From the author of Salvage the Bones comes another great American novel set in the rural south of the Gulf Coast of Mississippi where young Jojo lives with his grandparents and baby sister. His white father (Michael) is locked up in the state penitentiary. His mother (Leonie), a drug addict and sometimes mother, is absent from their lives most of the time. This leaves Pop with the duty of teaching Jojo how to become a man, while they take care of Mam, who is dying from cancer. When news comes that it is time for Michael to be released from prison, Leonie decides to take the kids with her, along with a friend, to pick him up. This proves to be a thoughtless decision, because she does not have a mothering bone in her body. This road proves to be a horrible mistake for both Leonie and the children. In the spirit of those deep seeded southern stories of the supernatural and spirits of the dead walking the earth, we find that this family has a special gift. This gift will bond mother and daughter, brother and sister during some of the most challenging times in their lives.
We live in a time where there are very few well written novels entering the market. Jesmyn Ward is one of the most exceptional writers of our modern time. For book collectors, her works should be added to your library. She was added to mine. This book is one of the most important books to read in 2017.
Due to be released on Halloween 2017 (or shall I say “Hallowmas”). In the advanced copy I received, the publisher said that this book came to her shortly after the election last year. She needed a place to escape and this book became a wonderful escape. I have to say that I agree with her. I’ve read many amazing books this year, but this one quickly became my favorite one of the year (so far). Meet Morrigan Crow. She’s cursed. Every single thing that goes wrong is blamed on her. On Eventide, all cursed children are killed. As the hour approaches for her death, a strange gingered hair man arrives to take her away to a place where she cannot be killed on Eventide. That land is called Nevermoor and here, Morrigan has been selected to become part of the Wundrous Society. There are many applicants, but only nine places available. They only accept those with the best knack. As Morrigan goes through each trial, she wonders what her knack is. She has no idea, only her patron knows what that is. With the Stink (cops) breathing down their neck because they know Morrigan is an illegal in their republic, Morrigan must face her fears and win each trial in order to stay in Nevermoor. If she doesn’t secure a spot, she could be killed if she is sent home. The problem though for Morrigan is that the final test is the Show Trial, where she is supposed to present her knack to everyone. She doesn’t have a knack. The ending will surprise you. I absolutely love this book and hope you will enjoy it as much as I have. It’s a world you want to escape to.
[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.]
Stay With Me is one of the most phenomenal books of 2017. Written by Ayobami Adebayo, this debut novel takes us to Nigeria where we are introduced to Yejide and Akin. Yejide and Akin are happily married, but are missing one thing…a baby. Akin’s mother begins to pester the couple about an heir before bringing members of the community to their door to suggest Akin take on another wife to produce an heir. Yejide is infuriated. She does not want to live in a polygamous household. She is so desperate to have a baby, she seeks the help of shaman. When she leaves the mountain she believes she is pregnant. Her belief is so strong that her body starts to fake her pregnancy. Akin becomes worried about her and her sanity. He begins to accuse her of betraying her until nine months later, there is no baby. A year goes by and still there is no baby. Akin goes to great lengths to give Yejide what she wants, even if that means destroying their marriage in the end. This book is a powerful novel about love and marriage. It shows how other forces can interfere and ruin marriages all for the sake of an heir. They blame the wife as if all infertility is her problem, not realizing that the issue may lie with the husband. A very sad, but incredible story. A must read for 2017.
[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.]
Due to be released September 26, 2017. Imagine Guardians of the Galaxy meets Doctor Who, and you have Farway Gaius McCarthy and his band of misfits scavenging for priceless artifacts throughout time aboard their ship, Invictus. From the Titanic to the Library of Alexandria, Far and his friends steal precious items for clients until things begin to go wrong. Far was born outside of time. His mother gave birth to him on board the ship while they were traveling between Ancient Rome and 2354 A.D. As a result, it created a disastrous ripple effect in the universe. The universe now needs to set things straight, even if that includes destroying all traces of Farway in every dimension he exists. An excellent read and incredible adventure worth following as Far and his friends travel through time together, trying to escape being erased from existence.
[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a commission.]
