John Green: Paper Towns

I didn't read An Abundance of Katherines...I think I was nervous about the sophomore slump, and after Looking for Alaska, I was worried that John Green might not have another in him...I avoided buying Paper Towns even though I wanted to (I loved the differing covers) for the same reason. I started listening to the book two days ago. I finished it today. AMAZING. Now, it didn't hurt that the reader had different voices (Radar's was my favorite), and that may have increased my love, but I really really REALLY enjoyed this book. Green again goes back to strong allusions to literature (go Whitman!), more "quest" as the focus point, and a really loveable group of friends and a very realistic portrayal of seniors in their final months of high school. If I taught seniors, they would begin listening to this right now. It was really awesome, and even though I wasn't fully satisfied with the ending, the journey (not the planning) was totally worth it!

Howard Dully (with Charles Flemming): My Lobotomy

This is the most horrific story EVER. I can't believe ANYONE would ever be ok with (let alone suggest it) having someone stick ice picks in a CHILD'S orbital sockets in order to SCRAPE THE CHILD'S BRAIN.

Howard Dully was 12 years old when his stepmother and a psychiatrist (Walter Freeman) (and Howard's father) agreed that a lobotomy would be the only way to "control" Howard.

While the vocabulary is extremely basic, and there is a good deal of repetition of basic phrases: "I was always getting in trouble;" "I was always hungry," etc, the story is so heart-wrenching it doesn't matter.

Dully's life was NEVER his own. He was a normal spazzy (probably ADD) kid. His mother died when he was 5, and when his father remarried, Dully's chance at a normal life ended. His stepmother hated him. Why? NO ONE knows. I think that is what I am the most frustrated with. Dully's stepmother died before he was thrown into the midst of the NPR story. We will never know why she was psychotic--and I have no other word for her but that--what else do you call someone who would do this to a baby who wasn't even her own flesh and blood? Dully's father is no better, but at least Dully was able to confront his dad about the experience and ramifications--even if the results were beyond unsatisfying.

What this text is BRILLIANT at: showing the reader that even someone with a HORRIFIC past can overcome and be something. Dully is a kind, compassionate, loving, and caring human being.

I do believe that things happen for a reason. We aren't given anything we can't handle. While Howard Dully DID NOT in any way shape or form deserve to have his "brain scrambled," who he is, what he has overcome, and what he has done for others through his journey might, in a very real sense, be the best thing for the world. We are very lucky to have his voice tell such a story.

NPR story (Dully's voice too!) (Be careful, it will make you cry...)

P.S. I listened to this on my commute from last Friday until today (I drove when I could this weekend, and listened to it on headphones during my prep because it was so good), and when I got home today, I pulled in my garage with about 3 tracks remaining, and put the car in reverse and drove to Barnes and Noble to buy the book.

I've never done that.

It moved me THAT much.