almacayasso

[almacayasso]

Another good read, I wonder what’s next.

The Sun Down Motel Book Review

Hello fellow readers!

I finished The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James over a week ago. I heard so many good things about it and thought l really should just got on with it and finally read it. And I regret taking this long to give it a shot. At this point, I will issue a spoiler warning. If you have not had the pleasure of reading this yet, you should stop now. TSDM was filled with many things I enjoy: A female protagonist, a serial killer, cold cases, an amateur detective, old school detective work (Kinsey Millhone vibes) paranormal occurrences, text applied through a feminist lens, and finally a nod towards the past from the present. During this review, I will use a couple of questions from reading discussion page found at the back of the book.

Q: There are multiple instances where the women of this novel discuss what women should be doing to protect themselves, although as Viv notes: “ It was always girls who ended up stripped and dead like roadkill… it didn’t matter how afraid or how careful you were-it could always be you” (9). What do you think the author is saying about the experience of being a woman? Do you think the novel might have been different if Viv and Carly were men? If so, how?

A: I think that James was saying that the experiences of women are not easy. These experiences are fraught with worry and displeasure. As young girls, we’re told that there’s dangerous people out there, and that to counter act that bad we must strive to be good as best as we can. On top of this, we are told to take this news as a warning and a sign of what is to come. That it’s not a matter of if but when. It is inevitable and we must be ready. As a result, we dress conservatively, we behave politely, we go about our business, and we make sure we do not under any circumstances get ourselves into these impossible situations. This quandary is mentioned in the book: “Women should look over their shoulders, try not to be alone at night. Parents should look out for their daughters and always know where they are. Women should carry a whistle or a flashlight. Because if you were a woman the world is a dangerous place” (221). This is all common for women. We expect it and we put it into practice. It becomes instinctual. We guard our drinks, we stay close to friends, and we carry our keys between our fingers during quiet and dark walks, and we are always anticipating the ever-present possibility of danger. But it usually isn’t enough. It is a never-ending uphill battle, a surface level treatment to a skin-deep malady. 

All this pressure is something that is known intimately to all women and girls. This is seen during Jenny and Viv’s conversation about the unfortunate deaths of the women of Fell. It didn’t matter if the women were mothers, single, wives, or childless. They were still killed and mistreated. It didn’t matter if they were saints or sinners. And it never does because the violence against women should not be accepted but it is. This seen in the media treatment and slut shaming of Victoria Lee. This justification is unfounded and I like that James made it a point regarding her victims. Even though it is regarded as rare that serial killers change their modus operandi, it spoke to the overall idea that the appearance and qualities affect the chances women and girls have against becoming victims. Being chaste or sexually empowered is not a clear-cut kiss of death but the misogyny and mistreatment of women can be, especially when enacted with murderous intent.

The novel wouldn’t have so much zeal if Viv and Carly were men because men aren’t raised to conform and accept a society that expects the best of women and yet withstands the worst of men. The battle between Viv and Simon Hess wouldn’t have been as deep or as iconic if it wasn’t a battle of wits between such polar opposites. The misogyny of The Salesman was so undoubtedly consuming that he lived on the torture and melancholy of Betty. His killing of the succeeding women fed that hate and bloodlust. It wasn’t enough that Simon violated and killed them. He wanted to keep reliving it because he got off on it. 

Q: How are the concepts of female rage and empowerment explored in this novel if at all?

A: I think that the concept of female rage is definitely explored through James’ use of Betty. Viv and Carly eventually figure out that Betty is responsible for the banging and shutting off the lights at the Sun Down. The fact that Betty does so vehemently when The Traveling Salesman is at the Sun Down speaks volumes for Betty’s abhorrence. Simon Hess’ presences both physical and paranormal affect her so much that she knows no peace in those moments. And even though he is aware of it this, it only keeps drawing him to the motel. The motel is very much a trophy to him. Something he revisits because he needs to relive it. There is no other reason that a man who lives in Fell continuously stays at the motel when he is close enough to go home. And when just being at the motel wasn’t enough he went out and killed again.

But all this falls to pieces when Viv finds out his identity and starts stalking him. At this point, Viv starts to explore her own rage. She isn’t content enough to stand by and let the “proper” authorities handle it. After Viv is brushed off yet again and Tracey Waters dies she decides that she will handle it herself. Her confrontation with Hess at the climax of the story is filled with enough rage to power Viv’s stabbing of Hess. Viv stays and fights even though she had the option to try and run. She wants to end it once and for all: “…Betty screamed. And Viv pulled the knife from her sweatshirt, slid it from its holster, and sank it into Simon Hess’s chest” (239). James’ call to pair Betty’s scream with Viv sinking her knife into Hess came off to me, personally, as a war cry propelling an army forward to attack. This moment of shared rage speaks to the idea that all women in the book doubled for one another. Almost all the women felt fear and anger toward the death of his victims. Every time one died it was like an attack on them. To quote Alan Moore’s Rorschach: “attack on one is an attack on all of us.” In that moment, Viv killing Hess was like all the fallen women and Fell woman defending themselves from a predator. 

Q: Consider Alma and Marnie, and the relationships they formed with Viv and with each other. Why do you think they allowed themselves to become involved with Viv’s investigation?

A: Going back to the idea of doubling, I think that Marnie and Alma saw themselves in Viv. An idealist and headstrong version of the young women they once were. When Viv meets them they are accepting of their positions. They were older and already had their own experiences of being women.They knew how off putting and unfair things were. They knew that the way things were would continue to oppress them and keep things off kilter. They weighed the options and knew that Viv would probably be indicted and locked away. I think that helped them understand and see where Viv was coming from. Both women had doubted Viv and probably felt they owed her. Marnie says the following to Viv: “I’m all about survival. That’s how I work. Knowing about the girls getting killed in this town was a part of that survival. Following a killer around is not” (189). At the beginning, Alma and Marnie humored her and during certain moments they were pulled in and believed her. So when it finally turned out that Viv was right they wanted her not to get in trouble for doing the right thing as unethical as it was. Alma and Marnie wanted Viv to survive this ordeal. As I mentioned before the women in the book come off as a collective standing against Hess, his atrocities, and the misogyny. They did it because it was for all of them and something that needed to be righted. It brought balance to Fell and The Sun Down.

Moreover, it was a good read. it can be a slow burn but it was a worthwhile investment. 

My rating: 4 

Keywords: Spooky, kickass, timely

What did you think of The Sun Down Motel? Have you read any other novels by Simone St. James?

[almacayasso]

I enjoyed using tarot cards during this review. I didn’t draw cards like I would during a typical reading but I pulled cards out that matched the journey and circumstances for the characters. 

