bethanyangharad > Recent Status Updates

Enjoying the sets up more than I did book 1 in the series, mostly because the plot device of the train is a cool way to travel through life. Wilbur is likeable and there’s a lot of empathy building for him. Interesting way to look at the moment/s after death.

I’m really enjoying Naomi! She’s smart, fiery and wonderfully petty. Knox, however, is genuinely unlikeable. He’s a bit of an ass, though that hasn’t stopped me getting hooked. The writing is easy to fly through, but I really dislike the brothers fighting over a woman they’ve barely met. It feels misogynistic, as if she’s something to be won. Also, Waylay and Waylon for the niece and dog? Weird!

Picked this up because of the internet hype and spotted it waiting for me on the library shelf. Pleasantly surprised by how much I’m enjoying it! Knox is my first truly grumpy male lead, which has me curious. Naomi’s goody-two-shoes personality is a little annoying, but I suspect her sister’s debts will drag her into trouble, with Knox to the rescue. Predicting a custody battle over Waylay, too!

Section 10: these are for you

Look - the author clearly has a huge love in her life and has also experienced some pretty brutal emotional moments too. I feel like this has been an insightful emotional journey into the author but I feel like this reads more of a space for thoughts rather than, consistently, poetry. There are some absolute gems but just found it hard to connect with a lot of it.

Section 9: if you need a reason to stay

Ha! 3am mentioned again. Not much else to say about this section…

Section 8: if you are soul searching

Wait, maybe things are getting better- “As though my life is a series of edits that I never have time to complete.” + “We get older and suddenly what we cannot have becomes just what is. Less becomes plenty and time is a fragment of our short adventure on earth.”

Okay this has been my fave section so far. Redemption arc?

Section 7: if you need encouragement

I like this idea - But life is not about half doing. You cannot half love, or half accept, or half live.

And then a few pages later a ‘poem’ says - But you cannot grow if you are bitter.

Section 6: if you are missing someone

The third mention of the time 3am - no other time to talk about except this specific moment? I don’t hate it but I do notice it.

I think this section had a clear sentiment and message behind it, that I could connect to (my relationship with hubby started long distance).

Section 5: if you are sad

If you’re the author don’t read this because I don’t want to be an ass but I also want to be honest.

I feel like I’m in sadness’ corner when a whole poem is “Even sadness needs someone in its corner.” Sorry that I’m getting so sassy now, I’m just happy that I didn’t purchase this with my own money.

Section 4: if you are lonely

I promise I’m not looking for flaws but I’m not sure the solar system has a night?… planets do??

Imagine yourself a solar system and the sun is your core. You are never going to truly lose the sun. But night does happen, so recharge and be ready to rise again in the morning.

Section 3: if your are heartbroken

Am I hater for thinking ‘ummmmm’ to these poems - in the end we as in you and me were never meant to be + Sometimes I write her letters thinking maybe she’ll write back. She never does.

The best lines - I can’t send back every “You’re beautiful” because things will never be the same. & The key is to stop wanting the same things and embrace the things to come.

Section 2: if you are in love (1/5)

Fave: You would smell like history with a worn-out spine and ink that could still bleed. You would always be the novel I took down from the shelf to read
Gag: Of all the maps in the world, the only one I will follow is the map to your heart.

Faves from Section 1 (if you are dreaming of someone) - I have been a little off balance since the day I met you. This is because I had never known what it is like to be perfectly aligned + now your name runs through my veins
Dislike - I’d join up all your insecurities, bundle all your flaws into a new constellation, and search for it endlessly. (If you made the constellation how come you have to search for it)

I like how the contents page is a Table of Thoughts

“Try to sleep on your side when possible. There was recently a study in Australia that said that when you sleep on your back, you’re more likely to have nightmares about drowning. It’s not conclusive, of course, since they’re on the opposite side of the Earth. So actually, you might want to try sleeping on your stomach instead, and see what that does.”

Drag path - whoopi Goldberg

There’s some pretty dark dry humour so far which I love to be honest. It feels like I’m reading the main characters diary. There’s no filter she says what she wants to say to the people in her life and in her writing – she is the narrator, as first person POV.

Reva would show up at my apartment with a bottle of wine from time to time and system keeping me company. Her mother was dying of cancer. That, among many other things, made me not want to see her.

Empathetic to the point where she feels sympathy for frozen blueberries and can imagine being the sushi on a sushi train.