This is the 3rd book I‘ve read by this author and my least favorite. It was a fast paced page turner but the writing was rather juvenile, especially Izzy‘s timeline.
This is the 3rd book I‘ve read by this author and my least favorite. It was a fast paced page turner but the writing was rather juvenile, especially Izzy‘s timeline.
Izzie is trying to finish high school and trying to live with the night that changed her life. A night that landed her in foster care and her Mom in prison. Her foster parents include her in a project of working to catalog items found at an old insane asylum. There she comes across the diary of Clara. 1920's flapper Clara is admitted wrongfully to the asylum and desperately wants to get out to return to the love her life.
This was my March #BookSpin. Alternating between two time periods, it tells of Clara, a young woman put into an asylum in the 1930s, and Izzy, 60 years later, coming to terms with her mother‘s imprisonment, who discovers Clara‘s journal and searches for more information on Clara‘s life. It‘s a heart-wrenching story, hard to read at times but engrossing too. My one complaint is that a sub-plot of the 1990s story seemed unnecessary and faded away.
This book was a roller coaster of emotions. The dark and brutal torture people were put through in asylums back in the day was shocking and horrifying to read. The bright light in this book was Izzy‘s determination to right the life of Clara who was so grievously wronged by her parents and the institution. The ending of this book was emotional and beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Wow this story was so good. It left a lasting impression on me. I would probably reread this in the future.
#7days7covers #covercrush #day4
@quietjenn would you like to play? 7 days, 7 covers, no explanations. Tag a new friend each day.
@Lynnsoprano @vonnie862
I got halfway through this very sad story. I guess I just can't read about the horrors of insane asylums of the early 1900s. And I couldn't deal with a perfectly same woman being incarcerated by her father. I had to stop. It was just bothering me way too much
I actually stayed up late and finished this one - I was able to finish it in 2 days, which is rare for me. So it was a good balance of easy to read, fast-moving, and interesting enough to keep me engaged. I did think many of the schoolmates were one-dimensional and too conveniently used as plot devices instead of being interesting characters in their own right. Worth a read though, if the summary sounds interesting to you at all.
Finally finished the September #lmpbc selection and will mail it to @Mem_ugh tomorrow. I think that the author is a gifted descriptive writer. The book focuses on a woman living in an insane asylum in the 1930s and then a teenager researching it in the 1990s. It highlights parent-child relationships and madness vs sanity. Parts of it were pretty brutal to read, as you might expect. 💔 Between a Pick and So-So for me.
I‘ve been spending the week with my family as my dad had some major surgery. I brought lots of books with me including this one (my #lmpbc book that is overdue to my next group member), but I haven‘t had much attention for reading. My dad seems to be getting stronger every day, so I hope to keep going on this book this afternoon. It has my interest so far! @ErinSueG @Mem_ugh @kstadt929
I don‘t want to say too much because the rest of my #LMPBC group will be getting this after me, but this book gave me all the feels. I was completely invested in the story and finding out about Clara and Izzy‘s lives. This was very different from other books I have read recently, I loved the view points switching off and if you are reading this you should read this book! It will be on its way to you tomorrow @LiteraryinLititz Great pick @ErinSueG
Finally getting to start my #LPMBC book along with my delicious strawberry açaí refresher ? @ErinSueG @LiteraryinLititz @Mem_ugh I‘ve been so busy the last few weeks with my bachelorette party, bridal shower and other wedding prep I haven‘t had much time to read, but I‘m going to see how much I can relax/read this weekend!! ?
Your #LPMBC book arrived today @ErinSueG !! I love the adorable bookmark 😍🌵 I probably won‘t get to start it until next week because I‘m leaving tomorrow for my bachelorette party weekend, but I wanted to let you know it arrived!! Looking forward to this one!! @LiteraryinLititz @Mem_ugh
Fascinating story told from the perspective of Clara in the 30‘s and Izzy in the present. I couldn‘t imagine enduring what Clara went through, being committed. Interesting how people were treated in regards to mental health.
This book was excellent page turning and heart-felt pounding left me wanting more all the way to the end and a big twist awesome!
Well, this is why you don‘t judge a book until you‘re done. It started out good-not great-with 2 parallel storylines. Many times the main characters made decisions which caused me to yell (in my head), “Don‘t do that!! Make a different decision!!” But then, between plot twists and the historical authenticity about asylums, I was hooked. And at the end, a satisfying conclusion! Full disclosure: it is pretty dark and depressing.
