Grief has a funny way of getting in the way. Rose is part of the way home from her best friend's parents' house when her car breaks down, and a radio Grief has a funny way of getting in the way. Rose is part of the way home from her best friend's parents' house when her car breaks down, and a radio signal plays the last voicemail Gaby ever left her. Rose follows the signal into Lotus Valley, where the residents greet her with wariness and fear, being prophecies to bring about the town's destruction in 3 days time. The neighbors--ghosts of the past, creatures of memory or spirit--have something they need to say, and Rose might be the only one who can hear it.
Rose's grief and PTSD cloud her ability to really understand, struggling as she is with her own issues. Her story is sensitively told and emphasizes that grief isn't a linear series of stages and that healing takes time....more
I listened to an interview with the author on the Depresh Mode podcast, and the combination of mental health, crafts, and a generally accident-prone lI listened to an interview with the author on the Depresh Mode podcast, and the combination of mental health, crafts, and a generally accident-prone life sucked me in. The author has a somewhat self-deprecating tone, but even in making light of some of her struggles, the seriousness still comes through. It's real and raw and vulnerable. There are some things that I wonder about (the specifics of a falling-out with a friend group, for instance), but I recognize that she doesn't owe the reader anything, and she can keep private whatever she wants, and that's okay. I'm not entitled to her story, and I am appreciative and touched by all she was willing to share with her audience....more
Something happened to Hannah's roommate. Something bad. Now, Hannah is in a psych ward "until this is all straightened out," the lawyer says. Which shSomething happened to Hannah's roommate. Something bad. Now, Hannah is in a psych ward "until this is all straightened out," the lawyer says. Which shouldn't be long! She just has to sit tight and befriend her new roommate, and wait for the evidence to exonerate her.
I do love an unreliable narrator, and one in a psych ward is generally a good starting place. I had questions and suspicions by the midway point, but it wasn't immediately obvious....more
What do you do when you've agreed to nanny an old friend's stepkids for a summer, and then find out that they burst into flame when agitated? With nowWhat do you do when you've agreed to nanny an old friend's stepkids for a summer, and then find out that they burst into flame when agitated? With nowhere else to go, you gulp and teach the kids about meditation, keeping one's temper, and being loved for who they are, even when your dad is a senator and acknowledging your existence wut be political suicide for him.
Lillian really needs this--needs a way out of her dead-end town--a town she had a ticket from, years ago, before she got expelled for a crime that wasn't hers. She also needs to learn about managing emotions and loving and being loved.
This was a quick read, with a lot of humor and depth. A couple of the characters were thinly drawn (looking at you, Senator), but others show unexpected depth (hi Mom)....more
Famous horror movie director is attacked in his home, so his teen daughter is sent to stay with her maternal grandmother in the town where her mother Famous horror movie director is attacked in his home, so his teen daughter is sent to stay with her maternal grandmother in the town where her mother grew up--and where her father set his most famous movie. Right from the beginning there's something weird in town--a ghost, or a demon-creature, in the abandoned mines, or just a creepy vibe in the whole town seemingly stuck in the past when the mine collapsed. With no internet or cell service, Lola is stuck piecing together past events from scant clues....more
A mother who knows she does not love her child, and her concerns that this is the reason for his crime. We know from the start that Kevin murdered sevA mother who knows she does not love her child, and her concerns that this is the reason for his crime. We know from the start that Kevin murdered several classmates; the bulk of the story is exploring how it happened, tracing the path from Kevin's birth through the inevitable trajectory. ...more
I stumbled on this at the library and have zero regrets. A would-be bank robber attempted to rob a cashless bank, and in escaping, accidentally walks I stumbled on this at the library and have zero regrets. A would-be bank robber attempted to rob a cashless bank, and in escaping, accidentally walks into an apartment showing. Everyone present has their own baggage, and the bank robber is no exception.
Similar to Britt-Marie Was Here, Backman shows great character growth among realistic people--the characters are who they are, warts and all, and each is treated with compassion. Also this book is very, very funny....more
Narrator goes back home to her remote Alaskan town for her best friend's funeral. Friend has died by suicide while Narrator was away at boarding schooNarrator goes back home to her remote Alaskan town for her best friend's funeral. Friend has died by suicide while Narrator was away at boarding school. Narrator is left struggling to understand what happened: Friend was an outcast, avoided and sort of feared due to bipolar disorder, but now that she's dead the townspeople are talking about how loved she was and how much they miss her.
I never got the visceral sense of Place that I have with other books, but I did get the claustrophobia of a small, isolated town in which everyone knows everyone else's business. Narrator must come to terms with what's changed in her absence and what's changed due to her absence, while also grieving.
