vanvicki's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dllh's review against another edition
3.0
(Beware: vague spoilers below.)
I liked it, more in the beginning than as the story moved forward. At times in the first half, it felt like the author was trying to offer subtle foreshadowing and it was anything but subtle, which to me signifies a lack of craft or perhaps merely of touch. I think it's a pretty good book, but Dorothy Allison gives the theme a much more virtuosic and harrowing treatment in Bastard Out of Carolina, so that this book seems more like a riff on something that surely does deserve further riffing on than like a really original treatment of the theme.
I liked it, more in the beginning than as the story moved forward. At times in the first half, it felt like the author was trying to offer subtle foreshadowing and it was anything but subtle, which to me signifies a lack of craft or perhaps merely of touch. I think it's a pretty good book, but Dorothy Allison gives the theme a much more virtuosic and harrowing treatment in Bastard Out of Carolina, so that this book seems more like a riff on something that surely does deserve further riffing on than like a really original treatment of the theme.
thegeekybibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Dixie Dupree’s observations about her life and the people in it create a vivid world that is sometimes funny, sometimes agonizing, that always feels very real. She finds that life can be ugly, even brutal, and she faces it all with incredible strength and resilience.
There’s no gentle way to tell such a story such as this and still have it ring true. In this magnificent debut novel, Everhart writes with gritty realism and shines a harsh light on the ugliness of abuse. This isn’t an easy read sometimes, but stories that deal with abuse shouldn’t be easy to read. They should make the reader feel intensely uncomfortable and empathetic towards the character that suffers through it. The Education of Dixie Dupree absolutely does this. Being told through the eyes of a child makes it even more poignant and, in the end, triumphant.
Dixie Dupree, with her spirited tenacity and courage, is going to linger in my mind for quite some time.
I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
There’s no gentle way to tell such a story such as this and still have it ring true. In this magnificent debut novel, Everhart writes with gritty realism and shines a harsh light on the ugliness of abuse. This isn’t an easy read sometimes, but stories that deal with abuse shouldn’t be easy to read. They should make the reader feel intensely uncomfortable and empathetic towards the character that suffers through it. The Education of Dixie Dupree absolutely does this. Being told through the eyes of a child makes it even more poignant and, in the end, triumphant.
Dixie Dupree, with her spirited tenacity and courage, is going to linger in my mind for quite some time.
I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
jackolidus's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Did not seem like it was written from experience.
sjj169's review against another edition
4.0
DANG IT! GR ATE MY REVIEW!!! (Probably because it only had ten typos instead of the normal twenty)
Let's try this again.
Set in the late 1960's south, Dixie lives in Alabama with her mom, dad and older brother AJ. Her mom has one of those tempers that can get away from her and Dixie tries her best to not trigger her 'other mom' coming out.
Her response was to snatch my arm and her sudden move scared me so bad, the pee I'd been holding let go. It drizzled down my legs, a hot stream of fear, but the mortification I felt as I wet my pants was nothing compared to watching her face become that person I was always watching out for.
Like a rabbit with its foot caught in a snare, attempting to free itself, I started jerking on my arm, wanting to get away from her, away from that look.
Dixie learns to become an expert liar. She needs to in order to protect her unstable family.
Don't judge this ELEVEN year old kid. Yes, I put that age in caps. You have to remember her age.
Told in Dixie's viewpoint, you do get the feeling that the families secrets are going to overwhelm them..but kids in the rural south were not told things that pertained to 'adult business.'
Then Dixie's mom finally works up the nerve to tell her father that she wants a divorce, she is missing her northern home and states she doesn't love him. He takes that not so well. This is the south by gawds and women stay with their husbands.
Then stuff gets even darker, Dixie's Uncle Ray comes to Alabama to stay with the family to 'help out.'
I don't want to spoil but get that oven heated up for you to stick your head in while reading this one.
I KEED! I KEED! Quit being so dang sensitive! But don't say I didn't warn you about this one. ALL the triggers are gonna get pulled. It's a good one for those of you that have the dark souls like me but I'm saying that it's gonna feel like that day you got gut punched when you are done. You remember that day, don't you?
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Let's try this again.
Set in the late 1960's south, Dixie lives in Alabama with her mom, dad and older brother AJ. Her mom has one of those tempers that can get away from her and Dixie tries her best to not trigger her 'other mom' coming out.
Her response was to snatch my arm and her sudden move scared me so bad, the pee I'd been holding let go. It drizzled down my legs, a hot stream of fear, but the mortification I felt as I wet my pants was nothing compared to watching her face become that person I was always watching out for.
Like a rabbit with its foot caught in a snare, attempting to free itself, I started jerking on my arm, wanting to get away from her, away from that look.
Dixie learns to become an expert liar. She needs to in order to protect her unstable family.
Don't judge this ELEVEN year old kid. Yes, I put that age in caps. You have to remember her age.
Told in Dixie's viewpoint, you do get the feeling that the families secrets are going to overwhelm them..but kids in the rural south were not told things that pertained to 'adult business.'
Then Dixie's mom finally works up the nerve to tell her father that she wants a divorce, she is missing her northern home and states she doesn't love him. He takes that not so well. This is the south by gawds and women stay with their husbands.
Then stuff gets even darker, Dixie's Uncle Ray comes to Alabama to stay with the family to 'help out.'
I don't want to spoil but get that oven heated up for you to stick your head in while reading this one.
I KEED! I KEED! Quit being so dang sensitive! But don't say I didn't warn you about this one. ALL the triggers are gonna get pulled. It's a good one for those of you that have the dark souls like me but I'm saying that it's gonna feel like that day you got gut punched when you are done. You remember that day, don't you?
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
corkykat's review
5.0
I received a free copy of this novel in a goodreads giveaway, and I'm happy to give an honest review.
Let me just say that this book earned all five stars. It was powerful and important, and if you choose to read it (which you should) Dixie will stay with you forever. Dixie as a character shows us the meaning of strength, and is empowering in her resilience through immense trials and her quick, sharp wit. The novel is well written with incredible character and setting development. I appreciated the author's skill in writing flawed characters, and she successfully portrays abuse, cruelty, and loss through a child's eyes. The book does have mature themes, and is not very cheerful, but I would highly recommend it.
Let me just say that this book earned all five stars. It was powerful and important, and if you choose to read it (which you should) Dixie will stay with you forever. Dixie as a character shows us the meaning of strength, and is empowering in her resilience through immense trials and her quick, sharp wit. The novel is well written with incredible character and setting development. I appreciated the author's skill in writing flawed characters, and she successfully portrays abuse, cruelty, and loss through a child's eyes. The book does have mature themes, and is not very cheerful, but I would highly recommend it.
leighpenny's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cassellwrites's review
More excited to read library books than this one on my bookshelf
nancyemcc66's review against another edition
2.0
This is a well written heart wrenching book about some very tough subject matters. I only gave it three stars because I felt it was not presented to be quite what is was. This is labelled as a coming of age story but really it is a story about child abuse, physical, emotional and sexual. It does not gloss over anything and I found myself having to skip over some very disturbing scenes. I just don't like to read this kind of thing. I have no sympathy or understanding for the adults who allow this to happen no matter what the reason. The ending is upbeat and Dixie is a great character who comes through her trials with so much grace that I found it to be a bit unbelievable. The final "violation" seemed to be the thing that made everything turn out right in the end and I was uncomfortable with that. It did keep me reading but it just was not a story for me.