MY REVIEW:
Ok, I have to start by saying
this has been a great week for me! I
have read some fabulous books and am really loving being here sharing them with
you!
Blue
Straggler is a story about a girl, Bailey, who struggled to find her place
(never really feeling like the fit was quite right). She begun growing tired of feeling like a
piece was missing, so she was brave enough to go off and search for it via a road
trip to Colorado. Although the trip was
not an easy, one with many missteps, Bailey finds herself bit by bit along the
way. The humor, depth of characters and
storyline will remain with me for quite some time. It was honest, beautifully written and well crafted.
Life
is not easy. It is easier to stay lost,
to remain stagnant, to be and do what is expected of us. Bailey decides to search of the meaning of her life herself. In the end
difficult decisions were made, friendships tested and hope remained.
This
story was written with such beauty, intense imagery and insight that I found
myself deeply entrenched in the story, wanting to mark passages after passage. Here are a few of my favorites from the book:
"It
dawns on me that maybe, sometimes, the paths we choose can turn out to be only
circles. Bringing us right back where we
started. Unharmed but not well." (Blue Straggler, ebook, p. 152)
"...as
if they're trying to sneak into autumn without us knowing." (Blue
Straggler, ebook, p. 169)
"The
sun is launching into its evening act, lighting up the clouds and horizon like
a magic trick. The mountains surrounding
us seem to be holding onto the light as if they would be flat without it."
(Blue Straggler, ebook, p. 189)
"Rapids
churning and twisting on each other like children playing in the park. Unorchestrated
madness." (Blue Straggler, ebook, p. 190)
There
are so many more, so check out this 4.5 star read for yourself. It is a gift Kathy Lynn Harris has given the
world! Enjoy!
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Publication Date: August 6, 2011
A blue straggler is a star that has an anomalous blue color and
appears to be disconnected from those stars that surround it.
But this is not a story about astronomy.
Bailey Miller is "disconnected" from the cluster of her rural south Texas family. She has never quite fit in and now in her early 30s, she finds herself struggling with inner turmoil and a series of bad choices in her life.
Bailey's drinking too much (even for a member of
her family), has a penchant to eat spoonfuls of Cool Whip, works in a job that
bores her beyond description and can't keep a relationship longer than it takes
for milk to expire in her fridge.
Even with the help of her two outspoken friends, Texas lass Idamarie and her quirky college pal Rudy, she's having a hard time.
Even with the help of her two outspoken friends, Texas lass Idamarie and her quirky college pal Rudy, she's having a hard time.
So she packs up her Honda and heads out of Texas
in search of herself and answers to secrets from her great-grandmother's past.
The novel takes readers on a journey from San Antonio, Texas, to a small
mountain town in Colorado and back again, as Bailey uncovers not only the
secrets of her great-grandmother's life, but also some painful secrets of her
own. All while finding love along the way.
If you have ever wondered why you got stuck with
the family you did, what you are doing with your job and your life, or had a
sudden desire to run off to the mountains, sit back and join Bailey for this
laugh-out-loud, yet poignant ride.
BUY IT
Great review Emily!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emily, for all the kind words. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read Blue Straggler, and am so glad you enjoyed it!
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