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The Sharp Time
Sandinista Jones is a high school senior with a punk rock name and a broken heart. The death of her single mother has left Sandinista alone in the world, subject to the random vulnerability of everyday life. When the school system lets her down, her grief and instability intensify, and she ponders a violent act of revenge.
Still, in the midst of her crisis, she gets a job at the Pale Circus, a funky vintage clothing shop, and finds friendship and camaraderie with her coworker, a boy struggling with his own secrets.
Even as Sandinista sees the failures of those with power and authority, she's offered the chance to survive through the redemptive power of friendship. Now she must choose between faith and forgiveness or violence and vengeance.
Still, in the midst of her crisis, she gets a job at the Pale Circus, a funky vintage clothing shop, and finds friendship and camaraderie with her coworker, a boy struggling with his own secrets.
Even as Sandinista sees the failures of those with power and authority, she's offered the chance to survive through the redemptive power of friendship. Now she must choose between faith and forgiveness or violence and vengeance.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2011
17 people are currently reading
3058 people want to read
About the author
Mary O'Connell
3 books79 followersMary O'Connell is a graduate of the University of Kansas and the Iowa's Writer's Workshop. She is the author of the short story collection Living With Saints (Grove/Atlantic) and her debut novel, The Sharp Time, was published by Delacorte in November. She lives with her husband and her three children in Lawrence, Kansas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
January 17, 2015
{This review was originally published on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.}
Mary O'Connell's The Sharp Time is a unique, quiet novel that sneaked up on me.
I credit Trish Doller with my discovery of The Sharp Time, as she posted about it on her (fabulous, must-follow) Tumblr, and since I adored Trish's book (my review will be published closer to the book's release date), I figured that The Sharp Time was worth the read based on her recommendation.
The Sharp Time begins shortly after ADD-afflicted 18-year-old Sandinista Jones--her free spirit mother named her after the Clash album--has left school following a bizarre conflict with a teacher. Sandinista's mother has recently died in a fluke accident and the incident at school was the last straw. She's lonely and angry and lost, wrestling with violent urges.
She says "so long" to school and gets a job (after a truly bizarre interview) at The Pale Circus, a vintage clothing store run by the eccentric Henry Charbonneau. While working at The Pale Circus, Sandinista becomes friends with Bradley, the other employee of the shop who has secrets of his own, and makes connections with the other neighborhood characters, including a pawn shop owner, erotic candy maker and a monk.
These characters combine to create a lively story of a week in the life of a character on the edge. This is illustrated brilliantly when Sandinista visits her local gun range (yep, the gun range).
This urban setting absolutely dazzles with its realism. I'm always on the lookout for fiction set in urban environments, so this was an unexpected treat. While looking through the notes in my Kindle, I found on several occasions that I'd make a notation along the lines of, "This setting seems so real!"
And, frankly, that's kind of unexpected, because on its face The Sharp Time's setting seems like it could any city, yet The Pale Circus' neighborhood is lively and distinct, without ever reading as artificially "Quirky!" and "Funky!"
Beyond the setting, each scene is beautifully crafted, jumping off the page with a cinematic* feel.
Each passage in this slim novel reads beautifully, yet is also purposeful.
While The Sharp Time is published by the children's imprint of Random House, I am not entirely sure that the people who will enjoy this novel the most are the YAs. More likely, I see this appealing to Gen-Xers (due to a number of eighties references) who appreciate smart, surprising contemporary fiction with literary leanings. The fact that it has a narrator who is a teen means that it could be a gateway into reading YA for folks who are turned off by the "teen fiction" label. That's not to say that some teens wouldn't enjoy The Sharp Time, but it's definitely got a more mature vibe,
At its core, this is a novel about friendship and its transformative power. It's rare to find this theme trackled in fresh ways, making The Sharp Time a different little novel that's best savored for the beauty of the words.
FNL Character Rating: Early Tyra Colette, before she had Tami Taylor as a mentor. I really hope Sandinista finds her Tami and writes an amazing college essay.
*Speaking of "cinematic," Mary O'Connell is a big Friday Night Lights Fan and told me on Twitter that she even mentally cast Kyle Chandler as Henry Carbonneau. This is further evidence supporting my argument that authors who love FNL write the most awesome books. :)
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4.5ish stars (I'm a rounder upper not a rounder downed.)
And look at me: My mother gave me a punk-rock name, but my spirit is composed of elevator music: Tra-la-la-la./Don’t mind me./I’m a nice girl./I have good manners./I’ll not bother you./Tra-la-LA!
Mary O'Connell's The Sharp Time is a unique, quiet novel that sneaked up on me.
I credit Trish Doller with my discovery of The Sharp Time, as she posted about it on her (fabulous, must-follow) Tumblr, and since I adored Trish's book (my review will be published closer to the book's release date), I figured that The Sharp Time was worth the read based on her recommendation.
The Sharp Time begins shortly after ADD-afflicted 18-year-old Sandinista Jones--her free spirit mother named her after the Clash album--has left school following a bizarre conflict with a teacher. Sandinista's mother has recently died in a fluke accident and the incident at school was the last straw. She's lonely and angry and lost, wrestling with violent urges.
My feelings are that a granite toad tossed through a window is a lame-ass gesture that barely constitutes revenge. My feelings are that Jesus himself would not be all turn-the-other-cheek–esque about Catherine Bennett, that he’d kick it like: Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me, so don’t be so lame and let Alecia Hardaway s-u-u-ffer.… I cannot shake this off. But what else is there to do except drive home with these bad feelings and attend to the business of the day?
She says "so long" to school and gets a job (after a truly bizarre interview) at The Pale Circus, a vintage clothing store run by the eccentric Henry Charbonneau. While working at The Pale Circus, Sandinista becomes friends with Bradley, the other employee of the shop who has secrets of his own, and makes connections with the other neighborhood characters, including a pawn shop owner, erotic candy maker and a monk.
These characters combine to create a lively story of a week in the life of a character on the edge. This is illustrated brilliantly when Sandinista visits her local gun range (yep, the gun range).
“Hello! I’m Shirley, the range master. Tell me what I can help you with. And by the way, you’re so pretty. Your hair is darling! Aren’t you a doll?” She turns and stage-whispers to the receptionist, “What a living doll!”
I smile, suckered by her compliments. “Thanks. I just wanted to learn a little bit about self-defense. I just thought I would be proactive. There are a lot of burglaries in my neighborhood.”
“This is the place! Did you bring your own firearm or do you want to rent one?”
I answer her question with my own: “I’ll rent one? I guess?”
“We’ll get it done,” Shirley says. And God bless America, I can rent a handgun simply by filling out another form and plunking down my Visa card.
This urban setting absolutely dazzles with its realism. I'm always on the lookout for fiction set in urban environments, so this was an unexpected treat. While looking through the notes in my Kindle, I found on several occasions that I'd make a notation along the lines of, "This setting seems so real!"
And, frankly, that's kind of unexpected, because on its face The Sharp Time's setting seems like it could any city, yet The Pale Circus' neighborhood is lively and distinct, without ever reading as artificially "Quirky!" and "Funky!"
Beyond the setting, each scene is beautifully crafted, jumping off the page with a cinematic* feel.
As I’m lighting a cigarette I hear rap music, loud as sirens, flooding the street, and then a Volvo wagon parks in front of Erika’s Erotic Confections. Two white college-age guys get out of the car, trailed by the sounds of Common and Kanye West: I got two kids and my baby mama late, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh. They go into Erika’s Erotic Confections, the car engine still running, the song still pumping—I did what I had to did cuz I had the kid, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh.
Each passage in this slim novel reads beautifully, yet is also purposeful.
Bright floodlights switch on, trapping us in a rhombus of golden light. Bradley looks handsome and electric and we freeze like startled, experimental lovers: Uh, what exactly are we doing?
While The Sharp Time is published by the children's imprint of Random House, I am not entirely sure that the people who will enjoy this novel the most are the YAs. More likely, I see this appealing to Gen-Xers (due to a number of eighties references) who appreciate smart, surprising contemporary fiction with literary leanings. The fact that it has a narrator who is a teen means that it could be a gateway into reading YA for folks who are turned off by the "teen fiction" label. That's not to say that some teens wouldn't enjoy The Sharp Time, but it's definitely got a more mature vibe,
I crank up the Clash all the way home, my adrenaline harnessed in perfect pitch. My gun is on the passenger seat and I am Sandinista Jones, motherfuckers, all the way home.
At its core, this is a novel about friendship and its transformative power. It's rare to find this theme trackled in fresh ways, making The Sharp Time a different little novel that's best savored for the beauty of the words.
FNL Character Rating: Early Tyra Colette, before she had Tami Taylor as a mentor. I really hope Sandinista finds her Tami and writes an amazing college essay.
*Speaking of "cinematic," Mary O'Connell is a big Friday Night Lights Fan and told me on Twitter that she even mentally cast Kyle Chandler as Henry Carbonneau. This is further evidence supporting my argument that authors who love FNL write the most awesome books. :)
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September 18, 2011
THE SHARP TIME is a brilliantly crafted YA novel that had my emotions going. I became so invested in Sandinista's complicated and heart-breaking story that I could think of nothing else while I was reading. It is so blatantly honest and real that you can't help but get sucked in. This is the first novel I have read from O'Connell and it certainly won't be the last.
Sandinista is one of those characters who will stick with you forever. Her mother, the one person she had a connection with, died in a terrible accident. Sandinista is heartbroken and a shell of her former self without her. She lost many friends during her grieving and doesn't really have anyone at all to rely on. If that wasn't bad enough, she has some serious issues involving her algebra teacher, Catherine Bennett. Catherine Bennett was an absolute monster and Sandinista has so much anger about it.
I really just wanted to cry for Sandinista. Her mother was her everything, and she is so lost without her. The thoughts she has about Catherine Bennett are so crazy that you wonder how Sandinista got herself into this mental state. Thankfully, Sandinista's new job at the Pale Circus, or more likely her coworker there, Bradley, helps her to move on and find closure in her life.
Bradley is a quirky and funny guy with whom Sandinista finds a strong friendship with. He has a few issues of his own, and I think that is why he and Sandinista were able to build a friendship. They both recognize someone with whom they can identify with. Their friendship is so sweet and touching. I was so happy that Sandinista was able to find such an amazing person like Bradley. What made me even happier was that it didn't ever veer into a romance. A relationship was the last thing Sandinista needed at that time in her life.
THE SHARP TIME is a wonderful and compelling debut that made me a fan of O'Connell's writing. It is so gorgeous and the details and characters just come to life right off the pages. Do not pass this one up!!
Sandinista is one of those characters who will stick with you forever. Her mother, the one person she had a connection with, died in a terrible accident. Sandinista is heartbroken and a shell of her former self without her. She lost many friends during her grieving and doesn't really have anyone at all to rely on. If that wasn't bad enough, she has some serious issues involving her algebra teacher, Catherine Bennett. Catherine Bennett was an absolute monster and Sandinista has so much anger about it.
