Mini Review Thursday: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

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Goodreads Blurb:

"Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes? 

Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings."

Book Review Monday: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

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Goodreads Blurb:

"Libby Day was just seven years old when her evidence put her fifteen-year-old brother behind bars.

Since then, she had been drifting. But when she is contacted by a group who are convinced of Ben's innocence, Libby starts to ask questions she never dared to before. Was the voice she heard her brother's? Ben was a misfit in their small town, but was he capable of murder? Are there secrets to uncover at the family farm or is Libby deluding herself because she wants her brother back?

She begins to realise that everyone in her family had something to hide that day... especially Ben. Now, twenty-four years later, the truth is going to be even harder to find.

Who did massacre the Day family?"

Review:

Finishing this book was like running a marathon to me (I haven't actually run one... sorry!).  It was just so consuming and exhausting and drawn out.  I'm going with my sixth sense here and giving it three stars.

First of all, it was just hard to read for me.  I was constantly checking to see how many chapters I had left.  I realize that this is a mystery and Libby needed to find clues but honestly, it just seemed a bit drawn out to me.  And for the ending, it was drawn out and then all of a sudden it just... ended.  Like the author ran out of twists and turns for 'that night' and called it quits.  I did like how it ended and who was responsible... I just felt like that could have been expanded on more.

As for Libby, she was extremely self-absorbed, brutally honest, and prejudiced.  I applaud Ms. Flynn for writing from the perspective of such a despicable and unlikable character.  We have too many likable characters nowadays and we all think everyone is so nice and cheery or at the very least tolerable.  But to read a book from such a different character.  Well it was refreshing.  A breath of fresh air.

The one other thing that I loved was how the different POV's uncovered the timeline of 'that night' at nearly the same time that Libby found it out for herself by talking to people.  It was a very good way to ensure that we as readers got the whole story but still keep it a mystery.

The Final Verdict:

This book didn't really draw me in and I had a hard time finishing the book.  The POV's were excellent as well as Libby's character but the ending was a bit abrupt.

3 stars

Quotes:

“I was not a lovable child, and I'd grown into a deeply unlovable adult. Draw a picture of my soul, and it'd be a scribble with fangs.” 

“I felt something loosen in me, that shouldn't have loosened. A stitch come undone.” 

“I was raised feral, and I mostly stayed that way.” 

“Coffee goes great with sudden death.” 

“I have a meanness inside of me, real as an organ.” 

“The actual stuff my family owned, those boxes under my stairs, I can't quite bear to look at. I like other people's things better. They come with other people's history.” 

“The truly frightening flaw in humanity is our capacity for cruelty - we all have it.” 

Heart to Heart by Lurlene McDaniel

I'm actually giving this one a 3.5 for one reason in particular - it didn't really have... substance. Yes, it was so touching and made me cry and was a beautiful story about love and loss and redemption and healing but it just didn't have any luster. I have to say, I love reading Lurlene McDaniel's writing but I don't know, this one just didn't click right with me. By all means read it! It's a good book and will get you thinking about the important things in your life. I just didn't find it that outstanding.