#Leon's mystery parents will make their appearance in the next installment

[blueberrywhale123]

Meet the Parents

Hi! So my patient Violetta fans, I finally got the chapter out! It's a two-parter because Vilu had a lot of emotions that she wanted to talk about 😅 hope you don't mind. I wanted to have a lot of the dinner part so that had to turn into it's own chapter. hope you like it! I posted it on my Ao3 account too! It's under blueberrywhale with the same title.

~~~~~~

Chapter 1

The bright afternoon sun streamed through the trees and hit the bold colors that painted the face of the large building, making it glow vibrantly. The building’s name was pasted over the front, proudly displaying “Studio 21” for all to see. The studio’s entire look and atmosphere - from the kaleidoscope of coordinating colors and abstract designs to the constant stream of music seeping through the walls - would alert even the most unobservant to the fact that it was a school for the arts. It was a prestigious and well-loved school - meant for those young people who were truly passionate about making music their career - and prided itself on the dedication both student and teacher applied to their craft.

Inside, the students who had completed all their lessons were heading home for the day, herds of people swarmed the lockers and the doors as they packed and left their precious sanctuary of musical delight. Four students had clustered around their lockers: Maxi, Camila, Francesca, and Violetta.

“I totally aced that assignment, you guys! I just know it!” Maxi’s smile was infectious, and the girls all returned his grin with equal force. He had been complaining about his composition for Beto for the past two weeks, and it felt like the weight of its competition hadn’t only been lifted from his shoulders.

“And what are you planning on doing to celebrate this achievement, musical genius?” Francesca hooked her arm over her locker door to lean forward, swinging with the hinge gracefully as she shot him a cheeky smile.

“Sleep!” Maxi fell against the wall, head tilting back and eyes closing as he tucked his hands by the side of his head in a gesture representing the blissful state he wanted to be in.

“Are you crazy?” Camila yelped, a big smile stretching her lips, “We should go out! Have some fun. What do you say? Arcade? Karaoke? Roller-blading? Roller-blading karaoke? I’m open to suggestions.”

“So long as it’s not where Luca can bother me, I’m in,” Francesca countered, finger pointed in the air to emphasize.

“Deal,” Camila and Francesca shook hands and turned to Maxi with devious grins.

Maxi took five seconds to cave, his laughter ringing through his surrender. “Alright, sounds fun.” He turned to his left. “You in, Vilu?”

Violetta had been watching her friends silently, her mouth pulling upwards in a fond contented smile. When their eyes locked on her, Violetta’s smile turned rueful with a pinch of her eyebrows and pursing of her lips.

“Sorry, León’s … well - León’s taking me to dinner to meet his parents.” 

The words tumbled from her lips and Violetta only managed to blink before Camila and Francesca tackled Violetta in a hug, pulling back to bounce in place and squeal, heedless of any onlookers’ strange stares. Maxi hung back, just as happy but wise enough to keep himself safe from the whirlwind that was Camila and Francesca. Violetta’s cheeks flushed a soft pink and her eyes shone with anxious excitement as she nibbled on the bottom of her lip.

Francesca spoke with her cheek pressed against Violetta’s hair, “You definitely get a pass. I’m going to need as many details as you can give me afterward. Understand?”

Camila gripped Violetta by her shoulders, staring deep into her eyes. “Vilu-” she said earnestly- “this is really big. Like, crazy big. You and León are heading to a different level now. You’re meeting his parents. This is so big.”

“I’m so happy for you,” Francesca ran her hand comfortingly down Violetta’s arm, a mothering smile on her face. “Camila’s right, this is great.”

“Excited for you, Vilu,” Maxi squeezed his way through to the other side of Violetta.

