Stephanie
Written on Apr 11, 2018
A deeply moving portrait of one girl's journey from self-harm to self-acceptance from bestselling author, Kathleen Glasgow
‘A haunting, beautiful and necessary book.’ Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything
THIS SPECIAL EDITION includes deleted scenes, a playlist and a personal note from the author. While stocks last.
Charlie Davis is in pieces. At seventeen, she’s already lost more than most people lose in a lifetime. But she’s learned how to forget it through cutting; the pain washes out the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. She doesn't have to think about her father or what happened under the bridge. Her best friend, Ellis, who is gone forever. Or the mother who has nothing left to give her. Kicked out of a special treatment center when her insurance runs out, Charlie finds herself in the bright and wild landscape of Tucson, Arizona, where she begins the unthinkable: the long journey of putting herself back together.
Kathleen Glasgow is also the author of How to Make Friends with the Dark and You'd Be Home Now
‘Girl, Interrupted meets Speak.’ Refinery29
‘Glasgow’s poetic writing brings Charlie’s mind to life as she tries to find a path to recovery.’ Independent
- ISBN10 1780749457
- ISBN13 9781780749457
- Publish Date 6 October 2016 (first published 30 August 2016)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Rock the Boat
- Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
- Pages 448
- Language English
Reviews
jesstheaudiobookworm
Written on Jan 29, 2017
Girl in Pieces features a main character with self-harming tendencies. In the author's note, Kathleen Glasgow reveals that much of the story comes from her own experience with self-harm. Throughout the story, she emphasized the importance of connecting with others facing similar issues and that's why I am so glad Girl in Pieces exists.
It was incredibly courageous of Kathleen to tell Charlotte's story. More than courageous, I think it was vital. Self-harm is something that isn't often openly discussed, especially in the mainstream media. Although I haven't dealt with these issues personally, I know that others have and do. For every novel fantasizing self-harm (i.e. Written in Red), there needs to be a Girl in Pieces to realistically portray its effects.
Glasgow told Charlotte's story beautifully. From a fictional standpoint, all of the boxes were checked. I was emotionally invested in Charlotte as a protagonist and empathized with her from the start. Her narrative had the feel of a tragic and beautiful Shakespearean play. This aided in giving the story a sense of authenticity as life can be both tragic and beautiful. Glasgow's writing struck a perfect balance. If the story had been more of one than the other (tragic or beautiful), I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. Without giving anything away, I'll say that the tone of the ending surprised me.
Glasgow's writing was absolutely striking. Again, it was simultaneously beautiful and evocative, dealing one emotional blow after another. I was most impressed by the messages of hope and perseverance peppered throughout Charlotte's despairing narrative. Such messages encouraged to me to continue on with the story when it became especially dark and further endeared me to Charlotte.
Obviously, the content in Girl in Pieces may not be suitable for everyone. It explicitly addresses several sensitive issues including suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. Glasgow's writing is meant to be evocative, but may be provocative to certain readers.
Narration review: Julia Whelan gave a stirring performance in Girl in Pieces. The story calls for constant raw emotion and Whelan delivered. Her narration met and matched Glasgow's emotive writing. At times, I became so swept up in the whirlwind of emotion that I forgot I was listening to Whelan narrate an audiobook. She embodied all of Charlotte's feelings and I could just sense how much of herself Whelan was putting into this performance. Athletic coaches often tell players to "leave it all on the court/field", meaning give the game everything they have. That phrase comes to mind regarding Whelan's performance because it truly seemed as if she put all of herself into Girl in Pieces and the results were magnificent to behold. ♣︎
Jane
Written on Dec 21, 2016
I wasn’t sure about the cover of "A Girl in Pieces" or requesting a hardcover book. I dislike hardcover books, because I read paperbacks better. I like how paperback books are bendable and not, like, hard.
I made the mistake of reading others’ reviews before even requesting this book—I try to avoid reading reviews from others when it comes to books I like, which is kind of funny considering I’m writing up a book review post to be read by others later, because I prefer to go into a book without bias. I don’t want to be let down by the promise I’ll like it from someone else’s review.
And, for some reason, it didn’t dawn on me that this book might be hella triggering until it was in my hands and I was on the first page.
Full review: http://janepedia.com/kglasgow-girl-in-pieces/
Kelly
Written on Sep 22, 2016
Charlie's narrative is poignant yet incredibly captivating. The reader is introduced to Charlie's character as she is brought into the institute, bleeding and abandoned after trying to end her own life. Her grief and longing are palpable, my heart ached for Charlie and her sense of abandonment. Self harm is her coping mechanism, using broken fragile pieces of mason glass to lacerate her arms, mutilating her body as tenderly as she creates her art. Charlie may have recovered from her physical anguish but her emotional scars remain and she becomes a fatality of the mental health system, the institute no longer able to treat the seventeen year old due to the lack of financial aide and releases her into the care of a mother who has no intention to care for her daughter.
Charlie's journey is confronting. Her Tender Kit she holds dear but determined to not only survive but flourish against adversity which begins with the kindness of Michael. Although Michael and Charlie were once friends, Michael can only provide Charlie with the bare necessities to survive while he's away. With a warm bed and the security of Michael's bungalow, Charlie's employment search finds her washing dishes at a small coffee house where Riley is regrettably employed.
The charismatic and charming Riley, a former musician whose life is a calamity of alcohol fuelled drug dependency, provides Charlie with a tenderness of a physical relationship beyond the confines of an intimacy. While Charlie begins to rebuild her life, Riley's addiction threatens to consume him. Riley was an interesting character. Although I didn't particularly like his character, it felt as though so many in his life enabled his drug and alcohol abuse and he held an heir of entitlement. Their relationship was toxic, but an incredibly important pinnacle in Charlie's journey.
