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lizpatanders

lizpatanders

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A Clash of Kings
George R.R. Martin
The Diviners
Libba Bray
The Book of (Even More) Awesome
Neil Pasricha
Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories
Megan Kelley Hall, Carrie Jones, Claudia Gabel, Courtney Sheinmel, Crissa-Jean Chappell, Cyn Balog, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Daniel Waters, Dawn Metcalf, Debbie Rigaud, Deborah Kerbel, Diana Rodriguez Wallach, A.S. King, Eric Luper, Erin Dionne, Alyson Noel, Amy Goldman Ko
Shatter Me
Tahereh Mafi
Cress
Marissa Meyer
Truth & Dare: 20 Tales of Heartbreak and Happiness
Watchmen
The Blackwater Lightship - Colm Tóibín The Blackwater Lightship is a story that any reader can relate to. This is my first book by Colm Toibin and I definitely plan on checking out more by him. I've come out of this book not only feeling impressed, but as though I know the characters.Toibin creates a solid plot which feels realistic and well-constructed. Themes of family and friendship play a major role in this novel when Declan, the brother of the main character Helen, becomes sick with AIDS and the struggle brings together three generations. I definitely think family illness is a subject which all readers can relate to. However, Toibin doesn't depict the perfect family, which is one of the things I loved while I was reading this. Very families I know never fight or have histories free of rough patches. That made the characters feel so much more human to me.Speaking of characters, Toibin does an excellent job of constructing them throughout the novel. For the most part, they are all very well-developed. I loved how many of the characters told stories about the past so that the reader learned more about them, but plenty of the book was still set in the present. I would have liked to know a bit more about Hugh, but I definitely still picked up on the strength of his and Helen's marriage.Toibin's writing is not necessarily the most ornate or flowery, yet it is still very emotional. He is very honest about what all of his characters are feeling physically and emotionally. However, he definitely still manages to get some humor in the book. I feel that a lot of family get togethers involve sharing humorous moments or anecdotes, which is partially why I liked it. This is definitely a book I recommend. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this, and I think a lot of other readers will relate to the theme of family in this book.