en-US Mon, 05 May 2025 14:39:55 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 31373633 A little book with a big heart!

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here comes an exquisitely moving portrait of an elderly man’s struggle to hold on to his most precious memories, and his family’s efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.

With all the same charm of his bestselling full-length novels, here Fredrik Backman once again reveals his unrivaled understanding of human nature and deep compassion for people in difficult circumstances. This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime.]]> 97 Fredrik Backman 1501160575 E.C. 5 life that's slipped through the cracks.

Backman presents these fears with so much heart and depth, demonstrating the beauty and miracle of human lives even as they come to a slow end. It's a celebration of the way people young and especially old have shaped us, and how they lead us home when we can't find our way.

And yes, I cried at the end.]]> 4.34 2015
author: Fredrik Backman
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/05
date added: 2025/05/05
shelves: adult, contemporary, friend-recommendations, someday-bookshelf, re-read-sometime, clean-reads, gorgeous-covers, made-me-cry, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, favorite-books-everrr, from-the-library, read-in-2024
review:
This little story so accurately depicts a myriad of fears that both the elderly and their loved ones face as a life approaches its end. What do we do when their brains fail before their bodies do? How will they live on? Will their stories and their journeys be preserved? And then there's that fear too, the fear that we will always fall short of even absorbing all of their life stories, that there will always be more life that's slipped through the cracks.

Backman presents these fears with so much heart and depth, demonstrating the beauty and miracle of human lives even as they come to a slow end. It's a celebration of the way people young and especially old have shaped us, and how they lead us home when we can't find our way.

And yes, I cried at the end.
]]> 176443045
Paris, 1885: Aubry Tourvel, a spoiled and stubborn nine-year-old girl, comes across a wooden puzzle ball on her walk home from school. She tosses it over the fence, only to find it in her backpack that evening. Days later, at the family dinner table, she starts to bleed to death.

When medical treatment only makes her worse, she flees to the outskirts of the city, where she realizes that it is this very act of movement that keeps her alive. So begins her lifelong journey on the run from her condition, which won’t allow her to stay anywhere for longer than a few days nor return to a place where she’s already been.

From the scorched dunes of the Calashino Sand Sea to the snow-packed peaks of the Himalayas; from a bottomless well in a Parisian courtyard, to the shelves of an infinite underground library, we follow Aubry as she learns what it takes to survive and ultimately, to truly live. But the longer Aubry wanders and the more desperate she is to share her life with others, the clearer it becomes that the world she travels through may not be quite the same as everyone else’s...

Fiercely independent and hopeful, yet full of longing, Aubry Tourvel is an unforgettable character fighting her way through a world of wonders to find a place she can call home. A spellbinding and inspiring story about discovering meaning in a life that seems otherwise impossible, A Short Walk Through a Wide World reminds us that it’s not the destination, but rather the journey—no matter how long it lasts—that makes us who we are.]]> 400 Douglas Westerbeke 1668026066 E.C. 0
For context, I am not a reader of long fiction. Anything in the 350�400-page range, and you better bet I'm expecting some sort of emotional payoff for all that time and energy. Especially when, in the case of this novel, I have to wade through so many magical elements that not only are unexplained, but also serve no obvious thematic purpose.

There were good moments in the story, moments where I genuinely thought there was some semblance of a meaningful theme, a purpose for all the loss of stability Aubrey went through because of her curse. The scene with her returning home to her family emotionally hit hard. But the story would skim over those scenes and continue onward, following Aubrey and her travels in a way that would be nonsensical if the situation wasn't just sad.

And in the end, nothing was explained. This story pulls you in with a compelling concept, lovely prose, and all the travel vibes, but by the end, the wonder and appeal of traveling the world is stripped away and you're left with nothing but confusion and exhaustion. Confusion because the curse wasn't meant to be symbolic or hint at some larger theme, and exhaustion because all the details and magical elements and odd interactions between characters make the story feel so much more longer than it really is.

But hey, this book made me feel things, even if they weren't necessarily good. So I guess if the author was intentionally trying to leave readers as exhausted and frustrated as Aubrey, he did succeed at that. It's just at some point it becomes too much.]]> 3.48 2024
author: Douglas Westerbeke
name: E.C.
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/08
date added: 2025/04/26
shelves: book-of-the-month, adult, books-on-my-irl-bookshelf, gorgeous-covers, historical-fiction, lovely-aesthetic, magical-realism, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, reading-at-work, soulful-stories, read-in-2024, i-don-t-know-honestly, i-have-issues-with
review:
This book still sticks with me months after reading, but in a bad way.

For context, I am not a reader of long fiction. Anything in the 350�400-page range, and you better bet I'm expecting some sort of emotional payoff for all that time and energy. Especially when, in the case of this novel, I have to wade through so many magical elements that not only are unexplained, but also serve no obvious thematic purpose.

There were good moments in the story, moments where I genuinely thought there was some semblance of a meaningful theme, a purpose for all the loss of stability Aubrey went through because of her curse. The scene with her returning home to her family emotionally hit hard. But the story would skim over those scenes and continue onward, following Aubrey and her travels in a way that would be nonsensical if the situation wasn't just sad.

And in the end, nothing was explained. This story pulls you in with a compelling concept, lovely prose, and all the travel vibes, but by the end, the wonder and appeal of traveling the world is stripped away and you're left with nothing but confusion and exhaustion. Confusion because the curse wasn't meant to be symbolic or hint at some larger theme, and exhaustion because all the details and magical elements and odd interactions between characters make the story feel so much more longer than it really is.

But hey, this book made me feel things, even if they weren't necessarily good. So I guess if the author was intentionally trying to leave readers as exhausted and frustrated as Aubrey, he did succeed at that. It's just at some point it becomes too much.
]]> 213243955 An unforgettable dark fairy tale that asks, Can love save us from ourselves?

Birdie’s keeping it together; of course she is. So she’s a little hungover sometimes, and she has to bring her daughter, Emaleen, to her job waiting tables at an Alaskan roadside lodge, but she’s getting by as a single mother in a tough town. Still, Birdie can remember happier times from her youth, when she was free in the wilds of nature.

Arthur Neilsen, a soft-spoken and scarred recluse who appears in town only at the change of seasons, brings Emaleen back to safety when she gets lost in the woods. Most people avoid him, but to Birdie he represents everything she’s ever longed for. She finds herself falling for Arthur and the land he knows so well. Against the warnings of those who care about them, Birdie and Emaleen move to his isolated cabin in the mountains on the far side of the Wolverine River.

It’s just the three of them in the vast black woods, far from roads, telephones, electricity, and outside contact, but Birdie believes she has come prepared. At first, it’s idyllic, but soon Birdie discovers that Arthur is something much more mysterious and dangerous than she could have imagined, and that like the Alaska wilderness, a fairy tale can be as dark as it is beautiful.]]> 306 Eowyn Ivey 0593231023 E.C. 4
There's something so haunting about this book. In part a Beauty and the Beast retelling, in other parts hinting at Frankenstein or of Mice and Men, in a fairytale style it depicts the contrast between the capacity for humans to be wild and destructive, but also protective and loving.

At its core, it's a simple story. It follows two characters: Birdie, nicknamed after her constant search for freedom and peace from her rough childhood, and Emaleen, her five-year-old daughter who has a relatively isolated childhood and bears the brunt of her mother's bad decisions.

And then there's Arthur. A recluse who, despite his mysterious past, is simultaneously capable of great love and great cruelty.

In a similar style to The Snow Child, it's set in the Alaskan wilderness, where isolation poses a threat to all three central characters. And while it's not classified as horror, some scenes will stick in your head because of just how vivid and real they feel. I could feel everything—from Emaleen's desperation and fears of her mom leaving her, to Birdie's warring desires for a new life but also loyalty to her daughter, to Emaleen's fears that her younger self tried to cover dark truths about her childhood with imagination. With every step these characters took, and the impossible choices they faced, I hurt with them and hoped they would get their happy endings. Somehow.

Speaking of the ending, it was close to perfect. Ivey excels at these endings—the ones that walk the thin line between being tragic and hopeless and being hopeful and resonant. Despite how dark this story turned out to be, the ending was more uplifting than I expected.

This is a beautiful story. Read it in winter, in the dead of night, with the light of a candle, preferably with hot chocolate with little marshmallows. Or chamomile tea with honey. Iykyk.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Merged review:

I'll say it off the bat: I may harbor a slight bias, because I love Eowyn Ivey's books. The Snow Child—an impromptu read based off of the pretty cover—turned into one of my all-time favorite books years ago, and so when I heard she was at long last releasing another one returning to the familiar backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness, I instantly tried to get my hands on a copy. You can imagine my excitement when the e-ARC arrived in my inbox.

There's something so haunting about this book. In part a Beauty and the Beast retelling, in other parts hinting at Frankenstein or of Mice and Men, in a fairytale style it depicts the contrast between the capacity for humans to be wild and destructive, but also protective and loving.

At its core, it's a simple story. It follows two characters: Birdie, nicknamed after her constant search for freedom and peace from her rough childhood, and Emaleen, her five-year-old daughter who has a relatively isolated childhood and bears the brunt of her mother's bad decisions.

And then there's Arthur. A recluse who, despite his mysterious past, is simultaneously capable of great love and great cruelty.

In a similar style to The Snow Child, it's set in the Alaskan wilderness, where isolation poses a threat to all three central characters. And while it's not classified as horror, some scenes will stick in your head because of just how vivid and real they feel. I could feel everything—from Emaleen's desperation and fears of her mom leaving her, to Birdie's warring desires for a new life but also loyalty to her daughter, to Emaleen's fears that her younger self tried to cover dark truths about her childhood with imagination. With every step these characters took, and the impossible choices they faced, I hurt with them and hoped they would get their happy endings. Somehow.

Speaking of the ending, it was close to perfect. Ivey excels at these endings—the ones that walk the thin line between being tragic and hopeless and being hopeful and resonant. Despite how dark this story turned out to be, the ending was more uplifting than I expected.

This is a beautiful story. Read it in winter, in the dead of night, with the light of a candle, preferably with hot chocolate with little marshmallows. Or chamomile tea with honey. Iykyk.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. ]]> 3.68 2025
author: Eowyn Ivey
name: E.C.
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/08
date added: 2025/02/11
shelves: adult, magical-realism, soulful-stories, arcs, contemporary, kinda-creepy, lovely-aesthetic, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, not-clean, re-read-sometime, someday-bookshelf, read-in-2024, books-on-my-irl-bookshelf
review:
I'll say it off the bat: I may harbor a slight bias, because I love Eowyn Ivey's books. The Snow Child—an impromptu read based off of the pretty cover—turned into one of my all-time favorite books years ago, and so when I heard she was at long last releasing another one returning to the familiar backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness, I instantly tried to get my hands on a copy. You can imagine my excitement when the e-ARC arrived in my inbox.

There's something so haunting about this book. In part a Beauty and the Beast retelling, in other parts hinting at Frankenstein or of Mice and Men, in a fairytale style it depicts the contrast between the capacity for humans to be wild and destructive, but also protective and loving.

At its core, it's a simple story. It follows two characters: Birdie, nicknamed after her constant search for freedom and peace from her rough childhood, and Emaleen, her five-year-old daughter who has a relatively isolated childhood and bears the brunt of her mother's bad decisions.

And then there's Arthur. A recluse who, despite his mysterious past, is simultaneously capable of great love and great cruelty.

In a similar style to The Snow Child, it's set in the Alaskan wilderness, where isolation poses a threat to all three central characters. And while it's not classified as horror, some scenes will stick in your head because of just how vivid and real they feel. I could feel everything—from Emaleen's desperation and fears of her mom leaving her, to Birdie's warring desires for a new life but also loyalty to her daughter, to Emaleen's fears that her younger self tried to cover dark truths about her childhood with imagination. With every step these characters took, and the impossible choices they faced, I hurt with them and hoped they would get their happy endings. Somehow.

Speaking of the ending, it was close to perfect. Ivey excels at these endings—the ones that walk the thin line between being tragic and hopeless and being hopeful and resonant. Despite how dark this story turned out to be, the ending was more uplifting than I expected.

This is a beautiful story. Read it in winter, in the dead of night, with the light of a candle, preferably with hot chocolate with little marshmallows. Or chamomile tea with honey. Iykyk.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Merged review:

I'll say it off the bat: I may harbor a slight bias, because I love Eowyn Ivey's books. The Snow Child—an impromptu read based off of the pretty cover—turned into one of my all-time favorite books years ago, and so when I heard she was at long last releasing another one returning to the familiar backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness, I instantly tried to get my hands on a copy. You can imagine my excitement when the e-ARC arrived in my inbox.

There's something so haunting about this book. In part a Beauty and the Beast retelling, in other parts hinting at Frankenstein or of Mice and Men, in a fairytale style it depicts the contrast between the capacity for humans to be wild and destructive, but also protective and loving.

At its core, it's a simple story. It follows two characters: Birdie, nicknamed after her constant search for freedom and peace from her rough childhood, and Emaleen, her five-year-old daughter who has a relatively isolated childhood and bears the brunt of her mother's bad decisions.

And then there's Arthur. A recluse who, despite his mysterious past, is simultaneously capable of great love and great cruelty.

In a similar style to The Snow Child, it's set in the Alaskan wilderness, where isolation poses a threat to all three central characters. And while it's not classified as horror, some scenes will stick in your head because of just how vivid and real they feel. I could feel everything—from Emaleen's desperation and fears of her mom leaving her, to Birdie's warring desires for a new life but also loyalty to her daughter, to Emaleen's fears that her younger self tried to cover dark truths about her childhood with imagination. With every step these characters took, and the impossible choices they faced, I hurt with them and hoped they would get their happy endings. Somehow.

