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[litsavantbookclub]

Verity Book Review

Hello fellow readers!

I just finished Colleen Hoover’s Verity! Before starting it I heard such great things about it and I thought I should probably just take the plunge. It didn’t disappoint. If you are not interested in spoilers, please stop reading.

The book’s protagonist is called Lowen Ashleigh. She’s a small-time thriller writer. She doesn’t want fame and or to make it big like many writers aim to. She prefers a quiet life and avoids being the center of attention. This is the reason she doesn’t do book tours or communicate on social media. She’s a loner and an introvert. She recently lost her mother and needs to get back on her feet. This leads Lowen to accept an in-person interview. This prospective job offer is something she needs, so she goes.

The book begins at this point. Lowen is on her way to the building when she witnesses an awful accident. This leads her to be comforted by unknowingly the person who she’s supposed to be meeting. This chance meeting had an endearing effect on both Lowen and Verity’s husband, Jeremy. Lowen gets the job offer and she agrees to go to the Crawford house to collect notes and create outlines for the next three books. Lowen’s agent, Cory, advises her to get in and out because of the tragedies the Crawford’s have recently gone through. Lowen is offended by Cory’s insinuations.

One of the greatest things about this book is when Lowen discovers Verity’s autobiography. Just like that she’s drawn to this strange world inhabited by the Crawfords. Lowen becomes enchanted and is seemingly unable to break away from the text. At first, Lowen dismisses it as nothing more than insight into the writer she’s trying to emulate: “I need to see how Verity’s mind works to understand her as a writer” (60). It’s a reasonable point, one that becomes moot the moment Lowen keeps diving deeper. She does this regardless of all the private moments she becomes privy to. 

Lowen not only tries to understand and get into Verity’s head but begins to get closer and more infatuated by her husband: “...it’s not the worst thing. Being forced to step into Verity’s shoes and visualize Jeremy for the next twenty-four months as I write” (99). Earlier in the book Jeremy claims that he wasn’t interested in reading Verity’s books because he didn’t want to get in her head. This is exactly what Lowen starts to do. She is literally reading about this woman’s deep and confessional moments and it is changing her. And just like what Lowen says: “things lurking around inside the mind can be just as dangerous as tangible threats” (150). In this book, the real threats are the ones inside the character’s minds specifically Lowen, Verity, and Jeremy. At this time, Lowen has descended into icy depths the slippery slope has plunged her in and she doesn’t even realize it.

Lowen tries many times to “stop” but she always ends up back with the manuscript in her hands. She keeps reading, becoming more and more disturbed and more involved in Jeremy’s relationship with his invalid wife, Verity. Hoover creates two different versions of Verity in this book, there’s the Verity that Lowen first meets when she arrives under the guise of Laura Chase: “Verity’s eyes are vacant, uninterested in her surroundings. She’s unaware of the nurse. Unaware of me” (51).  This Verity is vulnerable, childlike, and innocent. In this form, Verity is a far cry from the Verity contained in her So Be It manuscript. Lowen is visibly staggered by how far Verity has fallen from the successful and published author known to the world: “I try to cover the chills that have appeared on my arms” (52). Lowen is uncomfortable by Verity’s helplessness and mentions that she wouldn’t want to be in her position. She pities her, Jeremy, and Crew.

The other Verity is the exact opposite of the former. She is vivacious, proud, and emotional. The readers learn early on that even though she is over the moon for her partner, Jeremy, she has her limitations. Those limitations are what keep the action going in this story within the story. Verity is wildly jealous, irrational, and neurotic. All of these traits tied to the other facets of her personality mentioned earlier, create an explosive person with maladaptive tendencies. Eventually, these tendencies become impulsions that Verity cannot and does not want to keep in check. One of the biggest sections in So Be It is the moment Verity narrates her first pregnancy. In just this area alone Verity reveals her controversial thoughts on Jeremy’s love for their unborn babies: “being forced to love the one thing Jeremy loved more than me...I was suddenly not okay with being the third most important thing in Jeremy’s life” (107). This Verity openly speaks about her she feels and stands by it. In this instance, she is not okay with being a mother. The news that she’s having twins is received negatively. Up until here, Verity is happy with it being just her and Jeremy. The fact that they conceived on the day of their engagement puts a damper on Verity’s plans. 