I really just wanted to cry for Sandinista. Her mother was her everything, and she is so lost without her. The thoughts she has about Catherine Bennett are so crazy that you wonder how Sandinista got herself into this mental state. Thankfully, Sandinista's new job at the Pale Circus, or more likely her coworker there, Bradley, helps her to move on and find closure in her life.
Bradley is a quirky and funny guy with whom Sandinista finds a strong friendship with. He has a few issues of his own, and I think that is why he and Sandinista were able to build a friendship. They both recognize someone with whom they can identify with. Their friendship is so sweet and touching. I was so happy that Sandinista was able to find such an amazing person like Bradley. What made me even happier was that it didn't ever veer into a romance. A relationship was the last thing Sandinista needed at that time in her life.
THE SHARP TIME is a wonderful and compelling debut that made me a fan of O'Connell's writing. It is so gorgeous and the details and characters just come to life right off the pages. Do not pass this one up!!
October 4, 2012
Sandinista Jones is struggling through the loss of her mother and with the fact she can no longer handle the way her math teacher treats a fellow student who has been mainstreamed. It's straight on bullying. When Sandinista ditches school, she knows she's got to take on a job to fill her time. She takes it at Pale Circus, a vintage store in town.
Coworker Bradley quickly takes a liking to Sandinista, and the two of them spend a week together sharing their secrets with one another (fully and not-so fully). Through their friendship and sharing with each other, Sandinista begins to learn people can care about her, even if it feels like she's all alone against the world.
While the story itself is interesting, and while I found myself sympathizing with all of the weight Sandinista had to unfairly carry, the writing killed me. This is a short book, and it's over a short time span, but it took me a long time to get into. I felt so removed and distanced from the characters. While this is intentional -- Sandinista is guarded and protected and doesn't want to make her thoughts or feelings obvious -- it's also distracting. The writing is so flowery at times it's hard to even know what's going on. It took me a long time to figure out what the deal with the teacher was and
I could have used more, too, with some of the other characters. Harry was interesting and I wanted more life out of him to make the truth of his character stronger. Because ultimately, this is a book about how everyone has a kernel of truth to them other people don't see on the surface. That's why Sandinista has the feelings she does toward the behavior her teacher displays with Alecia. That's why Bradley loves the person he loves.
The references in this book were dated for me, and while I know this will certainly work for some teens, this is a hard sell of a book. It's literary but it's trying not to be so. Ultimately, I found it hard to relate to much of the story or the characters because the writing distracted me too much.
Coworker Bradley quickly takes a liking to Sandinista, and the two of them spend a week together sharing their secrets with one another (fully and not-so fully). Through their friendship and sharing with each other, Sandinista begins to learn people can care about her, even if it feels like she's all alone against the world.
While the story itself is interesting, and while I found myself sympathizing with all of the weight Sandinista had to unfairly carry, the writing killed me. This is a short book, and it's over a short time span, but it took me a long time to get into. I felt so removed and distanced from the characters. While this is intentional -- Sandinista is guarded and protected and doesn't want to make her thoughts or feelings obvious -- it's also distracting. The writing is so flowery at times it's hard to even know what's going on. It took me a long time to figure out what the deal with the teacher was and
I could have used more, too, with some of the other characters. Harry was interesting and I wanted more life out of him to make the truth of his character stronger. Because ultimately, this is a book about how everyone has a kernel of truth to them other people don't see on the surface. That's why Sandinista has the feelings she does toward the behavior her teacher displays with Alecia. That's why Bradley loves the person he loves.
The references in this book were dated for me, and while I know this will certainly work for some teens, this is a hard sell of a book. It's literary but it's trying not to be so. Ultimately, I found it hard to relate to much of the story or the characters because the writing distracted me too much.
October 29, 2011
I was not sure what to expect with this book. The premise sounded promising and the cover is a pretty rainbow of colors... but there was nothing that really stuck out for me and screamed "you have to read this book!" And I will be honest, it took a little work to get into this story. Mary O'Connell writes with flowery descriptions and a short attention span. Sandinista is brilliant as a narrator, but the reader has to work hard to keep up with her thoughts. There is no exposition and explanation to help the reader figure out what is going on with her thoughts. What really kept me moving through this book was the plot. When I figured out what happened to Sandinista in school, and what she was planning to do about it, I knew I had to keep reading and watch how it was all going to play out. Plus, as I went through the days with Sandinista, I felt a certain amount of satisfaction for sticking with the book and the writing. The story would not have been half as good if it had been written any other way.
So if you are a reader that does not have the energy to figure out every little nuance on your own, you might want to pass on this one. Stick with it, and you will find yourself thinking about it long after you finish!
So if you are a reader that does not have the energy to figure out every little nuance on your own, you might want to pass on this one. Stick with it, and you will find yourself thinking about it long after you finish!
September 26, 2011
OMGosh. This book has left me pretty much speechless. Like, I don't even know where to begin with how beautifully haunting this book was...
For me, the thing that stood out about The Sharp Time from almost every other YA book I've read was that the writing was so incredibly intelligent and just-- beautiful. Like I'm talking, jaw-droppingly, can't even believe it, beautiful. The whole time I was reading, I was totally mesmerized and just wanted to savor every word. It was like reading poetry in prose. So yeah-- the writing? Amazing-- AND it was funny! The part at the erotic cake store-- yeah, you heard me. I was dying. (Hahaha, now I know you're going to buy this book when it comes out!)
Sandinista is 18 years old, a senior in high-school. Her mother has recently died in a car accident and now she is basically alone in the world. After a horrible incident at school involving an abusive teacher, Sandinista is consumed by hatred and bitterness towards what the world has thrown at her. Luckily, she has her job at The Pale Circus, an off-beat vintage clothing store, where she meets Bradley, a boy who has his own secrets and troubles. Together, they learn to cope with the darker things in life, and find beauty in a broken world.
Sandinista's narrative was just incredible-- she was so real, so introspective, and her way of telling things the way they are was both jarring and poetic. She was witty, snarky, and extremely genuine-- she is definitely not a character you will forget! Her observations had me in a continual trance throughout the entire book-- like how could anyone be that insightful about the world and make me feel the exact same way about what she's experiencing?
Alright-- I have decided that I have to stick some quotes in this review, you just need to see what I'm talking about with this writing!
"The carmine-red flats on her high-arched feet give me the rainbow-confetti feeling of a happy ending." ~p.8
"So maybe my own life is not so drastic and dreadful... maybe I am just like all those other girls who have come before me with their oily T-zones and random terrible days and bittersweet triumphs, the world billowing out behind them." ~p.17-18
"Well. Arne cares. It's weird, to be sure, but he just met me and he cares. I see this; I see he is not from the school of smiling bleached-teeth bull****." ~p.46
"'Oh, well, absolutely I am a tattooed Catholic fancy pants. And that would not be a bad name for a blog: the Catholic Fancy Pants.'" ~p.82
"O the embittered drama of last summer now seems swathed in cotton candy, lit by pink and lavender incandescent bulbs. Had I known what the future held, I would have cherished the innocence of smashed romance and written odes celebrating my generic teenage heartache." ~p.87
Yeah. I KNOW. The WHOLE BOOK is like this-- one lyrical sentence after another, that basically had my head reeling with how brilliant and heartfelt it all was. I can't even-- **sigh.** No words. I freaking loved this book. Honestly, this is just one of those books that you have to read for yourself and experience-- I promise you, this is one novel you will not regret reading!
Lea @ LC's Adventures in Libraryland
For me, the thing that stood out about The Sharp Time from almost every other YA book I've read was that the writing was so incredibly intelligent and just-- beautiful. Like I'm talking, jaw-droppingly, can't even believe it, beautiful. The whole time I was reading, I was totally mesmerized and just wanted to savor every word. It was like reading poetry in prose. So yeah-- the writing? Amazing-- AND it was funny! The part at the erotic cake store-- yeah, you heard me. I was dying. (Hahaha, now I know you're going to buy this book when it comes out!)
Sandinista is 18 years old, a senior in high-school. Her mother has recently died in a car accident and now she is basically alone in the world. After a horrible incident at school involving an abusive teacher, Sandinista is consumed by hatred and bitterness towards what the world has thrown at her. Luckily, she has her job at The Pale Circus, an off-beat vintage clothing store, where she meets Bradley, a boy who has his own secrets and troubles. Together, they learn to cope with the darker things in life, and find beauty in a broken world.
Sandinista's narrative was just incredible-- she was so real, so introspective, and her way of telling things the way they are was both jarring and poetic. She was witty, snarky, and extremely genuine-- she is definitely not a character you will forget! Her observations had me in a continual trance throughout the entire book-- like how could anyone be that insightful about the world and make me feel the exact same way about what she's experiencing?
Alright-- I have decided that I have to stick some quotes in this review, you just need to see what I'm talking about with this writing!
"The carmine-red flats on her high-arched feet give me the rainbow-confetti feeling of a happy ending." ~p.8
"So maybe my own life is not so drastic and dreadful... maybe I am just like all those other girls who have come before me with their oily T-zones and random terrible days and bittersweet triumphs, the world billowing out behind them." ~p.17-18
"Well. Arne cares. It's weird, to be sure, but he just met me and he cares. I see this; I see he is not from the school of smiling bleached-teeth bull****." ~p.46
"'Oh, well, absolutely I am a tattooed Catholic fancy pants. And that would not be a bad name for a blog: the Catholic Fancy Pants.'" ~p.82
"O the embittered drama of last summer now seems swathed in cotton candy, lit by pink and lavender incandescent bulbs. Had I known what the future held, I would have cherished the innocence of smashed romance and written odes celebrating my generic teenage heartache." ~p.87
Yeah. I KNOW. The WHOLE BOOK is like this-- one lyrical sentence after another, that basically had my head reeling with how brilliant and heartfelt it all was. I can't even-- **sigh.** No words. I freaking loved this book. Honestly, this is just one of those books that you have to read for yourself and experience-- I promise you, this is one novel you will not regret reading!
Lea @ LC's Adventures in Libraryland
December 22, 2015
Review posted 10/25/2011 at Owl Tell You About It.
Sandinista Jones has to be one of the coolest teen narrators I’ve come across. Sure, she’s lost and bitter, but she’s also witty and real. She and her co-worker Bradley were the saving graces of an otherwise confusing book. I think the plot itself works, but the way Sandinista’s brain works sometimes lost me. Her thoughts were so clouded by anger and depression that I was left wondering what the hell was going on. I’m guessing this was a little bit intentional, but it annoyed me. I don’t like feeling uncertain about where a story is going.
I like O’Connoll’s writing. It’s descriptive and a little lyrical. I think sometimes it came off as pretentious, but I like that Sandinista was aware of that. She knew when she or Bradley or both of them were acting that way. There’s an excellent example of it when they meet on her first day working at The Pale Circus. For the most part, I enjoyed the prose. I thought the tone of it matched Sandinista’s personality perfectly.
Both Sandinista and Bradley are very complex. They’re downright confusing. I barely understood some of their actions, though Bradley is easier to figure out. They’re both dealing with some serious issues, but Bradley is more level-headed (except for the whole pot-smoking thing). Sandinista’s thoughts take some dangerous detours and Bradley ends up being her voice of reason. They’re both strong personalities though, and I think they complement each other well. They have a perfect platonic relationship. They definitely drive the story more than anything else, especially when they’re together. When Sandinista was on her own, the book dragged a little to me. I think that was partly because life was dragging for her. She was so totally alone and time always seems to pass by more slowly when you’re alone, waiting for something else to happen.
I’ve never really read a book like The Sharp Time. I’ve read plenty of realistic fiction about teens dealing with various problems. Still, this book felt pretty original and I think a lot of that is because of the personalities of the characters and the tone of the prose. It was littered with witticisms and pop-culture references that come off as annoying in other books, but worked well in this one.
Just an FYI: there’s drug use, a little underage drinking, and some major profanity in this book. It’s not really the type of book I’d give a thirteen-year-old, but it should be relatable and thought-provoking to an older teen.
Sandinista Jones has to be one of the coolest teen narrators I’ve come across. Sure, she’s lost and bitter, but she’s also witty and real. She and her co-worker Bradley were the saving graces of an otherwise confusing book. I think the plot itself works, but the way Sandinista’s brain works sometimes lost me. Her thoughts were so clouded by anger and depression that I was left wondering what the hell was going on. I’m guessing this was a little bit intentional, but it annoyed me. I don’t like feeling uncertain about where a story is going.
I like O’Connoll’s writing. It’s descriptive and a little lyrical. I think sometimes it came off as pretentious, but I like that Sandinista was aware of that. She knew when she or Bradley or both of them were acting that way. There’s an excellent example of it when they meet on her first day working at The Pale Circus. For the most part, I enjoyed the prose. I thought the tone of it matched Sandinista’s personality perfectly.
Both Sandinista and Bradley are very complex. They’re downright confusing. I barely understood some of their actions, though Bradley is easier to figure out. They’re both dealing with some serious issues, but Bradley is more level-headed (except for the whole pot-smoking thing). Sandinista’s thoughts take some dangerous detours and Bradley ends up being her voice of reason. They’re both strong personalities though, and I think they complement each other well. They have a perfect platonic relationship. They definitely drive the story more than anything else, especially when they’re together. When Sandinista was on her own, the book dragged a little to me. I think that was partly because life was dragging for her. She was so totally alone and time always seems to pass by more slowly when you’re alone, waiting for something else to happen.
I’ve never really read a book like The Sharp Time. I’ve read plenty of realistic fiction about teens dealing with various problems. Still, this book felt pretty original and I think a lot of that is because of the personalities of the characters and the tone of the prose. It was littered with witticisms and pop-culture references that come off as annoying in other books, but worked well in this one.
Just an FYI: there’s drug use, a little underage drinking, and some major profanity in this book. It’s not really the type of book I’d give a thirteen-year-old, but it should be relatable and thought-provoking to an older teen.
January 26, 2016
3.5, probably. Today I will round up, because I have an admitted weakness for the Iowa Writer's Workshop. Fair warning if you don't though - or even if you're one of those people who roll their eyes at the mention of it. (And if you've no idea what I'm talking about, just ignore this portion of the program.) It's very much a product of an author who has spent time there. Without question, it's the most literary young adult novels I've ever read. And I mean that with all due respect to the YA designation. I very much think that in a different publishing climate, it would've been published as lit fiction with teen appeal.
But that's neither here nor there. Some of the writing is stunning - to the point where I would've underlined certain sentences were I not reading a library copy. And the emotion behind it is obviously real and could be quite evocative. The relationships within the novel were also pretty great, and rang with veracity.
That being said, sometimes it felt a bit much - I was tempted to skim and at times I was very impatient with our heroine, Sandanista Jones. Ultimately not though - not by a long shot.
But that's neither here nor there. Some of the writing is stunning - to the point where I would've underlined certain sentences were I not reading a library copy. And the emotion behind it is obviously real and could be quite evocative. The relationships within the novel were also pretty great, and rang with veracity.
That being said, sometimes it felt a bit much - I was tempted to skim and at times I was very impatient with our heroine, Sandanista Jones. Ultimately not though - not by a long shot.
June 13, 2018
The first few pages, I wasn't sure I would like this book. The descriptives felt a little overdone and I imagined the author with a thesaurus pulling out too many words. The sentences ran on and on. Then it clicked. I was inside Sandinista's head. It was so different than the way my own thoughts go, that I loved being pulled in by her. I really ended up enjoying the way she described the things around her, all relating back to the incidents in her life. The long trailing thoughts were indicative of her ADD and her grief and the way she was trying to deal with life and it worked. I was impressed that the entire story took place over such a short time, yet so much happened. When I started out, I was hoping for a romance ... but in the end I was really pleased with the friendships she formed.
The fact this book is different than the norm really sets it apart and if you want to get lost in someone else's head and thoughts, give it a read.
The fact this book is different than the norm really sets it apart and if you want to get lost in someone else's head and thoughts, give it a read.
June 26, 2012
I finished. Oh thank god I'm finished.
This book took forever to read. It's short enough that I would normally have finished it in a few hours, but it took me a week to finish instead.
And the thing is, I'm not sure why. It wasn't an awful book. It just... wasn't very interesting. I felt like there wasn't anything going on in the book. Sandinista was caught up on the same thing throughout the entire book, and it got annoying. So, don't waste your time on this book. Find a better realistic fiction novel - cause there are better out there!
This book took forever to read. It's short enough that I would normally have finished it in a few hours, but it took me a week to finish instead.
And the thing is, I'm not sure why. It wasn't an awful book. It just... wasn't very interesting. I felt like there wasn't anything going on in the book. Sandinista was caught up on the same thing throughout the entire book, and it got annoying. So, don't waste your time on this book. Find a better realistic fiction novel - cause there are better out there!
March 9, 2012
Amber Wortz
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
"The Sharp Time" by Mary O'Connell is a work of fiction about a high school senior who has just lost her mother and is thrown into the world of real-life and taking care of herself. When her math teacher humiliates her in front of her entire class, she is forced to think about who really cares about her and who she really cares about. Through the help of a new friend and a special possession, she begins to find the person she knows she needs to be.
I was hooked on this book from the beginning. It is written lyrically through first person which is an important aspect because this is a poetic look at a young girl's life. I think that while the majority of teenagers will not go through exactly what Sandinista goes through in this book, most will be able to relate to the humiliation, the loneliness, and the questions that Sandinista has to ask about herself.
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
"The Sharp Time" by Mary O'Connell is a work of fiction about a high school senior who has just lost her mother and is thrown into the world of real-life and taking care of herself. When her math teacher humiliates her in front of her entire class, she is forced to think about who really cares about her and who she really cares about. Through the help of a new friend and a special possession, she begins to find the person she knows she needs to be.
I was hooked on this book from the beginning. It is written lyrically through first person which is an important aspect because this is a poetic look at a young girl's life. I think that while the majority of teenagers will not go through exactly what Sandinista goes through in this book, most will be able to relate to the humiliation, the loneliness, and the questions that Sandinista has to ask about herself.
December 9, 2011
when i first started reading this book, i was so mesmerized by the style of writing. the words were so lush, grandiose, and i couldn't put the book down. halfway through it though, the ADD aspect began to annoy me. i am sick of the words, " Have you paid attention ?" and "Sandinista, you're a real cool person, you're a real cool person everyday." granted, the character had ADD, and she seemed to not be able to not focus on either Catherine Bennett,Alecia Hardway,the pink gun, and her thoughts on the loop. but, there are some things that i love about this book. the style of writing, the use of words,and the fact that it is a different kind of love story than the other YA novels always portray; love between a girl and a boy,how they can't be together, and how they overcome the obstacles to finally, finally, be together. it's refreshing, and i am looking forward to reading her next work.
July 20, 2011
Oh my, I loved this book. I am well beyond my teenage years, and I found The Sharp Time to be so much more sophisticated than most "grown-up" books. That's Mary O'Connell's genius--she's so funny and accessible and reading her (also loved "Living With Saints") is such a delight that you forget how freaking smart she is. Sandinista is that smart, soulful girl you always wanted to know (or wish you were) in high school and the way she navigates the ragingly unfair circumstances of her life is ... well, read it and find out. I envy anyone who still gets to read this for the first time--though I am looking forward to my second!
August 17, 2012
I'm thinking of adding a new tag, "atmospheric", for this book. I could see and feel and even smell O'Connell's fictional Kansas City. Sandanista Jones and Bradley have stayed with me for several days now after finishing the book. Even the supporting characters were real, not just sketched in. I like Mary O'Connell's writing a lot, and since she lives in my favorite town, maybe I'll get to tell her so in person some day.
December 26, 2012
This book was well written. The author certainly has a way with words and phrases, and I liked Sandinista as a character. So, why only two stars? Sadinista's voice, totally inauthentic to me. I have spent the last 9 years as a librarian at two different public schools and served as the Young Adult librarian at a public library, and I have never, ever met an eighteen year old who thinks and talks like Sandinista. I was still able to enjoy the book, but not as much as I would have liked.
September 30, 2013
Really liked this one! Characters were well-defined, tension was great, loved (!) the gritty realism of the setting SO much. I think there are cultural references that might be lost on some younger readers, but not so much that it diminishes the overall effect of Sandinista's story. Definitely a keeper for me.
April 27, 2011
I will post a more thorough review a little later. But for now, Mary O'Connell has crafted a haunting tale of loss, grief, acceptance, and the strength it takes to work through it all when it seems that no one is paying attention.
October 23, 2011
This review was for my blog event Psychtember, so it's formatted a little differently than usual, to reflect the mental health theme. I've structured things as though the book is the patient and I'm giving them an assessment. Each axis is an aspect of the book that I'll give my thoughts on (characters, plot, etc.), and the validity score refers to how psychologically accurate I think the book is, with the final diagnosis being my shooting star rating. The rating still reflects my overall view of the book, using my standard rating system.
Patient: The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell
Assessment:
Axis 1. Characters
Sandinista's a one-of-a-kind protagonist: quirky, dark, edgy, cynical, with a sardonic-verging-on-bitter sense of humour. She and I are very different in personality, so while her voice is powerful and present, I had a difficult time relating to her. Her way of looking at the world is not one I can identify with, but it's one that raises lots of questions.
