It's time for Books from the Backlog, hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books. It's a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks . . . or on your eReader.
This week's neglected book is . . .
Release Date: October 11, 2016
Publisher: Riverhead Books
From Goodreads: Set within a contemporary black community in Southern California, Brit Bennett's mesmerizing first novel is an emotionally perceptive story about community, love, and ambition. It begins with a secret.
"All good secrets have a taste before you tell them, and if we'd taken a moment to swish this one around our mouths, we might have noticed the sourness of an unripe secret, plucked too soon, stolen and passed around before its season."
It is the last season of high school life for Nadia Turner, a rebellious, grief-stricken, seventeen-year-old beauty. Mourning her own mother's recent suicide, she takes up with the local pastor's son. Luke Sheppard is twenty-one, a former football star whose injury has reduced him to waiting tables at a diner. They are young; it's not serious. But the pregnancy that results from this teen romance—and the subsequent cover-up—will have an impact that goes far beyond their youth. As Nadia hides her secret from everyone, including Aubrey, her God-fearing best friend, the years move quickly. Soon, Nadia, Luke, and Aubrey are full-fledged adults and still living in debt to the choices they made that one seaside summer, caught in a love triangle they must carefully maneuver, and dogged by the constant, nagging question: What if they had chosen differently? The possibilities of the road not taken are a relentless haunt.
In entrancing, lyrical prose, The Mothers asks whether a "what if" can be more powerful than an experience itself. If, as time passes, we must always live in servitude to the decisions of our younger selves, to the communities that have parented us, and to the decisions we make that shape our lives forever.
Why I selected it: This was a buzz book back in 2016 that made its way onto many recommended reading lists. I'm drawn to the themes mentioned in the synopsis of this debut novel and its west coast setting.
This Thursday Thoughts ~ Books from the Backlog post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com. It cannot be republished without attribution. Sharing this original post on Twitter, Google+ and/or other blogs with appropriate recognition is appreciated.
I remember reading about this one at the time. Didn't remember much about the story. I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Kay!
ReplyDeleteI've let book buzz get me excited about a book and I do want to read it, but then it just sets. Glad you were able to come across it again, Catherine.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Sophia Rose. A new book that sounds great is very attractive--until you get distracted by the next new book, and the one after that, lol.
ReplyDeleteI remember hearing about this book. It sounds like it hits on some really important issues. I hope you enjoy this one once you get the chance to read it, Catherine!
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