Long and Short Reviews

My Eyes Only by Judith Otto
Whiskey Creek Press
Historical, Young Adult
Full Length, Sensual
Review by Snapdragon

Childhood relinquishes its grip as the 1950s lure Mandy Rossiter into adolescence. For Mandy it is a time of comparing her body’s physical changes with that of her peers. When a classmate “gets into trouble” and old wives tales flourish.

Mandy feels robbed of identity as her friends wear makeup and trousers and her parents hold old-fashioned views.

Then one day an older boy pursues Mandy. The type her father forbids her to see, wearing stovepipes, slicked back hair, smart-ass, dressed all in black.

It is a time of young love. Of temptation. And betrayal.

Mandy’s story begins with the gift of a diary and her friend Peggy’s Big Secret.

Meant for her eyes only.

♥ ♥ ♥

My Eyes Only is a compelling read, whether you are a young adult or older. This work is evocative, annoying, and utterly impossible to put down. The main character – who is in many ways a typical 1950s teenager – is frequently not admirable. Mandy seems to lack a moral code of conduct. She’s frequently coarse about topics we’d like, for niceness’ sake, to be a little more circumspect about. The story, from the outset, does not fit perfectly into any classic genre, but blends several.

The easy to identify with main character you will dislike, admire, and be fearful for (sometimes all at once.) There are a lot of elements to this story; it could easily be labeled the classic young-person’s journey/coming of age story, but the elements of romance and incredible interactions of various characters (some nice, some not so nice,) are terrifically important. Friendship – and how we treated our friends, is important; and this reminds us.

This book offers a perspective on the world’s expectations and on human interaction from the perspective of a teen. Confusion, self-doubt, self-consciousness make for an uncomfortable read at times – but it’s a discomfort you might well identify with, or at least, remember. And, although we foresee all kinds of doom for Mandy as she makes poor choices, there is that chance that she could develop into a nice person. She just might find that person who makes her want to do all the right things… for all the right reasons.

This work takes so many unexpected turns, and visits things like risk, betrayal, anger, and grief, all alongside self-discovery. Truth is, I can’t say I loved this book – but I read every word in one go, and I’ll not soon forget it.

Comments:

Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Your Name: Linda Ady
Your Comment: "My Eyes Only" is so well written that in one totally unexpected swoop it took me back 40 years, and I found myself once again a teenager, complete with all of the hormonally charged emotions of that period in my life. I felt a part of Mandy's experiences like I was right there with her and her friends as they rode the roller coaster of life as teens in the 1950s.

This novel is filled with ups and downs, laughter, smiles and tears. The reader feels every single emotion with as much intensity as the book's characters do.

Ms. Otto is an exceptional author and "My Eyes Only" is a must read. Women from young teenagers to the elderly will love this book!

Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Your Name: Kathy-Lynn Kelly
Your Comment: I read this book some time ago. While I agree with a lot of Snapdragon's comments i.e that it's evocative, utterly impossible to put down, and she'll not soon forget it - I don't so easily identify with other comments. While Mandy's character is so typically that of a teenager (even for the 1950s) and it's often hard to like a teenager, I had a soft spot for her and loved the book. I would have rated My Eyes Only Five Books. Come to think of it, perhaps A LASR Best Book would be a more apt rating as I have read all this author's books and will definitely read more. And I have also recommended it to friends and relatives.