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blurb
William_Harwood

At the beginning of the narrative, it is unclear what reality is. The narrator exists somewhere between recovery, therapy, and fairy tales. This mix of the whimsical and reality makes you ask: Is magic a metaphor, a coping strategy, or both? This blending of fantasy and mental illness feels honest. Real pain can feel unreal, unbearable, and unrelatable.

blurb
William_Harwood
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“We can only go forward. Remember?“
This line is small on the page, but it lands with the force of a thunderclap.
We have touched pain and are no longer running from the past. Sometimes moving forward isn't brave or glamorous, it's simply what's next. And in that way, it becomes one of the most powerful lines in the book.

quote
alaynaroper
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The last page of the novel stuck out to me the most. At the conclusion of Whimsy and Faeries adventures, when the author speaks directly to the audience. It was enough for me to grab my phone and take a picture. I think it makes the entire novel worth it, especially for younger audiences who may need to hear this, or even found themselves relating to the characters hardships throughout the novel. 10/10

review
alaynaroper
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Pickpick

When I first started this book, I was unsure of how I felt about it. The utilization of prose to tell the story was unique and encouraged me to keep reading, and by the end I was in love with the story. Its mystical elements made it feel like a more elaborate Alice in Wonderland, with important elements and themes not getting lost in the lines.

William_Harwood Same! The use of prose, along with mystical language, names, character descriptions, and qualities, had me guessing what was real and what was imagined. However, by the end, I understood what was going on in the narrative and enjoyed the journey once I stopped asking so many questions and just allowed Whimsey to tell me what I needed to know. 34m
1 like1 comment
blurb
JenlovesJT47
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Thanks for inviting me to join the #WDNCW club @dabbe ! Thought I‘d combine it with a haiku because, well, why not? 😆

We really don‘t care
the floor is covered with hair;
it can stay right there.

We do not care that the house hasn‘t been cleaned in a month because I dislocated my hip and have been gimping around ever since. We do not care that my hair is everywhere. I‘ll vacuum tomorrow! 😵‍💫

#haikuhive #haikuaday #poetry

AmyG Oh no….feel better! The house can wait. 6h
CBee Oh, the hair….. it‘s never ending 😂🤦‍♀️🤪 6h
See All 22 Comments
JenlovesJT47 My hair 💇🏻‍♀️ it is everywhere! 💁🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ 6h
TheBookHippie I can never commit a crime …. Hair…. Everywhere… 6h
Susanita Not much hair from humans but OMG the cat hair! 6h
Eggbeater I feel you. I have an autoimmune disease and a dog. I hope your hip feels better soon. 6h
JenlovesJT47 @AmyG @Eggbeater thank you!! 🤗 I‘m a walking orthopedic disaster 😭 5h
JenlovesJT47 @TheBookHippie same!!! Hair on every surface it seems 🥴😵‍💫😬 5h
JenlovesJT47 @CBee solidarity!! 👊🏻🙌🏻😅 5h
JenlovesJT47 @Susanita we also have tons of Chipper cat hair to add to the mix. I cleaned out from behind the bed a few months ago, the spot where he would sleep basically had hair growing out of the wall! 😳🐈‍⬛ (edited) 5h
dabbe Oh, you poor thing! Please heal and heal well! 💙 No vacuuming until you can! And this haiku/#wdnc! 😂😂😂 Hair EVERYWHERE! Pippa's hair even made it into our freezer! Thanks for the HUM😍R and truth! 5h
lil1inblue My husband and I both have long hair, and we have cats. Hair is our life. 5h
AnnCrystal House can wait while you heal! Rest and may you heal swiftly 👏🏼🐝👌🏼🙏🏼🐝💝. 5h
CBee @TheBookHippie SAME plus the falling out of hair from menopause 😅😅 5h
CBee @lil1inblue same here! Two dogs, one cat, hubs with his ponytail, me with my long frizz, two boys who both have a lot of hair. We‘re doomed 😂😂 5h
Amiable Amazing 2-for-1 post! Bravo! 👏🏼 👏🏼👏🏼 4h
JenlovesJT47 @dabbe I‘m sorry to say I also found a hair in my freezer last week 🤦🏻‍♀️ — I‘m surprised I‘m not bald!! 👩🏻‍🦲 3h
dabbe @JenlovesJT47 IKR? 😂 2h
julieclair You don‘t have time for a dislocated hip!! Sure hope it heals quickly. 💙 2h
37 likes22 comments
review
Mattsbookaday
Heart Berries: A Memoir | Terese Mailhot
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Pickpick

Heart Berries, by Terese Marie Mailhot (2018 🇨🇦)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Premise: An unflinchingly honest memoir about growing up and living with abuse and mental illness while Indigenous

Review: This memoir takes a no holds barred # approach and I think is much better for it. Mailhot bares all here, in all her intelligence and education and all her trauma, illness, and heartbreak. Cont.

Mattsbookaday The juxtaposition or even mixing of them all is at times jarring, but incredibly real. This is not an easy read, but it‘s beautiful in its stark reality.

Bookish Pair: For another bold memoir by a Salishan woman, check out Red Paint, by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe (2022).
14h
3 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
shelbsreads

I think this book covers some heavy topics and includes language that might make some students uncomfortable, so I probably wouldn‘t use it as a whole-class read. That said, it could be a great option for students who are dealing with mental health struggles and ask for recommendations. I‘d definitely give a heads-up about the content, but it‘s still a thoughtful and creative resource for the right reader.

natalie_e Hey Shelby! I think We Are All So Good at Smiling could be a whole-class read, it would just require a lot of planning and preparation to best navigate those potentially uncomfortable topics. I agree that it might be best as an independent reading recommendation for specific readers 10h
1 comment
quote
shelbsreads
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“We need to remember that the mind is still a mind, floating like a newborn cloud or bird wings drowning in hardened chocolate. My point is that a leaf knows it‘s important, at all moments of its life even when it is broken.  People always forget that a rough day, a bad year— doesn‘t equal a bad life.”
While this book is not my cup of tea, it is undeniable that it harbors many beautiful, important quotes, that would be helpful to one struggling.

alaynaroper I also love that quote! The book definitely is not for everyone, but I think that these specific quotes are good on their own, no matter who is reading them. I love all the real takes that are being made while going through fairy tale worlds. 4h
1 like1 comment
review
shelbsreads
Panpan

The book deserves credit for tackling important, often taboo topics like mental illness and generational trauma, particularly within the Black community. That said, its execution falls short. The fantasy elements are vague, the worldbuilding lacks depth, and key terms are poorly explained. With so many competing themes, none are given the depth they deserve.

sammiegdeas I will say, I appreciate McBride's bravery for tackling mental health issues for all people, but especially in the Black community. It is not talked about nor regarded as important as it is. Fantasy is a genre I tend to avoid because it is not my style, so it was a more difficult read for me. However, I am glad I read it because I can recommend it to students who get lost in fantasy. I also think it would be cool to pull excerpts from the novel! 2h
1 like1 comment