Speaking of the ending, it was close to perfect. Ivey excels at these endings—the ones that walk the thin line between being tragic and hopeless and being hopeful and resonant. Despite how dark this story turned out to be, the ending was more uplifting than I expected.

This is a beautiful story. Read it in winter, in the dead of night, with the light of a candle, preferably with hot chocolate with little marshmallows. Or chamomile tea with honey. Iykyk.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
]]> 62120709 From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh grader has to figure out how to fulfill an assignment to perform the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life--and makes discoveries about friendship, community, and himself along the way.

Herc Beal knows who he's named after--a mythical hero--but he's no superhero. He's the smallest kid in his class. So when his homeroom teacher at his new middle school gives him the assignment of duplicating the mythical Hercules's amazing feats in real life, he's skeptical. After all, there are no Nemean Lions on Cape Cod--and not a single Hydra in sight.

Missing his parents terribly and wishing his older brother wasn't working all the time, Herc figures out how to take his first steps along the road that the great Hercules himself once walked. Soon, new friends, human and animal, are helping him. And though his mythical role model performed his twelve labors by himself, Herc begins to see that he may not have to go it alone.]]> 352 Gary D. Schmidt 0358659639 E.C. 4
It's a beautiful story of community, a tribute to the people you will find in unexpected places. The people who will come to love you far more than you know. The people who surround you and hold you together when you can't do it yourself. And while it's a tribute, it simultaneously serves as a challenge: to endure. To love. To accomplish big things, hard things.

Only you don't have to do it alone.

I wonder if what Hercules was most afraid of when he was holding up the sky wasn't that he was going to have to hold it up forever. It was that he was going to have to hold it up forever while he was by himself. That's a kind of scary thing to think about.
Maybe, the stuff we hold up, we don't have to hold up by ourselves all the time. Maybe sometimes we can let someone else hold it up too. Maybe that's how we can get by. Maybe that's how we can do a whole lot better than just get by. ]]> 4.50 2023
author: Gary D. Schmidt
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/06
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: clean-reads, contemporary, friend-recommendations, gorgeous-covers, middle-grade, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, someday-bookshelf, re-read-sometime, from-the-library, read-in-2024
review:
This story was unexpectedly profound in all its simplicity and depiction of the messiness of life. Schmidt has a way of drawing meaningful, relevant themes out of works of literature such as Shakespeare (The Wednesday Wars) and this book is no exception, with all the insightful connections he makes between reality and mythology. The result is something with both a compelling plot and an undercurrent of enduring wisdom to support it.

It's a beautiful story of community, a tribute to the people you will find in unexpected places. The people who will come to love you far more than you know. The people who surround you and hold you together when you can't do it yourself. And while it's a tribute, it simultaneously serves as a challenge: to endure. To love. To accomplish big things, hard things.

Only you don't have to do it alone.

I wonder if what Hercules was most afraid of when he was holding up the sky wasn't that he was going to have to hold it up forever. It was that he was going to have to hold it up forever while he was by himself. That's a kind of scary thing to think about.
Maybe, the stuff we hold up, we don't have to hold up by ourselves all the time. Maybe sometimes we can let someone else hold it up too. Maybe that's how we can get by. Maybe that's how we can do a whole lot better than just get by.
]]> 53799686
Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers begin slowly opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths.

First is Zara, a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else until tragedy changed her life. Now, she’s obsessed with visiting open houses to see how ordinary people live—and, perhaps, to set an old wrong to right. Then there’s Roger and Anna-Lena, an Ikea-addicted retired couple who are on a never-ending hunt for fixer-uppers to hide the fact that they don’t know how to fix their own failing marriage. Julia and Ro are a young lesbian couple and soon-to-be parents who are nervous about their chances for a successful life together since they can’t agree on anything. And there’s Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who has lived long enough to be unimpressed by a masked bank robber waving a gun in her face. And despite the story she tells them all, Estelle hasn’t really come to the apartment to view it for her daughter, and her husband really isn’t outside parking the car.

As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people.

Rich with Fredrik Backman’s “pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature� (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People’s whimsical plot serves up unforgettable insights into the human condition and a gentle reminder to be compassionate to all the anxious people we encounter every day.]]> 336 Fredrik Backman 1982121602 E.C. 4
Perhaps we hurried by each other in a crowd today, and neither of us noticed, and the fibers of your coat brushed against mine for a single moment and then we were gone. I don't know who you are.
But when you get home this evening, when this day is over and the night takes us, allow yourself a deep breath. Because we made it through this day as well.
There'll be another one along tomorrow. ]]> 4.12 2019
author: Fredrik Backman
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/20
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: books-on-my-irl-bookshelf, adult, contemporary, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, not-clean, soulful-stories, read-in-2024
review:
Beautiful, witty and humorous, featuring unreliable narration and a story that unfolds, bit by bit, told with immense empathy for those who struggle alone.

Perhaps we hurried by each other in a crowd today, and neither of us noticed, and the fibers of your coat brushed against mine for a single moment and then we were gone. I don't know who you are.
But when you get home this evening, when this day is over and the night takes us, allow yourself a deep breath. Because we made it through this day as well.
There'll be another one along tomorrow.
]]> 150086759 384 Caroline George 0785236244 E.C. 4
This is one of those stories that you can tell is a personal "heart story" for the author—and not just because she basically says that in the author's note. ]]> 3.75 2023
author: Caroline George
name: E.C.
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/30
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: christian, christian-ya-fiction, clean-reads, contemporary, historical-fiction, i-don-t-know-honestly, kinda-creepy, lovely-aesthetic, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, ya-fiction, from-the-library, read-in-2024
review:
A meaningful story hidden beneath the usual clichés of YA: two love triangles, a perpetually confused female MC, and teenage partying to "cope." While I'm not sure all of the angst was necessary, I appreciated the thought and honesty that went into tackling the painful and often overlooked topic of generational trauma. The deeper meaning lent a sort of balance to the more lighter, fast-paced plot while also allowing room for thought.

This is one of those stories that you can tell is a personal "heart story" for the author—and not just because she basically says that in the author's note.
]]> 39189837 In a most improbable friendship, she found love. In a world where women were silenced, she found her voice.

From New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan comes an exquisite novel of Joy Davidman, the woman C. S. Lewis called “my whole world.� When poet and writer Joy Davidman began writing letters to C. S. Lewis—known as Jack—she was looking for spiritual answers, not love. Love, after all, wasn’t holding together her crumbling marriage. Everything about New Yorker Joy seemed ill-matched for an Oxford don and the beloved writer of Narnia, yet their minds bonded over their letters. Embarking on the adventure of her life, Joy traveled from America to England and back again, facing heartbreak and poverty, discovering friendship and faith, and against all odds, finding a love that even the threat of death couldn’t destroy.

In this masterful exploration of one of the greatest love stories of modern times, we meet a brilliant writer, a fiercely independent mother, and a passionate woman who changed the life of this respected author and inspired books that still enchant us and change us. Joy lived at a time when women weren’t meant to have a voice—and yet her love for Jack gave them both voices they didn’t know they had.

At once a fascinating historical novel and a glimpse into a writer’s life, Becoming Mrs. Lewis is above all a love story—a love of literature and ideas and a love between a husband and wife that, in the end, was not impossible at all.]]> 435 Patti Callahan Henry E.C. 4
This story is advertised as a romance, and while the relationship between Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis certainly plays a big part in the plot, I was pleasantly surprised by how much time was spent on Joy's personal spiritual journey. She is gently and simultaneously portrayed as both resilient and intellectual, flawed and frustrated with her human nature. I was surprised to find I resonated with her character again and again, despite our situations looking nothing alike.

Overlooking some pacing issues, and some character inconsistencies, I overall enjoyed this book—not just for the romance and the way it was handled with maturity, but also because of the representation of Joy's personal spiritual journey and the realizations she had about God and her own faith.]]> 4.04 2018
author: Patti Callahan Henry
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/15
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: adult, books-on-my-irl-bookshelf, christian, historical-fiction, re-read-sometime, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, clean-reads, read-in-2024
review:
When the endorsements on the back said this is a slow-burn love story ... they meant it.

This story is advertised as a romance, and while the relationship between Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis certainly plays a big part in the plot, I was pleasantly surprised by how much time was spent on Joy's personal spiritual journey. She is gently and simultaneously portrayed as both resilient and intellectual, flawed and frustrated with her human nature. I was surprised to find I resonated with her character again and again, despite our situations looking nothing alike.

Overlooking some pacing issues, and some character inconsistencies, I overall enjoyed this book—not just for the romance and the way it was handled with maturity, but also because of the representation of Joy's personal spiritual journey and the realizations she had about God and her own faith.
]]> 60318890
As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past, great change is on the horizon. Someone is coming home after a long time away. Someone will be laid to rest. Someone will fall in love, someone will try to fix their marriage, and someone will do anything to save their children. Someone will submit to hate, someone will fight, and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink.

So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home?]]> 671 Fredrik Backman E.C. 4 Re-read | July 2024

“Do you think we’ll be able to make peace with this town in the end? Just come back and live here as if nothing happened?�

THIS BOOK. This terrible, terrible, but also miraculously healing book. This book that spans almost 700 pages and somehow manages to wrap up all the loose threads of the characters I have come to love. This book that absolutely DEMOLISHED me in January of 2024 so naturally, I had to read it again.

And no, I still can't decide whether I love or hate it, and even if I hate it, it'd be for all the right reasons. Because the ending is everything.

That's all you need to know.

Kira doesn't run toward the fire, she ran after the children. Behind her comes Tess, soon other women will come, from all directions, in red and green jackets, some even in black. They wrap their arms around each other, in circles, ring after ring, forming a wall around Alicia.
Nothing that happens to the girl in the rest of her life will ever be worse than this. But in the very worst moment, in the midst of the greatest terror, mothers and big sisters from the whole forest ran here to protect her.
No one can fight against evil. But if it wants to take Alicia, it's going to have to go through every last one of them first.

Good luck being a reader and not going to pieces when you read that.

Original Review | January 2024

"This hurts too much to touch with words."

I can't think of a quote that more accurately sums up the conclusion of this series.

It's beautiful, the way all the woven threads of foreshadowing within Beartown & Us Against You come to fruition in this final book.

But it's also painful. So painful. I legitimately cried over the ending, and the worst thing is—from a writer standpoint, it made sense to end the series this way, as much as I wish it didn't.

I've always somewhat found the notion of being overly attached to fictional characters slightly ridiculous—mostly because I've never experienced it myself—but this book took those presuppositions and shattered them into pieces, along with my heart. Backman is a master in the way that he can develop characters and their motivations (even the broken and antagonistic ones) to the extent that you see yourself in every single character. You see the way they are trying to fix things, trying to do right, trying to protect those they love.

[spoilers removed]

But sometimes, just like in real life, it isn't enough. Characters will die. Others will fight to wrong injustices and fail. Others will take their first stumbling steps into a world where they're stripped of their identities & attempt to assemble new ones from the ashes. And still others will run straight towards fire. Unafraid of the consequences.

But in spite of it all, there is hope and there is forgiveness and there is life, and this series expresses that so beautifully. Despite the hatred and the enmity, there is goodness and healing for people who have spent lifetimes trying to destroy each other.

It is for that reason that I'd daresay this entire series is worth a read.

Though be warned—you may cry.]]> 4.45 2022
author: Fredrik Backman
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/06
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: books-on-my-irl-bookshelf, adult, contemporary, favorite-books-everrr, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, made-me-cry, kinda-creepy, not-clean, re-read-sometime, rtc, soulful-stories, gorgeous-covers, gifted, read-in-2024
review:
Re-read | July 2024

“Do you think we’ll be able to make peace with this town in the end? Just come back and live here as if nothing happened?�

THIS BOOK. This terrible, terrible, but also miraculously healing book. This book that spans almost 700 pages and somehow manages to wrap up all the loose threads of the characters I have come to love. This book that absolutely DEMOLISHED me in January of 2024 so naturally, I had to read it again.

And no, I still can't decide whether I love or hate it, and even if I hate it, it'd be for all the right reasons. Because the ending is everything.

That's all you need to know.

Kira doesn't run toward the fire, she ran after the children. Behind her comes Tess, soon other women will come, from all directions, in red and green jackets, some even in black. They wrap their arms around each other, in circles, ring after ring, forming a wall around Alicia.
Nothing that happens to the girl in the rest of her life will ever be worse than this. But in the very worst moment, in the midst of the greatest terror, mothers and big sisters from the whole forest ran here to protect her.
No one can fight against evil. But if it wants to take Alicia, it's going to have to go through every last one of them first.

Good luck being a reader and not going to pieces when you read that.

Original Review | January 2024

"This hurts too much to touch with words."

I can't think of a quote that more accurately sums up the conclusion of this series.

It's beautiful, the way all the woven threads of foreshadowing within Beartown & Us Against You come to fruition in this final book.

But it's also painful. So painful. I legitimately cried over the ending, and the worst thing is—from a writer standpoint, it made sense to end the series this way, as much as I wish it didn't.

I've always somewhat found the notion of being overly attached to fictional characters slightly ridiculous—mostly because I've never experienced it myself—but this book took those presuppositions and shattered them into pieces, along with my heart. Backman is a master in the way that he can develop characters and their motivations (even the broken and antagonistic ones) to the extent that you see yourself in every single character. You see the way they are trying to fix things, trying to do right, trying to protect those they love.

[spoilers removed]

But sometimes, just like in real life, it isn't enough. Characters will die. Others will fight to wrong injustices and fail. Others will take their first stumbling steps into a world where they're stripped of their identities & attempt to assemble new ones from the ashes. And still others will run straight towards fire. Unafraid of the consequences.

But in spite of it all, there is hope and there is forgiveness and there is life, and this series expresses that so beautifully. Despite the hatred and the enmity, there is goodness and healing for people who have spent lifetimes trying to destroy each other.

