Light from a Distant Star by Mary McGarry Morris

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…the place to be when the need to read strikes and you’re looking for a recommendation; happy to oblige if I may!  ^_^

So, for those of you I chat with usually throughout the week, you may have noticed my lack of presence on the social media sites…for that I am truly sorry.  No really, I am!  I love talking with you guys and making connections and adding to my TBR and the whole lot of it…BUT, this week work has been killer with a capital “K” and I’ve been unable to break free long enough to indulge in the lighter side of things.  *sigh*  Not to worry though…things are almost back under wraps and I’m thinking next week will be a bit more open; hopefully…it better be (*glares at next week*).  Anywho, reading has been getting done so what say you to a review of one of my recent completions?

Today, we are jumping back from the land of Children’s Fiction straight into the arms of hardcore Fiction.  Why hardcore?  Simply put, because there it no doubt on where this title should reside; it fits its given niche perfectly.  The chosen book features a stunning cover that really makes you want to see where the girl is running too…or from…and to or from whom or what.  It opens so many questions in your mind even before you’ve read one page.  It’s one of those situations where the cover art and title work perfectly to draw you in…whether you stay enraptured or not though is another question altogether.  But I digress, allow me to introduce this work properly and then we’ll get down to the nitty gritty.  Today’s book of choice is…

Light from a Distant Star

by

Mary McGarry Morris

From the publisher…

It is early summer and Nellie Peck is on the cusp of adolescence – gangly, awkward, full of questions, but keenly observant and wiser than many of the adults in her life. The person she most admires is her father, Benjamin, a man of great integrity. His family’s century old hardware store is failing and Nellie’s mother has had to go back to work. Nellie’s older half-sister has launched a disturbing search for her birth father. Often saddled through the long, hot days with her timid younger brother, Henry, Nellie is determined to toughen him up. And herself as well.
 Three strangers enter Nellie’s protected life. Brooding Max Devaney is an ex-con who works in her surly grandfather’s junkyard. Reckless Bucky Saltonstall has just arrived from New York City to live with his elderly grandparents. And pretty Dolly Bedelia is a young stripper who rents the family’s small, rear apartment and becomes the titillating focus of Nellie’s eavesdropping.
 When violence erupts in the lovely Peck house, the prime suspect seems obvious. Nellie knows who the real murderer is, but is soon silenced by fear and the threat of scandal. The truth, as she sees it, is shocking and unthinkable, and with everyone’s eyes riveted on her in the courtroom, Nellie finds herself seized with doubt.
 No one will listen. No one believes her, and a man’s life hangs in the balance.

Sounds harrowing, right?  It is…and it isn’t.  Here comes the explanation.

It’s been compared greatly to the infamous TKAMB, which if you recall my post a year or so ago…I adored; for me, that might have been part of its downfall.  When immersed in the read itself, I couldn’t draw the parallels between the two in any fashion but in retrospect, I can see faint lines illuminated.  A young female narrator whose voice goes overlooked by most, yet is more observant than even her own mind will admit.  Neighborhood bullies.  Associations with those considered “less” that are frowned upon in the chosen time.  A crime committed.  The possibility of a wrongful accusation made (you didn’t think I was going to confirm who did or did not do the wrong now did you?  ^_^).  An ending that serves to finish the story, just not in the way that you might have expected.  For me though, that wasn’t enough to draw the comparison; in fact, if it hadn’t been made, I doubt I would have made it myself.

To me, though the storyline was interesting as a whole, the flow of the narration, the recollection of events as they transpired and the march of time were exceedingly slow; even slower than the beat down truck from Charlie’s junkyard would be if its motor decided to miraculously come to life.  I’m not a reader that needs action all the time or even noteworthy life changing events every other second but if things aren’t at least rambling along at a walk in the country pace, it becomes painful.  How?  Well, I start every book with an open mind, an open heart and the idea that something within was fascinating enough to capture my attention.  (Don’t we all?  ^_^)  When I discover something other than that or rather in this case something that impedes that enjoyment, it saddens me…it’s like seeing a dancer fall flat on her tutu after so much work was put in to the production.  I really WANT to like the book and sing its praises but alas, my overall impression is lacking the needed spark.  HOWEVER, as we all know, one person’s less-than-favorite title can be the next person’s all-time-instant-classic…

In its favor, I can say this…despite the roadblocks I encountered, I DID finish the book.  Why?  No, not simply because I don’t do “DNF” reviews, but rather the mystery of “who done it” underneath it all HAD to be solved, or rather brought to light. I could not be certain who actually perpetrated the crime (though I did guess accurately with a little guidance from a character or two) nor imagine how or IF it would be fairly prosecuted and once things start to unravel enough towards the end of the novel for truth to sneak its way in, the pages flew by.  The cast of characters though larger in size (as in the one’s that “count” are rather numerous) works well and serves to show how varied a town, even as small as theirs, can be.  From Jessica (“friend” who has WAY more troubles than imagined) to Lazo (eccentric artist), Dolly (“dancer” and new tenant of the Peck’s) to Max (shady past that might overshadow his future), Nellie (our leading lady who is rather misunderstood herself) to Charlie (a cantankerous grandfather if ever I’ve read); the list goes on and on and yet you’ll remember each for their quirks and contributions along the way.  The title is fantastic, the cover art lovely, the ending...quite a surprise though I’m not certain if I was satisfied or merely placated.  It’s not what you’d expect but it is what it is…THE END.

