Read-Along

another from Chapter 15

from Chapter 15In the movies, when you see a sonogram, they manage to make it look like something that might actually be a baby. In real life, the picture isn't that clear. But you can see this flicker. It's the heart, beating way faster than you'd …

from Chapter 15

In the movies, when you see a sonogram, they manage to make it look like something that might actually be a baby. In real life, the picture isn't that clear. But you can see this flicker. It's the heart, beating way faster than you'd think. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at 

bookofbeings.com 

 

from Chapter 15

from Chapter 15For a moment it was like the clouds over the desert had parted and you could see the rays of light streaking down between them. Finally, I thought, someone is getting the picture. The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 15

For a moment it was like the clouds over the desert had parted and you could see the rays of light streaking down between them. Finally, I thought, someone is getting the picture. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 14

from Chapter 14"I haven't been roofied." I sniffed and blinked. "I don't go to parties. I can't hold my alcohol." This was true. I had a hard enough time with people when I was awake. I wasn't going to pass out around them on purpose. The Book …

from Chapter 14

"I haven't been roofied." I sniffed and blinked. "I don't go to parties. I can't hold my alcohol." This was true. I had a hard enough time with people when I was awake. I wasn't going to pass out around them on purpose. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 13

from Chapter 13When I gave the sample, I wiped with those pre-moistened foil-wrapped towelettes first, from front to back, just the way they tell you to on the sign  that's posted over the toilet. I followed the steps in order.I was paranoid ab…

from Chapter 13

When I gave the sample, I wiped with those pre-moistened foil-wrapped towelettes first, from front to back, just the way they tell you to on the sign  that's posted over the toilet. I followed the steps in order.

I was paranoid about doing it wrong. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 11

from Chapter 11We had this thing we did when we weren't sure about a decision that we were trying to make. It was a more sophisticated version of the Magic Eight Ball. We called it iPod Tarot. The way we played it was, we would get a music player, a…

from Chapter 11

We had this thing we did when we weren't sure about a decision that we were trying to make. It was a more sophisticated version of the Magic Eight Ball. We called it iPod Tarot. The way we played it was, we would get a music player, and we set it to play all the songs, but in shuffle mode. Then we asked it a question, pressed play and took the next song that came on randomly as the answer. It didn't always work, but more often than not, it was frighteningly accurate. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 10

from Chapter 10"I must've gotten pregnant off the toilet seat," I said, "Shut up," she said. "No, you shut up," I said. The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 10

"I must've gotten pregnant off the toilet seat," I said, 

"Shut up," she said. 

"No, you shut up," I said. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

another from Chapter 8

from Chapter 8I liked to imagine that someday when I was older and not such a dork, he and I would meet again. Like we'd both be living in San Francisco or someplace, and I'd be able to speak to people like a normal person and also have my own busin…

from Chapter 8

I liked to imagine that someday when I was older and not such a dork, he and I would meet again. Like we'd both be living in San Francisco or someplace, and I'd be able to speak to people like a normal person and also have my own business, and we'd run into each other getting coffee, and we'd recognize each other, and we'd laugh about what things were like for us in high school. Our relationship would progress from there. Or something like that. It was always a little different every time I imagined it. 

The Book of Beings at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 8

from Chapter 8I didn't even know what I was crying about, but it seemed like I had a lot to choose from. My mind jumped from one horrendous thing to the next. The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 8

I didn't even know what I was crying about, but it seemed like I had a lot to choose from. My mind jumped from one horrendous thing to the next. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

another from Chapter 6

from Chapter 6If I'd thought about it, I don't know what I would've done, but I didn't think. It was like when I was 15, and my dog, Lacey, who I'd had since I was little, fell into the river after a storm. I just dove right into the current after h…

from Chapter 6

If I'd thought about it, I don't know what I would've done, but I didn't think. It was like when I was 15, and my dog, Lacey, who I'd had since I was little, fell into the river after a storm. I just dove right into the current after her. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 6

from Chapter 6I steered clear of most people, but I went out of my way to steer way, way clear of her. It didn't matter that she'd never even looked at me. With some people, you just know. The Book of Beings Read-Along bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 6

I steered clear of most people, but I went out of my way to steer way, way clear of her. It didn't matter that she'd never even looked at me. With some people, you just know. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along bookofbeings.com

another from Chapter 5

from Chapter 5 My fascination with the statues at Ignacio's was like the fascination of a rubber-necker at an accident. The stuff was just so awful. At least that's what I told myself.  The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.co…

from Chapter 5

 

My fascination with the statues at Ignacio's was like the fascination of a rubber-necker at an accident. The stuff was just so awful. At least that's what I told myself. 

