Thursday, February 07, 2019

Where Is Your Bookmark? (A Peek Into Beautiful Bad)

[If you haven't already, please help me choose which book to read next by voting in my February TBR List poll!]

I am in the middle of reading Annie Ward's upcoming Beautiful Bad, which I will be featuring for an upcoming blog tour next month. It is one of those books I wish I could read in one sitting--but unfortunately life has a way of inserting itself at the most inopportune times. I am sure many of you understand. 

Things that make me scared: When Charlie cries. Hospitals and lakes. When Ian drinks vodka in the basement. ISIS. When Ian gets angry... That something is really, really wrong with me.

Maddie and Ian's romance began with a chance encounter at a party overseas; he was serving in the British army and she was a travel writer visiting her best friend, Jo. Now almost two decades later, married with a beautiful son, Charlie, they are living the perfect suburban life in Middle America. But when a camping accident leaves Maddie badly scarred, she begins attending writing therapy, where she gradually reveals her fears about Ian's PTSD; her concerns for the safety of their young son, Charlie; and the couple's tangled and tumultuous past with Jo.

From the Balkans to England, Iraq to Manhattan, and finally to an ordinary family home in Kansas, sixteen years of love and fear, adventure and suspicion culminate in The Day of the Killing, when a frantic 911 call summons the police to the scene of a shocking crime. [Goodreads Summary]

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the wonderful Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.
Twelve weeks before
I type, "Should I see a therapist?"
A popular Google search it seems. There's a lot of information on the topic. Pages and pages of tests you can take to help you decide if therapy is right for you. If so, what kind of therapy? Psychiatrist versus psychologist? What's your major disorder? There's so much. I could do this all night. Once Ian leaves, maybe I will. 

Although I have not asked Google that particular question, I sometimes do ask those "should I see a doctor about [insert symptom]?" I always joke that an internet search for a medical condition or symptom often results in being told I have cancer or some such deadly illness. And so, right off, I can relate to Maddie, the main character, at least in this regard.


A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.
"I'm waiting for you to have your little visit with me and then walk out of here with no intention of ever seeing me again, at which point in time I'll go up to my room and get drunk."
The blanket of self-doubt that settled over his face made him look vulnerable, like the younger man he'd been when we met. He wanted something. It was the same thing that I wanted. He just didn't know it yet. [56%]

I am just past this scene in the book, and really liked it. Taking into account everything the two characters have been through, especially Ian, I found this moment for them to be very moving. I still have mixed feelings about both Ian and Maddie though. There are still so many unanswered questions . . . I need to know!  

*

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Do you have celebrations for your blog's anniversary such as a giveaway? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

​Off and on through the years, I have celebrated my blog anniversaries with a brief mention in a post, often after the fact (does that count as a celebration? I am not sure).  Twice I went so far as to hold giveaways in honor of the occasion. More often than not though, the day slips by me without any notice at all.

It is hard to believe I will have been blogging 13 years this coming July. How is that possible?! When I started, the blogging community was on the small side; we were a relatively close knit community. It has grown so much since then.There have been many changes over the years. I have changed. My little blog is my haven, a space where I can be my book crazy self and feel at home, surrounded by others who share my passion for reading.

What about you?

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

© 2019, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

42 comments:

  1. Beautiful Bad sounds intriguing!

    And I've voted! Can't wait to hear the results of the poll(:

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    1. Eustacia - It is intriguing! Thank you for voting. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  2. I think BEAUTIFUL BAD sounds like something I'd be interested in reading. Glad it's working well for you and I can certainly understand the I NEED TO KNOW aspect. LOL

    Blog anniversary - well, no, not so much. I think I did that with the other blog I had, but I have come and gone so much that I just don't bother with it anymore. I do remember this blog from my early days in reading blogs and have enjoyed it ever since, Wendy. :-)

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    1. Kay - Thank you! I enjoy your blog too, Kay. I'm glad you keep coming back to us. :-)

      I am hoping to finish the book tonight. I am enjoying it.

      Thank you for visiting!



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  3. 13 years is amazing! Congratulations! It must be really interesting to compare how your style/ interests has changed from then to now.
    My Friday Memes for this week.

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    1. Louise - Thank you. Thirteen years is a small fraction of my life and yet so much has changed. Thank you for stopping by!

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  4. 13 years is a long time in the blogging world. I think I held giveaways the first couple of years but now I just mention it.

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    1. Kathy - Yes, it is, isn't it? I'm so old! Haha. Thank you for visiting!

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  5. I love the sound of the book...and can relate to using Google to find some answers. LOL.

    I created my first blog (I have six) almost eleven years ago, and I used to have giveaways, etc. Now I barely notice the dates. LOL.

    Here's mine: “THE MAKING OF US”

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I knew we were in trouble when my daughter starting asking us questions we didn't have the answers to and she suggested we ask Google. Haha

      Same here. My anniversary tends to just slip by me.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  6. I always hesitate when it sounds like the narrator might be unreliable, which the beginning seems to suggest. I hope your questions get answered.

