The Art of Falling by Kathryn Craft

Release Date: January 28, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
From her earliest memories, Penelope Sparrow's life centered around dance. When she awoke in a hospital bed, bound by injuries and doctor's orders, she began to wonder if her life would ever regain the momentum it once had. All she had ever known was ripped away from her in one moment.

Fighting to regain her footing in the world, Penelope must deal with both her physical and mental wounds caused by her accident and the events leading up to it. Along the way she meets a group of people who will offer her help - if she can conquer her demons. The main question on her mind is will she ever dance again?

Review:
I requested permission to read this book at NetGalley because both the cover and description intrigued me. What I thought would be a mystery turned into something more by the time I was a quarter of the way through the book. The cover is beautiful in its simplicity and portrays the feeling of weightlessness perfectly. In a sense it mimics what we can feel when we let go of the chains that bind us and do what is in our hearts.

The story affected me a lot more than I had anticipated. Not only was the story about a woman triumphing over adversity, in this case a pretty severe accident that she was lucky to live through, but it was also a story about healing in nearly every aspect of the word. Having watched someone close to me suffer through a chronic illness and then leave this mortal world, I could picture everything Angela was going through and then some. In a way, I was Penelope in some moments.

Because I connected with the story, the characters seemed more alive to me. At first I couldn't understand some of the reasoning behind the actions of a few characters. Once the story progressed, the ideas behind the worries and the reactions became clear. To me, it made them seem as real and flawed as we all are. But I'll be honest. There were a number of times I wanted to smack Penelope to get her to open her eyes. Still, she had to learn in her own time - exactly as we have to in this life.

From the first word to the last, the story moves at a steady pace. The minor characters and actions support the main characters and storyline perfectly. It all adds up to a very compelling and illuminated story on a number of levels. The author manages to tackle issues from life and death to battling one's self-degradation. She is able to do this in a thought-provoking and caring manner which disarms the reader and pulls them further into the characters world.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. Even though I need a few tissues at specific moments, it was well worth the snubby nose. If you're looking for an engaging and uplifting, educating story, this book is one to put at the top of your list.

The Art of Falling by Kathryn Craft is available in either paperback or Kindle form. It can be purchased from Amazon.com by clicking the link provided below.
The Art of Falling by Kathryn Craft

Currently Reading

Hello, readers! Good to have you with me on this cold Wednesday. Winter has definitely reasserted herself as top season around here. I guess we'll have to keep these heaters and blankets handy a bit longer. As for me, it's limited my work on the Brown-Brooks Project (crocheting granny squares). On the other hand, it's allowed me much more time for reading, reviewing and writing!

In the middle of all this lovely coldness, there's a contest going on! On Monday, I posted my review of a great book set to be released on 2/4. Etched on Me by Jenn Crowell is one of the books you won't want to miss out on reading. So, for those of you in the US or Canada, click HERE to enter the contest. One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of the book! How awesome is that! You can enter all week until 2/4/14, so get to entering!


Currently, I'm reading;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
Everybody's Got a Story (Toronto #12) by Heather Wardell
Joe Victim: A Thriller by Paul Cleave


I finished the following;
Twelve Nation: Book of Epoch by Michael Reiss, Walter Timoshenko, Darryl Kravitz
House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty
The Law of Second Chances (Jack Tobin #2) by James Sheehan


No matter what you're working on this week, I wish you lots of productive, fun moments. Okay, warm ones too, if you need them. Good luck!

Until next time,
Kay B

Contest Time!

Welcome to the first contest here at CoWA!

I posted a review of Etched on Me by Jenn Crowell earlier today. It was a great read so I want to pass the opportunity to read it along to one of my fabulous readers!

Starting today until the book's release on February 4th, you can enter to win a signed copy of the book in paperback form! How cool is that?

The rules:

• Live in either the US or Canada.
• Fill out the form at Rafflecopter below (it's free!)
• Make sure I have an email to contact if you win!

That's it! Keep racking up those points until February 4th. A winner will then be selected and notified by me through email to confirm details for shipment. Then the book will be on its way. So, without further ado, get to getting those points!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck! Remember to spread the word!

Until next time,
Kay B 

Etched on Me: A Novel by Jenn Crowell

Release Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Washington Square Press


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.


Synopsis:
After escaping the hellish torment of an abusive father and disinterested mother, Lesley Halloway found refuge in the Child Protective Services, which gave her the freedom she longed for. However, being a teenager on her own with responsibilities of work and school, Lesley soon found the weight to be unbearable and turned to self-harming as a way to cope with the nightmares and pressure. She spent time in several psychiatric facilities and learned the tools necessary to live a productive, happy life.

