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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Monday, February 3, 2020

REVIEW Sentenced to Shakespeare by Iris Dorbian

Arrested for assault and battery, Leah is sentenced to an unusual form of rehabilitation-she must take and complete a Shakespeare workshop or else risk incarceration


REVIEW
To the freaks and the misfits, the unloved and unlovable, the mocked and the marginalized, this is for you
Sentenced to Shakespeare, before anything else, it is a self-discovery journey, a coming of age story (under the reserve of the differences between cultures). The problems are real, the reactions of those who should have reacted are insufficient or absent. Leah’s parents thought they have everything covered; they didn’t. In these circumstances, we can find what we are and what are we capable of. It does not always matter if the parents love us if the teachers are carefully watching us, it is possible that at one moment (a singular or after n other similar moments) to be alone when confronting the threat. And now will see how Leah reacted. Iris Dorbian let us decide if Leah's was a good or bad decision whilst presenting the explanations, contouring the circumstances. I agree with some and… not totally accepted others. The line between acceptable and unacceptable is often unclear (if not always), there are many shades of grey. 

I liked how the author caught Leah’s internal monologue. It quite endowed the story with her innocence, seriousness, and sincerity with herself. The way in which her thoughts are presented interrupted the monotony and diminished the heaviness of the subject without reducing its seriousness. 

It is a book that parents could give to their children. But I think it will be better for parents to read the book too and afterward to discuss with their children all the aspects which were identified very well by Iris Dorbian. Sentenced to Shakespeare is a serious book, but a pleasant read nonetheless. Enjoy!

Description:

Sentenced to Shakespeare" is a contemporary young adult novel set in suburban New Jersey.

The story revolves around Leah, a smart and sensitive 15-year-old girl who is pushed too far by a bully and snaps. Arrested for assault and battery, Leah is sentenced to an unusual form of rehabilitation-she must take and complete a Shakespeare workshop or else risk incarceration.

Ostracized by her classmates, abandoned by her only friend, Leah finds comfort and solidarity with the other juvenile offenders in this same program, with one offering her something she's never experienced before--love. 

About the author:
Iris Dorbian is a professional business and arts journalist whose credits include Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Crain's New York Business, Venture Capital Journal, Buyouts, Investopedia, DMNews, Jerusalem Report, the Forward, Playbill, Backstage, Theatermania, Live Design, Media Industry Newsletter and PR News. She is the former editor-in-chief of Stage Directions magazine and author of "Great Producers: Visionaries of the American Theater," which was published by Allworth Press/Skyhorse Publishing in August 2008; and "Sentenced to Shakespeare," which was published by Milford House Press, an imprint of Sunbury Press. Her personal essays have been published in Blue Lyra Review, B O D Y, Embodied Effigies, Jewish Literary Journal, Diverse Voices Quarterly, Adanna Literary Journal, ThisSpace.org, Skirt! and Gothesque Magazine. A New Jersey native, Iris has a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. 

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17 comments:

Victoria Alexander said...

Great review, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one!

ANON said...

Thank you so much for that lovely and perceptive review of my book "Sentenced to Shakespeare." It's so greatly and warmly appreciated.

Cali W. said...

Thanks for the giveaway; I like the excerpt. :)

Calvin F. said...

Very nicely done here.

Minta's Creations said...

It looks like a great read! Especially on a winter night!

James Robert said...

Thank you for sharing this book, it sounds like a very great read and I'm glad I got to hear about it.

Bea LaRocca said...

A lovely book cover and an intriguing synopsis, this sounds like an excellent read. Congratulations on this nice review and thank you for sharing your book details and for offering a giveaway

ANON said...

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments and feedback!!

Edgar Gerik said...

Look great

Dale Wilken said...

Sounds great.

CCAM said...

@Iris Dorbian

You're welcome!
I hope your book will be read by all those who need it most

@everybody

Thank you for your comments and Good luck!

Nancy P said...

Interesting cover

ANON said...

Thank you!!! I hope you do.

Sherry said...

Sounds like a very good book.

ANON said...

Thank you!

tetewa said...

This one has me interested!

Bridgett Wilbur said...

What a great cover.