Review: THE PIPER'S SON by Melina Marchetta

Title: The Piper's Son

Author: Melina Marchetta

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Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: March 1, 2010
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Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca—but five years have passed, and now it's Thomas Mackee who needs saving.

After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can't forget. Shooting for oblivion, he's hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom's in no shape to mend what's broken. But what if no one else is either?

An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship. The Piper's Son redefines what it means to go home again.

 

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"But grieving people are selfish. They won't let you comfort them and they say you don't understand 

and they make you feel useless when all your life you've been functional to them"

I'd like to begin with a shout out to You Know Who You Are (x2) for continuously bringing the topic of Thomas Mackee on my Twitter timeline at the most random times. But, hey! I've finally made it to this moment and fully understand why Melina Marchetta is magical and awe-mazing. I've read three of her books now, and I have to say her storytelling/narrative is absolutely lovely. Each book has hit me straight in the feels! I will admit that I shed tears with this one. Strong family and friendship dynamics in a book is a weakness of mine. The Piper's Son had both elements in spades. Everyone pick up her books soon because I've fallen in a hole and would prefer for others to suffer with me but I only wish for the best for these characters. No more pain please, only good things please. 

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

Waiting on Wednesday was a weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine, 

for sharing upcoming releases we're highly anticipating.
Now, Tressa at Wishful Endings hosts Can't Wait Wednesday that is based off of WoW to continue the fun!

Review: THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware

Title: The Woman in Cabin 10

Author: Ruth Ware

Standalone
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Publication Date: June 30, 2016
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Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo's stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparking, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo's desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong.  

 

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"There's a reason why we keep thoughts inside our heads 

for the most part—they're not safe to be let out in public."

This book triggered all my wannabe Detective Conan skills! Just ask my cousin who I religiously kept updated on my reactions and critical deductions (whether or not she was a willing participant of these impromptu book club messages is unknown). Some of my guesses were not too far off from the truth either. When the book first released, the hype was all over my social media and had caught my interest as a new fan of thriller novels. I was curious if I would like the story because, I was more interested in procedural crime type mysteries/thrillers at the time. It was fun getting my brain working and trying to figure out the what happened though. Hopefully there will be a book-to-movie adaptation of The Woman in Cabin 10, I would watch it!

Top Ten Bookmarks

- - - Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme, created at The Broke and The Bookish but now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl, where a new topic is given for a top ten book-related list - - -

This week's prompt is 'Favorite Bookmarks' and oh what a struggle it was to pick my top ten! I haven't been reading much lately but no fear, my bookmarks are still being used well~ They make textbook reading a little more bearable heh.

Review: JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta

Title: Jellicoe Road

Author: Melina Marchetta

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Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: March 9, 2010
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At age eleven, Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother. At fourteen, she ran away from boarding school, only to be tracked down and brought back by a mysterious stranger. Now seventeen, Taylor's the reluctant leader of her school's underground community, whose annual territory war with the Townies and visiting Cadets has just begun. This year, though, the Cadets are led by Jonah Griggs, and Taylor can't avoid his intense gaze for long. To make matters worse, Hannah, the one adult Taylor trusts, has disappeared. But if Taylor can piece together the clues Hannah left behind, the truth she uncovers might not just settle her past, but also change her future.

 

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"Some people say their prayers at night. I don't. What I say is always the same.

My name is Taylor Markham. I live on the Jellicoe Road."

I can honestly say I did not expect such an intricate and beautifully written story. I have book pals who've raved about this author and this book. Of course they recommended it to me and in typical reader fashion, I put it on the back burner with my Mt. TBR *smh*. I finally see why this book is often referenced and brought up again and again on my book feeds. There is a reason Jellicoe Road won an award, people!!

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

Waiting on Wednesday was a weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine, 

for sharing upcoming releases we're highly anticipating.
Now, Tressa at Wishful Endings hosts Can't Wait Wednesday that is based off of WoW to continue the fun!

Dual Review: SLOW BURN + FALLING HARD

2019 Confession: I had this review drafted and incomplete for about 3 years [shame on meee]... I've left everything as is and just added a bit to my FH review after a reread. Finally I can let it out into the blogosphere!

~*~

I started these books the last week of winter term—before final exams. Nothing like some sweet and sexy romance books from one of my all-time favorite authors to get my heart thumping and raring to go for my exams right? Hahahah. Not. I didn't know what I was thinking, but even with the need to study, I wasn't able to stop reading. I couldn't fight the temptation!! It may or may not have been the covers calling out to me as I skimmed through my library putting together a summer tbr. What can I say, half naked firefighter covers are a weakness of mine. From the first chapter, I was on a PC [Pamela Clare] high and zoomed through Slow Burn and Falling Hard as if my life depended on it!

Top Ten Book Characters I'd Love To Be Besties With

- - - Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme, created at The Broke and The Bookish but now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl, where a new topic is given for a top ten book-related list - - -

Most of these characters are ones I would love to be besties with and just know we would click or have the most fun times together. For some, I feel I would be too nervous to hang out with them or be a one-sided bestie hoping they'll look my way and take me in as a protégé or something hah. I tried to include a variety of characters but let me be honest, I can't be besties with a hero... I'm 9/10 going to be secretly in love with him. :')

On a personal note: this bluebird is flying the nest... again!

Hello, hello blogosphere! It's been over two years since I've last been here with a book review or any kind of post really... TWO YEARS. And in that time I feel like I've grown? Mentally and emotionally that is. Physically, I'm still my usual ball of fluff but maybe an inch or two taller *proud smirk* I thought it was time I made a comeback, no matter how small. It's the start of a new year [well half way through one heheh] and I hope to post at least one review a month. I've been doing a better job at keeping track of my read books list and thoughts! I won't be reviewing every book I read but a select few. I also hope to not procrastinate any longer and push my reviews back to start a new book. I've found that this method does not work at all for me ahhh ;__;