The BookFetish Blog

September Book Club, we chose Joshilyn Jackson’s The Opposite of Everyone.

From the publisher’s synopsis:
Born in Alabama, Paula Vauss spent the first decade of her life on the road with her free-spirited young mother, Kai, an itinerant storyteller who blended Hindu mythology with southern oral tradition to re-invent their history as they roved. But everything, including Paula’s birth name Kali Jai, changed when she told a story of her own—one that landed Kai in prison and Paula in foster care. Separated, each holding secrets of her own, the intense bond they once shared was fractured.

These days, Paula has reincarnated herself as a tough-as-nails divorce attorney with a successful practice in Atlanta. While she hasn’t seen Kai in fifteen years, she’s still making payments on that Karmic debt—until the day her last check is returned in the mail, along with a mysterious note: “I am going on a journey, Kali. I am going back to my beginning; death is not the end. You will be the end. We will meet again, and there will be new stories. You know how Karma works.”

Then Kai’s most treasured secret literally lands on Paula’s doorstep, throwing her life into chaos and transforming her from only child to older sister. Desperate to find her mother before it’s too late, Paula sets off on a journey of discovery that will take her back to the past and into the deepest recesses of her heart. With the help of her ex-lover Birdwine, an intrepid and emotionally volatile private eye who still carries a torch for her, this brilliant woman, an expert at wrecking families, now has to figure out how to put one back together—her own.

It’s been a few years since I’ve read Joshilyn Jackson, and reading The Opposite of Everyone makes me wonder why it’s been so long. One of my favorite things was that the city of Atlanta is practically a character. Living here, it’s fun to picture the locations.

Overall, I liked the story. Paula’s journey feels realistic. She isn’t “tough as nails” on one page and suddenly Sappy Susie on the next.  There’s unexpected layers to the story, especially with Birdwine, which  I really appreciated.   And the ending was surprisingly satisfying.

Book club liked this selection. We all felt a little surprised by the story arc and the characters’ evolution.  Those of us who listened to the audiobook had a distinct impression of the characters that was not shared by those who read the book. Based on the discussion, this is one I recommend reading over listening.

The Opposite of Everyone delivers on complicated characters and complex family relationships.  It made me remember why I like Joshilyn Jackson, and I’ll be reading more from her sooner rather than later.

Joe Biden’s memoir, Promise Me, Dad is nothing short of a love story. The love of a man for his son, his family, his country.

Joe Biden was Vice President of the United States when his son, Beau, was diagnosed with a brain tumor that would eventually take his life. As the Bidens rallied to support Beau while he sought treatment, Biden was also dealing with job pressures few of us can appreciate- including rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia. It doesn’t matter that you are the Vice President of the US when illness hits- with all the organizations and people you have access to, none of it matters if you can’t make things better for your loved one.

Promise Me, Dad is a sedate read. Really a grieving father telling his story.  Still, it is tinged with hope and the sincere desire of Mr. Biden to do everything he can for his family and his country.

The book gives a fascinating glimpse into the role of the Vice President in a job where you really never get a day off despite grave illness.  We’ve had some good Presidential/VP teams in my lifetime, but few I think have had the authentic friendship that exists between Barack Obama and Joe Biden.  Their genuine affection and respect for each other comes through in the book.

So, too, does Biden’s sense of duty to his country.  I think even people who do not agree with Biden politically will agree he is doing what he sincerely believes is best for the country. Selflessly.

But the most touching part of the read is Biden’s love for his family and the closeness of the Biden clan. Despite some of the stories that have come out since Beau’s death, during his illness, his family rallied around him and supported each other. Too many of us are unsure that we would have that same support.

As I mentioned, this is a sedate read. It’s not a page turner, but I enjoyed reading it. Biden exhibits a level of vulnerability we rarely see from people in the public eye. His recounting of comforting a grieving father is heartbreaking- it made my heart hurt for both of them.

If you want a read about sheer good humanity, this is one I heartily recommend.

If you follow the blog, you know I have really enjoyed two of Tanya J. Peterson’s books, Leave of Absence and My Life in a Nutshell.

I just learned that Peterson has a new book coming out in a few weeks, and it’s available for pre-order on Amazon.

Here’s the publisher’s summary:

A Tale, Inspired by a True Story, of a Woman Who Would Not Become Bitter

“It’s okay. Filip is only showing off in front of his friends. It’s what boys do. It’s best to pay no mind and to keep quiet. Smile at him, then turn away.”

