Tia Silverthorne Bach

Seven marks upon a wall.
Tom may rise, but he may fall.
Through five lives, no one dares mention,
of the sin for which he seeks redemption.
Fates will meet, and you will see,
what will thus become of he.

I don’t normally include book descriptions with my reviews, but I had to include this one because it’s absolutely brilliant. Five lives? Redemption? Fates? Can this book sound any more intriguing? But let’s be honest, sometimes a description hooks you and ends up being the best thing about the book. I promise you, that is not the case with this one.

7 is unlike any story I’ve ever read. In my opinion, it spans several different genres including historical fiction, contemporary fiction, romantic tragedy, drama, fantasy, and mystery. As the description reveals, the story focuses on one man’s multiple lives. (Yep, we’re talking reincarnation.) The first five parts cover five different lives, the first occurring in 64 AD and the last occurring in 1995. Each part is a unique story that could be removed from the novel and stand on it’s own.

At first, I didn’t know if I would be able to get into part one because books about Roman times are not usually my thing, but Bond (author of part one) hooked me with her style and storytelling ability. Here’s the note I made at the end of part one: “No! There has to be more!” When I swiped to turn the page, Tom’s next life as a knight during the late 1500’s was waiting to suck me in. Then he was a soldier, then a boxer, and finally a gangster living in a ghetto. I didn’t expect to enjoy each individual story to the same degree, but they were all SO good, and I hated to see each one end.

As I worked my way through each of Tom’s lives, my brain was flooded with questions. What are the similarities and differences from life to life? What would all of his experiences ultimately lead to? Was he making better choices from life to life? Why did he have to keep coming back? What was he supposed to fix? Would he need redemption for multiple things or for one big thing that would become clear at the very end?

When I got closer to the end and found out who Tom really is and what his ultimate sin was, I had to stop and ponder the the meaning behind this book. The creativity that went into weaving everything together just baffles me. I look forward to reading more from all five of these authors.… (mais)

Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2013/05/depression-cookies.html

Depression Cookies is a look at the story of a family from two parallel perspectives. Abby is a wife attempting to support her husband's career dreams, a mother trying to steer her daughters safely through childhood and the teen years, and a daughter dealing with aging parents. Krista is the oldest of Abby's three daughters - a teenager who trying to navigate that tough age.

Because of Bob's career aspirations, the family finds itself moving from town to town every couple of years. Bob pursues his dreams, and his family is left to deal with the ramifications of starting over time after time after time.

I related to and sympathized with the plight of these women. What a challenge to have to move to a new community every couple of years and to have to start over. I had to do that once in my life, and it was a very challenging experience. I can't imagine having to do it over and over again. It was interesting to read both Abby's and Krista's perspectives, coming from such different points in life. As a woman and a mother, I related to their experiences and relationships.

However, unfortunately, the book was long - close to 600 pages, and after a while, it started to take on the tone of a journal vent. That is a coping mechanism many people use. A journal where you vent out whatever you are feeling at that particular moment - the good, the bad, the whiny, the angry, the sad. It is a very useful tool for processing emotions and getting through difficult times. The process in and off itself is cathartic and part of letting go of those negative feelings.

However, that journal is not meant to have an audience. This book seemed to build and build upon those feelings, and I felt as if I was the audience to that. So, much as I could relate to this family of women and the situations they found themselves in, I found myself not really wanting to read about it.… (mais)