Regretting You Book Review

Hello fellow readers!

A few weeks ago I finished Lit Savant’s March book club pick, Regretting You by Colleen Hoover. I knew when I started this book that this was a romance story. But it is so much more than that. I have decided to try something new and will use three cards from my rider-waite smith tarot card deck for this review. If you have never read this story I suggest you stop reading right now. Spoiler Warning!

It’s a story about a mother and daughter, family, loss, grief, and the journey of moving away from the past and into the future. It’s about trying to pick up the pieces. Hoover’s novel is like a tarot spread: The tower, the hermit, and the fool. Destruction, loneliness, and new beginnings. All these stages are prevalent in the book.

The first character readers are introduced to is Morgan. She is just graduated high school and is having a night out with her younger sister, Jenny, boyfriend Chris, and her friend sister’s boyfriend, Jonah. It’s clear from the beginning that there is chemistry between Jonah and Morgan. They relate to each other on a deeper level than they do with their significant others. For instance: “sometimes when we’re alone, he looks at me in a way that makes me feel empty when he looks away. It’s a feeling I���ve never gotten when Chris looks at me” (11). Jonah makes Morgan feel like no one ever has including her boyfriend. It’s a feeling that is powerful and Morgan realizes she misses it when it’s gone. However, at the same time Morgan knows that ideally those are feelings that Chris should be inspiring. 

Morgan, willfully blind or not, will not act on this revelation because she will not go behind her sister’s back. Morgan states the following about her upbringing: …I’ve always felt a sense of responsibility for her since I’m older and our mother doesn’t regulate our activities in any way” (3). Morgan is like another mother to her sister. This is a position she naturally assumed because their actual mother wasn’t around. Morgan is wants Jenny to have someone to be the voice of reason even though they aren’t supervised. 

But Morgan doesn’t just feel that way about Jenny but Chris as well. During the party, Chris gets drunk and Morgan reeling from the news that she’s pregnant is not feeling festive at all. Jonah finds her and they talk. Then Morgan mentions the following: “It’s like my chest has been on a constant search for it’s missing piece, and Jonah is holding it in his fist” (11).  Feeling such intensity scares Morgan and she decides she needs space from Jonah. 

Chris comes back and eventually apologizes and shares the reason he loves Morgan: …you do things you don’t want to do to make life better for the people around you.” (12). Chris says that the fact doesn’t make Morgan boring but a hero” (12). Hoover’s addition of this is foreshadowing at its finest. Morgan is a hero albeit a traditional idealized version. She does sacrifice and does so wholeheartedly for most of her marriage to Chris. She fills in all the cracks in their home and lives.

Clara during present-day adds to Chris’s comment years later when she says that the first word she thinks of when thinking about her mother is predicable: “predicable is not something I wanted to hear. Because it’s everything I know I am and everything I feared I would grow up to be” (51). Morgan isn’t happy with the way things are. She makes mention of this many times in the second chapter. It’s her birthday and she feels isolated and rudderless. In her eyes, everyone has something going for them except her. During those two instances Hoover points out something that many mothers can all relate to. While we may not be the most exciting roles in the world we are reliable because of this predictability. We sacrifice because that is what mothers do but many times it is something that is taken for granted. Every time we give to others we put our wants and even needs on the back-burner for the good of everyone else. It is noble but draining.

When Morgan found out she was pregnant all those years ago  she decided that everything she did from that moment forward was to focus on her baby and Chris. For example: “…I became someone else. I guess that happens when you become a mother though. Your focus is no longer on yourself” (48).  But now that Clara is months away from graduating high school one of Morgan’s longest stages is at the end. And since Chris has died, she finally has to focus on herself. 

The Tower card is apparent as soon as the car accident takes place in the story. This accident turns Morgan, Clara, and Jonah’s lives upside down. The Tower card is all about upheaval. The card is pictured as a tower’s roof being struck by lighting, flames engulfing the structure, people falling down to the depths below. In a metaphorical sense all of these characters are in free fall, everything that they’ve known family, loyalty, and stability is gone. Both Chris and Jenny’s deaths and their adultery break any illusions Morgan had about Chris as a husband and all the years she dedicated herself to their marriage and her “predictable” role. After the accident Morgan says: “since the moment of the wreck, everything in my life has felt edged in sharp corners, and I’ve been tiptoeing around this world in the dark for the past month, trying not to injure myself” (139). The quotation sets the mood and tone of story Morgan is fragile and vulnerable. She is emotionally bruised and battered unable to pick up the pieces. The tower’s effect can have someone completely stripped and bared psychologically. Yet, The tower is also a card that signals a transition coming. This transition is painful and can be harrowing but it is necessary. 

The Hermit is all about thinking and solitude. It’s about finding answers within yourself. However, it isn’t that straight forward. This requires time and it can be isolating. As with every card in the Major Arcana there are two sides. For a good chunk of the story it’s a rough and lonely experience. These are things that every character is experiencing by the second part of the book. Clara is trying to reconcile losing her beloved father and trying to cope with each passing day while also not seeing eye to eye with her mother, Morgan. Morgan is no stranger to feeling alone and being stuck in her head but the loss of Chris helps her eventually see that stopped caring about herself. Jonah having come back to his hometown is left reeling when he discovers that Elijah is not his biological son. This moment of solitude and thinking takes him down a dark path and he almost ends up leaving town without Elijah. Clara in her own suffering helps him see that even though things aren’t ideal he needs to be there for his son. Even though Clara isn’t aware of everything this helps Jonah put things in perspective. This card is about finding answers inside yourself. Being open to the all the possibilities and not being willfully blind.It’s about having the answers but needing to open up yourself to the act of seeing them and finally making the decisions you need. 

The card is pictured as a graying man with a staff and lantern looking down thoughtfully alone. This speaks to the idea that sometimes we need to be alone with our thoughts. The man has the light with him he just needs to realize it. 

Morgan is guilty of being willfully blind. She, just like Jonah, is observant and has been aware of her unhappiness for a while but has gone with the flow for most of her life. This is apparent ever since chapter one. She knows that Jonah makes her feel much more than Chris ever did. But she shuts it out. Until she can’t anymore. Morgan says the following: “I know if I obsess over the past, that obsession will only serve to anchor me in a place I am more than ready to move on from” (336). And at this point all Morgan can do is try to move on and let the past go. Same for Clara and Jonah. 

The last card in the spread is The Fool. The fool upright represents a free spirit and beginnings. This card depicts a carefree man walking towards a cliff, sun in his face, flower, in his hand, dog yapping at his legs, heading off on a journey unfazed by what lays ahead. This easily describes all three characters by the book’s end. Clara has learned the whole truth and has accepted that her father isn’t without blame but was a good father to her. She is heading off to prom with Miller. Her and Morgan are no loner feuding and understand each other better. Morgan has made her peace with Chris’s unfaithfulness and has embraced her unrequited love for Jonah. They are both giving their love a try. Jonah loves Elijah and will not abandon him again. He decides to stay and moves on with his life with Morgan and Clara as his new family. All characters are embracing the unknown and unfazed by the risk this may bring. This is the fool in full effect. The act of starting a journey. The fool is innocent and just wants to experience the good in the world. They want to gain experience and are not afraid of what lies ahead. It’s a wonderful outlook that we all must have had in at least once in our lives. 

Overall, it was an emotional read. Our book club agreed that it wasn’t about what we initially believed. This book has layers. We understood the decisions Morgan made even though we didn’t completely agree with them. 

What did you think about the book?

Did you the usage of tarot cards in this review?

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments below.

My rating: 3.75 

Keywords: Emotional, grief, romantic

[almacayasso]

Thoughts on writing

Writing even during the drafting process is still an enjoyable albeit consuming endeavor for me. It's a solitary but sacred time. It's exhausting but warms my whole being. I can shut everything down and just think and feel. It's equal parts frustrating yet euphoric.

[almacayasso]

I cannot wait to read The Sun and her flowers.

milk and honey Book Review

Hello fellow readers,

I finished reading rupi kaur’s milk and honey around the same time as Regretting You. milk and honey was the companion read for Lit Savant’s March book club pick. Let me just say that even though kaur’s book of poems is only 204 pages long, it packs a whole lot of emotion, insight, and depth. 

The book is separated into 4 different parts: the hurting, the loving, the breaking, and the healing. Each of these parts has a collections of poems that go with the theme of each of the sections. I will focus on the overall meaning of the poem in each section. At this point, I will issue a spoiler warning so if you haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying this book then I suggest you stop reading.

In the section, titled, “the hurting” the poem I think stands out the most to me is ended with “the idea of shrinking is hereditary.” 

“trying to convince myself

i am allowed 

to take up space 

is like writing with

my left hand

when i was born

to use my right” (29).

I love this poem because the speaker obviously understands that being a woman and inhabiting these bodies are complex. Things that are instinctual like using our dominant hand and the beliefs, ideas, and mannerisms that are trusted upon us since infancy from a patriarchal society must be debunked and assessed. In order for us to break out of this, a reworking and rethinking of what’s expected of us must be done. Everything that was accepted as the default must be reconsidered. 

In “the loving” the poem that pulls me in is on page 79 ended with the word “you.”

“on days 

like this

I need you to

run your fingers

through my hair

and speak softly” (79). 

The speaker in this piece understands and wants someone to be there physically for support. This is the way they want to receive love. Love for them is simple and comforting. Love takes many forms and this form is one of the most endearing and fulfilling. Love is often represented throughout movies, books, and music like that one in a million sweep you off your feet and powerful vision of romance. But that’s not always what is love is. Love can be simple and uncomplicated and that can be just as filling.

In “the breaking” the excerpt that draws me in the most is the following: 

“…this is where you must 

understand the difference 

between want and need 

you may want that boy 

but certainly 

don’t need him” (86).

Can this be said louder for people in the back? It seems like such an obvious distinction but many times it doesn’t feel that way. Sometimes we stay with those who don’t deserve us. We want them for reasons that pale in comparison to things far more priceless, our dignity, respect, and safety. We fear the change. The sting of letting go even though you’re already in free fall. 

Which brings me the final section, “the healing” this part of the book was my favorite and because of that I picked two quotations instead of one. The first must ring true for many readers:

“who tricked you 

into believing 

another person

was meant to complete you

when the most they can do is complement” (154).

Believing that people we fall in love with are meant to make us whole is something that is idealized in Western culture. This is especially true when it comes to Hollywood romance movies and in romance novels. The idea of meeting your “better half” and having everything completed and figured out is something that is advertised and packaged for our viewing pleasure since our childhood. This is apparent in Disney movies. Cinderella leaves behind her oppressive family and marries her Prince, Snow White is woken up and whisked away to a better life with her Prince, and Rapunzel is freed from her tower and returned to her family and spends the rest of her life with her love. All these stories are renditions on the idea that meeting our loves is the step to starting the rest of our lives. 

But it isn’t just about meeting our loves. It is also about working on ourselves and loving ourselves. This is just as necessary. We shouldn’t depend on our loves saving us. We have to save ourselves. Our partners don’t complete us. They supplement our existence.

The second citation starts:

“our backs

tell stories

no books have

the spine to

carry” (171).

It speaks to a big topic in kaur’s poems, the history of our women. All the stories and events they have lived through. They can be written down, spoken, and shared. They can bring insight and tears to our eyes about the strength it took to endure. Yet the power of those collected moments cannot be compared to the grit, nerve, and determination it took to keep moving forward through their lives. The generations of women and girls that lived through all those times and their journeys will continue to be gathered in books but it will all pale in comparison to their actual experiences. Those experiences are carried on their backs supported by iron spines. No books can carry that trauma equally. 

If you like poems or are have yet to read poetry this is a good first step. The poems are on the short side and say a lot without being long. The themes are timely and relatable. 

My rating: 4 

Keywords: Deep, emotional, and insightful.

What did you think of milk and honey?

[almacayasso]

It was a slow burn but about halfway through it was a good read. 

The Other Mrs. Book Review

Hello fellow readers,

After countless migraines and all the dragging days because of social distancing, I have finally finished Mary Kubica’s The Other Mrs. It’s been a trek in more ways than one. But overall I think it was worth it. From here on out, I will be mentioning some spoilers so if you haven’t read this yet, I’d stop reading now.

At the beginning of the story, Kubica introduces readers to Sadie and her family as well as the house they are moving into. I mention the house because of the way Kubica presents passages about and moments about it. It’s almost like the home is a character. I’m not sure if that was on purpose but that’s the way I received it. Either way, readers get the feeling that Sadie is not happy with this change in location. Sadie is reluctant to even step into this new home. She states the following: “ there’s something off about the house. Something that nags at me, makes me feel uneasy, though I don’t know what it is that makes me feel this way” (9). Sadie obviously feels a sense of foreboding and even though this is just the beginning of her feelings it is something that is constantly brought up again and again. And even though she knows she feels an ambivalence towards the house she cannot pinpoint why. Sadie is both intune and unaware of her emotions. She is aware of her feelings but also out of touch. This contradiction and others that follow lay the groundwork for making Sadie, the protagonist a flawed, complicated, and definitely unreliable. But because she is so vulnerable and honest about her confusion and hangups she’s likable. The first-person point of view for most of the story has readers become close and involved in all the controversy and drama that ensues adding to the intimacy.

The next lines on this first page are quite telling about the rest of the novel: “on the surface, it’s perfectly idyllic…on the surface there’s nothing not to like. But I know better than to take things at face value” (9). This structure is something that Sadie recognizes as outwardly charming and ideal but she rebukes it. She believes that even though things may seem great they may very well not be. That if you look deeper there is usually something off. Readers may see this as Sadie being negative and even ungrateful. Inheriting a new home when things have gone south and you need a way out is ideal, especially given the circumstances. And Will mentions this opportunity as a “new start” one that he and Sadie’s family desperately need. But Sadie isn’t buying it. And by the end of the book, readers see that Will like the house’s facade isn’t something we’re not buying either.

Overall the way conflict and new information are spread out throughout the book is great. There are many nooks and crannies that hold new information. But Kubica plays it close to the chest. There are layers to the truth and they are presented sparingly. I appreciated that but at the same time, it did make for long and drawn out moments that were tedious. I experienced moments when I considered dropping the book and walking away. However, I pushed myself for a few reasons. The first was that even though things slowed down I was invested. I wanted to know what the heck was going on. Personally, I am one of those readers that want to figure out what is going on as I read. I love thrillers and figuring puzzles so that alone pushed me to keep going. The second is that given the quarantine and covid19 reading has been harder to accomplish. My mind has been spinning and my anxiety has been higher than usual so I blame my apathy on the current state of things. The third is that I was have read other novels by Kubica: The Good Girl, Pretty Baby, and Don’t You Cry. TOM would be my fourth. I decided why not finish it. I might as well. 

Truth be told, the book was most interesting when I had about 100 pages left. The moment that Sadie finds Imogen in the cemetery and she reveals what she did to Alice caused me to not want to stop reading. This area of the story is the most suspenseful and engrossing. There is so much information dumped on you that you are overloaded and barely have time to recover before another shoe drops. Like Sadie, you are flabbergasted and left scratching your head. The fact that Sadie is ill to the extent of having DID was handled well. Kubica took one of the most common reasons that an unreliable character is undependable (because they’re “crazy”) and handled it differently. Sadie was unstable but being manipulated and gaslighted by her narcissistic husband. The Camille and Mouse perspectives were not separate people but all parts of one person, Sadie. Will may or may not be an adulterer but he is an ass that uses his wife to do his sadistic bidding. 

Another thing I appreciated was that Kubica understood the extent that an abusive relationship leaves a person who finally discovers the truth reeling. Sadie struggles with the unmasking of Will’s true behavior and intent for her. All those moments that she felt grateful for his “support”, “love”, and “affirmation”, has been a lie. A practiced and uncanny representation of what the “ideal” husband is like day in and day out. Will got everything he ever wanted from Sadie, the protection and the different alter to satisfy him sexually. Yet he isn’t happy and is annoyed by the sudden issues arising from his decisions. Take the following for example: “…she’s desperate now, thinking I’ll do her bidding for her as I always do. But not this time” (314). Will feels like he is being used by Sadie and he’s tired of it. According to Will, he is the victim. He is miserable because Sadie is his burden to manage. This empowers and infuriates him all at once. Will like Sadie is a contradiction. He wants all the rewards and benefits but none of the work or responsibility. He believes he is above it all. In his mind only he matters. Not all the women he’s used and deemed unworthy of life and second thought. Will is both “the puppet master” and the “downtrodden.” In his mind, he is the hero of the story. And just like the house at the beginning, on the surface and to everyone around him besides those killed Will was charming, helpful, and supportive until he wasn’t. 

When Sadie finally kills Will it isn’t because she was manipulated but because she finally fought for herself. The addition of Imogen, her antagonist,  as Sadie’s protector was the icing on the cake. I loved it!

What did you think of The Other Mrs.? Was it the best Kubica has published? if not, then which was?

My rating: 3.75

Keywords: Puzzling, off-kilter, mental illness

[almacayasso]

The first review I ever did for the Lit savant bookclub! This was a great read to end 2019 on. Considering everything going on, I wish we all were back to that calm state of mind. Stay safe fellow readers!

The Wives Book Review

SPOILERS AHEAD!

My first thought upon finishing this book was “Wow this book was fucking crazy!” (in the best way possible Thursday). The blurb on the book mentions a straight forward concept: a wife is in a polygamist marriage but soon things are not so simple and drama ensues causing the wife to doubt her husband. This book is so much more than that. There were so many moments I could recount but the things I enjoyed the most were the pacing and anticipation since page one. 

“He comes over on Thursday every week. That’s my day. I’m Thursday.” 

Immediately the readers are told two things. One, that “He” only comes on Thursdays and second, that the narrator identifies as Thursday. These two details accomplish two things. The readers or at least I, believe the narrator, sympathizes with her and gets the feeling this is something that gets her through the week and she takes it seriously. Throughout the rest of the chapter, Thursday explains her views on her marriage and readers learn that even though Thursday has a rough time not putting on a show. 

“…I am queen of presentation, after all. Everything is just right, the way he likes it, and thus, the way I like it. It’s not that I don’t have a personality; it’s just that everything I am is reserved for him. As it should be.”

Readers get it. Thursday lives to please Seth. It is a rough start. The narrator stakes her life on this man but does so without apology. I know some readers can find this chapter cringy but that’s how secrets can be. They can be shameful and things that bring shame can be difficult to witness. This makes us, the readers feel like we’re confidants. We know something she refuses to share with her best friend. This connection helps lead to a great payout climax wise.

As the story goes on Thursday starts to become visibly disturbed by all that she keeps discovering. Seth starts to look dubious and like a friend we start to worry and cheer on Thursday’s rebelling of her circumstances. This behavior unlike what she showed in chapter one comes off as her finally standing up for herself and it adds to the anticipation and our ideas of what could Seth be possibly up to.

“It takes a minute for things to sink in: the first that today is not Thursday; the second that, Seth is not smiling; and the third-there is a bandage on the knuckles of his right hand. I lick my lips. my brain working frantically. He knows!”

One of the best scenes filled with tense and action is when Thursday comes home to find Seth in her condo clearly livid. The tension is overwhelming and Thursday fears that Seth knows he’s been caught. I felt like jumping out of my skin and I literally paused after the bandaged hand line to make eye contact with my fiancee’ to gasp “He knows!” to his valid bewilderment. The book was a thrilling ride that makes you grip the book and read uninterrupted until the very end.

“Her laughter hurts my ears. I cover them with my palms, pressing hard, trying to block out the sound…I’m shaking when I rear back, slamming my head against Regina’s nose. The force slams my jaw together. I bite through my bottom lip and feel the shards of a broken tooth…I am helping. I’m helping myself.”

Thursday experiences another violent moment at the end and it’s horribly violent but satisfying. She lashes out on Regina who refuses to admit any responsibility.  Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out it switches it up. These plot twists aren’t cliches either. Thankfully by the end, I was satisfied with the way things turned out. 

Our rating: 4.3 stars (5 stars means perfection not possible)

Keywords: devious, brilliant, & jolting

[almacayasso]

I wrote this about over a week ago. I enjoyed my first book by Colleen Hoover. Have you ever read a book by Hoover? If so, which is your favorite? 

Verity Book Review

Hello fellow readers!

I just finished Colleen Hoover’s Verity! Before starting it I heard such great things about it and I thought I should probably just take the plunge. It didn’t disappoint. If you are not interested in spoilers, please stop reading.

The book’s protagonist is called Lowen Ashleigh. She’s a small-time thriller writer. She doesn’t want fame and or to make it big like many writers aim to. She prefers a quiet life and avoids being the center of attention. This is the reason she doesn’t do book tours or communicate on social media. She’s a loner and an introvert. She recently lost her mother and needs to get back on her feet. This leads Lowen to accept an in-person interview. This prospective job offer is something she needs, so she goes.

The book begins at this point. Lowen is on her way to the building when she witnesses an awful accident. This leads her to be comforted by unknowingly the person who she’s supposed to be meeting. This chance meeting had an endearing effect on both Lowen and Verity’s husband, Jeremy. Lowen gets the job offer and she agrees to go to the Crawford house to collect notes and create outlines for the next three books. Lowen’s agent, Cory, advises her to get in and out because of the tragedies the Crawford’s have recently gone through. Lowen is offended by Cory’s insinuations.

One of the greatest things about this book is when Lowen discovers Verity’s autobiography. Just like that she’s drawn to this strange world inhabited by the Crawfords. Lowen becomes enchanted and is seemingly unable to break away from the text. At first, Lowen dismisses it as nothing more than insight into the writer she’s trying to emulate: “I need to see how Verity’s mind works to understand her as a writer” (60). It’s a reasonable point, one that becomes moot the moment Lowen keeps diving deeper. She does this regardless of all the private moments she becomes privy to. 

Lowen not only tries to understand and get into Verity’s head but begins to get closer and more infatuated by her husband: “…it’s not the worst thing. Being forced to step into Verity’s shoes and visualize Jeremy for the next twenty-four months as I write” (99). Earlier in the book Jeremy claims that he wasn’t interested in reading Verity’s books because he didn’t want to get in her head. This is exactly what Lowen starts to do. She is literally reading about this woman’s deep and confessional moments and it is changing her. And just like what Lowen says: “things lurking around inside the mind can be just as dangerous as tangible threats” (150). In this book, the real threats are the ones inside the character’s minds specifically Lowen, Verity, and Jeremy. At this time, Lowen has descended into icy depths the slippery slope has plunged her in and she doesn’t even realize it.

Lowen tries many times to “stop” but she always ends up back with the manuscript in her hands. She keeps reading, becoming more and more disturbed and more involved in Jeremy’s relationship with his invalid wife, Verity. Hoover creates two different versions of Verity in this book, there’s the Verity that Lowen first meets when she arrives under the guise of Laura Chase: “Verity’s eyes are vacant, uninterested in her surroundings. She’s unaware of the nurse. Unaware of me” (51).  This Verity is vulnerable, childlike, and innocent. In this form, Verity is a far cry from the Verity contained in her So Be It manuscript. Lowen is visibly staggered by how far Verity has fallen from the successful and published author known to the world: “I try to cover the chills that have appeared on my arms” (52). Lowen is uncomfortable by Verity’s helplessness and mentions that she wouldn’t want to be in her position. She pities her, Jeremy, and Crew.

The other Verity is the exact opposite of the former. She is vivacious, proud, and emotional. The readers learn early on that even though she is over the moon for her partner, Jeremy, she has her limitations. Those limitations are what keep the action going in this story within the story. Verity is wildly jealous, irrational, and neurotic. All of these traits tied to the other facets of her personality mentioned earlier, create an explosive person with maladaptive tendencies. Eventually, these tendencies become impulsions that Verity cannot and does not want to keep in check. One of the biggest sections in So Be It is the moment Verity narrates her first pregnancy. In just this area alone Verity reveals her controversial thoughts on Jeremy’s love for their unborn babies: “being forced to love the one thing Jeremy loved more than me…I was suddenly not okay with being the third most important thing in Jeremy’s life” (107). This Verity openly speaks about her she feels and stands by it. In this instance, she is not okay with being a mother. The news that she’s having twins is received negatively. Up until here, Verity is happy with it being just her and Jeremy. The fact that they conceived on the day of their engagement puts a damper on Verity’s plans. 

Verity’s relationship with Jeremy according to her story is toxic, a charade, and codependent. She’s obsessed with Jeremy and is not honest about her real hangups about motherhood. When the twins are born, this obsession only grows. Verity feels threatened by her children and Jeremy’s unconditional love for them. She attempts to cause miscarriages all because she wants to drop the dead weight she views her daughters as. The violence doesn’t stop there either. It gets worse. Lowen denounces and starts to hate Verity for her resentment and murderous actions. Ultimately, Lowen’s ability to read and finish this book is what compels her to keep getting closer to Jeremy. Her coveting of Jeremy and eventual attainment make her a mirror image of Verity. This doubling is apparent from the beginning until Lowen’s transformation is complete at the end.

Hoover’s decision to include the unpublished manuscript of Verity’s So Be It, is great. She was able to give a voice to a character that doesn’t utter a word until the end of the book. Hoover also employs good use of pacing throughout the book. She doesn’t use jump scares but suspense and doubt as tools to drive Lowen’s anxiety and paranoia. Hoover’s decision to leave such a big question as a cliffhanger is awesome and I tend to respect ambiguous endings. We as readers will never completely know which was the real Verity. But that is beside the point because Jeremy has found another woman to take her place and Lowen is fine with how things turned out.

Rating: 4 stars

Keywords: Shocking, ambiguous, addictive

P.S. This book gave me V.C. Andrews vibes specifically of Flowers in the Attic variety. Creepy house, check. Unhinged woman fallen from grace, check. Secrets and family drama, yup. 

What did you think of Verity?

[almacayasso]

Just a review I wrote a few days ago. Did you enjoy Well Met? 

Well Met Book Review

Hello fellow readers,

I just finished Well Met by Jen Deluca this morning and thought to myself that whenever all this Covid-19 madness is over (hopefully sooner rather than later) I will make it to a local Renaissance Faire whenever possible. I hope you all are doing well and have found yourself comforted by good reads. The following is an honest account of my opinions on this novel.

The story centers around Emily’s relocation to Willow Creek, Maryland, a small town that’s close-knit and not at all what she’s used to. Emily’s plans this Summer are to assist her recovering sister, April her daughter, Caitlin. Emily accepts her duties wholeheartedly and knows that all that she currently has is right in front of her. She’s serious need of a life do-over and finds the prospect of throwing herself into these plans as a welcome escape. But when these plans involve her participating in the small town’s annual Renaissance Faire she’s game to play along if it means making her sister and niece’s lives easier. What Emily doesn’t know is that this is exactly what she needed in more ways than one.

This book was fun and whimsical. The Renaissance Faire adds plenty to the plot and the characters. Before reading this book I had a vague idea of what a ren faire was probably like but the book and the visuals that it provided gives readers a peek into what that community is like. Deluca describes the setting as “…an Elizabethan village…brightly colored flags hung from poles at certain intervals along the lane…there was activity everywhere” (100). It’s a bustling polychromatic event that people took seriously. But above all, it is a chance to be someone else and have fun with it. As a person who enjoys Halloween and the prospect of glamour (the act of changing one’s outward appearances), it was just the right amount of lighthearted and exciting. This is best seen in Simon’s transformation to Captian Blackthorne: “he’d slid into this new identity like a second skin and he wore it now with ease” (98). The Blackthorne character was the time that Simon uses to enact and bring back what his brother, Sean, brought to his life. The swagger that Sean wanted to Simon to develop was something that Simon jettisoned away and pulls out every summer in the form of his black leather pirate costume. This alter ego is reserved for this occasion. 

What turned me off with the book was the constant miscommunication between Emily and Simon. Their “bantering” made me uncomfortable at times because frankly, he came off as a bitter and angry man who treated Emily like a punching bag. The fact that everyone around him asked Emily to give him a chance verbally or by excusing his behavior did not help. Simo would make snide and unnecessary comments. You know the mean behavior little boys would quote-unquote make because they liked you? That’s what this comes off like. Like when Emily says she is still keeping the name Emma he asks the following: “are you taking this seriously at all?” (55). I get that Sean left the faire behind and that Simon is honoring his memory. And that it’s his brother’s legacy. But he continuously treas Emily like an enemy. She’s practically a stranger and he’s just out of line.

 I understand that witty banter can make for some cute moments and build tension between characters but this didn’t come off this way. The fact that both Emily/Emma were dealing with both his alter egos added to her feelings of insecurity and confusion. It was more of a reason that his behavior was problematic.

I did, however, enjoying the moments when Simon/Captian Blackthorne showed Emma just how sweet and flirty he could be like when he commences the wooing, At the start of the book, Emily is a woman very much looking to belong somewhere and by the end, she has found and built a life for herself. She has a job, a home, a family she’s grown closer to, and a partner that is willing to prioritize her. It ends with an impending marriage and new beginnings so it’s a sweet ending with no loose ends. 

My rating: 2.75

Keywords: Whimsical, Artsy, Shakespearean 

What did you think of Well Met?

[almacayasso]

Day six

My last official day of work was March 13th. It feels like so long ago and it’s only been eight days. I am home with family and trying to keep a routine going. Wake up, coffee, breakfast, shower, read from my extensive tbr, homework with my daughter, and veg out with my partner. During calmer times I blog and work on my bookstagram. Every now and then I check on the news. When that makes me anxious I try to reach out to friends and family. It is one of the only things we can do. If anyone wants to talk I’m here. Let’s try to keep each other sane.

[almacayasso]

This is a great book to read if you want passionate and inspiring words to think about long after finishing.

Know my name Book Review

Hello fellow readers!

Just this past weekend I finished Chanel Miller’s Know my Name, a memoir from the perspective of Emily Doe and her experience of the highly publicized 2015 assault that occurred to her on California’s Stanford University Campus. 

I personally remember reading about the case when at work at a CUNY campus and feeling horrified by the details and lack thereof. I remember the lack of identity and empathy that Emily Doe received from a select audience and the strange headlines regarding the defendant. But I digress.

This book was another perspective that adds to the me too conversation. It was refreshing, beautifully eloquent, and many things left myself tearing up in public on my commute. It is a visceral experience that is best digested. I personally savored it in chunks because it was intense and a lot to process. 

One of the most endearing and relatable things about the book is Miller wanting to protect those closest to her from the fallout. She states that she “…wanted to preserve their peace” (45). She mentions the story of her parents doing their best to not ruin Christmas for her and her sister. Even though they knew what really happened to the cat. And just like her parents, she compartmentalized moments and breakdowns. She would: “do what I had always done: detach, keep going” (44). But much like those jars that she would hide away in her metaphorical basement, they would come back. They would materialize out of thin air and to her dismay she would start the journey again, deep down. 

Miller alludes to her being like one of those departed students from the tracks. She writes: “so on that January morning in 2015…was like being read a letter…it was not about a death on the tracks …this time, it was my name” (44). I personally remember being that far away from myself. I felt both everything and nothing. And that trauma is hard to describe to others. Miller did so tremendously. It is poignant. And that keenness is sharp and quick to the cut. Miller’s words are as powerful as any weapon but delivered with the soft vulnerability.

Rape, trauma, and the experience of being a victim are just a shortlist of the things that Miller touches on. Moreover, she also highlights the way society and education connect to mental illness. The complex way that things get put on hold and how we as human beings are not supposed to drop the ball even when we’re suffering. This is mentioned as one of the ways that Miller developed her coping mechanism of dissociating from the painful realities of the world: “…we settled for perpetual numbness.” (43). The content states the way Miller and her classmates were urged and encouraged to move on with their lives regardless of the fact that many of their acquaintances and friends were killing themselves. One day they were there, the next gone. No explanation or further harping of the “ugly truth.” 

This “perpetual numbness” echoed the idea that even though lives were being lost and morale was low students shouldn’t and eventually couldn’t run the risk of pausing. To be pause meant to stop, to stop meant, to lose momentum. This loss of momentum was precious and because you were going against the grain of what was expected of you. It meant there must be something wrong with you. Miller continues: “to be unstable meant to fall behind” (42). This is something that happens to many people but sometimes these moments can wreak havoc on our lives. But we are humans and we are not perfect. Yet it is expected frequently. And the shame that accompanies our failure to meet such expectations are searing. 

Before I get even more ahead of myself, the book was overall, a passionate and poignant account of a woman who lost her voice and identity but found that she always had it. Regardless, of all the smoke and mirrors those determined to tear her down had set up. Approaching the end of her book I’m struck by the following words: “hold up your head when the tears come, when you are mocked, insulted, questioned, threatened, when they tell you you are nothing…” (328). These words will comfort those that have ever been dismissed or sneered at. This empathy can provide guidance and kindness to those who need it.

Rating: 4.25

Keywords: Passionate, poignant, and emotionally wrenching.

[almacayasso]

Another review I wrote a few days ago. Any good romance reads you think I should consider?

Get a Life, Chloe Brown Book Review

Hello fellow readers!

For February’s Galentine’s Day themed Lit Savant book club meeting we read and discussed Talia Hibbert’s Get a Life, Chloe Brown. When F. one of our members pulled this gem out I didn’t expect to be so enchanted by it. And it is these types of books that keep reading fun!

I’ve read romance novels before especially erotica but not something like this. What Hibbert did with this first installment in the Brown series is have a Black plus size British protagonist that is chronically ill and not the typical depiction of women in a romance novel. Having these things as a part of the central character’s identity is great and important for representation. And one of the reasons I was drawn to the book. The following are a couple of things I loved in the novel as a whole.

The first is, of course, the chemistry between Chloe and Red. As soon as both characters are in the same room it is apparent that they affect each other whether they like it or not: “the sound scrambled his mind, her crisp accent reminding him of people and places he’d rather forget.” (12).  With just this one line it’s clear that Red has baggage, a past, and a connection to Chloe. A connection he isn’t necessarily interested in entertaining at the present moment but one all the same. 

Chloe is also just as affected by Red as he is of her: “…like everything else about him, was too much for her to handle. Chloe didn’t do well around people like him; confident people, beautiful people, those who smiled easily and were liked by everyone and felt comfortable in their own skin” (27). Just from these lines, it’s obvious that Chloe is complicated and has her own baggage, past, and connection to Red. Like Red, Chloe believes that they are different perhaps too different from one another. They both make comments about differences in class, privilege, and personalities.

From the beginning, readers get the idea that Red is a nice guy. He’s a superintendent and he finds himself in social situations just because he doesn’t want to hurt the feelings of others. But on the other hand, readers experience just how sarcastic and biting he can be when infuriated by Chloe: “nice to see you’re still sweetness and light…teach those manners at finishing school, do they?” (15). This is when both Red and Chloe collide into one another in the hall and they both misunderstand one another. However, it does show that even though Red can be a sweet polite man he has teeth. And even though Chloe spends a lot of time denying their attraction to one another she likes that about him and vice versa. 

The way the novel’s set up is done very well. Two characters that are so different and clearly know it, realize that they cannot stand one another. This leads to some very fun and titillating banter between the two. And that is another one of the great things about this book. It’s fun, light-hearted, and touching through the use of dialogue: “…are you going to help me or not? You do know how to charm a fella.” (46). Chloe impulsively decides to climb a tree to rescue a cat when she realizes she’s stuck. Red, of course, witnesses the whole debacle to Chloe’s chagrin. And even though Red finds Chloe abrasive he is drawn to her and gives everything she dishes out right back to her.

The tension between these two characters builds and builds until they finally get intimate. And to say they have sparks is an understatement. The sex scenes are passionate and will guarantee to have you paranoid on your commute. These moments are well written and steamy: “…and then it was gone, replaced by tendrils of pure pleasure that coiled around her limbs, tightening with each lazy lick” (215). Hibbert obviously knows what’s she doing. And it all goes well with the rest of the book. There are no awkward sexual moments in this book!

This all makes for an enjoyable and cute read. There were plenty of moments that I had to stop reading just to admire the way the story was making me feel. I felt enamored by it. It reminded me of what I love about a good romance story. Just like falling in love for the first time it’s fun, new, and exciting. One of my most favorite lines is when Chloe explains to Red why she watched him paint: “ you seem so vital. It was addictive. It felt like coming to life” (206). All good books feel like this. They are addictive to read. They make you feel like you too are coming to life.

Ever since reading this book, I realized that I had been denying myself good romance novel reads and have decided to read them more. They are just as every bit as important as a good nail-biting thriller and an evocative horror novel. I suggest you devour this book but you’ll be sad when it’s over!

My rating: 4.25 

Keywords: Entertaining, fiery, and light-hearted.

P.S. Feel free to let me know of any hidden gems you’ve had the pleasure of reading.

[almacayasso]

Just something I wrote on You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. Let me know if there’s a book you think I should review and why.

You Are Not Alone Book Review

Hello fellow readers!

This time I am reviewing You Are Not Alone by the duo, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. These are the authors behind The Wife Between Us and Anonymous Girl for those of you who are not aware. If I were to rank these against its predecessors it would rank second place with AG at third and TWBU in first place. Like the other ones before it, YANA is a character study centered on female friendships.

Shay Miller is not feeling her best lately. She’s lost her job due to downsizing, is in love with her male roommate who has a girlfriend, her roommate’s girlfriend wants her to move out, and on top of all of this, she’s lonely. Shay is cognizant of her troubles but aims to do better: “it’s like I’m caught in a slow spiral. I’m fighting as hard as I can to turn things around” (5). It’s important to note that even though Shay is down she’s certainly not out. This may be one of the facets of her personality that helps her out later on in the story. 

One of my favorite things of this book, in particular, is the mirroring and doubling between characters specifically the other characters that Shay ends up identifying with. At the beginning of the story, when Shay first steps onto that platform having just missed the train, she spots two people. The first is the man with the backpack. Shay mentions the following: “when someone conjures unease in you, there are usually good reasons behind it” (6). Shay feels unease and is suspicious of the man who just “missed” the train. She irrationally starts to imagine being able to get away from the man if she ends up needing to. The man doesn’t actually do anything to Shay aside from look at her. This moment speaks to the idea that looks can be deceiving. 

The man is described as “with a goatee and back lingering on a deserted platform.” Just this alone makes Shay mistrust him. Shay does not identify with this man and it shows. She cannot at this point, get past this barrier. The man is seen as the other. He is part of the outgroup. This type of thinking ends up getting Shay in trouble in countless ways but more on that later.

The second person Shay finds on the platform is at first an unnamed woman. This woman is described as “in a green dress with white polka dots stands farther down on the platform, in the opposite direction of the man. She’s partially camouflaged by the shadow of a large support beam” (6). There’s a decent amount to unpack in just these two sentences especially when comparing Shay to the mystery woman. The woman is dressed up in a sunny dress. Shay is wearing shorts and a shirt in casual attire befitting a Sunday morning. The woman is down the platform standing away from Shay faceless and at opposite ends in more ways than one. The fact that the woman is obscured by a pillar only adds to her intrigue. The woman is shrouded in darkness. This speaks to the idea that the woman is perhaps also not a good place mentally. And even though she’s dressed up there’s a bleakness in this visual. When this woman is compared to the nameless man opposite her she stands out and elicits the opposite response from Shay. She, like Shay, seems all alone, even though there are people a few hundred feet away from her. 

For a couple of minutes, Shay draws security from the woman’s presence. Then Shay says the following: “the woman glances my way…she’s about my height-five foot ten-and age, …her hair is shorter and lighter than mine. Her face is pleasant..” (6).  Clearly, both of these women share many physical features and Shay is aware of it. These similarities are brought up again throughout the book. but the most disturbing instance is when the Moore sisters realize the resemblance and push Shay to change. 

 The unnamed woman is called Amanda Evinger and she like Shay is a loner and very much a pawn to The Moore Sisters. In the first few chapters from Jane and Cassandra’s perspectives, the readers see how this two groom and test the women who ultimately become part of their group. Amanda is no different. After they discovered that Amanda is just what they wanted and find her use they discover after the murder that Amanda has too much morality and when she starts to break away and defy them that’s when things take a turn for the worst.

Shay senses nothing is off when she meets Cassandra and Jane at Amanda’s memorial service. She is enchanted by them and feels drawn to them. When seeing Cassandra she thinks to herself: “…she stands out. It isn’t simply that she’s beautiful. She radiates something indefinable, an aura that feels magnetic…she seems like she inhabits a different world (32). Shay does seem like she catches one real thing about Cassandra she does inhabit a different world one where she tries to control and manipulate those around her for the benefit of her and her sister Jane. But this is mostly all lost on Shay. She’s blinded by the demeanor and charisma of Cassandra. Jane is no different: “ …they share… the same magnetic quality” (35). The magnetism both these women exude and the way they are presented to those around them hide their true dubious and predatory natures. They don’t set off warning bells like the man on the platform but Shay makes the mistake of falling for their charade. The old adage is sometimes true appearances can, in fact, be deceiving.

As I mentioned before Shay and Amanda share more than just physical attributes, they both challenge the sisters after going along with their plans and expectations. They also both have that underdog facet to their personalities. They go against the grain however grueling and messy it ends up getting. Which is saying something after all the crap they put up with prior to their breaking away. My point is that because of these blatant parallels it’s obvious that Hendricks and Pekkanen drew from gothic literature tropes. 

The fact that Shay ends up becoming Amanda physically, mentally, emotionally, and ends up living in her old apartment is a calling to Freud’s definition of the uncanny. Freud states the following: “that class of the frightening which leads back to something long known to us, once very familiar.” When this is applied to the idea of doubles (Shay & Amanda) then the unsettling degree increases. Both of these women didn’t know each other at all. They are strangers and barely acknowledge the other’s existence for more than two minutes. This is probably why when Jane notices the physical resemblance between the two Shay says: “the oddest sensation-something akin to deja vu-creeps over me as I stand there, twisting my head from side to side…I remind myself of someone, but I can’t pinpoint who”(146). This feeling bothers her but she can’t remember what was once familiar to her, Amanda’s kind face. Even though Shay didn’t know her at all the kinship she felt for her and her suicide drives her to fixate on her memory and her life. Things that are unknown and familiar to her. 

Just take the setting for the novel an overpopulated and hectic New York City near the Murray Hill neighborhood. All the people, shops, late nights, and frenetic energy does nothing to quell the loneliness both Amanda and Shay feel especially after their falling out with the Moore sisters and their group. This notes the idea of isolation prominent in gothic lit. This isolation leads to the disturbances that both Shay and Amanda state during their more trying days. Both women end up more alone at this point then they were at the beginning. But even their isolation is entirely complete. The sisters are watching from a distance so they are never completely alone.

So even though YANA is not my favorite of the three books it is a close second. As a lover of gothic literature and character-driven books it’s only natural I do. What were your favorite books from this popular duo?

My rating: 4

Keywords: Female friendships, nefarious, gaslighting, isolation

[almacayasso]

Book Reviews Galore!

Hello fellow readers!

I have finally found my rhythm! For the past two weeks, I have written two reviews each week.  I am happy with this progress. The only thing I want to add is to not lose my reading momentum. Aside from this, I am glad that I have pushed myself and have been feeling creative enough to keep going. Sometimes inspiration strikes and you got to follow it’s call.

Check out my @litsavantbookclub Tumblr for a look at our reviews and other content. Our IG is @litsavant 

[almacayasso]

A new week, new start

Feeling newly inspired is a wonderful thing. I am hopeful that this coming year will be fruitful. Setting intentions yesterday evening was a great start to the week. How has your week started out?

[almacayasso]

My current goal

is to make it to the next break. Mid-winter recess is a couple of weeks away and that is what will get me through the upcoming weekdays. I know I’m not the only individual who relates to this. Right?

[almacayasso]

I started a book club with my friends.

In October I started the LitSavant bookclub with two friends. I was feeling quite bored and lonely and was encouraged to see my friends more. I had always considered the idea of starting a book club because I love reading and I love spending time with others who have the same zeal for cracking open a book. I’ll discuss my read with anyone willing to listen. But it is not as satisfying as talking about it with likeminded individuals. The feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself and not feeling quite so alone is a great thing. 

So I took a chance and messaged one of the biggest readers I know, F, and asked if she was interested. And as expected she loved the idea. So we started talking about what we could do and how we can work it all out. This lasted a few days with us infectiously talking about our current reading and our overall enthusiasm for the idea. Finally, we started considering if we knew anyone else who could be involved. 

That is when I messaged my friend, I. She was interested. We never thought that it would be something to bring us closer. In my mind, a club centered on a shared interest would be fun and a new way to focus on my wants and needs. But it has become so much more than that. I love spending time reading the same book as these other members and then coming together in a constructive and enthusiastic manner to talk about it. We don’t always see things the same way but it doesn’t matter. We are all different people who live their lives as they see fit. We do our reading the way we prefer it (i.e. reading multiple books at once or one at a time) but still take it seriously. We have our own families, careers, and our day to day routines to contend with but we try our best to meet each month to bond and gab. We’re scholarly patrons of literature. And we really look forward to meeting each month. I’m glad we found each other.

P.S. follow our book club page @litsavantbookclub for more info

[almacayasso]

How are things with photography?

They’re going well. I’m always trying to practice whenever I travel or do something that I would like to capture in photos. It’s a learning process.