This book is due to be released on August 1, 2017. This is by far one of the best stories I’ve read this year. I gave it 5 stars because this is more than just a Spider-Man story. This is about a kid facing adversity, just like every other kid out there. He may have super powers, but it does not mean that he is not a victim of society. He is learning how to be a hero, not just a superhero fighting super villains. Jason Reynolds is an excellent writer. The story is absolutely incredible. I had a hard time putting the book down. I couldn’t wait to get back to reading it again. This is a must read for everyone. Get this book for your kids. Read it yourself. I don’t like Spider-Man, but I do love Miles Morales. Excellent read. [PW REVIEW]
[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission.]
Book: Miles Morales
Author: Jason Reynolds
Publisher: Marvel Press, Disney Book Group
Release Date: August 1, 2017
Rating: [usr 5.0]
There are very few books I cross paths with that make me very excited to share with everyone. For Jason Reynolds’ upcoming release “Miles Morales,” I can’t wait for all of you to read this book.
Yes, this is a Spider-Man novel. Forget Peter Parker, this story is about Miles Morales, a mixed race kid from Brooklyn going to a posh boarding school in Brooklyn on scholarship. He is a genius with a 4.0 GPA, so smart, the neighborhood speaks of him with pride. What makes this story unique though, is that this is about rising from adversity and becoming a better person.
Miles is from a poor family. His dad’s past is that of a common criminal, along with his uncle. They start off doing a lot of bad things as teens, because they feel like they have no choice. If they are going to survive, they need to steal and make fast money.
Then one day, Miles’s dad meets a beautiful woman, falls in love and leaves that world of crime for something better. He wants to have a family that does not need to resort to crime to survive. They are trying to give Miles a better option in life.
Leaving crime, though, means disowning a brother. But that doesn’t stop Miles. He sneaks out to see his uncle, because that’s what you do for family. During one of those visits, he is bit by a spider, just like Peter Parker.
Going to school has its own challenges. He works hard at his grades, trying to maintain his 4.0 GPA. He has a work study to help cover the room and board at the school. He tries so hard to do everything right, but society tries to push him back down.
His history teacher, Mr. Chamberlain, has his own opinions on blacks and slavery. They are very backwards ideologies. He makes each teaching lesson a lesson on the importance of black people remaining slaves. He believes they need to stay within their element and not try to rise above (i.e. go to an elite boarding school).
These lessons disturb the students, but they just put it off as crazy Mr. Chamberlain. Ironically though, Miles’s spidey sense goes off every single time he is in this class. Thinking someone outside needs to be saved, he runs out of the classroom (saying he needs to go to the bathroom, which Chamberlain denies) only to find nothing at all. He ends up getting suspended from school for a week.
He leaves his work study to show up at an open mic night to get extra credit for one of his classes (and pass a poem to a girl he’s crushing on), only to discover the next morning that cans of sausages were stolen during his shift. Something like this could lead to his expulsion, because they assume he took it because he’s 1) black and 2) poor. He doesn’t even like canned sausages.
The Message
His father is trying to teach him how to grow up to be a hero to his community first. When he comes up against all of these problems both at school and in his neighborhood, the question becomes what type of person will he be. Will he turn bad or good in the end?
This book is mainly about the challenges many people face across America. It is about learning how to be a hero, no matter who you are or where you are from. You do not necessarily have to be a superhero with powers in order to be a hero. Sometimes just helping out your community, picking up trash, and helping your neighbors is part of being a hero. You are helping someone else that needs help. That is what heroes do.
But what is a Spider-Man story without evil villains out to destroy the world? Oh, there are a few bad guys in this book that leads to an epic fight scene in the end. So do not go into this thinking this is just about evil super villains, because this book is more than that. This book is truly about a boy learning how to be a hero with and without his powers.
The message in the end is that “We can all be heroes.”
The Rating
I give this book 5 stars, because it is so well written and a tremendously awesome story. I was so absorbed in the story, I couldn’t stop reading it (and this was while I was doing a Game of Thrones binge).
The story is more than just the regular superhero story. It is a story about a kid trying to be a hero when the world keeps trying to stop him. It’s hard for a lot of kids to go up against a system that wants to see them fail. Miles Morales is one of those kids.
Just because he’s Spider-Man, it doesn’t mean that he’s not faced with personal challenges that are similar to so many kids out there. He is victimized because of his race and his socio-economic class. There are people that want kids like Miles to fail because they are black or from a bad neighborhood or from a parent that is a known criminal.
His family may struggle, but his father, that known criminal, is trying hard to make sure his son doesn’t turn out like he did. He changes his life around so that Miles can have a better opportunity. Miles deserves a chance to be the change.
