teacups and bookmarks

  No song lyrics in this review, folks. But don’t worry. I tie in another medium of pop-culture to make up for the lack of musical tie-ins. A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder was my introduction to Holly Jackson’s writing, and that was all it took. I was hooked.  A few years back, my husband and I listened to the Serial (season one) podcast. I was captivated. If you are unfamiliar, Serial (season one) follows the story of Adnan Syed and his whereabouts at the time his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, went missing and was later found murdered and buried in a shallow grave. Sarah Koenig combined interviews with witnesses, as well as Adnan, to try to piece together what happened in January 1999. Her ability to draw listeners in and keep their attention focused is a force to be reckoned with. I imagine Holly Jackson would agree, if asked. A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder , the first in a series of three, follows the story of Pip Fitz-Amobi as she attempts to solve the mystery of Andie Bell ...

  How The Word Is Passed by Clint Smith Published 2021 This is a hard book to stomach. But isn't that the point? Slavery is not pretty. It cannot be wrapped and presented neatly with a bow. It is violent and dehumanizing. It is degrading and horrific. And, if you have taken a history class in the United States of America, you have likely not even heard the stories Clint Smith covers.  Smith delved into stories I did not know about Monticello Plantation, Whitney Plantation, Angola Prison, Blandford Cemetery, Galveston Island, New York City, and Goree Island. This is not to say I have never heard of these places. I knew Jefferson lived at Monticello. I have been to Galveston and knew a very simplistic history of Juneteenth. Everyone knows stories about New York City. This is more to say that I did not know how deeply entrenched these places were in the history of slavery in our country. I did not know of the children Jefferson fathered with Sally Hemmings. I did not know th...

The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin          Published 2020 "You lie you don't want to hurt me So you lie, buy a little time, and I go along What else can I do, maybe it's wrong But you know how much I love you So you lie, 'til you can find a way to say goodbye You lie" "You Lie" by Reba McIntire Is it ever okay to lie?  If yes, when? At what point does a little white lie turn in to a lie too overwhelming to look over? These are all questions I asked myself as I read The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin. How long does it take to fall in love? This is certainly what Cecily must be thinking after meeting Grant in a dimly lit bar nursing a broken heart after ending her year's long relationship with Matthew. But timing is everything, and Grant is leaving for London soon. Then comes the day when Cecily's ex-boyfriend, Matthew, emails her asking to see her again. A meeting that takes place the same day Grant leaves for London. Cecily meets with Matthew,...

A Heart In A Body In The World by Deb Caletti published 2018 “It's hard to name a tragedy When it keeps repeating It's hard to name a tragedy Constantly defeated” “Lock & Load” by The Devil Wears Prada When I started reading this book, I thought I had it all figured out. All the signs were there. All the imagery. All the hints. All of it. Even the monster. I thought, "this is predictable." "I have it all figured out." But I was wrong. Boy, was I wrong. But it didn't matter. I was already invested. Caletti's writing drew me in instantly and I was along for the ride, because I hate running. One night Annabelle Agnelli starts running, literally, and she doesn't stop. Not figuratively anyway. Annabelle is running for the hurt she us feeling. For clarity. For acceptance. For awareness. And most importantly, for healing.  After her encounter with the monster, she has so much trauma to work through and process. She lost so much. Things she can n...