What My Sister Knew

From the startling opener, to the final horrific scene, Nina Laurin had me eager to discover What My Sister Knew. 

This gripping story about twins kept me hanging on and full of anticipation. There was plenty of speculation about what really happened to Andrea and Eli and their parents in the house fire all those years ago. 
Eli is out of prison and trying to see Andrea. The chase is on...

I enjoyed the going back & forth from the present day, to 15 years ago, before the fire, to the novel written about the murders.

Author Laurin gave some good descriptions and comparisons: 
I felt Andrea's queasiness and pain from the 'mean girls' incidents with Leeanne, her step sister. It was frankly refreshing to see that she hated her, didn't have the need to try & desparately be likable to her stepsister. This was a realistic and honest side to a personality that we don't often see. 
It gives her character teeth. 

I can easily visualize the "postapocalyptic hideousness of Denver in the early spring", because I know Toronto sure looks disastrous in March & April. 

Andrea's fascination with the lighter, the sounds it makes, and its color was something I could picture.   

"Her eyes are a wishy-washy light brown, as if they couldn't decide what color they wanted to be." 

While reading this, I thought a few times, "and the plot thickens..." so kudos Laurin.

I received What My Sister Knew in a GoodReads giveaway. 

Until next time,

Kara  

Such a Fun Age

Several of us on IG are really enjoying discussing Such a Fun Age.

@butbooksarebetter2 @danythebookworm_ @lindsaytravelingsister @tammyroos
@travelingfriendsreads @travelingsistersread @torontobibliophile
This timely topic about living in the racially charged times we're in is also classic, don't you think?

I must applaud narrator Nicole Lewis! She's incredible, a skilled actor who got all the fantastic dialogue down so that I can't imagine reading it. For me, this book is meant to be listened to.
When you've finished Such a Fun Age, join our discussion! There's so much to say about this book!

I'd like to discuss the controversial Kelley. So my question is:
Do you think Kelley fetishized black women? 
🚨 SPOILER alert in the comments! ⚠️
💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙

My response:

I think Riley wrote it in such a way to give us tidbits here & there, so she let us consider and decide for ourselves - which is superb writing! I think you can be attracted to who you are attracted to. Who's to say who you find attractive, what your type is? Is it automatic that everyone have an attraction to who looks just like them?

The rest of the chat is here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8pZ_Ukgq-r/

Until next time,

Kara