own...you didn't like the book, and that's fine. I thought it was honest and beautifully written.

I know "know" this was anyone's experience. It sounded unreal and disgusting to me. I've known plenty of women who have deal with similair/same instance and situations who don't go around using the word "bresses" for breasts. If she wants to be a REAL writer than she should learn how to WRITE. The book is a piece of crap, possibly the biggest p.o.c. I've ever read!

She was illiterate. She wouldn't know the right words.

Oh, I am so glad that there is somebody out there who refuses to be bien pensant about this book, and calls exploitation exploitation. Thanks for the Richard Wright quote.

I agree. This book was too much. I am not a prude and I teach in a rough area. It was just blah.

did you even read it?? The baby didnt get aids,and the second baby didnt have down syndrome. These stories might frustrate you,but for those of us that have come from similar backgrounds,or deal with the after effects while fostering these damaged children ,it is a powerful message to those still trapped,that there is always hope and a chance to have a better life. The last baby I fostered was shaken to an inch of his life. His life has changed forever,not just because he is severly disabled needing 24hr care,but because he got out of that cycle of violence and has a chance to be seen outside of gang life. People can not know what it is like,unless they have lived in those situations.
I came from a background that should have dragged me down,but instead It gave me strenght to help children who have come from the same.

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Thanks for the spoilers

Chris' comments are fantastic wow. Way to keep up a calm, content-driven discussion with people who are just trying to dig at you!