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Brother & Sister Enter the Forest
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest: A Novel | Richard Mirabella
6 posts | 6 read | 21 to read
Opening like a fairy tale and ending like a nightmare, this cannonball of a queer coming-of-age novel follows a young man's relationship with a violent older boyfriendand how he and his sister survive a terrible crime After years of severed communication, Justin appears on his sisters doorstep needing a place to stay. The home he's made for himself has collapsed, as has everything else in his life. When they were children, Willa played the role of her brothers protector, but now, afraid of the chaos he might bring, shes reluctant to let him in. Willa lives a carefully ordered life working as a nurse and making ornate dioramas in her spare time. As Justin tries to connect with the people shes closest toher landlord, her boyfriend, their mothershe begins to feel exposed. Willa and Justins relationship has always been strained yet loving, frustrating and close. But it hits a new breaking point when Justin spirals out of control, unable to manage his sobriety and the sustained effects of a brain injury. Years earlier, in high school, desperate to escape his home life and his disapproving, troubled mother, Justin falls into the hands of his first lover, a slightly older boy living on his own who offers Justin some semblance of intimacy and refuge. When Justins boyfriend commits a terrifying act of violence, the two flee on a doomed road trip, a journey that will damage Justin and change his and his familys lives forever. Weaving together these two timelines, Brother & Sister Enter the Forest unravels the thread of a young mans trauma and the love waiting for him on the other side.
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review
BarbaraBB
BarbaraBB
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest: A Novel | Richard Mirabella
post image
Pickpick

This book has the most beautiful cover I‘ve seen all year. And it fits the story with its delicate trees and deer.
Siblings Willa and Justin are both so delicate and vulnerable. Their father died and their mother is not the loving kind and they are close and hang on to each other. But somewhere along the line the balance shifts and Willa becomes the caretaker of her brother. Which she doesn‘t want, and neither does he. ⬇️

BarbaraBB ⬆️ They keep hanging on, but they‘re so fragile. Mirabella‘s writing emphasizes this, as does that cover. 1y
squirrelbrain Great review! I‘ve been wanting to read this since the #camplitsy nominations. 1y
E.Bolhafner Sounds intriguing added to stack As If I don‘t already have a zillion books on hand 1y
Cathythoughts Great review! I see I have it stacked already 1y
Megabooks Great review! I was on the fence but I think I‘ll put this on my library list. 💜 1y
91 likes6 stack adds5 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
BarbaraBB
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest: A Novel | Richard Mirabella
post image

#WeeklyForecast 30/23

I am excited about this week‘s plans. I am about to finish The Night Country by Stewart O‘Nan and will start the tagged book, which I‘ve been meaning to read since I discovered it for the #CampLitsy23 longlist. Speaking of Camp, our next read, Romantic Comedy, I want to read as well this week. And if there‘s time I‘ll make a start with Lone Women for #CampToB.

tagged users iconCinfhen
Cinfhen I‘ve read 3/4 of your books! I really enjoyed all 3! Awesome week 😊 1y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen That is so good to know! I have high expectations! 1y
Soubhiville I‘ll be watching for your Brother and Sister review! 1y
See All 12 Comments
TheLudicReader I just started Romantic Comedy and am enjoying it. 1y
squirrelbrain I‘m part-way through Lone Women on audio, but had to stop due to library holds. Have a good week! 1y
CatLass007 What is #CampToB? Is this something I want to join? 1y
BarbaraBB @CatLass007 It‘s similar to our #CampLitsy with two books in June, July and August. In fact it‘s the official version 😂. Check it out here: https://www.tournamentofbooks.com 1y
BarbaraBB @TheLudicReader Good to know. I am looking forward to it 1y
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain did you enjoy it? 1y
CatLass007 So there‘s only one month left. I wasn‘t going to get involved with another website but I‘ll probably check it out. 1y
BarbaraBB @CatLass007 That‘s right, it‘s just like CampLitsy so only 2 books left! 1y
CatLass007 @BarbaraBB Thank you‘ 1y
74 likes1 stack add12 comments
quote
Pinta
Pinta
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest: A Novel | Richard Mirabella
post image

^^p178 what he really wanted, love & identity, a desperation of self

P177 “He remembered to smile and decided it would be best not to talk too much, but listen to Shivam talk.”

P107 “I just got this feeling like I wanted to be rearranged.”

P9 “She placed tiny paper leaves on the water‘s surface with tweezers. A simple piece with little going on. Anyone but her would see nothing meaningful. So she‘d failed, but continue to work on it anyway.”

7 likes
review
Pinta
Pinta
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest: A Novel | Richard Mirabella
post image
Pickpick

Family dysfunction in clipped, dry sentences, narration like a report, building, building. Telling truths in simple phrasings. Vulnerability. Control. Siblings. Long recoveries, ups & downs. Clinging to companionship. Wariness & confidence. Daily struggle. Homophobia & violence. Memory & brain injury. Baseline pain. P 192 “It was torture, waiting to trust someone.” P22 “Refold all the towels you want, Willa wanted to say, he‘s still dead.” 2023

sarahbarnes I definitely want to read this. 2y
Pinta Unique read…delicate and brutal at once. Really good with the cycles and frustrations of recovery (for caregivers too), but it‘s a DARK forest they enter, be ready. (edited) 2y
10 likes2 comments
review
Cinfhen
Cinfhen
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest: A Novel | Richard Mirabella
post image
Pickpick

This is a breathtaking debut - it‘s quiet and raw and the pain & trauma is felt in every simple sentence. I did struggle with the nonlinear timeline and wonder if it would have read differently in print instead of audio. I was gripped with a sense of dread the entire time I spent with this book but I never wanted to stop listening. There‘s a vulnerability and innocence in both main characters, siblings Justin & Willa which was beautiful.

squirrelbrain Great review! This has been on my radar since the #camplitsy23 nominations. 2y
TrishB Definitely be keeping my eye out for this one! 2y
BarbaraBB I nominated it, it‘s about time I read it too! 2y
Megabooks Wow! Stellar review! 2y
Cinfhen It‘s really unsettling @squirrelbrain @TrishB @BarbaraBB @Megabooks it would have made for good conversation but it‘s a HEAVY book - difficult subject matter 2y
84 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
Cinfhen
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest: A Novel | Richard Mirabella
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SUPER UNSETTLING - Great suggestion @BarbaraBB
Would have been a wonderful book for #CampLitsy23
I‘m feeling stressed from reading this book - there‘s a menacing undertone

BarbaraBB Another one I‘d love to read! 2y
Cinfhen You‘re gonna LOVE it @BarbaraBB What else has this author written??? 2y
TrishB This sounds great 👍🏻 stacking and going it goes down in price! 2y
See All 10 Comments
Cinfhen It‘s SOOOOO sad @TrishB but it‘s definitely in your wheelhouse / hope the price comes down too!!! 2y
julieclair Even just reading the title stresses me out. 😂 2y
Cinfhen Hahaha @julieclair 😂😂😂 but no joke…there‘s a real intensity and vulnerability in the prose. I was enthralled 2y
paper.reveries Please don't tell me it's about animals dying 😫 2y
Cathythoughts Interesting !!! I‘ll have to try a sample at least 👍🏻 2y
Cinfhen Noooooo, you‘re safe on that count @paper.reveries 2y
Cinfhen Definitely @Cathythoughts !!!! 2y
74 likes5 stack adds10 comments