Sage Nestler's Blog, page 9

This Cathartic Read Will Haunt You

Rating5/5

*This review contains SPOILERS*

Quick Take

My Dark Vanessa is one of those rare novels that worms its way into your veins and captures hold of your heart. It is painful, frightening, cathartic, and absolutely necessary of a read. I have only read a few novels in my life that have affected me as deeply as My Dark Vanessa has, and while this novel was such a difficult read, it has impacted me for life.

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“It’s enough to make me crazy, seeing these things that no one else ever seems to notice.”

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, in short, is one woman’s experience about grooming, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse at the hands of her high school English teacher. However, Vanessa does not see her relationship with her English teacher in this way. The chapters alternate in time and reveal the relationship between Vanessa and her teacher back when she was in high school while also highlighting Vanessa’s current life. It is in her current life that she is being impacted by another woman who went to her same high school and is now accusing this same English teacher of grooming and sexual harassment and assault. Seeing both sides of Vanessa’s life give the reader an inside look into her fragile emotional state, and her complicated emotional attachment to this man, who is still in her life, and has been since she was in high school. But the story is so much more than just Vanessa’s story, because it begs the bigger question “how does one define sexual abuse, what counts as such, and does the ‘victim’ have to see the acts against them as abuse for it to be considered in that manner?”

“People will risk everything for a little bit of something beautiful.”

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

As a survivor myself, I found My Dark Vanessa to be an incredibly difficult read. However, it allowed me to re-examine my own abuse and empathize with how Vanessa viewed the treatment of herself at such a young age. Russell highlighted well the confusion and mixed feelings that are involved when one is groomed, and how that grooming impacts how the victim experiences any sexual acts that are involved. At times, the reader becomes frustrated with an adolescent Vanessa for how she views her teacher and the relationship they have, and how those feelings grow with her as she ages and stays in contact with her teacher. It is clear to the reader throughout the novel how manipulative Vanessa’s teacher is and how his feelings for her do not mirror her own; but it is important to remember that Vanessa takes what her teacher says to her at face value. She believes whole heartedly that he cares for her and loves her due to the grooming she experiences. Russell highlights the very real concept that survivors often believe what their attackers tell them to try and reason with the abuse at hand, and while that may be frustrating for others to understand, it is entirely personal to the person being abused – and more importantly, it is not our place to judge.

“I don’t say it, but sometimes I feel like that’s exactly what he’s doing to me – breaking me apart, putting my back together as someone new.”

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

My Dark Vanessa references Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov heavily, and while one can read the book without having ever read Lolita, I found it helpful to read both books back-to-back. I had never read Lolita before picking up My Dark Vanessa, but due to the emphasis put on the novel, it helped me to better understand the teacher’s fascination with Vanessa. Her subsequent obsession with the novel also helped me to see how she saw her relationship with the teacher as a love story, rather than abuse. However, much like My Dark Vanessa, Lolita is sensitive reading material particularly for those impacted by grooming, sexual assault, and sexual abuse, so please proceed with caution.

“I never would have done it if you weren’t so willing, he’d said. It sounds like a delusion. What girl would want what he did to me? But it’s the truth, whether anyone believes it or not. Driven toward it, toward him, I was the kind of girl that isn’t supposed to exist: one eager to hurl herself into the path of a pedophile.”

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

One important aspect to this novel is that the chapters that feature Vanessa’s adult life are set during the height of the “me too” movement. Russell did well to highlight how this movement has empowered victims, while also highlighting how there are still problems with victims not receiving the justice they deserve. Vanessa’s classmate deals with being overshadowed by the power that her teacher possesses, and with Vanessa refusing to share her own story of abuse, one woman’s word isn’t enough. Russell highlights how even though the “me too” movement gave victims a chance to share their story in a safer climate, not everyone feels safe doing so. Rather than choosing to come out with claims of abuse herself, Vanessa instead chooses to side with her teacher.

“‘I just feel…’ I press the heels of my hands into my thighs. ‘I can’t lose the thing I’ve held on to for so long. You know?’ My face twists up from the pain of pushing it out. ‘I just really need it to be a love story. You know? I really, really need it to be that.'”