She's got a hard shell of protection around herself; her voice projects a "tough" image, her words continually loaded with sarcasm. It's clear that she had a close bond with her mother, and her death has left Sandinista feeling alone and desperate. You get a very strong sense of her personality, and it seems like she herself also has that strong sense of self; she sees things a certain way, and is not easily swayed by others to change her viewpoint.
Given the trouble I had connecting to Sandinista's perspective, her reaction to her teacher Mrs. Bennett's cruelty seemed extreme. Certainly the teacher was way out of line, both in terms of her continual verbal harassment of Sandinista and Alecia (her treatment of Alecia was particularly vicious, I thought), and her physical kicking of Sandinista's desk. But I wasn't feeling the venomous hatred that Sandinista was, and her obsession with revenge on the teacher — rather than a more rational course of action such as taking this to the principal or school board — didn't click with me. I had difficulty sympathizing with Sandinista's complaints about how no one from the school was getting in touch with her, when she personally had not voiced how she was treated to someone of authority. Admittedly there were plenty of witnesses, and Mrs. Bennett was undeniably in the wrong; but this inaction on Sandinista's part, followed by the festering desire to see Mrs. Bennett taken down, did not make it easier to relate to her.
Bradley is a very atypical teenager as well. He waxes philosophical on occasion, and like Sandinista has an extensive vocabulary. I must admit, while I could swallow Sandinista being so intellectual, I had a bit more difficulty believing that she would happen to find someone her age of a similar bent of mind working at the Pale Circus.
Axis 2. Premise/plot
I found the pace of this one quite sluggish, weighed down by a bit too much description for my taste (albeit well-written description). The 'revenge on Mrs. Bennett' storyline occasionally brought up the tempo a little, but then towards the end that plot sort of died, in a way I thought robbed Sandinista of making her own decision. () This resulted in the story losing its 'point,' so to speak, outside of Sandinista coming to some realizations.
Axis 3. Writing Style
O'Connell's writing style is very literary, her sentences peppered with unusual description and words you might find on the GREs (I consider my vocabulary to be quite broad, but I must admit she had me furrowing my brow a few times). There are artistic and cultural references throughout, many of which went right over my head, unfortunately. Indeed, I remember thinking that it could be read and analyzed in a classroom situation.
I also think this is one that could fall into the elusive "new adult" category. Sandinista's 18 and spends most of the book out of school. This, coupled with the high language level, could make older YA readers more likely to pick it up.
Axis 4. Psychological Accuracy
The psychological elements of The Sharp Time are not as clear-cut as some of the other books I've reviewed for this event. Sandinista mentions ADD (attention deficit disorder) once or twice, but I'm not sure if she's officially been diagnosed with it, or simply been told about her poor attention span many times before. In any case, it's a sore spot for her, one that Mrs. Bennett attacks her about again and again. Sandinista's obsession with whether or not she is "paying attention" demonstrates that this is an area she feels defensive about, regardless of whether or not she actually meets the criteria for ADD.
Which, itself, is not so obvious. We're in her head a whole lot, and yes, her thoughts do cover an expanse of topics, but I don't know that her attention span is any shorter than the average teenager's. It's made abundantly apparent that Mrs. Bennett believes Sandinista needs to pay closer attention to the task at hand; whether Sandinista is actually having difficulty doing so is another question. One of the reactions to having ADD can, however, be violence/aggression, and Sandinista certainly displays impulses in that direction.
But I think Sandinista might show signs of an adjustment disorder as well. This is a response to a "life stress" — for instance, the death of a family member or problems in school, both of which Sandinista experiences — that is more extreme than one might expect. Symptoms Sandinista arguably demonstrates include: lack of enjoyment (her general outlook on life is dark and jaded, although she does seem happy when she's with Bradley), desperation, trouble sleeping, feeling overwhelmed, skipping school, vandalizing property, and avoiding family/friends (she avoids her previous friends, anyway, although she does make new ones). (There's also a scene with reckless driving, of a sort, but seeing as this is accidental on Sandinista's part, I don't think it counts!) At any rate, she certainly seems to have a dangerous amount of anger brewing into a stalker-ish, decidedly unhealthy obsession with Mrs. Bennett.
A minor quibble: a couple of times the words "OCD" and "psychotic" are used incorrectly. It's true, these terms do pop up in daily conversations in a casual way, and they are generally not used properly. But nevertheless it irritates me. In particular: you cannot have a "psychotic smile." Psychotic refers to having hallucinations and/or delusions, and a smile cannot hallucinate much of anything.
Validity Score:
How psychologically accurate was The Sharp Time?
Axis 5. Miscellaneous
Personally, I didn't enjoy the anti-Christian barbs made by some of the characters (including Sandinista) throughout. Other readers might not mind this at all, but it soured my own impressions. I can appreciate that a lot of teens do question, criticize, and make light of religion, so Sandinista's biting and satirical observations may well be realistic of that age, but regardless, I found myself feeling offended at times. Religion is a topic that I like to see handled with care, and that didn't happen here the way I might have wished.
I felt like there was some sort of message the author was trying to send, but frankly, by the end I still wasn't really getting it. I couldn't tell if it was intentionally anti-Christian, if it was just anti-organized-religion, or something else entirely. I think Sandinista gains a better understanding of spirituality and faith, but I'm not certain what that understanding is.
Diagnosis: 3 shooting stars. Don't get me wrong — the quality of writing is high, the themes and characters nuanced and complex, and begging to be analyzed. But I didn't like many of the characters (especially Sandinista), I had some issues with the religious aspects, and the plot was ultimately a letdown.
Note: there is some mature language used in this book.
Disclaimer: I received this book for review for Psychtember from the author.
Patient: The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell
Assessment:
Axis 1. Characters
Sandinista's a one-of-a-kind protagonist: quirky, dark, edgy, cynical, with a sardonic-verging-on-bitter sense of humour. She and I are very different in personality, so while her voice is powerful and present, I had a difficult time relating to her. Her way of looking at the world is not one I can identify with, but it's one that raises lots of questions.
She's got a hard shell of protection around herself; her voice projects a "tough" image, her words continually loaded with sarcasm. It's clear that she had a close bond with her mother, and her death has left Sandinista feeling alone and desperate. You get a very strong sense of her personality, and it seems like she herself also has that strong sense of self; she sees things a certain way, and is not easily swayed by others to change her viewpoint.
Given the trouble I had connecting to Sandinista's perspective, her reaction to her teacher Mrs. Bennett's cruelty seemed extreme. Certainly the teacher was way out of line, both in terms of her continual verbal harassment of Sandinista and Alecia (her treatment of Alecia was particularly vicious, I thought), and her physical kicking of Sandinista's desk. But I wasn't feeling the venomous hatred that Sandinista was, and her obsession with revenge on the teacher — rather than a more rational course of action such as taking this to the principal or school board — didn't click with me. I had difficulty sympathizing with Sandinista's complaints about how no one from the school was getting in touch with her, when she personally had not voiced how she was treated to someone of authority. Admittedly there were plenty of witnesses, and Mrs. Bennett was undeniably in the wrong; but this inaction on Sandinista's part, followed by the festering desire to see Mrs. Bennett taken down, did not make it easier to relate to her.
Bradley is a very atypical teenager as well. He waxes philosophical on occasion, and like Sandinista has an extensive vocabulary. I must admit, while I could swallow Sandinista being so intellectual, I had a bit more difficulty believing that she would happen to find someone her age of a similar bent of mind working at the Pale Circus.
Axis 2. Premise/plot
I found the pace of this one quite sluggish, weighed down by a bit too much description for my taste (albeit well-written description). The 'revenge on Mrs. Bennett' storyline occasionally brought up the tempo a little, but then towards the end that plot sort of died, in a way I thought robbed Sandinista of making her own decision. () This resulted in the story losing its 'point,' so to speak, outside of Sandinista coming to some realizations.
Axis 3. Writing Style
O'Connell's writing style is very literary, her sentences peppered with unusual description and words you might find on the GREs (I consider my vocabulary to be quite broad, but I must admit she had me furrowing my brow a few times). There are artistic and cultural references throughout, many of which went right over my head, unfortunately. Indeed, I remember thinking that it could be read and analyzed in a classroom situation.
I also think this is one that could fall into the elusive "new adult" category. Sandinista's 18 and spends most of the book out of school. This, coupled with the high language level, could make older YA readers more likely to pick it up.
Axis 4. Psychological Accuracy
The psychological elements of The Sharp Time are not as clear-cut as some of the other books I've reviewed for this event. Sandinista mentions ADD (attention deficit disorder) once or twice, but I'm not sure if she's officially been diagnosed with it, or simply been told about her poor attention span many times before. In any case, it's a sore spot for her, one that Mrs. Bennett attacks her about again and again. Sandinista's obsession with whether or not she is "paying attention" demonstrates that this is an area she feels defensive about, regardless of whether or not she actually meets the criteria for ADD.
Which, itself, is not so obvious. We're in her head a whole lot, and yes, her thoughts do cover an expanse of topics, but I don't know that her attention span is any shorter than the average teenager's. It's made abundantly apparent that Mrs. Bennett believes Sandinista needs to pay closer attention to the task at hand; whether Sandinista is actually having difficulty doing so is another question. One of the reactions to having ADD can, however, be violence/aggression, and Sandinista certainly displays impulses in that direction.
But I think Sandinista might show signs of an adjustment disorder as well. This is a response to a "life stress" — for instance, the death of a family member or problems in school, both of which Sandinista experiences — that is more extreme than one might expect. Symptoms Sandinista arguably demonstrates include: lack of enjoyment (her general outlook on life is dark and jaded, although she does seem happy when she's with Bradley), desperation, trouble sleeping, feeling overwhelmed, skipping school, vandalizing property, and avoiding family/friends (she avoids her previous friends, anyway, although she does make new ones). (There's also a scene with reckless driving, of a sort, but seeing as this is accidental on Sandinista's part, I don't think it counts!) At any rate, she certainly seems to have a dangerous amount of anger brewing into a stalker-ish, decidedly unhealthy obsession with Mrs. Bennett.
A minor quibble: a couple of times the words "OCD" and "psychotic" are used incorrectly. It's true, these terms do pop up in daily conversations in a casual way, and they are generally not used properly. But nevertheless it irritates me. In particular: you cannot have a "psychotic smile." Psychotic refers to having hallucinations and/or delusions, and a smile cannot hallucinate much of anything.
Validity Score:
How psychologically accurate was The Sharp Time?
Axis 5. Miscellaneous
Personally, I didn't enjoy the anti-Christian barbs made by some of the characters (including Sandinista) throughout. Other readers might not mind this at all, but it soured my own impressions. I can appreciate that a lot of teens do question, criticize, and make light of religion, so Sandinista's biting and satirical observations may well be realistic of that age, but regardless, I found myself feeling offended at times. Religion is a topic that I like to see handled with care, and that didn't happen here the way I might have wished.
