My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent

My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent Book Summary

BOOK SCORE
4
TOTAL RATINGS
759
BOOK PRICE
$13.99

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 
LA TIMES BOOK PRIZE FINALIST
NBCC JOHN LEONARD PRIZE FINALIST
ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES'S MOST NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2017
ONE OF THE WASHINGTON POST’S MOST NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2017
ONE OF NPR’S ‘GREAT READS’ OF 2017
A USA TODAY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

AN AMAZON.COM BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
A BUSINESS INSIDER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

"Impossible to put down." NPR


"A novel that readers will gulp down, gasping.” —The Washington Post
 

"The word 'masterpiece' has been cheapened by too many blurbs, but My Absolute Darling absolutely is one." —Stephen King

A brilliant and immersive, all-consuming read about one fourteen-year-old girl's heart-stopping fight for her own soul.


Turtle Alveston is a survivor. At fourteen, she roams the woods along the northern California coast. The creeks, tide pools, and rocky islands are her haunts and her hiding grounds, and she is known to wander for miles. But while her physical world is expansive, her personal one is small and treacherous: Turtle has grown up isolated since the death of her mother, in the thrall of her tortured and charismatic father, Martin. Her social existence is confined to the middle school (where she fends off the interest of anyone, student or teacher, who might penetrate her shell) and to her life with her father.

Then Turtle meets Jacob, a high-school boy who tells jokes, lives in a big clean house, and looks at Turtle as if she is the sunrise. And for the first time, the larger world begins to come into focus: her life with Martin is neither safe nor sustainable. Motivated by her first experience with real friendship and a teenage crush, Turtle starts to imagine escape, using the very survival skills her father devoted himself to teaching her. What follows is a harrowing story of bravery and redemption. With Turtle's escalating acts of physical and emotional courage, the reader watches, heart in throat, as this teenage girl struggles to become her own hero—and in the process, becomes ours as well.

Shot through with striking language in a fierce natural setting, My Absolute Darling is an urgently told, profoundly moving read that marks the debut of an extraordinary new writer.

My Absolute Darling Book Details

Book Name My Absolute Darling
Genre Literary
Author Gabriel Tallent
Published 29 August 2017, Tuesday
Price $13.99
E-Book Size 3.8 MB

My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent Book Reviews

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Jenobeno

Horriable. This story starts out well, and then just drags I can’t believe this is a top seller. It’s just painful to try and read beyond chapter 8. Don’t waste your time or money

¡Nikky!

Meh.. It was just okay. I got hooked in with the great ratings, but the writing is a little shoddy. There would be moments throughout where the characters suddenly had something in their hands not mentioned before, or the plot would jump without transitions leaving readers confused. The descriptions of nature were very, very specific. I understand why it was written like this, as the characters were very well informed of their surroundings, but for the average reader, it becomes easy to get lost in the over description and the names of every plant in the characters' field of view.

Kseach

Dark. Really dark and depressing. Wish there was more closure, it just ends.

Jessiep813

Gave up on this poor piece of literature. This book opened very dark and then just got bad. The writing was poor, the story weak and as much as I tried to get into it I was skimming pages by the 3rd chapter

Panilurus

My Absolute Darling. Tough read.

Sadistic sloth bear

My absolute darling. Fascinating This book is impossible to put down. The riveting storyline and the rich characters will have you glued to the page. It is a disturbing read that will stay with me for a long time.

Deealegre

Incredibly Amazing!!. Wow, I have never read anything like this. So well, written, so gripping, intense, interesting! Really really good!! Fascinating...I could hardly put it down! Would love a follow up novel and see how Turtle heals and what she winds Up doing in life!! Thank you for helping me to understand such a different part of life.

TwilightZ86

DEEPLY DISTURBING. Whoa! A deeply powerful story about child abuse to the enth degree. Emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, let me count the ways. Not to mention child endangerment!! BUT, this story is much more than that. The love, real love really, between a father and daughter that is so twisted up it would be impossible to untangle. Martin (“Daddy”), the father is an extremely intelligent, very badly emotionally damaged man trying to raise his daughter alone and, unfortunately doing a whole lot more unspeakable harm than good. Julia (Turtle) is also very emotionally damaged as a result but also has a deep inner strength, resourcefulness and iron will that, ultimately serves to her benefit in the end. With lush prose the author tells a descriptive, often shocking tale unlike any I’ve ever read. I believe this book deserves higher commendations than it has received, it really deserves a literary prize, the Man Booker or something. Sadly, it also deserves a much better review than I have been able to offer here!! Highly recommended!