What I Love
What I love about this story is that Reynolds is teaching kids that they can all be heroes. It starts in your own neighborhood. Little things like helping the elderly, cleaning up the streets, or helping your neighbors can result in a positive change in our communities.
Reynolds doesn’t shun the stories of people living in their cars or kids being falsely arrested for crimes they did not commit. This is the reality in our world. Having a family member in jail, visiting them in a detention facility and trying to be a family are all part of the story many kids experience.
The author brings the realities around us into this story. Even superheroes can experience the same adversity as the kid that picks up this book. What Reynolds is saying to these kids…YOU’RE NOT ALONE.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, I cannot begin to express how much I absolutely love this book. I do not even like Spider-Man. I am a Superman kind of girl. This story though made me into a Miles Morales fan.
This is an excellent story that should be on everyone’s must read list this year.
[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission.]
This book is due to be released on August 29, 2017. A coming of age novel set in Royston, Massachusetts. Two girls, Julia and Cassie, grow up together in this small town. Julia is from a good, middle class family, while Cassie is from the other side of town. Having known each other since nursery school, the girls spend one last summer together before middle school. They seek out and discover an old asylum where they spend their days playing and pretending. Without knowing it, these are their last days together being close friends. When they enter middle school, Cassie finds new friends and becomes popular. She starts dating the boy Julia has a crush on, a complete betrayal. Then one day, Cassie’s mother marries, changing the dynamic in their household. Cassie slips into a deep depression that changes everyone’s lives. She disappears. Even though they are no longer friends, Julia is the only one that can save her. She must go back to the place where she lost her friend. This is a story about friendships and dealing with depression. It doesn’t effect just one person, it changes the lives of everyone around that person.
[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission.]
Looking for something new to read this summer? There are a few that are out that you can purchase now, and a few coming out this August.
1. Unraveling Oliver. Considered to be one of the IT books of 2017, “Unraveling Oliver” tries to explain why Oliver Ryan, a prominent Irish children’s book author, beat his wife into a coma. Never having displayed violence before, Oliver’s friends try to explain what happened to him. From his childhood all the way into his adult years, Oliver’s story is unraveled piece by piece.
At first, you will feel sorry for Oliver. As the story completely unravels, you realize just how horrible of a human being he was. He commanded the respect of others for decades. One act brought him down.
[Due to be released August 22, 2017.]
2. The Leaf Reader. This mystery will keep you guessing all the way until the end. Marnie Wells is an outcast, because she’s one of the weird kids. She starts reading tea leaves for the popular kids and winds up deep into the tale of what happened to Andrea Quinley, one of the girls that went missing.
Her best friend, Matt Cotrell, seeks Marnie out to see if she has the answers he’s looking for, sending them on a chase to find Andrea, who is presumed dead. Instead, they uncover a much deeper secret that threatens both of their lives. Andrea’s disappearance is linked to Marnie, just not in a way anyone could ever imagine.
This book will have you guessing all the way until the end. The details are always unraveling. Nothing is ever set in stone where you can guess who did what. A must read for those who love thrillers.
[Book is out now.]
3. The Hearts We Sold. Imagine we live in a world where demons walk beside us and they are out in the open. Everyone knows demons exist. People trade parts of their bodies for wishes without ever asking what they do with the body parts.
Dee Moreno is in a tough spot when she discovers that her scholarship to a boarding school is drying up. She has to come up with the money for the rest of school or find somewhere else to go. She doesn’t want to return to her dysfunctional home.
When she sees a demon knitting outside of the hospital where she volunteers, she decides to take a chance. She gives the demon her heart in exchange for money that will get her through a doctorate program (if that’s what she wants). In return, she has to do the demon’s bidding over the course of 2 years.
What she doesn’t know is why the demon is sending her and a group of teens to do his bidding. She has no idea what these demons are trying to do with their body parts. What they discover is much scarier than the thought of demons walking the Earth.
[Due out August 8, 2017]
4. DragonWatch. If you are looking for your next YA series, FableHaven is a great place to start. FableHaven is a 5 book series that takes place at a sanctuary for mythical creatures. DragonWatch picks up where FableHaven leaves off.
With the Demon King vanquished, the Dragon King rises. He wants out of the sanctuary and into the world. Our heroes Seth and Kendra head off to the dragon sanctuary to be the new caretakers.