Well I didn‘t finished this one last night-but I did watch the last 2 episodes of Victoria! It‘s so good!! Hoping to get a few minutes before the #neveradullmoment school day to read a few pages. #4moredays😊😊
Hoping to finish both of these tonight. . . I might be a little too ambitious but I‘m going to be happy trying!! #currentlyreading
This book made me soooo angry because I would not be the least shocked if this is how people were treated who were involuntarily committed to psychiatric institutes. I have a hard time reading books when the characters are unlike able. But what that being said this was still a really good book. Heartbreaking at times but so good.
Finished the errands and already have dinner started! No recipe hearty vegetable soup 🍅🥒🍠🥔🥕#husbandwhocooks #icutuptheveggies
I want to read. . . but I should go for a run. . . and get some work done. . . #decisions
I was hoping to be farther along in this book but today had other plans. #fivekids #someonealwaysneedstobedrivensomewhere 🚙🚙
It‘s interesting so far but not as engrossing as I thought it would be.
Hoping to start this today! I had to bring a different book than My Favorite Thing Is Monsters because that book is too big and heavy to carry around- even I have to draw the line somewhere!!😆
I‘ve heard good things about this book! I‘m trying to make my way through my library stack. 📚📚#canonlyrenewsomanytimes
Family reading time--the girl has The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the boy has Swindle, and I'm on my Kindle with this one.
After my target run, I stopped at the library to pick up the tagged book that I had on hold. I have #noselfcontrol and of course had to bring the other two books home! A Column of Fire is due Friday- 300+pages left! I always love a good challenge!
Thanks @Cinfhen for posting about The Devil and Webster! It looks good!
While this audiobook is a pick for me, I'm having a hard time explaining why. I liked the author's use of concurrent narratives. But I found myself, often at first, annoyed with Izzy, whose story was told in the present day. I wanted to hear more from Clara and her life in 1929. Later, I found Clara's storyline taking a very disturbing turn of events, and I was glad to return to Izzy's world. 🤔Both stories were sad but compelling. 3/5⭐️
Not nearly as many as the last couple months but this month has been rough. Hopefully I'll make up for it next month. I am halfway through my Goodreads Challenge, however, and I have only 9 left to go on #LitsyAtoZ @BookishMarginalia. Now to create my April TBR list!
#bestofmarch #marchintoreading
I've fallen into a happy niche of books that weave past history with present day and have loved every one of them so far. This one is no exception. The present day MC volunteers for a museum, doing research on past patients at an asylum, by reviewing luggage and records left in the crumbling building. This while sorting through her own life history and troubles. 🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2
I don't have a snow picture to share, but as it was in the 20s this morning here (in the middle of March in Florida -which is ridiculous), my scarf and heavy pea coat came in very handy. Since I can't be at home, snuggled under a blanket, reading, I'll make the most of being at work. And try to stay warm. Brrr. ❄❄⛄📖
A poignant novel of hope, love, and freedom. Story was told from a duel timeline (1920s-1940s and 1995). Love the two main characters, Izzy and Clara. Thoroughly enjoys the writing, and I think how the author weaved the stories of these two women together (eventhough from different eras), was brilliant and flawless. Overall, it's a well written novel and I highly recommend it!
#poignantnovel #asylum
Just started reading this book. It's engaging. Can't wait to find out what happens next!
#historicalfiction
Although the book was overwhelmingly sad, it did have a happy ending! I really liked the character of Clara and was feeling miserable right alongside her.
What a good book! It was a quick and easy read. Sad but happy at the same time.
It switches POV every chapter between a young girl living with foster parents and a girl from the 1920's who is put into an insane asylum by her parents. It kept me interested the entire time.
Two young girls, one in present day - one in the past, tell their stories of love lost and family tragedy through their experiences with an insane asylum. It gave me anxiety throughout, my maternal instincts were enraged and while I was busy not loving it- I was also recommending What She Left Behind. Be in the right head space when you start this one; it's not a feel good story.
Just started and already so into it! The whole asylum theme is intriguing and creepy. The first book that got me interested in mental hospitals was, It's Kind Of A Funny Story. Anyone know of similar reads?
Such a good read! Interesting characters, conflict, resolution. @Kedavis53, I even liked the tidy ending!