It is for that reason that I'd daresay this entire series is worth a read.

Though be warned—you may cry.
]]> 23714521
Joseph almost killed a teacher.

He was incarcerated at a place called Stone Mountain.

He has a daughter. Her name is Jupiter. And he has never seen her.

What Jack doesn’t know, at first, is how desperate Joseph is to find his baby girl.

Or how urgently he, Jack, will want to help.

But the past can’t be shaken off. Even as new bonds form, old wounds reopen. The search for Jupiter demands more from Jack than he can imagine.

This tender, heartbreaking novel is Gary D. Schmidt at his best.]]> 183 Gary D. Schmidt E.C. 4
I had his back. And he had mine. That's what greater love is. ]]> 4.23 2015
author: Gary D. Schmidt
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/01
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: contemporary, clean-reads, middle-grade, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, re-read-sometime, someday-bookshelf, friend-recommendations, read-in-2024
review:
A short read that's both heartbreaking, simple, and profound all at the same time. And yes, that ending ripped my heart into a million tiny pieces and stomped on the remains.

I had his back. And he had mine. That's what greater love is.
]]> 19057 protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That's when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?]]> 357 Markus Zusak E.C. 4
(Also, that end scene with Marv has my heart. <3)

Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are. ]]> 4.03 2002
author: Markus Zusak
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/04
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: adult, books-on-my-irl-bookshelf, not-clean, re-read-sometime, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, kinda-creepy, contemporary, read-in-2024
review:
This is probably one of the most unique books I've read in a while. Zusak artfully balances humor and a hint of mystery with meaningful themes. Featuring a caffeinated dog, a "good-for-nothing" cab driver, and a cast of beautiful souls.

(Also, that end scene with Marv has my heart. <3)

Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are.
]]> 40961230
An instant international bestseller and indie bestseller, The Travelling Cat Chronicles has charmed readers around the world. With simple yet descriptive prose, this novel gives voice to Nana the cat and his owner, Satoru, as they take to the road on a journey with no other purpose than to visit three of Satoru's longtime friends. Or so Nana is led to believe...

With his crooked tail—a sign of good fortune—and adventurous spirit, Nana is the perfect companion for the man who took him in as a stray. And as they travel in a silver van across Japan, with its ever-changing scenery and seasons, they will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love.]]> 281 Hiro Arikawa 0735235244 E.C. 5
I saw the bright-red car driving down the road. The color of the berries on the mountain ash, the color you taught me. But I get the feeling the mountain-ash berry is a deeper color, the kind that takes your breath away. Humans are good at making colors, but they can't seem to reproduce the power of natural ones. ]]> 4.35 2012
author: Hiro Arikawa
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2024/04/17
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: adult, contemporary, clean-reads, cozy-and-comforting, favorite-books-everrr, gorgeous-covers, made-me-cry, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, re-read-sometime, someday-bookshelf, from-the-library, read-in-2024
review:
This book so beautifully sums up all that I love about cats—their loyalty, their sensitivity, and their sometimes snarky attitudes despite it all. It's a lighthearted read with plenty of sarcasm and realistic, slice-of-life scenes, but under the surface, it's a lovely commentary on the bonds between pets and pet owners, the love of childhood friends and family, and the weight of ordinary moments that somehow mean everything.

I saw the bright-red car driving down the road. The color of the berries on the mountain ash, the color you taught me. But I get the feeling the mountain-ash berry is a deeper color, the kind that takes your breath away. Humans are good at making colors, but they can't seem to reproduce the power of natural ones.
]]> 594139 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780380730407.

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. . ."

With these words, the reader is ushered into an isolated gray stone mansion on the windswept Cornish coast, as the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter recalls the chilling the chilling events that transpired as she began her new life as the young bride of a husband she barely knew. For in every corner of every room were phantoms of a time dead but not forgotten—a past devotedly preserved by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers: a suite immaculate and untouched, clothing laid out and ready to be worn, but not by any of the great house's current occupants. With an eerie presentiment of evil tightening her heart, the second Mrs. de Winter walked in the shadow of her mysterious predecessor, determined to uncover the darkest secrets and shattering truths about Maxim's first wife—the late and hauntingly beautiful Rebecca.

This special edition of Rebecca includes excerpts from Daphne du Maurier's The Rebecca Notebook and Other Memories, an essay on the real Manderley, du Maurier's original epilogue to the book, and more.]]> 410 Daphne du Maurier E.C. 4
I believe there is a theory that men and women emerge finer and stronger after suffering, and that to advance in this or any world we must endure ordeal by fire. ]]> 4.25 1938
author: Daphne du Maurier
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.25
book published: 1938
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/27
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: books-on-my-irl-bookshelf, adult, historical-fiction, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, clean-reads, favorite-books-everrr, kinda-creepy, lovely-aesthetic, re-read-sometime, soulful-stories, booktube-recs, read-in-2024
review:
Subtly chilling with a twist even I didn't see coming. Du Maurier articulates emotions and thoughts in a way that's both elaborate and relatable, even from the perspective of a character who remains somewhat passive throughout the entire story. Truly a literary masterpiece.

I believe there is a theory that men and women emerge finer and stronger after suffering, and that to advance in this or any world we must endure ordeal by fire.
]]> 199515825 The Cartographers and The Book of M comes an inventive new novel about a woman who wins the chance to rewrite every mistake she’s ever made� and how far she’ll go to find her elusive “happily ever after.�

But there’s a twist: the reader gets to decide what she does next to change her fate.

One woman. Endless options. Every choice has consequences.

Meek, play-it-safe Marsh has just turned forty-five, and her life is in shambles. Her career is stagnant, her marriage has imploded, and her teenage daughter grows more distant by the day. Marsh is convinced she’s missed her chance at everything—romance, professional fulfillment, and adventure—and is desperate for a do-over.

She can’t believe her luck when she’s selected to be the star of the global sensation All This and More, a show that uses quantum technology to allow contestants the chance to revise their pasts and change their present lives. It’s Marsh’s only shot to seize her dreams, and she’s determined to get it right this time.

But even as she rises to become a famous lawyer, gets back together with her high school sweetheart, and travels the world, she begins to worry that All This and More’s promises might be too good to be true. Because while the technology is amazing, something seems a bit off.�

Can Marsh really make her life everything she wants it to be? And is it worth it?

Perfect for fans of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library and Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life, bestselling author Peng Shepherd’s All This and More is an utterly original, startlingly poignant novel that puts the reader in the driver’s seat.]]> 469 Peng Shepherd 0063278979 E.C. 0
However, the latter half was where things started to get redundant. The excessive "telling" and repetition undercut the most emotional moments, making it difficult to root for or sympathize with Marsh even when she was supposedly living her best life. And while I admire the concept, the weak writing style (& attempts at humor), unsatisfying endings, and dull cast of characters made it difficult for me to enjoy it fully.