I have plenty of students who will love this book, and assuming I get a budget next year, I'll be adding it to my school library....more
Marjorie's been acting strangely, and her family has noticed. Her 8-year-old sister Merry tells the story of her sister's descent into either schizophMarjorie's been acting strangely, and her family has noticed. Her 8-year-old sister Merry tells the story of her sister's descent into either schizophrenia or demonic possession, and the reality show that was made about them. Present-day, adult-Merry narrates the story to a reporter who is writing a book about the family. But in some places, the memories don't line up with the filmed evidence, and we are left wondering what really happened vs what Merry believes happened vs what 8yo Merry believed happened.
I had expected this to be a suspenseful thriller, and it did keep me turning pages, but it was mostly sad to see a family in crisis, virtually powerless to stop it....more
With each book, Lawson gets more open about her mental and physical health struggles, but still retains her she's of humor. While nothing will ever toWith each book, Lawson gets more open about her mental and physical health struggles, but still retains her she's of humor. While nothing will ever top her story of Beyonce the giant metal chicken, her frankness continues to make me laugh. At this point, though, she seems less interested in entertaining her readers than in connecting with them. Her anecdotes and stories have an undercurrent of hope to them, a "we're in this together" vibe....more
Jesus, what a ride this was. The intersection of time and emotions (did you know they intersected?), where time can only be restarted by truly examiniJesus, what a ride this was. The intersection of time and emotions (did you know they intersected?), where time can only be restarted by truly examining one's feelings and listening to and caring about others. How do you sum up an AS King novel, anyway? This one didn't hit me quite as hard as The Year We Fell From Space but I do see this one playing a big role in future therapy sessions....more
Not really sure how to describe this. It's part memoir, part encouraging hug. We're not alone.
This book comes out of the podcast by the same name, in Not really sure how to describe this. It's part memoir, part encouraging hug. We're not alone.
This book comes out of the podcast by the same name, in which the author interviews comedians and artists (musicians, actors, etc) about their mental health struggles. I guess it adds credibility to the podcast? But really it's good to know that there are others who do understand.
Now I just need somebody to write The Hilarious World of Anxiety, in which we laugh at the ways in which we are paralyzed by simple decisions like "do you want to eat something."...more
I really fell off reading for a good long while, and the few things I did read I completely forgot to log. I loved this one--the What Might Have Beens,I really fell off reading for a good long while, and the few things I did read I completely forgot to log. I loved this one--the What Might Have Beens, all cataloged and ready for browsing in that space between life and death. When my time comes, I'll be annoyed if I don't find myself in the Midnight Library before I go....more
Adrian Montague--the only child of Parliamentarian Henri Montague--is struggling still after his mother's death nearly a year ago. So when a box of hiAdrian Montague--the only child of Parliamentarian Henri Montague--is struggling still after his mother's death nearly a year ago. So when a box of his mother's things is returned and Adrian finds her broken spyglass, he is determined to find out what it was about it that captivated her. His early research brings him to a London shipping company, where he uncovers his first family secret: his eldest sibling. Together Monty and Adrian chase the secrets of the spyglass across the globe, finding answers--and more questions--in each port.
"The plausibility of a worry never stopped me from asking it to dance," Adrian says early on, and that is one of the major ides in the book--Adrian's anxiety and OCD nearly leap off the page, but at the time of the book, neither of those things is recognized as the disorders they are. It's a fascinating lens for the character, watching his every decision be filtered through his anxiety and fear. It casts a shadow on the spyglass's origin--does The Flying Dutchman really exist? Is Adrian actually seeing it?--but the story is more about the relationships and characters....more
I read a little better than half of this. There were some pieces that really hit me, and some that fell flat. Maybe it just wasn't the right time for I read a little better than half of this. There were some pieces that really hit me, and some that fell flat. Maybe it just wasn't the right time for me, or the right book. I feel okay about having given this one up....more
Excellent premise that mostly delivered. The ending was a little neat for the situation, but the book held my interest until 2am when I finished it.
AExcellent premise that mostly delivered. The ending was a little neat for the situation, but the book held my interest until 2am when I finished it.
As much as I'd never want to be in this situation (needing to kidnap a child in order for mine to be released), I was a little disappointed to never fall completely into the story--I was always aware that it was a book, that these weren't real people. I didn't get the sense of desperation I'd expected.
I haven't been reading much lately. It was good to engage with a book and enjoy it, even if the book itself was, in the end, unsatisfying....more
Uneven, as pretty much any collection will be. Some definite standouts and things that resonated, and also things that didn't at all. But then my own Uneven, as pretty much any collection will be. Some definite standouts and things that resonated, and also things that didn't at all. But then my own issues are not, thankfully, All The Issues, so naturally some will hit closer to home than others. I'd love to see a follow-up with different authors represented, as mental health has become much easier/more acceptable to talk about....more
The third entry in Raina's autobiographical series, after Smile and Sisters. This one tackles anxiety and the resultant physical issues, which in her The third entry in Raina's autobiographical series, after Smile and Sisters. This one tackles anxiety and the resultant physical issues, which in her case center on her stomach.
Middle schoolers will eat this up (sorry) (not sorry), and showing anxiety in someone they admire will be super-positive....more