Category: books

books

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood [review]

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I said that I was going to do this review last week, but I have to admit I am just now able to get off the emotional rollercoaster that I was thrown on during and after reading this book. Where do I begin? Aha, how about the beginning. I promise to try not to give away too much information because I want people to read and experience this book on their own.
 

The story begins when a young Wavy is sent to live with her family after her mother is sent away to jail. Wavy is not your typical child. She shows signs immediately that prove she has not had a childhood filled with rainbows and ribbons. She doesn’t eat, talk or liked to be touched. It takes time for her to eventually let her own grandmother touch her and that is not until her grandmother is dying from cancer and even then she doesn’t let others see her interact with her grandmother. Wavy’s aunt and uncle do not know how to care for her, nor do they try to understand her.

 From what I gathered, Wavy’s mother seemed to be passive aggressive, even OCD when it comes to germs. She is also a drug addict and probably suffers from anxiety and depression. Don’t even get me started on her “father”. I put that in quotations because as far as I am concerned that meth making organism didn’t deserve to be called her father.

 When Wavy’s mother gets out of jail, Wavy goes back to live with her. Her mother does okay by her and her new baby brother for only a short time. Soon enough, “dad” shows back up and convinces Wavy’s mother to come back to him.

 After going back to the house on the farm, Wavy is thrown into the role as caretaker for her brother. Soon Wavy encounters Kellen. They relationship that they start building is odd. He becomes her caretaker of sorts. Making sure that the house is clean and that there is food in the house. He also makes sure that Wavy gets to school and even meets with her teacher. Wavys’s mother is in her own world of depression and drugs. Wavy’s “father” is only concerned with his business, women, and his image.

 Wavy begins to finally experience feelings that she has never felt before when she is dealing with Kellen. Kellen also reciprocates these feelings back to Wavy as she grows older. Wavy slowly comes out of her shell around Kellen. He provides the love and nurturing that her parents never gave her and a little more. Eventually, as Wavy gets older these feelings they have for each other develop into more and cause a ruckus in their lives.

 That is where is will stop with the “synopsis” review and bring you to how this book made me feel.

 I gave this book 5 stars before I was finished with it. I could not put it down. I was drawn in and it kept my attention even when things started getting weird. I highly recommend this book and I am quite upset that my book club has not read this book yet. I have voted for it every time it is one of our contenders and it has not won. I am so glad that I decided to read it on my own after having owned it several months, both the ebook and the hardcover. I felt so many emotions while reading this story. I did not want it to end. This is not a story that is meant to put you in the “feel good” moments of life. It will make you uncomfortable and make you think about what you would do in situations. We all say what we would do, but would we really do it? Although fiction, this story is REAL life. This story is something that is happening every day in our world. This is definitely an ugly, but wonderful story. 

 

 

 

books

Wondering about classics…

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What makes a book a classic? This is something that has been on my mind for the past two days.Current and well known classics include novels by Charles Dickens, Janes Austen, Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, Harper Lee, George Orwell, and many others. These are novels that everyone has encountered whether they love to read for enjoyment or they were forced to read them in school for assignments. Considering how many novels are published each year, in print and some just online, will the qualifications that made the original classics classic be the same with some of today’s writings?

I honestly cannot say that I know right now at the top of my head any books that I would love to add to that list. I’m not saying that I haven’t read any breath taking, heart stopping, and life changing stories over the last several years. I’m just saying that if the same criteria is used to decide if a book is a classic, I don’t have any to add at the current moment. Of course that could change considering the amount of literature and novels that are put out each year. If the criteria is flexible in adding a book to the classics section of the bookstore or adding it to that tedious list handed out in almost every literature class, then there might be a few novels I would add to that list.

Something else that is newer is the amount of awards that a book can be considered for nomination and even winning. There are so many lists and awards (that continually add to my TBR list, lol) out here that it would be difficult to narrow those choices down to novels to add to the classics. Also, just like in centuries before there are books that have been for overlooked for awards and nominations due to the lack of popularity or prestige according to the people who judge these awards. Will these book be overlooked even if they have the said “criteria” of a classic?

Social media has taken the book community by storm, in my humble opinion. There are bloggers, bookstagramers, tweeters and probably more outlets that I am missing out on. Will this also have an effect on determining if a novel is a classic?

At the end of the day, I think sticking to the original criteria of judging if a book is a classic will work, but there will have to be some added factors.

 What do you guys think? Happy reading folks, whether you’re reading “classic” material or not. 

books

Checking in 9/11/17

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Hey guys! I hope everyone had a good weekend and that their week is off to a good start. I had a fantastic weekend that included seeing It and reading All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood(review will be posted this week). I’m so glad that I knocked out It in time to see the film. I admit I was spooked. I’m not sure if it was because the book spooked me or because I really feel some type of way about clowns, a feeling that I’m not used to having. I’ve always been indifferent about clowns but that has changed since reading that behemoth of a book and seeing the movie. My best friend actually challenged me to read the book in two weeks and we managed to do it! I more than needed a nice and easy read after that. 

This week, besides work, my plans include posting a review on All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, reading and reviewing The Absence of Evelyn by Jackie Townsend, and trying to figure out what to read next. 

