Brittney's Review: Everything I Never Told You

Author: Celeste Ng
Series: None
Publication Date: May 31, 2015
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 320
Obtained: Purchased
Genre: Literature
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Emotional & tender – a glimpse into a family coping with grief
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab!

Summary:

“Lydia is dead. But they don't know this yet.” So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia's body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos. A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another. – powells.com

Review:

There is a reason this title was selected as a New York Times Notable Book of 2014.

After the death of their daughter, the Lee family goes through absolute hell in dealing with their loss. And as both police and family try to piece together details of Lydia's passing, the reader is left with many questions: How did she die? Who was at fault? Did Lydia want to die, and had she given up?

Celeste Ng weaves a story complete with flashbacks of James & Marilyn's first meeting, their marriage, their successes and failures. And over time, pieces of the puzzle slowly take shape. At first glance, you might think that Marilyn is living her life through her daughter, and pushing her too hard to fulfill her own dreams. By the end of the novel, the picture is clear: you'll never expect the ending.

A tale of heartache, overcoming grief, and how to move on, this book gets one of my few 5/5 scores. Don't skip Everything I Never Told You. Grab a copy and a comfortable chair and clear out your afternoon. You won't be able to stop after the page one.

  Google+

Brittney's Review: Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands

Author: Chris Bohjalian
Series: None
Publication Date: May 26, 2015
Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition
Pages: 288
Obtained: Purchased
Genre:Literature-Coming of Age
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Heartbreaking, raw – a must read.
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab!

Summary:
Emily Shepard is on the run; the nuclear plant where her father worked has suffered a cataclysmic meltdown, and all fingers point to him. Now, orphaned, homeless, and certain that she’s a pariah, Emily’s taken to hiding out on the frigid streets of Burlington, Vermont, creating a new identity inspired by her favorite poet, Emily Dickinson.

Then she meets Cameron. Nine years old and with a string of foster families behind him, he sparks something in Emily, and she protects him with a fierceness she didn’t know she possessed. But when an emergency threatens the fledgling home she’s created, Emily realizes that she can’t hide forever. – amazon.com

Review:

I have a soft spot for books that get me emotionally wrapped up into a character. Such was the case for Emily Shepard, our main protagonist.

Chris writes a no holds barred look into the life of a not-your-average teen who lives through the unthinkable, and just when you think things couldn't get worse, Emily endurs even more. It's rare to see a level of writing that is so factual when portraying a teen, which is probably why I find the YA genre difficult to read. Not the case here: Chris delivers writing that is beautiful, raw and realistic. This is far from a YA read and in the end, is a beautiful coming of age story.

This book is a stark reminder that we never know the battle someone else is fighting until we've walked a mile in their shoes.

I snagged Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands from the new trade paperback releases shelf at the airport about a week ago, and only later realized that Julie had reviewed the hardcover edition. I echo her sentiments in that this would make a fantastic book club read. It'll provide some difficult questions for the group to debate, as so much controversy and pain surrounds Emily's life.


  Google+

Brittney's Review: Bossypants

Author: Tina Fey
Series: None
Publication Date: April 31, 2011
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
Pages: 352
Obtained: Purchased
Genre:Biography-Entertainment and Performing Arts
Rating: 3/5
Bottom Line: Not for casual fans
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Library

Summary: Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV. 

She has seen both these dreams come true.

At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon -- from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.

Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

(Includes Special, Never-Before-Solicited Opinions on Breastfeeding, Princesses, Photoshop, the Electoral Process, and Italian Rum Cake!) - amazon.com

Review:

Let's start out my very first review with an obvious statement: I am very behind on my TBR pile. But better late than never, am I right? I'm so thrilled to be joining GJR so I have a good excuse to finally crank through my list, while also soaking in books in a way that I wasn't always able to do when I worked in publishing.

Look, I'm not a Tina Fey Super Fan. As in, I don't go out of my way to watch her work. I wouldn't even go as far as saying I'm a casual fan. But I have enjoyed the few things I've seen (Sarah Palin), admired her work and attention to the smallest detail (Sarah Palin), and knew that as far as books by comedians go that this would be my best shot at enjoying a book in this realm.

This review is for the reader that has considered picking up a copy of Bossypants – maybe because of all of the rave reviews you've seen – and you're not sure if it's right for you. My answer boils down to one question: are you a SNL-lovin', 30-Rock watchin', Tina Fey fanatic? Yes? Then absolutely buy and read this book.

If you're only moderate in your feelings for any of the above mentioned items, then sure -- you'll learn something about the comedy/show business industry, and you'll get a few laughs in, too. But there are a slew of pages devoted to some of Tina's work which is most ideal for her fan base, and I especially found myself struggling to get through the 30-Rock chapter.

If you're like me, your best bet is to snag a copy from a friend, or loan one out from the library. Keep it as that little nugget you read in between a sweeping, emotional novel and use it as a refreshing mental break. Or read it this summer while you're sprawled out on the beach, or in between errands. There are some great points in here about women in the workplace, which in and of itself makes the book a worthwhile read.


  Google+