Push, by Sapphire, offered no new words but there was a lesson… I think. Here it goes: Sometimes life can just simply be entirely f*cked up and the best you can hope for is an escape from the situation… even if that reprieve will be short-lived.
Positive? Definitely not. Hope? Sliver of it. Tragedy? All the way yes.
Push follows the life of Precious Jones, an illiterate 16-year old who bears two children for her own pedophilic father. She has it coming from both sides as her mother is equally abusive sexually, physically, and mentally. With two children, an elementary education at best, and no self-sustaining income, her escape from her abusive prison was a positive step. But one kept thinking, “Where does she go from here?”
Yes, it was great that she was able to find a place that nurtured her, inspired her to better herself with education, and most importantly loved her. But you can’t help but wonder how she will end up anyplace besides “The Welfare”. Welfare isn’t an issue as long as it is a means to a higher end; but it is an inevitable end for Precious. The only hope that can be mustered is that she can pass on her higher aspirations to her children. That is the only hope for this sorry sad tragedy.
The author, Sapphire, made a smart move to tell the story through the hand of Precious Jones. It did limit the ability for the story to expand beyond what Precious could see and comprehend but it connected the reader to this teenage girl in an intimate way that left no room for distance from the horrible events that kept happening to her. Through the near-illiterate hand of a 16-year old, Sapphire was able to communicate the despair and helplessness and shame of a victim with more power than seen before. You felt simultaneously filthy, shamed, and aroused with Precious when she described being raped by her father. (I cringe again thinking about it.) That intimate connection would have been lost without hearing it in Precious’ voice. It would have been easier for the reader if it was told in 3rd person narrative but that would have been cheating Ms. Jones and she (and real girls like her in the world) have already been cheated enough.
3.5 stars (Buy to support the author or borrow from a friend if you’re being cheap)
