Litsy

bibliothecarivs

No Unhallowed Hand | Gerald N. Lund

Random book from our home library:

📖 No Unhallowed Hand (The Work and the Glory 7) by Gerald Lund

2 likes

Robotswithpersonality

The Broken Road: A Novel | Richard Paul Evans

so-so

Major caveat here: if I didn't have a vague idea of how this trilogy ended, I wouldn't be continuing to the next book. At the moment, I deem it worthwhile to continue, because I think having the full story told in this manner will add to the catharsis/emotional impact of the ending. But, from a 'single book' perspective, Evans has made a bold choice in making the entire work background for the narrative 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? that is hinted at continuing in the next book, in the prologue. You know how I feel about cliffhangers. There are multiple timelines, lead up to an important event, flashbacks, and backstory, but you're not only JUST getting the set up, you're getting ALL of the ways life has been shitty for this character. 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 3/? When this was pitched to me, I thought my biggest issue would be the mistakes, the choices the main character has made and how they've affected other people, but as it turns out, those pale in comparison to all the horrible things that happened to this character growing up. What makes me so damn sad is how much of the experiences related mirror the life story of so many abused and disadvantaged people. 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 4/? It just puts the idea of highlighting one character who found a second chance in a strange fairy tale, chosen one light that I think could be more mocking than escapist to those who've had to deal with real trauma and it's aftermath without that kind of luck. How close do the books as a whole come to the huckster self-help vibes of the sales seminar narrative, live your dreams, change your life, etc? 🤨 1mo

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Robotswithpersonality 5/? I know this author is famous for Christmas books - do they also follow the 'I have wacked your thumb with a hammer (emotionally upsetting background) now here's a chocolate bar (happy/hopeful ending) now don't you feel grateful and joyful (the ache of endorphins and the thrill of sugar)' formula? 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 6/? Skilled emotional manipulation is a cornerstone to a number of different kinds of narratives, but when the story really doesn't have more plot than just everything these people have gone through, it makes the message conveyed that much more crucial, and I worry that I will rate the latter books in this trilogy higher based on how they make me feel, (an accomplishment in itself) even if the story itself is...lacking. 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 7/? By which I mean I'm looking for a message that isn't too tired and I'm not sure I've glimpsed it yet, and if you're going to spend nearly 300 pages making me sad, there really should be a damn good reason, beyond life lessons I figured out a decade ago. 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 8/? I also admit to being on shaky ground with the amount of God/Bible references - it really does feel like those who are lapsed from a religion are in some ways closer to it or at least never fully separated - and the simple moralizing that always seems to follow in its wake. 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 9/? Also feeling a little odd about proposed end goal of the trip - that's a lot of years to suddenly decide on a need to resolve that particular issue - I think a journey for personal growth/redemption/reflection/planning for a different future, without relying on absolution from a particular individual, might be a healthier mindset, but love makes you do the wacky. 🤷🏼‍♂️ 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 10/? So given all that, why would I continue? Because a smart reader who recommended this to me started with the third book in the series and then went back, so I still have hopes for where the story goes. And since I read the first book first, why not read the second book, second? Thanks goodness the full trilogy is out, I'd lose my shit if I had to wait after this ending. 1mo

Robotswithpersonality 11/11 P.S. I don't know if Evans shares the main character's Mexican heritage or OCD, but that rep is in here.
⚠️suicide, child abuse, racism, racist-based violence/hate crime, assault 1mo

8 likes10 comments

bibliothecarivs

Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary | John E. Rotelle

Recent acquisitions:

📖 The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
📖 Saint Joseph Prayer Book

Raised Mormon, I'm now a religious Humanist with an affinity for pagan nature worship and Catholic æsthetics who regularly attends progressive high church Episcopal mass with my Christian wife, Amy. Yes, it's complicated. The Mary book is in Latin & English 🤍

6 likes

Eggs

Listen to the Silent Night | Dandi Daley Mackall

“In the quiet of the night, listen to the whispers of your soul, for there you will find the greatest wisdom."

#Family #ChristmasCheer

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 😍 3mo

Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you 🙏🏻 3mo

41 likes2 comments

JuliaTheBookNerd

Christmas in the Manger Board Book | Nola Buck

#Manger ? ? ?

#ChristmasCheer ?°❆⛄⋆.ೃ࿔?*:･❄️

#BookNerd ???

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs Love the bookish tree👌🏼 3mo

33 likes1 comment

Vivlio_Gnosi

New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional | Paul David Tripp

#nonfiction #religious

3 likes

BethM

Birth of an Age | James BeauSeigneur

so-so

I‘m beginning to think all these reviewers are drunk. This was better than the first but not great. A lot of superfluous detail which equated to a lot of skimming. The author‘s note says Christian‘s should read the whole series before judging. That‘s because this book borders on heretical 😂 so weird.

Avanders 😳🤭 5mo

29 likes1 comment

TheBookgeekFrau

The Last Testament: A Memoir | David Javerbaum

#AboutABook #YouGifted

This was everyone's Christmas gift one year; spreading laughter is spreading joy

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 👍🏻 6mo

Eggs LOL 😂 6mo

37 likes2 comments

Sleepswithbooks

23 Minutes in Hell | Bill Wiese

Completed a fiction and nonfiction from my TBR pile this week 😃

56 likes

mobill76

Holy Moments: A Handbook for the Rest of Your Life | Matthew Kelly

This was my gift from the local church. It passed the censors by being an unimaginative tattoo of the idea that "the Messiah is among you. Choose to make each moment holy." That's not how it works. Nobody cares. I am evil but I could choose to be good. So what? Tell me a story, like... The Five People (YMiH). Give me a vision of how life might work and how my choices affect things. This is a common flaw in "inspirational" literature. No story.

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