Book Chatter

Sunday Matters

The past week was a blur. It was a combination of a full schedule, fun stuff (homecoming, volleyball tournament) but also me wading through the fog of pain meds (long story).

Right Now:

I decided to switch things up a little so I went to church last Thursday and this morning my life group and I will be serving a meal to a group of seniors at the senior home. Apparently, there is no meal service for them on the weekends?? What?

Later tonight, my teen group and I will be attending a concert in honor of Freedom Sunday, a global effort to end human trafficking. The stories alone will rip your heart right out of your chest. It needs to stop.

This Week:

We are waiting to see if The Girl gets a callback for The Music Man. There is a volleyball game and a dental appointment. Ugh. I really just want to hang out on my couch and read. I’ve got zero energy these days.

Still trying to figure out what is tearing up our backyard. I am reading a book where creatures come out to destroy everything so of course, I am envisioning very large creatures ripping up my lawn.

Reading:

I am really into Bird Box by Josh Malerman. It came out a couple of years ago but I don’t remember seeing it. It’s RIVETING. These “creatures” take over the population but they are only a threat if you SEE them, so those who have survived spend their lives blindfolded. Crazy, right? I am half way done with it and I haven’t been able to put it down.

Read Along:

I think one person has officially signed-up for my read along and two unofficially. How can that be??? It’s King people! It starts on Tuesday! You can’t possibly allow me to read it by myself.

Watching:

I finally saw IT! It wasn’t scary. Reminded me a lot of Stand by Me and Stranger Things. It was very good.

I am totally into American Horror Story: Cult even though it’s getting some not-so-great reviews. It’s just wild. Anything goes and even when I feel as if the creators are toying with us, I don’t care. It’s been the perfect distraction to everything going on in the world. Which is weird because it’s about everything going on in the world.

Making:

I baked some chicken one night ahead of the night I actually planned to eat it. That seemed to work out well because I don’t typically have time to bake things the night of. Too busy driving The Girl to where she needs to go. I need a little chauffeur hat. But, the chicken was so good. Just top with a high quality bottle of Caesar dressing and bake.

I also made spaghetti with chopped mushrooms and marinara.

We also had leftover chili which of course was better as leftovers.

For some reason I am craving a veggie burger.

Grateful for:

Good coffee. Coffee is no longer a beverage, is it? It’s a thing. A lifestyle. Once in awhile I will purchase coffee from a shop but not often. Mostly, I make it myself and I make it nice and strong with lots of cream and a dash of cardamon or cinnamon.

By the way, I saw two houses fully decorated for Halloween and according to the ads, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back (does it even leave?) so I guess the season has changed.

What is your favorite fall activity? Mine happens to be walking on the beach at sunset. It’s cold, but you bundle up and it’s just nice. You?

My Absolute Darling
By Gabriel Tallent
Riverhead Books, 9780735211179, August 2017, 432pp.

*Trigger Warning: Child Abuse/Sexual Abuse*

The Short of It:

An impossibly brave girl, her abusive father and the relationship they have between them will keep you turning the pages but it’s brutal and raw and gut-wrenching at times.

The Rest of It:

The title might suggest affection, but it’s the twisted “affection” that this father displays for his fourteen-old that will have you squirming every time he enters the room. Friends, this was a tough read. Why so tough? Because as you might not guess, the girl, known as Turtle, loves her father deeply. She realizes at a very young age that they are both damaged and there is a beauty in that. A beauty that is constantly evaluated as these two co-exist in a town, that for the most part, turns a blind eye to what is going on.

How can two damaged people survive without one another? Is it even possible? That is the question and the author does a very good job of presenting the love/hate relationship that these two have. I actually caught myself pitying the father at one point. And for every ounce of pity I had for him, I had the same amount of anger for Turtle. I caught myself putting some of the blame on her and then I’d put the book down and sit there shaking my head over it.

This author wrings all the feelings out of you. For those who have read the book, I’m not sure the ending worked for me but thinking about it, I’m not sure what exactly I’d change if I could.

As I noted at the top of this review, this book could be a trigger for anyone who suffered from child abuse or sexual abuse of any kind and it’s not clearly noted anywhere in the blurbs I’ve read.

My Absolute Darling has what I would call one of the most complex protagonists ever. Turtle is damn near feral but she’s so vulnerable and fragile too. If you can stomach the abuse that she suffers, then you will be rewarded with beautiful prose. At times I was reminded of A Little Life which gut-punched me over and over again.

An important read, but read with care.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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