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Family Drama

The Switch by Beth O’Leary Review

August 18, 2020      milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

The Switch has been one of my most anticipated book releases of the year, and it’s finially here! Keep reading to see if it lived up to my expectations- and the high standard set by Beth O’Leary’s debut novel The Flatshare.


Synopsis:

The Switch is a charming novel about two women- grandmother and granddaughter who both find themselves in need of a change of scenery.

When Leena is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical from her high-pressure job in London, she decides to go her grandma Eileen’s house in the English countryside for a change of pace.

Eileen, almost 70 and newly single, needs a change of pace as well and decides to switch lives with her granddaughter.

She moves to London and starts online dating while Leena stays in her hometown and tries to mend her relationship with her mother and unplug from her hectic corporate life.


Analysis:

Obviously, there are growing pains as each woman adjusts to her new life, and this provides some great comedy as Elieen learns about dating in the age of technology, and Leena has to learn to live without her devices.

This book was so much more than a cute comedy, though.

In the style I’m coming to expect from Beth, she discusses some darker things; in this case grief and loss.

While the plot of The Switch seems very different from the Flatshare, they are both lovely books with similarities. They explore family relationships, juxtapose serious realities with fun, charming story lines, and have characters you can’t help loving.


Audiobook Review:

This was such an endearing and fun story, and I love the dual narrators who brought the story to life. They did a great job with the characters of Leena and Eileen and kept the pacing of the book consistent.

This book is a great one to listen to on Audio. You can listen on Libro.fm and get a free book for signing up!


Takeaway:

I absolutely adored this book. It’s such a heartwarming read, and offers a much-needed escape and breath of fresh air to your summer TBR. It really is the feel-good book we need right now.

I definitely recommend The Switch- and considering the audiobook format if that’s something you enjoy.

I rated the book four-stars, though looking back I can easily see myself rounding up to five-stars of pure joy.

Many thanks to Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for the advance listening copy.

Review: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry + Author Bio

July 6, 2020      milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

Author Bio & Review of A Rasin in the Sun

I’ve been making an effort to be on my phone less lately, and unfortunately, this meant that I didn’t know about the Instagram challenge by @thereadingchemist and @allegedlymari until Friday afternoon when all the posts started showing up in my feed. 

This challenge is about celebrating the contributions and accomplishments Black people have made in our world. I may be late to the challenge, but it’s definitely not one I could sit out on.

Over the weekend I reread A Raisin in the Sun for the first time since it was assigned reading for school. I enjoyed reading it more this time and loved learning more about Hansberry and her fascinating life for the challenge.

Lorraine Hansberry was a Black American playwright, journalist, &activist. I’d like to take some time to introduce you to her to #normalizeblackhistory. Lorraine has the distinction of being the first Black woman to write a play produced on Broadway. This makes her a trailblazer in Black storytelling, and the play, A Raisin in the Sun was a financial and critical success. For it, Lorraine became the first Black winner of the Play of the Year Award and at  29 she was also the youngest winner and only the 5th woman to receive this accolade at the time.

Keep reading for :

  • author bio of Lorraine Hansberry
  • full review of A Rasin in the Sun
  • YouTube links to a great stage adaptation
  • the poem that inspired the title of the play. 

About Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry was born in segregated Chicago in 1930. Only two generations before, her family had been slaves. After her father moved the family to a designated ‘white neighborhood’ when she was 8 white neighbors tried to force the Hansberrys out and threw a brick through a window of their home, which almost hit Lorraine. 

In 1940 Hansberry v. Lee went to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Illinois court system ruled the family could be forced to leave their home and had to move back to a “Black neighborhood.” The Supreme Court ruled in Hansberry’s favor. Though residential segregation was unfortunately not outlawed with this ruling, the case was instrumental in setting precedent and made it harder for local restrictive covenants to restrict people of color from living in predominantly white neighborhoods. 

Lorraine was interested in writing from an early age, and poet Langston Hughes, a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance visited the Hansberry home when she was growing up. A line from his iconic poem Harlem would later be borrowed in Lorraine’s classic play which centers around a Black Family chasing the American Dream and explores topics such as cultural assimilation, and residential segregation.

