First off, I am a huge fan of Sylvia Plath’s work. Both The Bell Jar and Ariel are two of my all-time favorite works. I'm not sure that I would have sFirst off, I am a huge fan of Sylvia Plath’s work. Both The Bell Jar and Ariel are two of my all-time favorite works. I'm not sure that I would have survived high school without the Bell Jar. So needless to say I was beyond ecstatic to receive a book centered around one of my all-time favorite authors!
The Last Confessions of Sylvia P is a historical fiction novel that reimagines how the Bell Jar was written.
At present time, Estee is a seasoned curator at an auction house when she discovers the original manuscript of The Bell Jar, written in Sylvia’s journal.
In 1953 Dr. Ruth Barnhouse is a psychiatrist who treats Sylvia while she is a patient at McLean hospital after a suicide attempt, motivates Sylvia to become the phenom that the world knows today.
In 1958 Fellow rival poet Boston Rhodes pushes Plath to write about her experiences while she was admitted to McLean hospital and ultimately forging her legacy.
This exquisite story is told through Estee’s, Dr. Ruth’s, and Boston’s point of view with alternating timelines.
I love it when a literary figure becomes the central focus of a book. In The Last Confessions of Sylvia P, we see who Sylvia Plath is through the eyes of three extraordinary women. The narration of these three women flowed tremendously to create an unforgettable story. At the center of this tale is a mystery that is pieced together by all three narratives.
The Last Confessions of Sylvia P is storytelling at it's finest. A massive congratulations to Lee Kravitz for writing such a brilliant debut novel! I highly recommend The Last Confessions of Sylvia P to all fans of the author, fans of The Bell Jar, as well as people who love a good historical fiction work.
The Last Confessions of Sylvia P will be available on March 8. A huge thanks to Harper Books for the gifted copy! ...more
“The Dragon raging inside you has a name, and it’s self-doubt. You’re the only one who can see it, so you’re the only one who can slay it.”
Slay Like “The Dragon raging inside you has a name, and it’s self-doubt. You’re the only one who can see it, so you’re the only one who can slay it.”
Slay Like A Mother sends the empowering message to today's modern woman that our biggest setback is ourselves. The negative voice in our heads telling us that we need to do more, we must agree to do things we don't want to do, how we have to keep up public appearances and so many more. Unlike so many self-help books that tell the reader what the problem is, Slay Like A Mother actually tells the reader how to solve the problem.
This book is divided into 4 parts with chapters in each part. There are also questions/exercises and checklists included in the book that help the reader become more self-aware and to help solve their struggles. Also included are diagrams of the research the author conducted while writing this book and gorgeous illustrations of motivational quotes.
I'm always skeptical of self-help books. I feel like a lot of self-help books give readers false hope and unrealistic advice that ultimately make the reader feel worse. Also, a lot of these books generally give bad and sometimes harmful advice. But Slay Like A Mother is an exception to this genre. It lists realistic and obtainable goals, and it also gives advice that I feel will help a lot of women. Plus the research that was conducted in this story is 100% credible. After reading this amazing book, I feel more motivated and I feel as if a weight has been lifted! I would highly recommend this book to all women(not just mothers) and this would be a wonderful gift for all of the women in your life!
Slay Like A Mother is available now from Source Books. A massive thanks to Katherine Wintsch for the gifted and signed copy of Slay Like A Mother! ...more
Claire has just given birth to her child and is suffering from post-partum depression. She travels to her hometown of Reno, Nevada for an au3.5 stars
Claire has just given birth to her child and is suffering from post-partum depression. She travels to her hometown of Reno, Nevada for an author's event where she meets up with some former friends, eats some mushrooms, and hallucinates in the desert. Suddenly Claire realizes that she does not want to go back to her life of being a mother and wife.
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness is a brilliant fusion of autobiography and fiction. The first part of the book introduces the reader to Claire's parents and how they met. Next up is the story of Claire traveling to Reno while she does some soul searching. The chapters also alternate with a series of letter’s that Claire’s mother wrote before she died of an Opiod overdose.
I love it when an author takes a serious topic and does the impossible: makes it humorous. Here, the author has taken motherhood, specifically ppd and made it hilarious. I personally suffered from post partum depression after I had my last child so I found much of what Claire was feeling as highly relateable. Also I feel as if a lot of mothers daydream about doing what Claire did in this story but could not or would not ever do it.
Claire Vaye Watkins is a very talented author. This book is wildly imaginative yet brutally raw. Cleverly written and wildly imaginative. I feel as if many women (especially) mothers will find Claire as a kindred spirit and will connect to her beautiful, and honest storytelling.
I would highly recommend this book to all readers of literary fiction as well as fans of dark humor.
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness was published on October 5 and is available now. A massive thanks to Riverhead Books for the gifted copy of this extraordinary book!...more
I've always been fascinated by stories of people who live in the wilderness and survive off the land. I live in the Appalachian region so I was very iI've always been fascinated by stories of people who live in the wilderness and survive off the land. I live in the Appalachian region so I was very intrigued with the synopsis of this book.
Cooper and his eight-year-old daughter Finch live in the remote wilderness of the Appalachian mountains. They live in a cabin with no electricity, or no running water. The only connections to the outside world are their hermit neighbor Scotland, and once a year Cooper’s friend Jake who delivers supplies to them. But this year Jake doesn't show up. Cooper is concealing some secrets of his past that could drastically alter his life forever if he and Finch are ever found.
This atmospheric and captivating story pulled me in and did not let go. This is my first book by the author and I am very impressed.
All of the characters in this book were dimensional and extremely well written. I loved the main character, Cooper. Cooper’s history as an Afghanistan veteran with PTSD is very heartbreaking. Also without spoiling anything, as a parent myself, I completely understand why he made certain choices.
The ending wrapped everything up beautifully. This magnificent story is one that I will not forget anytime soon. It's one of those books that stick with you way after you finish reading.
Even though this book has some elements of a thriller I wouldn't consider it as a typical thriller it's more of a fictional story focusing on the bond between a father and his daughter. I would highly recommend this to readers who enjoy stories about families surviving the odds, and stories about the unconditional love between a child and a parent.
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant will be available on October 26. Many thanks to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! ...more
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