In Celebration of Rockstar Authors

As a complete and total bookworm, authors are my celebrities. Where most people get excited to meet their favorite actor, actress, or reality show star, I am unashamedly gaga over authors. I can hardly believe some of my favorite authors are even real people. Like, if I were to pass JK Rowling in the grocery store, I might just pass out (because I would stop breathing).

Which is why this past year has been one of the most exciting years in this bibliophile’s life. I started blogging about books and getting free books to review. This, alone, was enough excitement to last me for a while. But, then I started meeting and interacting online with authors. You guys. They are actual, real people! They respond to messages and answer your questions at meet and greets. Once I learned this little secret, I dove right in (shaky knees and all).

Every time I heard about an author coming to the Upstate, I headed in that direction. Some were free events; some I gladly paid money for. Okay. I’ll be honest. I would have paid for all of them. Then, I learned that many authors do see when you post about them on Instagram. The joy I feel when an author comments on my page cannot be put into words. I *might* do a little happy dance. Whatever – I’m a grown woman – I can do what I want when I want – in the privacy of my own home.

So, now that you have a solid grasp of my nerd level and my massive affection towards authors of books I love, you should know that when I commented on Robyn Harding’s Instagram page expressing excitement to learn her book, The Party, was a Target Book Club pick and there would be signed copies – and she responded that if my local Target did not have any signed copies, she would send me one – I just about died.

And, y’all, she did! She really did! Thank you, Robyn! (PS. Her book was on two of my booklists this year because it is such a fun binge-read – and perfect for moms and book clubs).

Here are some the authors I saw or met in 2017 (and some funny stories):

• David Sedaris – We waited for a LONG time to speak with him because he took time to have full conversations with everyone who waited in line. Then, he signed my book and drew a nude. He also made some uncomfortable jokes – being a satirist is hard work, y’all. 

• Anne Lamott – It’s probably a good thing I was in the balcony and not close enough to met her because I would have embarrassed myself by crying all over her. 

• Shauna Niequist – I did not get to meet her, which totally bummed me out since I was wearing something I “just knew” would make her want to be friends with me. Ha. 

• Rachel Held Evans – Turned into a total dweeb meeting her and did not contain my cool. 

• Ellen Hopkins – Got a little starstruck and didn’t say much of anything.

• Libba Bray – Same as above

• Pam Stone – I got a chance to meet her at a local book & wine pairing, and oh my word, she is hilarious! She started showing my friend and me pictures of “hot actors” on her cell phone she modeled the main male character after. 

• Denise Kiernan – Just being in the room with her made me feel smarter

• Monica Hesse – I told the author I listened the audiobook and loved it. She surprised me by expressing her excitement over auditioning readers. She was super approachable – and young! She reminded me of what Rory Gilmore would have been like if she had stayed on track. 

So what authors have you met and which ones would you invite to your dinner party? 

Book Review: The Immortalists

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

I started 2018 with a book that I will remember far after this year ends and one everyone is already talking about. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin is a gut-wrenching and unforgettable novel, which is told with beautiful sorrow. Imagine the film Only You with Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey, Jr. filled with death and heartbreak rather than romance – and you get The Immortalists.

I realize that sounds depressing. And, it is. But, but, but. I love a well-told depressing novel – especially if it ends hopeful. And, this one does, even when I had given up hope. Now, that I have set this one up, let me tell you the gist.

This novel focuses on the Gold siblings. When they are children, the four siblings visit a fortune teller who tells the children their death dates. These death fortunes change the trajectory of their lives. Their relationships with one another become stranded. And, they begin to make major life choices because of their individual fortunes.

The novel is set up in five different sections. The first section introduces the fortune teller and the young children. Then, each section tells the life story of each sibling told in his/her voice. The author does a brilliant job at crafting unique siblings with separate, but intertwined stories. The whole time, as a reader, I kept wanting to find out if the fortunes were true and hoping they were not. (Not going to spoil it for you.)

My favorite character was the third child who is the magician, which will come as absolutely no surprise to anyone who reads my blog. But, I mourned along with each sibling – and I expect you will too.

With that being said, this book deals heavily with homosexuality, sex, suicide, alcoholism, magic, fortune telling, mental illness, and so on. There were some sex scenes that were much more detailed than things I typically read; however, these scenes purposely develop character and plot. As a mature reader, it was evident that the scenes were not salacious, but they were important for the overall themes of the novel.

Here is one quote to give you a taste (with a character name redacted):

“But [-] has done it. The impossibility of moving beyond loss, faced against the likelihood you will: it’s as absurd, as seemingly miraculous, as survival always is.”

* I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

* It was released today, so go ahead and order it or put it on hold at your local library!