 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com 

from Chapter 5

from Chapter 5Me personally, I kept my hair pulled back and wore bulky clothes in dark colors with little or no jewelry and definitely no make-up. You know, the uniform of the person who is trying to blend in with the background. The Book …

from Chapter 5

Me personally, I kept my hair pulled back and wore bulky clothes in dark colors with little or no jewelry and definitely no make-up. 

You know, the uniform of the person who is trying to blend in with the background. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along bookofbeings.com

 

Me personally, I kept my hair pulled back and wore bulky clothes in dark colors, with little or no jewelry and definitely no make-up. 

You know, the uniform of the person who is trying to blend in with the background. 

 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com 

another from Chapter 4

from Chapter 4 "Wouldn't you like to take the test, just to be sure?""No," I said forcefully. I couldn't take the test. If I took the test, it would be admitting that maybe somehow I could be pregnant.  The Book of Beings Read-Al…

from Chapter 4

"Wouldn't you like to take the test, just to be sure?"

"No," I said forcefully. 

I couldn't take the test. 

If I took the test, it would be admitting that maybe somehow I could be pregnant. 

 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 4

from Chapter 4I'd walked off the end of the dock--at night--into the freezing cold water--just to get away from his tongue. It didn't exactly help my attempts at not being the weird girl at camp that summer. The Book of Beings Read-Along at boo…

from Chapter 4

I'd walked off the end of the dock--at night--into the freezing cold water--just to get away from his tongue. It didn't exactly help my attempts at not being the weird girl at camp that summer. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 3

from Chapter 3I saw it suddenly, like we were that famous marble sculpture you see in posters sometimes. Me swooning in his arms, my form making a beautiful curve across the composition, his profile inches from mine, his anxious eyes searching my fa…

from Chapter 3

I saw it suddenly, like we were that famous marble sculpture you see in posters sometimes. Me swooning in his arms, my form making a beautiful curve across the composition, his profile inches from mine, his anxious eyes searching my face for any sign of life. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

another from Chapter 2

from Chapter 2I was just a girl walking down a hallway in a mildly altered state. I was considering the nicks and scratches in the industrial beige lockers, how each lock hung at a slightly different angle. I was working hard not to be overcome by t…

from Chapter 2

I was just a girl walking down a hallway in a mildly altered state. I was considering the nicks and scratches in the industrial beige lockers, how each lock hung at a slightly different angle. I was working hard not to be overcome by the growing buzzing in my ears.

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

from Chapter 2

from Chapter 2Maybe in old movies when the heroine fainted, it was because she was in a "delicate condition." But I wasn't a heroine, and this wasn't a movie. The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com.

from Chapter 2

Maybe in old movies when the heroine fainted, it was because she was in a "delicate condition." But I wasn't a heroine, and this wasn't a movie. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com.

last one from Chapter 1

from Chapter 1I'm not saying I could stop people from thinking I was weird. But I was going for just-really-super-shy, not maybe-she-needs-some-serious-meds-too-bad-her-mom-doesn't-believe-in-them. The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.…

from Chapter 1

I'm not saying I could stop people from thinking I was weird. But I was going for just-really-super-shy, not maybe-she-needs-some-serious-meds-too-bad-her-mom-doesn't-believe-in-them. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

and another--from Chapter 1

from Chapter 1At that particular moment, though, standing up seemed slightly dangerous, like I might end up knocking over several lab stools before doing a face-plant on one of the black, fire-resistant counters.The Book of Beings Read-Along at book…

from Chapter 1

At that particular moment, though, standing up seemed slightly dangerous, like I might end up knocking over several lab stools before doing a face-plant on one of the black, fire-resistant counters.

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com

another from Chapter 1

from Chapter 1I know that if you're reading this, it's because you need to know what happened, and maybe you're in a hurry and you want me to get to the point. But if you're reading this, you need to believe what happened to me. If I tell you straig…

from Chapter 1

I know that if you're reading this, it's because you need to know what happened, and maybe you're in a hurry and you want me to get to the point. But if you're reading this, you need to believe what happened to me. If I tell you straight out, in 250 words or less, there's no way you're going to believe me.

There just isn't. 

The Book of Beings Read-Along at bookofbeings.com