Verity’s relationship with Jeremy according to her story is toxic, a charade, and codependent. She’s obsessed with Jeremy and is not honest about her real hangups about motherhood. When the twins are born, this obsession only grows. Verity feels threatened by her children and Jeremy’s unconditional love for them. She attempts to cause miscarriages all because she wants to drop the dead weight she views her daughters as. The violence doesn’t stop there either. It gets worse. Lowen denounces and starts to hate Verity for her resentment and murderous actions. Ultimately, Lowen’s ability to read and finish this book is what compels her to keep getting closer to Jeremy. Her coveting of Jeremy and eventual attainment make her a mirror image of Verity. This doubling is apparent from the beginning until Lowen’s transformation is complete at the end.

Hoover’s decision to include the unpublished manuscript of Verity’s So Be It, is great. She was able to give a voice to a character that doesn’t utter a word until the end of the book. Hoover also employs good use of pacing throughout the book. She doesn’t use jump scares but suspense and doubt as tools to drive Lowen’s anxiety and paranoia. Hoover’s decision to leave such a big question as a cliffhanger is awesome and I tend to respect ambiguous endings. We as readers will never completely know which was the real Verity. But that is beside the point because Jeremy has found another woman to take her place and Lowen is fine with how things turned out.

Rating: 4 stars

Keywords: Shocking, ambiguous, addictive

P.S. This book gave me V.C. Andrews vibes specifically of Flowers in the Attic variety. Creepy house, check. Unhinged woman fallen from grace, check. Secrets and family drama, yup. 

What did you think of Verity?

#verity #colleenhoover #suspense #thriller #bookreview #bookblogger #litsavantbookclub #astridfayereads #theponderingscribe #bookstagrammer #thoughtsonbooks #readingismysuperpower #writingismyoutlet #ambiguousendings #vcandrews #flowersintheattic #charades #addictivebooks

[almacayasso]

#munkeedragonsart #thatguysart #theponderingscribe

#thatguysart #munkeedragonsart #theponderingscribe

[litsavantbookclub]

milk and honey Book Review

Hello fellow readers,

I finished reading rupi kaur’s milk and honey around the same time as Regretting You. milk and honey was the companion read for Lit Savant’s March book club pick. Let me just say that even though kaur’s book of poems is only 204 pages long, it packs a whole lot of emotion, insight, and depth. 

The book is separated into 4 different parts: the hurting, the loving, the breaking, and the healing. Each of these parts has a collections of poems that go with the theme of each of the sections. I will focus on the overall meaning of the poem in each section. At this point, I will issue a spoiler warning so if you haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying this book then I suggest you stop reading.

In the section, titled, “the hurting” the poem I think stands out the most to me is ended with “the idea of shrinking is hereditary.” 

“trying to convince myself

i am allowed 

to take up space 

is like writing with

my left hand

when i was born

to use my right” (29).

I love this poem because the speaker obviously understands that being a woman and inhabiting these bodies are complex. Things that are instinctual like using our dominant hand and the beliefs, ideas, and mannerisms that are trusted upon us since infancy from a patriarchal society must be debunked and assessed. In order for us to break out of this, a reworking and rethinking of what’s expected of us must be done. Everything that was accepted as the default must be reconsidered. 

In “the loving” the poem that pulls me in is on page 79 ended with the word “you.”

“on days 

like this

I need you to

run your fingers

through my hair

and speak softly” (79). 

The speaker in this piece understands and wants someone to be there physically for support. This is the way they want to receive love. Love for them is simple and comforting. Love takes many forms and this form is one of the most endearing and fulfilling. Love is often represented throughout movies, books, and music like that one in a million sweep you off your feet and powerful vision of romance. But that’s not always what is love is. Love can be simple and uncomplicated and that can be just as filling.

In “the breaking” the excerpt that draws me in the most is the following: 

“...this is where you must 

understand the difference 

between want and need 

you may want that boy 

but certainly 

don’t need him” (86).

