Description:

Pretending Normal, formerly Lies Imitating Life, was a past quarter finalist in Ray Bradbury's New Century New Writer Award contest. It was also a past semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest.

1976 Before-Sara Polokovich wants out of Norwood, Pennsylvania, population 4,582, where the undertaker and the butcher are the same person. All she has to do is earn a scholarship. Just two more years...but until then, she pours over classics to strengthen her comprehension skills, reviews for the SAT, and continues to request college brochures from every school in the northeast.

Sara's just buried her mother, her father drinks too much, and her kid sister won't leave her alone. Why can't her life be normal? Even half-normal? Why does Frank, (she refuses to think of him as her father anymore), spend all of his time in the garage with that damn '57 Chevy? And why does he have to hide bottles all over the house; in the red metal cupboard in the garage, behind the faded orange curtain in the kitchen, under the sink in the bathroom? Why can't anybody talk about what's happening?

As Sara struggles to free herself from a life of dysfunction and disease, she will learn the true depths of a parent's love and the ultimate sacrifice given-- and taken-- in the name of that love. Pretending Normal follows Sara Polokovich's coming of age as she discovers the truths about family with all of its flaws and weaknesses as the bond that holds one to another, in love, loyalty, even death.

From the Author

The idea for Pretending Normal came to me when I began to play around with the question- What would happen if the responsible parent in the family died, leaving only the dysfunctional one to care for two teenager daughters? Ask any child of such a family and the answer would be -'nightmare'. In this case, Frank Polokovich, a man who has lived his life smothered in regret and alcohol is that nightmare. His oldest daughter, Sara, will learn the truth about human frailty and the meaning of family with all of its flaws and weaknesses as the bond that holds one to another, in love, loyalty, even death.

From the Inside Flap

Almost two months have passed since I left and came to live here. I only went back to the old house once, to pack up some clothes and a few books. Aunt Irene said not to worry about bringing a lot of things with me. We'd buy what I needed, kind of like taking on a new identity. I know she wants to give me a fresh start, but I can't erase fifteen years with a new bedspread and a different address.

My old life is somewhere deep inside. A closet full of new clothes and a different zip code won't make it go away. Some days I have to look in the mirror, touch my face, speak in my voice, to see that at least I'm in the same body; at least I haven't disappeared altogether.





ebook img

Pretending Normal PDF

2012·0.2115 MB·other
by  Mary Campisi
Save to my drive
Quick download
Download

Download Pretending Normal PDF Free - Full Version

by Mary Campisi| 2012| 0.2115| other

Download Pretending Normal by Mary Campisi in PDF format completely FREE. No registration required, no payment needed. Get instant access to this valuable resource on PDFdrive.to!

Free Download PDF

About Pretending Normal

<p>Pretending Normal, formerly Lies Imitating Life, was a past quarter finalist in Ray Bradbury's New Century New Writer Award contest. It was also a past semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest.<br></p><p>1976 Before-Sara Polokovich wants out of Norwood, Pennsylvania, population 4,582, where the undertaker and the butcher are the same person. All she has to do is earn a scholarship. Just two more years...but until then, she pours over classics to strengthen her comprehension skills, reviews for the SAT, and continues to request college brochures from every school in the northeast. <br></p><p>Sara's just buried her mother, her father drinks too much, and her kid sister won't leave her alone. Why can't her life be normal? Even half-normal? Why does Frank, (she refuses to think of him as her father anymore), spend all of his time in the garage with that damn '57 Chevy? And why does he have to hide bottles all over the house; in the red metal cupboard in the garage, behind the faded orange curtain in the kitchen, under the sink in the bathroom? Why can't anybody talk about what's happening?<br></p><p>As Sara struggles to free herself from a life of dysfunction and disease, she will learn the true depths of a parent's love and the ultimate sacrifice given-- and taken-- in the name of that love. Pretending Normal follows Sara Polokovich's coming of age as she discovers the truths about family with all of its flaws and weaknesses as the bond that holds one to another, in love, loyalty, even death.</p>From the Author<p>The idea for Pretending Normal came to me when I began to play around with the question- What would happen if the responsible parent in the family died, leaving only the dysfunctional one to care for two teenager daughters? Ask any child of such a family and the answer would be -'nightmare'. In this case, Frank Polokovich, a man who has lived his life smothered in regret and alcohol is that nightmare. His oldest daughter, Sara, will learn the truth about human frailty and the meaning of family with all of its flaws and weaknesses as the bond that holds one to another, in love, loyalty, even death. </p>From the Inside Flap<p>Almost two months have passed since I left and came to live here. I only went back to the old house once, to pack up some clothes and a few books. Aunt Irene said not to worry about bringing a lot of things with me. We'd buy what I needed, kind of like taking on a new identity. I know she wants to give me a fresh start, but I can't erase fifteen years with a new bedspread and a different address. <br></p><p>My old life is somewhere deep inside. A closet full of new clothes and a different zip code won't make it go away. Some days I have to look in the mirror, touch my face, speak in my voice, to see that at least I'm in the same body; at least I haven't disappeared altogether. </p></br></br></br></br>

Detailed Information

Author:Mary Campisi
Publication Year:2012
Language:other
File Size:0.2115
Format:PDF
Price:FREE
Download Free PDF

Safe & Secure Download - No registration required

Why Choose PDFdrive for Your Free Pretending Normal Download?

  • 100% Free: No hidden fees or subscriptions required for one book every day.
  • No Registration: Immediate access is available without creating accounts for one book every day.
  • Safe and Secure: Clean downloads without malware or viruses
  • Multiple Formats: PDF, MOBI, Mpub,... optimized for all devices
  • Educational Resource: Supporting knowledge sharing and learning

Free Books Similar to Pretending Normal

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really free to download Pretending Normal PDF?

Yes, on https://PDFdrive.to you can download Pretending Normal by Mary Campisi completely free. We don't require any payment, subscription, or registration to access this PDF file. For 3 books every day.

How can I read Pretending Normal on my mobile device?

After downloading Pretending Normal PDF, you can open it with any PDF reader app on your phone or tablet. We recommend using Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Books, or Google Play Books for the best reading experience.

Is this the full version of Pretending Normal?

Yes, this is the complete PDF version of Pretending Normal by Mary Campisi. You will be able to read the entire content as in the printed version without missing any pages.

Is it legal to download Pretending Normal PDF for free?

https://PDFdrive.to provides links to free educational resources available online. We do not store any files on our servers. Please be aware of copyright laws in your country before downloading.

The materials shared are intended for research, educational, and personal use in accordance with fair use principles.

We use cookies

We use cookies to ensure you get the best browsing experience on our website. By clicking "Accept Cookies", you agree that we can store cookies on your device in accordance with our Terms and Privacy.