Review copy received courtesy of Jonathan at Random House,Inc!  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full collection, be sure to visit them online or across the social media landscape including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.  This title celebrated its paperback debut July 2012 via Broadway Paperbacks, an imprint of Crown Trade and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you.  Recommended read for older teens through adults.

Until next time...happy reading!

Variety is the Spice of Life...and of Books

Hi there readers!

It's Thursday and whew has it been a week here.  How about you?  Whether crazy, calm or something in between, I hope it's been treating you right.  For a little added fun, don't forget to get your entries in for a chance to win My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody....just click the link in the right hand tool bar under "Current Contests".

Anywho, it's a new day and time for a new post...what shall we review?  We started the week off with a little mouse with a big dream, turned Wednesday's corner with a horror-ific delight....today we take things in an entirely new and unexpected direction.  The featured title is from a genre I don't tend to frequent but this one intrigued me with not only it's unusual title but the potential story shared.  Ready for the big reveal?  Today's book of choice is....

Read My Hips:

How I Learned to Love My Body Ditch Dieting and Live Large

by

Kim Brittingham

From the publisher...

Too many women put life off until they are “thin enough.” They hold back on going after that new job, taking that dream vacation, or asking out that handsome stranger because they don’t feel that they deserve happiness at their current weight. Kim Brittingham once experienced that same struggle - until she learned how to love her self unconditionally, find her confidence, and fully enjoy her life.

With READ MY HIPS: How I Learned to Love My Body, Ditch Dieting, and Live Large (Three Rivers Press Original, on sale May 3, 2011) Kim offers an unflinching, humorous, and uplifting memoir about food, fashion, love, body image, along with straight advice about how to ditch anything that hurt your self-esteem and get to living a life where moments – not calories – truly count.

 

 
I know, you're shocked right?  A self help style book on my site....gasp shock and awe.  But admit it, you're intrigued.  I had to see just what this author had to say about it all after that little intro.  What I expected was a marginally interesting read with a few pointers on living life to its fullest whether that's in size or grandeur, what I got was happily a bit more with a few spots of discomfort along the edges.  Allow me to explain.

This book is part memoir, part self help in the fact that you get to see life through the author's eyes, but also gain a bit of insight to better help you come to a place of understanding and acceptance about your body image.  There are times you will laugh....like around page 19 where you get the infamous 'Sixteen Candles' quote...

Samantha:  Hey, but a lot can happen in a year.  You could come back next fall as a completely normal person.
Farmer Ted (considering for a moment):....Really?
Samantha:  (shrugging)  Sure.
--Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall

There are times you will cry....like when she is rejected by this butt of a guy who doesn't deserve the time of day even.  There are times you'll be shocked....such as the snack raids her and her fellow diet center workers had on unsuspecting boxes of diet peanut butter bars.  There are times you will take notes and try things for yourself....like unleashing your inner 'Marilyn Monroe' with a strut (totally works....totally).  It's an interesting mix of life experience and lessons gleaned and shared from the heart.  The strength that it took to go through some of those experience and then to share them with the world in such a frank manner....if we were holding votes for world's strongest woman, she'd have to be amongst the contestants. 

I respect and am all for the way the author came to terms with her self image and realized that it had no bearing (or rather shouldn't have any bearing) on her self value.  No one is less worthy of love, respect, acknowledgement, etc simply because of their weight or lack thereof.  There were times though that I was uncomfortable as a reader.  The derrogatory nature of the terms "fat", "overweight", even "big" that our society has ingrained in us versus her comfort level (or perceived comfort level) with throwing them around left me squirming.  I mean, okay...I admit it.  I'm not the thinnest person on the planet by any means nor am I the largest but even if I was I don't think I could truly accept those terms into my own vocabulary to openly refer to myself.  Just a personal quirk perhaps, but one that struck me while reading nonetheless.

Though diets were more of a fad in my house, I can certainly understand where the author was coming from with the mention of the "let's do this" attitude as opposed to the eventual "do we have to do this" mentality.  It takes A LOT of commitment to stick to a regimented diet and the more restrictions there are, the easier temptation can step up its game and knock you off your high horse.  I remember Mom trying a diet or two in my youth and while I never thought she needed one, she did....that was what mattered.  Did they work?  Sure....for a while, but the true change of image came later in life when she found that middle road that worked for her.  Some of the lifestyle chances she made along the way even stuck with the family.  Changes like moving from whole milk to skim, regular cola to diet....they seem little and insignificant, but they add up along the way. 

The moral of the story....it's not bad if you're "big", but your health is another matter altogether.  Striking a balance between these two opposites as well as your own happiness is truly the most we can hope for out of life...and we should accept nothing less.  My personal opinion....eat healthy and in moderation.  Start making those choices early (even today...it's never too late) and it will become a part of your body's make up allowing you to have your salad and eat your cake too.

Recommended read for older teens and adult readers interesting in the life and times of a fellow traveller on this crazy road we call life or simply looking for someone who has "been there done that and is going back for more".  You'll laugh a little, learn a lot and best of all learn the meaning of unconditional acceptance as it applies to others as well as yourself.  Review copy courtesy of Jonathan at Crown Trade Paperbacks / Random House, Inc.  (THANKS!)  For more information regarding this title as well as the Three Rivers Press full catalog, feel free to visit them online or follow along on Twitter.  To find out more about the powerhouse behind the book itself, seek out the author online at Kim Writes.

Until next time....happy reading!