Her friends’ happiness for her left Violetta light and giddy. She gripped each of their hands in turn, giving them a gentle squeeze to help convey her feelings. The weight of the evening had been on her shoulders all day. What usually happens when you meet the parents of your amazingly wonderful boyfriend? Surely Mr. and Mrs. Vargas were expecting someone worthy of their son. Would they be measuring her against their idea of who was good enough for León? What if the Vargas didn’t like her? This was the only worry that Violetta could calm; León had broken up with Ludmila of all people just this year. If anything, all she had to do was make a better impression than Ludmila and all would be well.

And yet, even that wasn't enough to assuage her fears. Violetta had no delusions about her conversation skills; she got far too in her head and tried to create the perfect conversation only for it to fall flat a majority of the time. She stumbled over her words and had the hardest time initiating any topic of substance with adults. No, no, Violetta was much better at being talked at.

At the very least, she could hope that Mr. and Mrs. Vargas wouldn't be as overbearing as her father. León wouldn't be looking forward to it as much as he was if that were the case.

“I can't believe you’re meeting his parents already,” Camila mused. “Time really flies. It feels like just yesterday when you were telling us about your first kiss.”

“They grow up so fast,” Maxi crooned, tugging gently on the side of Violetta’s hair. Violetta laughed with Francesca as she swatted his hand away.

“You’ve got to try and make a good impression,” Camila said.

Francesca frowned, “Vilu is very charming, Cami. She’s like an innocent little lamb.”

“Of course she is. That’s not what I meant,” Camila waved away Francesca’s defense. “I just mean that this is a really important step so you want to make an extra effort. Sure, you don’t need their blessing or permission or all that, but it’s so much easier to date someone when their parents don’t hate your guts. Get it? Just saying it’s good to run onto the battlefield after you’ve strategized and have proper weaponry. Am I making any sense?”

A battlefield? Violetta’s mouth went dry at the comparison. 

“No,” Francesca furrowed her brows in confusion. “What does a battlefield have to do with any of this?”

“Oh, you know. They want to ask you everything from your hobbies to how many cows you’re able to give in exchange for their son’s hand in marriage.” Camila wrinkled her nose like she had a personal grudge against this imaginary question in particular. “And it’s like a landmine, one wrong answer and they’ve decided you’re the worst, no ifs, ands, or buts.”

Oh no. Violetta hadn't felt this nervous since she had tried to run away from her singing audition. The very tempting idea to run away now dangled in her mind despite knowing she wouldn't take it. This was so important to León and she would suffer through it if she had to. Would it be rude to refuse to speak the entire dinner? What if she feigned losing her voice? All Violetta knew for certain was that she would feel the smallest she ever had at the dinner table that night. Every flaw that she possessed came stumbling forward in her mind. You’re too shy, they whispered. You don’t have enough experience, they mocked. They’ll think you need León to do everything, they jeered. In the wake of all that awaited her tonight, Violetta was woefully underprepared.

“Vilu, you okay?”

Violetta drug herself up from the depths of her mind and saw Francesca huddled in her face, a frown pulling her features into the very picture of concern.

“Yeah … yeah, I’m fine. Just nervous, I guess.”

“That’s totally normal,” Francesca rubbed up and down Violetta’s arm but she paid it little mind. Some of her anxiety must have leaked through across her face because Francesca spun around with a disapproving frown. “Cami, look at what you did!”

Camila turned abruptly from where she and Maxi had bent their heads together, murmuring about where to hang out later. Violetta watched as Camila took in Francesca and herself, watching as the state Violetta was in tipped her off to the severity of her anxiety over the event. With a sweet croon, Camila swept near and took both Violetta’s hands in hers.

“Girlie, sorry, I just got a bit overboard. But Fran’s right, you’re charming and sweet, they’ll love you.”

“You don’t have to say that, Cami,”

“But she’s right,” Francesca said firmly. “They’d have to be fools not to like you.”

 Maxi butted in, “And León’s parents aren’t going to ban him from dating someone he likes. I mean, he dated Ludmila.”

