**spoiler alert** Yes, this book definitely deserves 5 stars! I loved the movie but the book has so much more detail and I really enjoyed it. Gilbert **spoiler alert** Yes, this book definitely deserves 5 stars! I loved the movie but the book has so much more detail and I really enjoyed it. Gilbert is one of five siblings. Two siblings are the breadwinners and do not live at home, they have busy lives elsewhere and send checks back home. This is needed because when Gilbert was just seven years old, his father, full of smiles that morning, hung himself in the basement, leaving his wife and children forever. The mother eats constantly from her despair and anger, becoming the size of a house. She becomes so large, the floor is buckling and has to have support beams put in the basement. They do this discreetly so as to not embarrass the mother who only leaves her chain for visits to the bathroom.
When the book opens, you will meet Gilbert’s younger brother, the retard as Gilbert calls him. Despite this unkind name, Gilbert does love him and he cares for his mentally challenged brother, Arnie, who will soon celebrate his 18th birthday.
Arnie is a happy child and loves his older brother but doesn’t understand why he cannot do everything he wishes such as climbing the water tower which drives the police to despair. Gilbert constantly has to call him down and gets lectured by the police in town.
Also, Arnie has a love for the carnival that comes to town every year. He and Gilbert watch from the side of the road every year. Arnie’s greatest love is the horses from the merry-go-round and when the carnival opens, Gilbert takes him there and allows him to ride a certain horse many times.
Gilbert works at the small grocery store and feels his life going nowhere. He feels stuck in this small town and shares his frustration through his surly manner towards family and friends.
Happily for him, a beautiful young girl comes to town and Gilbert is enthralled by her. She changes his life for the better with her charm and care that she displays for all, including young Arnie....more
Wow, read this in two days. What a heartbreaking read, but so good and it really keeps you turning pages. I hated the man in this book so much. He wasWow, read this in two days. What a heartbreaking read, but so good and it really keeps you turning pages. I hated the man in this book so much. He was so good at manipulating the poor girl, Vanessa!! He made her feel everything was her fault! Bastard!...more
I loved this book. I wasn’t sure if I would when my daughter insisted I read it! However, it’s about the life of a Hollywood icon. The story of Old HoI loved this book. I wasn’t sure if I would when my daughter insisted I read it! However, it’s about the life of a Hollywood icon. The story of Old Hollywood. It’s about a young female reporter and her chance at writing the story of Evelyn Hugo’s life and the story of her greatest love. She doesn’t understand why Evelyn chose HER to write her story because she isn’t known at all by anyone. But, she knows the book will bring in millions and agrees to write Evelyn’s story. You will come away with a great understanding of what makes Evelyn choose to do the things she’s done in her life. They were far from easy decisions! Read it and enjoy!...more
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