Kathleen Glasgow's debut is courageous and unapologetic. Mental illness and addiction are often lifelong issues that so many in our community confront. Charlie's journey of healing is anguished, confronting and proving that even fictionally, there is no antidote.
Kathleen Glasgow is a remarkable woman who has breathed life into her characters through her own experiences, exposing herself so that others may find empowerment. Girl In Pieces was beautifully lyrical, yet dark and confronting, rarely seen in young adult novels. I commend Kathleen for her courage, composure and her ability to create a character who readers will see themselves within.
Charlie was beautiful yet so incredibly brave. The story of a girl who longs to feel loved, to feel safe and still dares to hope for what so many take for granted. Dark and captivating, Girl In Pieces is a narrative to be cherished.
whisperingchapters
Written on Aug 17, 2016
Girl in Pieces shows a very realistic side to self-harming.. It is so very raw, that it shook me to my very core. Normally, I would have eaten this book up, but the beginning was very hard for me to get through. Charlie's thoughts are very realistic and I could relate to all the thoughts she was having about self-harm.
I'm so lonely in the world I want to peel all of my flesh off and walk, just bone and gristle, straight into the river, to be swallowed [...]
I'm so happy I read Charlie's story in Girl in Pieces because it's the rawest one I've read to date, especially when it comes to cutting. The thoughts that Charlie would have throughout the story used to be my own a while ago. We sought out self-harming as our release.
I cut because I can't deal. It's as simple as that. [...] I need release, I need to hurt myself more than the world can hurt me.
Kathleen Glasgow went full in with topics such as self-harming, drug and alcohol addiction, suicide, death, and self-esteem. Girl in Pieces describes all the feelings and thoughts that a person who self-harm has. The author didn't sugar-coat any of it. It also shows the dangers of self-harming and abusing of drugs and alcohol. When it came to self-esteem, Charlie had the lowest of the low. She felt she really was unlovable and that she was all alone in the world. The written words in these parts felt like they were coming from a real, living and breathing person, not from a book character.
I'm so unwhole. I don't know where all the pieces of me are, how to fit them together, how to make them stick. Or if I even can.
I'm glad the author wrote this story for everyone to read because it needs to be read. Something that I liked about this book is that it explored forms of self-harm that aren't mentioned much, such as burning, pulling hair, among others. Self-harm tends to be overshadowed or not talked about in Young Adult novels, when they should be. This type of story will motivate readers to find out more about self-harm. Also, many readers will relate to this story in so many ways.
Things are never easy in real life, and they were never easy for Charlie. When things would start to get good, they would start to go bad again, which is exactly how it is in real life. Real life never gives you a chance to breathe, and Glasgow brought that into the story.
Girl in Pieces is so very raw and poignant. It's also dark and petrifying, but it's also hopeful.
I received an eARC from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I won an ARC from Brittany's Book Rambles.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
shannonmiz
Written on Jul 27, 2016
Guys, this book is heavy. In a good way, but still, know that going in. It's going to fucking hurt. Because Charlie hurts- she hurts inside, and she transfers that pain to the outside. Your heart will absolutely break for Charlie, because man, she has been dealt a very crappy hand in life. And I think that the portrayal of mental health and the issues surrounding it is so, so accurate. For example:
- The highs and lows, the progress and regression, are so spot on. Mental illness is definitely not some pretty linear path, which is why I think it is fantastic that the author shows the ups and downs of Charlie's progress so vividly. She hopes (and tries!) to be "better" and stay that way, but it doesn't always work out- and that is so, so realistic.
- Charlie doesn't have any money, so she gets subpar care. This is another sad but true reality. Charlie doesn't have the funds to cover the psychiatric facility, so as soon as they deem her "not a threat", out she goes. Does the staff feel bad about it? Sure, but it isn't like there's a thing they can do about it, really. That's the system, it's absolute bullshit, but it is an incredibly realistic situation.
- Charlie's inner dialogue of feeling isolated felt incredibly authentic. She was really hurting, and it was so clearly portrayed.
"I've always felt like an intrusion, a giant blob of wrong. My mother was always telling me to keep quiet, not to be a bother. 'Nobody's interested, Charlotte,' she'd say."
There are lots of things that work about the story, really. Charlie is looking for love, of course- not just romantic love, but any kind of love. Her mom basically deserted her, her best friend is gone, and the only person who seems to care isn't really as available as she'd hoped. So of course she finds some of the right kind of friends... and some of the wrong kind too. Not that any of the people were inherently "good" or "bad" (because is that even a thing?), but some were just not good for Charlie. And some were absolute blessings.
"'Everything and everybody that's busted can be fixed. That's what I think.'"
Charlie's determination was also pretty awesome. For her to try to rebuild her life, that takes an incredible amount of courage. And like I said before, it isn't a straight path.
For me, the only real issue I had with the book was that (and this is mostly in the beginning) I didn't feel fully connected to Charlie, and it was a slow start. I understand really that Charlie was barely connected with Charlie at that point, but it still made for a bit of difficult reading at the start- and not just the emotionally difficult kind.
That aside, by the time the book was through, while I didn't have the same feelings or experiences as Charlie, I definitely felt like I had a much better understanding of her and how her life spiraled so badly. It was heartbreaking, but lovely.
Bottom Line: If you can handle the harsh realities of the self-harm in this book, it is an absolute must read. The insight into Charlie's world and her illness is phenomenal, and definitely thought provoking on many levels.
*Copy provided by publisher for review
**Quotes taken from uncorrected proof, subject to change