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

The pain of watching Vanessa go through this abuse, and seeing how it begins to define her life, is absolute torment. Russell highlights how it is not easy to move on from abuse that defines your youth, and how if not dealt with, it can define your adulthood.

“Your life is like a movie. She didn’t understand the horror of watching your body star in something your mind didn’t agree to. She meant it as a compliment. Isn’t that what all teenage girls want? Endlessly bored, aching for an audience.”

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

While My Dark Vanessa is fictional, it reads like a memoir. So many readers may find their own stories in the pages of this book, and that is what makes it beautiful. It is raw and painful, yet so beautiful in how it changes the reader with each page. While this novel has become incredibly controversial, it is that controversy that will bring about important conversations. Do not go into reading My Dark Vanessa without great care but do go in with an open mind. You might just find yourself within its pages.

This Heartbreaking and Gritty Novel is Sure to Become a Modern Classic

Order Here : https://www.amazon.com/Exit-Wounds/dp/1579626599/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34E8O87RMATEM&keywords=exit+wounds+by+annie+stein&qid=1665516561&sprefix=exit+wounds+by+annie+stein%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-1Rating5/5Quick Take

Exit Wounds is one of the most heartbreaking yet truthful and gritty novels I have ever read. Annie O’Neill Stein writes with such grace and a unique voice that makes the story truly one of a kind. This novel will stick with you for days to come.

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Exit Wounds by Annie O’Neill Stein takes the reader inside the mind and the life of a woman named Laura. The novel itself follows Laura from a child up through adulthood, and features insight into her struggle with drugs and promiscuous sex, as well as the relationships that she finds herself struggling with throughout her life. From the beginning of the novel, we are invited into Laura’s mind, and the reader can’t help but empathize with her.

Annie O’Neill Stein has such a unique voice as an author. I found that she could portray serious subjects with dark humor, while still highlighting the seriousness of the events. I flew through Exit Wounds because it was so easy to read, and by empathizing with Laura, I found myself reflecting on my own life. Reading Exit Wounds was cathartic, and I can’t help but feel changed upon finishing the novel.

I tend to judge novels on how strongly they make me feel, and I honestly can say that Exit Wounds swallowed me whole. The characters and storyline were so complicated and realistic, that I had a hard time reminding myself that they were fictional. Laura’s complicated life story was multidimensional and so abstract that I could read the novel multiple times and still discover new aspects of her. The best novels are those that can be read multiple times and reveal something new to the reader each time and Exit Wounds does just that.

Upon finishing the novel, I still find myself thinking about Laura and her triumphs and tribulations. The beauty of Exit Wounds is how in depth the characters and storyline were, and how deeply they embedded themselves in my psyche. This novel is one of a kind, and a beautiful piece of work that will create a unique reading experience for anyone who reads it. It is truly a work of art.

NEW! Crocheted Book Sleeves and Bookmarks

Happy Sunday, Everyone!

I am excited to announce that I have begun making crocheted book sleeves and bookmark sets! All of my book sleeves and bookmarks are made from rare yarn from Denmark and include gorgeous beads and charms. I just posted my Halloween collection, and each book sleeve set in it is one of a kind. When they are gone, they are gone! Click on the pictures of my book sleeve sets below to bring you to my Etsy shop. Thank you so much for supporting my small business!

Spider Inspired Book Embracer and Bookmark Set – Book Sleeve – FREE US SHIPPING

Fall is finally here, and what could be better than a Halloween themed spider book embracer to keep your books cozy? This gorgeous, crocheted book embracer is stretchable and will fit any size book. It also comes with a spider themed bookmark, and the yarn that is used is a gorgeous mix of various rainbow shades. This book embracer is one of a kind, so make sure you scoop it up before it sells out!

I created this book embracer from my own design. It is made from one of a kind, hard to find yarn, and it is adorned with beads. This book embracer can be used to hold any of your books or reading devices.

*Book is not included.

