Rachael > Recent Status Updates

I'm confused by the title here. The book I checked out from the library doesn't have anywhere the subtitle they've added here on Goodreads, which makes it sound more like a self-help manual or the kid lit equivalent of the 1980s After School Specials I used to watch. Honestly, I hope the publisher never adds "A Heartfelt Graphic Hybrid Novel....for kids" to future editions because it sounds "cringy," as the kids say.

I was looking through my bookshelves the other day and found this. It didn't look familiar and then I realized-- my neighbor loaned it to me a COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, but evidently I forgot all about it. 🤯🤦‍♀️So I decided that maybe I should finally read it so I can return it to her. How embarrassing.

I've checked out this audiobook twice on Libby but still haven't finished. I think maybe it still hits a little too close to home, as my mother died from cancer a little more than two years ago. I'm still invested in finishing it, but I may have to either check out a physical book or try the audiobook again and just binge-listen until the end.

Lesley Manville is an excellent audiobook narrator. I'm curious why she doesn't read the audiobooks for the 3rd and 4th installments.

Other than a few episodes of Guiding Light when I was in college, I'm not sure I've ever watched any of her shows or movies. But for some reason this sounded really interesting to me, so I'm listening to the audiobook on Libby.

I can't fathom how a mother & all 4 older siblings, 1 by 1, could leave a 6 y.o. behind w/ an abusive alcoholic father who is absent for days at a time. And not one comes back for her?! This would seem more plausible if mom or any of the siblings had died. But how can NONE of them care enough about Kya to seek a better life for HER?! I had to return this to the library before finishing. Idk if I want to keep reading.

Very cute. My five year old loved it.

Very silly. Overall I enjoyed this one more than the first one. My kids cracked up several times while I was reading it to them.

Not my usual fare, but I can't put it down.

I listened to almost 40% of the audio book. It was interesting, but a bit creepy. I like mystery, but I could do without all the descriptions of vermin/insects/whatever, as it plays into my irrational fears. Not sure if I will go back to this one or not.

I gave it 45 pages, but I just can't get into it. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it's just not for me, and life's too short to drag through a book I'm not excited about.

As a lifelong Midwesterner, this is very eye-opening. Some of the essays remind me very much of experiences my immigrant husband has had, particularly in higher education.

I picked this out to read with my favorite Star Wars fan, never having read any Star Wars fiction myself. I think I am actually more into it than he is. Who knew?

1st book finished of 2019! 😁