Biggest takeaway? If I named my child Marshmallow because they're so "sweet and soft" I would not be able to live with myself. I'm sorry, Marsh, it's not you, it's me, but I could not bring myself to take you seriously.]]> 3.33 2024
author: Peng Shepherd
name: E.C.
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/18
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: market-research, adult, contemporary, from-the-library, gorgeous-covers, kinda-creepy, i-have-issues-with, i-don-t-know-honestly, magical-realism, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, not-clean, not-recommended, read-in-2024
review:
This is basically the adult version of those choose-your-own-adventure books, enhanced with time-travel and mystery elements, all set on a reality TV show. It's an unexpected and fresh combination, but somehow it manages to work for the first half of the story.

However, the latter half was where things started to get redundant. The excessive "telling" and repetition undercut the most emotional moments, making it difficult to root for or sympathize with Marsh even when she was supposedly living her best life. And while I admire the concept, the weak writing style (& attempts at humor), unsatisfying endings, and dull cast of characters made it difficult for me to enjoy it fully.

Biggest takeaway? If I named my child Marshmallow because they're so "sweet and soft" I would not be able to live with myself. I'm sorry, Marsh, it's not you, it's me, but I could not bring myself to take you seriously.
]]> 219876684 In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.]]> 68 Fredrik Backman 1662526520 E.C. 4
While most of the situations & interactions require a certain suspension of belief, the dry humor and utter ridiculousness culminate into a surprisingly heartfelt character arc and ending. It's short but still packs a punch, and the characters feel both chaotic and authentic—almost as if they could be your apartment neighbors. ;)

Also, Linda is my spirit animal and I aspire to be as unhinged as her.

I highlighted the heck out of this 67-page story, but here are just a few of my favorite lines:

"I don't live alone, I have a cat. People with cats live longer. There's research!" the woman informs him.
"Okay," says Lucas in the way you say that if you really mean: But would one really want to live longer if one has to have a cat?

But then, Lucas has never loved a cat, so what does he really know about life?

Then they stand in silence, the three people, a breath away but with whole lives between them.

But once it wasn't junk, Lucas thinks, once it was all things. Once someone bought that frying pan or that ice skate, thinking: Maybe THIS is what will make me happy?

"And do what, Linda? What are we going to do with the pit?" Heads One and Two ask with great concern.
"Oh, you know? Put things in? Maybe people?"

One neighbor wants a playground, another wants to ban children, definitely from playgrounds but preferably from the planet too.

Overall, I loved this and I can't wait for My Friends in 2025!]]> 3.94 2024
author: Fredrik Backman
name: E.C.
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/16
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves: most-memorable-reads-of-2024, adult, e-books, gorgeous-covers, humor, re-read-sometime, clean-reads, contemporary, read-in-2024
review:
Backman does it again—blending humor and insight in a seemingly effortless way.

While most of the situations & interactions require a certain suspension of belief, the dry humor and utter ridiculousness culminate into a surprisingly heartfelt character arc and ending. It's short but still packs a punch, and the characters feel both chaotic and authentic—almost as if they could be your apartment neighbors. ;)

Also, Linda is my spirit animal and I aspire to be as unhinged as her.

I highlighted the heck out of this 67-page story, but here are just a few of my favorite lines:

"I don't live alone, I have a cat. People with cats live longer. There's research!" the woman informs him.
"Okay," says Lucas in the way you say that if you really mean: But would one really want to live longer if one has to have a cat?

But then, Lucas has never loved a cat, so what does he really know about life?

Then they stand in silence, the three people, a breath away but with whole lives between them.

But once it wasn't junk, Lucas thinks, once it was all things. Once someone bought that frying pan or that ice skate, thinking: Maybe THIS is what will make me happy?

"And do what, Linda? What are we going to do with the pit?" Heads One and Two ask with great concern.
"Oh, you know? Put things in? Maybe people?"

One neighbor wants a playground, another wants to ban children, definitely from playgrounds but preferably from the planet too.

Overall, I loved this and I can't wait for My Friends in 2025!
]]> 21853621 Der Weltbestseller � die Nr. 1 aus den USA.
Zwei Schwestern im von den Deutschen besetzten Während Vianne ums Überleben ihrer Familie kämpft, schließt sich die jüngere Isabelle der Résistance an und sucht die Freiheit auf dem Pfad der Nachtigall, einem geheimen Fluchtweg über die Pyrenäen. Doch wie weit darf man gehen, um zu überleben? Und wie kann man die schützen, die man liebt?
In diesem epischen, kraftvollen und zutiefst berührenden Roman erzählt Kristin Hannah die Geschichte zweier Frauen, die ihr Schicksal auf ganz eigene Weise meistern.]]> 564 Kristin Hannah 0312577222 E.C. 3 4.63 2015
author: Kristin Hannah
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.63
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/23
date added: 2024/11/23
shelves: books-on-my-irl-bookshelf, adult, historical-fiction, gorgeous-covers, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, i-don-t-know-honestly, not-clean
review:

]]> 39280444
"Speak up for yourself—we want to know what you have to say."

From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication.

In Laurie Halse Anderson's powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.

Speak was a 1999 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.]]> 224 Laurie Halse Anderson 0374311250 E.C. 5 Re-read | October 2024

I take back almost everything I've said about this book. It is pure brilliance. The slow, ordinary monotony of high school life, the constant display of the way pain can settle in your bones, and the buildup to Melinda finding her courage—and eventually her voice—through art is masterfully articulated.

Original review | 2022

Honestly, I found it a bit depressing, but it makes sense considering this book is on such a heavy - but also important - topic. I'm not sure I'd recommend it simply because I felt there was quite a bit of unnecessary language.

The one thing though, I felt the author could've explored the main character's family dynamics a bit more. They seemed like the stereotypical negligent and just ... broken family, and it added an unnecessary weight to an already depressing novel.

Overall, though, it was an interesting read. Anderson is a skilled author, and I applaud her ability to tackle hard topics in her writing.]]> 4.13 1999
author: Laurie Halse Anderson
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.13
book published: 1999
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/17
date added: 2024/10/17
shelves: reading-at-work, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, contemporary, someday-bookshelf, ya-fiction, young-adult, re-read-sometime, re-read
review:
Re-read | October 2024

I take back almost everything I've said about this book. It is pure brilliance. The slow, ordinary monotony of high school life, the constant display of the way pain can settle in your bones, and the buildup to Melinda finding her courage—and eventually her voice—through art is masterfully articulated.

Original review | 2022

Honestly, I found it a bit depressing, but it makes sense considering this book is on such a heavy - but also important - topic. I'm not sure I'd recommend it simply because I felt there was quite a bit of unnecessary language.

The one thing though, I felt the author could've explored the main character's family dynamics a bit more. They seemed like the stereotypical negligent and just ... broken family, and it added an unnecessary weight to an already depressing novel.

Overall, though, it was an interesting read. Anderson is a skilled author, and I applaud her ability to tackle hard topics in her writing.
]]> 33413128
People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.

Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.

Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.]]> 432 Fredrik Backman E.C. 5 Re-read | May 2024

This is one of those books that contains so much depth, it requires a re-read.