Nina@310

My absolute darling. Miserable book. Would not finish; was literally making me sick to my stomach.

Weekszmac

It’s alright. It’s alright. I had some trouble visualizing, and this wasn’t what I expected at first. But I did like it. Disappointed in the ending...

RichardReader

My Absolute Darling ... Dazzles. Gobsmacked by this book from the first page to the last, I reeled emotionally and in awe of the artistry of the author. I’ve never read another book like My Absolute Darling — a truly original “delight,” albeit a twisted and anguishing read. Tallent’s gift for environmental and character detail recalls Steinbeck at his glorious best; the northwest coast of California staggeringly cast in the light and dark of area’s flora and fauna. The title belies content that is not for the squeamish. The author serves up a grindingly jaw clenching and finally explosive tension that is spellbinding and — reader be warned, deeply disturbing. That said, I relished this exquisitely crafted novel.

Alanaubu2

Wow. I had no idea that my mind could be so entrapped into a book. The detailed descriptions, the unhinged relationships displayed, the hope that keeps nagging at you to keep reading in search for Turtles redemption. Dark and humbling, sweet and savory.

TX De Ann

Disturbing. Disturbing and uncomfortable. Well worth the read. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days after.

Auggie's Man

Gripping. An amazing book. Putting it down was painful and had to get back to it as son as I could.

MusicBreedsLove

My Absolute Darling. This was too dark and twisted for my taste. I can understand wanting to portray tough scenes to tell a story of struggle or strife, but inferences, rather than exhausting detail, would have dialed down the shocking, twisted horror of what was written on the page so that it was more...welcoming. However, the author is clearly talented with his composition of words, portraying the world in such vivid detail, and his extensive knowledge of botany.

Phastman21

Gorgeous and devastating. An incredibly well-written book about dark material. Hooks you in with some of the most unique characters and then grips you by the throat as you wait to see what happens to them. Stunning achievement.

Yaktrax

My Absolute Darling. I thought this book dragged. Too much description of bushes. I did not like the ending at all.

Njmobile

Disturbing. This is such a real, horrifying story of abuse & I couldn't put it down.

Gamer7531467

Canc. VCyThe cvs center cchas has cccccccyvccccccgtctfcfctcttctcyctxcttyycuyyyyvyvycx

SabraP16

Horrifying and hard to put down.. Not the best writing, nor the most well thought out plot but nonetheless, this book dug deep claws into me and I HAD TO finish it. I had to know what happens to the main characters. Do I recommend it? No. No not at all.

56rodeo

Don't start if you can't read straight thru..... One of the best I've read in a long time. Sure, you think you know where it's all heading - but you'll never guess how it gets there!! The flora and fauna place you in a backdrop you've seen but never experienced so intimately. A breathtaking thriller you'll have trouble forgetting.

Kaykaybean13

Couldn’t put this book down. The horrific experience this girl goes through and the complexities of the relationship between herself and her father was gruesome. The author paints an intimate picture of the trauma and anguish that chronic abused children go through and the perils they have been forced to endure. Excellent writing and characters stay with you long after the book is finished

Hanlav

Advanced read. This isn’t a book just anyone can pick up and read. The writing style is appsaling but does require a bit more concentration than the average book to read. Not for the faint of heart. Wonderful story line. It completely engrossed me.

Stephdd11

Child-abuser romance novel. Child abuse glorification. Truly gross. Consider yourself warned. This isn’t avant-garde, it’s sick.

Scoflaw

Riveting book. Not a book for the faint of heart with extended descriptions of sexual and gun violence. But, it brings forth a wonderful female character with strength, grit and marine corp values of selflessness. Hats off to the author. It makes me optimistic that a young man in our culture can create such a heroine.

