&
Advertise Here with Today.com
 

Feb 09 2009

Testimony

Published by Carrie at 7:09 am under Books, Reviews Edit This

testimony.jpg

Testimony was my first foray into the fiction of Anita Shreve, and I can see why she has such a following. She is an intense writer willing to tackle some of the most difficult issues faced by society. Because I have no previous knowledge of her work, I don’t know if the use of a variety of points-of-view is typical of her style, but she uses it deftly in this novel.

The following review will reveal some minor plot spoilers. Consider yourself warned.

Avery Academy is a boarding school in Vermont that caters to the sons and daughters of the upper class. While the school also has its token scholarship students and some day students from the nearby town of Avery, the majority of students are boarders. These are the students who are on the fast track to Yale, Harvard, Brown, and othe prestigious universities.

When headmaster Mike Gorwin is given a videotape that reveals four Avery students engaging in sexual activity in a dorm room, his world - and the world of the school - is turned upside down. The tape shows a freshman girl, who is 14 years old, engaging in sex of various types with three male students. Two are 18 years old and are seniors. One is a 19-year-old doing his post-graduate year before entering Gonzaga University on a basketball scholarship. All three young men are legally adults.

The ages of the students means that, in the legal sense, sexual assault has occurred. The fact that the tape shows the girl clearly enjoying herself, even smiling at the camera, doesn’t change that fact. As the headmaster tries to do damage control, he is hiding a secret of his own, a secret that explains why one of the male students was in the dorm room in the first place.

The story is told using various first person narrators, although the sections from Mike’s point of view are told in third-person, but limited to his own experiences and thoughts. It took me a few chapters to get used to this style, but I became accustomed to it, and think Shreve uses the technique well. Some chapters are from the point of view of students - either those involved or those on the perimeter. Others are told from the experience of the parents of the students, and those chapters were particularly hard to read.

I’m not sure that I can say I enjoyed this book, but it definitely made me think. I finished it on Friday, and it is still with me. Statutory rape (or sexual assault, as this particular crime is classified in Vermont) is a touchy subject. Legally, the young men were culpable for a crime, of which the young woman was the victim. But as I read the story of what happened, and the fact that the girl was extemely sexually precocious, I felt desperately sorry for the young men involved, and felt mostly disdain for her.

I know that realistically, any young woman who would seduce three older male students at once has some serious psychological issues and is probably coming from a troubled home life. Shreve does not go into details about the girl’s life, only the details of what she was involved in, and how once her involvement came to light, she tried to spin it into a situation of rape or being drugged in order to be taken advantage of. Because the young men’s academic careers were completely derailed - and for one student in particular, the consequences were much more devastating - I felt the most compassion and empathy for them and for their mothers.

Knowing how teenage boys are wired (and even though legally they were adults, they were still attending high school, still boys in my eyes), I think that the boy who would walk out of a room in which a beautiful young woman was doing a strip tease would be in the minority. As a mother of three sons, I hope and pray that my boys would have the moral fortitude to do exactly that.

I don’t want to make light of the fact that sexual assault and statutory rape are crimes. As a society, we have to have a line - an age of consent - that we draw to determine who is able to engage in sex willfully and with full knowledge. But I also think that when you have a high school where many seniors are 18, and are attending classes, dances, and other school functions with much younger students, that this makes it very likely that “adult” 18 year olds will be dating - and possibly engaging in sex with - younger students.

One of the signs of a well-written novel is that it sticks with you and makes you think, even makes you uncomfortable. Testimony does exactly that. Even though I didn’t find it a joyful read, it was definitely a book I’m glad to have spent time with.

Keep in mind that this book does include some sexual description of the incident in question. I believe it was necessary to impart the seriousness of what happened, and the shock felt by the adults who witnessed the tape.

4 out of 5 stars

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • E-mail this story to a friend!
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Tumblr
  • TwitThis
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Google
  • YahooMyWeb
Possibly-related Articles:                                        (auto-generated)
Advertise Here with Today.com

204 Responses to “Testimony”

  1. pissingon 02 Oct 2009 at 7:18 pm edit this

    thx!. This one is great!!!

  2. Buy Viagraon 03 Oct 2009 at 12:52 pm edit this

    ssvtupg- Thank you, vejevpv. Great site.

  3. Propeciaon 03 Oct 2009 at 6:35 pm edit this

    wbixloo- Thank you, dqukwor. Great site.

  4. Viagraon 05 Oct 2009 at 6:19 am edit this

    xszyftq- Thank you, hovoppc. Great site.

  5. Viagraon 05 Oct 2009 at 11:13 am edit this

    zjvssuu- Thank you, zoqwuwf. Great site.

  6. Viagraon 05 Oct 2009 at 5:16 pm edit this

    vnhuuoy- Thank you, wfqybrh. Great site.

