Challenge 3 - A book with a grey cover

[Katie]

Post your book recommendations or a book you've read this year that fits the prompt!

[Katie]

I read Darcy or Lizzy?: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Cassandra B. Leigh for this challenge. (4 stars)

[Sophia]

Revisiting old Agatha Christie's a lot lately. I sometimes forget the sense of humor that crops up in these like the scatty B&B lady.

1.24.24

[itchy]

This was the last Scott O'Dell book I had. I hope I can still find Venus Among the Fishes later.

[Kristen]

Finished 2/08/2024 4 stars

This was a fast-paced old-fashioned murder mystery. The mystery was intriguing and the author has a wonderful way with words. She drops in clues along the way that make the ending a surprise, but not out of nowhere. A solid read that I enjoyed!

[Jennifer]

Kristen wrote: "

Finished 2/08/2024 4 stars

This was a fast-paced old-fashioned murder mystery. The mystery was intriguing and the author has a wonderful way wit..."

This sounds really interesting!

[Jennifer]

Sophia wrote: "

Revisiting old Agatha Christie's a lot lately. I sometimes forget the sense of humor that crops up in these like the scatty B&B lady.

1.24.24"

I love Agatha Christie's books. I haven't been doing a reread, but I have actually been discovering the Marple series on Britbox. Had seen a few previously, but many are new to me.

[Kristen]

Jennifer wrote: "Kristen wrote: "

Finished 2/08/2024 4 stars

This was a fast-paced old-fashioned murder mystery. The mystery was intriguing and the author has a w..."

It was! It's not overly complicated, which I enjoy. :) It was technically a YA book, but it holds it's own.

[Talyah]

Finding Me by Viola Davis
5 Stars.
Outstanding, inspiring story. I want to hug this lady so big.

[Jennifer]

This is a novel that follows the lives of four friends who meet in university. While the friendships ebb and flow between them, the one they seem to circle around is Jude. Jude has obvious physical impairments when the boys meet, and many not so obvious emotional and mental impairments. The hidden impairments soon become obvious to the other three, although Jude does not want to reveal to them his past that would help them to understand. As the novel progresses, Jude's past is given to the reader in fits and starts. There are many challenging topics in this novel - self harm, child abuse, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, drug use.

I found the several things challenging while reading this novel. The POV shifted from chapter to chapter, but it was not readily apparent who was speaking on many occasions; you had to read a bit and use clues to figure it out. This took me out of the narrative a bit. The chapters were also so very long with few natural stopping points. The characters around Jude so often enabled his self harm, including the only doctor who he would see, by refusing to confront the issue or, in the case of the doctor, admit him for treatment as a danger to himself. There was however, such an acceptance of Jude as he was, where he was. He was not marginalized by his friends because of his struggles. A pervasive optimism that if only they could love and support him enough, he could begin to heal.

I will fully admit that I did not anticipate the crisis that happened near the end of the novel. That crisis and the final section of the novel (the fallout) wrecked me. 4* A Little Life