When she files a restraining order and he must take a courtordered family violence class, nick begins to reevaluate his behavior and troubled past. Breathing underwater summary and study guide supersummary. Id recommend for all teens to read to raise awareness about the topic of domestic abuse. I had met judy kitchner, their teacher, at a summer. Aug 19, 2008 what is the theme of the book breathing underwater answer save. Apr 24, 2001 free download or read online breathing underwater pdf epub book. I recommend this book for people who enjoy reading about courtcases and the outcome of them involving teenagers. One of the key themes in breathing underwater is the difficulty of recognizing ones own motivations.
Discuss the significant scenes involving various forms of water. But perhaps i should have realized it would after reading this poem in the introduction. Alex based the book on her experiences interning with the state attorneys office and volunteering with battered women. I rate breathing underwater by alex flinn a three and a half out of five. During law school flinn interned at miamidade state attorneys office, where she tried many domestic violence cases.
A modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, supersummary offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major. Apr 12, 2012 its been awhile since ive written about books a few days ago i finished reading breathing under water. What does the title phrase, breathing underwater mean. Richard rohr wrote a spiritual book about breathing underwater as. She studied at the university of miami and later went on to become a lawyer. Entirely different on the surface, it is yet an extension of the first. The theme is shown in alex flinns book in the way nick cares about caitlin despite the things he says and does to her, and in the way his emotions become pent up throughout the book. But breathing underwater is about a boy who goes through counseling to deal with his violent tendencies.
Both giving different stories and experiences about child abuse also giving statistics about parts of the worlds child abusers that are out there. Nicks abuse of caitlin ultimately stems from his inability to effectively express his. Being someone who lived on the streets and struggled with addiction both in my own life and the lives of friends and family, carols poem and richards accompanying message spoke to my condition profoundly. Breathing underwater quotes by alex flinn goodreads. The novel opens as nick andreas, the sixteenyearold protagonist, is in court for beating up his girlfriend, caitlin mccourt. The main characters of this young adult, realistic fiction story are. Breathing under water analysis on nick andreas 999 words.
The book, breathing under water, by ricahrd rohr on spirituality and the twelve steps is available on amazon. Download breathing underwater pdfepub or read online books in mobi ebooks. Breathing underwater is a wonderfullywritten, heartwarming tale of two teen sisters trying to hold on to and pursue whats important to them while balancing a difficult situation. The latest example is his new book, breathing under water. I came across a book several months ago by richard rohr, titled breathing under water. If the content breathing underwater not found or blank, you must refresh this page manually or visit our. Pdf breathing underwater book by alex flinn free download. Essay on breathing underwater book report 1859 words. The metal detector screams when i walk through, and a security woman tries to check my pockets. May 05, 20 overall i loved breathing underwater and i cant wait to read another book by alex flinn.
As the book goes on into more detail, nick starts to let the reader understand the story of how nick ended up going to court and getting a restraining order from his ex girlfriend caitlin. The first edition of the novel was published in april 24th 2001, and was written by alex flinn. The main character in this book was nick, he was the usually teenage kid, good grades, popular kid, he owned a car, and most importantly nick had the girl of his. Sixteenyearold nick andreas seems at first to have everything. Underwater and two other books due to profanity, dark themes. The message is abuse is a cycle that gets repeated. Breathing under water is a mustread for any person who recognizes the need to go inward on their souls journey to question what their relationship is with god, themselves, and others. Breathing underwater is partially an epistolary novel, told in the form of letters or diary entries. Reading guide breathing underwater by alex flinn isbn. Breathing under water by richard rohr is just such a book. Feb 19, 2015 a book that affects me so deeply that it moves me to tears. Click download or read online button to get breathing underwater book now. The author guides us on a journey that begins with a powerlessness or being shipwrecked on a deserted island.
Her previous novel, the phantom husband, was the tale of an abandoned wife. Feb 25, 2021 breathing underwater is a story about mistakes, abuse, and redemption. Breathing underwater themes t he main themes in breathing underwater are redemption, communication and honesty, and abuse and acceptance. Feelings of the book, displays a message to teenagers and young daters that hitting, or verbally abusing someone emotionally is not going to help a situation. Alex flinn grew up on new york and also in miami florida. The journal is written by nick as an assignment from the judge who also sends him to anger management after the girlfriend he beat up finally presses charges. One conflict in the novel is nicks dad abusing him. Breathing underwater by alex flinn breathing underwaterbreathing underwater by alex flinn is written as a series of journal entries. This is the cover of the book breathing underwater. Jun 26, 2015 breathing underwater deals with the serious and alltoocommon problem of dating violence. Jun 23, 2019 her poem breathing underwater became the title and theme of one of his most famous books. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 263 pages and is available in paperback format. The theme in breathing underwater is overcoming adversity to communicate feelings.
