Pure

Purely Strange

This book ended up being nothing at all like the cover and back cover presents it to be. I was intruiged by the author dropping out of school to write this novel at such a young age and it seemed promising. I didn't see it as something relatable at all, and I felt the book to be highly unrealistic. It made me wonder if parents in England would really let their 14 year old daughter not only date, but spend the night with a 27 year old man. I felt the main character was pathetic to allow herself to be used by men and enjoy their physical abuse. I thought this book had a decent plot, although an irritating main character and several unrealistic situations - but the writing lacked, the descriptions tedious and useless. This book lacked commas and sentence structure, which may have been intentional by the author to add to the story, however, only irritated me. Also, the author focused on gritty details of sex, bodily functions, acne, fingernails, self mutilation, etc. I can understand her desire to write a 'raw' novel, but much of it was very unnecessary. This wasn't a terrible book, and certainly not the worst I ever read, but it could have used much improvement, and I didn't enjoy reading it as much as I hoped.

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Disappointing

In my opinion, this novel was written very thinly. The plot of the novel wasn't very developed, and it just seemed like situations were being thrown at the reader, rather than giving it in a way that would involve readers emotionally. What keeps this book from getting only 1 star, is that it wasn't terribly boring. The ending of the novel is also very abrupt and didn't leave me with a sense of closure of the book. I looked for a note that would indicate a sequel, for the book stopped at such a random place.

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A high school sophomore

This book is just plain bad!The narrator, who remains nameless throughout the novel, has absolutely no self-esteem or good judgement. I think the novel is poorly and unrealistically written and also lacks strong character support. What parents, in their right minds, would let their 14 year old daughter have a boyfriend that's 17 years older than she, and then proceed to allow him to sleep in their house?! The narrator portrays herself as a some what loose teenager who has a passion for S-and-M sex. Please do not waste your money on this book.

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what is pure?

im sure this book has meaning to it. but as a 16 year old, i fail to see it. this book does have a strong point, and can be taken close to heart if you can relate to it, but i can't. because of this, the book lost all meaning, and frankly is a sad piece of literature that only skims its potential.

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Somewhat recommended- An interesting read

In June of 2000, people got to take a look into the not so "pure" life of an unknown character created by Rebbecca Ray. This piece makes it extremely hard to not notice the drastic details of how hard a person's life is while growing up to maturity. As much as one may want to stop reading, they can't help but feel the need to finish this intriguing piece of work. Young Rebbecca "dropped out of high school at the age of 16 to write this novel". To this day, she has written three novels: "Pure", "A Certain Age", and "Newfoundland". She is a British women who shows the love for writing books about the kind of people with the worst kind of issues."Pure" is written fairly well in first person and fits very well into the teen generation. Though not much can be found about this writer, the book shows to reflect her life in a way to the world that makes heads turn. It starts the scene with the protagonists inner thoughts about how she has managed to fit in recently in her British school at the age of 13. From one cut scene to other, the reader finds them self involved with the struggles of the narrator attempt to be "cool" by experiencing new things. A forced experiment relationship suggested by the "cool-girl" starts a not-so-innocent trip that begins small and gradually gets more unbelievable down the road. When consequences turn into greater matters, things only seem to get worse. Rebbecca leaves a disturbing, unique look at the world where things you once thought were normal, now turn into things of the past. She has a different way a typing, to put it in a subtle way. The way she made it so there were no chapters was a strong way to keep a person reading. The calling of the end seemed to never be satisfied. Though her choice of words were difficult, at times, to handle. There was the "English" feel in it when instead of using the word: "kissing", Rebbecca replaced it with the word: "Snogging". Her immature, as well as inappropriate ways of putting things together were as annoying as they were funny. There were times when she would go on and on about a subject when just the same could have been said without so much effort. The adolescence feel of the book was easy to point out, yet the pages kept turning. I personally felt that this novel could have been written in a much better way. It was a "love-hate relationship" for myself; one that I could not stand leaving unread. Anger, confusion, happiness, and even depression filled my mind in the process of reading it. I can see the honest attempt to make a statement. I did enjoy putting my life in someone else's shoes, that was one aspect that kept me going. In all honesty, it got harder and harder to read in the end. Rebbecca left the ending with a great deal a room to fill; leaving one's mind wander. I would recommend this novel to young teens that are going through a rough time through life. This piece reminded me that there is always someone that has it better off than you. It the cold, honest truth: "Pure" was a book that will take a while to get out of my memories.

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I'm a teenager now.

I honestly want to know how many of you that are complaining about this book ever took a risk in their life. The author of this book wrote what she felt at the time, about HER life. Just because you all didn't live your life the same way she did doesn't mean you should put her book down because you didn't know how to get a little wild and crazy when you were a teenager. I am one now, and in some of the parts I felt like I had written it myself. I applaud you, Rebbecca Ray.