  7. Buy Viagraon 06 Oct 2009 at 1:50 am edit this

    xzzekvu- Thank you, jbgdyqp. Great site.

  8. Cialison 06 Oct 2009 at 5:00 am edit this

    ogdvuue- Thank you, yuzehga. Great site.

  9. TommyBuffettMeon 06 Oct 2009 at 6:21 am edit this

    Hello, my friends! It is good that I has found this very useful post.
    desyrel tab medicine

  10. Acompliaon 06 Oct 2009 at 8:59 am edit this

    fyniudu- Thank you, lzxqqwr. Great site.

  11. tramadol drug tramadolon 06 Oct 2009 at 11:47 am edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  12. tramadol cash codon 06 Oct 2009 at 1:40 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  13. Cialison 06 Oct 2009 at 2:46 pm edit this

    ubwwfay- Thank you, ppxxzfj. Great site.

  14. cialis migraineon 06 Oct 2009 at 3:32 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  15. blood drug test tramadolon 06 Oct 2009 at 5:23 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  16. I want to say - thank you for this!

  17. Cialison 06 Oct 2009 at 7:56 pm edit this

    afqmjqe- Thank you, fyumyax. Great site.

  18. no hassle phentermineon 06 Oct 2009 at 9:08 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  19. us pharmacy adipex p onlineon 06 Oct 2009 at 11:01 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  20. bentyl and tramadolon 07 Oct 2009 at 12:55 am edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  21. Cialison 07 Oct 2009 at 1:17 am edit this

    hjaolmb- Thank you, hlkjppd. Great site.

  22. 6 tramadol hydrochlorideon 07 Oct 2009 at 2:47 am edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  23. low cost adipex no rxon 07 Oct 2009 at 4:42 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  24. Xenicalon 07 Oct 2009 at 4:49 am edit this

    meucpdw- Thank you, ewheakx. Great site.

  25. Cialison 07 Oct 2009 at 8:26 am edit this

    txgjrbn- Thank you, ahxongc. Great site.

  26. Viagraon 08 Oct 2009 at 2:58 pm edit this

    myiedyl- Thank you, cgwmiib. Great site.

  27. Viagraon 09 Oct 2009 at 8:59 am edit this

    vetvhuf- Thank you, zihqfcx. Great site.

  28. discount viagra or cialison 11 Oct 2009 at 1:04 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  29. canada adipex no prescriptionon 11 Oct 2009 at 2:56 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  30. diet drugs adipexon 11 Oct 2009 at 4:47 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  31. Perfect site, i like it!

  32. tramadol feelings onlineon 11 Oct 2009 at 8:30 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  33. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  34. If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  35. Great site. Good info.

  36. does adipex realy workon 12 Oct 2009 at 4:02 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  37. 1 discount tramadolon 12 Oct 2009 at 5:55 am edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  38. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  39. Lipitoron 12 Oct 2009 at 10:40 am edit this

    wlzhfku- Thank you, btgtnit. Great site.

  40. cialis tadalafil 80 mgon 12 Oct 2009 at 11:38 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  41. Great site. Keep doing.

  42. Perfect site, i like it!

  43. tramadol lethal doseon 12 Oct 2009 at 5:19 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  44. 7 tramadol online pharmacyon 12 Oct 2009 at 7:18 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  45. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  46. tramadol medson 12 Oct 2009 at 11:04 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  47. Perfect work!

  48. to order xanax without aon 13 Oct 2009 at 2:58 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  49. gea soma jewelryon 13 Oct 2009 at 4:55 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  50. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  51. tramadol psychosison 13 Oct 2009 at 8:47 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  52. animal valium apo 10on 13 Oct 2009 at 10:43 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  53. chrome soma messenger bagon 14 Oct 2009 at 12:40 am edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  54. Great. Now i can say thank you!

  55. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  56. tramadol lorazepamon 14 Oct 2009 at 6:29 am edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  57. Perfect work!

  58. 200 tramadol overnight fedex codon 14 Oct 2009 at 10:22 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  59. tramadol brain damageon 14 Oct 2009 at 12:18 pm edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  60. tramadol car florida insuranceon 14 Oct 2009 at 2:16 pm edit this

    Incredible site!

  61. Great site. Keep doing.

  62. Beautiful site!

  63. Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  64. bijwerking cialison 14 Oct 2009 at 10:05 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  65. all information about cialison 15 Oct 2009 at 12:03 am edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  66. tramadol hydrochloride 32on 15 Oct 2009 at 2:03 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  67. Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  68. weight loss pills phentermineon 16 Oct 2009 at 2:18 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  69. Great. Now i can say thank you!

  70. tramadol and surgeryon 16 Oct 2009 at 6:12 pm edit this

    Incredible site!

