Bookworm: I Just Finished... Firefly Lane, The Leaving, The Stranger Beside Me, Fly Away, On the Come Up, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and Next Level Basic (Spring 2019)

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

I have absolutely loved everything I’ve read by Kristin Hannah, and my friend, Sharon, said she enjoyed all the pop culture references in Firefly Lane. Starting in 1974, the novel traces the friendship of the more reserved Katie and her wild best friend Tully. For more than thirty years they are a part of each other’s lives, and with that kind of history comes a bit of heartache and drama. Honestly, there were moments where this book didn’t feel as polished as some of her others, but it reminded me a lot of the movie Beaches with a touch of Terms of Endearment. I’d recommend Firefly Lane to fans of either.

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

A young adult recommendation from my students, The Leaving centers around the return of five children believed to have been abducted 11 years prior. The trouble is that while six disappeared, only five came back. Those who returned have no memory of their captivity, and their struggle to remember makes up most of the book. I’ve got to admit, I could not put this one down. The plot was fast paced and suspenseful, and it got me thinking about memory and childhood and experiences. I’d recommend to all YA fiction fans and those who are just looking for a good book to read while relaxing on spring break.

The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule

I totally dig true crime, and this book showed up on my desk as a recommendation from my coworker, Ryan. It tells the story of Ted Bundy through through the lens of Ann Rule, a former Seattle police officer, who volunteered alongside Bundy answering phones for a crisis hotline. Even as Rule’s career shifted from patrolling the streets towards writing about her experiences, she and Bundy maintained contact. The story of Ted Bundy is interesting enough on its own, but hearing it from the perspective of somebody close to him is even more mind blowing. I’d recommend this book as a must read for all true crime fans as well as anybody, like myself, who has a strange fascination with serial killers.

Fly Away by Kristin Hannah

The sequel to Firefly Lane, Fly Away continues the story of Tully and Kate via the viewpoints of Tully and Marah. I don’t feel like I should summarize the sequel in the same post as the original for risk of spoilers. But, if you do read Firefly Lane and enjoy it, then I think Fly Away is worth your while. It’s always nice to see where characters you have grown to care about end up in life.

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Thematically similar to its predecessor, The Hate U Give, On the Come Up is set in the same fictional neighborhood of Garden Heights. Bri, the main character, dreams of becoming a rapper. She has the talent, but her life is riddled with complications. Her mom, Jay, is a recovering addict. Her brother, Trey, has turned down the opportunity of grad school to help the family financially. Her father, a budding rapper himself, was gunned down by gangsters. Her aunt, Pooh, although one of Bri’s biggest supporters, is a drug dealer involved with the Garden Disciples gang. Still, Bri tries to make it as an artist, figuring it’s the only way she can help her family. Throughout the course of the novel, Bri needs to do some soul searching. Her rap persona is not exactly matching up with her reality. I’d recommend this book to those who enjoy YA literature as well as those with a particular interest in race relations.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

This book is getting a lot of buzz, so I definitely wanted to check it out. Following Lale, a young Jewish man, as he volunteers for his brother to submit to the Nazis and finds himself at a concentration camp, The Tattooist of Auschwitz was obviously a powerful read. What made it stand out to me was the moments of true human tenderness (hate that word, but it works) that is intertwined with the horrific reality of the Holocaust. Desperate to survive, Lale winds up as the tattooist, inking numbers into the prisoners as they arrive at camp. This book was full of characters that I grew to care about deeply, and the plot was suspenseful and engaging. I’d recommend The Tattooist of Auschwitz to anybody who enjoys historical fiction with a romantic flair.

Next Level Basic by Stassi Schroeder

After a serious read, I always like to lighten it up a bit, so what better way than by reading the self-touted “definitive basic bitch handbook”? I rarely veer towards self-help books, but I love Vanderpump Rules, and Stassi has always been my favorite. I’m slightly embarrassed to admit, but I read this in one day. Throughout the chapters, Stassi encourages her “Khaleesis” to embrace their inner basicness and weirdness. She praises quirkiness while sharing her own experiences and opinions on fashion, relationships, beauty, etc. It was an easy read; I honestly felt like I was curling up with a copy of US Weekly. But, it was the perfect breezy summer book for those, like me, who love them some VPR. Note: Those of you who aren’t into BRAVO television and trashy reality TV might not dig this one, but I sure did.