Conquering her fears and triggers, Lesley pushed herself past her limits to make something of herself. All was well until she found herself unexpectedly pregnant. Lesley's past called into question her ability to care for a child and the same agency that helped to save her life was now trying to take her child. Will Lesley be able to her bad habits in the past? Will she be able to be the mother she dreamt of being?


Review:
As I was looking through the titles at NetGalley one day, this book stood out from the rest on the page. I felt that the subject matter discussed within the book was very much relevant to the lives of many people in the world today. Given the amount of people inhabiting the Earth this minute, it wasn't a stretch to think that a similar situation had taken place. Though the story is set in the UK, it could very well happen any place where the stigma of mental illness and self-harm resonated loudly.

From the first introduction into Lesley's world, it became very clear that she was strong, determined and resourceful. These traits were her saving grace as well as her downfall as her mental ill spiraled out of control once she was out of the abusive situation and into a relatively safe environment. The author made it quite easy for the reader to feel a connection with Leslie, both cheering her on as she made strides to correct her path and emphasizing with her when she made mistakes.

At times the story seemed more like a memoir than a fictional tale. The authenticity of the characters' reactions, thoughts and emotions lent a different kind of realness to the story that I found both enjoyable and heart-breaking. With almost seamless transitions between scenes, the pacing of the book was steady and natural in its progression from the beginning of Lesley's journey to the end of the court battle. Though we, the readers, weren't privy to a lot of the information behind the scenes, we were given front row seats to life as Lesley knew it, felt it, and learned to deal with it.

Witnessing everything that Lesley had to endure was difficult at times, but each experience also led her to create a support system that was loving and nothing like she endured at home. I was both happy and appalled at how the system which readily helped her as a child became the source of further pain and torment during her adult years after touting her successes. Unfortunately that turn of events has played out many times within my own country as I'm sure it has in other countries as well. There are several lessons within this book that would be beneficial to many people if they heed them, myself included.

Overall, I enjoyed this book because it seemed very much like a memoir. It thrust a spotlight on the double standard in certain fields that leaves many people feeling as though they are worthless and have no hopes or aspirations. Try as they might, they were always falling short of the goal because the goal was being moved further away from them. Instead of letting that system continue its behavior, Lesley and others fought back. With beautifully flawed yet approachable characters, the author used a fictional story as a launching pad for discussion and debate that could very well lead to positive changes. If you're looking for an endearing, hauntingly real tale that gives as much as it takes, I would highly recommend this book.

Etched on Me: A Novel by Jenn Crowell will be available for purchase at many online retailers in February 2014. You can pre-order a copy from Amazon in either paperback or Kindle format by clicking the link below.
Etched on Me: A Novel by Jenn Crowell

Pigs Can't Swim: A Memoir by Helen Peppe

Release Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Da Capo Press

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Writing about one's life can be eventful - especially if you grew up in rural Maine on a farm filled with animals, unruly children and two worn-out parents. Helen Peppe spends her childhood trying to find her place among a brood of nine children, many of whom are years ahead of her. Her inquisitive mind rattles the patience of everyone around her and sets a course for her that she could never have imagined.

Written with honesty and wonder, Helen explores her childhood years in order to better understand what her future may hold. She presents the good, the bad and sometimes the very bad to the reader, bringing her life story to greater clarity. Filled with humor as well as heartache, she shows a side of rural life that many in her generation experienced but few truly understood.

Review:
I found many interesting books available on NetGalley, but few touched my heart with a sense of real honesty. This book was one of those, presenting the many different angles of the author's childhood way of life. From her early years to those confusing teenage years, the author relived the memories that provided life lessons, motivation and sometimes grief to the education she received at school.

There were a number of times that I felt for the author. Her older siblings considered her life to be much easier than the ones they had but the author also acknowledged how hard they and their parents had to work in order to make ends meet. Not only did she write about the darker side of growing up in the country, she also gave the reader a glimpse of how innocent children were back in her generation. In many of her anecdotes, I could see some of my own family members. It made the people within the memoir seem more familiar to me than simple characters within a book.

I cringed when the bad times came into the author's life, wanting more for her to be more than a simple housewife or farmer's wife. When she was placed into a position beyond her understanding, I wanted someone to stand up for her - to protect her innocence. It made me angry that she became the one to blame instead of the perpetrator. Further into the book, I cheered when she realized her worth and was glad that she fought to keep a hold on the one person who could see it as well.