The kids need to prove to everyone that they can do the job and keep the dragons at bay. Their adventure takes them on an adventure to find a way to keep the castle safe. If the dragons overtake the castle, they can escape into the world. What the two discover is that they need each other to be strong, but they also must learn how to be fearless on their own.
Brandon Mull is one of my favorite young adult authors. The FableHaven series (and now DragonWatch) is an incredible universe to escape to. You will see the beauty in fairies and unicorns, but also the very ugly and scary in demons, trolls, and creatures that you don’t want to bump into.
For those looking for a series, this is one worth diving into. You’ll fall in love with this world.
[All books in the series and DragonWatch are out now.]
5. A Dog’s Purpose. For those who love animals (especially dogs), this is the book for you. We follow one dog’s soul as he (or she) goes from one dog’s life to another. Each life bears an important part in the dog’s future lives.
The story though is about Bailey and his boy, Ethan. The two grow up together and have many grand adventures together, including getting lost in the woods. But Bailey can’t live forever and eventually dies at an old age. He is reborn again and again.
As a police dog, she learns how to search and find. She sees her purpose is to help save lives. In her next life, he uses that search and find technique to find his boy again.
This time his boy is an old man who is alone and has no purpose. It is up to Bailey to help Ethan find his purpose. All the while, he hopes that Ethan will realize that he is really Bailey.
A wonderful story as told by a dog. This book will make you hug your fur babies (and monsters) a little closer. It will make you love and appreciate them a little bit more.
[This book is currently out.]
[Disclosure: I received a free copy of books 1-4 above from publishers in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive compensation.]
Today Show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie has a new book coming out on September 12, 2017 and if you have a little girl, you must include this book in her library. Princesses wear gowns and tiaras, but some also wear pants. I loved this story, because this princess is me in a nutshell. When I gave this book to someone, I mentioned it was a princess that wore pants under her gowns. They laughed, because she is me. I wear pants all of the time, even under the most elaborate gowns. What I also love about this story is that Princess Penelope’s partner in crime is a cat called Miss Fussywiggles. My partner in crime is a Maine Coon cat named Matthew Lucifer. My friends had a great laugh at this wonderful story about a princess that wears pants, because…like I said…Princess Penelope is me in a nutshell.
[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive compensation.]
Book Two in the Dark Cycle Book Series. For those who love stories about good vs. evil, heaven vs. hell, this is your kind of book. In book two, Aidan is still learning more about his powers and what happened to his sister Ava. Stuck between his love for two girls, all struggle in their choices. One love was a spell and that spell is killing her. The other is his soulmate. The one he chooses though, hurts everyone in the end. It’s not his fault that a wrench was thrown into the fate lines. Somehow, they have to fix this. Meanwhile, Aidan and his crew must keep darkness at bay, and keep the demons from entering the earthly realm.
[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive compensation.]
Imagine living your entire life inside of your house, never able to leave because you are sick. You don’t have friends, because you can’t play with other children for fear they may make you sick. This is Maddy’s world. The only people in her life are her mother, her nurse and her tutor…no one else. On the cusp of her 18th birthday, Olly moves next door and everything changes. Olly is allowed to come into her world, which gives her the courage to be in his world…if only for one day.
[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive compensation.]
[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive compensation.]
In a post-apocalyptic world, a young man (Rose) appears, intrigued by a young woman that attempts to save him from toxic waters. She goes about her life working in a factory for food rations, when one day she volunteers to scavenge metal with her boss. When he tries to take advantage of her, Rose intervenes to save her, when unbeknownst to them, the incident was recorded by one of the drones. Shortly after, her boss is found dead, and Rose is the prime suspect. Rose is smart, yet very strange. He is different than everyone else. There’s something about him that is unusual that she can’t quite put her finger on. It is discovering what Rose is…that is what will save them all. If you liked the Twilight movies, you’ll notice that Peter Facinelli (Dr. Carlisle Cullen) is one of the writers. A really great read if you like young adult fiction. In light of our current political climate, it is very scary to read this Orwellian book knowing we are heading in that direction.
Christianity in Japan is all but wiped out. Two young Portuguese priests venture to Japan to find their teacher, only to be met by Christians who hide their religion. If they are discovered and do not denounce their faith, they are killed. As they go from one village to another in search of their teacher, it is only a matter of time before the lords of the land find them and force them to sacrifice their own beliefs or die. This story was made into a film by Martin Scorsese, which received a 2017 Oscar nomination. This is a very powerful story of what men of God will do in order to protect their flock, when they themselves question whether God is real and if he is listening to their cries for help.
[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive compensation.]
Things aren’t going so well for Ove. He lost his wife and all he can think about is joining her in death. As handy as he is, he really sucks at dying. Every single attempt is foiled right as the world comes at him to let him know that he is not alone. Right when he thinks he is alone in this world, new neighbors push their way into his life, as well as the old ones. While he thinks the world doesn’t need him, the world shares with him how important he is to them in their world. Set in Sweden, this book will make you laugh, cry and love this old man called Ove. The film was nominated for a 2017 Oscar. [Book Club Review]
[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive compensation.]
For those who love setting off on adventures, this book takes us into the mystical realm of Shangri-La. For those who watched Netflix’s “The Iron Fist,” this is the book that is the original background to where the story of Danny Rand began, deep in the Himalayan mountains, saved by monks. Rand’s back story is based on the original tale from “Lost Horizon” of a plane stolen and flown deep into the Himalayas where a group of monks finds the passengers and invites them into their monastery, a place like no other. When having to choose between staying in paradise, living a very long life with access to knowledge beyond imagination or going back to Western Civilization, which would you choose? That life of unhappiness out in the real world, or a long lifetime of peace and tranquility living in the most beautiful place on the planet?
[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive compensation.]
Once upon a time, when Amy Tan was in New York City, she found herself caught up in a torrential downpour. She took refuge in a private library at the American Society for Psychical Research where her intuition brought her to the story of Bibi and her tale, “Saving Fish from Drowning” began to unfurl. This book is in every sense of the word, a trip gone wrong. It begins with Bibi’s death, the woman who was supposed to lead a group into China and down into Burma. Her death was the first omen that should have persuaded the group not to go, but they went anyway. The cursed group goes missing in Burma and the search is on to save them, even though no one knows exactly what happened to them. Bibi serves as the narrator of the story as Tan takes you from the most beautiful parts of China and into Burma. Tan opens your eyes to new cultures and to how dangerous political climates can be for the people around you.
[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive compensation.]
For those who love Young Adult Fiction, here are a few books to peruse.
Edgewater by Courtney Sheinmel is filled with mystery and intrigue as we follow Lorrie Hollander, a young rich girl who all of a sudden has her trust fund cut off while at riding camp. Thinking that her absent-minded aunt forgot to pay the bills, she returns home to discover that her trust fund is missing. With only a few dollars in her pocket, she tries to buy gas and a drink only to discover she doesn’t have enough money for both when she meets Charlie, the son of a senator, who pays for her purchase in exchange for joining him at a party in his family’s home. What Lorrie later discovers is that her predicament and money problems are directly related to Charlie’s family. What begins as a rich girl gone broke turns into something much more…explaining why her mother left her and her sister behind with her senile aunt and where all of this money is really coming from. It’s an ending no one is expecting.
2. Mysteries of Cove by J. Scott Savage. If you liked “City of Ember” by Jeanne DuPrau, you’ll like this new series. Imagine a world where doing anything ‘creative’ is a crime and the word ‘invention’ is a curse word. Welcome to the Cove, a steam-powered city inside of a mountain. Why the city is this way is a mystery, especially to Trenton Coleman, who loves inventing and all things mechanical. Along with Kallista Babbage, they discover a mechanical dragon. Together they try to put it together and leave the Cove. What they were not prepared to learn was why the city was hidden inside of a mountain and why any mechanical noise was forbidden. When they learn why, it’s too late and it jeopardizes the lives of everyone inside the Cove. They’ve attracted something to them that was better off left alone. [Mysteries of Cove is a series. The second book was released last year.]
3. Court of Fives by Kate Elliott. For those who loved “The Hunger Games,” you will love “Court of Fives.” Jessamy lives in a world where a mixed race child will never rise in society. Add in every sexist thing you can of how a woman will never be equal to a man, and you have a good idea what kind of society Jessamy lives in. The Fives is a maze where various contenders compete in five different trials. Winners of the Fives live handsomely, but there is one catch. They have to reveal their face. It is because of this that Jessamy allows someone else to win, so as not to embarrass her father, a famous soldier who would be humiliated if he knew his illegitimate daughter had competed and won in the Fives. Things take a turn for the worst when her family’s patron (the man who cares for them financially) dies. The patron’s death splits up the family and sends Jessamy to live her dream of training and running for the Fives without fear of embarrassing her father, but she finds something much more sinister is happening to her family. It is up to her to save them. [This book is the start of the Court of Fives series. The third book will be released this summer.]
