The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

As the Civil War draws to a close, Landry and Prentiss, brothers born into slavery, take refuge on the homestead of George and Isabelle Walker as they try and make their way north, seeking their mother, who had been sold years ago. When George stumbles across the boys, he hires them to help him install a crop of peanuts, hoping the work will numb the grief of the loss of his only child to the war. 

 

The forbidden romance of two Confederate soldiers also plays out in the town of Old Ox. The men meet in the woods and, when their secret is discovered, chaos ensues and culminates in murder. The repercussions are greater—for both of them—than either could have ever guessed.

 

In the aftermath of this grief and chaos, Isabelle is thrust to the forefront as the unlikely leader, whose strength results in a vision set to heal both the land and its citizens.

368 pages.

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

For some reason I picture Del looking like Jim Hopper from Stranger Things....
"The teenage boy and the man are as close to wild animal observation as anything I've seen."
And I'm feeling things
416 Pages

Waves by Ingrid Chabbert

Waves by Ingrid Chabbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was touching and emotional. It’s beautiful and painful, both the story and the artwork.

It’s the story of a young woman, and her wife, who want to have a child but are struggling to successfully do so. This graphic novel is so well done that it takes very few words, paired with the gorgeous and easy to understand illustrations, to help tell a strong, emotional story.

The artwork uses color and shading as a tool to help indicate shifts in mood and tone, which is very interesting and effective.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review an early copy of this graphic novel, which will release on May 7, 2019.

With the diversity, emotional artwork, and excellent storytelling, this should be an automatic purchase for all adult graphic novel collections. It brings something new to the table, and I could see this drawing in new and different readers who have never experienced a graphic novel before.

Pages: 96

Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen

Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At it’s heart, this is a story of grief, friendship, and moving forward

The artwork for this graphic novel is always clear, and it has a muted palette for scenes from the past (which I really enjoy). It sets the tone well for the story, and the artist does a great job of showing me the world/setting.

The story is fantastic, because it says a lot, with as few words as possible, which I find delightful. After having just slogged through two really text heavy graphic novels with too much telling, I loved how this graphic novel just showed me the story. I found myself rushing forward and often had to slow myself down, so I could really enjoy the scenes and artwork.

This was perfection. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this title in advance.  It releases on April 17, 2019, so go pre-order your copy today. 

Pages: 160

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so traumatized. I didn’t see it. There were tons of hints, but I just didn’t expect it to go down like that. I made all the wrong guesses.

My book nerd heart can see what a well-crafted story this was. My teacher heart is so horrified that now I can’t sleep. Even my librarian heart took a hard hit.

I won’t say any more, because you should read this book knowing as little as possible. Stop skimming reviews. Don’t look up or read any summaries. If you truly want to experience this, then you just have to pick it up and read it, knowing as little as possible. You don’t need any noise or distractions to get in the way of how you consume this story.

Just be aware that the content can be overwhelmingly heavy.

Book 13 read in 2019

Pages: 438

Bright Side by Kim Holden

Bright Side by Kim Holden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*&%^$#

+!@#^*%$*&%

&^$%*$@&%^$#*&^%&$@





I am not okay today, on any level, and this book is to blame.





I was even less okay last night, when I finished this.





And I'm already worried about tomorrow.




Book 244 read in 2018

Pages: 423

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a good read, and I put off reading it for so long. Jennifer Brown is an incredible Missouri author. The first work I read by her was Hate List, which is extremely emotional. I read it while teaching, and it's about school violence. I loved that book, as much as you can love a story that hurts in almost every way. And somehow, that put me off reading Brown's other stories. I figured that Hate List was a one time kind of magic, and that all of her other stories would pale in comparison.

I was so wrong, and I regret not reading this sooner, especially as it is set in Missouri (where I live). It's a story about the devastation after a tornado destroys a town. It follows teenager Jersey, through her loss, trauma, and grief, as she tries to rebuild a life after losing absolutely everything.

It's also very true to Missouri, in terms of setting and characters, both the good and the bad things.

I'm going to read the rest of her novels now, especially as I already own most of them. I'm glad I finally jumped this hurdle, so that I don't continue to miss out on a Missouri treasure.