This memoir ran the gamut of emotions, taking me right along with each page I read. The ease in which the author told her story helped to keep the pages turning and made me want to know what was going to happen next. Even if it was something I dreaded to learn, I wanted to read the next page, next chapter. The author didn't try to make herself better than the truth. She wrote about her mistakes as readily as her accomplishments and I believe this made the difference for me. If you're looking for an uplifting, honest and down-to-earth type of memoir, I would put this one at the top of your list.

Pigs Can't Swim: A Memoir by Helen Peppe will be available for purchase in February 2014. You can pre-order a copy in either hardcover or audio-book format from several online retailers. A link to Amazon is provided below.
Pigs Can't Swim: A Memoir by Helen Peppe

Currently Reading

Can it be Spring soon? It's so very cold outside. My bones aches, my nose runs and I feel like I've been hit by a truck or two. Winter is not a kind season for me, but this one has packed a wallop! It's a very good thing I have some warm blankets and plenty of word-filled company.

Unfortunately, I've been sick for the past three days. This funk seems to like its current home so I'll probably be battling whatever it is for a while longer. In between naps, I've been able to get a few more books off the TBR pile as well as some editing finished on my NaNo2012. I really thought simply writing the book was the hardest part. Boy, am I ever wrong! This revision/editing process was an eye-opening experience, to say the least. But I love learning, so it's not been so bad.


Next up on the TBR list;
The Saeshell Book of Time, Part 1: The Death of Innocents (Children of Sophista #1) by Rusty Biesele
The Law of Second Chances (Jack Tobin #2) by James Sheehan
Twelve Nation: Book of Epoch by Michael Reiss, Walter Timoshenko, Darryl Kravitz
House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty

Crossed these off the list;
The Innocent Sleep: A Novel by Karen Perry
A White Wind Blew: A Novel of Waverly Hills by James Markert 


How many of you are stuck indoors this season? Whether it's bitter cold in US or heat in Australia, does the weather affect your writing? I'm interested to know your answers. Please, leave your answers in the comments below.

Until next time,
Kay B

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins

Release Date: August 24, 2010
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Series: The Hunger Games

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Katniss has survived the Quarter Quell but herself in the middle of a war for which she wasn't truly prepared to fight. In the mythical District 13, she learns many of her loved ones are safe while a handful remain in the clutches of the Capitol. She knows they will be soon used to get her attention, to make her slip up somehow or to be break down completely.

To finish off the Capitol and exact revenge upon the man responsible, Katniss must come to terms with what she wants in her heart and what is being expected of her by the government of District 13 and the rebels themselves. Can she truly be the mockingjay, a sign of change for the masses? Will she keep all those she holds dear safe in the process?

Review:
Ignoring the repeated warnings of fellow word addicts, I continued with the trilogy. When I finished book two, I knew that I would have to simply deal with whatever I found in the last book because I'm one of the weird people who need to know the full story. Leaving the story alone after how it ended in book two was never an option for me. I was comforted by their warnings but in reality, they did nothing to prepare me for the events that came to pass within the pages of this book. 

The story began not long after the events of the Quarter Quell within the arena and the punishment for those actions had been doled out accordingly. Katniss and few others were rescued from the area and taken to safety within the underground facilities of District 13. Previously thought to be lifeless, it comes at a complete shock to many when a whole system of government and military capabilities are revealed to the refugees of District 12 and the others rescued. To Katniss' (and the readers') dismay, not all the allied tributes in the arena made it out together.

Of course, the events of the books are told through Katniss' eyes which allowed me to almost feel as though I was in those places myself. Having come to know the characters in the previous books made them feel like family so when things begin to happen, the feelings of hurt, loss and pain were easily invoked. In all honesty, it seemed like every single time life began to settle down for the people, something would happen and chaos would erupt all around them again. The pace was constant and unrelenting, even to the end when nearly all the questions were answered.

In truth, I couldn't put the book down once I began reading it. I tried to read for a specific amount of time only to go over my limit because I wanted to know what happened next. This book reads so quickly that I actually devoured the entire book one Sunday afternoon. Between long-awaited answers and new, disturbing dilemmas, there was always something to discover on the next page or in the next paragraph. If you are wanting to invest in an engaging, heart-wrenching trilogy, then I'd say pick up this book (and the previous two as well)!

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins is currently available at many retailers, including those online. You can purchase the book in various forms such as paperback, hardback, Kindle and audio-book formats. Clicking the link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins