Reflections: A Celebration Of Strange Symmetry by Kerby Rosanes

(Thank you to Plume for my copy of this book!)

How beautiful is this coloring book? I mean, C'mon...that cover alone makes you want to pick up this book and flip through it and see what's inside.  Am I right? Then again, it's Kerby Rosanes' book, so yeah, it's a must-buy. 

Adult coloring books are becoming my jam, the more time I spend with Rosanes' works. His illustrations are just so intricately detailed and chock full of vivid imagery - you can't help but be awed by his talent. I mean it, the pages just shine with his creativity and it is amazing. 

I always have fun trying to figure out which colors to use when coloring in these books. And, I enjoy taking my time working on each page - definitely a great way for me to put my focus onto something creative. Especially lately when my anxiety was creeping up on me, I would grab his new book, Reflections: A Celebration Of Strange Symmetry, along with my markers/coloring pencils, and just dive right in. It was the perfect way to start my day or wind down in the evening. 

Make sure to grab a copy and fall in deep with Reflections. You are going to LOVE it! In my opinion, this is Rosanes' coolest book yet. I mean it. He's created these gorgeous whimsical images in twinning counterparts, which are mesmerizing and unforgettable. I loved looking through the book and trying to find the little differences he incorporated into each image. I mean, this book is just ace. I loved it!

Thank you to Plume for my copy of this book. 

The Cemetery Of Untold Stories: A Novel by Julia Alvarez

(Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Literary icon Julia Alvarez returns with an inventive and emotional novel about storytelling itself that will be an instant classic.
 
Alma Cruz, the celebrated writer at the heart of The Cemetery of Untold Stories , doesn’t want to end up like her friend, a novelist who fought so long and hard to finish a book that it threatened her sanity. So when Alma inherits a small plot of land in the Dominican Republic, her homeland, she has the beautiful idea of turning it into a place to bury her untold stories—literally. She creates a graveyard for the manuscript drafts and revisions, and the characters whose lives she tried and failed to bring to life and who still haunt her.
 
Alma wants her characters to rest in peace. But they have other ideas, and the cemetery becomes a mysterious sanctuary for their true narratives. Filomena, a local woman hired as the groundskeeper, becomes a sympathetic listener as Alma’s characters unspool their secret tales. Among them: Bienvenida, the abandoned second wife of dictator Rafael Trujillo, consigned to oblivion by history, and Manuel Cruz, a doctor who fought in the Dominican underground and escaped to the United States.
 
The characters defy their author: they talk back to her and talk to one another behind her back, rewriting and revising themselves. The Cemetery of Untold Stories asks: Whose stories get to be told, and whose buried? Finally, Alma finds the meaning she and her characters yearn for in the everlasting vitality of stories.
 
Readers of Isabel Allende’s Violeta and Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead will devour Alvarez’s extraordinary new novel about beauty and authenticity that reminds us the stories of our lives are never truly finished, even at the end.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this story! The Cemetery Of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez is a delight to read. A book about books sprinkled with magical realism always makes for a rich and imaginative story. And, this one was the perfect mix of history, magic, and inventive storytelling. Such a treat!

Alma is a writer who decides to create a cemetery for her untold stories. Except, the characters in her stories want their stories to be told. And, that is all I will share about this terrific book. Believe me, you are going to want to read it for yourself to experience the magic of Alvarez' storytelling prowess. You are going to love getting to know Alma and her characters. Plus, you'll enjoy Alvarez' writing - lyrical and emotional. The Cemetery Of Untold Stories is a must-read! Make sure to check it out! 

Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Monday Musings...

Vertigo hit me this past weekend and it really sucked. I haven't had it in a while, so I had forgotten about it until now. I should have seen it coming though. My depression hit me so hard a few days ago. I mean, it scared me how awful it felt. Anxiety showed up as well. The two always seem to come hand in hand. So, yeah, I should have know that vertigo would strike. When I'm that bad mentally, it tends to show up, too. Ugh. I'm just grateful that I knew what it all was. In the past, when I had no clue what was happening to me...that was terrifying. So, the positive is knowing what is going on and knowing what I have to do to get through it. I just hate that I have to deal with any of it. Ugh. 

I finished watching Tracker this morning. It was such a great episode. I'm really liking the show more and more. I'm going to order the books and read the series. I have to find out what the deal is with Colter's family. I just don't believe that his brother killed their father. And, also, what is the mom hiding. Plus, where is the sister? And, why is Colter so ready to believe his brother is a killer? I have so many questions!

I finally finished the new Elizabeth Strout book, Tell Me Everything. I loved it. The writing was superb and the storytelling was excellent. I really enjoyed having Lucy, Bob, and Olive in the same book. Familiar characters are always a special treat. Olive and Lucy finally meet and all because Olive had a story she wanted to share with Lucy, a writer. From that point on, they meet up to share more stories with each other - stories from people they once knew, or even their own stories. Stories that are referred to as "unrecorded lives', because the truth is that everyone has a story and people never get to hear it or know it.  I'm still thinking about this book and to be honest, I can't wait to read it again and again. In fact, I want to re-read all of Strout's books again and again. I just love her writing. Her stories always make a deep  impression on me. 

Anyhow, I must get to it. I hope you are having a great start to the week. Happy reading!

My Friday Five...

1. Books. I'm reading the new Elizabeth Strout book, Tell Me Everything. It will be released August 13th. And, it is terrific! I am loving it! I'm really enjoying having Bob, Lucy, and Olive in the same story - what a treat! Strout is a master storyteller and I am in just in awe of her work. I'm already looking forward to rereading her books. Make sure to check out Tell Me Everything. 

2.  Tracker. The TV show. My mom got me hooked on it, so now I watch it every week. I was annoyed, because I watch it on Hulu the day after it airs and this past Monday it was not available. Somehow, when they uploaded it, they ended up uploading 60 Minutes instead. Suffice it to say, I was able to watch it the other day and it was such a good episode.  I can't wait for the next one and I heard that the show got approved for a second season. And, thanks to my friend Lark, Lark Writes...on books and life, who also happens to be a fan of Tracker, I found out about the books. How did I not know this? Yep, Jeffrey Deaver has written The Colter Shaw series that Tracker is based on and I MUST now add these books to my TBR list. 

3.  No Spend/No Buy.  I was trying to curb my spending, because needs must. However, I wound up ordering a few bits and bobs recently. And, the guilt is real. Ack! Especially, since it was stationery supplies, which I already have too many of.  Yikes! I don't feel guilty about pre-ordering books, because books are always a Must-Buy. Oh well. I need to just not buy anything now. Wish me luck!

4. TBR book. Banana Yoshimoto has a new book that will be released in November! Woo hoo! I can't wait! It's called, Mittens and Pity: Stories. Yep, it's a collection of six short stories and I just know they are going to be ace. I love her writing, so I am really looking forward to this book. Mittens and Pity will definitely fall under the Must-Buy list. 

5. Music.  James released a new album titled, Yummy. I've been listening to my copy on repeat. I love this band. I heard their music freshman year of college and became a huge fan. I was lucky enough to see them perform in London when I was in grad school. I've been listening to them for nearly thirty years now. They are one of my favorites. 

And now, I'm off to start my weekend. Hope you have a terrific one! Happy reading!

You Know What You Did: A Novel by K. T. Nguyen

(Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

WOW! K. T. Nguyen's novel, You Know What You Did is freaking fantastic! I mean it. This book is unputdownable. I found myself reading late into the night to find out what would happen next. I just had to find out. I was hooked right from the start and enjoyed every second I spent with this story. It was just so damn good. I would happily recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this one! 

So, what is the book about? (summary from Goodreads)

In this heart-pounding debut thriller for fans of Lisa Jewell and Celeste Ng, a first-generation Vietnamese American artist must confront nightmares past and present…
 
Annie “Anh Le” Shaw grew up poor but seems to have it all now: a dream career, a stunning home, and a devoted husband and daughter. When Annie’s mother, a Vietnam War refugee, dies suddenly one night, Annie’s carefully curated life begins to unravel. Her obsessive-compulsive disorder, which she thought she’d vanquished years ago, comes roaring back—but this time, the disturbing fixations swirling around in Annie’s brain might actually be coming true.

A prominent art patron disappears, and the investigation zeroes in on Annie. Spiraling with self-doubt, she distances herself from her family and friends, only to wake up in a hotel room—naked, next to a lifeless body. The police have more questions, but with her mind increasingly fractured, Annie doesn’t have answers. All she knows is this: She will do anything to protect her daughter—even if it means losing herself.

With dizzying twists, You Know What You Did is both a harrowing thriller and a heartfelt exploration of the refugee experience, the legacies we leave for our children, and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters.

How awesome does that sound? We are talking about mystery, thrills, and a bit of horror all rolled into one well written novel. What more could you want? Unforgettable characters enduring mental health issues, along with generational traumas needing to be unpacked - I mean, seriously! This book explores so many relevant topics and does so in such a unique and smart way that you can't help but fall in deep. You Know What You Did is a definite must-read!Make sure to check it out!