It's hard to believe it is October already, fall is definitely starting to set in though. The weather is slowly starting to change and the days are getting shorter (as is my patience for my little friends most days... but that's a different story...)
Right in the last few moments of September I finished off: The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew, one of my 23 must reads for 2023 (I'm doing horribly if you didn't know). I posted about this book on October 2nd in honour of the election, so I decided it should be included in October's wrap up.
October 6th, 2023
The Broken Hummingbird
Ann Marie Jackson @amjacksonauthor
This novel, which reads more like a memoir seeing as the author includes so many raw and descriptive details, tells the story of a family and community in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. When Jane and her husband Kevin decide to take an unusual tactic to try to save their marriage, they find themselves facing the same marital problems they had in New York, just in Mexico. Jane hoped a chance to go back to a place they visited in their young adult years would offer a reset their marriage needed after an almost-affair and a breakdown of their relationship. Having not fully dealt with the grief and trauma related to her own parents' divorce, Jane's biggest fear is the impact a divorce and potential custody battle could have on her two young children, but staying in an unhappy marriage is not great for anyone involved.
In an attempt to ignore the problems she is facing at home, Jane tries to immerse herself and her boys into the community and culture of their small Mexican town. This involves working for a non-profit that acts similarly to Habitat for Humanity. But when Jane gets a little too involved with one of the project families, she finds herself overstepping her role and involving herself in ways she really shouldn't.
The domestic violence and fears of custody battles are both really interesting and important topics that I am really glad the author tackled in this story. I think that no matter what kind of domestic violence (Physical, emotional, relational etc.), we need to see the partner and children as the victims that they are. As someone who grew up with domestic violence, but am only beginning to see it as such, I know that at times we view DV as looking a certain way and forget that violence and abuse can include a child hiding in a bedroom hearing parents fighting, or a woman fearing for her children being taken by the other parent, even if no physical harm may have actually taken place. One line from the book that really resonated with me was:
I liked this quote because I think it can be applied in so many situations, but definitely in terms of DV. Fear is deep rooted and even if nothing physical or what someone else might deem as "real experiences" have actually occurred, the fear comes from somewhere and thus it is valid and needs to be addressed. In this story Jane is not physically harmed by her husband (at least prior to her asking for a divorce), nor are her children, but his constant threats, demeaning comments, and relational aggression through the children, are just some of the many examples of non-physical domestic violence.
The story also showcases another example of domestic violence when Jane witnesses a physical fight between two parents who are in need of support from the non-profit she volunteers for. These two examples juxtaposed offer a contrast that helps readers see that DV looks many different ways but can impact the victims equally.
I also loved the symbolism of the hummingbirds woven throughout the story. From the migration, to the role they played in Jane's teen romance to the imagery of the dead hummingbird her son found in their courtyard, the birds play an important role throughout the story. Hummingbirds have a special place in my heart because my grandmother loved them and tended to their feeders at our cabin as if they were her pets. In homage to her I used a photo from this summer at the cabin as the background for this post.
I think this book was super well written and covered so many interesting topics and ideas. There were moments where I kind of wished the author had started the story prior to them arriving in Mexico (exploring the almost-affair, the decision to move etc) but perhaps that is just my love of memoirs and wanting the full story. I think the author did a really great job of weaving in Jane's past and keeping the story going even with flashbacks. In fact, tying in the challenges with Jane's family history were also a really great addition to the story and brought in really nicely to tie things together. But the detail and description of the community and culture were the highlights of this book for sure. I felt like I had visited this town and met these fictional people, and it even made me see Mexico in a new way. I would 100% read more from this author and definitely recommend checking this one out!
Thanks to Books Forward for giving me the chance to read and review this fantastic book! Find out more about them here: https://www.instagram.com/booksforwardpr/ https://twitter.com/booksforwardpr https://www.tiktok.com/@booksforwardpr?lang=en
October 9, 2023
Run, Hide, Repeat
Pauline Dakin
I picked this one up a few weeks ago at my local Children's Hospital Book Market along with a few other great finds. I had gone in looking for kids books as I have had a hard time determining what my Grade 1 classroom library is missing. I didn't have great luck in the kids section, but I did grab a few books to add to my already overflowing TBR bookshelf. I posted on insta and tagged the authors of the books I picked up, and Pauline Dakin commented. I decided this was a sign I should read it first, and I'm so glad I did!
