Welcome to my Love and Loss series. On Monday, I featured First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky.
Today it's....
In Honor
by Jessi Kirby
Published by: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
On May 8, 2012
Source: bought from independent bookstore
Today it's....
by Jessi Kirby
Published by: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
On May 8, 2012
Source: bought from independent bookstore
My summary: Ever since Honor lost her parents in a car accident, she's relied on big brother Finn. Then Finn is killed in Iraq. After his funeral, Honor gets one last letter from him, a letter that includes two tickets to singer Kyra Kelley's final concert in California. So Honor gets into Finn's battered Impala with her brother's hungover (and somewhat annoying) best friend Rusty and they set off on a road trip that's one part memorial, one part spiritual journey, and one part slapstick comedy.
My take: I've been waiting impatiently for In Honor ever since I finished reading Moonglass, Jessi Kirby's first book. While In Honor is a "grief and loss" book that deals with issues of mourning and lost friendship, this story also takes the reader in all sorts of emotional directions. There are arguments and transcendent moments and shocking revelations. Then, just when things are getting too intense, the story veers off into comic territory. Let's just say that tequila shots are almost always a mistake!
I couldn't talk about this book without mentioning magic -- Jessi Kirby's books always seem sprinkled with just a touch of magic dust! While I wouldn't go so far as to say that In Honor is a work of magical realism, Jessi Kirby effortlessly weaves mythology, nature, and mysticism into her story. From the Santa Rita #1, the "blessed oil derrick," to the Blue Hole to the vortexes of Sedona, this book looks at ways that humans try to understand life's mysteries and nature's healing effect. As Honor says, "life sometimes gives you a tiny bit of peace when you need it most."
I didn't find In Honor as sad a book as my other two "love and loss" books this week. In Honor is hard to describe, a story that cast a spell over me until I turned the final page. It's poignant and magical and not at all depressing!
Yesterday we talked about books that made us cry.Tell me in comments about movies that got you crying!
The Notebook, What Dreams May Come, The Road, The Iron Giant ( don't judge me) and I still cry when Artex dies in The Neverending Story.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I have never seen any of those movies. Better get on that!
DeleteI want to read this one. It sounds so great! Movies that made me cry... The Notebook for sure. PS I Love You, too.
ReplyDeleteI need to see the Notebook. But I know what it's about and I know it will be so sad!
DeleteOhh this book sounds so good. Movies that made me cry, oh goodness I could go on and on. A Walk to Remember, A few of the HP movies, The Notebook, Charlie St. Cloud. I am a super sensitive person so I cry easily lol.
ReplyDeleteLast movie I cried at was probably the Hunger Games.
DeleteOMG!! Yes! I definitely cried at that too. I have been watching the season finales of shows on tv and cried at those too. Haha! Bones, House, and Glee made me cry.
DeleteI keep seeing this one around but then forgetting. I have a B&N gift card and I have decided THIS will be the book I get before I forget again lol
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
I have two copies so I will be giving one away, either tomorrow or on Freebie Friday on June 1!
DeleteI had the pleasure of meeting her at TLA and she was a total sweet heart! I haven't read this one yet but I plan to, during my Contemporary Summer. I love this series you are doing. It's so fun and PERFECT for the mood I'm in right now! Movies that made me cry...well most recently the latest Sherlock Holmes episode on Masterpiece Theatre this past sunday. It was like WHOA!
ReplyDeleteI love her books.
DeleteAnd I can't believe I forgot to DVR Masterpiece Theater. I wanted to watch that one.
I cried at the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince the first time I watched it. There is a scene from I Am Legend that totally got to me and A Walk to Remember gets me crying every time.
ReplyDeleteinteresting review... I am very curious about this one. I love the cover for it!
ReplyDeleteDid you get to Moonglass yet? I think you won that on my blog a while back....
ReplyDeleteSame answer: Dear John got me crying like crazy..
ReplyDeleteOf course Hunger Games got me, too :D
Tom Hanks movie's always seem to make me cry. Forest Gump, check. Saving Private Ryan, check. Castaway, check. Even The Green Mile turned me into a puddle of mush. My son brought home a movie not long ago: Hachi with Richard Gere. Holy crap, I was a blubbering fool during that movie. I told him I will NEVER put myself through that again:)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this review! I have to get my hands on this book. It sounds a little like Saving June, what with the roadtrip theme and the two co-stars that don't seem likely to get along (but do in the end, I'm guessing?) Anyway, it sounds just lovely and if I can get this darn reading pile under control then it is on my short list of books to read this summer:)
Awww, I really want to read this one! You make me want to rush out and get a copy!
ReplyDeleteMovies that make me cry... I am super sensitive so it doesn't take much. The last Harry Potter movies come to mind. Imitation of Life is old movie that always did the trick. Oh and Beaches! And now I want to watch all of these. LOL
The Time Travler's Wife, A Walk To Remember, Titanic, basically any movie where someone dies. Anything emotional. I get teary eyed during Babe and Fox and the Hound even lol
ReplyDeleteI love movies that make me cry. One of my favourites is FINDING NEVERLAND. It is just so full of heart.
ReplyDeleteI've been iffy about this book, but I put it on my TBR list. It's nice to know that there are some magical/mythical aspects to it! That makes me want to read it more!
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I know on your previous post I said that books, movies, and TV shows hardly ever make me cry. Well, I guess I spoke too soon. It isn't a movie - I just got hooked on this show Dance Academy and I just finished season 2 and jeez, I was bawling for the last 2 episodes! It's pretty weird though, because I really hardly ever cry at books and movies and TV shows!
Great review, Jen!
The Warhorse made me cry so much!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you really liked this book! Even though I don't mind a sad or intense book, I'm glad to know it's not as depressing as I thought it would be! This is one I definitely want to get in the near future :-)
ReplyDeleteOk...I've cried at a lot of movies, but I just got back from Las Vegas and I'm super tired and the brain just isn't functioning right now. LOL! I did want to make sure and stop by to read your reviews though :-)