Riverbank Books

Hello everyone =). Just wanted to let you know what's been going on and when a new review will be posted. As of right now I have one, possibly two, reviews in progress; I just need to put the finishing touches on them and I should have them posted soon. Hopefully at least. I also wanted to let you know what's in store for this weekend. I know this is not a book review, BUT it does however deal with books ;).

Tomorrow (March 21st 2015) I will be attending the (Re) Grand Opening of the only bookstore in my town. This will be the second time Tonya Carter has opened her beloved little book store. She first opened it on March 3rd of 2012. It was a very quaint, quiet, and beautiful store. You could the see and feel the care and love Tonya, her family, and friends put into it. There were rows upon rows of books, and it even had that lovely homely book smell mixed with aroma of coffee that us book worms love so much. I'm not going to lie though there were some people who questioned and flat out refused to believe that is bookstore would be able to make it in this small sleepy country town. There were times when I went in and Tonya would say 'how she had been super slow and it that worried her', but time and time again Riverbank Books pulled through. Tonya was able to host many local authors like Leesia Champion, Koko Nervelli, and Pamela Walton, to name a few, for their book signings. With Sparta been an older town there weren't many locations for the local teens and young adults to go and hang out in a homey environment, and Riverbank Books was able to provide that.

 Sadly on November 25th 2014 a fire broke out in the building that housed Riverbank Books and another local business, Southern Technology. Both business and the building were a total loss, but the community refused to let that take away our little bookstore. Requests started pouring in on Riverbank Books' Facebook page when word got out about the fire, asking where and when they could drop off book donations. It wasn't long until several other local businesses were able to set up donation drop offs . On January 18th 2015 it was excitedly  posted that a new location had been found, and that she hoped to open in the Spring. With help of the community, Tonya's family and friends, and the never ending love and devotion she has put into this business; she is finally able to reopen the doors and reveal the new Riverbank Books on March 21st 2015. 

Stay tuned as I am hoping to make a new post with more recent pictures after I attend the opening. So if you are located in the Middle Tennessee area and like little hole in the wall locations; take a little road trip to sleepy little Sparta and make a pit stop at Riverbank Books. 

Thank you for stopping by =).

(P.S. None of the pictures I have posted are mine. I take no credit for them. All credit goes to the original owners.)

The story of a boy called Finch and a girl named Violet.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. 

"When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school—six stories above the ground—it's unclear who saves whom. And when the unlikely pair teams up on a class project to discover the "natural wonders" of their state, they go, as Finch says, where the road takes them: the grand, the small, the bizarre, the beautiful, the ugly, the surprising—just like life.

Soon it's only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a bold, funny, live-out-loud guy, who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet forgets to count away the days and starts living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink."-http://www.jenniferniven.com/books/allthebrightplaces/

This is Ms. Niven's first Young Adult novel. She has previously written four adult novels: American Blonde, Becoming Clementine, Velva Jean Learns to Fly, and Velva Jean Learns to Drive. She also has written three nonfiction books: The Ice Master, Ada Blackjack, and The Aqua Net Diaries. 

This is the first novel I have read by Jennifer Niven, and I am highly impressed. This quickly became one of my all time favorites with all its unique quirks and heart wrenching bits. I have read a few other books that are about suicide and mental health, but this is one of the first where I have been able to, in a sense, read it from both POVs. You are able to read and picture how Finch feels, thinks, and speaks; while with Violet you are able to witness the aftermath of what a death does to someone and how they are able to cope. Ms. Niven was able to capture the feelings from both very beautifully. She wrote in her Author's Note about her friend that committed suicide last year, and I feel that by writing this book it helped her in ways some people wouldn't understand. I believe that her feelings and memories of that day and her friend are what made this novel even more beautiful and just that more heart wrenching. This is one book that will work its way into you, tug on your emotions one at a time and all at once, and leave you gasping while wondering just what happens to Violet.

Finch is the main character, while the POV does switch to Violet's throughout the book it always comes back to Finch's in more ways than one. In my opinion Finch is what really gives life (a little irony there) to the book. Some may disagree and that's okay. At times I felt it was Violet but it always came back to Finch for me. His character is just one that will stick with you even after you shut the book. He will also leave you guessing what he will do next as well as begging him not to do something. I haven't had a character leave this big of an impression on me in a while and it's definitely refreshing.

I have one complaint though and that is I wish there was a little more light shown on the secondary characters. I would've liked to have known a little more about Amanda and her relationship with Violet, more light shown on Violet and Finch's parents, and small bit on Finch's sisters and their healing process.

I do, however, love the cover art on the paper sleeve. The sticky notes play a huge part with Finch and Violet. I also cant forget the yellow moon and stars on the white hard cover. I highly HIGHLY give praise and kudos to Ms. Niven for putting contact numbers, websites, and sources for suicide prevention, as well as sources and information for abuse, bullying, and survivors. Again I haven't read many books with this in them, so I am glad to see that. 

Would I recommend this book: Yes!!!
Star rating (1-5): 5 Stars.
Quotes marked: 16
Time it took to finish: 4 days as I refused to read the ending.


I just want to say a quick thanks to my really good friends Rachel Howard and Mary Scott for being awesome and proofreading this =).