Goodreads: 3.5 Stars Blog rating: (a generous) 8/10 Stars
Category: Young Adult
*Video* (1 min) Book Review: The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen
Goodreads: 2 Stars Blog rating: 6/10 Stars
*Video* Let’s revisit a favorite! More Than We Can Tell, by Brigid Kemmerer (2 min 31 sec)
You can read more about More Than We Can Tell, plus two other amazing YA favorites by Brigid Kemmerer by click this link here: https://readwithkristie.com/2023/01/29/author-spotlight-brigid-kemmerer/
*Video* An audio/visual version of my review of Signs of Life, PLUS an unexpected comment from the author
So I posted this version of my review on TikTok and Instagram and a short while ago I received this comment from author Creston Mapes:
THIS. This is why reviews are important to authors. Because they, like all of us, can always use that reminder to KEEP GOING. I just wanted to share that with you. And the book he mentions? I AM IN HERE. It’s fantastic. Go read it!
Signs of Life, by Creston Mapes
“A morbid gloom hung in silence over the courtroom. And it dawned on Deetz—they were all human beings in that place. If they wanted to, they could all relate with one another—about life’s struggles, trials, ups, downs, joys, losses. But somewhere along the line, this one, Rogan Sneed, had chosen to venture outside the norm of what human beings are allowed to do, are supposed to do. Maybe he was insane or bi-polar or mentally ill. Or maybe something like demons really did exist—inside certain human beings. Whatever the case, whatever the reason for this insanity, whatever had caused Rogan Sneed to snap—Deetz found himself at a place he’d never been in his life. Wishing everyone could get along. Wanting peace—within himself and with those around him. Wanting love. Joy. Kindness. Serenity...” from Signs of Life.
This is my second book by Creston Mapes and I’m still trying to process my feelings. Marketed as a “Christian thriller,” author Creston Mapes has a way of getting his stories to wedge their way into your mind without using any graphic language or images. But he does use imagery. And emotions. And deep, personal points of view.
This is the story of three men: a teenage shooter, the detective who interrogates him, and a man who lost his wife in the violent event. The setting is Portland, Oregon and the location of the shooting is Pioneer Square, a place I’ve been to many times, which made this story feel all the more realistic.
The POVs are the detective, Wayne Deetz, and the widower, Tyson Cooper. They are strong characters, but also representatives of many others who were affected that horrific day, May 7, 2018. All fictional, though you forget that as you read.
So what makes it a “Christian thriller?”
Over the course of one year we follow Deetz and Cooper as they try to make sense of this senseless act and reassemble their lives. Because, honestly, how does one move forward from something so terrible? They question everything, reevaluate everything, second guess everything. They grapple with their faith, friendships, guilt, grief, there are thoughts of revenge, forgiveness, compassion, love, renewal, and an attempt to heal. And the reader is completely enveloped, putting everything through our own filters, making us think of such powerful issues like light versus dark, the death penalty, nature versus nurture, life after death, family, and loss.
This is a gripping story which I highly recommend. It will stay with you and, difficult as the subject is, maybe that’s a good thing.
9.5/10 Stars
November 2023 Reading Wrap Up!
Twenty one books for November, not bad! Lots of Christmas-themed books, lots of historical romance, some rom-coms and YA. I feel like I’ve stayed fairly up to date on reviews, so I won’t repeat myself here. I will say that my best new author discovery has been Caroline Fyffe, who wrote An American Duchess and Heart of Eden. These are both parts of a series that I plan to continue and have been really excellent. They are available on Kindle Unlimited with audio. On to December! (Seriously, how did that happen? Wasn’t Halloween, like, yesterday?)
Quick Review: Tessa & Weston: The Best Christmas Ever, by Abbie Emmons
100 Days of Sunlight, by Abbie Emmons
One of the great things about having bookish friends spread out across the country (and world) is that everyone’s different life experiences direct them to different kinds of books. Case in point, my friend, Kristy Whilden, a d/Deaf author who owns and operates the Hands Up Silent Theatre in New Jersey. She gravitates towards books with main characters who are “differently abled,” and was the person who led me to the amazing book The Butterfly Girl a few months ago (which I regret to admit does not have a review on this site.) Recently, Kristy posted a new list of books she’s read with differently abled characters. 100 Days of Sunlight was on it.
We begin by witnessing a horrific drunk driving accident that leaves 16 year old Tessa Dickinson with cortical blindness, a supposed temporary condition that should correct itself when swelling in her brain is reduced. But, there are weeks of darkness ahead and Tessa is a young poet whose prose focuses very much on visual imagery. To say that the rug has been pulled out from under her is an understatement.
When her grandfather places an ad in the local paper for a teenage typist to help Tessa, she is livid, and demands he cancel it. He does, but not before it is noticed by Will Ludovico, the 16 year old son of the newspaper’s owner. Will has had his own physical challenges, but his confidence and optimism make him certain that he can help Tessa adjust and find joy, despite her situation.
Much of the story is a push-and-pull between Will’s determination and Tessa’s frustration. But these are kind, smart, good-hearted young people. They are at an age where they are still learning about life, attraction, and the meaning of true beauty and love. Any reader with a sensitive soul will adore these two main characters. And, like many of the best stories, find some personal messages to take away and apply to their own lives. I know I did.
I highly, highly recommend 100 Days of Sunlight. It is perfect for this season that emphasizes gratitude and for anyone who is looking for renewed hope in friendship and goodness towards others.
A very worthy 10/10 stars!
