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TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated The Sowing Season in Books
Feb 24, 2021
The Sowing Season by Katie Powner was like getting that first taste of fresh hot chocolate, you want to go slow to savor it, but you also want to drink it all down Because it tastes so good. That is what this book felt like for me, it was so good I wanted to savor it, but I also wanted to see the ending. A book theme this year has been books that make you think, and I have been LOVING it. The Sowing Season fits right in, but also stand out from the crowd.
This story was deep and thought-provoking in ways many books are not. It touched my mind and heart and I loved how Katie Powner showed the characters through real life, the ups and downs, and everything in between. I also enjoyed how the characters lived out their faith. A fantastic debut novel. Now I am looking forward to what other deep thought-provoking books that Katie Powner has in store.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
This story was deep and thought-provoking in ways many books are not. It touched my mind and heart and I loved how Katie Powner showed the characters through real life, the ups and downs, and everything in between. I also enjoyed how the characters lived out their faith. A fantastic debut novel. Now I am looking forward to what other deep thought-provoking books that Katie Powner has in store.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
Allan Arkush recommended Seven Samurai (1954) in Movies (curated)
Billy Keith Hall (419 KP) rated Sour by Olivia Rodrigo in Music
Jul 14, 2021
Some nice variety in pace within a number of songs. (2 more)
Some clever lyrics that make you think, cry and chuckle occasionally... That's right I used the word chuckle.
The album definitely has a theme that flows through it; heatrbeak.
Olivia Rodrigo
I really enjoyed this album.
Having heard Drivers Licence on the radio I couldn't help but be intrigued by the rest of Olivia Rodrigo's songs.
With a very beautiful voice and some interesting (in a good way) intonation in the way she sings parts of her songs, the album didn't disappoint. This is present throughout the album and definitely makes it worth a listen.
Whilst the themes of the songs all revolve around heartbreak, there are some more uplifting moments that make your head bang or your heart flutter positively.
I am rather biased, as I love acoustic music and there are some excellent moments of this throughout the album.
Having heard Drivers Licence on the radio I couldn't help but be intrigued by the rest of Olivia Rodrigo's songs.
With a very beautiful voice and some interesting (in a good way) intonation in the way she sings parts of her songs, the album didn't disappoint. This is present throughout the album and definitely makes it worth a listen.
Whilst the themes of the songs all revolve around heartbreak, there are some more uplifting moments that make your head bang or your heart flutter positively.
I am rather biased, as I love acoustic music and there are some excellent moments of this throughout the album.
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Kristina (502 KP) rated It Ends With Us in Books
Dec 7, 2020
Holy mother of God. I don't know where to start, honestly. Colleen is very good at stunning me into silence, so it's difficult to put my emotions into words - which is why you'll notice I either have no reviews or pretty vague reviews for her books. But I just can't do that with this one. There's no way. What I read wrung me dry and had me staring at the wall for a full 5 minutes before I could even move. What Lily experiences is so real and raw, so emotional, I felt like I was her. Her thoughts were true to who she was and honest. As I read Lily's diary entries, I felt a kinship, because I had experienced some of the same growing up. I felt her fear, her worry, her anger, her curiosity. To watch your mother go through that is no fun. I found it endearing that Lily wrote her diary in the form of letters to Ellen DeGeneres - she's an awesome woman. I fell in love twice in the span of one book. Even though I hoped I was wrong, I had a strong premonition, and I was right about it. I truly wish I wasn't. After reading the Author's note, I completely agree with Colleen. I kind of wish she had written it differently; I kind of wish she hadn't used the plot that she did. But, as she also said, it would have ruined the whole point of writing this story, and I understand that. I still love the story, because it's beautiful (yet heartbreaking) in all its glory, and it gets the meaning across just the way Colleen meant it to. I'm ashamed to say I was like many of the others: "Why doesn't she just leave?" Sure, I questioned the opposite spouse, but this question has always been the first to enter my mind. After reading It Ends With Us, I feel even worse that I've ever had that thought. It's true, life isn't just black and white, and niether is any situation. We never truly know what it's like for anyone unless we were in that same situation - and no two situations are exactly alike. All I can say is that while I fell in love twice, my heart broke a million times, and it still didn't feel completely whole by the time the story ended. I do hope Colleen decides to write a short novella about Lily's future, because I feel like I need more closure. My heart needs more closure. Nothing could have prepared me for this book and I have absolutely no regrets about going in blind. The Queen never ceases to amaze me. Once again, I'm adding a CoHo book to my favorites shelf. Bravo, Colleen.
