Dear Readers,
I’ve been very bad at writing in this blog regularly. I am hoping to change that with this new year. I have decided to try something new. I’m going to begin writing book reviews on the books that I read. I’m an avid reader so why not, it makes sense.
I’m hoping that my readers will grow with my consistency on posting and that together we all have a good time reading and talking about books in the comment section. I want us to be able to go on a journey where each book opens doors that we can walk through showing us a world of growth and wisdom.
I love books. I am a bookworm. Are you a bookworm? Let’s dive in…
Book: Fly Away Author: Kristin Hannah
I want to first start off by saying that when it came to this book, I missed something. As I was reading, I stopped when I read the words, Firefly Lane. I remembered seeing those same words on Netflix or Prime. I told myself, this book, Fly Away maybe the sequel of a book titled, Firefly Lane that was turned into a movie or series. I jumped on google and saw I was right. By the time I realized this fact I had read through the first four chapters. My interest in Fly Away had already peaked. I didn’t want to stop reading the book. I could have stopped and started Firefly Lane, while going back to read Fly Away after. Sure, I could have done that but the stubborn side of me said, “No, finish this one.” So, the decision was made, I continued to read Fly Away.
I went all in with an open mind knowing that Fly Away was a sequel and I had opted out of reading the first book. I was optimistic and read on. I realized one thing as I got further along in the chapters, I was not lost with the characters. Meaning, Hannah provided good enough background on the characters as she wrote that I didn’t feel the need to go buy the first book just to understand the second book. As an avid reader I felt that was great of Hannah because I didn’t feel like I was missing anything by not reading book one. Hannah did a great job at adding in just enough details from book one, into book two, that it will satisfy any readers pallet. Not an extra unneeded detail was given and that made my reading experience with Fly Away a good one.
Going back to the topic of the characters in the book, Hannah showed each character’s point of view regarding situations they found themselves in. For example, in one chapter all the characters are together in a scene where they were all dealing with grief. In this chapter their loved one had passed away. On the day of the funeral the reader is given different views of the whole day from three different viewpoints from three of the main characters. I thought that was cool because you got to be in the mind of each character experiencing the day and the same situation from different viewpoints.
Hannah took an opportunity in this book to zero in on two important topics, teenage mental health and child abuse. She wrote well on both topics which was shown in two separate characters. I liked how she took two hard topics and wrote about the issues that surrounds them beautifully. She didn’t cover up the hard truths about these topics, but she did soften the blow with love, support, and perseverance from family.
I personally did like the book. My only complaint is the timing of this book. I would have liked to know ahead of time that this book was a follow up to the Firefly Lane. Although I could have stopped reading Fly Away to begin Firefly Lane, and then went back to Fly Away, in my mind it was already too late. Fly Away had already sucked me in.
This is the first book I am reading from Kristin Hannah, which is why I was surprised to see, “A Reading Group Gold Selection” at the end of this book. Now if you read this book before you know what I’m talking about. To those that have not read this book it’s a section in the back of the book that has an author Q&A section, a music playlist of the two main characters favorite songs in Fly Away, and another section that has ideas for book groups on recommended reading and has reading group questions listed. Hannah wants to keep her readers engaged and involved in her books. But then again, what author doesn’t want that from their readers.
I hope you guys enjoyed our first book review. Stick around there’s more to come. Until next time, take care.
M.C. Addington 