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sionna's review
3.0
Issues: Suicide, forced to watch suicide, incest-rape, statutory rape, gang rape, teen pregnancy, motorcycle accident->paraplegic, drug abuse
This book is very issue-driven, yet at the same time is not because the author does mention how doing the right thing is not always possible. So, calling this book an issue-book may not be correct. Either way, this is not one I would recommend to adults, or even often to teens, but their may be some teens out there who will find comfort from this text.
This is a character-driven book. Dillon is the one this book mainly revolves around, even though Jen is the one currently in crisis. Dillon and Jen are both characters that have needed to grow up fast, Jen more so than Dillon, and try to run their own lives, but their emotions and answers to problems are still very teen. It was a good blend. We are told, in detail, about the characters, especially Dillon in his long letters to his dead brother, Preston. There is no confusing the main characters, nor the significant side-characters. They are written well.
Because this book is character focused, there is not quite a plot here, unless is it Dillon fixing a problem, being the hero, and in turn fixing his own problem. All in all, I thought it was quite dry. This book is over 20 years old though, so at the time, this may have been a good book, but now with many other books on the subject and on teen life written out, it has lost its appeal.
This book is very issue-driven, yet at the same time is not because the author does mention how doing the right thing is not always possible. So, calling this book an issue-book may not be correct. Either way, this is not one I would recommend to adults, or even often to teens, but their may be some teens out there who will find comfort from this text.
This is a character-driven book. Dillon is the one this book mainly revolves around, even though Jen is the one currently in crisis. Dillon and Jen are both characters that have needed to grow up fast, Jen more so than Dillon, and try to run their own lives, but their emotions and answers to problems are still very teen. It was a good blend. We are told, in detail, about the characters, especially Dillon in his long letters to his dead brother, Preston. There is no confusing the main characters, nor the significant side-characters. They are written well.
Because this book is character focused, there is not quite a plot here, unless is it Dillon fixing a problem, being the hero, and in turn fixing his own problem. All in all, I thought it was quite dry. This book is over 20 years old though, so at the time, this may have been a good book, but now with many other books on the subject and on teen life written out, it has lost its appeal.
morporum's review
4.0
Chinese Handcuffs is admirable for the way it unflinchingly deals with very dark themes, including suicide, drugs, sexual abuse, and the evil and good we all do. The motivations are believable, the message is on target, the writing crisp and clear. For me, this is Crutcher's best and most important work.
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