Alice Sebold- "The Lovely Bones"

I have certain things that just hit an emotional nerve. Children being robbed of their innocence or children having to grow up. Elderly people being unhappy or scared. It is because I feel like I can relate. I am a mix of an old person and a child. I am not in between. This book explores moving on from someone when they go away. That has always hit a nerve with me. Having to move away and go on from a loved one. 

Susie Salmon narrates this story as she watches her family from her heaven after she was brutally murdered by a neighbor. Her family slowly starts to heal, but never all the way. It depresses me with each sentence I read. 

I put myself in her shoes and I instantly have tears in my eyes. It is rare that a book or movie hits a chord with my emotions and this book does it well. That is saying something because it is rare that I can relate to things in this world. However, I will never read this damn book ever again because it tortures me so. 

Kristen Hannah- "The Things We Do For Love"

We all cope with grief differently. Some people cry for months, others become numb. I have found in the genre of inspirational fiction everyone seems to become complete assholes and selfish. Is this a requirement for such books? Divorce your loved one, hate your family and fight all the time. Then when timing is convenient for the writer the character realizes they have become assholes and changes in two pages. I have gotten so frustrated with this genre. It is the same formula over and over again. 

I have created a book club for my family and friends and my nanny picked this book out to read. It is a story of lost babies and teenage pregnancy and lost dreams. Honestly, it is like every other book by Kristen Hannah and even ends suddenly. She can't finish I book. It makes my eyes twitch. 

Being fair, this is a good book about real life struggles and she makes you feel for the characters. Too bad she does that and then just ends the friggen book.