Book Review: An American Marriage: A Novel- by Tayari Jones-Women's Fiction

Hello dear Readers,

Below my book review of An American Marriage: A Novel by Tayari Jones.

Title: An American Marriage: A Novel

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Genre: Women's Fiction
Author: Tayari Jones

Publisher: Algonquin Books

Publication Date: February 06, 2018

Language: English

Hardcover: 320 pages
Meet the Author: Tayari Jones

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.

This stirring love story is a profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of three people who are at once bound and separated by forces beyond their control. An American Marriage is a masterpiece of storytelling, an intimate look deep into the souls of people who must reckon with the past while moving forward—with hope and pain—into the future.

My Thoughts

A well-written, thought-provoking story, about love, family, marriage and how complicated that can be, how a wrongful conviction and race-based injustice can change people's lives forever.

Roy and Celestial, a middle-class, African-American young couple, are separated by a terrible, unexpected situation. Their lives, their marriage changes when Roy is accused of a crime he didn't commit and they are forced to adapt to this new life and deal with it.

I was amazed by how strong, explosive at times, their interactions are throughout the entire story. I especially loved the portion of the book where they exchange letters while Roy is in prison. Loved how despite their situation, none are afraid of speaking their minds, we can better understand and have an intimate look at their relationship.

Overall, I liked the book a lot, liked the characters, the writing and all the different topics it explores, some of them very relevant nowadays.

Wendy

Book Review: WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game by Abby Wambach-Nonfiction

Hello dear Readers,

Below my book review of WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game by Abby Wambach.

Title: WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Nonfiction

Author: Abby Wambach

Publisher: Celadon Books

Publication Date: April 9, 2019

Language: English

Hardcover: 112 pages
Meet the Author: Abby Wambach
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

Based on her inspiring, viral 2018 commencement speech to Barnard College graduates in New York City, New York Times bestselling author, two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup champion Abby Wambach delivers her empowering rally cry for women to unleash their individual power, unite with their pack, and emerge victorious together.

Abby Wambach became a champion because of her incredible talent as a soccer player. She became an icon because of her remarkable wisdom as a leader. As the co-captain of the 2015 Women’s World Cup Champion Team, she created a culture not just of excellence, but of honor, commitment, resilience, and sisterhood. She helped transform a group of individual women into one of the most successful, powerful and united Wolfpacks of all time.

In her retirement, Abby’s ready to do the same for her new team: All Women Everywhere.

In Wolfpack, Abby’s message to women is:

We have never been Little Red Riding Hood. We Are the Wolves.

We must wander off the path and blaze a new one: together.

She insists that women must let go of old rules of leadership that neither include or serve them. She’s created a new set of Wolfpack rules to help women unleash their individual power, unite with their Wolfpack, and change the landscape of their lives and world: from the family room to the boardroom to the White House.

· Make failure your fuel: Transform failure to wisdom and power. 

· Lead from the bench: Lead from wherever you are. 

· Champion each other: Claim each woman’s victory as your own. 

· Demand the effing ball: Don’t ask permission: take what you’ve earned.

In Abby’s vision, we are not Little Red Riding Hoods, staying on the path because we’re told to. We are the wolves, fighting for a better tomorrow for ourselves, our pack, and all the future wolves who will come after us.

My Thoughts

Wow, wow, wow. Even though this is a very short and fast-paced book but what a powerful and uplifting one it is. One of these books that leaves you wanting more. Abby Wambach is such an inspiration. A woman encouraging other women. 

By sharing her own experiences, Abby shows us that our voice is important, that women, we are unique but together we can be the difference, that we together can make the difference. 

I loved this book, from page one to the end. A wonderful source of inspiration, knowledge, encouragement, love and unity.

ONE: YOU WERE ALWAYS THE WOLF
Old Rule: Stay on the path
New Rule: Create your own path

TWO: BE GRATEFUL AND AMBITIOUS
Old Rule: Be grateful for what you have
New Rule: Be grateful for what you have AND demand what you deserve

THREE: LEAD FROM THE BENCH
Old Rule: Wait for permission to lead
New Rule: Lead now- from wherever you are

FOUR: MAKE FAILURE YOUR FUEL
Old Rule: Failure means you’re out of the game
New Rule: Failure means you’re finally IN the game

FIVE: CHAMPION EACH OTHER
Old Rule: Be against each other
New Rule: Be FOR each other

SIX: DEMAND THE BALL
Old Rule: Be polite. Pass the ball
New Rule: Be confident. Demand the ball

SEVEN: BRING IT ALL
Old Rule: Lead with Dominance to Amass Followers
New Rule: Lead with Full Humanity to Cultivate Leaders

EIGHTH: FIND YOUR PACK
Old Rule: You’re on your own
New Rule: You’re at not alone. You’ve got your Pack

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy

Blog Tour: The Killer in Me: A Novel by Olivia Kiernan-Thriller/Suspense

BLOG TOUR: THE KILLER IN ME

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Killer in Me: A Novel by Olivia Kiernan

Olivia Kiernan’s debut novel Too Close to Breathe (Dutton, 2018) was called “equal parts Fiona Barton and Gillian Flynn” and now her thrilling new psychological suspense: THE KILLER IN ME (Dutton; on-sale: April 2, 2019) wows as a chilling new ccrime occurs in a sleepy Irish town.

“Well-paced sequel…[protagonist] Frankie’s insights at crime scenes, her close relationships with squad members, and the vivid picture of Dublin lift this police procedural.” —Publishers Weekly

“Tana French fans are a ready audience for the second in Kiernan’s series, which unravels murder cases undertaken by Dublin detective Frankie Sheehan…Kiernan’s smart writing carefully doles out twists and clues as the puzzle comes to an unexpected and nervous-making ending. Along the way, she paints a rich picture of contemporary Dublin life, its social pretenses and nothing-to-lose characters both crashing against the justice system. Readers will watch for more from Kiernan.” —Booklist

BOOK DESCRIPTION

A deadly past refuses to stay buried in Olivia Kiernan’s masterful new novel

Death is no stranger to Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan, but she isn’t the only one from her small, coastal suburb to be intimately acquainted with it. Years ago, teenager Seán Hennessey shocked the tight-knit community when he was convicted of the brutal murder of his parents and attempted slaying of his sister, though he always maintained his innocence. Now, Seán is finally being released from prison—but when his newfound freedom coincides with the discovery of two bodies, the alleged connection between the cases only serves to pull Frankie further from answers even as it draws her closer to her town’s hidden darkness. With a television documentary revisiting Seán’s sentence pushing the public’s sympathies into conflict on a weekly basis, a rabid media pressuring the police like never before, and a rising body count, Frankie will need all of her resources if she is not only to catch a killer, but put to rest what really happened all those years ago.

A dark, irresistible cocktail of secrets, murder, and family, Olivia Kiernan’s latest is an impossible-to-put-down triumph.

About the Author

Olivia Kiernan is an Irish writer living in the UK. She was born and raised in County Meath near the famed heritage town of Kells and holds an MA in creative writing awarded by the University of Sussex. She is also the author of Too Close to Breathe.

 MY THOUGHTS

 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What a fantastic thriller. Set in Dublin, The Killer in Me follows Detective Frankie Sheehan as he investigates a double murder. I have to say I really enjoyed the book, the twists, the suspense, the fast-paced narrative and very particular fascinated with how interesting character Detective Frankie is.

Thank you to the Publisher Dutton and Netgalley for the advanced free copy in exchange for an honest review, and Maria for inviting me to the Blog Tour.