"SPIN THE PLATE" BY DONNA ANASTASI

This was an amazing book, Jo, also known as Julianne has long held back her feelings about the sexual and physical abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her father. Now much older and working as a tattoo artist at a local shop, she has amazing talent as an artist and she spends her free time searching the streets for animals that have been mistreated. There are moments when the finds turn into altercations that give her the chance to get her anger out in the open by way of physical violence. Jo soon meets a man named Francis that shows her the light of God and helps her bring her father to justice for the crimes he committed against her at such a tender age.

This is a story about acceptance, finding love, the courage to do what's right, and the will to accept your life and let go of the past. Wonderfully written with more than one beautiful and important message. You should read this book!
-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club ( )

"SPIN THE PLATE" BY DONNA ANASTASI

This was an amazing book, Jo, also known as Julianne has long held back her feelings about the sexual and physical abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her father. Now much older and working as a tattoo artist at a local shop, she has amazing talent as an artist and she spends her free time searching the streets for animals that have been mistreated. There are moments when the finds turn into altercations that give her the chance to get her anger out in the open by way of physical violence. Jo soon meets a man named Francis that shows her the light of God and helps her bring her father to justice for the crimes he committed against her at such a tender age.

This is a story about acceptance, finding love, the courage to do what's right, and the will to accept your life and let go of the past. Wonderfully written with more than one beautiful and important message. You should read this book!

-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club ( )

This was a fascinating short story. The main character Jo is a female tattoo artist who has suffered sexual abuse and incest as a young child at the hands of her father. She spends her nights rescuing unwanted animals with her pet dogs in tow. She avoids human relationships and has developed a tough persona and physique. Into her life comes Francis with secrets of his own , meek ,mild and full of chat seeking to develop a friendship with Jo. I enjoyed the story and wondered whether Francis is a "Christ-like" character or is based on "Saint Francis" in his simple life and love of all nature. However while enjoying the positive ending for Jo , I was puzzled by the transformation of Francis into a man of "means" who wants to lead a normal life. Overall a story that held my interest to the end. ( )

Spin the Plate blew my mind with how different it is from the other stories I read. I enjoyed the controversial topics presented, and how Anastasi addressed them. I rather enjoyed Francis as he reminds me of my brother. Not pushy, full of patience and teaches lessons everyone should know with such a subtle grace I didn't realize some until later. Spin the Plate shows Jo's victory over her dark childhood and how it earned her the tough shell that Francis breaks through to teach her trust again. I actually wish the story was longer just so I could keep caught up in a fantastic plot line I had no qualms or complaints about. ( )

Spin the Plate short story, is a story that cannot be described as a set genre - there are so many aspects to it. When I started reading it, I did not know what to expect from Spin the Plate - I was a bit taken aback by Jo and her brashness. But then you start to realise thatno one is born that way, but rather you become that way because of something that happens to you. And then we learn what happens to Jo to turn her into this hardened person.

When Jo meets Francis she is vexed by his questions - because nobody wants to talk to you for no reason, there has to be a catch. She agrees to go out with him - I think this is because she sees that he is not a threat to her, and realises that she could pummel him in an instant. Jo who is so tightly guarded against everyone opens up to Francis, telling him the whole story of the sexual abuse she endured from her father. She tells him of her stint in juvenile prison - and we see how that enabled her to be the hardened person that could no longer be hurt by her father.

What really got me about this story, is that Jo did not let her father's abuse destroy her - it hardened her and part of her was crushed, but she was able to move on with her life. I was so glad when she got her vengeance, and I wish that would happen for more victims of abuse. The only thing I did not understand is why she chose to see her father in jail for as long as she did. I suppose it shows how big a person she is.

I love the subtlety of Francis in his courtship of Jo, he was not overt in his intentions, and did not push Jo, because I am sure she would have hurt him if he did. Francis plays a great role in healing Jo and helping her to become the person she is meant to be, taking something from the abuse, but not letting it keep her as the hardened person that she became. He teaches her to trust again, but above all he teaches her how to be loved without being hurt which is the best thing that he does for her.

Spin the Plate is a story of victory and triumph over the sadness that comes from childhood hurt. It shows that even the darkest cloud has a silver lining if you look deeply enough into yourself and make things change for the better.