Review #3: Realistic/Edgy/Problem Novel

McCormick, Patricia. Cut.
Ashville, North Carolina: Front Street, 2000.



"The real name of this place is Sea Pines, my roomate, who has a nickname for everything calls it Sick Minds. Her nickname for me is S.T., for Silent Treatment." Callie can never seem to find the right words to say. In fact, Callie can never seem to find the right thoughts either. But when she feels that cold jagged edge of the metal blade, it all comes to an end.



Justification for Rejection:
Cut stays true to the realistic fiction genre by providing a deeply moving and emotional treck through the mind of Callie, known by her "group" as S.T. McCormick positions her novel through the first person narrative of Callie, a teenager with very typical conflicts including parents that don't pay any attention to her, resentment for having to handle too much responsibility, and guilt from making mistakes. We see the world and all its problems through Callie's calculating eyes, constantly looking for patterns in the wallpaper, but seldom observing and connecting with the people around her. The difference with Callie is that she has found solace in cutting herself, later finding out it is not solice but reparation she seeks. As the reader, we observe Callie's taxing inner monologue as she struggles to let go and hold on, all at the same time.



Despite the realism of its content and the tragically genuine character development, Cut has plenty of room for improvement. Although she tells the story from a first person perspective, McCormick has positioned the reader in the role of the psychologist. Every now and then Callie says things like, you lean forward in your dead-cow chair and tap your finger on your lip. This is extremely distracting because while we know Callie's every thought, we are then told that she doesn't say a single word to us for months. It is impossible to be omniscent as an outside reader, and picture ourselves in the role of a limited character. In addition, the last thing a young reader is going to want is to picture themselves sitting in the chair of the boring, old, enemy.



Cut was also horribly slow and cumbersome for such a short book. The 168 pages are separated into 3 very large roman numeral sections, for a while I wondered if I had even seen a new chapter heading. In addition to the wide spacing of breaks, the action is monotonous at best. Callie goes from place to place on a strict schedule, seldom speaking to anyone, and using paragraphs to describe a stain on the floor or the sound of someone's shoes in the hallway. The last dozen pages were the pinnacle in the action, but if I hadn't forced myself to contine reading I would never have gotten there. From the perspective of a young reader, I would have put the book down in the first 20 pages, sooner if I was a young male reader.


Genre: Realistic/Edgy/Problem Novel