I felt like there was some sort of message the author was trying to send, but frankly, by the end I still wasn't really getting it. I couldn't tell if it was intentionally anti-Christian, if it was just anti-organized-religion, or something else entirely. I think Sandinista gains a better understanding of spirituality and faith, but I'm not certain what that understanding is.
Diagnosis: 3 shooting stars. Don't get me wrong — the quality of writing is high, the themes and characters nuanced and complex, and begging to be analyzed. But I didn't like many of the characters (especially Sandinista), I had some issues with the religious aspects, and the plot was ultimately a letdown.
Note: there is some mature language used in this book.
Disclaimer: I received this book for review for Psychtember from the author.
September 30, 2017
The writing in this is shit. I kept wanting the author to get to the fucking point.👎🏽
"He flailed his hands around, popping up dust motes over his head. The wild dust is lit by the sun shining between the pulled shade and the window. Before he says anything else, the dust shimmies and re-forms into the same glittering Gray plank." Pg. 93
😾 Why the fuck should we give two shit about dust!!
Get to the point!!!
Nope.
Did not finish!!
Do not care......
"He flailed his hands around, popping up dust motes over his head. The wild dust is lit by the sun shining between the pulled shade and the window. Before he says anything else, the dust shimmies and re-forms into the same glittering Gray plank." Pg. 93
😾 Why the fuck should we give two shit about dust!!
Get to the point!!!
Nope.
Did not finish!!
Do not care......
November 19, 2021
High school reading book
August 18, 2023
couldn’t even get thru the second chapter. It kept going off trail which I didn’t really like.
Read
August 17, 2012Sandinista Jones is a high school senior with a punk rock name and a broken heart. The death of her mother has left Sandinista alone in the world, isolated and vulnerable. When the school system lets her down, her grief and instability intensify, and she ponders a violent act of revenge against her teacher.
Still, in the midst of her crisis, she gets a job at the Pale Circus, a funky vintage clothing shop, and finds a kindred spirit in her coworker, Bradley, a boy struggling with his own secrets.
Even as Sandinista is losing heart, confronted repeatedly by the failures of those in authority, she is offered a chance to believe in the redemptive power of friendship. Now she must choose faith – and forgiveness – or despair and vengeance.
Readers will cheer Sandinista on as she navigates an often brutal but unexpectedly beautiful world.
I’m not quite sure what exactly drew my attention to The Sharpe Time but I thought the premise was intriguing enough to delve into it.
Sandinista was raised by her very progressive single mother who taught her to be self-reliant and open to new ideas. They had one of those envious mother-daughter relationships that provided her with plenty enough. Her life fell apart though when her mother was killed in a car accident. Now living on her own, she has become introverted. A controversial incident at school has left her disgruntled and jaded. As a result, she decides to quit school and go to work at the Pale Circus where she quickly becomes friends with Bradley who has odd habits but is very personable.
Sandinista easily throws herself into her job, finding comfort and purpose in her new routine. However, she keeps reliving the events of her last day at school and becomes fixated on the teacher with whom she had a falling out. She starts scheming of ways to confront this teacher and have her voice be heard.
The entire story takes place in one week with the author moving backward slowly threading pieces together to reveal what happened at school that made her walk away. It becomes obvious that Sandinista is hovering in limbo and in a fragile state – sort of moving forward but not really going anywhere because she's held back by that incident at school. And while she has that on constant loop in her mind she grows closer to Bradley and learns more of his darker side.
The Sharpe Time is a good book but it’s an uneasy read. As Sandinista starts making some pretty bizarre decisions, you realize just how vulnerable she is and worry that she’s going to snap at any moment. And while she’s pretty self-reliant, she’s also desperately in need of someone – particularly any authority figure at school – to care about her. In fact, it’s become an obsession that someone at school validate her worth. It’s truly a miracle that as messed up as Bradley is that he’s the one to pull her out of the fog.
Mary O’Connell has done an impeccable job of relaying these two peoples’ pain. Being inside Sandinista’s head was unsettling at times. I even held my breath not knowing which direction she was headed in, dreading the worst and hoping for the best. But there’s also great empathy for her because she is so bogged down by her grief. Bradley’s pain has evolved into resentment yet he keeps returning to that which caused it in the first place. When she realizes that pain is not an exclusive club to her, she wakes up. When that happens, there's a small sigh of relief and the pause button that has held her life in place can finally be released.
~ Bel
Still, in the midst of her crisis, she gets a job at the Pale Circus, a funky vintage clothing shop, and finds a kindred spirit in her coworker, Bradley, a boy struggling with his own secrets.
Even as Sandinista is losing heart, confronted repeatedly by the failures of those in authority, she is offered a chance to believe in the redemptive power of friendship. Now she must choose faith – and forgiveness – or despair and vengeance.
Readers will cheer Sandinista on as she navigates an often brutal but unexpectedly beautiful world.
I’m not quite sure what exactly drew my attention to The Sharpe Time but I thought the premise was intriguing enough to delve into it.
Sandinista was raised by her very progressive single mother who taught her to be self-reliant and open to new ideas. They had one of those envious mother-daughter relationships that provided her with plenty enough. Her life fell apart though when her mother was killed in a car accident. Now living on her own, she has become introverted. A controversial incident at school has left her disgruntled and jaded. As a result, she decides to quit school and go to work at the Pale Circus where she quickly becomes friends with Bradley who has odd habits but is very personable.
Sandinista easily throws herself into her job, finding comfort and purpose in her new routine. However, she keeps reliving the events of her last day at school and becomes fixated on the teacher with whom she had a falling out. She starts scheming of ways to confront this teacher and have her voice be heard.
The entire story takes place in one week with the author moving backward slowly threading pieces together to reveal what happened at school that made her walk away. It becomes obvious that Sandinista is hovering in limbo and in a fragile state – sort of moving forward but not really going anywhere because she's held back by that incident at school. And while she has that on constant loop in her mind she grows closer to Bradley and learns more of his darker side.
The Sharpe Time is a good book but it’s an uneasy read. As Sandinista starts making some pretty bizarre decisions, you realize just how vulnerable she is and worry that she’s going to snap at any moment. And while she’s pretty self-reliant, she’s also desperately in need of someone – particularly any authority figure at school – to care about her. In fact, it’s become an obsession that someone at school validate her worth. It’s truly a miracle that as messed up as Bradley is that he’s the one to pull her out of the fog.
Mary O’Connell has done an impeccable job of relaying these two peoples’ pain. Being inside Sandinista’s head was unsettling at times. I even held my breath not knowing which direction she was headed in, dreading the worst and hoping for the best. But there’s also great empathy for her because she is so bogged down by her grief. Bradley’s pain has evolved into resentment yet he keeps returning to that which caused it in the first place. When she realizes that pain is not an exclusive club to her, she wakes up. When that happens, there's a small sigh of relief and the pause button that has held her life in place can finally be released.
~ Bel
September 16, 2011
Posted on Book Chelle.
3.5 but rounded up.
The Sharp Time by Mary O’Connel is a week filled of strong emotions. Eighteen year-old Sandinista Jones is filled with pain and grief. She lives alone in Kansas City. She lost her mother not too long ago, and there is nothing in her life that gives her hope or self-worth.
After an altercation at school, Sandinista questions and analyzes her life. Piece by piece, she relives through her past, attempts to cope, and definitely, longs for her mother. She is bitter, emotionally distraught, and in the midst of solitude. Each day passes with hope that someone will reach out for her and simply ask if she is okay.
She fills her time by working at the Pale Circus, a vintage clothes shop, planted in the middle of Thirty-Eighth Street. With its sherbet colored walls, the Pale Circus serves as the only glimmer of color in Sandinista’s life. It is at her time at the Pale Circus that she reconnects with people.
The Sharp Time has a very unique supporting cast, starting with Bradley. Bradley, her co-worker and her friend. Someone that she opens up to and seeks solace with, Bradley serves as the voice of reason. The other characters include Henry Charbonneau, her boss, a monk or two, an erotic confectionery baker, and others on the street that will leave you puzzled. But she slowly creates her own version of a family. A very dysfunctional family, but one that could possibly care for her.
While this book is full of somber, it is also full of quirk. O’Connell knows when it is too heavy for the heart and inserts a wonderful quote to make you smile. For me, it started with “Miss Sandinista Jones. I would have hired you for your name alone, even if you were a serial killer or a chronic shoplifter.” One of my favorite quotes of the book is, “As it turns out, the whole love thing doesn’t really leave because you will it to. I don’t know what to do.” But the quote that resonated through the book was, “Who, who are you?”
Sandinista lives each day wondering who she is, where she came from, and the most important question, what she will be tomorrow. It is not easy to have a book filled with so much grief, denial, and anger, but O’Connell does it in such a way that you feel every emotion Sandinista feels. All of your own experiences, feelings, faith is thrown out the window once you read through the eyes of Sandinista.
I felt lost at times, but so was the protagonist. I felt her pain and confusion surrounding the death of her mother, and I suppose the death of her life. So many emotions were felt while reading this book. I’m not sure that I could sleep easy, while still feeling this way. The Sharp Time is paced really well for only having a timeline of a week. It doesn’t feel rushed, nor does it feel like there is so much information.
I know why people gravitate towards this book. O’Connel understands what grief is like and how to live life afterwards. She knows how to tell the tale of a young girl who is lost without her mother, and in essence who is lost without who she was before. Each character had a story, one that I became emotionally invested in equally.
I cried when I didn’t want to. I suffered when I was alone. And in the end, I grieved for Sandinista. The Sharp Time was a mesmerizing and powerful read.
Thank you Around The World Tours and Princess Bookie for letting me be a part of this tour.
3.5 but rounded up.
The Sharp Time by Mary O’Connel is a week filled of strong emotions. Eighteen year-old Sandinista Jones is filled with pain and grief. She lives alone in Kansas City. She lost her mother not too long ago, and there is nothing in her life that gives her hope or self-worth.
After an altercation at school, Sandinista questions and analyzes her life. Piece by piece, she relives through her past, attempts to cope, and definitely, longs for her mother. She is bitter, emotionally distraught, and in the midst of solitude. Each day passes with hope that someone will reach out for her and simply ask if she is okay.
She fills her time by working at the Pale Circus, a vintage clothes shop, planted in the middle of Thirty-Eighth Street. With its sherbet colored walls, the Pale Circus serves as the only glimmer of color in Sandinista’s life. It is at her time at the Pale Circus that she reconnects with people.
The Sharp Time has a very unique supporting cast, starting with Bradley. Bradley, her co-worker and her friend. Someone that she opens up to and seeks solace with, Bradley serves as the voice of reason. The other characters include Henry Charbonneau, her boss, a monk or two, an erotic confectionery baker, and others on the street that will leave you puzzled. But she slowly creates her own version of a family. A very dysfunctional family, but one that could possibly care for her.