And yes, Beartown was just as poignant—if not more so—than I remember.

The biggest thing that stood out to me this time around was Backman's ability to contain a multitude of commentaries on human nature within a single 400-page novel. He doesn't just briefly touch on the opinions of various characters affected when tragedy divides a community, he delves deeply into the complex viewpoints, values, and thoughts behind each decision they make.

It's a dark book. The characters lie to themselves and to others. They turn to violence as a way to numb the sting of failure. They possess selfish motives that taint their decisions.

But this story isn't about all those things. It's about the moments people choose to unselfishly stand for one another despite personal costs. It's about the moments they choose to forgive despite having every right to hold on. It's about the moments they choose to love, to protect, and sometimes ... let go.

It looks, sometimes, like washing someone's locker when you have no one to live for. Like smashing a mirror and taking the blame. Like sitting with those who are sitting alone. Like playing Nirvana in an old garage.

There are very few books that have resonated with me the way Beartown has. Even fewer books that have resonated with me so much upon re-reading.

But what can I say? I love Benji.

Difficult questions, simple answers. What is a community? It is the sum total of our choices.

Original review | September 2023

This series has my whole heart, and despite the fact that the books are HUGE, each one will pull you in.

It also confirms what we all should already know—Backman is a master at his craft.

From the very first page, Backman introduces us to a cast of characters who feel human. They ache and they struggle with relationships and mistakes, but those things are what ultimately make us love and admire them all the more. Each character brings the town to life. Their backstories are knitted together to justify the small town's passion for hockey.

Meanwhile, the narrator hovers in the background, lending an ominous dose of foreshadowing to the individual stories of the characters we come to know and love. And guys, never once have I been more terrified of an author, because Backman shows time and time again throughout this series that he's unafraid of pulling punches and brutally killing off characters. And there's such a beautiful, raw way each character is written that you can't help loving or relating to them, despite their many flaws and bad decisions.

However, I would hesitate to recommend these books to all readers because they're all very dark. There's also quite a bit of language, focus on topics such as rape and homophobia, and plenty of violence (though not all of it is graphic). So for sensitive readers, these may not be the books for you (but if you'd still like to give Backman a try, I highly recommend A Man Called Ove, which is lighter in content and tone). This series is not written from a Christian standpoint, so while there are glimmers of hope and goodness and support within the pages, the tone of the books eventually fall back into the frailty of humanity once again.

In spite of all that, I personally think this series is still worth it considering the writing style, the interesting insights on human nature, and the CHARACTERS. It will make you think. It will strike you with a sense of empathy. It will make you wonder about the ambitions and dreams wrapped up in the form of faces all around you.]]> 4.27 2016
author: Fredrik Backman
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/15
date added: 2024/05/30
shelves: adult, most-memorable-reads-of-2023, someday-bookshelf, yes-i-read-this-on-an-airplane, soulful-stories, made-me-cry, kinda-creepy, e-books, contemporary, not-clean, favorite-books-everrr, books-on-my-irl-bookshelf, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, re-read
review:
Re-read | May 2024

This is one of those books that contains so much depth, it requires a re-read.

And yes, Beartown was just as poignant—if not more so—than I remember.

The biggest thing that stood out to me this time around was Backman's ability to contain a multitude of commentaries on human nature within a single 400-page novel. He doesn't just briefly touch on the opinions of various characters affected when tragedy divides a community, he delves deeply into the complex viewpoints, values, and thoughts behind each decision they make.

It's a dark book. The characters lie to themselves and to others. They turn to violence as a way to numb the sting of failure. They possess selfish motives that taint their decisions.

But this story isn't about all those things. It's about the moments people choose to unselfishly stand for one another despite personal costs. It's about the moments they choose to forgive despite having every right to hold on. It's about the moments they choose to love, to protect, and sometimes ... let go.

It looks, sometimes, like washing someone's locker when you have no one to live for. Like smashing a mirror and taking the blame. Like sitting with those who are sitting alone. Like playing Nirvana in an old garage.

There are very few books that have resonated with me the way Beartown has. Even fewer books that have resonated with me so much upon re-reading.

But what can I say? I love Benji.

Difficult questions, simple answers. What is a community? It is the sum total of our choices.

Original review | September 2023

This series has my whole heart, and despite the fact that the books are HUGE, each one will pull you in.

It also confirms what we all should already know—Backman is a master at his craft.

From the very first page, Backman introduces us to a cast of characters who feel human. They ache and they struggle with relationships and mistakes, but those things are what ultimately make us love and admire them all the more. Each character brings the town to life. Their backstories are knitted together to justify the small town's passion for hockey.

Meanwhile, the narrator hovers in the background, lending an ominous dose of foreshadowing to the individual stories of the characters we come to know and love. And guys, never once have I been more terrified of an author, because Backman shows time and time again throughout this series that he's unafraid of pulling punches and brutally killing off characters. And there's such a beautiful, raw way each character is written that you can't help loving or relating to them, despite their many flaws and bad decisions.

However, I would hesitate to recommend these books to all readers because they're all very dark. There's also quite a bit of language, focus on topics such as rape and homophobia, and plenty of violence (though not all of it is graphic). So for sensitive readers, these may not be the books for you (but if you'd still like to give Backman a try, I highly recommend A Man Called Ove, which is lighter in content and tone). This series is not written from a Christian standpoint, so while there are glimmers of hope and goodness and support within the pages, the tone of the books eventually fall back into the frailty of humanity once again.

In spite of all that, I personally think this series is still worth it considering the writing style, the interesting insights on human nature, and the CHARACTERS. It will make you think. It will strike you with a sense of empathy. It will make you wonder about the ambitions and dreams wrapped up in the form of faces all around you.
]]> 44092370 Making something beautiful in a broken world can be harrowing work, and it can’t be done alone.
Ěý
Over the last twenty years, Andrew Peterson has performed thousands of concerts, published four novels, released ten albums, taught college and seminary classes on writing, founded a nonprofit ministry for Christians in the arts, and executive-produced a film—all in a belief that God calls us to proclaim the gospel and the coming kingdom using whatever gifts are at our disposal. He’s stumbled along the way, made mistake after mistake, and yet has continually encountered the grace of God through an encouraging family, a Christ-centered community of artists in the church, and the power of truth, beauty, and goodness in Scripture and the arts.
Ěý
While there are many books about writing, none deal first-hand with the intersection of songwriting, storytelling, and vocation, along with nuts-and-bolts exploration of the great mystery of creativity. In Adorning the Dark, Andrew describes six principles for the writing life:
Ěý
serving the work
serving the audience
selectivity
discernment
discipline
and community
Ěý
Through stories from his own journey, Andrew shows how these principles are not merely helpful for writers and artists, but for anyone interested in imitating way the Creator interacts with his creation.
Ěý
This book is both a memoir of Andrew’s journey and a handbook for artists, written in the hope that his story will provide encouragement to others stumbling along in pursuit of a calling to adorn the dark with the light of Christ.
Ěý]]> 224 Andrew Peterson 1535949023 E.C. 5 Re-read | March 2024

Peterson writes with such empathy, honesty, and wisdom, and the result is something that not only is thought-provoking, but makes you feel understood. But feeling understood isn't all.

