Comments (37)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 37 items
Aug 17, 2022Tigger244 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Don't read it if you can't handle dark and twisted. It is a good book that really evokes emotions.
Jul 27, 2022LCPL_Johanna rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
This book revolted me and I couldn't finish it. The language is vulgar and the graphic description of bestiality, incest, and sexual and physical abuse of this girl is shocking. The author has so much potential. It could have been a…
Nov 10, 2021GVPhyl rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
The exacting language about the abuse of this child turned me off from the beginning. I would not recommend it. There is technical talent here, but it's used to shock you with the tale of victimization.
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Feb 24, 2020orangelibrarycard rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
This book should have ended at Turtle's destruction of the bed and other furniture in her father's house, and her realizing she needed to get out. So odd that the author had the father come back home and not mention it. I really…
Feb 09, 2020kelliyfults rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Yes, it is brutal. But there is sooo much beauty. The beauty of the natural world, the beauty of love that can only be felt when it skips a generation... the beauty of friendship between someone damaged and someone idealistic. The…
Jul 13, 2019Motorod rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
Ugh. I think I hate this book. (weeks later) No, It's official. I truly despise this book. I can't finish it. It's ugly and awful, and not in a good way, like ones from some other authors. - (Finally) - I'm returning this. I'm never…
Jul 08, 2019ehiner rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Your mileage will vary based on your willingness to accept the subject matter. I finished it. To say I "enjoyed" it would be generous. It's more accurate to say that there are aspects of it worth appreciating (Turtle's relationship with…
Feb 27, 2019Synnove_S rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
yes it's difficult and brutal. I still found it gripping and could not put it down
Feb 10, 2019mlegates rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
I agree completely with Frey29. This is a sadistic, dreadful book. It's suspenseful at times, but also ponderous. Not worth the time.
Jan 27, 2019Frey29 rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
This is not just a "difficult read." This is about child rape, child-abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) and hopelessness. Everything about this book is angry--even the teenage heroine's persistent negative self-talk (to the point of…
Sep 12, 2018ednabw rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A difficult read - the writing is raw and powerful and gritty. If it wasn't a book club choice, I don't think I would have finished it except, as a reader, there is an underlying compulsion to feel there is a slight chance of hope and for…
Aug 09, 2018mbenavent rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
Beware reader! This is a book that addresses a really horrifying topic. Physical, psychological and sexual abuse from a father to his daughter. It is absolutely crude and so unpleasant to read that I found it almost impossible to read at…
Jul 10, 2018tuckerandzahra rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Not what you think this book is going to be. A very graphic hard read at some points, this girl is a wonderful character, but has a VERY hard life. Some details of her father sexually assaulting her are almost too much detail. I bought…
Jul 05, 2018velveetahead rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This book was brutal. I almost stopped reading it after the first chapter. I suspected it was going where I thought it might be going in terms of the abuse and did not enjoy reading it. The way it was written, at first, did not show much…
Jun 27, 2018
A friend half heartedly recommended this book, and I felt the same way when I recommended it to another friend; because of the subject matter. It was superb in webbing the storyline, and difficult to read because of the content. I loved…
Jun 21, 2018cedaranna rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A gripping incredible book, but very disturbing.
May 30, 2018m0mmyl00 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Turtle is a 14-year-old girl who lives with her father in an off-the-grid-type situation in Northern California. The father is intent on building her into a strong, tough person who can sustain herself and defeat any foe. He is convinced…
Feb 07, 2018bort23 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book bravely tackles an awful subject with thoughtfulness and care. As someone who unfortunately has to work with child porn on a daily basis, I can understand why there are those who would rather pretend it doesn't exist and as such,…
Feb 03, 2018hpbookjunkie rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
Appalled immediately by the sexual abuse scenes, which only got worse. Almost stopped reading not even 100 pages in but was encouraged to continue by previous readers that said it was worth it. Many scenes could have been cut. Way too…
Jan 13, 2018LouWSytsma rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This was a hard read because of the subject matter but the skill level of Tallent - Tallent's got talent! (sorry had to go there) - is quite evident in this book. My Absolute Darling is a book peopled with archetypes rather than actual…
Dec 22, 2017Eil_1 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
An unusual and compelling story - based on child physical and sexual abuse. Turtle struggles to live within her environment while simultaneously wanting to escape. Not necessarily for the faint-hearted who think life is sugar-coated.
Dec 19, 2017OPL_ErinD rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This was my favorite book I read in 2017. It's about the struggle for one girl's mind, body and soul told against the backdrop of the vividly described northern California wilderness. This is one of the most emotionally challenging books I…
Dec 17, 2017jenwallace rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
It took me a little while to get through this book. I found myself interested in it, but also really turned off by the horrifying subject matter. I ended up feeling really disturbed in my daily life while reading this book. The…
Dec 12, 2017lxydis rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely loathsome, and not interestingly so. Despite wordy descriptions of the countryside, TEDIOUS details on guns & ammo & cleaning thereof--not to mention jarringly specific brand and author name-droppings (first Turtle "is wearing…
Dec 12, 2017Barbaravee rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
"Riveting", un-put-downable. The subject matter may not be pretty but the characterizations are unforgettable, the writing luminous. I gave it 4 1/2 stars. It would have and should have been 5 but I was disappointed in the ending. …