#bookspin selections for April @TheAromaofBooks
edited to add...that I put together these piles before I went looking for your post to see if you‘d chosen yet, Sarah, which you had. Sorry I was late getting it together. 😁
pick4 STARS | GRADE B+
FEATURING⇢
Harsh Living
Drug Dependency
Meth-Amphetamines
PTSD
Gritty Realistic Fiction
Poignant & Brutal
TW: Dog Violence
A gripping story despite some lagginess and that one particular element of the story that left me really sad...seriously, you didn't have to kill the dog off, dude...RIP Loretta Lynn.
See My Review Here⇢ https://leahsbookishobsession2.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-weight-of-this-world-by-...
pickThis is not an easy book to read. It definitely has trigger warnings. All.The.Trigger.Warnings. Is beautifully written, which so contrast with the grittiness and violence and sadness of the book. I recommend for the great storyline, the characters, the beautiful prose. I caution reading this based on the violence. However, is life not combination of the good and the bad.
pickI loved meeting David Joy at the Kentucky Book Fair last fall. Finally read this book and love his talent with story telling. He has such a gift to write about NC Appalachia and the very ugly, dangerous life meth use/dealing. His ability to describe some icky situations absolutely made me cringe. 🌲⛰
Attended the Kentucky Book Fair today! It was an amazing experience with so many books and wonderful authors. ❤️📚❤️📚❤️
The bookseller at Octavia hand sold me this book. She said she heard me tell someone how much I enjoyed Desperation Road. She said this grit lit book would satisfy. Cannot wait to jump in.
Spent a great evening at The Book Tavern in Augusta, Georgia listening to David Joy and Jim Minick read from their newest novels. Amazing bookstore and fantastic night!!
pickExcellent Appalachian Noir; which is to say that nothing good happens, people's lives are unrelentingly grim and violence is routine.
Here's a book that announces exactly what the reader is in for before the bottom of the second page.
Started this one. Pretty stark. Found it on a list of suggested reading about poverty in America.
pickJoy's writing is so beautiful to read. Even in scenes of absolute violence the language was so beautiful. This book draws you in and you feel as though you're in Little Canada with Aiden and Thad seeing their lives. This book is also hard to read at times. The beautiful writing with the harsh realities of the characters is a stark contrast and ensures this book won't leave you easily.
I just finished reading a great article written by David Joy on bittersoutherner.com about class. He wrote the article after a trade reviewer wrote that that he "leave the peeling trailers, come down out of the hollers, and try writing about people for a change." The author understands his books are not for everyone but to belittle a whole class of people because of where they come from is no longer acceptable and he will not be silent.
pick#2017Book107
This novel portrays poverty, PTSD, and drug abuse in an incredibly real, painful way. If you're looking for a fictional look into the world of "white trash," check this one out. Be warned, though, there are several graphic descriptions of violence.
so-soThis is a tough book & heads up, every possible trigger warning applies. To tell the truth, I'm not sure how I feel about the book overall. It tackles hard topics-ptsd, rape, abuse, drugs, murder, betrayal-but it brings no hope to how things turn out. I'm not sorry I read this, & I will be thinking about it & what it has shown me for a while. I don't know that you'll like it, but you won't walk away unchanged or unaffected.
OOOOOH excellent quote to open a book. (I ❤️David Joy!)
pickA little Friday relaxation reading. Here's to the weekend!
The Weight of this World | 