Breathing underwater by alex flinn 15 words 123 help me. Atrisk ninth graders dive into literary analysis i looked out at the english class before me, a group of 21 ninth graders deemed atrisk, and wondered if i was in over my head. Breathing underwater alex flinn 1 january 5 justice building, miami, florida ive never been in a courthouse before. I really knew nothing about what went on in these counseling programs. The dream took place at a public indoor swimming pool. May 12, 2001 darrieussecqs third novel hints at a recurring theme of desertion. Nick stepping up and being a man resolves this conflict. The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via audible. Breathing underwater by alex flinn conveys multiple examples of child abuse. An analysis of breathing underwater by alex finn 819 words. Alex flinns critically acclaim book, breathing underwater is one of my go. But then, ive never been in such deep shit before, either. Domestic violence hurts everyone and although it may not be an excuse for ones behavior.
The introduction to the book included the following poem by sr. There were people all around, splashing about, relaxing by the side of the pool, and so on. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. In the end, the book is optimistic about the chances of ending violent behavior, while at the same time making clear that if the perpetrators of violence refuse to. I think that was the main message of the book to give hope to those who struggle with angerviolence, to let them know that there is a way to break the cycle of. Carol bieleck, rscjfrom an unpublished workread by.
Sometimes its a good thing when life kicks you in the butt so youll take a good look at the messes youve made. This book shows that when you keep things in and grow feelings quickly it could. I always explain that time is both a perspective and a need to take time to care for oneself. Oct 21, 2018 when i speak on this theme of breathing underwater.
A prolific writer, his books have helped countless souls, especially those who struggle with issues of brokenness and seek transformation. Alex started writing an early draft of breathing underwater in college. In breathing under water, richard rohr shows how the gospel principles in the twelve steps can free anyone from any addictionfrom an obvious dependence on alcohol or drugs to the more common but less visible addiction that we all have to sin. Nick and his entire crowd seem to float along on a. Its a slim volume, a mere 128 pages of text, but it took me awhile to read as his commentary on each of the twelve steps is so thought provoking and rich i had to let it marinate in me before moving on to the next step. The book breathing underwater takes place in miamidade country, floridia. It takes great skill to create a character who behaves in such a repulsive manner and yet you can see how his outlook and experiences cause him to feel as if he is breathing underwater, due to the violence and lack of love in his own family. Literary analysis and average or struggling ninthgrade students. This conflict is seen in the following example when nicks dad tries to make nick clean up the mess he made. Richard rohr continues to guide us to greater wholeness.
What is the theme of the book breathing underwater yahoo. Fantasy versus reality in the postmodern novel the theme of fantasy, or fiction, versus reality, or truth, is significant in the novel because we see how nick. This book shows that when you keep things in and grow feelings quickly it could impact your life. Only those who have tried to breathe under water know how important breathing really is, and will never take it for granted again.
But when she had her first daughter, she started writing it in. The theme is shown in alex flinns book in the way nick cares about. The book breathing underwater by alex finn, is a story about a guy named nick who struggles to keep his actions together. Each of these books has a teenage protagonist who is forced to deal with challenging problems at school, home, within relationships, or within themselves. The main themes in breathing underwater are redemption, communication and honesty, and abuse and acceptance. I liked how this book took me in and played with my emotions. When we look at time with an eternal view and acknowledge that even difficult times hold a greater purpose it helps to change our perspective from one of being a victim of our circumstances. As a licensed psychotherapist, i thought that the characters. Between january and september this story is told from the eyes of nicholas andreas nick in present tense breathing underwater is about nick andreas who is brought into court because his exgirlfriend caitlin want a restraining order against him after he slaps her. About taking responsibility for your actions, like how you always told us. May 15, 20 almost like nick andreas in the novel breathing underwater by alex finn.
This book wasnt what i expected at all, but this book impressed me more than words can explain. I had no idea when i opened to the first page that it would impact me so profoundly. Breathing underwater is a 2001 young adult novel by author alex flinn that tells the story of nick andreas, a wealthy teenage boy who struggles with his abusive father and abuses his girlfriend, caitlin. Breathing under water analysis on nick andreas essay 10 words. The writing made me feel like i went to school with nick and caitlyn instead of being an outsider looking in. Almost like nick andreas in the novel breathing underwater by alex finn. Nicks story shows that one can always change for the better, so long as they are willing to accept. Breathing underwater is a story about mistakes, abuse, and redemption. Her experience there led to her first novel, breathing underwater. These are youngadult novels, not childrens literature, and they will begin to address some more mature themes and issues. Nick has never told anyone about his fathers violent temper.
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