Book 89 read in 2018

Pages: 288

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that is beautiful in a painful sort of way. I would definitely reread this, as it approaches grief in a way that feels so honest, and some of the perspectives are refreshingly different from other YA Contemporary stories centered around grief and loss.

The writing is excellent, and I adore the characters. There was even something that took me by surprise, because I was so buried in the story that I didn't even bother making predictions or assumptions while I read. I was just completely along for the ride on this, and I think that was the right way to experience it. Because, after all, grief itself is rather unpredictable.

Pages: 320

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was pretty good overall, but it did not live up to my hopes and expectations. It fell a bit flat at times, which shocked me. Typically, I go into books blind, with no or low expectations. I don't usually even read the book blurbs. I just pick on blind faith, and then I go along for the ride. With this book, I went in with a few expectations, and now I wish I hadn't.

Here are some of those expectations I carried in:

1. The concept and world building would be incredible

--a. Concept was amazing. Totally brilliant.

--b. World building was mostly missing. You could argue that it wasn’t important how the world functioned, that it wasn’t inherent to the story. However, you can’t give a book nerd a novel with a fascinating concept, set in an unexpected world, and then not explain any aspect of the world to them at all. They may still enjoy the ride, but it will drive them crazy that nothing at all is explained, especially in a world where an extraordinary number of people have experienced loss and death. I just want to know why. Why?!?!? How does it work? Why the term deckers? Why can’t people just opt out of the notifications? Who is really in control? Why does nobody try to fight the system?

2. The characters will be incredible. And they are. I have no complaints with the two main characters. The side characters tend to feel a bit repetitive, which makes it harder for me to remember one from the next.

3. The plot will be fast-paced and undeniably exciting and intense. False. Absolutely false. If you want to read this, just know you’re in for a character-driven experience, not for an exciting plot.

4. There will be some unexpected twists. But there really weren’t. I even kept guessing what the twists would be, but there were really no twists at any point. Unfortunately, this led to a situation where I thought up all these brilliant twists, and then none of them ever came true, which left me disappointed, through all fault of my own. But still.

5. The audiobook will be fantastic. And it is. I recommend it.

6. The writing style and voice will be solid. And they are.

This is my first Silvera novel, though I own 2 others. I believe I will read them, but I confess I’m a bit nervous now.

One thing to prepare for, the book is full of loss on every single front. However, don't get too anxious, because it didn't make me cry. There were some sad undertones, but it was not nearly as emotionally resonant as I expected.

Basically every teenage character in this book has lost a parent, their whole family, their lover, and/or all of those. I’m sure it’s to help with the overwhelming theme of loss, but it becomes so many characters that have experienced loss (with no real explanations of why the world is like this), that it starts to lose value. There’s just no contrast at all, and the reality of loss is that it is made more powerful when shown head to head with its opposite. I feel less interested in every new person’s sad backstory, because it’s just another modification of the previous character’s sad backstory.

Honestly, this book is probably a 3.5 for me. I would have given it more of a 4.5, earlier on, but the last 1/4 of the book fell pretty flat for me. It didn't even devastate me, which is a strike against it when it comes to this sort of topic.

I know the author put a lot of love and hard work into this. I can feel that in the way he writes the characters. I appreciate the diversity, as well. I still enjoyed it overall, and it made some lovely points about the ways people choose to live their lives, also, the way they don’t choose but still go on living their lives.

I would recommend this to others, because I still loved the two main characters and the concept. I just think people will enjoy the ride more if they keep their expectations low and accept it for what it is, instead of wanting it to be something it isn't ever going to be.

Also, one final note. This could have been a terrific Sci-Fi novel, but really all those elements are left out. So basically it's a Sci-Fi world, written like a contemporary novel. That might also be part of the reason it fell flat for me, because I love Sci-Fi and don't like the false promise of something more exciting, only to be tricked by another contemporary novel about love, loss, and personal growth.

Pages: 384

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a sweet, quirky middle grade story about loss and finding family in unexpected places. It's best if you don't overthink anything. Once you do, it's a downhill slide that you won't recover from, so I recommend you put on your fiction blinders and cinch them tight before you read this novel.

