Work is beyond frustrating right now, mostly because it’s end of financial year and the things that need to get done in two weeks make my head want to explode. But more than that too, stuff has been happening at work that has made me actually admit, that I do want more for myself — and I was talking to my therapist about this, and it felt so weird to say it out loud — and I realise now she is really the only person in my life I’ve said that to — that I have ambition, that I want more for myself.
I keep thinking about how afraid I’ve been to actually say that loud, like I am not supposed to say, you know? Not supposed to give a voice to that part because that’s not what’s done — not what’s done by women, or Indian women. Or really, just women. I’ve always thought that if I worked hard enough, and did the right things it would be enough to earn the next step up, but really it’s antiquated thinking.
It’s got me thinking, that’s all. What about you?
Anyway, I’ve been waiting all week for the weekend to be able to dive into a new book I’m reading — The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett, and it’s a tale of two very different sisters, twins — and the different paths their lives take. One who craves freedom, but keeps finding herself imprisoned…until she finds what she needs in an unexpected town. And the other who craves security, and will do anything to keep it and fears losing it. It’s thought provoking and I’m eager to see what’s next.
And then I’m going to read something entirely different that may or may not be on this list.
Cinderella is dead
It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.
Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . .
This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.
Hands up who is ready for the Cinderella story to get completely messed up and come out on the other side of this as something much better?
The Book of Second Chances
A charming, uplifting novel about love, loss, and finding your way in the world, perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and The Keeper of Lost Things.
Emily can’t remember the last time she left the house. Or spoke to anyone besides her grandmother, beloved children’s author Catriona Robinson. After Catriona’s death, Emily is at a complete loss . . . until she gets an unexpected letter from the woman she loved most.
Catriona has revealed there might be one last, lost unpublished manuscript in her wildly popular book series. And she’s left a secret diary and trail of clues that only Emily can follow. From London to Paris to Verona, Emily traces her grandmother’s past, finding out more about her family — and herself — than she ever imagined possible.
Hopeful and adventurous, The Book of Second Chances celebrates books and bookstores, the power of imagination, and having the courage to shape our own destinies.
That Catriona has left Emily a treasure map to her family, gives me the warm fuzzies. This sounds like a grandmother who knows her granddaughter better than she knows herself, and that makes me think of mind. So yes, warm fuzzies. I need more grandparents and grandchildren stories in my life.
And oh look, it’s another Book…
The Book of Lost Names
Inspired by an astonishing true story from World War II, a young woman with a talent for forgery helps hundreds of Jewish children flee the Nazis in this unforgettable historical novel from the international bestselling author of the “epic and heart-wrenching World War II tale” (Alyson Noel, #1 New York Times bestselling author) The Winemaker’s Wife.
Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian in Florida, is shelving books one morning when her eyes lock on a photograph in a magazine lying open nearby. She freezes; it’s an image of a book she hasn’t seen in sixty-five years—a book she recognizes as The Book of Lost Names.
The accompanying article discusses the looting of libraries by the Nazis across Europe during World War II—an experience Eva remembers well—and the search to reunite people with the texts taken from them so long ago. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. Now housed in Berlin’s Zentral- und Landesbibliothek library, it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers don’t know where it came from—or what the code means. Only Eva holds the answer—but will she have the strength to revisit old memories and help reunite those lost during the war?
As a graduate student in 1942, Eva was forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. Finding refuge in a small mountain town in the Free Zone, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children fleeing to neutral Switzerland. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rémy, Eva decides she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember who they really are. The records they keep in The Book of Lost Names will become even more vital when the resistance cell they work for is betrayed and Rémy disappears.
An engaging and evocative novel reminiscent of The Lost Girls of Paris and The Alice Network, The Book of Lost Names is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of bravery and love in the face of evil.
This book reminds of this video I once saw — and never fail to cry buckets every time I see it — of a British man being reunited with the children he saved in the Second World War — he got them out of Germany. This is a link to a video from a program in 1988 that profiled him — it’s long, but it’s a story that needs to be remembered. And without fail, I am a blubbering MESS by the time it gets to the 6.30 minute mark. If you watch nothing else today, please watch from there.
Also, yes the point of all this is, I am sure this book is going to break my damn heart, and I am ready. Also, Eva is badass.
The Bright Side of Going Dark
From the bestselling author of The Overdue Life of Amy Byler comes a fresh, funny, and thoughtful story about going off the grid in order to truly live.
As one of the most popular influencers on social media, Mia Bell has lived her life online for years. With her celebrity dog and gorgeous fiancé, she is planning the ultimate virtual wedding—expensive, elaborate, and entirely paid for by sponsors. But off-camera, her world is far from picture perfect. After being jilted by her fiancé and faking her nuptials to please her sponsors, Mia finally has had enough. She heaves her phone off a cliff, ready to live—and maybe find love—offline for a change.