Anyway, just wanted to check in with you guys!!!! Have a great one! Happy reading and writing! 

books

My take on The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream by Christina Dodd

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Good afternoon readers. Last night I finished my ARC of The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream which is set to be released on Sept 5th. This book is part of a series, something I found out after researching the author, Christina Dodd. Although part of a series, I was able to follow along without any issues. I say that it can be read as a stand alone.

We are introduced to Merida Falcon aka Helen Nauplius aka Merry Byrd, a woman who is mute because of a near death accident. She is married to a wealthy, yet evil man who eventually dies. Once he passes away, Helen takes the money she has saved over the years and vanishes only to show up in Virtue Falls as Merida Falcon(I like the similarity of this name to her real one, Merry Byrd). Here in Virtue Falls we meet Kateri Kwinault, the Native American female sheriff who has also had a near death accident(being shot after she was voted mayor by a felon). Kateri is Merida’s(actually Merry’s) childhood friend from Baltimore. Kateri is in the middle of trying to find the escaped convicts who shot at her in the local diner, injuring her and putting her friend Rainbow in a coma. 

While in Virtue Falls, Merida begins her task of taking revenge on a lover from long ago who she believes tried to kill her, Benedict Howard. Although her appearance has changed and she can not speak, Benedict believes he knows who she is but can not prove it. Both of them are in danger from people who were supposed to love them. 

Not only does Kateri have to hunt down felons, she is also having to find a sudden serial slasher who is slashing women’s faces(wait until you find out who it is and why!!!).

Now, I know this is quite a bit to take in, but trust me when I say it all comes together and  it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Killers where you least expect it and of course some loving is thrown in the mix. Boy, do I wish I could get my hands on a real life Stag Denali(Kateri’s love interest). 

This is my first book my Christina Dodd and I am looking forward to reading more by her. This was definitely a thriller I was glad to get in the mail and have a chance to read and review. I know I’ve rambled on, but definitely check this book out if you’re looking for a new thriller mixed with some loving!!!! 

books

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

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I saw that most of the reviews stated that this was “just another slave narrative” and I’d have to disagree. This really wasn’t a narrative. Yes, Cora was the main character but there were other aspects of the story provided by the other characters. The slave catcher and the Lumbly’s provided the reader insight on how this part of history affected everyone. Slave catchers weren’t always bred to become slave catchers. Poverty will make a person accept any job in order to get money to survive. The Lumbly’s marriage was not one that was between two abolishionists. It was between a man and wife who had 2 separate views on the particular subject. Ethel may not have been outright prejudice but her prejudice was more menacing because it was undercover. Poor Martin was just trying to do what was right because of his father. My favorite chapter was of Cora’s mother. Throughout the book, the feelings towards her are negative until you get her side of the story. Overall, my opinion is that Colson took a story we all know well enough and put a different spin on it. It is much appreciated.

books

My breakdown of B.A Paris’s The Breakdown

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I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of B.A Paris’s second novel, The Breakdown. It took some time getting my copy but it was worth the wait. I breezed thru this novel as I did her first novel, Behind Closed Doors.

Starting off with reading this novel , I assumed that the “breakdown” had to do with car troubles, but soon found out that was not the case. What do you do when the people you are supposed to trust the most do not have your best interest at hand. In this novel we meet Cass, who we soon find out wears her heart on her sleeve although not intentionally. She’s a teacher who has come into a large inheritance from her parents and seems to have a decent marriage to Matthew and a solid friendship with Rachel.

While returning from a party on a stormy night, she takes a shortcut that is going to change her life as she knows it. During this drive home, she passes what she thinks is just a woman in a broken down car, not knowing that this situation is going to be the key event in what is about to happen to her. She tries to stop to help the woman but decides that she needs to get home. The next day on the news she finds out that the woman was murdered. Instantly Cass starts feeling remorse which only worsens when she finds out it is a woman that she knew. Instead of talking about it to her husband or best friend, she tries to deal with it on her own. Soon weird things start happening to Cass to make her think that someone is after her and that she is slowing losing her memory. She turns to her husband who is at first very understanding and supportive until she starts experiencing more events that make her seem like a mad woman.

Cass is convinced that the killer probably saw her and is going to come after her next. She starts receiving weird phone calls every day. Then her memory seems to start slipping. Starting with a simple gift that she forgot she was supposed to purchase, then escalating to other things such as forgotten trips. Eventually Matthew takes her to doctor who puts her on medications to try and sooth her and tests her for possible early on set dementia, something her mother suffered from(another secret she has hidden from her husband).

What Cass doesn’t realize is that she is being tormented by the ones she loves and trusts the most. Eventually she decides she is going to fight back and when she does fate steps in again, but this time it is on her side instead of against her. What happens next is a key reminder  of why one should always watch what they send in text. Her tormentors thought texting was the safest way to communicate but in the end it proved to be the worst idea that they had.

This is all I will say about this book as, I do not want to give too much away. I want others to read it and find out what is going to happen. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, a curveball was thrown my way. Something I love to experience when reading a psychological thriller and B.A. Paris came threw with a hard curveball this time around.