Disclosure: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work.
I received these books from the publishers in exchange for an honest review and promotion of these products.
Hello, everyone. It’s time to discuss the first official book club selection for 2017: A Man Called Ove. Even if you haven’t finished reading the book, feel free to come back here and post your thoughts either here or on the Facebook page after you’re done.
Let’s start off…
The Book Club Questions
What did you think of the book?
Who was your favorite character in the book and why?
With the story going back and forth between present day and the past, do you think the progression of the story was easy to read?
Ove is a unique character. Did you find his character relatable? If so, how? Does he remind you of someone? Does he remind you of yourself?
Ove’s attempts at taking his own life fails every time. Do you find the failures to be purely coincidental or maybe something more otherworldly happening?
Ove went from wanting to die to wanting to live for today and fight for the people around him. What were some of those significant markers that occurred that made him realize he wasn’t alone?
The film “A Man Called Ove” was nominated for Best International Film at the Academy Awards this year. Did you get to see it? How did you like it? Was Ove how you imagined him to be? Did the film do the book justice?
What was your favorite part of the book?
My Answers
I really enjoyed this book. It was very comical with incredible characters.
I loved Parvaneh. She was always right in his face trying to make sure that Ove did right for himself and for others. She was the right relationship he needed to come into his life. She was the daughter he never had. I also loved the cat. That cat was something else. When he walked in and knocked down the pills, it was like he was saying, “I know what you’re trying to do, so stop it!” I also loved that he went wherever Ove went. Who takes their cat everywhere they go? It wasn’t even Ove’s cat!
I liked the progression of the story. In my other book club, there were some people that did not like the way it went back and forth. For me, I liked that it would leave a little detail that made you question what happened and then the next chapter would explain what happened in the past. It’s a lot like having a conversation with someone. You are trying to explain how X happened, but then realize you need to fill in the historical context. I liked learning about Ove’s history as the author tried to explain how he got to be the way he is now.
Ove is a little on the weird side, but I saw a little of myself in him. How people don’t know how to change a tire mindboggles me. That was the first lesson I ever had when I started driving…you have to know how to change the tire on a car. You have to know how to parallel park. In Ove’s tirade, you need to know how to back up a car with a trailer hooked up behind it. Life for Ove is very hands on and mechanical. He expresses his emotions and who he is as a human being by doing things for others. He shows he cares by repairing fences, fixing cars, teaching people how to drive, etc. He is not one to be emotional or affectionate. He shows he cares by doing things. The man has a big heart, even if he acts like he doesn’t care. You know he does. I have a friend that says she hates people, but I find her to be the most compassionate person when it comes to people. She’s always out helping the homeless, her family, her friends, etc. She acts like she doesn’t care, but she really does.
Ove trying to kill himself made me laugh every single time he failed at it. I really loved that part of the story. The fact the fail happened over and over and over again makes it look like there was something otherworldly trying to stop him from taking his life. One person from my book club thought that his wife was looking out for him by sending all of these people into his life so that he knew he was not alone and that the world still needed him. I can definitely see that.
Parvaneh was a huge part of letting him know he wasn’t alone. Just her arrival with her husband and kids was a huge marker. The fact that her husband doesn’t know how to do anything shows that they need Ove to help them with ‘the simple stuff.’ Parvaneh needing to learn how to drive shows that Ove is still needed (like teaching your own daughter how to drive for the first time). The two girls look up to him as a grandfather. They become the grandkids he never had. The two teenagers made Ove remember the compassion of his wife and the things she did for the children. Jimmy didn’t have anyone to look up to except Sonja, Ove, Rune and Anita. Jimmy didn’t want to be forgotten so he tried to patch things up in a subtle way between all parties. Ove finding out from Jimmy that they had kept Rune’s condition quiet helped pave the way towards two friends rekindling their friendship.
I saw the film and enjoyed it immensely. They did not fit in the entire story and made a few subtle changes, but they weren’t so bad as to step completely away from the book. The book though was better. Ove in the film was exactly how I imagined him to be.
