Category Archives: Fiction
I Discovered Donna Tartt
I have to be honest, it’s been a long time since I have come across an author whose writing literally captivated me. Donna Tartt is that author.
I discovered her by borrowing The Goldfinch from the library on audio. The narrator, David Pittu is absolutely fabulous. He is by far the best narrator I have ever heard in my life. He is fantastic and gifted beyond belief. He made listening to this story magical.
I’m currently listening to her debut novel The Secret History which is also beautifully written and suspenseful. I am completely blown away by Donna Tartt’s talent. She reminds me of the classical authors. Her range is amazing and awe inspiring.
She is my kind of writer. Her writing is descriptive and detail oriented. Her use of metaphors is beautiful. Her writing is thoughtful and philosophical. Her character development and pacing is incredible. I can’t help but gush over her writing.
If I would aspire to write like anyone, it would be her. Her writing encompasses everything I would love to achieve. She is a genius. There are not many writers like her. She is unique in every sense of the word.
Donna Tartt writes a book every decade. She is a true artist. She is not falling for the hype. She writes at her own pace and for the love of writing. She has written only three novels and all three novels were hits. The Goldfinch winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2014.
I had to make mention of her because if you haven’t read her books you are missing out on great writing. Her books are long, but I would encourage you to listen to her books on audio, especially The Goldfinch which is a real treat.
When I finished The Goldfinch I was sad. I didn’t want the story to end. It kept me company. I would listen to it at night before going to sleep and became deeply engrossed and invested in Theo, the main protagonist.
The way Donna Tartt weaves a story is brilliant. I highly recommend her books.
If Only For One Night by Victoria Christopher Murray & ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Publisher: Brown Girls Publishing
Price: $15.00
Purchase: Amazon | BN
Description
Can they be soulmates if they’re married to other people? From the outside, Angelique has the perfect life – a rich husband who adores her and gives her the world, except for what she craves most – his attention. A workaholic, more concerned with his family’s financial situation than emotional stability, Preston doesn’t understand why his wife is so unhappy. Not one to stray, Angelique seeks comfort in the online game, Words With Friends. Blu has been living a life of loneliness since his wife settled into a depression she has no desire to shake. Frustrated and fed up, he loses himself in his favorite game – and the woman that has proven to be a formidable opponent. It’s not long before their online connection turns flirtatious and troubles at home lead them to a face-to-face meeting. And eventually an addictive connection that will have them questioning if they’re truly soulmates or if they were destined for only one night.
***Vlog Review: https://youtu.be/4YfS54ZbnB4***
Review
If Only For One Night was an interesting read. It was entertaining as well as challenging. I love reading fiction that makes you think. This story covers important topics such as marriage, love, soulmates, and mental illness, to name a few.
The story is about two married couples; Angelique and Preston, and Blu and Monica. Angelique loved her husband Preston, but paid more attention to his business than her. Blu loved his wife Angelique, but after having children, she was diagnosed with mental illness which negatively impacted their marriage.
Angelique and Blu were lonely and found solace playing an online game called, “Words With Friends.” It is there that they connected, flirted and eventually met in person.
Many things transpired after their initial meeting which kept you guessing. And, not for nothing, I did not see that ending coming. It was definitely a surprise.
I loved that it is clean fiction, and there is no profanity or graphic scenes. When someone is a good writer, all of that isn’t necessary to get the point across.
I am impressed by how the authors wove this story. The dynamic duo have a mean pen game and exceeded my expectations with, If Only For One Night. I highly recommend it.
Please be sure to click on the above link and check out my vlog review, where I go into more details about the story.
Between them, National Bestselling and NAACP Award-Winning authors, ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray have more than two million books in print. The dynamic duo decided to combine their respective talents writing a number of books together, while maintaining their successful solo careers. Victoria, a former successful entrepreneur, also holds an MBA from New York University. ReShonda is a former TV journalist and marketing professional with over 25 years of experience.
Follow
embodyart