*FREE SHIPPING in the US

From Rebel Sew on Etsy

Autumn Leaves Crocheted Book Embracer with Bookmark – Book Sleeve – FREE US SHIPPING

Fall is finally here, and what could be better than an autumn leaves inspired book embracer to keep your books cozy? This gorgeous, crocheted book embracer is stretchable and will fit any size book. It also comes with an autumn leave themed bookmark, and the yarn that is used is a gorgeous mix of various colorful shades. This book embracer is one of a kind, so make sure you scoop it up before it sells out!

I created this book embracer from my own design. It is made from one of a kind, hard to find yarn, and it is adorned with beads. This book embracer can be used to hold any of your books or reading devices.

*Book is not included.

*FREE SHIPPING in the US

From Rebel Sew on Etsy

Skeleton Crocheted Book Embracer with Bookmark – Book Sleeve – FREE US SHIPPING

Fall is finally here, and what could be better than a Halloween themed creepy skeleton book embracer to keep your books cozy? This gorgeous, crocheted book embracer is stretchable and will fit any size book. It also comes with a skeleton themed bookmark, and the yarn that is used is a gorgeous mix of various grey shades. This book embracer is one of a kind, so make sure you scoop it up before it sells out!

I created this book embracer from my own design. It is made from one of a kind, hard to find yarn, and it is adorned with beads. This book embracer can be used to hold any of your books or reading devices.

*Book is not included.

*FREE SHIPPING in the US

From Rebel Sew on Etsy

Pumpkin Patch Crocheted Book Embracer with Crocheted Bookmark – Book Sleeve – FREE US SHIPPING

Fall is finally here, and what could be better than a pumpkin themed book embracer to keep your books cozy? This gorgeous, crocheted book embracer is stretchable and will fit any size book. It also comes with a pumpkin themed bookmark, and the yarn that is used is a gorgeous mix of various shades of orange. This book embracer is one of a kind, so make sure you scoop it up before it sells out!

I created this book embracer from my own design. It is made from one of a kind, hard to find yarn, and it is adorned with beads. This book embracer can be used to hold any of your books or reading devices.

*Book is not included.

*FREE SHIPPING in the US

From Rebel Sew on Etsy

Crocheted Carnival Clown Book Embracer with Book Mark – Book Sleeve – FREE US SHIPPING

Fall is finally here, and what could be better than a Halloween themed creepy carnival clown book embracer to keep your books cozy? This gorgeous, crocheted book embracer is stretchable and will fit any size book. It also comes with a carnival clown themed bookmark, and the yarn that is used is a gorgeous mix of various colorful shades. This book embracer is one of a kind, so make sure you scoop it up before it sells out!

I created this book embracer from my own design. It is made from one of a kind, hard to find yarn, and it is adorned with beads. This book embracer can be used to hold any of your books or reading devices.

*Book is not included.

*FREE SHIPPING in the US

From Rebel Sew on Etsy

GIVEAWAY: Golem – The Devil is in the Details by PD Alleva

Happy Spooky Season, Everyone!

I am excited to announce that I have teamed up with author PD Alleva to give away 1 hardcover and 2 paperbacks of his horror novel Golem – The Devil is in the Details to three lucky winners! This is a great novel to help you celebrate spooky season, and PD Alleva just recently updated the cover, so your book will be updated with the new cover as seen above.

Check out the synopsis of the book below:

“An extraordinary psychological horror book. Excellently written, with a twisted, spiraling, unexpected end that will leave you speechless.” ~ TBM Horror Experts

Detective. Angel. Victim. Devil.

A haunting tale of suspense, loss, isolation, contempt, and fear.

On November 1, 1951, war hero John Ashton was promoted to detective. His first assignment: find the district attorney’s missing daughter. But his only lead is Alena Francon, a high society sculptor and socialite committed to Bellevue’s psychiatric facility.

Alena has a story for the new detective. A story so outlandish John Ashton refuses to heed the warning. Alena admits to incarnating Golem, a demonic force, into her statue. A devil so profound he’s infiltrated every part of New York’s infrastructure. Even worse, he uses children to serve as bodily hosts for his demonic army, unleashing a horde of devils into our world.

When Alena’s confidant, Annette Flemming, confirms the existence of Golem, John is sent on a collision course where fate and destiny spiral into peril, and the future of the human race hangs in the balance.

The Devil Is In The Details!

Fans of The Silence of the Lambs, Clive Barker, John Connolly, Stephen King, and Anne Rice will be fascinated by this edge of your seat psychological horror thriller with a story that rips out the heart of humanity and throws it on a slab to be feasted on.

Amazon Synopsis

Enter the giveaway by click on the photo below:

The giveaway will run from October 8 – 31, 2022. Be sure to get your entries in and share the giveaway with any friends of yours who might be interested!

My review of Golem – The Devil is in the Details by PD Alleva will be going live soon, so keep an eye out for that as well!

Good luck!

Let This Expertly Written Literary Fiction Take You Away

Book Review of Bombora by Paul DrewittRating: 5/5Quick Take

Bombora by Paul Drewitt is a lyrical coming of age tale that worms its way into the reader’s heart. Drewitt’s imagery was vivid and tantalizing, and it completely swept me away.

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Bombora follows sixteen-year-old Andy, a young boy as he comes of age, and the adventures that he finds himself exploring. Andy finds himself becoming friends with Mick, his older brother’s friend, which leads him on an excursion through underwater tunnels. Andy soon finds himself meeting new people and exploring his sexuality as he enters adulthood, while highlighting his insecurities and exploring who he is becoming as an adult.

Paul Drewitt’s writing is lyrical and enchanting. I found myself becoming engrossed in Andy’s world and reminiscing about my own adolescence and the awkwardness of leaving childhood behind and becoming an adult. Andy is a likeable character who reminds me of my own adolescence and the awkwardness that is difficult to manage as I continue to mature. Drewitt captures the beauty of adolescence while drawing the reader into the insecurities of childhood and how complicated it is to leave childhood behind.

Upon starting Bombora, I found myself attached to the beautiful, lyrical writing as it reminded me of my own childhood and the discomfort that comes along with adolescence. Drewitt did well to reveal the raw and uncomfortable adolescence that many of us experience, without glamorizing the journey into adulthood. At times Bombora was difficult to read because it was so raw and uncomfortable to remember just how difficult the journey into adulthood can be.

Literary fiction is one of those genres that is essential for book readers to explore as it highlights the truth and discomfort of growing and evolving. Drewitt is an essential new voice in literary fiction because he highlights the discomfort of the human experience, while shedding light on the beauty of growing and evolving.

Bombora is one of those rare novels that comes once every blue moon and takes the reader by storm. While reading this novel I felt like I was an adolescent again, exploring the awkwardness of growing up, in the most beautiful way. Drewitt’s writing is magical and creates a one-of-a-kind reading experience. Upon finishing the novel, I feel deeply connected to Andy and his exploration of growing up, while feeling reminiscent of my own journey into adolescence. Drewitt’s writing is gorgeous and complicated, and it captures the reader into its clutches while refusing to let go. Lovers of literary fiction will find a new favorite author in Drewitt, and I look forward to seeing where Drewitt takes his writing next. He has found a dedicated new reader of his work in myself.

My Favorite Book That I’ve Read in 2022

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

From Edgar Award-finalist Jason Rekulak comes a wildly inventive spin on the supernatural thriller, for fans of Stranger Things and Riley Sager, about a woman working as a nanny for a young boy with strange and disturbing secrets.

Mallory Quinn is fresh out of rehab when she takes a job as a babysitter for Ted and Caroline Maxwell. She is to look after their five-year-old son, Teddy.

Mallory immediately loves it. She has her own living space, goes out for nightly runs, and has the stability she craves. And she sincerely bonds with Teddy, a sweet, shy boy who is never without his sketchbook and pencil. His drawings are the usual fare: trees, rabbits, balloons. But one day, he draws something different: a man in a forest, dragging a woman’s lifeless body.

Then, Teddy’s artwork becomes increasingly sinister, and his stick figures quickly evolve into lifelike sketches well beyond the ability of any five-year-old. Mallory begins to wonder if these are glimpses of a long-unsolved murder, perhaps relayed by a supernatural force.

Knowing just how crazy it all sounds, Mallory nevertheless sets out to decipher the images and save Teddy before it’s too late.

Amazon Synopsis

Rating

5/5

Quick Take

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak is a one-of-a-kind supernatural thriller that borders on horror and took my reading life by storm. It is by far the best book that I have read in 2022 so far, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Tell Me More

I read a large number of horror and thriller novels each year, and sometimes it feels like they begin to blur together. Many thriller novels have seemingly begun to run together due to a lack of originality, but that was not the case with Hidden Pictures. Jason Rekulak created a supernatural thriller with such eerie elements that lent the novel to the horror genre and forced the reader to devour the novel within one sitting.

Hidden Pictures follows Mallory Quinn, a woman who has just gotten out of rehab and takes a babysitting job for an affluent couple. She watches over the couple’s five-year-old boy named Teddy, and lives in a pool house on their property. Teddy is a shy boy who tends to be partial to creating sketches that start off innocent, but eventually become eerie. He begins to make sketches of his imaginary friend, as well as sketches of what look to be a murder. Mallory finds herself on a journey to discover the supernatural secrets behind the property that she is living at, while subsequently becoming entrenched in the secrets that the family holds.

One of the most unique aspects of Hidden Pictures is that throughout the novel were actual representations of Teddy’s drawings. The drawings added a realistic and eerie element to the novel that helped the story come alive. But the truly best part of the novel was how many secrets were hidden throughout it that Rekulak kept from the reader and revealed at just the right time. While there was a lot going on, each element was essential to the story and kept the reader guessing until the end. While the supernatural elements of the novel created the horror setting throughout the novel, there was a sense of mystery and sleuthing that completely captured my imagination. Once you felt like you had figured out the secrets behind the story, Rekulak would through another secret at you that would completely change your perspective.

Jason Rekulak is a new and vital voice in the mystery, thriller, and horror genres. He expertly blended such smooth prose with shock factors that were neither cliche nor juvenile. Hidden Pictures got me out of a reading slump that left me pining for more, and I fully intend reread and reread this novel over and over again. It is one that will reveal new secrets to the reader with each reading, and I cannot wait to see where each reading takes me. Rekulak is fully one of my new favorite authors, and I am excited to see where he takes his writing next.

Discover A Science Fiction Treasure That Will Blow You Away

In this darkly humorous and philosophically engaging sci-fi novel, a wayward young woman and her straightlaced companion awake from 200 years of “suspended life” to a future that challenges many ideas about what it means to be and to remain human. The technological changes that have transpired during their long sleep rattle them, but even more mind-boggling are the startling views they must grapple with regarding human evolution.

Although they do not know it, the two young visitors from the past have a significant role to play in humankind’s unfolding drama. The citizens of this post-apocalyptic world hope to discover from their time travelers some clue that might explain humanity’s downward slide towards oblivion.

And if this small survival colony fails to come up with a rescue plan, there is still Ike, an extraordinarily creative AI who has an existential trick up its sleeve to save the human footprint. But Ike’s remedy might not be the sort of salvation most of us would readily embrace. Though as he sees it, “desperate times require desperate measures.” And with the hands of Doomsday’s clock perched just nanoseconds before midnight, the times could not be more so.

Amazon Synopsis

Rating

5/5

Quick Take

An Amazing Thing Happened on the Way to the Future is an entertaining and unique read that I devoured in one sitting. Michael Segedy writes with humor and intrigue that completely captivates the reader, and I cannot recommend his writing enough.

Tell Me More

Science fiction is a genre that I don’t often have the pleasure of reading, as I am more into horror and thrillers. However, I always find it to be a treat when I am approached by science fiction authors to review their novels. I first came across Michael Segedy’s novel, Into the Twilight, a few months ago, and was extremely pleased with its originality. Segedy’s imagination is vibrant, and I found that I was immediately absorbed into his world building from page one. So, you can imagine my pleasure when I found out that he had written another piece that is part of the Into the Twilight universe.

An Amazing Thing Happened on the Way to the Future is a deeply philosophical portrayal of what humanity means amidst the technological advances that are continually developing in our world. Time travel is a big part of the novel, and our protagonists find themselves helping those in the post-apocalyptic world understand what is happening to humanity as it continues a downward spiral into oblivion.

Segedy’s world is one that is vibrant and can be seen as a very realistic portrayal of what can happen in the near future. While his work is fiction, I found that his philosophical ideals were convincing and forced me as the reader to imagine the possibilities of what can happen to humanity in the near future. Segedy creates a world that is vibrant and realistic and had me intrigued from the beginning. I found that his work is easy for the reader to understand and imagine, whereas many other science fiction novels can be difficult to grasp. Segedy knows how to intrigue his reader and portray a story so rich and vivid that it is impossible to put down. I have said before that Segedy is an author who one might find once in a century due to his professional grasp on the art of writing and his ability to absorb his reader into his work.

An Amazing Thing Happened on the Way to the Future is a treat for lovers of science fiction and those who would like to explore the genre alike. I was entranced by Segedy’s enchanting writing from the beginning, and I absorbed his novel within a short period of time. Michael Segedy is a treat in the literary world and an author that readers must take the time to discover. His work is a literary treasure that took my reading life by storm, and I look forward to where he takes his writing next.

This Controversial Read Will Take You by Storm

A beautiful and provocative love story between two unlikely people and the hard-won relationship that elevates them above the Midwestern meth lab backdrop of their lives.

As the daughter of a drug dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. It’s safer to keep her mouth shut and stay out of sight. Struggling to raise her little brother, Donal, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible adult around. Obsessed with the constellations, she finds peace in the starry night sky above the fields behind her house, until one night her star gazing causes an accident. After witnessing his motorcycle wreck, she forms an unusual friendship with one of her father’s thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold.

By the time Wavy is a teenager, her relationship with Kellen is the only tender thing in a brutal world of addicts and debauchery. When tragedy rips Wavy’s family apart, a well-meaning aunt steps in, and what is beautiful to Wavy looks ugly under the scrutiny of the outside world. A powerful novel you won’t soon forget, Bryn Greenwood’s All the Ugly and Wonderful Things challenges all we know and believe about love.

~Amazon Synopsis

Rating

5/5

Quick Take

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is one of those rare books that on the surface is so controversial yet leaves you raw with feeling. I couldn’t put this book down, and it is by far the best book that I have read this year.

Tell Me More

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is one of those novels that I picked up as an add on with my Book of the Month subscription a while ago. It intrigued me because it won Book of the Year a few years ago, and I have enjoyed all of the Book of the Year selections that I have tried. With that being said, it has been sitting on my shelf for a few years now. I picked it up to read one day after making a promise to myself to pick books to read from my library that have been sitting there for years, but I did not anticipate the literary ride that I was about to embark on. I came away from the novel feeling confused, yet profoundly touched, and it took me awhile to figure out how I was to rate the novel based on its controversial content. But I came to the conclusion that each reader will have their own opinion of the story, and all I can do is share my own. So here goes.

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things follows Wavy, a young girl who is unable to trust her parents due to their involvement with drugs. She chooses not to speak to others due to her distrust of people, until she meets one of her dad’s thugs, Kellen, and creates a special bond with him. The novel follows Wavy and Kellen’s relationship as Wavy grows up, and their bond becomes romantic.

Due to the age difference between Wavy and Kellen, their romantic feelings for one another can be seen as very controversial. However, there was no inappropriate intimacy between Kelly and Wavy until she was older. Kellen is even seen throughout the novel as being disturbed by his attraction to Wavy and her desire to be intimate with him, so he continually refrains from getting too physically close to her.

