Yet again, I've taken up with a bad crowd. I am now a member of The Cephalopod Coffeehouse. Mother, the answer to your question is "Yes, if my friend jumps off a cliff, then I shall follow."
The Armchair Squid hosts the coffeehouse, the point of which is as follows:
The idea is simple: on the last Friday of each month, post about the best book you've finished over the past month while visiting other bloggers doing the same. In this way, we'll all have the opportunity to share our thoughts with other enthusiastic readers.
It was Vebbie of Nicki Elson's Not-So-Deep Thoughts who dragged me into this, so do it, Veb. Jump off that cliff, and I'll follow. Or find something else stupid to do. No matter what it is, I know my deceased Mother would disapprove. It's all fun and games until somebody's eye gets poked out.
The best book I've read in the past month is the beautifully written Broken Pieces: Essays Inspired By Life by Rachel Thompson who blogs at Rachel in the OC.
I'm glad I own it because I know I'll read it again and again.
I've always admitted that blogging is my therapy. Writing, in general, can be very therapeutic. Broken Pieces is non-fiction, and I'm sure that writing it allowed Rachel to write the story of her own life. I don't mean in the simple sense that it's autobiographical. We all need to grab our horse on the carousel and write the stories of our lives––not merely the past, but write your present, and what will be your future, too.
Rachel was molested as a child, and survived rape and abuse and horrible losses. She writes about these tragedies lyrically and honestly in Broken Pieces:
BIRD
He found me, waiting and bruised, pushing his way so deeply inside
me; I never thought he'd find his way out.
But he surprised us both, shoving me aside as quickly as he'd come.
Using, abusing, he feared his inner darkness would disrupt our carefully
structured nest.
Scared our pleasure would eat at his soul.
Too afraid to give room, or care, or thought, he left me as he found
me, waiting and bruised, but now also willing and broken.
I shakily tend my wounds, mystified if I had flown, or fallen.
I relate very strongly to Broken Pieces. Reading it makes me feel I've found something familiar to touch and hold close because Rachel gives words to my hidden thoughts. I can wrap myself in this soft blanket of a book and know that someone understands me and has given me a voice.
Broken Pieces earns The Janie Junebug Highest Seal of Approval. It's a short book you can read in a short time, but you'll want to ponder and savor the words.
The extra good news is that you can enter to win one of two copies of Broken Pieces. You have until June 30th to enter, so don't wait too long. Go to http://rachelintheoc.com/2014/06/goodreads-giveaway-baby/, which will take you to Rachel's blog and a button to click on so you can enter, or go to https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/92931, which will take you to Goodreads and another button to click so you can enter.
If you're not a winner (though we're all winners), you can purchase Broken Pieces on Amazon at http://goo.gl/EzVfr7 or from Barnes & Noble at http://goo.gl/mIJpyA.
Thank you, Mr. Armchair Squid, for starting The Cephalopod Coffeehouse.
I hope you'll consider joining the coffeehouse. You can add your link at http://armchairsquid.blogspot.com/.
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Bad crowd? Wow, I feel so... notorious...
ReplyDeleteBroken Pieces sounds very powerful. Revisiting fear and pain to produce art, while surely cathartic on some level, is arduous.
Some people can't let out these powerful feelings. I think it's even harder to keep them bottled up. X decided to deal with his childhood by not thinking about it. It didn't work. I'm glad you feel notorious. I usually won't join a group that will have the likes of me as a member.
DeleteIsn't that a Groucho Marx line? Always a good choice.
DeleteYes, I believe it's Groucho's and that he said it about a country club. I might have added or rearranged a couple of words to make it my own. Everything is derivative.
DeleteLots of soul-searching books on the hop this month! This one sounds intense.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
It's intense in a beautiful way.
DeleteBroken Pieces sounds like a poignant read. I think I would need a box of tissues nearby if I ever read it.
ReplyDeleteI got through it without crying. I think it's because I know that Rachel is okay and safe.
DeleteI made it here for you, dear Janie. (In the midst of my very busy weekend, I'm going cliff diving. Wanna come with? :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about Rachel's essays. As hard as it must have been for Rachel to share her true stories of abuse, the process was cathartic. You and other readers can learn from Rachel's experiences without shedding tears because you know she has survived and thrived.
Have a safe and happy weekend, dear Janie, and please don't run with scissors just because all your friends do it. :)
It's very kind of you to escape, uh, take some time off from family matters to visit me. I don't think I'd be much of a cliff diver, but I'll go shopping with your credit card instead. When The Hurricane was about 13 I gave her a t-shirt that said RUNS WITH SCISSORS.
DeleteLove,
Janie
I usually have a hard time reading a book that pokes a stick into the broken part of my psyche, but I'll trust you that this one isn't too brutal. I've dutifully entered the giveaway, and will buy it if I don't win it.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend, kiddo!
Nice to see you, darlin'. I wish you a loverly weekend, my fair lady. I enjoyed your book review.
DeleteLove,
Janie
I'm probably too superficial for this intense book. But it does sound like something Mrs. Chatterbox would be interested in, and I intend to mention it to her.
ReplyDeleteYou don't strike me as the superficial type.
DeleteWeird! You just popped up on my blog....simultaneously. Thanks for the review...sounds like a heavy one.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's a small book and very light to carry. I still hate sticker people.
DeleteSounds a very moving story. The cover, for one, is spectacular.
ReplyDeleteThe cover reflects the way that she's tells her story in pieces.
DeleteSounds like a great idea to do! I'll eventually join in, once I actually have some books to read. No book case (and no room for one) and my phone doesn't seem to like the Kindle app very much. I might start calling the library home.
ReplyDeleteA library can be a wonderful place.
DeleteThis sounds like a moving read. And oh boy I don't think I can count how many times my parents used the so-if-everyone-jumps-off-the-cliff-are-you-going-to-follow argument. Just once I'd like to go back in time and debate that with them...
ReplyDeleteI bet you never jumped off the cliff, did you?
DeleteI love the cover and the words are I don't know Janie, can I say erotic? and beautiful. I am touched by the way you described how it made you feel reading the book.
ReplyDeleteDifferent people see different things in a poem. I find it rather disturbing because of the words "using" and "abusing."
DeleteI thought about giving away the book I wrote about last month...I don't have a bookshelf, so paper books always take up space. This one sounds very interesting. I love that cover!
ReplyDeleteIt's very easy to do a rafflecopter (I imagine you already know that, you pro) to give away a book, or you can say, If you leave a comment you'll be entered in a random drawing. Many people are thrilled to win books.
DeleteI agree with you, Janie and this is one book I find myself going back to again and again. I read Broken Pieces in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down but I've revisited it many times. This brave, honest and eloquently written book absolutely deserves the Janie Junebug stamp of approval. Great review :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Stephanie. Your approbation means a great deal to me.
Delete