Can this be said louder for people in the back? It seems like such an obvious distinction but many times it doesn’t feel that way. Sometimes we stay with those who don’t deserve us. We want them for reasons that pale in comparison to things far more priceless, our dignity, respect, and safety. We fear the change. The sting of letting go even though you’re already in free fall. 

Which brings me the final section, “the healing” this part of the book was my favorite and because of that I picked two quotations instead of one. The first must ring true for many readers:

“who tricked you 

into believing 

another person

was meant to complete you

when the most they can do is complement” (154).

Believing that people we fall in love with are meant to make us whole is something that is idealized in Western culture. This is especially true when it comes to Hollywood romance movies and in romance novels. The idea of meeting your “better half” and having everything completed and figured out is something that is advertised and packaged for our viewing pleasure since our childhood. This is apparent in Disney movies. Cinderella leaves behind her oppressive family and marries her Prince, Snow White is woken up and whisked away to a better life with her Prince, and Rapunzel is freed from her tower and returned to her family and spends the rest of her life with her love. All these stories are renditions on the idea that meeting our loves is the step to starting the rest of our lives. 

But it isn’t just about meeting our loves. It is also about working on ourselves and loving ourselves. This is just as necessary. We shouldn’t depend on our loves saving us. We have to save ourselves. Our partners don’t complete us. They supplement our existence.

The second citation starts:

“our backs

tell stories

no books have

the spine to

carry” (171).

It speaks to a big topic in kaur’s poems, the history of our women. All the stories and events they have lived through. They can be written down, spoken, and shared. They can bring insight and tears to our eyes about the strength it took to endure. Yet the power of those collected moments cannot be compared to the grit, nerve, and determination it took to keep moving forward through their lives. The generations of women and girls that lived through all those times and their journeys will continue to be gathered in books but it will all pale in comparison to their actual experiences. Those experiences are carried on their backs supported by iron spines. No books can carry that trauma equally. 

If you like poems or are have yet to read poetry this is a good first step. The poems are on the short side and say a lot without being long. The themes are timely and relatable. 

My rating: 4 

Keywords: Deep, emotional, and insightful.

What did you think of milk and honey?

#rupikaur #poems #healing #breaking #selflove #love #trauma #milkandhoney #andrewsmcmeelpublishing #theponderingscribe #astridfayereads #litsavantbookclub #bookblogger #bookreview #literaryanalysis #readingismysuperpower #bookstagrammer #readingisfundamental #booksarelife

[litsavantbookclub]

The Other Mrs. Book Review

Hello fellow readers,

After countless migraines and all the dragging days because of social distancing, I have finally finished Mary Kubica’s The Other Mrs. It’s been a trek in more ways than one. But overall I think it was worth it. From here on out, I will be mentioning some spoilers so if you haven’t read this yet, I’d stop reading now.

At the beginning of the story, Kubica introduces readers to Sadie and her family as well as the house they are moving into. I mention the house because of the way Kubica presents passages about and moments about it. It’s almost like the home is a character. I’m not sure if that was on purpose but that’s the way I received it. Either way, readers get the feeling that Sadie is not happy with this change in location. Sadie is reluctant to even step into this new home. She states the following: “ there’s something off about the house. Something that nags at me, makes me feel uneasy, though I don’t know what it is that makes me feel this way” (9). Sadie obviously feels a sense of foreboding and even though this is just the beginning of her feelings it is something that is constantly brought up again and again. And even though she knows she feels an ambivalence towards the house she cannot pinpoint why. Sadie is both intune and unaware of her emotions. She is aware of her feelings but also out of touch. This contradiction and others that follow lay the groundwork for making Sadie, the protagonist a flawed, complicated, and definitely unreliable. But because she is so vulnerable and honest about her confusion and hangups she’s likable. The first-person point of view for most of the story has readers become close and involved in all the controversy and drama that ensues adding to the intimacy.