With that being said, the emotional relationship between Kellen and Wavy is endearing because we see how Wavy is able to open up emotionally to him and find comfort in an adult since the other adults in her life have failed her. Her desire to be intimate with Kellen makes sense, because she has been deprived of love from her parents and she hungers for that closeness that is missing from her life. The relationship that Wavy and Kellen share is vital for Wavy’s emotional needs, and it also serves a purpose for Kellen who is also missing close connections to other in his life.

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is an endearing and painful story that made me feel more emotions than any other book that I have read this year. It challenged my view of emotional connections and how humans need these connections to survive. This book will challenge your worldview and reveal a side of life that is rarely seen. Give All the Ugly and Wonderful Things a chance. You will not be disappointed.

This Self-Help Book Will Change Your View on Arguing

Rating: 5/5Quick Take

Why We Argue and How to Stop: A Therapist’s Guide to Navigating Disagreements, Managing Emotions, and Creating Healthier Relationships by Jerry Manney is a one-of-a-kind book designed to help you strengthen your relationships and improve your communication styles. It is absolutely a must read!

Tell Me More

Why We Argue and How to Stop: A Therapist’s Guide to Navigating Disagreements, Managing Emotions, and Creating Healthier Relationships by Jerry Manney is a self-help book that has honestly changed my life, and is sure to change yours.  I have never read such an informed book about arguing, its purpose, and how we can strengthen our relationships by not arguing.  With that being said, I now feel enlightened and better able to manage arguing in my own relationships.

The beauty of Manney’s book, is that it is not meant to be read from cover to cover.  Rather, each chapter covers a different form of relationship and/or type of arguing and can be read as needed in your personal life.  The book is a handbook of sorts that I find to be especially usable when an issue arises in my personal life that I would like to address. 

Manney’s years of experience as a therapist are evident in each page of his book, and his knowledge made me trust him as I continued to read on.  Having this book is like having a therapist available whenever you need a little bit of help.  I am so thankful to have gotten to know Manney. 

Overall, Why We Argue and How to Stop: A Therapist’s Guide to Navigating Disagreements, Managing Emotions, and Creating Healthier Relationships is a new and vital book in the realm of self-help books.  Jerry Manney is a well-educated and experienced practitioner who has created a handbook vital for navigating arguing.  I am so thankful to him for sharing his breadth of knowledge with the world, and I will be recommending this book for years to come.

TCK Publishing – Independent Fiction and Nonfiction Book Publisher

https://jerrymanney.com/

Blog Tour: The Dark of the Stars by William Hamilton

Happy Wednesday, Beautiful Readers!

Long time, no talk! I sincerely apologize for my absence. I’ve been dealing with a lot of medical issues and haven’t had the time to keep up with my blog. But, never fear – I am back! And I am so excited to share with you a wonderful new novel called The Dark of the Stars. This is an incredibly unique novel that is sure to take you on a journey you won’t forget! I am currently reading the book myself and will have my review posted ASAP.

Enjoy!

Ashley

About the Book

The Young Adult/New Adult title from the author was prestigiously reviewed by Foreword Reviews: “The story undulates: the reaches of its villains and heroes prove to be broader than first thought. But (main characters) Karl and Robert endure to the end, trying their best to save the world from rapacious villains—and helping to make The Dark of the Stars a thrilling young adult quest.”

Hamilton’s work is evocative of fellow Oxford alum fiction authors Percy Shelley and J.R.R. Tolkein – and takes readers through the mystery, beauty and adventure of a life well-lived and courageous. 

About the Author

Renowned evolutionary biologist, William Hamilton (1936-2000) was a naturalist and geneticist who was well known for his wide-ranging and influential research. At his funeral service in the chapel of New College, Oxford, he was described as “the greatest evolutionary biologist since Charles Darwin.” His official biography is Nature’s Oracle published by Oxford University Press in 2013. Between 1995 and 2005, they also published three volumes of The Narrow Roads of Gene Land, his collected scientific papers. The Dark of the Stars is his only novel, written largely in the 1980s, edited and published posthumously.

#vbtPRbythebook #thedarkofthestars #williamhamilton #newYAbook #booktok #bookstagram