Go Ask Alice

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It's a hit!

I see a lot of people giving this book a bad review, for the simple fact that they believe that it is a work of fiction. And honestly, who cares? ... (show more)

I see a lot of people giving this book a bad review, for the simple fact that they believe that it is a work of fiction. And honestly, who cares? Saying that something "really happened" to someone just makes it a little more real, and effective while they're reading it. It has been said that this book is from the "real writers" experiences with young people that she has worked with in mental hospitals. So regardless if it happened to one person, or a collection of people, it is still a horrific tale that can teach you a lot. Now on to the book. I found the diary a little slow at first, but it just wanted to build character and it shows you how much of a good girl "Alice" was. I do believe that something could really happen the way it happened to her, after all a lot of people get into drugs because of someone slipping them something, forcing them to take something, or trying it for "just one time". This book will break your heart, honestly, because you have a girl that wants to be good and do good so unbelievably bad and she just can't, because drugs is controlling her life whether she is actually on them or not. I personally have grown up seeing people doing drugs, and I have never desired to partake, and this story just confirms my decision on why I think drugs would ruin my life. It's a must read, its a quick read, and it will stay with you for ever. (show less)

 

 

by Tamara Dawn Boudreau

No, it's a flop!

Written by a Mormon youth counselor who has probably never even seen a spliff in her life, the only reason I'd recommend 'Go Ask Alice' is for it's... (show more)

Written by a Mormon youth counselor who has probably never even seen a spliff in her life, the only reason I'd recommend 'Go Ask Alice' is for it's (presumably unintentional) hilarity; seriously, someone puts acid in her coke and a few months later she's blowing truckers for hits of smack? (And what's more she's still writing lucidly about it!)

I think it's intensely sad that kids are still being assigned this as compulsory reading in schools, despite the obviously insanely hyperbolic narrative; it's like screening 'Refeer Madness' and presenting it as fact. If Ms. Sparks (the real author, also responsible for the equally hilarious "diary" 'Jay's Journal' about a kid who joins a Satanic cult) was more confident she'd present this as what it is; an opinion piece/work of fiction. The afterword by a 'psychologist' is just insulting and manipulative.

If you want to read about people on drugs try 'Trainspotting' by Irvine Welsh, or Hunter S. Tompson's classic 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. Leave 'Go Ask Alice' in the comedy section. (show less)

 

 

by Shaun Clamp

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  I first read this at a young age (12 or 13) and now (at age 40) I still remember that at the time I did indeed thing there was something 'strange' to this book. Well now I know exactly what it is - the contrived language!
  This is a simple story, with a straightforward journal-style narrative, with no flashbacks, reminiscences, expository passages or any particularly unique details.
  The voice of Alice tends to devolve into corny expressions of sentiment, particulaly in the 'first' diary, &a... (show more)

  I first read this at a young age (12 or 13) and now (at age 40) I still remember that at the time I did indeed thing there was something 'strange' to this book. Well now I know exactly what it is - the contrived language!
  This is a simple story, with a straightforward journal-style narrative, with no flashbacks, reminiscences, expository passages or any particularly unique details.
  The voice of Alice tends to devolve into corny expressions of sentiment, particulaly in the 'first' diary, & oftentimes they seem to echo Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz":
  - "Oh, why, why, why can't I? (September 16)
  - "It was wild! It was beautiful! It really was." (July 20)
  - "I would! I definitely would!", "I must, I simply must be better." (July 23)
  - "Oh, terrors, horrors, endless torment." (August 9)
  - "And I'm glad I'm back. Glad! Glad! Glad!" (January 24)
  - "I love life and I love God. Oh I do, I really do." (Another day)
  - "I think it's sad, dear friend, I really and truly and desperately do." (July 26)
  - "I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish." (August 5)
  - "Oh, glorious, marvelous, wonderful, incredible, fantastic day!" (August 8)
  - "Home, Home, Home. Oh what a beautiful, wonderful, divinely lovely word." (September 6)
  - "I didn't know I was that good! I really and truly and honestly didn't!" (September 17) (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Mar 01, 2009 at 02:12AM

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  I have very mixed feelings. It is a touching story with a sad ending, and full of pain.

  However, despite it being a story in the 70's, if there are no dates added it could well be a teenager writing today. Because Alice covers the issues that many teenagers struggle with - a desperate need to be accepted, a need to conform to some group or another, the need to feel like they are achieving something, dealing with the pressures of school and striving for good grades, lonlieness, dating. Ma... (show more)

  I have very mixed feelings. It is a touching story with a sad ending, and full of pain.

  However, despite it being a story in the 70's, if there are no dates added it could well be a teenager writing today. Because Alice covers the issues that many teenagers struggle with - a desperate need to be accepted, a need to conform to some group or another, the need to feel like they are achieving something, dealing with the pressures of school and striving for good grades, lonlieness, dating. Many teenager will relate to this, even if they never touch drugs. Towards the end, Alice struggles again with acceptance, now out of touch with her drug taking friends but not accepted by the non drug taking teens.

  I don't think the response is to judge Alice for taking drugs in the first place. The hows and whys here don't matter. The story though the downward spiral she went into after that, with small glimmers of hope that is quickly dashed. We need to be learning from this. (show less)

   

  by Vicki Milburn on Mar 18, 2009 at 09:23PM

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