    Congratulations on the longevity of your blog.

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    1. Roberta - Thank you! It doesn't feel like it's been that long.

      I enjoy a good unreliable narrator, but I know not everyone does.

      Thanks for visiting!

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  7. This sounds like a good one...and time for me to move the ARC closer to the top of the pile. Enjoy it, and have a great weekend!

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    1. Catherine - I hope you enjoy it when you read it, Catherine! I hope you have a great weekend too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  8. I get what you mean when you say your blog is your own little book haven. I feel that way about mine, too. And congrats on blogging so well so long. Nearing 13 years is impressive. Happy reading!

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    1. Lark - Thank you! I feel like I have found my tribe in the book blogging community. Thank you for visiting!

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  9. Thanks for stopping by! Have a nice weekend, too! And I agree, blogs are out little haven. Sometimes I'm too lazy to write and keep up but then I consider my blog as my own child and I can't abandon it!

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    1. Laura - I don't post as often as I used to either, but I still enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by!

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    1. Lauren - It doesn't seem possible I've been at it that long. Thank you for visiting.

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  11. Wow, 13 years, that's amazing! I had another book blog but stepped away from it back in...gosh, 2012? Something like that. Life and school and everything just got in the way, but I'm glad to be back. :)

    Beautiful Bad sounds *really* good.

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    1. Stephanie - Life does have a way of interfering with blogging, doesn't it? I am glad you are back too! I am enjoying Beautiful Bad. Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. 13 years is aMAZing, Wendy. I launched about 4 1/2 years ago, but I'm totally not consistent with posting (which disappoints and frustrates me) and I think I'm now already at a "I'll mention the anniversary" point lol You should be proud and I'm glad I found your blog :D

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    1. Donna Marie - My consistency has flagged over the years, but I have accepted I can only do what I can. I do wish I was better at keeping up with comments and visiting other blogs. I am glad we found each other too. :-) Thank you for visiting, Donna Marie.

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    1. Anne - I'm still not sure about him. I do think Maddie should have listened more to the warning signs where he was concerned. He really needs help. Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. Congrats on 13 years! I'll be heading for 10 in 2020.
    Hope you continue to enjoy your new read.

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    1. Nicki - Thank you! Congratulations on your many years as well. Thank you for visiting!

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  15. Wow on 13 years!! That is amazing!! CONGRATS!!

    My anniversary is in July too, but it will only be nine years for me this year.

    I am glad to hear BEAUTIFUL BAD is good...it is coming up soon.

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    1. Elizabeth - Thank you! Nine years is amazing too. Congratulations to you as well. Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. 13 years is so awesome! Beautiful Bad sounds like an intriguing read. That last part of the blurb leaves me anxious. And that beginning! I used to Google my symptoms all the time, but I had to stop for the sake of my sanity. :)

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    1. Ashley - Thank you! Beautiful Bad is good so far. I try not to use Google as much for symptoms anymore for that very reason, but sometimes I can't help myself. Thank you for visiting!

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  17. It's the worst when all you want to do is read but life gets in the way. Sounds like you are enjoying this one. Happy weekend!

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  18. Congrats on your 13 years!
    I'm intrigued by the snippets of Beautiful Bad you've shared. Not totally sure it's one for me, but I like the writing style

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    1. Stephanie Jane - I am enjoying Beautiful Bad. I was hoping to finish it last night--but tonight will have to do. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  19. Well, congrats on amazing 13 years blogging! I've blogged, quite inconsistently, for about 7 years. I've seen favorite bloggers come and go, and along the way added so many new authors, genres, subgenres, series, etc. that without blogging I probably would've still be reading just one mystery title a week, that's it.

    Your book does sound intriguing, and intense. Maybe too intense for me? I'm not sure. I still read some psychological thrillers, but others make me too anxious nowadays. I hope you share your final thoughts on this one so I can better make up my mind. Thanks, Wendy!

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    1. Rita - Thank you! I have not always been consistent either. That thing called life has a way of interfering, doesn't it? I was just looking at my feed reader and all the blogs that are no longer active that I've followed over the years. I know I should delete them off, but I keep hoping maybe they'll come back.

      This one would probably make you anxious. I am enjoying it though. Thank you for visiting!

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  20. I don't know what it is about blogoversaries but they almost always slip by me too. You'd think I'd have the date seared into my brain lol but not so much!

    I think Beautiful Bad looks awesome!

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    1. Greg - I remember the date for my blog anniversary right now, but come July, I'll have forgotten before it's past. Then I remember again. Oh well. Thank you for stopping by!

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  21. Oh this sounds like a good book. I can't wait to hear what you think about it when you are finished. Like you, I used to hold giveaways to celebrate my bloggiversary but time has gotten in the way. This year I'll be celebrating 14 years. It's unbelievable that we've been book blogging for so long right? Like you I love it. I may take a lot more breaks nowadays but it's ok.

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    1. Iliana - It is good! I am with you. I do take more breaks nowadays from blogging, and while I used to feel guilty about it, I don't so much anymore. Thank you for visiting!

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