~~~~~~~~~

If Violetta could wish for a superpower in that every moment, it would have been the power to stop time. The ticking of her clock had continued to push on with merciless speed no matter how much she glared and begged for the hands to cease. Her room was a mess, piles of clothing littered the bed, her desk, and any surface she could find room on; nearly every item she owned was out in a haphazard display as she endlessly circled through different combinations, trying to find the perfect outfit.

This one was too short. This one was too casual. This one was too formal.

Violetta would have thrown herself across her bed in anguish if it wasn't so piled high. As it was, Violetta decided that burrowing her face into her pillow was an adequate replacement.

She was still buried in the fluffy plush of her pillow, a silent scream on her lips when a hesitant knock rapped against her locked bedroom door.

“Coming,”

German stood in the open doorway, looking for all the world that he would rather be doing anything else than getting ready to send Violetta off to meet the parents of her boyfriend. “Are you almost ready, Vilu? I was hoping to talk with you for a minute.”

Violetta groaned in dispair. German jerked back as if the sound had shocked him with a current of electricity.

“What’s wrong, Sweetie?”

“I won’t be ready until I have something to wear, Dad,”

“Oh, having trouble?”

Violetta withheld the eye-roll that she wanted to make, choosing to simply walk back toward her pile of clothes. Why did it always feel like her words were falling short at some invisible barrier when it came to her father; she could talk and talk, but he only ever seemed to hear half of what she said, and even then, it was hardly what she meant for him to understand. She left the door open, however, and German stepped through into her room after a few seconds of deliberation.

“I know, I’ll clean it later. Promise.”

But German did not say anything. His eyes roamed the room; the piles, the walls, and finally Violetta herself were swept along in his gaze. Violetta watched him in turn, taking note of the growing lines gathering on his forehead and around his mouth. It was a look she knew well, though it had more than one outcome.

“Your mother had a white dress with flowers all over,” Whatever silent war he had raged within himself had been concluded and the lines along his face softened, though they merely took on the mask of dull heartache. “She wore it when she went to meet my parents. She was so nervous, she kept twisting her skirt over her finger. Wore a hole in it before dinner was done.”

Violetta smiled, mirroring the distant grief that her father’s involuntary smile possessed, if only different. But if one thing was similar between their sadness, it was that neither felt the time they had with Maria was enough.

“You look beautiful in anything, Sweetie,”

Violetta turned her smile onto her father before turning to root through her pile on the bed. She emerged with a pale blue dress with little white flowers scattered across the fabric, the closest thing to what German described. Her mother might not be there to see her off, but at the very least, Violetta could feel like Maria was with her throughout the whole thing. Just the touch of the fabric on her skin was enough to ease the churning in her stomach.

“Thanks, Dad,” and Violetta hoped that he could hear the many things she was thanking him for in her two simple words.

German smiled, kissed her head, and walked out the door. Violetta pretended not to notice the tears he swiped away from his eyes as he turned out of sight.

Her outfit chosen, Violetta sprung into action. She slipped her white heels on, brushed out her hair, and deftly applied her bit of makeup. By the time she had double and triple-checked that everything was in order, her phone chimed with a message from León announcing his arrival.

The text gave her wings and Violetta was flying down the stairs just as the front door was closing behind León. Already breathless in anxious excitement, what little breath she had was caught in her throat at the sight of him; his clothes were smart yet comfortable, hugging him in a way that flattered his form and added to the effortlessly charming confidence that laced his every move. She paused for a second or two on the stairs to take him in but he caught her stare and she almost averted her gaze, conscious of the swirling heat that enveloped her neck and cheeks. But Violetta didn't look away and so was rewarded with watching León’s momentary lapse as he stood - dare she say - stunned by her. His reaction sent a thrill through her just as much as it embarrassed her to be the cause of it.

It took a moment to notice that Ramallo and German were also present. The latter was talking about curfews as sternly as if it was the first time that León had received this spiel; Ramallo made no attempt to stop his boss aside from sparing Violetta an amused look. León, for his part, endured the conversation with grace, once more reassuring German that Violetta would be home by his required time like he did every time.

“Good,” German was saying, satisfied with his reprisal of the rules. “Do you want anything to drink or eat, León? I think Olga is making chocolate chip cookies.”

Violetta hurtled herself forward with all speed to León’s side and latched on to his arm just as León was taking a breath to answer. “Dad,” Violetta moaned, stretching out her one word so amply lace it with chiding, “we have to go or we’ll be late.”

León nodded exaggeratedly beside her, his hand lifted to gesture to Violetta as if to draw German’s attention to some wonderful point she had made.

German flung out his hands in surrender, his words of acquiescence bubbling up with a light and unconcerned air. Violetta smiled and embraced her father, kissing him quickly on the cheek before bidding Ramallo goodbye as well. León and German shook hands.

