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Peeking Between the Pages

Peeking Between the Pages

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Seeing Pink by Erin O’Rourke

August 27, 2008 by Darlene


Seeing Pink is about a group of ladies who have followed the rules their whole lives and are at the point of wondering where exactly that has gotten them. What follows this realization is a new world for them and of taking risks that they never would have dreamed of before and that takes them on a dangerous journey to a place that they may not be able to come back from.

The women is this novel: Jo, Tam, Lucy, Nin and Hannah are very likeable characters. I’d grown to really care about their lives throughout the book. These women become very angry over repeated acts of abuse and women just not being treated right by their men. They become so angry, in fact, that they get themselves some pink robes and hoods and step forth into the role of exacting revenge on some of these people. In the beginning, their acts are like a release for them, it makes them feel free and like they’re making an effort to do something in a world that doesn’t make sense to them anymore. However, eventually, they get carried away after their friend Penelope is beaten badly and they accidentally kill a man. I don’t believe they ever intended to do this but the situation escalated to a point where there was no turning back.

Meanwhile, the whole country is going crazy over this ‘pinking’ as it’s being called. Women’s right’s groups are showing up and protests are going on all over. This takes some of the heat off of the women after they kill this man as everyone assumes it must have been someone from these groups. However, the women have left behind clues-important clues-and this is one mistake that they won’t be able to take back and will have to account for in some way.

This novel for me hit a few emotional chords. Abuse is a topic that will always spark a reaction in me for personal reasons and I think that was part of the reason I really liked the book. I don’t believe that violence is the way of solving anything but at the same time it was nice to see women taking a stand for what they believed in, especially women who had always played by the rules and taken things as they were dealt them.

For me this story was about these women trying to change things but not likely in the right way as a man lost his life. You may say he deserved it, but do we really know for sure when we take violent actions, that we are doing the right thing. These women were able to finally take a good look at themselves-into their deepest feelings-and do something about the things that made them angry. They were tired of being quiet and taking things as they came. I only wish they had taken a different route in getting things done as I really did grow to care about these characters and this novel takes a few twists towards the end that will leave you feeling sad and yet hopeful.

This book is described as ‘daring and unique’ on the back cover. I agree. It is a daring novel in it’s story but also one that I think is a good one to tell. It will hit a chord with anyone who has ever experienced abuse or with anyone who has ever thought, ‘why do I take it everyday?’. For me, I really enjoyed the novel and had a hard time putting it down. I won’t say whether I’d recommend it or not because I think this would be a personal choice for each individual. I will however say that I think it’s a good book and brings to light the fact that things like abuse or domestic oppression shouldn’t be ignored-silence doesn’t help anyone, often it only leads to more trouble.

Thanks to J.Kaye over at J. Kaye’s Book Blog for the opportunity to review this novel. It was well worth the read for me.

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Comments

  1. J. Kaye Oldner says

    August 27, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    What a great review! Thank you, thank you, and thank you some more!

  2. Laura says

    August 27, 2008 at 11:47 pm

    When I was reading your review, I kept picturing the older women from the Ya Ya sisterhood movie, even though the stories are very different! What time period is the setting of this book?

  3. Mary says

    August 28, 2008 at 12:43 am

    Great review, Dar. Probably would be a good pick for a book group.

  4. Dar says

    August 28, 2008 at 2:17 am

    J.Kaye, it’s easy to write a good review when you liked the book. lol. Thanks again.

    I never even thought about them Laura but yes, definitely a group of women with a connection such as the Ya Ya’s but this takes place in today’s time period.

    Mary, this would absolutely make a good book club selection in that I think it would spark a few heated discussions.

  5. Shana says

    August 28, 2008 at 2:21 am

    Dar, great review, very heartfelt. This sounds like a thought-provoking book.

    I really like books about women sticking together and standing up to oppression, abuse, etc. Songs too, like Earl’s Gotta Die by the Dixie Chicks. I’ve always liked the female solidarity aspect of that song.

  6. Dar says

    August 28, 2008 at 2:49 am

    Thanks Shana and I’m totally with you on loving that song. It had been banned here for a while but then they started playing it again. I really loved the friendship that these women shared-it was so unbelievably strong.

  7. Joy says

    August 28, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    I’m not sure if I have an interest in this book, but you articulated your thoughts very well. I will give it more consideration. Thanks!

  8. Tracee says

    August 28, 2008 at 5:45 pm

    This sounds like a great book…great review!

  9. Dar says

    August 29, 2008 at 1:16 am

    Thanks Tracee.

    Thanks Joy, yes I think this book is really one of a personal choice. You either like to read books like this or don’t. There really isn’t an inbetween.

  10. Colleen says

    September 3, 2008 at 12:17 am

    I really enjoyed your review. This book just sounds so interesting. I agree with others; this could be a great pick for a book group.
    Have you read the novel Out by Natsuo Kirino? It is incredibly distrubing and violent, but it is about women banding together as well. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite book, but the theme of women going against the abuse that has brought them down seems like it appears in Seeing Pink as well.

  11. Dar says

    September 3, 2008 at 1:31 am

    Thanks Colleen. I haven’t read Out but I’m going to go check it out in a second. It sounds like a novel I’d be interested in for sure. I’ll be having a giveaway for Seeing Pink one day soon.

  12. As the Pages Turn says

    September 3, 2008 at 6:33 am

    Wow, now this sounds like a really interesting read. Great review!

  13. Dar says

    September 3, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    As the Pages Turn, thanks! It really was a good read for me. Thanks for stopping by-hope you do again.

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