Quick Review: Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, by Lauren James
Quick disclaimer: I am generally not a science fiction (or fantasy) person. Like most humans, I’ve seen all of the Star Wars and Star Trek movies, plus a few others that are set in space, like Apollo 13, but it is certainly not a genre I seek when I’m reading. This became a challenge when my online reading group’s September book needed to be a science fiction book. After a few false starts and research, I found this one.
And loved it.
Where to start while talking about The Loneliest Girl in the Universe? My first impression upon meeting teen Romy Silvers was that she reminded me of Disney’s Rapunzel in Tangled: smart, spunky, proactive, talented, productive, compassionate, and lonely. She’s also dependent. In the same way that Rapunzel was locked in a tower and fully dependent on Mother Gothel for news of the world and the fulfilling of her basic needs, Romy is dependent on NASA back on Earth. An Earth where she has never been.
Why? Because Romy is the first person ever born in space. And, due to an irreversible tragedy, she is now the commander of the Infinity and completely alone. Her only communication is with her psychologist, Molly. This segues to communicating with another lone space traveler. I could say more but I do not want to give anything away.
Let’s just say that the synapses in my Humanities major brain fired on all cylinders. I started thinking of the symbolism and ramifications of Romy’s predicament. The biggest one being trust. She has to decide who to trust, what to believe, and also what to share. Making yourself vulnerable to the wrong person can have dire consequences.
It also got me thinking about choices we make as regular non-space travelers. Each of us must decide how to use our time, how productive we want to be, and the level of social interaction in which we want to engage. Depending on whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, plus your individual circumstances of work and physical limitations, these are factors that every person must consider. Living in the digital age, where we can communicate instantly without speaking and socialize without leaving our homes, certainly has its positives, but there are downsides too.
Now, because my book group has certain review requirements this month (another challenge we are doing) let me address those:
Cover art: Like Rapunzel at her lone window, Romy looks out at a expansive universe that is full of potential and limitations. There is power in simplicity, and that is certainly evident here.
Character development/world building/plot/pacing/Style: As mentioned, I instantly liked Romy. Despite her situation and sheltered upbringing, she is a wonderful character with full-bodied emotions. As our narrator, Romy’s intelligent observations of her hopes, fears, and surroundings are what make this an incredibly immersive story. In many ways, we must trust and rely on her descriptions of the world she lives in as much as she must trust what she is told by NASA. Yet, as serious as her situation is, there are still light and funny moments as Romy make the best of things and tries to preserve her sanity when life becomes more difficult. A lesson for all of us.
Overall, I was extremely pleased with this book discovery. It is well-paced and engrossing. It is one that elicits many ideas and discussion points. And, while it is marketed as a Young Adult selection, I think anyone of that age or older would find it very interesting and thought-provoking.
9/10 Stars
(Entry in LiterALLy BOOKiSh Rave Review Challenge. Word usage: provoking, funny, talented, well-paced, intelligent, engrossing. Word count: 599)
Book Hangover Titles, 2023 Pt. 1
This morning I saw an interesting post. Someone asked the question: “What was the last book you read that left you with a book hangover?” It got me thinking.
If you’re unaware, a book hangover can best be described as that feeling of numbness and mourning that happens when you finish a book that leaves you emotionally gutted. Some authors, like Diane Chamberlain and Brigid Kemmerer, are especially skilled at writing stories that have that effect on me. It’s probably why I keep going back to their books again and again.
Can a story still be great and not leave you with a book hangover? Absolutely! In fact, three of my favorite authors usually don’t (Katherine Center, Boo Walker, Mimi Matthews,) but I still find their writing engrossing and love their books. Like all reading, it’s a highly personal feeling. The important thing, hangover or not, is that special connection between an author’s work and the reader.
After seeing the original question, I went to Goodreads and browsed books I’ve read so far this year. There are lots, many of which I’ve rated very highly on this blog, but only fourteen qualify for the book hangover category. If you’re a reading slump, and it happens to all of us, I’m certain that one of these books will save you. Most have reviews on this site. Happy Reading!
Whiskey When We’re Dry, by John Larison
The Stolen Marriage, by Diane Chamberlain
More Than We Can Tell, by Brigid Kemmerer
The Escape Artist, by Diane Chamberlain
The Spectacular, by Fiona Davis (just released!)
The Last House On The Street, by Diane Chamberlain
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, by Jenny Wingfield
Schooled, by Gordon Korman
Another winner by Gordon Korman! I enjoy his books so much! And I say this with no apologies because I’m fully aware that his target audience is middle school preteens. Even so, the messages are for everyone. In fact, I wish more adults would read his books.
Here we follow the journey of Capricorn “Cap” Anderson, a sensitive thirteen year old who has been raised and home-schooled by his grandmother. They live together on a modest farm, once a thriving commune, raising their own food and shunning the materialism that has overtaken society. But when Cap’s grandma is hospitalized, his world turns upside down. Now he must go to public school, navigate the social fabric of cliques and bullies, use modern technology, and learn Life’s harshest lessons, all while staying with his new social worker and her pretty but moody teenage daughter.
As you can guess, the mean kids immediately prey on Cap and exploit his innocence. As a joke, he is elected 8th grade class president and becomes the target of every prank imaginable. But is a prank a success when the “prankee” doesn’t react? With his calm demeanor, morning tai chi, and forgiving nature, Cap is no ordinary middle school student. Instead, he exudes generosity and positivity, qualities that eclipse others’ nonsense.
This story was a delight. Anyone of any age can see the subtext that peace and humility always win over violence and arguing. If you want to read a book full of humor and heart, I highly recommend this one. Read it with your kids, read it for yourself. Just read it.
9/10 Stars
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