“Bye, German. Don’t worry, I’ll return her in one piece,”

They were halfway through the door when German hastily announced he wanted to drive them so they wouldn't be late. Ramallo was by his side in the blink of an eye, his hand gently laid on German’s shoulder. Steering him off, Ramallo promised León had it all sorted; why, he’d even brought his own transportation for the special occasion. Ramallo shot a wink over his shoulder as he nudged the door closed with his foot.

Violetta and León’s eyes met and amusement brimmed behind their eyes, lips pursed to hold back the quiet laughter threatening to spill out. León took her hand softly in his.

“Ready,”

Violetta took a deep breath and nodded. León’s smile was sunshine itself - warm and nourishing - as he slipped her hand through the crook of his elbow and wound it around his forearm. They scurried down the driveway and Violetta almost stopped short at the sleek red and black motorcycle that was leaning on its kickstand just tucked out of sight behind the house’s wall. No wonder Ramallo had been so intent on keeping German in the house. León led them up to the contraption; he let go of her hand for a moment to swing himself over the seat and pull the two helmets into his lap. Settled, León grinned at her but trepidation kept Violetta’s feet firmly planted on the ground. Her stomach roiled and her mind whirled.

“León, you’ve been driving for a while, right?” She didn't bother to hide her fear as she stared unblinkingly at the bike.

It did not go unnoticed.

“Since I was sixteen,” León’s answer was soft, his eager smile sliding off. She felt his warm strong hand take hers but he didn't tug her closer, just wiggled one of her fingers to get her eyes on him instead of the bike.

“I figured we’ve already conquered one type of bike, why not the other?”

Violetta was still unconvinced. This was not the same as learning to ride a simple peddle bike. “You’re sure I won’t fall off?”

León grinned, crooked and mischievous, “Only if you don't hold on to me really tight.”

Violetta huffed a laugh at his bouncing eyebrows and made up her mind. Though she was still tense as a plank of wood, Violetta plopped the helmet over her hair with care and settled behind León, her front pressed against his back, arms locked around his middle in a grip of steel. He wouldn't have brought the motorcycle if he didn’t think he could handle the drive and really, new experiences were never as scary as they could be when León was with her.

Before he started the bike, León grew still and serious. “We can walk if you’d rather. It’s no big deal.”

His offer, so earnest and given without a thought except to make her comfortable, was enough to swell her heart with love and bolster her courage. Always so thoughtful. Violetta bumped her helmet against his. “I’m good. You’re with me.”

León patted her hand and turned forward. The engine reeved to life, the bike rumbling beneath them. Violetta vibrated under the machine's steady droning, the feeling oddly reminiscent of the way the bass thrummed through the stage floor despite the motorcycle being far louder by far. She squeezed León once and he was off; the wind pelting against her legs, the neighborhood whipping by, and her heart pounding with the exhilaration of the freeing speed.

[inhumansforever]

The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #1 Review

spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers spoilers

A new chapter in the adventures of Kamala Khan begins here as the reigns are handed over to the new creative team of writer, Saladin Ahmed, artists Minkyu Jung and Juan Vlasco and colorist Ian Herring.  And it’s clear from the start that this new era of Ms. Marvel comics is going to see things getting more grim and harrowing for our hero.  Quick recap and review following the jump.

The tale begins on a far off alien world where a father is trying to get his young daughter to go to sleep.  He agrees to tell her one last bedtime story about the ‘Destined One’ a hero from another world who quite clearly is Ms. Marvel.  

Elsewhere, back on earth, Ms. Marvel battles some grade Z super villain calling himself Deathbringer.  Ms. M is able to make short work of the villain, but not without some collateral property damage which causes her to get yelled at by a store owner.  The tale of a celebrated and honored hero that the alien dad tells his daughter seems a far cry from reality for Ms. M.  

After helping to clean up, Kamala rushes to a hip new restaurant to meet Nakia.  The two don't share any classes together this semester and seems like it has been forever since they caught up.  Kamala had recently divulged to her friend her secret identity as Ms. Marvel and Nakia wants to know how it was that she gained her super powers.  The recap Kamala provides offers a quick review for new readers and those unfamiliar with Kamala’s origin.  She tells Nakia about being exposed to the Terrigen Cloud and how it unlocked her Inhuman powers; as well as her decision to use these new abilities to become a hero, following the path of her one time idol, Carol ‘Captain Marvel’ Danvers.  