Bookworm: I Just Finished... Between the World and Me, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven, The Light Between Oceans, The Nightingale, The Lying Game, and Always and Forever Lara Jean

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

This book, winner of the National Book Award, has been sitting on the shelf in my classroom for a while. One of my favorite students, Mackenna, just read it and enjoyed it, so I figured I’d check it out. Written in the form of a letter to his son, Coates takes to describing the struggles of growing up as a black male incorporating memories from childhood to Howard University to fatherhood and everything in between. I found his perspective to be articulately rendered and eye-opening, but, as a single letter, it felt long to me. I think a series of letters would have made it easier to fully absorb. Regardless, this is an important book, and I’d recommend it to anybody who enjoys multicultural memoirs.

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

The long awaited sequel to The Five People You Meet in Heaven, this installment follows Annie, the young girl Eddie saved, on her journey through heaven. It was everything you’d expect from a Mitch Albom novel, powerful life lessons woven into fable like experiences amidst a dreamy setting. I didn’t love this one as much as the original, but it was still really satisfying. I’d recommend it to anybody who enjoys fiction, and, obviously, Albom fans.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Wow! Talk about a moral dilemma. In The Light Between Oceans, Tom Sherburn feels as though he has cheated death after returning home to Australia after WW1. He takes a job as an offshore lighthouse keeper. While on leave, he meets, falls in love with, and marries Isabel. After suffering two miscarriages and a stillbirth while offshore, a boat washes up. On board is a deceased man and a living baby. Tom, methodical in his record keeping, wants to report the boat immediately, but Isabel, amidst her grief, begs him to let her keep the baby. As if this wasn’t enough, once they return to the mainland, a whole new set of complications and consequences await them. I was engrossed the entire way through this book. I found that I learned a lot about the geography of western Australia and lighthouses and World War 1, but I also learned a lot about grief, repercussions, and forgiveness. I’d recommend this book to anybody who enjoys literary fiction. Special interests would include geography, historical fiction, romance, and women’s literature.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

First, I just have to say that I love Kristin Hannah’s writing. Second, this book was awesome. Set during World War 2, the plot centers around two French sisters whose father has taken to the bottle after mom’s untimely death and his own experiences in the Great War. Vianne, the elder sister, a school teacher married to her childhood love, must survive his deployment in a town that has been completely overrun by Nazis. Isabelle, the feisty younger sister, is eager to contribute to the cause by helping downed airmen escape into Spain. Both stories are mesmerizing, heartbreaking, and educational. And, how they come together, well, that’s just… wow. I loved the focus on the “women’s war.” I’d highly recommend this book to all my fiction loving friends, especially those with an interest in history/historical fiction.

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

Written by the same author as The Woman in Cabin 10, The Lying Game has the same mysterious vibe. In the story, four friends are reunited by a desperate text. A body has turned up in the marshland near their former school, and they fear they may be called into question. Even though my friends who read this book prior to me had mixed reviews, I really enjoyed it. I thought the way Ware captured the edgy innocence and rebellious energy of the high school years was spot on, and the characters were all well developed. The last chapter was a bit of a dud, in my opinion, but I thought the book itself was pretty engaging. I’d recommend it to anybody looking for a vacation read or a solid page turner.

Always and Forever Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Cheesy as it may be, I really enjoy this series. Always and Forever Lara Jean is the third and final installment in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series. At the risk of giving away too much, in this book Lara Jean and Peter have settled into their relationship. Meanwhile, Lara Jean’s father has settled into a relationship as well. All is smooth senior year except for the fact that LJ and Peter will be attending different colleges come fall. Although they plan to stay together, some of their closest family members have cautioned about the dangers of starting college in a relationship. Honestly, there are times during this book when I almost cringed at how hokey it was. Yet, I couldn’t stop reading. There is something about these characters and this series that is very likeable. I would recommend to all my rom-com loving friends who just want to read something “nice” once in a while.

DIY: Spring 2019 Throw Pillow Fabric Look Book

What better way to get through the dreary days of winter than to think about spring. I’m already envisioning fresh tulips in a vase on the kitchen table, and, of course, some fun new throw pillows to brighten up the living room.

The trick to mastering the throw pillow game is to know how to mix and match fabrics. Generally, I look for three different fabrics to create a “look.” One should be a print that adds a pop of color. The second should be a more basic pattern (think stripes, dots, etc.) that features no more than two colors that complement the first fabric. To finish it off, I choose a coordinating solid in a different texture.

Before each new season, I search the Hobby Lobby website to get some fabric inspiration. Here’s what I’m loving for spring 2019:

Florals

Clean and Classic

Fun and Unexpected

Cute for Kids (big kids, too)

Let me know what you love. All of the fabrics above are from Hobby Lobby and are available for custom orders.