Synopsis:
Pauline Dakin spent her childhood on the run. Without warning, her mother twice uprooted her and her brother, moving thousands of miles away from family and friends. Disturbing events interrupt their outwardly normal break-ins, car thefts, even physical attacks on a family friend. Many years later, her mother finally revealed they'd been running from the Mafia and were receiving protection from a covert anti-organized crime task force.
But the truth was even more bizarre. Gradually, Dakin's fears give way to suspicion. She puts her journalistic training to work and discovers that the Mafia threat was actually an elaborate web of lies. As she revisits her past, Dakin uncovers the human capacity for betrayal and deception, and the power of love to forgive.
Run, Hide, Repeat is a memoir of a childhood steeped in unexplained fear and menace. Gripping and suspenseful, it moves from Dakin's uneasy acceptance of her family's dire situation to bewildered anger. As compelling and twisted as a thriller, Run Hide Repeat is an unforgettable portrait of a family under threat, and the resilience of family bonds.
My thoughts:
This memoir was so well written. I went into reading it thinking wow, the mental illness this author's mother suffered was obviously profound. As I kept reading I thought about how the mother's partner was very strange and maybe it was actually his mental illness that caused this. Then, I started to think maybe this was actually true and no one had a mental illness. I started wondering if I googled all of this would it actually exist. Then I went back to realizing this couldn't possibly be real and reverted to my mental illness theory. But wow, what an incredibly twisted tale. And the fact that this author could not only survive this horrendous and traumatic series of events, but also write about it in a way that shows how real it all felt despite how implausible the story really is, truly was a tremendous feat.
I loved that this book takes place in Canada, even in my city of Winnipeg for portions of it, and it also made it feel even more outlandish because I was starting to picture these secret societies in my own country and it left me both unsettled but also confused. I can only imagine how much worse it was for the author! I think that this is not just an interesting and bizarre story, but also sheds light on a form of mental illness that is extremely rare, but also the profound effect delusion and paranoia has on the people around them (something that is sadly much less rare).
The description above that it is as compelling and twisted as a thriller is accurate. I can confidently say I've never read anything like it and am soooo glad I stumbled upon it by chance at this book sale. I learned a lot and also had to flex my critical thinking and bullshit meter, which is important in this day and age when fake news and paranoia is all around us. If you happen to stumble across this book, definitely pick it up!
October 12, 2023
I was home sick part of this week so I had lots of time for reading (in between several naps of course).
What it's about:
When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.
When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents—especially considering Savannah, is only a year and a half older than Abby.
The girls meet up once they receive the DNA results, and decide to go to the same summer camp as a chance to get to know each other better and potentially piece together this strange mystery.
My thoughts:
I was initially super into this one, then got a little bored and skimmed the majority of the book. I love the DNA part, I really want to do mine one day... especially now that my husband decided that we can't justify the Ancestry platinum account that I use like twice a year when I have some free time to research.... I also think the whole adoption piece is interesting (two of the main characters are adopted). And considering it was a Reese Witherspoon YA choice, and I generally find YA novels entertaining, I was sure it was a shoo-in. I think once summer camp came in though, my interest waned. It took on a Parent Trap/It Takes Two quality but with characters in their late teens... just felt a little too middle grade I guess. Actually, that's the perfect description, rather than YA, I think this fits more in the middle grade category. From the way crushes are described to the type of parental involvement to the summer camp setting and storylines, it would probably be better directed at a slightly younger audience. It did quite well on Goodreads, making it as a nominee for the YA Goodreads Award in 2021, but I wonder how it does with actual YA readers.
Anyway, it was an ok book. It had an interesting and almost-unique yet still almost overdone (who would think that's a thing?) plot, but the emotion and passion of a YA was not quite there and the conflict and storyline were probably a bit juvenile for the YA category.
October 13, 2023
I read The 3 a.m. Shattered Mum's Club by Nina Manning a while back (See my blogpost here) so when I heard there was a sequel I was all over it!