Kamala returns to her home to find her parents waiting for her.  They’re not looking too happy.  Kamala had told her mom about her exploits as a super hero during the Last Days arc when they both thought the world was coming to an end.  And now it appears as though her mom has finally shared that secret with her dad.  And while Mrs. Khan was able to understand and accept Kamala’s need to use her abilities to help others, Mr. Khan feels differently.  It’s just too dangerous; he cannot abide by it, cannot allow the risk to his daughter’s safety.  

There’s an undertone to the argument between Kamala and her father that remains unsaid.  He talks about a time when Kamala was a baby and got very sick; how helpless and frightened it made him feel.  It seems as though there is something Kamala’s dad needs to tell her but cannot find the words to say.  It sort of feels like Mr. Khan may have recently found out that he is sick, that he may have been diagnoses with a life-threatening disease… but the specifics are left unsaid as Kamala storms out, frustrated that her dad so refuses to understand her need to serve the greater good.      

Her dad follows but there’s no time to continue their conversation.  She’s received a distress call from Bruno informing her that the Circle Q is under attack by a monster.  Kamala dashes off before her dad can object.  

There is indeed a monster rampaging the Circle Q.  Ms. Marvel engages it, exchanges a few blows and that uses her stretching powers to slam it against a wall.  At which point the monster disintegrates into purple ooze.  Before Ms. M and Bruno have time to try to figure the matter out, they learn that yet another monster is attacking the harbor.  Ms. M springs back into action and battles this second monster.  And once more the creature is rendered into a purple slime after it is defeated.  It’s all quite mysterious.  

Bruno has been using a device he developed using Wakandian technology to track the appearances of these strange monsters and much to their dismay he alerts Ms. M that the latest monster has manifested in her home.

Kamala rushes home, terrified that something awful could happen to her mom and dad.  She is relived to make it home and find that there appears to be no monsters present, that her parents seem to be just fine…  …or are they?   They seem distant and cold.  Kamala tries to hug them, yet just as she does so they both disintegrate into purple ooze.     And it is on this harrowing cliffhanger that the issue comes to a close with the promise of continuation in the next installment.  

Ahmed and company take on a very tall order in relaunching Ms. Marvel following the popularity and acclaim of the original series.  I don’t envy the pressure Mr. Ahmed must feel in taking things over from G. Willow Wilson.  Yet this is a very promising start and a whole lot is jammed into the issue and the script makes it abundantly clear that Mr. Ahmed is intent on continuing the trend of equally balancing Kamala’s family and social life alongside the standard superhero action.  

Mr. Ahmed has often excelled at writing dialogue and giving his characters a distinctive voice.  And this knack is quite evident in the issue.  Kamala, her parents and the extended cast seem true to themselves.  Yet Amed is not so much parroting Willson’s dialogue style as much as honoring it and building forward off of it.  Kamala is still her goofy self, over-taxed by her self-assigned obligations, but there is a bit of a harder edge to it.  She’s more firm in sticking up for herself, but perhaps still struggling with how to do so without coming across as surly.  And this is by no means uncommon among teenagers on the cusp of young adulthood.  

And just as Kamala’s voice has a slightly more mature tone, so to does the general tenner of the plot.  It remains unclear where this monsters have come from, what has happened to Kamala’s parents and what it all has to do with Ms. M being the ‘promised one’ and the figure of bedtime stories on an alien world.  Whatever the case, the stakes appear to be much more dire than they have been for Ms. M in the past.  

Minkyu Jung’s penciling and Juan Vlasco’s inks are a good match for Ahmed’s script.  The style is slightly more grown up compared to the previous work of Nico Leon, Takeshi Miyazawa and Adrian Alphona.  Jung does some really neat work in showing off Ms. Marvel’s powers and the line work is fluid and confident throughout.  

Ian Herring’s colors are, as always, terrific.  He has colored all of the previous Ms. marvel comics and his coloring offers a very much welcome sense of continuity bridging this new series from its predecessor.  

The book doesn’t have the same sense of whimsey as Wilson and company’s run.  There are no silly bits like raccoons in the corner eating an ice-cream cone.  Yet I don’t blame Ahmed and company for not trying to recapture that same feel.  It would have felt too much like copying and I’m all for the new team bringing their own feel to the book.  