Harlem by Langston Hughes

Lorraine’s early life and politically active family influenced her writing as well as her work as an activist for women’s, gay, and civil rights.

She wrote for both Black and lesbian news publications after dropping out of college. These jobs helped her develop her voice in writing. Though many of her articles and personal writings discuss gay rights and her being a lesbian, Hansberry never spoke openly about her sexuality. She married Robert B. Nemiroff, a white Jewish man in 1953 after they met while protesting racial discrimination in NYC. They later divorced, though remained friendly.

In 1957 Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun and two years later it started its run on Broadway with Sidney Poitier playing the male lead. The play was later adapted into a musical and had TV and big screen adaptations, one with Denzel Washington taking the role.

Hansberry went on to write four other plays, three of which were published posthumously with the help of her ex-husband. Lorraine died in January 1965 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was 34 years old.

Review of A Raisin in the Sun

Synopsis:

This play is about the Youngers, a multi-general working family living together.

The matrich Lena recently recieved a sizable life insurance payout after the death of her husband. This might be enough to change the lives of this struggling family

Her son, Walter Lee is a chauffer with big dreams and his wife Ruth is trying her best to keep it together for everyone. Their school-aged son Travis

Walter’s sister, Beneatha is the first of the family in college. She plans on becoming a doctor and is more interested in forging her own path than finding a man.

The adults in the family all have their own ideas of what should be done with the money. Ultimately, Mama Younger decides to buy a home for the family so they don’t have to share the cramped apartment. The house she wants to buy is in a white neighborhood in Chicago, and the residents don’t take well to the news a black family is moving in.

This is far from the only obstacle in the Younger family’s fight for a better life. Will they be able to achieve their dreams, or will they be again deferred for another generation?

Analysis:

A Raisin in the Sun has stood the test of time and is widely considered a classic work of both literature and theater.

Hansberry acknowledged that her early family life served as inspiration for the plot and characters, and particularly saw herself in Beneatha.

The work explores a number of important themes such as intersectional feminism, systematic racism, and cultural assimilation. Though some things are different than they were when this was written, the social commentary still feels relevant in 2020.

 “There isn’t any real progress … only one large circle that we march in. ” – Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun

Still, A Raisin in the Sun is not only a story of the Black struggle. This book took the Black story quite literally to center stage and proved that even White audiences will pay to listen.

This is also a story of Black joy, of Black, love, of Black family. It’s a story of Blacks embracing their cultural roots while simultaneously reaching for big dreams that were out of reach for many at the time.

Takeaway:

While I rated the book five-stars, I still feel that there is a lot to be gained by seeing the play performed on stage. I watched this portrayal of A Raisin in the Sun by The Harvard Black Community and Student Theater Group. The players gave an excellent performance and I highly recommend watching it or looking into the 1961 version with Sidney Poitier. Check out the trailer here.

Whether you’re looking to explore classic theater, classic literature, read more diverse stories, or learn about Black experience in history A Raisin in the Sun is a great title to add to your TBR.

Review: The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan

May 26, 2020      milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

Lian Dolan’s new novel, The Sweeney Sisters not only has one of the most stunning covers released this year; it’s also a great book to add to your Summer TBR. If you’re looking for an engrossing read full of family secrets and strong women keep reading this full review of The Sweeney Sisters.

Synopsis:

Their trademark red hair may be the only thing the three Sweeney sisters have in common.

First there’s family-centered Eliza, who lives only a few blocks from the house they grew up in Connecticut, caring for her children and husband along with her widowed father.

Then there is the artistic “Mad” Maggie who goes sheds men and careers regularly in an effort to find herself.

Finally, career-focused Tricia, climbing the corporate ladder at her New York law firm without much time for anything resembling a personal life.

But despite very different personalities, the Sweeney sisters have always had an unbreakable bond.

Then their father, acclaimed author Bill Sweeney, unexpectedly dies.

The sisters know they can count on each other as they try to make sense of the loss and try to make arrangements to settle his estate.

They don’t count on the mess he left behind.

There’s no money, a sketchy literary agent skimming royalties, and a long-lost half-sister they never knew about.

Serena, the unacknowledged daughter of Bill Sweeney, inherited a love of writing from the father she never got to have a relationship with.