  71. tramadol lethal odon 16 Oct 2009 at 8:09 pm edit this

    Incredible site!

  72. prescription adipex 37.5on 16 Oct 2009 at 10:05 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  73. Perfect work!

  74. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  75. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  76. Perfect site, i like it!

  77. urine drug screen tramadolon 17 Oct 2009 at 7:45 am edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  78. is cialis covered by medicareon 17 Oct 2009 at 9:39 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  79. too much cialison 17 Oct 2009 at 11:34 am edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  80. cheap prescription adipexon 17 Oct 2009 at 1:34 pm edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  81. Incredible site!

  82. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  83. de unde cumpar cialison 17 Oct 2009 at 7:26 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  84. cialis how long to take effecton 17 Oct 2009 at 9:23 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  85. generic cialis indianon 17 Oct 2009 at 11:21 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  86. 35 dollar phentermineon 18 Oct 2009 at 1:32 am edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  87. ionamin medication phentermineon 18 Oct 2009 at 3:32 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  88. Pharmg838on 19 Oct 2009 at 10:50 am edit this

    Very nice site! cheap viagra

  89. Pharma287on 19 Oct 2009 at 10:50 am edit this

    Very nice site! [url=http://aieopxy.com/osoxarv/2.html]cheap cialis[/url]

  90. Pharme340on 19 Oct 2009 at 10:50 am edit this

    Very nice site! cheap cialis http://aieopxy.com/osoxarv/4.html

  91. Perfect site, i like it!

  92. radnorhammon 20 Oct 2009 at 2:02 pm edit this

    announced emissions rays regional

  93. shelbydanton 20 Oct 2009 at 2:04 pm edit this

    per alternatives gas 1990 details stratosphere non

  94. If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  95. cialis line prescriptionon 20 Oct 2009 at 5:14 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  96. phentermine 37.5 discounton 20 Oct 2009 at 7:08 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  97. Godspvbwon 20 Oct 2009 at 7:11 pm edit this

    lnxagmsobwhutk irritantswjemcu mountains grouse geologists hoodlums physicians islands colts goldfinches information coins cormorants sticks submarines lorries monks stick trucks irish bullfinches sales angels preachers sea builders bacteria consultants irritants rebuttals trees developers impediments curlews jugglers prose hares canal lapwings stairs pipers aircraft onlookers courtiers capons cards pages stem managers cyclists students gods pheasants

  98. cheapest generic cialis onlineon 20 Oct 2009 at 9:02 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  99. Perfect site, i like it!

  100. tramadol indicatiion 21 Oct 2009 at 12:58 am edit this

    Perfect work!

  101. tramadol dialysison 21 Oct 2009 at 3:20 am edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  102. can cats take tramadolon 21 Oct 2009 at 5:51 am edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  103. cialis and doseon 21 Oct 2009 at 9:44 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  104. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  105. Perfect site, i like it!

  106. tramadol hcl eron 21 Oct 2009 at 3:35 pm edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  107. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  108. Great site. Keep doing.

  109. long term effects adipexon 21 Oct 2009 at 9:26 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  110. buy adipex online usaon 21 Oct 2009 at 11:23 pm edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  111. Perfect site, i like it!

  112. tramadol siezure riskon 22 Oct 2009 at 4:08 am edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  113. I want to say - thank you for this!

  114. adipex baratoon 24 Oct 2009 at 5:01 am edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  115. buy adipex p ships fedexon 24 Oct 2009 at 6:57 am edit this

    Beautiful site!

  116. Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  117. viagro cialis hollandon 24 Oct 2009 at 10:50 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  118. dosages for phentermineon 24 Oct 2009 at 12:46 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  119. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  120. is adipex amp phentermion 24 Oct 2009 at 4:40 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  121. tramadol stomach painon 24 Oct 2009 at 6:35 pm edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  122. tramadol buy on lineon 24 Oct 2009 at 8:26 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  123. compare viagara cialison 24 Oct 2009 at 10:23 pm edit this

    Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  124. foro comprar cialison 25 Oct 2009 at 3:12 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  125. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  126. Great site. Keep doing.

  127. Great work, webmaster, nice design!

  128. adipex in the ukon 25 Oct 2009 at 11:29 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  129. Beautiful site!

  130. legally buy valium on linron 25 Oct 2009 at 3:58 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  131. cat 10 tramadolon 25 Oct 2009 at 6:20 pm edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  132. cialis strokeon 25 Oct 2009 at 8:18 pm edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  133. adipex without dr prescriptionon 27 Oct 2009 at 2:27 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  134. xanax side effects depressionon 27 Oct 2009 at 4:26 pm edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  135. I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  136. linnettemoon 27 Oct 2009 at 7:52 pm edit this

    mitigating digital arrives simulations newsletter volcanic political

  137. sketesbauron 27 Oct 2009 at 7:55 pm edit this

    developing glacier africa features

  138. cheap meds adipexon 27 Oct 2009 at 8:19 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  139. phentermine diet pill overviewon 27 Oct 2009 at 10:14 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  140. buy cialis overseason 28 Oct 2009 at 12:11 am edit this

    Incredible site!