Mia’s sudden absence doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by techie loner Paige Miller, who hacks Mia’s account and begins impersonating the internet celebrity. Paige has her reasons. Her half sister, Jessica, idolizes Mia and desperately needs something to believe in. If taking over Mia’s online persona is Paige’s only means of connecting to her sister, so be it.
Creating a like-worthy life is more fun than Paige expected. But when she grows too bold and is caught in the act, a fiasco ensues that could forever change Mia, Paige, and the people who love them. Because somewhere amid the chaos is an invaluable lesson—one that only real life can teach.
Oh my, this sounds like a comedy of social media (manners). Paige and Jessica are an interesting pair and I am curious as to what’s going on there that Paige needs to pretend to be Mia. And, oh boy, what is the fiasco that Paige creates?!
Finlay Donovan is Killing it
Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano’s adult debut, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is the first in a witty, fast-paced mystery series, following struggling suspense novelist and single mom Finlay Donovan, whose fiction treads dangerously close to the truth as she becomes tangled in real-life murder investigations…
As this one only published in 2021 there’s barely a blurb, but accompanied with the cover, I kinda got sucked right into this one. I hope it’s a good read LOL!
That’s it for me — how was your weekend?
Sometimes just verbalizing that you want more for yourself – or that you want something in general – the first step to getting there. So good for you!!!! You deserve it!!
Thanks for all the recommendations. I’m curious about Cinderella is Dead but I think I’ll see what reviews say before I get it. I do want to read The Upside of Going Dark and Finlay Donovan sounds pretty great too.
-Lauren
It took a long time for me to say that to myself, and I’m still surprised at how hard it was for me. I didn’t even realise that about myself, but yeah, I’m proud I can finally say that about myself and vocalise wanting that. In regards to the books, I have high hopes for Cinderella is Dead, but I hear you on needing reviews first.
I’m so glad you opened up for wanting more for yourself. That seems like such a hard thing to do. Proud of you! ♥
Thank you <3 It just kind of came out of me, and yeah. Was a productive session to say the least 🙂
I want to read ALL of these…but especially Cinderella is Dead. 😀
And wanting more in life can be a good thing if it pushes you forward through the fear into a new possible future. I wish you all the luck in the world with that!
Haaa, me too! I am hoping Cinderella is Dead lives up to the goodness in the blurb. You make a good point, fear and fear from previous experiences in different jobs held me back and made me think it’s better to stay still than move forward.
I have had my eye on Going Dark, but Book of Second Chances is new to me. It sounds wonderful! I hope things start happening for you, and it’s fantastic to want more.
Thank you, Sam! Glad oyu found something new this week!
That’s a really big breakthrough, actually saying out loud that you want more! We definitely have to be proactive when it comes to getting what we want.
We do — that’s the other thing my therapist said: it’s all pretty much up to me. And standing out and standing up for myself has been something I’ve always been afraid of, in some ways. So I hope this is a good thing for me. A start of a good thing.
Work has been a bit of a challenge for me as well. Part of it is just me getting back in the routine of physically going there everyday, and the other part is dealing with new systems and processes because of COVID. I’m so grateful to have books to escape to right now!
I hear you — books are definitely my safe, enjoyable space right now. I hope work starts settling down soon, Ethan.
I think it’s fantastic that you were able to say it out loud. I think that’s a big deal and hope it will be a first step in actually getting what you want. I used to think the same way – that if I put in the time and went above and beyond, someone would notice and things would happen for me. It seems like that should work but apparently we just don’t live in that kind of world.
I’m loving all of your book recs this week, especially Cinderella is Dead and the new Kristin Harmel book.
We most certainly don’t, I agree Suzanne. I think better late than never that the penny dropped for me!! Cinderella is Dead is one I have high hopes for, so am eagerly awaiting reviews.
I say decide what you want and go for it. Seems to me that your talents are endless and I bet you can do whatever you set your mind to!
I am really anxious for Cinderella is Dead and I am in love with the cover!
I think it’s great that you are able to put your words out there that you want more. It is a hard thing to do. It can be scary, especially if it means you stick your neck farther than you’ve been comfortable doing in the past.
I am looking forward to reading The Vanishing Half, and am glad you seem to be enjoying it so far. What did you decide to read next? I don’t think could decide between those. They all sound good!
I hope you have a great week, Verushka.
Good for you for deciding to state what you want. If you can’t verbalize what you want/need, it remains a nebulous hope.
All of these sound books sound good–and I want to read them all.