Will Serena always be an outsider, or will she be able to become one of them and be embraced as the fourth Sweeney Sister?

Or does her presence threaten the lifelong bond of the other three, along with their father’s legacy?

Analysis:

The Sweeney Sisters beautifully combines the nuance and themes of family drama, with the heart and warmth of women’s fiction. It really is the best of both genres, having equal amounts of sharpness and sentimentality.

The four central women in this story couldn’t be more different, but they do have two things in common: their red hair and their complexity.

All the characters in the book have a level of nuance to them, but especially so with the four daughters of the late literary giant Bill Sweeney.

I’m impressed with Dolan’s care in making these women believable and multifacated, along with the journey they each embark on in the book. Not a single one of the four ends the novel in the same place, emotionally or physically, that she started in. All of the transformations are believable and in character. Instead of outright changing, Dolan paints each woman as coming into her own and being a fuller, truer version of the self they were all along.

In addition to stunning characters as individuals, The Sweeney Sisters explores familial bonds of every kind. From the friction between the very different sisters, to each of their personal relationships, to their collective disillusionment with their larger than life father after his death, the Sweeney girls give ample opportunity to dissect the complex emotions and relationships in our lives.

The novel also explores small-town life and the struggle to keep up appearances. These themes are not developed as well as the family dynamics, but it adds another dimension to the story, which is nice.

Unlike with some character-driven novels, the plot felt fresh and moved along steadily as the sisters navigated life without their father. The plot is enjoyable and satisfying, but getting to know these four women is what will draw the reader in most.

Ultimately, the novel ends in a way that has enough of the loose ends tied up to satisfy, while still giving the impression that the women are moving forward. They may not have everything in their lives completely in place, but they’ve certainly come a long way. The ending stays true to the characters and leaves them in a hopeful place, which was a good choice from Dolan.

Takeaway:

The Sweeney Sisters is a charming, five-star family drama with a lot of heart. It’s definitely one you should read if you’re looking for something balanced right between light and thoughtful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advance copy in return for an honest review of The Sweeney Sisters.

Content Warning:

divorce, sudden death of parent, cancer, miscarriage, infidelity, depression

Review: Separation Anxiety

March 24, 2020      milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

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Judy’s life is in shambles.

Her career has stalled, she’s separated from her husband, their finances are strained, her son is growing up and away from her, and her best friend has terminal cancer.

So she starts wearing the family dog to cope.

In a baby harness.

In public.

That’s the premise of Separation Anxiety, Laura Zigman’s hilarious novel that came out March 3rd, and I highly recommend it for anyone who’s in the mood for a fun and thoughtful read.

The book also feels especially timely in these uncertain times. I may not be leaving the house any time soon, but either way, keeping the family pet a little closer than usual for comfort is seeming like a better idea by the day.

She would like to go on record that she not approve of being worn in a baby harness in or out of the house.

Separation Anxiety is quirky and hilarious, while also very honest and raw. There is a lot of vulnerability here, and the path these characters take is both insightful and redeeming. This book really is about the journey, and the one the characters take is wonderfully balanced with growth and humor. It’s definitely a worthwhile and entertaining four-star read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the advance copy.

Review: The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward

March 23, 2020      milelongtbr      2 Comments

I’m a huge fan of Reese’s Book Club and usually love her picks, even when they’re from a genre a bit out of my comfort zone.


Unfortunately, The Jetsetters, March’s pick fell a bit flat for me. The story was cute enough and the writing was okay, but I didn’t especially connect with any of the characters, and that made it hard to love this slow-paced character-driven novel.

Charlotte, a 70-year-old widow wins a Jetsetter contest and is off on a European dream vacation with her three adult children. They’re not close and each has secrets they’re trying to conceal from the others, but 10 days touring the Mediterranean together is sure to put the fun in this dysfunctional family’s vacation.

Is a getaway of a lifetime a chance to get over a lifetime’s worth of differences?

Will coming together as a family help each member cope with the struggles they’re facing individually?

These are some of the questions Amanda Eyre Ward’s novel explores, but the answers just fell a little short for me. Initially, I thought this was an unpopular opinion of the book, but I’ve since seen a number of people who were similarly disappointed.

