The Man Who Loved Too Much: Archipelago

This is the story of Billy Green. When he was just turning four, his father tried to throw him in the trash. He was a smart kid but that just seemed to create enemies.

His mom did everything to protect him. But this was Detroit, armpit of the wasteland! Catholic school didn’t help much, except the time he got his first kiss from an atheist nun. Home life was dismal. Was his father capable of anything but drinking beer and farting? And what was with that neighbor who made puppets and tried to molest Billy? Golly! Detroit was sucking the life out of him. At such a young age!

Then adolescence swirled around him. Like water in a toilet bowl. High school was a B movie. Only without a plot. So finally he did something about it. Billy ran away… to college. Cornell University. That was a good move for sure! He studied hard, lost his virginity, met the love of his life. Things were definitely looking up! What could possibly go wrong? Isn’t that what we always ask?

*May Contain Spoilers*

I finished reading John Rachel's novel, The Man Who Loved Too Much: Archipelago , a couple of days ago and have been struggling to put my opinion on character strength into words. The entire novel is undoubtedly about Billy Green, from infancy to sophomore year in college. The writing style is unique and fresh. But somewhere the book has an itch that I can't seem to scratch. 

Billy Green is a singularity. He was raised by an over-attendant mother and an alcoholic father. He should have been a spoiled brat or a resentful rebel but he grew up to be neither. Readers witness his growth into a deep thinker who's honest, loyal, confused by love, and a genuinely good character. The way that Rachel shares Billy's entire story, instead of a snippet of time with references to his past, lets the reader connect more with his character. 

However, the main plot seems to be the love story between Billy and Natalie, which doesn't start until his college years. Though the relationship with his father is an interesting novel aspect, as is the reaction to his mother fighting cancer. But, again, that doesn't start until his college years. I enjoyed Billy's character, and his adventure into the beginnings of adulthood, but I think I would have enjoyed the novel more if the focus was on the struggle of evolving relationships as the character comes of age. It seemed like the first parts of the novel, which revealed a near pedophile incident and a chaste first kiss with a nun, were just long-winded introductions to the main story line. 

It's tough to weigh character connection and in-depth descriptions against the overall intrigue of the story when also trying to assign a rating to a book. John Rachel's novel was well-written, with only a few mistakes here and there. It was funny, witty, and shocking at times. But most importantly, I cared about Billy and sincerely wanted him to end up with someone good. Not sure if that's Natalie, as she seems a little flighty and secretive (Pam = step mother?), but as a reader I want Billy to have a happy ending. And I think most readers will feel the same way, which shows a definitive bond between reader and character.

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

Marcie

When Kate's mother, Marcie, dies mysteriously she is forever tormented by the many questions surrounding her mother's death. In Marcie's absence Kate clings to her mother's husbands, searching for solace.


As family secrets are revealed Kate works to build her own life and family, but the mystery of her mother's death sidetracks her until she finally gets the answer she's always hoped for.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Marcie, by Carly Duncan, shares the emotional aftermath of one mother's mysterious death from the viewpoint of her daughter, Kate. The story is told on a timeline that jumps from past to present, creating a timeline of struggle and Kate's attempt at understanding her mother.

Kate is an independent young woman. She's never had anyone to rely on, as all of her family members were emotionally and physically unavailable. All but her brother, that is. With a family history of being ignored or kept at a distance, the death of her mother doesn't sit well with Kate. She wishes for another chance for both herself and her mother. As she grows into a woman, becomes a wife, and starts a family of her own, Kate tries to understand her mother through memories, a forgotten journal, and the stories from other family members. Readers will connect with Kate's desires and her attempt to rekindle strained relationships. 

The plot of the novel follows both Marcie's death and Kate's struggle. Each chapter gives the reader bits of information so that they may draw their own conclusions. The end of the novel was a bit abrupt, with the cause of Marcie's death revealed. However, the question of why is left partly unanswered. Duncan writes of a medical complication with Marcie, but readers never find out what the complication was. In a way, Duncan leaves the readers in the exact same spot as Kate, wondering if she'll ever know the whole truth. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

One Big Beautiful Thing

Artist Kate Abernethy is trying to put her life back together after the death of her boyfriend. At first, moving back in with her mother seems like a good way to sort out her finances and re-evaluate her life-instead it proves to be a minefield of doubt and recrimination. Floundering, she pushes herself to take new opportunities so she can rebuild her life and have a second chance at happiness.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Marie Flanigan follows one woman's struggle to survive in her novel, One Big Beautiful Thing. Kate is in her mid-twenties who has experienced an overwhelming amount of grief. She's lived through an unplanned teenage pregnancy, a failed engagement, the judgment of being a tattooed artist, and the death of a man she loved. 

