One More Day Tour

Welcome to Literary Marie's Precision Reviews! Thanks for visiting today's virtual tour stop for Kelly Simmons' new novel, One More Day (available February 2, 2016). I am very much excited to read, review and participate in this book tour for an author I've been a literary fan of as well as her tweets about seasons rules. So pull up a comfy chair, grab your favorite beverage and enjoy the content below.

"Novels illuminate the inner life. It's a way to understand adults since we have so few clues as to why they behave the idiotic way they do." ~ 71%

In the few seconds it took to grab a quarter for the parking meter, Ben was kidnapped from his carseat. Of course his mother, Carrie, blames herself. Then after Ben had been missing for almost 15 months, he mysteriously reappeared as if a day hadn't passed without him. This is what Carrie had been hoping for all along: just one more day with her baby boy. Well be careful what you wish for.

Ben returned for just 24 hours before disappearing again, this time from his crib. Is Carrie imagining things? Is the telling the whole truth? Suddenly police, friends and even her husband start questioning whether Carrie is guilty, crazy or both.

One More Day is available now. Women's fiction bookhearts, you should read this one. I flipped the pages trying to figure out what the heck was happening. Even when I finished, I wasn't completely sure I saw where the author was going with the unique plot. One More Day was easy to get into but confusing to get out. I would rate it a solid 4 hearts if I was more sure of the conclusion...hmmm.

Title: One More Day
Author: Kelly Simmons
Published: February 2016
Pages: 320
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♡

Buy Links: Amazon  Barnes & Noble

Author Links:  Website  Goodreads  Twitter

Disclaimer: A special thanks to the publisher Sourcebooks for the galley. This book was received directly from the publisher for review and tour purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

 

Series Sunday: Ms. Marvel No Normal

(Ms. Marvel Volume #1)

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Ms. Marvel: No Normal, the first volume of the Ms. Marvel graphic novel series by G. Willow Wilson (author) and Adrian Alphona (illustrator). Kamala Khan is an international sensation. She's an ordinary girl from Jersey City suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. This is all new to her yet very exciting. As the graphic novel unfolds, Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers and whether it's too much to handle as a teenager.

I am a comic book snob. I'll only read comics featuring realistic characters and not super heroes or fantasy. Shortens the selection, I know. But when I came across the cover and description of Ms. Marvel: No Normal, I had to try it. Just look at the cover! She's a brown girl sporting a scarf, jewelry, long brown hair and carrying a stack of books. Even down to the mole above her lip, she looks like me! 

I don't plan to collect volumes 2-5 of this Ms. Marvel series ($15.99 each) but will definitely read if I see them available in the library. As I finished the 120-page graphic novel, the initial excitement started to wane. Back to my comic book snobby ways.

Title: Ms. Marvel, Volume 1 No Normal
Author: G. Willow Wilson & Adrian Alphona
Published: October 2014
Pages: 120
Edition: Graphic Novel
Challenge: Popsugar Book Under 150 Pages
Rating: ♥♥♥♡

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"I'm a liar. And I don't care who knows it. I make stuff up all the time."

~ Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

 

Bad Feminist

"Whenever women do something in significant numbers, the media immediately becomes frenzied as they try to understand this new mystery of womanhood." ~ pg. 195

Roxane Gay would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all. And after reading her book of essays, I agree. Roxane is a woman of color commenting about the state of feminism today in our culture and society. She does not pretend to have it all figured out. She does not proclaim to be a strong feminist either. Instead, she keeps it real in a sometimes-funny, sharp way.

Roxane had my attention with the first page of introduction when she admits to singing along to catchy music that glorifies the degradation of women. I've certainly had this same imperfect moment. I jam to Too Short's Blow the Whistle and ballroom-hustle to Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines. Then sing along to Flawless by Beyoncé reciting Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's part. By the last page of the book's introduction, I was rooting along with her call for literary excellence.

The essays widely range from BET programming to the color pink to racism and those who claim they are "not here to make friends." Every subject she tackles in an essay is thoroughly explained and clearly researched. Books like this are why I am picky about non-fiction. If I am going to fully read a book about truths, it better be full of fact and informed opinion. Bad Feminist fit my non-fiction criteria and was so worth reading.

Whether you consider yourself a feminist or not, Roxane Gay's book should be on your reading list. We all want to know more and do better.

Title: Bad Feminist
Author: Roxane Gay
Published: August 2014
Pages: 318
Edition: Paperback
Challenge: Popsugar Book From the Library
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

Best Friends Forever

"Prayer means everything. Both when things are bad and even when they're good." ~ pg. 82

Best friends are around forever and will help you through the merry and tough times. Celine and Keith have been married for 12 years but arguing a lot over the past several months. Keith works long hours and stays out late; Celine is not attentive to her family. Both are at fault and need to figure out what the next best step is for their marriage and 10-year-old daughter.

The situation turns devastating when Celine is diagnosed with breast cancer. Being the unloyal husband he is, Keith moves out. Thank goodness for Lauren, Celine's BFF, who is there to comfort and help during this rough time.

I enjoy Kimberla Lawson Roby's novellas. Best Friends Forever is no exception. It's a solid story with a realistic plot and lessons about friends. *cue Whodini* A page-turner it is not but an okay quick read.

Disclaimer: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Best Friends Forever
Author: Kimberla Lawson Roby
Published: January 2016
Pages: 138
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥

 

Lit Pick: A Brief History of Seven Killings

Title: A Brief History of Seven Killings

Author: Marlon James

Published: October 2014

Goodreads Description: 

On December 3, 1976, just before the Jamaican general election and two days before Bob Marley was to play the Smile Jamaica Concert, gunmen stormed his house, machine guns blazing. The attack nearly killed the Reggae superstar, his wife, and his manager, and injured several others. Marley would go on to perform at the free concert on December 5, but he left the country the next day, not to return for two years.

Deftly spanning decades and continents and peopled with a wide range of characters—assassins, journalists, drug dealers, and even ghosts—A Brief History of Seven Killings is the fictional exploration of that dangerous and unstable time and its bloody aftermath, from the streets and slums of Kingston in the 70s, to the crack wars in 80s New York, to a radically altered Jamaica in the 90s.

At 688 pages, it is not so brief but still considered a good read by critics and bookhearts.

 

Bookish Black History Month

On Precision Reviews, February 2016 will be dedicated to book reviews and lit picks featuring authors and characters of color. Share what you are reading and recommendations during this Black History Month. Celebrate literary diversity!