Move me ♥️😭😂
Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 Emotional epiphanies and Book Recs
Collecting Dust is...One part Nostalgia. One part strange magic. All inspired by photos of real objects begging to tell a story if only we will pay attention.
When this comes out I’ll be on my way to Paris 🇫🇷with my husband for the holiday. I’m trying to be grateful for this opportunity and not guilty for leaving the kids home with Grammie. I hope to find some nice souvenirs and holiday gifts for everyone.🧑🎨
A Word of Thanks 🙏
I want to thank you for joining me on my writing journey and for all your support. I hope you have a belly-filling and heart-filling holiday weekend!
I have a short story that is nearly finished and will appear soon; it just didn’t come together this month. I also have to say, that I got a little freaked out when, the day after my Halloween newsletter centered on teeth came out, my daughter fell at school and shattered her front tooth 🙁. (karma?) But all is well!
Epiphanies
During my haircut on Saturday, my hair dresser and I spent most of the time talking about books. It was one of those conversations where you jump between asking “have you read—?” “Oh! Have you read—?” trading recommendations with an excitement so palpable another client jumped in to share her two cents then added a recommendation directly to her kindle on the spot.
I have to admit part of the conversation was also spent shaking our heads (me, not literally) at why certain books get so big and how we generally try to avoid those overhyped titles as they are often disappointing. (Okay, not every book, but it happens pretty often).
The “it” book of the moment, at least in the circles I run in 😅 is The Women by Kristin Hannah. I haven’t read it yet, but plan to. It’s one of those hyped books I will at least try given that I trust the taste of who recommended it. I’ve only ever read The Nightingale by Hannah, but have two others by her on my TBR shelf.
Anyway, at one point in the conversation we came around to the types of books we like in general, and she said something that stuck with me as a perfect way to encapsulate the reading experience and what I hope to do as a writer. She said:
“I just want the writer to change me, to move me. I want to be different after reading.”
(I can’t remember her exact words, but I think I’m capturing the spirit). I know this may sound obvious, but it felt like a nugget of gold. Something came alive in my chest and I nodded my head vigorously (again, not literally as I’d prefer not to get butchered), repeating “Yes! Exactly!” Isn’t that what we want as readers? Make me feel alive! And this of course is what I want to do as a writer. And damn if that isn’t a high bar. I left feeling a little lighter, completely energized, and full of hope.
Books that have moved me lately:
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb Okay, not everything moved me in this book. As an avid crime/mystery reader, I picked out the culprit pretty early but it didn’t keep me from reading. What moved me:
His passion for the violin underscored by the way Slocumb describes the act of playing in the protagonist’s mind. He uses such beautiful imagery. I wanted a list of all the songs he plays and discusses throughout the book, so I could listen to them later!
His family situation also moved me. His grandmother as the shining light of faith in her grandson and his love for her rolled up in the desire to maintain his family’s legacy was beautiful and moving. The rest of his family’s reaction to the discovery of the violin’s origins was also moving in a different way.
There was also the ever present racism that at once made my guts squirm while also nodding that it was, unfortunately believable. His reactions to the bigotry exhibited by some characters was the only thing that bothered me. I think his passivity was supposed to make me angry and feel the injustice of it all, and it worked. Also, Slocumb mentions in the notes at the end that many of those experiences really happened to him.
I was also drawn to this book because the author hails from nearby in NC.
Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey: Okay, sci fi may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I read many different genres and trust that they influence my writing in good ways 😉. I encourage anyone to try something outside of their normal genre and see what they find. There are probably more similarities than you think. Of course the dominating emotion you experience will probably be different than your go-to genre, but that’s part of the fun.
I listened to the audio book of this. My husband and I often start books on Audible around the same time, so we can discuss them together. I liked the alternating POVs, and for me Miller’s story was the most compelling. He’s basically a down on his luck noir detective, just on a space station. Also what happens to Julie Mao just screams anime, which gave me that little spark of nostalgia I like. (anti-gravity hair waving around and Akira-esque blobs of limbs…yes please) There’s a lot of political drama to this story and I assume there will be throughout the series. However, I am drawn to the more personal side of things, which Miller’s redemption story provides.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig: This is one of those over-hyped books I hadn’t yet picked up until my husband blew through it on a flight he took recently. He finds it hard to get through fiction books lately, so that was a win in itself. And it was a quick and easy read with some nice holiday heart. This book is basically It’s a Wonderful Life (something they tout in the marketing copy) for the 21st century. There are few scenes that stand out more than others, and it’s of course predictable, but it was fun nonetheless. Sometimes you need some feel-good fluff. Plus, who doesn’t reflect on their Book of Regrets, especially as we approach the new year? (If you like this theme, check out the Nonfiction version of this book: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman)
Q: What books have moved you lately? I’d love to know. It’s always nice to cozy up with a book at this time of year.
Take Care!
Jacqueline
The Women was a solid read. It gives voice to so many women who served in Vietnam. If you want another fantastic book that centers on women, check out The Red Tent. Historical fiction and powerful.