The next lines on this first page are quite telling about the rest of the novel: “on the surface, it’s perfectly idyllic...on the surface there’s nothing not to like. But I know better than to take things at face value” (9). This structure is something that Sadie recognizes as outwardly charming and ideal but she rebukes it. She believes that even though things may seem great they may very well not be. That if you look deeper there is usually something off. Readers may see this as Sadie being negative and even ungrateful. Inheriting a new home when things have gone south and you need a way out is ideal, especially given the circumstances. And Will mentions this opportunity as a “new start” one that he and Sadie’s family desperately need. But Sadie isn’t buying it. And by the end of the book, readers see that Will like the house’s facade isn’t something we’re not buying either.

Overall the way conflict and new information are spread out throughout the book is great. There are many nooks and crannies that hold new information. But Kubica plays it close to the chest. There are layers to the truth and they are presented sparingly. I appreciated that but at the same time, it did make for long and drawn out moments that were tedious. I experienced moments when I considered dropping the book and walking away. However, I pushed myself for a few reasons. The first was that even though things slowed down I was invested. I wanted to know what the heck was going on. Personally, I am one of those readers that want to figure out what is going on as I read. I love thrillers and figuring puzzles so that alone pushed me to keep going. The second is that given the quarantine and covid19 reading has been harder to accomplish. My mind has been spinning and my anxiety has been higher than usual so I blame my apathy on the current state of things. The third is that I was have read other novels by Kubica: The Good Girl, Pretty Baby, and Don’t You Cry. TOM would be my fourth. I decided why not finish it. I might as well. 

Truth be told, the book was most interesting when I had about 100 pages left. The moment that Sadie finds Imogen in the cemetery and she reveals what she did to Alice caused me to not want to stop reading. This area of the story is the most suspenseful and engrossing. There is so much information dumped on you that you are overloaded and barely have time to recover before another shoe drops. Like Sadie, you are flabbergasted and left scratching your head. The fact that Sadie is ill to the extent of having DID was handled well. Kubica took one of the most common reasons that an unreliable character is undependable (because they’re “crazy”) and handled it differently. Sadie was unstable but being manipulated and gaslighted by her narcissistic husband. The Camille and Mouse perspectives were not separate people but all parts of one person, Sadie. Will may or may not be an adulterer but he is an ass that uses his wife to do his sadistic bidding. 

Another thing I appreciated was that Kubica understood the extent that an abusive relationship leaves a person who finally discovers the truth reeling. Sadie struggles with the unmasking of Will’s true behavior and intent for her. All those moments that she felt grateful for his “support”, “love”, and “affirmation”, has been a lie. A practiced and uncanny representation of what the “ideal” husband is like day in and day out. Will got everything he ever wanted from Sadie, the protection and the different alter to satisfy him sexually. Yet he isn’t happy and is annoyed by the sudden issues arising from his decisions. Take the following for example: “...she’s desperate now, thinking I’ll do her bidding for her as I always do. But not this time” (314). Will feels like he is being used by Sadie and he’s tired of it. According to Will, he is the victim. He is miserable because Sadie is his burden to manage. This empowers and infuriates him all at once. Will like Sadie is a contradiction. He wants all the rewards and benefits but none of the work or responsibility. He believes he is above it all. In his mind only he matters. Not all the women he’s used and deemed unworthy of life and second thought. Will is both “the puppet master” and the “downtrodden.” In his mind, he is the hero of the story. And just like the house at the beginning, on the surface and to everyone around him besides those killed Will was charming, helpful, and supportive until he wasn’t. 

When Sadie finally kills Will it isn't because she was manipulated but because she finally fought for herself. The addition of Imogen, her antagonist,  as Sadie’s protector was the icing on the cake. I loved it!

What did you think of The Other Mrs.? Was it the best Kubica has published? if not, then which was?

My rating: 3.75

Keywords: Puzzling, off-kilter, mental illness

#theothermrs #marykubica #thrillerreads #domesticthriller #astridfayereads #theponderingscribe #litsavantbookclub #did #covid19newyork #quarantine #readingismysuperpower #bookreview #parkrowbooks #readingisfundamental #literaryanalysis #bookblogger #bookstagrammer