The lessons young Cătălina learned from her beloved grandmother carried her through the horrors of communist Romania, from the countryside to the streets of Bucharest and beyond, into her new life with her teenage children in far-away Sacramento, California.

Behind Silent Smiles is the tale of a woman’s journey to love and be loved in return. She can love others deeply in spite of unspeakable loss and abuse, but is she capable of giving herself the love she deserves?

I’ve pre-ordered my copy, and you can get yours here.

Y’all! I’m on the board of a local theater. Our summer production is The Color Purple, and we’re doing a unique book club and musical event.

You can get all the details and sign-up  here or read below and click the link at the bottom to sign up.

ABOUT THE CLUB

The AE Book Club members will read Alice Walker’s timeless masterpiece The Color Purple before meeting at the theatre twice in June to discuss the book, its themes and how it was transferred to the stage.

THE DETAILS: TWO MEETINGS 
On Sunday, Ju

ne 10, club members will gather at 4:30 PM to discuss the book over catered wine and light bites. After the discussion, club members will be invited backstage for a sneak peek of how the show is coming together. On Sunday, June 17, members will return at 2 PM to watch the musical together and stay after to discuss how the book translated to the stage. Wine and finger foods will be provided for this discussion.

THE PACKAGES
The whole package is just $100. That includes the two catered events, a ticket to the show and great conversation. Subscribers can upgrade to this package for just $60, simply call or e-mail the box office.

LIMITED SPACE
Space is limited to 36members, so please sign up now and get reading! We can’t wait to see you at the theatre and share this special story with you.

SIGN UP TODAY
Reserve your spot in the book club today before it fills up. Slots are available now online. You can also call 404-607-7469 during box office hours, Tuesday – Friday from 12-5 PM.

The third installment in Meredith Schorr’s Blogger Girl series is out today!

Sassy book blogger-turned-author, Kim Long, thought her life couldn’t get any pinker when she received a two-book publishing deal and a marriage proposal in the same night.

If only she could drown out the conflicting opinions of her overzealous bridal party.

If only everyone would adore her first book—or she’d take Nicholas’s advice and stop reading reviews.

If only Nicholas’s past would remain there rather than threaten their future.

The pressure is on and the clock is ticking. Will Kim ever write “The End” on her sophomore novel? And, will she and Nicholas make it down the aisle to say those two precious words: “I do?”

Put on your reading glasses, fill your champagne flute and prepare to laugh with (and sometimes at) Kim as she rewrites her happy ending until it’s worthy of five pink champagne flutes.

So before I get into the review, two key things you need to know up front. First, I read an advance copy of the book, and some there may be some additional edits in the published version. Second,  in the interest of full disclosure, I need to make my blog readers aware that I am mentioned in the acknowledgements of the advance (and presumably published) copy.  As has been my policy since the beginning of this blog, my review is unbiased and neither advance copies nor acknowledgements guarantee a good review.

Now, on with the show….

One thing I consistently like about Schorr’s books is that her characters are authentic and relatable.  You’re probably tired of hearing me say that, but it’s important to me in a romantic comedy book, and therefore a point I feel bears repeating.  One thing that I’ve noticed about the Blogger Girl series is that Schorr also allows her characters to grow and learn from prior mistakes. Like reality, though, this can be and is often a two steps forward, one step back process,  This back and forth is seen in  Kim and Nicholas’ relationship and lends a feeling of believability to their relationship. It also shows us that we can’t always assume our partner inherently knows what we need.

I was occasionally frustrated, however,  when I could clearly see what the character needed to do and s/he couldn’t see it for themselves. But that’s also reality because sometimes we are too in our own heads to be able to recognize a solution to a problem when it’s right in front of us.

Some things I particularly enjoyed- Kim’s angst over book reviews. I imagine Kim feels much like many first time- and perhaps more seasoned- authors do.  Also, Kim’s struggle on depth of conflict in her second novel.  Surprisingly here, we get a bit of self-growth for Kim as an author.

I laughed and I teared up as I read – always a good mix in a book because it illustrates the depth and authenticity I like.   Chick lit fans will want to put this one on the to-read list.

Bridal Girl could be read standalone, but I highly recommend reading Blogger Girl  and Nvoelista Girl first- if  for no other reason than to see firsthand the growth of  the characters that I mentioned.