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Second time around

The urgency and meaning and desperation that seemed to pour out from the pages the first time I read this book have rather lost the necessity in which they once spoke and the meaning has slowed to a dull trickle. While you cannot deny that the author has a way with the written word that way may have lost its charm when I gained my sense of self. This book must be geared for those who have not found their inner self -worth yet. For those who are still struggling with that age-old question 'who am I?' Because once you have entered the realm of adulthood and the realization that you are who you are and you have at least an ounce of self-worth this book becomes completely unrelatable. Now if you want to reminisce with the times that still make you cringe this book may be able to let you do that, but only for a very few brief pages which are far and few between. The first line back ten years ago when I was still waiting at the door of decency drew me right in. It was unabashed, 'pure' poetry to my eyes. It was finally something that made me think I was not alone, girls do think about sex, they are blunt; they aren't always these delicate little flowers. Now, that first line made me almost embarrassed for the main character, which remains nameless, I think as a way for the author to really try and make it seem like this girl could be anyone, even you. That first line was powerful either way you look at it, because you wanted to keep reading after 'I was about thirteen when I started letting the boys feel me up.' Just nonchalant and matter of fact. This is the way that the rest of the book precedes. Rebbecca Ray just lays it all out on the table for you. Not afraid to offend, not worried about how she might seem, because this is real. This is how girls are and what they think and do. And if that was the only audience this book ever had, the girls who don't know who they are, who don't know how others live, then this book would be a classic success. It is when you have someone other than what I think would be her intended audience read this that you will find some large flaws. Not in the technical stuff, but in the character herself. In the message that is sprawled across 400 pages of teen angst, sex, drugs, and self-mutilation. By the end of the book I was not sure what the point was of this draining journey of what should have been self discovery but was more self-destruction. When I read this ten years ago I thought I had it all figured out, but now I can't remember what exactly it was that was resolved in this novel. There really was no climax, no real point; it was just to write a story. It was kind of an aimless journey through the brain of a fourteen year-old girl. The whole time I was reading this I couldn't help but feel that this was her unannounced autobiography. That she was this girl that she still had no idea who she was, but that at sixteen when she left school the write this book she knew she needed to tell her story. Maybe it was a way for her to start her own catharsis to expel some of these horrible thoughts she had. Maybe she needed an audience to tell her that this was normal, that all fourteen year-old girls date twenty-seven year old men and beg to be smacked across the facface when having sex. If all that Ray had set out to do . If all that Ray had set out to do was tell a story and find new ways to describe oily faces and painful sex, then yes, this book is a masterpiece.

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an ironic title

It was very ironic how the title is called, "Pure", when there is nothing pure about the protagonist. I was a little dissapointed about the end. The novel wazs very dull, because there was alot of information that was not necessary for over 400 pages.

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Purely Enjoyable

I really enjoyed this book. I think it showed the difficult parts of growing up and making your own decisions, and how easy it is to mess it up.

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Quasi-Real But In The Most Enjoyable Way.

This book was great read, it doesn't seem extremely realistic but it does give you the raw and tearing view of the main character. You cringe when you read what happens to her, and sometime you have to stop and say What?<BR/>All in all it's a great book even if you don't believe her whole story is true.

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Amazing!

This book is one of the most amazing novels i have ever read. i'm a huge bookworm and i'm very picky about what i read. When i read this book i was amazed at how truthful it really was. This book changed my life!

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A reviewer

I couldnt put this book down! I barely read but it only took me two days to read Pure. The main character was highly disturbed, and in my personal,blunt opinion, a slutty idiot. She was very judgemental and rude, especially to Dawn. However, Dawn was annoying and felt sorry for herself. I think everyone knows people like the people in this book. The ending was not as good as i hoped. I feel like a sequal should be coming out.

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A great book!!!!!

i'll admit that this book is not what i expected but i loved it!!!! it's very good and it deals with a lot of things that teens are dealing with now, such as cutting and sex. But did anyone get the main characters name? i don't remember seeing it. And her friend Dawn, man i want to punch her!! over all this was a very good, exiting page turner!

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Must-read!

'Pure' is well-written, realistic and heart-breaking. Anyone can relate to something in this book. I loved it.

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The real deal darlin

this book is perfect for teens to read to understand what other people go through. My friend gave me this book and said it was compleatly horrible, and when I started to read it, I was easily able to relate to the book. I do think this is NOT a book a 13 year old girl should be reading, Instead I would suggest wait a few years and then you will appreciate it more because you may be able to relate to it as well.

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Very Picky Book

This book is good depending on the reader as is every book. I personally like this book because although not every teenager is like this, it is real life situations. There are many young 'pure' teenage girls that at this age become 'unpure' in many different senses and at age 15 I can say I've been through similar things so I can see how to a little goody goody this book can be gross and appalling but to me and where I come from, this is normal (real) life stuff. I recommend this book to people who understand reality and can handle it because this book is soft compared to the real world. So the little 13 year old girl who thought this book was terrible is going to have a rude awakening when she enters the ghetto, and/or the real world, and sorry she was so sheltered and thinks that when you read a book that you have to live like the book. -Hey 13 year old, books are for entertainment and leisure, not for telling you you have to live like that.- This was a very interesting and good book, I didn't want to put it down.

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Pure

Pure was a very interesting novel yet very true to what can happen in adolesent life. Ray doesn't leave out anything and she describes what exactly goes on in the narrators life (the main character). Some teens may be able to relate to it which would make this book enjoyable to read. Pure is very humorous at times but it is also serious. The excitement throughout the novel is what keeps you reading. This shocking story is very well written and worwhile reading.

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Not as good as I'd hoped...

This seemed like a lot to take in, I feel like a bunch of things have just been thrown at me. For the first half of the book I thought her friend Dawn was sleeping with her dad, or wanted to, although I think she really just wanted to sleep with her.

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I gave it to my lil sis to read.

This book is touching and shocking, yes. It seems raw and hazy and reminded me of my teen years. I gave it to my lil sis to read hoping that she DOESN'T relate to it!

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Not Pure At All

I was horrified by this book completely and utterly. I am 13 years old and I will NOT be anything like that when I am 15. I feel that this book is extremely unrealistic and despicable. I think that the title is very misleading as well. There I was, hoping for a nice book to read for leisure and this is what I got. I am extremely displeased (and perhaps disturbed) by this book. To erase it forever from my mind would be a miracle.

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