I’m still missing the way things used to be, but this is a promising start to a new beginning and the next chapter in Kamala’s adventures.  Definitely recommended!   Four and a half out of five Lockjaws.

[floraexplorer]

2019 Reading Challenge: What Books Did I Read Last Year?

2019 was the year I finally got myself back into reading.

It was the year I re-discovered the joys of owning a library card. The year when going to bed with a book became one of my most treasured ways to both fall asleep and practice a bit of self-care.

So when I read Candice’s 2019 reading challenge post I immediately wanted to write one for myself! I’ve never done one of these challenge summaries before, but I’ve spent the last few years becoming increasingly obsessed with adding books to my Goodreads account so it makes a lot of sense.

Besides, I’d like to write more blog posts which make me happy in 2020 – especially those I can write and publish in the same afternoon.

My 2019 reading list

Number of books you read: Thirty three.

Number of re-reads: Zero.

Number of books you stopped reading: Six. I’ve only recently decided that if I don’t engage enough with a book after fifty odd pages then I’ll stop reading. This year that meant I abandoned Jog On by Bella Mackie, The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar, and Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton.

Genre you read the most from: A good mix of fiction and memoir. Quite a few relating to grief. A couple of travel narratives in there too – and a few crime novels!

Midnight Chicken & Other Recipes Worth Living For – Ella Risbridger

Red Snow – Will Dean

My Brilliant Friend – Elena Ferrante

A Manual for Heartache – Cathy Rentzenbrink

The Lucky Ones – Julianne Pachico

I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death – Maggie O’Farrell

The Brief History of the Dead – Kevin Brockmeier

All The Hidden Truths – Claire Askew

Grief is the Thing with Feathers – Max Porter

Departures – Anna Hart

Everything I Never Told You – Celeste Ng

The Gloaming – Kirstie Logan

Room – Emma Donoghue

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves – Karen Joy Fowler

The Shock of the Fall – Nathan Filer

Everything I Know About Love – Dolly Alderton

Educated – Tara Westover

This Must Be the Place – Maggie O’Farrell

The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir – Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender – Leslye Walton

Elizabeth is Missing – Emma Healey

This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor – Adam Kay

Normal People – Sally Rooney

Traveling with Ghosts: A Memoir – Shannon Leone Fowler

Places I Stopped on the Way Home – Meg Fee

The Other Sister – Elle Croft

The Chronology of Water – Lidia Yuknavitch

The Immortalists – Chloe Benjamin

Circe – Madeline Miller

The Lido – Libby Page

A House Full of Daughters: A Memoir of Seven Generations – Juliet Nicolson

Goodbye, Vitamin – Rachel Khong

My Year of Rest and Relaxation – Ottessa Moshfegh

1. Best book you read in 2019?

It’s a tie between Educated by Tara Westover and I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O’Farrell.

Educated was a book I thought about constantly. Westover’s style of writing is exactly what gets my creative juices flowing, and her story of a Mormon upbringing in the Idaho mountains with survivalist parents is simply extraordinary.

I Am, I Am, I Am is similarly extraordinary, in part thanks to O’Farrell’s imaginative structure. Each chapter focuses on one of her ‘seventeen brushes with death’ but they jump around in time, gradually building up an impression of how each moment has defined and redefined her life. Plus her language is utterly gorgeous.

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. Even though my best friend had highly recommended it, I couldn’t see what was so compelling about the story.

Yes, the writing is lyrical and paints a good picture of Italian life in the 1950s, but that didn’t change the fact that I was completely apathetic to the progression of the girls’ lives and their relationships. It felt like the same idea spooled out multiple times: Lena wished for Lila’s approval in various situations and either got it or didn’t, and meanwhile various boys appeared on the scene (all of whom fell for Lila immediately).

I pushed through for a good 200 pages without any real desire to keep reading, then skimmed through the final 50 pages with no more enthusiasm than I’d had for the rest of the book.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

In a good way: Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton. After seeing this mentioned repeatedly on Twitter I found a copy at the library, but made a snap decision that it would be quite a fluffy, Instagram-caption kind of book. Instead, I devoured most of it on a long coach journey (coincidentally, on route to visiting one of my best female friends) and kept finding myself nodding along with a smile on my face – I particularly loved that it was about female friendships rather than looking for a romantic relationship to make her ‘whole’.