Also, the setting of the Mediterranean gave the opportunity to really explore and bring to life all the coastal cities mentioned and could have really made the book. Ward missed the boat there, and I didn’t feel the places were brought to life any more than the characters. for a novel that features travel so prominently this was a significant letdown.

The Jettsetters got three stars from me. Truthfully, I think I would have given up if it weren’t a RBC book. I found it rather unmemorable. My favorite stories are those that stay with me and leave me thinking about them long after I’ve finished them, and this is definitely not one that will.

Of course, your mileage may vary, and if you love family dramas may enjoy this one more than I did.

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I’m Danielle and I have a mile long TBR!

You can usually find me surrounded by books and cats, listening to an audiobook and designing something cute.

I love making new bookish friends and am so glad you’re here!

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Really, this pic is for the flowers, but I also lo Really, this pic is for the flowers, but I also loved Good Company by @cynthiadsweeney which I read last year. Her characters and their messy and real relationships stay in my mind long after I finish reading.
I took no vacation photos from this trip, but here I took no vacation photos from this trip, but here's an obligatory plane photo from the trip home. 

What's the best part about coming home from vacation for you? Im looking forward to my bed and seeing the cats!
✨Book recommendations needed! ✨ I'm looking f ✨Book recommendations needed! ✨

I'm looking for something very specific, and am hoping you awesome Bookstagram folks can help.

If my library haul doesn't give it away, I'm looking for literary fiction. Two of these titles I've read and loved (Silver Sparrow and Good Company) -the rest were titles that called to me, but not exactly what I was looking for. 

I've already gone through the blacklists of these two authors, plus Lily King,  Emily St John Mandel. Books with stories like This is Where I Leave You, The Sweeney Sisters.

Specifically, I'm looking for something:

💛written and set in the set in 21st century (this is most important to me-most of what I've been able to find is period and I need contemporary) 

💛 Preferably set in US/Canada

💛 Priority to female authors 

💛Dealing with dysfunctional family; themes of blood, home, self-discovery

💛Angsty adult characters 

💛 Full of beautiful writing 

💛 Setting that becomes central to story, esp. a small town or family home

💛Nothing too genre; speculative/scifi, romance, whatever. Looking for pure lit fic or contemporary fiction with literary bend. 

It's a long shot and I know I'm being picky, but if you can recommend something close to the above, I'd be eternally grateful! 💛
Don't think I could have fit another book in this Don't think I could have fit another book in this tote if i tried! 😂

I've been enjoying flipping through what I checked out during my latest library haul, but I couldn't resist snapping a pic before taking them out of the bag. Especially not when everything was so coordinated and the lighting was perfection.

I'm trying to get back into this Bookstagram thing- I've missed y'all too much!
On Wednesday we... A. Wear pink B. Read Toni C. S On Wednesday we...

A. Wear pink
B. Read Toni
C. Smash the Patriarchy
D. All of the Above

D 💯
When in doubt... I took a couple intentional phot When in doubt...

I took a couple intentional photos of my library trip this afternoon, but decided I liked this accidental one I must have accidentally snapped while putting my phone in my pocket best.

I hadn't been to the library in far too long and left with a full tote of books I probably won't read. So I guess you could say it was a good day! 

How's your week so far? 💛
Neera is my little shadow today while I'm getting Neera is my little shadow today while I'm getting some reading done in my the pool.

What are you reading today? I'm enjoying The Paris Apartment!
In two weeks this will be my reading view... ...b In two weeks this will be my reading view... 
...but for today I'm at my desk, working away on my computer. 

If you have any fun trips planned let me know in the comments!
Coffee and currently planning out my week... While Coffee and currently planning out my week... While listening to What She Witnessed. 

Any other planner girls on Bookstagram? 

I love a fresh week/spread... and decorating it with beautiful bookish stickers! These are ones I designed and made for my store and had to test out myself!
🐝Monday mood: Buzz off, I'm Reading! 🐝 I'm 🐝Monday mood: Buzz off, I'm Reading! 🐝

I'm hoping to make some time to finish up Night Shift by Alex Finlay today, and morning chapters with extra strong coffee and scones is the perfect way to make it happen. 

This mug is for sale at @milelongtbrboutique if you can relate ... or if people around you need a reminder!
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