Depending on where you are seeing this, you might be seeing my face for the first time since my Bookstagram was taken in March. I tend to read and review books no one knows about, with a dash of daily life. I haven’t reviewed a book since January, so I’m rusty. The book on the table — more like in my ears because I’m listening to it — is Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison. The opening lines hooked me because what do you mean your mother invites you to her own funeral after not speaking to you for years (or it feels like it)?
The siblings leave everything behind and go to the island where they used to live as kids to figure out what is really going on. Call me weird, but I cared less that she’s living in the childhood home with her sister and former friends; when she meets again, her childhood/teen-hood pets melt my heart. There’s magic in the air, and I mean that in more than one way. The book goes back and forth in time, which loses me as a reader a bit. However, that’s on me, and I won’t punish the book/audio for it.
Going back to her past was hard for Didion (the main character) because she still carried the pain years later. Towards the end, it’s bittersweet because Didion is in a better headspace about who she is and the new relationships she managed to rebuild. We also learn what caused the distance between her and her mother. I got the sense that some of it stemmed from misunderstandings, and she regrets that her mother is no longer there to talk with her about it. I wish I had the e-book because I would have highlighted some parts. I’m giving it 4 stars
Well, I wanted to review a thriller, but I finished it today, and my hands said No, thank you, so I switched genres and will review a poetry collection, which is easier on my hands but harder on my mind. Some might think that since I write poetry, it would be easier to review it, right? Not really; in fact, it creates more pressure because I should know what I’m talking about; after all, I have published a poetry collection. Here’s a little secret: I passed my English language exam, but not my English literature exam.
The poetry collection is If I Had Wings: A journal of poetry by Jamey Amparo. I found it for free while I was browsing the poetry section. A note in the preface made me mad. The author said she was at a slam poetry event, and they disqualified her since her piece wasn’t the typical poem. I get that it was a different time, but I believe in the Freedom of Speech Act, and putting rules on art removes its freedom. The first poem is about the love of writing and how, without words, writers feel on a misguided route. It was a four-verse poem, but it hits the target dead center.
The first line I highlighted is this: “A scar would look like a birthmark, rare and beautiful.” It reminded me how it’s all in the point of view you are getting things from. Then I highlighted this: ‘I can feel your heartbeat but not your heart,’ which felt so real because, in my opinion, we mix desire with love even without wanting to. I also noticed that, in one of the poems, I forgot the title: Amparo used repetition to drive home how important the topic is to them. I rate this collection 3.75 out of 5.
What a wonderful and thoughtful review! I particularly appreciate your observations about how personal experiences, misunderstandings, and changing perspectives shape our relationships. The highlighted lines from the poetry collection are beautiful and thought-provoking. As someone who enjoys writing poetry myself, I agree that reviewing poetry can sometimes be more challenging than writing it. Both books sound interesting, and your honest reviews make them even more appealing. Keep reading, writing, and sharing your literary discoveries.
I think this comment was posted in the wrong post, but thank you all the same