In a bad way: Normal People by Sally Rooney. This book has such rave reviews that I kept rereading pages to see if I’d somehow missed the point. Strangely this is one of those books which does stay in your mind afterwards – and perhaps that’s part of its appeal – but overall the writing felt sparse, two-dimensional and disconnected.

4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did)?

Educated by Tara Westover. I raved about this book to so many people (and often reminded them multiple times until they actually read it) because I felt so strongly that Westover’s story needed to be shared.

5. Best series you started in 2019?

Will Dean’s Tuva Moodyson series. I practically inhaled Dark Pines and Red Snow – both of which take place in a remote Swedish town surrounded by creepy forests and alarming characters – and I’m chomping at the bit to read the third instalment of this deaf reporter’s exploits later in 2020. Black River, here I come!

6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2019?

Maggie O’Farrell. I randomly picked up I Am, I Am, I Am off the library shelf because the subtitle of Seventeen Brushes With Death intrigued me. I quickly fell in love with her non-fiction writing, only to discover on finishing it that she has a lengthly back catalogue of fiction too. I’m trying hard to limit myself to one or two of her books each year so I don’t read them all too quickly!

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

For some reason, I’ve always assumed that crime novels weren’t my kind of books. I thought they were cheap lit for reading on a flight – but this year I happily discovered that the crime genre can be complex and totally compelling.

Thanks to The Other Sister by Elle Croft, Red Snow by Will Dean and All The Hidden Truths by Claire Askew, I’m now properly converted to the crime and mystery genre!

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

This is a tricky one, as nothing I read this year was ‘action-packed’ per se – but there were a few books which felt utterly unputdownable.

I read Room by Emma Donoghue in a single afternoon, curled up on the sofa one Sunday, completely enthralled by the book’s young narrator and the horrific situation he and his mother find themselves in.

I daydreamed about My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh whenever the book wasn’t open in front of me, fascinated by the darkness, apathy and self-destructive nature of the central character.

And then there was The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich, which did strange things to my insides. A combined murder investigation and intensely vulnerable memoir, I still can’t believe what she achieved with this book. In terms of my favourite reads of this year, it’s probably a close third.

9. Book you read in 2019 that you would be MOST likely to re-read next year?

Educated, hands down – but that’s probably so I can feel re-inspired with my own book writing!

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2019?

Midnight Chicken by Ella Risbridger. I’ve followed Ella on Twitter for years and was so happy when she finally managed to publish this book of memoir-style recipes – and the hand-drawn cover is absolutely gorgeous. It really reflects her style of writing too; nourishing, detailed, and heartbreakingly humorous.

11. Most memorable character of 2019?

My Year of Rest and Relaxation. I’ve never read a character like this unnamed woman before: someone I found immeasurably frustrating and yet also strangely familiar. In the year after my dad died I felt myself exhibiting many of the same behavioural quirks so I had a strong sense of empathy towards her.

But then there’s also Circe, from the book of the same name by Madeline Miller. Her retelling of the Odysseus story from Circe’s perspective is beautifully written, and although I started reading with the idea that it’d feel too historical to feel relatable, it didn’t take long before I was totally absorbed in her journey. Plus her solo lifestyle on the island is awesome.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2019?

Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter. I find it hard to get through a whole year of reading without at least a few grief-related texts, and this is one of the most highly reviewed – yet a little confounding – grief books around at the moment.

Grief is the Thing tells the story of a recently widowed father, his two young sons, and ‘Crow’, who is the embodiment of their grief. The text is sparse, poetic, piecemeal: it’s a quick read in theory, but it stays with you long after you’ve closed the book. I read this while at an Airbnb in Berlin but already know I need to buy my own copy.

13. Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2019?

The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich. This book made my brain ache with the realisation of how many twists and turns the legal system – and the lawyers, police, friends and enemies of the accused – have to take when deciding on a single person’s guilt. Similarly, the ways in which my own opinion could change drastically depending on the facts I learned was surreal.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited until 2019 to finally read?