For context, I picked up this book with vague memories of the last time I read it, but not having pulled away anything particular besides the sense of feeling that he put to words thoughts and feelings about my own creative journey that I struggled to verbalize. But the timing of this re-read was also perfect in the way that it was just what I needed, right in the middle of an artistic hiatus.

There's so much truth packed into this book that resonated with me. The parts about making known the heart of God through our work, the deep-rooted fear of irrelevance that prompts many to create, the ways we dedicate ourselves to God in our everyday lives and our homes, how God redeems our motives for His glory, and the purpose of good fiction, to name a few.

It's a book that gently but subtly shoved me toward reflecting on my own creative journey. In the ways that I've fallen short but in the ways God's mercy and grace was (and still is) abundant. And good books do that, don't they?

“Somewhere out there, men and women with redeemed, integrated imaginations are sitting down to spin a tale that awakens, a tale that leaves the reader with a painful longing that points them home, a tale whose fictional beauty begets beauty in the present world and heralds the world to come. Someone out there is building a bridge so we can slip across to elf-land and smuggle back some of its light into this present darkness.�

Original review | November 2021

Wow.

This book took me forever to finish, but I’m so so glad I started. Between the stories from Peterson's own life and his thoughts on creation and identity, reading this book made me feel so understood. . There were multiple times I stopped and thought to myself, I thought I was the only person who thought like that. I'm glad I wasn’t. And I’m glad that Peterson was able to capsulize so many thoughts I think so many of us have in the beautiful, written word.

I do have to admit that it took me a bit to get into this book and get used to the musing style of it—and it’s definitely not everyone’s thing—but for me, I love how casual and less polished it is. while it was a bit tricky to follow the points of the musings at times, there are some genuinely impactful and thought-provoking ideas in this book, so much so that I closed it inspired and encouraged. With its beautiful prose, ADORNING THE DARK provoked wonder at the world around me and God’s amazingness.

While this book certainly isn’t for everyone, I believe everyone can read it and come away with something, no matter how small.

If you’re a discouraged artist, a writer, or songwriter, read this book. It may just light a spark within you to keep going. To keep writing for the Kingdom. To continue completing the work God has placed on your heart.

There’s only one word that could describe that: amazing.]]> 4.50 2019
author: Andrew Peterson
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/30
date added: 2024/03/30
shelves: gorgeous-covers, books-on-my-irl-bookshelf, most-memorable-reads-of-2021, i-know-the-author, favorite-books-everrr, re-read-sometime, adult, nonfiction, books-on-writing, christian, friend-recommendations, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, re-read
review:
Re-read | March 2024

Peterson writes with such empathy, honesty, and wisdom, and the result is something that not only is thought-provoking, but makes you feel understood. But feeling understood isn't all.

For context, I picked up this book with vague memories of the last time I read it, but not having pulled away anything particular besides the sense of feeling that he put to words thoughts and feelings about my own creative journey that I struggled to verbalize. But the timing of this re-read was also perfect in the way that it was just what I needed, right in the middle of an artistic hiatus.

There's so much truth packed into this book that resonated with me. The parts about making known the heart of God through our work, the deep-rooted fear of irrelevance that prompts many to create, the ways we dedicate ourselves to God in our everyday lives and our homes, how God redeems our motives for His glory, and the purpose of good fiction, to name a few.

It's a book that gently but subtly shoved me toward reflecting on my own creative journey. In the ways that I've fallen short but in the ways God's mercy and grace was (and still is) abundant. And good books do that, don't they?

“Somewhere out there, men and women with redeemed, integrated imaginations are sitting down to spin a tale that awakens, a tale that leaves the reader with a painful longing that points them home, a tale whose fictional beauty begets beauty in the present world and heralds the world to come. Someone out there is building a bridge so we can slip across to elf-land and smuggle back some of its light into this present darkness.�

Original review | November 2021

Wow.

This book took me forever to finish, but I’m so so glad I started. Between the stories from Peterson's own life and his thoughts on creation and identity, reading this book made me feel so understood. . There were multiple times I stopped and thought to myself, I thought I was the only person who thought like that. I'm glad I wasn’t. And I’m glad that Peterson was able to capsulize so many thoughts I think so many of us have in the beautiful, written word.

I do have to admit that it took me a bit to get into this book and get used to the musing style of it—and it’s definitely not everyone’s thing—but for me, I love how casual and less polished it is. while it was a bit tricky to follow the points of the musings at times, there are some genuinely impactful and thought-provoking ideas in this book, so much so that I closed it inspired and encouraged. With its beautiful prose, ADORNING THE DARK provoked wonder at the world around me and God’s amazingness.

While this book certainly isn’t for everyone, I believe everyone can read it and come away with something, no matter how small.

If you’re a discouraged artist, a writer, or songwriter, read this book. It may just light a spark within you to keep going. To keep writing for the Kingdom. To continue completing the work God has placed on your heart.

There’s only one word that could describe that: amazing.
]]> 59608964 She didn't ask to be the Wishtress.

Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. But when a granted wish goes wrong, she is cursed: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She must travel to the Well to break the curse before it claims her life—and before the king's militairen find her. To survive the journey, Myrthe must harden her heart to keep herself from crying even a single tear.

He can stop time with a snap of his fingers.

Bastiaan's powerful—and rare—Talent came in handy when he kidnapped the old king. Now the new king has a job for him: find the Wishtress and deliver her to the schloss. But Bastiaan needs a wish of his own. He gains Myrthe's trust by promising to take her to the Well, but once he gets what he needs, he'll turn her in. As long as his growing feelings for the girl with a stone heart don't compromise him.

Their quest can end only one way: with her death.

Everyone seems to need a wish—the king, Myrthe's cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they're ready to bully, beg, and betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one wish, Myrthe would pay with her life. And if she tells them about the curse . . . they'll just kill her anyway.]]> 453 Nadine Brandes 0785264000 E.C. 4
Original pre-review:

A new book by Nadine Brandes? Sign me up. ;)]]> 4.02 2022
author: Nadine Brandes
name: E.C.
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/23
date added: 2024/03/23
shelves: books-on-my-irl-bookshelf, christian, clean-reads, ya-fiction, yes-i-read-fantasy, young-adult, christian-ya-fiction, i-know-the-author, i-don-t-know-honestly, most-memorable-reads-of-2024, re-read-sometime
review:
Despite the fact that this isn't my favorite book by Nadine Brandes—largely because my tiny brain refuses to comprehend the complexities of magical fantasy—the fast pace, vivid worldbuilding, and cast of unique characters almost immediately pulled me in. Ultimately, I'm glad I stuck around to the end to witness the seeming chaos come together, resulting in a beautiful story arc of restoration and sacrifice. 3.5 stars.

Original pre-review:

A new book by Nadine Brandes? Sign me up. ;)
]]>