The Book of Love: A Novel | 
panThis was a very long, complicated story about coming of age. It is a fantasy that did not work for me. This was my first Kelly Link, and I will not be rushing out to read more of her sadly. 2 🌟
pickThere's a dream-like quality to this book and its prose that was just breathtaking, and also quite unsettling at many points. I think Link is really good, too, at writing young people in a way that feels alive and real. Would love to talk in depth about this book with someone smarter than me.
pickI took off the dust jacket and now it's in storage ?
Anyway
Overall a really nice long form debut from Link; I wanted to love it a little more than I actually did though, mainly because it was Too Long. I can justify length if you're doing worldbuilding in scifi or fantasy, but this wasn't a 650 page story.
Still overall positive to it, @donut_jefa called it "casually dark", which is very accurate and very typical of Link.
pickAnother lovely book club pick for a quadrennial event with @annamatopoetry .
Kelly Link continues to be a provocative writer, and there are many things to like in this book. I enjoyed the way intimacy of different configurations is presented. I especially loved the distinctive interiority of the characters.
It is not a perfect book, and definitely not my recommended entry to her work. But all in all, a unique and fantastic novel debut.
@Howardsimmons reading with the newest member of our household, Gracie!
She‘s about ten, ended up at the shelter when her person died. She‘s about as sweet as can be! Not the temperament we expected from a chihuahua. Just wants to cuddle and nap. 💤
First shamrock shake of the season! 😋💚💚💚
Happy Valentine's Day, littens! ❤️?❤️?
I wanted to feature this book today not only because it's red and has the word 'love' in the title ? but because my copy just arrived yesterday and I am SO PSYCHED TO READ IT! Listen to this blurb about it by Zen Cho: "pure enchantment - A tale of love, death, magic, and teenagers being teenagers, rich with fairy strangeness and told in sentences like jewels strung on a chain."
WOW! ?? I'M SO EXCITED!
#Two4Tuesday
1. We try to avoid Valentine‘s Day proper. Everything gets so busy & chaotic when everyone tries to do the same thing all at once. But I love to be gifted a dining experience. Flowers are always welcome (Valentine‘s Day or not)! And books, of course. If I‘m feeling bold, I might buy myself Kelly Link‘s debut novel, “The Book of Love” (tagged), which comes out on February 13th.
I feel like this book will be worth it once I get into it but right now it is SLOW going. I had to turn off the percentage count at the bottom of my kindle because it was going up so slowly. #netgalley
pickExpected publication Feb 13, 2024 • 640 pages • magical-realism • 3.5 Stars
Three teenagers, Laura, Daniel, and Mo, disappear from their hometown, the small seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts, and are presumed dead. Almost a year later, they find themselves beneath the fluorescent lights of a high school classroom. In this “afterlife” the teens find themselves being used as pawns in a supernatural power struggle. ⬇️
pickIn crafting a modern-day mythology akin to 'American Gods,' Ms. Link achieves the challenging feat of seamlessly blending a real-world setting with a magical universe. Her work is nothing short of marvelous, capturing my attention and delighting me throughout. While acknowledging that it may not cater to everyone's taste
My local bookstore got an ARC for this one and they gave it to me!!! Loving it so far
