Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Howdy Bookworms!
Wow, you guys! Four posts this week?! I AM ON FIRE! BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS! Reviewathon, FTW! Today we’re talking about another one of the books I got at BEA. I was wandering aimlessly by myself (for what purpose I can’t remember) when I saw Florinda standing in line to get a book signed. I hopped in the line to chat up Florinda and got a book signed for myself with no idea who the author was or what the book was about. Turns out, I make pretty solid decisions when I’m oblivious, because the book I picked up was Before the Fall
When I went to start this book, I read a smidge of the “about the author” segment which informed me that Noah Hawley is a successful television writer and totally writes for Fargo
I was supposed to be discussing a book, wasn’t I? Alright, Before the Fall. One summer night, a down on his luck painter finds himself riding in a private plane from Martha’s Vineyard to New York City. The plane belongs to a television mogul and his family, and they’re accompanied by some friends and the crew. Unfortunately, the plane goes down en route shortly after takeoff. The only two survivors are the painter and the four year old son of the television mogul. The book artfully weaves between the aftermath of the crash and the backstories of the passengers and crew. In the present, a series of odd coincidences cause media speculation to spiral out of control while the two survivors grapple with notoriety and loss.
I’m not usually huge on the whole mystery-suspense-thriller front, but I’ve got to admit I was fully engrossed in this read from page one. I was invested in the characters and MAN did I want to punch Bill Cunningham in his smug horrible face. (Bill Cunningham is a controversial TV pundit who works for the late mogul’s news network and his is absolutely THE WORST.) This is a good one, folks, give it a read!
Talk to me, Bookworms! Who was the last fictional character you wanted to pummel?
*If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receives a small commission.*
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie? Let’s do this.
by Juliette Fay, I couldn’t say “YES PLEASE” fast enough. (I always say “please” and “thank you”, despite my self-proclaimed bad manners.) *I received a complimentary copy of this book through the publisher for review consideration. You’ll get my honest opinion whether you want it or not.*
by Phaedra Patrick.
! Yes, the Pixar movie. The one where the widower goes on a journey and finds purpose and joy in life in spite of his grief? 
stickers and Christmas stickers, I mean OBVIOUSLY I will have uses for them. An excellent deal if I do say so myself.
? How much are you LOVING little Lady Mormont? That pint sized potentate stole my heart. 
for review consideration. As per usual, I shall remind you that my integrity shan’t be compromised by the free book because I have truly terrible manners.
by Stephanie Clifford.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book through the publisher for review consideration, thanks to 
episode” then you and I are on the same wavelength. I went into the book expecting some cool descriptions of the frozen world and I was NOT disappointed. Remember that scene in 
where the circus freezes? It’s kind of like that. But cooler. This book blended sci-fi, humor, and a heaping helping of emotion into one neat little package. It’s a great book and a fast read. If you’re even the slightest bit intrigued by my rambling, you should DEFINITELY check out 
by Maggie Stiefvater- I told you this was all her fault! 
was released and I put it right into my earholes. I just finished this bad boy like 4 hours ago. I can’t write a whole review because that’s nigh on impossible when you’re talking about a series, but suffice it to say my guts were wrenched and I found the conclusion emotional and satisfying. Big love to my 
by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney- If you’re in the mood to read about fraught family dynamics, this is the book for you. The four Plumb siblings have lived their whole lives knowing they’ve got a large inheritance on the horizon and have made some questionable decisions as a result. Leo, worst of the bunch, does something super horrible that depletes the family’s nest egg on the eve of the siblings finally getting their share. It’s marketed as a bittersweet comedy, but if it was meant to be funny, it was too cerebral for me. The Plumb family members were each painted with compassion, though their foibles were maddening. Not really my cup of tea.
by Meg Wolitzer- A group of teenage camp friends stick together for life. Their lives, predictably, don’t go necessarily go according to plan. Following the characters from their youthful hopes and dreams to their adult problems is by turns fascinating and melancholy. I don’t want to get into spoilers or anything, but to those who have read it: WTF with Jonah and the gum?! I seriously cannot even. Also, Goodman. Ugh. Worst. I liked the book fine, but I really wanted to punch some characters. Pummel, actually. RAWR.
by Faith Salie- This is the first BEA book I finished! Yay me! I listen to NPR all the time, so when I heard that a regular guest on 
!” And I was like “Oh yeah, I didn’t realize that!” Because I saw that movie before I married into the name (even though I’m Kathryn not Kathleen.) I know I totally could have kept my maiden name (hyphenation was NOT an option because my maiden name ALSO started with a K. The initials. Not cool) but I liked my husband’s last name better. It’s half the letters and nobody ever mispronounces it. I make important decisions based on solid logical reasoning. AS YOU CAN TELL.