This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay. I went to school with his younger sister and I’d seen her sharing his memoir about working in the NHS on Facebook – but it’s such a popular book that the library was constantly out of copies. Despite being written with a comedic slant, Kay’s book is nonetheless a stark look at what’s happened to the UK’s healthcare system, and it’s something of a sobering read.

Nonetheless, everyone should read it.

15. Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2019?

“Perhaps the point is not to resist death. Perhaps the point is that there’s no such thing. If Simon and Saul are contacting Klara, then consciousness survives the death of the body. If consciousness survives the death of the body, then everything she’s been told about death isn’t true. And if everything she’s been told about death isn’t true, maybe death is not death at all.”

– The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin.

16.Shortest and longest book you read in 2019?

Shortest: Grief Is The Thing With Feathers by Max Porter (114 pages)

Longest: This Must Be The Place by Maggie O’Farrell (496 pages)

17. Book that shocked you the most (plot twist, character death, etc)?

The Lucky Ones by Julianne Pachico. Not because of a plot twist but simply because her set of loosely connected short stories set in the conflict years of Colombia took my breath away in a dozen different ways. This book stayed with me for a long time.

18. Favourite non-romantic relationship of the year?

It’s a heart-wrenching relationship, but my most memorable is the connection between Maud and her sister in Elizabeth is Missing. And, in fact, the connection between Maud and the titular Elizabeth too. I didn’t expect this novel to hit me the way it did but I definitely cried at the end (and it’s probably just as worthy of the shock question above this!).

19. Favourite book you read in 2019 from an author you’ve read previously?

I’d only read Will Dean and Celeste Ng previously – everyone else was a new author to me this year – and both of their books were fantastic.

20. Best book you read in 2019 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else?

Probably Everything I Know About Love. Turns out constantly saving Twitter recommendations to my Goodreads account is a good idea after all!

21. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2019?

Circe. That girl is COMPLEX, and I always wanted to know what she was going to do next. Also I just wanted to hang out in the island kitchen with her and learn about witchy herbs and potions.

22. Best 2019 debut you read?

I don’t think anything was published in 2019 so I’ll go with The Other Sister by Elle Croft – a blogging friend who’s doing fantastical things in the crime genre. Her third book is out in 2020 and I can’t wait to delve into it.

23. Best worldbuilding/most vivid setting you read this year?

The Gloaming by Kirsty Logan. I’m not hugely into fantasy but there was a lovely mix of reality and strange magical touches in this book – and the image of the cliff edge scattered with stone statues will stay with me for a long time.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. Set in a small Ohio town in the 1970s, the intricacies of how a Chinese-American family cope with their daughter’s death had me hooked. There’s something about a ‘mundane’ book setting which, when written well, can be so much more compelling than a huge extravagant adventure narrative. Ng absolutely nails this in both novels of hers which I’ve read (like Little Fires Everywhere which blew my mind!).

24. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most FUN to read?

This question made me realise I don’t often read ‘fun’ books..! Which is a bit of a downer.

That said, I really felt like Everything I Know About Love was a smile-inducing book – as was Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong. Despite the topic (a novel detailing how dementia affects a family), it’s a short, sweet and beautifully funny read.

25. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2019?

Room by Emma Donoghue. I hadn’t seen the film so didn’t know the storyline, and there were multiple moments which both lifted and broke my heart.

26. Hidden gem of the year?

The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich. I don’t think this book is getting the exposure it deserves!

27. Book that crushed your soul?

Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter.

28. Most unique book you read in 2019?

The Fact Of A Body. I’m still in awe of her ability to construct such a compelling narrative from little more than police reports and news footage.

29. One book you didn’t get to in 2019 but will be your number 1 priority in 2020?

Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino. My friend’s copy has been beside my bed for months and I keep meaning to start it!

30. Book you are most anticipating for 2020?

Will Dean’s third instalment of Tuva Moodyson’s Swedish adventures. I even made my first attempt at a Netgalley review copy for Black River but was sadly unsuccessful!

What books did you love in 2019? Anything you can’t wait to read in 2020? I’d love any and all recommendations – and hopefully I’ll get through more than 33 books this year! 

Many thanks to Perpetual Page Turner for these challenge questions!

The post 2019 Reading Challenge: What Books Did I Read Last Year? appeared first on Flora The Explorer.

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