If Chuck Palahniuk was a teenage girl,
I'm pretty sure his name would have been Dora. That's the only Chuck
reference I'm going to do here, because Lidia stands all on her own
in this phenomenal new novel. If you're looking for a book that has
completely captured what it is to write with a strong voice, Dora: A
Headcase is your book. She knocks it out of the park with this one.
When I read her first book of short
stories, The Chronology of Water, I was knocked on my ass. The first
story in the collection made me cry and from there, it was a
roller-coaster (man, do I hate cliche's) of emotion. In all honesty,
I was expecting another book like that. I didn't read up on what Dora
was about, I didn't read the synopsis, and I was almost nervous to
start it, because at the time, I wanted to read a happy-go-lucky
book. Guess what, I got it! Kinda.
This bad boy girl, is
told from Dora/Ida's point of view, as a teenager, who likes
drinking, drugs, and Obsidian (go read it, you'll understand).
There's violence, a tip of the hat to Sigmund Freud, over-the-counter
drugs, drinking, chicks, and an artsy video about a penis that I
don't ever want to think about again. It's about divorce, love,
loyalty, doctor/patient relationships, friendship, and redemption.
It's a ridiculously easy read and when it's over, you're relieved and
a little sad that it's over.
Go pick up the book, thank Lidia, and
then tell all of your friends!
Thanks Lidia!
Goat