I finished this story 4 days ago, and I gave it 4 stars in the moment. Today, I couldn't even remember the story well enough to write this review without going back through to read a synopsis to prompt my memories.

After careful reconsideration, I have reduced my rating by a star.

This story has a few things that may be interesting or amusing in the moment, but that in reality, I didn't actually appreciate. There's a bad counselor, a strange relationship to money/wealth/poverty that lacks depth and truthfulness, some truly unbelievable moments and occurrences for a contemporary story, a lack of character development in most side characters, and a depiction of loss and grief that doesn't resonate as well as it could.

HOWEVER, there are these sentences and moments throughout that are so perfectly charming and touching, that I think it makes it really easy to look past the flaws of the storyline. My advice to readers is to not overthink anything, and to enjoy this book for what it is, without thinking too hard about what it could have been. Once you do the second, it will be impossible not to fixate on everything that just doesn't add up.

PAGES: 380

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller, read by Mark Deakins

Why read another book about a post-apocalyptic world where everyone's killing each other to survive?  A lonely man and his dog, an enigmatic survivalist neighbor, and an airplane..what's not to like?  All of the characters have experienced the unbearable loss of loved ones. All of them have had to do unspeakable things to survive the breakdown of society.  All of them hope to find community again. Seriously, it's a beautifully written (and read) story. Unabridged audiobook, 10 hrs. 41 minutes. 336 pages.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, narrated by Jim Broadbent

I loved this book!

Harold's been retired for six months when he gets a letter from a woman he used to work with.  Queenie is dying from cancer and just wrote to say goodbye.  Harold dashes off a quick reply but when he walks to the post office to mail the card, he suddenly decides to keep on walking.  I didn't have any idea how this journey would end but I wasn't disappointed.  I laughed; I cried; I was engrossed.. Jim Broadbent is Harold. 336 pages. 9 hours 57 minutes, unabridged.

The Sonderberg Case by Elie Wiesel

The Sonderberg Case by Elie Wiesel

 I picked up this book because it was by Elie Wiesel. I also thought the book would be about a murder trial.  According to the book jacket, "a German expatriate named Werner Sonderberg returned alone from a walk in the Adirondacks with an elderly uncle, whose lifeless body was soon retrieved from the woods." But the Sonderberg case is really a point of departure for the main character, a theater critic named Yedidyah Wasserman, to reflect upon his own life and work.  "Somewhere on earth, each person is acting in his own play; here or there, it makes one or another stranger weep or roar with laughter."  (192 pages)

The Boy on Cinnamon Street

Author: Phoebe Stone
Pages: 234

I almost didn't grab this book to read and I am very glad I did. It is a quick read but has enough depth to bring tears to your eyes. I wish I knew a real Henderson. :) 

Cover blurb:

A story about a wounded girl and the boy who won't give up on her.

7th grader Louise should be the captain of her school's gymnastics team - but she isn't. She's fun and cute and should have lots of friends - but she doesn't. And there's a dreamy boy who has a crush on her - but somehow they never connect. Louise has everything going for her - so what is it that's holding her back?

Phoebe Stone tells the winning story of the spring when 7th grader Louise Terrace wakes up, finds the courage to confront the painful family secret she's hiding from - and finally get the boy.

Without Tess

Author: Marcella Pixley
Pages: 280

This is a story about Lizzie, age 15 coming to terms with suicide of her mentally unstable sister who was her best friend. Lizzie has felt guilt and confusion over her sister Tess' death, she can't let go and has turned into herself. She has no friends and her relationship with her parents is distant.
I liked this book, I was reluctant to read t after I found out what it was about, thought it might be too depressing but it wasn't and I recommend it. 

Cover blurb:
Tess and Lizzie are sisters, sisters as close as can be, who share a secret world filled with selkies, flying horses, and a girl who can transform into a wolf  in the middle of the night. But when Lizzie is ready to grow up, Tess clings to their fantasies. As Tess sinks deeper and deeper into her delusions, she decides that she can’t live in the real world any longer and leaves Lizzie and her family forever. Now, years later, Lizzie is in high school and struggling to understand what happened to her sister. With the help of a school psychologist and Tess’s battered journal, Lizzie searches for a way to finally let Tess go.

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