Read Any Good Books Lately?

I have been tagged by someone (I am sorry, I can't find who it was) to do a book meme. It involves a book I am currently reading.

Here are the rules:

1. Grab the nearest book. If you are currently reading something, that'll be fine too.

2. Open the book to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the text of the next 4 sentences on your Blog along with these instructions.

5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet I know that is what you were thinking!

6. Tag 5 people.

Here is the passage:

"I don't know when I have ever been so tired in my life. I can't even imagine how Gran holds up because I can barely move. All of us look as though we have been endlessly ill. Even little Alex is dragging."

This passage is from Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous. The book is interesting, but the story behind the book is probably more interesting. Back in the early 1970's, when it was published, it was classified as a work of nonfiction - a diary account of a 15-year-old girl's account of life and drug abuse. However, there has been some controversy whether or not this is accurate. Since then, it is considered a work of fiction.

Beatrice Sparks is the editor (and many think the author) of the book. She is a psychologist and youth counselor who supposedly constructed the diary from a patient of her's. She admits to adding some things that were not in the original patient's diary, but were based on the patient's counseling sessions. No one, but Sparks, really knows the truth. Sparks has published subsequent diaries with similar subject matter attributed to anonmymous patients of hers. At any rate, it is a quick and interesting read. Despite the controversy, or perhaps because of it, it continues to be a best seller.
Okay, before I tag folks, I want to, with hat in hand, ask which one of you tagged me with this. I am so ashamed. If you are the one, and you can put the link to your page where the tag lies, I will edit this and give your blog a plug. So please ???
I am going to tag . . . (watch me tag the person who tagged me like a dork):
Meg at Confessions of an Impulsive Liar (although I don't expect her to respond very soon because she is getting married this weekend - Congratulations Meg! My invitation must have been lost in the mail, by the way ;) ), Mother Hen, Brian at The Office (blog), Charles at Am I Thinking That?, and Chris at Inane Thoughts.
Okay, if any of you have done this before, but it has been a while, DO IT AGAIN! I did once before back in November of '06. Surely you are on another book by now! ;)

7 comments:

Sayre said...

Wow. "Go Ask Alice" - I read that when I was maybe 12. Early teens. It was a brand new paperback and we knew plenty of kids who were actually living that life. It made me very sad at the time. Since then, I've lost several friends and acquaintances to drugs and alcohol - and it never gets any easier.

If I tagged you, it was probably a year ago. I don't think you're THAT much of a procrastinator! So someone else must have.

Michelle said...

I think I tagged you... but I can't remember for certain.

LOL sad brain!

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure it was Michelle because she tagged me in the same post.

That sounds like a great book. I think I'll have to check it out.

Jeff said...

Sayre: Yep, "Alice" is a book to remember. I like making people think, or in this case, remember. :)

Michelle: YEAH!! You are the one! Thanks.

Steph: Thanks, guys. The book is interesting - especially if you read it in the light of the controversy.

Michelle said...

Oh yeah... I forgot to add that the book sounds fascinating.

Charles said...

Hey Jeff, sorry I've been away. I'll get to this as soon as I can. I have been busy at work, and with the time I have to myself, I've reconnected with my family on my aunts side. So I have been quite busy, trying to catch up on lost time with them, so to speak.

Awe man I had a theory book in mind. Thats OK I have some other ones that I have already read. LOL

Meg said...

I just got back from the honeymoon yesterday, so I should be getting around to it soon. Thanks for the tag!