I had the release date of Fly Away on my calendar. I pre-ordered it so that I would not even have to make time to take a trip to the bookstore to get it on its release date. The sequel to my second favorite book (who knows my all-time favorite??) was almost too much for me to handle. I savored every word and love that I know "what happened next."
Firelfly Lane was a powerful book for me, and yet, when I opened the front cover of Fly Away, I felt the power again. Well, I felt them. I could feel Tully and Kate, their friendship and their love wash over me. Then, I immediately became sad, because I know the story, I know what happened at the end of Firefly Lane. To be truthful, I stayed sad for most of this book. It is one of the saddest books I have ever read. Even at the end when thing turned around, I was still sad. Sad for Tully, Johnny, and Marah. Sad because Kate is not with them anymore.
I wish, like I always wish, that I could tell you what happens so that I can be free to say what I want about the book. But that's not fair. You can't enjoy the book if I spoil it for you. So, let's just say that the Ryan family, who is already dealing with the death of their beloved mother/wife/daughter (Kate) finds themselves in the middle of more trauma. Trauma that lasts over a year. As I read their reactions and their responses, it made me think about what would happen to my family if, God forbid, I died. I don't want my family to fall apart. I don't want Abigail to dye her hair pink and start using drugs. I don't want Emily to run away. I don't want Rob to sell our house and move because living in it is too hard. I would want them to move on. Not forget me, exactly, but not be depressed either. But, I guess that's a pretty selfish wish. Because your family needs to grieve, they need to mourn, and they will move on in their own time. I just can't imagine causing my family sadness and stress. It is an unbearable thought for me.
Fly Away is sad, but if you read Firefly Lane and liked it even a little, you owe it to yourself to read Fly Away. It is a remarkable story about second chances, about how deep a family's love truly runs, and how even the most lost souls can be turned around because of love.
Happy reading everyone!
:) Dodie
