Six books coming at ya this month, a variety as usual, but it was interesting that most of them this month involved characters dealing with grief from some sort of loss in their lives. I didn’t do that on purpose, it just kind of happened!
It was interesting though to read so many different story perspectives of grief, because every character experienced their grief and handled it in their own way. Whether they turned to sleeping pills to visit their loves in their dreams, or took a sabbatical from their life to find themselves again…leaned into those closest to them and needed people or needed to be alone…if i could say anything about what I have taken away from this, it is that grief is personal. It is a personal process for every person. It feels different to each individual, there is no time line, there is no rule book. It is something each person has to process and figure out, to move forward in their own way. And the best thing you can do is communicate with the one suffereing, and try and meet their needs as best you can. It may not always be enough, but I think also just being there, just sticking around and not giving up on them is important too.
This is why I read. To escape reality and take adventures yes, but also to broaden my perspectives and grow as a person. I am still learning, never content to stay as I am, but only striving to get better. Hope you find something interesting to you this month!
I saw “The Two Lives of Lydia Bird” referenced on a book review, and thought I would give it a try. I wasn’t sure what it was really going to because the book reviewer just said she enjoyed the book. She didn’t really say much about the content, so I was caught a bit off guard when the book opens up with a young girl losing her fiance and mourning his death. She proceeds to live a life in the present, her reality, and also a life in her dreams, where she can be with the one she loves. I wouldn’t call this a happy read, but there is a lot take away from this as far as processing your loss and finding yourself again.
The third and final book for the series “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before!” Ok I really liked “Always and Forever!” You know me, I love it when books tie up with happy endings, so I was really happy with how this series rounded out. The saga continues between Lara Jean and Peter, how they are navigating the end of their high school careers and figuring out college, and also the expansion of their family when their father decides to remarry.
You know, I hadn’t really considered this to be one of the books I was referring to earlier regarding grief, but these three girls lost their mom when they were young, and that thread of loss is wound throughout this story as well. I truly believe that when you experience a loss such as that, you never get over it, but just carry it with your through life. I love this little family and how they depend on each other, and really enjoyed seeing how this story ended.
I was looking for some mystery in my life, and my neighbor/friend/sister in Christ recommended Alexander McCall Smith. I am a sucker for European reads, ever since I traveled there in college with the Teas A&M Wind Symphony, I have dreamed of going back and fantasizing about living in London. I loved that “The Department of Sensitive Crimes” was set in Sweden, and y’all… the detective has a labradoodle! It made me love him so much more haha! I loved the dry humor and sarcasm that was constant throughout the book, it was a little slow getting started but once I got into it I really enjoyed this read.
Liv Constantine is one of my favorite psychological thrilled authors…I read “The Last Mrs. Parish” last year and was so excited when I saw that she had another book out. She has these great stories with twists at the end that you just don’t see coming. You’re reading the WHOLE book with one perspective, thinking you have things figured out and then BAM! She flips everything upside down and things are just not what they have seemed! (That’s my feeling anyway haha…) I feel like I really can’t say much about the story line without giving anything away! “The Wife Stalker” is a quick read, and one of those books where I locked myself in my bedroom one Sunday afternoon so I could finish it haha!
I love B.A. Paris…I have read a number of her books and just have enjoyed the short, twisty plots she adopts… “The Dilemma” however was not her typical writing I felt like. This whole story was about a husband and wife both keeping information from each other, and agonizing over when to share said information. The whole book was anxiety ridden, and just stressful to read…I was so ready for this one to be done, and the end just felt like a let down, like I read through all of that just for this?? I hate to be so negative towards a book but this one was just not one I would say is worth reading. I kept thinking that if they would have just been up front with each other from the start that things would have been so different!
I love Jane Austen, I grew up reading her novels, so I thought “The Jane Austen Society” would be a fun read! I enjoyed the story, how these seemingly unconnected people formed a society in the town where Jane Austen lived and wrote, and I enjoyed the story lines of their lives too. More than one of them were coping with their giref of loss in life through Jane Austen’s stories, which I found very interesting. There were just kind of things here and there that I didn’t care for along the way, the chapters regarding the American actress and actor were full of vulgar language, and I really wasn’t crazy about the ending of the book, so I suppose this one is kind of in the middle as far as my interest and review goes. I think I gave it three stars on Goodreads hehe…anywho, I did learn a little bit about the life of Jane Austen, and reading this made me interested in learning more, so there’s that!
I love this quote, it couldn’t be more true! Hope you enjoyed the reviews, if you’re interested in my previous months’ reviews, click on the links below or on my Book tab above! Happy reading my friends!
I think it’s neat that you read so much. And you really have a way with words in your book reviews. I’m glad you enjoy reading!
Thank you so much Mom, I really enjoy it!!!