Lsmarquez

I genuinely liked portions of the book. Trigger warning, this book deals with a lot of scenes of all the types of abuse imaginable carried out by the father of our heroine. At times it evokes a visceral reaction and I had to take pauses. When I felt the plot shifting I was extremely excited but I also feel short changed. Despite the novel being a couple hundred pages, I feel I needed more. The book spends so much time writing candidly, openly, and the last third feels like a deadline may have been approaching somewhere and so we are left with some closure and more questions than we had in the first 2/3rds of the book. Still 3 stars because I was entertained nonetheless and it was a debut.

AprilsOwn

Disturbing.... This young girl appears to suffer from some form of Stockholm syndrome, believing the sexual abuse by her father is warranted, which is always sad. But the author seems to describe the sexual encounters very casually,implying that the 14 year old girl yearns for or even enjoys it. Only a man could paint this picture that even a molestation or rape holds some sort of pleasure for a woman which I find offensive. It’s very confusing and disgusting. An inappropriate story I could’ve definitely done without...

MaryC1943

SM. Frzzxx zzzf.5:.4..4:.:....4.:.5.,..'bzyczzzxsrc

Km99

Dark. This book is amazingly well written but as the other reviewers have said, it is cringingly dark and disturbing... with that said, I loved it. It does leave you shell shocked but the ending is satisfying I think!

Crm.shop

horrible. I stopped after one chapter. Reading the “romantic” description of the abuser’s behavior was sickening.

Tahllllllllllllllllllllll

Brilliant. Dark and disturbing - definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you're someone who is okay knowing the gritty details and realities of this world, and you're someone who loves seeing people get EXACTLY what they deserve, then this book is 100% for you. It's immersive, intense, and you won't be able to put it down.

K duprez

Soooo twisted!!. I could only stand to read the first couple of chapters. Along with being dull this book is exceptionally twisted. I can’t believe anyone could get through this book let alone that it is on the Best Seller list.

Moose23480:)

You'll be hooked after the "sample". Well worth the read. Dark but engrossing. It will catch your interest immediately and gets better right to the end, with a uniquely off-kilter writing style at times.

Gamwhora

cw: sexual abuse. I found this book on the 50¢ shelf at my local public library. I don’t know why they do that — I guess getting rid of books no one reads. I picked it up, bought it, and moved on. I started reading it about a day later, and couldn’t put it down. The abusive relationship (if you could call it that) between Turtle and her Father was something so disturbing, so malignant, you can’t help but keep reading, praying it will be over soon. It is a gorgeously written dark novel, chock full of delicious imagery, and I was quite fond of Talent’s writing style. But I couldn’t help but feel disgust at the way the author describes Turtle’s body parts. As a teenage girl myself, it filled me with disgust and despair — is this what grown men think of teenage girls and their bodies? I understand that given the nuance of the subject in relation to the novel that it made sense, but I have taken a star off for now it made me feel. I loved this book, but I won’t be rereading it. Sometimes, books leave you shellshocked, and no matter how hard you want to stop thinking about it, you just can’t. That is how this book left me. I will forever be grateful that Turtle got the one thing all abuse survivors should be able to do: see their abusers in hell.

The Bam Master 5000

Incredible. Hard to describe. A really deep experience.

Littlewing

Poetry in the midst of insanity!! Wonderful!. Best read of the year

Luceagain

Wow!. Modern day “Prince of Tides.” A terrifying, horrifying really good read.

CaseySTL

Layers of depth. A story where hope and healing meet.

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Gabriel Tallent - My Absolute Darling Comments

5 Books like My Absolute Darling (Gabriel Tallent)

About Author "Gabriel Tallent"

My Absolute Darling is the 2017 debut novel by American author Gabriel Tallent, published in the US by Riverhed Books. Plot Julia "Turtle" Alveston, age fourteen, lives in California with her sociopathic father, Martin. He is convinced of impending catastrophe, forcing her to learn survivalist skills. Turtle is thus highly proficient with firearms. The extent of Martin's physical and sexual abuse of Turtle is revealed as the plot progresses, though Turtle's Stockholm syndrome cause her to make excuses for his behavior. Although Turtle's teacher suspects the abuse, Martin threatens to kill Turtle if she tells anyone the truth. Turtle meets two teenage boys; they become her first real friends. After Turtle's grandfather, her only other living family, dies, Martin disappears for several months, leaving Turtle to provide for herself. When he returns, he brings a young girl named Cayenne, age nine or ten, whom he took at a gas station. One night, Turtle rebuffs her father's attempted rape ....

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