Thoughts on "The Quiet Room" by Lori Schiller

The books starts off about summer camp and the boy she is involved with. All of a sudden he breaks things off with her and she starts to lose her composure which leads to her taking drugs. This is when all things just start to go down hill. I think that it is interesting that she would let a boy ruin her life and drive her in a negative direction, especially since she has many other things going for her, such as her good grades, her family, her friends, and being accepted and/or wait-listed at prestigious colleges. After coming home from summer camp, she avoids spending time with her family and hides things from her best friend. All of which she never used to do. Lori does not have the guts to tell them about what really happened during summer. I think that it is disappointing to see such a well-rounded girl succumbing to taking drugs because of a boy. Also, that she would let her relationship with her family and best friend be affected due to her terrible decision. It only ruins her most important relationships, her ability to obtain an education, and her everyday basic activities.

A Million Little Pieces

Over the summer, I read A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. It is a book that is debated to be non-fiction and fiction. The events in the book are true, but he admits that he projects a character that was stronger than he truly was at the time. As I was reading the book and got closer to the end of the book, I noticed a transformation occurring within the main character, James. In the beginning of the book, he arrived at the Rehabilitation Center as a closed-minded man whom did not accept the help of others. James also could not control his cravings for drugs and the feelings he felt toward people, like his family. James did not accept the steps the people at the Rehab Center felt would help him in becoming sober. He refused to listen to anyone because he did not want to feel authority coming from others and only listened to how he felt. James also felt alone and did not have the desire to make friends, but by the end of the book James felt loved, had friends, and even a girlfriend. James started to develop into a character that became willing to become sober and started to try different things in order to reach sobriety. He also started to make friends in Rehab and started to deal with his cravings for drugs in a healthier way. Due to the Family Program in the Rehab Center, James and his family had a much better connection toward each other now that the truth was out in the open. His girlfriend, Lily also motivated him to stay sober so that he would be able to help her get sober as well. Overall, James was a stubborn and grumpy man who transformed into a mature man who instead of caving into his desires for drugs, he was willing to be sober.