My favorite part of the book was when Ove hit Parvaneh in the nose. That’s when I fell in love with her character.
Next Book Club Selection
Our next book club selection is “The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto”by Mitch Albom. We’ll begin discussion of the book on May 1st. I hope you’ll join us.
Disclosure: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work.
The PW Book Club is going to be a little different this year. I’ll be sharing Amazon Kindle First’s selections and sharing which book I chose, but separately from the book club. The 2017 book club itself is going to be based on five selections of books you can purchase now.
Those books are:
Here are the dates for discussion. If you want to sign up for the group, just add your email address to the PW Book Club on the top right of the page.
I’ll have discussion questions posted up for those who want to use the questions for their own book clubs. I hope you’ll join us. Details will follow.
Disclosure: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work.
Each year, I try to commit to reading a book a week. That is 52 books a year.
With every book read, I reward myself monetarily so that I can purchase something very expensive that I really want. In past years, I used that money to purchase a very expensive designer handbag. This year, I am using my earnings to save money for my new home.
I created a reward system as a way to force myself to save. This year’s reward system is designed to help me save more for my new home, as well as declutter my library (both physical and electronic).
Make the Time to Read
This past year, I found other lovers of books reading more than 100 books in a year. While that is an incredible challenge to complete, I resolved to read more than 52 books this year.
I’ve heard from a lot of people lately how they are lucky to read one book a year. I don’t know what they are doing, but everyone should be reading more. It is important to keep challenging your brain and your mind. We need to always be continuously learning.
I am a very busy person, but I also make the time to read. It is important to analyze what is sucking away your time. I bet the main culprit are your devices. Put down your phones (unless you’re reading a book on it). Stop scrolling through social media. Stop playing games all of the time.
Take a moment to disconnect.
You can find time to read. You can even listen to audio books. I do. At the office, I’ll put my headphones in, find a free classic on audio and listen to the book. That counts as part of the reading challenge.
If you have some free time at the office, find an ebook on Kindle Unlimited and read up on a subject matter that can help you with your job. Many ebooks are 50-100 pages and are very quick reads filled with so much information on how you can be better at your job.
When you’re commuting, listen to an audio book or read a book. You can get books for free at the library, including the latest ones. You can even download library books to your devices.
There are many ways you can indulge in reading a book every single day. Seriously…you can listen to a book and play Candy Crush at the same time.
I would like to challenge all of you to read a book a week this year. I’ll be sharing my resolution with you in hopes that it will inspire you to read more books.
We should never stop learning. We should always encourage each other to become more educated, even if it is just through books. There is always something new we can discover in books.
My Reward System
So without adieu, here’s how my resolution works. You can use this as a guideline when you set up your own reward system.
REWARD SYSTEM
Classic = $100
Library Book (i.e. free book) = $50
Book purchased in 2017 = cost of book x2
Review Books* = $25
Personal library + donated after reading = $50
Personal library = $30
Electronic book = $10
[*I am asked to review books by authors and publishers on a regular basis.]
You don’t have to create your own reward system exactly like mine. Construct your chart based on the type of books you want to read and how much you can afford to save towards whatever your goal is.
I put classics at $100 because they are considered ‘smart’ books, meaning, it takes a little longer to read. Since one of my resolutions this year is to minimize more, if I donate the book, I’m rewarded a little more than if I keep the book.
Keep track
Finally, keep track of what you read. Keep a list of the books you’ve read in the form that is easiest for you.
I record my list in my calendar so I can see the date each book was completed. I also write down the name of the book so that I when I look over my resolutions at the end of the year, I can see what types of books I read for the year.
I also record the name of the books read on a pretty piece of paper…like a library card. I noticed this in the movie “Mr. Church” and thought that would be a cute idea to keep track of what I’m reading all in one place.
Also, since I sometimes forget if I’ve read a book before, I keep a notebook of all of the books I’ve ever read. There have been a few times when I’ll get 3/4 of the way through a book before I realize I’ve read the book before. I am not one of those that likes to re-read books, because there are so many books out there that need to be read and so little lifetime with which to do it in.
PW’s Reading Challenge: Books Read 2017
For those wanting to follow along with my resolution, here are the books I’ve read. I will be doing a review of each book on the site and linking to where you can purchase the book at Amazon. [Note: When review is complete, review link will be live.]
If I am able to interview the author, I’ll also put a link to that interview as well.
Disclosure: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work.