While this book is full of somber, it is also full of quirk. O’Connell knows when it is too heavy for the heart and inserts a wonderful quote to make you smile. For me, it started with “Miss Sandinista Jones. I would have hired you for your name alone, even if you were a serial killer or a chronic shoplifter.” One of my favorite quotes of the book is, “As it turns out, the whole love thing doesn’t really leave because you will it to. I don’t know what to do.” But the quote that resonated through the book was, “Who, who are you?”
Sandinista lives each day wondering who she is, where she came from, and the most important question, what she will be tomorrow. It is not easy to have a book filled with so much grief, denial, and anger, but O’Connell does it in such a way that you feel every emotion Sandinista feels. All of your own experiences, feelings, faith is thrown out the window once you read through the eyes of Sandinista.
I felt lost at times, but so was the protagonist. I felt her pain and confusion surrounding the death of her mother, and I suppose the death of her life. So many emotions were felt while reading this book. I’m not sure that I could sleep easy, while still feeling this way. The Sharp Time is paced really well for only having a timeline of a week. It doesn’t feel rushed, nor does it feel like there is so much information.
I know why people gravitate towards this book. O’Connel understands what grief is like and how to live life afterwards. She knows how to tell the tale of a young girl who is lost without her mother, and in essence who is lost without who she was before. Each character had a story, one that I became emotionally invested in equally.
I cried when I didn’t want to. I suffered when I was alone. And in the end, I grieved for Sandinista. The Sharp Time was a mesmerizing and powerful read.
Thank you Around The World Tours and Princess Bookie for letting me be a part of this tour.
Read
September 22, 2012Finished: 9/18/12
Review to come :)
9/21/12
Sandinista is a defiant, searching, sarcastic, dark, and open-minded spirit. She’s a spec that’s seizes to exist, yet her irrelevance makes her the most important aspect of “The Sharp Time.”
“The Sharp Time,” begins with Sandinista’s job “interview” for her favorite vintage clothing store, if you can even call it that. She’s shooed away from the store, and asked to write about why she deserves the job. Any other person I know, might’ve come back the next day, or the day after with a neatly written paragraph or two. But, never fear, Sandinista’s here! She storms up a quick paragraph, and marches back up to the store owner. Nevertheless, she’s hired. Not for exquisite taste - no, but for her name! Lucky, lucky. Though she pretty much looks like the epitome of confidence, and put-togetherness, Sandinista has a few monsters under the bed.
She and her mom were involved in a car crash, resulting from a Cutlass that had jumped the curb. She survived, but her mother didn’t. Her father killed himself a month after, leaving her alone in her house, and the world. She gets by each day doing just that, getting by. Until, one unlikely Monday - everything changes. A crazy teacher wakes her up to her sad, miserable, reality, and every word that was uttered haunts her for the rest of week. Guilty thoughts, and repressed memories lead her to an old, vintage clothing store, where she gets a job, and makes a friend that has some monsters of his own.
Throughout the novel, Sandinista struggles with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Her thoughts, life, concerns, and mind tend to wander quite a bit. There’s no doubt that Sandinista, isn’t like any other troubled eighteen-year-old girl. What ends up making her special, are her unique perspectives, and train-of-thoughts. At first I was a bit confused, and irritated about how all-over-the-place her thoughts were, but as I began to read on, I realized that what was just an irrelevant thought, had a link to something bigger, with much more meaning.
I, without a doubt, judged this book by its cover. But, how can you not?! The cover says SO much, with SO little. I really enjoyed “The Sharp Time,” I was a bit aggravated by the lack of kick-ass action, and a love interest, however, that was all made up for with Sandinista’s extraordinarily, well-developed character. My advice? When you clear up a bit of that never-ending, TBR-list, read “The Sharp Time.”
If you hate it, then you might need to fill out one of these to verify that you're human.
4 stars - More reviews at our blog: http://characterized.blogspot.com/
(:
Review to come :)
9/21/12
Sandinista is a defiant, searching, sarcastic, dark, and open-minded spirit. She’s a spec that’s seizes to exist, yet her irrelevance makes her the most important aspect of “The Sharp Time.”
“The Sharp Time,” begins with Sandinista’s job “interview” for her favorite vintage clothing store, if you can even call it that. She’s shooed away from the store, and asked to write about why she deserves the job. Any other person I know, might’ve come back the next day, or the day after with a neatly written paragraph or two. But, never fear, Sandinista’s here! She storms up a quick paragraph, and marches back up to the store owner. Nevertheless, she’s hired. Not for exquisite taste - no, but for her name! Lucky, lucky. Though she pretty much looks like the epitome of confidence, and put-togetherness, Sandinista has a few monsters under the bed.
She and her mom were involved in a car crash, resulting from a Cutlass that had jumped the curb. She survived, but her mother didn’t. Her father killed himself a month after, leaving her alone in her house, and the world. She gets by each day doing just that, getting by. Until, one unlikely Monday - everything changes. A crazy teacher wakes her up to her sad, miserable, reality, and every word that was uttered haunts her for the rest of week. Guilty thoughts, and repressed memories lead her to an old, vintage clothing store, where she gets a job, and makes a friend that has some monsters of his own.
Throughout the novel, Sandinista struggles with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Her thoughts, life, concerns, and mind tend to wander quite a bit. There’s no doubt that Sandinista, isn’t like any other troubled eighteen-year-old girl. What ends up making her special, are her unique perspectives, and train-of-thoughts. At first I was a bit confused, and irritated about how all-over-the-place her thoughts were, but as I began to read on, I realized that what was just an irrelevant thought, had a link to something bigger, with much more meaning.
I, without a doubt, judged this book by its cover. But, how can you not?! The cover says SO much, with SO little. I really enjoyed “The Sharp Time,” I was a bit aggravated by the lack of kick-ass action, and a love interest, however, that was all made up for with Sandinista’s extraordinarily, well-developed character. My advice? When you clear up a bit of that never-ending, TBR-list, read “The Sharp Time.”
If you hate it, then you might need to fill out one of these to verify that you're human.
4 stars - More reviews at our blog: http://characterized.blogspot.com/
(:
January 17, 2012
The Sharp Time is about Sandinista Jones, an 18-year-old girl who has recently lost her mother to a random accident. The Sharp Time covers a tumultuous and eventful week in Sandinista's life, when Monday, after an encounter with her algebra teacher Catherine Bennet, she decides to drop out of school. Instead of going home to sulk, Sandinista applies for a job at the Pale Circus, a whimsical and colorful vintage clothing store on 38th Street.
This book is made entertaining by the cast of characters Sandinista meets throughout her week on 38th Street. First, is Henry Charbonneau, owner of the Pale Circus. Henry is an extraordinarily good-looking, wealthy, and eccentric gay man, who makes Sandinista write her application with colored pencils on a large board. My guess is that Mary O'Connell has an affinity for clothing, because only someone who loves clothing as much as I do could describe Sandinista's feelings upon entering the Pale Circus in such eloquent detail.
Next, is Arne, the owner of the pawn shop Second Chances?, which is next door to the Pale Circus. Arne connects with Sandinista immediately, and gives her a gift that transforms Sandinista and her week. Bradley, her colleague at the Pale Circus, is a pothead and flamboyant college-aged young man. He fears going to hell for not letting people use the private bathroom at the Pale Circus. Another wild resident of 38th Street: Erika, the naughty confectioner who seeks revenge on misogynist young men who buy her cakes by including Comet dish powder in her cake frosting. And of course, the monks. Because, on 38th Street, in addition to a vintage store, a pawn shop, and the naughty confectioner, is a monastery, home to monks who walk up and down the street and sell jams.
The descriptions in this book are ethereal and joyful to read. It is filled with metaphor and extravagant descriptions, that I found enjoyable. However, I started to lose interest about halfway through the book - getting slightly irritated with Sandinista's single-minded focus on her evil teacher Catherine Bennett, and one of her classmates, Alecia Hardaway. Nonetheless, I would absolutely recommend this book. Sandinista Jones is a unique individual, and the motley crew surrounding her is so much fun to read about.
Favorite quotes:
Sandinista's mother, talking about her conception: "This was the eighties, Sandinista, when sex with a near stranger seemed feminist and daring, not self-harming and slutty. Actually, in truth it's probably all those things" (57).
Henry Charbonneau, introducing Sandinista to his lovah: "This is the new girl... Is she not a peach?... Is she not a little doll in the house of life?" (69).
Sandinista, describing Erika's chocolates, "...it's warm and sweet and savory, comforting but also interesting, like you hope the world will be" (109).
"Without speaking, we--we! the sweetest of pronouns--pull our feet off the snow at the same time and the sled takes off with a swoooosh, my arms around Bradley, Christ in my mouth and birds in my stomach as we fly into morning" (215).
This book is made entertaining by the cast of characters Sandinista meets throughout her week on 38th Street. First, is Henry Charbonneau, owner of the Pale Circus. Henry is an extraordinarily good-looking, wealthy, and eccentric gay man, who makes Sandinista write her application with colored pencils on a large board. My guess is that Mary O'Connell has an affinity for clothing, because only someone who loves clothing as much as I do could describe Sandinista's feelings upon entering the Pale Circus in such eloquent detail.
Next, is Arne, the owner of the pawn shop Second Chances?, which is next door to the Pale Circus. Arne connects with Sandinista immediately, and gives her a gift that transforms Sandinista and her week. Bradley, her colleague at the Pale Circus, is a pothead and flamboyant college-aged young man. He fears going to hell for not letting people use the private bathroom at the Pale Circus. Another wild resident of 38th Street: Erika, the naughty confectioner who seeks revenge on misogynist young men who buy her cakes by including Comet dish powder in her cake frosting. And of course, the monks. Because, on 38th Street, in addition to a vintage store, a pawn shop, and the naughty confectioner, is a monastery, home to monks who walk up and down the street and sell jams.
The descriptions in this book are ethereal and joyful to read. It is filled with metaphor and extravagant descriptions, that I found enjoyable. However, I started to lose interest about halfway through the book - getting slightly irritated with Sandinista's single-minded focus on her evil teacher Catherine Bennett, and one of her classmates, Alecia Hardaway. Nonetheless, I would absolutely recommend this book. Sandinista Jones is a unique individual, and the motley crew surrounding her is so much fun to read about.
Favorite quotes:
Sandinista's mother, talking about her conception: "This was the eighties, Sandinista, when sex with a near stranger seemed feminist and daring, not self-harming and slutty. Actually, in truth it's probably all those things" (57).
Henry Charbonneau, introducing Sandinista to his lovah: "This is the new girl... Is she not a peach?... Is she not a little doll in the house of life?" (69).
Sandinista, describing Erika's chocolates, "...it's warm and sweet and savory, comforting but also interesting, like you hope the world will be" (109).