Flash forward a few years, Sophy, Aisha and Mel are sending their little ones off to reception, and now they are facing a whole new life stage. Sophy is just out of the 3 a.m. phase for the second time as her youngest, Poppy, is headed into the toddler years, Aisha is beginning to wonder if her newfound freedom might mean some time for a new business venture, and Mel is looking forward to a new performance opportunity.
All of the comedic and realistic elements that I loved from the first book we back in this one, but as the children grew, the women grew as well. Manning's descriptions of life with small children and the relationship, friendship and emotional challenges that come with raising those children are a breath of fresh air when we live in a world of picture-perfect insta-moms (or tiktok moms?). In fact, Sophy even takes a candid video for instagram sharing her less-than-perfect feelings which perfectly sums up what I think Manning was going for all along; raising kids is not easy, but when we support each other and give each other the space to share what we are going through, we are able to get through it so much easier.
I really loved the sequel, almost as much as the first book, but if I could change one thing it would be taking the focus off the cruise. I was glad to see that there was a significant portion of the book post-cruise, I was just hoping for a little more day to day life and I felt that the time away from the families - while a good reminder that we need time away and with our friends - ate away at the actual "6 pm frazzled mums" piece. There were the classic text convos over dinner chaos, but I would have liked a little more daily chaos. The last minute science project, the forgotten show and tell item, the birthday party planning craziness! Swimming lessons and after school activities! Parent-teacher conferences!! Who knows though, maybe Manning has a plan for the 9 p.m. exhausted mums club? We'll have to wait and see.
October 14, 2023
Gosh, I don't think I've ever read a book with that kind of cliff hanger! I sure hope a sequel is coming soon!!
Strange Eden by gina giordano was soooooo good. I devoured it in just over a day, and at over 450 pages, that is no easy feat for me! Set in the bahamas in the 1700s, Eliza, a young woman from England, finds herself married to a stranger, Charles who runs a plantation and is immersed in the slave trade. Eliza is not your average Lady, and has some very forward ideas and beliefs for a woman from this era, much to the embarrassment and frustration of her husband and the disbelief of the other members of high society on the island. Eliza doesn't think twice before attempting to befriend her slaves, sneaking off to go swimming in the sea and voicing her opinions, despite her husband's warnings not to do all of these things. But there are dangers that lurk on the island, many of which her husband knows little about, including the slaves' belief that the house is haunted, something Eliza seems to also believe.
Between dangers, secrets and a tumultuous political climate, there is quite a bit of action, especially in the last 1/4 of the book which ends in a powerful cliffhanger! But more than anything, this author knows her stuff. The book is highly referenced and has such intricate detail I could imagine the island and the way of life at that time period. This made me want to dive into more books on this subject (but mostly just the sequel... when is that coming out btw?!) and I learned so much about things I didn't realize I didn't know a lot about! Pirates? The American Revolution? Plantation life south of the US? Well I definitely know a lot more now!
This book is so interesting and extremely well written. It was more than I could have imagined and a very powerful debut! I CANNOT wait to see what this author comes up with in the future (*cough* a sequel right?!) Thanks so much to the author and to breysbooktours for giving me the chance to read and review this fantastic book! Go get a copy of this book!
October 22, 2023
The Great Peace - Mena Suvari (audiobook)
I started listening to this audiobook memoir by @menasuvari a few weeks ago and blew through it. I remember watching her in American Pie as a young teen but had not really heard anything about her since. This memoir dives into some pretty difficult content, as she was emotionally, physically and sexually abused starting at a young age and continuing far into her adulthood. Her unstable relationships both with family and sexual partners led to a lot of really traumatic situations and some risky choices. Despite being a hollywood actress, she struggled financially for much of her life and often had to rely on others, leading to difficult housing situations and more abuse. While it was at times fairly difficult to listen to as she described some of the most traumatic moments of her life in painful detail, it was a really interesting and well written (and narrated) book. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who grew up watching her on TV, has an interest in the behind the scenes of hollywood, or finds memoirs about abuse of interest.
October 25, 2023
Check out my post for my FOLD challenge book this month: My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez
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