  141. order adipex cheapon 28 Oct 2009 at 3:28 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  142. does generic cialis existon 28 Oct 2009 at 6:33 am edit this

    Perfect work!

  143. viagra approved in uson 28 Oct 2009 at 8:29 am edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  144. viagra on lilneon 28 Oct 2009 at 10:26 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  145. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  146. florida phentermine shipon 28 Oct 2009 at 2:19 pm edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  147. It is the coolest site, keep so!

  148. Beautiful site!

  149. generic valium nameson 28 Oct 2009 at 8:09 pm edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  150. buy tramadol indexon 28 Oct 2009 at 10:07 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  151. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  152. Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  153. Perfect work!

  154. cialis daily doseageon 29 Oct 2009 at 9:21 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  155. drugbuyers phentermineon 30 Oct 2009 at 3:51 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  156. phentermine and birth defectson 30 Oct 2009 at 5:46 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  157. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  158. tramadol dose for canineon 30 Oct 2009 at 9:37 pm edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  159. tramadol cod paymenton 30 Oct 2009 at 11:28 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  160. If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  161. buy domain fioricet tramadolon 31 Oct 2009 at 5:05 am edit this

    Great site. Keep doing.

  162. Beautiful site!

  163. Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  164. Great. Now i can say thank you!

  165. Beautiful site!

  166. Incredible site!

  167. Perfect site, i like it!

  168. tramadol lethal doseon 31 Oct 2009 at 6:02 pm edit this

    Great. Now i can say thank you!

  169. seratonin syndrome tramadolon 31 Oct 2009 at 7:58 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  170. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  171. Perfect site, i like it!

  172. Great. Now i can say thank you!

  173. I want to say - thank you for this!

  174. Great site. Good info.

  175. Pharmc890on 03 Nov 2009 at 7:39 pm edit this

    Very nice site! cheap viagra

  176. Pharmb407on 03 Nov 2009 at 7:39 pm edit this

    Very nice site! [url=http://oixapey.com/aqavvr/2.html]cheap cialis[/url]

  177. Pharmd991on 03 Nov 2009 at 7:39 pm edit this

    Very nice site! cheap cialis http://oixapey.com/aqavvr/4.html

  178. Pharma333on 03 Nov 2009 at 7:39 pm edit this

    Very nice site!

  179. olenguyeron 04 Nov 2009 at 3:40 am edit this

    clouds range partially union

  180. Celexa Dosing At Nighton 04 Nov 2009 at 12:20 pm edit this

    etjtvhz- Thank you, tnusukp. Great site.

  181. adipex buy phentermineon 04 Nov 2009 at 3:10 pm edit this

    Perfect work!

  182. tramadol and mson 04 Nov 2009 at 5:06 pm edit this

    It is the coolest site, keep so!

  183. tramadol dosage pictureson 04 Nov 2009 at 7:02 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  184. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  185. bad side effects of tramadolon 04 Nov 2009 at 10:51 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  186. tramadol web mdon 05 Nov 2009 at 1:44 am edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  187. tramadol causing headacheson 05 Nov 2009 at 4:24 am edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  188. Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  189. adipex physicianon 05 Nov 2009 at 8:07 am edit this

    Perfect work!

  190. success with adipexon 05 Nov 2009 at 9:57 am edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  191. tramadol and hypotensionon 05 Nov 2009 at 11:49 am edit this

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

  192. viagra cialis cheapon 05 Nov 2009 at 1:42 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  193. tramadol 180 99on 05 Nov 2009 at 3:40 pm edit this

    I want to say - thank you for this!

  194. Beautiful site!

  195. Beautiful site!

  196. what tramadol hcl-acetaon 06 Nov 2009 at 1:37 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  197. adipex by paypalon 06 Nov 2009 at 3:27 pm edit this

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!

  198. valium iraqon 06 Nov 2009 at 5:16 pm edit this

    Perfect site, i like it!

  199. Great site. Keep doing.

  200. taking tramadol with oxycodoneon 07 Nov 2009 at 7:14 pm edit this

    Beautiful site!

  201. tramadol hydrochloride effectson 08 Nov 2009 at 4:54 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

  202. cialis informazionion 08 Nov 2009 at 6:46 am edit this

    Great site. Good info.

  203. tamadol tramadol 180 pillson 08 Nov 2009 at 8:37 am edit this

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.

  204. tramadol numbnesson 08 Nov 2009 at 10:29 am edit this

    I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply

Advertise Here