A Million Things
Beckett at The Birchwood Pie Project posted that the best book she has read this year is A Million Things, by Emily Spurr. Coincidentally, I was looking for a new book to listen to via Audible. I usually have 2 books going at once, a physical book that I read before bed (generally getting a page or two in before falling asleep), and an audio book that I listen to while I walk Mulder, while I cook, and sometimes during my work day if I have down time.
A Million Things is told from Rae’s point of view. Rae is a 10 1/2 year old girl who lives with her mother and her dog, Splinter. The story takes place over the course of 55 days. Day 1, Rae wakes up to find that her mother is gone. She isn’t shocked, her mom disappears sometimes, but always comes back. Then she discovers the horrible truth, which is that her mother has committed suicide in the shed in their back yard. Rae can’t bear the pain of it, doesn’t know how to cope, so she closes the door, leaving her mother behind. She cares for her dog. She cleans and shops and goes to school. She does her best to manage, all of the while not knowing what will happen when someone discovers the truth.
Rae’s resilience and the friendship that develops with her elderly neighbor Lettie are so wonderfully told. This was a really good read, I’m so glad that Beckett recommended it. I think I’m going to go back and listen to it again, which I sometimes do, because I’m afraid that sometimes when I listen to books, my mind wanders a bit. Also, it was just that good.
Day 48 almost killed me.
If you decide to read this book, and I suggest you do, read or listen to the Readers Guide at the end. The author discusses her idea for the novel, her own struggles with mental illness and how those gave birth to this story, this, ‘what if’. What if a mother, who loves her child completely, still can’t manage. What if the loneliness and sense of failure are too much. What then? Her description of what is like to live with mental illness was enlightening.
10 Comments
Ally Bean
This sounds like an emotionally intense novel. I’d say I’d read it, but that’d be a lie. I’ve got books piled up every which way and I need to read those first. Plus lately I’ve been leaning into lighthearted novels and mysteries.
J
Ally, I appreciate your honesty! You made me laugh. A more lighthearted book that I recently read is ‘In Five Years’. Since I’m looking for blog fodder this month, perhaps I will write a post about that one as well.
Elisabeth
Oh goodness. I’m not sure if I could handle this. It sounds amazing – and would inspire some deep thought – but…I think I would need to save this for warm sunny days in summer (not the very dark, cold days we’re heading into right now…)
J
Sunny days might be easier for such a dark subject. 🙂
NGS
This is absolutely not a novel for me in the midst of winter! I feel like I should add a column to my TBR list that indicates what time of year a novel is appropriate for. I’m in a bit of a reading rut right now and I wonder how much is because it’s dreary and I’m just grumpy about EVERYTHING.
J
LOL, I feel like winter is when I want to read darker things actually. When it’s summer is when I want light beach read type stuff. Funny, huh?
San
This has been on my to-read list, but I have not been “in the right mood” to pick it up. It sounds like a worthwhile read though. Thanks for your review.
Also: your dog’s name is Mulder??? (Inspired by The X-Files?) That’s so cool!
J
Well, the book was devastating, but it wasn’t as dark as it sounds. It’s worthwhile, and aside from day 48, which had me crying at the grocery store, it didn’t bring me down. And it has 55 days, so hopefully that tells you something (that there’s hope at the end!)
Tobia | craftaliciousme
I have not heard of this book. Thank you for sharing it sounds like a book I would enjoy.
J
It was really good! I’m listening to it for the second time and picking up nuances I missed the first time.