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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
We Are Called to Rise is a contemporary novel primarily set in Las Vegas. Following the stories of Avis, Roberta, Bashkim, and Luis. each of them are dealing with a significant event in their lives and trying to navigate the aftermath. From a solider, to a child, a mother, to a carer this book explores the notion… read the full review here: https://www.amysbookshelf.co.uk/2022/01/we-are-called-to-rise-book-review/
emotional
sad
medium-paced
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
tense
I rate simply: 5 = liked it, 3 = meh, and 1 = didn't like it.
I read this book about a month ago and gave it four stars. Now that I finally have time to sit down and write a review, I find that I cannot remember anything about the story. I think that's reason enough for a star removal.
There was this quote though, which I really loved.
“It all matters. That someone turns out the lamp, picks up the windblown wrapper, says hello to the invalid, pays at the unattended lot, listens to the repeated tale, folds the abandoned laundry, plays the game fairly, tells the story honestly, acknowledges help, gives credit, says good night, resists temptation, wipes the counter, waits at the yellow, makes the bed, tips the maid, remembers the illness, congratulates the victor, accepts the consequences, takes a stand, steps up, offers a hand, goes first, goes last, chooses the small portion, teaches the child, tends to the dying, comforts the grieving, removes the splinter, wipes the tear, directs the lost, touches the lonely, is the whole thing. What is most beautiful is least acknowledged. What is worth dying for is barely noticed.”
There was this quote though, which I really loved.
“It all matters. That someone turns out the lamp, picks up the windblown wrapper, says hello to the invalid, pays at the unattended lot, listens to the repeated tale, folds the abandoned laundry, plays the game fairly, tells the story honestly, acknowledges help, gives credit, says good night, resists temptation, wipes the counter, waits at the yellow, makes the bed, tips the maid, remembers the illness, congratulates the victor, accepts the consequences, takes a stand, steps up, offers a hand, goes first, goes last, chooses the small portion, teaches the child, tends to the dying, comforts the grieving, removes the splinter, wipes the tear, directs the lost, touches the lonely, is the whole thing. What is most beautiful is least acknowledged. What is worth dying for is barely noticed.”
Another wonderful book. The only thing holding me back from giving this book five stars was the ending (which in one story line had me literally flipping back to see if I had missed some resolution and in another story line just felt too convenient; I suppose I don't necessarily need everything tied up in a nice neat bow, and with a book like this one that wouldn't work anyway, but the ending(s) were somewhat unsatisfying to me).
Still, this book moved me greatly, even as it was easy to read. I thought the voices of the characters -- the son-of-immigrants little boy and his family, soldiers returning to the US and suffering the effects of PTSD -- were remarkably well-written, and perspectives that I don't often read in the books I choose. At one point, I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite books, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, when the Abuela fully admitted her own past decisions and mistakes; it had that same emotional reaction for me. Yes, this book is very sad, but it was just so beautiful and human too.
The quote I highlighted is the same quote that I see highlighted here on Goodreads, so I'll go ahead and share it here because I liked it so much:
“It all matters. That someone turns out the lamp, picks up the windblown wrapper, says hello to the invalid, pays at the unattended lot, listens to the repeated tale, folds the abandoned laundry, plays the game fairly, tells the story honestly, acknowledges help, gives credit, says good night, resists temptation, wipes the counter, waits at the yellow, makes the bed, tips the maid, remembers the illness, congratulates the victor, accepts the consequences, takes a stand, steps up, offers a hand, goes first, goes last, chooses the small portion, teaches the child, tends to the dying, comforts the grieving, removes the splinter, wipes the tear, directs the lost, touches the lonely, is the whole thing. What is most beautiful is least acknowledged. What is worth dying for is barely noticed.”
Still, this book moved me greatly, even as it was easy to read. I thought the voices of the characters -- the son-of-immigrants little boy and his family, soldiers returning to the US and suffering the effects of PTSD -- were remarkably well-written, and perspectives that I don't often read in the books I choose. At one point, I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite books, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, when the Abuela fully admitted her own past decisions and mistakes; it had that same emotional reaction for me. Yes, this book is very sad, but it was just so beautiful and human too.
The quote I highlighted is the same quote that I see highlighted here on Goodreads, so I'll go ahead and share it here because I liked it so much:
“It all matters. That someone turns out the lamp, picks up the windblown wrapper, says hello to the invalid, pays at the unattended lot, listens to the repeated tale, folds the abandoned laundry, plays the game fairly, tells the story honestly, acknowledges help, gives credit, says good night, resists temptation, wipes the counter, waits at the yellow, makes the bed, tips the maid, remembers the illness, congratulates the victor, accepts the consequences, takes a stand, steps up, offers a hand, goes first, goes last, chooses the small portion, teaches the child, tends to the dying, comforts the grieving, removes the splinter, wipes the tear, directs the lost, touches the lonely, is the whole thing. What is most beautiful is least acknowledged. What is worth dying for is barely noticed.”