"Without speaking, we--we! the sweetest of pronouns--pull our feet off the snow at the same time and the sled takes off with a swoooosh, my arms around Bradley, Christ in my mouth and birds in my stomach as we fly into morning" (215).
January 14, 2012
This is the authors first book which came out in 2011.
This was a great book! It happens over the course of a week and there is so much in this story.
The MC, Sandanista, named after the Clash album, has recently lost her mother and so is now living on her own (she is 18-a senior in HS). The book tells us about a day at school when her alegbra teacher attacks her verbally and phsically, by kicking the desk Sandinista is sitting in. Thus begins our story.
Sandinista walks out of class and out of school and promptly goes and appies for a job at a second-hand store, which she gets on the spot. She has no intentions of going back to school, but every intention of getting revenge on the teacher who did this to her. (and who has been doing this to another girl in the class who is mentally challenged). Sandinista feels she has to stick up for the girl, Alecia, as well as for herself.
The day Sandinista walks out of school and applies for the job she walks into a thrift store of sorts and comes across a case full of handguns. She is so enthralled with these handguns that it actually shocks her. But what comes next really upset me and was so unrealistic. I would have to say this one thing is what prevented me from giving this book 5 stars. Probably because I come from a home where my husband collects guns and is very big of the safety of them.
Sandinista begins fantasizing of ways to get revenge and this takes up all of her days. No matter what she is doing she cannot seem to stop thinking about it. I would say she is a little obsessed. Her thoughts are kind of scary and Columbine is mentioned briefly in the story.
Besides for obsession with the teacher, she is also making a friend at the store she works at. Bradley. I really loved the friendship the two of them have. It is instantaneous and real. They get each other and Bradley is oh, so fun. Something Sandinista needs to take her mind off of things.
During the course of the week we follow Sandinista around with her day to day things. The thoughts in her head and the fantasies in her mind. Bradley and her discover so many things about themselves and each other.
I love the store that she works in and I love her sense of style. That really added to the book. I liked that the book was raw on the way she was feeling. Still trying to cope with the loss of her mother and then the incident that happened at school. She is feeling so many different things, but still trying to remain strong, tough. I like that it takes place over a week and in that week you are introduced to a quite a few different characters who are so well liked. I really wish I knew people like that. You see how her relationships with these characters develope and the inpact it has on her.
There is so much in this book. The meaning is so deep and the author executed this story perfectly.
This was a great book! It happens over the course of a week and there is so much in this story.
The MC, Sandanista, named after the Clash album, has recently lost her mother and so is now living on her own (she is 18-a senior in HS). The book tells us about a day at school when her alegbra teacher attacks her verbally and phsically, by kicking the desk Sandinista is sitting in. Thus begins our story.
Sandinista walks out of class and out of school and promptly goes and appies for a job at a second-hand store, which she gets on the spot. She has no intentions of going back to school, but every intention of getting revenge on the teacher who did this to her. (and who has been doing this to another girl in the class who is mentally challenged). Sandinista feels she has to stick up for the girl, Alecia, as well as for herself.
The day Sandinista walks out of school and applies for the job she walks into a thrift store of sorts and comes across a case full of handguns. She is so enthralled with these handguns that it actually shocks her. But what comes next really upset me and was so unrealistic. I would have to say this one thing is what prevented me from giving this book 5 stars. Probably because I come from a home where my husband collects guns and is very big of the safety of them.
Sandinista begins fantasizing of ways to get revenge and this takes up all of her days. No matter what she is doing she cannot seem to stop thinking about it. I would say she is a little obsessed. Her thoughts are kind of scary and Columbine is mentioned briefly in the story.
Besides for obsession with the teacher, she is also making a friend at the store she works at. Bradley. I really loved the friendship the two of them have. It is instantaneous and real. They get each other and Bradley is oh, so fun. Something Sandinista needs to take her mind off of things.
During the course of the week we follow Sandinista around with her day to day things. The thoughts in her head and the fantasies in her mind. Bradley and her discover so many things about themselves and each other.
I love the store that she works in and I love her sense of style. That really added to the book. I liked that the book was raw on the way she was feeling. Still trying to cope with the loss of her mother and then the incident that happened at school. She is feeling so many different things, but still trying to remain strong, tough. I like that it takes place over a week and in that week you are introduced to a quite a few different characters who are so well liked. I really wish I knew people like that. You see how her relationships with these characters develope and the inpact it has on her.
There is so much in this book. The meaning is so deep and the author executed this story perfectly.
December 4, 2011
One thing pops in my head now when I see this book cover:
"Sandinista, are you paying attention?"
I really really liked Sandinista. Mary O'Connell has made a character that I would love to have a whole series of books featuring her. Like.. Sandinista goes off to college...Sandinista goes to France..Sandinista's Engaged!
I'm not sure I can even explain Sandinista. She just doesn't have a boring plain thought. hmm.. here's a couple quotes from her that caught my eye.
"Because surely a teacher cannot really live deep down in the heart of Crazyville, though they sure do like to visit that town, especially when they are the only full-fledged adult in the room."
"Any guy that has sex with me before giving me ye olde "You're beautiful and smart but this is just not a good time for me" is safe; he will not spontaneously combust as he walks down the street with some shiny new girl. Because I will have my Jesus-y creep-show miracle, the old stone rolling back from the tomb, yes I will."
(a little set up for this quote. She's going though a list of items that she just had to buy at target.)
"...all the products that used to magically appear on the bathroom shelves. Well, what had I thought? That tampons were a perpetually replicating species, packed cotton peeking out from the slit end of the plastic applicator, coquettish and looking for a suitable mate?"
I wanted to hear every thought of Sandinista, every sassy little thing she said inside her head!
So with that being said....
I enjoyed the story , but felt bringing in Bradley's "story" wasn't needed and felt kinda forced.
I'd give Sandinista a 5, because she is "like something thrown from the furnace of a star."
Her work place, Pale Circus, (which I need to warn you, do NOT eat any of the cute little circus peanuts sitting next to the cash register, germs! and that's all I'm saying) I'd give a 5, because it's spun-sugar vintage couture darlings!
The book in a whole...
*Note to self - I must read more by this author = )
"Sandinista, are you paying attention?"
I really really liked Sandinista. Mary O'Connell has made a character that I would love to have a whole series of books featuring her. Like.. Sandinista goes off to college...Sandinista goes to France..Sandinista's Engaged!
I'm not sure I can even explain Sandinista. She just doesn't have a boring plain thought. hmm.. here's a couple quotes from her that caught my eye.
"Because surely a teacher cannot really live deep down in the heart of Crazyville, though they sure do like to visit that town, especially when they are the only full-fledged adult in the room."
"Any guy that has sex with me before giving me ye olde "You're beautiful and smart but this is just not a good time for me" is safe; he will not spontaneously combust as he walks down the street with some shiny new girl. Because I will have my Jesus-y creep-show miracle, the old stone rolling back from the tomb, yes I will."
(a little set up for this quote. She's going though a list of items that she just had to buy at target.)
"...all the products that used to magically appear on the bathroom shelves. Well, what had I thought? That tampons were a perpetually replicating species, packed cotton peeking out from the slit end of the plastic applicator, coquettish and looking for a suitable mate?"
I wanted to hear every thought of Sandinista, every sassy little thing she said inside her head!
So with that being said....
I enjoyed the story , but felt bringing in Bradley's "story" wasn't needed and felt kinda forced.
I'd give Sandinista a 5, because she is "like something thrown from the furnace of a star."
Her work place, Pale Circus, (which I need to warn you, do NOT eat any of the cute little circus peanuts sitting next to the cash register, germs! and that's all I'm saying) I'd give a 5, because it's spun-sugar vintage couture darlings!
The book in a whole...
*Note to self - I must read more by this author = )
March 15, 2013
I've been staring at the screen trying to figure out how to explain this book for way too long already. I still don't know what to make of it. The Sharp Time is strange, and it kept going back and forth between being too weird for me and being amazing in a very unique way. But ultimately, while there are things I didn't understand, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the weirdness of it all.
The writing is what carries the novel. Even when I was confused and didn't know what was going on, I always marveled at the pure beauty of the words. The author's words are mesmerizing, they did something to my mind, because I honestly couldn't stop reading. Mary O'Connell's style won't work for everyone - it's mainly stream of consciousness, and I know that wouldn't work for some readers. But I for one loved it; Sandinista's pain is presented in a raw and honest way, making her a character that I grew to feel for and love. There were parts where I felt kind of removed from the story and our main character, but I didn't mind - that helped emphasize the guarded, hardened aspect of Sandinista's character. And like I said, even when I couldn't relate to the story, I still enjoyed the writing, which is simply gorgeous.
I loved the secondary characters, too. Each of them has their own story that we only get a tiny glimpse of. I can see how this might disappoint some readers, and I, too, would have loved to get to know some of them more, but I loved the little bit of insight we got into their lives. The portrayal of the secondary characters contributes to the overall feeling that this is less a story with beginning and ending and more just a portrayal of one week in real people's lives.
If you need a fully-developed plot, The Sharp Time probably isn't for you because, to be honest, I have no idea what happens in the novel. There really isn't much of a plot - the novel is just Sandinista's thoughts, going around and around and around. Sandinista ponders the same things over and over again, which sounds boring but somehow works - that's just the obsessive way she thinks, and I loved being inside a mind like that.
The Sharp Time is not your typical YA novel. There's no romance, no real coming-of-age; we just spend a week inside the mind of a deeply disturbed girl. There's no action; we simply get raw, honest feelings. It's a strange story, but it's somehow fascinating, mesmerizing - I couldn't stop reading. If you like literary YA and want a unique, original novel, The Sharp Time is definitely for you.
Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...
The writing is what carries the novel. Even when I was confused and didn't know what was going on, I always marveled at the pure beauty of the words. The author's words are mesmerizing, they did something to my mind, because I honestly couldn't stop reading. Mary O'Connell's style won't work for everyone - it's mainly stream of consciousness, and I know that wouldn't work for some readers. But I for one loved it; Sandinista's pain is presented in a raw and honest way, making her a character that I grew to feel for and love. There were parts where I felt kind of removed from the story and our main character, but I didn't mind - that helped emphasize the guarded, hardened aspect of Sandinista's character. And like I said, even when I couldn't relate to the story, I still enjoyed the writing, which is simply gorgeous.
I loved the secondary characters, too. Each of them has their own story that we only get a tiny glimpse of. I can see how this might disappoint some readers, and I, too, would have loved to get to know some of them more, but I loved the little bit of insight we got into their lives. The portrayal of the secondary characters contributes to the overall feeling that this is less a story with beginning and ending and more just a portrayal of one week in real people's lives.