Kate's role as main character brings focus to this novel of chaos and strife. She's a blooming painter who dreams of moving on after the death of Robert, her first serious boyfriend after college. She's bright, inventive, creative, and full of life. Though, she has trouble facing her future. Kate often runs from confrontation, using avoidance as a key tactic in her survival. Readers will connect with her through understanding. Facing one's own future is difficult enough without the haunting of a rough past. Kate is an interesting character with definite flaws that make her more real for the reader. Through the arc of her evolution into a stronger woman, readers will be touched by her change in perspective. 

The plot of the novel is simply following Kate's progression after Robert's death. Yet, the book holds so much more than that. Readers don't only see a change in Kate, but also in her mother and the main love interest. The supporting cast aren't static characters, adding more depth to this novel and making it one of ample caliber. One Big Beautiful Thing is a book that lifts not only spirits, but hopes within the readers as well. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

In Too Deep

Gracie has just finished her freshman year of college in Memphis when she takes a job at a local pizza joint in her home town of McKenzie, Tennessee. She is the epitome of innocence when she meets Noah. Noah is unabashedly handsome, intriguingly reckless and just cocky enough to be sexy. Gracie’s instincts tell her to stay far away from him and based on the stories she hears from her co-workers he leaves broken hearts in his wake. But still, she can’t explain her fascination with him.

Noah puts aside his bad boy ways when what he thought was a summer crush has him unexpectedly falling in love. But soon after Gracie transfers to UT Knoxville to be with Noah, their unexpected love becomes riddled with anger, deceit and humiliation.

Jake, Noah’s former roommate and Gracie’s best friend, can no longer be a bystander. Gracie’s world falls out from beneath her and when she breaks she turns to Jake for strength. As Jake talks her through a decision she’s not yet strong enough to make, together they uncover a truth so ugly neither of them is prepared for its fallout. Will Jake pull her to the surface or is Gracie Jordan finally In Too Deep?

*May Contain Spoilers*

For those readers who haven't experienced an emotionally abusive relationship, it may be difficult to understand why or how someone could stay. For the readers who have, it may be more difficult to understand why they can't just walk away. In Too Deep explores the hold abusers have over their victims and Michelle Kemper Brownlow guarantees that any reader will understand the experience. 

Gracie likes to think of herself as a "good girl." She enjoys her innocence and the strength she finds in it. When she meets Noah, the ultimate bad boy, she promises herself that she'll stay as far from him as possible. To Noah, this distance is a challenge. One he hasn't faced before and he'll stop at nothing to capture her. He uses his charm, and manipulation, to reel her in and, as soon as she gets comfortable, he flips the switch. Noah continuously degrades Gracie, manipulating her into believing that the problems in their relationship are all her fault. When she threatens to walk away, Noah uses his charm once again to convince her that he loves her and the fear of her leaving makes him act the way he does. 

Gracie begins the novel as a young woman, full of life and love. She's sweet-natured, has a good heart, and is open to the world. But the abuse she receives from Noah changes that. She loses her innocence and begins to think of herself as worthless.

Readers will connect with Gracie on multiple levels. Noah is her first love and he becomes her first for a lot of other things, including sex. Readers remember their first love and how inspiring it was. The adrenaline rush of feeling alive and that anything is possible. This universal feeling lays the groundwork for the connection with Gracie. 

As Gracie is mentally abused throughout the novel, that bond will either weaken or strengthen depending on the reader. Readers who have trouble understanding why Gracie can't simply walk away will feel distanced from her, while readers who have experienced a similar situation will find themselves comparing their relationship with hers. When Gracie decides that it's time to stand up to Noah and leave him for good, the bond with every reader will strengthen and continue building until the final face-off between Gracie and Noah.

Through the novel, Gracie knows that she must find the strength to leave Noah behind and Brownlow specifically outlines how truly difficult that can be. Written in the first person, Gracie's stream of conscious pulls readers into the story forcing them to feel everything that happens. In Too Deep is a novel that needs to be shared. Emotional abuse is not something to be taken lightly and many don't understand the horror of the situation. Through her book, Brownlow will touch many readers and help them to understand just how to move forward.

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

In Too Deep

Teaser Tuesday (45)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Chasing Dragons (Kindle Loc. 73-75)
   - Douglas Jaffe

Thus stated, you have to be clear on what you are willing to sacrifice for an experience, however enticing. Are you willing to discard all that you have built for this experience and if you end up alone at the end of it all - as you likely will - do you think the irreparable damage caused will have been worth it?

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