Monday, May 13, 2013

#18: Fly Away by Kristin Hannah

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

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