There are books that make you laugh, cry, fall in love, think, feel, relate, hate and empathize. After reading a book that wasn’t great, not because of the story per se but because it made me lose faith in humanity, in people even if for just the week that I read it. I don’t want to live that way, thinking the worst of people. While I know there is ugly in the world, I’ve seen it and lived it at times I don’t always want to immerse myself in it.
I was so grateful for Kristen gifting me with The Girl On The Train, but I had such a hard time between the multiple person point of view, the changes in time frames and also the characters themselves. Out of them all not one was likable, and most displayed huge lapses in judgement and morals. It took me a few days to pinpoint why I didn’t like it overall. Maybe I wasn’t in the frame of mind to be impartial or that I was expecting too much but I think when I read it, I wanted it to leave me feeling better, not worse.
While I know that evil exists as does evil people I don’t want to live in that darkness. I would rather see the good in people, the perseverance, the grit and the determination. I’d rather reach for adventure than revenge.
Then I picked up a new book from my kindle bookshelf, Where The Road Takes Me, and my faith was restored.
To quote one of my good friends Steph’s favorite movie….
….somebody who’s taught me about the kinda person I want to be. – Dirty Dancing.
Neither character came from perfect beginnings but it was how they were choosing to live now that mattered. Chloe may have grand designs to run away after graduation, fearing that she is doomed to the same fate as her Aunt and Mother, but she did live with an open heart. She is trying to protect the people she loves, even the foster family that seems to love her even when she told them not to.
Blake is a promising Basketball star but he fights his own battles too. While choices are made they still live with an honesty that is refreshing. You also have the best friend who is a young single dad trying to raise his son, and adds in some comic relief. When choices are placed in front of them, they may make choices in fear but they also follow their hearts. Some scenes and situations are a little cliche but I would much rather live my life the way these characters do. I want to live with my heart open even when it’s been stepped on.
When a book makes me feel and care enough to cry, I know it is a book worth recommending. I hope you give this book a shot. A happily ever after awaits.
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The next book on my to read list is a little bit grittier of a family tale, The Far End Of Happy which is coming out on May 5th and based on the authors real life tragedy.
ABOUT THE FAR END OF HAPPY:
The Far End of Happy is a powerful new novel based on author Kathryn Craft’s personal experience with a stand-off involving her husband. Here Craft delivers “real, raw emotion” (Library Journal) exploring a marriage unraveled by mental illness; and one man’s spiral towards a violent conclusion that tests the courage, love, and hope of the three women he leaves behind.
When the emotionally troubled Jeff engages police in a deadly stand-off, his wife, mother-in-law, and mother struggle to understand why the man they love has turned his back on the life they have given him, the one they all believe is still worth living.
“Framing the novel within a 12-hour period keeps the pages turning (Library Journal).” Narrating from the alternating perspectives of three women, whose lives will be forever altered by Jeff Farnham, gives an intimate look at the steps a woman will take to get the help her husband so urgently needs while desperately trying to keep her children safe.
ABOUT KATHRYN CRAFT:
A former dance critic who wrote for The Morning Call daily newspaper in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for nineteen years. Craft wrote exclusively nonfiction until she was plunged in the kind of real-life drama that demands attention. In 1997, after fifteen years of marriage, her husband committed suicide in a police standoff, leaving her and their two young sons.
The Far End of Happy was born from Craft’s need to make sense of what her husband had done. Kathryn has been a leader in the southeastern Pennsylvania writing scene for more than a decade and is also the author of The Art of Falling. She lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Website: www.kathryncraft.com
I can only hope Kathryn eased her pain by writing that book. These days I
Can hardly read the atrocities in the news.
Thanks for the reviews!
Happy Thursday.
Love, SMD’s Momma
It can be so heart breaking. I read her book The Art of Falling which was really good so I am looking forward to reading this one. Her writing style really draws you in. The news can be really depressing at times. Good thoughts, good day!
I love that you were so connected to the book – I just finished one this morning and totally had tears in my eyes…but that could be because I’m just overly emotional lol! xo, Biana
That is a sign of a powerful story. What book were you reading?
I loved that the characters has tough childhoods but they didn’t let it break them down completely. I am not judging those who do break but I want that to be the exception not the norm. I want triumph to win.
I’m a firm believer in the fact that a book that resonates with some will not with others, that a book read at 40 will be different than a book read at 20 (even if it’s the same book), and that we’re all looking for different things!
Yes, there are so many different life experiences that can effect how a book touches you, and also emotions you are feeling at the time you read it. I am sure if I read it at a different time I would possibly like it more.
I know some of the books that are popular i won’t like and vice versa. That is the beauty of some many books to choose from, love your perspective!
I completely understand – sometimes I don’t want to read about bad things and bad people, they make me mad and sad (I need a thesaurus lol) and lose faith in humanity. that’s why I typically don’t read books like that. i like happy things and happy endings and there is nothing wrong with that! adding this to my list!
I think I just have to be in a different head space to read it. I am not naive enough to think life is happy all the time but I’d prefer to focus on the happy. I can see why people enjoy it though. The ending was a good twist.
I hate when anything makes me feel like loosing my faith in humanity. There is too much bad that happens in our world and it is easy to get bogged down by it. I love that you found a book that restored your faith and opened your heart. I am certainly going to have to check it out!!!
Yes, it can sometimes just make things seem worse. I liked that they overcame some of their challenges and it was overall positive book.
Awesome, great picks! I loved Girl on the Train and I haven’t had much time to read anything else lately, Will add these to the kindle!
Hope that you like them. The Far End Of Happy is really turning out to be very good.
I’ve heard a TON about Girl on the Train, but never read it. I’m too involved with books that have dudes with six-pack abs on them. LOL it’s an addiction..
It has been everywhere!! No dudes with six packs on this one, but I have a weakness for those ones too! 😉
I so enjoyed The Girl On The Train but I also hated the characters. I didn’t really care if they all died.
I know, it wouldn’t have bothered me either, which bothered me. Ha! If that makes sense.
I’m going to read The Girl on the Train after I finish the current series I”m reading:)
I hope you like it. It was different than I was expecting.
Love this. heart eyes for dayz…
Thank you!! Big hugs!!
I always feel sad when a book makes me feel like I’ve lost my faith in humanity. I’m glad you found a better book to follow it up with!
I know those things happen but I don’t stand for those qualities in my friends so it was rough to read. It was the perfect follow up because even though they were flawed they moved forward positively.
We all have books that don’t “click” with us but Im glad you got a good follow up! Ill be adding that one to my (ever growing) list – that poor list is a mile long since life has been BUSY!
Yes, we bring so much of ourselves into the books we read and sometimes our life experiences changes how we view it. I am telling you I may never get through my list (i think it’s over 400) but it will be fun trying! 😉
It’s so cool when a book can touch you like that. I have a very special place in my heart for Gone With the Wind. Scarlett was a B sometimes, but she did what she had to do to make it through life, and a lot of what she did wasn’t as bad as people said (time periods and gender roles = dumb). It helped me get through a breakup and my Dad’s death.
I think Scarlett was so under appreciated. That girl got ish done!! It was not easy at that time. I appreciate a take charge kinda person! Glad it helped you during that tough time! Hugs girl!