I love NetGalley
If you're not familiar with it, check out this appreciated-by-all system for getting new books into readers' and reviewers' hands. Here are a few things I've read of late, thanks to NetGalley ARCs:
I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This: 18 Assurances on Grief by Clare Mackintosh
A gorgeous, honest, heartfelt memoir that I could endlessly relate to. I would never say, "I know how you feel" to Clare Mackintosh, because I don't exactly how she feels. After my five miscarriages, I was in a different situation and had experienced a different kind of grief than Mackintosh and her husband endured, having lost their son Alex when he was five weeks old. What I share with her is simply this: we were both grieving, we needed to heal, it would take a long time, and we needed the promises of others who had walked this path before us. Mackintosh pays it forward and offers that comfort and assurance.
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No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
This one's from 2023, but I don't think I ever blogged about it. A marvelous book about the power of writing and the magic of connecting through storytelling. At first, I felt slightly disappointed by the varying points of view, but I was quickly won over, immersed in each new story-within-this-story. Bauermeister subtly pulled threads from here and there, weaving them into surprising new places.The epigraph, a quote from The Writings of Madame Swetchine, is, "No two persons ever read the same book, or saw the same picture." This truth is elegantly illustrated as we dip in and out of the lives of disparate readers of a fictional author's book. One character doesn't even read the book but uses it in a brilliant way.
Some favorite quotes:
But he understood the feeling of living in a world where few questions had a single, solid answer. Understood, too, that in that world, creativity often dwelt next to confusion.
Science heard that fragment of a second and wondered how to make it fit into a whole. Fiction wondered what hearing it felt like.
...but that was the beauty of books, wasn't it? They took you places you didn't know you needed to go.
Ignoring the fact that grief is not a stalker but a stowaway, always there and up for any journey.
A gorgeous, moving, and fully satisfying read.
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An excellent guide to understanding, dealing with, and healing from AREs (adverse religious experiences) and HCRs (high-control religions) and the trauma that can result. While Anderson doesn't go into extensive personal detail, she includes just enough of her own painful story to establish her credibility, authenticity, and empathy as a survivor of religious trauma. Her personal story/understanding of the issues and her professional credentials as a trauma-informed therapist come together for a compelling and helpful read.
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The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
A sweet (sometimes bittersweet) tale that kept me wondering how Fred, a lonely widower with no one to turn to, would resolve a unique dilemma. Mistaken identity and good intentions lead to second chances for these warm, likable characters. Surprise reveals, and a satisfying, lovely ending add to the charm of this poignant story about family, aging, loss, and forgiveness.
I'll be back soon with a couple of picture books that made their way to me through NetGalley too. 📚
Photo thanks to Pixabay.
1 comment:
The Bauermeister book is SO good.
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