If you need a fully-developed plot, The Sharp Time probably isn't for you because, to be honest, I have no idea what happens in the novel. There really isn't much of a plot - the novel is just Sandinista's thoughts, going around and around and around. Sandinista ponders the same things over and over again, which sounds boring but somehow works - that's just the obsessive way she thinks, and I loved being inside a mind like that.
The Sharp Time is not your typical YA novel. There's no romance, no real coming-of-age; we just spend a week inside the mind of a deeply disturbed girl. There's no action; we simply get raw, honest feelings. It's a strange story, but it's somehow fascinating, mesmerizing - I couldn't stop reading. If you like literary YA and want a unique, original novel, The Sharp Time is definitely for you.
Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...
December 23, 2011
This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.
The death of her beloved mother and the constant failures and shortcomings of the world around her leaves Sandinista caught between constant defeatism and rage. On the weird and wonderful Thirty-Eighth street, plans for violent revenge take root and a redemptive friendship is formed.
Sandinista had one of the most capturing and passionate voices I've ever read. Everything she was feeling was laid out bare -- her pleas, her grief, the memory are you paying attention? on repeat. She was profoundly angry and profoundly melancholic, and it never even needed to be said, the mood was so effectively created. The writing had the feel of a stream of consciousness, so raw from the perspective of someone so haunted.
Beyond being so easily sympathetic, Sandinista was a relateable protagonist struggling with a relevant issue. Her loss of faith in authority figures and burgeoning desire for retribution articulated feelings the audience is very familiar with. So much about Sandinista's journey was deeply affecting.
The story demonstrated the potential for redemption and solace in the relationships in others; a touching thing for the profoundly lonely Sandinista to come to realise. Her relationship with Bradley had a realistic and gritty dynamic, and the way their bond strengthened through the comfort they eventually found in each other was warming.
On top of being teeming with the heavy, how-can-she-bear-to-carry-this emotion, the writing style is wonderfully clever. Articulate and poetic and wry and so, so clever. "...a squinting owlish lover wondering 'who, who, who are you?'" O'Connell's first novel demonstrated a talent for writing not bestowed upon many debut authors. She subtly creates feeling, such as the thick tension, and builds it gradually and carefully into something almost tangible.
The setting is brought to life with vivacity and stunning imagery. The alternative and surreal thirty-eighth street -- home to an erotic bakery, a monastery, and the vintage clothes store The Pale Circus that Sandinista finds peace working it -- is described evocatively and personified as this comforting maternal figure to Sandinista.
The Sharp Time was a gritty glimpse into the life of someone filled with an emotion YA doesn't often delve into. Grief is well-covered, ditto hopelessness, loneliness, longing. Sandinista's anger is well conveyed and sympathetic, her story detailed intimately, and the message proved touching and relevant.
The death of her beloved mother and the constant failures and shortcomings of the world around her leaves Sandinista caught between constant defeatism and rage. On the weird and wonderful Thirty-Eighth street, plans for violent revenge take root and a redemptive friendship is formed.
Sandinista had one of the most capturing and passionate voices I've ever read. Everything she was feeling was laid out bare -- her pleas, her grief, the memory are you paying attention? on repeat. She was profoundly angry and profoundly melancholic, and it never even needed to be said, the mood was so effectively created. The writing had the feel of a stream of consciousness, so raw from the perspective of someone so haunted.
Beyond being so easily sympathetic, Sandinista was a relateable protagonist struggling with a relevant issue. Her loss of faith in authority figures and burgeoning desire for retribution articulated feelings the audience is very familiar with. So much about Sandinista's journey was deeply affecting.
The story demonstrated the potential for redemption and solace in the relationships in others; a touching thing for the profoundly lonely Sandinista to come to realise. Her relationship with Bradley had a realistic and gritty dynamic, and the way their bond strengthened through the comfort they eventually found in each other was warming.
On top of being teeming with the heavy, how-can-she-bear-to-carry-this emotion, the writing style is wonderfully clever. Articulate and poetic and wry and so, so clever. "...a squinting owlish lover wondering 'who, who, who are you?'" O'Connell's first novel demonstrated a talent for writing not bestowed upon many debut authors. She subtly creates feeling, such as the thick tension, and builds it gradually and carefully into something almost tangible.
The setting is brought to life with vivacity and stunning imagery. The alternative and surreal thirty-eighth street -- home to an erotic bakery, a monastery, and the vintage clothes store The Pale Circus that Sandinista finds peace working it -- is described evocatively and personified as this comforting maternal figure to Sandinista.
The Sharp Time was a gritty glimpse into the life of someone filled with an emotion YA doesn't often delve into. Grief is well-covered, ditto hopelessness, loneliness, longing. Sandinista's anger is well conveyed and sympathetic, her story detailed intimately, and the message proved touching and relevant.
January 11, 2012
In the past year I’ve read books that are smart, strange, sad, funny. Yet Mary O’Connell’s teen novel The Sharp Time takes the cake for "loveliest."
First, there’s the heroine’s name: Sandinista Jones. Next, you’ve got the frothy sweet vintage couture she wears to her job at The Pale Circus. And did I mention her teenage crush on the boy with a tiny crucifix tattooed to the pad of his thumb?
Much has been made of the fact that O’Connell is a graduate of the same Iowa Writer’s Workshop that produced Kurt Vonnegut and Flannery O’Connor. And sure, it makes sense when you consider how tightly each phrase of The Sharp Time is written, and the quiet poetry of seemingly inconsequential details like the fermented bottle of organic carrot juice that Sandinista keeps in her fridge to remind her of her recently killed mother. But the part that seems so un-workshoppy is the punk rock vibe of the heroine’s salty inner monologue. Witness Sandinista on applying for a new job: "I was about to go all Marcel Proust on his ass."
Then there were the parts that surprised me – the monks and the saints, which shape the whole story in a sense, but in a way that will satisfy both believers and non-believers alike. These religious, saintly figures serve as a parable for O’Connell’s core message that mercy and compassion exist, even for punk rock girls in vintage couture with dead moms: “I can tell you’re full of sorrows. But the sharp time passes.”
But my favorite reason for loving The Sharp Time is the sweet, magical little universe O’Connell has imagined on Kansas City’s 38th Street – The Pale Circus vintage clothing store. The Second Chance? pawn shop. Erika’s Erotic Confections. The Trappist monks up the hill who make raspberry jam. If you blink, you might miss it, but partway through the book O’Connell reveals that Henry Charbonneau, the impeccably dressed vintage connoisseur, and Arne, the rough-around-the-edges pawnshop proprietor, are in a book club together. They’ve been reading the poem "The Monk’s Insomnia" by Denis Johnson: "A boy sets out like something thrown from the furnace of a star."
I love The Sharp Time mostly because I want to go to 38th Street and sit in on Henry Charbonneau and Arne's book club. Then I want to head over to Erika's Erotic Confections for one of Erika’s eye-popping banana curry chocolates. But I'll avoid her pale green frosting. You would, too, if you'd already read The Sharp Time.
First, there’s the heroine’s name: Sandinista Jones. Next, you’ve got the frothy sweet vintage couture she wears to her job at The Pale Circus. And did I mention her teenage crush on the boy with a tiny crucifix tattooed to the pad of his thumb?
Much has been made of the fact that O’Connell is a graduate of the same Iowa Writer’s Workshop that produced Kurt Vonnegut and Flannery O’Connor. And sure, it makes sense when you consider how tightly each phrase of The Sharp Time is written, and the quiet poetry of seemingly inconsequential details like the fermented bottle of organic carrot juice that Sandinista keeps in her fridge to remind her of her recently killed mother. But the part that seems so un-workshoppy is the punk rock vibe of the heroine’s salty inner monologue. Witness Sandinista on applying for a new job: "I was about to go all Marcel Proust on his ass."
Then there were the parts that surprised me – the monks and the saints, which shape the whole story in a sense, but in a way that will satisfy both believers and non-believers alike. These religious, saintly figures serve as a parable for O’Connell’s core message that mercy and compassion exist, even for punk rock girls in vintage couture with dead moms: “I can tell you’re full of sorrows. But the sharp time passes.”
But my favorite reason for loving The Sharp Time is the sweet, magical little universe O’Connell has imagined on Kansas City’s 38th Street – The Pale Circus vintage clothing store. The Second Chance? pawn shop. Erika’s Erotic Confections. The Trappist monks up the hill who make raspberry jam. If you blink, you might miss it, but partway through the book O’Connell reveals that Henry Charbonneau, the impeccably dressed vintage connoisseur, and Arne, the rough-around-the-edges pawnshop proprietor, are in a book club together. They’ve been reading the poem "The Monk’s Insomnia" by Denis Johnson: "A boy sets out like something thrown from the furnace of a star."
I love The Sharp Time mostly because I want to go to 38th Street and sit in on Henry Charbonneau and Arne's book club. Then I want to head over to Erika's Erotic Confections for one of Erika’s eye-popping banana curry chocolates. But I'll avoid her pale green frosting. You would, too, if you'd already read The Sharp Time.
February 26, 2016
Plot:
Interesting and unpredictable, just the way I like them.
Setting:
I really liked 38th street and the unique stores--especially an erotic chocolatier? Who knew those existed? The Pale Circus also seemed really interesting. And while it's a very brief passage, the introduction of the Catholic church was neat.
Characters:
Sandinista is as quirky as her name in personality. I don't think I have ever seen a character who had ADD in a book before and it was definitely realistic (my husband has ADHD/ADD). It also seemed like she had a touch of OCD as well, considering her thoughts and re-visiting the places she considers doing violent acts at. I liked her and felt that her grief was real. Sometimes she seemed a little off, but for the most part I enjoyed her character. I wasn't able to fully connect with her, though, which is a shame. I did enjoy the daydreams, though, especially the violent ones.
Bradley also proved to be an interesting character and was a refreshing take on a gay/bisexual character (I couldn't tell if he liked Sandi as more of a friend or not). His past is conflicted in a different way from Sandi's and for the most part he is much more clear headed. I didn't like how he just threw her gun out, though.
The side characters, particularly Erica, Henry, and the monk were also intriguing. I would have liked to see more of them. As well as more from the crazy Catherine Bennett. Even though Alecia is only mentioned in memories, I had a bit of a soft spot for her as well.
Relationships:
The relationships between everyone felt realistic, but my favorites was the one between Sandi and her mom, Sandi and Bradley, Sandi and Erica, and Sandi and the monk. All of these relationships are different from one another yet still felt special in their own way. I especially liked the easy going and caring relationship between Sandi and Bradley.
Writing/Voice:
The writing style was difficult to get into, mostly because of the overly flowery writing. It got better once I was used to it but I still had trouble fully connecting with Sandinista. I didn't mind her way of thinking but maybe that's because I am used to it in my own life. I feel the writing style was my biggest issue with not enjoying this book as much as I hoped I would.
Ending:
Seemed a bit brief but I liked the direction of it.
Overall, I liked it but not as much as I was hoping to. 3 stars.
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