There are those books
that are good. You like them, you’re not regretful for the money you spent on
them and you feel content about them. Give them their 3 or 3.5 stars and call
it a day. But then that book is over, you never think about it again. Then
there are the books you just don’t like at all so you either don’t take the
time to review them or like some crazy people you shred the author and give a
nasty, terrible review and go on and on about how bad the book was. (Not Me) I
just don’t review books I don’t like.
THEN there are those
books that blow your mind! Books that as you read the last line you’re breathless,
you’re speechless and you walk away from the story changed forever. This doesn’t
happen often for me but let me tell you, In the Stillness rocked me to my core!
Andrea Randall rummaged
through my brain, comfortable positioned herself in my emotional psyche and
took me on a journey that brought me to tears, evoked deeply rooted feelings
and caused me to need many chapter breaks just to compose my thoughts in order
to keep reading. I “felt” this book from page one all the way to the last line.
Let’s just begin with the
synopsis shall we:
Natalie is a wife.
Natalie is a mother.
Natalie is a cutter.
Clawing at walls built by resentment, regret, and guilt, Natalie cuts as an
escape from a life she never planned.
Staying present is only possible when you let go of the past. But, what if the
past won't let go?
See, even the synopsis
leaves you in a thought provoked state! The entire book is that way! When I say
the ENTIRE book, I mean the entire fucking book! You don’t skim; you don’t miss
a mother lovin word of this book because you’re scared you might miss something
poignant or moving.
“Change never comes slowly, brewing on the horizon. It's always in a
second. Balanced on the tip of a razor blade, in empty pill bottles, behind two
pink lines, or learning that one of your children is slowly slipping into a
world of silence.”
I LOVE the fact that
Andrea Randall owns her writing voice in this novel. Not only that but she
gives Natalie a voice that will echo in your mind for many, many days after you
finish the book. Natalie is the most honest, real character that I think I’ve
ever read. The realistic nature of this book took me over word by word. I love
the brutal honesty that we saw in Natalie and how she so bravely owned her fears
and feelings despite the guilt they brought upon her shoulders.
“Guilt is intense. Suffocating. A brick, tied quietly around your
ankles while you sleep. You never fall slowly into guilt-you wake up with
little time to take your last breath before being pulled under.”
I think that a book like
this comes along so very little that when I read it I literally could not
review it until now. If I had reviewed this book right after I finished it I
would have come off as insane. I was a mess and totally could not put together
a decent review that would do this piece of wonderful words it’s proper justice!
This was a love story,
yes. It was SOOO much more than that though. It was a life story more than anything
else. The raw emotions and grit that you will find in the pages of this book
will stay with you and I assure even if you hate the book it will change you in
one way or another.
Grab a load of damn
tissues, have your choice of alcohol nearby and hold the fuck on because you are
in for the most intense emotional rollercoaster ride you’ve ever taken when you
read this book!
Andrea Randall this book
pissed me off, chewed me up, spit me out, ripped my heart out of my chest, stomped
on it then step by step put me all back together. You’re bravery to write such
a raw and controversial topic has me applauding you, cheering for you and
loving you even more!
That.Is.All
Buy it
HERE on Amazon