***Spoiler***
Naked truth?
I think a part of me still loves Ryle. I worried that he was too perfect in the beginning. I knew there had to be a flaw and I was scared Lily's mom's situation would have something to do with it. What I'm most scared about is the fact I kind of wanted Lily to forgive him and take him back. Because who knows, having a daughter could have knocked the abusive side of him right out. And, sure, she loved Atlas, but I felt like it could have blossomed into a mature, familial type love. I'm so very proud of Lily and the decision she made, especially because it was for little Emmy. But a part of me mourns the loss of Ryle. Because his pain was real, his regret was real. Still... No matter how sorry he was, as Lily stated, there is no excuse; she did what she had to do.
***Spoiler***
Naked truth?
I think a part of me still loves Ryle. I worried that he was too perfect in the beginning. I knew there had to be a flaw and I was scared Lily's mom's situation would have something to do with it. What I'm most scared about is the fact I kind of wanted Lily to forgive him and take him back. Because who knows, having a daughter could have knocked the abusive side of him right out. And, sure, she loved Atlas, but I felt like it could have blossomed into a mature, familial type love. I'm so very proud of Lily and the decision she made, especially because it was for little Emmy. But a part of me mourns the loss of Ryle. Because his pain was real, his regret was real. Still... No matter how sorry he was, as Lily stated, there is no excuse; she did what she had to do.
Danielle (6 KP) rated A Little Life in Books
Jul 25, 2017
Queer relationships (3 more)
Character driven
Insanely engrossing
Beautifully written
Read this months ago and I'm still crying over it
oh my god. this fucking book. IT MADE ME CRY THREE TIMES. AND I'M NOT ONE TO CRY OVER BOOKS.
I loved this book. It was so incredibly engrossing and heart wrenching. I am surprised that I liked this book though because most of the themes in this book (mental health issues, self-harm, self-deprecation, that pretty much all the characters in the book were men) would typically have me going "ehh, this wasn't for me".
As the reader I felt like I was in the same boat as Willem and Harold where we were all in love (in some fashion) with Jude and we all just wanted to shake him and be like "talk to us, Jude! it's okay!".
I also found this book to be unbelievable only because I am doubting how good humanity could be. Like I found it unbelievable that Jude had people like Willem, Harold, Andy, Richard who all just unfaltering were there for him over and over and over again. How did they just not give up on him? Regardless, I think I also loved the book for these same reasons that I found unbelievable.
Also, the cover of this book is just so fucking perfect. I would have the book on my desk at work and I would always flip it over so I didn't have to look at how heartbreakingly sad the man looked on the cover. Then I found on the back sleeve that the photo is titled "Orgasmic Man" and ughhhh it's all just so perfect for this story.
UGH. MY HEART. IT'S TOO HEAVY.
I loved this book. It was so incredibly engrossing and heart wrenching. I am surprised that I liked this book though because most of the themes in this book (mental health issues, self-harm, self-deprecation, that pretty much all the characters in the book were men) would typically have me going "ehh, this wasn't for me".
As the reader I felt like I was in the same boat as Willem and Harold where we were all in love (in some fashion) with Jude and we all just wanted to shake him and be like "talk to us, Jude! it's okay!".
I also found this book to be unbelievable only because I am doubting how good humanity could be. Like I found it unbelievable that Jude had people like Willem, Harold, Andy, Richard who all just unfaltering were there for him over and over and over again. How did they just not give up on him? Regardless, I think I also loved the book for these same reasons that I found unbelievable.
Also, the cover of this book is just so fucking perfect. I would have the book on my desk at work and I would always flip it over so I didn't have to look at how heartbreakingly sad the man looked on the cover. Then I found on the back sleeve that the photo is titled "Orgasmic Man" and ughhhh it's all just so perfect for this story.
UGH. MY HEART. IT'S TOO HEAVY.